Chapter 24
A big family reunion has now turned into a much bigger reunion, and one the entire Apple family hoped never to experience as Tony, the brother of their family friend, and the uncle of little Timmy now stood before them, angry, hungry, and out for blood. He stared to the whole crowd of Apples with his monstrous eyes that depicted them to be food, but much to his surprise, there was a lot more disappointed and even angry looks in the crowd then there were looks of fear. Anger from this kind and fun loving family was new for Tony, but it only pushed his interest even further as he bared his teeth and chuckled at them all for their bravery to stay put rather than flee.
"So...! Is there any pony here that fills like running, or are you all going to continue to look upon me with those cute looks,"Tony questioned while not receiving answers in return,"I see what this is...! Zecora told you all I would be coming to this little reunion right...?"
"I only spoke of you returning for my child, that is why they were kind enough to take him out of the wild,"Zecora called out while maintaining her look as Tony looked to her,"I didn't think you were so bold to come here at this time, and all just to get your claws on the sweet child of mine..."
"Well I gotta admit, you're not wrong about that one Zecora,"Tony said before looking back to the crowd of Apples standing before him"But I also wanted to see the faces of old friends before I got to work... And may I just say, there are so many new faces here since our time... However, I can see a bunch of you old folks out there...!"
Tony chuckled as he looked out into the crowd, so many new faces were in front of him, and yet he could see so many old ones that really hit home for him, Apple Biscuit, Apple Fritter, and especially Apple Rose. However, the one Apple he knew the most of was the very Apple who was now pushing her way through the crowd looking very angry as she shouted out to the beast that murdered his own brother, and the best friend of the entire family.
"Tony! You darn murderous and self serving varmint! Ah got a major bone to pick with you!"Yelled the voice of granny Smith as she pushed her way through the crowd of Apples.
"That smell, it is old and familiar, just like you old goat... It's been a very long time hasn't it...? Smith,"Tony hissed as these two old foes met once again after so long,"My goodness...! The years have been hard on you haven't they Apple Smith, you practically have one hoof in the grave as of now...!"
"Ah may be old! But I'm still better looking than you are Tony! you look terrible actually, clammy skin, smell like death,"Smith mocked as she wielded a cane and was ready to start swinging,"And don't you ferget who almost tanned yer hide fer always killing the animals around the farm...! Ah may be old, but Ah can still give you one hay of a whoopin!"
"You know... There was once a time where I tolerated your ignorance, but that was because Tim was here to protect you from me,"Tony said with a chuckle before looking around to verify something for Smith,"However...! Tim's not here any more old mare, there's nothing standing between you and me now...!
"That' something Ah wanted to ask you about, since yer willing to do a whole bunch of talking,"Applejack called out as she made her way through the crowd looking real upset herself,"Ah learned of how you killed yer own brother just because he was in love with a pony and all! Now would you care to share with us why you did that?! What did we ever do to you that made you do all this horrible things!"
"So young... Clearly just as ignorant as the rest of them, you don't know what abuse I have endured from your kind while Tim enjoyed their attention and friendly behavior,"Tony hissed while snarling at the mare,"My brother was getting too attached, he couldn't see the cruelty you ponies brought to me, and the cruelty they would bring to him...!"
"So this is just you acting out because you can't stand what you are?! So you were just going to make yer brother suffer with you rather than be happy!"Applejack yelled before Tony suddenly walked over and grabbed her by her throat as her family suddenly panicked.
"I gave him the means to accept the fact that we are beast and you are the cattle! You are the prey...! And we are the predator,"Tony said as he held Applejack in a vice grip with his claws just grazing her throat,"He wanted to change all that! He wanted to be something that we just cannot be! But to the very end, he believed in that crap! And he paid the price for it!"
"Let her go Tony! Er else you gonna be dealing with all of us!"Granny Smith warned as the entire family was ready to advance on him.
