Falling Temperatures

Chapters

Burning Ice
Midnight Salvation
Targeted
Resonance
Frozen Thunder
Refraction
Mutations
Psychosis
Duality
Fearmonger
Retrieval
Ambushed
Eternity

Burning Ice

Dear Princess Luna,

My name is Ram Card I am writing this to confess to some…things before I do what needs to be done. Firstly yes I am a Vampony. Secondly I have never killed anypony that wasn’t a vampony. Thirdly I am a very…interesting breed of vampony I have never met nor heard of any more of my kind anywhere yet. Finally I can’t live like this anymore.

Let me start at the very beginning…

I was once a very kind young colt, never liked fights, was very agreeable and easily approachable. This however proved to be my undoing. The day I was approached by Ms. Lyra Heartstrings, she approached me while I was working on a few circuit boards from Twi’s machines. She had asked me to give her a hand with something quick,

“Won’t take more than five minutes” she said. Being the gentlecolt that I was, I went to help, this turned out to be the greatest mistake I have made in my entire life. She brought me to her house which I thought was curious. The entirety of the place was caked in shadow and melancholy. I finally got the courage to speak,

“Ms. Heartstrings what do you need me to d…,” I never did finish that question. Rudely interrupted by a baseball bat to the back of the head. As I began to come to the first thing my senses registered was pain, pure, searing, unbearable pain. I tried to reach for my head but found something else that I was shocked to find, I was restrained. I struggled as furiously as my injuries would allow.

After about two minutes I was exhausted and desperate I tried my magic. Again I was met with searing pain. I didn’t know why my magic wouldn’t work and I didn’t care I just needed to get out. My eyes adjusting to the darkness I scanned the room finding nothing but horrors. My eyes fell upon the bodies of three other mares each strapped to a table as I was. Firstly was Bon Bon, there was almost nothing left of her. I could make out her ribs and arm bones even where I was. Something that sent chills up my spine was what she was saying over and over again,

“Bleed me,” unable to look anymore I shifted my gaze to another mare, Carrot Top. She wasn’t as bad as Bon Bon was but she still looked half dead and seemed to be sweating profusely. To me it almost looked like a fever. Turning away from the restrained gardener my eyes fell upon the third mare in the group, Roseluck, this caused my heart to plummet into the pits of my stomach,

“All of them, souls too kind for their own good,” I thought as I turned away from the skeletal forms.

“Good you’re awake,” Lyra’s voice brought me out of my mournful stupor and into blind fury. I felt my coat began to get colder as a thick sheet of ice formed around my body, my eyes shifted from their normal olive to a deep azure, I had rage shifted.

“Oh…I’m impressed you could manage that with the amount of suppressants in you, but trust me mines better,” I looked at her with an angry questioning as she hunched over grunting in pain.

The sickening sound of bones rearranging themselves brought me from anger to horror as I saw her horn elongate and curve very lightly. Her muzzle elongated very slightly as her normally flat teeth became uniformly pointed. Her fingernails began to elongate as well, becoming claws easily about half a foot in length. She opened her eyes and those now deep pits of black and red replaced her normally welcoming golden eyes.

“Do you like it?” she questioned playfully as she clicked her talons together.

“What do you want from me?” I asked, fury dripping off every word.

“Exactly what I told you before, I need your help with something,” she said coyly.

“Details,” I deadpanned her.

“It’s really simple see; I need your life in its entirety, mind, body, and spirit,” she said coolly and without remorse.

“And if I refuse?” I shot at her.

“Then I will just take what I want from you,” she deadpanned running her claws along the ice armor. Running over my options I decided that there was only one course of action left to take.

“Fine,” I grumbled

“Hmm?” she raised a hand to her ear “I didn’t quite catch that,” she taunted.

“FINE, I’ll do it but on one condition,” I roared at her.

“And what would that be?” she questioned.

“You let the other three here go, one of the strongest unicorns In Ponyvile for the lives of three earth pony mares, sound fair?,” I was flat, to the point, direct. My unwavering tone gave Lyra the impression that I wasn’t joking.

With a heavy sigh she said “Fine I’ll let them go but on a condition of my own,” she said adopting my flat tone.

“What condition?” I said hesitantly.

“That I will be allowed to turn you after I’ve had my fun with you, I want to see what would happen to that power of yours if I did,” she said with a sly grin on her face.

“Fine as long as they get out safe I don’t care what happens to me,” I said as began to let my icy shell melt. I watched Lyra walk over to each of the mare's restraints and undo them starting with Roseluck. When released she collapsed immediately however. Lyra brought her to her feet and looked into her eyes uttering something in a strange tongue as Rose walked out of the room. She repeated the process for Carrot top. When she reached Bon Bon however the cream colored mare fell to the ground, and stayed there. I looked on in shock and fury as Lyra picked up the now dead mare. Her claws reached for her neck and cut cleanly and swiftly. Lyra seemed to shiver in delight as the blood ran from her closest friend’s neck and down her arms. She dropped the body with a thud and simply gestured her hand towards the blood.

“What are you doing?” I asked through my rage.

She imply chuckled and replied “Feeding”

I watched in horror as the blood began to move influenced by some unknown force. I traced the trail as I lead into her fingertips.

“So that’s how she does it,” I thought intrigued. I had known these vamponies existed but I’ve never seen one feed before. My curiosity was overcome by a dark realization,

“Will I have to do that to stay alive…, I don’t think I could bear it,” I thought

“You will learn to love this I assure you,” Lyra said seeming to read my mind.

“How can you be so cruel?” I questioned

“Simple answers to simple questions,” she said nonchalantly “The reason for my love of this is survival,”

“Survival? With your kind of power how is survival a problem?” I asked sarcastically

“Another easy question, we are hunters and we are powerful but we are also prey, prey to the Knightwatch,” she said flatly.

“The Knightwatch, I wanted to join them after some of my friends went missing,” I thought to myself.

“What do plan to do with me?” I asked directly.

“This” she said flatly. Before I could react her left hand had plunged into my shoulder tearing through the muscle tissue but missing the bone and causing a terrifying burning sensation to erupt in the wound, I would not give her the satisfaction of breaking me, fighting back tears and a howl of pain I began to fell weak after she removed her claw from my shoulder. Feeling my consciousness leaving me I traced the floating droplets of my blood to her fingertips. The last thing I heard before the blackness clamed me was a soft maniacal

“Thank you,”

When I awoke I felt so weak and helpless. I tried my magic but was only met with pain and exhaustion. Looking over to my recently wounded shoulder I surmised that it had been left to bleed maybe even treated with an anticoagulant. Then my tormenter walked in with a sneer on her face and a tray in her hands.

“Here’s your breakfast,” she said flatly. I looked down at the bowl of cereal and OJ, beginning to question her motives. She unhooked me to let me eat. My mind was trying to figure out her strategy but my stomach was not having it. Grunting I grabbed the bowl and began to eat.

“I didn’t know she could cook,” was the only thought that ran through my mind.

“Enjoy this, it is the only respite you will have for a long time,” she said coldly. The rest of my time with Ms. Heartstrings can be summed up in two words; Pure Torture. Constant bleeding over the course of the next six months left me disoriented and my memory blurred. However the last month will forever be burned into my mind.

It began as every other feeding session had begun. I had learned to ignore every attempt of pain she tried to throw at me. This time was different; after she had sated herself she leaned in and whispered something in my ear,

”You’re no fun anymore so it’s time to pay up on your side of the bargain,”

Before I could react I felt her teeth tear open my right shoulder. Her venom started making its way through my system lighting my nerves on fire as it went. Lyra produced a small first aid kit and began to close the wound.

“You will be a fine addition,” she cooed softly, “Embrace it,”

“Never,” I spat at her before the blackness clamed me again.

When I awoke again I was in a bed,

“Bon Bon’s old bed,” I realized. Curious I began to let my eyes wander around the room only to fall on Lyra standing at the foot of the bed.

“Wake up; it’s time for the hardest part for you to deal with. The Hate Bite Fever,” she said compassionately, as if speaking to her child. Before I could react I was restrained buy her magic and bit again. The fire in my nerves from the venom was still present but severely lessoned. Fury light up in my mind for a flash before being suppressed by another volley of burning pain. The debilitating fever took hold a few days later.

Lyra bit me again after she saw confirmation that the fever had progressed far enough. The third bite felt almost pleasant. A warm tingle spread from the bite mark enwrapping me in a small piece of bliss before I passed out from the fever

“Sleep well?” was all I heard before my mind had registered I was awake.

Still groggy a memory light up my mind.

“Carrot Top had that fever didn’t she?” I asked slurred.

“Yes she unfortunately did not recover from it,” she said flatly. “There is however one more step,”

“One more step?” I asked. As soon as the question left my mouth I was pounced on and subjected to two sets of claws through both my shoulders. Lyra leaned in close and said,

”It will all be done soon,”

After that all I could remember was a sensation similar to being dehydrated as blackness overtook me.

“Welcome young one to your new destiny,”

A soft cool voice brought me out of my slumber.

“Lyra?” I asked drowsy

“Yep welcome to the night life boy,” she said with a warm compassion.

“No,” I said under my breath.

“What was that son,” Lyra asked concerned.

That was the last straw for me.

“Son, SON! I am about as far from your son as possible. You killed and manipulated those who cared and even loved you. You don’t have the right to call me ANYTHING!” I said as I began to transform.

However I didn’t feel my bones grow or shrink; no change in my muzzle or horn; no claws either. Only when I looked down I saw what had happened. My rage shift had taken hold but this was different, the ice was no longer a cool blue but a deep shadowy black. In the reflection I saw my eyes, my once handsome olive eyes had become a bright crimson. Screaming I charged at my tormenter fist outstretched, the tip of my icy gauntlet becoming a three foot long pronged blade. Lyra looked at me dumbfounded as the blade pierced her neck narrowly avoiding her spinal cord.

“Now you will know how it feels to be tortured,” I said with a fiery hate. I began to will the ice construct to ever so slowly inch its way closed, cutting millimeter by millimeter as I stared remorselessly into Lyra’s eyes. When I was satisfied she had suffered enough I closed the construct severing her spinal cord. Her end punctuated with a crunch and a wet flop as her head rolled to the ground.

“You won’t be hurting anypony anymore,” I said as I teleported to my house.

As far as I can tell I’m the only one of my kind. The only type of vampony able to use this kind of power. I have deemed my sub species “Elementals” and have a few tips for you about me. I am not wholly immune to sunlight in my demon form but I react slightly differently. Instead of bursting into flames I begin to solidify into a block of ice. Also I am much more resilient than a normal master vampony, bullets cannot penetrate my armor (Believe me I’ve tried) and I heal much quicker. However if I am exposed to fire while in my demon form I will be severely weakened and my armor will melt away leaving you and your guards with an opening. Also I will let you know that “Elementals” can only occur in unicorns with a “Rage shift” or complete transformation when forced into blind fury. As this is the case should Princess Twilight be turned she would be a fire “Elemental.” I never wanted this, not for Carrot Top or Bon Bon, I just want to help end this madness.

With My Dearest Hopes,

RamCard

Midnight Salvation

Luna finished reading the letter she had received. Her mind was torrent of thoughts but one train seemed to move faster than the rest of them.

“Why would a demon send me a letter? Why would he offer himself without question? And why in the entirety of Equestria would a demon be willing to kill its own for me and my Knightwatch?”

As she wrestled with her decision one of her guards walked in,

“Your highness we’ve traced the letter back to the place of origin. It appears that the letter is from Ponyvile,” his tone betraying his concern.

