1200 Years Ago

The soldiers were getting restless. Celestia could see it in their eyes as she watched them salute and return to their duties. Many were barely able to stand, both out of fear and from tiredness. Sixteen days of endless sieging and constant attacks from dark forces combined would drain anypony, but her army stood strong. Her ponies stood united.

It had been a long campaign. One that lasted over three hundred years, but at long last the end was finally here. All the sacrifices would be for naught. All the poor souls put to death would finally be able to rest in peace. Only one more of the accursed vampires remained. The last, and more powerful of them all, Lord Nosferatu. With him dead, Equestria would finally be free of the dark creatures that covered their kingdom with blood and horror. The werewolves, dark mages, undead, abominations of all kinds, and more would forever lay in the darkness of the void forever. Not another child would see their parents slaughters or sacrificed to dark powers. Never again would entire villages be empty and filled with only graves. No more staying up at night, praying that you wouldn’t be dragged into the darkest pits of nowhere and never found again.

Soon, it would all end.

“Sister, has't thee given thought of the strategy that We provided?” asked Luna, walking towards her with her grimminger silver and dark blue armor. Her cutie mark was on the center plate that protected her barrel with white star like constellations on the side as well as on her greaves. Beside her were two twin swords, both with crescent shaped blades made of pure dark crystals while the handles were pure white like pearls with blue stars as the guards.

Princess Celestia shook her head of her thoughts. “Forgive me, Luna. We was bestraught. Please, repeat thy plan again.”

Luna huffed before using her horn to levitate the pieces representing their units on the map. “As thee knoweth, we've only managed to breaketh the shield big enough to sendeth our forces hither, hither, and hither.” She placed some of their legion pieces in the precise location of the surrounding wall that had protected the giant rook shaped target in the center of the map. “Our legions wilt fighting a tough hurlyburly. The foe wilt beest using everything they hast to finish us hither and anon. However, we can increase our chances by sending in the heavy buckler and partisan units first to push any resistance we visage back. Our swordsponies can then beest unleashed from the sides to attack in pincer movement to deal heavy damage. We did win't maketh shift did lie-to giant crossbows or catapults due to the side of the holes, but we can endue in the range units after we receiveth enow space.”

Celestia nodded for her to continue. “Our main objective is to taketh our most wondrous fighters and cleave through the dark forces so we may enter the castle. We'll slay aught in our way until we finally reacheth the throne cubiculo whence Nosferatu wilt beest waiting for us.”

“At which hour shalt we attack?” asked Celestia

“At dawn, although the sun wilt beest of nay did lie-to to us gramercy to this alas cloud spell,” grumbled Luna as she stared outside of the tent.

Princess Celestia nodded in agreement. The tower was producing some foul magic that had blocked the sun and moon from showing in the sky thanks to the dark ominous clouds of red and black. It expanded all over the region providing a protection from the sun while being a psychological blow to the troops. Truly, this is just like Tartarus is for the damned.

“'t's most wondrous if 't be true we receiveth some catch but a wink then. Hast the troops receiveth some as well. Arrange some patrols and see to 't yond those coming with us art did prepare. Hast the augurer prepare blessings for us all. We wilt needeth all of Faust's holiness to overcome this evil yond lies 'ere us,” ordered Celestia to which her sister saluted and left, leaving her to be alone.

She eyed the nearby mirror, staring at the golden and white armor that matched her sister’s yet she had the designs of the sun. Her sides and greaves held golden leaves instead of stars, to remind her of the trees back home where she ached to see once more. Her weapon was not by her side, but resting from the previous battle in her personal tent. Staring at the reflection before her, Celestia muttered, “How long hath 't been since I've seen myself without the attire of a warrior, but as a simple princess?”

She longed to be with her subjects again. To dance, frolic, and speak to them as they cried out her name. This accursed crusade had costed her times, friends, and more. “Once this is ov'r, I shalt see to 't yond such a time nev'r cometh again. I gage 't upon mine kin's graves.” She turned away to make of her bed. She would need her strength for the battle to come.

Exiting the tent, she paused to glare that the demonic castle that stood before her armies. It was bigger than any castle seen in Equestria, made of black stone with skeletons of the deceased layed around it. Bats of all shapes and sizes flew around it like vultures upon a meal, while the army of ghouls and monsters continued to roar and screech for blood before its fields. Even from this distance you could hear it in your ears. The castle’s lights gave an unearthly green flow of flames, similar to that of the changelings who had been banished to the Badlands not two summers ago.

But the most disturbing part was the waterfall coming down from the left and right side. It was pure red. Made from fresh blood. Celestia did not know how, or where such a thing could be possible, but she cared not. Once its master was dead, the castle would be torn down brick by brick until not even rubble remained.

