Miracle for the Cursed

Chapters

Introduction: From Oblivion to Paradise
Chapter 1: Manners and Tea with a Goddess
Chapter 2: Grace, Power, and a Little Town to the South
Chapter 3: It's No Uschtenheim, But It Will Do
Chapter 4: Welcome to the Rest of Your Eternity
Chapter 5: To Get to Know a Threat

Introduction: From Oblivion to Paradise

“As long as I wield the Reaver, I am immortal!” exclaimed the terrible and powerful being that stood tall, who brandished a double edged wavy sword with a skull at its hilt. The sword gave off a blue expulsion of mist like energy that felt far more powerful than it looked. The being in question was clad in slick bronze and grey armor, decorated in a purple cape on his back and a tapestry that unfurled down from his abdomen in front, which displayed the symbol of his army, ‘The Sarafan’. The symbol was a stylized ankh, with a large gap in the top of the loop. The being seemed human, but his face was the very material nightmares were made of. Demonic, yellow, sunken in eyes seemed to pierce the darkness. Sharp teeth lined his dry mouth. His sickly yellow and withering complexion, which made him seem more skeletal than anything else, was made even more haunting by the green flames that enveloped his entire skull, from jaw to top.

His opponent was no less imposing. A white skinned figure donned in red and gold armor. He had dark sunken in yellow eyes, much like the nightmarish being before him, but they were more predator than monstrous. His features were bold and more pronounced, with black lips, and long white hair tucked behind his neck guards. His armor was of a far stranger caliber than the bronze clad being before him. Large spines protruding out to the side and slightly backwards neatly lined the shins. His elbows were guarded each with a single spike, already stained in red from previous uses, while only his left forearm guard had a set of three large dagger-like quills sticking out the side, while the other was relatively smooth. His shoulder blade guards were the most striking. On his left were three large prongs fashioned into the shape of sharpened spider legs. His right, a single large scythe head sat atop an elegantly neo-gothic designed shoulder guard. He had no weapon to use, but was confident in his skills that he obtained and honed on his journey that led him here.

The two titans stood upon a steel grading platform, attached to machinery that contrasts with their high fantasy attire, with no discernible entrance or exit. Their surroundings, covered by an ominous green mist, and crackling with dark energies best not described, were irregularly curved and viciously jagged rocks. The world they seemed to inhabit was terrible and unforgiving, as if true horrors reigned supreme. That fact was made worse as the feeling that the whole platform could collapse at any moment. Neither of them cared for their dire situation, and only wished to rip out each others throats.

“I will rend your soul!” shouted the bronze being known only as ‘Sarafan Lord’, as he raised his unusual sword and brought it down to deliver a killing blow. However, the white skinned being, whom was hailed as Kain, blocked the blade. Shock dawned on the Sarafan Lord, but before he could speak or take action, his opponent threw him off to the side, and concentrated a powerful Immolation spell, engulfing the monster in a painful inferno.

“My insides boil!” he screamed in sheer agony as he dropped to his knees from the magical attack. The white figure stood tall, looming over the now vulnerable foe. When the flames of the spell dissipated, the victim of its effects vomited up a puddle of blood, which leaked through the holes of the platform. In a moment’s haste, when the internally injured lord collected himself, he rose against his alabaster foe once again, hands tight around the handle of his blade. Kain, however, would have none of it, and cast another Immolation spell.

He cried in shock and pain as the spell tortured and weakened him further. As the flames that licked his body began to dissipate once again, before he had a chance to drop to his knees, his opponent rushed him with lightning vigor. He struck him viciously across the face, before he struck the arm that held the unusual sword, sending it sprawling off to the right. With a punishing uppercut, the Sarafan Lord was knocked off his feet and sent flying a fair distance away from his combatant, landing with a metallic clang from the armor contacting the steel of the platform.

The battered and wounded monster in both body and pride rose up as quickly as he could, wiped the blood from his jaw, and staggered towards his dropped blade. His confidence in the battle against his arch foe was dwindling, and the only thing he had on his mind now was to survive. If he could get the sword, he thought, he would at least have a better chance. Fate had other plans, as a blinding flash of light appeared between the two opposing forces, and an angelic being emerged and landed gracefully on the platform. His skin was a pale grey-ish blue, and he wore merely small arm guards and elegant, but badly soiled and torn, black leggings, secured by the remnants of what used to be a silk scarf. His half-dressed appearance directly contrasting the two beings clad in armor he stood between. His silver streaked black hair was slicked back, giving the sense of grace and dignity. His eyes were like Kain’s, but unlike the predator like gaze of that white skinned figure, his eyes carried a deepened sorrow and longing of a connection long since erased, but not forgotten. While he did have a toned frame, it was clear that the being is very weak and vulnerable, due to centuries of torture, even longer starvation, and a recent injury mere moments before this battle. His wings, large framed with black feathers tipped in silver, much like his hair, folded back as he stood. His uninjured claws, each with two fingers and a thumb, balled up in a fist as he gazed at the Sarafan Lord.

“You!” The Sarafan Lord growled in accusation.

“Yes. Your prisoner, from whose blood you built your evil plans,” replied the angelic figure.

The Lord shrugged, “What could be more righteous than to take our revenge and your freedom from the same source?” His voice dropped to a more sinister and much darker tone. “Tortured eons of suffering are too good for you, Vampire.”

“But not for you, Hylden,” he said with a lace of spite, narrowing his eyes at him as he continued, “who has dared to set a corrupting foot upon this world after your banishment! Return to the demon dimension in which you belong!”

“And by what right, cursed one, did you send my kind to that place of evil?”

“By what right did you lay on us the curse that drove us from the light, and made us predators of human kind?”

“It was justice,” he exclaimed with exasperated irritancy, “for our banishment from the world! You see what it has made of our fair race.”

“I see you have taken your true form at last!”

The two beings approached each other, with spite and loathing for the other in their eyes. With a sudden lunge from both sides, the two traded strikes until they grappled. While they were both injured, the armor clad Hylden took full advantage of the vampire that had such a pathetic amount of stamina from the eons of suffering that still affected him physically.

“Then go –“ he said darkly, “and see what it makes of you!”

The winged entity yelled back to the white figure, “Kain! The sword!“

As the Sarafan Lord pushed the blue clad being, before he swiftly kicked him in the stomach, Kain drew the handle of the blade to his right hand with his natural telekinesis, and readied himself for round two. The Hylden picked up the blue angelic figure, and held him high and deliberately between himself and Kain, which kept the white figure from attacking recklessly.

“I sentence you to the hell of your own making. A prisoner – for all time!” He casts the weak and badly injured vampire into the green mist that swirled menacingly and crackled with dark energies.

Too weak to fly, and still concerned for the safety of the white clad figure who now faced the monster alone, the only thing he could do was shout, “Nooooo! Kain….!” as he descended deeper into the swirling green oblivion.

His senses began to blur, and the very last sound the blue skinned being heard was the Hylden’s voice, saying, “And now, it is your turn...” mere moments before he saw pieces of the platform follow him down into the abyss.

-v-v-v-v-v-

Blueblood was not a very happy prince. Sure he was rich, had more connections to important ponies than one would ever need, and he was a very dashing stallion, with brilliant arctic blue eyes, a light amber mane, light grey coat, and a fabulous Compass Rose as his “emblem” (at least in his own mind). But, it made him no less frustrated to be forced to attend weekly classes of chivalry and etiquette, as per Princess Celestia’s orders. A class he just finished for the week a few moments ago. As he walked home back to the castle with two white pegasi, clad in golden “roman-esque” armor, he continued to grumble to himself.

“I still can NOT believe Auntie Celestia is still doing this to me!” he huffed, “This is all because of that crazy mare at the Gala last year. She should have treated ME with chivalry, not the other way around. I’M the PRINCE!”

The two pegasi, his guards, though were usually stoic in their expression, couldn’t help but roll their eyes to the pretentious melodrama the prince displayed.

He continued to rant as they walked through the tea and high-end restaurant district of Canterlot, which was, oddly, the closest block to the castle’s front gates. The district itself was designed with elegant, “victorian era” design patterns that are only seen in the oldest of pony settlements and cities, and painted with various darker, cool colors such as purples, deep blues, and greens, with the occasional splash of gold for contrast. It was a relaxing, if a bit pricy (to be frank), looking place to be in.

It wasn’t until the sound of heavy metal crashing through wooden roofs caused Blueblood to snap out of his rant, and put him into a fright which caused his guards to jump up to the Prince in defense positions, ready for an attack. No attack came though, as the three stallions looked around, and saw what made the racket. Pieces of metal platforms were scattered about all over the block, some have destroyed a few buildings, and a few of the larger ones damaged the streets. Fortune was generous though, as it seemed not a single citizen was injured, as far as they could see at that moment.

“Dear Auntie, that was close,” the prince sighed, shaking away the shock he experienced. The guards relaxed and backed off from their cargo, ready to continue with their walk back to the castle with Blueblood.

Until, at least, they heard the sound of weak and pained moaning in the alleyway right beside them. The Prince was ready to ignore it, but sparked a better idea in the instant. If there is some injured commoner in there, the Prince thought, I can bring them to the castle and give them the treatment they need! Then, I’m SURE Auntie will lessen her sentence on me... maybe even let me go free!

“Stay here, men. I will go and check out,” said the Prince, with a tone of authority. He took one step in, and stopped. Filthy. The alley was absolutely filthy. He would HAVE to remind the town custodians to try and tend to the alleys in the future.

“On second thought,” he squeaked, shrinking back from the alley a bit, “One of you should go in there. You never know if the individual is hostile...”

The guards were experienced ponies and could identify any real threat, even from a distance, or in the darkness. The prince was making up excuses through his teeth, just so he didn’t have to step on a little filth and dirt. But they were guards, not critics, and couldn’t really object to the cop-out the Prince displayed. With caution, the guard to Bluebloods right stepped into the alley, willing himself to the shadows of the space between buildings.

In no time at all, the guard found the source of the wordless pleas for help. “There is definitely someone here, your Highness," he called back to the prince. Before he could get close, the noises stopped. The guard placed his hoof gently on the chest of the pony, then the neck. The stoic guard scrutinized the unknown pony a little more, before coming to a final thought. “He seems unconscious. What shall we do?”

Blueblood smiled in relief, and a hopeful joy that his plan might actually work. “Pick him up, and bring him to the castle. I’ll explain everything to Auntie.”

The two guards saluted, as the other guard, the one to Blueblood’s left, ran into the alley and helped pick up the strange blue pony wearing halfway ruined black pants...

Chapter 1: Manners and Tea with a Goddess

The ancient being was haunted. Dark images of miserable failures and prophecies gone awry swirled around endlessly in the rest of the infinite spanning void. The first recognizable scene showed him rescuing the chosen hero of the Ancient's race, the wielder of the sacred blade known as "The Reaver", the "key" to the Pillars that kept the land safe for eons, before those ignorant humans stormed his mountain-side keep. Another scene showed him having his chest cleaved open and his heart ripped out savagely. An act done by those same humans that intruded on his keep. They stared in amazement and fear of his still living, beating heart, before they stole the Reaver and fled from the now crumbling abode. Another scene, which took place after he was recently resurrected by the same heart that was so viciously taken from him, by that same chosen wielder he saved long ago. He recalled a terrible revelation that made him question the very prophecy he believed for thousands of years...

"No more..." the being said sadly, squirming in the darkness, helpless to the mental onslaught.

