The Vampony Chronicles

The Vampony Chronicles
Chapter 15: Of Dreams and Darkness

By: SteampunkBrony
Edited By: DoomManta

I had passed out in my bed the moment my head hit the pillow. Despite the midnight nap, I was wiped out from all of the night's activities. I awoke to Spike shaking me as the sun slipped below the horizon.

“Mmrrr... I'm up, I'm up...” I mumbled as I rolled out of bed.

“Finally...” Spike muttered. “You're gonna need an exploding alarm clock to wake you now...”

“Very funny,” I grumbled trotting down the stairs.

“Rarity dropped by with a group of carpenters today and they were busy working on the basement, there's plenty of sawdust down there, but most of the shelves are in place. The unicorn they had doing all the carving said she'd need to stop by twice more to finish up, but it looks like all of the stuff along the walls is finished. Those guys worked fast. I wonder how Rarity got them to help... Oh, and you got a letter from Luna, by the way. Something about meeting up with somepony named Zecora?”

“Hmm? Let me see that.” I levitated the scroll out of Spike's claw and unrolled it.

Twilight Sparkle,

I have managed to contact the zebrecain shaman Zecora (whom lives within the Everfree Forest) and have set up a meeting for thee. She asked for thou to meet her at the edge of the Everfree Forest near the home of thy friend Fluttershy two hours past sundown. She also said that she would be happy to instruct thee in dark magic, as well as train you with a weapon of thy choice. Thou may be interested to know that thy 'shadow blade' spell can be used to craft a weapon of any shape, thou just has to picture it. I instructed thee to summon blades because they are one of the easier shapes to manifest.

Merry meet and merry part,

Princess Luna.

I re-read the letter a few times. “Spike, do you think you can deliver a message to Luna?”

“I can try... but it might end up going to Celestia instead...”

“Okay then, take a letter.” Spike pulled out the paper and quill he kept nearby at almost all times. “Dear Princess Luna,

I received your letter and it is good to hear from you. I hope everything is going well at the castle and that the nobles aren’t giving you too much trouble. I'll definitely be taking your suggestion to go stargazing tonight, seeing as I'll be over at Fluttershy's, and I've been rather busy the past few days so I haven't had a chance to since your return. I look forward to hearing more from you in the future,

~Twilight Sparkle.”

“... Twilight Sparkle. There, would you like me to send it?”

“Yes, that way we'll know right away.” Spike nodded and breathed emerald fire over the rolled up parchment, sending it on its way. “I'm going to be out and about tonight, I have to meet up with Zecora, as well as see if Pinkie's on her hooves yet, and I should probably check up on Rarity... gah, there's too much to do.” I said to Spike as I got dressed. “I also want to see if Ceres's dais can be moved to the basement...”

Twilight Sparkle, your letter did reach me directly. Luna's voice suddenly appearing caused me to jump.

“Everything alright Twilight?” Spike asked with a raised eyebrow.

“Yeah, Luna just decided to talk to me without warning.” I said with a chuckle. That's good news. Er, while we're talking, do you know if it would be possible to move the dais Ceres is in into the basement of the library?

Hmm... I know that Celestia has a team of ponies to move such artifacts in the castle... perhaps I can have her transferred under the guise of it being so thou can keep an eye on her? We'd have to move the books ahead of time though, my sister is rather adamant about that kind of knowledge not making it into the public eye.

That makes sense, although where would I keep them?

Perhaps a chamber that is accessible only to Moonblessed or those Ceres lets in? I'm sure I could set one up tonight if thou would be willing to let me. After that it, would be a simple job for me to move those books, and to be honest, they would be safer hidden in thy library than in the old castle.

I'll let Spike know then; apparently Rarity brought in a group of carpenters today to install all the shelves and cabinets in the basement. From what I hear, all that's left is some carving and silver work and then those will be done.

Well, a hidden door works, but what I was thinking was a teleportation spell that only Moonblessed or Ceres can activate that will teleport the pony, or ponies, to the hidden library.

That works too, and is probably more secure than the hidden door.

I'll drop by and get that handled tonight then, perhaps I shall also meet up with thee and the shaman Zecora tonight.

That sounds like it would work.

Er, Luna... Crescent's melodic voice chimed in.

Yes Crescent?

I'm sorry about eavesdropping, but I was wondering, would it be possible for me to be put into a dais like Ceres? No offense to you Twilight, but that may be better because then I can manifest at least...

Hmm... well, since it wouldn't be a self-punishment as Ceres's current situation is, I can do that, and link an amulet to the dais so that thou can manifest near wherever the amulet is, and in a physical form. Celestia won't be pleased, but rut me if I care, I've only been back a few days and she's already on my case about using dark magic to get things done around the castle.