"Don't even try it little lambs! You would all just be giving yourselves into the reality of slaughter by my claws!"Tony said with a defensive roar as he applied more pressure to Applejack's throat.
Suddenly as he snarled and sneered at Applejack while trying to think of ways he could end her, he then detected the smell of another pony, one who was also covered in the scent of the one he had truly come to destroy. His cold eyes descended upon the riled crowd and began searching for the source of this new scent, and to his avail his eyes made it through the crowd and found Apple Bloom. A smirk had then suddenly grew on his face as he began to chuckle before surprising the whole family by putting Applejack down and turning back to the crowd.
"You know...! I heard not only that you all were actually liking my nephew, but one of you has taken more than a liking to him,"Tony said before shooting Apple Biscuit a blank look,"And I'm not talking about you Apple Biscuit!"
"We all like him Tony, just like they all loved yer brother, before you took him away!"Came the yells of Big Mac from the barn as much bigger stallions emerged from playing music.
"That's not the kind of like I'm talking about...! I'm talking the kind of like that makes two little friends into... special friends,"Tony said smirking into the crowds and his new target,"I... caught my little nephew a little while back sharing quite an adorable moment with a special some pony in the crowd... I wonder what would happen if something were to happen to that certain some pony...!"
Suddenly in a flash of speed and a small roar, Tony suddenly charged his way through the crowd of ponies and looked to all of them before suddenly reaching out and grabbing Apple Bloom in a flash of raw speed by her red mane and pink bow. She was able to let out a scream before Tony appeared right behind them all and held Apple Bloom firmly in his claws as she dangled once again in a beasts grip. The crowd then turned around to see Apple Bloom captured and were immediately panicking as they watched one of the youngest and kindest Apples now captured and in serious danger at the claws of this foe.
"So this is the one Timmy calls Apple Bloom, no wonder he fell for you, almost nothing would ever want to bring harm to you,"Tony said with a chuckle as Apple Bloom struggled against his grip,"Well... I did say almost nothing, I wonder what my nephew would do if maybe your life hung in the balance!"
"You let mah sister go! Er else Ah'll destroy you-"Applejack threatened before she saw Tony's claws going to Apple Bloom's throat.
"Now now my little pony...! I don't want any accidents here, all I need to do is have a little slip and I might accidentally cut something,"Tony warned as he held his claws right at Apple Bloom's neck,"I'd hate to kill such a cute and innocent little creature like this one, I just want to see my nephew...!"
"You...! Let me go! Or yer gonna be sorry!"Apple Bloom bravely warned as she heard growling go off in the crowd.
"You will not see him Tony! I will not let you hurt him!"Zecora refused fiercely as Tony's patience was quickly running out.
"Okay then! THEN THIS ONE DIES IN HIS PLACE THEN! SINCE HE CLEARLY DOESN'T CARE FOR HER!"Tony roared as he reared back his right hand full of claws to strike at Apple Bloom.
It was then that Tony suddenly felt sharp teeth sink into his ankle as he cried out in a loud and primal shriek before Apple Bloom was next to bite into his wrist and tear herself out of Tony's grip leaving her pink bow behind once again. As Apple Bloom ran back to the safety of her family, Tony looked to the bite at his wrist before he then looked to his ankle to see a deep and bloody wound while a small growl went off. Tony growled as he turned to see Timmy with his teeth and claws out challenging Tony, clearly not pleased with his actions towards Apple Bloom, and he was ready to fight his uncle no matter what.
"Come on Ya'll! We can't stay here! It's about to get real ugly out here!"Applejack instinctively called to her entire family as they all then suddenly began running in all directions.
Wanting to stay with Timmy Apple Bloom tried to push her way through the crowd as the family worked like a stampede running into the barn while some his in a nearby shed, and even some his in the house. It was then that Apple Bloom was picked up by her sister and carried off, but she cried and called for Timmy as Applejack dragged her away, much to Timmy's relief. He then looked back to his uncle Tony, who to his surprise was chuckling sinister like as Timmy snarled and growled in anger for Tony's actions against Apple Bloom.
