Chapter 2
Steampunk finished repairing that day's final plow. She blew a lock of electric blue hair out of her face and glanced outside. Something was about to happen; she could feel it. Her shoulder-mounted chain gun clicked and whirred, spinning to look for hostiles in response to her nervousness.
"Something the matter, sister?" Samuel Colt asked as he stepped into the work area. Steampunk's gray eyes gazed at her brother.
"Something's about to happen," she said. "I don't know what or when, but it will be here in Ponyville. I'm just nervous is all." She returned to looking out the window.
Samuel always trusted his sister's intuition. It had saved them numerous times before their escape from their war-torn homeland. "Should we leave?" He waited for his sister to answer.
"No," she finally replied. "Rather, we should wait and see what 'it' is. Best not to make a fuss until we're sure it is something worth fussing over."
"Good idea," agreed Samuel. He knew the truth behind her words. She was as tired of running as he was, and she wasn't about to leave her new home unless she had to, especially now that she was accepted. "Why don't you go see what those friends of yours are up to? I have to help the Apples out with tomorrow's applebucking, so you can do whatever for tonight."
Steampunk nodded and walked out the door, lost in thought.
"Hey there, Steampunk!" shouted Pinkie Pie happily. "Where ya headed?"
Steampunk ran over to her friend, her mane of crimson, electric blue, and platinum blond tied into her usual pigtails. "Wherever there's something happening, of course," she said, grinning to the earth pony.
"Well then, why not come with me to Twilight Sparkle's house?" Pinkie asked. "We're having a sleepover!"
Steampunk frowned. She'd heard of the unicorn, but had never officially met her because she was always at the shop during days.
"Gee, Pinkie, I don't know," she said. "I don't really know her. She wouldn't mind me showing up unannounced?"
"Not at all," Pinkie chirped. "You can come with me! Rainbow Dash and Applejack will be there too."
Steampunk smiled, unable to resist the pony's infectious good spirits. "All right then, let's go!" The two raced off toward Twilight's house.
Samuel arrived at Sweet Apple Acres as the Apple family was finishing dinner, and Applejack answered the door.
"Well, hello there Mr. Colt," she greeted.
"Hello Applejack," Samuel said politely. "And please, call me Samuel. Is your brother home?"
Applejack chuckled to herself. "Come on in. He's in the kitchen." Then she yelled in at Big Macintosh. "Samuel's here to help with tomorrow's applebucking! Can I head to Twilight's, then?"
Big Mac's voice floated out to her. "Eeyup."
Applejack whooped, then looked at Samuel. "Where's that interesting sister of yours?" she asked. "She coming to Twilight's too?"
Samuel laughed. "If Pinkie Pie has found her, Steampunk is almost certainly going."
Cheering, Applejack galloped into town.
"Here comes Pinkie," announced Rainbow Dash to the other two.
"Who's that with her?" demanded Twilight. "We didn't invite any strangers."
"Oh, that's just Steampunk," replied Dash. "She owns the repair shop in town; she runs it with her brother, Samuel Colt. Don't worry she's really cool. Never goes out during the day though."
"Our plan only allotted three guests," Fluttershy reminded. "Why did you invite four?"
"I didn't," insisted Rainbow. "Pinkie must have roped her into coming. Besides, Rarity ran home screaming after she showed up early and we bit her. I don't see the problem; we'll just turn her too."
"The point is, what if that hadn't happened?"
"Aw, come off it, Twilight," retorted Dash. "It did, and that's what matters."
"Point taken," conceded Fluttershy.
At that moment, Pinkie burst through the door, Steampunk right behind her.
"Who's ready to party?" Pinkie shouted.
"And you are…?" Twilight gestured to Steampunk.
"Steampunk," She said, smiling nervously. Twilight noticed that she was taking great care not to show her teeth, and she was getting oddly familiar vibes from this newcomer.
"I've never met you before," Fluttershy said, a comfortable smile on her face. "How long have you been in Ponyville?"
"About two months," answered Dash, brohoofing Steampunk. She was grinning. Fluttershy noticed that Steampunk's eyes briefly flickered. She cleared her throat, and Dash's lips snapped shut. Steampunk's gun swiveled back and forth, scanning the group.
