Scootaloo's Shadow. Book 1: Return

I give Twilight a history lesson!

We reached the her house in only a minute or so.  Maybe a little faster than I would have liked.  Any and all lights had been turned off, it was midnight after all, causing the tree-house to look very ominous.  I began to think of the Sarafan Order, and the last time I had any trouble with them:

"I've told you time and time again, they won't show you any kindness, they won't show you mercy.  To them, you're just a monster, to them, you're another smudge on the page.  They will be ruthless, you need to be quick.  They will jump from the shadows, you will push their flanks back into them.  They WILL try and kill you, you mus--"

"I know, I mustn't hesitate to return the favor,"  I eyed the orange stallion in front of me.  This lesson wasn't a new one.

"Good Scootaloo, your'e a fast learner,"  He turned towards the doorway, and began to walk forward.  His unspoken command prompted me to trail him.

Twilight pushed open the door, beckoning me in, telling me to 'Come in,'.

We had left the safety of the Kabal, and ventured out into the night.  Our listeners had recently picked up rumors of 'a secret organization setting up an area of influence in Manehatten', their motives seemed to point to our worst fears.  That's why my mentor and I had set out tonight in hopes of proving those very fears wrong.

The house was in some middle-class neighborhood, a perfect spot to hide the true intent of their habitation.  We soon found ourselves face-to-face with three of their so-called 'crusaders'.  We fought, and we won.  We also gave our anonymity away.  The next six months we spent trying to cover our tracks and prevent them from tracking us to the Kabal.  It eventually became to much, although the Kabal backed us completely, and my mentor, Vorador was his name, asked me to leave, to go back to Ponyville.

"Alright, we're here, safe and sound, now, spill it,"

"You want me to give you a history lesson?"  Surely she knew about them, I mean, yes there existence was all but myth, but if one looked hard enough, especially one allowed to use the Royal Canterlot Library, one could find it.

"Yes, that's what I said isn't it?"

"Yes, I suppose, what do you know about the Sarafan Order,"

"Um, not much actually.  During the Classical Period, the Order of the Crusaders rose, but it was more of a figure head for the Canterlot Royal military, serving as a basis for the Ideal citizen, as many other species, like Gryphons, Minotaurs, and Zebras, were being phased into Equestrian life.  Part of it broke off and became the Sarafan Order, they still worked under Celestia as a task-force, but they eventually disappeared,"

"So, you know how they began, that's good.  Towards the end of the Classical era, various different species of vampires began to be phased in with the species you mentioned, unbeknownst to the populace, of course.  Celestia, however, began to see the signs, and ordered the Sarafan Order to investigate.  They all but wiped us out.  After fifty years or so, Celestia deemed it necessary to remove the Order from the Royal military's rosters.  Until recently, they weren't even a worry in even the oldest of vampires, not that any of us actually lived through it..."

"Wow, a whole secret societal battle, completely overlooked by all history books,"

"Who ever began the Order's revival must have known something of us, but no records show any rite of passage type rituals where this information would be passed down through generations.  We don't even know if Celestia is behind it, which, would be bad, trying to face an enemy with a Goddess' blessing,"  I snorted, the last thought had just passed my mind.  "So, you could be harboring an enemy of Equestria,"  I laughed, nervously.  I guess that's my thing,  "It's late, you probably want to get some sleep,"

"Yeah,"  What no punctuating yawn?  "Good night, oh and if you're going to be leaving anytime later, please, don't incite the wrath of a centuries old 'evil' organization,"  she smiled.  I could feel the sarcasm flow off of that comment.

Somewhere up the steps I heard a yawn.  Now all I need is for my tail, ears, and mane to twitch, and I could be Pinkie Pie.  Oh and of course the whole mind thing.

The sun came quickly.  I had spent the last five or so hours outside, admiring the stars.  I never did like sleep, unlike Rainbow Dash.  One thing I didn't think I would see was Pinkie Pie.

I, of course, was wrong.

I looked to my left, and saw first, the pink mane bouncing as she walked over the hill.  Next came the grin, seemingly directed to me, which, knowing her, it probably was.  She eventually reached me, where she sat down, and followed my gaze to the impending sunrise.  She spoke first.

