Through Crimson Eyes

The stigma

It was early morning and Twilight got up, stretch out, and groggily walked downstairs to get some coffee. The day promised to be a long one, beside her new obligations as a princess, she had also agreed to help Crimson with her project. A replacement for her lost wings was an ambitious project, and could've changed the life’s of many. She began to fully wake up as the hot coffee in her hooves began work it's wonder.

Twilight levitated her first task for the day over to her. It was a stack of reports of changeling activity and intel they gathered over the past months. Even to this very day little was known of the shape shifters, and true, In spite of her own hatred for the shape shifters, a part of her continued to hope things could be worked out in the long run and that perhaps they could eventually become a part of Equestria alongside the other pony species. The dominant unicorns, pegasie, and earth ponies and the somewhat less numerous bat ponies and crystal ponies. Based on ancient myths, the changelings had traits once attributed to a branch of the now extinct flutter ponies, who had been known to have held the ability to alter their appearances, mainly the colors of their mane and coat and who were rumored to be able to boost the power of their magic by changeling emotions into energy. But who could not drain it from others by force, opposed to the changelings whose sole survival depend on draining emotional energy. The clues were there and clear, but no real evidence been available to confirm this with a hundred percent certainty.

Twilight read through the pile quickly, her pace was such in fact that some could say, if she hadn’t become the element of magic, she would have doubtlessly become an avatar of the element of reading. Unfortunately the report wasn't as informative as she would have liked. Most of it listed false flags, and the ones that actually reported real sightings, held little to no importance in the grand scheme of things. To better understand these elusive beings and perhaps come up with a solution, other than a genocide of the species, which was a surprisingly popular idea, considering the fact that gryphons and dragons had, in the past, caused more damage, suffering and death than the changings. She felt troubled by how the bloodthirstiness of the general populace, but there was no way around it, she had to prove her point and hope that they would consider it at least.

And now, she had to find a way to add the vamponies to the mix. She had an inkling that they were responsible for a fair number of disappearances. And the only ones who held any information about them were members of a violent cult, the existence of which wasn't even known until a couple days prior. A cult which sought only the extermination of the vamponies. She had tried inquiring at the Canterlot library about records pertaining to the cult but her search proved unfruitful. She had a feeling she would need to talk with Luna and Celestia about the matter, She also needed to figure out a twofold solution, one which would eliminate the need for the dangerous predatory ways of the vamponies, and one which would at the same time find them a viable source of sustenance. All this while trying to minimize a panic that was sure to erupt if any of this were to be revealed. She was more leaning towards keeping them a secret, hidden from the populace but a part of Equestria in the shadows. Both races unique abilities would be a great advantage to Equestria. Changeling would be perfect spies while vamponies would be the fiercest fighters akin to like shock troopers if a situation requires such, And once they are part of Equestria they could eventually slowly emerge from the shadows in a process that would take generations, but in the long run prove as the best solution for everpony.

Twilight sniffed the air, which was now filled with the smell of pancakes currently in the making and smiled. She had been so engrossed with the documents that she hadn't even noticed Spike come downstairs and begin to make breakfast.

“Good morning Spike!”

“Good morning Twilight, heh, about time you noticed me.”

The princes couldn't help but give a sheepish smile. “Sorry about that.. but you know me.”

“Yeah, yeah, I know you Twilight. I guess I just need to make pancakes more often so I can snap you out of your trance.” He waved the wooden spoon towards her with a teasing smile. Twilight just chuckled at this.

“I'm sure not against that idea spike.”

But the pancakes didn't bring just Twilight back from her thoughts, but also lured upstairs a certain, hidden guest. In the basement door creaking open, Crimson's head appeared as she looked around.

“Good morning Crimson, will you join us for breakfast?” The lavender alicorn greeted her. Crimson smiled and walked the stairs and closer to Twilight giving a small wave to Spike.

“Good morning everypony, I guess. I haven't had pancakes for breakfast in, like, forever.”
Spike gave her a questioning look. “But. Don't vamponies drink only blood?”

“Oh yea, we do drink blood, that is our main 'food source'..” She rubbed the back of her head. “But we can also eat normal food, though that's kind of optional you see.”

“Oh okay.” answered the baby dragon.

“That's interesting to know.” Twilight noted, now quite curious of the diet of vamponies. “So what can and can’t you eat, exactly? “ As she was asking this question, she had levitated over several empty scrolls, ink and a quill. Seeing this Spike just rolled his eyes while Crimson gave a sheepish smile.

“Twilight is just being Twilight...” noted the baby dragon with a wink towards Crimson could only chuckle.