“Thank you, please inform two guards in Ponyvile to move to apprehend this stallion, he should be surrounded by seven torches. Make sure the guards know to remove the torches first. This will show him we are on good terms.” She said flatly.

“At once you’re Highness,” he said as he left her chambers.

“I hope he wasn’t lying for his own sake,” she thought angrily.

Hearing a knock at my door pulled me out of my meditation.

“I have a feeling I know why you here, the door is unlocked,” I called keeping my mind focused on the crackling of torches around me.

The guards spoke up as they entered my study,

“We have arrived at the behest of Princess Luna, she requests your presence in Canterlot,”

“Aren’t you forgetting something,” I gestured around me. Still keeping my eyes shut.

“Yes, thank you for reminding us,” one said as he put out all the torches with a quick flap of his wings. With the object of my meditation destroyed I stood up and faced towards the guards and opened my olive eyes.

“Let’s go,” I said coolly.

“Right this way,” said one of the guards as he motioned to a armored car on the train. I contemplated telling them that such precautions were unnecessary but figured they still didn’t trust me. I was fine with that; I had given no indication that I was trustworthy other than the fact that I didn’t gut them when they walked into my home.

I sat restrained in that armored train car the whole way there. Constantly being observed, ignoring the obvious distrust, I began to focus only on my breathing. Slipping into a state of meditation once again the entire trip seemed to pass rather quick aside from one small incident.

During a small refilling station stop one of the workers there decided it was a good idea to try and assault me. Simply opting to doge his blows rather than cause an incident seemed to show the guards I was serious about helping. However when the same stallion decided to pull a short sword on me I decided it was time to subdue this stallion. Using only my magic I grabbed each of the stallion’s limbs and forced him into the arms of two awaiting guards.

“I will not be pressing charges,” I said flatly, walking back to the train.

I called back to the stallion who assaulted me,

”I’m sorry for whatever I did but I just want you know I never asked for this…power if you can call it that,”

The stallion looked me in the eyes and his hatred faltered just enough to make me smile at him as the door shut on the train car. Returning to my seat I began to wonder why I didn’t just flat out murder the bastard.

“I guess my moral compass is still intact,” I thought to myself. The train screeched to a halt at the station. I stepped outside onto the platform and was greeted by another pair of guards, this time they were unicorns,

“And you are Mr. Card?” one asked quickly.

“Yes but please call me Ram,” I said calmly.

“Please step forward and we will take you Princess Luna,” one of the guards said motioning between them.

“Sure, the sooner I can talk to her the better,” I said with a jovial tone as I tried to diffuse the tension. When I stepped towards the guards I was immediately teleported away from the station and into the throne room of Canterlot castle.

Looking up I saw Princess Luna looking at me with her regal mask on, trying desperately not to convey any emotion. Yet I could see in those eyes a lot of things, distrust, curiosity, hatred

“ You’re Highness I mean you no har…,”.I began.

“You shall not speak demon unless I wish it,” she said cutting me off, catching me off guard. Something was unsettling about what she called me,

“Demon, DEMON! I am not a demon, I never asked for this,” I thought to myself. My fury beginning to drop the temperature of the chamber my a few degrees, taking notice, Princess Luna spoke up,

“Guards leave us,” she ordered

“But Princess the Dem…” one spoke up.

“SILENCE! I said leave us,” She commanded. The guards shaped up and left us.

Fearing for my life I watched the navy alicorn walk over to my cuffed form. Expecting the death blow I lowered my head, exposing the back of my neck to her. I heard the familiar hum of magic start. Feeling the construct hurtling towards my neck as it cut through the air, only to be met with a sudden silence. I looked up as best I could while still keeping my neck exposed. I saw Luna looking down on me with a smile on her face,

“You are true to your word,” she said softly, “You did not retaliate nor did you flinch when the possibility of death loomed but inches from your head, rest assured I can now trust you…somewhat,”

Getting to my feet she spoke up again, “I would like to perform a memory spell on you to see how you became…this,” she said cautiously.

“Of course Princess, I told you if you wished I to question or execute me, I would not hesitate to let you do either, and I intend to keep my word,” I said locking eyes with her.

She moved closer to me and placed her hand on my shoulder,

“This may hurt,”

was all I heard before her horn touched mine. All of my memories flooded before my eyes. Everything from my foalhood was on display and I couldn’t help but force a smile through the pain at the happy memories. However that was short lived as he moved the spell to my more recent memories. I let out a snarl as I saw the moment that Lyra approached me. I never wanted to see that mare again dead or alive. Looking up at Luna I saw her face contorted in horror as she watched me give myself up of the three others in Lyra’s capture, my torture, and finally my turning. One memory stuck out to Luna. The moment Lyra bit me,

“Embrace it,” Lyra’s voice said.

“Never,” I spat out in time with the memory.

Luna however moved on to the point in time when I first transformed. She was in a state of shock as she watched the shadowy ice crawl its way across my body. The moment I impaled Lyra elicited a wince from Luna and a look of disgust after I loped her head off. Then the spell released and I felt an immense pressure release from my mind.

“I-I had no idea that that’s what you went through,” she stammered.

“It’s *pant* all *right* Princess*pant* there was *pant* nothing*pant* you could *pant* have done,” I said panting as I gave her a reassuring smile.

“I accept,” she said flatly.

“I’m sorry Princess but I didn’t hea…”

“I accept,” she said facing me. I didn’t know whether to laugh, or jump for joy, but my body did. I broke down crying as the realization that I would be allowed to live washed over me. I also felt something I didn’t expect, a pair of arms had crossed over my back as I felt Luna hug me her own tears matting the fur in my shoulder.

“I will begin my hunt as soon as I can Princess,” I said through sobs.

“No, your hunt will begin as soon as you are acquainted with the rest of Knightwatch,” she said composing herself. She walked over to a window and fired a signal spell from her horn. Within the hour there were about a dozen Unicorns, Pegasi and Earth pony stallions in the lower courtyard.

“Greetings my Knightwatch I have an announcement to make,” her royal Canterlot voice booming across the courtyard, “I have discovered a new spices of the demons, one far more powerful than what we’ve ever encountered,”

There were a few unsettling shifts in the crowd as Luna spoke up again,

“However this species is few, singular in fact,” that seemed to bring about looks of actual joy from some but looks of disappointment from others.

“This demon has contacted me and wishes to offer his services to the Knightwatch,” she said calmly unfortunately this was not well received,

“How can we trust a demon?” an Earth pony stallion spoke up.

“For he is right here,” she gestured to me and I decided to wave at the crowd.

“Please, address them,” Luna whispered.

Getting over the lumps in my throat I began my tale. I told them everything from Lyra tricking me into her home, my bargain for the other mare’s lives for my own. The description of the torture even got some in the crowd to vomit. Finally I told of my turning, lacking the right words I simply asked,

“Luna, could you project my memories for Knightwatch?”

“Are you sure you want to share such trauma with those who may seek your end?” she asked cautiously.

“Yes, yes I do,” I said with firmness in my voice, I had not heard that tone from myself in a long time.

Luna produced a small sphere, it blurred with the color and motion of my memories.

“Brave stallions of Knightwatch our guest as allowed me to peer into his memory to validate his clams. He now wishes to share his experience with all of you,” she said with a twinge of pain in her voice.

Her magic light up the night as a large projection screen appeared above the courtyard. What followed next was a mixed bag of emotions, I could see everything from hate to disgust in the eyes of the crowd yet one thing I saw in every stallion’s eyes was strikingly sorrow; they felt sorry for me. I couldn’t believe it, those who had sworn to fight and kill those like me felt pity for my plight. A soft pop of a teleportation spell brought me out of my reflection. I turned to see a well built white stallion with a two tone blue mane,

“I, as captain of the Knightwatch, herby accept you into our ranks. Welcome brother,” came the voice of Shining Armor.

“Thank you,” I said tearing up. Then something I didn’t expect from the crowd hit me. They saluted me. They saw me as an equal, not just some monster to be feared or hunted. Out of respect for their Capitan or pity for me I couldn’t tell you. But I did notice a small group of in the corner huddled and whispering.

“Come on let’s let you meet the guys,” Shining said warmly gesturing with his hand. I followed with a smile on my face and renewed purpose in life.

With that simple gesture my days as a Hunter finally began…

Targeted

I awoke the next morning to a throbbing headache and a pain in my stomach. Looking around I saw that I was in the Knightwatch barracks. Groaning I muttered to myself,

” For my first hangover this isn’t as bad as I thought,”

“I’ll say dude, you drank us all under the table last night,”

Turning around I saw Shining standing there with an ice pack on his head and a cast on his arm.

“I didn’t do that did I?” I asked gesturing to the cast.

“Well…yes and no. We were both plastered and the boys wanted us to arm wrestle. One thing lead to another and you smashed me through the table,” He said playfully.

“Well at least you know now that vamps have much more efficient livers,” I shot at him.

“Easy there private, taunting your superior officer might get you reprimanded,” he said coolly.

“Sorry sir, but I don’t think everypony is going to as agreeable as I am with a hangover,” I said gesturing down the barracks.

“Thanks for reminding me by the way,” he said with his horn lighting up. A telekinetic blast through the barracks knocking everypony out of there bunks. A mix of yelps and groans filled the room as the stallions got to their feet.

“Ram, Princess Luna wanted to talk to you this morning, something urgent,” Shining said as he walked past me.

“Yes I’ll go right away, but first I’m goanna shower,” I said jovially.

Moving into the group shower I turned on the water. As the warm water ran across my coat I began to get very nervous. Turning around I saw about five stallions enter the shower. My stress causing the water to start freezing against my coat making me turn the water temp up higher.

“So, Demon, how does it feel?” one asked threateningly.

“I need some context before I can answer that,” I deadpanned.

“How does it feel to have no soul?” he said again. The air temperature dropped twenty degrees, causing the group to start shaking. I turned to face them. My eyes burning as red as my rage,

“Do you think I asked for this? No, I didn’t. I gave myself up for three other mares that were being tortured. I was tortured to near death and revived as…this.” Clenching my fists. Nails biting into my flesh.

“I even offered my life to the princess herself. Did she kill me? No she didn’t.”

“Now I’m going to ask you to leave and talk to Shining, he has the memory sphere that Luna pulled out of my head. Only after you see what I went through and what I did before I became this, will I talk to any of you again. Goodbye,”

Turning back to my shower I hardly noticed the whistle of a fist heading towards me. Ducking; I quickly spun around and grabbed the limb and started applying a hefty amount of force. He sank to his knees crying in pain. I leaned down to his ear and said,

“Now you and your little cretins are going to leave me alone or I will turn you into a living ice sculpture,”

I released him and he ran out of the room. His little group followed him out. I finished my shower twenty minutes later. I found near my bunk a suit of armor. It was a mix of the sun guard and night guard armor sets. Lightly chuckling to myself as I didn’t need it. However I noticed the under suit had a clean black finish with dark blue trimming.

“Now this I like,” I thought as I tried it on.

“Now for the real test,” I thought as I focused on transforming. The shadowy ice began to grow on the outside of the mesh, taking on a sleek and angular look. Satisfied with the under suit as my means of protection I teleported to the throne room.

“Greetings Ram,” came the warm voice of Luna.

“Good morning Princess, how are you this morning,” I casually questioned.

“This morning has not been a pleasant one, I was told this morning that you nearly broke a comrade’s wrist, do you deny this,”

“No princess I do not deny I did, but only after I was provoked and assaulted by said guard,”

“Would you be willing to be subjected to a memory spell to prove this?”

