Twilight Walkers

All throughout the Sisters' 'house', everything was scurrying, except for the the mouse. Pegasi were flying from wing to wing, delivering messages and reports. Guards patrolled in squads of four or five, and were comprised of all three pony races, each armed with spears. Part of a battalion was practicing in the fields of the Castle.

Around six in the morning Shining Armor arrived on the the Crystal Empire's Crystal Express, he quickly made his way to the throne room. Worry over the state of the moon caused him to move with a purpose, tonight it had shone crimson red. The vigilant guards had informed him that Celestia was currently under the weather so Shining began his walk towards her living quarters.

Outside Celesta’s chambers two guards stood watchful across the door. He approached them and with one look sized them up. His years spent as Captain of the guard instantly allowed him to size up the lead guard. One ‘Sunny Days.’

He frowned at their lack of discipline, it wasn’t anything major, however their stance and gear just spoke of unprofessionalism. It was the sort of thing only one that trained in seeing it would notice. Shining shook it off, he was a prince now, not their commander.

“Is Princess Celestia awake?”

“No prince,” came Sunny Days instant replay. The stallion was a bright orange, his red mane and tail had a light golden yellow stripe through it.

“Very well, let me in.”

To his amazement, two spears came down, blocking his path. “Sorry prince, our orders are that no one disturbs the princess.”

Shining Armor actually found himself impressed. Maybe they don’t lack for discipline after all? It took a lot of gumption to tell a prince — who used to be the Captain of the royal guard — no.

Around eleven, Shining Armor was fed up with the statuesque guards guarding Celestia. It no longer mattered that they were just doing their job, he had waited long enough and would not be denied. He marched over to them and looked Sunny Days straight in the eyes, “You’ve both done a great job, however if you don't get out of my way now, I’ll move you.”

It wasn’t what he said or the look, as much as the tone in his voice that caused the two guards to step aside. He spoke with all the experience of a commander that led troops in battle. It was the sort of command you simply obey without question.

Before he could open the doors, a brown stallion walked out of Celestia’s room with a white lab coat on. His green mane looked disheveled from being too long awake. “Prince Shining Armor I presume?”

“Doc, how is she?”

“Under the weather. It’s been years since Celestia has last been sick. I’ll tell you more about it but we must keep our voices down, she needs her rest.” With a flash of his horn the doctor enacted a small privacy barrier around them.

Ever since Celestia fell asleep, she had been tossing and turning from the same chilling nightmare. The nightmare was of a dark lavender alicorn with the wings of a thestral, one with blaring crimson eyes and pearly white fangs. This pony was attacking others she held dear. Among this sea of darkness and killing, one thing remained constant. Celestia watched this pony fly over and shoot spells at everypony she knew, everypony that is except Twilight Sparkle. For some unknown reason, that worried her more than anything else.

Luna had been aware of her sister’s nightmare when the moon reached its zenith. This was a first, Celestia never had nightmares when she was around. Luna immediately went to her sister’s side as soon as she realized that it wasn’t a nightmare at all, it was a premonition. She personally let the docs know that her sister was ‘sick’ and stayed by her side. She only let one in, one that could keep a secret. Eventually the early hour became too much for the princess of the night and she curled up asleep right beside her sister.

Despite the doctor’s best efforts with the sound barrier, Celestia found herself awakened by the shouting Shining Armor was doing. She slowly blinked sleep from her eyes and looked around. It did not surprise her to find her sister right by her side, not with the dreams she had that night.

Celestia ran a hoof through her sister’s ethereal mane. “Thank you, dear sister.” She knew that her only relief from those dreams had come from her sister.

As the shouting increased, Celestia had no choice but to get up. Something she did not relish as the pain shot through her head. “Ugh, will you too keep it down, you’ll wake the dead.”

Shining Armor and the doctor both turned around and looked at her. “I thought you put up a sound barrier!” he yelled at the doctor even louder.

“My specialty is medicine, not barriers!”

“Then why didn’t you let me put up the barrier!” Shining Armor screamed at the top of his lungs.

They both turned as the sun princess cleared her throat to get their attention. "Celestia, you're awake. What happened last night? Cadance felt something wrong, something fundamentally flawed, and then the moon..." Shining asked with no small amount of concern in his voice.

"Prince Shining Armor, your wife is correct. Something did happen last night, but my mind is still foggy," Celestia paused to give herself some time to clear her mind. With a less clouded mind, she noticed that Twilight was missing, and asked, "What time is it and where is your sister?"

“It’s close to noon, your majesty,” the doctor replied.

"I don't know. I haven’t seen her,” Shining Armor’s voice suddenly turned to worry when Celestia asked about Twilight. “What happened?”

"I thought so. Please alert the guard. What happened is a question that I only know part of the answer to. Something happened, something I dreamed about.” Celestia paused as she tried to remember the details. A thought suddenly occurred to her, “Who rose the sun?"

"Honestly, I don’t know. I imagine that if you didn’t do it, Luna raised the sun. The stars came out when they normally would have. What is the part you do not know? And what about my sister!?"

"Yes, you’re right. If I was unable, my sister would have. And if I knew the other part, it would be part of what I do know.” Celestia said matter-of-factly.

Shining wanted to bag his head against the floor, this was the one part he did not miss, Celestia’s mindgames. He shook it off, "Did you see what the color of the moon was, because it was far from white." Shining Armor asked.

"No, I didn't. What color was it?“

"It was crimson wasn't it, Prince Shining Armor?" Luna asked through the blanket, and sought to bury herself deeper into the large white pillow she was laying her head on. She had felt it last night, but she couldn’t bring herself to look.

"Yes, it was. Is there something special about that?"

Celestia gave Armor a blank, unreadable face, trying to decide whether to tell him or not. "...Yes, that is a problem. The crimson moon is only used in certain situations. None of them are pleasant. It's power is used by necromancers to raise armies of the dead. If the vampire ponies were still around, they could use that moon to kill alicorns."

"Like my sister. Did someone hurt Twilight?! Is she okay?! Where is she?!” Shining started panicking as his mind went to the worst case scenarios. “Is that why you were asking about my sister?!”

Celestia did her best to try and calm her former captain, “Prince Shining Armor, I have no reason to believe that Twilight is in mortal danger, although I do what to find her. The moon..." she trailed off, unsure if she should reveal these details with Shining in his current mindset.

“Celestia, tell me!” Shining growled the words. His years of guard training forgotten at the thought that Celestia was holding something back, something that might be putting his little sister in danger. The discipline of the royal guard vanished in the face of that threat.

“Celestia, he deserves to know the truth.” Luna raised her head from the covers.

“Very well Luna. Shining Armor, you know we are tired to the heavenly bodies that we symbolize correct?”

"Yes, I do, you are tied to the sun, and Luna to the moon. Just like Cadance is with the heart of others.”

Celestia just nodded at that, “Indeed.”

“Alight, did they talk to you two?”

“Well, no. The sun and moon were both silent last night. It seems to me that they were not helping nor hindering us. I think that they knew something we didn’t."

“This still doesn’t tell me what happened to Twilight!”

Just then two guards walked into the room, each of them with worried expressions on their faces. Celestia looked over, “What now?”

“Princess,” they sharply saluted. The pegasus continued, “There is a problem. Canterlot is in an uproar.”

“And I have a letter for you as well,” the unicorn softly spoke, knowing the uproar was more important.

Celestia's mind started working a mile a minute. Thinking quickly, she gave out orders to the pegasus. “Keep everypony calm. Do not let the panic spread. They’ll be worried about the moon last night.”

“Let me lead the search team for Twilight.” Shining Armor said.

“Shining, I know that you want to search for your sister, and we’ll get to that, but there is more going on than you realize.” She turned to the other guard, “I’m sorry for my former captain’s outspoken personality for his sister. You mentioned a letter?”

“Don’t be. Any family member would be quite worried for their family. Shining Armor especially. Yes, I did. It came through dragon flames, and was addressed to multiple rulers. I don’t know who sent it but I believe that this one is a summons.” He passed her the letter and got out of there as quickly as he could, just in case it was more bad news.

Outside, the two guards were standing wearily. They had heard some of the conversations and were worried for their princess, who they swore to protect from foreign and domestic effects. Stress had its own effects and the guards knew this. Here was Shining Armor stressed over his sister, Celestia, who looked to be shakened up by something, probably the city in chaos.

Celestia let go of a sigh she had been holding in. She got up from the bed, removing Luna's pillow, walking to the window with a slight fault in her step, passing by a huge pile of letters she got from a VERY worried dragon last night. She peered out, looking at the chaos of her city was in.

"Why is Canterlot in such chaos?"

