Twilight of the Damned

{Silverhoof Style}

Twilight limped through town on her way home. She needed to renew the spells, and possibly get some food before seeking out any more training. The shock from the injuries was starting to wear off, but the withdrawals from the adrenaline rush had left her feeling weak and exhausted. How was she supposed to save Ponyville from some evil monster if she couldn't even survive a training session with one of her friends?

She stopped briefly at a cafe to pick up a sandwich, and continued home. Eating as she walked, she began to feel some of her strength return. The food in her belly replaced the hard knot that had lodged since the sparring session, and her step lightened. She realized that the magic must tap into her own power, sapping her natural magic ability to fuel the spells of healing and strength. Closer care would have to be taken to keep herself fed and rested, or she would wear out at a bad time, like during a fight.

Upon returning home, she called for Spike, but received no answer. Checking the kitchen and the bedroom turned up nothing, but a pile of books had formed on her favorite study desk. Glancing through them, she saw many volumes of fiction - some even young foals stories - and a few reference books. She sighed as she sorted through the pile, placing the more promising texts in a separate pile from the stories and old mare’s tales.

The usable book pile was depressingly small, and she sighed again at the sight. Setting them aside, she made her way to the kitchen. She was feeling hungry again and wanted to get a bit more food into her system before casting the spells again. A quick survey of the available meal options reminded her why she usually let Spike do the cooking.

“Ugh... alfalfa sprouts and ramen. Just like the academy all over again.” She quickly brought some water to a boil, and began making the old college staple. Such simple fare had gotten her though many study sessions, with minimal preparation or flavor, but quieting the growling beast within her gut. At least it was something she could cook without burning it. Well, except that one time...

Soon after, full on processed noodles and questionable flavoring substances, she was ready to address her next priority. She brought out the required reagents for casting the strength spells. Strangely they shared a lot with the tools recommended for fighting the undead. Garlic, silver, small wooden stakes, and candles made from a special resin. Fortunately they were pretty common, used in many other long-term spells. The candles in particular were annoying to keep around, since the resin was found in the Everfree forest, but being in Ponyville had one advantage; the forest was right on her doorstep.

Reciting the spells, and focusing her magic through her horn she was quickly able to finish the rituals, and felt renewed strength and clarity flow through her. Her thoughts flowed freely again and her body felt renewed. The pain in her leg was completely gone, and she felt ready to take on the world!

Leaving the rest of the materials for Spike to clean up later she was about to leave when the door to the library burst open. A familiar purple form made his entrance and she cheerfully greeted her number one assistant.

“Spike! I am so glad you are back. I need to go find Rainbow Dash next to help in my training, and I would appreciate it if you could straighten up while I am gone.”

“Wait, don’t go yet Twilight! I found a book that may be able to help you.” The purple dragon waved a book over his head, and excitedly rushed to bring it to her. “I ran outta books here, so I thought I would... uhhh, go talk to Rarity, n’ stuff. I know she reads alotta books.”

Twilight rolled her eyes, very much doubting Spike only went on the altruistic motives of seeking knowledge from her other unicorn friend. She also knew the kind of books that Rarity tended to read, and had a very dim view of their worth as reference materiel.

“Spike, I don’t know that Rarity would have what I need.” She looked at the book, whose cover had a pair of hooves holding an apple. “What is that?”

“Well that’s the thing!” Spike was almost jumping, feeling proud at his stroke of genius. “This book is all about vampires. And check this out, IT HAS YOUR NAME!” He thrust the book at the unicorns face to read.

Gazing puzzled at the tome, she saw the name of the book was indeed ‘Twilight.’ “Um, Spike, that’s not a reference book.”

The young dragon shrugged. “I dunno, but it has to be of some use, I mean it’s called Twilight! I read some of it, and its about vampires that sparkle. How cool is that? Twilight Sparkle Vampires!”

The unicorn closed her eyes and rubbed the bridge of her muzzle with a hoof. She was getting a headache and resisting the urge to bring forth the wrath of ramen, losing the lunch she had worked so hard on. “Spike, I’ve heard of that book. It’s not about real vampires. It’s just a made-up story for love-sick fillies to read.”

“What? It’s so real! Rarity showed me, she has the entire collection. I read the first two books myself, and they were kinda cool” Her assistant puffed out his chest, now holding the book protectively. “Rarity will be here soon, and she’s bringing the rest of the books.”