"What is that thing?" Twilight found herself curious as to what the contraption on Steampunk's shoulder was.
"It's a chain gun," she said, smiling proudly. Twilight caught a glimpse of what looked to be fangs, and smiled to herself. "Shoulder-mounted, auto-targeting, and hardwired into my central nervous system. It reacts only to my emotions and thought processes. It was the height of technology in my homeland before civil war tore it apart."
Twilight nodded. "It's the one sharing our Western border isn't it?"
"Yeah," responded Steampunk. "Hey, does anyone have a sucker?"
Pinkie handed her one, sitting down beside her. Steampunk unwrapped the treat. The stick looked oddly at home poking out of the corner of her mouth.
"Is that hair dyed?" asked Fluttershy.
Steampunk looked at the floor, prepared for the insults she had received back in her homeland. "No, it's all natural," she muttered. "Same with my eyes."
"Well I think they're nice," responded Twilight, and Steampunk jerked her head up, her face the picture of surprise.
"You…you do?" she asked, a smile spreading wide across her face. Twilight saw one fang briefly slip into view. "Back home, everyone called me a freak. Ponyville is the first place to accept me."
"What brought you to Equestria anyway?" asked Rainbow.
"It's a long story," said Steampunk, suddenly defensive. "I'll tell you some other time."
"Aw, you always say that," pouted the blue pegasus. "When am I really going to get to hear it?"
"Dash," Twilight warned. "She doesn't want to talk about it. Leave it alone." Steampunk looked at her with a mixture of thanks and relief.
"Anypony home?" called Applejack as she walked through the door. All five poked their heads in from the kitchen, Steampunk eating another sucker. Applejack ran up to her. "That brother of yours," she laughed. "Hoowee, is he something!"
"I'll say!" replied Pinkie and Rainbow Dash. "Real eye candy, that one!" Steampunk did a facehoof, blushing heavily.
"Yeah, well, Big Macintosh isn't so bad himself," she finally said, adjusting her goggles so that her bangs spilled over them.
That remark shut Applejack up. "Touché," was all she could think to respond with.
It was later that night, when the plan was enacted. Steampunk had been in the bathroom washing her hooves when she heard Applejack and Pinkie Pie scream. She burst into the room, fearful that another death squad had found her.
Applejack was lying unconscious next to Pinkie, who was sitting in a daze, her face blank. Steampunk saw the blood coming from the bite marks on their necks, and shuddered.
The other three turned to face her. Blood smeared their mouths, and fangs poked out of their open lips.
"And the last pony crosses the finish line," said Fluttershy.
Steampunk's gun whirred viciously, going over each target. Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash advanced on the pony.
"Stop," interrupted Twilight. "You won't be able to turn her."
"And why the buck not?" asked Rainbow Dash.
"She is already a vampyre," Twilight replied simply. "She has fangs." Turning to Steampunk, she said, "Show them."
Steampunk looked at the ground. "I'm never supposed to show anypony," she muttered. "How did you know?"
"I saw them when you smiled at my comment. It was also obvious that you were trying to conceal them."
"Wow," muttered Steampunk. "I never thought I was being obvious about it."
"You were never around one of your own."
"I was the only one of my kind," she replied.
"Does Samuel know?" asked Rainbow Dash.
"Of course he does," scoffed Steampunk, flashing her fangs. "I was born this way. No way could I hide it from him my whole life. Besides, it's my fault we had to leave our homeland." She pulled another sucker from the pocket on her bomber jacket. "I was considered a monster."
"That's why you stay in your shop all the time," Fluttershy guessed.
Steampunk nodded, then shook her head. "Yes and no. The sun hurts my eyes, as you all know. But yeah, I guess it's because I'm afraid of how people would react to me."
"Understandable," replied Twilight.
At that moment, Pinkie started to tremble violently. She blasted off like a rocket, bouncing off the walls. She blasted over Twilight's head, and the four ducked for cover.
"What the hay's going on?" shouted Rainbow Dash.
"It must be Pinkie's way of dealing with the desire," answered Twilight. "She's somehow converting it into energy."
Pinkie froze in midair. "Well, duh!" the little pink pony replied. She dropped to the ground, jittering as if there was an earthquake.
"Oh pinkie," said Rainbow Dash. "You are so random!"
