Ancients Arise Book 1: Blood of Nightmares

by Nightmare_Legends

Rating: teen
Tags: Adventure, Alternate Universe, Anthro, Dark
Length: 1022

Twilight, Her Firends, and Epic Inkwell embark on a mystical journey to discover the secrets behind a book they find in the old Equestrian Archives that describe ancient times before the Princesses' Rule.

Long ago, Star Swirl the Bearded traveled all across the pony realm. He visited lands that none thought existed, visited creatures of variety races, and discovered magic that even the gods would fear. He recorded his findings-75 long years worth of it-into a journal.
And now Twilight has that journal. She intends to find out what Star Swirl meant when he writes, "Ancient Gods"

Blood of Nightmares
Shining Armor was just promoted to Captain in the Equestrian Military. However, Celestia reveals to him that Equestria has been fighting a secret war against a powerful race that many thought were legends: Vampire Ponies. Shining Armor soon faces a mountain of problems with the new recruits and the growing threat.
And then he engages combat with the one pony that Celestia forbid him to not, leaving him incapacitated.

Astral Fang and Blood Star are twins, but they do not know it. Raised on opposite ends of the Kingdom, Blood and Astral think that all is well; until a murder happens before both of their eyes. As Blood and Astral investigate, they both realize that something dark is brewing in Nocturnaque. Something that dates back to the start of the Current King's rule….
And what does their real parents have to do with it?

Published 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC
Last updated 2015-11-06 18:18:34 UTC

Prologue: Of Darkness and Myths

“Do you have them?” A soft whisper escaped the stallion’s maw. He was cloaked, so most of his features weren’t visible. But his silver mane hung over his purple eyes that gleamed in the firelight from the dying streetlight. He was in an alleyway, where he decided the meeting place. A mare stood before him, cradling two bundles in her arms that were shivering in the winter night.

“Indeed, I have them, Bright Vein.” The mare had beautiful white fur and a onyx mane with crimson highlights. She shifted a bit, looking around nervously.

“You raised the alarm, didn’t you, Scarlet Moon?” Bright asked, already knowing the answer.

Scarlet huffed. “You know how hard it is to find twins?” He hissed softly. “These don’t even look like twins!”

He raised an eyebrow. “Then why do you have them?”

“Because they’re Blood twins. They-” She hesitated. “They will bring him down. They are our only chance.”

Bright sighed. “Let us not waste time.” He said. “As agreed, you will have the ‘Older’ Twin, and I will have the ‘Younger’ Twin. You will raise him in the North, and I in the South. They must not meet each other until they are ready. Understand?”

The mare nodded, and handed him one of the two she had. “On his arm, they tagged him with the name ‘Astral Fang’.” She held the child she had closely to her chest. “This one’s name is ‘Blood Star’.”

Bright shivered. “Those names are fit for Kings. Raise Blood well; he’ll be an excellent noble in the King’s court.”

Scarlet half smiled. “Raise Astral well, for he’ll be a fit warrior to take his  life.” She bowed slightly to Bright, and then hurried off down the street, moving in the shadows. Bright looked down at the sleeping baby in his arms and smiled. “The wife will adore you, child.” He said, and hurried away at his own pace.

**Untold Amount of years later**

“Ohmygoshohmygoshohmygoshohmygoshohmygosh!” Twilight squealed in excitement as she wrapped her arms around the colt and lifted him up off of the ground. “I can’t believe what you said was true! You do have it!” She laughed happily as the soft ash-grey coated colt struggled to breath.

Rarity, Rainbow Dash, and Applejack watched in confusement as Twilight practically danced-hugged around with this colt in her arms.His orange, aqua, and black mane swung around as Twilight danced. “T-Twilight!” The colt gasped, tapping the mare’s shoulder. “I-I can’t-!”

“Sorry!” Twilight exclaimed and set the gasping colt down. His wide purple eyes were blinking as he tried to regain his breath.

“Darling, who is that?” Rarity asked, pointing to the colt who was wheezing. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen him before.

The colt wore a white clean t-shirt with black pants and had a short luxurious robe that went around his shoulders. His unicorn horn curved back, and it reminded the mares the way Sombra’s horn looked. Twilight chuckled and ruffled the colt’s mane. “This little guy here is Epic. Epic Inkwell.” She smiled happily.

“Don’t call me little.” Epic snorted.

Rainbow Dash raised an eyebrow. “Where have I heard that name before…?” She put a finger to her chin, thinking.

Twilight rolled her eyes, as if that was a stupid question. “Well, he isn’t unheard of. He is the Historian of this Kingdom.”

All of the mares’ jaws dropped, and they stared at the colt. Epic snorted and looked at Twilight. “Told you. You owe me now.” He ruffled his mane. “Take care of the book, and ah, make a copy or something. I want it back soon.” He rubbed the back of his head, and waved at the girls. “Hey, ladies. Nice to meet you. Don’t bother introducing yourselves, since I already know all of you.” He shrugged and turned around to head back out of the castle. At the door, he stopped and turned around. “Oh yeah! Finish up your report, and I’ll be back next week.” He shoved his hands into his pockets and walked out.

As the door closed, Twilight turned around t see her friends’ shocked expressions. “What?” She asked, holding a thick black book in her hand.

“Whaddya mean what?!” Rainbow exclaimed. “How is he the Historian?! He’s too young!”

“I’ma hafta agree with Rainbow, sugacube.” Applejack commented. “Now, ah understand how ye gotta be the Princess’ prized pupil, but how can a colt like him be a historian? It jus doesn’t add up.”

The girls followed Twilight as she walked to the library she was making. “Simple; Epic has a lot of talent, and Celestia sees him as a worthy historian. Just like she saw me as a worthy student.” She set the book on the desk next to the shelf.

“But, dear, what they are trying to say is,” Rarity interrupted the next thing Twilight was going to say. “-isn’t the name Epic Inkwell from over 500 years ago? How can he have that name? Is it a pen name?”

The mares looked at Twilight for a response. Twilight turned around. “Huh. I find it interesting I didn’t mention it to you before.” She went over to the bookshelf and pulled out the thick journal that she and her friends wrote their daily experiences in. “It’s not a pen name,” Twilight said, then explained so casually, “Epic’s about 600 years old.”

Their eyes bulged. “What?!” All three of them exclaimed in unison. “How?!”

Twilight giggled and said, “Simple; he’s a vampony. An immortal race that feeds off of blood.” She turned back around and her ears folded down slightly. “What? Haven’t I mentioned them before? When my Big Brother told them about me?”

Applejack coughed. “Sugacube, ah don’t think you’ve told us much.”

“And what does Shining have to do with ‘vamponies’?”

Twilight shook her head. “ugh, I hate I didn’t get a chance to explain.” She looked up at them. “Might as well sit down. This is a long story.”

A groan came from Rainbow, but they all sat in chairs. “Let’s see...ah!” Twilight said. “Well, Shining wasn’t Captain of the Guard when he was promoted…”