“Yes Princess,” I said confidently

“Excellent,” she said as she walked up to me. Placing her horn to mine the familiar pressure was placed onto my mind, only to be released a second later.

“Thank you my dear. Brick Break you may reenter,” she called past the doors.

“I thought the demon would have been de…,” He started taunting.

“SILENCE! YOU ARE NOT TO ADRESS YOUR COMRADE AS SUCH! FURTHERMORE HE AGREED TO HAVE THE MEMORY SPELL USED ON HIIM WICH YOU REFUSED!” The royal Canterlot voice I full effect. Not to mention highly damaging to vampony ears.

“I-I… Fine; I tried to kill this bastard what of it, you killed your own sist…,” the sentence was never finished. A blue aura encircling his neck.

“You. Do. Not. Talk. Of. My. SISTER,” this was something new. A completely different side to Luna that I had never seen, she was a mere thought away from snapping this guards neck just at the mention of her sister.

“Princess…,” I called softly trying to calm the situation.

Looking back at me she let go of Brick Break,

“You are hereby relived of your duties as a member of Knightwatch. Retrieve you things from the barracks and return home,” she said coldly.

Brick Break simply stared open mouthed at me and the Princess before shuffling out mumbling.

“Now here is your list of targets,” she said handing me a scroll.

Taking the parchment I began to read down the list:

Vinyl Scratch: Possible master vampony, observe confirm and eliminate
Octavia Melody: Possible Gargoyle observe confirm and eliminate
Flitter: Confirmed Bat eliminate at own discretion
Cloudchaser: Confirmed Bat eliminate at own discretion
Cheerilee : Possible Gargoyle observe confirm and eliminate
Diamond Tiara: Possible Gargoyle observe confirm and eliminate
Silver Spoon: Possible Gargoyle observe confirm and eliminate
Gilda: Possible New Species observe confirm and eliminate
Thunderlane: Confirmed Bat: extremely dangerous: priority target
Snowflake: Possible Bat observe confirm eliminate

“I know most of these ponies. I never thought most of them would be like me,” I said relatively breathless.

“Trust me, those you know the best turn out to have the darkest secrets,” Luna said quietly.

Turning towards to the door I began to charge a teleportation spell,

“Don’t worry Princess this will most likely be the last time you see me alive,” I called over my shoulder.

After I blinked out Princess Luna, sat down and said, “Yes unfortunately I think so,”

Resonance

Teleporting to the outskirts of Ponyvile I eyed my surroundings only to spot one of my targets; Thunderlane. I watched him leave his house and head into Ponyvile.

“I should check his home for evidence against him” I thought quickly.

However I was definitely not prepared for the stench that permeated the hone. Following the stench to a bookcase I began doing what any sensible detective would have done. Yank out all of the books. I did this until I grabbed a black tome and pulled. I heard a set of gears turn as the bookcase moved to reveal a hidden basement.

With my higher senses it wasn’t hard to navigate the small corridors, but when I came to a large door I began to smell that same sent I had up in his house, only much stronger. Without thinking I froze the lock and broke down the door. I was brought to the limits of my rage at what I saw. The bodies of half a dozen ponies were strewn about. All of them dead.

I was unfortunately not able to recognize them, that is, until I looked at the two tables in the room. I had to hold back my stomach as I stared down the corpses of two of my best friends. Key Clicker; a light gray Earth pony stallion, had been completely dismembered his mane and tail stained to the crusty brown of dried blood.. His limbs placed on the table next to him. Beside that laid Crystal Rose; a fiery red Pegasus, had her wings broken and her eyes removed.

I placed my hand on her shoulder,” I am so sorry,”

Was all I could say as my sorrow was slowly replaced by rage. Rage at what I’ve become. Rage at the stallion that did this. Rage at not being able to protect the ones I loved.

“Ram?” cam a weak female voice.

Looking down I saw Crystal had grasped my hand with hers.

“Hey look we found him,” she tried to joke, her voice getting weaker.

“Yes, Yes you did,” I said tearing up as my friend slowly slipped away from me.

“Don’t worry you’ll be fine,” I lied through my tears.

“No,” came her only response.

Shocked I looked at her stitched up face.

“She was smiling? How? Why?” I thought to myself. All I could do was hold her as she passed. When I was sure she had passed I touched my horn to her head and began the memory spell Luna had taught me.

What I found was horror.

The first memory I found was right after I disappeared, all of my friends out looking for me throughout the town. Even walking up to Lyra and asked her.

Next came her abduction. Her and Key were out on their nightly searches when they were approached by Thunderlane. He offered to help. He led them to his home and knocked them both out.

I was in tears at this point but they froze to my eyes with hate as I witnessed the last sequence of horrors. Her torture.

Both Key and her awoke strapped to tables. Looking at each other with terror in their eyes as Thunderlane approached them.

She spat at him shouting out curses as Thunderlane approached Key with a devilish grin on his face.

He then proceeded to pick up a very large cleave, twisting it in his had as if it weighed nothing. However the twirling became four distinct slashes at Key, each one aimed at his limbs as they were removed.

Key screamed as loud as he could but he slowly fell into both shock and blood loss. Not wanting to lose his prize Thunderlane sutured his wounds and left him alone.

Turning to Crystal he snickered as he said, “You have beautiful eyes, I think I’ll take them,”

Then the memories cut out, I reached the end. Placing her down on the table I in-cased both her and Key’s remains in ice. Whispering a prayer I turned to teleport out.

“Thunderlane is going to die. I will give him the worst possible feeling before he does I will give him a taste of the pain he put you through. But first I will make him feel helpless just as he made you both feel,”

I thought as I blinked back into town leaving my friends in their icy tombs.

Frozen Thunder

After I arrived back in town I was immediately smothered by a cyan unicorn.

“Oh my God Ram, where have you been? I haven’t seen you in like six months,” shouted Autumn

“It’s been a long time. As to why I’ve been gone, it’s sort of a long story…,” I said with my head drooping.

“Well I got time, want to get something at Sugarcube Corner?” she said concerned.

“Yeah…, I’d like that,” sighing as we began to walk to the bakery. Walking in I began to survey the room taking count of all of who was in the bakery.

“Roseluck, Cloudkicker, Derpy, Snips and Snails, Twist, Caramel, and Thunderlane. Eight ponies, one priority target, to many witnesses to attempt to eliminate Thunderlane,”

“Hey there! Welcome to Sugarcube Corner, what can I get for you?, *GASP* RAM IS THAT YOU!” the excessively loud voice of Pinkie Pie assaulted my sensitive ears.

“Yep high Pinkie,” I said rubbing my ears, “look I want to tell you all something very important later. Can you tell everyone to meat us at the library?”

“Sure thing! Now what will you be having?” she asked again.

“I’ll have a cupcake please,” chirped Autumn.

“Same” I said flatly.

Pinkie returned a few seconds later with our order. We laid our bits on the counter and sat down to eat. However I could keep my eyes of Thunderlane.

“Why the hell are you staring at Thunderlane might I ask? “Autumn blurted sarcastically.

“Well it’s kind of…well part of my…job you could say,”

Hesitantly glancing back at Thunderlane, he was looking at us. I flashed my red irises for a second to send him a message,

“I’m here for you, outside now!”

I looked over at Autumn, “Hey I need to take care of a few things OK? I’ll be at the Library in a few hours,”

“Uh, OK?” was all I heard from Autumn before I teleported myself and Thunderlane into an open field.

“I know what you are. And you know why I’m here don’t you?” I shot at him.

“I believe so,” he taunted. The sun was setting as we both began to call upon our demon forms. His wings became leathery and powerful. His muzzle elongated slightly and his teeth sharpened themselves,

“What do you think Knightwatch lap dog?” he called.

A smile came to my face as the words left my mouth, “Mine’s better,”

Thunderlane cocked his head to the side. Then his eyes went wide as he noticed the crystals of black ice start to cover my body.

“Well are we going to do this?” I shot at him.

“Hang on, I want to ask a few things,” he said calmly

“Shoot,” I fired coldly.

“First, how and who turned you?” he asked Infuriated by the question, I literally spat at him,

“Lyra Heartstrings turned me after I made a deal for the lives of three other mares she had in her capture,”

“Secondly, what does this “form” you take?” he asked with a curious tone.

“This is a modification of my “Rage Shift” or state of intense magic power brought about by emotion. Only now it is brought about my own will,” I said with uncertainty in my voice.

“Finally, how does this feel?” he said with a wry smile.

Caught off guard I only managed to get out, “Wha…” before a set of fists clashed against my icy faceplate.

Grunting I shrugged off the blow as several more blows wracked every side off my body.

“Damn he’s fast!”

I thought as the black blur bounced seemingly between shadows. Contemplating strategies to overcome his infuriating speed I smiled as an idea came into my mind. I channeled my cryomancy into my hands to produce two small spheres. One I shot towards the darting shadow of Thunderlane. The other I slammed into the ground, deep freezing the water vapor around me, creating a dome of permeable ice. As Thunderlane barreled towards the dome I smirked at him.

“Gotcha,” I whispered.

His eyes went wide as he passed into the dome. His speed took a severe dip as he slowed to a near crawl.

“WHAT DID YOU DO!” he shouted at me.

“Took away your advantage,” I said confidently as I drew back my fist. Time stopped as our eyes met, my gauntlet sharpened into the same pronged blade I had used against Lyra. It claimed his throat as I held him high above my head as I said,

“Thunderlane, you are hear by charged with several counts of murder and as well as being a Vampony. How do you plead?”

A thick wad of blood against my faceplate was the only response.

“Defense noted,” I chuckled as the two prongs squeezed together. Removing his head smoothly and cleanly.

His body writhed for a moment before became still. I picked up his head looking into his lifeless eyes and thought,

“This is what I could become huh? Not likely,” I teleported to town hall after I had let my armor melt.

“I have confirmation of the death of a Bat buy the name of Thunderlane,” I told the secretary.

“P-Please go in to see the Mayor,” she stuttered.

Walking into the office I saw an obviously stressed Mayor Mare scribbling something down on her desk.

“Mayor? I have something you need to see,” I called softly trying not to spook her.

“Oh? And what would that be?” she said without looking up from her paperwork.

“This,” I said calmly as I placed Thunderlane’s head on her desk, eliciting a small jump from the mare.

“Thunderlane? What did you do?” she questioned harshly.

“I did what I was told to do,” I said coldly, “I was sent her by the crown to eliminate all possible threats to the crown in this town. That includes those marked on this list,”

I handed her a sealed scroll. Eyeing the Lunar seal, she opened it. She went wide eyed as she read the list.

“You are part of the Knightwatch and I shall respect that. I will inform the town of Thunderlane’s…passing.”

“I wish to remain anonymous if that’s possible, at least until I can break the news myself,” my head dipped down in hiding.

“No problem,” she chirped, “But I still can’t help but wonder if the Vaponies could be helpful or even saviors, not just monsters,” she said staring into the moon

“Don’t worry I’m sure one will come around soon,” I reassured her.

Placing my hand on her shoulder she sighed.

I walked out with nothing left to say.

“Time for the second hardest decision of my life,” I thought to myself as I teleported to the library.

Refraction

Returning to the library gave me a unsettling feeling, as if this wouldn’t end well. Walking in to the lobby I was assaulted by eight pairs of eyes.

“Sweet Celestia where have you been?” A chorus of eight voices rang out.

“Ouch,” I said rubbing my ears.

