A chill wind blew through the trees around me as I breathed in the brisk air. And though it was indeed refreshing a small part of me had still lamented that I could no longer feel its coolness. A result of what had happened to me fifty years ago. I shook my head in response as I began to recall those frightful days. For you see for well over a millennia Equestria had been in the very grip of war. Three factions, the rogue vampires, the rogue lycans, and the rogue solar channelers all vied for domination of the land. But one by one in what seemed the most dire of times, each was wiped off the face of the world. Though...such a feat was achieved at great cost.

Cities were destroyed, towns were wiped out, and many had lost their lives in what was a near never ending conflict. But through great effort and determination we rebuilt what was once destroyed. We fixed what was once broken. And we mended wounds that had once been deep and unhealing. But even though I had enjoyed the last five decades of peace as most would have, the events of the last month had made me...uneasy to put such things mildly.

However, I in turn could not think of much more of this at the moment so I pushed such thoughts away for the time being and concentrated on something more...desirable. And by that I mean locating a nice meal for this moonlit night. Such was the true reason for my presence in this forest for if I wished to brood I would have done so far more easily elsewhere. This in turn caused a small grin to crawl up my face as I heard a familiar grumbling noise.

"Easy...do not worry we shall fill you with something delightful before the night is out," I stated as I put a hoof to my protesting stomach. And so then I swiveled my ears around searching for any prey large enough to sate me. But at first there was no such luck. A few rabbits, the odd raccoon, and even two squirrels engaged in some sort of quarrel over something important to them apparently.

However, after a few minutes my ears located a heartbeat about one hundred paces from me. It was strong and steady. Truly indicative of one of my favorites. I licked my pointed tongue over fangs in anticipation as I skulked closer to the ground. Then with practiced skill I crept through the forest while not making even the slightest sound. And this continued all the while the inviting heartbeat became greater in my hearing as if some sort of drum leading me on until I saw it. A medium size buck standing alone in the darkness grazing on the forest vegetation.

My grin grew as I realized it seemed to have not noticed me for it remained blissfully unaware of my presence. But as such things usually begin I blurred forward moving at a rate in which it could hardly react to before I leaped onto its back. This of course went over as one would expect as the buck began to flail and thrash attempting to pry its aggressor from itself. And while its attempts were impressive I must admit, they were ultimately futile.

In the blink of a eye I lifted my left hoof and slammed the poor creature in the back of its skull. This resulted in a forced gagging choke out of the deer but it still remained surprising strong. However, its luck did not last long when I made my second follow up blow to the side of its head. And soon that was that. The buck collapsed into a heap below me.

"My my you did indeed put up quite the fight it seems," I said attempting to catch my breath before I added, "Though I regret to inform you that to the victor goes the spoils." I then lower myself to the ground, opened my mouth, and sunk my fangs into the buck's neck.

Blood gushed in pulses into my mouth and I began to lose myself in its taste. For each new mouthful was greedily swallowed with ravenous hunger just as the next arrived. But just as my eyes were about to close in pleasure I heard something. Or should I say I heard nothing. Nothing at all. No animal of any type was making even the slightest sound. Now as one could imagine this was worrisome indeed.

However, even though I felt the fur on the back of my neck stand on end it would have been unwise to let my nervousness known. So I feigned ignorance as I acted like I had not noticed anything at all. Then after a few seconds I began to swivel my ears around whilst searching for any possible danger.

And needless to say it did not take long to discover two strong heartbeats about twenty paces to my right and left respectively. Now normally this would not be cause for alarm, but what was, was how the heartbeats sounded. Instead of the chaotic and quick nature of most animals after my evening meal, they were slow and calm perhaps even calculating. In turn it was quite possible these two were not animals at all.

So with slight amusement I had to admit that this was somewhat of a folly on my end. I had been so caught up with current events and my search for a meal that I had neglected the possibility of an assassination attempt. It would not have been the first time somepony had attempted to "snuff me out" as it were.

But luckily whoever they were, were not masters at their craft as they erroneously made their presence known. So with a devilish grin I picked up two small rocks with my magic and flung each of them into in the direction of the strong heartbeats. This of course resulted in two echoing yelps followed by a hard thump as one of them fell out of a nearby tree. The other however made due with rolling around on the ground like a wounded animal.

