Salutations abound, dear readers. I hope your weeks have been going well, and you've enjoyed life. I won't waste time here, so I'll jump right into comments.

Kevin Lapse: Happens to the best of us. Sometimes ya get hit by the 'laze'.

WarHusky2000: I've been told Sherry and Tyr don't spend enough time together. That will be rectified in the near future. And Capstone is only Sherry's guard... for now.

N1gh7Wolf93: Yes, except they turn to crystal instead of ash. Celestia is almighty matchmaker, and Sherry might be involved with the Stone Ponies. Maybe.

Chaddmychal: Vanna enjoyed that realm. Free fire resistance and all that.

leafsoul: Thanks for reading!

Captain Alaska: Sums up how I feel about waiting on yoour new chapters! (No rush tho, keep up the good work!)

Enough outta me. Let's get ourselves into the chapter!

Chapter 34: Minding a Monster

"Thanks for helping me clean this place up," Solstice said, wiping his brow with a rag as he set aside his broom. Behind him, using her magic to dust off a table, Sunset grinned.

"I don't mind at all, dad," She said. "I told you I'd help."

"You already found this place," Solstice said, looking around at the shop's interior. It was all wood, with a rustic lived in feel, and had plenty of space. It was nestled in between tall stone buildings on either side, but had a decent front near the main street. In addition, it had two stories, providing a living space. There was even a basement storage area. Solstice used his magic to pull over a chair to sit in. "I could have cleaned it up myself."

Sunset rolled her eyes. "Maybe I just wanted to spent time with my dad?"

"Bah. You know I'm no fun to hang out with."

"Oh stop!" Sunset laughed and walked over to join him. The two gold ponies sat there in companionable silence for a minute, before the mare spoke up again. "So, when are you gonna haul in all your junk?"

Solstice looked at her in mock hurt. "Sunny! All those things you call junk are artifacts and relics! They're really valuable!"

His daughter gave him a flat look. "Okay… so when are you hauling in your junk?"

The stallion rolled his eyes as his daughter laughed at him. "This weekend. I have a lot of stuff, if you'd believe it. Plus, I have to get stuff to actually live here…"

"Then you're going to invite Sunrise over?" Sunset smirked, jabbing her father with a hoof.

Solstice frowned, but let out a sigh. "…I dunno, really. I don't really have a way to contact her, or tell her about getting back earlier than expected."

"And I never ran into her at the castle," Sunset added. She gave her father a curious look. "And you're sure she works with Princess Celestia?"

"I'm certain. At least… unless she lied to me about it."

The melancholy in his voice caught Sunset's attention, and she frowned at her father. "Lied to you?" She asked softly.

"I mean, I've done my share of lying in my life, so maybe it's my turn to be lied to…"

"Don't say that!" His daughter snapped, jarring him from his self-pity. "You're a decent stallion, dad, and I refuse to let you think any different. You deserve to be happy, and not because you're my dad. But because you've already turned from your old ways and are trying to go clean, you should be happy."

"What about all the ponies I've stolen from?" Solstice asked. "I was a thief, Sunny. A freaking good one, but a thief nonetheless. Didn't they deserve to be happy too?"

"I guess like father like daughter, huh?" Sunset sat back against the wall. "I stole from Princess Twilight, and that's why I ran away to another world. So do I deserve to be happy?"

Solstice was silent, looking at his daughter. Despite looking largely the way he remembered, it seemed like his daughter was several years older. Which was true, in a way. He had questioned her about her time in the other world, at the school called Canterlot High. According to the stories she told, after graduating from the school, she had considered coming back home, but instead had gone to college. Unfortunately, the friends she had made at Canterlot High went off to other schools, only keeping in touch with text messages and emails. After a couple years on her own, Sunset had returned to visit Canterlot High and Principal Celestia. That's when she had her talk with the woman about returning home, and decided to do just that. She returned to how she was when she left in the first place, but still had all of her memories and experiences. So while it looked like an older stallion was spending time with his young adult daughter, it was more like Sunset was recounting experiences almost akin to his own.

"Dad?"

He blinked, looking up at her. A small smile crossed his face. "You deserve to be happy. Find a nice stallion or mare to settle down with and maybe have grandkids before I get too old to spoil them."

Sunset rolled her eyes. "Gosh dad. Embarrass me more?"

"Not until you bring a special somepony to meet me."

"Double date then?"