“Where I’ve been is a long story,” I said with an uncertain tone.

“Do tell darling,” Rarity said calmly.

“You sure you want to hear this?” I said to everyone present. The only response I got was a series of nods.

“Well as long as this is going to happen you all need to know something,” I said slowly.

“I am a Vampony,” I said flatly. I looked up and saw the shocked looks upon everyone’s faces. However I didn’t expect to be restrained by a magenta aura. Looking down I saw Twilight, her horn glowing brightly, her face a contortion of rage. Felling a punch to my stomach, I saw Rainbow, her fist buried in my lower abdomen.

“You know that hurt right?” I said to her.

Turning towards Twilight, “Can I finish explaining please?” I said disgruntled.

“No,” she said

“Well maybe you should read this,” I said as I levitated a scroll in front of her.

She took it out of my magic and began to read. I couldn’t help but smirk as her eyes went wide.

“This scroll says that he is the official hunter assigned to Ponyvile,” her tone betraying her emotions.

“I don’t care! Let’s just kill the bastard!” exclaimed Rainbow.

“That would be unwise,” I said towards Rainbow.

“And why is that?” she deadpanned.

“Several reasons but I’ll start with the simplest reason. Without me you could all die,”

That seemed to shut Rainbow and Twilight up so I continued.

“Secondly I have already confirmed and removed a threat,” I said keeping my military voice going.

“Who?” Twi questioned.

“Thunderlane,” I deadpanned.

“No way Thunderlane was a Bat. You’re lying,” Rainbow shot at me.

I simply shrugged and said, “If you want proof his head should still be on the mayor’s desk,”

With that Rainbow darted out of the library towards town hall.

“Now the third reason is that Thunderlane made this personal,” I growled

“Personal how?” chirped Bass.

“I don’t think you want to know, but I will show you if you do,” I said as I turned my head away.

“Please show us,” Kind Wind called out.

Looking at my other two friends for confirmation. Seeing them both nod I produced the memory sphere I pulled from Crystal.

“Twilight, if you could please project this into my friend’s minds,” I asked calmly.

She looked over and recognized the product of the memory spell.

“Yes, of course,” she said hesitantly. She took the sphere and tapped her horn on each of my friend’s heads. She then tapped the sphere to her horn. I watched how their eyes went wide in shock. I caught something in Bass’s eyes; they had shifted from disgust to pure hatred at the memories, then to a absolute despair.

“Bass, I’m sorry. I’m sorry to all of you. I made sure to make Thunderlane suffer for what he did to them,” I said. I felt my weight return to me as Twilight released me. I looked over to her and asked,

“You want my story Twi? I don’t think they could handle it,” I motioned at my friends who were in the middle of a group hug crying.

Applejack finally spoke up,

“Sugarcube, you need to tell us what happened to ya, at least give us that,”

“I will,” I said as I produced another sphere, this one of my memories.

“Twilight took it and repeated the process on the other three in the room as Rainbow returned from the mayor’s, she was shaking.

“Rainbow?” I called

“Don’t, you were right Thunderlane was a Bat,” her tone was low and her voice was cracking.

“I’m sorry,” I said warmly.

“Don’t be I would have done the same thing if I had known, “she said

“Wait, why?” I asked suddenly.

“Because a Vamp killed Fluttershy,”

I was taken aback but it subsided as I realized she was a prime target.

“A soul to kind for her own good,” I thought.

“I think you need to see this too Rainbow,” I told her.

I motioned towards Twilight and she reluctantly let Twi connect her to the spell.

I could only watch and hope that they wouldn’t gut me as soon as they were done. However I began to focus on their expressions, seeing them react to my memories.

Rarity’s face was a contorted mess of emotions. I could see everything from the purest form of disgust to absolute rage.

Applejack was a bit different. She wore a very convincing mask, yet I could still feel the anger radiating off her as well. I caught her giving me a quick glance which she immediately turned away from.

Pinkie however was not taking this well. Her mane and tail had deflated and she had started crying outright. I wanted to go and comfort her but I held back knowing that I might make this situation worse.

Next was Rainbow, her eyes were a torrent of conflicting emotions, yet her face portrayed something akin to confusion or shock.

Finally there was Twilight, her regal mask wasn’t as hard to read as Luna’s but she didn’t seem swayed either way. All she seemed to be doing was analyzing my memories which I should have expected.

When they reached the end of my memories I said, “If you still think I’m a threat you can execute me here and now. Send for another hunter from Knightwatch, but I warn you they might not be as capa…,”

I was cut off by a cyan hand across my face. Looking up I saw Rainbow teary eyed and angry.

“How could you do it?” asked Twilight

“Do what?” I deadpanned.

“How could you put yourself through all of that for the lives of three ponies who didn’t even know you were there?” she shouted.

Taken aback I could only manage,

“I-I don’t now… I just felt it was the right thing to do. I thought I would rather be tortured and hunted the rest of my life than to see them go through the same thing. Unfortunately Bon Bon and Carrot Top still didn’t escape completely,”

My lamenting had brought about silence from everyone in the lobby. I decided to start my trek home when I was stopped by a pair of pink arms on my shoulders.

“I’m so sorry,” sobbed Pinkie.

“I am too,” was my only response as I walked out. Leaving a silent library in my wake.

Returning to my home I sat down and cried. I cried for my friends alive and dead. I cried for those I will have to kill, and I cried for myself until I fell asleep.

Mutations

I awoke the next morning hungry and sore. Rubbing my tiered eyes I began to get to work. I went down my list of targets again and decided to pick Gilda.

“This ought to be interesting,” I thought to myself. I moved to my fridge and proceeded to grab one of the sealed packages inside.

Donor: Swift Strike

Blood Type: O+

Occupation: Royal Guard

Tribe: Pegasus

“Thanks guy’s” I thought as I bit into the bag. I still couldn’t believe that seven guards volunteered to help with my “food situation”.

I began to look over Gilda’s file and began to notice some anomalies. One of which being her sudden interest in befriending ponies. Form the rest of her history I knew she didn’t think to highly of us ponies so this was a red flag to me. Also she seemed to only be out during the day. At night no one can seem to make heads or tails of her position. The file also detailed some very minute things; slight height increase; increase in aggressiveness; increase in the amount of direct eye contact.

“There the sign I was looking for,” I thought smirking, “Still I can’t jump to conclusions,”

I decided to tail her for the day to see if I couldn’t find any definitive evidence. I knock at my door brought me out of my planning. When I answered the door I was greeted by the sadden faces of what was left of my friends.

“Guy’s I… I don’t know what I can tell you, but you need to know that I’m never going to hurt any of you, and I will still defend you guys with my life,” I said with a flat tone.

The only reciprocation came from Bass, “You shouldn’t blame yourself for what happened,”

“That’s just it. I do blame myself for this. If I was a few minutes earlier or just a little stronger, I might have been able to save them,” I said. My mask was breaking; they had to have seen this because Autumn’s voice caused me to look up.

“I can’t imagine what you went through when you found them. But we still need to see what happened to you. As your friends we deserve as much, don’t you think?”

“Yeah I think you do,” I said with the memory sphere in hand. Tapping my horn to their heads I began the spell. I was surprised at their reactions as they seemed to be not too surprised by how gruesome it was.

After the spell was finished Bass spoke up again, “I can’t believe that this happened to three of our friends…RIGHT UNDER OUR NOSES,”

“I-I didn’t think you could have survived something like that,” Kind Wind said.

“Neither did I,” I said calmly, “By all accounts I should be dead. Technically I am dead,”

“Please don’t talk like that,” said my three friends.

I decided to stop and asked them to leave they did but not without one last comment from Bass,

“In a way…we’re all dead at this point,”

“Not if I can help it,” I thought confidently.

Turning back to my research I looked into Gilda’s frequent hangouts. According to the data the Knightwatch provided, she liked to frequent a small restaurant in the corner of the market.

“Quaint” I thought to myself.

Packing up a backpack with a few things for tonight; spare blood, notepad and pencils, a small tracker gem given to me by Shining, and a large bottle of Luna’s moonshine for after the job was done. I left my house and back into the silence of the twilight. As I walked into the market I saw a small stage set up in the middle of town square.

“Looks like Mayor Mare is going to reveal my handiwork,” I thought as I smirked, but I quickly replaced my public mask and approached her,

“Mayor I think the one who preformed this duty should reveal this to the public,”

She seemed to jump at my voice before asking, “Are you sure?”

“Positive,” I said confidently.She then walked me onto the stage as the sun began to set. She then began to address the public,

“Citizens of Ponyvile, we have discovered that the dreaded Vamponies are here among us,” the crowd seemed to shift uncomfortably.

“One of which was eliminated last night,” murmurs and whispers permeated the crowd.

“One of our own weather Pegasi, Thunderlane, was confirmed as a Bat and was eliminated, by this gentlecolt here,” she motioned to me and I waved to the crowd. I saw a few of the ponies in the crowd eyeballing me with something other than curiosity, hate, I could see hate in some of their eyes.

“This young stallion as also brought proof to us of this,” she called as she motioned to a small cart with Thunderlane’s head on it. I heard gasps and even a mare vomit at the site of the head. However I began to notice motion in the crowd. Unable to locate the source of the motion I tensed up and dropped the air temperature by a few degrees. A few of the guards on stage began to shiver slightly.

A saw a Pegasus lunge at the Mayor. Reacting instinctively, the air temperature dropped even further causing ice to start forming around me. The shadowy crystals crawled across my form in an instant as I pierced the Pegasus through the abdomen with my pronged gauntlet. Locking eyes with the Pegasus I began to recognize her.

“Blossomforth! You too?” I questioned sadly.

“You killed him and you deserve to die as he did,” She screamed as she pulled herself of my blade. Taking to the sky she began to gather clouds to form something. I only realized what was going on after the first lightning bolt hit me.

I had to think fast, I was being slammed over and over with lightning bolts. My armor was keeping me mostly grounded but the charges were building in strength and my armor was starting to melt from all the energy.

I needed help…NOW.

That help did come in the form of a pair of cyan blur. The cloud shattered and Blossomforth was thrown to the ground. I charged her and pinned her down with several pikes of ice.

“Blossomforth you stand accused of attempted murder of one of her majesties Knightwatch and you stand accused of being a Vampony, how do you plea?” I said with authority.

She merely chuckled, “You think you can stop us young one? We are more numerous than we appear. We will hunt you and we will kill you,”

“Noted,” I said as my blade claimed her throat. Her head rolling off to the side.

I turned to Dash, “Thank you,”

“No problem, but you still need to earn my trust back too you know,” she shot at me.

“Fine, fine,” I deadpanned.

“So what are you up to?” she questioned.

“That’s something I need to talk to you about,” I said cautiously.

“OK let’s go,” we walked over to an ally to the side of the market.

“Look my next target is… someone you know,” I said. She looked at me with a seemingly ignorant look as if to say “Well spill it”

“It’s Gilda,” I say flatly.

Her face contorts into a mixture of confusion and rage. However I can see that she seems to be relatively calm about this. I was expecting a full blown rant out of Dash and to not get one is surprising.

“So why Gilda?” she finally asks. I had to think for a little bit. I didn’t want to upset her but she deserved to know.

“Gilda has been sighted as a possible new species of Vampony, I have been tasked to observe and eliminate if necessary,” my military tone coming through slightly.

“Well she has been hanging around the darker places in the market for a while. She also seems to wear sunglasses more often too if that helps any,”

I was honestly a little shocked, I didn’t expect Dash to give me any info let alone help me fight of another Bat.

