Old faces

Overwhelming pain, through every fiber, every muscle and bone. The world spinning without a stop with unbearable rings in her ears Midnight Blossom finally managed to crack her eyes open and see blurred darkness of the alley. She knew it was quiet despite her ears ring, there was no movement at all. Then suddenly a pegasie appears in her vision. He looks deeply into her yellow draconian orbs with his red eyes.

“Oh mare, look at you, you have been swap like a fly. Don't you know to not get involved in the game of adults.” He shook his head side to side, then a smile began to creep on his face, end up in a scary feral smirk, showing large fangs.

Midnight wasn't the type who gets overwhelmed by fear, not easily, but she silently panicked now. She could see traces of blood on the teeth of the stallion before her.

“Oh! My manners..” He link slowly his mouth and teeth clean of the last of the blood. “He was delicious I must admit.”

Midnight gathered all her strength to speak. “..Who... are you..” She blinked, compose herself agents all the torment of her state. “..What..happened..”

The stallion raises his right hoof to his chin in a fake thoughts as answered with a sly smile plastered on his face. “Oh nothing special, I just killed the vampony hunter.. there is nothing better when the hunter becomes the hunted.” His laugh at his own antics and look at the broken guard. “Names Rave , now with the pleasantries out of the way, let's get down to business babe.” His red eyes shine, his wings flare out. “I think I’m still picky.”

“..please.. don't.. kill me..”

“But you're technically dead already, why wait, the afterlife awaits you.”

“..I don't.. want...to die.. not... this way..”

“So how you wanna die babe?” Rave stare deeply into Midnight eyes, his mood all carefree and childish, but then she saw well the other side within him.

“In a... honourable.. fight..” the bat pony was searching for the spark in him, that he let her off.

“Tell you what, fine.. but you own me one.” A moment of relief, but once the moment was over the vampony bite down on her neck. She tried to scream but the combination of her injuries and now the burning pain through her system knock her out.

“hehe, welcome to the Club babe, see you soon.” Rave wink towards the unconscious mare and trot away, he just gave an off glare to the now awake and totally dumbfound Vinyl. “And hey, cool new album, do a song for me, your blood knight deserves such awesomeness after all.” The vampony vanished into the darkness of the alley. Vinyl turn her head towards Midnight who was shaking, her eyes slightly open, pupils asymmetric, in total shock, and she could see how her yellow draconian eyes change color to crimson red. The DJ began to comprehend what could have gone down while she was unconscious.

Then her eye meets the corpse of the killer who wanted to kill her. Laying in a large pool of blood, his head was ripped off, blood was still oozing, no, she froze, blood was still pumping out weakly now and then through the severed arteries with muscles tense up then relax. Vinyls eyes began to wander upwards, and the second time the night faint where she stood.

Many hours later, in the midst of the night deep with in Canterlot Castle, princes Luna made her way to her secret laboratory. She pushed the large double door open and enter. Her very own elite night guard present, alert. She continues her march towards the sub levels of the facility, passing through several heavily reinforced metal doors and immensely powerful magical barriers the Lunar goddess reached her destination. Inside the room now not one, but three bed welcome her, with three occupants.

Shadow Eye welcomes the princes with a bow. Luna waves her hoof dismissively, that this gesture is not necessary. On the right of the room lay Vinyl, now calm and feel safe, but the events that transpired in the past 24 or so hours have left their toll on the otherwise energetic and cheerful DJ. On her left, at the middle was Octavia, resting and visibly still sore, still restrained and tended by a nurse, just finished up the new bandage on her neck. On the other corner rest Midnight Blossom, one of her prodigy officers of the night guard who somewhat resembled a mummy now. She was in great pain but awake, and been fed with medical blood. For anyone else this would be bizarre if not outright terrifying, but Luna lives a long life, and true she personally never encounters vamponies, back then they been far more common and considered reality instead of modern times legends.

Luna walks closer to the mares then sat down before Octavia's bed, gave another glare on them as she spoke.

“Better evening to all.. I suppose we all can agree with this.” She paused for a moment then continue. “The situation we are all in is complex at best if not outright chaotic. Though your unfortunate situation did grant us crucial pieces of the puzzle we been trying to solve now hundreds of years.” Luna's eyes now meet Vinyls, the shaken unicorn knew already what was about to be said, asked from her. “Vinyl, I do understand, the things you've witnessed just a few hours ago will haunt you for the rest of your life, yet I'm forced to ask you to tell us about the events transpire this evening.”

