Live

by I am Memorial

Rating: teen
Tags: Slice of Life, Dark, Romance
Length: 4009

Another part of a series thingy

Do NOT read this story OR description unless you have read Sight first, otherwise you will spoil it for yourself, and certain things probably won't make sense and funny jokes won't be as funny.

Twilight has been watching some crazy stuff start happening. First was a blind stallion rolled into town. His name was Tailwind, and he wound up hooking up with Rainbow Dash. After joining the Wonderbolts they got married and were expecting.
On top of that Pinkie's been disappearing lately, and the other girls seem to be busier than usual. Spike has been off doing dragon things, and Twilight is beginning to feel alone again.

Caraid is a unicorn who is…different. She also has a habit of not fitting in well and is….scary. After entering Ponyville vowing that if she can't find a good reason to exist, she will just end it all.

But, if two misunderstopod lonely unicorns were to meet? Well, of course somethings going to happen.

Published 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC
Last updated 2012-06-17 19:30:37 UTC

Lonely

Twilight sighed pitifully. She still couldn't believe it. First was Dash. The tomboyish mare had hooked up with the most unlikely stallion by the name of Tailwind. Then of course Fluttershy started spending her time with Ciuin. Then Faith had rolled back into town with a stallion Angmar. Next to go were Rarity and Applejack,  who'd started dating last year.

That left Twilight and Pinkie as the two amigos. Since they didn't have anypony else to keep them from hanging out they'd slowly become semi-dependant on each other, but now Pinkie was off with some mystery  pony.

Now she was alone.

Well no, not technically. Spike was still here, but was currently staying at the castle to learn how to control himself better. So yes, Twilight was alone.

"But I've got books!" she cried proudly, before realizing that she'd finished the entire library stock...about 12 times.

Miles away was somepony equally lonely. A lone mare was milling about amongst some trees.

"Why can't I just be normal? Not be something everypony resents. Stupid albinism.

The mare stuck straight out in the night. Both her coat and mane were pure white while her eyes were a reddish pink hue. Of course her albinism wasn't the only thing that made her....unwelcome. Absolutely unnoticeable  unless she opened her mouth, reveling two fangs nestled into her mouth.

Suddenly the bushes around her rustled revealing alone figure. But more began to appear, in no time at all, she had five petrifying stallions staring her down”

"Well what do we have here? A lonely lady? Are you hungry? Cause we have treats for you!" the apparent leader laughed  maniacally with a sadistic smile that would make Nightmare’s heart freeze.

She hated fools like this, the sgudal of the Equestria, that didn't deserve the bith  they had. They needed to besaich and it just so happened that she was extremely thirsty.

"You know, sir, usually I don't accept offers like that, but I am in need of nourishment and you fit the bill." she started, earning surprised yet eager looks from the stallions...until she smiled sweetly and said, "Thank you for your beatha!"

With that the mare immobolized the stallions and feasted on each one. She left nothing left but dried husks. They tasted of rubbish.

'I've got to find something that doesn't taste of sgudal from the bin one of these days, wait, what am I saying, ugh, I hate vampirism!'

Twilight still hated every second of her week.

'Huuhh, nothing to do, nothing to do. Hmmmmmm...Well, there is that one project but no, it needs three ponies. Ummmm, what about, no, I'd need Rarity for that. Grrrr, how bout, no that requires all the girls. Gah! Is there nothing left for me to do by myself Celestia damnit!' She mentally raged, hitting her desk. Just then an old note slipped out of a cubby.

Moonbeam flower- A rare plant that only grows during a full moon. Due to its location in Everfree Forest, very little research has gone into the study of this plant.

'Aha, I've got a plan. Now let’s look at this moon chart, hmmm. Perfect! Tonight’s a full moon!'

Seven hours of prep later, Twilight set out into the expanses of the Everfree Forest.

The mare shifted her bag carefully not wanting to tear the name tag.

"Caraid'

It was tangled in a branch of the tree she was hiding in while a manticore paced around back and forth, intent on finding its meal.

Of course she didn't stand out easily, because thankfully if the beast looked up she'd have the full moon behinds her, making her harder to see.

'Thank Celestia that those things see in monochromatic vision!’ She thought as it stumbled around vainly searching for her.

Finally the beast gave up and left.

After what felt like hours of waiting Caraid made to lower herself from the tree when she heard hoofsteps.

Freezing, so watched in wonder as a lone unicorn, lavander coat, purple mane, red stripe in said mane, trotted along below her.

