The Reaper

Author's Note: This chapter will be gory later on, much more than I normally do.

Trixie cowered in front of her killer. As a new arrival, she still remembered her life. She still remembered who was responsible for her death. And as much as she wished to hit the murderer as hard as she could, she knew that such would be futile. She couldn't touch Twilight, literally. She was mist, vapor, ethereal, and she would pass right through her murderer, to her fury. But then again, very few meet their killer after the deed has been done.

The land of the dead was a frightful place. From her arrival, the blue spirit had been pushed, shoved, and herded into the Hells. She had been judged by the most venerable spirits of mortals. They had sent her to Unjudgement, where she would dwell until she was reborn, which might not be for millennia.

All she had left to do was to dwell upon her mistakes, all the things that she had done that she regretted.

The morose atmosphere was hardly a help to her regret. It weighed on her, and it forced her to remember. What else could she do? There was not much to do in the Land of the Dead, and her mind was not so disciplined as to stop brooding over her mistakes.

It could have very well been that only life she'd ever get, and she'd screwed it up with petty mistakes and petty fights. Oh, how she wished she could take it all back, how she wished she could amend her mistakes, how she wished she could clear all her grudges.

Trixie stood up and looked into the eyes of her slayer. In them, she could see that no pleasure had been received at her death. Only pain, sorrow, and regret.

Twilight took a step forward and a deep breath. She could that same vise around her chest, making it hard to breath, it squeezed her heart. Her lip trembled, and so did her legs, despite her best efforts. The vampire fell to her knees, head down. She expelled the breath she had been holding as a sob.

"T-Trixie! I'm so, so, sorry!" she choked out. Burying her head between her legs as though she was the powerless one, she wailed. "I tried to stop her! I did, but I was powerless. Powerless inside my own mind..." Twilight trailed off. "She gained control," she explained miserably. "Insanity..."

Trixie felt no mercy. "You're sorry? Well, it's my turn to apoligize, but that doesn't cut it! I'M DEAD! All because of YOU!" The once-entertainer screamed, fury and wrath alight in her eyes. "You are a TERRIBLE pony! Do you know what she did to me!? She provided a very nice explanation of who she was by TORTURING ME!" Trixie spat, shaking quite visibly. "And after that?!" she thundered, while Twilight looked at her with great guilt. "She basically ATE me!"

The vampire trembled and continued to cry, not even trying to defend herself.

"She held me down and DRANK MY BLOOD!" Trixie seethed. "All of my life gone!" Trixie's voice took on a much sadder and less mad tone. "All... my dreams gone. Everything I hoped for, unreachable. Anything I'd ever built, taken right out from under me..." the spirit whispered, voice hoarse. "I worked so hard, for so long, to build just that... that was all I had."

Twilight lifted her tear-streaked face to the former entertainer's. She was sure, well as sure as she could be with blurry eyes, that the spirit would be crying if she could. She gathered her strength and stood up on shaking limbs. The lavender demon walked over to the crying unicorn and lifted one her starry wings over her victim. while Trixie may not feel the feathers, she could at least feel the heat. And it was a comforting gesture.

Aer watched on with interest. His new student made no moves to defend herself, she simply stood, well cowered, there and took it. She did not deny the accusations, the assertions that she was an awful being. Twilight just cried and apologized, over and over.

She was pacifistic.

Aer mentally winced. Thanatos would be cruel and tough to her, until she broke and became like her master. Callous, crazy, flinty, merciless, bitter, inequine.

Evil.

This was what poor Twilight would become. She'd have no choice and no chance. His master was ruthless, and willing to go to any means to achieve her goals. What if ponies died? They would just make her kingdom stronger. She would care if mortals died, she was the Queen of Death! The Immortals were supposed to care and guide the short-lived, although that rule was often broken. Mortals were supposed to be under their protection.

When a god or goddess went mad, they were killed or banished. That was it, straight to the point, as there was almost no point trying to bring them back to their senses. They had to realize it on their own.And sometimes they were just too far gone to save, and at that point, the most merciful thing is to lay them to nonexistence, and let their tumultuous life be over.

The grey vampire watched the proceedings with renewed interest. A new development! Twilight was now trying to comfort the pony who had just been yelling at her and caused her to cry! Well, he supposed that someone needed to do it. And the guards and ghouls would certainly not do it. The blue unicorn had been murdered and thrust into the Underworld for blood's sake!

Trixie began to calm down. Sobbing was replaced by gulps for the air that she just couldn't get. While she wasn't really breathing, the familiar motion soothed her.

Meanwhile, Twilight was doing something very interesting. With her eyes and a hoof, she motioned for Aer to go farther away. He cocked his head, interested and confused. Twilight continued to motion for  him to move away, but this time accompanied by her mouthing "Mare Stuff".

Aer blushed and scooted back. No matter the age, that stuff is awkward.

Twilight leaned into Trixie, "Trixie, listen!" she dropped her voice very low. The closure would help the once-entertainer keep her sanity. "I don't how, and I don't know when, but...