"Hey guys, I have an idea!" Everyone save Applejack, who was still unconscious, leaned in to hear Dash's plan. "We should call Gilda back to Ponyville!"
"And turn her? No thanks," Twilight answered. "That last thing she needs is another reason to think she's better than us."
"But that's the thing," replied Dash, a smile breaking across her face. "We won't turn her."
"Then why-" Steampunk began, but she stopped, realization dawning on her face. "No. No, I can't. Absolutely not."
"Aw, come on. Haven't you ever fed before?"
"No," answered Steampunk. "I disciplined myself to resist my thirst. I couldn't run the risk of someone having a valid reason to kill me."
"No one will know," winked Fluttershy. "Come on."
"Yeah," replied Twilight. "If she doesn't live, she can't tell."
"What about the body?" asked Steampunk, biting her lip in frustration. She produced another ruby-red sucker from her jacket and popped it into her mouth.
"I have magic," replied Twilight, her horn glowing. "I'd just warp it to an Ursa Major's cave. Problem solved. What do you say?"
"Well…" said Steampunk, her gray eyes showing an internal conflict. "Okay." She finally answered.
At that moment, the phone rang. Everypony looked at each other.
"Be right back," said Twilight, kicking the door shut as she answered the phone. Several minutes later, she reappeared, a huge smile on her face.
"No way!" shouted Rainbow and Pinkie together. "The Vinyl Scratch is coming?"
"Yeah," smiled Twilight. "We were friends when we went to gifted magic school together. That was before her talents took her in the musical direction. She was coming through the area for a tour. It got cancelled, so she called me to see if she could hang out."
"Who's Vinyl Scratch?" asked Steampunk curiously.
"Only, like, the best DJ in all of Equestria!" answered Pinkie Pie. "She plays all over the country, and every show is an almost instant sellout."
"Wow," said Steampunk, reaching for another sucker.
"Why do you eat those all the time?" asked Twilight.
Steampunk looked at her. "They take the edge off my thirst, distract me so I'm not chomping the necks out of everypony I meet." Everypony agreed that it was probably a good idea to not take away her suckers.
"So are we turning Vinyl?" asked Dash eagerly.
"Only if she wants us to," replied Twilight with a shrug.
Some time later, there was a knock at the door. Applejack, who had woken up with a massive headache, answered the door. Her jaw dropped when she saw the famous unicorn that stood in front of her.
"I'm sorry," apologized the unicorn in her silky voice. "I'm looking for Twilight Sparkle's house. I must have the wrong address."
"No, Miss Scratch," answered Applejack. "You're at the right place. Come on in, she's right in here."
"Thanks," answered Vinyl, smiling brightly. She removed her goggles as she walked in, revealing a pair of beautiful red eyes. "And please, call me Vinyl." The DJ ran up to Twilight, hugging her.
"How have you been?" asked Twilight.
"Oh, so busy that this is the first rest I've had in a week." The white unicorn sighed. "But where are my manners? Please, introduce me."
"Of course," replied Twilight. "Scratch, these are my friends Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, and Steampunk. Rarity is at home doing something with a dress. And of course you all know Scratch, with the exception of Steampunk." Steampunk smiled awkwardly.
"Sorry," she said. "I just moved here a couple months ago."
"Nothing to worry about," replied Scratch. "It's actually a bit of a relief to have someone not know who I am." Everypony laughed at this. She turned to Twilight. "So I hear the princess took you in as her protégé," continued Scratch.
Twilight blushed. "Yeah, well," she mumbled. "You have your talents, I have mine."
"Hey, does anyone know how to fix electronics?" asked Scratch. "My turntables quit working after the last show."
Steampunk's eyes lit up. "I could probably do it!" she exclaimed. "What model?"
"Spinmaster 5000 XL," replied Vinyl with a smile. "Can you fix it?"
"If it's here," answered Steampunk. "I'd need to run home and get my tools, though." With that, she took off as the other six lugged in the turntables.
"Here we go," yelled Steampunk some time later. "Fixed 'em up good as new." She giggled. "Well, better actually. I was able to smooth out the disc rpm's so they can go faster without wrecking the discs themselves. Your sound system has been improved, too. I replaced your 500-watt amp with a 1000-watt amp."
