Ranger
Chapter 177: Drops
By Wanderer D
The town glowed with light and blood.
Sunset felt a shiver run down her spine as she, Angel, and Jenny emerged from the Skyranger and started walking (and slithering) towards Angel's Point.
It was almost too much for her senses. All those lives. All that delicious blood, flowing and feeding and keeping life going. With the right spell, she could end it all. With the right spell, she could cause blood to turn their bodies into willing slaves.
An aphrodisiac twist and the orgies would last for days. An adrenaline twist, and their berserker rage would overwhelm any opponent, regardless of losses. The possibilities were all there for her to take.
She could draw out their blood through their pores, take it into herself and use it as armor or weapon, or even a means of transportation.
She could—
"Hiss."
Sunset shook her head, blinking. The sound of birds and jungle animals; people talking and laughing, the sounds of waves crashing against the cliffs nearby; the smell of flowers and spices; the warmth of the sun… "What was I thinking?!"
"Hiss."
"I-I'm sorry I spaced out, Angel," Sunset said, placing a comforting hand on the viper's shoulder. "I've just been really busy lately, and I haven't slept much."
"Hiss," Angel countered, shaking her head and flicking her tongue.
Sunset crossed her arms. "Whatever. I'll give you as hard a time as I want. I might need sleep, but you need real rest and to recuperate fully."
Angel gave her an unamused glance. She rattled her tail, flicked her tongue and hissed lowly.
"Hey, I need to study as hard as I can!" Sunset growled. "I have to become stronger! There's no way I'm letting what happened to you happen to anypo—anyone else under my watch!"
"That is all well and good, Sunset," a voice spoke up, "but trust me, just cramming up all the information you're learning without rest is not going to help anyone."
Sunset felt Jenny press closer to her, and smiled down at the young girl. "Jenny, this is Fluttershy, she's the leader of the settlement."
Fluttershy smiled, kneeling down so she could look at Jenny at the same height. "Oh my, you must be Jenny then! Like Sunset said, I'm Fluttershy. Welcome to Angel's Point. You and Angel will be staying with me for a little while."
Jenny hid behind Sunset, but managed a shy smile at the gentle tone of the woman. "Why is it called Angel's Point?"
"Oh, that's easy!" Fluttershy said cheerfully, smiling brightly. "Angel was with me when we arrived here along with the Rabbits and their families. She guided us here, you see. We walked all over to the tip of the cliff, and we saw the most marvelous sight! And guess what?"
Jenny's eyes were wide. "What?"
"It turns out that Angel had nested nearby in a cave by the cliff! It was like she was inviting us to her home, so it made perfect sense to name it after her, don't you think?"
"I-I guess!"
"Why don't you and Angel go ahead to town? She can introduce you to everyone while I talk to Sunset."
Jenny looked up at Sunset who smiled and nodded, leaning down to give her a hug. "I'll miss you kiddo, but I promise I will visit."
"O-okay!"
Sunset turned to Angel, who coiled around her and pulled her in for a hug. Sunset giggled, leaning into the embrace of the giant snake-woman. "I'll miss you."
"Hiss."
"I know… I really do, thank you."
Angel rolled her eyes and leaned forth giving Sunset a peck on the cheek before uncoiling and motioning for Jenny to follow. Soon enough they were welcomed at the gate by one very excited Krav.
"She's grown very fond of you."
Sunset sighed. "Yeah. Angel is very devoted."
Fluttershy smiled. "Do you return her feelings?"
Sunset chuckled. "I have no time for that." She gazed at the settlement. "I have too much going on to even consider it, and it's too likely I won't be alive at any given time. I can't jump into a relationship in those conditions."
"I find it interesting you didn't even bring up that she's a snake," Fluttershy said, glancing at Sunset with an inscrutable look. "Most people would have issue with that."
Sunset laughed. "Where I come from, as long as they're sentient, the species doesn't matter. I met once this adorable couple, one was a Minotaur and the other was a Peg—" She cut off, eyes wide, and glanced at Fluttershy. "I-I mean—not...uh… oops?"
Fluttershy giggled. "I suppose that explains how you can talk to her that way. Even I only understand her general intentions, but you can have entire conversations with her."
Sunset groaned and sat on the grassy field. "I guess the cat's out of the bag."
"I guess it is."
"I hope that's not a problem?" Sunset said, looking up at Fluttershy, "I really like it here."
The pink haired woman shook her head. "We have Angel here, don't we? And the Rabbits and I have only good things to say about you, Sunset Shimmer. You're always welcome."
Sunset grinned. "Thank you." She pushed herself up. "I should get going, however," she said, looking at the town. "Take care of them, would you? I tried my best, but I couldn't really be of much help with Jenny… I just didn't know what to say."
Fluttershy hummed. "It's always difficult to try and say the right thing when people suffer... I've seen all sorts: some make it about themselves. They don't tire of telling you how they understand everything you're going through, or how they dealt with things, or how they know exactly how you feel, even if they really don't." She grimaced. "Those are usually the worst, and do more damage than not.
"Others will be honest, and simply say they don't know what to say or do, but that they feel bad for you. Their empathy is honest, and although their words won't help you heal immediately, you know that they care.