But the visions continued. The scene before him took place at the ancient citadel that he, and nine other guardians used to reside in, before the time of the binding, and the subsequent curse. He stood, discussing plans of action with the chosen wielder, where they were interrupted by a seismic shock. There, they witnessed the destruction of the Pillars in the distance, once majestic edifices instantly turned to ruin... and a painful, blinding flash of energy that coursed through him, taking possession of his body as he was powerless and entrapped within. He would fight against the dark, disembodied stranglehold. But he ultimately failed as the Hylden spirit now in control forced him to destroy the very reason why he waited for nearly ten thousand years, and the very reason why he was resurrected. The agony of such a moment weighed heavy on his soul, and only hoped that it was not the end for the fabled hero of his race.

The visions continued. He saw himself being dragged to a terrible device only known as "The Mass", which fed off his essence, torturing and starving him for nearly two hundred years, allowing them to use the energy it produced to build their devices and continue their plans... only to finally be freed of his torment when a young, white skinned nobleman turned vampire named Kain released him from his misery along his quest to take revenge against the 'Sarafan' Lord.

The figure pleaded once again, "Enough... Visions, do not torture me any further!" He felt like he collapsed to his knees, but he couldn't be sure from the way the void consumed most of everything. All he wanted now was an end. An end to the visions. An end to the suffering. An end to-

-v-v-v-v-v-

His eyes shot open as he nearly jumped out of a large and rather comfortable bed (which seemed large enough to fit an entire family). He breathed heavily in the shock of his memory driven nightmare for a moment before letting out a relaxed sigh of relief. He quickly realized that not only was he no longer subjugated to those visions, but was seemingly in a peaceful and quiet setting. Hastily surveying his surroundings, his eyes fixated on a massive window that framed a nearly full moon in the sky. Judging from it's position, he believed it to be roughly 15 minutes passed the 11th hour at night.

"Night," he said to himself with such reassurance. Being what he is, he was once afflicted by the rays of the sun, but evolution through several millenniums allowed him almost perfect tolerance of any sunlight. However, regardless of his strengths against that morning star, he always felt true comfort under the moon... even before the damned curse.

Pulling his eyes away from the almost revitalizing glow of the moon, he took a good look at the room he resided in, and realized something. Everything, though dimmed out through the shadows of the night, was mostly in pastel colors. Deep purple drapes, Pink and purple pillars that lined the walls. The walls themselves were a very light cool purple, with stars and other celestial patterns etched masterfully in between each pillar. Below the bed, a pure white polished floor had contrasting red rugs, with one of them running from said bed to the large dual door frame. A large symbol of the sun with the a crescent moon overlapping it was divided between the two doors. Small details all around the room, such as handles, drape and curtain trimming, etchings on the bed frame, even the lush blue and purple blanket he was under, had been in gold.

"This..." he started, "must be a dream. The world is not this colorful." He shuffled out of the safety of the bed, blurry eyed and numb from comfort, and tried to stand on the floor. As he attempted to stand on his own volition, he immediately tipped forward and smacked his face against the floor. His abrupt contact made him conclude that said floor was made of marble. Whimpering in pain, he rejected his early assessment of this being a dream as he rubbed his face... before realizing something was wrong.

He looked at his hand... but instead of the two fingers and thumb of his claws, he saw... a light blue-ish grey hoof. His hoof. In shock, he tried to scramble to his feet, but fell backwards, right into a small cupboard that stood beside the bed. He rubbed the back of his head in reaction, and looked down past his waist. He still had his pants on, but noticed that the shape of his legs drastically changed. They were hind legs now... designed specifically for quadrupeds. He began putting the pieces together. The "Gate" he was sent through... this place that is far from being the Demon Realm, or any kind of "Hell" for that matter... his apparent transformation.

Kain must have used the Nexus Stone on the Gate before I arrived, he thought, but instead of destroying it, the stone must have changed the portals properties... and destination. He rolled over, and got back up, on all fours this time. While he was a little bit shaky at first, he was able to stand properly. And transformed me as I was thrown through it, he concluded.

He looked to the distance and spotted a mirror, and gazed at his reflection. His features were a mix between what he used to be (pointed ears, yellow eyes, slightly sunken in and shadowed sockets, and fangs) and a smaller, more streamlined horse design, that small children would find "cute". His hair, or mane it would now be called, was short and black with small silver streaks, all slicked back in a dignified fashion. Pulling his eyes away from the reflection, he looked to his back, and saw that his wings were still there. Still black, feathers still tipped in a silver color, still physically large enough to carry him easily and effortlessly. At least something remained constant, he thought in shallow satisfaction.

With his natural acute sense of hearing, possibly exemplified by the species he was transformed into now, he picked up the sound of two conversing individuals approaching the door. One male, in the young adult phase of his life, and the other female. As young as the female sounded, the weight of her voice carried wisdom and authority of a being that would normally be much older in reality, combined with a motherly compassion. A tone of voice he hasn't heard since his own mother so many years ago.

The door slowly creaked open, and in stepped two equine figures. A seemingly average sized light gray stallion with a light amber mane stood beside a much taller mare. She had an ethereal multi-colored mane, a pure white coat, and was decorated in gold. The gold of elegant shoes, a chest piece studded with a purple gem, and an elegant crown which sat atop her head behind her lengthy horn. Her wings were unfurled, which would no doubt cause the average soul to gaze in awe at her monumental and imposing figure. The blue ancient, however, did not waver.

"Good evening," said the mare, in her warm and patient tone, "How well was your sleep?"

The ancient looked to the moon once more. "It has been a while since I have had a decent rest."

The mare nodded passively, before turning to the stallion she came in with. "You didn't tell me he had a Trottsylvanian accent, my dear nephew."

"Didn't I mention he was unconscious when we found him?" the 'nephew' said in defense, "Does it matter, though, Auntie?"

"No, I suppose not," she said flatly.

The blue vampire-equine hybrid interjected their side conversation, "Pardon my intrusion, but can you tell me where I am, exactly?"

"In time, my little pony," she replied, "but first, introductions... and perhaps some late night tea, while we talk."

"Of course, where are my manners." The ancient took a bow, "My name is Janos Audron."

The mare repeated his peculiar name, sounding out the syllables. "Ya-nose Aw-dren? A very exotic name to say the least. Well Janos, it is a pleasure to meet you." She took a bow as well. "My name is Celestia, ruler of Equestria."

"A Queen?" Janos said quizzically,

"No. Princess. My sister and I haven't managed to find a viable candidate to take up royal responsibilities." she said with a hint of loneliness. "Enough of my affairs, though."

She turned towards the door, "Come. We'll have our talk in the dining room," she said, motioning for Janos to follow her, All three proceeded to the doors that exit to the halls, when Celestia turned to her young relative and asked, "Oh, and Blueblood, my dearest nephew. Would you be a delight and prepare the tea for myself and our humble guest?"

Prince Blueblood stood agape at what his aunt just told him to do as the two other ponies moved down the hall. Serve tea? To a commoner pony? Unable to ever deny a request from the highest authority in the land, he begrudgingly set off for the kitchen, while the alicorn and the strange pegasus made their way to the dining room.

-v-v-v-v-v-

The dining room was, naturally, rather extravagant and grand in it's size and design. Though still as colorful as the room he awoke in, this room had a warmer theme with white walls, pillars, and floor, lined with pink trim along the edges. Splashes of red were produced by the drapes and the double doors (which were twice as tall as the bedroom's), with small trims of gold, again on the handles and small details on the curtains.

The table the two sat at was rather large... or, to be more accurate, was rather long. It seemed to easily seat fifty two individuals, twenty five on the right and left sides, with one seat on either end. The seats were polished wood with trims of gold and red velvet cushions. While fifty of the seats were far more standard in size and appearance, the two on either end seemed more custom built for individuals that held a higher importance. One with the sun symbol at the top, the other with a crescent moon, Which made the current seating of the two seem odd. Celestia was upon the last seat on the left hand side (seat number forty nine) while Janos was on the custom seat obviously built for the other royal individual that governed this land, as the crescent moon symbol that hung over his head served as a reminder.

She calmly sipped her tea which was recently brought in for them by a very disgruntled Prince. With a casual personal atmosphere, she watched her new guest as he continued to stare at his cup.

"Is the tea not to your liking?" she asked the ancient, "I could have my dear nephew bring you something else, if you prefer... He needs the exercise in manners, after all."

The ancient looked up at the royal, and smiled in a reply, "That will not be necessary... it's just been a very long time since I've had this."

He looked back down at his cup, and sighed gently. Vampires have a natural weakness to water. To most living creatures it was a source of life and vitality, but to his vampiric kind, it burned to the instant touch as if it were acid. He wasn't entirely complacent to that part of the curse, as it kept him from ever taking and enjoying a bath. However, Janos had over the years carefully tried to strengthen a sort of immunity against the effects of water on his body, internal or external. While that immunity was not complete, it did keep any and all sources of water that touched him from being fatal.

Carefully, with his hooves on either side of the delicate piece of china, he brought the delightfully smelling liquid to his lips and took a cautious sip. The water scorched his lips and mouth, though it wasn't due to the heat. He held strong though, and ignored the pain. I do not wish to be rude, after all, Janos thought. He felt the toxic effects of the water tear down his throat before safely landing into his stomach, becoming neutralized. He gave a sigh of relief he dressed as a sigh of satisfaction. He never fully understood how his body still functioned with various forms of fluids since the moment of his curse, such as his stomach acids, when something as simple as water could harm him. While the idea kept his mind of the lingering pain, he shook his head lightly and ended the train of thought, deciding to come back to that topic another day and return his attention to his host.

Celestia perked an eyebrow, obviously cluing in to the very subtle and well hidden signs of pain, but let it go. It would be awfully rude to question my guest about the nature of that display, she thought, especially since he tried so hard to hide his pain.

Janos set the cup gently back down on it's saucer. "So, my child, can you indulge me on where we are currently?"

The Princess looked to him with a passive expression on her face, even though her thoughts were quizzical on what he referred to her as. Very few ever called her 'child', and those few who did have been long gone for the better part of a few thousand years.

She was composed though, and replied accurately, if briefly, "We are currently in Canterlot, capitol of the land Equestria." Janos gave her a puzzled look. "By the expression of your face, I can tell that information doesn't help you that much. You must be from a land far more... unique and secluded to not know of us."

Janos sighed, "Yes... it was a truly unique land that I hailed from."

"Can you tell me why you are here, and why we found you clinging to life in an alleyway?"

Clinging to life may not be the most accurate phrase, Janos thought. "Shall I indulge you in the uncomfortable truth," he asked, before offering another option, "or should I tell you a fantastic lie?"

She beamed, and said, "Surprise me,"

The blue vampire sighed. "Very well. I shall part with you the truth of the matter. Your presence deserves no falsehoods." He began, "I came from a land called Nosgoth. A land I and my long since deceased and buried kind have been fighting to purify for thousands of years against our foul enemies. The zenith of our holy war ended at a Gate they constructed which threatened to cause genocide to the current inhabitants. I attempted to turn the tides in our favor, but my decision was fatalistic, for the leader of our enemies cast me into the portal, hoping to send me to a fate worse than hell itself. It seems as though circumstance and God had mercy on me, as I ended up here instead."

The princess just stared at him for a moment, eyes shimmering with curiosity and awe of such an exposition. Silence lingered on for a moment, before she finally said, "I thought you weren't going to tell me a fantastic lie."

"I suppose what I told you would seem rather farfetched under normal affairs." Janos replied,

"It would," the princess agreed. "So tell me. What is Nosgoth like?"

Janos sighed sadly, "It is... heartbreaking to recall the state of the land now. Long ago, she was once vibrant with an abundance of life and vitality. A beautiful sight to behold. The land I was forced to leave though was not so. That land was decaying and poisonous. Dark creatures crawled the earth and preyed on the ignorant, those of which that blindly governed what they simply could not fully comprehend. The reformation of... my race, through my adopted son Vorador, attempted to reclaim the land, in hopes to restore it to it's rightful beauty. I fear, however, for the worst..."