“Thanks Dash, this will help me a lot, be seeing you,” I called as I turned towards the restaurant.

“Well it’s less of a restaurant than a shady pub” I thought to myself as I walked up to the slightly dilapidated building. Walking in I saw large diversity of creatures, everything from Diamond Dogs to teenage Dragons were present in the bar.

I moved toward an empty table at the back of the bar and removed the bottle of moonshine from my bag. This was the strongest stuff that Equestria had ever produced as far as alcohol is concerned and those who recognized the drink were flabbergasted as I took a nice long swig from the bottle.

This managed to get the attention of a certain griffin.

“Hey, what are you drinking?” she asked cautiously.

“Moonshine, want some?” I said holding out the bottle, giving it a shake in front of her. She hesitantly took the bottle from my grasp and took a small swig.

“GAH! How the hell do you drink that!” she exclaimed through sputters.

I simply chuckled not wanting to trigger anything in the establishment. I decided to try small talk.

“I’ve been wondering why you wear those sunglasses, care to share.” I asked faking being drunk. She tensed up and took another swig from the bottle before she began,

“I wear these to hide…to hide my…condition,” she said fearfully.

“Whatever do you mean by “Condition”?” I prodded.

“I’m blind…,” she said hesitantly.

The pieces fell into place slowly, she wore the sunglasses to hide something, most likely scars, and the increase in eye contact probably the result of not having any idea she was making eye contact.

“The slight mass and height increase are still unaccounted for,” I thought.

“So, you look a bit taller than when I last saw you,” I said trying to get her to speak.

“I am? Huh I never noticed. Maybe it’s all the physical therapy they’re putting me through at the hospital. I’m still trying to get used to being blind,” her tone was downtrodden, sad, almost disappointed. I knew griffins were proud beings and hated any kind of weakness.

“Well maybe your “condition” will someday become an asset,” I said as I took another long drought from the bottle.

She looked at me with her head tilted as a hushed “What?” came out of her beak.

“Those who are blind often develop higher than average abilities in other senses. Your hearing and sense of smell may develop far further than is normally possible for griffins. I hope it does for your sake,” I elaborated as I raised myself out of my chair.

“I talk to you later Gilda, I’ll send Dash your way if you’d like?” I asked

“Sure, I’d like that,”

“Good,” I blinked out as I teleported back to my house. When I arrived I finished the bottle and grumbled.

“Still not even buzzed and I just drank half a wine bottle of the strongest liquor in Equestria,”

“THIS SUCKS,” I shouted to no one.

I sat at my desk and began to write my report for the night.

“This is going to drag on for a while now isn’t it? I should ask for more moonshine…” I thought as the night began to trail on. Only the sound of quills on parchment echoed throughout the home.

Psychosis

“Darkness, loving calming darkness” I thought as I looked around the void. I had always had uneventful nights ever since I had reached adulthood. But nowadays my dreams were plagued with memories and thoughts of the vilest nature.

I often see myself slaughtering the ones I care for. My mind fully lost to the beast that lurks inside my subconscious. However tonight felt different, it felt wrong. The void that met my vision was a welcome one as I began to meditate.

“Hello young one,”

The voice was warm; almost motherly. I pushed farther into my meditation in hope of pushing the voice from my thoughts.

“You are so beautiful my child, yet you refuse the gifts I have bestowed upon you and your brethren,”

I had begun to shake. Not with fear mind you, but with rage. The last pony to call me “son” met a cold bloody fate.

“Yet you are different. You have powers beyond your brethren, powers that even I don’t fully understand. Powers that will push your mind and body to its limits,” the voices tone had become flat almost scolding, yet remained even.

“Just who do you think y…” I said I as I raised myself of the ground. I fell silent in shock as I found myself eye to eye with the former Princess Celestia. She was as I had seen her before the “Day the Sun Set” as it was called.

“Hello my child,” her voice felt like sunlight, warm and welcoming.

“No, I am not your child and I never will be,” Ice and cold followed my every word.

“Ahh, but you are one of my children. I can see it in your eyes,” her eyes changed from there violet to a deep crimson as I had seen from all the other vamponies up to now. I readied for a fight, the shadowy ice that made up my transformation crawled over my form as I flashed my own crimson irises at the former Regent of the Sun.

“My child, I don’t wish to fight you, merely to show you your potential,” she called softly.

“My potential as this is only as high as I wish it to be. Nothing more, nothing less,” I said calmly. No matter what she is now she was still, at a time, royalty and still deserved some respect.

“That is not true my child, your potential is as great as my former student… if only she had accepted my gift,” she sounded almost sad at the fact that her student hadn’t accepted her “gift” as she had called it.

“I work for your sister now, hunting those of our kind that would do these ponies harm, and I will not allow anymore of my friends to fall at the hands of our kind,” the last word I spat like venom towards the former Princess of the Sun.

We stood there, our auras of cold and warmth fighting over dominance of my dreamscape.

“Ram I just want you to know,” she began, “even if your friends abandon you, you will always have a place as one of my favorite children,” the emphasis on the last two words threw me for a loop. I stood in stunned silence for a moment before responding.

“I can’t…they would never abandon me! No matter what I become, my friends love me and care for me. Unlike your children," I spat "who took two of my friends from me,” she almost looked appalled at that, “Thanks to your children I lost the love of my life, and one of my best friends, so excuse me Princess if I don’t feel quite to welcome amongst our…kind,” I spoke with no remorse, no regard for her feelings or stance on the matter.

“That…is why I like you,” she said calmly.

I locked eyes with the alicorn. Her smile was as sincere as her words, as much as I wanted to deny it.

“Now let me show you your paths,” she said as her horn reached for mine.

“Wait,” she stopped and looked at me like a mother would look at a hurt child, “If I let you do this will you please at least try to keep my friends away from the rest of my brethren,” it almost hurt to say that but she responded with a simple nod and our horns met, sending me into an incredible downpour of pain.

I awoke sometime later in the middle of Ponyvile. I had started to panic, Who, What, When, Where, and Why ran through my head over and over again as I surveyed my surroundings. I felt a solid hand come down on my shoulder. I turned back to see Celestia standing there giving me a reassuring smile.

“This is just a vision my child, do not worry about being seen or heard for we are just observers,” I nodded at her as she began to walk towards the center of town. She motioned for me to follow.

“Where are you going?” I asked as I caught up with her.

“To watch your execution,” she said with a smile on her face.

I stopped mid stride as she aid those words.

“Execution? What did I do to warrant that?” I thought to myself. I looked you at Celestia with a curious look.

She simply chuckled and said, “Don’t worry the Mayor will explain everything,”

We approached town hall I noticed a crowd surrounding a dimly lit stage. Upon the stage I saw a figure shackled and broken. The figure was visibly wounded, lacerations covered the figure’s chest and arms and bruising covered most the figures body. We continued to approach the stage passing through those who were standing around the stage. It was a weird feeling being ethereal.

“Fillies and Gentlecolts! We are here to see the execution of a most dreaded pony,” the Mayor called to the crowd.

“One who has taken so many from us. The deaths of the Elements cannot go unpunished!” the mayor spoke forcefully and truthfully that it even began to ring true in my ears.

“Let us begin!” she motioned to white unicorn standing on the stage.

“Gladly ma’am,” said Shining as he walked towards the shackled figure. The axe raised above the figures head as I saw a smile cross the figures face. The legs of Shining Armor froze solid and a blinding light engulfed the stage. Standing there were five mares, all bearing their teeth.

“The Elements live!” cried a mare in the crowd. However the Elements were not there to alleviate fears of their demise but to instill more. The sun set beyond the horizon and crunching of bones was heard as the remaining elements adopted the forms of Vamponies.

Yet Twilight remained the same it seemed. However the rising temperature said otherwise. Soon Twilights mane and tail began to combust, the fires an eerie black. Her wings became leathery as they adopted the form of a bat’s wings.

The vision cut out, but not before I realized what it had meant

“I turned them, I can’t believe that. I couldn’t have turned the people who trusted me to take care of them, to protect them. Could I?”

“That is just one possibility,” came Celestia’s voice.

“WHY WOULD YOU SHOW ME THAT!” I shouted at her.

“Don’t fret my little one for there is another possibility,” her horn glowed again as I was sucked under into another ocean of pain.

This time a much brighter scene met my vision. I was standing in my home, the place looked immaculate which it rarely was. Then I noticed a tree in the corner of the living room.

“Hearths Warming? But why?” I asked Celestia.

“Because my child, this is a future in which you proved something wonderful to the town and the nation,”

I cocked my head to the side as I heard a small explosion come from outside. From the direction of the library a column of smoke had erupted. I watched myself run as fast as he could towards the library. When we arrived the impact of the blast hit me, one side of the tree was completely gone while the rest had been set ablaze from the blast. My future self began to tear through the ruble and soon came across the broken form of Twilight.

“No don’t leave me, PLEASE!” he cried as he assessed the damage done to her body. Several bones were visible as the broke through her skin leaving terrible gashes across her form. Her wings were slightly burnt and broken as well. Hoping to save the young alicorn he teleported her to the hospital and proceeded to round up all of her friends.

The vision moved to a few days after the accident. Twilight was in a hospital bed with her friends surrounding her. Her wings and legs were in casts, bandages covered her arms. The only sound in the room was the high pitch beeping of a heart monitor.

“Girls could you get Ram for me?” she asked weakly.

“Sure Twilight, but why?” asked Applejack

“I need to discuss something with him,” her tone was firm but not demanding. The others went to find him; Twilight began to talk to herself,

“Can I really ask him to do this? I want to stay and help my friends but I can’t ask him to…”

A knock at the door brought her mumbling to a stop. He entered the room slowly as if not to attract any attention from the alicorn.

“Please I need to talk to you,” she called softly.

“O.k. about what,” his voice was dodgy as if he didn’t want to be here.

“I don’t want to die, but my internal injuries were too severe. I have about a week to live, I…I want you to…” she trailed off.

“Twilight you know I can’t do…that not in good consonance anyway,” he said sadly.

“I understand but…” she trailed off again.

Sighing in defeat he simply told her, “I will only do this if you are absolutely sure you are willing to deal with the consequences of such a burden,” he said quietly.

“I am…I just don’t want to abandon my friends,” she said as a tear ran down her face. He moved his jaw into place above her right shoulder.

“You’re absolutely sure,” he said again.

“Yes, I am,”

The vision fast forwarded again, this time it revealed a sight I could not believe; Canterlot… in the midst of a celebration. As I let my eyes wander around the scene a booming voice tore through the air,

“CITEZENSOF CANTERLOT, I HERBY CALL THE WAR WITH THE VAMPONIES…OVER!”

“Luna what are you saying?” was all I could until I looked up. There stood Twilight, alive and well, along with Luna and…me?

This time Twilight spoke up, “All that I ask is that you give us a chance to prove ourselves trustworthy, and with us leading this charge, it will only be a matter of time before we can live in peace!”

He placed his hand on her shoulder and smiled. He opened up his hand, producing a small ball of swirling ice. He then threw it up into the air were it exploded, producing a small gentle snowfall on the courtyard.

The void returned to my eyes as I turned to Celestia,

“This…this is what you wanted to happen wasn’t it?” I questioned gently.

“Yes it is, I had always hoped that that would be the response to introducing my children. However on the Day the Sun set, my plans for letting my children know it was safe backfired. The reaction of my sister and student where…unexpected,”

I recalled the form she took on that day and cringed.