'Who's this? And what makes them foalish enough to wander around in the Everfree?'

Now that she was thinking about it, she wasn't any smarter than them, as she was doing the same thing.

Pushing away her thoughts, she followed this mare stealthily, wanting to see what she was up to.

"So from my best guess, the flower will be on the highest hill under the moonlight." Twilight whispered to herself.

Her mind didn't even bother to think about the fact that she was in Everfree....alone....at night. But her mind did try to warn her of hidden dangers.

Twilight felt like she was being stared at by something in the dark.

'Knock it off head, it’s nothing!' she grumbled to herself and continued walking. Never the less something was telling her to run, run and never look back.

'Stop it, there's nothing out there!' Twilight yelled at herself.

She made to start trotting along again when a large paw struck her, sending her crashing into a tree 10 hooves away.

Caraid watched in utter horror as the manticore sent the unicorn flying.

'Well, buck, I do heal faster than the abhaist ponies. Time to go save a gorach mare from dying.'

With that Caraid deftly dropped 15 feet into a roll and galloped towards the manticore.

Twilight shook her head, trying to get her vision to clear. Just as it did she saw the clawed paw of a manticore bearing down on her. She knew what those claws would do when they connected.

Oddly enough the only thing she could think of was 'stupid relationships'.

Caraid knew she couldn't stop it with magic, so she threw herself in betwixt the mare and the incoming paw. Of course with her advanced hearing, she could listen to every crack, every break, and every tear as the paw connected.

'Buck me!'

With a scream of pain, she flew through the air, hit a rock and blacked out.

Twilight was about to close her eyes when a pure white mare jumped in front of her.

'Celestia?' she thought, relieved.

Then came her scream of horror as the mare was thrown far.

"Celestia!"

Something in Twilight snapped, and magick began pouring off of her in waves.

"YOU DO NOT ATTACK MY FAMILY!"

With a brilliant flash, the manticore was sent flying miles into the deep recesses of Everfree.

As soon as she calmed, Twilight turned to help Celestia.....only to find that it wasn't Celestia, but a stark white coated and maned mare.

"Oh no, oh no, oh no!" Twilight cried in horror as she saw the ruined bone and skin of her saviour's side. Her horror was not helped from the fact that the ruined mass of flesh and bone that made up the mares side appeared to be moving.

Scared and unsure of what to do Twilight subconciously teleported.

The first thing Caraid realized is that she felt like crap. Her right side throbbed and she had a headache. The second thing she noticed was she was in a magically constructed cage.

Looking around, her best guess was that she was in a library. Focusing her magic, she started to search for a worthwhile book to read.

"Theoretical Possibilites for Attaining Immortality"

Dragging it through the air, she began to read through the introduction, noting that one popular myth for attaining immortality in pop. Culture was vampirism.

'They don't have a clue. Amadans!'

She continued reading, enjoying the material, when a voice cut through the peace that Caraid found when reading.

"So you're awake. I, um, brought you....breakfast....I guess."

It was the unicorn from the previous night, offering her a blood pack, type-o neg. obviously from a hospital.

Caraid nodded, proceeding to figure a way to drink it without spilling it down the front of herself. After a moment of running down a mental check list she magically opened the pack, floating out inch wide spheres of blood that she could consume.

She also noticed that the lavander unicorn was taking notes.

"Albino. That's lack of pigment in the body. That's why my skin, coat, and mane and tail are white. Blood vessels are visible in my eyes, giving them the reddish pink hue. Vamponism. Mostly thought as myth. Extremely rare, originates from a spell cast by Nightmare Moon just over 1000 years ago. Symptoms are inability to create blood through natural means, waxing and waning of power based on lunar cycles, sharpened canines, or fangs if you will, and apparently the spite of any normal pony they meet." Caraid listed off, noting that the mare only wrote down the information about Vamponism. When the mare finished writing Caraid continued.

"You're a scholar obviously, and most likely think that attempting to control me will work....which it won't. Then you will contact the guard to have the 'monster' destroyed. I've accepted this. Not that it matters, my name is Caraid."

The lavander mare calmly put down the quill and paper.

"Why do you think I would have Celestia's guard kill you?"

"Because I'm a vampony....and I'm in a cage." Caraid deadpanned.

"Well I didn't know if you were friendly or not. I had to go by the book."

"So there's a book for capturing Vamponies?"

The lavander mare flushed a little. "No."

"So  then what is your plan?"