They both shared a short chuckle at that. Solstice got up from his seat and walked over to the other side of the room, where a suitcase was sitting. "Well, at least I brought some of my camping gear so that I can—ow!"

Sunset jumped up from her seat, almost galloping over. "What? What happened? Are you okay?"

"Jeez, you freak out just like Flame Ruby," Solstice chuckled. He held out his hoof, where a small trickle of blood was coming from it. "I think there's an exposed nail around here, and I stepped on it. No big deal."

"…Right…" Sunset heard what he was saying, but at the same time she didn't. Her eyes were fixed on her father's wound. The hypnotizing sight of each droplet of blood dripping to the floor had momentarily paralyzed her.

"Sunny!" Solstice snapped suddenly, snapping her out of her reverie. Her eyes, slowly turning a slight red color, shot up to his. His confused expression gave way to one a bit more worried. "…You alright, Sunset?"

"I… uh… Might just be hungry," Sunset mumbled quickly, turning away. "Sorry."

"We can go get something to eat if you want," Her dad said, going to his bag and getting out a first aid kit. "I think I saw a decent place down the road…"

"It's fine dad," Sunset said, backing up a step. "I don't want you to waste your money. I'll go eat at home."

The gold stallion frowned, glancing back at her. "…You sure?"

Sunset forced herself to smile. The smell of blood was still in the air, and it was strong. She couldn't stay here for much longer. "It's fine, dad. My roommate is a really good cook."

"Oh? Maybe I should drop by and try it for myself?"

This was not going well. In mock frustration, Sunset raised a hoof and pressed it to her forehead. "Dad. Stop trying to mooch a meal off me."

"What~?" He chuckled. "Fine, fine. Maybe I'll luck out and see Sunrise or something. Have fun with your friends."

Sunset rolled her eyes. "Right. I'll talk to you later dad. Don't do anything I wouldn't!"

"That's a terribly short list," Solstice said thoughtfully, laughing when his daughter hit him in the foreleg. She gave him a momentary pout before laughing as well. With one last wave, she left. Sunset made sure she was out of view of the building before quickly lighting up her horn and teleporting home. She must have been craving blood too much to think straight, because instead of ending up in the living room like she wanted, she appeared about a foot over the couch, hanging in the air for only a moment before crashing down into the cushions.

"Damn it," She muttered into the couch.

A small giggle. "That was very graceful of you, Sunset."

"Shut up, Snow White," Sunset grumbled, pulling herself out of the couch. Seated in her wheelchair and with a book open in her lap, Heart Song watched her with a small smile on her face. "What?"

"Rough day?"

"I need a drink," Sunset grumbled, getting up and heading to the fridge. Lucky for her, she had managed to claim one of the drawers in the fridge for her personal use, and convince Shining Light that she only stored a special herbal juice in there. Which was a lie, but whatever.

Heart Song followed her path with her eyes, suddenly speaking up when Sunset was a step away from the fridge. "…Would you like something fresh?" She asked softly.

The vampire pony froze on the spot. With a disturbing slowness, she turned to look at the all-white unicorn mare. "…What… did you say?"

"I asked if you wanted something fresh," Song repeated, smile never fading. "Do you?"

"How in Equestria would you…" Sunset frowned.

"Yes or no question, Sunset."

Sunset frowned. "…Fine. Yes. Why do you have to act so cryptic about stuff?"

Song giggled. "I just like the way it makes you get upset when I do. Follow me."

The disabled mare closed her book and began rolling herself to the hall. Sunset watched her for a minute, before sighing and following after. The white unicorn led her to the back of the house and stopped before a nondescript wall panel. She pressed one hoof to it, and then the panel opened to reveal a staircase. "…What," Sunset said flatly.

"A basement!" Song said with a giggle. "I don't even think Shining Light knows this is here. Come on, the steps are fine."

"I hope you're not gonna trap me down here and torture me or something…" Sunset frowned, following Song as she used her magic to levitate herself down the stairs.

"Whatever gives you that impression?"

"You'd seem the type. Generally nice, but has a dark side no one ever expected."

"Oh?" The sound of wheels hitting stone floor. "And you don't have a dark side?"

"Can't have a dark side if I'm all dark," Sunset remarked with a small laugh. She reached the bottom of the steps, finding Song staring at her. With her naturally red eyes, it was unnerving. "…W-What?"

"Even in the deepest shadow, there is always light," Song said. Then she grinned. "Don't you listen to my music at all?"