"Princess?" asked the guards in the room, who did not catch her question.

“Nothing, it was rhetorical.”

“I’ll start looking for Twilight in Ponyville. Her friends should know something.” Shining was done asking for permission. He took it upon himself to find his sister.

"They are not in Ponyville and no one seems to know where they have gone," Luna responded. This was the wrong thing to say to Shining Armor at this time.

“How do you know?” Celestia and Shining Armor asked at the same time.

“I may have read a couple of the letters last night." Luna paused, receiving a raised eyebrow from her sister and a glare fro Shining Armor. "What? Don’t look at me like that, I was bored.” Luna replied as Celestia began to shift through the letters.

As Celestia shifted through the letters, from oldest to newest, the last letter received stood out. It said that the other elements were missing as well. They hadn't arrived back in town. "Alright, then do rumor and damage control, making sure to assure the other towns and cities that we are fine. Also, find my student and the other elements!" In Shining’s current state, Celestia knew that reasoning with him was no longer a possibility. It was best to simply give him what he wanted.

Shining Armor left to assemble his team to look for Twilight. The other two guards were patiently waiting. Each of their pair of wings was fidgeting a bit. Celestia waited a moment before speaking, “Are you two just going to be content to just stand there?”

“We were unsure of what you wanted us to do, now that you are mostly better,” Sunny Days said.

“For now, allow us to talk in private. We would like no other disturbance. I seem to have a ton of letters to at least read and respond to. My sister’s court will start late, since she will need to rest.”

“Yes ma’am.” The guards resumed their statuesque vigilance, guarding the two princesses from those that wish to disturb them.

“So, Luna, who has called for a meeting?” Celestia asked while spying her sister reading the letter in her magic.

“Someone we have not heard from in a while, but I don’t know if he has spoken to you during my banishment.”

“Mind if I read the letter?” Luna passed the letter to her sister since she had finished it. The letter read:

Dear Rulers of the lands of Equis,

We summon at least two representatives of each land to meet and discuss an issue that has arisen from Equestria, which threatens the balance. In the past year, the number of murders has risen in most of the other lands except in the Crystal Empire and Equestia. It is believed that Celestia didn’t destroy all of the knowledge pertaining to the spell of total resurrection and that someone is trying to learn those spells associated with it to attack. We will not stand to wait for the attack, but we must find whoever this necromancer is, especially since the crimson moon was seen last night. I call for the meeting to take place in one moon’s time, in the Crystal Empire.

Until then,

Drako, Prince of the Dragons

“Sunny Days?”

“Yes Princess?”

“Have another guard find Shining Armor and don’t allow him to leave right away. We need to speak to him.”

“Yes.” Sunny Days spotted Dim Eyes, a friend of Shining Armor and a thestral, one that he didn’t recognize approaching. “Hault.”

The two guards stopped and looked towards Sunny Days. “Yes?” Dim Eyes asked. He was a gray unicorn with a faded white mane and tail. He had an aura about him, one that spoke of a life that had seen too much.

“The Princesses wish not to be disturbed and I need a guard or two to find Prince Shining Armor.”

“Alright. Come on Dim, let’s head back to the barracks and find Shining Armor.” He laughed, “It was a pipe dream anyway. With everything going on, there is no way we could go on that camping trip in the Everfree Forest.”

Sunny Days blinked twice. “Did you say Everfree Forest, where Princess Celestia and Luna’s castle was located? What were you planning to do there?”

“Training exercises. Seems like a good place to put our skills to the test.”

“Then you might be in luck. Shining Armor is organizing a search team to look through the Everfree. Princess Twilight and the other elements seem to be missing.”

“Really? Maybe we can get in on that.” The two guards smiled and took off to the Barracks.

*                     *                      *                      *                      *

Shining Armor approached the barracks. There, most of the guards were just finishing their lunch while a few staggered in late, their training drills caused them to miss the afternoon meal. He smiled as he saw that those troops sitting had saved their comrades something to eat.

Good to see they’re still looking out for each other, Shining thought with a smile. It was always such a hard lesson to teach. As a member of the guard, you're a team, you live and die based on the actions of the others around you. So many tried to shine on their own. He always washed those out as soon as possible. Such attitudes will get you and everyone around you killed. Those ponies had no place in his guard.

Shining almost laughed as he realized he still considered it to be his guard. He must have laughed out loud without meaning to as every set of eyes turned to the former captain. A wave of silence spread out from him. The idle chatter of the guards died as they all looked at them. Some nodded, some looked fearful as memories of his drills came back fresh to their mind.

“Prince, what brings you here?” The nearest guard jumped to his hooves and sharply saluted. While technically Shining Armor was a prince of the Crystal Empire, their training would not permit them from responding any other way.

“My sister is missing,” when Shining said the words there was an audible gasp from every pony in the barracks. There was one golden rule from his time in the guard, one that everyone past, present, and future knew. You do not BUCK with Shining’s sister.

Nopony knew if it was true, but there is a legend that gets passed around the barracks, as all such legends are. It goes to say that one time, one foolish pony dared make one passing comment about Shining Armor’s sister. Depending on who tells the story you will get a different ending. The most popular one now is that Shining flayed him alive thirteen times, each time he would magically reattach the pony’s skin, just so he could do it again. It is said that Celestia even helped.

As with all such legends, they were built on some truth. Although Shining would never say just how much.

“I’m trying to gather a team to aid me in a search. Do I have any volunteers?” Most of the guards stood up, willing to help their former Captain. Shining armor was surprised that so many were willing to help, but that was too large of a group. He had to fight back his liquid pride. it would not do him any favors to show that here. “Wow, all of you would help?”

“I’ll take the best of the best. If you want to help join me in the training field.” He turned around, not looking to see how many would follow. There was no need, he knew that every one of them that stood up would follow, they’d follow him to the gates of Tartarus if he asked.

Shining led them to the practice field. He was looking for a group of seven between all the pegasi, the scattered thestrals, unicorns, and earth ponies. As they entered the field, they formed ranks. There had to be at least fifty there. Behind him, Shining heard an out of breathe unicorn and the flap of a pair of wings. The unicorn must have been trying to keep up with the pegasus. As he turned around , he was surprised to see a thestral and his friend, Dim Eyes.

“Dim Eyes, it is good to see you. I thought you’d be retired by now.”

“Even though I did, that doesn’t mean I stay inactive. This is Silver Eyes. Sunny Days recruited us to find you. The Princesses would like to speak with you.”

“That can wait,” there was a serious expression on his face when he said that. He did not want to speak to Celestia right now, he wanted to find his sister. “Will you be able to help me with a search?”

“We’re both looking forward to it. I also believe that two other thestrals will be joining us.”

“And I know two young guards that will be happy to as well.”

“Are they any good?”

“I vouch for them personally.”

That impressed Shining, anyone that had Dim Eye’s approval had to be good. “Thank you. Can you inform them that we will be leaving tonight and won’t return for a minimum of three days?”

“They’re already ready. We were planning to ask the Princesses for some time off to train in the Everfree. With everything going on, we figured what’s better training than the real thing? How many are you trying to recruit?”

“I want a crack team, small but efficient. No more than seven in total.”

“Before we agree, I have two questions. Where will we be searching and for what do we hunt?”

“The Everfree Forest.” Hearing that name caused a lot of the ponies present to become visibly shaken. The legends of the Everfree permeated in their minds, ESPECIALLY after a crimson moon. “All of you were listening, that surprises me.” He was saving that reveal for later. Those he took needed to have no fear. He figured this would get rid of a large amount.

Dim Eyes noticed their reaction and laughed. “That’s maybe the Lunar guard’s fault. Some of them were banished with Princess Luna and they returned with her. They have stories about the crimson moon, and have shared them. They now only share them on Nightmare’s Night, since it has scared many.”

“Will some of the lunar guard be joining us, besides the ones you volunteered?”

“Afraid not, prince. Very few of us do go out after a crimson moon. Only those Luna personally needs will be out. A few of the royal guard will fill in the holes.”

“Then it’s just us?”

“It seems so. Why don’t you get ready and we’ll make sure our troops are ready.”

“Alright, alright. So we good on the plan?”

“Before you all go off, may we help?” asked two relatively new recruits from the formation. Dim Eyes eyed them. They weren’t the most disciplined, probably new recruits. If that is true then they will have no training with being in the Everfree so that makes them a liability, he wanted Shining Armor to make the call though..

“Shining, what’s your judgement on these two?”

Shining Armor sized them up in three seconds. “They’re two new recruits that are glory seekers and don’t belong on this mission. You two aren't going, you’re a major liability. We’ll be going into the Everfree. There are many poisonous plants that will kill you before you take three breaths. There are animals that will eat you whole. There is no way I’m letting two glory seekers jeopardize this mission.”