I choked back a small laugh in response as I pulled myself away from my meal. I then summoned my scythe before bellowing out, "I KNOW YOU TWO ARE OUT THERE. SHOW YOURSELVES AND FACE ME!"

Some rustling of leaves soon followed before one of the figures stepped out from behind a tree. "Really? Really... you told us to meet you out here all quiet like and this is what we get? I was hiding in that tree for the better part of an...damnit...by Luna I think you broke a tooth!" they groaned.

"Ha at least you didn't get pegged in the flank! I'm gonna be walking funny for weeks!" the other figure griped while limping towards me.

Then when they got closer I discovered it was none other than "Silver Mane" a lycan stallion and "Sharp Fang" the now limping lycan mare. Long story short these two have been metaphorically glued to my side ever since I rescued them fifty years ago from their now ex-living mother, "Gore Gash the Thrasher". Or as she was better known as the decreased leader of the rogue lycans. And also by rescue I mean not only did she abuse them regularly, but she did not even give them names. But regardless of all that one of the main reasons I enjoyed their company was that they had a talent for gathering information.

"Ooooh...yes...I apologize my mind has been anything but at ease as of late. I seemed to have thought you two were assassins," I stated with a hint of embarrassment before I added, "However, since we have found each other I suppose I should inquire about whom I had you follow as of late. Soooo anything a bit off? Anything interesting of note? Did she state anything unusual?"

Silver Mane half narrowed his eyes and glanced over at his sister. "Alright what in Tartartus is going on here? What's with all the hush hush and turning us into blasted stalkers? Shouldn't we...you know be tracking down threats to the kingdom?" he asked clearly annoyed. Sharp Fang seemed to match his displeasure as well.

I unsummoned my scythe and shook my head. "Please just answer the questions," I said in a firm tone.

Silver Mane rolled his eyes before Sharp Fang stated in mild annoyance, "Well lately she has been regularly sneaking out to gulp down mouthfuls of swamp water all while devouring enough flowers to put a botanical garden out of business. If I didn't know any better I'd say she was knocked up. But I know I know vampires cannot be knock up and all. And...oh yes...she also has been bawling her eyes out about her parents being dead and not seeing her on some 'happiest day of her life'."

I bit my lip trying to think of something, anything that would quell their curiosity, but in the end I had to admit defeat. These two were sharp as blades. Simple excuses would never work and additionally I was depressingly horrid at deception. So ultimately, I had figured telling them the truth would be far less unpleasant. Besides...truth be told I needed somepony to talk to about this right now anyway.

"Twilight is 'knocked up' as you put it Sharp Fang," I groaned.

It took a few seconds for it to register. Their face faces went from an amusing state of confusion to absolute bewilderment. Then as their mouths hung open for a few seconds Silver Mane stutter out, "What...what was that? How? How does that even work? I mean I know how it works normally. But isn't that...like...you know...impossible?"

I began to pace back and forth in response before I started laughing nervously to myself. I then slammed my face on the nearest tree a few times before stating "Oh yes...it normally is 'impossible'. Never in well over a thousand years have there been any documented cases and I truly searched for one. My kind have a type of 'fail safe' in our biology that prevents us from breeding. We accept Princess Luna's blood gift and we become sterile. That is part of the price we pay for our powers," I then took a deep breath and added, "However, when such a thing was being developed they apparently did not anticipate what me and Twilight would become. Or should I say what me and Twilight would be exposed to. Namely that we could be used like damn marionettes without our permission!"

Both of them looked far more bewildered than before so I sat down and rubbed my temples. "Alright you may not know this as you probably have never seen us do such a thing but I shall explain. Fifty years ago I took on the role of an advocate for Death. To act as his indirect influence in this world. Twilght on the other hoof was chosen as my counter-balance or Life's advocate. Now in regards to this in times of need, where more of their influence is required, they can take control of our bodies with our permission," I said as I felt my body begin to heat up in anger before adding, "Well it seems after decades their curiosity finally got the better of them and they located a blasted loophole. For apparently when we are sleeping they can enter us freely for a short period of time. And can you guess what they have been doing during that period of time?! Why nothing else but using our damned bodies to rut each other like jackrabbits because apparently no such opportunity ever existed like this before! And to make matters even more fucking amusing their combined influences disrupted our biology juuuuust long enough for Twilight to become pregnant!"