I

Will

Get

You

Out

Of

Here," she whispered. "Someday, somehow, I will free you," Blushing at Aer's suspicious look at their whispering, and what he was implying, she said awkwardly, "Bye-gotta-go-stay-sane-good-luck," Trixie blinked, was the purple mare embarrassed?

Twilight groaned. She was never good in situations like this. Flustered, she trotted meekly over to Aer's side. "Can-we-go-now-please?"

"Sure... I was just waiting for you to stop having fun with your marefriend," he teased, none too subtle. Then, he smartly got the hay out of the danger zone.

Twilight scowled. Oh, she was going to give him a piece of her mind. Bastard... Still, she followed him.

The grey vampire wasted no time in arriving at the place where he would train her. Piles of slag and a few black crystals, that was all there was. The rest of the floor was damp, musty clay. Perfect for training a powerful mage.

His wrathful charge landed a few feet from him, still glowering from his teasing. "You-!" she started. Aer nonchalantly trotted over to her, as Twilight seemed all too ready to continue her rant. "You insufferable-, oh, what's the point?" she slumped down in defeat. "I am in the hells. I abandoned my friends and family, my teachers, everypony."

"What else do I have?"

Aer felt bad for the poor pony, he truly did, but she was crying too much. She wouldn't last long if she was breaking down every five minutes; she needed to toughen up. But she wouldn't get better if he left her like this, so he walked over to her side. Lowering his body next to her, he copied what she'd done with Trixie, he hugged her with a wing. Twilight whimpered and snuggled against him.

He had not felt so awkward in a long time.

Should he snuggle her back? They'd just met, so that would be overstepping boundaries. Wouldn't it? Abandoning all reason, he hugged her.

Oh, Twilight, stop being such a baby! The vampire mare mentally berated herself for not being able to keep her emotions in check. What am I? A filly that just got dumped by her first coltfriend? Despite all her psychological abuse, she still continued to soak Aer's coat. She returned the hug gratefully. "D-did you have to *hic* leave your family?"

Aer's comforting smile melted from his face.

"No, I didn't. They left me, but that's Thanatos' and my fault," he sighed heavily, the all-too painful ghost of the past in his eyes. "I killed them. Because of her," he whispered.

"Now you have to understand, this was in the days where Thanatos really was a bitch," at her horrified, yet scoffing, expression, he added, "Many of the Immortals were. The banishment of the Moon Goddess had riled and disturbed them. Her Solar Sister became a tyrant from grief, and Thanatos, had one of her bad spells. She had taken to abducting young, but fully-mature, ponies.

She only did this to set terror upon the populace. She demanded sacrifices to stop demonizing ponies, some were given, but apparently not enough.

I was turned just when we thought it was safe..."

Aer trotted jovially through the woods. The attacks had stopped! The Dread-Queen must be sated! He could fully enjoy his freedom and wings now, with no fear of becoming one of her Dread-Slaves. His good mood could not be broken. He thought as he meandered his way back to his family's house.

.

The towns-ponies were throwing a celebration. Such a relief merited one! No more would they give up members of their families to slake the Dread-Queen's bloodlust! And it was very possible, very possible, that he would see Alitura! With all that cider, he might even get a kiss... Aer shivered with excitement. Alitura was a very pretty Earth pony whom he fancied. Many of the colts did. She was good at her job, too. She grew the most delicious peaches to be found!

The woods themselves seemed to rejoice at the Dread-Queens retreat. The birds sang loud and clear. Animals, even predators, rested side by side. Even the vegetation seemed to sigh with relief. Nothing could, or should go wrong.

So, of course it did.

As he approached the clearing where his family's little cabin stood, the birds stopped singing, the animals resumed their usual game of kill-or-be-killed, and the vegetation seemed more menacing that it should. Aer skittered nervously, what was wrong? The forest began to grow darker, and the metallic scent of blood reached his nose.

Fighting against his instincts to bolt, Aer nervously approached his home, no smoke came from the chimney... something was wrong, dreadfully wrong... And yet he continued to advance to the door, or where it should be.

Aer's heart skittered in his chest, seemingly wanting to go with his self-preservation instinct and common sense, to go away. He stuck his head into the humble little abode. No light pierced the unnatural blackness, and sound was muted, but he heard... rustling?

He rounded the corner into the kitchen.

"No..."

The Dread-Alicorn was in his home.

"Oh, another one to the party. Come take a seat, dear." The malicious spirit's maw opened, revealing a set of predator's teeth. "We were just discussing a few things."

Aer remained rooted to the spot, hyperventilating with fear, but he Dread-Queen just continued to smile. "Take a seat, dear..." This time the voice ordered him to obey, in its deceiving, silky tone. Aer walked with stiff legs over to where his father and little sister sat (mother had died three years previously), bound with the same kind of fear that he was.

"Now that we're all here. I suppose I should make my request known," the dark spirit continued. "I require another sacrifice, or I shall unleash my wolves of war on your lovely little town and friends." The thing grinned at this last statement, true pits of hellfire in her eyes.

So, she wanted more sacrifices? They'd already given too many good ponies to this witch!

"B-but, why us?" managed Aer, somehow breaking through the paralyzation.