Vinyl closed her eyes, they have been painful, she cried, a lot. She bit her lower lips, took a large breath to calm herself. Then she begins her tell her side of the story, how she got burned among the crowd and run off and end up in the desolate dark alley. How she passed out right before the unicorn wanted to kill her, how she woke up and saw a pegasie and Midnight, and how he bite her. Then how passed out again from the horror of the gored unicorn corpse. After a little pause she said about the mark they burn on her, that in fact a year ago the same mark was burned into her door. She finished her story, recalling everything she could for the time being, then she asked.

“..wh..what going to happen to us?” Fear and uncertainty dripping from her words, tears in her eyes, and she wasn't alone, this very question echoes through the minds of the others, Octavia with renewed fear and depression as she felt like her life over, while Midnight with bitterness, unsure about her new 'condition' she been cursed with hours ago.

“You all may rest, your safety is guaranteed by me.” Spoke the Lunar princess “But I'm afraid you will be staying here for a long time, you all been announced to be dead for your own and relatives safety. And at least now we have some information what is happening.” Luna paused for a few minutes in concentration with her horn aglow. This puzzled the two musicians but Midnight knows well what was happening. After this pause Luna continue.

“My trusted guards will tend your needs as best as possible. I know it will be harsh being locked away like this, but until we can't get to the bottom of this hidden war, there is no other choice. Both factions, by the current evidence, are extremely strong...” She trailed off for a short time “The unicorn killed Midnight partner on her mission and almost kill her as well with a single counter attack, while that vampony disposed that unicorn, without signs of much of the struggle or fight.”

“Princess Luna.” Everypony turn towards the source, Midnight Blossom. “Forgive me, but I would like to reenter service later on. I'm... aware of my condition.. but I want to make use of it, if I’m cursed to live with it.” As demonstration she bends the metal rail on the side of her bed than meets the eyes of the Lunar goddess with her own, now turned red draconian orbs.

Luna was in though for a few moments. “Very well, I see the reasoning and it is sound, but let us not rush ahead of things. We need more information, and I believe my sister, Cadance and Twilight assistance will be required. As this carnage of secret war has been raging under our nose for centuries if not millenniums, calming the lives of innocent ponies by both factions, vamponies, and this group. And surprisingly, the cult is more troubling.”

Luna's glaze move across the room, meet with everypony presents. “Most of you not aware of this, but a month ago those cultist, butchered an entire orphanage up north, they killed everypony without mercy.”

If anypony felt sleepy or bored, they sure snap awake after this statement made by the goddess, not that any of them would be at ease at given time.

“The..did.. what!?!?” Squeaked the white mare, impossibly so, paled more.

“Yes.. they have killed everypony, every little innocent fillies there, butchered them...” Anger was bubbling in the eyes of Luna. Vinyls just hung open, unable to form words to make any response then and there. Octavia mimics her friend, they are being totally dumbfounded. The heart rate monitor of Octavia was spiking indicating how hard the mare's heart pound in her chest.

Luna gave a sigh and excused herself. There were simply to many things to consider, more information to be gathered, and the moves to be planned. She head towards her sister's room to discuss the matter with her.

Crimson was awake a while and had a conversion with Rainbow Dash and nurse Redheart in the laboratory.

“So let me get this straight, this thing would let you fly?” Said the very skeptical cyan mare.

“Yes, though not sure will be the first model work flawlessly, I'm sure I can make something with the help of Twilight and you.”

“I don't like to sound harsh, but I am agents to implant metal pieces into your back, not just because it is not my expertise but the very fact it carries a tons of dangers.”

“Dangers I am aware of.” Replied Crimson to Redheart. “And believe me, being a vampony makes me endure far more punishment than average ponies, it is a fact.”

“I don't believe I saying this, being a dare devil myself, but this is crazy!” Rainbow throw up her front hooves into the air to emphases this. Crimson just smiled at pegasie reaction but instead of try make her point with mere words, she placed the metal wing before her so she could inspect it. “Crazy it is then.” Rainbow picks up the wing and thoroughly inspect it, rotate it, and flare it out, close it, then return it to the bat pony.

“So what you think.” Crimson rise an eyebrow

“Okey, I’ll give you that it's impressive and might work, it's light, strong and have flexibility... I’m not an egghead, but even I see this be one painful thing.” Dash wince just from the merge though how this be implanted into the flesh, wings are the most sensitive for pegasie. “..and there is still a chance it's won't work.”

“That's true...” Crimson winced too, truth be told, it was still quite painful when she moved around, especially flexed her back, but she mostly got used to the pain. “But I think I can deal with it.. and I made the design such way, that the part implanted is a base and the wings can be interchanged.”

Redheart was going through the designs in the meantime quietly. “Crimson...”

“Yes?”

