Author's Note
If you enjoy this story please be sure to leave a comment! It helps a lot to know that more is wanted as this did take a while to come up with. So if you could be kind to just take thirty seconds out of your day and leave me a comment, it would be great! And a like maybe? But also your thoughts and feedback would be wondeful.
History and Today
Tonight was the night, the night that Princess Celestia would fall and bow. With an army made of the darkest and most foul magic, the night would be long and sorrowful. Tonight, the demons would come out to play and to feed. Tonight, the night would last eternally and Nightmare Moon would be the head princess, there would be nopony else, only her subjects. She stood overlooking the Everfree forest, it was a beautiful night to overtake the throne. It was a beautiful night for the pony's to enjoy, as they should. At least that is what Nightmare Moon thought, but regardless she had to act now or face being surprised by her sister. She escaped before, she had no intention to run this time. She had all she needed. She had an army while Celestia had nothing. Who could stand in their way, other than the few guards, but they were nothing compared to the darkness that was coming.
Nightmare moon looked back with a smile at the army behind her, a couple hundred red eyes stared back at her. Her smile turned to a sickened but cruel grin, they would paint the streets in blood. The paths would be littered in corpses, and not one pony could stop them. The thought itself excited her, if ponies couldn't enjoy her night, she would make them need it. Soon, a pony stepped up the Nightmare Moon and bowed their head. They wore a dark and heavy looking armor with blood red accents, their muzzles well hidden behind their helmets. "Your highness, we are ready for your command. I have gathered all of our forces, she won't even see it coming. And your prodigy is la-" The pony couldn't even finish their sentence before a rock collided with their head, cracking their helmet. A pony stepped out from Nightmare Moon's side with a sick grin, she wore all black and all that could be seen with her red eyes and sharp, glistening fangs. Which she kept on display.
She stepped toward the pony and hissed, making them back down and cower. She was taller and well built, but it was the feeling around her that scared the pony. Nothing could explain it other than a mix of pure hatred, lost innocence and death. A wonderful mix that most of the ponies knew well. But this pony had her attention, she couldn't see their eyes like the others. She hissed again and ripped his helmet away. "You think I'm late huh? Not only are you an imbecile, but you're not one of us either, are you?" She asked as she starred down at the pony. It was a stallion with a red mane and red fur, as well as green eyes that oddly fit the pony. He cowered under the mare as the army behind them began to laugh. He reeked of fear and a bit of hate too. Nightmare Moon soon joined in on the laugh. The pony was helplessly dead, he couldn't escape, he was already surrounded.
He looked at the mare and then the evilness that was the cause of all of this, Nightmare Moon. He huffed and let out a shaky breath. "O-Okay, you caught me. I-I'm not one of you." He admitted while looking into the red eye of the mare who snorted and shook her head. She hissed in his face showing her fangs well. He gulped in response and tried to back away only to bump into another pony. He jumped away and right back to where he started. A whimper escaped him as he realized just how hopeless it was to try and run. The mare trotted toward him and licked her lips, as well as her fangs. He knew what was coming, but what could he do. Beg? No, that wouldn't solve or help him. Or beg to join them, which would defeat his entire purpose.
Without any warning, the mare tackled him. Her horn lit up, originally hidden in the dark. It illuminated het muzzle just enough for him to see her black colored fur. Her magic then grasped his limbs and restricted any movement. He gasped as he looked up at the mare, expecting no less than death now. But instead, she kissed the stallion and pulled away before he even had a chance to understand. "Poor thing, must be terrible being mortal.'' She whispered softly and looked down at him. "Lets fix that." She whispered in sultry tone.
He raised an eyebrow and went to say something, 'Wa-." Is all he got out before she bit down suddenly into his neck. He tried all he could to fight her off. But to no avail, her magic was too strong for a meek earthpony. All he could do was whimper as he felt her sucking on the wound she had made, drinking his life away rapidly. She gulped it down without a second thought. He soon closed his eyes as his breathing slowed, it was a quick and mostly painless death at least. Not how he thought he would go, but ultimately it was how he would end. By this unnamed mare with a pure black coat, she was his killer. He took a final breath before she had just about drained the poor and helpless stallion dry. She pulled off with a final gulp and wiped her muzzle with a hoof. Her magic soon subsided and released his now limp corpse. Feeling satisfied, she then stood up and turned to face Nightmare Moon. Who was smiling under the moonlight at her prodigy.
The mare bowed her head as her horn lit up, setting flame to the stallion's corpse. The scent filled the air, but didn't bother the ponies at all. "That was a bit merciful, what a waste." Nightmare Moon mumbled.
"I know, but he was too weak to join us, he would ha-" The mare started to explain before Nightmare Moon simply raised a hood to silence her. She nodded and went silent after the unheard but well understood order. With the hidden phony in the midst now taken care of, the army resumed their original stance and remained ready for their command. Nightmare Moon looked back at her army, mares and stallions, but as well as demons as one would call it. Some of the ponies were once innocent subjects, who shamed the night. They doomed themselves and as others simply fell victim to the hungry demons, rightfully known as vamponies. This was the perfect army, all under Nightmare Moon's dark control. It was time, it was time for that wretched Princess Celestia, the thorn in Nightmare Moon's side, to be destroyed and to ensure that the sun would never rise again.
