Heresy and Hearsay

Shining Armor stood bold and proud as he should be being the captain of the Royal Guard. He walked back and forth observing the various unicorns in front of him. All dressed in jet black cloaks with lightweight magical resistance armor underneath bearing the cutie marks of the two Princesses, Luna and Celestia. Their gazes never shifted from looking forward and their faces left only enigmatic thoughts to most who approached them. They had poker faces that would make even the most skilled players sweat and shake. And most interestingly, they were all mares. Not one stallion ever made it through the qualification tests of an Inquisitor.

"Inquistiors," Shining Armor said boldly, "there is a vampire stalking ponies in Ponyville. Your orders are to kill it with extreme prejudice. Leave nothing left of the beast when you find it. And," he took a pause before forming his next words looking intently at the unicorns, "if there are any victims that have been bitten by the vampire they are to be liquidated as well. Even if that means one of you is bitten. We cannot allow this heretic to feast upon us. You leave in one hour so be ready. You are dismissed." Shining Armor finished leaving the unicorns to their devices and allowing them to prepare for this incursion,

The Inquisitors were Celestia's and Luna's hoof-picked special forces. Known for their magical prowess as well as physical strength. They were the most well trained, well funded, and well armed ponies in Equestria. They did the jobs no pony could ever do. Slaying Ursa Majors, Manticores, even Hydras was their field of expertise. As well as their most resented and hated foes of all, necromancers. That was one of the reasons these ponies were picked. Their profound hatred of the most horrendous crimes against nature. It wasn't all that often the Inquisitors were dispatched to take care of problems like vampires.

The princesses mostly used them for retrieving artifacts deep within the Everfree forest, and even beyond sometimes these days, but centuries ago they were the ponies most on the front lines fighting the heretical acts against the Celestial Empire. However, little has ever been recorded of their deeds. Most ponies who tried to interview them or even write books about them were heavily bribed or coerced into silence. This was Celestia's trump card only to be used in the most serious of cases and she didn't want the Inquisitors just to be open knowledge. The Gryphon kingdom was still on rocky terms with the ponies and the maiden of the Sun couldn't allow them to gain such knowledge of their military forces so easily.

The five unicorns looked at each other without saying a word as Shining Armor left their presence leaving an uneasy feeling in the air of fear, anger, and justice that must be served to the abomination that now walks Equestria's grounds.

The first to speak was Silver Streak, colloquially name for the streak of silver hair the ran down her purple mane. Her coat was a pale blue soft and silky from much maintenance, but her face was another matter. Her eyes were cold and and distant from the years of battle and killing. A prominent scar across her right cheek stood out as one noticeable feature. "Any ideas how a vampire got so close to the borders of Ponyville? I thought the last one was killed three hundred years ago."

A familiar voice that would have thrown Twilight and her friends into a frenzy spoke up next. It was truly a surprise to Celestia and the rest of the Inquisitors that The Great and Powerful Trixie made it through selection. Or as she was now known as, Trix, "probably because Celestia's little protege woke up some ancient evil or something. Who knows, who cares, let's just make this quick."

"You could at least try to act a little more professional Trix. We better not have another incident like Manehattan again or-" The mare was cut off too quickly to form her next words dealing now with a rebuttal from Trixie.

"Shut the fuck up Rapier! You know damn fucking I had no choice! It was either kill the wraith and its vessel or let it massacre the entire town. Don't you ever fucking question my judgement again!" A look of pure rage overtook the unicorn but she soon settled down before things got physical when their captain Diamond Star finally spoke. She was an albino pony. Bleach white fur and mane with light pink eyes. "Settle down, both of you. Rapier, quick pressing Trix's buttons. Trix, no need to be vulgar."

The respect and admiration they had for their captain was phenomenal. There were no words exchanged after that just closed mouths and a gently nod towards their captain. There was one point in which their captain did have to get rough with them. When Trixie first joined she was arrogant, rude, and disrespectful, but after one fight going hoof-to-hoof with Diamond Star she learned quickly that another fight with her would most likely end with her death.

