The Bird of Hermes is My Name
The Bird Of Hermes Is My Name
By Ninetails
“Turn and fight me monster!” A voice behind me exclaimed. I couldn't help but sigh. Despite my boredom I knew that this fight was not something I wanted. I honestly couldn't fathom why this thing wanted to fight so bad. I guess it had something to do with how I looked. I mean I’ve been here about a week and have yet to see anything like me. I decided to at least look at my would be opponent.
She was a pony if my memory served me correct. Although she was definitely unique even by pony standards. Most ponies had either a horn or wings. Some didn't have either but this thing had both wings and a horn. Her mane flowed in a nonexistent wind and seemed to be made of stars. Her fur was a nice dark blue and she seemed to be wearing silver battle armor. Floating beside her was a spear. Silver in color it matched her armor quite well.
“Well what say you monster!” She yelled at me.
“Can we not fight?” I asked her my boredom dripping off my words. She looked taken aback by this. I couldn't tell if it was because she was surprised at my statement or that I could talk. I didn't care.
“What did you say monster?!” She demanded of me. I couldn't help but chuckle. She glared at me and I at her. I had to give this thing some credit she hasn't fled yet. Almost anything else I glared at ran away as soon as I did this. I couldn't tell if it was because she was stubborn or stupid but personally I believed it was a combination.
“You have come here to threaten our ponies then?”
“Look I don't care about your ponies I just want to be left alone.”
“That seems unlikely as you keep harassing them!”
“With what, my existence?”
“Enough of this!” and with that she lunged forward with her spear. I turned my body towards her to give her a better target. She was aiming for my heart, I could have laughed if it wasn't so pathetic. Her aim was true and her spear went right through me. She smiled at first but then seemed confused. Instead of screaming at the wound given to me I was smiling. I proceeded to raise my right arm and it shifted. It went from a pale white hand emerging from a brown coat to pitch black. It then wriggled and shifted till it had a mouth full of razor sharp teeth. Then the eyes opened, hundreds of them running all along the creature. The pony jumped back removing her spear from me to dodge my familiars attack.
“What devilry is this?!” She shrieked at me.
“What you don't have familiars?” I asked as my arm shifted back to normal.
“So you are evil!” The creature exclaimed at me. Evil, huh, not much wiggle room for that word is there. It's also untrue. I have not harmed a single creature that was sentient, or at least good. I mean draining a manticore that was threatening the local populace was one thing. Killing an innocent creature for blood when I didn't need it was quite another. My thoughts however were interrupted by a blast of magic from the pony.
It was quite the blast considering it took me off my feet. Before I hit the ground however I recovered and used my unnatural speed to close in on the pony. Delivering a swift kick to her chest to send her flying into the nearest tree. She stood shakily and that kinda concerned me.
“Are you okay?” I asked. I mean I did kick her but I wasn't completely heartless. As she stood I could see a dent in her armor where I had kicked her. I could only imagine the nasty bruise she was gonna have. Before either I or she could say anything A golden light appeared and descended from the clouds. I glared at the light so similar to the sun. I hated it, being a vampire meant I hated the sun. It didn't burn me or hurt me. It was just an extremely annoying albeit necessary function of the world. The light dissipated to reveal another pony. This one was clad in golden armor. She had a horn and wings like the other. Her fur was as white as the sun. I hated it.
“Sister are you alright!” The newcomer asked her...well sister.
“I am fine tia.” The blue one said as she rose to her hooves.
“Is this..” “Yes it is the blood drinking monster I have been tracking.”
“The blood drinking monster has a fucking name you know!”
“Luna.” “Yes tia.” “did it just..?” “Yes and it seems to be toying with me.”
“I was NOT toying with you I didn't want to hurt you at all.”
“Stop lying to me monster!” Alright that’s it. I tried the diplomatic approach. You can see where this was getting me. I decided it was time to put them down. Not kill them just kinda beat them up. Before they were done gawking at my ability to speak I made my move. Using my speed I appeared in front of them. I jabbed both of them in the throat. As they gasped for air I grabbed them both under the chin and slammed them headfirst into the ground. I was careful not to damage their horns however I knew that could really cause both of them problems. As they lay on the ground I kicked the golden one in the back right between the wings making sure she couldn't fly after me for a few minutes. Plus she pissed me off.
Satisfied with my work I headed off into the forest it would be night soon, and I was getting hungry.
I groaned at the injuries given to me by the strange monster my sister had been dealing with. The attacks had been launched well. A blow to the throat to disable us. Then a head injury to disorient. After that a kick to the soft spot between the wings to disable flight. As me and my sister shakily got to out hooves we shared a look. This monster would not get away with this.
The Bird of Hermes is My Name
...impure souls of the living dead...