“Hey! I heard that! This is of scientific importance, and not a joking matter, or would you prefer your diamonds revoked for a week?” Said the princes with a fake threatening, serious manner.

Spike just gave raspberries to Twilight with a sly smile and continue his cooking. “Well, if that would happen, Id be worried for the steady supply of pancakes your Majesty.”

“Touché.” Crimson chipped in with a wide smirk, which, combined with her sunglasses made her resemble a certain DJ pony, minus one obvious difference,which was the sight of her impressive fangs now at full display.

The small group soon gathered around the table with a large stack of pancakes in the middle with some special additions for everypony on their own side. Spike had one large topaz, Twilight, another cup of coffee, while Crimson had her medical blood bag prepared.

“So.. what can you eat.” asked Twilight as she began eating her first pancake.

“Well for starters I can't eat most of the plants, there are some exceptions of course... I know I’m alright with baked goods and other protein based food, like eggs, or... meat.” She chuckled a bit nervously as she mentioned this last part.
“Well then, guess that makes you an omnivore.” said Spike, finishing his first pancake.

“In a sense yes, but I must have blood, I could eat as much I 'normal' food as I want and still die from hunger, albeit slowly slower, though not much more slowly than a normal pony.”

Twilight was now deep in thought. “Well perhaps we could figure out what compounds present in blood your body needs, and make them artificially, reducing or even altogether making the consumption of blood obsolete.”

Crimson nodded to this. “That would be wonderful, I really despise the fact I have to drink... this.” she lifted the bag of blood. “But unless you can make artificial blood, I sadly can't sustain on anything else. One thing I know for sure is that it contains some special magical properties that we need. If I had to describe them I would say they are what makes the essence of the life force flowing through the blood system of the, ahem, donor ”

Twilight and Spike both nodded in understanding.

“So that must be there as well... and fresh blood retains life force for a while. This bag has it too, but about 3-4 times less already than the blood coursing through your veins.”

“I.. see.” Twilight felt a bit of concerned by this information, but it did make sense after all. “By this you are kind of alike to changelings.”

“I suppose so.. It makes us very strong, and even able to perform magic.”

“You can perform magic?!?” Snapped Twilight in disbelief. Crimson just nodded. “How are you able to do that?”

“Well... It's isn’t for sure.. but there was one another vampony when we met with Black Blood, it was brief, but I saw him preform magic, he somehow discharged red lightning from his hooves and struck down cult members who tried to kill us.. He.. He was a fair bat pony I suppose, he didn't have that sadistic, soulless aura about him, and he felt sorry he had to strike down those ponies.”

“Whoa.” was all Spike could say, but Twilight was in deeper thought now. Her hunch that vamponies would make terrifying warriors were obviously to her, and now she had a new theory forming in her head.

“So.. he was a bat pony like yourself?”

“Yes, nod Crimson.”

“And Black Blood was a unicorn if I recall your story.”

“.. Yes.. He was.. Where are you going with this?”

“I think I have a theory of a sort.. think of bat ponies in general, you are born with fangs, and you are naturally nocturnal. On the other hand other ponies aren't like this. It's a hunch, but I’m pretty sure there is a connection there, one way or another.”

Crimson though about this for a minute and she nodded, it did make sense and was worth looking into. They talked about more possibilities as they finished off the breakfast. Once done Spike proceeded to take care of the dishes while Twilight and Crimson went downstairs to the laboratory and began work on the wings.

Meanwhile, in Canterlot Castle princes Luna sat in her study, massaging her temples with her hooves while levitating a mug of coffee with her magic. She had a serious headache, and not one without a reason either. Before her lay folders, documents and reports of different cases of mysterious murders, all committed during the night, and they all had connections, such as small marks, stigmas burned into the victims at various spaces.

And Luna was now engrossed in the reports of last night's attack, when the famous Octavia Philharmonica had almost been killed, for her safety the fact of her attack and her survival had been kept secret, as from all others who had been attacked in the past, none remained alive to tell the tale, and those who were still kept silent, as they would likely be quickly silenced if they did.

She had been placed under the direct protection and care of the princess of the night. The poor musician was still unconscious, kept in her secret laboratory, and only her highest and most trusted guards knew about it.

It was obvious that an elusive group was responsible for thousands of brutal murders all across Equestria, and their motives were still being unclear. Luna had taken this task from Celestia because all these had been happening in the night for many centuries, or even longer, and the night was her domain, it was a true insult how these acts fouled her beautiful creation in a way she could not tolerate. Even as Nightmare Moon commits numerous crimes herself, she had never done anything like these murders which like oil on fire now fuelled her determination to put an end to them.