"I was thinking of contacting the guards at first, but I realized that it'd be easier if I went straight to Princess Celestia."

Caraid blanched, becoming even paler at the thought (if even possible) and Twilight made notice of it.

"Not a fan of the sun?"

"No, but I do know that upon Nightmare's banishment Celestia ordered anything tainted by her magic’s touch be destroyed. I fall under 'tainted'."

"Well, you don't seem evil..."

"That's because I'm not. Evil doesn't jump in between incompetent unicorns and manticores. Logically the normal pony doesn't do that either. Don't ask me why I did." Caraid deadpanned again.

"Well I'm Twilight Sparkle."

After not receiving an answer from the vampony, Twilight shifted a stack of her favourite books by Caraid and walked away.

Dear Princess Celestia,

Today I came across mention of an interesting disease called vamponism. Apparently Vamponies(not the dumb movie ones) used to exist. I was wondering what your thoughts were on the subject.

Your Faithful Student

Twilight Sparkle.

Dearest Twilight,

I am interested to know where you found mention of such things. Anyway, if you must know, vamponies did exist. They were bloodthirsty, mindless monsters that preyed on the innocent and unwary. I had thought them eradicated, but if you have knowledge of any surviving vamponies, you must inform me at once.

Your Loving Ruler

Princess Celestia.

Twilight was pacing in front of the cage, desperately trying to figure out what to do. She loved and trusted Celestia like a mum, but logically what Celestia said didn't add up. Celestia had called them bloodthirsty and mindless, but Caraid had been cordial, saved her from a manticore, and most importantly the vampony had already read through the whole stack of Twilight's favourite books. The WHOLE stack!

"Something troubling you Twilight?"

It was Caraid, who had just woken up.

"Well, yes. I messaged Celestia, only asking about vamponies, real ones anyway. She called you bloodthirsty and mindless."

"Ok?"

"Now while I love Celestia I can't help but think she's wrong about this because her logic is flawed."

At this point Caraid had accepted death, and was getting tired of waiting for it.

"Well, if you brain is giving you so much trouble, think with your heart!" the albino mare snapped.

"Huh?"

Sighing, Caraid recited a line taught to her when she was a filly.

"Bhur cridhe bidh ceart a dh'aindeoin na cach abair bhur inntinn do mothaich cho firinn."

"What does that mean? I've never heard that language?" Twilight asked, utterly amazed at having something new in front of her.

"It's a dead language, it means 'Your heart will be correct despite what others tell your mind to understand as truth' or in other words, since you obviously fear me, and I seem to be dangerous, get on with the fetching of Celestia."

Caraid then closed her eyes, intent on keeping them closed until it was over.

“You going to move? Or do you just want to stay there from now on?" Twilight joked.

As Caraid opened her eyes she realized that the magic cage bars were gone. The albino mare had one question, "Why?"

"Well you said go by my heart. My heart told me you were a good pony." Twilight smiled.

"Soooo, what now?"

"Well, I don't know..... what do vamponies do in their off time?"

Caraid couldn't help but start laughing. After a minute of laughter Twilight joined in.

"What's so funny Caraid?" Twilight wheezed in between laughs.

"That is by far the dumbest thing I have EVER heard!" Caraid replied, calming down slightly. "What do you think I do in my off time, hang from the ceiling? I eat, or read, or think."

"Okay, I'll admit, it was a dumb question." Twilight giggled.

"You sure it works?" Caraid questioned.

"Well I've had a week’s worth of practice. But yes, I'm positive that to anypony except my friend you don't have fangs. Now come one. I really need to find Applejack and let her know that Celestia wants her to cater for the Royal Hearts and Hooves day party." Twilight urged.

"But why do I have to come with?"

"Because you do nothing but sit in my house all day. You need to get out and about. I don't know what you're so afraid of Caraid." Twilight reassured her albino friend.

"Cause the fact that I'm a uile-bheist couldn't possible get everypony to freak out."

Twilight, who'd picked up on the dead language, recognized this phrase.

"Well you're not a monster, now calm down."

"Fine."

Caraid knew she was being stared at. The points and whispers were making it obvious. Thankfully they weren't in town that long and quickly found themselves on Sweet Apple Acres.

Twilight and Caraid had spent about ten minutes wandering around before passing the barn to head to the small house.

"Twiligh' run, save yerself!"