Time passed slowly as Nightmare Moon began to plan where to send her army, how to destroy Celestia and how to handle her situation perfectly and without error. "I want all of forces separated into three. I want those who are starving to go and feed as much as they wish, but spare thy subjects who love my night. And to those who dare to despise it, blend them into our army! Show them why they should appreciate my beautiful night!" She commanded as ponies split off in every direction, some flying and others teleporting or running. Many remained still, including the prodigy of the dark alicorn. Nightmare Moon laid her head back and let out a sick and evil laugh, it echoed through the night. Just as screams soon followed, all around ponies were being hunted down and slaughtered left and right, or worse. Those who didn't die on this dark night fell victim to an even worse fate than death. Celestia knew exactly what was happening too, she knew she had to face her sister, there was no question about it now. The best about it to Nightmare Moon was that she thought she could win no matter what, she would end her sister or imprison her. Where she could fully rule the night with no intervention. No sunlight to win the gratitude of her would be subjects. "To all the rest, we shall march through my night and take the foul mare of a sister by force!" She shouted, sending an echo. Blood filled the air as her wings spread out, her armor shined even better than it had before. Her prodigy looked ready as well as she put up her hood, covering her muzzle. And thus began the march, all in an almost unorderly line. Yet, it held a fierce look to it, a reckless army with nothing to lose. Red eyes lit their way through the darkness. Tonight would be the night that the sun died, this would be the beginning of a new era, of eternal night.
Nightmare Moon watched as a mare in all black ran past them and headed to the castle. She would start the attack and distract all opposition while Nightmare Moon could take her prize in full glory. The poor mare had no idea she was just a tool, and little else than that to the dark alicorn. Who was sick with a case of darkness no mere light could shine through. Her soul may as well have been pure black, but deep down there was some good left behind. Trying to fight for dominance over Luna. But it had no chance against her clouded judgment. It was far too late to turn back now. She could not fail, everything hung on to this attack. To fail would be to fail her children of the night, her subjects and the very stars she was accustomed to. With her army right behind her, she knew she had the upper hoof this fight. If she were to fail, she truly would sleep with the stars tonight.
The prodigy, the mare Nightmare Moon had put a great trust in, even as just a tool, soon arrived at the castle. Much before all the others. This was her moment, her moment to prove herself worthy of the gift she had received from the dark princess. She kept her head low as she saw guards emerge with their spears ready. But she began to limp. "Please help me!" She cried out and fell on the ground as she began to shake horribly. The guards entirely dropped their guard and rushed to her side. They didn't expect an injured pony to walk up to their doorstep, and in fact she wasn't. As soon as they were close enough, they sealed their fate. She sprung up with her horn glowing dangerously bright. A painful shock and a powerful blast sent the guards flying. Whilst they were in the air, she levitated their spears up into place, each guard fell on their own spears, a tool meant for their defense and offence. Each one was impaled and nearly died instantly upon being impaled. Blood ran down the spikes and onto the ground, forming bloody pools soon after. They didn't even have a chance to scream as those who didn't die on impact bled to death slowly. The mare shook her head in disbelief and let the spears drop. "Such a waste." She spat and stormed over to the closest one, she could hear the guard's heart racing madly. And as she looked down at the guard, she saw a mare. The mare had blood dripping from her muzzle, the spear hadn't impaled a particularly vital spot and that angered the unnamed prodigy. She bit into the guard's neck, making her shriek in pain. After the first drop, she tugged on the mare's neck as hard as she could, ripping it open and spraying the unnamed mare in blood. She panted and smiled in a satisfied way. "Too easy." She mumbled as more guards soon emerged, only two however. But she felt the other eyes on her, she was being flanked and she knew it. "Just come out, flanking me will not work in your favor." She said as a matter of fact. And much to the guards despise to her, they emerged. they didn't have the best armor, it was very basic. But there was a lot of them. She was outnumbered easily, their was at least a hundred ponies emerging from the dark and from the castle, the number quickly grew. She raised an eyebrow and put her hood down as she revealed her black coat and muzzle. She looked to be a pitch black mare with red eyes. Something that would scare most ponies without question. "Well it appears I'm outnumbered, that isn't very nice." She said with pouting and shaking her head. She then clapped her hooves.
They looked at her curiously and looked to each other as they all nodded. They had to eliminate this threat. She had to go down, and so, they readied their spears and their magic. She still and waited for their inevitable attack. "Kill her and burn the body!" A deep voice of a stallion yelled as the unicorns released their spells at the mare. She took a deep breath as spears soon followed. But, everything soon hit a barrier, a new pony was now by the mare's side. A blue bubble was around them as a stallion stood ready and strong. He turned to the mare and smiled. He wasn't like her though, but she knew fully well as to why. He was the inside pony and her savior.
"Sorry I'm late." He said as his smile turned to a smirk. She bared her fangs at him, making him gulp nervously. Great, he was in a closed space with the most dangerous predator in Equestria, great thinking. But she soon kissed his cheek in an affectionate way. He scratched his head as she looked toward the tree lines. She grinned at all the enemies before her, oh how she would love to be the one pony to kill them all. But she knew better than to break free from the bubble and risk being attacked by every single pony. Instead she waited quietly as the army of red eyes began to emerge into the crow. The stallion who had saved her watched in disgust as the field became a bloody slaughter. Blood was shed, heads were lost and limbs were more than broken. Each pony was fighting, all to the death of one another. But the vamponies were winning, they had the upper hoof in every way. They couldn't be held off, they tore right through Celestia's guards, or well hired hooves. They left a bloody mess in their wake, leaving dismembered corpses about the ground with fresh blood staining the grass and ground. Soon, the ponies who once threatened the prodigy's life were either no more than a bag of bones and blood, or running for their life. Their deaths would fall on Princess Celestia, they had no idea of what they were up against. The stallion meanwhile tried to keep his stomach down. He had to look away and look at his hooves. He was not prepared for what he had seen, even if it was quick. But more would likely come, adding to the fun of the army.