The two pegasi ruffled their wings, wanting to challenge Shining Armor. He didn’t have the authority to lead this mission nor decide. “You don’t have the authority to lead this mission. You also have a civilian with you.”

All those present gasped at that. Shining reared back. Standing at his full height he managed to look down at both of them. “What did you say?” His voice was monotone.

There was an old saying in the guard: Watch what you walk into, your commanders will give you just enough rope to hang yourself with.

“I said, with all due respect. You don't have the authority to lead this mission.” The pegasus meant his gaze muzzle to muzzle.

“Do you know who I am?” Shining asked. That one question carried more weight with it then the entire city of Canterlot.

“Prince Shining Armor of the Crystal Empire. Married to princess Mi Amore Cadenza, otherwise known as Princess Cadance.” Somehow the pegasus kept his nerve.

“Do you know what I did before that?”

“You were Captain of the Royal Guard.” His voice betrayed none of the fear his knees were starting to show. His partner looked ready to faint.

“Do you know who we’re going after?”

“Your sister, Princess Twilight Sparkle.”

“And it is your judgment, that I, Prince Shining Armor of the Crystal Empire, former Captain of Celestia’s Royal Guard. Big brother of Princess Twilight Sparkle. That I am somehow not qualified to lead a rescue mission into the Everfree Forest to find her? Is that what you’re trying to tell me?”

All four of the pegasus's legs were shaking, he was visibly sweating, yet somehow he managed to keep all that from his voice. “Yes prince, you fall outside our chain of command, therefore you cannot lead such a mission.”

“Is that so.” Shining stared him down, looking directly into his eyes, through the iris, into his very soul, as if to spot every single imperfection and call him out on it.

“Dim Eyes!” Shining yelled out.

“Yes.” the unicorn was smiling now.

“Think we got room for two more recruits? We need somepony to serve as bait incase the forest gets hungry.” It would technically give them eight, but it was better to have more than less.

“I think we can manage.” Dim Eyes smiled.

“Good, anypony else want to come?!” Shining shouted at the group assembled. No one volunteered, not after that display. “The rest of you are dismissed.”

They all left for the barracks after that.

Shining turned and walked to his old friend. “Alright, lets recap, we got: Silver Eyes, a high ranking thestral guard for Princess Luna, two unnamed thestrals that both Dim Eyes and Silver Eyes approve of, two other unicorn guards that Dim Eyes vouches for, and two glory seeking pegasi, whose names were….”

“Redwing,” spoke the first. She was larger for a pegasus mare. Her coat was tan and she had a light orange mane and tale. She had an odd cutie mark for a guard, a red t-shirt, and her wings were a darker shade of red.

“Winter Arc.” Winter was a sky blue pegasus. Her mane and tail were snow white and had a lighter blue streak through them. Her cutie mark was of lightning arcing between two cumulus clouds.

Winter eyed the thestral that Dim Eyes seemed to trust. He was fairly large, but not bulky in any way. His broad wings covered his cutie mark, which unnerved her. Those same broad wings looked thin, like he could turn as sharp as a cyan blue mare she had heard about. “You haven’t said much, shouldn’t you at least tell us your name, and rank.”

“Only the foolish speak when they have nothing to say, Winter Arc.” The look of dejection on her face made him pause. He sighted, “My name is Silver Eyes. I was the second in command of the fifth division of Princess Luna’s troops, before she was corrupted. My General called himself ‘Walker,’ but I personally knew him by his actual name, and he has longed passed by now. I’m certain.”

“Silver, who was he, because I’ve never seen his name in any of the history books, even those that Princess Celestia has the only copies of.” Dim Eyes looked towards the thestral.

“He actually didn’t talk much and mostly was awake when the moon could clearly be seen. He was a tactical mastermind, like with experience of hundreds of different battles, he could disappear better than a unicorn that could teleport.”

“When did he join, because I’ve never seen him,” Shining Armor asked.

“He actually didn’t directly join. He was more of an adviser I would say. He keeps to the night, only coming out when Luna herself commands it. Luna had him train a group of thestrals, myself included.

“Let us not dwell on the past, since we have a very important mission to do,” Silver Eyes spoke.

“Yes, you are right.” Shining agreed, but before he could say more, Dim Eyes commented about something that bothered him with the mission:

“I wish you’d let me handle this one Shining. You’re too close to this and you know it.”

Rage started building up in Shining’s chest. “I’d go to the gates of Tartarus for my sister. There is no way I am NOT leading this mission.”

“Prince Shining Armor!” A voice called out from above. Shining Armor looked up and saw the form of Princess Luna flying down from above.

“Princess Luna, there is nothing more to discuss.” Shining’s temper returned in a big way.

“I’m afraid there is, Prince. We just received some news.”

“I don't really give a buck right now.”

“Shining Armor.”

He stopped and turned to face the princess. As an alicorn, Luna was an imposing figure, taller than him, and far, far more powerful. Shining did not care about any of that right now, the only thing on his mind was to save his sister.

The rage he felt after finding out about some of Celestia’s ‘tasks’ back in the day came back ten-fold. “What part of I don’t give a buck right now do you not understand?”

Everyone in the courtyard took several steps back, no pony talked to Luna that way, not even her sister.

“Prince Shining Armor, you and your WIFE have been summoned to a meeting of all the rulers of the land, at the request of Drako, PRINCE OF DRAGONS.”

“You’re making that up.” It was too unreal to be true.

“We got the request in the palace. Apparently he wants to have the meeting in the Crystal Empire. So are you going to let your wife and your kingdom down or are you going to do your royal duty? Your pick, prince.”

Shining started steaming, he wanted to rage against this. He wanted to go anyway, buck the dragon prince. He… he… he… he didn’t have a choice. He couldn’t leave his wife alone, not at a time like this.

Dim Eyes saw the change in him, he knew what would happen without Shining having to say anything. “Hey, I’ll find her. I swear it on my life.”

Shining placed a hoof on his shoulder. He didn’t say it, but he didn’t need to. That one gesture said more than words ever could.

I’m trusting you to bring my sister home safely.

The tension in the courtyard was a lot less once Shining Armor departed.

Using what free time they could, the troops that were going took this opportunity to get to know each other. It’s always useful to know the pony who has your life in their hooves after all.

In the backdrop of a waxing gibbous moon barely above the sky, four unicorns, three thestrals, two pegasi, and two alicorns stood the gates out of Canterlot. Their packs were packed, space was maximized, and what wasn’t needed was left. They didn’t need to be carrying dead weight.

“So, Shining Armor, this is the team that you trust with the return of your sister?” asked the Lunar Princess.

“It is, your majesty. Dim Eyes I’ve know for some time. Silver Eyes is a friend of Dim and has his approval. The thestrals of your guard, I know are just as had working as Celestia’s guard, and they don’t look like they just joined. The two unicorns, Dim Eyes also vouches for, but I only recognize . The two pegasi are new, Silver will be keeping an eye on them.”

“Silver Eyes, once my second most trusted leader in my army, but was always out ranked by the four generals, now the Captain of my guard.” Luna nodded in approval, Shining chose well. “Break a wing.”

“Princess Luna, why would you say that. We’re all sure to make it back in one piece,” replied the pegasi.

“Luna, that saying has changed. It worked for your thestral guard, but here, there are unicorns and earth ponies. The saying is now is break a hoof,” Celestia informed her sister.

“Shining Armor, are you sure in taking two fresh recruits out on such a dangerous mission?”

“If he had the choice, they would not be joining us. Without them, we have only six trying to search quite a wide area. When we do arrive, Silver and I will be working together searching, but also keeping an eye on them. We will remain in viewing distance of each other. They can provide a lot and are completely willing to take the risks. They also know that we are not responsible for stupidity,” Dim Eyes responded.

“Then be careful, my little ponies. There are creatures and plants in that forest that will be glad to have a live meal. Please, let all of you return. As my sister said, break a wing.” Luna and Shining Armor moved to the side to talk in private and to allow Celestia to say her farewells.

“Before you go, take these.” In Celestia’s golden magic was a set of communicators and another item. “Some unicorn inventors were working on the communicators. They are from the middle stages of testing and need a field test. Princess Twilight had figured out a design for these instant messengers, since letters take valuable time to send, and to send by dragon fire, you need a very young drake, or a phoenix feather, which only works once and is one way. They are based off a technology she had seen and a book I gave to another student of mine.