“We can do it, BUT.” Redheart rise her hoof and silenced any words that was about to form on the other mare's mouth. “The implant part will need to be designed better and I will be the part of it at every step.” She locks eyes with Crimson, a true stern, unmovable look. Crimson only nod to this. “And WHEN... I deem ready and safe, only THEN, we will consider the operation. Are we clear?”

“Crystal.”

“Good. Now I try to get some time off from work to help you with this, with Twilight back it up, sure won't be an issue. I recommend you sit down with Rainbow Dash and go through the wings mechanical workings so we can have a perfect design for the base, especially we don't just need the bone and the metal base merged, but muscles attached to metal strings that move different parts of the wings, and that will give a new meaning of pain when we do.”

Crimson bite her lower lip and looked away as the reality sink in, that this operation will be anything but a simple walk in a park. The three mares stood there in perfect silence when a sudden bright light and a loud pop signalled the return of a certain alicorn. Crimson cringe, the noise was to loud for her, but at least she didn't get blinded thanks to her new shades. But when things register to her, she was stunned, so the other two and they bow quickly, Crimson however was taken aback as she saw the Lunar princess beside Twilight, staring at her. Then panic took over her, it was plane obvious the princess not in a good mood, and she bows quickly.

“Things are getting more complicated.” Spoke Twilight, her tone carry worry within.

After a quick recap of events that occurred in the past days, and especially this morning when Twilight has been summoned by the elder princesses to discuss something urgently along side with Cadance. They sat down. Crimson was mixed up, not that all the princesses now know about her, and could possibly lock her up, but that her dearest friends, adopted sisters, Octavia and Vinyl cough up in the cross fire and their lives ruined.

“I believe so it be best if we return to Canterlot, everypony who is involved, for your own safety, as this cult seems to be everywhere, likely even reach up to the highest levels of the government.” Then Luna looks at Crimson, now with a mix of pity and anger. “As for you Crimson... I agree you are a victim, but I cannot overlook the blood stuck on your hooves. By laws you should be executed... but we won't do that. For now you will be under our watch with your friends, as to how things move on afterwards, that time will only tell, but I can assure you already, you will be under our watch for the rest of your life, be it imprisoned, or allowed to be free.”

The bat pony nodded, unable to meet the eyes of the Lunar princess. Twilight the same, staring at the floor beside her.

“Rainbow Dash, fly out and gather all the elements and the three little fillies, I will teleport everypony back to Canterlot, and will have guards called in to look after their properties and work.”

The future Wonderbolt salute and speed out, leaving a rainbow trail behind.

An hour later, everypony was in the laboratory of Luna. The group had mixed feelings of the situation, the young ones were more excited about this adventure, not fully cope the gravity just yet. Fluttershy was terrified of course. Applejack was annoyed and concerned for her family. Rarity surprisingly took things well, she trust the princesses protection and judgement. Twilight was still somewhat ashamed, she did receive some scolding from both Celestia and Luna of why she did not contact them in the first space. Pinkie Pie was Pinkie Pie, happily hop along the others. Rainbow Dash was more of bored to death, she wanted to soar the skies, which she could not do inside this close structure. Redheart was excited, as she could continue her studies in the fields of medicine and learn more of vamponies here.

They arrived in the room where the others already await, Luna turns around to address the group. “We have arrived, this place will be your sanctum until we can provide a better, safe place for everypony.” Luna had a short pause then look at the three little fillies. “Apple Bloom, Sweety Belle, Scootalo, i'd like to ask you to behave, especially not bother miss Octavia and Midnight Blossom. They need lots of rest.

“YES PRINCESS LUNA!”

The reply arrived in a volume that rivalled the Royal Canterlot Voice, Luna was taken aback for a few moments, she never expected such display from little fillies. Rarity and Applejack smiled sheepishly while Rainbow Dash laugh so hard that it was a challenge to remain airborne. Crimson ears been flat and a tear drop hit the ground, biting her lips. Seeing this the trouble makers run up to her and plea for forgive them. Crimson shook her head rapidly to clear her mind, she has gone deaf for a short time, but even though, she could not be mad at the CMC, not against the pure weaponised cuteness they possessed, and not fret to use either. She sat on her haunches and with both hooves began to calm down the fillies that no harm done, thought her raised voice gave away she can't hear a thing at the moment. At the end every giggle on the antics of the fillies.

When the doors opened, two of the room's occupants had quite a surprise when they lay their eye on their long lost friend. Crimson couldn't even make a step forward as a Vinyl literally dive at her, embrace her in one bone cracking hug with tears flow from her eyes. Octavia goes out from her bed as well, a nurse tried to stop her but she sweeps her hoof away as she made her way to the pony pile made up from her best friends to join them, though carefully due her still fresh injury. The trio share liquid happiness, and once they settle down a little, they walked back inside, the others follow. It was a heart warming moment to witness, old friends reunite after a long time.