The only one who had yet to speak was a quiet pony named Zezima. The youngest mare to ever join the Inquisitors. As well as the only pony/zebra hybrid that was known of in Equestria. She had the same fur pattern as a zebra with the exception of her mane, tail, and most obviously her horn that sat upon her head. Her mane and tail were soft like pony fur with a light blonde color that enveloped every strand of hair. Much similar to that of Applejack's.

Rapier piped up this time once more, but not to pick a fight, "hey Zezima, what's up you haven't spoken since we got back from Primus. What's on your mind?" She asked inquisitively.

"N-nothing, Rapier. Just fatigued a little." She said meekly. But the others could tell it was something different. Diamond Star particularly noticed a change in behavior in the young mare. After the attack on Primus something changed about the zebra hybrid. Then again most of their time together was searching for rare artifacts the princesses would be interested in and not wiping out entire towns of changeling ponies. Zezima was still innocent and hadn't taken in fully the extent of which being an Inquisitor would be. It was her first combat-based mission she had to do with the others.

Diamond Star contemplated sending Zezima to the infirmity for a psych evaluation but soon talked herself out of it. She had just forty minutes to get ready to head to Ponyville. She couldn't wait around for Zezima to get back and they needed her if they were going to take on a vampire. Vampires were only a threat level below an elder dragon. Only Diamond Star had to face down an elder dragon and not even she could vanquish such an impossible monster.

"Okay ladies, we meet in Ponyville's Sugarcube Corner. Spread out and don't make contact with anyone until we reach the insertion point. The sooner we kill this thing the sooner I'll be buying you all drinks down at The Apple Tap." Diamond Star said with a stern tone, but with a smile on her face and a fierce passion burning within her eyes.

"Yes ma'am!" Retorted the four mares before her.

......

Twilight and her friends strolled through the park as leisurely as they could taking in all the sights and sounds. The crisp air touched their faces delicately sending a slight shiver down their spines. The sky was clear and as blue as the ocean. Foals played innocently together running around outside in the beautiful weather that was made possible by the weather team and their head captain, Rainbow Dash. Who, at the time was napping in a cloud just above the trees.

Pinkie Pie was entertaining some fillies with her mystical ability to pull party favors and sugary confections out of thin air. She laughed along with the little ponies ever enjoying their smiles plastered to their faces.

"Pinkie my face hurts from smiling!" Shouted on the the fillies.

The pink pony laughed even more, "isn't it great! The best kind of pain! LAUGHING PAIN!" She exclaimed rolling over onto her back as tears welled within her eyes laughing more and more.

Twilight giggled to herself seeing how much fun Pinkie and those foals were having. Applejack had made a quick pit stop by the apple farm to make a quick picnic lunch for her and her friends which she now carried on her back. Rarity was humming a tune from Sapphire Shores unable to get the pop dancing pony out of her head who had made a more than generous offer to invest into the Carousel Boutique after all the wonderful outfits she made for her.

The warm rays of the sun filtered through the leaves lightly caressing Twilight's back with warmth. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath in smelling all the scents of summer.

"Heh, Twi' you look like you just walked outside the first time in your life." Said the cowpony with a slight chuckle.

"Yeah," Twilight said with a smile, "it has been a while. At least it feels like it. I've been so fixated on studying I forget about the joys of being outside. And most importantly, being with my friends."

Applejack brimmed with happiness, "well it's nice ta' have you around Twi'. Can't say I know a better ponies to spend the day with other than you girls."

Rarity blushed a little, "I couldn't agree more. You girls are the best ponies a mare could have. I just wish Fluttershy could have joined us."

Twilight's stomach grumbled loudly for her two friends next to her to hear it. Instictively Applejack walked off the path to a nice shady spot under an old maple tree. It's aged bark and wide trunk set it apart from the rest of the trees. Namely because it was the only one in the entire park that was over a century old. All the others were just saplings compared to the maple tree. It's branches peaked out in all directions covering a vast area and allowing a cool spot for the mares to sit down and enjoy a meal together.

"I'll go wake up Rainbow Dash, if you can get Pinkie." Twilight said looking at Rarity.

"Of course, darling, not a problem." She said trotting ever gracefully towards the sounds of laughter.