“The second item is a flare gun. The guard of Ponyville will recognize it and it’s citizens are quick to respond when its over the Everfree Forest.” Dim Eyes and Silver both thanked Princess Celestia it was risky to put their trust in untested items, but for where they were going they would need all the help they could get.. When they were all about to take flight, a golden aura surrounded them. In a flash they were gone, standing at the entrance to the Everfree. Such a spell took a lot out of the alicorn, but it when every second mattered, it was worth it.

*                          *                                  *                                  *                                     *                                  *

Deep within the castle in the everfree, a bright lavender flash had scattered the creatures nearby. From the bright flash, five mares landed on the ground. The cyan colored one landed in the middle of the pile of four, luckily on her chest. Unfortunately, a strong, earth pony mare landed on her injured wing. The pain that shot through her caused her back hooves to instinctively buck at   the weight on her wing. They succeeded, but also hit an ivory white unicorn in the horn, knocking her into some glowing blue bushes. This was far from the pleasant landing they were expecting.

“Let’s do that again,” chanted the pink earth pony, who had landed on her hooves to the left the pile.

“No way!” groaned the injured pegasus as she got off her shy friend.

“Rain...Rainbow. Please don’t move your wing. It needs to be braced.”

“It’s okay. It doesn’t hurt that much,” Rainbow lied. She moved her wing and almost screamed at the pain that shot though, but held it it.

“Rainbow, stop lying to yerself and Fluttershy about yer wing. You know it’s broken. We don’t have the medical supplies, but we can brace your wing. So sit yer tail down and allow Fluttershy to brace it.”

Rainbow looked towards her. She wanted to deny she was right, but the wing really was hurt. She succumbed and allowed Fluttershy to brace her wing. As Fluttershy finished, Applejack asked, “What happened with Rare’s?”

“I knocked her into the debris behind us when you landed on me.”

An irated white unicorn ruffled the rocks as she rejoined her friends. Across her, there were very minor cuts from the sharp ends. “Yes, and when you did, you hit me in the horn and knocked me head first into a bolder! That hurt like crazy. Fluttershy, do you have anything for the terrible migraine I am getting?”

“Um… yes, I do. Here.” Fluttershy reached into the medical kit she had brought for their mission and passed Rarity a pill for her migraine. The pill, unfortunately, had a reaction. It put her to sleep.

“Fluttershy, was that supposed to happen?”

“Um..it was a mentioned side effect for unicorns, but where are we? And where is Twilight?”

“Ah have no clue to the second one. Ah do believe we’re in the ruins of the Castle of the Two Pony Sisters.” Fluttershy was shaking at Applejack’s answer; Rainbow Dash held a brave facade, but her wings were twitching, and Pinkie Pie was bouncing. “But Ah do know this, we’re vulnerable. Lets find shelter and a place to rest. We’re going to need it, because we have to find out what happened to Twilight.. The problem is only two of us can look for her as one of us need to stay behind to look over Rares and RD. I know that she’s important, but we have injuries. Plus Spike would’ve sent a stack of letters a mile high when Twilight doesn’t come home.”

“But we shouldn’t be sitting here doing nothing. Twilight is still in danger.” Rainbow groaned. She didn’t like to be still when her friends were endanger. It was bad enough with that cloud, but twice. If her wing didn’t hurt so much, she would be out there looking, alone with Pinkie Pie and Applejack, but then Fluttershy would be alone.

“RD, Ah know what you’d rather be doing, but why don’t we get the facts straight. Your wing is most likely sprained, you usin’ it will make it worse, and Rarity is out cold. Twilight is strong. She’ll walk to Tartarus and back for us. That manicore has no chance. The only thing Ah wish Ah knew was why Flutters had Twilight transport us and why she’s not here.”

“Um...speaking of facts, there was a reason. The larger manicore wasn’t attacking the smaller in the sense we would. It was a fight for dominance, and um they….” Fluttershy trailed off, trying to hide herself and her rosy blush in her mane. She partially succeeded, her blush went unnoticed.

“Fluttershy, that didn’t look like a fight for dominance. It looked like the larger was trying to kill the smaller one. How bad is RD’s wing?” Applejack said.

“It could have been worse. She’ll be fine if she doesn’t fly and gets to a doctor,” replied Fluttershy

“No way I’m letting some doctor poke and prod me at the hospital.”

“Then allow them to take an x-ray. RD. We don’t fully know the extent. You also don’t want to hurt yerself more,” Applejack

“True.” Rainbow patiently waited for Fluttershy to finish bandaging her wings. Applejack is right. I definenty don’t want to ruin my chances for the Wonderbolts. For Rainbow the thought of having done serious damage to her wings and ruining her future was conflicting with her desire to save her friend.. Twilight could be anywhere and in who knows how much danger as well.

Rainbow had fidgeted her wing a couple of times, which annoyed Fluttershy. Once Fluttershy was done, she offered Rainbow the same kind of pill Rarity had received. At first, she refused, but the more she moved the worse the pain felt. Rainbow eventually swallowed her pride and the pill. It did to the restless mare what it did to Rarity. She was out like a light..

A cave overlooking the everfree

noon

In the darkness of the cave, a vampire contemplated whether he had made the right choice. A lesson from his past came back to the forefront of his mind.

Long years before, a unicorn had searched for him.   It was back when both Celestia were a bit older, but still relatively young. There was no Equestria yet, the tribes had quarrels with each other still, and Discord was just starting his reign. It was a different time, a time as foreign to modern ponies as the thought of living without Celestia’s guiding hoof. Everything from the clothes they wore to their contrasting accents

The forest and the caves were his home from home for now. One night, among the trees, he had spotted a unicorn wandering through his home. He looked tasty and the vampire almost drank from him, but something about him peaked his interest. The unicorn seemed to be looking for something. Curious, the vampire decided to let him live, for now. He simply watched the unicorn as he came unbidden into his home day after day.

After the sixth day, the vampire decided to give the unicorn the courtesy of meeting his devorer. To the vampire, he was greedy and self-centered, but it seemed the unicorn had a reason for wandering into his home each afternoon, never once staying past the setting sun. The day the vampire decided to satisfy his thirst, the unicorn didn’t show up until late that evening. He stood on the edge, waiting it seemed. The vampire let him wait, for such a creature, time was an eternal ally. When the moon reached its zenith, the unicorn took his last step into the vampire’s home. He landed right in front of him, scaring him as white as a ghost. With a sinister grin, the vampire asked, “What brings thee so close to my home?”

“I… I come looking for thy, good sir,” the unicorn was terrified, yet he did not run. It was then the vampire noticed what had enticed him into action that night, the smell of death was upon the unicorn, for he was carrying his dying wife.

“Do you know who I am?”

“Not really. A dirt walker said that somepony lived here that could give the blessing of eternal life.” Unicorns were by their nature tenacious, a holier-than-thou attitude bread into them from birth. Even with his fear, it was still present.

“This ‘dirt walker’, as thee call her has a name. Why don’t you describe her, or thee would be with thy wife again.”

“I could be with my wife again?!?” For a brief moment, his mind thought of what the figure in front of him had said. ‘He’ could be with his wife.

“Yes, you can, in the afterlife.”

The unicorn was quick to block the vampire’s strike, but the vampire wasn’t aiming for him. When the dust settled, the unicorn was still breathing, but his wife was pinned, her neck directly below his chins. “Next time, listen to her warnings. The only thing eternal is death. Why should I take her away from that?”

The unicorn thought for a minute. The mare, who he must know, had also warned him that he held the cards. He can wait for you, but you cannot wait for him. “Please, please save her, I’ve never known someone so kind, so caring in all my life. The world would be a poorer place without her in it. I… I don’t care what happens to me, take my life to feed your thirst, just, save her, please.”

“Thy speak sooth, but thy are not worthy of the death I could give you. Will thy still ask me of this?”

“Aye. I don’t care what happens, just save her.”

The words gave the vampire pause, he did not know why, but they seemed to becoming from the past as well as the present. As if they mirrored a conversation he had long since buried. It was less the words, and more the conviction in his voice, the desperation, the sensarty of someone that was willing to give everything for the one they loved, even their life. “Then I rede thee one final warning. Vampirism will change her. She may no longer be the mare thy loved. Consider my warning carefully before you ask this of me, again. ”

“Anything to restore my beloved to me.”

“Thy know not what you ask, doing so brings with it more heartache than thy can imagine, and risks to myself. Why should I take those risks to save thine beloved wife?”

“Prithee! Thou art my last hope. Nigh everypony I have gone to refused.” As the unicorn gave his final response, the vampire made his own choice. Even after my warnings, he did not falter, nor did he hesitate. He was determined and would not be dissuaded from this course of action. Based on the smell of death looming over the mare, the vampire knew she did not have long. Reluctantly, the vampire gave into the side of him that still felt empathy.