The princess could sense the sincerity in the ancient's voice, and felt rather contrite to his lingering feelings for his home.

His tone shifted slightly, "However, I have been wrong before in what I believed to be true. Perhaps there is still hope, even without my presence."

Celestia nodded, glad to hear that the poor stallion was looking to the positive, despite what may have befallen him previously. She took another healthy sip of her tea before returning to the conversation, starting a new topic, "Just a question. You keep referring to your 'race'. What exactly do you mean by that? Were you not an equine before hand?"

Janos shifted, "No, my child, I was not an equine before I came here. As for what I was exactly... it would be best if I did not explain. While I do believe you to be a very benevolent individual as far as I have known you, I fear that if I were to reveal what I am, you would not fully understand. Those will fear what they do not understand, and despise what they fear."

The princess bit her lip. She wasn't the biggest fan of secrets being purposely held from her as if she were some foal, especially ones that attached to such a cryptic phrase. Which was another thing that started to get to her. "Why do you keep calling me 'my child'. I highly doubt that you are older than me." She took another sip of her tea.

The ancient chuckled slightly, "It is an old habit, Princess... but your doubts are mistaken none the less. Unless you are over eleven thousand years old, I am, indeed, older than you."

Celestia nearly spit out her tea, and took a hard choking gulp to the revelation that was casually explained to her. Janos, realizing what he just said, began shrinking in his seat from fear, regret, and embarrassment of letting his lips become so loose. "I... have said too much,"

Coughing slightly, Princess Celestia composed herself, and let out the only word that was appropriate for this situation. "Impossible..." Janos looked up at her, and into her brilliant eyes. She in turn looked into his own eyes, those yellow predatory eyes, and caught something in their expression. It was fear and honesty. Despite her doubts about what he just said, there was no denying that he said something he truly believed, and that he was afraid it was wrong to mention.

She softened in her expression, which slightly confused Janos, before she spoke again, "You don't look a day over nine thousand."

Chapter 2: Grace, Power, and a Little Town to the South

Laughter filled the dining room for what seemed like hours. Princess Celestia was still in heavy conversation with her guest, and had a nice little stack of tea-cups off to the side that would impress most professional tea drinkers. Janos still had the one he started with, which was stone cold by now.

"So, poor Vorador, he's trying to pass on the power of our race to this human, and accidentally afflicts him with a terrible rash!" Janos said, trying to stifle his laughter, "It would be a decade before the poor child tried again with one who was willing to risk some other ailment."

Celestia slowed a bit, and tried to contain her laughter for the moment. "Your 'son' must have had a hard life if he started out like that."

Janos's smile slightly wavered, "Yes... we have all had a hard life for one reason or another."

Celestia's laughing ceased from the slight dip in the mood. "It must be difficult being cursed like that and being alone for so long." Janos nodded as the Princess continued, "I've never known that feeling. I've always been surrounded by my faithful subjects... But, my sister-"

Janos interjected, "Yes, Princess Luna. It was a shame she lost her will like that for so long. I don't even think I can comprehend what she went though."

"But, you've been alone far longer, and were forced to watch as those humans fear and despise you!"

"At least I had their company, and had my faith in waiting for Raziel to claim the Reaver from me. Your sister had nothing to look forward to, and was separated from all contact in the cold outer-reaches of the cosmos. I am only glad that her return had been swift and her cure from her madness was absolute."

Celestia nodded, solemnly, "I just wish it didn't have to come to that." Silence filled the room for a moment or two, before Celestia moved to a new topic. "Janos, may I ask you who this 'Kain' is you kept referring to?"

"Ah yes," Janos started, "From the time I spent with him, I have found him to be a rather brazen and ambitious individual to say the least. It is forgivable, as it seems that the odds are always stacked against him. There is no doubt in my mind that if he does reclaim Nosgoth from our enemies, he will attempt to rule it. I sincerely hope that he will also make an attempt to do what we could not for so long."

"You mean, purify the land?" Celestia interjected, "That seems like an weighty task to take, even when your kind seems to have eternity to do so. Not to mention the fact that he seems a tad selfish in his motives."

Janos nodded slightly. It was very true that Kain was a self-centered individual, but he was sure that even Kain KNEW that if something wasn't done, the balance of Nosgoth would soon shatter. An event like that would be something a ruler would need to avoid, especially if they intend to govern the land for the rest of eternity. Right?

"So, Janos," Celestia said, cutting the silence, "Where are you going to stay while you are in Equestria?"

Janos thought for a moment, "I... don't know. I have not been able to visit anywhere aside from this castle, and that alley I landed in. I would not know where I could find a settlement that would be willing to accept a foreign individual like myself. I will not even know where I could discreetly find... well..."

Celestia nodded, "I suppose that's true," She sipped her new cup of tea, thinking for a moment, "AH! I know where you could go, but you must be very careful in what you say around my little ponies. I know you aren't a threat, despite what you are, but I doubt that they would be so understanding if they knew."

"Mortals are like that, I have learned. I will keep the knowledge of my curse to an absolute minimum, and my... activities away from prying eyes."

"Mm-hmm," she agreed, "Though, there is more thing I wish for you to do, my special guest."

"What would you have me do?"

"Try to avoid 'sipping' from my subjects. It would break my heart to know that one of my subjects was hurt. Nearby the location I'm thinking of, there is a place called 'Everfree Forest'. There, you could find proper nourishment, though your prey might be more dangerous."

"I will consider that greatly. If, however, I do have to sip from your subjects," he said in a hesitant rebuttal, "I have learned long ago to make the process as painless as possible. As long as I do not get caught during the act, they will usually just believe it to be a strange insect bite of some kind."

Celestia's face twisted to concern for a moment, before she realized something. If Janos is at least willing to take extra steps to avoid harming those around him, or to at least make any feeding off her subjects to be significantly less harmful, she thought, then the least I can do is have faith in him and hope that that nothing will go wrong. "Very well, I will grant you that, but please, do not let me down. You are wonderful company to be around, and I would hate to have to revoke our friendship because somepony had seen you and claimed you attacked one of my subjects."

Janos nodded, and stared at his nearly full cup of room temperature tea. "I will be as careful as I can, Princess."

"Thank you." Celestia looked down at the cup Janos was currently fixated on, "Oh! Oh, I'm sorry you had to sip that. If I would have known-"

"It is quite alright," Janos interrupted.

The doors to the dining room slowly opened, and in stepped a blue clad mare of equal imposing power to Celestia, though her size was slightly smaller than Janos' gracious host. She donned sparkling silver shoes, a black chest piece with a white gem in the shape of a crescent moon, and a black crown that sat behind her horn. Her mane had the same ethereal effect as Celestia's, but instead of the multitude of colors, this one had multiple-hues of dark blue and was speckled with what looked like stars. It was as if looking into the night sky itself.

"Sister, it is time for you to raise the sun," said the new mare calmly, as she approached the two.

"Already?" Celestia asked before turning to Janos, "We must have been talking for far longer than I thought." She turned back to her sister. "Luna, I would like you to meet out guest of honor this... morning. Janos Audron. Janos, this is my sister, Princess Luna."

"A pleasure to meet you," Janos said with a small smile.

Luna seemed slightly nervous. Timid even. But, that assumption was immediately shattered when she responded, "THINE PLEASURE IS ALL OURS, HUMBLE GUEST," loudly.

Janos was taken aback from the sudden volume increase. Celestia interjected with a chuckle, "Dear sister, there is no need to use the royal Canterlot voice, especially in here where the acoustics are prime."

"Right," said the princess of the moon with a blush, "We-... I apologize." She turns back to Janos, who just finished recovering from the sonic assault, "I'm sorry about that, honored guest. It WAS usually customary for the princess to address those using the 'Royal Canterlot Voice'. I'm a bit behind on the times, still."

Janos smiled once again. "It's quite alright, my child," he replied, which earned a slightly confused look. "All is forgiven."

Princess Luna was about to ask him why he called her 'my child', when Celestia interrupted what would surely be another lengthy conversation, which would lead to him possibly overstaying his welcome.. As much as she liked Janos' company, she needed to get back to her royal duties and he needed a proper place to stay, and this castle with way too many prying eyes is NOT a good location for a vampire. "Sorry, Dear sister, we must be off. I need to help our guest in finding a decent settlement to stay at, after I raise the sun, of course." She got up, and silently motioned for Janos to follow her. The blue clad ancient followed suit, leaving the slightly stunned deep blue royal to stand in awe in the dining room.

"'Tia always has the most unusual guests..."

-v-v-v-v-v-

The two ponies trekked towards, then up, a great tower that stood high and mighty over the city and even the castle itself. The stairs seemed to go on for a while, nearly a good hour, but both of them were accustomed to such things. Winding staircases up to an important locale was almost a ritual in of itself in the ancient ways. At the climax of their climb, there was a balcony wide enough to hold at least six extra individuals along with the princess.

The view for Janos was breathtaking. The land he witnessed now reminded him of Nosgoth before her decent into chaos and corruption. Green as far as the eyes can see, skies filled with a twilight hue with the sun currently absent, and crystal clear lakes and streams that were around and amongst lush vibrant foliage. Humble settlements peppered across the land, and a glittering and colorful city resided just below the castle keep. For the first time in a very long time, Janos believed that it felt like everything breathed with a certain, unifying harmony, and that life would continue on this bright path for eons to come. A simply beautiful experience that he'd never thought to see again.

"Enjoying the view, Janos?" Celestia chimed, as the vampire nodded slightly, "Good. Cause the view is gonna get a little brighter."

Before Celestia started her daily rise, Janos spoke up, "There is one thing I wish to know. You said you were going to 'raise the sun'. How is that possible? I have never met a..." he paused, looking for the right word, "being, that was THAT powerful. The only way it would be true is if you were-"

"A god?" Celestia finished. Janos looked at her bewildered, "Yes, it is a little odd, isn't it? What with the fact that I and my sister were born into this world, just like every other pony. Most alicorns, as rare as they come, are generally more in tune with the magic of this world, and a few of us have learned to harness it to it's full benefit and limit. My sister and I were just naturally able to tap into the most powerful elements of magic in the world, which was why we could ascend to the status of deity. It's as if circumstance and nature conspired to create beings trustworthy of such potential."

Janos looked back to the horizon. "I am still finding it difficult to believe that you are, indeed, a god," he said with a stoic face.

Celestia chuckled, "Then, allow me to demonstrate." She closed her eyes, and her horn became aglow with a brilliant gold aura. As her eyes opened, the sky began to brighten as the sun slowly peeked out over the horizon, casting a warm light over the countryside, painting everything with a gentle golden hue. Janos remained neutral.

"A sunrise is a sunrise," He said, unconvinced.

Celestia huffed, "I thought you would be more susceptible to belief over proof," she said, "but, if you insist on further evidence..." She stared at the sun as her horn grew brighter. Janos turned to the mare briefly, before noticing that the sky was getting darker. He looked back to the horizon and saw that sun going backwards, almost disappearing over the edge it was coming from. Then, it rose again, then set again. Janos couldn't believe what he was seeing.

The sound of panic erupted from the city below, which made Celestia suddenly return the sun back to it's normal trajectory. "So, did I make a believer out of you this morning?"

Janos only managed to nod, as he tried to process in his mind what he just saw. An act of god, on the sun itself, and the god was standing right beside him. Never in his life did he EVER believe that he'd meet a deity face to face. He made a mental note to avoid angering her at any time, lest she decides to walk right up to him and smite him personally.

A guard pegasus from the gates below flew right up to the railing of the balcony, and addressed the princess, "Your Highness, there is panic in the city. They believe something-"

"Everything is fine, Lieutenant. I was just showing my guest here a little trick," she smiled warmly with a slight twinkle of mischief in her eye, "I will address the public myself within the hour and ease their worries. Thank you for briefing me on the matter. Please, return to your post."