Seeing that he had not enjoyed the blood bath, she pushed him down on to the ground, ending his shield as he hit the ground. They were vulnerable now, but that didn't matter. "For your service, I can only offer you two things." She said slyly as she laid on him, she was light, she was a fit unicorn after all. She was well built too, not as great as an earth pony however. He gulped as she sniffed his neck, mainly inhaling his scent. The plan she had ready for him wasn't what he expected either.
He took a deep breath and worked up the nerve to look at her. "W-What are the choices?" He asked, his voice barely hid his fear of the mare. Mainly, the sharp fangs that she had, how close she was to his neck. More importantly, how he didn't feel anything except her breath and her weight over him.
She looked into his eyes and licked her lips. "I can grant you immortality, or I can give you a quick death. You may chose, but either way I'll try to make it painless in honor of your help to our goal." She said, meaning every word as his eyes widened. He realized how foolish he was to make the deal he had now. But he didn't want to die, not yet. He had so much planned still, he hadn't even married yet.
He nodded his head in utter submission. He didn't want to try and run, or she just might kill him then. Instead he stared her dead in the eyes and tossed away all of his pride and fear. "I'll do it, just please make it painless. I'll join all of you on your quest-For eternal night." He managed to say with a straight face. His attempt to throw away his fear was mildly successful. It was still there and plenty strong. But he had little other choice than to accept his fate and join her. Unlike many others most likely.
She smiled simply at him and kissed his muzzle before she kissed down to his neck. He shivered at the cold feeling of her lips gently trailing down to his neck. He knew what she was looking for, the perfect place to bite and she soon hovered over a spot. He took in a deep breath. One that could very well be his last. She gave no warning and said nothing as she bit down. He gasped and squirmed as her fangs both effortlessly and deeply sank into his neck. But where he expected pain, he found very little. Instead, it was as if the world around him had stopped. His eyes focused on her and only her, as if nothing else mattered anymore. He could hear her quiet gulps and muffled moans. She was clearly enjoying his blood at least. Perhaps that's why she was being gentle, she was savoring it. But regardless to that, she was undoubtedly draining his life away. Every gulp weakened him as he struggled to keep his eyes open. He was just about to try and beg her to stop, but she pulled away after as he tried to say something. But her withdraw from him made him whimper instead. He was enjoying the feeling, he was at almost perfect peace, except for not knowing if she was going to stop. But he managed to smile at her as she wiped her muzzle off. He was on the verge of passing out, he closed his eyes for just a second and then felt her lips meet his yet again. They were cold and he felt her fangs, causing him to open his mouth as if to complain or to say something. But she held the kiss and as he had opened his mouth, he tasted an awful metallic taste. He accidently swallowed and tried to pull away. But the taste soon became sweet, even if he wouldn't admit to it, his body craved more. And so, he moaned into the kiss that the two shared. However bloody, what he had swallowed was none other than her blood and his own poison. He had doomed himself. She soon broke their kiss and panted as she looked down at him. She had never had such an intimate moment with anypony like that before. But she watched as his body began to shut down. Her blood was an unbeatable poison, spreading through his system like a wildfire. He struggled to breath as it took over. His heart raced in an attempt to increase the oxygen flow, but he received nothing. Nothing but a slow death as if his lungs didn't work. She watched as his life faded from his eyes and let out a heavy sigh. She would have loved a moment like that again. But she had a job to do and as if on queue, the reinforcements arrived to try and end the nightmare, the vamponies that had killed all the others. She didn't look back as she charged into battle. This was still her time, the time to prove her worth.
Elsewhere, Princess Celestia was in the royal chambers. Trying to get a grip on both the reality of everything and her own fate. She had no choice anymore. There was no reasoning with her sister now. But she had one trick left, to avoid more death, or at least unneeded death. Her sister would pay, but the other things had no right to murder innocent ponies. She stormed the hall as her horn lit up, opening a set of grand doors. Well partially anyway before the doors were blown off of their hinges. Before her stood Nightmare Moon with a sick grin. Behind her with eight dead guards, personal guards of Celestia that she knew very well. And to top it off, a vampony was feasting on one of the ponies. Tears formed in her eyes as she shook her head. She looked to the snake like eyes of her former sister. She took a deep breath and faced her, much sooner than she had planned. "Please sister, end this madness at once! You're killing innocent ponies and calling an army of the dark forces to your side. This isn't who you are, where is my caring sister who stood by my side through every battle?" She cried out and demanded. But Nightmare Moon only laughed in response. Celstia understood now, this thing before her was not her sister at all. She was somewhere inside, but she couldn't reach out to her and or risk her own life, that would put every single pony she had ever cared for at risk. Too great of a risk for her to handle herself. Her horn soon lit up as her wings spread out in all of their glory. "Fine if I can't get through to you, than I guess there is no other choice." She stated and Nightmare Moon's horn lit up as well.
