Crimson Night

“There's the town.” Hecarim said.

“Shouldn't w- Ah!” Twilight started, but was cut off by a letter appearing. She read it, the team getting worried when she got a worried look on her face.

“Change of assignment...apparently the two Ghouls that were here moved on to another location...which is where a much larger threat level is being handled by another team. We've been reassigned to follow them and give the other team support. It's a Level 3...” Twilight said.

“We should be fine then. Personally I think we could barely complete a level 3 by ourselves, but with another team there it should go well. Still though, be on your guard...how far is it?” Hecarim said.

“Two miles ahead.” Twilight replied.

“That's a lot of Ghouls...” Twilight muttered when they crested a large hill to see another team of five fighting a horde of the creatures.

“I count nineteen including the fallen, twelve if not. How should we proceed?” Vayne asked.

“Vlad, I want you to cover Twilight while she helps those two wounded out of the fight. Once they're safe return, but Twilight I want you to stay out of the main fight and help the wounded due to your lack of proper training. Vayne, I want you to stay behind Galio while he attracts the enemy. I'll be right in front of you guys.” Hecarim strategized. The team nodded and dashed out.

“Fuck there's more! They're going after our wounded!” One of the Vamponies yelled.

“No, they're Friendlies!” another corrected. Twilight dashed in and collected the two wounded, nodded to the others and leaped out of the literal ring, Vlad right behind her.

“Here, take these.” Vlad said an tossed two blood packs to them. Twilight would ask later where he got them, but for now these two Vamponies needed blood and two ghouls had broken off to follow her.

“Bite and replenish your strength.” Twilight said, putting the blood packs in their mouths and turned on the Ghouls. This time she wasn't going to take any chances, so she took her Scythe out of it's strap and held it at the ready. The Ghouls circled her for a moment before charging her from two different directions, she jumped and they smashed into each other.

Using her wings to propel herself back down, she landed on one of them with the blade of her Scythe severing it's spine. The other one was blown back by the impact, but recovered before her and charged her. It was knocked off it's course by a large rock smashing into it's face. Twilight looked at the two wounded Vamponies and the bigger one saluted her, he had thrown it.

Twilight grinned and didn't waste a beat as she gathered some Dark Magic for Necromancy. She had invented a spell, but had never tried it. She decided now was a good chance to do a field test. She bucked the Ghoul into the ground, stunning it even more, and cast the Spell. First, it surrounded the Ghoul in a black opaque shield of sorts, and then incinerated the creature. But Normal magic, and normal magic fire, would not affect it. So she used Necromancy, the flames were black and hot.

When the creature was burned down to ashes she looked at the larger battle near her. There were now ten Ghouls against seven Vamponies and got to see her team fighting in action. Vlad literally had roughly a ball of blood floating in his gait, launching crimson spikes or simply smashing the Ghouls with it. Whenever a Ghoul was hit by it, the liquid would dissolve and enter the Ghoul's body and weaken it.

Vayne was keeping them away from Hecarim with her Leg bow and would occasionally launched a large bolt from the big crossbow. Eventually she switched to it completely when they swarmed her and started launching them all over the place.

Galio no longer looked like a Pony, he was the same color but he had claws and fingers. He looked like a Real Gargoyle now, just like when he slept and the Ghouls' claws would only occasionally draw blood, normally just bouncing or scraping off of the stone skin. His hands were huge, and he was using them effectively.

Hecarim was sweeping and raking through the horde with her scythe. She charged out of the ring, turned around and charged back into it. But this time she was flanked by a double line of spectral versions of herself. When they smashed through the line they dispersed and aided their allies, but were soon defeated and expelled.

The battle was soon over, Hecarim receiving a few minor wounds as well as Galio, and they all met where the Wounded Vamponies were nearly recovered.

“We thank you for the assistance, Two Ghouls came out of nowhere and left us at a disadvantage.” their Leader said.

“Our targets left before we got there so we were assigned to support you.” Hecarim said.

“You were only after a level 1? But you are so powerful.” one of the wounded ones said.

“This was my first engagement with Ghouls.” Galio said.

“And I've only trained for a day.” Twilight continued.

“Are you serious? You took out those two Ghouls like they were nothing.” the other Wounded exclaimed.

“I have a little experience fighting them so I know how they fight...but really it was just luck. These ones were a hell of a lot weaker than the last ones.” Twilight said.

“I noticed that too...Ghouls are weak when they are freshly spawned and grow strength as they eat...that means there is a Lich in a nearby town...We are Squad 10, you?” Hecarim said.

“Thirteen.” the Leader said.

“Twilight, write the Report. Galio can you do an Aerial sweep of the area? Vayne you and I will go on land, your eyes will help. I don't like this.” Hecarim said.

“What shall we do?” one of the others asked.

“That's up to your captain.” Hecarim said and galloped away.

“Did you find anything?” Twilight asked when the three returned.

“Yes. We found a Spawning pit in the town graveyard...there are a hell of a lot more graves than there were Ghouls...their numbers are growing and the Pentagram was still warm...meaning two days ago at most.” Hecarim said. Twilight added something to a letter and sent it, she must have waited for the final report to send it.

“That's not good. We don't have the tracking skills in this team to effectively trace it's user.” Vlad said.

“Maybe we do, I've got the blood of Timberwolf in me and my Sight is almost as good as Vayne's.” Twilight suggested.

“That would be very useful if we had a better lead than a warm Circle. If it was still glowing you could track the magic with a spell or with traditional means, but it was dark.” Galio said. A Letter appeared in font of Twilight and she read it quickly.

“Luna confirms the increase in enemy forces. She thinks they're amassing for some reason. Teams Ten and Thirteen have a successful level 3 completed. How long do you think it'll take for your team to Recover?” Twilight read off, and ending with the Question to team Thirteen.

“Three days at most.” the captain replied. Twilight nodded and sent the next letter.

“Very well, you are all on leave then...huh pretty formal.” Twilight said.

“There's more to that then just that...” Vlad commented.

“If she's not telling us the rest then it's obviously for her alone.” Hecarim said.

“Are you fit to return to your place of residence?” she asked Team Thirteen.

“We are, thank you once more.” the Captain replied. They split paths, but they all could tell Vlad was wasn't saying something.

“Oh just say it Vlad...” Twilight mumbled.

“What was the last part there, a little love letter? Twilight and Luna, sitting in a tree-” He started, laughing, but was cut off by Galio smacking him in the back of the head.

“Don't mock it.” he said. Vayne had chuckled and even Twilight had smiled, but she had frowned at the last part.

“It wasn't like that. It basically just said she misses me and the free time she had helping me.” Twilight said.

“That is sweet. It is hard to find love like that in times like these.” Galio said.

“Damn Galio, you hit like a rock- no offense.” Vlad said, rubbing his head, causing Galio to laugh.

“So Vlad, where did you get those blood packs? They really saved that team.” Twilight asked.

“While I was at the hospital Nurse Red Heart gave me some. She also told me she's going to start a sort of blood drive, and encourage other cities and towns to do so as well, so that there is a supply of good blood that doesn't involve biting Ponies for feeding and recovery purposes.” Vlad explained.

“Wow...that's, really cool of her.” Vayne said.

“That could save Vampony lives by the dozens.” Hecarim said.

“These Headsets are really cool, we don't need to yell while we run.” Vlad commented, completely changing the subject.

“Yeah, they're experimental but they work great.” Twilight said.

“Well we have a good twenty minutes until we get back...I spy?” Vlad suggested.