Only then, could Equestria find peace from its darkest times.

***

Celestia had to give credit where credit was due. Her sister was a much better at fighting war then she ever would be. Celestia could handle battles in the political scale with no problems, but when it came to tactics and troop commandments there was no better than Luna. Already they had pushed back against the army of darkness that stood before them, taking six of their kind for every soldier they lost. Each of them would be remembered for their sacrifice in someway, she swore on her golden spear.

She too had already had her weapon soaked in enemy blood, joining beside her younger sister as they carved their way through the enemy until they managed to fly to a balcony near the third floor. Using her magic, Celestia had brought with her the unicorns and earth pony centurions who couldn’t fly like their pegasi brethren. Awaiting them was a squad of ghouls, armed with black armor and weapons. Celestia sneered upon seeing them and their deformed forms. If not for the fact they walked and moaned, one could mistake them for being dead with their rotten flesh, open wounds, and lidless eyes.

Diving down with her spear up front, Celestia sank her edge into the skull of one before shaking it off. Spinning around she backed kicked two more with her greaves before swing the spear around like a deadly whirlwind. Any limb in her way was lost and no armor could defend itself from her blade. All attempts to attack back were met with with quick blocks and counter attacks. Focusing her magic into the spear, she raised it up and unleashed its energy. Five rays of light emerged from the tip of the spear, shining down on the surrounding foes who were instantly turned to ash from the intensity of the heat.

Checking up on her sister, Celestia felt her worries wash away when Luna sliced two heads off simultaneously with her blades. Quick on her hooves, she dashed from end to end of the platform with each bust of speed followed by soundless cut. It was like she cut through the very air itself and left not even a sound in its wake. Horn glowing, she summoned lightning into her horn and unleashed a chain of thunderbolts among the few surviving ghouls were lit on fire due to the intensity of the heat.

Their finest centurions finished off the remaining ones, but Celestia bit her lip upon seeing one of them lying on the ground with an axe in his neck; nearly chopping it off. She made no word of it, merely motioning them to enter the castle with haste.

Breaking down the door with a blast, the group rushed forward as fast as they could either on hooves or with wings. They expected enemy forces to meet them head on, but as they traveled through the darkened halls they saw nopony. No ambushes. No traps. Nothing but the gothic decorations and spartan coloring.

Either all of Nosferatu's forces art out fighting, or he's wanteth to visage us without any interruptions, thought Celestia. In truth, Nosferatu himself needed no armies if he wanted. The creature of evil was certainly powerful enough to face both her and Luna without fear of defeat. Having clashed many times over the centuries, the two sides never managed to get one over the other. This time, however, 'twill end once and for all.

Thankfully, they didn’t need a map to guide them to the throne room. The very presence of Nosferatu could be felt like a beacon calling for them. The further they went in, the stronger it got. Until at last they made it to a large set of double set doors with demonic faces on it made of stone with rubies for eyes.

Glancing at one another, the two sisters nodded their heads and opened the doors with their magic. A grand room, as large as their throne room, was before them. Red curtains, rugs, and drapes filled the area lit only by red and green flames on torches. Pictures of macabre settings could be seen on the walls, showing ponies and other races bathed in their own blood as they were torn apart by each other or monsterous versions of themselves. Statues of brutal acts of slaughter from a pony losing her head to a pegasi losing her wings were on the side.

The most disturbing part of the sinister art was that it was bleeding. Be it on the paintings or the statues, wherever blood was supposed to be designed it actually spilled real blood. It pooled under the designs, but was absorbed into the floor which itself turned blood red.

Gazing upon them all on his throne was the monster of this hellish room himself. He was taller than your average pony, and much slimmer too. His wings were like that of a dragon, pure black and sinister. Upon his entire body were the veins of blood vessels seared onto his flesh, yet no blood could be seen pumping through them. His unicorn horn was tall, pointy, and as grey as his coat while his eyes of red slits stared at them. He merely glanced at them before his eyes started to shine white and the doors behind them closed with a locking sound.

The last vampire lord. Nosferatu.

“What did take thou so long?” He smirked as he levitated a small glass of blood. “I wast beginning to bethink thou wast nev'r to arrive.”

“We art hither anon, fiend. And we shalt end thy reign of terror once and for all. Thy dark ways hast cometh to an end,” boasted Luna, growling.

“For thy crimes 'gainst our people, 'gainst the goddess, 'gainst nature herself! Death awaits thou!” proclaimed Celestia, pointing her spear at him.