Thanatos' eyes widened in surprise. This one had broken through her spell? He could make a fine servant, a fine servant indeed. But first she would have her fun. Sauntering up to him, she looked at his frightened, pale blue eyes. "How did you break through my spell?"

"I, uh, don't know!" he cried. There had been a spell on them? "Please, just leave us alone!" he pleaded. "We have done nothing to spite you!"

The Queen pondered his statements. He was too frightened to lie, that was for sure. So, he honestly didn't know how he'd broken her enchantment? Strange. They just wanted to continue with their dull, meaningless lives. And true, they had done nothing to spite her. So, why was she attacking them?

Random choice, and a stray feeling that she'd find something of worth.

A new idea lit the fire in her eyes, "Why don't you become my servant? I will leave your family and town alone, for the duration of your service, which is indefinite. You will become more powerful, and you will ensure the safety of your friends and family."

Aer blanched, and his paralyzed family grunted and squeaked to show how they disapproved.. B-become her servant? Like one of those bloodsucking monsters? He wanted to say no, to run away, but the Alicorn of Death wouldn't allow that. She wanted an answer now, and the answer he wanted to give would end in the deaths of his town, family, and friends. With no other choice, he replied, "I'll do it."

Thanatos purred with happiness. He was hers! Finally, not just another one to play with and toss away; a true servant, one with power, who would serve her! "Good choice," she extended her neck and touched her horn to his head. Piercing him a little to draw blood, she began the spell. The actual spellwork was complex, seeing that it altered quite a bit in the body. Too soon, though, Aer said good bye to his equinity.

He stiffened as the spell began to alter him. His head was thrown up as his teeth began to elongate with a flash of shadow. They grey pony's wings flew up in protest of their enlargement. Feathers were violently ripped off, flesh rent by growing bones. Aer tried desperately to yell, wail, shriek, anything to voice the pain that he was in. Thanatos stood by, with the look of a filly at their first magic show on her face because of his pain. The spell began to slow down, only minor changes were left. Aer slowly laid down and moaned.

Thanatos purred again and walked over to her Child. "Up, little one. We have business to attend." He moaned again and rolled over, mumbling something about five more minutes. "Up!" she snarled.

At the order of his master, Aer opened his eyes. With shaking legs he stood up, he tried to shake out his wings, but the poor appendages were too sore and in pain for him to anything. "First assignment: feed. You must be very hungry," his new master cooed. Aer groaned as he stomach whined.

"What do I eat?"

"You can eat everything that a normal equine could, but with the addition of meat and blood. Vegetation won't sustain you for as long. And you must drink blood at least once a week, or you'll die. However, as my servant, you will be fed every day, or every other day as punishment," Thanatos cackled at his expression. "Feed," she ordered.

Aer began to be aware of a delicious smell. Turning to where his family members stood, he stumbled towards them, looking for the oh-so-tantalizing smell. Stepping around them delicately, he inhaled. The smell was not behind them, nor to the sides. The smell was... coming from them? HIs eyes widened, pupils dilated at what that meant. "NO! I won't!"

Thanatos smirked wickedly. "I'm afraid you don't have a choice," she stepped closer. "You. Will. FEED," she growled.

Aer had no choice but to obey. Something, someone else was steering his body.

At the frightened eyes of his family, he managed to choke out, "Ru...n! I'm not... in... control!" BUt, the Queen had her way, for they could not flee.

He stalked towards them, reluctantly, but under his master's control.  The new-born vampire smelled the all too alluring scent of blood, and his tongue snaked out to taste it. Growling contentedly, Aer lunged towards the small one. His breath ghosted over her neck before his teeth sank in.  She screamed and thrashed, but to no avail, nothing could break the iron grip of the predator holding her. All too soon, she was empty. Aer dropped the lifeless husk of his sister to the floor.

Still hungry, the demon turned back towards the alpha member. He snarled, revealing his sharp, jagged teeth. Wasting no time for his next meal, he pounced towards the new prospect for food. The ever-wary patriarch skittered away from his attack, so instead of a solid hit, he grazed the neck of the bloodbag. The skin was torn away, revealing the luscious veins and arteries, bone and tissue. Now with more bloodlust than ever, Thanatos's servant knocked him down, fracturing the neck bones, and causing more blood to flow out. Viciously ripping the vertebrae out for better access, he feasted.

And the Queen of the Damned laughed.

Twilight looked shocked at his narration. But more so appalled at his emotionless expression. He must have told it so many times that it lost all meaning. "I'm so sorry," she said. The thought that Thanatos would do that... Twilight had thought the black alicorn was just a victim of circumstance, but that...

"Don't be," he said, interrupting her thoughts. "Many of the Immortals went insane, the banishment of one of their own was a momentous occasion, and it disturbed them deeply," he sighed. "But remember, Thanatos is a ruthless bitch."

"She promised no harm would come to them from her her, but that did not extend to ordering me to," he got that faraway look in his eyes again. "Someday, she will get her due payment,"

So a lot of emotional gush. Some of Aer's back story, (you know, for a comic relief guy, he has a depressing past) I got more graphic her, should I keep it up?