Against his better judgment, knowing it was a mistake, he granted the unicorn’s request.

And he was right.

A couple nights had past when the vampire met the mare he saved again. It was with true sorrow in his heart that he took her head from her shoulders and then burned her in the noon sun. That night, he travelled to the village and saw all the destruction. It seemed that despite his insistence, the unicorn stallion hadn’t heeded the most important warning: “Do not let her feed from you.”

“This time shall be different. I won’t make the same mistakes again.” Gaius said the words, trying to convince himself more than anyone else.

*                          *                                  *                                  *                                     *                                  *

After a bright flash outside Ponyville, the eight guards all looked on at the infamous Everfree Forest. Four of the guards were shaking in their armor. The Everfree was dark and uninviting, winding plants wrapped around towering trees.

“So this is the Everfree Forest?” asked one of the thestral guards.

“Yes it is.”

“Have you been here before?”

“This will be the second time I’ve had to travel the forest,” Silver Eyes answered.

“Before we venture into this Forest, why don’t we each introduce ourselves? We are going to trust each other with our lives.”

“Good point, Winter Arc. I’ll lead. For those that do not know me, I’m Dim Eyes. I’ve worked in the guard for about thirty years now and known Shining Armor for fifteen. I did recently retire, but only because my values have changed. These two are Bronze Sword and Armored Spear.” Bronze Sword was a bronze unicorn with a silver mane and tail. Armored Spear had a light grey coat and a white mane and tail.

Silver Eyes was the next to speak. Before he did, he gave all present a pleasant, inviting smile, if his fangs were not showing. They weren’t too long, but could grip a pony, if he had to. “Silver Eyes. I’m currently Luna’s private guard captain. I’ve been serving Luna for about twenty years now. I don’t plan to retire anytime soon, though.”

“These two are Ruby Eyes and Night Wind.”

“Call me Night.” The grey stallion thestral with a black mane and tail lifted his hoof to shake the others.

“I’m Ruby.” Ruby was a mare. Her eyes shone like jewels. She too was grey with a black mane and tail.

“Are you two brother and sister?”

“No, most thestrals have a grey coat with black mane and tail. Its a genetic trait. Our eyes on the other hand are a different story, but that’s a story for later. The pegasi?”

“Redwing”

“Winter Arc, but I prefer Winter.”

“It’s good to meet all of you. Maybe when we’re done, I could show you some places to go in Canterlot,” Night offered.

“Keep your wings on your back, Night. So Dim and Silver, what are our groups?”

“We’ll be going in three groups. Winter, Ruby, and Bronze Sword, you will compose the first group. Redwing, Night, and Armored Spear, you’re the second group. Silver and I will be the third, but will be watching out. We’re going to do a grid search. One in the air, two on the ground. Redwing and Night, since you both have the strength, you’ll be on the ground. If you meet trouble, fly out. Ruby and Winter, watch from above, but remain in visual range of each other.”

“We’re going to check to the Castle of the Two Pony Sister’s first,” Silver informed.

“Shouldn’t we check with the guard?”

“They still haven’t seen them,” said a young voice from behind them. The group turned their heads towards a young purple dragon that was walking towards them.

“Spike, I presume?” Dim Eyes asked. “What are you doing coming all this way?”

“I’m going with you. I’ve been with Twilight only a few less years than Shining Armor and I am not going to let the Everfree Forest have her. I am coming with you.”

“No you are not, Spike. You’re too young. Plus we actually have job for you. Three foals who have a knack for destruction? They need to be watched along with all the pets. We don’t know how long they will be missing. Do you think you could accomplish this task?” Dim Eyes looked towards Spike. Shining Armor had warned him that the young dragon might try and tag along and left him with just what to say if that were to happen.

“You're just saying that so I don’t go with you. I’m going and that is final. There is nothing you can say to stop me.”

“We may not, but the princess can.” Very carefully, Dim Eyes used his magic to activate the communicator and called for Princess Celestia. At first all they heard was static and when Dim Eyes provided more magic, the connection established.

Spike was surprised when he heard Princess Celestia say, “Dim Eyes and Silver Eyes. I was not expecting to hear from you so soon. Do you bring news?”

“No, princess. We’re about to begin when Spike ran into us. He knew exactly what we were doing and demanded that we allow him to tag along.”

“What’s the problem in that?” Celestia asked and Dim Eyes groaned under his breathe.

“That I will not willingly endanger the dragon of Princess Twilight Sparkle. Also, what about Scootaloo, Applebloom, and Sweetie Belle and all their pets?”

“Spike, how would Rarity, or Sweetie Belle feel that you left them alone and didn’t take care of them in their big sisters’ absence?. How would Twilight feel if you neglected your library duties, that you neglected the pets of her friends?”

“I… I… they would all feel sad, but what about doing nothing to help them?”

“Spike, you are not doing nothing. You had contacted me. You are taking care of their pets while they’re away. You’re making sure that the crusaders don’t severely injure themselves.”

“Everypony, or in this case, drake, has a purpose. When you send out a search team, there is a base camp, and someone manning that camp.”

“Alright princess, I’ll stay.” Spike began his trek towards Fluttershy’s house, wary of the states of the animals that live there.

“Now Dim Eyes, I need to speak to Silver Eyes, privately, while I can. “ Dim Eyes passed the communicator to Silver and led the others away.

“Are they out?”

“Yes, princess, but I ask why the secrecy?”

“Because there are members of my guard that I do not trust. When Luna fell, her army didn’t. They fought on. The only reason that they didn’t take control, nor survive, is for two reasons. The first was sending your captain away on a secret mission. The second was a letter he sent home.

“I sent my army ahead of me, while I evacuated the castle. They made it to the tale end of the battle. During the evacuation, the Everfree sprung up, fueled by chaos magic. The source was the chaos the battle caused. We had to retreat.

“At the battle site, my guard met a gruesome scene they weren’t prepared for. They assumed that they were the enemy and completely ignored the insigna identifying them as allies. After that, the general used an old power, that has now been removed, to attack your captain’s homeland. He stole a weapon I only intended to use if your captain’s guard did not defeat Nightmare Moon’s army.”

“After that battle, those generals launched a major campaign and they committed genocide. Both have been buried, but three pegasi did survive. Two stallions and a mare. The descendants of those three still live today. Of them, there is a trait I do not want spreading. If that trait falls into the wrong hoof, then the world of Equis is lost.”

“How?”

“Your captain knows. Now, go to the Castle of the Two Sisters. I believe that they are there. Silver Eyes, lead your friends and look for Twilight if she is not with the others. Don't let my guards join you."

"Why?"

"I fear for their safety."

"What could possibly harm a group of eight prestigious guards?"

"Many things can. The one I'm worried about is from your true time, Crimson Eyes"

"How do you know that name?" he hissed.

"Cutie marks don't change, no matter how powerful and/or complex the spells are or woven together."

"So true, but most don't know, so please call me Silver. I want to forget that deadly past," he said looking towards the ground.

Silver Eyes walked up to the opening to the Everfree Forest, where five guards clad in golden armor and two others clad in a light silver stood. Each was carrying a backpack with supplies and a medical kit. Each of them held a weapon of some sort. One of the lunar guards was carrying Silver’s: A silver spear. Redwing hesitantly asked, "Are we sure we want to do this?"

"Come on, what you afraid of?" jested Armored Spear and Night Wind, who did care for nor believed in Silver Eyes’ stories of the fifth division and the generals of the other four. He didn’t believe in his story of vampire ponies.

"There are plenty of things to be afraid of. There are large, carnivorous, pony eating plants. Not to mention all of the other carnivorous animals," responded the timid guard.

"Oh. What's worse than those?”

"What's worse you ask? A vampire pony."

"No, that's not the worst thing. The worst thing would be two hungry vampire ponies, one of which was a recently turned who just woke up," Ruby Eyes responded. Legends of old came back to mind, but they were just legends, right?

"Yeah, that would be bad, but they are just legends. There's absolutely no way we would run into those." Armored Spear and Night Wind heartily laughed at her uncertain face, who was looking to leave very soon before she embarrassed herself. The other guards half-heartedly joined as well, while the oldest guard, Silver Eyes, shaked his head knowing that it was possible and likely.

*                          *                                  *                                  *                                     *                                  *

Night of the manticore's attack

In the starless sky, a Waxing Gibbous was visible. I laid her down near me so she would not get too cold during this late December day and so that I could awake before her. Before I turned in, I casted a tremendous illusionary spell to prevent anyone from seeing us. During his sleep, Twilight’s savior contemplated his actions. He had just destroyed the normal life of Princess Twilight Sparkle. He went against his own boundaries.

