The Mad Mane Six.

Chapter 10

She stood against the wall as the yellow eye scanned for her. She didn't want to go back, no more tests, no more needles, no more knifes stuck in her organs. No more dying needlessly just for their amusement, and no more of their games. She didn't want to be just another toy for them. She looked around for a exit as she tried to not get noticed. She looked to her side and saw it, the light that peered through a door's window. It was something she hoped for, and just it time as well.
The eye then lit up the area around her with it dingy yellow tinge. The mechanical horror that was hidden by darkness then made it's way to her, whirring and clanking as each pounding step landed. She immediately started to run to the hope of escape as quickly as she could. It seemed like she was far slower than she normally was, and the machine grew closer and louder. She then jumped as she heard the whirring of the metal clamps behind her as it reached out to grab her. The door busted open as she got through it as the clamp slammed shut. She then picked herself up and looked down to see a strange sight. A pair of hands, of which she looked at carefully.
She then heard a set of male voices as a group of soldiers came running into the hall to the left of her. "There, I see it, open fire!" The gunshots were deafening, and the pain was severe, but she never fell. A few seconds of Chaos and then it let up as the soldiers ran out of ammo. She looked down to see the bullets fall out of her flesh and then heal up, as if she had never been shot at all.
"That's impossible, it's not even remotely human anymore!" The soldier said. The statement was weird, and felt strange when Franken-dash heard it get applied to her. She then heard a voice that felt as if it came from deep in her mind "kill them, you've already defiled their precious experiment, finish the job!" The voice was female and powerful, and Franken-dash looked and saw red as she felt a sudden a terrible anger that was aimed at the soldiers that had emptied their clips into her. It was too much to handle.
She ran at them with a fierce and tremendous roar. They frantically tried to reload their guns only to be torn apart by her hands. The smell and taste of blood was intoxicating, but it wasn't for hunger. It was revenge, the red paint of the spilled blood that was taken from her. She wanted more, much more. They would feel her wrath for what they did to her, and for what they did to her family. She looked up to see one thing, and it was a mirror that showed a man, one that seemed familiar in the sense that she would know him, but didn't. She then turned to see a electric dart land squarely into her chest. The shock knocked her out, and then she came back to reality.
She awoke with a gasp, as if she had been holding her breath for a few moments. She looked and saw two hooves, not hands. The faint smell of blood and the feelings of anger slowly faded in her senses. Those feelings, of course, were never hers to begin with, but just information that had been slowly leaking. The one that it was leaking from was the one that would soon let her know, but not yet.
She then looked around and saw that she had moved from the perch that she had slept on. It was one thing that she had gotten use to happening, for she slept-walk ever since the experiments that had turned her into what she was now. She then looked around and to her surprise, she saw the eastern edge of the town that she had been heading to. A sigh then expelled itself from her lips as she had been dreading her return to this place. She wouldn't have long to decide, as the wind started to pick up behind her.
"We got to move, there's a Dark Storm moving upon us." Said a familiar voice in her mind. She wanted to answer it, or more question it, but when she looked to see what it ment, she saw it. A a purple flash echoed a thunder clap as the electricity arced in the swirling black fog. If she got caught in that, she would not leave it.
She turned and raced away, but the storm was swift, and she would be in that dark fog soon enough, and she knew that she had to find a place to hide. She looked at the buildings around her and found that the former town she had lived in protected had fallen into ruin, and many of the buildings had holes or collapsed spots. None of them would protect her, as damaged as they were. She the saw something that she both gave hope and despair. Rarity's shop, and by the look of it, it was safe. The storm let out another series of thunder-claps, and she knew she had no choice but to run in, as she then did.
She quickly closed the door as the thick black fog rushed towards the open door. Any light that would come from the windows blacked out and faded away. Only dim flashes of lighting lit up the shop, that and one Franken-dash's mutations which basically made her eyes like a scouts headlamps. Dash looked around to see what was there to see, and found decay and broken items. The drapes where torn and dry-rotten, as was much to the decorations that littered the tables and floor. Dash walked around and had to rub her face when she walked into a set of webs. It was obvious she hated that feeling.
She then heard a faint dripping land beside her after the fit, so she looked up to see what was dripping, and found what looked to a corpse of a mare that seemed to have had her throat ripped to shreds, and what dripped was the blood. A fresh kill, you could smell it, and the blood was still dripping. She then heard a voice that was familiar, but haunting.