"Hey, Scootaloo, what'cha doin' up so early?  Wait don't tell me, I know.  Is it because your a va--"

"Yes, it is, why are you up?"

"Oh, I love watching the sunrise, it brings a smile to my face, and how could I make other ponies smile if I can't do it myself?"  Your logic seems sound.  She didn't stay for long, saying that she had some muffins to deliver to Fluttershy.

Muffins.

"I haven't had a muffin in a long time,"  Of course she was gone by now.

"Muffins?"  I turned to see a gray mare standing a few meters to my left,  "Oh, I'm a mailmare.  Are you Scootaloo?"

"Uh, yeah, I, I got something?"  The only ponies whom knew I lived in Ponyville, were in Ponyville. Strange.

The grey mare handed me the white plain envelope, with the words 'To Scootaloo' written artistically on the front.

Strange, no one outside of my friends in Ponyville knew I was here.

Unless.

I trotted back inside the library, where I found Twilight reading a book on the couch, she looked up.

"Oh great, did you really go looking for trouble again?"

"No, I just chilled outside for several hours,"  She noticed the Letter sticking slightly out of my mane, and inquired about it,  "It's a letter.  I don't know who from, but I have a hunch,"  I sat down beside her, and began to carefully open the envelope.  I pulled it out, and read it over twice.

--S--

If I'm not interrupting anything I would very much like to join you in P, as M is no longer safe.  I will be arriving by train, expect me by tomorrow.

--V--

It was short.  Slightly cryptic, but I understood what the message was: He was coming here, my old mentor.  I noticed Twilight looking over my shoulder.

"My, my friend I mentioned earlier.  He's coming here,"

The rest of the day passed by with relative ease.  After lunch, I decided to go and find Sweetie and Applebloom, who were no were to be found, that is, until I looked inside the clubhouse.  Let's just say walking into friends deep in a, um, kissing session  (And I put this lightly.)  I awkwardly excused myself.

I rose into the air and began the path towards the Everfree.  Who knows, maybe I'd get killed and never have to revisit that memory of them--  Almost remembered it.

I made way towards the clearing I used to wash my muzzle last night.  It was peaceful, it was serene.  Especially when no vampires were trying to wash the faces in the clear waters.  Until now I didn't know how close this clearing was from the edge of the forest.  I sat on a rock overlooking the brook.  I sat for a while, motionless, until I saw a rustling in the branches to my left.

A familiar face stepped out, another followed.

"Hey Scoots, Ah hope we didn't scare you,"

"Scare me? Ponies get scared of the dark, ponies are scared of my teeth.  What I saw, can not be unseen,"  I narrowed my eyes to punctuate the overly-dramatic voice I used to make my point.

"Yeah, we're sorry,"

"Shouldn't you have some kind of sign to, I don't know, put on the door, or maybe you could--"  Applebloom shushed me.  She shushed me with her hoof.  I am a mother-freaking force of unholy reckoning.  You don't, I repeat, don't  just shush a vampire!

"But I digress,"  I smiled sheepishly.

"You know, if you're jealous, you just have to say something,"  She shushes me, then teases me!?

"Woah, shushing me is one thing, but calling me jealous is another,"  I narrowed my eyes once again.

"Fine,"  She did that smile again, to which I gave an annoyed look to,  "What were you doing out here?"

"I came out here yesterday, and I was board, and since you two seemed, um, preoccupied, I decided to come out here, just in case I got hungry..."  I could scare ponies, I was always good at that, but the whole 'I-could-drink-your-life-essence-for-nourishment-and-go-about-my-merry-way' seemed to give me an advantage.

An unfair advantage.

"You all are just to easy to scare, it's almost boring.  Almost,"

"Okay, well, Me and Sweetie were gonna go get some lunch, did ya' wanna come?"

"I was going to see if Twilight need anything, but if not, then I'll tag along,"

Upon reaching the town square, Sweetie and Applebloom walked off towards the Sugarcube Corner, shouting their 'good-byes' to me.  I turned towards the large tree, walking forward, it wasn't until I reached the oaken door that I noticed a cart parked towards the side of the building.

And not just any cart.