“Crimes?” The vampire laughed. “Betoken me. What crimes hast I committed yond nay other living being hath done in the past? Murder? Those befall every day. Rape? We all hast yond inner beast inside of us yond demands pleasure. Destruction? War? Chaos? What maketh thou bethink Discord wast the only being capable of doing such horrible things? Or Tirek? Or the Dragon Lord? Mine crime?”

With a smile that showed every inch of his pure white fangs, he gazed over to the princesses. “Betoken me Princess Of The Moon, how many dark dreams hast thou seen in the subconsciousness of thy subjects? The inner demons and desires they wish or hast done yond haunt thou to gaze every night? A mother wishing to strangle their filly for costing that lady food? A son wishing to did beat his drunken father to death for beating him every afternoon? The subjects who is't plot thy death, or bethink of thy rear end for their sick pleasure. Hoping to dominate thou and maketh thou their bitch? The backstabbing politicians. The falsing criminals. The sick twisted minds of the insane, depraved, and deplorable? How many figures of twisted macabre and innocence taken from ones hast thou since seen in thy so call quite quaint nights? How dost 't feeleth knowing yond behind those smiles art the darker desires of those thou claim to beest innocent?”

A flinch was all he needed to chuckle before turning to Celestia. “And thou? Princess Of The Sun? How dost 't feeleth knowing yond nay matter how many times thou tryeth to teachest these foolish mortals they only end up disappointing thou? How many hast did turn aroint from thy light with promises of power, riches, and fortune? Thy way of Harmony is nothing but a farce.Rebellion after rebellion. Dark wizard after dark wizard. Betrayal after betrayal. They receiveth close to thou, not because they love thou, but because they love the power yond cometh with 't. The title, the fame, and wealth. Those nobles thou cater to only seek to befriend thou so they can but softly steal from thou. They entertain thy power they can from thou and did lie-to 't their own ends. Shouldst thou beest in danger, or bewray signs of misfortune, they wilt abandon thou in a heartbeat. Thou hast nay true friends. An immortal did lose to loseth and loseth each time they tryeth. I, who is't rule by fear, nev'r worry about such weakness. All who ally with me wot their lodging and nev'r tryeth to betray for their own ends in fear of their life.”

His eyes began to glow as he returned his gaze to Luna. “Thou art so blind in thy own foolishness yond thou doth not see the growing darkness beside thou.”

“Silence!” shouted Celestia as she threw her spear towards the vampire. He merely activated a red shield and blocked it. Retrieving it with her magic, Celestia growled, “Thou only speaketh in lies. I wilt nay longer heareth thy dark words in mine ears, monster. This end anon.”

After chuckling a bit more, Nosferatu’s eyes began to glow as white as his mane. “Very well. Cometh and visage death himself.”

He slowly rose from his throne as his cape floated beside him as the air in the room grew colder. Celestia gripped her spear with her magic as she prepared to charge and-

“SISTER! WAKE UP!”
***

Gasping, Celestia shot out of her bed while pressing her hoof against her chest to still her beating heart. Wiping the sweat from her forehead, she turned towards her sister who looked out of breath as well. “Luna, what is-”

“What we fear has happened, Sister! Rarity has turned into a vampire!” shouted Luna.

Celestia’s eyes widened as she felt her mind drift to her dream. No, it was her memory of that night. “Are we sure?”

“She was pronounced dead before coming back to life and murdering several hospital staff.” Luna lowered her eyes in sorrow. “She... drank... their blood before fleeing into the Everfree Forest.”

Taking a few deep breaths to collect herself, Celestia got up and used her magic to activate a secret chamber she never wished to open again. A part of her wall opened up, revealing the very same armor and spear she wore so long ago to vanquish the last of the vampire lords. Yet, it seems I must use this armor and spear of mine once more.

“Luna, get every guard you can assembled and ready to fight. I’ll be going on ahead to Ponyville,” ordered Celestia as she began to suit up. “If Rarity is a vampire, then I fear that Fluttershy is indeed not dead and a vampire as well. We must be prepared to kill them.”

“What do we tell Twilight and her friends?” asked Luna.

“Something we should have done a long time ago,” replied Celestia as she stared at the golden spear with her reflection looking back at her. “We tell the truth.”

Author's Note

You didn't think I'd forgotten all about this fic did you? So we got a glimpse of our villain in the past and yes we will return to that flashback for the fight.

The art work is, as always, done by James Corck at: https://www.deviantart.com/jamescorck/art/Fanart-MLP-Sanguine-Kindess-Illustration-15-752263262

Don't forget to help out at the TV Tropes Page: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Fanfic/SanguineKindness