"You sshhhould be careful, shhhhe's ssstill hungry." Said the voice, which was young, and scared. Dash turned to see where the voice came from. That's when she saw Sweetiebell, or whatever she was now. The young mare, for that was what she was now by age, had several mutations that made her twisted and disturbing sight. Spider mandibles jutted out from the sides of her mouth, and useless spider legs from her side. Her eyes had been split in half and spread to look as if she had several retinas. It was a bit disgusting, but it wasn't the worst sight in the world.
"It that you Sweetiebell?" Franken-dash said, a hint of disturbed in her tone. The creature then shhhed her, and it was clear that something was wrong. She then felt a drop of something wet and sticky drop on her back. Dash looked up slowly as the feeling of dread became as overwhelming weight. She now understood the fear that Sweetiebell had.
Above was a creature that had its muzzle buried deep in the flesh of the neck of a pony. Large sheets of cloth wrapped around the victim and needles attached to the end of those ribbon like sheets pierced deep into flesh. The stench of fresh blood suddenly made much more sense. What was troubling was the needles around the bloody muzzle gleamed as the creature then started to pull it's mouth away from its blood-drained prey. That's when Franken-dash got to see the eyes, and suddenly felt even colder, as if the icy hand of death reached for her.
The cold, blackened whites exemplified the electric blue eyes as darkness fluttered away at the sides, and it still didn't hide the truth that it was what was left of Rarity that Dash was now seeing. The eyes then gave way to the even more horrors, from the ribbons wrapping the torso, to the needles that now pierced into the flesh of Rarity. The tattered, discolored mane that grew lighter in shades, as if it had lost life. Then there was the needles embedded in her lips, giving her a sinister smile that was a sight. Add in the pop of the jaw as she rehinged it.
"Well now, Dearie, you look quite familiar. The stitching and size may be contradictory, but the posture and hair says otherwise. I believe I knew you when I was among the living hoards of the kinder mouth-breathers, who now I feast upon their blood to feel that life of which was ripped away from me. If my memories do remain uncorrupted by my time of being a blood sucking undead, then you must be what remains of Rainbow Dash. If so, then you must be thinking about who I was before my life was turned into this. In life, you would call me Rarity, but now I prepared to be called Varity, and not just for my vampiric inclination, but for the various ways that I could kill." She spoke in a grace that was very recognizable, affirming what she said. Franken-dash stood and stared in awe and fear as Varity used the ribbons to climb from the roof to the ground, which she then wrapped around her torso like the others, a sickening squish as the long needles at the end of the two ribbons sunk into flesh, making Varity seem to wince and smile at the same time.
"Pain is such a blessing to those who use it to feel, even if it's a momentary moment of life. Do I feel sorry for those that no longer feel pain, yes I do. At least they get rot without feeling the numbness of lost tissue, better than rotten while your conscious, wouldn't you agree. Better to feel the sharp jab of a needle then the cold nothing of oblivion. Of course, by the look on your face, you don't agree. I guess that makes you better than those that romance such creatures as I." Varity then somewhat danced over to a shelf full of thread and cloth. The sharp contrast between her words and her action made Varity seem quite deranged. She spoke such sad words, and acted so joyous, making this even more unsettling.
"I admit, if I ever saw you again after the battle with Corruption ended the way it did, I would give you such a earful. Now your here, but I'm not who I was before. Your favorite color hasn't changed yet, has it. Still a fan of rainbows and sky blue? Admittedly, you always seemed to have ego, although it was quickly forgotten, which made it so fragile. Almost as fragile as the fine line between breathing, and drinking another's blood to survive. Wouldn't it be true that loving any form of undead is a form of necrophilia, even if the term undead literally means not dead? So what does it mean to be dead if you can be brought back, only to live a half life? Ah well, such questions are illogical to ask when soon, you'll be making a death shroud for someone you once admired in your own way. Ah! here it is." Varity said with a hint of joy at the end as she pulled out a semi dusty and beautiful fabric with a spool of dark blue thread.
Varity quickly spelled the fabric clean and the measured a lengthy of fabric. She then looked at Franken-dash and measured even more fabric. "So, why did you never return anyway? I'm sure there's a decent reason and not that your got scared, cause that honestly was what they all said." Varity said as she picked up the spool of thread and threaded a needle.
It was the one time that Franken-dash finally decided to speak. She couldn't, and there was a good reason why. It felt like the muscles in her jaw were rock hard. In fact, all the muscles that she should be able to move were the same. Something had paralyzed her.
