1000+ years ago, in the Crystal Empire, there lived a lovely crystal unicorn named "Radiant Rose". She was a shy mare who kept to herself most of the time. She loved to use her gem magic to grow gem roses in her garden and sell them in the market place. She also loved to read about several other types of magic from all across Equestria. She lived in a large gem house that she built herself with her magic. Every room was themed of a different gem.
One cold, foggy night, Radiant Rose was on her way home when she was approached by a pale, weak-looking stallion who looked half-dead.
"So...thirsty." said the stallion.
Being the kind mare she was, Radiant Rose knelt before him.
"How may I help you?" She asked.
"Blood." the stallion whispered.
"What?" Radiant Rose asked.
"Just a little blood is all I ask." the stallion desperately begged.
Radiant Rose could now see this young stallion was a Vampony and, under the moonlight, he looked like he hadn't fed in weeks and was so thin, he could turn to dust any moment.
The Vamponies were a small, rare tribe. There was two types of Vamponies. There was "Nobles" or "Pure-bred" Vamponies who were born Vamponies and there were "Slaves" or "Servants" who were mortal ponies who were turned into Vamponies by being bitten by Nobles and serve there masters for all time.
Radiant Rose looked into the Vampony's weak, tired eyes and her heart melted. She lifted the stallion and took him to her house. She laid him on a bed in her guest room. As she was doing so, she could hear the poor Vampony whimper in pain. Radiant Rose looked the stallion over and saw how thin and frail he really was.
"What was it you needed, again?" asked Radiant Rose.
"Blood, milady." he said with great strain.
"How did you get this bad?" asked Radiant Rose.
"I have come a long way. All the way from Trottsylvania. I am seeking a mare to make my servant for my 'coming of age'. I have just turned 1000 years old and must find my first servant before I can return home. I have not fed in about 1 or 2 months. I fear I may perish before sunrise." explained the Vampony.
"May I ask your name?" asked Radiant Rose.
"Oh, how rude of me. I am 'Silver Fang'." He introduced himself.
"I am 'Radiant Rose'." Radiant Rose introduced herself.
Silver Fang smiled weakly.
"A lovely name for a lovely mare." said Silver Fang.
Radiant Rose blushed.
She laid on the bed next to Silver Fang and offered her neck to him.
"Take my blood." said Radiant Rose.
Silver Fang could not believe his eyes and ears.
"What!!? Are you sure? You are aware that you will either be my servant or die, right?" said Silver Fang.
"I am aware of that. But, I cannot just sit here and watch you die like this." Radiant Rose said as she moved closer.
Silver Fang hesitated a little before embracing Radiant Rose and slowly sank his fangs into her neck. He drank enough to regain his strength and left enough for Radiant Rose to live, sort of.
Her body felt like it was breaking 1000 times before she passed out in Silver Fang's arms.
The next night, Radiant Rose woke up to see a strong, noble-looking pale grey Vampony stallion with his white mane brushed and tied back into a pony tale (no pun intended). She could now see he had a unicorn horn along with bat-like wings. She was entranced by all of this until she noticed she had no heartbeat. She panicked a little until Silver Fang embraced her and rubbed her back to comfort her.
"I cannot thank you enough for your kindness and sacrifice to me." Silver Fang thanked Radiant Rose.
Radiant Rose was confused until she noticed that not only did she have no heartbeat, her coat was paler, her mane got silver-white streaks, she had grown fangs, her eyes turned blood-red, she had bat-like wings, and her cutie mark turned from a sparkling pink rose to a shadowy black rose. She knew this would happen. Yet, she was still shocked and afraid.
"It seems I have become a whole different pony. no longer am I "Radiant Rose". I am now bound to the shadows. Never will I feel the Radiance of the sun again. I am now a flower that blooms in blood and shadows. I am now a "Shadow Rose". This is both a blessing and a curse. I will only feed on the guilty and spare the innocent. And, I will serve you with all of my power and loyalty. I am now your servant and your companion for all eternity. I now have a purpose in death as I had none in life. And for this, I thank you, my Lord." She said as she bowed to her new Master.