“Oh Cree... where have you been all this time?” Vinyl asked her bat friend, though this question chill the other mare mood.

“It's... a long story.. and not a good one Vinyl.” She raises her head and look into the eyes of the other pony, with a weak smile. “I'm just happy I can see you girls again.”

“....” A painful gasp earn the two attention, in time to see Octavia place her hoof gently to her neck, fighting back some tears. Crimson heart felt seeing this. She felt responsible for her delicate earth pony friend's injury. Octavia fight off the nurse once more, raise her hoof to show she is alright enough, and gestured for something to write with. Twilight been the one help her out, as always she been armed with scrolls, ink and quills.

As Octavia began to write her message to her friend, things began to sink in for Vinyl, how her friend actually see her with the now blood red orbs of hers, her now larger and sharper fangs, and the bandaged up back side where her wings would be. Her friend been turned into a vampony, as happened to the night guard, Midnight Blossom. Then mutilation of her wings.

“Oh mare...” Crimson turn towards her DJ friend who gave her a gentle hug. No more words needed to be said there, the vampony knew her friend's thoughts already, she rests her head on Vinyls shoulder and exhale.

“Cree... I never let you out of my sight.. ever again.” Declared the white unicorn with a sad smile as rub the back of her friend, with care not to cause pain.

“Whoa.. seems the mighty tomcolt has a soft spot after all.” Chuckled Crimson as she bumped her head playfully into Vinyls, as looking far ahead, into the distance of the far past when all was simple and pure.

“You bet.. you and Octi can melt this heart of hard core wubs you know.”

The two got surprised when bumped at top of their head by two gray hooves of the cellist, not to strong of course. Vinyl took the scroll out from Octavia hoof and levitated before the trio, so they could read it what their now mute friend tried to say all the while Octavia embraced Crimson.

~I can't simply find the words how happy I, we are, we though the worst Crimson. We fear we hurt your feelings by moving to Canterlot to peruse our dreams and both though you died after you disappeared for so long without any trace and hate us Celestia what have happened to you!?! Your wings. Your eyes. You turned into a vampony?~

“There's so much... just to much...” Crimson close her eyes. “I wish we could meet normally, and I not be a monster.”

“Cree you are..” She was interrupted by Crimson hoof high in the air.

“..Vinyl.. I know you mean well and all of you, but I am, what I committed, even if wasn't my will... I was a tool for murder...”

“And that's why you are not a monster, you been used, and you have been powerless, for most of that time you haven't even had your consciences.” She turns to the mare who spoke, and now sat before her, Twilight Sparkle. “You feel regret, love, compassion, fear... It's true what they have done and used your body to, that spilled so much blood... but you are a pony deep...” She rest her hoof on Crimson chest.”Inside here...”

“That I see as well, but blood doesn’t turn to water either, Twilight.” Spoke Luna “This... is a unique case... sure we can't punish you, but can't let it go neither.” She sigh deeply “What I can think of now, you would be enrolled to the guard to repay a degree what happened in the past 3 years.”

“Hold on a sec..” Vinyl butt in. “What's all this blood spilled you yammering about.” The Princesses haven't been set back the bluntness of the DJ, Octavia however had her hoof land square on top of the white mare's head, with quite a force. “HEY!” Vinyl stare dagger to her friend, Crimson shook her head, at least some things haven't changed.

“Vinyl, it's true.. when I was turned into a vampony, the fiend, Black Blood posses my body. I was a mere puppet for him and compiled it do his bidding.. capture or outright kill ponies.. So to satisfy his hunger, and out of mere entertainment.. for two years I wasn't even aware of it, then he let me slip back conscienceness, but the fact remained I could do nothing against his will until he been killed a few days ago.” She saw her friend, she could not comprehend this, not just yet, Octavia however did. If a look could torn, rip one's soul to shreds while try to embrace and heal at the same time, Octavia would have just done that there and then.

“I think you all should rest now. And miss Octavia, you should remain your bed for now or I be forced to restrain you. I recommend to settle down and let out the bubbling emotions and catch up for today. There will be lot to consider besides these, as seems we are forced to enter to this secret war that been raging under our very nose al this time.” Everypony bow as Luna made her leave, Twilight.

The group settles around Octavia's bed as they began to talk, Midnight Blossom joins in as well after a short time. They had mixed feelings, but they all agreed things will be difficult, but they had hoped in the end all would be resolved. One by one they have gone to sleep, wonder what the tomorrow bring.

Author's Note

Now we had one warm reunion, now we just need to see where Luna and the others plan to go from here ;)