Scratch's jaw dropped in amazement. "Those aren't even available in Equestria yet!" she responded.
"I'm not from Equestria," winked Steampunk. "I'm from another country. This is old news to us."
"Damn," replied Scratch in amazement. "Hey, wait a minute, I recognize you." Steampunk's face blanched.
"What do you mean?" she stuttered. If this pony were another sleeper agent, it would all be over.
"You ran the Colt's Repair Shop over in Canterlot," answered Scratch. "You were a huge success over there! A guy there used to fix my tables all the time. Handsome young fellow with crossed hammers as a cutie mark."
"My brother Samuel," smiled Steampunk, relaxing.
"Yes?" asked her brother, walking through the door. "Why, hello Miss Scratch."
"Hello again," replied Vinyl with a grin.
"What are you doing here?" asked Steampunk. "I thought you were with Big Macintosh."
"Eeyup," replied B-M as he walked in. Scratch smiled seductively at the sight of such handsome stallions. "He still is. We were at home when we saw Miss Scratch headin' into town, an' ah didn't rightly b'lieve Samuel here sayin' he knew her from his ol' repair shop. So we trotted over here fer a spell to see if'n he wasn't lyin'. Guess ah was wrong."
Scratch was gazing at the two.
"Still using the Spinmaster?" asked Samuel, gazing at the turntables.
"Yeah," answered the white unicorn, her goggles hanging from her neck. "Your sister just fixed it up. Did a few modifications, too."
"Did she now?" replied Samuel, smiling at his sister. "Well she always was the talented mechanic out of us both."
"Hey, where did Twilight go?" asked Applejack suddenly.
"Right here," answered Twilight, coming out of the kitchen. "Who wants some Applejack Daniels? It's an Apple family recipe."
It was two in the morning, and everypony was drunk. The turntables had long since gone silent, their records never replaced. Scratch was giggling uncontrollably from one of Pinkie's jokes. Big Mac and Samuel were sitting near a huge bucket in case they should puke again. Steampunk had let down her pigtails and was presently engaged in a kiss with Fluttershy.
"Hey, Steampunk," slurred Pinkie. Steampunk turned, her gray eyes out of focus. "Nev'mind, I f'rgit." Pinkie and Steampunk collapsed in a heap of laughter.
"Cool dental work," commented Scratch, gazing at the foreigner.
"I was born like this," Steampunk replied.
"Y'all was born DRUNK?" blurted Big Mac, unable to hide how drunk he really was. Steampunk giggled.
"No," she said. She turned to Scratch. "I'm a vampyre," she whispered.
Scratch smiled and kissed Steampunk's neck. "Then turn me," she whispered back, kissing along the gray-eyed mare's collarbone. Steampunk shivered and nodded.
"Okay," she answered. "I'll do it." Scratch stood calmly as Steampunk bit into her neck, her eyes fluttering closed.
"Helluva hickey," snorted Big Mac. Samuel stood silently, his drunkenness temporarily dispelled. He was ready to pull his sister off the celebrity if he had to. He relaxed when she pulled away.
"Man," Steampunk breathed. "That was… You tasted amazing."
"Really?" giggled Vinyl. "Can't say I've heard that one before. Thanks, I think."
"You're going to want to come with me," said Twilight, who had been watching silently. She motioned towards the bathroom, and Scratch followed her in. They walked out seconds later. Steampunk grinned up at the two.
"Back so soon?" she asked. Twilight nodded and held up a bottle of painkillers so that only Steampunk could see what it was. Steampunk nodded, knowing why they had been administered. Twilight had told her what it was like to be turned.
Half an hour later, Scratch was brushing against Samuel and sighing, all the while putting on her most seductive smile. Samuel was obviously trying to resist with his mind, but his body told a different story entirely.
"Please," begged the DJ pony once more. "I really need you to do this for me." She winked up at him, and he shivered. Meanwhile, Steampunk, Twilight, and Fluttershy were ganging up on Big Mac.
"Mmm, I can see why he's called Big Mac," said Steampunk. Scratch's attempts at seducing Samuel had aroused the poor stallion. Applejack, Pinkie Pie, and Rainbow Dash joined Scratch in trying to seduce Samuel.