“That is what caused that panic,” I thought.

“Princess I wish that I could see that future of yours happening, but in light of what has happened to myself and the Elements I can’t help but think that it will never come to pass,”

“Yes…I know what has happened to you, and poor Fluttershy,” sorrow filled her voice

I looked up at my “mother” and smiled. I couldn’t help but fell for her situation. Seeing her “children” thrust into a shadow war she never intended to happen.

“I feel truly sorry for what your brethren have done to you and your friends, but for now, make the best of your gifts. And please wake up,”

I bolted upright, sweat pouring down my face.

“Today is goanna suck, isn’t it?” I asked myself as I grabbed my files again.

Duality

“This morning is not my morning is it?” I asked the fridge as I grabbed another blood pack.

“Eni meanie miney you,” I said as I ran my fingers down my files, my hand coming to a stop on a pair of names.

“Flitter and Cloudchaser eh,” I said as I ran through my memories of the two. The pair are sisters that work as part of Ponyville’s weather teams. They also commuted from Cloudsdale on a weekly basis. Only ever appearing when they are needed.

“Well that leaves my options in ways to find them squarely at one,” I thought.

My only option was to catch them when they left to return to Cloudsdale later today. I began to pack things that I needed; tracking crystals, sketch and note pads, and a few spare packs of blood. Satisfied with my preparations I went into town.

My search began at the market where I saw Applejack tending to her cart with Applebloom.

“I should at least try to talk to her; earn back her trust,” I thought cautiously as I turned towards the cart. Applebloom waved at me excitedly as she watched me approach the cart.

I waved back casually and called out, “How is business for you two today girls?”

“GREAT, we have almost a hundred bits now,” Applebloom was beaming with pride and joy at being able to help her big sister. However her sister seemed a little apprehensive around me.

“Applejack is somthin’ wrong?” Applejack turned back to her sister and shook her head.

“Nah, but I’d like to talk to Ram alone for a bit Bloom, could you watch the stand?”

“Sure!”

“Alright then sugarcube you and me need to have a chat,” she said once we were out of earshot.

“Oh boy this isn’t goanna end well is it?” I thought to myself as I shrank back from the stronger mare.

“What’s this about Applejack? I haven’t done anything to you and the others have I?” the words were barely a whisper. I truly feared her, not just for her physical power but for her unwillingness to let even the smallest thing get past her.

“Yes ya did! Now would ya be so kind as to tell me why you lied to us with those memories a yours,” she said firmly. I was taken aback. Applejack never questioned my authenticity until now and 99% of the time she isn’t wrong, but this was that one percent.

I stood up and locked eyes with her trying to convey I was being sincere,

“I didn’t lie to any of you! What you saw in those memories was what happened to me, honestly. If you want to check I can send a message to Luna about letting you and the others see the original sphere. If that would put your mind to rest,”

“O.K suppose they were true, still doesn’t explain what happened to Roseluck,” My ears perked up at the name and I turned towards the market to scan for Roseluck’s stall.

“What happened to her Applejack?”

“She’s hold up in her house most days now, only com’n out to water her garden, sometimes she goes to the market but that’s it, no talkin to nopony, anything at all, it’s like she’s under a spell or something,”

“Spell or someth…OH BUCK!” I cried out as I took off towards Roseluck’s home.

Applejack watched in awe as the stallion sprinted through the market,

“I am not letting RD rope him into one of our little competitions…EVER!” she said as she returned to her busy stall and loving sister.

I weaved and wormed my way through the crowd at the market glancing at the patrons of the stalls when I noticed two silver manes in the distance.

“OH OH OH TODAY IS MY LUCKY DAY” I thought as I sprinted towards Flitter and Cloudchaser. I pulled the two tracking gems from my pockets and placed one in each palm.

“Hey you two! Nice day huh, got to go bye,’ I said as I sprinted by them. In their momentary confusion I was able to tap them both on the back with the crystals. Each one made a barely audible ding as the spell contained within was cast on the two Pegasi.

I continued sprinting towards the home laden with flowerpots and windowsill gardens. When I arrived I saw Roseluck outside with a watering can in her hands.

“Hey *pant* Roseluck *pant* how *pant* are *pant* you?” I said trying to catch my breath.

“I am fine thank you for your concern but we would like it if you removed yourself from our home immediately,” she sounded almost robotic. Dolling out the words as if they were a pre recorded message.

“Look into my eyes Roseluck, please,” I said firmly. Her gaze met mine and she went rigid as I worked to remove the control Lyra left on her mind.

When I finished removing any trace of Lyra’s influence on her I shut my eyes and she collapsed. Fearing I would be seen like this I brought her into her home. I waited down in her living room for a few hours until she woke up.

“Hello Roseluck,” I said happily. She cocked her head to the side as she walked down the stairs.

“Hey Ram when did you get here?”

“Applejack sent me to find you; she said you were acting kinda funny,”

“The last thing I remember doing was…” she petered off and looked at me. Her eyes were watering as the memories flooded back to her.

“Roseluck its ok what’s the matter?” I asked knowing full well what was happening. She was relapsing in her memories of her torture at Lyra’s hands. At this point she was openly sobbing, she looked at me and smiled.

“Yes I’m fine now…thanks to you,”

“Huh?” I cocked my head to the side “What do you mean “Thanks to me?”

“The last thing I remember hearing was your deal with Lyra, you saved my life,”

“You’re…you’re welcome, but I can’t accept that gratitude…not yet anyway,” I said looking out the window. The sun was starting to set and a soft hum in my pockets let me know that my targets were on the move.

“Are you sure? I mean I need to repay you somehow,” she said.

“You can, “I said walking to the door, “Let Applejack know you are alright, and stay alive. That’s how you can repay me,” before she could reply I was off towards the town square, right into a fight I was probably not prepared for.

“Ready sister?” crooned Cloudchaser as she unfurled her wings.

“Yes Cloudchaser let’s go,” replied Flitter doing the same.

“HEY BITCHES,” I screamed as I walked into town square.

“Who are you to insult us you lowly wretch,” hissed Cloudchaser.

“I’m the stallion who is goanna beat your Bat asses to next Tuesday that’s who,” I shot back coldly.

“FOAL! YOU DARE CHALLENGE US AT THE SAME TIME! WE WILL HEARALD YOUR END WITH A MIGHTY THUNDERCLAP!”

they shouted as the low crunching of bones came from where they were standing.

I let my protective shadow ice form its familiar barrier around me. Its cold embrace was refreshing but I had no time to revel in that as four fists slammed into my chest plate. Right after I recovered I became aware of the smell of ozone in the air. Looking up I was struck in the face with a large bolt of lightning.

“Great this is going so well right now,” I thought to myself as a pair of fists hit my stomach causing me to double over.

“Aww is the poor little knight have a boo boo?” taunted Flitter. Her voice was right in front of me I yet I couldn’t see her. That sparked an idea in my head; I began to concentrate my cryomancy into my hands as I had done with Thunderlane, yet this time I fused a light spell into my magic. I slammed the orb into the ground creating my protective bubble. Only this time it was as bright as day on the inside.

Flitter screamed as she was blinded and frozen by the sudden spell. My blade at the ready I plunged it into the center of the frozen Flitter’s chest and heaved upward, causing the frozen Bat to shatter as if made of glass. As the bubble dissipated I looked up at my remaining target and smirked. I held up the head of her sister as if it were a trophy.

A cry of rage and loss echoed in the town square as Cloudchaser leapt from the cloud she was on and charged headlong at me.

“Rage makes her sloppy; Rage makes her weak; Rage makes her…prey” I noticed the voiced right after I sidestepped Cloudchaser. Bringing my blade down at frightening speed I ripped through tendons and bones leaving a stump and a head rolling nearby.

“What was that voice?” I thought to myself as I retrieved the heads of the two mares and left them at the foot of the door of town hall with a note.

“Two down seven to go,” I thought to myself as I teleported home.

Fearmonger

“Dreams, nightmares, and visions; you can’t tell the difference, can you youngling?” this voice was strange and alien, however I could swear I heard it before.

“Who are you, and furthermore what are you?” I asked cautiously. The voice began to take shape, adopting the form of a tall dark grey stallion with a white mane.

“I have been called many things, spirit, god, demon; but you may call me Bloodlust,” he said warmly.

“As for what I am that is a longer story,” he said turning away.

“Please, tell me, I want to know. The last person to visit me here in the void had a few stories so I’m willing to listen to more,” I had no idea why I was trying to comfort him but he smirked and turned back.

“Very well, but you may not like what you see,”

“If it’s like what I saw before this will be nothing,” I said confidently.

“If it’s what Tia showed you, you’re not prepared at all for this,” his voice was dark and foreboding. I had barely registered he said “Tia” when pain and darkness gripped me.

I awoke in a cavern illuminated by all manners of precious gemstones.

“Rarity and Spike would go nuts in here,” I thought snickering.

I began to wander through the cave until I happened upon a fork in the passages.

“Left,” was whispered in my ear causing me to jump and turn around. There stood Bloodlust with a smug smile on his face.

“Ass,” I spat at him. He merely chuckled in return as he pointed down the left cavern again.

I nodded and proceeded down the passage. The caver seemed to stretch for quite some time; all the while the concentration of red gemstones seemed to steadily increase, turning the cavern a bright crimson.

“Blood rubies,” whispered Bloodlust “the only other sustenance our kind can consume,”

“An alternate food source? Yes! That means we don’t have to kill or manipulate anymore!” I shouted gleefully.

Bloodlust simply shook his head, “This deposit is not enough for all our kind. We would need to fine a fairly mountainous supply just to maintain the current population,”

My ears drooped as we continued walking. Soon we happened across a small chamber with a blood ruby alter. Upon the alter sat a scroll sealed by powerful charm.

“This must be what Daring Do found isn’t it?” I asked Bloodlust.

“Yes, but that isn’t why we are here, we are here for that,” he pointed to an odd blue hued crystal in the back of the chamber. Embedded in the crystal was a blade crafted from what looked like blood ruby and what looked to be some of the finest quality steel. I could feel the power emanating off the blade as it slept in its gemstone prison.

“When Daring Do found the scroll that carried my brothers and me she tried to remove the sword also. She failed miserably and resided to taking the scroll to Luna and Celesta. Celestia came under the influence of myself and my brothers, we tortured her in her dreams and soon even in her waking moments. She tried to eliminate us, and yet she failed at this also. However instead of submitting to our will she rebelled and wanted to have our kind and hers become one. Friends as you would call it. This was met with crippling failure as my brother Rage pushed Celestia into transforming in front of her student and sister.

“The Day the Sun Set,” I remarked quietly.

“Yes indeed,” he affirmed “That blade however may be your ticket to salvation,”

“What’s so special about it?”

“That blade is called Soul Render; it can purge my brothers and I’s influence on your kind,” I looked up gleefully at his now even more somber face, “However the cost of wielding Soul Render is high,”

“How high?” I questioned.

“The one who wields the legendary Soul Render shall call the source of the demon fragments they collect. Meaning by eliminating the spirits inside you targets, you would invite my brothers and I into your soul,”

“What would happen once you all arrived?”

“The same thing that happened to Celestia, however I felt something within you that I have never seen, even in my immortal existence. You carry with you a link to nature on a fundamental level. This type of link is only shared with one other in your world, the purple one I believe?”

“Rage shifts? What do they have to do with anything?” I said raising an eyebrow.