‘If I’m not loyal to myself, then who am I loyal to? Should I have done what I did? She was scared, but I believe she knew what was going on. I hope she forgives me. Not many would like the cursed blessing, but at least she lives, in a sense.’

"Hello, my Crimson Pellegrino. I see that you have gone against yourself."

"Ah, hello, you seem to have caught me awake. What is the pleasure I owe for your visit, Silver Selene? Also, haven't I told you not to call me that."

"You have, but it's my name for you. I always give a name to them. You ate one of my roses. They do not grow often and always have a price."

"In the past I have always paid your price, what makes today any different?"

"Because it is not you who is paying as well. It is the sleeping Twilight who has to pay." Silver Selene left, evaporating into mist.

Once she was gone, I put the final touches on the illusionary spell. Only Princess Luna directly looking might be able to see past the illusion. Any of the guard would just the blank face of a rock and walk right past where we were staying. For three days, during the night, I would wonder, during the day I would sleep. During the first night after the transformation, I caught the conversation of eight guards who were going to be searching. I had laughed a little, catching the lunar guard's response. I think I even recognized him as Crimson Eyes.

On the third night, I awoke early, catching the full moon rising. It had just barely gone above the horizon, while the sun had already set. From my bag, I grabbed a large bowl of a carpenter. Setting the bowl deeper in the cave, in front of a running river, I filled it with a clear liquid, not allowing it to react with the atmosphere. I made my way back to the sleeping princess just in time to see as the twilight shown against her purple fur as it filtered in from the moon.

*                          *                                  *                                  *                                     *                                  *

Deep in the Everfree, near the guard’s camp

The guards had a tiring two days of searching. On the first day, they had found the a female manticore, which they quickly got away from as fast as they could. On the second day, they had found the hoof marks of five different ponies leading to a river, it was a dead end end. Looking to either side, the hoof marks could either go upstream towards a cave or downstream.

Silver and Dim Eyes contemplated what they would do. On one hoof, they all could go one direction. On the other hoof they could split up. Redwing and Winter had proven their worth. They weren’t the glory seekers they were supposed to be. But Silver also couldn’t just go with the thestrals. It would be too unbalanced.

“Winter and Night, will you two fly down stream and report back?”

“You got it captain.” The thestral and pegasus pair took off. They had gone about three hundred feet before they dived to the ground. Before them were five mares. Two pegasi, two earth ponies, one who was stirring, and a unicorn. The earth pony was pink, had a straight mane and tail. Her cutie mark was of three balloons.

After asking the less than happy pink mare, the guards turned around, knowing where they would be and not making the connection of her being Pinkie Pie. Pinkie Pie who was an overjoyous bouncing mare who could brighten the darkest day. Before the guards lept into the air, Pinkie Pie placed two slips of paper in their manes so that they wouldn’t fall out.

Once the pair returned, Dim Eyes asked, “Anything to report?”

“Not really. We found a camp of five mares who seem to be doing just fine and we can check on them in the morning.” Night reported

“Can you describe these mares?” Silver asked, doubting this was nothing.

“Yes. There were two pegasi, one was looking the other way, annoyed, in a blue and gold sleeping bag, while the other had animals surrounding her. A unicorn was sleeping on three mats in a sleeping bag that had a pattern of groups of three diamonds. The earth pony mare had a straight mane and tail and a cutie mark of three balloons. The final mare was another earth pony. Her bag had groups of three apples and looked worn, but durable.”

The two gave curious looks towards the others. If the others were Discord, their eyes would have rolled all the way back to Canterlot blinking at Celestia, Luna, and Shining Armor. If they were Pinkie Pie’s, their jaws would have jumped off and landed in the deepest depth of Tartarus.

“Silver Eyes, do you mind punching me with your full strength?”

Silver responded with a “Eeyup” to rival Big Macintosh’s. Dim Eyes decided to bang his head on one of the trees, while the others faced-hoofed. Ruby was the one to notice the slips of paper in their manes.

“Hey Silver, what are those slips of paper doing in their manes?” Ruby grabbed hold of the pink pieces of paper and passed them to Silver

“With the luck they are having, Pinkie Pie placed them there. They read:”

Winter Arc is blinder than a bat who couldn’t hear when it comes to connecting details. The thestral was so unobservant that if she walked into a colony of poisonous vipers, she would be dead. Or so blind that she could walk into the waiting mouth of a carnivorous, hungry, vampire pony.

The last adjective was unread and Silver had torn it up.

“You mean to tell us that the pink pony with the straightest mane I have ever seen was Pinkie Pie, the mare whose curls take a steamroller to straighten?”

“Eeyup.”

“Well that’s only one,” she said trying to defend.

“Blue and Gold, wonderbolts: Rainbow Dash; pegasus with animals: Fluttershy; dependable earth pony mare and three apples: Applejack; unicorn who can’t stand almost any dirt and three diamonds: Rarity.”

“Then that just means Twilight right?”

“Yes, you said that they were safe?”

“Yes.”

“Dim Eyes, you know a few healing spells for minor injuries?”

“No, I don’t, but surprisingly, Armored Spear does.”

“Armored Spear, Bronze Sword, and Winter Arc, go to the elements and lead them out of the forest.”

“Yes sir.” They left, while the others looked upstream to the darkening storm clouds above the rock formation. The clouds arced with lightning while thunder boomed overhead. Howling winds poured from them. Rain began to pelt the rock formation. The guards set off to a brisk pace and soon came upon the cave’s entrance. They slowly entered the cave ready for anything and drenched to the bone. The entrance was a bit small, but the stallions managed to fit through. They followed the river deeper into the cavern, one that was getting smaller. Just as the cavern became too small for the largest stallion not to stand, it opened up. In the middle, they spotted a bowl. A bowl of a carpenter from its wooden nature.

*                          *                                  *                                  *                                     *                                  *

Twilight's eyes had fluttered open and looked around for any sign of her friends or where she was. For the moment, she ignored her growling stomach and the dry feeling in her throat. Around her, all she could see was the plain rocks of a cave, there was no sign of the Everfree Forest nor the town of Ponyville.

Twilight quickly put the pieces together, So then he did save me. But what will the cost be?

The dry feeling in her throat quickly prioritized itself. Her eyes traveled deeper into the cave where she saw the sparkle of a lake. It took some time for her to get there since her nose was trying to lead her the other way. As she approached the lake another she noticed another odd sound. The sound was a thump thump, thump thump. She reached the pond and greedily drank some of the water. The water only had a minimal effect on her thirst, no matter how much she drunk. The thump thump drummed in her ears, almost hypnotically. It was coming from the same direction her nose was trying to lead her.

Sticking to the shadows of cave she approached the location of the noise. Now where in Tartarus is that thestral alicorn I saw. I have word or two to say to him. But I first should probably find some nourishment. The lavender alicorn approached silently. From her point in the opening, she found where the noises were coming from. There were five royal guards sitting around an oddly smelling bowl.

They found me! They’ll make a great fresh snack. Twilight paused at that. Snack? No, they’re strong well toned seasoned guards. With fresh blood running through their veins… This line of thought caused her tongue to roll across her mouth as her hunger returned tenfold. The sight of a fresh meal, having just awoken from the transformation, was as alluring as catnip was to a cat. She looked towards each of them. The red-winged one had drawn her attention, but also the grey unicorn. Her eyes also found the bowl.

The contents of bowl definitely had her attention, but the prospect of a fresh kill was far, far more alluring. As she moved into position, something caught her eyes. On the ledge across from her, there was the thestral. His eyes were darting between her and the group below. Twilight could just barely make out his fangs though the illusion around him. Despite her hunger, Twilight’s inquisitive nature took over, she waited to see what he would do.

*                     *                                  *                                  *                                  *          *

The wings of the pegasus and thestrals all ruffled in unease. “Silver and Dim Eyes? Do you feel two pairs of eyes on us?” Ruby asked timidly.

“I’m not sure, but I have a bad feeling that we’ve stumbled upon an ambush waiting to happen. What about you, Silver?”

“I’d rather not say, but… that bowl is worrisome.” Redwing walked up to the bowl. She could not explain why but something really bothered her about it. When she took a sniff she quickly realized the reason. It was full of blood. Disgusted, she kicked the bowl off into the corner. unfortunately some of it splashed on Dim Eyes, who looked ready to tear her a new one for that.

“Silver Eyes, the bowl had blood in it. Is that a major problem?”

“That may be an understatement.” Silver flew over to them, spotting something out of place, a tail. Ashe got there he spotted something worse, sitting on the ledge.

“Could this day get any worse?”

“Why’d you have to say that? It can always get worse.”