"Look," started Big Mac, scanning the three advancing mares. "Ah know we're all right drunk an' whatnot, but ah really don't feel comf'terble with this." He would have said more in his defense had Steampunk not chosen that moment to kiss him. That was all it took for the big stallion to give in.
He pushed Steampunk to the ground, positioning himself just so. Steampunk licked her lips in anticipation. For once, her gun was still and silent. Then, Big Mac thrust his hips, and he was in. Steampunk gasped, marveling at the feeling. 'And I thought blood was good,' she thought. This was, hooves down, much better.
"Are ya okay miss?" asked Big Mac, gazing at her tentatively.
Steampunk nodded up at him. "Yeah, I'm better than okay. This is…wow…" Her hips jerked, and she let out a sound that was half gasp and half moan. "Just please," she continued when she could speak again. "Keep going."
"Yes, ma'am," replied the apple-red stallion with a grin. Behind him, Scratch let out a sigh as Samuel, too, gave in. Big Mac began pumping his hips against Steampunk's slender frame, much to her delight. Sensation blazed through her with every small movement, and soon was making noises far too guttural to be moans yet not shrill enough to be screams. Her hips bucked side-to-side, up and down, and undulated much like the waves in the ocean.
Big Mac was himself rightly enjoying his bedding with this fine young filly, as he had had his eyes set on Steampunk for quite some time. And now he was mating with her! The adrenaline rush was so great that he lost rhythm and began thrusting faster, harder. Steampunk was whimpering by now, and wailed at him when he stopped to see if she was okay. In response, Big Mac resumed his thrusting. They both came together, and fell into a shuddering, gasping heap.
Meanwhile, Vinyl was completely enraptured by the big stallion that was now entering her. She moaned in appreciation when Samuel entered her, marveling at how he filled her up. She had wanted this moment to happen since she had laid eyes on him that first time in his Canterlot shop. The sense of conquest was great, and she flipped Samuel onto his back, her hips grinding hard against his equine pelvis. She gasped when he grabbed her hip and began thrusting, first hard and fast, then slow and gentle, then hard and fast once more. She took everything he had to give and so much more, and by the time he finished inside of her, Vinyl was delirious from orgasm after orgasm.
Both stallions lay on the floor, gasping and utterly exhausted. Twilight and A.J. bit each one on the neck, grinning.
"It ain't over yet," said Applejack coyly. "Not 'til we all been satisfied like those two over there." She jerked a hoof in the direction of Steampunk and Vinyl, both of whom were lying on the floor, a twin look of utter satisfaction on both faces. The two stallions realized that Applejack intended to keep them up all night. "Please, sis," said Big Mac. "Me an' Samuel got to get back ta th' farm. There's Applebuckin' to be done tomorrow."
"Not a good enough reason," replied Rainbow Dash, lowering herself onto Samuel. Meanwhile, Fluttershy was doing the same with Big Mac, a hungry light shining in her aquamarine eyes. Both stallions groaned as the mating began again.
Samuel woke up to find that he had a massive hangover. He couldn't remember what had happened after the whiskey had been brought out, but for some reason, his neck and groin ached. He noticed that the girls were nowhere to be found, and when he realized what time it was, he shook Big Mac awake.
"Come on," he urged the big red stallion. "We have to get to your farm, and quick! We're late!" At this last word, Big Mac's eyes shot open.
"Shit," he yelled. "I never been late ta start before! Luna damn it! Come on what are you standing there for?"
Samuel shook his head to clear it. "What the buck happened last night?" he asked.
"F'rgit that!" shouted B.M. "We have to bucking move, and now!" They both bolted out the door and ran towards the edge of town. After they left, Pinkie Pie stepped out of the shadows.
"They left the door open and curtains up!" she pouted. Her hair fell in a silky pink waterfall down the right side of her head. "How rude!" She went to the door and shut it tight, then closed the drapes.
"Hey, I have to get back to my shop," said Steampunk, unlocking the door. Thanks for bringing me along. I had fun."
"You're going out now?" cried Pinkie in surprise. She had gone through the Change remarkably fast, and was now a full vampyre. "Won't that hurt your eyes?"
Steampunk shrugged. "Eh, you get used to it. Say," she said eyeing Pinkie. "Wanna come with me to my shop? I could use somepony to keep me company."
