Silence rang through until Fluttershy began stammering.
"W-w-what just happened?" She subconsciously grasped Discord's sleeve as she put her other hand to her chin.
"I have a theory that it's connected to your Vampirism." Sombra said. They looked to him as he shuffled through his notebook. "You've said before that when you become too hungry, a strange bitter liquid is formed. Well, think of it as a shot. It's filled with liquid and if pushed even slightly, it comes out, then once injected, usually it would enter the blood stream."
He stopped then and looked at her.
"Maybe. But...why is it showing up now and not when I bit you all? Why is it coming out like-like- magic and not you guys turning like legends or-or myths say?" Fluttershy was beginning to panic. Guilt coiled in her belly.
Her mind began to spiral. She messed them up. She took for granted their kind offering to feed her and this is how she repays them? Who knows to the extent she's hurt them by doing this? What should she do? She might attack others if she stops feeding from her friends, but she couldn't continue to drink if it caused them harm like this.
Discord's voice broke through her emotional spiral. "Wait...we have powers?! And all I had to do was a blood sacrifice?! Holy fuck those horror movies were onto something!" He then proceeded to put two fingers to his temples, like he was trying to move things, but nothing did.
Chrysalis rolled her eyes, "Pretty sure it's not going to work that way. This is...strange...to say the least. I am curious at its potential." She glanced over her hands.
Sombra glared. "I need a new notebook. What a pain. Hmm...I wonder why I haven't shown signs? I've been fed off of just as much as Chrysalis." He thought in silence.
The other two shrugged. Fluttershy chuckled nervously.
"Is that a good or bad thing?"
Sombra tilted his shoulders side to side. "Depends."
Fluttershy wrung her hands. "Well, I have homework to do, so if you all will excuse me."
Her nerves were going haywire. Before she reached her room, she felt a gentle hand on her shoulder. Turning, she saw it was Discord.
"You wanted to tell me something earlier? I...may we speak in your room?" He sounded nervous. Why, Fluttershy couldn't be sure.
She nodded as they entered. He sat at her desk while she sat on her bed.
Discord took a breath.
"I just wanted...to apologize for my behavior earlier as well as at your conference." He didn't elaborate, so Fluttershy realized it was up to her.
"Why did you?" She asked as softly as she could.
He sighed. "I knew Celestia when we were younger. Seeing her...brought back unpleasant memories and I snapped. Then the memories wouldn't leave, so I was distracted all night."
Fluttershy took in what he was saying. She understood that all too well. Getting up, she walked over to him and leaned over, giving him a hug.
Discord tensed at the gesture, unsure what she was thinking. But after a moment, he relaxed into it, wrapping her in his arms.
"It's okay, Discord. It's alright. You're with people who care about you now. I'll make you your favorite tomorrow." She laughed as she pulled away.
"My favorite? My favorite what exactly?" He lifted a brow.
She giggled, leaning close to his ear. "That depends on what you had in mind." She whispered.
When she pulled away, she laughed at how red he turned.
"Oh, that remind me. Discord!"
He removed his hand from his face, glancing at her.
She smiled. "What do you call a hippo with a mug?"
He raised a brow but encouraged her to continue.
She looked around her room conspiratorially and then cupped her hand around her mouth to shield it.
"A hiccup."
That earned her an eye roll and a deep rumbling chuckle that send a chill down to her toes. His eyes sparkled with amusement.
"Hmm. I wonder what else I can do?" He tried moving his one hand that wasn't still holding onto Fluttershy.
A flash of dark colors and electricity surrounded his hand.
Fluttershy stayed silent, allowing him to concentrate.
Shapes began to manifest, turning and morphing in the air. The static caused them to blend, their shape not quite taking form.
When she glanced at Discord, something telling her to, his eyes were glowing and he had a scowl on his face. He was muttering something under his breath she couldn't quite catch. The air felt like it was moving, stirring.
"D-Discord?" She placed her hand on his cheek, causing him to startle and as the power stuttered out, the shape separated into toothpick like spears and with a giant force, was sent flying through the walls and out her window.
There was a moment of silence where neither did anything.