Twi and Caraid turned to see Applejack swinging an axe at the albino pony. Letting out a yelp, Caraid ducked as the axe narrowly missed her. Caraid made to run for it, but was confronted by Big Mac, wielding a club standing in front of Granny Smith, who had a crossbow trained on her.

"So Twi, nice friends you have here." the vampony smiled nervously, trying to control her involuntarily shaking body.

Twilight immediatly grabbed the shaking albino mare and moved in front of her.

"What are you three doing?!" Twilight demanded. "Are you guys crazy!?"

At this Applejack stepped forward. "Sugarcube, I know this is going to soun' crazy as hay, but that there’s a vampony yer tryin ta save!"

"Really? I would never have guessed! I know Caraid's a vampony AJ. Now put down your weapons. Why do you even have those?"

After about twenty minutes of talk, Aj explained that the Apple family came from an extensive line of vampony hunters.

"And since they always attacked us, we had no reason to believe vamponies were good." AJ finished.

Caraid couldn't help but punch a massive hole into the age old logic. "Yeah, and if some craicte pony came after me with a weapon, I wouldn't be in a talking mood either...."

After chuckling nervously Twilight explained about Hearts and Hooves day in Canterlot in another two weeks time, then took Caraid and headed home.

"For the Princess' prized pupil, you sure don't look eager about the visit." Caraid noted.

"It's a few things. First off you have to come with me. I can't risk leaving you here for somepony to stumble across, but second is I hate Hearts and Hooves day."

Caraid couldn't help but laugh at Twilight's odd logic.

"So never mind the fact that Celestia might have me killed on sight, you're just worried about a date?"

Twilight blushed, before turning away from her.

"I'm sorry Twi, I didn't mean anything by it. So is there anypony you're interested in?" No answer, so Caraid nudged her a few times. "C'mon, I know there has to be somepony. Let's see. Cheerilee?"

Twilight shook her head.

"Nurse Redheart?"

Again Twilight shook her head.

Then Caraid realized something.

"I'm an idiot, here I am assuming your door swings the same way mine does, you must be straight. Sorry."

Suddenly Twilight stiffened. "You mean, you're, into....mares?"

Caraid nodded hesitantly, but was relieved when Twilight broke into a huge smile.

"If you really must know, Caraid, there is a certain mare that I find attractive, fun to be around, and I wouldn't mind dating. That is if she felt the same way."

Caraid wasn't stupid, she knew immediately who Twilight meant, and was overjoyed at the idea, but wasn't about to miss the oppurtunity to pull one over on the mare.

"So what's the colour of the lucky mares’ coat?"

"White."

"Hmmm, Rarity or Vinyl? Thats a shame they’re both taken."

Twilight, absolutely clueless to the joke, looked mildly annoyed.

"No, it's neither of them. Who else has a white coat?"

"Sweetie-Belle? Wow Twi, that's kind of....extreme."

This time Twilight realized the Caraid was just being difficult. On pure whim she leaned forward and kissed the albino mare.

Caraid kissed back enthusiastically before reality suddenly set in.

"Uhm, Twi. This is great and all, but what about Celestia? She was very clear that she wasn't a fan of any vampony, and I don't want you getting into any trouble. Maybe we shouldn't..."

Twilight placed a hoof to Caraid's lips and uttered a single sentence that told the red eyed mare everything she needed to hear.

"Bhur cridhe bidh ceart a dh'aindeoin na cach abair bhur inntinn do mothaich cho firinn. I believe I heard that from some extremely smart pony once." Twilight smiled.

"I believe you did!" Caraid grinned back.

"Stay still Caraid, even Rainbow Dash didn't struggle this much!" Rarity cried.

"That's because she's got a second foal on the way! Now stop jabbing me with needles." Caraid grumbled.

"Well I'm done anyway, what do you think?"

Caraid trotted over to the mirror to give herself a look. She was garbed in black silk, which contrasted her white, and made her red-pink eyes pop.

She had silk anklets on her fore hooves, and a small knee length silk dress draped over her flank.

Twilight's reflection joined hers, garbed in a floor length lavander silk dress the same colour as her mane.

Twilight's reflection then spoke up. "I think you look beautiful."

"Nothing compared to you Twi."

With that the two kissed, but were broken up by Rarity.

"Yes yes, quite romantic, but the carriage awaits us."

"What are you thinking of Tia?" Luna inquired. "The party is in an hour but you seem oddly deep in thought."