"Others understand that each person mourns differently, and will let you talk. They understand that when you're in pain, it's about you, not them. They don't push or try to take advantage of a situation to tell you their opinion. I find those are the most effective."
Fluttershy patted Sunset's shoulder. "In the end, as long as there was real empathy, which I think there was, I think you helped more than you think, Sunset."
Sunset chuckled. "Not as much as Angel," she said, looking at the settlement. "I'll miss her."
"She'll be here waiting for you," Fluttershy said with a shrug, starting to walk back to the town. "Make sure you keep in touch."
"I will."
Sunset watched Fluttershy leave. The rebel leader's heartbeat was steady and strong. Her blood was pure and full of life. She could almost taste it.
"Ugh." Sunset shook her head. "I'd better get back to figuring this stuff out. ADVENT is not going to wait for me to be ready." She started walking back to the Skyranger, where Rainbow Dash's blood silhouette could be seen even at a distance. "But I will make them pay for every drop of blood they've spilled."
o.0.o End Chapter 177 o.0.o
Shit, she's loosing it...
Sunset needs control
Sanity level: Head is pounding and hands are shaking.
Blood for the Blood God. H*** yeah.
Don't lose it, Sunset.
9231962
Knees weak, arms are heavy. Mom's Spaghetti. Never forgetti.
9232067
Spaghetti spaghetti bone machete with Baron samedi and his red confetti droppin on about his mom's spaghetti never forgetting about his bone spaghetti and his red machete
This takes on entirely new meanings in this story. I bet all that wasted blood really nags her.
First blood for the blood god. This should be bloody interesting.
Second good buy snek waifu.
"who colied around her"
"who coiled around her"?
Hmmm, this is why she needs her friends to ground her. Perhaps it is fortuitous that Luna swapped over?
Keep going! ;)
Well crap. Sunset isn't just slipping off the deep end, she's cannonballing. Whatever's going to save her from turning every bath inti a bloodbath, it better turn up quick.
as long as their sentient, the species doesn't matter
1. They're.
Each chapter forwarding into Sunset life now just show how further she is succumbing to the blood magic.
Although I'm seeing a ray of hope with her aspect of empathy also coming out.
The confidentiality aspect of X-COM is sure flying out the window. At that point Sunset could tell the all world she's a pony.
No Sunset, nooooo!!!!!
Oh, so there IS hope!
You better make sure both survive, and that there are cute as a button snek pone foals in the end, you meanie!!!
How long before Blood Witch became Bloodless Lich?
9232219 9232300 9227954 9227967 Fixed! Thank you!
Welp, there goes one of Sunset's primary ties to sanity. Twilight can't get back fast enough.
Ouch things are not looking good for shimmy's future at this rate.
Oh dear, Sunset is losing it. Hopefully one of her friends can reel her in before she loses it.
9232526
Necromancy and sanguimancy are QUITE different schools of dark magic though <.<;;
Sadly, you cant remove mental ailments by just spending 5 days in the infirmary here.
Or from having a Strong enough Psion hang out near you.
9232529
You're welcome.
Snek gone?
Blood-bending. There's a reason it's forbidden.
Awww, farewell to Angel? It’s bittersweet for sure. And Sunset is now well and truly loosing her jelly. That is no good.
Worst kept secret ever.
It's a complete waste of it, you know.
Yikes. I had been wanting to get back to see what Sunset's up to. But this was... distressing. It's good for Fluttershy that Angel's back at Angel's Point, and lovely that Jenny gets to go and live there; I think Flutters will take good care of her. But Sunset really needs to find some more solid anchor to avoid falling any further down that slope. (And of course, in terms of narrative theory, we know she's not going to be able to stop right where she is now; she needs to fall somewhat further before it comes to a real head one way or another...)
Interesting outright denial of the romance - and indeed, Sunset claiming not to have time for any of that. Looks like Wanderer wanted to Sink some Ships: with Laetitia looking pretty unlucky too, it looks like Sunset will be single right up until the epilogue. Twilight, perhaps not so much, but I wouldn't be entirely surprised to see her take that "I don't have time for a relationship" angle either.
9232315
At this point, there's no real point in keeping that knowledge secret. The Elders probably know about it via the Sirens, and the Outskirt Humans are warming up to working alongside other sentient beings. At this point, the portal itself is probably what should be on the down low.
9233688
To be fair, the ship appeared in the comment section long before it was even implied in the story. During their first meeting, Angel was friendly with Sunset, which Fluttershy said was unusual. For context, it was implied in previous chapters that Sunset had a pacifying or calming effect on the aliens, so it wasn't that unusual. Despite that, the comments lit up with Sneks.
9233688
Sunset didn't say if she had feelings for Angel or not, just that she didn't have time for a relationship. I mean, obviously it's up to the author if that means anything for the story, but it definitely means it's not going to be a focus.
Can she also bloodbend? And what about just enhancing people's natural abilities without making them into berserkers?
9249585
That is what that implies, yes.
Angel is a snake? All i see is very mutch Snek to cuddle ♡
Sunset needs to find a way to negate the madness...
Using it vs enemys is one thing, but she lines of her see a difference between who is who becomes thinner through the blood magic...
Full body suit that is liquid save is the only way i can see to prevent her madness going over board.