A single tear fell from Celestia's eyes, this was her own sister, Flesh and blood, and now there were going to battle it out. "Look at you, you're pathetic. Trying to take me back after everything. I know you won't and now you're just in my way. Tonight I take your head and bring eternal night for the rest of time!" She shouted and sent a strong magic attack toward Celestia, which she easily dodged by jumping back. But it left quite the impact, cracking the ground with ease. Cleary, Nightmare Moon meant to cause harm. Celestia soon returned fire, she had hoped to avoid this. But Nightmare Moon had made it very clear that it wasn't going to happen. Spell after spell was casted back and forth, each one grew in power. Colliding with walls and making them crumble as they flew around the halls trying to take one another down. Each attack became dangerously closer to the intended target. But the castle itself couldn't stand anymore. It was beginning to all crumble down now. It was coming down, Celestia felt the small bits of rock fall onto her, just as did her opponent. But regardless, they raced for the nearest exit while casting their deadly spells. All it would take was one and this nightmare could either be over, or never ending. All of the world was counting on Celestia to beat the darkness of her sister and raise the sun again. To end the nightmare. And as they made it out, Celestia made a deadly mistake, a large piece of rubble had fallen from the ceiling as she flew through and crashed onto her wing. It sent her spiraling down into the already bloody ground. Where two great forces thought. The light and the dark clashed on and on, all to the death. She groaned as the vamponies could smell her sweet alicorn blood. She had taken an in jury on her wing, a bad one. But Nightnare Moon didn't attack. She simply watched and then cackled evilly. She had won, or so she had thought. Celestia charged up a powerful spell, one she would use incase of times like this. Nightmare Moon fell to the ground with a loud thud, her chest smoking with the aftermath of the attack.
Nightmare Moon groaned and held her chest with a hoof. She took the full power of that spell and she took it hard. Tears fell from her eyes as she looked at Celestia, who was climbing to her hooves. Nightmare Moon knew she had lost, she had failed the stars, her army and all of her would be subjects. But her tears were nothing compared to that of Celestia's, who had to fight her own sister to survive and save the world. The very mare she had saved the world beside many times. Now, she had to save Luna from her very self. "I'm so sorry my dear sister, I didn't want to any of this. But you left me no choice." Celestia said, barely maintaining her composure. Little did any other know, but she had the elements on her side tonight. Nightmare Moon was to blind to see or realize, she was too caught up in her evil wickedness to see. Shakily, Celestia took a deep breath as her horn lit up, bringing out the elements. Nightmare Moon gasped as fear over took her. But she was powerless to move, her pain was far too great to concentrate. "I hope that you one day forgive me and understand all of your wrongs my dear sister. I do not want to do this, but I have no choice now. I am dreadfully sorry that I must do this to you. But you brought this on yourself and I know, even after all of this, I won't forgive myself. And I don't expect you to either." Celestia whispered softly. Even after all her dark sister had done, Celestia still showed sisterly love and compassion the two shared for one another. This was truly her hardest challenge she had to face. This was her own sister, the very mare who had stood beside her and saved the world. Not as two but as one. Now Celestia had to save the world from her sister, a mare who fell into grip of darkness. But even with that, it made it no easier for what she had to do.
"No! Y-you can't!' Nightmare Moon stuttered and tried to move, to ready a spell-Anything that could save her. But her fate was sealed. Celestia had all that she needed. She channeled the elements magic all at once into a powerful attack. One the threaded the dark side of good. A rainbow fell toward NightMare Moon as her heart raced. She had no idea what to expect. "Nooooo!" She screamed before she was gone. Banished to the very thing she held power over. Celestia then brought up the sun with what power she had. The vamponies caught fire soon after and burned in agony. The ponies who fought them watched and sighed in relief. All over, the vamponies took for shelter, only to be hunted down as the nightmare ended. And Celestia collapsed in a heap as she began to weep for her sister. For what she had done, she could not forgive herself. But it was for the greater good. That's what mattered. She had saved countless lives and exhausted her power to its limit. Once again peace fell over the land. And a bright sunny day left the ponies to repair and prepare to handle to great loss of life. While many ponies took to hunting down the abominations Princess Luna had controlled.
Years turned to decades as decades turned to centuries. Over that time, ponies built and came together. They were far more civilized now than they once were. They had put those dreadful nights long behind them in forbidden history. History that only the princesses could view. For the dangers that history held a great evil and a reminder that nopony is perfect. It was a reminder that even the best ponies could turn evil over simple things, like jealousy. But if a pony was to search the darkness that Luna had found long ago, it could spell out the end for ponies. Thankfully with the addition of Princess Twilight Sparkle, the history was more safe than it had ever been. But even she was kept in the dark. She had much to learn yet, even with her friends by her side through every battle. With Princess Luna back at her sister's side, Equestria was finally at an equilibrium. But nothing never lasts forever, nothing never stays in the past either. Ever since her return, more evil has appeared and tried to endanger the lives of ponies. Only for the new princess to save the world alongside her faithful friends. But an ancient evil laid deeply hidden behind lies and false promises. A debt was owed, and it would be met.
Author's Note
If you enjoy this story please be sure to leave a comment! It helps a lot to know that more is wanted as this did take a while to come up with. So if you could be kind to just take thirty seconds out of your day and leave me a comment, it would be great! And a like maybe? But also your thoughts and feedback would be wondeful.
