Blood Diamonds

Prologue

Golden Glory shivered when she heard yet another timberwolf howl. Sure, she knew it came from the Everfree and that it was highly unlikely they would decide to even get near, let alone visit, the Ponyville park, but with these murders going on... She laughed and shook her head. The murderer was murdered a week ago, and there hadn’t been an attack since. Yet here she was, being scared by the sounds of the night like a little filly.

Her laughter ended when her hoof landed in a puddle masked by the darkness, spraying her with water and mud. Horse feathers! She threw her surroundings an ugly look, but that soon melted. She hadn’t been on a midnight stroll for some time now, and she wasn’t going to have it spoiled by a bit of water. How silly ponies had been a thousand years ago – disdaining the night? It was wonderful! Only today she’d been strangely nervous... But that must have been due to the murders thing.

She took a deep breath and savoured the cool, clean air filling her lungs. She could go flying later. Yes, that sounded like a great idea. Once she absorbs enough of the atmosphere here, she’ll be soaring through the night’s air and enjoying the empty skies that she’ll have all to herself.

She spread her wings as she imagined the sensation of air rustling her feathers and mane, when suddenly she saw something move at the edge of her vision. She focused on the spot and saw it was just a waving tree branch. That calmed her, but a certain uneasiness still lingered in her head. It was a windless night, so why did that branch move?

She shrugged and continued her walk. It didn’t take long before she was fully immersed in the relaxing sensation again. The moonlit sky, the pristine air, the chirping, the... rustling? She spun around and stared at a bush. A mighty suspicious bush, as she could still see the leaves on it moving. Something was there, and while it was probably just some harmless animal, the cautiousness she’d adopted these last few horrid weeks kicked in, and she spread her wings once again. Just a few wing beats and she’d be out of the danger zone.

She flapped her wings several times, still staring at that bush, and then something heavy landed right on her back, pinning her to the ground. She let out a loud shriek and turned her head in a desperate attempt to see her attacker. Before she managed that, however, she felt a piercing pain in her neck and everything grew black.

———

“So, now you’re going to come and just...” Twilight gulped. “bite into my neck?” she asked in a voice as thin as a hair.

“Yes, that’s the theory, I suppose.” Rarity said, eyeing Twilight’s arteries and subconsciously licking her lips. “But it’ll really only last a second and, from what I’ve heard, it’ll be painless.”

“Weren’t you bitten too? How did it feel?” Twilight looked like her fur had been bleached. It could even take some effort to actually suck anything out of her like this.

“Well...” Rarity shuffled and looked away. “I’d describe it as horrible pain, like one was cutting your throat, but that was a completely different situation, I assure you! Or, well... I think it was. I’ve never done this before, but how else would Pinkie feed on the Cakes?”

“Uh-huh.” Twilight’s eyes narrowed. “You’ve got no idea what will happen, do you?”

“Sure I do! I will bite you and drink some of that delicious, juicy blood.” Her eyes were set on Twilight’s neck once again. She could feel her teeth elongating just looking at it. “But if you’re afraid,” – Rarity looked Twilight in the eyes – “Pinkie said I can last for another two weeks without feeding. Only I’ll be hungry.”

“Alright, alright. Just do it!” Twilight closed her eyes and displayed her neck.

Rarity smiled and let her fangs slide out as she neared her dinner. She opened her mouth, leaned in, prepared to bite... and was smacked by Twilight’s hoof. She gave a cry of pain and put her hoof on the stricken place. “What was that for?”

“Oh my gosh; I’m so sorry, Rarity!” Twilight immediately rushed to her friend and started examining what she’d done. “I just... lost my nerves. I thought I was prepared, but I wasn’t!”

“It’s alright,” Rarity said, but her expression told a different story. “We can talk some more, if it makes you feel better.”

Twilight’s face immediately lit up. “Sure! Sure, I’d like that. Much better than being bitten.” She motioned her towards a nearby table. “We can talk about Pinkie Pie, for example. How’s she holding up?”

“She’s alright, from what I can tell.” Rarity sighed. “Bouncing up and down just like she used to. I’ll never think about her the same way again, however.”

“Me neither. That whole fiasco changed us all forever.”

“Ha. Ha. Very funny, Twilight. You wouldn’t be making these puns if it was you who needed the blood of others to survive.”

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it like that.” Twilight frowned. “It’s just that... How can I ever look at Pinkie Pie like I used to? I saw her snap a mare’s neck, for Celestia’s sake! How can I look at anypony the same way, for that matter? I would never have believed that Lyra was capable of such a massacre. If she could do it, can other ponies too? Am I walking amongst future serial killers?”

“Twilight, Darling.” Rarity lay her hoof on hers. “She went insane. It wasn’t the Lyra we used to know. And above all, it’s over. She’s been dealt with.”

“That’s the worst thing about it – how can we really be sure it’s over?” Twilight took a deep, shaky breath. “Mrs. Cake said Pinkie was home at the time Lyra must have been turned. It means there’s yet one more vampony running around somewhere.”