Sunset frowned and rolled her eyes. "I didn't even know you recorded."

Song giggled but said no more on the subject. Instead, she led her gold companion over to a side door. She paused before opening it. "…Sunset, I need to ask you something."

"…Hm? What?"

"I'd like you to not tell anyone what you see in here."

"What? Why?"

"Seriously, Sunset." Song turned around, fixing the other pony with her blood red eyes. "I'm not joking around. What I am about to show you is something I do not want you to speak a word of to anyone."

"Are you about to show me something I don't want to see?"

Song smiled softly, but there was a more evil feel to it. "I've already told you what I am, Sunset, and I know what you are. Consider it something only a monster could appreciate."

They were both monsters, Sunset had to admit. Both bloodthirsty in a world that strived for peace. "…Fine. I won't tell anyone."

"Good! I'd hate to have misplaced my trust in you," the other mare said, undoing a lock on the door. She pushed the door open. "Come on in."

The two mares entered the room, and Sunset nearly lost the bottom half of her jaw. The room was mostly barren, except for one table and a single chair in the middle of the room. Strapped to the chair was a dark brown pegasus with a scruffy unkempt sky blue mane. He was currently unconscious, and that didn't change as they entered. "…Song… what the hell is this?"

"This is Mr. Broken Bird," Song said, matter of factly and moving over to the table set against the wall. There was a folder on it, and she picked it up with her magic.

"You kidnapped somebody?"

"No, he was brought here."

"But… why?"

Song smiled. "Remember when I told you about my urges? This is how I deal with them." The white unicorn moved back around the room to sit in front of Sunset. "Ask away. I know you have questions."

"Who is this stallion?"

Song opened the folder and rifled through it. "Broken Bird—former veterinarian out of Cloudsdale. Specialized in avian care and treatment. Later moved to Los Pegasus."

Sunset looked over at the stallion. He did have a Cutie Mark of a bird's wing. "And he… how did you get him here?"

"You remember Grace and her organization, right?" Song smiled softly. "He actually was… captured by them."

"Captured?"

"He's a criminal. Quite a bad one at that."

Sunset frowned. "…How bad?"

Song indicated the folder. "According to the information I was given… he is a rapist. Accused of multiple counts, in fact."

"A… a rapist!?" Sunset was flabbergasted. She knew that Equestria wasn't perfect, that there were many ponies that were not inherently good, but she would have never imagined somepony being capable of… rape. "Are you… sure?"

"Very. Grace's ponies are very thorough."

"So… they brought him here?"

"Yes. I have an arrangement with ODIN. If they find a particularly terrible criminal, they bring them to me. And I… exorcise my demons." She giggled softly, before wheeling herself over to the unconscious pony. "Time to wake up, Mr. Bird…"

She punctuated the somewhat sweet statement with a brutal backwards strike with her hoof. The blow woke the stallion up immediately. "Oh BUCK! What the Tartarus was that?" He snarled, eyes snapping open to glare at Song. "…Who the buck are you?"

"I'm your new jailer," Song said simply. Her voice seemed to split and take on multiple tones, all in harmony with one another like if a chorus was singing. "You're in quite a jam, sir."

"Where the… where the buck am I?" His eyes found Sunset, simply staring from her spot near the wall. "You! Did you help her do this?"

"I didn't," Sunset said simply.

Song smiled. "Sunset here is a friend of mine, and observing."

Bird frowned. "Let me out of here. You have no right to hold me here!"

"I have the right to hold you in any way I please," Song said sweetly. "So please, do not shout."

"What, is this some sort of kink? I've dealt with weirder…"

"Well, it is a kink of some sort. Just not the kind you're thinking of."

Bird thrashed at his bindings. "Let me out of here!"

"No."

"Why? I haven't done anything to you!"

Song was silent for a minute. She glanced down at her folder. "…Have you ever met a filly known as Royal Flush?"

The stallion's eyes snapped to her. However he just as quickly looked away. "…No. I never heard of a filly by that name."

One of Song's voices whispered 'liar', but her mouth never moved. Instead, she simply smiled. She moved around to the side of the chair. "My brother is a pegasus. I've always been amazed at how their wings function…"

"What does that have to do with—?" His question was quickly cut off by a loud cracking noise and a scream from their captive. Song had maneuvered behind the pegasus and had taken hold of Bird's left wing. With barely any effort, she had snapped it in two. The pegasus seethed. "BUCK!"