"I almost forgot what my toxin does to someone exposed to it. You won't be moving for a while, if at all. Your joints have crystals within them that will lock up, preventing you from moving at all. However, you muscles will still be soft, if not softer, so that when I go to feed, I have no resistance. I guess you could forget to answer a question that I had no real want for a answer. Why would I want a excuse from a traitor after all." Varity then looked at her and unraveled one of her ribbons and placed the needle to Franken-dash's throat. The sharp point was painful on the softened tissue and harder windpipe. Varity tilted her head as a bit of anger and sorrow began to paint on Franken-dash's face.
"You know, I dreamt of the moment of vengeance that I believed was what I required to find rest. I watched so many die in my care, and not a single one could have been saved. I guess the one that that broke me was a little purple and green dragon who had such a crush on me. Watching him go from a healthy little thing to having to make a death shroud as I'm covered in his blood that I cleaned. Every cough, sneeze and digestive disturbance led him closer as that accursed virus ravaged him till his last breath, and then it led to mine. It's only fitting I came back like this, and after all that waiting, to finally see you here. Do you know what it is like to bleed out? You feel your body scream as it loses that which it needs to survive, and you slowly fade away fading into a darker sea that rock you away. the problem is, well, what happens to those that wake up." Varity said. She then took and faced away from Franken-dash and then began to remove the blood stained cloth that covered the top part of her face. Varity then turned around.
Franken-dash stood, not only paralyzed by the venom, but now shock had added it's influence. Shades had a particular part the virus that was a bit necrotic, as in dead, deceased, lethal. As such, most are more Chaos entity than physical presence. A bound shade what a rare specimen, but never before had a shade bind with it's own corpse. Varity knew something about death, namely because she was the first self bound shade. Fur hung in rotted clumps as the smell of rot spread from the exposed necrotic flesh. Varity's mane was falling out and had patches of it had faded from the royal purple to a sickly light blue.
"It is a wretched existence that I suffer, neither living nor ever fully succumbing to death. Yet I crave life, and as such, I crave blood. Perhaps you shall suffer as I have." Varity the pulled the cloth back over her face. Franken-dash the felt something different, and it wasn't hunger or a emotional state, but rather a sudden coldness she knew only metal could give.
Varity then looked shocked as she watched the skin of Franken-dash suddenly turn into metal. Franken-dash the began to move as the as venom had no biological flesh to interact with, or at least that which wasn't covered by the nanites. Varity then grew angry with the result. "I waited so long for my vengeance, you killed all that have died when you left, and your gonna die for the past and the future that you have killed." Franken-dash couldn't help but feel sorrow. Once again she stood accused, and she would then have to face yet another executioner determined to end her life because of a lie.
Varity then leaped forward in a attempt to tackle Franken-dash and bite into her. Franken-dash slid to the right and braced herself. " So you believe that I betrayed you that day? So many things happened that cycle and you still believe that I didn't return on my own accord? I would never betray your in your hour of need, after all that we've been through, why are you amongst the ones that claim that I betrayed all of Equestria." Franken-dash said, a sudden flush of anger flowing over her, washing the fear that had hooked it's claws into her before.
Varity then snarled, "what does it matter, you weren't there when we needed you the most. It's only fitting that the dead avenge the dead. Accept they fate!" Varity then unwrapped her ribbons and spread all four to create a menacing form. All it did was remind Franken-dash of someone who she hated. It made her... hungry.
Franken-dash knew that it was past time, and there where many bodies around her, all with the sent of blood. She needed to wait though, for she would become vulnerable. She needed to control her hunger, at least till this situation was resolved. "Nothing is going to be solved by fighting, it's all wasted if we don't go after the true villain that did all this."
Varity looked at her, a hint of madness started to show in her eyes. "Corruption, ha ha ha, you expect us to get back together and beat him. Look around, do you think friendship will save us this time? Face facts, we've all succumb to his rule. I hadn't seen the others in a long time, but from what I've heard, isolation is the rule of law at this point. What makes you think that they give a dam anymore?" This was getting nowhere. Even worse, Franken-dash's frustration was making her even more hungry. Something was going to give, and it wasn't the storm.
"What is wrong with you? Have you become that blind, you were the generous one, and no matter what, you had belief that others would repay the favor. Does that mean anything? Are you going to continue to do this to yourself. Look around, you can't seriously think will continue like this, and end the way that helps you. We don't need to fight, and I am not going to fight. Not you, and not the others. I've waited too long for me to hurt you, and I'll save my strength for the real enemy." Franken-dash then stood upright and made her muscles stop tensing up.