Silver Fang smiled with pride and happiness.
"There is no need for the formalities, Ms. Rose. You saved my life and I gave you a purpose. I will be a fair Master to you. I will keep you safe, fed, anything you need, I will give you. As long as you remain loyal to me and stay by my side as my servant and companion, I will be there for you, Milady." Silver Fang said with a gentle smile
Shadow Rose relaxed and smiled at her savior. She was ready for her new life in the shadows with her Master. She stood up, ready to leave the Crystal Empire to go to Trottsylvania. Both Vamponies walked out of the house and Shadow Rose used her magic to turn the house into one small crystal and placed it into her saddlebag. Silver Fang was impressed by Shadow Rose's magic.
A few nights later, they arrived at a castle in Trottsylvania, where the Vampony clan lived. Shadow Rose moved closer to Silver Fang as they entered the castle. They were surrounded by many Nobles and their Servants and Slaves. Shadow Rose clung to her Master as they moved toward the King of the Vamponies. Both of them bowed before him.
"So, you finally return, my son." said the clan Head.
Shadow Rose was surprised to be the servant of the Prince of the Vampony Clan.
"I am 'Lord Crimson Fang' King of the Vamponies." He introduced himself.
Later, there was a great feast to celebrate the Prince's return. All Vamponies, Nobles and Servants, were in attendance. Shadow Rose was given a black leather collar with a red crystal made of her Master's blood. It's a way to identify which Noble a servant belongs to. All of them were required to wear one. She did not mind at all. Shadow Rose stood with Silver Fang all night long. They fed and danced the whole night until sunrise. Shadow Rose slept next to Silver Fang while other Servants slept in the Servant Quarters. Shadow Rose was a special exception. She was happy and ready for her new life with her kind, noble Master.
Centuries go on as Shadow Rose learned to feed, fly, ect. She fed only on ponies she deemed "evil". She searved her master with pleasure and loyalty and Silver Fang protected her and made sure she was fed and happy.
One night, the king summoned Silver Fang and Shadow Rose into the throne room. When they arrived, they were told that the changelings had a new queen and that he received an alliance proposition from her. They were to go to the changeling hive and make the alliance official.
Some days later, the King, Prince Silver Fang, and Shadow Rose arrived at the Changeling Hive. They were greeted by a changeling guard to guide them through the hive and stopped in the throne room and met Chrysalis, Queen of the changelings. Shadow Rose had a bad feeling about her the moment she saw her.
The Queen took the vamponies on a tour around the hive until the came to the nursery were there were changeling eggs everywhere. Some of them were hatching right then and there. There were many hissing and growling larvae all over the place. Then, Shadow Rose noticed one larva that looked scared and hiding in his shell. She walked up to him and nuzzled him gently. The larva smiled as Shadow Rose cradled him with her magic and rocked him to sleep. Shadow Rose laid down and placed the larva on her side as he slept comfortably. Chrysalis's and the other vamponies' jaws dropped to Tartarus and back at this sight. They did not dare to ruin this moment as they left the nursery to Shadow Rose and let her watch over the little larva named "Thorax.
The alliance lasted many years. They fought vampony hunters and used the power of numbers against them. Shadow Rose raised Thorax separate from the others until he could move around the hive on his own due to his gentle nature. Silver Fang and Shadow Rose protected each other from hunters and fed on their blood after the changelings fed on their love. Shadow Rose had the feeling that she and the other vamponies were being used.
One night, Shadow Rose heard screaming coming from a room she never seen before in the hive. To her horror, all of the vamponies were all gone. She ran in to see her master beaten and bloody with a silver stake in his chest. Shadow Rose ran to her master's side and asked what happened.
"W-we were being *cough*...used. Chrysalis used us to *cough*..." Silver Fang spoke with great strain and weakness in his voice as he coughed up blood.
"What?...To what, Master?" Shadow Rose asked with tears and desperation in her eyes.
"S-save...*cough*...yourself." said Silver Fang as his body went limp and turned to dust.
