Crimson Night

“So what's the town's name?” Chrysalis asked as they surveyed an abandoned town.

“It's not a town, they're old ruins...an abandoned temple or something...called Necropolis or some other dark cliché name.” Twilight said.

“I can smell the rot...there are many enemies there.” Howl growled.

“I know...here comes our Mare though...Everyone, be ready to intervene at any moment. This will her test, let's see how long she lasts.” Twilight said, noticing a dark blue Pegasus glide softly down.

“What's she even doing here anyways?” Vayne asked.

“She's a member of a well known family...they used to be Assassins way back when...rumor has it she's killed a Lich before...” Twilight said. Any further questions were shot down by the Mare seeming to melt into the shadows, visible only to the members with better eyesight. She sneaked through the ruins, quickly disposing of any single or pair of Ghouls she found alone. In ten minutes she had taken out five of them. That's when things went down hill. A Lich appeared in a cloud of black. Right in front of her. What surprised Team One was not so much the fact that the sudden appearance hadn't caused the mare to panic, but how she quickly put a blade into it's brain. But now she was in the open. She had no chance to slip away now so she bolted from the open and found a choke point and unsheathed two Katana.

It wasn't enough. Five minutes later, and five more dead Ghouls later, the Mare took a rather large gash to her right foreleg. At that moment they expected the Mare to require their intervention. They were wrong. She extended her wings and pulled on a wire with her teeth, a hail of needle-like blades shot from some sort of hidden contraption. That was her last stand apparently, she knew she was defeated, but kept on swinging. Twilight could never understand how the earth ponies and pegasus ponies could stand on their hind legs so long to fight, but she knew it was time. Twilight nodded and the group dashed forward.

The Mare was startled by this sudden appearance. Not because it was sudden, but because it was helping her. She saw sleek black wings deflect the claws of her foes as a variety of creatures pushed the Ghouls back. Two of them turned to her. One that was half humanoid, the Dryad, and the one with the black wings.

“I know you...” she muttered to Twilight. “You're Twilight Sparkle...General of the Dawn Guard...” she said.

“Yes. This is Illia, our Healer. Let her take a look at you. What is your name?” Twilight asked.

“Elana Shadow...” the Mare replied.

“Good, then you are in fact the right Mare. If you know who I am, can you guess why I'm here?” Twilight asked as Elana allowed Illia's nature magic soothe her wounds.

“I have a source in Appleloose saying that you recruited a local Hunter. I'm guessing you're here to do the same for me.” Elana said.

“Clever and Resourceful. Normally I would test you, but we watched. You have a total of ten at one time, plus a Lich. That's a feat for even a Vampony to admire.” Twilight said.

“Thank you, but that was only do to my skills in stealth and assassination.” Elana said.

“I know. But that is something we need. It is your choice. Join the Guardians of the Dawn and become a Vampony, or continue on your own.” Twilight said.

“Would there be any consequences to either side that are not obvious?” the Assassin asked.

“not that I can think of. If you say no, we simply leave after tending to your injuries and clearing the area, but the guard will be one more skilled pony short. If you say yes I give you the Vampirism ad you go to Canterlot where you will have everything explained that you need and want to know.” Twilight said.

“I like you Twilight Sparkle. You don't hide anything and you don't exaggerate the flattering details. My answer is yes.” Elana said.

“Thank you. Hold still, this will feel weird.” Twilight said. The black gas creeped the Mare out a bit, but she let it enter her body. She felt a bit stronger, but not much.

“I do not feel that much stronger...” Elana said.

“You need blood. We have supplies of powerful blood in Canterlot, go there. Area clear?” Twilight said, ending with the question to Hecarim.

“Yeah, we found a half empty graveyard and put protective wards around what remained, it appears they were using this place as a sort of spawning pit.” Hecarim replied.

“Your wounds are healed and will fade within three days.” Illia said to Elana.

“Thanks...so are you heading to Canterlot too? Or are you going for another recruit.” Elana asked.

“The Latter, perhaps we will see each other again. See you.” Twilight said. Elana nodded and they parted ways.

“This one will be a drag...” Claw said. They found their Stallion in a bar fight on the outskirts of Manehattan.

“let's get this over with.” Twilight sighed. She used her magic to break the fight up and lift the Stallion outside.

“Hey put me the fuck down! Those bastards tried to pick pocket me!” he yelled. Twilight didn't comply she she tossed a bag of bits to the bar owner. He shrugged and went back inside, along with the others, as Twilight looked at the earth pony who was glaring at her.

“The hell is your problem?” he asked.

“generally? The war. Right now? You.” Twilight said bluntly and let the Stallion to the ground.

“Oh I see, yer a bunch o' guards er sumthin'...what do ye want? What did I do?” he asked in a scoltish accent.

“You in the Dawn Guard. We need more brutes like you.” Twilight said.

“Really now? I'm in...this place was getting' a wee bit borin'.” he said.

“Well that depends on if you can pass a test. Normally we'd have you face Ghouls, but we don't have any on us at the moment. So you get a choice. Choose whoever you want to fight out of all of us.” Twilight explained.

The Stallion, named Roy if the Portfolio was correct, examined each of her teammates. He considered fighting Illia and Chrysalis, but decided against it when she realized how different they were.

“How about you lass?” he asked.

“You sure?” Twilight asked.

“Positive.” Roy replied.

“Alright then. Attack me with everything you've got. Land a hit, solid or glancing, and you're in.” Twilight said. Roy grinned and charged, intent on tackling the Mare, but was surprised to hit the wall.

“I hope you realize we're all Vamponies, or similarly powerful.” Twilight said from her spot floating back to the ground.

“I know.” Roy said and did the same thing, but skidded to a stop and jumped into the air to kick her when she jumped again.

“Predictable.” Roy said.

“Yes, you are.” Twilight replied, stopping his hooves with her own. She pushed down, propelling her into the air and the Stallion into the ground.

“Something else you should know.” Twilight started, letting her wings out. “I'm the General. I'm the most powerful pony, or creature in that matter, in the guard.” she continued.

“My Flank.” Roy said. He staled around her, she didn't even turn, and he sent a flurry of kicks at her. Her wings sprang and deflected them all, his hooves ringing off of what seemed like steel but was soft as clouds.

“New method, get a touch on the underside of one of my wings and you're in.” Twilight said. Roy huffed and charged, but was flung back as Twilight spun.

He got up and charged again, but veered off to the side. When she turned to swat at him with the large appendages, he changed his direction so rapidly it would have left a normal pony disoriented. He found himself knocked on his flank.

“That was pretty god Roy. You actually touched it, congrats. Head on to Canterlot for your briefing.” Twilight said, folding her wings and summoning the Vampirism spell.

“What the hell is he doing?” Twilight hissed. They had tracked the Stallion they were looking for down to an open field near Trottingham. He was sneaking up on a Wraith that appeared to be napping, but had failed miserably when his armor clanked against his large axe. He was now standing his ground as the beast awoke. Terrible, TERRIBLE idea. It turned around and without any warning engulfed the entire field in fire.

“Well fuck.” Talon said when the fire died down and a charred corpse remained.

“Come on...better go take care of that Wraith...two out of three is still passing I guess...a moron like that would have just died anyways...” Twilight said lowly with a side as they prepared to take down the drowsy Wraith.