The Awakening
It was a beautiful night in Equestria, the last danger to the place ponies called their home had been defeated yet again. But in an ancient and long forgotten place within the old castle, a sacred chamber waited to be discovered and found again. And a foolish scavenger was the perfect victim. Searching for any old gems or anything else of any value, a shady pony trotted the old halls. Cobwebs littered the now ancient stone pathways. Walls laid in disrepair, but a silence filled the air. Except for the distinct sound of hooves. The pony was treading in place few dared to explore and or even acknowledge. A place which seemed as if nopony had been in for centuries, not since the sisters had their fight. To even get to where the pony was, they had to climb through a wall and through a destroyed painting. Not to mention all of the rubble and webs. But a desperate pony had their ways. And with a bag full of goods, it was more than worth the trip. But the pony was drawn by greed to go deeper into the halls. No light could reach this part, and not being a skilled unicorn, the pony could barely maintain the light from their horn. It was just enough to illuminate their path and show their muzzle. It was a dark green tint, the eyes of the pony were also green. The pony though had an odd look, but without question, it was a mare. Desperate to find more things of value, a quick get rich scheme. Reaching a staircase, the pony looked back behind her and then back down the stairway. She sighed and made her way down slowly. Her hooves were beginning to ache from all of the walking and cold stone. Not to mention the bag she was carrying. But as she reached the bottom of the stairway, she found a large door. Getting closer with her horn, she could see the handles. Her magic grasped the handles as she tried to open them. They were quite heavy and old, making it even harder since they likely hadn't moved in centuries. But they soon gave in and budged open, just enough for to enter and squeeze in. Before her was a large room somewhat illuminated. She discharged her horn and let out a sigh of relief. She could see without the help of her magic now. Not too great, but it was less strain on her.
She looked around and saw many crystals lighting the way. She didn't have a clue about them, but she figured they may be worth something and that she would grab some on the way out. Disregarding the crystals, she looked around the rest of the large room. It was nothing to fancy, but a large table laid in the middle. She couldn't see where the walls ended either with the darkness, but she didn't want to really know either. The place was already giving her the creeps. She shrugged it off and hurried over to the table. As she got close, she could see many books laying across it. Most seemed to be ruined or in such a heavy state of disrepair that they were likely worthless. Of course they had probably did this on purpose. She groaned in annoyance and slammed her hoof on the table. She had hoped for something valuable. She looked down at the table and saw a crack form across it. It soon split and fell to the ground, putting a heavy amount of dust into the air and causing a very loud crash and a splash. She scratched her head as she thought about the sound. Why was there water down here? It was rather deep under the castle or so she thought. She couldn't imagine rainwater leaking down here. Her horn lit up as she inspected the ground. Their was a small stream of water going across the middle of the floor, she followed its current toward what she thought would be a wall, but it lead to a large pool of water that she almost fell in. She looked down and then up, there were no crystals here either. "Okay, this place just got even creepier." She whispered to herself and headed in the opposite direction. Following the current carefully this time, making sure she didn't just slip in for an unexpected dip. But instead she found an old stone wall with a small opening that the water trailed from. It was a weird design, but she shrugged it off as old design or something like that.
She was just about ready to go before she slipped on the stone floor, her hooves having just enough moisture on them to make her trip. She groaned as she felt a pain in her side. A rigid part of the floor seemed to have cut into her, unintentionally. "Fantastic! Just what I needed!" She shouted in anger as she climbed to her hooves. But the atmosphere had changed greatly. It was colder now. She huffed and stormed toward the door only to see it begin to close and slide back. She gasped as her horn lit up, trying to grasp it and hold just a bit longer. But in the process, her attention wasn't given to anything else. Too focused on the door to realize the ground was like ice with her wet hooves. She slipped yet again and lost her grip on the door. This time she hit her head, she blinked several times to get rid of the stars she was seeing. In the midst of her new recovery, she heard the door shut firmly back into place. Just like it had centuries ago. She rubbed her head with a hoof before climbing back up and steadying herself. She gritted her teeth and shook her head, only to growl in pain. Shaking her head hurt. But she had not a moment to recover as she heard a splash. Then another one.
She turned her attention slowly toward the sound and lit up her horn. She slowly trotted over to the pool of water and stopped halfway as she saw a horror climbing out. A pair of hooves had emerged and were gripping the stone in an attempt to rise. Her heart began to race as she questioned to try and run or to try and help. She could be in a lot of trouble if she had just walked into a trap. But she wasn't a bad pony, just in need of bits, that's all. Surely anypony could understand that. She ran over and looked at the hoof. The fur leading to it was soaked as she could expect. but it had a dark color to it. Not to mention scars that seemed to climb down the legs. She showed disgust for a moment and grabbed one of the hooves. It was ice cold, colder than any of the stone she had trotted over. This poor pony was probably freezing to death, she could be a hero for all she knew. Oh if only that was the case, instead the pony on the other end grabbed the mare's hoof and pulled her into the water as well. She closed her eyes and opened them as she felt herself being pulled down. She opened her mouth as she saw two red eyes, as if to scream, but only water filled her mouth which she swallowed and gagged on. She fought with the pony and tried to free herself. She wasn't even sure if it was a pony now. Those eyes were so evil and they seemed to be filled with death, coldness and hatred. Absolute negativity and she hated it. She fought with all her strength and barely managed to free herself. She swam to the top of the deep pool and climbed out. She rolled onto the cold stone and coughed up the water she had swallowed. She heaved after and continued to cough. What had she just seen? What had just happened to her? Her head still ached from the fall, it was worse now. So much quick movement had gave her an awful headache.