“Your connection may allow you to reseal my brothers and me into another medium,”

I looked at him with a skeptical look on my face before I spoke up again,

“Who was the last one to seal you away?” I asked

“I believe your aforementioned purple friend is a big fan of his,” a sly grin crossed his mouth as my eyes widened in recognition.

“Starswirl had a rage shift? What was it?” I said hoping to give this info to Twi later on.

“His link was to light and per extension a link to the princesses themselves,”

I stood there mouth agape before I began to hear hoofsteps in the distance. Daring Do’s form was visible through the crimson light but before we could move Bloodshed whisked us back to the void. Only for my sanctity to be shattered by a booming voice.

“THOU SHALL NOT POISON THE MINDS OF THINE SUBJECTS FOUL CREATURE! BEGON FROM THIS PLACE!” Luna’s voice echoed in my subconscious as Bloodlust faded from view and whispering,

“The blade…”

“Luna what are you doing here?” I asked innocently. She snorted in return as if to say “Duh saving your ass”

“What were you doing with the demon?” she spat at me.

“He was merely showing me where Daring had found the scroll, and the location of a powerful weapon,”

She looked me over to see if I was lying.

“Memory spell…NOW!” she commanded.

I knelt down and she began the spell. She had a very interesting look on her face for a while. That is until she heard Bloodlust’s retelling of Celestia’s downfall. She began to openly sob as the reality of what she did settled on her.

“Tia…oh Tia why didn’t I listen to you, I could have helped,” she sobbed to herself.

I approached her and placed a hand on her shoulder. When I made contact she looked up at me with teary eyes. Before I could react I was pulled into a bone crushing hug as Luna let loose a wail of pain and loss. We stayed like that until my void collapsed and I was forced back into reality; leaving a broken Luna floating in the dreamscape.

Retrieval

“LUNA!” I screamed as I bolted upright.

“I need to get to Canterlot now!” I thought to myself as I bolted through my home and grabbing my breakfast to go. However as I bolted through my front door, a familiar purple mass impeded my progress resulting in a collision full of limbs and groans of pain.

“What the hell Twilight?” I yelled as I forced myself up again. But as I bolted toward the train station I was restrained by a familiar hue of magic.

“Well good morning to you too,” Twi said in a scolding tone.

“Twilight, I.DO.NOT.HAVE.TIME.FOR.THIS.” punctuating every syllable with venom I never knew I was capable of.

“What is so important that it justifies running me over?” she questioned.

“It involves your former mentor, a sword, and several demons,” I deadpanned

She looked stunned, eyes wide, breathing erratic, and she was visibly trembling. Taking the opportunity, I bolted towards the train station. However when I arrived my rational mind decided to remind me that I could teleport.

I arrived at the front gate of the castle panting from the magical overexertion.

The guards at the gate eyed me suspiciously with their weapons drawn. My horn glowed for a moment to reveal the Knightwatch crest. They looked at each other before helping me inside.

“Need to see Luna,” I rasped at the guards.

“She is not seeing anyone today; she has been in her room all day,” he said robotically.

“She’ll see me,” I told them coldly.

“If you insist, it’s your funeral though,” he deadpanned.

We approached Luna’s chambers and I stood in awe at just the door. The solid black structure was most likely obsidian or onyx. The blue gems sparkled beautifully against the stone, highlighting the moons on the door. However at the top of the door, set into the top of the door sat a large pearl and gemstone representation of Celestia. I couldn’t help but tear up at the sentimental beauty of it all.

I knocked on the door as I called into the room,” Luna? Are you ok? Do you want to talk?”

The door creaked open slightly and I peered into the darkened room. Only to be drawn into another embrace as the larger pony tried to crush me with her sorrows and lamenting.

“Please don’t leave me, I couldn’t stand losing another I have grown attached to,” I couldn’t tell if she was rambling or if she was being sincere.

“We should sit down,” I said softly motioning to the sofa by the window. As I sat down I noticed Luna was starting to lie down on top of me. I felt uncomfortable but I decided not to say anything. I began lightly stroking her mane involuntarily.

“I’m sorry” I stammered as I pulled my hand away. Luna looked up at me and smiled.

“Please keep going, it’s comforting, please,”

I reluctantly resumed my motions as Luna snuggled deeper into her position. She soon fell asleep and I just couldn’t help but smile at how adorable the “fearsome leader of the Knightwatch” was when she was asleep. Soon my own mind began to slow down as I drifted back into Luna’s realm.

Even in sleep I didn’t find peace. I was haunted by all of my worst nightmares at once. My friends being slaughtered, becoming the beast I so dreaded becoming. Also something new, something even more horrifying; I saw myself impaling a mare with my pronged blades. I couldn’t recognize her at first, but as the image came into focus I retched and heaved as I looked upon the mangled body of Princess Luna. All my nightmares swirled around me as I struggled and fought with my own mind. My sanity ebbed away under the force of the demons influence until a point of light brought me out of my torture.

I awoke with a start panting for breath. Looking down I saw Luna still asleep. I moved her to her bed with my magic and left to find Shining Armor.

The halls of the castle were uncharacteristically empty, not even guards were posted in the hallways.

“Something is up, Shinning would never allow this kind of lax security in the castle,” I thought as I approached the captain’s office. I knocked on the door and got no answer. I knocked again as I call, “Shinning? Are you in there, I need to talk to you,” I muffled sound met my ears as I vaguely made out the sound of struggling. I slid an ice blade between the door and its frame to freeze and shatter the deadbolt that Shinning had installed on his door. A satisfying crash later I saw Shinning bound to a chair and gagged franticly trying to get free.

“Who or what did this?” I asked as I moved toward Shinning. I removed the gag and bindings and he cleared his throat,

“I didn’t see but I have a good feeling we may have a few Vamponies in the staff of the castle,” he said glumly.

“Vamponies in the staff? But the only possible targets here are you and…LUNA!” I shouted as I took off towards Luna’s chambers. I busted into the room to find Luna standing over the balcony with what looked to be one of the castle’s maids held aloft in her magic.

“Foul creature did you think I was helpless, weak, a target, I assure you that I am none of these and I hope you enjoy your trip to Tartarus,” she said as she moved the mare closer to the balcony.

“You will pay for killing our mother witch. All of us will hunt you and we will end you,” spat the mare.

“Interesting… I’ll be waiting,” Luna said coldly as she released the mare from her grip allowing her to plummet from one of the highest points of the castle.

“Luna are you alright?” I asked

“I am fine, but you look like you’ve been through Tartarus though,” she commented lightheartedly.

“Well all my nightmares have been getting progressively worse and worse…especially the last one” I said glumly.

She looked at me with concern in her eyes and a knowing expression on her face.

“Tell me, I might be able to help,” she said mater of factly.

“Well even this one my rattle you,” I deadpanned.

“Try me,” she shot back.

“Well I saw myself standing in an open field with my blades pierced through a mare in front of me…” I trialed off, I didn’t want to put her under more stress than she was.

“Well who was it?” she asked.

“It was…you Luna, I…I killed you,” I managed to stammer out. I let my head and ears droop as I began a staring contest with the floor. I heard hoofsteps moving closer to me, I sulked even lower as she approached, not daring to look up at her. I felt a hand on my chin as Luna guided my eyes to hers

“You should not fear telling me these things,” she said with a motherly tone.

“I…I can’t risk hurting you, Twilight, or the others, I could never forgive myself if I did. Perhaps it’s for the best if I go down to the caverns and retrieve the blade,” I said as I moved towards the door. But before I reached it I was restrained by a force I instantly recognized as I was lifted around to face Luna again, her horn alight with her magic.

“You must believe me when I say that you would never do anything to harm us. It is not in your nature to even consider in the sli-“

“You don’t have to hold the essence of four of the most powerful demons Equestria has ever known in order to find a way to stop them,” I said, cutting her off. She looked generally surprised but otherwise understood what I was trying to get across.

“Retrieve the blade and go back to Ponyvile, finish your mission, then you will return here, understand?” she stated firmly.

I nodded and said, “Sorry Luna but I don’t know if I’ll come back alive this time,”

I heard her sigh as I left her room; I had to find Shinning again to gain access to the crystal caverns. I had a sinking feeling he would be outside.

“Shining, I need to get into the crystal caverns,” I call across the courtyard.

Shining was standing over a large bloodstain and a large white tarp with three other guards. He turned to me and cocked his head to the side.

“Why do you need to get into there?” he asked.

“I need to retrieve something that’s buried deep in there,” I said firmly.

“Fine but promise me you will return alive,”

“I can’t do that Shinning, I might not see the light of day again,” I said glumly.

Nodding he lit up his horn and I was teleported into the multi-hued light of the Crystal Caverns. I called back to the dream I had two nights ago to help guide me.

I soon became aware of two things, one I was lost, two I felt like I was being watched. I used my magic to create an ice totem as a marker for where I’ve been. After about ten minutes I found myself face to face with my own totem.

“Faust damn it,” I cursed at the totem. I soon became aware of an all too familiar laugh echoing through the caves.

“Discord come on this is serious,” I called at the cave.

“Aw I was just having some fun,” he replied as he appeared next to me. The slender draconicus stood a good head above me and was wearing a nice tailored suit, which was patterned very oddly with reds, browns, and even greens in some places.

“I’m not here to play games Discord I just came down here to find something,” I said as I looked at another fork in the caves.

“Here let me help,” Discord said with a sly grin on his face.

I created a dome of ice around him and glared at him.

“I don’t think I need you kind of “Help”,” I said while I air quoted the word help.

“You don’t trust me? I’m hurt,” he said faking distress. He disappeared in a flash of light only to reappear leaning on my shoulder.

“I know what you’re thinking, “Oh Discord won’t help me, he’s in it for the fun chaos that‘s going on,” he said jokingly, prompting me to roll my eyes.

“Well that’s where you’re wrong,” he said almost threateningly.

“Why would the almighty spirit of chaos resign to helping a lowly unicorn find something in a cave?” I asked sternly.

“Because your kind made a very grave mistake,” he said with fury in his voice.

“Fluttershy?” I asked cautiously.

“Yes, when your kind took her from me I… I felt so lost. I had lost the only pony who truly ever cared for me,” his eyes were filled with sadness, I think I may have caught a tear rolling down his cheek as he turned back to me.

“The path to what you seek is on the left,” he said emotionlessly as he disappeared again in a flash of light.

I turned left and started walking. Soon the cave began to shift to a deep glowing red as the blood rubies started becoming more and more prevalent. Soon the antechamber came into view, the glowing blue gem that held Soul Render right where Bloodlust said it would be.

As I approached the sword I began to hear whispers. Some encouraging, most deterrents and insults, however when I touched the blade another voice spoke out

“Take heed those who wield this blade, you shall take upon the souls of those slain by the blade as recompense,”

Regardless I placed my hands on the blade and yanked as hard as I could. I honestly shouldn’t have expected so much resistance as the blade seemed to slide out of the crystal easily sending me sprawling onto the floor of the chamber.

Getting to my feet I looked over my newly acquired weapon. The blade, a three foot long short sword, sparkled as If freshly polished; the blade gleamed and shimmered if the steel were still liquid. The handle and pommel where balanced but not perfect. The craftsmanship on the gemstone handle was spectacular to say the least; it was decorated with all sorts of runes and tribal patterns inlayed in the gemstone symmetrically. The runes hummed with power as I tested the swing of the blade.

“This feels great, almost as good as my ice blades,” I thought with a smug grin on my face.

I charged a teleportation spell as I pictured the door in front of Luna’s chambers as the spell whisked me away from the cave.

