A Council of Shadows

Twilight kept her distance as she followed behind Luna. She was certain that she had lost Luna before, but had nearly run into her coming out of a room in the basement of Canterlot. Since then, she'd been using scrying spells to watch her from afar, keeping just close enough to lay eyes on her if need be. So far, she was pretty sure that she hadn't been detected.

"How long do you intend to follow us in circles, Princess?"

Ouch. Busted. Luna had stopped, turning her head to look over her shoulder. Sheepishly, Twilight Sparkle approached her.

"I'm sorry, Princess Luna." Twilight started, with a heavy sigh. She'd run through a few things to say if this happened, but now, none of them seemed sufficient. The look of disappointment on Luna's face was too much for her. "I just...this happened in Ponyville. I have to know, I just have to. Call it caring about my friends, or being a Princess, or..."

Luna held up a hoof with a heavy sigh; it seemed like she was pondering something herself. Finally, she spoke. "We understand. It's a heavy burden to be a Princess, one you are just starting to understand. For many a year, we have carried a burden, kept secret even from our own sister..." now it was Luna's turn to look ashamed, her head hanging.

Twilight couldn't help but feel bad; she reached out for Luna comfortingly. "I'm sure you had some reason. Does it have something to do with what happened back in Ponyville?"

"Yes. We are afraid it does...as this now directly affects you, we are prepared to show you our secret, if you vow to keep it." Luna replied, looking up. There was a hint of desperation in her eyes, but it was well hidden behind determination and courage. Twilight only saw it because she had carried the same look on her face, many times. She gave a single nod in response, and Luna smiled slightly, leading her onward.

The two mares soon reached a small room, where a circle engraved with a crescent moon was embedded into the stone floor. "Remember, Twilight Sparkle. Remain silent, and remain respectful." Luna cautioned, as she took her place.

"What you mean? What is this secret of yours?" Twilight asked, joining Luna inside of the circle. Luna's horn glowed, and there was the unmistakable flash of teleportation. When it cleared, they were in the center of a circular chamber, the stone walls moist. Deep underground, probably no physical entrance...Twilight looked up, and nearly gasped out.

Seven pairs of red eyes looked down at her, each one belonging to a unicorn with a pale coat. The one in the center, a male unicorn with a grey coat, looked to Luna.

"You have brought an outsider into the Council Chambers. This is in violation of our pact, Princess. Unless this one is an offering?" a slight smile crossed his face, and Twilight could swear one of his teeth poked between his lips. This was...this wasn't possible.

Luna stepped forward, all business again. "We have brought Princess Twilight Sparkle here because one of her subjects was killed last night, by a vampire. As such, she has the right to know of the nature of the pact, and of it's violation."

The statement caused a stir in the room, the seven ponies briefly conversing with one another before looking to Twilight Sparkle. A pure white mare to the left of the first spoke next.

"Very well. Princess Twilight Sparkle, first allow me to say that your eyes are not deceiving you. All seven of us are vampires, and moreover, are the current rulers of all vampires in Equestria." She gave the same sort of smile that the male had given her.

"I thought that vampires were a myth!" Twilight cried out, and Luna raised a hoof, shaking her head.

"No, Twilight, they are very real, and once were very feared. Many ponies died to feed their bloodlust, and they came close to dominating the land. Celestia and myself were unable to find a way to permanently stop them..."

"...until we were approached by Princess Luna with a deal. A compromise. We would be allowed to live in peace, as long as we dissolved the royal families and stopped hunting ponies for sport." The pale mare spoke again, still watching Twilight. "Now, we feed only enough to sustain ourselves. A pony wakes up in the morning, still tired, and we live on. Our strength is diminished, but it was preferable to war."

"If what you attest is true, Luna, then one of our number has disagreed." Another mare, close to the end of the line, added. "According to the rules of our pact, then it is our matter to deal with. The culprit will be found and punished...with lasting death, as we agreed."

Luna nodded, but Twilight wasn't satisfied. She took a step foward, ignoring Luna's warning glare.

"So what am I supposed to do? Just sit and wait until you find them? By that point, they could have already-"

Before she could finish her protest, Twilight was pulled back by Luna, and given a look that brokered no argument. "Twilight. Wait for me at the castle. We will explain more at that time." a moment later, Twilight was teleported back to Canterlot, still fuming. It was almost half an hour later before Luna appeared as well, looking very tired.

"Princess..." Twilight started, but Luna cut her off again.

"We warned you to be quiet, Twilight." Luna admonished. "There are rules that these creatures follow, rules agreed upon long before your birth. It was the only means of achieving peace...and this is not the first time they've been forced to deal with one of their own."

Twilight wasn't completely reassured by Luna's statement, but she was slightly calmed by it. Sometimes she forgot how long Luna and Celestia had been alive, the history they had seen. Luna had convinced these...creatures to stop hunting ponies, to live quietly. "I can trust you, Princess. But if vampires are real...I'm not sure..." she shook her head, and Luna put a hoof on her shoulder.

"You should go home and get some rest, Twilight. The Council knows how to handle these situtions. If anything else occurs, you will be the first to know. Remember: Tell no one, not even Celestia, what you have seen."

Twilight nodded. She was feeling a little tired after meeting actual vampires, and some time to clear her head would be most welcome. "I'll remember." she said, giving Luna a small hug. "Goodnight."

With that, she turned and headed towards the castle exit. On her way, though, something out of the corner of her eye caught her attention; a rustling like a curtain blown in the wind. Glancing in that direction, she saw that the door that Luna had appeared from earlier was now hanging open. Curious, she approached the door, looking inside.

A stone staircase led down, deeper into the castle depths. Looking over her shoulder, Twilight began to walk down the steps...