Shocked and somewhat flustered, he looked over to Janos and noted his rather odd appearance mentally, before turning back to the Princess in salute, "Yes, your Majesty." He flew back to his duties far below the tower.

Celestia sighed, "I should have known I wouldn't have gotten away so easily with that little stunt." She looked over to Janos, "It's so hard to have a little cosmic fun when everyone is so afraid."

Janos, having already composed himself, interjected almost automatically, "They fear what they don't understand..."

"Yes. I'm just glad that they don't despise what they fear. I guess being a tangible being that they could talk to face to face helps, does it not?"

Janos could only give a half smile as he silently recounts his memories of being a tangible unknown amongst frightened mortals. He looked at the Goddess, telling the story through his eyes, before she answered herself, "Right, dumb question. Anyway, I said I was going to help you find a place to stay. I can't do much aside from pointing you in the right direction." She motioned for Janos to approach her, which he complied.

When he was close enough to her, she leaned in and pointed towards the south and slightly west of the castle. In the distance sat a quaint little town that resided beside and orchard of a sort, a deep and darkened forest that seemed to span for many miles, and a harbor off to the eastern side. "Right there," she said, "Is one of my favorite little towns in Equestria. Ponyville."

Janos looked at the princess with slight puzzlement, but before he could ask, she answered the obvious, "Yes, I know, an oddly unimaginative name. I've actually really tried to get the founders to come up with something better, but they insisted on that name, saying something about it reflecting the humble nature of location and residents. Oh well..."

She sat in silent thought for a moment, before she continued, "What I want you to do is seek out my dearest student, Twilight Sparkle. She'll try to help you find a place to stay, I'm sure." She noticed that he was about to ask another obvious question, "Most ponies don't exactly have uniquely crafted and exotic names, Janos Audron, so I suggest you just don't ask and just go with the flow. Oh, and one more thing, you are free to mention that you came from a land called Nosgoth, but don't mention it's from another world. Trust me, for the most part, it's not a good idea so say such things."

After hearing everything that the princess had to day, he finally spoke once again, "I guess this is goodbye, then?"

Celestia nodded slightly, and looked back to the little town. "I wish you luck on your new life. And, remember what I said about your required nourishment. The forest adjacent to Ponyville is Everfree. Use it well."

Janos hopped up on the railing of the balcony. "I will not disappoint you, Goddess." Janos was about to take flight, but decided on a better idea. "Before I leave, my child, would you like to see a little of my power?"

Celestia raised an eyebrow. Yes, Janos wasn't an ordinary pegasus, but he was was STILL a pegasus. They don't have the power, or the means, to manipulate the properties of magic. None the less, she was intrigued, if a bit skeptical. "Alright, Janos," she said, with a wry smile, "show me this 'power' you have."

"Very good," He said with finality. On the railing, he stood up on his hind legs, and opened his wings to their fullest extension to keep his balance. Celestia noted the sheer size, which made her own wings rather dwarfed. He then moved both his front hooves in front of his chest, and had held them perpendicular from each other. Looking to her, he bid, "Farewell," before sparks and wisps of blue energy crackled between his hooves, before the energy quickly grew, and covered him completely. In the instant it happened, he suddenly vanished in thin air.

Celestia's eyes widened in shock as she used her magic to scan the area he was just in, and picked up something familiar. "A teleportation spell. You cheeky devil." She said with a hearty laugh. With a thought, she summoned a scroll and a quill, and began conducting a letter.

-v-v-v-v-v-

To My Dearest Student, Twilight

On your continued journey to discover the magic of friendship, you will no doubt meet ponies that may seem strange or bizarre to you. Some may be inviting, and others may frighten you. One must not shy away from those that make you afraid, for you may just be shying away from a good soul. No matter his ailments, circumstances, or quirks, you must always get to know the pony before you make any judgements. Some may even surprise you with how delightful they could be if given the opportunity.

May your new guest entertain you for eons.

Sincerely Yours,

Princess Celestia

Chapter 3: It's No Uschtenheim, But It Will Do

Pacing back and forth inside a room made entirely out of the inside of a tree was a very worried and flustered young lavender unicorn mare. Stress seemed to plague her as her indigo mane with pink and purple streaks frayed at the curves, producing a mock bed-head. With her natural telekenisis, she was holding a scroll that was addressed to her by the Princess.

"What does she mean?" she asked herself, re-reading the scroll over and over, "Is the Princess warning me about an upcoming threat? Is somepony in trouble? ARE they trouble?! Are my parents moving in?!!!"

A small purple baby dragon with green spines and a yellow underbelly approached the mare from the kitchen. He held a tray of 'De-Stress Tea TM' (Tea to relieve stress!), which sat beside a freshly boiled tea-pot, and perfectly polished cup with saucer. "Twilight, you have to relax. The princess probably just met somepony odd and decided to tell you about it. You know, like what you do when you make a 'Friendship Report' to her, except she made one to you."

"She doesn't make friendship reports!" She snapped out of ever increasing anxiety, "She doesn't have time to do these things because she's the PRINCESS and has royal duties of... such and such. When she sends a message to me out of the blue, it ALWAYS means something big is gonna happen, or something bad. Usually big AND bad!"

"What about the Wedding invite?" Spike asked, "The after party there was pretty cool."

Twilight's eyes shrunk in horror to the reminder. "The wedding was crashed by Changelings, remember?"

"The Hearth's Warming Eve celebration?"

"Attacked by Windigos after we left the theater."

"The Royal Summer Sensation Surprise?"

Twilight's cheeks flushed a little, "I'd rather not talk about that one..."

"Anyway, this letter you have isn't even an invite, so there's no need to worry about angry snow spirits, changelings, or bogey-boarding," the fire reptile said, trying to reassure his caretaker, "It's just a plain old letter that has her telling you about her own recent experience. That's all."

"No! That's NOT all!" She started again, "It CAN'T be all! There has to be some thing else behind it. Like this," she said before she slammed the unfurled scroll on the center table, with her hoof pointed towards the bottom of the letter, "what does 'May your new guest entertain you for eons' even mean, huh?"

Spike looked at her a little confused, before asking, "What's an eon?"

Twilight sighed in exasperation, "Spike, don't tell me you forgot. We went over this last year when we were studying time periods in Equestria history." When the little dragon continued to stare at the mare with nary a clue in his head, Twilight began to re-explain, "In ancient pony times, it was used to describe ages using the average lifespan of a pony as a base unit. These days it's used to describe thousands of years at a time in transcribed eras, such as the Era of Discord, or the era we are in right now, the Era of Harmony. With Celestia being as old as she is, she might be using the original meaning, which means a single pony's lifetime. But why would she even use a term like that, and why would she make it PLURAL!?"

"Maybe it's just a figure of speech?" answered Spike.

"Nothing is JUST a figure of speech with the Princess!" She barked in retaliation. Spike could only clap his claw against his forehead, realizing she was pretty much too far gone, as he continued to watch her melt down.

The only thing that finally kicked Twilight out of her ever descending rant on how the Princess' figure of speech on eons might be a code (even mentioning time travel, the fabric of reality tearing asunder, and giant multi-eyed tentacle monsters invading Equestria), was a very gentle knock at the door. Freshly snapped out of her stream of consciousness, Twilight initially assumed it might be Fluttershy coming for a visit, but two things were wrong with that. The first was that Fluttershy was in Cloudsdale to visit her uncle, and wouldn't be back for a few days. The second was that this is a library. Anyone who lived in or around Ponyville knew that, for the most part, you could just walk in just like any other shop or business.

"Hello?" she asked, "You can come right in, you know. This IS a library, after all."

The handle gently turned and the door swung open softly, without a lingering aura of magic, revealing-

-v-v-v-v-v-

About five minutes prior to Twilight receiving her letter and having her subsequent meltdown, Janos suddenly appeared in a flash of blue light high above the little town. He stood upon on a cloud, which made him slightly puzzled.

"How curious," he said, amused. He bounced on the cloud a few times to test it and it remained a relatively solid, if incredibly soft, platform. "What strange magics this world has."

He looked down over the cloud, and gazed at the town of Ponyville below. It was a quaint little settlement to say the least, aside from the bright colors, which were a big part of the world as Janos came to realize. As he tipped forward to get a better look, he lost his footing on the cloud, and began to fall. Letting his wings unfurl, he caught himself mid air, and gently glided for a few moments.

Something felt a little off about how his wings operated, and to test it, he gave them a flap while he was still in the air. He sharply shot upward, as if his wings were now twice as strong as they were before he transformed. But that was wrong. His wings didn't feel any different from when he wasn't a pony. Though, he felt a sort of force push up against the feathery appendages, as if the world around him was helping him fly.

He figured it would be best to find out about this phenomenon later, since he still has very little knowledge about the race here, save for what the princess had told him the night prior. He floated down to the settlement, watching how peaceful everything seemed to be. It was one thing to see the tranquility of the land from afar, but entirely another to get a much closer experience. That was until something smashed into him, causing him to fall, dazed and confused. The last thing he saw clearly was a blur of cyan and... rainbow?

He hit the ground with a deafening thud, face down. As he rose back to his hooves with a groan, he rubbed the back of his head and face to check for any injuries, where that unknown flying object struck him and what he landed on after the impact. To his relative relief, he had none. Though, that may be because I still retain my ability of accelerated healing, he thought. Wincing, he slowly opened his eyes, and realized that he was amongst ponies of various different colors and shapes. And they were all staring at him. He hadn't noticed before, but he was easily a full head taller than most of them. Celestia exceeded his own height while her nephew was nearly a match, if a bit shorter. Perhaps it was uncommon for this race to be so large, which would explain the staring. One of them, a purple goggle wearing white coated unicorn with a jagged blue mane streaked with sky blue, approached Janos. She was cautious, but not intimidated.

"You ok there, dude?" she asked, "You took a nasty fall. Were ya skydiving or somethin'?"

Janos looked at the sky briefly, before he answered, "No. I was struck by some..." he paused, trying to think of the right word, "Actually, I have no earthly idea what hit me." With that said, most of the onlookers began to disperse and continue with their normal lives, leaving the mare with Janos.

"I figured you pegasi would've had courses that taught you to watch for other fliers, but I guess some still don't learn." she gave a small laugh before quickly changing the subject, "Your accent is rather weird, and you're pretty tall for a pegasus. You're probably not from around here, are you?" Before he could answer, the unicorn interrupted, "Doesn't matter, though. We get lots of outta towners coming by, so it isn't such a shock. Though, that crater you left was shock enough, guy."

Janos looked down and saw the imprint of his body imbedded in the ground. How hard did I fall, he asked himself in thought with a rather surprised expression. She giggled a bit, taking notice to the ancient's surprise. "By the way, my name is Vinyl. Vinyl Scratch. Local DJ of awesome beats!" She made a small pose of pride in reaction to her own title.

The ancient looked back towards her. He raised an eyebrow to the term DJ in slight confusion, but smiled and returned the courtesy, "And I, am Janos Audron," he proclaimed with a small bow, "I seek the one named Twilight Sparkle. Do you know where I could find this individual?"

"Brainiac? Sure, she's just down the street!" She pointed a hoof down what looked like a small neighborhood towards a rather large tree, before continuing, "She'll most likely be still in the library, studying away like usual. I swear, that mare needs to get out and go clubbing once in awhile."

"Thank you. Ms. Scratch."

"Aw, dude, don't call me that! Call me Vinyl, or my alias DJ-PON3... The E is spelled as a 3..."

Slightly bewildered from the reaction, he decided it would be easier just to comply, "Very well, Vinyl."