“Thank you Spike, but that’s just not the kind of book I need to learn about Vampires.” She sighed wearily. She remembered the books all too well, making their rounds at the academy. All the young fillies, and a few colts had become obsessed with them, and had even formed a little fan club. Princess Celestia had thought it funny, and even encouraged the club, much to Twilight’s dismay. But few had stayed past graduation, once they grew up and realized what horrid drivel the stories were, and that nothing in them would help them pass their exams.

Spike, however, looked hurt. “You’re prolly a Jacob fan anyway,” he said, turning away and cradling the book.

Twilight rolled her eyes again and headed for the door. “I gotta go Spike. I need to find Rainbow Dash. Hopefully she can teach me some more about fighting.”

As she trotted toward the door, there was a knock, and then a white unicorn entered, fashionable saddle bags full of books. “Twilight, darling! Why didn't you tell me you wanted to know more on vampires! I have every story ever written... ACK!”

She came to a halt, eyes wide in horror at what she saw. Twilight was still covered in dried blood, dirt and hay was all through her mane, and a black eye was still fading. The lavender unicorn had been so preoccupied with her training and research she hadn't bothered to pay attention at her appearance. At least now she understood the looks she had gotten at the Deli.

“My dear Twilight! What in Celestia’s name happened to you? Your coat, your mane... you look as if a house fell on you!” Rarity looked in both directions suspiciously. “There aren't any little fillies with pet dogs calling you a witch, are there?”

Twilight looked down at herself, finally realizing what a shocking state she was in. Spike hadn't even said a thing, so eager to tell about the book. “Oh.. ahh. Yea, about that. I have been training how to fight. Applejack gave me some lessons, and uhh. We kinda had a little accident. I assure you, it looks much worse than it is.”

Rarity stomped her petite hoof, and removed her saddlebags. “Looks are every bit as important as injuries my dear. I simply cannot let you leave without helping you look presentable.”

Realizing what was coming, Twilight protested, and tried to inch her way toward the door. “No, really. I appreciate the gesture Rarity, but I really need to go. I don't have a lot of time and I need to find Rainbow Dash.”

Rarity used her magic to slam the front door closed and bar it. “Nonsense! What kind of friend would I be if I let you go out like that? It’s simply a disaster!” She started to push Twilight toward the steps to her room. “Spike, run a bath for her, and then find me some towels and a makeup kit. I need to brush this filth from her mane before I can clean her up properly.”

“But Raarityyy! I don't have time!” The purple unicorn whined.

“Don’t you dare whine at me, young lady.” The pale unicorn narrowed her eyes and glared at the other mare. “I am the QUEEN of whining, and you do NOT want to mess with the master!”

Realizing that she would not win this argument, Twilight deflated and let herself be led to her room. “Okay Rarity, but we need to be as quick as we can. I have more training to do.”

“One cannot rush perfection, my dear. However, I will do my best to get you presentable as swiftly as I can.”

An hour later, both unicorns emerged from the bathroom. Twilight once again looked her normal self, save a rather lovely glow to her coat and mane. Everything had been brushed smooth, and she even had a nice shine to her hooves and horn.

Spiked gaped at the sight of the two mares emerging and just stared. “Wow Twilight, you look almost as beautiful as Rarity!”

Bouncing her hair with a hoof, the white mare smiled and raised her chin at the near-compliment. “Why thank you Spike. I know that nopony can look quite as beautiful as moi, but that does not stop me from trying to get them as close as possible.”

Twilight just rolled her eyes. “Thanks Rarity, I really appreciate everything you’ve done for me. And I guess I did look pretty bad.”

“Think nothing of it my dear. It is my duty as a friend and as a lady of fashion to see that my friends look their best!” She smiled with half lidded eyes. “After all, my friends reflect on me, just as I reflect on them.”

The lavender mare coughed nervously. “Yeah... anyways, I do have another favor to ask. What you were doing earlier, moving the brush, scissors, and all the makeup at once. That was pretty amazing how many things you could control at the same time! Maybe later you could help me practice some of that? It would definitely come in handy if I had to go against more than one opponent at once.”

Rarity looked thoughtful a moment. “Yes yes. After all, while you DO have the strongest magic out of any unicorn I know, you have always lacked the finesse for the more... delicate tasks. I would be happy to help you practice your skills, and I could always use a hoof around the shop.” She grimaced. “That is, a hoof that isn't running and screaming like a cat set on fire with her two friends.”

“Thanks, Rarity. I appreciate it. But I really have to go now, it’s getting late and I still need to find Rainbow Dash. I’ll stop by tomorrow and see you.”