"You touch Apple Bloom again...! And I will kill you!"Timmy growled at his uncle as they exchanged glares in their little stand off.
"So...! There's my little nephew! Timmy right...? My my, you look so much like your father,"Tony hissed with a wicked grin at his nephews hate for him,"Oh...! Look at you, your quite the feisty looking one aren't you, you wanna kill me for what I tried to do to your little friend there, how sweet!"
"No one hurts Apple Bloom! Not even you! Uncle...!"Timmy snapped as his uncle began to circle the boy.
"So...! You heard about me huh? Let me guess, Smith told you all about me and the things that happened between me and your father,"Tony questioned with a sneer as they both then began to circle one another,"Look boy, I only did what had to be done for your father, and he wasn't having it! He tried to make us more than we truly were, and now you're actually believing this crap too?!"
Timmy roared as he suddenly pounced upon Tony, he was small and quick, making it almost impossible to grab for him as he dug his claws into Tony and crawled around his dull grey body and trying to make it to his neck. Tony struggled as he snarled and sneered before seeing Timmy make it up to his neck, and he was quick to grab the boys head before throwing him off and shaking off the attack.
"Wow...! You almost got me there...! Going straight for throat I like that, you know that's how it was the first time,"Tony said with a deep breath before a chuckle to confuse Timmy,"When you were just a baby...! I killed your old man, but when my guard was down...! You snuck out of your little blanket, crawled over and chewed my freaking neck out!"
Timmy just growled as he jumped and slashed at Tony only to get swatted away and sent flying right into the side of the Apple house, leaving a big cracked up crater in the side of the wooden wall before sliding down and landing on his rear. He shook his head to shake off the blow before seeing his uncle right in front of him and snatching him up by his throat. He then lifted the boy slowly up into the air and growled happily while Timmy kicked at him and clawed at Tony's arm to get free, but his uncle's grip was strong and firm.
Apple Bloom herself was watching from one of the windows in a panic before she was pulled away back into the arms of her worried family, but help did come to Timmy as a certain family dog jumped out of her dog house and came to the rescue. Brave Winona had arrived barking as she ran at Tony, gaining his attention just long enough for Timmy to bite down on the fingers of the hand that held him and tear off Tony's index finger and middle finger. Tony shrieked again as Timmy was then gradually released, and Winona was not yet done with him as she then leaped forward and sunk her canine teeth into Tony's back part of his ankle.
He felt as his Achilles heel was ripped apart before he was able to smack Winona away before dropping to one knee and grabbing his ruined ankle that now was restricting his movements as he felt his right foot losing feeling. Suddenly he was then slashed across the face and knocked to the ground by Timmy who was now snarling and hissing at Timmy with eyes that strangely had begun to turn completely blood red. Meanwhile at that same time, Winona was able to get up, and when she saw Timmy's new set of eyes, she whimpered before running back towards the house to let the nephew and his uncle fight with no strings attached.
"Wow...! I gotta admit, that was my big mistake, maybe your old man was right that night, you are strong... For a boy that is,"Tony aid while standing up on one foot to see his nephew and smirked at the sudden change,"But are you strong enough to fight what you're seeing right now...? Can you fight the hunger...?! Your father sure couldn't...!"
Timmy roared with nothing but red in his vision as he and Tony both ran at each other, only Tony had to limp to him and jump with one leg as they slammed into each other and rolled down the hills of the land. With teeth, fangs and claws, they slashed and cut at each other, digging deep into their flesh as they rolled down a steep hill and suddenly disappeared deep into a field of apple trees. They then came to a stop as they both slammed against one tree before Tony was able to kick Timmy off him before the boy could start chewing on his leg.