Red and black lightning arced over my body as my blood magic and death energy went temporarily haywire. But before I lost my nerve I took a deep and long breath and forced myself to calm down. My anger soon abated at least partially as a result and I managed to regain most of my composure. Afterwards I stated, "Now in regards to this the Princesses thought that an unmarried royal having a foal would look...scandalous. So to remedy this they all got together and figured it best if me and Twilight were married to prevent any 'issues'. And while I am not fully against such things I was mainly reluctant due to what position I would be forced into..."

After a few seconds of silence Sharp Fang and Silver Mane soon began to wear equally mischievous grins. Then without warning they both acted out some sort of overly dramatic bow before they stated in unison, "All hail our new Prince! Your maaaaajesty!"

A frigid surge raced right down my spine as a horrible shutter overtook my body. To elaborate I dislike fanciful titles and I loathe to be called by them. They do little more than paint a proverbial target on one's back and chain you down with ever greater responsibility. It was horrid enough that I once held the title of Captain and then Lieutenant General in the Lunar forces. But now it seems I would not only be given a far more vilely grandiose title, but I would also receive an even bigger target and yet even moooore crippling stress along with. Needless to say these two jesters knew full well how I felt and capitalized on it. Much to my thorough irritation.

However it was I who had the upper hoof here. For you see I had something in my possession that they probably valued greatly...their dinner... A cruel smile grew on my face as a thought crossed my mind. I then condensed some of the death energy in my body around my right hoof and hovered it over the buck next to me. Needless to say in the span of less than a second they both silenced themselves.

"Ummm...Blood Moon. About that little prince joke you know...it was just a joke right? No need to do anything rash now," Silver Mane croaked out as his eyes darted from the deer to my hoof to me and back again.

"Hmmm I do not knoooow. That was a preeeetty sour jest. And I have seemed to been soooo tense from attempting to figure out a wedding gift for Twilight. Soooo maybe releasing this excess stored energy maaay eeeeaaase my nerves a bit, " I said truly laying it on as I watched both of them twist in the wind.

A small whimper came from Sharp Fang before she shuttered out "Wait wait waiiiit a minute. N-n-now lets be reasonable here. You-u said you needed an idea for a gift well...well...damnit think think think ah HA! Princess Twilight said she was well...missing her parents yeah...yeah that sounds good. Maybe...maybe you could...you know...talk to that Death guy you know...about...erm...that".

I tapped my left fang with my other forehoof thinking for a moment. Truth be told I honestly just wanted to watch them squirm a bit and had no actual intention of turning their midnight meal into stale jerky. For one, I am actually quite the kind-hearted fellow...well most of the time anyway. And two they get rather twitchy when they have not sated their lycan urges in a while.

But regardless of this, Sharp Fang was admittedly on to something. Death did indeed owe me what some would call "big time" for the disaster I found myself in. And perhaps I could lean on that angle to perform some sort of probably bizarre and heavily deranged feat regarding her comments. So in the end I pulled my hoof away from the deer as I heard both Sharp Fang and Silver Mane let out sighs of relief.

"You see...most ponies are far more polite and straight forward when given the proper motivation heh heh heh. Anyway for the record I was just doing that in jest, but thank you for idea. Also do enjoy the deer for I must take my leave. As it seems I have a date with Death if you will," I said as I stuck out my tongue at them.

They both rolled their eyes in response before they shifted and began devouring what remained of that poor buck. And while at first I possessed a small smile listening to them gleefully "go to town" it soon faded as I left them to their devices. What I was going to attempt to request broke just about every rule Death generally upheld being well...Death...as in one way road... In turn my final words as I left the moonlit forest was simply "How do I always get caught up in these messes?"

Author's Note

Hello all. I do hope everyone enjoys the story. As a repeated note I am attempting to make it so that reading the first story is not fully needed. However, please do bear in mind some references may be lost to you. Regardless of this though please leave your comments or perhaps any improvement you believe could better my writing style. Thank you and have a good night.