“Ta-ta then, my dear! And give Dashie my best.” She started to wave, then remembered her original mission. “Oh wait, the books! I brought the entire Twilight series with me, as well as many others. The author Anise Ricepatty is an especially adept writer about vampires.”

Twilight sighed and shook her head. “Thanks Rarity, but those kind of books are just silly filly tales, and I need hard facts! That Twilight book has nothing to do with me.” She waved farewell and trotted out the door into the afternoon light.

Turning to Spike, Rarity sniffed. “Hmph, silly filly indeed! She’s probably a Jacob fan.”

“Right! That’s exactly what I said!” Spike threw his arms wide in exasperation.

Twilight made her way across town, stopping to ask if anypony had seen Rainbow Dash. A few had seen the rainbow streak headed in the direction of Sweet Apple Acres, and she headed that way to search. Approaching the orchard, it wasn’t hard to spot the brilliant chunk of rainbow hanging off the branch of a tree. She trotted up and yelled to her friend. “Rainbow Dash! I need your help. Hello! Dash?”

No response was forthcoming, other than a soft snore, as the young mare continued to doze. Twilight considered using magic to poke the sleeping pegasus, but then decided on a more direct approach. Seeing the multicolored tail hanging off the lower branch, she bit down and gave a sharp tug. It was super effective.

The cyan pony bolted awake, and nearly fell out of the tree. “Ahh! Applejack! I told you don't do that, unless we... um. You aren’t Applejack.” She blinked down at the irate unicorn glaring at her from the ground.

Twilight sighed and her frown softened. “No, I’m not Applejack. But I need your help Dash, and she said you could help me.”

Rainbow Dash blushed red and began to sputter, rubbing the back of her neck nervously. “Wha... um, wh-what kinda, ahh, help would she send you t-to me for, Twilight?”

The lavender mare rolled her eyes. “She sent me to you to learn how to fight. There is some trouble brewing and I need to be prepared for it.”

Looking confused, Dash replied, “Wha? Oh. OH! That’s what you need. Um, yea, sure, Twilight. What do you need to fight for?”

“Gee Dash,” Twilight said flatly, cocking an eyebrow and giving her friend a stern look. “What did you THINK I needed help with?”

“Oh, ahh, nothing. I, ah... thought mebbe you wanted to know about flying, or something. Yeah... flying.”

Sighing again, Twilight rolled her eyes and brought the book out. “Whatever. I need help we have a problem, and -OOF!”

She was cut off as a rainbow blur slammed into her and pinned her to the ground. The rose colored eyes of her friend were glaring at her with a fire she had never seen before, and she could swear that her multicolored main was flowing on it’s own in an unseen breeze. Static was building up as well, as if a thunderstorm was about to break. Through gritted teeth, Rainbow Dash growled at her. “Where. Did. You. Get. That. BOOK?!”

Twilight was stunned by her friend’s strange behavior and only managed to gape in shock.

“TELL ME! Where did you get it?! Do you even know what it is?! What it MEANS?!” The pegasus has clearly lost her mind, and was in a rage over the book.

“I-I... I don’t. Princess Celestia sent it to me!” the unicorn managed to blurt out, terrified by her friend’s uncharacteristic behavior. “I think it means I’m supposed to fight vampires!”

The sky-blue mare leaped back, hovering off the ground a few feet, still in a rage. “You? YOU?! What the hell do you know?! Why the hell would YOU get the book?!”

She spun around, her hind hoof giving the lightest of taps to the tree behind her. Yet despite the apparent gentleness of the contact, the tree split down the middle with a massive crack, and apples rained down around them.

Shaking her head, she visibly tried to calm herself. Tears began to make traces down her face, as she silently stared at her frightened friend. “How could you, Twilight? I thought you were my friend. How could you take this from me?!”

Baffled by her friend’s wild mood swings, Twilight slowly got to her hooves. “I don’t understand Dash. I AM your friend. What did I take from you? Tell me, I want to help, but I am confused.”

All fire seemed to go out of the pegasus as she dropped to the ground and held her head in her hooves. “No. No, you wouldn’t know would you. Nopony is supposed to know. Even the Princess doesn't know everything, although if anypony should, it’s her.”

She looked up with ruby eyes even redder from her rage and crying. All anger was gone, and only despair and betrayal was in it’s place. “All my life. Since I was a foal, I have trained. It was to be my purpose, my destiny. I was to be a Slayer, the next in a long line of Slayers in my family.”