Timmy smacked his head against a tree and was a bit dazed, but the savage nature he felt starting to leak out of him was making him feel invincible as he looked to a significant slash mark over his chest. He snarled wildly before turning around and picking up one of the trees, just as Tony jumped with all his might to try and attack Timmy, but he was not prepared with what came next as he then saw a swinging tree in his face. Tony felt the full impact as he was knocked right into the air like a base ball getting struck with a baseball bat before Timmy dropped the tree and jumped high in the air as well.
"No matter what you say! I'm not going to be like you, and I'll never accept your bad talk about ponies, they're are friends!"Timmy growled as they met in the air and exchanged blow for blow.
"They don't care for us, we're just beasts to them, the minute you act up or stop denying your true nature, that's when they deny you,"Tony growled before slashing a cut on Timmy's cheek as they slowly descended,"Your father was a dreamer! And now your a dreamer, who is only going to learn the hard way what happens when you tried to be more than you really are!"
"You're wrong! I see what my father saw, and I'm not going to let you go the same thing again,"Timmy growled before suddenly dodging and swing before plunging a claw into Tony's chest,"I won't let that happen again! And I won't let you hurt any pony else!"
It was then that Tony felt Timmy hug him as they plummet to the ground and crashed hard, dirt and rocks went in the air and in all directions as Timmy let his uncle take the full force of the fall while he only felt his head get rattled by the force. Timmy struggle to get his mind under control, his ears were ringing as he held his head with one hand while the other had went deep into his uncle's chest and was only a mere centimeter from his heart, Timmy could practically hear it beating. Like Tony's heart however, his red vision was beating like a heart as well as he felt the strangest craving for flesh, it made him see red, but his worries would immediately fall to his uncle and how he had tried to hurt Apple Bloom.
"What's a matter boy...?! Do you feel it? Doesn't that redness in your eyes just scream out its desire for death and blood,"Tony questioned with a weak chuckle,"You feel it don't you Timmy, not even your father could control it, and you won't control it, you'll kill the filly like your father killed your mother...!"
Timmy could only breath heavy before he noticed Tony looking to his left weakly and smirking for that matter, it was then that the boy looked and felt his crazed senses go off as he then saw Apple Bloom standing just at the door way to the house.
"Timmy...? Are you okay...? He didn't hurt you did he,"Apple Bloom asked as she dared to get closer before seeing Timmy's bloody red eyes,"Timmy... What did he do to you...? Are you hurt...?"
"You fool...! You just stepped right into the hunger's line of sight, and no matter what...! The predator will kill all that it sees,"Tony said with a chuckle as Timmy stood up and snarled at her,"You can deny it all you like, but he will soon devour you where you now stand...!"
"No...! No he won't! Timmy would never hurt me,"Apple Bloom said before suddenly running towards Timmy surprising all in the process,"Timmy...! Ah know you can hear me in there, Ah know you won't hurt me! Yer not a monster Timmy, and you never will be! Please Timmy just listen to me, it's me Apple Bloom!"
"Apple Bloom...! Don't get any closer my dear, Timmy has not had his serum I fear,"Zecora called as she burst through the door to chase her,"You need to stay away from him Apple Bloom, he'll kill you!"
"No he won't!"Apple Bloom cried as she jumped to Timmy and wrapped her arms around him before all went silent.
They all then waited as Timmy froze in place and looked to the sky while he quivered and shook like a cold wet dog in the middle of a painful winter, he was feeling great fear for what he was about to do to his special friend as he then went to grip her. Tony only kept a small smirk as he waited for what he expected his nephew to do, break the neck and then feed on the screaming victim to satisfy his craving for flesh. It was then that all felt their hearts miss a beat before Timmy finally wrapped his arms around her and showed his razor sharp teeth before looking into Apple Bloom's eyes with a strange look that appeared to be saying hungry, but that wasn't what his heart was telling him.
His red mind was telling him to feed, but his heart was saying to love, he felt his two different pieces of his conscious fighting to decide what to do, all but Tony were begging for the right one and as Timmy closed in with his jaws slightly open towards Apple Bloom. Finally they all gasp before Tony himself was overwhelmed with what just happened, Timmy was now kissing Apple Bloom, he was doing it ever so gently and with a small tear leaving his red eyes. Apple Bloom tightened her hug as she accepted the kiss and looked into his eyes before they had gradually turned back into their adorable baby blue look as he then dropped to his knees completely weary from the fight.