The case description was almost unreal, no pony saw the attack, the neighbor of Octavia was only been alerted by the gravely injured mare when she banged on her front door, and when she had opened the door all she saw was Octavia who collapsed inside and lost consciousness from blood loss. It was an incredible luck the mare worked for the Canterlot Hospital and she always had a charm that allowed her to teleport to the hospital in case of emergency, as well that Luna herself had been in the hospital and she spotted the stigma right away, burned into her on her slit throat.

If she hadn't been there Octavia would have died, but she had been and she was able to cast a time dilation bubble around her so the doctors had time to tend to her grave injury, it was a very taxing spell, and one, which use was questioned morally as it fell under the classification of manipulation of time, but which she used regardless as this had been a vital chance to have a witness and maybe garner some useful information. And even if Octavia was unable to give information on the reason behind her attack, Luna knew the criminals would try to get her. It was a very cruel idea to use the poor, genuine soul as a bait if she agreed to it. But already too much blood had been spilled, as if in an invisible that war raged on in her night the thought of which infuriated the Lunar goddess beyond measure.

In the mean time Luna ordered her guards to shadow others who had been close to Octavia, she could feel in her guts that more blood was yet to be spilled.

She grunted, no matter how many times she’d gone through all the documents, she couldn't get closer to the truth, not until Octavia woke up or more evidence surfaced. With this thought she gave up for the day and proceeded towards bed to get some much needed sleep. She hoped, deep down that no pony would get harmed or killed while she slept.

At first, she only felt numbness and a cold darkness about her, then she surfaced from the blackness, like one emerged from deep water. Feeling as slowly all her senses returned, pain began to register beside the numbness of her weak body. Octavia forced her eyes to crack open, and was met with a world that was blurry at best, and the pulsing of pain in her neck that spiked to near agony when she tried to swallow. The cellist tried to raise her hoof to her neck but she couldn't, something was holding her back, she realized she was restrained. This fact with being in pain and the last night's events slowly coming back terrified the musician into full awareness crystallizing her sight and revealing her surrounding to her

Octavia could hear hoof steps approaching her, pulse spiking as she panic, but once the pony came into her view she regains her calm. It was a night guard of princess Luna and she knew them, as not once had the Lunar goddess request personal concepts, being a big fan of her music.

“Welcome back, miss Octavia. Please remain calm, you are safe now and no harm will come to you.” Spoke the Lunar guard in a calming manner. “My name is Shadow Eye, princes Luna personal assistant. She has tasked me to personally look after your well being. As for the time being refrain yourself from any movements. The attacker gravely injured you and was sheer luck and a miracle they managed to save your life.” He pauses for a moment. “Your injury will take a few weeks to heal properly, and you won't be able to speak any more as the attack and the following operation to preserve your life destroyed your vocal cords.”

Octavia could feel how she pale, and felt dizzy, but tried to calm herself, and tried not to move her head, or swallow, as much as possible. She silently sums up her situation, she was badly hurt, but alive, no longer able to talk or sing. It was a bitter sweet pill to swallow, but she knew she can manage that.

The guard turns around and walk off, to return with some water in a bottle, he proceeds to give her water with the use of a flexible nozzle. Octavia tears up as she tried to swallow down the refreshing liquid, took several minutes but she managed it. The guard places the now half empty bottle beside the bed and sit on his hunches beside the bed so she could see him from the bed. And continue.

“You should feel better in a few days, miss Octavia. The blade did extensive damage to your neck indeed, severing your windpipe and important arteries, but it didn't reach your throttle or cut deep enough to damage most muscles that support your head. If refrain from moving your head it should heal properly, and some weakness and slight soreness will be the most of your discomfort once this few days passed. You'll be able to consume food too, though nothing solid for a little while.”

Octavia tried to lift her left hoof and shake it some, indicate to Shadow Eye to undo her bound.

“My apologise miss Octavia, I have specific orders from the doctor and princess Luna herself that you must stay restrained for the time being for several reasons, but mainly due prevent you touch your bandages on your neck. This stands until further notice either by the doctor or by the princes. In the mean time I try to tend to all your needs and comfort in best of my ability.”

Octavia closes her eyes for a few seconds, she wasn't happy hearing this, but there was no arguing about it. She locks her eyes with Shadow, questioningly, that she may learn what could have happened, and why is she tended by Luna's own servants instead of a normal hospital.

“I do see you have many questions, and we do have many questions our selves regarding this attempt on your life.” Spoke the guard, this didn't ease Octavia concerns. “I would like to share more information, but the princess will do personally soon.” Shadow looks up at the clock on the wall. “She should be expected in less than 2 hours and will give you a detailed explanation of the events, including the attack on your life.”