"Well, if you must know Luna. Twilight recently sent me a letter inquiring about vamponies and has also been sending me less letters. Remembering what I wrote about vamponies, I realize that maybe she doesn't understand how evil they actually are. I just don't want her to think me cruel or evil."

"I'm sure she's fine Tia, probably just getting ready for tonight. I here she's bringing herself a marefriend too."

"So, Celestia smiling, we're safe, Celestia wielding a fence post, run like hay." Caraid giggled with Twilight.

"Yes, something like that." Twilight replied, rolling her eyes, despite giggling as well.

Twilight was walking towards the castle to meet Celestia with Caraid following her, albeit very jittery.

"Princess Celestia!" Twilight and Caraid made to bow, but Twilight was stopped when Celestia lifted her with magic.

"How many times do I have to tell you Twilight, you don't need to bow to me. So who's your marefriend?" Celestia asked, lifting a rather nervous Caraid up to Twilight's side.

"This is Caraid!"

"Why Twilight. I didn't know you learned Scolts-Gaelic! I thought that language died centuries ago." Celestia smiled proudly.

At this Caraid spoke up, "Actually I'm the one who speaks it, and Caraid is my name your Highness."

"Please, call me Celestia." the regal alicorn replied warmly, perfectly hiding the fact that she swore she felt Nightmare's taint in the mare. 'Knock it off Celly, you're just being paranoid.'

"Told you there wouldn't be a problem." Twilight smiled.

"So you were right, whatever." Caraid smiled.

Looking around, Dash and Tailwind were smiling at their young colt, who wore a foal sized dress jacket. Applejack and Rarity were dancing. Pinkie was with none other than Braeburn, and Fluttershy and Ciuin were most likely in the garden.

"So everypony's having a good time. I'm really glad I came with you Twi." Caraid smiled.

Twilight smiled back and leaned in for a kiss.

During said kiss, somepony accidentally bumped Caraid, and one of her fangs stabbed into Twilight's lower lip.

"Damn, I'm sorry Twi."

It wasn't bad, similiar to if Twilight had bit her cheek while chewing.

"Not a problem at all. Easy fi-"

Twilight was cut off as Celestia's magic both pulled her away from Caraid while grabbing the latter and holding the now shaking albino aloft.

"I was right! You are tainted!" Celestia roared at the quivering vampony. "Twilight, don't worry, I will find the spell that she used to ensnare you and destroy it. Then I will destroy this beast!"

At this point everypony in the room had frozen to stare at the scene.

The suspended mare, mouth wide in fear, was obviously a vampony. Fangs wide to the world, many ponies began to back away in fear.

Celestia pulled an old sword from the wall and started moving towards the vampony.

Twilight was begging her to stop, but Celestia coldy brushed her off.

"You do not have hold over your mind Twilight, but I will fix that!"

The sword was hefted up.....and a small lavander hoof struck across Celestia's face.

The Princess froze, shocked that her faithful student Twilight, the mare she'd practically raised as her own daughter, struck her.

The shock was so much that Celestia accidentally released her magic and Caraid dropped to the floor.

In seconds Twilight was holding the sobbing mare close.

"It's ok Caraid. I'm sorry, I'm so sorry."

Celestia suddenly realized that she had made a terrible mistake.

"Twilight, I...."

But with a purple flash Twilight was gone, taking Caraid as far away from the Princess as possible.

All that was left for Celestia was a small lavander bubble floating towards her. The Princess reached out to it and open touching her hoof, popped.

"Bhur cridhe bidh ceart a dh'aindeoin na cach abair bhur inntinn do mothaich cho firinn. My heart is with Caraid."

A.N.~ Alrigh' then lads! I've got my wonderful chapter done.

Lots of Scots-Gaelic in this one. I'm sure there's and internet translator some where you guys can use. I'll translate most of the bigger things, but some words like bith-life or beatha-life/existence should be easy to place.

Blackice, I've got bugger all for ideas on where those spaces came from, they just popped up when I copy pasted over. How did you completely and totally fail to see the Twi-OC ship coming, and WOW Right over your head with the lesbian admittance from Twi.

Also, when they kiss they've known eachother for just over about two to two and a half weeks or so(note that they don't claim to be in love, but they do kiss. Oviously they had some built up feelings, no?). On that note, you've got a bookish mare that has never found anypony she's truly liked that could keep up with her(knowledge wise) and Caraid has been alone her whole life, and it just so happens that her best possible match is in the first pony she becomes acqauinted with.

And I officially shit myself laughing at the Twilight mad Twilight smash comment.