Discord hummed. "Interesting."
He released her and without saying a goodnight, left. She stood there by her desk, staring after him, confusion written all over her face.
She didn't sleep that night either, worry eating at her stomach. Discord had been acting strange.
She sighed and decided to pace around her room.
In no time, she grew bored, so she went out into the living room not expecting to see Sombra still working on notes, opening more worn notebooks labeled 'Chrysalis' and 'Discord'.
"So...I never got to ask. How was your visit home?" She went and sat on a lounge chair next to him.
He stiffened but looked over with a gentle look. "You mean 'That Place'? Please don't refer to it as my home." He sighed.
"It went how it typically would have and found out my dearest..."relative" is with child. Of course her husband is perfect as well. So, of course, everyone is going to flock to them and spoil her rotten as they always have-" he took a deep breath, getting worked up at the memory of his last visit, when he felt a hot buzzing energy.
Sombra opened his eyes and Fluttershy's eyes were focused on the light around them.
During his rant, similar to Chrysalis and Discord, a staticky light with a sandy texture began to manifest around them, forming silhouettes of red people, their movements their own. The light seemed to be projecting from 3 spinning red orbs that hovered centimeters from the red diamond shape that formed on Sombra's forehead.
Fluttershy saw he continued to stare at the silhouettes and his initial shock and amazement began to boil to that anger again. He grimaced.
"It's always been her. She always had it easy. While I'm working so damned hard. Why?"
The red sand glitched as green and purple mixed with it like thread. His books began to hover as she saw he was fixed on his anger. She shouldn't have asked, if she knew it would invoke pain.
Fluttershy's heart hurt for him. She reached over and wrapped her arms around his broad shoulders. He allowed it.
"I...Well, I think you're great. I like your vast array of knowledge and it's okay. You can be snarky, arrogant, but you deserve it with how hard you work. If They can't see it, if They don't see you. We do. Us here, in this mansion. And for what it's worth, Sombra, I do love you. You're a wonderful friend and you don't belittle me when I don't know things. Please don't think your work isn't appreciated."
She felt tears well as she thought what a terrible life it'd be without her longest guy friend. She felt anger towards his family. They were so lucky to have Sombra. She shook her head and as he hugged her back for once, the magic dissolved into nothing, leaving behind a darker toned diamond shape on Sombra's head.
He didn't reply to her speech, but him hugging back, was all Fluttershy needed to know what he was saying.
A week later, things had settled more or less. Sombra had informed them, a few days after that night and when everyone had time to process, that he believed the magic was tied to her Vampirism and their individual strong emotions.
So far he noted anger, annoyance, resentment, were strong contenders. But he made it clear they'd have to make note if stronger, happier emotions brought it out as well.
When Fluttershy checked the mail one day, summer slowly approaching, she saw a flyer for a fair that would be in town soon. Her eyes brightened. She had begun wearing sunglasses or using parasols on warmer and sunnier days.
She ran inside, everyone having a rare day off and together.
"Hey, everyone! We should go to the fair! Look, look!"
She thrust the flyer at Chrysalis since she was closest. She quirked her brow.
"I haven't been to one of these in years. Hmm...I'll have to see if I can get one of these days off."
She handed it back, so Fluttershy excitedly gave it to Sombra next.
He set his book down, giving her an unimpressed look, but took the flyer.
"Wouldn't you rather go with one-if not all- of your little friends?"
She knew he wasn't asking to be mean, despite his tone. She sighed, taking it back.
"Even years before, they were usually busy during summer. I did animal shelter volunteering and veterinary assistance before, but none of that takes up my whole summer. Sometimes they don't even need my help. I could ask, but with us becoming seniors next Fall, I'm not sure how free they'll be."
She didn't want to mention that she felt lost. She didn't think she was smart enough to get into a veterinarian college or how her plans would change now that she wasn't even Human.
She was trying to get work as well, but even with the help of wearing something of Chrysalis', she was just so shy and soft spoken. Then if it was a male interviewer, she'd clam up even worse.
Discord came out from the kitchen with a plate of sandwiches with odd looking fillings. The other two didn't touch it, but Fluttershy was curious, even if she couldn't have it.