Moving forward to comfort her friend, the unicorn was still confused. “I thought the Wonderbolts were your dream. Isn't that what you train for every day?”

Wiping away the tears with a hoof, Dash sniffled and shook her head. “No. The Wonderbolts were MY dream. They are what I want to do with my life. To become a Slayer is my family’s dream. It is my destiny, and they trained me from birth to fulfil that destiny.” She turned to spit, then stood up, her confidence returning, but still with a bitter note to her voice. “All my life I was trained, groomed, and prepared for one thing. My dreams meant nothing. That is why I left my family, and came to Ponyville. Yet still they watch me, and still I am driven to train.” She slowly turned back to her friend, a bitter smile on her muzzle. “And now, here you are with the book, training to take my place. I should be happy now. I can pursue my own dreams, instead of those of my family. But I know that they will just blame me instead.”

Twilight just stared, not sure what to say to that. There was so much she didn't know about her friend’s past. So much she never thought to even ask. And now all the secrets were laid bare before her, and she still needed help.

“S-so... will you train me?” She sank low, afraid of the next outburst from her volatile friend.

Suddenly smiling, Rainbow Dash seemed to return to her normal self, and shrug off the despondent attitude. “What the hay, why not? All my years of training and hardship needs to be good for something. If I can’t be the slayer, then at least I can train one.” She suddenly looked sternly at her unicorn friend. “I warn you though, Twilight, I will teach you the way I was taught, and I will not go easy on you because you are my egghead friend.”

Perking up, the lavender mare stood and nodded vigorously. “Yes, I know. Applejack was training me some earlier, and she bucked me pretty bad. I-I think I can handle it. Thank you Rainbow Dash, I wont let you down.”

Rainbow Dash nodded, still looking stern and serious. “Hmph. Very well, lets begin with respect. When we are training, you will only address me as Sensei, or Master. I will tolerate no backtalk, and you will talk only when I ask you a question. Is that clear?”

She nodded. “Of course, Rainb... um, I mean, yes, Sensei.”

Dash cocked an eyebrow at her friend’s slip up, but let it pass.

“Ok. The fist rule of Silverhoof Style: You do not talk about Silverhoof Style. The second rule of Silverhoof style is, YOU DO NOT TALK ABOUT SILVERHOOF STYLE!” She stopped and glared at her new student. “Is that clear?”

“Silverhoof? Isn’t that the family of -MMRPH!” Twilight was suddenly silenced by a blue hoof jammed forcibly into her muzzle. The crazed look was back in her friend’s eye, and there was no mistaking that her mane was crackling with unseen energy, as if blown by a breeze.

“Whatever you are about to say, whatever you are thinking, whatever is going on in that pretty purple head of yours, you will forget it right now.” The blue flier was staring daggers at her friend, and if possible, looked even more frightening than before. “If so much as a single word passes your lovely lavender lips about what I am going to teach you, or what you THINK you may know about me, I will hurt you. I will hurt you in ways that even the princess hasn't thought of. Are. We. Clear?”

Twilight merely nodded, the hoof in her muzzle making it rather hard to talk.

“Good.” Dash backed off, dropping her display of rage. “If anypony were to tell my family that I am teaching you our secrets, then my life is forfeit. There is no mercy for anypony that betrays our family and it’s traditions.” She sighed and turned away. “I don't mean to be so hard on you Twi. It’s the way I was taught, and the only way I know.” She turned back to her friend, a worried look on her normally carefree face. “You gotta understand, I am taking a big risk teaching an outsider. My family is proud. My leaving school to set out on my own already created a rift, and they all but disowned me. But if they found out I helped you, they would kill me, family or not.”

The lavender mare swallowed loudly. “Wow, Dash. I never knew.”

“And nopony must ever know. That’s how it has always been, and that is how it stays. Got it?”

Twilight nodded again, and bowed. “Yes, Sensei.”

Rainbow Dash smiled, and nodded to her new pupil. “Very good. We can begin now. First, we will start with exorcises to warm up...”

An hour later, Twilight was sweating profusely with the workout she had been put through. Every little move was criticized by her new teacher, first with stern words, then the occasional wing slap. Not many ponies realized how much a pegasus wing could hurt. Twilight knew firsthoof now, and found it a great motivation to not make mistakes. She paused for a moment, given to her to catch her breath as her sensei kept a solemn face. This was totally unlike the normal carefree, pompous, slacker Dash she knew. Rainbow Dash was serious. She had never seen her serious about anything but winning a race.