"Well," replied Pinkie, swinging her mane back and forth. "I don't know. Will the sun reach us?" Steampunk simply stared at her, answering the question without speaking. "Right," said Pinkie. "Let's go then!"
"Okie dokie Loki," answered Steampunk with a wink.
"Hey that's my line!" laughed the pink earth pony. With that, both ran out the door to the Colt's Repair Shop.
"Hey, I have an idea!" shouted Pinkie merrily, making Steampunk jolt and chip the wheel axle she was fixing.
"Luna damn it, Pinkie," said the gray-eyed mare. "Now I need a new axle." Sighing, she looked at her best friend. "Well, let's hear your idea then."
Pinkie chuckled, her long straight hair rippling with each movement. "How about we call Gilda for Dashie?" she hinted.
Steampunk had asked Pinkie about that story a few hours earlier, when they had first arrived at the shop. "No way," she said. "She hates you remember? No way will she come if you ask."
"Don't worry, I do a dead-on impersonation of Rainbow," said Pinkie, doing a dead-on impersonation of Rainbow.
"Wow," breathed Steampunk. "You're good." After a moment's thought, she said, "Well, go and call her then."
"Hello?" answered Gilda sleepily. Her phone had woken her up early, even though it was almost noon. "Who is it and what do you want?" To her surprise, Rainbow Dash answered her.
"Hey pal!" shouted the voice on the other end. "I gave some thought to what you said, and you're right. Everypony here is lame. I was going to come see you, but I can't really remember where you live."
"Well then, I'll come get you," answered the griffon smugly. "I knew you'd come around eventually. Want me to come now?"
"No!" shouted the voice. "I mean, tonight is better. I'd rather disappear quietly, y'know?"
"Hmph," huffed Gilda. "Cutting into my sleep again, eh? All right, fine. Meet me on the edge of the Everfree Forest at midnight."
"Sounds perfect," laughed the voice on the other end. Then, the line went dead. Sighing, Gilda dropped back into bed and was soon asleep once more.
"She fell for it!" screamed Pinkie triumphantly, and this time, the wheel axle snapped when Steampunk jumped.
"Pinkie!" shouted Steampunk angrily. "Take it down a notch will ya?"
"Sorry," answered Pinkie, handing her friend another axle. "Forgot you were there." She giggled nervously.
"For the love of Celestia," muttered Steampunk as she resumed working. "Can you hand me the 2-inch socket wrench?"
"Sure," replied Pinkie, happily handing it over. "So, anyway, I told Gilda to meet me on the edge of the Everfree Forest at midnight. Will you be there?"
Steampunk stopped and involuntarily licked her lips at the memory of the previous night. "Sure," she finally replied, working again, a sucker in her mouth. "Hacksaw, please."
Midnight rolled around, and six of the seven vampyres sat in the forest, just out of sight. Rainbow Dash sat in a clearing just inside the forest, know her friends lie in a circle, waiting for their prey. It was the perfect spot for an ambush.
"I sure hope that dumpy griffon shows up soon," muttered the blue pegasus. As if on cue, the sound of giant wings beating filled the clearing.
"Who are you calling dumpy, you lamebrain?" Gilda replied. She stood tall, and everypony present couldn't help but marvel at how good her blood would taste. "So you want to get out of this town? I knew you'd see the light, Dash."
"Oh, I've seen it all right," grinned Dash. "And you were right all along." This last sentence was directed at Fluttershy, and was the signal to attack. Out of nowhere, the yellow Pegasus slammed into the massive griffon's side, knocking the wind from Gilda's lungs before she could make a sound.
As soon as she hit the ground, a pepper of bullets hit her legs, disabling them. It was over then, and everypony jumped on top of her, ripping her apart and savoring every last drop of blood that was drawn from the hulking creature.
Spike walked through the forest, following the hoofprints and calling Twilight's name. Suddenly he stumbled upon the group.
"Twilight, oh thank goodness," said Spike. "I have a letter from the princess." His voice died in his throat. He suddenly noticed the corpse of gilda, the blood everywhere, and how it coated Twilight and her friends.
"Sorry, Spike," replied Twilight. "You've seen too much." With that, Das slammed a hoof into the back of his head, and he passed out.
He swore he felt something bit his neck before he went under.