"Thanks man! Hope to catch you on the flip-side!" she said as she walked away towards a group of other ponies. Janos stood in silence for a moment, before he made his way towards the large tree. He decided to take in the sights while he sallied forth. The first to attract his attention, aside from all the different brightly colored ponies, were the houses. White walls lined with a timber-frame, with distinct yellow thatched roofs and overhanging upper floors. Details, such as the edgings and the doors, were done in pink. While the windows seemed to be tinted in a light purple. Each home was decorated with trees, bushes, flowers, and a few of them even had a bit of ivy climbing on the walls. They reminded him of the homesteads of those in Uschtenheim, the small village that he had unfortunately needed to visit when he was to feed, but those houses weren't nearly as bright or cheerful.

He soon approached his destination, and it was a sight to behold. An indeed still living tree, possibly just as old as the land it stood on but still no less fertile. All around it showed signs that it was more than just that, though. Windows could be clearly seen peppered on the trunk, and a few even in the canopy. Balconies were clearly visible on the sides, with an added one at the top which held what looked like a dual telescope. The roofing on the added rooms and the door frame were mere bushes of leaves, in keeping with the natural presence of the tree. He could hear the buzzing of a swarm of bees nearby, and spotted a hive hanging off a branch on east side. An interesting decoration choice, he thought, if that is, indeed, supposed to be a decoration.. He shivered at the thought of the hive being disturbed in any way by some unsuspecting passerby.

He noticed the sign to his left. It was simple and wooden, with the picture of an open book on the front. He figured this must be the library Vinyl was mentioning. As he approached the door, he heard the sound of an increasingly worried female voice going on about the concept of an eon being used as a figure of speech to be a cover up for something sinister. He shook the puzzled look from his face, and without further hesitation, he knocked at the door gently, not wanting to startle the worried one on the other side. There was silence for a moment, before the voice he heard spoke up.

"Hello?" she asked, "You can come right in, you know. This IS a library, after all."

He looked at the handle, then his hoof. I won't be able to grip it right with these, he thought, but with a little concentration, I should be able to will it open. He closed his eyes, and raised his right hoof slightly, and let his natural vampiric telekinesis to turn the handle. The door gently swung open.

Janos looked around the interior. Indeed the entire place simply was a giant tree hollowed out to be a room. How the tree managed to survive with so much missing from the inside was lost to him. The "walls" had hollowed out pockets made specifically for the many books that resided here. He noticed doors leading to a few rooms, two of which were near the canopy, one leading to a possible root cellar. To one side was a simple archway that lead to a kitchen. The whole place had a light, fresh scent that usually lingered near a tree.

"Excuse me," the lavender unicorn started, "May I help you? Nothing too big, cause I'm just a teensy bit busy."

"Yes," he answered, stepping into the library, "I seek the one named Twilight Sparkle."

"You're speaking to her," she said. She took a good look at her new visitor. He's rather large for a pegasus, she thought, and I never knew wings could be a different color from the coat. His accent seems Trottsylvanian, but most of those ponies are rather recluse. And those eyes...

Janos smiled, "Ah, yes. The Princess said you would be able to help me."

Wait, Princess? She thought, is this the guest Princess Celestia was talking about? She looked at the note for a moment before she crumpled it up and tossed it in the bin off to the far corner. "Really? I'm glad Princess Celestia thinks of me so highly to trust me with a friend of hers." She smiled nervously, scoffing at herself for thinking that the figure of speech was code for the end of the world.

The ancient perked an eyebrow, but decided to let it slide. She seemed stressed enough as it is, he thought. "Where are my manners. My name, is Janos Audron," He proclaimed with a bow.

"It's very nice to meet you, Janos... It's kind of an odd name. Where are you from?"

Janos thought about it for a moment. "I originate from Nosgoth, a very... isolated land. All of our names might seem 'odd' to you."

"Nosgoth," she repeated going into deep thought, searching through her memories for that name that might have been mentioned in her many study sessions, "I can't say I've heard of it. Maybe you can tell me all about it?" Her eyes began to shimmer in wonder with the prospect of learning about a new land.

"Perhaps another day. First, I need a new place to stay."

"I'll be glad to help with that. I'll take you to the town hall, and we can speak to the Mayor about accommodations."

"I beg your pardon, but I believe you stated that you were a bit busy, and this seems like an awful amount of trouble-"

"My schedule just cleared," she interjected. Twilight trotted up to Janos, but caught a glimpse of her frazzled mane in the reflection of her window. "Eh, heh, just one second," the lavander mare uttered before quickly dashing away, and just as quickly returned with a much tidier do. "Alright, let's go," she said with a smile and motioned for him to follow as she continued outside. "Spike, would you be so kind as to clean the library while I'm out?"

The little dragon took a large gulp of the tea he so recently set, muttering that he's gonna need more of it, before he replied, "Yeah, I'll see you when you get back." Janos, whom noticed the dragon for the first time, couldn't help but be slightly shocked. There are dragons in this world?

"Janos, aren't you coming?" Twilight asked him. Snapping out of his thought, he noticed she was a fair distance away from him. He quickly caught up to Twilight and apologized.

As they walked down the street, heading towards the Mayor's office, they failed to notice a pair of bright blue eyes staring at them from the bushes. Bushes that had a small curl of bright pink hair sticking out of it. If those two were only a little closer, they would have been able to hear a high pitched and elongated gasp coming from the hiding individual.

-+-+-+-+-+-

Authors Note: I don't usually do these ANs, due to them interrupting the story and all, but I feel this must be said. I don't mind if you give me a thumbs down. It's disheartening, yes, but I ultimately don't mind. HOWEVER, I would prefer that you express WHY you gave me and my story a thumbs down. I can't grow as a writer if I don't know what I did wrong. So please, if you thumb it down, explain why you did. It will help me greatly. Thank you.

Also, sorry for the shorter chapter. This will be the last set up chapter for a long time. After this, it's all shenanigans...

Chapter 4: Welcome to the Rest of Your Eternity

The two ponies rested upon a couple of seats that were set against the walls just outside Mayor Mare's office. The short trip up to that point was rather uneventful, but as soon as they sat down things swiftly changed. And Janos was dumbfounded. He never realized that any individual could come up with so many questions for another. In one breath no less. The ancient actually had to stop the mare just so she could breath.

"Sorry," she gasped, trying to catch her breath, "I guess I got a little carried away." With a final sigh, and after composing herself, she continued, "It's just that you're from a land I've never heard of, and as a mare of intellectual curiosity I wanted to know more."

"It is quite alright, but I believe you should hold some reservation and perhaps stick to one question at a time. I would not be able to satisfy your appetite for knowledge in one setting."

"I can do that," she quipped brightly, "So, why did you come to Equestria?"

Janos thought for a moment. He couldn't tell her that he was thrown through a portal by his arch nemesis, whom intended to send him to a world worse than hell itself. However, due to his high moral standards, he couldn't outright lie to the inquisitive youth. "It was all a matter of accidental circumstance, my dear. I happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong moment of time."

"How did this accident happen?"

"I merely arrived between the confrontation of two..." He looked to Twilight, searching for a word that she would recognize in relation. "... ponies, in an attempt to quell the dire situation that they faced. Unfortunately, with the hands of fate authoring other plans for those two, I was propelled from my home land to this domain. To be brief, I was merely discarded here. I only hope that the conflict I was forced to abandon reached a positive outcome."

"In that they resolved their differences in a civil manner?" Twilight asked.

Janos remained silent for a moment. Her innocence is refreshing. I pray that such bright idealism remains throughout her life. "Perhaps," he finally replied vaguely, "I am too far from home to return and discover the outcome, though. Doubtless, I am forever stranded."

"I'm sorry," she said, lowering her head in sympathy.

Janos gently nudged the mare with a hoof. "You have no need to be, my child. While I have been lost, I have also been found. Here, I will have a chance to start anew."

"Won't you miss your friends and family?"

I have missed them for thousands of years. "Yes," he said, "But, I believe they would have wished for me not to dwell on my predicament, and consider it a blessing that I turned up amongst wonderful company."

Twilight smiled with a slight blush at the resolve and the compliment Janos had just given her. She could only help but wonder exactly what kind of life the pegasus beside her led. He seemed so polite and soft spoken, as if he had an infinite reserve of patience. Patience that a parent would have for their foal. Patience that could only be born from the purest of hearts. However, looking into his piercing yellow eyes, she saw something much more than that. She saw a stallion that that had endured a long suffering solitude. Whatever previous company he kept before now was obviously brief, and from the twinge of lingering sorrow deep seated in his distant gaze told her that not all of it ended pleasantly. Twilight new better than to pry, though. As a mare of principle, she wouldn't question him about his life any further. The scholar within, however, demanded answers to other questions about his home.

Just as Twilight was about to resume her interview, a pink coated and white maned secretary popped her head out of the door and addressed the two, "The Mayor will see you now."

Rotten timing, Twilight thought bitterly. The two got up, and proceeded into the office. Inside was a rather humble and formal looking room. Bookshelves and cabinets lined the walls. The national flag of Equestria hung loosely on a pole which stood beside the large window, decorated in light purple drapes. Two seats were placed before a humble looking desk. And, behind the desk, sat an elegant looking earth pony. Her coat a pale tan while her mane and tail were light grey with even lighter streaks. She looked at her new visitors with blue eyes through gold framed glasses.

"Ah, Miss Sparkle!" the Mayor greeted. Her voice carried the weight of age and wisdom most older mortals tend to posses, even though she looked like she had many more years ahead of her. "Have you come to discuss this year's Winter Wrap-Up? I know it's a fair while away, but one can never be too prepared for events like these. Besides, I do have some plans that I want to run by you-"

"Actually, Miss Mayor, we'll have to talk about that next week. I'm here because we need a little bit of help."

The Mayor perked an eyebrow, and looked towards Janos. "My, what a dashing stallion you've brought with you! Is he your-"

"This is Janos Audron," Twilight quickly interrupted, not wanting to answer any of the rather embarrassing question that Ponyville's highest governing body might want to ask. "He came to Equestria a short while ago, and needs a place to stay."

"Accommodations for the handsome pony is something I can do..." she said as she walked over to one of the cabinets, pulled a drawer, and searched for the folder she needed. Fishing out a rather thick file, she returned to her seat and opened it up. "Now, Janos, where did you come from."

Almost automatically, he said, "Nosgoth." The mayor looked at him, slightly puzzled by the answer. "It is a very secluded realm," he finished, honestly.

"Very well," she said, picking up a pen in her mouth and writing the name down on the paper in front of her. She made a side note in an assumption that his home was a distant colony of Trottsylvania, considering his accent. "And, how long do you believe you will be staying in Ponyville?"

Janos answered solemnly, "I have no way to return to my home land. The princess suggested that I move here to get used to life in Equestria. Not knowing this realm as well as you do, I feel it would be best to remain here, at least until I can learn more about the rest of your fair country."

Twilight softly squealed with joy. The prospect of a curious mind looking through the book collection she watched over was almost fantastically unbearable. "I can help with that!" she ended up blurting out, "The library I'm charged to watch over has an extensive collection of tomes that cover many topics of Equestrian life, such as; culture, history, geography, and even surrounding flora and fauna."

"Thank you, my child," Janos said warmly, appreciating the generous amount of help the young mare seems to provide him. Twilight blushed slightly, partially from her slight outburst and from the ancient's warm acceptance of her assistance.

The Mayor jotted down "indefinitely, until further notice" before returning her gaze to her guests. "Do you have pre-existing assets that you might have access to?"

"I'm afraid," he started, "I have no assets."

"Janos told me that he was kinda thrown out of his land unexpectedly after trying stop two ponies from fighting." Twilight added. The ancient looked to Twilight in response to the new and far more innocent interpretation of his problem.