Now the Dash that she didn't know, the secret Rainbow Dash from a time before Ponyville, was about to teach her to fight. She was scared.

“Right. Now I want to see what you can do.” Dash stood still, wings folded, and apparently at ease. “Try to hit me.”

Getting up and shaking off some of the weariness that had settled on her, the purple unicorn braced herself to attack. She spun around and tried to deliver a swift buck to her friend’s midsection, but stumbled as her hooves failed to connect with anything. Looking back she saw her the pegasus still staring at her, face a mask of calm.

“Again. And this time, don’t take your eyes off me.”

Twilight decided for a frontal attack, rearing up and leaping forward to hit with her forehooves. Her target seemed to blur and she hit nothing, falling forward to land on her face.

“That’s pathetic.” The cyan mare snorted in frustration. “You can’t hit anything like that, and I don't think you are even trying.” She nudge the prone form before her. “Get up. I’m not going to move this time, and I want to see how hard you can hit.”

Grunting, the unicorn got to her feed, still not talking. She braced herself and leaped at her friend. Just as her hooves were about to make contact, there was another blur, and she felt her body being propelled through the air violently. A sickening thud made the world blink out for a moment as her head impacted a nearby tree, but she immediately came back too as her body hit the ground.

Getting up, she felt bruises, but nothing was broken that she could tell. Shaking off the dizziness she rounded on her friend, anger rising in her. “You said you weren’t going to move! What the hay did you do that for?”

“I lied.” Still impassive, the flier kept staring. “An enemy will not tell you what he is going to do, at least not willingly. Trust what you see and feel, not what you are told.”

Finally losing the her temper, Twilight gritted her teeth. She felt her magic rising as she started to weave a spell around her body, using it to both move faster and protect herself. With a scream she launched towards her target, and actually managed to see the smirk appear on Rainbow Dash’s face, before she made contact and landed a blow. Blow after blow was blocked and parried, as her friend dodged and weaved. The fury flowed through her and fueled her to swing harder and faster, while the spell guided her hooves to more accurate swings.

Finally the pegasus stopped smiling. “Enough.”

But the enraged mare wasn't done. She screamed louder and tried harder to land a blow against her target. Suddenly the world went white, the air in her lungs being forced out of her by a hoof in her gut. She tasted blood in her mouth and her anger instantly cooled. Coolly and methodically, she felt herself being bent and twisted as her Sensei meted out punishment. Her breath gone, her foreleg was twisted until a sickening pop was heard. Pain blossomed as her shoulder dislocated. Wings snapped forward, smashing into her head and rendering her senseless. Just as quickly, a series of vicious jabs brought her back as she felt ribs crack. Finally, Twilight blacked out.

An unknown time later, she sputtered awake as rain poured onto her face. It was night out, and a small raincloud was dumping on her, as she saw it being stomped from above. Her tormentor hopped down, now looking like her old self, a sheepish smile on her face as she kicked the ground.

“Um, sorry Twi, I guess I overdid it a bit.” Dash looked away, embarrassed. “I got all into the Sensei thing, and when you attacked, I kinda went back to what happened when I tried that on my teacher. He nearly ripped my wings off, and it took me a week to walk again.”

Feeling bruised, but otherwise uninjured. She rotated her shoulder, now back in place, and thanked Celestia for the healing magic she had cast earlier. “Yea, I kinda lost my head there for a moment myself, Dash. I just was so angry when you said you lied to me, and I lost control.”

“Yea, you did go a little crazy there, but you had some very good moves. With your magic, you were almost able to hit me.” She shook her multi-colored mane. “That’s a start. You need to learn control, and then those moves will become deadly. Go home, rest up. Tomorrow afternoon meet back here and we will train some more.”

“Thank you, Rainb... err, Sensei.” She blushed and smiled at her friend’s praise.

Dash smiled and shrugged. “Eh, training is over for the day, you can drop the Sensei stuff. I’m just your old friend Rainbow Dash again, Best Flier in Equestria!” Twilight rushed forward and hugged her friend, who winced. They looked at each other sheepishly. “Eh-heh. You did manage to get a hit or two in, but I’ll be fine. Now go rest, and I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Grinning proudly, the young Slayer trotted home for a good night’s rest. She was so exhausted that she failed to see several sets of eyes following her through town. Glowing red eyes, from the rooftops of Ponyville...