But her little horror wasn't over yet. No it was far from it, for she heard the splash yet again as the thing put its hooves onto the stone. She couldn't concentrate enough to charge up her horn, not that it would do much good. Instead she watched through the darkness, unsure of what to do. But slowly a head emerged from the water, followed by a groan. Again, she saw those haunting red eyes staring back at her. No, they were staring right into her soul. Her heart was racing now as she began to back up slowly. Edging her way back as the ponylike creature groaned and opened its mouth. With the help of the dim crystal's light, the mare could see two sharp fangs attached to the creature. Her problem had just became far worse than it was already. She didn't know what it was, other than an old mare's tale, a myth at that. But here it was, crawling out from the water slowly. She watched in horror and tried to rub her eyes, but it remained. She had hoped for a split second that she had hit her head to hard, but she was sure of it now. As the creature began to pull itself up and onto the floor, something in the mare clicked and she stood up. Only to hold her head with a hoof with an immediate dizzy feeling, but she had to ignore it and stumble toward the door. She tried to think of a spell and her horn sparked to life, illuminating the area a bit as she tried to force the door open. Her heart raced with fear as she heard a final splash and a wet thud onto the floor. She didn't dare to look back, she only hoped that she had gained more time to escape. She heard another groan from behind, it sounded tired and yet, it sent a shiver down her back. "Come on open you old door!' She yelled and tried all she could to open the door. She was panicking now.
With every second she became more nervous and scared, she had way more than she had bargained for. But now she could hear wet hooves slowly moving toward her. She freezed in place as her magic gave out. She was panting, she wasn't at all strong enough to open the door again. Nor did she have the strength for other spells at the moment. And to add to her despair, she didn't know any teleportation spells. The hooves moved closer as the mare tried to prepare to face her fate. She had heard stories of ponies who had taken the dark path and as such, fell victim to a curse worse than death and a hunger for the mortal ponies who feared the creatures. But she had never expected to find one, especially here. Nor did she even believe that they existed. But here it was, something that once haunted her nightmares as a young filly. Now in the flesh and likely here to end her. Her train of thought was abruptly cut off a she felt an icy hoof on her back, which slowly moved up to her neck. It was cold as death itself. The mare began to shake in fear as she turned to face whatever was behind her. There she met those eyes, those eyes that left a scar in her mind. She looked into the soulless eyes and gulped as she saw two sharp fangs. The pony in front of her was indeed a mare, but she looked so different from a pony, in ways that words could not describe. "Tell me, do you enjoy the night as much as I do?" She whispered In a soft tone.
The mare looked at the vampony who had spoken so simply to her and stood there in shock. But she realized the question and nodded her head rapidly. "Y-es! Yes yes, I love the night!" She said quickly, her voice heavy with fear. "Who are you!" She blurted out at the vampony, who hissed in response. The mare began to cower from the vamony after.
The vampony cocked her head for a moment and then laughed. "I suppose you may know, my name is Virulence. The prodigy of Nightmare Moon and one of her finest soldiers. Now then, lying to me is bad for your health." Virulence sneered and the mare gulped again. The mare began to back away, she had never heard the name before. But it had a ring to it, one she would never forget. Virulence smiled as the mare tried to back away. But Virulence already knew there was no exit. "Where are you going? We haven't even gotten to the fun yet." She cooed in a sultry tone to the mare, whose heart had yet to stop racing. Seeing that she wasn't getting an answer Virulence rushed at the mare and tackled her to the ground, causing a loud yelp. The unicorn was no match for her vampony strength, but she kept struggling as the vampony laughed at the weak pony. The mare looked up at Virulence with complete and total fear. She saw the sick grin the pony sported with their fangs.
She gasped at the sight. "N-no please! I-I don't want to die here!" She yelled and began to thrash bout, to no avail. Virulence kept her hold and kissed the mare's neck, despite the attempts to keep it hidden. "N-no please! I'll do anything, just please don't!" She pleaded as tears formed in her eyes. "Please?" The mare whispered hopefully up the vampony and likely would be killer.
"What is your name?" Virulence asked.
"I-it's Swift." Swift said quickly.
"Hmn, well Swift, you're only good to me for one thing right now and that is food." Virulence said, killing any hope the mare had. Virulence took notice and sighed. "I suppose I don't have to kill you, in return for information." Virulence added. Right now, Virulence hadn't been outside in many centuries. Not since the sun came back up that day. Instead, she slept. It was the best of her options after being chased into the castle ruins. Of course she lured the ponies to their deaths when they chased her into the ruins. But she knew that she had failed and thus, had no reason to show her muzzle. But she had no idea how much time had gone by now. And then there was Swift, a bleeding mare who woke up the animalistic instincts.
Swift nodded her head slowly in understanding. Not dying was nice, so long as Virulence held up her end of the bargain. She took a shaky breath before she would speak. "I-I can tell you whatever you want, just please don't ki-" She started to say before she shut up instantly as she felt two sharp points dragging across her soft flesh.
"I didn't say stop, so I suggest you start talking or I'll start with ripping your throat out as painfully as possible." Virulence said in a cold tone.
"W-where do I start?" Swift asked fearfully.
"Is the princess of the night back?"
"Y-yes. She returned and rejoined her sister not lo-" She was cut off by a hiss. Swift whimpered and bit her lip.
"Continue, how many years have passed since then?"
"I-I'm not sure honestly, I think it's been a few." Swift explained quickly.
"Good good, she may still turn to her old ways then." Virulence mumbled mostly to herself. "Is there anything I should know? Perhaps how long ago we lost?"
"Well that was roughly one thousand years ago that Princess Luna was banished. There is a new princess too. Princess Twilight, she and her friends ha-" Virulence once again cut her off with a hiss.
"How talented is this new princess?" She asked.