"I do believe the bones in the wing are much more fragile than the others," Song said sweetly, voices singing as if they were laughing. "But all the nerves are just as sensitive."

"You… you whore! Why are you doing this?"

Song smiled widely. "Do you know a filly named Royal Flush?"

"I said I don't!"

The white unicorn sighed audibly, the tone of her song changed. The sounds of bones resetting and flesh knitting indicated that her song was fixing the damage she had just done to the limb. "…I want you to answer my question honestly."

"I said I never—AUGH!"

The sounds of bones cracking filled the room, and Sunset couldn't help but flinch as the wing Song was holding broke again. And to the gold unicorn's horror, her friend was enjoying this. Song's mouth was curled in a very dark smile, as the voices in the air clamored for more. The questioning continued, with Song continuing to break and repair the wing until finally—

"OKAY!"

"Hm?" Song paused in the middle of breaking the wing in her grasp one more time. "Yes?"

"I knew the filly! I saw her in Los Pegasus!"

"Oh, I knew that."

Bird gaped. "W-What? Then why…?"

"I wanted you to admit it."

"So I did it! Let me go!"

Song's demeanor changed almost completely. It went from a slightly sweet smile to something more demonic. "You… you really think I'd let you go? You? A rapist?"

"What? I—

"Do NOT attempt to tell me you didn't rape that filly. OR the thirteen other fillies that you've preyed upon over the years!" Song snarled. "Your kind make me sick. You think you can take advantage of innocent children and get away with it?"

Sunset felt sick to her stomach. This pony had not only was a rapist, but had raped thirteen innocent children. The very number was terrifying. "By the Princesses…"

Bird tried to speak, only to have Song strike him across the face. "You don't get to speak anymore," She hissed in seventy different tones. Her magic lashed out and struck his mouth, and then faded away. When Bird tried to speak, no sound came out.

Sunset blinked. "What…? What did you do?"

"I took his voice," Song said, almost nonchalantly. When she noticed Sunset staring at her, she shrugged. "My magic isn't just for controlling my voice or making music. I can also control sound in a relatively localized about me. That extends to the voices of those near me."

"That's… terrifying."

"I told you I'm a monster, my dear Sunset." Song smiled sadly. She turned back to her captive. "And now… this is the part where I ask if you want to watch."

Sunset felt something deep in her go darker as she looked at the restrained stallion. Song's last strike had left him spitting up blood. Blood that looked too good to pass up. "…What… what are you going to do to him?"

"Probably break all the bones in his body and then repair them," Song said, putting aside her folder. "And then break them again."

"How many times?"

Song turned back to Bird, his expression fearful and expectant. A devious smile touched her lips. "…At least thirteen times more."

"Good." Sunset scowled, feeling a sadistic pleasure at the soundless scream coming from the restrained stallion. "And I want to watch. It'll be even more satisfying when I get to drink his blood."

–x–

"Excuse me!"

Charlie looked up from the piece of metal she was chewing on to spot a white unicorn with a two tone mane approaching her. She finished with her iron and swallowed. "Yes?"

"You… wait, are you eating metal?"

"Yes." Charlie took another healthy bite out of the metal sheet. She smiled a little at the satisfying crunch. "The species of dragon I come from eat metal. I've tried gems, but they're more like candy."

The unicorn blinked. "You don't… eat normal food?"

"Oh, I do." Another crunch. "I just prefer metal."

"I see…" The mare shook her head. "But that's beside the point! You asked my boyfriend out on a date!"

"…I did?" Charlie frowned. Ever since she and her father had started visiting Ponyville, she had tried her hardest to avoid causing any problems. That's why she was even on the outskirts of the town park, keeping to herself under a tree. Yet she still managed to do it somehow. "Um… Sorry?"

"That's all you can say? You can't just go around asking out other pony's boyfriends!"

"Calm down!" The dragonkin said, holding up her hands. "I don't even know you, and I don't know who your boyfriend is."

The mare scowled. "My name is Sweetie Bell, and my boyfriend is Spike! Like the only other dragon in Ponyville?"

"Spike… oh, I met him the other day. I didn't know he was your boyfriend. And asking him out on a date? I just wanted him to make up for talking bad about my dad. I never asked him to take me on a date."

"You told him to take you out to eat," Sweetie Bell pointed out.

Charlie frowned. "I'm not planning on trying to date him or something. He pissed me off, I got angry, he apologized, and promised to make it up to me."