Twilight spread her wings out and took to the skies lifting up gracefully to Rainbow Dash's level and nudged her gently.

"Wake up Dashie," she said in a motherly cooing voice.

"Ugh, five more minutes mom." Replied to sleeping pegasus.

Twilight took little time to develop a mischievous plan of pranking for Rainbow Dash and without warning she popped the cloud sending Rainbow Dash plummeting to the ground landing directly on her rump jolting her awake and bracing herself for a fight only to find a very cheerful Twilight giggling as she descended down to the ground.

"Haha, very funny Twilight." Said Rainbow Dash in a sore tone.

"Oh don't be like that Rainbow. It was just a friendly prank just like you do to us all the time. Now come on, Applejack as lunch ready." Twilight replied waving her pegasus friend on with one foreleg.

Grumbling and begrudgingly the pegasus followed Twilight still a bit cantankerous for being awoken so suddenly without warning, but these feelings blew away in the wind as soon as she saw the feast before her that Applejack brought. She was astounded she could fit so much food just into one little picnic basket.

Pinkie had already found her seat and was stuffing her face with the apple-based foods in front of her. Rarity was delicately and daintily eating an apple fritter trying to hold back the urge in her eyes to gorge herself. The food truly was delicious but Rarity could not allow her slender figure or her canterlot-like manners go to waste.

Applejack had just finished off an apple pie as Twilight and Rainbow Dash sat down ready to consume the delicious food in front of them.

"Help yourselves," said Applejack in between a mouthful of an apple turnover.

And with that said Twilight and Rainbow Dash both picked up an apple treat looking at each other and smiling before devouring the fruity pastries.

...........

Nazara paced back and forth in the hollow halls of the Canterlot dungeon stepping in the still wet and warm blood of the two guards he quickly dispatched. He looked up at the unicorn in the iron cage with a look of both anger and confusion.

"So, are you going to kill me like the guards or just stand there looking pissy." Snapped the unicorn behind bars.

The old vampire grimaced at him, "you would be wise to watch your tongue, lest I take it from your mouth."

"Ooh, scary." Retorted the unicorn in sarcasm.

Nazara sent a jolt of electricity through his body sending the pony into a world of unbelievable pain.

"Shut your damn mouth worm. Now, you say that Princess Luna is back. How do I know that's true?" Ask Nazara looking as impatient as ever.

"I'm suppose to shut my mouth and tell you if she's dead? How the fuck am I-" The unicorn jolted again in agony clenching his teeth hard enough to make his gums bleed.

"Quit wasting my time. If you tell me what I want to know, you get to go free." Said Nazara.

"And what if I don't want to tell you shit?" Spat the unicorn.

Nazara approached his cell closely nearly getting into full physical contact with the unicorn, "then I'll tear your skin off and wear it like a coat, how's that sound?"

The unicorn gulped not wanting to call his next actions a bluff.

"Okay, you win, I'd like to keep my skin. Luna came back about a year ago after some pony named Twi-Twilight, I think, managed to dispel Nightmare Moon from the princess." He said in a slightly fearful and shaking voice.

"Next question," Nazara said gruffly, "Where would I go about finding Soul Swallower's dissertation on Soul-Splitting?"

"How the fuck should I know?" Retorted the unicorn.

Nazara pointed his horn towards the unicorn and with the flash of a black bolt of lightning the unicorn stood without pain or injury. He quickly questioned what his torturer was doing but soon realized he was much more clever than he thought.

"Because, the only way you are still standing is because you lost part of your soul. If you had your soul still completely inside you it would have killed you instantly. You used the Soul-Split and fragmented part of it into that necklace you have." Nazara said with a slight smile

"How did you-" stuttered the unicorn.

"A spell I created myself called Soul Detect. I can detect anypony's soul that has fragmented from them. Granted it doesn't give me the location of the Soul Gem, but with some refinement I'm sure it could. It was just a lucky guess and intuition that the necklace you have is your Soul Gem." Said Nazara taking a deep breath, "tell me where the research notes are and you'll be free to go. The enchantment on this cage will be foals play for me to break."

........

Author's Note

Next time! Trixie and Twilight meet again!