"Oh, you poor dear. I'm so sorry," she said, raising her hoof to her cheek in slight shock. Her expression quickly melted to what seemed to be guilt and regret. "I'm afraid that I can't help you if you have nothing to your name. As much as I would love to run a charity service to help you, finding you a place to stay for free is out of my hooves. Even if I did, you can be sure that other less harmonious individuals might try to take advantage. And that would surely harm the economy of our little community." She shut her folder.

Janos sighed, "It is alright. I understand. Thank you for your time."

For a moment, Twilight felt helpless. Janos was sent to Twilight because the Princess believed she could help him, and the opposite was unfolding before her eyes. She had to think of something, anything, to circumvent the problem. Then, it hit her. "Janos, why don't you just stay with me?"

The Mayor and Janos looked to the lavender mare, almost intrigued and curious of the prospect. Twilight began to elaborate, "Well, I do have a spare guest room that never gets used, and I could always use a little more help around the library." Her demeanor began to get brighter as she continued her little revelation, "You'll also be in reach of the books you need for your research, and I'll always be nearby to ask you questions about your home! It's PERFECT!"

The ancient smiled appreciatively. "Then it's settled," the Mayor said, "Janos, you are left under the room and board of Twilight Sparkle until further notice. I officially welcome you to Ponyville." She held out her hoof. The blue coated pegusus was puzzled at first, but quickly recognized the gesture. Mortals used it as a sign of trust and greeting, originally to check for hidden weapons from would-be assailants on their wrist. Janos reached out his own hoof and they shook.

"Come on, Janos!" Twilight said enthusiastically, hopping out of her seat, "I have a lot of places to show you before we head home!" She beamed with the prospect of being able to share her library with such a unique and foreign pony.

The two departed happily, leaving the Mayor alone in her office once again. She sighed, "I wish I thought of that..."

With a shrug, she picked up the folder with her teeth, and opened her largest drawer in her desk... only to have a pink mare with bouncy curly hair pop out unexpectedly, yelling "SURPRISE INVITATION!" She leaned over the desk holding two envelopes. A couple moments of silence passed before she realized that Janos and Twilight were already long gone.

Her face soured slightly, "Aw, ponyfeathers. My timing was WAY off! Oh well, gotta get back to stalking them." She turned to the Mayor, whom just came out of a slight shock. "Hello, Mayor! How's it going? Pass any neat laws recently? Have you approved my twenty-four six party proposal yet?"

The Mayor gave the pink offender a stern look, "This has been the fourth time this month, Pinkie. I would prefer it that you stop using my desk as a place to ambush new residents. And, no, your party proposal is still in deliberation. I'll get back to you on that next month."

"Okie dokie, Loki!" She exclaimed before disappearing back into the drawer, shutting it behind her. The Mayor opened the drawer again to protest, but realized it was devoid of the pink wonder, as if she were never there. Having experienced this phenomenon more often than she cared to remember, and not being able to make any more sense of it, she decided to continue to let sleeping dogs lie.

"I should probably start putting reality bending laws in place to keep her from doing that to me..."

-v-v-v-v-v-

Twilight led Janos through the hustle and bustle of the Mane Street in Ponyville. Shops and restaurants of all kinds were welcoming potential customers with open arms with the promise of good service and better wishes. And just like the residents themselves, the buildings were bright and colorful. Some of them didn't deviate too far from the designs of the residential buildings he took notice of when he landed here. Most of them used bold and eye catching colors and designs that indeed stood out from the norm of the town. No doubt to attract would be buyers and patrons. Janos wasn't used to being around such variety and couldn't help but let his yellow eyes wander, gazing upon the unique specialty shops; Quills and Sofas, Antique Clockery, Knight's and Mare's Apparel, Bon Bon Confections. One particular shop garnered his immediate attention when he glimpsed the name.

"So, that must be the young Vinyl's establishment," Janos wondered to himself as he slowed to a stop, gazing at the sign. In neon, it said 'Vinyl Turnables and Sound Systems' and had a brightly colored outline of Vinyl Scratch hovering over the name.

Having overheard his statement, Twilight stopped and turned to the secret vampire. "You know Vinyl?" she asked.

"She was the first to greet me when I came to Ponyville, and the one to tell me where I may find you." Janos replied with a nod. "Twilight, would you be so kind as to tell me what a DJ is?"

Wow, your old home land really IS isolated. "DJ is the abbreviation of Disk Jockey." Twilight sensed that this seemingly simple answer she gave him only confused him further, so she continued, "Disk Jockeys are a kind of professional musician that mixes and plays their own musical material to an audience, usually through electronic devices such as synthesizers and turntables. While Vinyl does that on her off time, she acts as a radio personality for the local station that's set up to the north of the town, usually on the weekends. Most nights though, she's a Club DJ by commission, playing at all sorts of parties and pubs. During the day, she runs this shop."

"She's a musician?" Janos asked, slightly surprised. She seemed to be far less diciplined to be one.

Twilight shifted, "Well, yes and no. In a technical sense, yes, she plays music, ergo, she's a musician. However, most ponies tend to differentiate a DJ from other musicians... Even her roommate, Octavia, has had many heated discussions of the legitimacy of the DJ in the music world. I'm just glad that they don't let that tear their friendship apart."

"Is her music truly that different?"

Twilight looked at Janos for a moment, before answering him with a question of her own, "Have you ever heard of the music genre called Techno?" When Janos replied with a no, Twilight told him that she'll tell him about it later.

"Right now, I kinda want to introduce you to some friends of mine." As she said this, the two ponies came up to a rather extravagant looking building. It's first floor, with mixed blue walls detailed with purple edgings, pillars, along with other small decorations and windows shaded by monochrome orange curtains, brought Janos's attention to total bewitchment. As his eyes continued to move up, he noticed the order of the color importance shift, as the second floor and roof were dominated by a light purple diamond checker-board pattern. It was lined elegantly with orange trimming and deep purple designs, and all topped off with a deep purple pillar complex and striped orange cone that held a small red flag at the very tip. The crux of the building's theme seemed to feature carousel persuasions, and the sign at the front (along with the miniature purple ponies that were used as decorations near the top) cemented this observation.

Twilight walked up to the door and was about to open it when she realized that Janos was lagging behind, still letting his eyes wander and explore the building before him. She gave a small cough, before she asked, "Janos, are you coming inside?".

Janos snapped out of his glamor induced trance. "I apologize," he said, "It is not a common occurrence for me to see a building in such color and splendor such as this." The only reverence in beauty I knew that this compares to was my old aerie, Janos thought, which I built in honor of my race and the hero that I believed would redeem us. Janos approached the front door that Twilight stood at. With a gentle push, the door swung open slowly (which followed a gentle ring of a small bell), and the two stepped inside.

"Just a mi~nute!" a elegantly feminine voice sang from an unknown location.

Janos was taken aback by the bright purples and near pinks that dominated the interior, and the continuing carousel themes that were featured in the circular designs, striped patterns of the splashed orange, and various pony shaped manikins that featured the same pose that was on the sign outside. Mirrors were as abundant as the various garments that were either on display of those life sized blank faced dolls or were put on display on hangers or folded neatly on the shelves.

From behind the centerpiece that three mirrors stood, a brilliant white unicorn with a mane of deep purple curls approached the two.

"Welcome to the Carousel Boutique, where every garment is chic, unique and -"

"Rarity," Twilight said with a smile.

"Oh, Twilight! What a pleasant surprise!" said the fair unicorn, "I'm sorry, but I am rather busy at the moment. I cannot chat for long. I hope you understand."

"That's ok, Rarity. I'm just here giving a small tour," she turns to the vampire, "Janos, this is my good friend Rarity. Rarity, this is Janos Audron."

The fashionista pony walked up to him with grace. "It's an absolute pleasure to-" She stopped mid sentence, and then frantically raced towards the rear end of of the stallion with a horrified gasp. "Oh dear CELESTIA! This is horrible! A TRAVESTY! A true crime in fashion!" She gave Janos' leggings a slight tug, before continuing, "SILK! Oh my poor dear, we will fix you right up!"

Janos was understandably shocked and confused. Before he could protest, however, Twilight spoke up, "Rarity, I don't think he feels very comfortable with you poking at his pants."

Rarity paused and looked up at the shocked and rather discomforted face of the blue and black pegasus. Her eyes widened in revelation as she slowly backed off and composed herself. "You are truly right, Twilight. That was very unladylike of me." She turned to Janos, and said with dignity, "Please, accept my apology."

"It is quite alright." Janos said, with a sigh of relief.

With a sigh of her own, Rarity trotted towards the centerpiece. "Please, follow me." Twilight and Janos looked at each other, wondering what the fashion pony was up to, but ended up merely shrugging it off and following the white and purple mare.

The adjacent room had a similar design as the previous one, but the mirrors were considerably less frequent, garments were either half finished or simply materials, and the very back of the room sat three fitting booths.

"Now that we are out of the public eye, I must ask you to allow me to mend your garments. I simply CANNOT allow you to wander Ponyville looking like that any further," she pressed with a stern composure.

"Rarity," Twilight interjected, "Janos won't have any bits to pay you. He came here with nothing to his name."

"Oh, pish posh, Twilight. I INSIST on this. He can consider it a 'Welcome to Ponyville' gift from me"

"My child, while your offer is most generous, I must decline. As a... pony of principle, I believe in equal-"

"Nonsense. I have NEVER charged first time customers for the mending of fabrics. Please allow me to mend your garments without further fuss?" she said with her lips pursed out in a pout and eyes widening with faux-sorrow, "Pleeeeeeeaaase?"

Unable to resist the adorably sad look on Rarity's face, he caved. "Very well."

With a sudden smile, she exclaimed, "Excellent! Now, remove your leggings."

Janos was slightly stricken by the statement. While he did notice that the other ponies in this world generally wandered about clothes less, he simply didn't feel comfortable with the idea. He has, after all, been clothed for more years than they could fathom. With bashful nervousness, Janos responded, "May I use one of those stalls over there? I don't quite feel comfortable removing my clothing around company."

"Oh, I'm dreadfully sorry," Rarity started, "I didn't know you were that sort of stallion. You must have thought us as-"

"No." Janos interrupted, "The time I have spent here, as brief as it was, allowed me to become used to the public habits of you and your community. But, I feel that I will not be able to conform to the social standard so quickly, as I have been clothed since my youth."

"Well, I'm just glad you don't think less of us for it," Rarity said. Though, I certainly wouldn't mind if every pony in Equestria wore something on a day to day basis. "Right this way, Mr. Audron." Rarity lead Janos to one of the stalls, and with the magic of her horn, opened the door gently. As Janos stepped inside, the door shut behind him. "Toss your leggings over the side of the door, and I'll take them to be mended. I'll be right back with some temporary replacements."

"Janos, you really don't need a replacement pair of pants." Twilight interjected.

"Oh, let him alone my friend. It's a cultural difference that he needs to work out all in due time. One cannot rush these things you know." With that said, she trotted out of the room to look for Janos' replacement garments.

In the stall, Janos raised himself upright. He placed one hoof to lean on the wall, and used the other to first untie the tattered scarf that was tied around his waist to hold his pants in place, then to help slide his pants off of his form. They landed with a soft poof around his fetlocks. With a slight shuffle, he moved his hooves out of the holes of his pants, freeing the garments from him finally. When he dropped down back to all four of his hooves to pick up the leggings, he caught a glimpse of something on his flank. A symbol all too familiar. Two circles of different sizes, one within the other, and the silhouette of a wavy blade that overlapped the circles diagonally. Hilt to the top right, tip to the bottom left. It was the symbol of the Reaver.

