Crimson Night

“It's been three days and yet you show the Prowess of one who I've trained for weeks...your rate of learning is incredibly fast. As a reward for that, Rarity and Vayne finished their project early. Enjoy.” Hecarim said to Twilight on the fourth day after their first assignment. Hecarim stepped aside to see the two ponies standing on Either side of a ponnequin, which had armor adorning it.

“It's amazing! Though it looks too restricting...and the helmet has no eye holes or even slits...” Twilight commented.

“Darling you know me. It may look stiff, but it's slim and flexible...this Shadow Steel stuff is amazing. And just put the Helmet on, you'll see.” Rarity said. Twilight levitated the Helmet onto her head and found it was like a window almost. From the outside it looked like her entire face was blocked but she could see through it like it wasn't there.

“It looks a bit...scary, for lack of better word, for you Twilight...” Hecarim commented. The helmet looked like nothing she had even seen before.

“What is it?” Twilight asked, examining it. It looked a little bit like her, but not exactly. The 'face' was stoic and expressionless, very intimidating, and the 'eyes' were blank and chilling. The coloration was a dark purple base with black sub-colors. Twilight agreed, it did look kind of scary.

“It's a Phantom Reaper, according to legend. We saw it while going through a few legend books and couldn't get the fact it looked so much like you out of our minds. The design was actually modified to copy the armor the Reaper apparently used. Hecarim began laughing.

“I thought that armor was familiar...Back before I joined the night guard...Ponies called me the Phantom Reaper because of how spectral I looked...that is the face I had when I was younger, before I was turned.” Hecarim said. “it seems fitting my apprentice takes that old title.” she continued.

“But I'm not a reaper...” Twilight protested.

“No, but take the role of one...your role and your identity are two different things.” Hecarim said.

“Now Darling, let's get all of this on and you can make adjustments if we were off, my measurements may be old.” Rarity said. Twilight just nodded as they put all of the armor on her.

“If I was a Ghoul I'd be scared shitless at that...” Vayne commented. Twilight was truly intimidating. Rarity had revealed the Helmet had a visor that could be retracted. It would change nothing from Twilight's view, but from the outside they saw her face instead of the cold face of the Reaper, this made it much less intimidating. Twilight had been sure to cast the summoning spell marker on every single piece as well as her Scythe, which she had named Moon, and had tested it. Rarity had made some last minute adjustments so the earpiece radio and mic would fit both wit hand without the visor and it was complete.

“So let's test it. Rarity says your movements should not be restricted. We will test that.” Hecarim said and Charged the Unicorn. They trained like that for the rest of the day, the others coming to watch every now and then.

“Twilight, tell me. You have those wings, why do you never use them?” Galio asked as they ate dinner at Sugar Cube Corner the next day.

“To tell the truth I don't want to...it feels like I stole them from Luna...and if I use them, then I'm using her and the last thing making me a normal Unicorn will be gone.” Twilight said.

“I had not realized it had such a meaning, I apologize.” Galio said.

“Twilight, you need to talk about this with Somepony...but it has to be Luna, for we cannot relate. It's not hurting the team, but it's not helping. I was meaning to ask you to ask her about our lack of Assignment, but you can add that as well.” Hecarim said.

“Alright...I guess you're right. See you in a bit, I need to be alone for this.” Twilight said and went to the Library.

“I got your letter and decided to test a new spell somepony came up with. Can you hear and see me?” Luna asked, suddenly appearing in front of Twilight.

“Um...yeah ad yeah.” Twilight replied.

“Good. It worked. Anyways, the lack of Assignment is simply because nothing in your area has come up. By the way, Hecarim's old armor suits you. Rarity and Vayne did a good job.” Luna said.

“Ok, and I'll tell them you said that.” Twilight said.

“Now that business is out of the way...what is this about refusing to use your wings?” Luna asked.

“I just have this feeling you were forced to give me your blood...and I stole these from you...I've accepted being a Vampony and I actually kind of like it, but I also don't want to forget what I was...I'm afraid I'll lose that...” Twilight said.

“Twilight...I made you drink from me. I would have allowed it even if you weren't about to die...even if you weren't injured. I love you, I'd give you my life if that were practical...” Luna said.

“But...” Twilight started.

“No...Twilight, I would feel insulted if you did not use a gift I gave you. It would make me quite sad.” Luna said, feigning offense and and pout.

“...I love you Luna...I was you were here so I could kiss you...” Twilight said with a big smile.

“That would be nice...now that that is taken care of, if you and your team want an Assignment I could give you one just out of easy range. You would have to stop at a town in the middle but you'd be busy.” Luna offered.

“What level assignment is it?” Twilight asked.

“It is a level Four to five, there is a Lich who currently has a single Ghoul risen and possibly more on the way. I know you can handle it, if your team agrees you will leave as soon as you can. If it is too much for them to handle I'll find another for you to do.” Luna replied.

“I've gotten much better so I think we can handle it. I'll go tell everypony. Thanks.” Twilight said.

“Anypony know the name of this town?” Twilight asked as they slowed to a walk outside of the town they decided was good to stay in.

“Edinspur, and by the looks of you I'd say you're up to no good.” a stallion said, coming out of the gates flanked by what seemed like the entire town's guard.

“What do you mean?” Hecarim asked.

“the only Ponies that carry weapons on the road are bandits looking for Plunder...” the Stallion replied.

“No, we're on an assignment and we need to stop for the night.” Vayne said.

“Assignment? Are you one of them Vampony teams?” he asked.

“Yes, Team Ten. We're on our way to a confirmed level four to five threat.” Vlad said.

“That is somepony else's problem...” the Guard said.

“There is a reason we chose this town to stay. This threat is gradually moving from minor village to minor village...it's path is heading straight here. We planned to intercept the threat easier from it's destination.” Galio said. The guard huffed and turned around.

“Fine...I'll take you to the Mayor and the Captain.” the Guard said.

“Thank you.” Hecarim replied.

As they walked through town they got a series of varying looks. A few had resorted to throwing things at them but Galio had simply taken all the hits, the small objects bouncing off of his stone skin. They arrived at the building in the center of the town, it resembled a Town hall back in Ponyville, but was many times larger.

“Captain! We have one of those Vampony teams here that need a place to stay.” the Guard said after sticking his head through a large door.

“Alright send them in.” a voice said, Twilight recognized that voice.

“Here's the captain of the Edinspur guard, and Husband to the Mayor...” the Guard started as they entered the room to see a white Unicorn stallion with a blue mane an tail and a shield for a cutie mark.

“Shining Armor?!” Twilight exclaimed. He looked up.

“How do you know me?” he asked, curious. Twilight put the visor up and Shining stared.

“Twilight?” he asked.

“Yes it's me...I haven't seen you since you left for your Honeymoon.” Twilight said.

“Your face...what happened?” he asked, walking up to her and putting a hoof under her chin.

“It's a long story...is Cadence here? I'd rather tell it once than twice...” Twilight said.

“Yes...I'll go fetch her.” he said and walked out.

“How do you know the Mayor and the Captain?” the Guard that showed them in asked.

“Yeah, you old friends or something?” Vayne asked.

“Shining armor is my Brother and Cadence was my old Foal Sitter...” Twilight said.

“Oh...” Vayne said.

“Was that really Twilight in that frightening armor?” they heard from the open door.

“Ask her yourself...” Shining's said as he entered with Cadence.