Falling Temperatures

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.