Exhausted, I knocked on the massive onyx door,

“Luna! I got the blade,” I called through the door.

The door creaked open slightly and I opened it cautiously. I saw Luna on the balcony watching the as the stars came to life under her magic.

“It’s beautiful you know,” I said as I walked up behind her. She jumped at my voice.

“What’s beautiful?” she asked

“The night, I’ve always loved it. Staying up till two in the morning, working, reading, relaxing, and even just having fun, the night has always been a haven to me, somewhere I could be safe,”

I turned to look at Luna, her eyes were up in the night sky but she wore a smile of satisfaction and gratification. She turned back to me and simply stated,

“Thank you,”

I nodded in response as I left the room. On my way out of the castle I ran into Shinning Armor again,

“Hey Shinning would it be possible to get a sheath for this,” I asked as I held up the blade. He looked the blade over and nodded as he said,

“It doesn’t seem any longer than the standard issue swords the guard have, here take this,” he tossed a empty pseudo leather scabbard form one of the guard swords.

“This will work” I thought as I fitted the scabbard around my shoulders and midsection. I looked out one of the castles many windows and sighed.

“Things are goanna get very interesting,” I thought aloud as I teleported back to my home.

Ambushed

“I really need to stop getting into these situations,” I thought to myself as I looked around at the faces of seven mares and one stallion in my living room.

“Where you been?” they all shouted at me.

“Well if you would all just sit down I will explain,” I said rubbing my recently assaulted ears. I told them everything, my new weapon, and even how learning how her sister suffered was effecting Luna. I turned to Twilight,

“I wouldn’t suggest going to Canterlot for the time being,” I said flatly.

“Why not?”

“Well, firstly it’s now a recent crime scene and secondly we recently found a few Vamponies in the staff of the castle. One even made an attempt on Luna’s life,” I said looking at the floor.

I felt a fist cross my face, driving me to the ground. As I looked up to see Applejack standing over me fist clenched and poised for another blow. Yet it never came; I looked up again to see a tear rolling down her face,

“Do you have any idea what you put us through?” chimed Rarity.

I simply shook my head.

“Well darling, imagine this… one of your friends disappearing again after only just finding them again, and to have them risk their lives almost daily to keep you safe, it really is nerve-racking,” she said.

I looked around the room to all the ponies standing in my living room; their faces all portrayed the same thing, betrayal.

“I don’t know what else to tell you all except what I told Luna earlier, I can no longer guarantee my own safety.” My head wandered to each of their faces in turn “the best I can give you for a straight answer as to why I’m doing this is that I really don’t want to live like this anymore.”

Silence permeated my home, my words hanging there like fog. I looked at Pinkie, who up to this point had been uncharacteristically silent, she met my gaze with teary eyes, her mane and tail flat, and I knew there was nothing I could do about it. All I could do was give her a reassuring smile, which she hesitantly returned.

“How can you even say that? Even after all you’ve been through…what we’ve been through,” Autumn said, breaking the silence.

“I can say that because you all have no idea what my own mind is doing to me,” I said coldly.

“Nightmares?” Kind Wind asked hesitantly.

“Worse than you can ever imagine,” I deadpanned.

As I began to describe the in machinations of my nightmares I became acutely aware of a certain smell wafting its way through my home.

“Hang on, do you all smell that?” I asked the group hesitantly.

“Yes darling, I can smell something dreadful in here,” Rarity said as she fanned the air in front of her face.

“Yeah I smell something like rotten eggs in here,” Rainbow said as her wing fluttered to try to push the stench away from her.

“Rotten eggs,” I thought to myself “Oh no,”

“Everypony out now there is a g-“ I tried to call to them before a pluming fireball engulfed my home. I franticly searched the remnants of my living room for the rest of my guests. Soon I saw Rarity and Twilight push themselves out of the ruble surrounded by a magenta sphere. A few moments later I heard my ceiling start to groan and tremble under the strain.

“We need to get out now,” I said to them.

“Not without Pinkie and Rainbow!” shouted Twilight.

“That’s why I’m staying! You two get out now! I’ll make sure they all get out,” I shouted back.

I saw Twilight nod solemnly as she teleported outside. I turned back to my living room and started lifting rubble with my magic as my home burned around me.

Soon I came across the rest of the group hiding under my coffee table shaking and coughing as they desperately looked for a way out.

“Let’s get them ought of here,” I thought is I grabbed them with my magic and moved towards the door.

Before I reached the door however I heard the ceiling groan again looking up I realized I wasn’t going to make the door before my ceiling collapsed. I felt the effects of the smoke inhalation getting worse as I franticly thought of a way to get my friends out.

”Crap,” I thought to myself as I focused all of my remaining magic into a large scale teleportation spell. Gritting my teeth as I charged the spell I looked up at the ceiling as the weight of the debris finally brought it down. Time slowed to a crawl as the chunks of plaster and burning lumber moved towards me, I turned to my friends a forced the last of my magic into the spell just as the debris hit my head, burying me under my former home.

Twilight gasped as heard the telltale pop of a teleportation spell a few meters away from where she stood. However instead of seeing six ponies she only saw five.

“Where is Ram,” she thought to herself as she turned back to look at the house just in time to see it collapse.

“No,” she whispered as looked on in horror as the Ponyvile fire teams arrived to the site of the former home.

Soon after the teams arrived a fire team member called out for help as they dragged Ram’s burnt body out from the rubble.

“No, no, no, no, he can’t be dead,” Twilight thought to herself as she looked over the body. She ran her magic over him looking for any signs of life. Her first scan came up with nothing; a second scan still registered nothing. She was almost through the third scan,

“Thump”

The sound caught Twilight off guard as she moved her magic back over his chest.

“Thump”…“Thump”

“He’s alive,” she though

“Everypony he’s alive!” she called to her friends.

I could hear Twilights muffled cries to our friends as I pulled myself out of the darkness.

“Heh heh heh, can’t get rid of me that easily,” I rasped at her as I sat up regaining my vision.

Looking over to the EMTs huddled over the others made me smile as I began to walk towards them.

“I’m glad all of you made it out ok,” I thought to myself as I left the EMTs to help my friends to the hospital. I began my walk to the train station with my intention of reaching the Knightwatch barracks before sundown.

I heard a scream and hoofsteps, but as I turned toward the source I felt everything in my lower abdomen tear and shift.

I looked down and saw a grey set of claws skewed through my body. I coughed and sputtered for a moment before the claw removed itself, taking a large portion of my entrails with it. The retreating figure of a mare was the last thing I saw as I collapsed; leaving me alone in the road and bleeding out. I let out muffled cries for help despite the futility of it. I began to accept my oncoming mortality as my vision began to blur and swim.

“Well at least it’s over,” I thought as my eyes began to shut. I let the final darkness claim me…

Eternity

Some say that death is a peaceful affair; others say death is something to be feared. Yet they’re both wrong death is very... boring.

“Well this is a predicament now isn’t it?” I asked myself as I wandered through the darkness.

“You do not belong here yet mortal,” a voice rasped.

I turned in place toward the voice yet still saw only darkness.

“Show yourself, I wish to know who I’m speaking with,” I called into the darkness.

“Very well mortal,” the voice sounded closer but still permeated the entirety of the darkness around me until I saw a lantern appear in the distance. I walked towards the light source only to see a hooded figure standing, unmoving in the darkness.

“Hello mortal, I am Death,”

“I kinda figured,” I deadpanned him.

“You do not seem concerned that you are dead, tell me why is that?” he asked respectfully.

“Do you want the short, long, or extra long explanation?” I asked with a smile on my face.

“Short,” he said.

“Well I’m a Vampony first of all, secondly I pretty much lost everything tonight, and third I don’t have any reasons to stay in the physical realm,” I rambled out.

“You say you have no reason to stay alive, but do you have a reason to stay dead?” he asked politely

That made me think, “Do I have a reason to stay dead? Well there is Crystal, Key, and maybe even Celestia… but other than that I really don’t have a reason to stay dead,”

I looked back at Death who I could have sworn he was smirking.

“You are unfortunately not dead,” he said flatly.

I cocked my head to the side in curiosity; Death simply chuckled.

“Your new powers keep you from dying from any normally fatal wounds bar decapitation, or did you forget that already,” he said coyly

“How would you know what is and isn’t fatal to Vamponies?”

“You’re asking Death about fatal wounds?” he deadpanned

I face palmed at my own stupidity before death spoke up again.

“Besides I’ve dealt with all of your victims, all them came here holding their own heads believe it or not,” he said with a chuckle.

“All of my victims? That means…” I thought as I franticly put pieces together.

“What about my friends?” I asked quickly.

Death then moved his hand to cut through the darkness to reveal a brilliant plain of light. Looking into it I could see hundreds of thousands of ponies down there. All of them had smiles on their faces and looked to be in genuine paradise.

“Your friends reside in Elysium now, there troubles and worries are gone. Nothing but the greatest of joys fills their eternities now,” Death droned in monotone.

“Can I at least see them?” I asked

“Yes, but for only a short while, while you still live Elysium will try to force you out,” he said as he placed his hand on my shoulder.

He motioned with his hand and the souls of Crystal and Key appeared in front of me. I started to tear up at the sight of two of my friends enjoying a paradise I could only dream of.

“Ram? Is that you?” Key called.

“Yep it’s me,” I said weakly.

“Oh thank Luna we found him! Crystal we…found…him..,” he trailed off when he noticed the tears in Crystal’s eyes.

“How are you even here?” she asked.

“Umm I guess you could call this a near death experience?” I questioned as I looked at Death for an answer. He nodded.

“Well everypony else is ok if you want to know,” I said as I looked away in shame.

“Why do you look so down about seeing us man?” Key asked.

“It’s because I couldn’t save you. I can’t even tell you how sorry I am for not being able to do anything to save you,” I looked them in the eyes before I lost my composure,

“I CAME SO CLOSE!” I screamed as I hammered my fist into the ground and I collapsed to the ground. I looked at the fresh cuts on my knuckles and began to sob, yet I felt something wrap itself around me. It was warm and soft; looking through teary eyes I saw that Crystal was hugging me, trying her best to comfort me. She broke the hug,

“Better?” she asked.

“Much,” I answered. Key then proceeded to sit with us and we sat there for I don’t know how long just enjoying each other’s presence. So I became aware of a faint pain coursing throughout my body. I looked down and saw that my form had begun to fade and blink rapidly. I was being pushed out of Elysium.

“I have to go now… I don’t know if I’ll ever see you two again so...,” I trailed of as I was embraced by my two friends. I faint light enveloped us as I was finally forced back into the void.

“Now you have a choice,” Death said, his tone was even but demanding.

“I know,” I said to him flatly.

“You may choose to give up your mortal bonds and join your friends in Elysium or you may choose to return to your body, and live a long and fulfilling life before returning here,”

“I don’t know what to do, but I made a promise the day they died and I promise to Luna that I would help the Knightwatch. I will honor my word before dying, as much as I want to stay,” I said flatly.

“Very well then, your choice is made?” he asked.

I confirmed with a nod of my head. He placed his hand on my forehead and uttered something in a language I didn’t understand. At first I felt nothing, but soon I felt myself being pulled out of the void. I rocketed towards nothing as the void became darker and darker. Soon I could see nothing but black, and try as I might I couldn’t move, however I felt warmth, as if a blanket was placed on me. I focused on opening my eyes as I couldn’t seem to get anything else to respond. As my eyelids drifted up I could make out muffled cries of distress and joy,

However all I could think was, “Well here is where it all hits the fan isn’t it,”