Discord noticed the flyer but instead of taking it, he tilted his head oddly to see it better.
"The fair is fun if you know how to work it."
Fluttershy copied his head movement. "What do you mean? Would you wanna come?"
He straightened out again, Fluttershy copying since tilting her body like she did hurt for too long.
"I have work so unfortunately no can do, my Dear."
Her excited smile faltered slightly but she didn't let her disappointment show. "Oh. That's fine. I know you guys are busy."
Discord snorted. "You don't have to be so obviously sad. If it's that big of a deal I can see."
She blushed. She didn't realize she was being obvious. She heard Chrysalis and Sombra chuckle. Discord blushed and huffed.
"Assholes. The both of you."
Fluttershy laughed along with the other two as Discord went upstairs, obviously embarrassed.
A few weeks later, the last day of school was on Fluttershy and her friends. Applejack was excited, so was Rarity, and Rainbow would be leaving for a training camp.
Twilight told them she'd be doing summer school to get a head start for the next school year. Pinkie had dates planned and planned on earning some money working with her relatives.
Derpy had wanted to celebrate Fluttershy "graduating" to her next grade (she was able to get her grades back up with a lot of all nighters studying with Sombra's help) so she was sent out to buy groceries for a big "family" dinner, as Derpy called it.
They also managed to make plans to do "training sessions" to test the extent of their powers since that outburst over a month prior. Turned out, her "cravings" were a more so state of mind factor. If she wanted to feel safe she drank from Discord, she usually drank from him more than the other two anyway. When she was more agitated and feeling on edge from things out of her control, Chrysalis' blood called to her.
Then there were her depressed states. The states when she'd miss her family uncontrollably, making her body heavy and the numbness return, when the familiarity of Sombra's blood was what she needed. It wasn't always like clockwork, but it was more of 50/50 from what Sombra had calculated.
Fluttershy hummed as she walked down the street, double checking the paper list of things she had to get, in her own world, when she bumped into someone, who grasped her wrist as she about tumbled.
"Whoa, there. You okay, miss?"
When she got her bearings, she looked to her helper, about to assure him it was fine.
When she saw him, he looked familiar. He seemed to be thinking the same until he smiled, stretching his hand out for her to shake.
"You're one of Twily's friends, right? She's shone me pictures." He smiled.
She nodded. "You must be...her...brother?"
His smile widened. "Yeah, I'm Shining Armour. "
She shook his hand, smiling too, when he turned his head to acknowledge someone who came up. "Oh, Filthy Rich. I was going to meet you."
Fluttershy turned her head and froze. Her body tensed. She made no sudden movement and tried avoiding eye contact. Her heart rushed in her ears, she tried not showing any sort of reaction. Maybe she could slink away before-
"No problem, Armour. I was doing some business anyhow. Then I spotted you and...this Doll here. Oh, you have some leaves, miss." Rich reached out, getting closer, but not enough to cause a scene. Seeing his hand, her body straightened and her hands linked in front of her by condition.
She felt his hand go into her hair and pull out a leaf. A sliver of her hoped maybe he didn't recognize her. She chanced a glance to check, but when she saw the look in those deep blues, she knew...he knew.
He smirked and patted her neck, like one who'd pat a head.
"Well, come on, Shining Armour. We have business to talk of. How is-" Rich's voice trailed off as him and Shining Armour walked passed her.
She felt like bugs were crawling over her skin. She tried moving, tried breathing.
Someone bumped into her shoulder, breaking her from her spell enough for her to go to a bush and attempt to hurl, though nothing came up. Her body shook as she tried easing her muscles, with little success. She still felt the bugs crawling along her skin and they felt like they were trying to dig.
She couldn't move. Her phone fell from her pocket and she shakily picked it up. She scratched at her neck where Rich touched. She could still feel it.
She clenched her teeth, forcing herself to move. She only got a few steps, before getting out of the way, hiding behind the bushes near where she was.
She brought her knees to her chest, making herself small as she continued to wipe and claw at her neck, breaking into gasps and sobs.
She thought she was doing better, but...she was wrong.