With the blood spilt on the pony, the choice was made for the watching lavender alicorn. She could no more resist the draw of the blood than resist the urge to breathe. Concentrating, she casted two spells simultaneously. The first a glamor spell that not even Princess Luna could see past, the second spell was on the guards below.

She hopped down from her ledge and slowly approached. The vampire on the ledge watched her carefully. The trap Silver had triggered would cause this entrance to the cave to collapse, the river being the only way out. The guards all saw the movement in the shadows and unsheathed their weapons.

“Hault! Who goes there?! We’re members of Princess Luna and Princess Celestia’s Royal Guards. We’re prepared to fight.”

Twilight smirked. The illusions were working. The guards had their necks exposed looking the opposite way.

“Night Wind and Ruby Eyes, retreat. Now!” Silver Eyes shouted. The problem was, Ruby’s eyes had been caught by the vampire’s gaze. As the vampire moved his muzzle left to right, Ruby followed. Dim Eyes realized that Ruby was no longer in control of her actions. Using his magic, he launched a bolt at her. The bolt hit Ruby and knocked her away before she could turn on them.

"Silver Eyes, what in Tartarus is going on?!" Dim Eyes bellowed.

"Your guess is as good as mine, but I would wager, I think we came upon a vampire’s nest." Silver Eyes replied.

"Silver, on the ledge!" Dim Eyes shouted, spotting somepony looking down.

"Oh? Him, yeah, he’s a vampire,” Silver confirmed. His eyes went wide as his brain caught up to what his mouth just said.

“NIGHT WIND! Take Ruby NOW!!" Dim Eyes ordered.

“And leave you alone with two combatants. I rather vacation in Tartarus than leave you now.”

“Then prepare for those words to be reality, Night Wind.” Silver spoke with a deathly serious tone. If it was just that tone, and response, Night Wind would have stayed. Two things changed that. The first was the pony on the ledge. He just jumped down. His eyes were as dark as the midnight sky on a starless night during the new moon. But then they changed. They changed into a deep blood red. A fire of magic rolled across him.

Before him stood a hungry vampire, looking at his next meal in delight. A sadistic grin on his muzzle that said, “I’m so going to enjoy you,” and “you so have no hope of escaping death.” The thestral grabbed the other and flew like a batpony out of Tartarus.

“He caught on quick.” With a flap of his wing, the vampire landed back on his perch. Silver Eyes watched and very carefully mouthed ‘thank you.’

In the brief time that the vampire scared the other two thestrals away, she thought about what she was going to do. They hadn't seen her yet, so she could just let them be. Or, she could…. NO. I’m letting them be. The immediate threat of feeding was gone, her brain took control again and was shocked at what her body almost had her do.

Gaius knocked the remaining guards unconscious with a quick blast of his magic. He jumped by Twilight and walked deeper into the cave. Twilight followed with a confused expression on her face. “Where are you taking me?”

“Nowhere, Twilight. You’re the one following me to my home.”

“Then what was that place where I woke up?”

“A test.”

Twilight stopped at that. A test!? Her eye began twitching in nervousness. She was used to knowing when she was being tested. Her teacher would tell her. That test, she was completely unprepared for, and to top it all off, she had no clue as to what she was supposed to do.

“Don’t worry, you passed the all the parts I’m counting. Thirsty?”

“Very, but that is not my main concern. Where are my friends and are they ok?”

“Last time I checked they were fine. The pink one, the one with the curly hair, seemed to have everything they needed, like sleeping bags.”

“That’s good. How about Rainbow’s wing?”

“It’s braced, but I don’t know the full extent of her injuries. I do think they’re taking her to a doctor, though, just to make sure.”

“She probably should, but most likely won’t.” Twilight knew her brash friend all too well, including her hatred of hospital stays.

“I disagree. She wants to be a Wonderbolt.”

“How do you know that?” She looked at him inquisitively

“The sleeping bag she was in, it had their emblem on it. An untreated wing injury could potentially cause her not to make it. What’s your opinion of her flying ability?”

“She’s the best I’ve ever seen, if not better than that. The first time I saw her skills, I…” Twilight trailed off, memories of Rainbow Dash’s skill, determination, bravery, and unwavering loyalty came back unbidden in her mind. That and something else, something she felt but could not name.

“She’s that good huh? Hmm…” Gaius trailed off, lost in thought. When they reached their destination, he looked back at Twilight. “Here’s the drink I promised earlier.”

Twilight grasped the drink and began to slowly sip down the refreshing liquid. That slow drink turned into gulps as she tasted the drink. She licked her lips and the glass, going for every last drop of the red liquid in the glass. The drink had revitalizing effects on her and woke her up even more. She blinked twice before leaping on her companion, tackling him to the ground.

“Where are we!?”

“My home. I wasn’t going to leave you in the Everfree. There are some things that will gladly enjoy an alicorn meal.”

“Then why did you bring me here?”

“You followed me here after I placed the three guards you were about to kill under a sleep spell.” Somehow, even with an alicorn breathing down his neck, he never lost his cool.

“I would never do that. Whose guards and what were they doing here?”

He grinned a toothy grin at her, one that showed his fang. “I forgot how naive we can be when we first turn, you forgot already didn’t you? No, you didn’t forget, you just wrote it off as a bad dream. The drink made you come back to your senses. As for the guards, well, one was from Luna’s; the others were most likely of Celestia’s. If you are thinking about going with them, I suggest you understand the nature of what you now are first. Remember Alicorn Princess Twilight Sparkle, you were in fact stabbed by the venomous tail of a manticore. I’ll answer any questions you might have, just do get off me first.”

Twilight was taken aback by that. However, much she wanted answers, she had to prioritize what was the most important first. However, she did not get off him. “Then let’s start out with my friends. Where are they and how injured are they?”

“Rainbow... has a temporary brace and needs a doctor most likely. The others seemed fine, but worry for you, I’m sure,” the vampire assured her. This seemed to relax the panicking mare. She let him up and he quickly made his way to a locked case. The vampire grabbed two bags of the same red liquid from locked refrigerator and heated them with his magic to thirty seven and seven tenths degrees C. He then made his way to a sitting area, where he laid on one of two normal looking furniture.

Twilight was hesitant at first, but lying down seemed better than standing on her hooves most of the day. She took the other, while eyeing the liquid in the bag.

“So…” Twilight started, but was unsure of how to continue. There were a thousand one questions running through her mind, but the most important was how she survived. “What did you do to save me?”

He sighed with the look of someone that broke the most important promise they ever made to themselves. “A magic that I promised myself that I would never use again.”

“Why?”

“Because of the result. Last time I used did it, it destroyed her in the end, but it will not do the same to you. I was still young when I did that.”

“Alright, but that still doesn’t answer the original question. What did you do to save me?”

“The answer will raise more questions. Are you still thirsty?”

“Yes, but not as much as I was when I woke up.” Twilight grasped the bag in her magic and proceeded to bring it towards her. As she looked at the bag, there was no opening. She looked towards her host with a questioning raise of an eyebrow.

“Just bite it.” Twilight did just that. She bit into the bag and bliss greeted her. Unlike what was in the cup, this had a more metallic flavor. It had a been of an irony taste. It wasn’t a bad taste, and, to her dismay, she prefered this one. This one easily left her satisfied and not wanting more, but she didn’t feel completely full just yet.

“There’s something different about this one’s taste than what was in the cup you gave me earlier. I could taste a bit of a metallic flavor. It tasted very similar to blood, but was much better.”

“Oh? Which did you prefer, the liquid in the cup or the bag?”

“Bag.” Twilight had a little bit more, trying to isolate its taste, and compared it to the time she tasted blood after a bad cut on her upper lip. Once she removed her personal opinion, the tastes were too similar to not be the same. She let the bag go, drained of its contains, and looked towards her host with a look of horror on her face.

“Yes, you’re correct in assuming the liquid in the bag is blood. The cup had blood as well, but it was different. The cup had animal blood. After you had that, did you notice anything change?”

“...Yes, I did, slightly. I had a more primal craving for what was in the cup and I gulped that down. This I had control. Is that supposed to happen?”

“It will if you have animal blood. Don’t worry, this blood was donated. If someone offers you blood in a bag or cup, don’t accept it unless you can verify where it came from. If you look at the bag, there is a serial number on it and the hospital can look it up.”

“So don’t have animal blood. Are there other changes present? Like weakness to sunlight and I can’t cross running water.”

“Both of those are present, but the first can be minimized by your diet. I don’t know what affect Princess Celestia’s presence will have on you. You’ll be able to see in total darkness. Your audio senses will be able to pick up most heart problems and if you concentrate, you can see pathways of blood and magic. Another active ability is that you can see and detect thermal signatures. This can differentiate between species and sources. Sense of smell is heightened.”