I wandered around the forest looking for something to eat when I came across something that made my heart freeze. Not from fear or disgust, but from recognition. For what was in the clearing ahead could only be one thing, a ghoul. A pony ghoul to be specific. It stumbled about looking for food. Its skin was clammy and grey looking. The eyes no longer had that curious intelligence I had come to associate with ponies, but a cold dead hunger. What concerned me was not that it could harm me but what it meant. A ghoul is created when a vampire such as myself feeds on another creature. It is why i always made sure to properly dispose of anything I killed to prevent this. What I was seeing should not exist unless...unless there was another vampire nearby. After ripping the creatures head off I decided to investigate the area.
It didn't take me long to find where it had come from. About another 30 feet I came across a town. Or at least what used to be a town. Now it was hell or at least close approximation. Half eaten corpses littered the streets and ghouls wandered around aimlessly. Got to find the vampire behind this. I can't...won't let this go unanswered. Almost immediately after thinking that I heard a scream. I turned in its direction. A survivor...here?! Gritting my teeth I took off in the direction of the scream. Don't you even fucking think about dying on me!
Arriving at the building where the scream emanated I couldn't really say I was surprised. It was a church that was obviously celebrating the sun and the moon. I would have taken the time to reflect on this had I not had more pressing maters like trying to save a life. I booted the large door so hard it broke off its hinges and crashed to the ground. Well a dramatic entrance does fit the mood here I thought to myself. What I saw inside the church made me freeze, then I got pissed. Standing at the other side of the room were two ponies. One was a mare, lavender coat dyed crimson around her neck. The other one was a stallion, dressed as a priest he was holding her in his hooves. His mouth had her blood in it, as if I needed anymore proof he was the one I was looking for. Then I felt my anger rising. Clenching my fist as he stared at me I decided to break the silence.
"What do you think you'r doing bug?" I asked him my voice trembling slightly with my barely contained rage.
"Who are you calling an insect freak." He retorted. I almost laughed at that.
"I would think it's obvious to all parties present except for you." I stated. Before he could respond I decided to address the terribly frighted lavender mare.
"Excuse me my dear but I am afraid i need to ask you a question before I can save you." I said putting on a genuine smile trying to ease her fears. I could see her relax a bit to talk to me before she could respond the foolish vampire decided to interrupt.
"Don't you ignore me you freak."
"NEXT TIME YOU SPEAK I WILL PERSONALLY BEAT YOU TO DEATH WITH YOUR OWN BODY!" I shouted allowing the anger inside to boil over. The look on his face was beyond terrified. The mare however seemed to finally realize my hatred for her assailant and almost relaxed completely knowing something was on her side.
"My dear I have a question for you. I know it won't seem important now but trust me on this okay." As I spoke I tried to make my voice sound gentle. I wasn't doing a very good job but it was working.
"I-i-I Understand." She spoke. I gave as warm a smile as I could knowing this next question would decide her fate.
"Are you a virgin, my dear?" The question was simple but clearly unexpected.
"W-what?" Was all she could muster.
"I am asking if you are a virgin." I stated plainly taking the honey coating off my words. The mare looked uncertain as how to answer.
Then she got a look in her eyes as they locked with mine. A look that screamed defiance. A look that told me this hell that she was suddenly forced into had not-would not beat her. She would endure and survive. A look that gave me my answer before she spoke.
"Yes." She said not breaking eye contact. I grinned focusing my attention on the vampire pony. The vampire priest pony looked confused as to what just happened.
"What are you yam-" He never got to finish his question as I used my speed to cross the room and snatched him up by his neck. I slammed him into the back wall my eyes boring into his. I considered giving him a big speech about how he was an insect and not worth the time it took to deal with. Unfortunately he seemed to have come down with a case of pissing-off-a-incredibly-powerful-and-superior-vampire-syndrome. Symptoms include decapitation and death. After taking my rage out on the foul insect I turned to the fallen mare.
She was still conscious so that was something. As much as I would like to leave her be there was one last thing I needed a question that needed an answer. As I walked over to her she tried to rise but was till to weak to do so. I sat down and cradled her head in my lap. She looked up at me her face a simple question, what now?
"Look I know you've been through a lot but I need to ask you something." She nodded understanding the weight of the next choice.
"Right now you have two options. Option one is to come with me. Option two is to die here." At this she spoke.
"Why would you kill me?" She asked concern in her voice. I sighed she needed to know this.
"You have already died my dear." With this revelation she gasped. I thought she would faint but again she proved stronger than I gave her credit. "You were bitten by a vampire. Normally anything bitten and drained as you have would become a ghoul."
"Y-you mean those things outside?" I grimaced, she probably knew some of those ponies.
"Yes but you are a special case. As a virgin you won't become a ghoul but a vampire like me..or him." I glanced back at the mess I had made with the vampire insect. She started to panic at those words. To comfort her I brought her in closer hugging her tight.
"I wish I could just let it go but I need an answer." She started to sniffle and cry but as sudden as it started she stopped. She shifted in my arms to look at me. I looked down at her and saw my answer. In her eyes I saw a fire that burned brightly. A fire that only got brighter the darker it got.
"Well then since we will be traveling together for some time may I have your name?"
"Its Twilight...Twilight Sparkle."