"Apple Bloom... I love you... I love you... I will never hurt you,"Timmy said with heavy breaths as they parted lips only for Apple Bloom to nuzzle his cheek,"I won't hurt you... I can never hurt you... My... Special friend..."
"Ah know you would never hurt me Timmy... Ah love you too...! So much,"Apple Bloom said as she hugged the boy tightly while some of her family emerged from hiding,"You have a family here Timmy, and now we know you'll never hurt us, you just proved yer so much stronger than you ever thought before..."
"How...? How is it... That you... Controlled it without the serum... How did you do it...?"Tony interrupted as Timmy and Apple Bloom turned to the badly injured Tony.
"Because me and Apple Bloom are special friends, and no matter the difference, where you come from or what you are,"Timmy started before smiling to Apple Bloom and holding her hoof,"It all matters on the choices we make, and I chose not to be a monster, that's why she knew I wouldn't hurt her!"
"But why? you are so different from them, why would you fight and try to be their friend when they know you're dangerous to them...?"Tony questioned almost in a begging tone as he laid there with weak breaths.
"If you're willing to be nice, when you don't just allow your mind to work with the beast, and when you learn to expand your mind to the possibilities, you can do anything,"Timmy did as he slowly got off his uncle with some help from Apple Bloom, and picked up the remains of Apple Bloom's bow"You still have a chance to do that too uncle, you got a second chance at life, I suggest you take it...!"
"What?! Why...? I took your father and mother from you...! I tried to kill you as a baby and I tried to kill you now,"Tony said as he struggled to get to his feet and look to his nephew as they walked away,"Why...?! Why are you doing this?! Why are you letting me LIVE?!"
"Because you're the only family I have left, and dad would probably want his little brother not to die unhappy and alone,"Timmy said solemnly while Tony widened his eyes as all the ponies emerged from hiding and gathered around them,"No matter what happens and no matter what you did or do from here on out, you're still my uncle, and I have to care for you no matter what..."
"What...! You... *sigh*... You really are your father aren't you...? So kind and so soft,"Tony said before dropping to his knees before he could sigh again,"You can actually feel and love, not caring what you are, and yet... No matter what... You can't stop trying to love..."
It was then that Tony looked around to see all the Apples looking down on him, and in return he just looked to the ground and waited for the pain to begin for all the bad stuff he did, but the pain surprisingly never came to him like he thought. Instead as he looked up to see what was going on, he only saw Zecora standing before him with a small black hoof extended to him to take up. Once he gripped the hoof and got back to his feet, he looked to Zecora who gave him a stern yet solemn look as she then shook his hand in a desperate attempt for peace.
"Come with me Tony, please take this plea,"Zecora said while Tony looked solemnly and shamefully to the zebra,"If you come with me, you will see, the love that is with my dear sweet Timmy."
Tony looked to Timmy as not only Apple Bloom, but Applejack, Big Mac, and granny Smith all joined around the boy for a group hug and knew for certain that there was no way this boy would give up on this good life, and now he had nothing to worry about when it came to the hunger. He then kept his head lowered in shame and slowly nodded in hopes of trying to feel something, and for the first time in a long time... Tony felt happy that he finally gave up on this path of hatred, and found peace.
"Yes... Just make the pain top, let me try and feel what my brother... And my nephew you felt..."Tony begged as Zecora began to smile and nod while Timmy looked over and saw a possible brighter future for his uncle.
ALRIGHT, TWO MORE CHAPTERS TO GO, THE AFTERMATH A WEEK LATER AND THE EPILOGUE MANY YEARS LATER, I'M GONNA FINISH STRONG FOR YOU ALL EVERY PONY. STAY TUNE.