"…He's my boyfriend, don't forget that."

"If I wanted to steal someone's boyfriend," Charlie said, leaning back against the tree she was sitting beside. "I'd try a lot harder. Plus, your boyfriend isn't my type."

Sweetie Bell frowned. "Not your type?"

"I've been around enough adolescent dragons," Charlie snorted. "I am not attracted to guys like him either."

"Guys like… what's wrong with Spike?"

Charlie glanced back at the mare, who seemed quite upset. Obviously she really did like her boyfriend, and Charlie's off-hand comment about Spike bothered her. She fell silent, thinking for a bit. "…Sorry."

Sweetie Bell blinked. "…Wait, what? Why are you apologizing?"

"I said something you didn't like," the dragonkin said slowly, measuring each word. She set down her slab of metal. "And I apologize. I do tend to speak a bit… bluntly."

"Ain't nothing wrong with that," a country drawl pointed out. The two of them turned to see Applebloom approaching, what looked to be a tool belt around her body. "Howdy y'all."

"Oh, hey Applebloom," Sweetie said in greeting. "Where are you headed?"

"Tyr asked me ta help teach the Stone Ponies how ta work with wood," The farmer/carpenter said. She grinned. "Applejack apparently suggested it to him."

"I see the sense in that," Charlie said thoughtfully. "Stone is useful, but wood is as well."

Applebloom glanced over at the dragonkin. After a moment of looking her over, she smacked her hooves together. "You must be Charlie then. I heard about you from Goldie and Bramley."

"They remembered me? Oh. Well, nice to meet you."

The country pony grinned. "Pleasure. So you're the one Sweetie was complaining about?"

The dragonkin glanced over at the white mare, who blushed. "I was kinda upset at the time, to be honest."

"I didn't think what I said through," Charlie pointed out. "I have a tendency to be up front about how I feel."

"Ain't nothing wrong with being true to yourself," Applebloom said.

"It's more like my emotions run hot at the wrong times. Sometimes I know I don't need to get angry or bothered, but I do." The girl sighed and looked down at her hands. "I guess that's why I was classified as a World Ending Event."

"A world ending…?" Sweetie blinked. "What do you mean?"

"Watch. I showed this to the others, but…" Charlie held out one hand, focusing on it intently. As the two young mares watched, the dragonkin's arm went from solid to essentially a golden mist. They both gasped in surprise.

"H-How are you doing that?" Applebloom asked.

"I'm sorta cursed with awesome," the dragon replied, looking at her nonexistent hand. With a little effort, she forced the golden Dust back into the familiar form of her arm. "If I let go too much, then I'll just become golden dust. It's really stressful being so close to not existing."

"So ya gotta really concentrate all the time?"

"Well… not exactly. More like if I do something like that, I have to have really good control."

Sweetie Bell and Applebloom shared a quick look, before sitting beside the dragon girl. "That's terrible."

Charlie blinked. "What… wait. Why are you two sitting here?"

"You looked like y'all needed a friend," Applebloom said simply. She waved a hoof and grinned. "Plus, I reckon the Stone Ponies can wait for me ta show."

"And I was kinda being a jerk to you in the first place," Sweetie said sheepishly.

The dragon seemed quite confused. "I… wow. I don't know what to say."

"Did you not have friends before?"

"I guess you could say my dad was my only friend," Charlie said quietly, pulling her legs up to her chest. "Since I'm a dragon and all, most people I could meet are always younger than me."

Applebloom frowned. "You don't look that old."

Charlie gave her a flat look. "I'm twenty six."

Both mares blinked. "Oh. Oh! Oh wow."

"You certainly don't look it," Sweetie pointed out. She thought for a moment, before breaking out into a wide smile. "We'll be your friends though!"

"You… you will?" Golden eyes widened at the declaration. "But… you hardly know me! I'm a dragon, and I can turn bigger than you, or eat you…"

"But you won't, right?" Applebloom smiled. "Plus, y'all let us just ask ya a bunch a questions for about no reason."

"And dragons are scary, but when you're like this, you're not," Sweetie added. "Plus, I'm dating one!"

"So won't you let us be your friends?"

Charlie was silent for a bit. Both mares watched her in silence, unaware at the rapid analyzation of the situation that was going through the dragon's mind. Being exposed to Dust had made the girl stronger and more durable, and also supercharged her body in other ways. Her lungs worked more efficient, her heart beat more smoothly and rhythmically, and her brain processed twice as fast. That last part was the reason she took time to think through her replies normally—her brain acted faster than her mouth did. So it was after about a minute of thought that for her seemed to go on for much longer than that, that finally she looked up at the two mares, smiled as wide as she could, and said happily: "I'd like that very much."