That must be annoying... Crescent said sympathetically.

Very much so, I am a goddess of the moon and dark magic, what part of that does she not understand... In some ways I miss the old days when one could go obliterate a mountain in frustration...

Wait, you used to destroy mountains... to vent? I asked, shocked.

Yes, why do you think there are no other mountains from the Canterhorn to the Smokey Mountains? Those hills in between are the result of me turning the gravel piles into soil. Luna replied.

My jaw must have dropped open because Spike burst out laughing. You know what, I don't want to even get into how that must have affected weather patterns...

That's one of the reasons the practice was stopped, well that, and the fact that we were running low on mountains. I could feel my eye twitching.

I'll let Spike know what's happening and then head out, this conversation is getting too weird for me...

Be glad we haven't began discussing changeling reproductive habits, most ponies do not have the stomach for it.

Tuning you out now Luna... I said as I turned to Spike. “Luna's going to be dropping by tonight to do some work in the basement. She wants to create a hidden library to hide some books from the old castle that I found. She also wants to move an artifact from there down into the basement.”

“Yeesh, you decide to renovate and suddenly everypony wants a part of it...” Spike said chuckling.

“Actually it was my suggestion.” I said as I turned to head downstairs. “I'll be back by morning if all goes according to plan.”

“I hope it does, Murphy deserves to take a break.” Spike said as the door closed behind me. I laughed to myself as I trotted off towards Sugarcube Corner.

By the time I was three blocks away from the sweet shop, I could hear a thumping bass beat from down the street. Sounds like Pinkie's back.

Sure enough, when I got there, there was a party in full swing with Pinkie tearing up the dance floor. Berry Punch was behind a small bar off to one side serving up drinks and a white pony with an electric blue striped mane was behind a set of turntables. Massive speakers flanked her as she kept the party going, her magic fueling all kinds of lighting effects.

“Paladin Pie sure knows how to throw a party.” A voice from my left said. Turning, I found Lance had trotted up while I was looking over the party.

“Yeah, no kidding.” I said with a smile. “I was just going to check to see if you two were out of the hospital yet, but apparently I shouldn't have been worried.”

“We got discharged this morning, and as per the agreement, my powers are locked in this amulet.” He said, nodding to a small golden pendant hanging around his neck.

“Well I'm heading to meet up with Fluttershy next, would you like me to show you the way to her place?”

“She's still staying at the same place?”

“The hydra only smashed a small part of her house, the rest was intact.” I said as we started off. “Or she figured something else out, but even if she isn't there you'll still know the way now.”

“Fair enough.”

“Well, when I said she'd probably figure something else out, I wasn't quite expecting this...” There was a small building in front of use that was constructed from tree branches and bits of wood from wreckage the hydra left.

“I'm going to go take a look at the house, see how much work needs to be done.” He said as he took off.

“Um... hello?” Fluttershy's voice came from inside the hut.

“Hey Fluttershy, trying some new building techniques?” I said with a smile.

“Oh, that. The animals wanted to help out and it's actually rather cozy.” She said as she stepped out of the structure. “Plus, Rainbow's agreed to keep the rain off of my home for now, so I'm not worried about that.”

“That's good to hear. Anyhow, I was showing Lance the way over, and I'm meeting up with somepony who can help train me in dark magic.”

“Hey.” Lance said as he landed.

“H-hi.” Fluttershy replied quietly.

“In any case, I have five minutes to get to the edge of the Everfree, you two play nice now.” I said and headed off.

“The hay is that supposed to mean?” Lance called after me, sounding annoyed.

“Nothing!” I called back laughing as I ran off, smiling as the breeze whipped through my mane. I could see the Everfree Forest in the distance, past a few hills, so I poured on the speed, giving a small shout of excitement as I kicked off the ground, shooting into the air.

The ground blurred underneath me as I flew, getting a clear view over the tops of the trees in the Everfree, the silver moonlight giving the landscape a sharp silver contrast as I glanced around. Ponyville glowed warmly in the distance, and the lights of Applejack's house flickered as the Apple Family moved in front of the windows. I could hear the chirping of crickets and the hooting of owls carried on the wind rushing through my ears.

My hooves had barely touched ground before I kicked off again, doing a slow flip and gazing up at the moon and stars. The silver disc and shimmering points of light igniting a feeling inside me, I felt free and powerful beneath the stars. I dropped my fang hiding spell and laughed as I finished my flip with a roll and kicked off again. My hooves left inch deep depressions where they struck as I launched skyward once more.

“Crescent, is this how flying feels?” I asked the alicorn, speaking my thoughts.