But why? Janos thought. The question itself had many layers, two of them obvious. What was the significance of such an image on his body, and furthermore, why WAS there a picture on his body? He realized almost suddenly that all of the ponies he has seen and encountered had some sort of mark, unique to each individual. It must have been some sort of natural law of the land. With a shake of his head, he decided it would be best if he did some research about this phenomenon later. Using his vampiric telekinesis, he picked up the pair of ruined silk clothes, and hung them over the door.

"Excellent," said Rarity behind the door, as the garments were pulled off the door with an aura of purple. "Here are your temporary replacements," she said with a happy chime in her voice, "Because of your rather exceptional height, I assume you would wear an extra large. If they do not fit, return them to me, and I'll find you a better size."

New pants were flipped over the door. Janos, with a tug from his telekinesis, brought them down off the door towards him. They weren't the luscious silk he wore previously, but they were soft enough to the touch. Sliding them back on with a snug and perfect fit, he finished it off by tying the scarf back where it used to belong.

He exited the stall, feeling slightly more comfortable.

What a dashing stallion, Rarity mused in thought, I simply MUST have him in one of my fashion shows one day. "You look simply marvelous, Janos. Though, I don't believe you really need that rather garish looking scarf around you anymore."

"The scarf holds a sentimental value, my dear. It is the last remnants of clothing of my ancestors, aside from the leggings you are mending. I could never think of discarding it."

"Oh dear, I'm so sorry." Rarity exclaimed, "Then by all means, keep it. Family importance always trumps fashion."

"Thank you. And, thank you for the new clothing. I must repay you for your grand generosity."

"Oh, think nothing of it."

"But, I simply insist."

Rarity sat on her haunches, and lightly pawed her chin in thought. "Very well then. I'll think of something. In the meantime, enjoy your day in your new replacement slacks."

Janos gave her a small bow, and walked towards Twilight. "Thanks again for having us Rarity," she said with a smile.

"Just be sure you come back in a week. Your silk trousers should be ready by then!"

The two proceeded out of the boutique and into a new day, leaving Rarity alone. Or, so she thought. The second stall suddenly opened up with a slam as the pink mare jumped out. Within an instant, she slid across the floor on her knees, presenting two invitations, yelling "SURPRISE INVITA-"

She stopped just short of a flabbergasted Rarity, and noticed that there was no one else around. "Aw, APPLESAUCE! I missed my cue AGAIN!" Pinkie got up with a frustrated snort, turned around, and walked right back into the stall. With a slam of the door behind her, she caused many of the standing pony mannequins to topple over, creating a bigger mess than ever. Rarity could only twitch an eye, trying to comprehend the incomprehensible.

-v-v-v-v-v-

It was well into the afternoon by the time Twilight and Janos reached the dirt road leading to Sweet Apple Acres. Janos noticed the change in aesthetics the further they got away from the town. Instead of the bright multicolors that were featured in the town proper, earthy colors became the norm, from the lush green of the plant life to the rich brown of the trees and soil. The only colors and shades that contrasted against the natural vibe were the ruby painted barns and sheds trimmed in white, the white fences and gates, and the bundles of golden hay.

"Well, here we are. Sweet Apple Acres," Twilight quipped. Janos continued to observe the harmony of such a place. While the Carousel Boutique bolstered a complex and outward elegance, this location breathed of simplistic peace and beauty. It was almost rejuvenating.

The sound of aggressive competition kicked him out of his observations. Both he and Twilight looked for the source of the sound only to spot it's epicenter. Two mares, one orange earth pony with a brilliant blond mane topped with a stetson hat, the other a cyan pegasus with a... rainbow mane?

The unique mane color of the second pony stood out in his memory. Is that the pony that ran into me earlier today?

"Applejack! Rainbow Dash!" Twilight called out with a friendly smile.

The orange pony Applejack was the first to turn her head in Twilight's direction after hearing her name. "Howdy Twilight!" she called in a friendly response, before being toppled over from the sudden jerk in her front hoof by the other mare.

"HAH! Told yah I'd win!" boasted the blue opponent. With a prideful strut, she finally acknowledged Twilight in greeting, "Oh, hey Twilight! What's up?"

"Ooo, Rainbow Dash! Ya no good cheat! That was mighty low of you t' slam me while ah'm talkin' to Twah."

"You're just jealous that I won." she said, sticking her tongue out.

"One match out of seven doesn't count as a full win, Dash. I still have three in th' bag and we have three more t' go." Applejack deadpanned. As soon as she said that, Rainbow Dash's ego seemed to suddenly deflate.

With a chuckle, Twilight lead Janos into the farm area and up close to the two competitors. "I take it Rainbow challenged you to another hoofwrestle?"

"And lost three times in a row, and demanded more matches," the orange mare said with a honest but sly smirk. The cyan pegasus was not amused at the Element of Honesty's, well, brutally honest nature. "So, what can ah I do fer ya?"

"I'm just giving a new pony a tour of Ponyville." With that said, Janos approached the three. "Applejack, Rainbow Dash, this is Janos Audron. He'll be staying here for quite a long time. Janos, these are my friends."

Janos approached the two. "It is a pleasure to meet-" was all he could say before his hoof was gripped by Applejack and shaken with high enthusiasm.

"Well, howdy there pardner!" she exclaimed, still shaking him quick and relentlessly, "Ah'm Applejack. 'Tis mighty fine to meet y'all. Any friend of Twah's is a friend o' mine!"

With that, Applejack finally released Janos' hoof... which was still shaking despite it's freedom. Twilight gave a nervous chuckle, before helping Janos place his hoof back on solid ground, effectively calming it. Janos looked to Twilight, and silently thanked her for the assistance. Once composed, he approached Rainbow Dash.

"Hey, the name's Rainbow Dash!" She said with a newly invigorated pride, possibly hoping that he didn't over hear Applejack's casual admittance of her opponent's crippling loss thus far.

"It is an honor to make your acquaintance," he said with a bow, and a warm smile. Rainbow Dash returned the favor, but something caused her smile to falter slightly. There was something awfully familiar about the pony. His yellow eyes, his slicked back dark mane, his height, his pointed... Fangs! she screamed in her thoughts. A subdued shiver ran up and down her back, as memories of horror reels became recounted in her mind. Horror reels that were specifically about a certain monster of the night. No, I can't jump to conclusions again, she thought while calming down, I'll investigate and THEN jump to conclusions!.

With a fake smile now plastered on her face, she replied through her teeth, "Pleasure is all mine."

Satisfied with introductions, Twilight and Janos made some small talk with the farmer pony, asking her what she's been up too lately. Applejack talked about her farm work, the approaching apple-bucking season, and haggling prices for replacement apple seeds of faulty and dying trees. When all was said, they turned to the rainbow headed mare and repeated their questions. The aspiring Wonderbolts fan elaborated on her training regiment, her daily cloud moving and kicking, and her constant trials against the present orange colored company that was the only decent match of her physical prowess. When Applejack asked about Janos, he explained his situation being virtually stranded in Equestria, and originally coming from a land called Nosgoth. He refrained from explaining his job as the guardian of the Reaver, and only said that he was tasked to wait for somepony for years in solitude. While Applejack admired his patience and his drive to keep going even while he's stranded, Dash grew all the more suspicious.

"Well, it was sure nice of ya t' visit. I hope to see you again soon, Sugarcube," she said warmly, before turning to Janos with an equally warm, "You too." Rainbow Dash nodded in agreement when Applejack was talking to Twilight, and halted when speaking to Janos.

"Thanks Applejack, Rainbow Dash." Twilight responded, "Come on Janos. We've got one more place to stop by." And with that, the two ponies departed. Peace and quiet lingered on the farm for a moment while the two mares watched on as Janos and Twilight become smaller and smaller specks the further trekked onward back to town. Just before they were about to resume their competition, they were greeted by a-

"SURPRISE-" screamed the pink pony that leaped out of an idle barrel, only to be given awkward stares by her two friends, and not the stares given by Twilight and the newpony. "Oh for the love of PETE! This joke is starting to repeat itself a bit too much and is getting old REAL fast," she growled before jumping back into the barrel, leaving the two competitors extremely confused.

-v-v-v-v-v-

"I'm sorry, dearies," said the sky blue mare with the light crimson with pink streaked mane, "Pinkie is off on a delivery, and was supposed to be back an hour ago. I have no earthly idea when she'll be coming back. You're welcome to stay and wait for her."

"That's ok Mrs. Cake," Twilight said with a sigh, "We need to get back to the library, and I need to clean out the guest room. Just tell Pinkie we were here, ok?"

"Okie dokie, dearie." she said with a motherly smile, "It was an absolute delight to meet you, Mr. Audron. I hope you enjoy your life in Ponyville."

"I am quite sure I will. Everyone I have met has been a pleasant surprise for me." What followed was a silence that practically dared someone to break with extreme prejudice. When nothing came, they all said their goodbyes, and the two ponies departed for the Library, leaving Mrs. Cake alone to her baking.

As evening reached it's zenith in the day, an uneventful and eerily quiet walk followed Twilight and Janos. Deciding to break the silence a bit, Twilight asked her new guest what he thought about her friends. "You have gained some truly wonderful souls to call as friends, my child. You must be very proud."

She gave a half-hearted laugh, "I wouldn't say proud. Before I came here from Canterlot, it was only me and Spike. Sure, I knew a few ponies here and there, but I honestly didn't give them the time of day. Not because they were bad, but simply because I was so focused on my studies to worry about companions. It wasn't until Princess Celestia sent me here to have me make some friends that I truly got to appreciate such a concept. I'm LUCKY to have the friends I have, and I couldn't be more happy. I'm just sorry that I couldn't introduce you to them all, with Fluttershy being in Cloudsdale and Pinkie being missing."

"I'm sure we will meet them eventually," Janos said, as they reached the Library.

They noticed that all the lights were off. "Spike must have gone to sleep. Probably only finished cleaning up half of the library," Twilight said as she turned the handle with her magic and opened it slowly, "If he cleaned the whole place, it'll be thorough-"

"SURPRISE!!!!!" shouted all the ponies inside of the library as confetti and streamers erupted out the doors and open windows, all with the lights suddenly flaring on. "WELCOME TO PONYVILLE!"

Heart racing from the sudden party, Twilight laughed a little, "I think it's for you Janos... Janos?" She looked beside her and noticed the pegasus was lying on the ground, face up. Pinkie popped out of the mob of ponies that were in the library, and approached the out cold ancient.

"Well, looks like this party will be a knock out!"

Chapter 5: To Get to Know a Threat

Janos... Janos...

He heard his name being called by a familiar and friendly voice. His eyes creaked open, and all he could see were colored blobs and splashes of light. Reaching up to rub his eyes, he realized something. The shape of his hooves felt very different now. Slowly taking them away from his eyes and regaining his sight, he looked down and saw-

My claws, he thought, am I...

He looked around a strikingly familiar room, searching for a mirror or something similar enough. At last, his eyes rested upon a reflective surface upon a vanity, and he saw a ghost of the past. Piercing, predatory yellow eyes were no longer staring at him, and the fangs that used to unwittingly portray a sinister grin never surfaced. Instead, he saw ashen blue eyes gaze back at him in longing, and a smile that showed neatly lined and even omnivorous teeth. Those small physical changes left no room for doubt. It was him, nearly 11 000 years ago.

Before the curse...

"Jan~os!"

He heard his name being sung playfully from outside the room. Shifting his talon clad feet from his bed and onto the polished stone floor, he rose upright, and gave himself a stretch. Slowly, he made his way to the bed chamber door, and opened it with gingerly care. He was greeted by a female that had similar features that distinguished his kind. Dark hair, black wings, blue skin, and talons on the hands and feet. Her personal features were far softer though. with a slender frame, elegantly long hair, and eyes of deep lavender. He recognized her as the Balance Guardian.