Shadow Rose honored her master's last orders and flew away as fast as her wings could take her. She returned to where the Chrystal Empire once was and was shocked to see it all gone. She screamed in grief and shock. She flew to Canterlot and settled in the underground crystal mines and only surfaced to feed at night on anypony she could lure into an ally with her magical voice.
It was not long before Princess Celestia caught wind of this and sent the royal guard to capture Shadow Rose and bring her to face her punishment. Shining Armor, Captain of the Royal Guard, led them that night to catch the "evil, bloodthirsty killer".
That night, when Shadow Rose came up to the surface, the guards took her by surprise and caught her with silver chains and muzzle to prevent any bites. Shadow Rose struggled and resisted with all of her strength until the silver weakened her enough. They brought her to Princess Celestia to face judgement. Celestia saw Shadow Roses collar and knew she was not born a vampony. She summoned a large, red crystal mirror and casted a spell to split Shadow Rose from Radiant Rose. Though she retained her immortality and eternal youth, she no longer had to feed on pony blood. She still had all of her memories and wished revenge for her beloved master. She also no longer had her wings or fangs. She looked exactly like she did before she was turned. She even had a heartbeat again. It was like she was dragged back to the life she had before. She kept her collar on in her master's memory. She still lived in the mines as she felt more at home. She also made a job for herself selling her crystal roses in the market to be able to buy food and stuff. The only thing missing in her life was somepony to share it with.
The Red Chrystal Mirror was kept with Radiant Rose in a dark, sealed room in the mines. It was not long before the evil, blood-thirsty vampony in the mirror started to torment Radiant Rose with her pain and regret.
[Radiant]
It's over now I know inside
No pony will ever know
The sorry tale of Shadow Rose
And those who died, no pony must ever know
They'd only see the tragedy
They'd not see my intent
The shadow of her evil
Would forever kill the good that I had meant
[Radiant]
Am I a good mare?
Am I a mad mare?
It's such a fine line between a good mare and a...
[Shadow]
Do you really think
That I would ever let you go?
Do you think I'd ever set you free?
If you do I'm sad to say,
It simply isn't so.
You will never get away from me!
[Radiant]
All that you are
Is a face in the mirror!
I close my eyes and you'll disappear!
[Shadow]
I'm what you face
When you face in the mirror!
Long as you live, I will still be here!
[Radiant]
All that you are
Is the end of a nightmare!
All that you are is a dying scream!
After tonight,
I shall end this bloody dream!
[Shadow]
This is not a dream my friend-
And it will never end!
This one is the nightmare that goes on!
Shadow is here to stay,
No matter what you may pretend-
And I'll flourish long after you're gone!
[Radiant]
Soon you will die,
And my silence will hide you!
You cannot choose but to lose control!
[Shadow]
You can't control me!
I live deep inside you!
Each day you'll feel me devour your soul!
[Radiant]
I don't need you to survive,
As you need me!
I'll become whole
As you dance with death!
And I'll rejoice
As you breathe your final breath!
[Shadow]
I'll live inside you forever!
[Radiant]
No!
[Shadow]
With the night herself by my side!
[Radiant]
No!
[Shadow]
And I know that now and forever,
They'll never be able to separate
Shadow from Rose!
[Radiant]
Can't you see
It's over now?
It's time to die!
[Shadow]
No not I!
Only you!
[Radiant]
If I die
You die, too!
[Shadow]
You'll die in me
I'll be you!
[Radiant]
Damn you Shadow!
Set me free!
[Shadow]
Can't you see,
You are me?
[Radiant]
No!
Deep inside-!
[Shadow]
I am you!
You are Shadow!
[Radiant]
No - never!
[Shadow]
Yes forever!
[Radiant]
Celestia damn you, Shadow!
Take all your evil deeds,
And rot in Tartarus!
[Shadow]
I'll see you there, Rose!
[Radiant]
NEVER!
Radiant Rose closed the room off with her Crystal Magic and only opened it to replenish the seal on the mirror.