It's very close Twilight, the only difference is you choose when to stop flying, she replied, laughing. Now that her laugh wasn't tainted by the dark tones of hatred and the thirst for revenge, it was almost musical. I landing with a thump, dust clouding up around me as I crouched to absorb the momentum, my muscles absorbing an impact that would have shattered a normal pony's skeleton, leaving them an ugly smear on the wildflower covered hill.

“I wish I had wings... I've always wanted to fly... Ever since I was a filly. It's one of the reasons I stared studying magic. Once I started learning magic though, I got distracted from my goal...” I said with a smile, as I sat on the hill, the entrance to the forest not fifty feet to my right. “Now I want to pursue that dream again...”

Twilight, you've done a lot to help me, even if it doesn't seem so. You've allowed me to glimpse the life of a normal pony, you've helped me see where I was wrong... You've helped me become something that I would never had a chance to otherwise... you allowed me to be a normal pony. I'm worried that once I can manifest I'll still be Nightmare Moon to everypony...

“Crescent, don't worry, we'll find a way.” I said reassuringly.

The only way to hide who I am would be to get rid of my wings... Wait...

“Hmm?” I was curious as to what the dark alicorn was thinking.

One moment, I want to check something with Luna. Crescent said as she cut the connection.

“That was... strange.” I think out loud as I sit on the hill and wait, stargazing and listing off the constellations as I waited.

“Let's see... Ursa Major, Ursa Minor, Orion, Andromeda, Cepheus, Crux, Fornax... ah there's Lupus Major... and Minor...”

Back. Crescent announced. I have a surprise for you later tonight, but for now, I think Zecora has arrived.

“Hmm?” I looked towards the Everfree to find somepony in a cloak walking up to me.

“Hello there friend of the night, to see you made it safely is a pleasant sight.” She rhymed as she pulled off her hood revealing her striped face and mane. It stood straight out from her scalp, fashioned like a Mohawk, which was rather impressive considering how long it was. Large gold earrings hung from her ears, and there were more gold rings around her left foreleg and neck. “I was told by Luna to meet you and her here soon. I must say, it is quite an honor to teach one with the Blessing of the Moon.”

“It's a pleasure to meet you too Zecora, my name is Twilight Sparkle.” I said with a smile.

“And quite polite too, I believe I shall get along with you. So Luna thought when we spoke; she seems a good judge of many folk. She stopped by for a visit last night. Needless to say, having an alicorn suddenly at my side was quite a fright.” We shared a laugh as I caught the sound of wings in the distance. “Speak of the which, the moon princess draws near. Let us, to her words, give ear.”

Luna landed softly beside us. “Good evening.” She said with a smile. “It's good to see thee again Twilight and I am glad to see thou made it safely Zecora.”

“Good evening to you too, Princess of the Night. It would take a bit more than the Everfree creatures to prevent this meeting tonight.” Zecora said with a slight bow.

“It's good to see you again as well Luna.” I said with a smile. “Have you stopped by the library?”

“I haven't yet, I was going to stop by the castle first and pick up the books and dais. I managed to procure a bag of holding from one of the royal vaults to transport all but the dais.”

“That's good news.” I said as I rose. “Perhaps we should talk as we walk though; I don't want to know what anypony would think seeing us three meet up.”

Luna started giggling after a moment. “Oh what the rumor mills would come up with... In any case, I take it thou will teach Twilight the dark arts Zecora?”

“I definitely will; it has been a while since I have taught someone with her skill.” I was rather impressed that Zecora could rhyme like that. “Although the other one residing within her mind will be of help, I believe we will find.”

I looked at Zecora in shock as Luna raised an eyebrow. “I did not know thou had the power of soulsight Zecora.”

“It is uncommon among the shamans to have soulsight, however most take it as a sign of great spiritual might. When I developed the ability in my younger days and I took it as a sign to learn the shaman's ways. If you don't mind, the question I would like answered is a simple one, how did Nightmare Moon end up trapped in the student of the sun?”

“She goes by Crescent Moon now.” I said. “She was transferred into me at some point while we were using the Elements of Harmony against her. Since then she's turned a new leaf so to speak.”

“That she has, we have been speaking a fair bit of late, and I am convinced she is as likely to cause eternal night as I am right now.” Luna said proudly.

“That is good news that I hear, although we must end this conversation because we are here.” Zecora said as her home came into view. There were large carved masks set out around the base of the tree, and torches provided illumination where a stone fire pit did not. “Now, tonight your studies branch into a new direction. With your permission Luna, we shall begin.”

“Have fun Twilight, and try not to unleash any eldritch horrors.” Luna said chuckling as she flew off.

“She's kidding right?” I asked, turning to Zecora.

The zebra merely shrugged as she placed a cauldron over the fire pit.