I'm going to skip past the parts of me being a baby. Not much to tell, even vampires don't exactly remember when they were a newborn, so...i'll begin when I was only ten years old, and my first time, my first...hunt.

As you probably, guessed, vampires feed on the blood of the living to maintain their power and for some sick joy. While I found a way to get around it, which I will tell you, I was no different, this is the story of my first, and when I met my best friend Pure Heart.

It was a beautiful night, the moon was shining almost blissfully unaware, of the fiendish deeds that would take place here upon this night. I remember looking out into the woods from our lair, the darkness was so inviting. I longed to just get out there and explore, to see the world experience every joy and pain. However my mother and father had other ideas, being that I was a crown prince and all. However, this was my big day, on my tenth birthday believe it or not. My mother came to me and said to me "Dueling, you are slowly becoming a stallion, it's time you learned the most important thing about being a vampire: Hunting in the Shadows." She motioned to me and told me to follow her continuing her sentence. "As a vampire, we must maintain our strength by feeding on the blood of the living. You know this from the prey we have brought to you to keep your strength up" I could only nod as I kept my mouth shut not wanting to be disrespectful, as she walked to her "But why do we hunt in the shadows? Simple, a mortal is an easy prey, but do not make a group of them angry. The results are more terrible than anything we can ever do"

I nodded and said to her "I understand" looking outside, longing to see the world just for the first time.

My mother said "You are still young so I am going to send you with a member of the family, of your sisters"

Now I know what you are thinking. Sisters? Aren't I just but the only new born vampire in the past thousand years at this point. Well let me sum it up like this. In vampire culture, those we choose to join us in our reign of the night become our children. If I bit you right now traveler you would be my own child. My sister in question is a brilliant mare named Shade Star.

Shade was my eldest sister, she had a brilliant mind and a brilliant heart as well, a trait I come to admire the more the years clock by as I sit in my cave. Shade came to me and said "Your majesty"

I nodded to her and said "Sister"

Shade smiled and said "Come with me, I will begin the hunt"

It was long into the night as the leaves twisted and turned with the wind howling through the Everfree, whistling in gleeful approval for what we were about to do. I am thankful that Ponyville came to existence, because our hunts always took so dreadfully long to go to and I wanted to meet someone other than my family members right away, but eventually we arrived at a small bustling town constructed masterfully as a tiny metropolis, well as one could describe it being that this was before many modern inventions we take for granted. With large towering stone walls, beautiful peaceful ponies trotting around enjoying life. Shade and I perched on one of the walls as I just took it all in.

It was all so fascinating, my first time seeing ponies who were not vampires living their lives upon their mortal coils. Wonder filled my core as I saw ponies with no wings, ponies with no fangs, ponies with feathered wings, ponies with horns, their eyes were to many different colors, their pigment was so bright and colorful. I loved every second of it, for a brief moment I longed to live there. Than suddenly, Shade cleared her throat, and I regained my focus as to why I was here in the first place.

Shade began her lecture, "Now, I'm sure your mother told you about how we hunt in the shadows to prevent a scene. In order to be a good hunter, you need to pick a prey like that WatchGuard wandering alone right there" Shade said pointing her hoof at a lone guard stallion minding his own business as the night sky loamed on. I was silent as Shade said to me with a smile "I know you learn by example my dear prince, so observe"

I was silent as I watched the master at work, slowly she got low, and did a silent leap over to a ledge that was above the guard, as he looked around seeing her shadow getting confused. She then used her tail to hang upside down as the guard backed up behind her. She clutched him close and bite straight on his exposed neck and I watch in silent curiosity as his body shriveled up until it was nothing more than a more prune with puncture wounds. She dropped the body and quickly came to me as she wiped her lips when there was a little blood there.

She looked at me and said "Now Prince Dueling, understand that when feeding you must drain all the blood from a victim's body, because if you don't you will let our gift spread through the body which will create a child for you. I do not think you are ready for that responsibility yet. However, if you are unsure, every mortal has something called an Adam's apple. Rip it out, and you should prevent the vampirism from spreading."

I nodded as she motioned to me, it was my turn as I asked "There are a lot of other ponies out here, how do I know which one to target"

"I did an exception" Shade admitted "Ideally you should stalk someone who no pony would even miss. Ponies who are drunk, ponies who are scum, ponies who look like they are worthless, those are the ponies you should target and prey upon, especially since it's your first time"

I nodded trying to look tough for my big sister, as Shade could only laugh at my efforts. She was silent as I scanned and I spotted a potential victim. There was a pony stumbling out of what looked like a tavern, wobbling like he was clearly intoxicated. I smiled as this was exactly what Shade was talking about. I did what she did and stalked the rooftops when I heard another voice below me.

Suddenly I looked below me and noticed that there was a filly no more older than my age. She was a bright pink, and had a blonde mane with a calming blue eyes. Her cutie mark was weird to me, as I haven't even got my cutie mark yet. It was of a cross with a red heart that surrounded it. She came to the stallion and said "Mr. Cletus...you're drunk again...mommy wouldn't..."

Suddenly this "Mr. Cletus" smacked her against the ground as I was growing impatient, and I don't know why but seeing it angered me. "Mr. Cletus" said to her "Shut up Pure, for the last time, I ain't your daddy, I ain't your mommy, I don't give a damn. I can drink as much as I want. You're the kid, and I'm the adult. I can do whatever I want! " "Mr. Cletus" went to smack "Pure" again. When my patience slipped.

In a fit of vampiric speed I leapt on this "Mr. Cletus" and bit down on his neck chomping tightly and aggressively like a wild animal as Shade noticed becoming alarm coming towards me to stop me as I drained him dry. I turned my head and noticed the filly who looked at me frightened.

In a brief second our eyes became locked against the other, as I felt a glow blasting against my flank slowly gaining my cutie mark. I didn't know what it meant at the time. There are days where I still don't quite get what it means, but it resembled my name. Two Stars clashing against each other. I said meekly "Hello"

"Pure" said to me "Hello...I'm Pure Heart..." She said frightened of me. She then noticed something I didn't intend "You just saved me?"

I was confused at that, but her regaining of a smile it...made me feel warm inside, a feeling I would come to love more and more throughout my life.

Before we could talk more Shade grabbed me and looked at Pure. She hissed lowly and said "You saw nothing child" and then carried me off, taking me away.

Author's Note

I am looking for help for this story, if anyone is willing.