"Well she and her friends have saved the world a few times. She is the princess of friendship an-" Once again, Virulence cut her off. This time she erupted into a crazed laughter.
"Princess of friendship?" She laughed and shook her head in complete disbelief. "Ponies never change do they?" She muttered under her breath as Swift realized she had just exhausted her usefulness. Virulence knew this too, that was all she honestly wanted to know. And likely all that she had needed as well. With that in mind, Virulence kissed Swift's neck. "It appears your usefulness just ran dry just as you soon will." She whispered and Swift stiffened in response as she began to squirm. Just as she had nearly gotten used to the cold mare, though somewhat rude.
"No please! I did as you asked!" Swift yelled and went to yell again just as Virulence sank her razor sharp fangs deep into her neck. She gasped and cried out in pain, only for the moment however. Virulence pushed her down firmly into the ground as she heavily drank from the mare. Swift moaned and then bit her lip as she tried to pry the vampony of. But she grew weak with every passing moment. Her chances became slim as did her eyesight, barely keeping her eyes open. It wasn't exactly pleasant either. It was a mix of pain and numbness. But to add the weird feeling, Swift felt something wet and cold licking her neck as Virulence continued to drain her dry. Not that it mattered now as she felt her heart slowing. She tried to say something, but nothing came out. Her vision soon darkened, but Virulence let go and licked at the bite she had left in the mare. Swift was no longer conscious, but she was breathing. Even if it was slow, she was still alive. Feeling satisfied for the moment, Virulence licked her muzzle clean as her horn lit up with a spell charging up. A beam of dark magic made contact with one of the many crystals as the old room lit up in light. She smiled and walked away from Swift, her fangs still red and muzzle dripping with blood. The fresh warm blood of her prey, who had awoken her in her self induced panic.
Virulence trotted over to an old armor rack and looked at the armor she had once worn. It was aged and nearly ripped now. It was useless in its current state. It annoyed her. but she had little to fear right now. In her mind, she had no need for her basic armor. Though she forgot an important question, she had no idea if the sun was out right now. She guessed that it was, since ponies usually don't travel at night. But granted by how much time she had seemed to sleep away, she could only assume that custom had changed some. She was in a bit of a rough spot, she had no idea if it was safe to venture out from her hiding place, the sunlight was barely worth the burn as it was. But yet, she yearned to be out and about in the night once again. To hunt like the true predator she had become. While this hiding spot of hers was unknown to Princess Celestia, she had thought that Luna would have at least kept something down here so that she could tell the time. But she found very little in the room to aid her. Though, her old daggers still hung on wall. She hadn't used them or needed them for so long, it never was her particular like. She enjoyed the feeling of beating her opponent by strength. Or a bite, anything that was easy wasn't fun. An immortal life needed enjoyment one way or another, now she knew why she had gone to sleep. She would have gone crazy if she was awake for centuries hiding from Celestia.
That name left a burning pain in her head. A pony that Virulence truly hated. She hated that foul princess with all of her undead heart, She was the very reason that she couldn't go outside. The very reason why she couldn't live in peace as it was. But to add to the reasons that Virulence hated her, Celestia had taken away the once chance she had to make her life meaningful. She was promised a night that would never end, a sun that would never rise and a source of food that wouldn't fight back. It sounded perfect for all of her kind and then Celestia came and ruined it. Everything they had worked for was for nothing. The princess of the night she had blindly followed on a promise had failed. She wasn't strong enough even with dark forces aiding her. Every reason, every single time she thought about those two names, it angered her greatly. She shook and gritted her teeth. "Celestia! I will end you!" She shouted, sending her voice all around the nearly empty room as she returned to gritting her teeth. "You will pay and I'll make sure of it. I will win Luna back, Nightmare Moon will return and nopony will stop me!" She yelled, meaning every word. "No more time for sleep, no. I will not sleep another minute until you fall, princess." She whispered and turned toward the door. Her eyes may as well have been fire. A sacred hatred burned inside, a desire to kill. A need to fulfill herself. She hissed, baring her fangs at nothing as her horn lit up. Her magic burned brightly as she managed to rip the door off from the wall.
She was just about to storm through the door before she turned to look at the other mare, Swift. She was the reason, a reason that Virulence was now awake and beyond angry. Built up hate and anger over the failure so long ago, but to her it felt like only days go. She huffed and grabbed Swift in her magic and tossed her over. Virulence watched and caught Swift on her back. Swift groaned but other wise remained out cold. Still suffering from the blood loss and shock that Virulence had caused. Virulence sighed and began to march up the stairs. She wasn't sure why she hadn't killed Swift either. She hated the thought of becoming soft. That was Nightmare Moon's mistake. Even if she did hate her sister, he could never kill her. She looked back at the sleeping Swift, an innocent pony at that. Virulence narrowed her eyes, contemplating if she should drain Swift entirely now. She had lived up to her usefulness. And Virulence had very little else that she could use help with. Except, she had no army. No allies by her side. A sick grinned formed as Virulence licked her sharp fangs. She would turn Swift instead, making her part of a new army. But should she make the poor mare scream for mercy? Or should she make it an easy transition? Virulence wasn't sure as another use for the mare grabbed her attention. She could use a pony to feed from. Swift had a sweet enough taste for it to b worth the effort. She looked back, now with sly grin. "Too weak to join me anyway, but I'm sure you can feed me when I need it." Virulence whispered softy as she reached the royal halls of the castle. But she stayed in the shadows and tried to look outside. It fell so similar and yet so different to the vampony. It was cold as usual, but there were far more trees surrounding the place than usual.