Varity looked confused, but soon began to crouch to attack. No sooner did Varity leap, however, did a web stop her and pin het to the wall. It was from Sweetiebell, or whatever or white er she was now. "Spideybell, why would you stop me, she deserves teeth in her neck. She betrayed us all." Varity said as she struggled, but being a corpse didn't make you stronger.
"I don't think that she did, sister. I've watched you stew over this, believing whatever nonsense a traveling pony may spew. They may all say that she was, but she insists that she never did. And I think that Riplight knew that as well. After all, Riplight sent Dash to go retrieve something called a tomb runestone. I think something may have intercepted her." Spideybell said with a newfounded sense of strength.
Franken-dash looked at the one who saved her. She couldn't help but smile and say,"thank you." Bell then nodded and looked back at Varity, who fumed. "You look at pain as that which you use to feel alive, but for most of that time, it was a set of chains that a group called the LOC used to keep me from the rest of the world. I have gone through countless horrors, and nearly died countless times while imprisoned, dissected, poked, prodded, and experimented on. I'm not saying that your life and afterlife was disturbing, neither am I saying that mine was worse. I never got to see the light fade, and all hope that so many had fade with it. I worried, was plague with nightmares as I slept, and was disgraced while I was awake. These stitches are my proof and my mind is a tomb. Hearing you say I'm a traitor, that's the one thing that I hoped never to hear, and it saddens me." Franken-dash said. The storm outside then began to clear, it's electric flashes giving way to the calmer moonlight created by a moonless sky.
Varity seemed to calm down, "fine, we will ask Riplight what happened. If it was her that sent you, then your story has truth. I hope for your sake, it's true." It wasn't the best scenario, but it was at least a answer that resolved the conflict. Spideybell then released Varity. Varity then went and started to gather her stuff. It was as if she knew that she may be gone from that place for a long time. Franken-dash then picked a corpse, for she couldn't ignore her hunger any longer. Spideybell looked around and found a few things that she cared for and packed the as well. Once it had all been said and done, they left.
Franken-dash looked around as they walked, and saw the scope of the damage. Homes destroyed, business buildings and shop cart burned to charcoal and ash, and decayed remains strewn about. Bodies of children and their mothers and fathers lie about, clutching each other or reaching out, trying to soothe or save one another before death came. She saw it, all while the other seemed to have become used to such sights. She stopped at a x made of wood, which was left for a friend, even if there was no body for the marker to mark. Varity just continued, not even stopping to take note. Franken-dash whispered a apology and then followed. Moments later, they arrived at the castle.
The were invited in and were greeted by Riplight's menacing and permanent grin. She then vocally greeted then with a tone of displeasure,"it is about time that you arrived. I am glad to see you both, and don't worry, I know what happened. It wasn't your fault for anything, Franken-dash. And Varity, I did send her. Course it's not hard to know why your here, after all, you ranted for so long after that day. I'm just kinda surprised that Spike isn't with you." Riplight said, almost as she knew the answers, except for one.
Varity looked at her, processing the information that was just spawn, and the realizing what the last sentence was. The needles gave a bit of space between each other as a grimace formed. "I see you don't know. Course not, no one was able to leave or survive after that day." The statement made Riplight raise a eyebrow out of curiosity. Varity then made it more simple to understand. "Rip, Spike's dead. He died about a month after he came to live with me. It seems as if he got infected and apparently dragons don't react well with it. I still haven't found time for a proper burial. Nor anywhere that I can bury him. I go to try, and the smell he gives off attracts the corpse feasters. That would be the last thing I want for him." Riplight gave a grimace look when she heard it, but didn't look very shocked.
   "I shouldn't have held my breath for that one, I just wished that I could have been there. He knew me for all his life, even when he had just hatched. It saddens me, however, to hear that he die in such a way, I can't but feel as if it was my fault. I could have been the one to infect him, for all I know." She then turned away, saddened by the realization. "You both need to rest, go take a room. Another thing," she stopped before she began to leave,"I would like to know what happened to Gearhead, if you have any idea. I will be here, and I'm ready to listen to what troubles you, if there is anything. Good night, hopefully there will be more of them." Riplight then left.
  It appeared as if the rest of the castle's inhabitants were asleep. All except Riplight, who was now living to go to her bed. Franken-dash instinctively followed till she got to a particular room that had a sort of nest sitting in it. She the walked into it and heard a voice in her head say," my room, odd you choose this one. I probably should explain what is going on now, shouldn't I.