–x–

Song stepped back after a bit, panting lightly. Despite the near constant vocal exercises she had been doing, she had managed to keep her Chorus active for the entire ordeal. Sunset was still waiting patiently near the door, a flushed look on her face. Broken Bird was looking more and more like his namesake, wings shattered multiple times along with the mental strain of enduring so much pain repeatedly. Even his legs had been destroyed, left completely useless at this point. There was blood pooling under the chair from the lacerations Song's more… violent notes had cut into him. "I think… I think I'm done," Song said, moving away from the chair.

She had given Broken Bird his voice back, and at the sound of Song's words, he looked up weakly. His voice was hoarse from all the screaming. "You… you're done?"

"You're not worth breaking any more," Song said simply, glancing back over at him. She turned back to Sunset. "I've had my fill—he's all yours now."

"…W…What?" Song moved over to the other side of the room, letting Sunset approach their captive. Despite himself, he tried to move away. "N…N-No!"

"Don't fight me," Sunset ordered, although there wasn't any real reason to. Almost all the bones in his body were broken—there was no way he'd get away or fight back. "This can either hurt a lot or hurt very little."

"Get… get away from me!"

Sunset shrugged, reaching up with her hooves to turn his head to the side. "Have it your way," She murmured, and snapped her head forward to sink her fangs into the stallion's neck. Despite how much he wanted to, hours of torture had left his throat raw and near useless. The scream he no doubt wanted to emit came out more as a groan. Sunset drank hungrily, holding onto the pegasus with her hooves and keeping her mouth closed on his throat. Song watched in morbid fascination, eyes fixed on the place where Sunset's mouth met Broken Bird's throat. Only a minute elapsed until Sunset finally let go.

"All done?" Song asked.

"I wanted to ask…" Sunset began, glancing back towards her. Her eyes were a deep red color, and her lips had gone red as well. "Do you want him to live?"

Song thought for only a moment. "Not particularly," She replied flippantly.

Another groan from Bird, but Sunset was already digging her teeth back into him. With a bit more force than before, she crushed his windpipe and sprayed more blood onto the floor. Seconds later he was dead. Sunset pulled away, thin streams of blood dribbling from the corners of her mouth. She let out a contented, shaking sigh. "Okay… now I'm done."

"Was it good?"

"Unbelievably."

Heart Song's smile was dark. "This doesn't have to be a one-time thing, Sunset."

The golden unicorn glanced away. "I…"

"They'll all be criminals like him. No one that will be missed."

"They're still living ponies, Song. Killing like this…"

"Would you rather it was someone innocent?" Song's eyes narrowed. "At least like this, we're not hurting anyone who doesn't deserve it."

"I get that, but… how do you sleep at night?"

Song's smile brightened a little. "Like angels sung me to sleep."

The other mare laughed. "Right! You're a monster too, just a different kind from me." She paused, hoping that she hadn't offended the other mare. But to her relief—and terror—Song simply smiled and giggled lightly.

"…True enough. Come on, I'll call Grace's ponies to clean up."

Sunset came over to the white unicorn, glancing back at the corpse still strapped to the chair. She had to keep reminding herself that he was a terrible example of a pony, a rapist no less, and that what had just happened to him was what he deserved. It was difficult, but when she remembered just how sweet his blood had tasted, she felt a bit better about it. Shaking the thoughts off, she went to join Heart Song as she levitated back upstairs. As they closed the wall panel behind them, she spoke up again. "How often do you do this?"

"Hm?" Song glanced back as she began wheeling herself back to the living room. "What do you mean?"

They entered the living room, both relaxing a bit at not seeing Shining Light there. "How often do you have these… sessions."

"Once or twice a month," Song replied honestly, rolling into the kitchen. Her horn lit up and began gathering ingredients from all the cabinets and the fridge in order to make dinner. "More if someone especially terrible needs to be removed."

"And you… always do that to them?"

"Not for as long," the singer pointed out, watching as a trio of eggs rhythmically cracked themselves against a bowl. A mixer slipped in after them, beating a cadence as it began to whip them. "That was… a special case."

Sunset sat on one of the nearby stools, watching the other mare curiously. "I could tell. It seemed a bit… personal."

