A Council of Shadows

"Come on now. It's late." Fluttershy urged the cat into her home, looking up at the stars. Normally, she allowed her kitties to roam freely, but this one had hurt her paw a few days ago, and it was still healing. "You don't want to...to..." she looked back again, her brow furrowed. A chill had just passed by her, but she hadn't felt a breeze. How strange. "We better hurry." she told the cat, nudging her tail with a hoof.

The chill came again, and Fluttershy realized, it wasn't passing her, it was rushing over her. What was stranger was that it was familiar...like a long forgotten friend. A small wooshing sound cut through the silence, and Fluttershy glanced back, nervous.

The cat scampered as Fluttershy froze, her eyes wide. She was looking directly into a set of glowing red eyes like none she had seen before. The gaze pierced deep into her, reaching in and drawing out that chill, coaxing it to grow...

"Princess Sparkle!"

Twilight turned around at last; Lone Blaze had been following her the entire way back from Canterlot, trying to get her attention. Of course, with her friends in danger, she hadn't really been paying attention to the cries, but now that she had confirmed Ponyville was still there, and the residents didn't seem to be in any more of a panic then they were, she was willing to devote some time to whatever the vampire was trying to say. "Yes, what is it?"

Lone Blaze caught up, shaking her head. "You can't just go rushing off on your own. Whoever this vampire is, they're clever and powerful. You've already felt their gaze."

"Yeah, I was going to ask, what was that about?" Twilight said, shaking her head. The feeling of her mind being ensnared by the vampire was still fresh, and she had a hard time shaking it off. "They just...they controlled me so easily..."

Lone Blaze smiled slightly, her eyes glimmering "Twilight Sparkle. Do a little dance." her voice had a certain echo to it, and Twilight found herself in the middle of a jig. She caught herself and gave Lone a glare.

"My apologies. I'm trying to prove a point. Kill a random pony." The echo returned, but Twilight only gasped, taking a step back. "Vampires can influence your thoughts and actions, but there's not one that can force you to do something utterly against who you are. At least, not anymore."

Twilight resumed her walk. "What do you mean, not anymore?" she asked.

Lone Blaze sighed, her brow furrowed in thought. "They mentioned the Royals, correct? The head of the original six vampire clans and the strongest vampires. It was said they commanded every other vampire by the nature of their blood, and at their full strength, their gaze could make a pony do...anything"

Twilight shivered; the temperature around them had dropped several degrees in a matter of seconds, it seems. "If they're so strong, why isn't Equestria under their control?"

"Survival, simply put." Lone Blaze explained, as they approached the castle. "The war between our races was inflicting a heavy toll, but the Royals weren't willing to compromise. Most of them were killed after we made the Pact. Oh, hello there."

"Hello..." Fluttershy said, shying away from Lone Blaze; her eyes had filled with something beyond her normal fear. She was terrified of the vampire.

"Well. I suppose I better begin my investigation." Lone remarked, after a few moments of silence. "Remember, you two. Stay together."

Moving over to Fluttershy, Twilight nodded. "Of course. Fluttershy, why don't you come inside, tell me what has you so worried?" she ushered her friend into the castle.

"Well..." Fluttershy started, as they walked in. "I wanted to talk to you as soon as possible. Last night, I was tending to my animals, when...when I saw something. Something like your friend, there."

A vampire? It could have been the one that attacked Jade Dream and herself! Twilight quickly looked Fluttershy over, but didn't see any marks or wounds. Breathing a sigh of relief, she asked "So what did this something want?" she asked, once they arrived in the central room.

"You."

The cowled figure was sitting on the central throne, clearly waiting. Twilight stepped back, her horn glowing, but Fluttershy was still walking forward. "Fluttershy, get away!"

"Why would I do that?" Fluttershy whispered; her body was changing as she advanced, just like it had during the mishap with the fruitbats. By the time she reached the figure on the throne, Flutterbat had returned.

"I have to admit." the figure remarked, sitting up properly "I was surprised that what I sensed wasn't a true vampire. But it was a simple matter, after my last meal, to fully awaken your friend." she patted Fluttershy on the head.

"Jade Dream...you killed her, and used that power to take control of Fluttershy..." Twilight gasped.

The figure laughed, and shook her head. "No, no, no, my dear. That sheep didn't have nearly enough life force for that. It was your blood..." she licked her lips. "A shame we were interrupted earlier."

Twilight's hoof went to her neck at once. But there hadn't been a mark. Luna had checked herself! How could this vampire have taken her blood?

"Simple." The figure threw back her hood, revealing the pure white mare underneath. "You're wondering how I drank your blood without leaving a mark? Those of Royal Descent have a few...abilities, as I'm sure you've recently been made aware. That's how I'm controlling her." she motioned at Fluttershy. "As a newly born vampire, her mind is naturally subservient to me."

"You...you're on the Council..." Twilight realized. "You're..."

The vampire sighed. "This is getting dull, and it's not like our time is unlimited." her eyes glowed brightly, filling Twilight's vision again.

Not this time...Twilight focused on her friend, on Fluttershy who needed her. Her eyes slid over to Fluttershy...only to be met with another set of those magical eyes.

"Look back, please...it'll be easier if you don't fight it..." Fluttershy whispered with a smile.

"Quite true." the vampire agreed, Twilight's gaze pulled back to hers. Once again, Twilight was pulled into those eyes, her mind buckling under their raw force. There was no use in fighting it, it was too powerful. Submitting was all Twilight could do before something so overwhelming.

The vampire beckoned, and Twilight walked towards her, enthralled. She stopped before her own throne, and the vampire stroked her cheek with a hoof. "So very beautiful...offer me your neck. Offer me your life."

There was nothing to do but to obey. Twilight tilted her head, exposing her neck to the vampire before her...and the vampire took the invitation. Her teeth sunk into Twilight's neck, and drank. Even as she felt her life ebbing away, taken by the vampire, Twilight couldn't pull away. All she could do was stand there until she lost her strength, slumping into the vampires embrace as she continued to drink from her.

Once the vampire was finished, she dropped Twilight to the floor. Looking down at the prone alicorn, she smirked, blood dripping from her lips. Twilight was still, her heart slowing to a crawl...and then stopping. The vampire stood up slowly, a blood red glow around her horn.

"Now, then. Rise. Heed the words of your Queen, and join my ranks of the undead." the vampire laughed as the glow surrounded Twilight's body, which stood up before her. Her eyes opened, now an empty red as she stood before her new Queen.

Twilight was...aware. Barely. The chill that had been haunting her all day had become glacial, and she couldn't get her thoughts together. She knew she was standing before Fluttershy, one of the guards...Sanguine Glow, her Queen.

Her Queen. Of course. She had been gifted with the highest honor a Royal Vampire could bestow, to be reawakened into the night, to serve in her undying court. She immediately fell to her knees once more. Her mind was still fogged, but she knew one truth: Queen Sanguine would lead her in the right direction.

"Ah, my children...the hour of our return is at hand, thanks to you, my devoted servant..." Sanguine lifted Twilight's chin with a smile. "For now, we hunt, and plan. We still have one more obstacle left before we can reclaim our rightful throne..."