Twilight sat in silence contemplating all the information she had been given. Her tail anxiously went back and forth. While she contemplated, she made a mental list.

My friends are reasonably safe, but still in the Everfree.

I’m a vampony, 99.9% sure.

Since I am a vampony, I need to drink blood. Effect if I don’t: Unknown.

I don’t know if I can completely trust him yet.

How much blood I need: Unknown.

Preferred species: Unknown, but very important. Animal: Avoid.

Other dietary changes: Unknown.

Questions left: Who is he!? How is he an alicorn?! What’s his relationship to Celestia and Luna? What is he not telling me? Are there physical changes? Will there be physical changes?

Mentally, going over the list, there were a few unknowns, two of them stood out. “Excuse me, Gaius...?”

“Correct.”

“What happens if I don’t feed?”

“I was wondering when you would ask that. Different things depending on the vampire, which you should not confuse with a vampony. Some will become ‘clingy’,’ others will lust after the nearest source of nourishment. Myself, and most likely you, are a lot more dangerous. We wouldn’t directly attack, but use our magic to capture a myriad of prey, or, use our magic to directly draw blood from the surroundings.  Both of those are bad, but it's nothing compared to a blood rage. That can slaughter an entire city if we lose complete control.”

Twilight’s eyes grew wide at that, “Is that all?”

“That’s best case scenario, worst case is that we may attack someone important and use them as bait. The most dangerous vampires are the ones talented at magic. Vampires are the most deceptive species, including the changelings.”

“How?”

“Most can tell when a changeling, besides their queen, is hypnotizing you. All I, or you, have to do is to look them in both eyes. That mare back there just glanced at me, and I caught her.”

“Ok, how do I know you’re not hypnotizing me?”

“The ability won’t work on other vampires and powerful magic users, like the princesses.”

“Then prove it.”

“Ok, mind looking into my eyes?” Twilight looked fully into his eyes. They were hypnotic, but she could resist it.

“Alright, you’ve proved your point. I can resist your influence, but I’d appreciate you stopping that.”

“Sorry, it just makes things go quicker and I can show you the answers with my magic instead of simply telling you. I get the feeling you know what that’s like.”

“Speaking of your ability to do magic, mind explaining that one? Were you an alicorn like me before you turned? If so how come I’ve never heard of you?”

“The circumstances of my birth are unique. My mother was a unicorn that fell in love with a vampire. During my birth there were complications, the only way my father could save her was to change her right then and there. When I was born, I was so with both wings and a horn. While I’m not as powerful as an alicorn magicly, I can more than hold my own.”

“Why were you testing me then? Also, I could beat you then?”

“To know if I could trust you. Many have abused these powers, including members of our home. The War of Eternal Night is an Equestrian example. ” He laughed as he answered the second part of the question, “You of all ponies should know, Twilight, there is more to who can beat who than pure magical strength.”

“Wait, Luna was a vampire pony?”

“No, she wasn’t, but Nightmare Moon was. The true tale of why Luna fall to Nightmare Moon is one of tragedy and betrayal of the worst sort. She had five generals total, one that isn’t talked about, and four of them took advantage of that trust. They paid for that mistake, neither them nor their armies walk today. They’ve been completely killed.”

“You say that like there is a difference between completely killed and killed.”

“There is. The only permanent way to kill a vampire is to destroy their souls. Hard and completely forbidden magic. Roasting in the noon sun will do quite a lot, but there is a way to bring vampires back. Celestia does have one of the few weapons that can destroy the souls of a vampire.”

“How do you know that?”

“I saw her soldiers using it to attack my homeland. However, I got my revenge, the ship and cargo was sunk to the bottom of the ocean, only three pegasi survived. One of them did manage to escape with a book stolen from my home.” His tone went dark at that memory; Twilight could not help but feel uncomfortable. When he noticed, he did his best to calm her nerves, “Those were times in the past, let us not dwell on them and move to the present. You have more questions.”

“Yes. Is there a preferred species?”

“Yes, most prefer the blood of Equestrian ponies, but any sentient species will work. Most do prefer one gender over the other, but it won’t really matter.”

“Equestrian ponies?”

“The pegasi, unicorns, and earth ponies. Thestrals and crystal ponies are different, at least to me.”

“Ok… will this affect my ability to fly or use magic?”

“Ah, that. You won’t lose your magic, but some spells will be harder to cast than others, and some you will have to cast differently. Within the vampires, there are two types. The first are normal vampires. They retain the magic they have. That magic can be molded into special spells. The other class, the alicorn equivalent class, are the vampire lords. I am a part of that group. You are too, or at least you will be.”

“Will be? Am I not a vampire yet?”

“You are a vampire, of that there is no doubt. However, to truly access your new power, well, that comes with time, and certain things you will have to accept.”

“What do I have to do for that?”

“The cena totius equi vivi grandis.” Gaius said with a smile, but to Twilight, it was more of a grin. Twilight moved with a speed that would have impressed Rainbow Dash and hit with a strength that would have put Big Mac’s to shame. That hoof aimed for his face would have even knocked Celestia a few feet back after injuring her, or shattered diamond. Her armor would have had a very large dent as well.

“There’s no bucking way I’d ever do that!” Twilight snarled as Gaius picked himself up off the floor.

Gaius rubbed a now cracked jaw with a hoof, How easily you forgot that you almost did, he thought before replying.“We’ll see, we’ll see. It does have an effect on dietary habits.”

“So then protein like cows and chickens are on the menu?” Twilight glared at him, while there was no way she’d feed directly from another pony, she knew she did have to eat. As much as she’d rather not drink blood, this was part of who she was, only bad thing could come from denying that, bad like the ‘blood rage’ he mentioned earlier.

“Unfortunately yes, with some other stuff. Some larger, others smaller, but you’ll enjoy what I cook.”

“No, the vampire me will..”

“You say that like there is another you.”

“There is.”

“No, this is who you now are, the sooner you come to accept it, the easier your new life will be.” As if to put the exclamation point on that comment, Gaius got up and left her to attend to other matters.

Twilight laid her head down to get what little rest she could. While not physically tried, her brain was processing all this new information. Including that last tidbit. Needless to say, she had a lot to think about.

Gaius went about with other tasks that needed to get done, like taking care of the three ponies that were knocked unconscious by a sleep spell in his home. Or the preparation of beds for the guests. He didn’t want any of them uncomfortable or nervous. What prevented him from these tasks was the response to having to eat meat. She seemed oddly open to the idea, even if she did not want to feed off another pony.

“You’re fine with eating meat?” Gaius asked.

“Ah...well, it depends on what. I had a few experiences with forms of protein. Don’t tell anypony this, but I actually had cow before I went to this other world. I wanted to puke when I found out what it was, but I couldn’t describe the taste as bad, per se.”

“Was this before you became an alicorn or after?”

“After.”

“That explains it. Centuries ago, pegasi use to challenge other races to honor duels. As griffins were their number one foe, they would often face each other in many different contests. Including eating contests. Since that time they’ve carried a taste for fish that the other races did not share. Their love for meat must have transformed to you when you became an alicorn. Although, they will only partake nowadays at special occasions.”

“How special?”

“Sometimes at Heart’s Warming, but mostly on anniversaries of decades, or at a Cutie-ceañera”

“Ah, okay. Do you have a place I can be alone, I’ve got a lot to think about?”

“Sure, fourth door on the right.” Twilight hopped off her seat and made her way towards the desired door. She opened it with her magic and shut it hard. She also placed a silencing barrier around her as well. She had a lot to consider.

In the meantime, Gaius had some tasks to do. He too was distracted by curiosity. He set about his tasks, carefully lifting his guests to a bunk room. He divided the room and set the two stallions on one side and the mare on the other. Silver Eyes was not as a heavy sleeper as the other two and stirred.

“Hey, where are we?” Silver Eyes asked sleepily. He shook his head to clear the effects of the spell, but it didn’t help.

“As to where you are, you are in a bed in my home, Silver Eyes. Good night, don’t let the vampires bite.” Gaius joked as he casted a less powerful sleep spell and Silver slumped down into the bed.

Gaius silently left and made his way to the kitchen. He did have to prepare a dinner for Twilight, and maybe for the three sleeping ponies. As he thought about the what would be best, he considered that a thestral, pegasus and unicorn would be joining them. Taking that into consideration, he had an idea for dinner.

As he waited for his guests to wake, he browsed his library looking for a few extremely old tomes and some more recent ones as well. There were a few spell books, a couple of combat books, some flight training books and an anatomy book, volume three.