Octavia blink and her mind began to race at a million miles a minute, others been attacked? How many? When? Where? And most importantly, Why? She tried to think what could be the answer, but nothing she could think off could be a good enough reason to some one attack her, and then others. She had a gut feeling this is something big, and even thought in safety now it is way far from over. She sighs slowly, shutting out the constant pain from her neck, but something was odd when she unwillingly pays more attention to her neck. It wasn't only the slash wound, about the height where her cravat usually rests. Somewhat lower, she could feel a fair sized spot in pain, a burn, and not the little kind when cooking and not being careful enough, this was a strong burn. She filed it away in her mind to ask latter, and find out what is this other wound on her neck.

After some though she decided best she sleeps, she felt very weak still, and knew she needed her 'beauty sleep' now more than ever. Octavia closed her eyes and began to drift away into her dreams.

About the same time in Canterlot, one white unicorn with a messy electric blue mane wander around on the streets. She was aimless, and broken, the news that her best friend been killed last night shattered her. The normally carefree, daring daredevil DJ was a shadow of herself. Now Octavia, and years before their mutual friend, Crimson. She regrets she could not say goodbye to her friend Crimson, and blame herself for her disappearance deep down in her heart, even if in truth it was nothing to do with her. She felt responsible, and now this guilty resurfaced, burning and dissolve her from the inside.

She was dizzy, have more than 3 or 4 bottles down with several shots along the side. Despite this she was still standing steadily. Vinyl bump into ponies who walk on the evening street, not because she could not avoid them, she simply did not give anypony any buck at the moment 'They move or I move them.'. Some of the ponies knew the mare, and what was eating her. It was well known fact Vinyl and Octavia has been close friends, some even rumored they are an item, and it was true. They they are an item, and it was true. They haven't been a couple due their carriers they simply had no time, but they love each other more then friends do.

As Vinyl cuts through the mass of the ponies she suddenly felt a sharp pain near the base of her neck impact her. Deeply burn into her skin under her fur. She winces as a tear roll of her cheeks from the unexpected pain, and quickly look around who might be responsible for this, but she saw no one, but then at her feet she saw a piece of metal, like a stamp, but glow from the heat. Vinyl was drunk, but she quickly sobers up from the pain and what she recognized, she saw this symbol before, it was burned on her door a year ago, and now the very same symbol, a stigma burned on her. She was frozen right there and then.

Moments later she turns around and began running, as fast as her hooves could carry her, she knocks many ponies over, ignore them completely. She runs down a mile easily when the main road took a right turn, with only a small alley continue forward. The frightened mare made her mistake by run straight into the shadows of the alley. It was a very long, and narrow path, she knocks over empty boxes and trash until she has been forced to stop. It was a dead end. Vinyls heart pounds heavily, like trying to break through her ribcage and run off. She turned around quickly, only to meet with the aggressor on the other side not to far off, well hidden in the shadows of the night and the dark alley.

“Wha..What d-do youu want!” Scream Vinyl as she rare into the brick wall behind her.

“Your Blood.” Answered the cloaked stallion as began inching closer to the trembling mare “Vampony worshipper.”

Vinyl couldn't make heads or tails of what the stallion said to her right there and then. Before Vinyl could say or do anything else, a bat pony flew in, a Lunar guard, and dead on to tackle the cultist with deadly claws on her front hooves. The stallion reacted in a flash and grab the bat pony in his aura, slamming her into the wall with incredible force, crack and dent in the thick brick wall. The guards pony mare cry out in angst, then peeled off from the wall and fall to the ground in a form of an unorganized heap of mess. Broken, but still alive somehow. The other Lunar guard tried to tackle the Unicorn from behind but swiftly been of mess. Broken, but still alive somehow. The other Lunar guard tried to tackle the Unicorn from behind but swiftly been lift into the air and with a sickening crunch his spine was snapped then tossed aside into a large rubbish container, the lid of the metal contraption fell down, enclose the still warm corpse of the bat pony stallion unceremoniously.

The stallion continues his slow advance on the terrified Vinyl who desperately tried to rare out from this situation, like crawl up on the wall as facing her executioner getting closer and closer. Tears stream down on her cheeks, being stared down by those, colder than death itself, like eyes. The stallion rise his front hoof, ready to bring down the knife, obscure that little light that illuminated the DJ. Her shade fell on the ground and shattered reveal her . It was the end, was Vinyl last thoughts run through her mind before she passes out from the sheer fright.