"…oh."

There was silence from the other mare for a long minute, only the musical noises of the kitchen in full swing providing any background noise. Song was quiet for so long that Sunset began to believe she had offended the other mare. "Uh… if you don't want to talk about it…"

"I apologize," Song said, turning around. It was a testament to her magical skill that the kitchen kept working smoothly even as she focused on the unicorn in front of her. "I've been a bit… overboard with everything lately, haven't I?"

"Er… well, kinda." Sunset rubbed the back of her neck. "I mean, if that's how you are…"

"No, I…" Song blushed slightly. "I honestly do not like how I am. I am a bloodthirsty murderer at heart that enjoys killing, and I hate it."

"If you hate it, why do you…?"

"Because I accept what I am," the singer said with a small smile. "There's not a lot of jobs for a mare who can sing people to death, is there? I know what I am, and I live with it. But I was kinda lying earlier. I do sleep well, but I feel I shouldn't. But that's just how I am."

Sunset paused, examining Song's face. It was impassive, yes. But she could also see the concealed hurt and suffering in those red eyes. "…What happened to you?"

The kitchen came to a halt. "…You really want to know?"

The vampire pony smiled. "You're my friend, Heart Song. I do want to know."

"I… I see. Well, I won't spare you the details." The white unicorn sighed and folded her forelegs into her lap. "…My parents used to work for the Princess."

Sunset blinked. "They did?"

"Yes. My father was captain of the guard before Shining Armor," Song said, looking down at her hooves. "And my mother was a medic. They were part of a special recon team that was tasked with mapping previously unknown areas of Equestria. While out on a particularly long mission, they left us with our uncle."

A pair of glasses levitated over along with a carton of juice. Sunset watched in admiration at the ease at which Song manipulated so many different things at the same time. Although as she listened to the clinking of glasses and taps of cutlery, she realized that everything was going according to a beat. It made her smile. "So what happened then?"

"They didn't come back." Song let out a gentle sigh. "We were told they came across a rather hostile patrol of griffons."

"…Oh."

"And that left us with our uncle," Song said, continuing. "However, he was jealous of our father because he got a job in the castle, not him. Plus, he was an uncle on our mother's side, so he didn't have the same bloodthirsty trait as us. But he was sadistic, evil man who took out his rage on us."

"He… he did what?"

Song scowled. "He abused us. Two children who needed his guidance as a parental figure. He beat us, starved us, spit on us… And Ace got the worst of it. Tied up in the basement for days while I had to cater to our uncle's every wish—cook his meals, serve as his punching bag when he was upset…"

Sunset frowned. "I used to think having a distant dad was bad…"

"Believe me, it was a hellhole. If I said anything, he'd hit me. If I used my magic for anything, he'd hit me. If I even whimpered because he hit me, he'd hit me. Occasionally, he got drunk enough to just beat me anyway."

"He did that?" Sunset whispered, horrified. "He… he was your uncle!"

The white unicorn smiled ruefully. "I lived every day afraid that he'd just snap and kill me or my brother. " Song lifted her cup to her lips. After taking a short drink, she let out a sigh. "And then… one day he came home drunk."

A dark look came over Song then, and it made Sunset shiver. "W-what…?"

"He grabbed me, tossed me to the floor and pinned me there," Song said, emotion gone from her voice. "…And raped me."

"N… no." Sunset spoke the denial, but it was more a automatic reaction than anything. She could see the truth on Song's face. "He…"

"I was still a filly," Song continued, the dark truth spilling out of her like a wave. She was even crying at this point. Several of the Chorus were even begging her to stop. "Probably only a couple years older than Tyr's kids. He beat me while he did. And even after he finished the first time, he kept going. And kept going. And kept going. And—

"Please, just…" She shrunk back, trembling. Sure, she didn't know the rest of her family that well, but she was at least somewhat confident they wouldn't… do that. She really didn't want to hear more, but Song didn't stop.

"Ace had been down in the basement again after mouthing off for some reason," She said with a small smile. "He had been unconscious from a beating, but after the sixth time…"

"You remember how many times!?"

Song fixed the other mare with a sharp look. "When something like that happens to you, you don't forget."

Sunset looked away, cowed by the ferocity in her friend's eyes. "S-Sorry."