“Or it means Mrs. Cake was wrong and Pinkie snuck out when she wasn’t looking. The attacks have stopped, and Lyra told us she killed all the victims.”

“All but one.”

Rarity retreated her hoof. “Do you have to bring it up every time we speak about these things?”

“You killed a pony, Rarity.”

“And I regret it every day! Do you think I forgot? Or that I don’t care anymore?” Tears sprung into her eyes. “I visit Berry’s grave every morning; I’m there more often than her own sister! What more am I supposed to do to show just how much I regret it? Kill myself too? Is that what you want?”

Twilight went pale again. “N-no. I didn’t mean–”

“Of course you didn’t.” Rarity sighed. “I’m sorry for that outburst. It’s simply a very sensitive topic for me.” She pulled out her hoofkerchief, wiping her tears and frowning at her ruined mascara. “How did Pinkie react to your suspicions?”

“She was happy that maybe she wasn’t responsible for the whole thing. You’re probably right. It’s been a week and there have been no signs of any vampony-related troubles anywhere.” She slouched. “I just can’t shake the feeling that maybe I’ve missed something. That the true villain is still out there, ruining the lives of more ponies.”

“It’s alright, Darling.” Rarity offered her a smile. “Should anything like that happen, we’ll find out right away. A missing pony wouldn’t go unnoticed now; why, it would cause an uproar! Also, don’t forget that the princesses have assigned a whole platoon of guards to replace the ones that have fallen, this time with the best military training. Your own brother made sure of that.”

She nodded, but her head remained lowered. “You’re right.”

There was a minute of silence. “So, I see you’ve calmed down,” Rarity said.

“Do we really have to do this? Won’t animal blood suffice?”

Rarity’s muzzle scrunched as she thought back at her first, and last, attempt. “That’s like saying a pony can survive on grass alone. Have you tried drinking it? It’s foul! Even Pinkie Pie opted for the Cakes, and you know how hard she tried to find any alternatives. I mean of course, it might taste great if it’s the first time you feed, but that’s just temporal. No, I think I’d rather die of hunger than to taste that vile liquid ever again. Horrid!”

“Alright already, just make it quick!” She, once again, closed her eyes and presented her neck.

Rarity moved closer, but hesitated. “Twilight, I warn you. If you smack me again, I will smack you back. And you don’t want to be hit by a vampony, believe me.”

“I’ll keep that in mind,” Twilight replied through her clenched teeth.

Rarity prepared her fangs and bit down. Sweet streams of blood soon filled her mouth to the brim, and she gulped it. The more of the stuff she drank, the sweeter and tastier it seemed, as if urging her to drink on. She graciously complied.

After about fifteen seconds, Rarity remembered herself and pulled away, looking at Twilight who soundlessly fell to the ground. “Twilight? Twilight!” Rarity rushed to her friend, pressing her ear against her chest. She couldn’t murder again. Not like this! Not Twilight!

Fortunately, the heartbeat was there, still strong. Rarity smiled, breathing out the air she didn’t even know she held, and lifted herself off the ground. It was just another one of her new skills, it seemed. Hopefully it wasn’t painful for Twilight, otherwise she might as well try devising some new recipes for cooking with animal blood. She shuddered from just thinking about that revolting swill.

After tucking Twilight in, while making sure not to wake Spike up, she silently slipped out of the library. It was marvellous outside – the full moon painted everything with silver, and the air cleared her head, giving her a break from all that pent-up stress. Before, she would have hurried home, afraid of running into some ‘individuals’ that come out at this time of the day. Now, she knew that any attacker would be met with an unpleasant surprise, and it was a wonderful feeling. And the inspiration it gave her! The night provided many wonders that one simply couldn’t experience from behind a glass pane.

She took a deep breath, made a decisive step forward, and was bashed by something heavy from behind, instantly losing consciousness.

———

There was a knock on the door, and Broken Prism lifted his eyes from the papers on his mahogany table. “Come in.”

The door opened with a creak and let in a small, hunched figure. “Yes?” Prism asked.

“News, master,” the servant said, kneeling. “The Ponyville murderer was caught and restrained, and is now on the way here.”

“Ponyville...” He furrowed his brow. Ivory Star and her minions had been circling around that place for months now, and wherever she was, there would be trouble brewing. “Things have been busy there as of late. Too busy for my liking. I’ll have to send somepony there soon.”

“And the killer, master?”

“What about him? Or is it her?”

“Her.”

“Doesn’t matter.” He waved his hoof. “She’ll be tried, found guilty, and executed, just like all the murderers; not to mention she’s a rogue.”

“Yes, master. The trial should start tomorrow. Do you agree, or shall I have it rescheduled?”

“Tomorrow is fine. You may leave.”

The underling bowed and swiftly left the room. Prism stood up from his table with a sigh, walked to the window, and stared into the night outside. It might have seemed wonderful at first, but only before one realised just how many of his blood-sucking colleagues were out there with their intrigues and petty schemes. He levitated a goblet of red liquid to his lips and took a sip. He didn’t know what plans Ivory had with that village, but he was sure he wouldn’t like it.