She stepped out with great caution and tried to see any sign of sunlight or Celestia. But she found moonlight and silence. She stepped out fully with Swift still on her back and hurried for the nearest exit. Climbing over whatever rubble she had to. Her throat was starting to burn now. She still hungered with that old need, to quench her thirst. Every step into the moonlight brought it on stronger. She closed her eyes as she stepped out fully into the moonlight. Just outside the castle. She rose her head and basked in all of the moon's glory. The one thing that could always calm her had remained true t itself. The moon was a beautiful as she had remembered. The feeling of safety and serenity filled her and cleared her mind. It was time for the hunt, time for a new strain of nightmare to plague the land. She inhaled the night air and closed her eyes. Letting instinct take her as she charged off into the trees, disappearing as she stomped the ground with full force. "Tonight, I run under the night sky and feast on the blood of the mortal ponies who dare to venture out. Tonight, I shall take a life. Tonight, I shall reclaim my rightful place as a monster." She whispered to herself as she emerged through the trees. She had ran the entire way with her eyes closed. But now, she slowly opened them. She looked toward the nearest light source and saw some ort of town not too far from where she was. Her senses were long since hyperactive. There was a pony and they were hurt. She knew it, but now she had to hunt them down. Without another thought, she charged toward the town. Stealing a small glance at a sign, she could at least read it. The town she was heading to was Ponyville. A place that was about to be put under a storm, an attack by a force unseen and unheard of.
The scent of her next victim edged her closer, but she remained in the shadows as she searched high and low for the source. Her eyes soon became fixed on a pony who was struggling to get up from the path ahead. The scent was driving her mad now. All sense of self control had left her as she was on autopilot, her instincts piloted her like a machine to the pony. The pony was a light brown furred stallion. She didn't care however as she rolled him over and pinned him down. But he put his hooves up to try and stop Virulence. "Hey what do you think you're doing!" He shouted and reared his hoof back to punch her. She didn't expect such a hard punch, it knocked her sense slightly back into her. She blinked and looked down at the pony before she spat blood into his face. She grinned and bared her fangs as she stared into the now scared earthpony. "Wait! What are you!" He yelled his question as she laughed.
She kissed her neck and licked her lips as he felt powerless against her. "I am something forbidden from the eyes of a pony, something most call a myth. I'm the lie of history and the oldest teacher. For, I am your worst and final nightmare!" She explained in her crazed state as her instincts returned. The stallion couldn't reply as she bit into his neck and ripped at it. Tearing through his veins as his rich blood filled her mouth. She swallowed and moaned as she gulped it down, tying to quench her endless thirst. This is what it meant to be a monster, to take the life of another pony to maintain your own. She would kill him and she would love every second. He shook and weakly pushed against her, but his hooves soon fell to his sides as his muzzle showed a look of pure terror and pain. His eyes soon closed as Virulence drained him dry. But she still sucked on the wound, trying to get whatever she could still. But she was just biting a dry vein at this point. She pulled and hissed at the pony. Upset he couldn't feed her more. But he was no more anyway. She sighed and licked her muzzle as she stood up. She began to march down the street in search of another victim. Her throat still burned, still unsatisfied.
Her eyes fell on a farm not to far away. She licked her lips. If she had to, she could feed on something other than a pony. But as far as she was concerned, somepony was always doing late work. She hurried to it, but remained silent and in the shadows. It would ruin the fun to give herself away. She wanted to be hidden for her victim, to attack at just the right moment. She looked to the sky and looked at the moon as her eyes widened. It wasn't the beginning of the night. No, it was the end. The sun would be up soon. She hit her head with her hoof and hissed. She hadn't paid much attention, only focused on the hunt. But she had to satisfy herself still. She scanned what she thought as a farm, even if it was covered in apple trees. Her attention focused on the main building as she just barely caught the door open and a pony step out. They weren't very tall, rather short actually. She expected a groan pony, perhaps this was farm-hoof? A foal of the owners? She didn't care as she stalked closer to the pony.
The pony was none other than Applebloom, out and getting ready for her morning activities so that her sister would have an easier day when she came home. Her brother was likely still asleep since his shift didn't technically started for another hour. But she hurried around the building. Virulence followed close behind as the pony grabbed a few buckets. But Virulence couldn't risk waiting any longer. Her horn lit up, grabbing the buckets and tossing them as she emerged from the shadows. Her fiery red eyes glowed and the scared Applebloom gasped as she caught sigh of the eyes. She began to back away. "B-but ain't you supposed to be a m-myth?" She mumbled mostly to herself as she backed into a wall. Virulence didn't answer as she charged her. Applebloom had barely a moment to react and she tried to punch Virulence. But it had no effect, it felt like she had punched a cold wall. Virulence grinned and picked up Applebloom and pressed her against the wall. "N-no please hang on a second! My big sis will kill you if you hu-" Applebloom couldn't finish her sentence as a hoof covered her mouth. Tired of wasting time, Virulence bit into her small neck. After the first few drops, she gulped down what she could. But she oddly stayed mindful to the pony's heartbeat. She could only get so much before she could hear the once racing heart began to slow. She let go and dropped Applebloom to the ground. Her neck still bleeding. Applebloom weakly opened her eyes and looked up, expecting to see what had attacked her, But she saw nothing but the night sky. She put a hoof up to the bite and gasped as she felt her own blood. She forced her hoof on the spot. "Big Mac come quick! O-or Granny!"