"It's fine. At that point, I was probably dead to the world. I couldn't feel anything below my waist. But Ace managed to get out of his restraints, drag himself upstairs, and find our uncle 'enjoying' himself with me in the kitchen." Song giggled, but it was more sadistic glee than finding anything funny about it. "My dear brother lost it, and physically knocked our uncle off of me."

"…And then?"

Song looked over at her and smiled. "Ace bashed his face in, shattered his neck, and broke all his legs. All with his bare hooves. And that was before he killed him."

Sunset felt her heart leap into her throat. "…Oh god…"

"Ace never said a word. Simply brutally maimed and killed him. But once he was done, be pulled me into an embrace and told me he was sorry."

"…Sorry?"

"For not protecting me. For taking so long to get up the courage to simply end our uncle's pathetic life. For letting me be broken."

"It's not his fault!" Sunset countered. "He was still just a child—he didn't know what your uncle was going to do."

"I think he's come to terms with it," Song replied quietly. "Although he still regrets being too late to save my legs."

The other unicorn blinked, glancing down at Song's rear legs. "Your… legs? You can't walk, right?"

"Sort of. I can walk, but the damage to my… well you know—was so severe, I bleed whenever I walk."

"By the sun…"

Song gave her a lopsided smile. "That's what happens when somepony brutally rapes an undeveloped filly. I can't have children anymore… ever. But… I have my brother, and my friends. So I'm happy."

Sunset was quiet for a bit. Song had just related a very personal story to her. One that had shaped her life up to this point. "…So what happened afterwards? I know you ended up under Celestia's wing, but… how?"

"Her guards had come looking for our uncle to ask what happened to us," Song said. "She wanted to see how the children of one of her guard ponies were doing."

"And they came right then?"

"Yes. They found us huddled together in our uncle's blood. According to their protocol, they tried to take us into custody. Ace thought they were trying to hurt me, so he fought back." Song's eyes glittered with mirth. "He managed to knock out two guard ponies before I came to my senses and sang to him to calm him down."

"So you were taken to Celestia?"

"Mm." She nodded. "There we were, two little children who had just murdered their uncle, in front of the most powerful mare in the land. And when we got there, I threatened to blow the eardrums out of every pony in the throne hall if they hurt my brother. Mom simply smiled and told us that she wasn't going to hurt either of us. That we were brave for going through what we did. And that she… she wanted to protect us from anything else."

Sunset nodded. "That sounds like the Princess alright… But are you okay telling me all this?"

"I wouldn't have told you if I didn't feel comfortable about it," Song said. She smiled warmly. "You're my friend, and I trust you."

The white unicorn wheeled herself over to Sunset and with a bit of an adjustment, leaned a bit out of her chair to hug her. Sunset hugged her back. Being trusted like this was… good. "…Thanks, Song. I needed to hear that."

"Of course, Sunset. Now, let me go so I can make dinner."

Hooves tightened around her. "What if I wanted you for dinner?" Sunset asked quietly, the smell of Song's blood reaching her nose. Despite having just drunk off of Broken Bird, she was still in the mood. But Song's voice slipped into her mind like a worm into an apple.

"Sunset, off."

The vampire blinked several times as the other mare untangled herself from the hug. Sunset had simply let her go. "…What? How did you…?"

"Suggestion magic," Song said with a smile. "Although more of an order than a suggestion."

"I see."

"You'll not be biting me without my permission, missy," Song said playfully, bopping her on the nose. About a dozen of Song's other voices were giggling at her. "I may be a blood crazed sadistic murderer, but I'm still a mare. You've got to at least take me out to dinner first, miss vampire pony. Otherwise, I'll kill you. Or my brother will come and kill you."

Sunset started to laugh at the ridiculousness of the statement, but the sound of the door into the house startled them. The two of them jerked around to see Shining Light paused in the doorway, a look of disbelief on her face. The just-starting teacher swallowed heavily. "…Um… did I miss something?" She asked, looking at the two mares as though seeing them for the first time.

"Oh buck," Sunset murmured.

"Seems we all did," Song said while pressing a hoof to her forehead.

–x–

And that is the mindset of a monster. Sunset is dangerous yes, but Song is probably close to being a sociopath. Hopefully you don't forget she's still an adorable snow white unicorn.

Charlie is a special case. Think about the movie 'Lucy' if you can't really see how her mind is working. That's where I went with it.

But as usual, thank you for Reading, please leave a Review, and most definitely Return for the next chapter! The Library accepts all comments and reviews, and will be patiently waiting for your feedback.

Until next time, dear readers.