"Rise and shine, 'father'," she said with a playfully mocking tone, "Everyone else has already gathered in the overlook, but we can't start the meeting without you, sleepyhead."

"Thank you," he said politely, "I must have overslept. The previous weeks have been taxing on this old frame."

She gave a curt nod and with a flash of magical energies, she teleported them from Janos' room to a large circular chamber, with ten customized chairs all sitting facing inward. Each of the chairs had a unique symbol imbedded in it, save for the largest one. Eight other ancients were already seated, watching Janos patiently. From the right side of the large seat, circling all around to the left, he mentally listed off the guardians that were already there. Mind, Dimension, Conflict, Nature, Energy, Time, States, and finally Death. As the Balance Guardian took her seat between Nature and Energy, Janos took his place across her.

Memories flooded him. He knew exactly when this moment in his history occurred. It was before the war, before the first strike was made. Before the bloodshed began.

The following discussion was about their current dilemma. Tension had erupted between their race, and the race of beings known as "The Hylden".Which we would later re-name as "The Unspoken" after the curse for many years, Janos thought bitterly. They spoke of assumptions of what they might be up to and why they continued to act aggressively towards them.

"If they had just accepted the faith we offered them," lamented a burly ancient known as the Nature Guardian, "Neither of our races would be in this mess. Instead, they refuse us and continue with their diabolical machinations. Science they call it. BAH! It's just alchemy with a different name."

"Those deluded fools are so wrapped up in meaningless equations, always making things so complicated," said another member, whom Janos recalled as the States Guardian. "The fundamental laws of the land are as clear as day, but they continue to insist that there is more to it than that."

"I say we should just hit them hard and fast, and get this thing over with," exclaimed a smaller ancient, whom was the Conflict Guardian, "They are pretty much headlong against us. A war WILL happen, and I am very sure they will instigate it. No sense giving them mercy if they are going to just spit in our face."

The Balance Guardian interjected, "As a race who prides itself on benevolence, we must always show mercy and give all beings a chance, no matter how ignorant. I've been drawing up new negotiations to try to quell this matter-"

"You and your negotiations," the Nature Guardian interrupted, "Your actions have stalled the inevitable long enough. And for what? To attempt to preserve a species that rejects the Wheel?"

"Enough!" Janos said abruptly, "Quash this petty squabbling before it leaves your hands. Our enemy is not between each other, but of the dilemma we face now." Janos looked towards the Balance Guardian, and felt his lips speak her name, but nothing came out. Have I forgotten her name after all these years? he thought with bitter disappointment. She, however, seemed to have responded, regardless of the silence.

With her attention drawn, Janos continued, "I wish to see your negotiations. Perhaps they will aid the end of this quarrel between us and the Hylden, so we may pave the way for a better future." She nodded. Other guardians were about to object, but Janos finished with, "Meeting adjourned." Frustrated, half of them left in a hurry, while others simply idled and chatted for a bit, before they themselves departed to their own devices. Only the Balance and Conflict Guardians remained. The young Conflict Guardian was the first to approach.

"Father Janos," he called, "Are you so sure we should proceed this way? Not to object your wisdom, but we've tried peaceful solutions before, and they have rejected us every time. What makes you believe they will accept us now?" His crimson eyes looked to the ancient with slight doubt.

"Patience is what makes me believe," Janos replied, "This quarrel began simply because they do not understand our intentions, shutting us out in the resulting fear. We must remain vigilant and ever patient with them."

"But, I don't understand how that would change them. Isn't it foolish to repeat the same things over and over, and expect a different outcome?"

Janos placed his hand on the Conflict Guardian's shoulder, and smiled warmly. "You are young yet, my child. It is true we are repeating ourselves, but we are doing it simply to show that we mean no harm. That all we wish is to bring them into the faith we have served for so long, and only wish to share our God's purity."

"But, what is our stake in this? What do we get in return for trying as hard as we have to bring those creatures into our light?"

"We have no personal stake in this, but the Wheel must turn," he said with reverence, "and it's out divine right to aid in it's momentum. No matter the self sacrifice."

The Conflict Guardian looked down solemnly for a moment, before he looked back up to Janos with a new sense of knowledge. With one last smile, he thanked Janos, and departed.

"Janos?..." A voice called to him.

He turned, and the scene started to go black. His vision blurred as his name echoed in his head. He felt himself weaken once again, collapsing from his feet, and dropped into the nothingness that finally devoured the last of the shapes and lights of the scene.

Janos... Janos...

-v-v-v-v-v-

In the conscious world, his eyes fluttered to the sound of his name.

"He's waking up!"

"You ok, dude?"

"Give 'im some room!"

"I do hope he's alright."

Disoriented, and unable to make out any detail in the colored blobs he could barely see at that moment, he slowly but firmly rubbed his eyes with his hooves, and blinked. Finally, with a little more effort, he was able to accurately see four mares hovering over him just outside the library; Twilight, Vinyl, Applejack, and Rarity. Worried looks soon melted away in relief as Janos sat up slightly.

"Oh, thank goodness you are fairing well," Rarity said gently, "It would have been an utter disappointment if the guest of honor was comatose the whole night."

"Thankfully, that's not the case," Twilight quipped, "You gave us a bit of a scare there."

Vinyl playfully jabbed Janos in the shoulder, "Didn't know you had a weak heart."

Applejack walked up to Janos's left, and sat upon her haunches. "Shoot, we didn't mean to frighten you like that, big guy. 'Ere, let me help ya up." The tan pony with the stetson hat offered her hoof to the downed pegasus. Twilight did the same on the other side of him.

He chuckled lightly, "It is quite alright. I thank you for your help but," Janos rose back to his hooves and dusted himself off lightly before continuing, "I am a little more durable than I seem. I will survive." He gave a warm smile to the four surrounding him.

"Are you sure you'll be alright," Twilight asked him, "It isn't normal for a pony to pass out like that."

"Do not worry for me, my child. I am well, and it would be a shame if I let the hard work of your friends to welcome me go to waste."

"That's the spirit!" chimed a voice he didn't entirely recognize, but whomever it came from was energetic and bubbly.

Jumping out from behind Janos, Pinkie Pie slung a hoof across his shoulders. "I'm glad you were SOOO surprised! Well, I wasn't expecting you to be THAT surprised, but being so-surprised-that-you-pass-out is still surprised!" Janos gave the mare a quizzical look, but the party pony took no heed and continued to ramble on, while walking him closer to the currently active special event that was just for him. "It reminds me of the one time I over gasped, kinda like this," she paused to give a loud and overly-long gasp, before she continued, "and I passed out. Somepony told me that Nurse Red-heart said 'This mare has over gasped!', which kinda reminds me of this reel I once watched..."

It wasn't long before the sights and sounds of this bright and cheerful little event drowned out Pinkie's long winded speech. He could hear the sounds of laughter and cheers, of good friends swapping stories and being merry, and of music and mirth of absolute abundance. Though, despite how familiar the feeling of joy was in this room, he couldn't help feel alienated from the stark contrast of the hear and now and what he was used to back in Nosgoth. Parties were never this grand or colorful back then and ther, and the music was certainly not this loud and strange.

Snapping out of his train of thought, he realized that Pinkie had dragged him to the nearby confectionery table. A huge assortment of treats were before him, awaiting ponies to steal them away and fulfill their little pastry destinies.

"Oops, sorry Janos," Pinkie said to the ancient, "someone is calling me over to play 'Pin the Tail on the Manticore'. I have to go and beat their socks off now! You understand right? I hope you have lots of fun and meet lots of new ponies! Chao!" She sped away to one corner of the library reserved for the game in question.

Janos blinked in slight confusion, but then shook his senses back in order. "I guess," he muttered to himself, "I should mingle with the crowd." Doubt and nervousness swept his soul as he took a step forward to the sea of mortals.

-v-v-v-v-v-

The ancient simply couldn't understand why he was so nervous before. He was having a wonderful time meeting everyone. Cheerilee, a deep warm purple mare with a pink mane streaked with light greyish rose, was an inquisitive teacher at the local schoolhouse in town, and couldn't help but ask of his origins. The answer shocked her in much of the same way that it shocked Twilight, and thus brought up the same wonder and awe of meeting one from an unknown and far away land. Janos entertained her curiosity, and kept details to a minimum just as he did before. Lyra Heartstrings hailed as a local musician with a passion for humans (which were considered mythical creatures in this realm), much to her friend Bon-Bon's slight annoyance. She was a greenish aqua unicorn with a cyan mane streaked in white, and was possibly the most entertaining of the group, considering her in depth explanations of human beings. It is amazing that she knows as much as she does without ever meeting one, Janos thought. A fair bit of it inaccurate, though.

The last in the small group he talked with was named Derpy Hooves. A peculiar pegasus to say the least. Her grey coat and blonde mane was trumped by her brilliant gold crossed eyes. Eyes which would change to a new position every time she blinked. Energetically, she explained her job as a mail-mare, even detailed how she travels all over the countryside and crashes into one too many structures and trees during her routes.

"I still get my routes done on time," she said with a smile in her medium pitched voice, "Even if I do take WAY too many detours than I should. Sometimes, I just don't know what goes wrong, but it always works out in the end."

She changed the subject onto how she is a wife and mother of two, which she lovingly dedicates herself to, and details their happy life together thus far. Janos, somewhat touched by her abundant patience and affection for her family, gave a warm smile to the mail-mare.

"Hey, Janos?" She asked him politely, "Mind if I talk to you privately?"

The vampire was somewhat puzzled by the request. However, he sensed no ill will in her voice, and figured it wouldn't hurt to have a private conversation for whatever topic she felt needed to be kept between them.

"Very well, my child," he said politely. Derpy led Janos outside to the backyard, where there were a few other ponies enjoying the night and playing games such as the illustrious and complex game of lawn bowling. He was intrigued with their activities, but pressed on with mail-mare, coming to a tree that was a good distance away from the others. Once behind it, he asked the mare, "So, what is it you wish to discuss?"

Derpy looked about, making sure no one was around or within earshot, then closed her eyes. With a heavy inhale and sigh, she opened them again. Janos was slightly taken aback, as her crossed eyes were now perfectly straight and fixed in gaze with his.

"I know what you are," she said in silky smooth voice that had a lower octave than her original tone. For some reason, Janos found it strangely intimidating.

"What do you-"

"Don't test me, Vampony. You may have been able to fool everypony else, but you cannot do the same to me. Nopony, EVER, sports fangs." She straightened up with a sense of official professionalism. "I am TROT Agent number four two thirteen, one of many selected to be the Princess's hidden guard. I, and my compatriots, are trained operatives to deal with ponies of ill intent, and monsters like you."

"I assure you, my child," Janos explained, "that I have no intent on harming anyone. I arrived on this world by chance, and your princess, the very one who sired you with your duties, has directed me to this town."

"We will see about that," she said with finality. With her right hoof raised, and stroking it once with her left, she revealed a small device with a screen on her fetlock. She gave it a small tap and suddenly the screen came to life with a small projection of Princess Celestia.

"Agent Hooves? What do you have to report?" The princess asked with a sense of authority.

"Subject Janos Audron. He claims he had permission from you to wander around this town. He is a vampony and I will not-"

With an audible facehoof, Celestia interrupted her agent, "I knew there was something I forgot to update. Agent Hooves, you are to leave him be. I know full well of who and what he is. However, despite his rather unfortunate condition, I trust him completely."

Shocked, the secret agent tried to protest, but Celestia pressed on, "This is an order, Agent. Janos is cleared. You will not harass him any further."

With a frustrated grunt, she replied officially, "I understand, your Highness. Agent four two thirteen, out." The screen on her device went to black, and Derpy Hooves stroked her arm the opposite way to conceal the little gadget, making it as if it were never there. She stepped closer to Janos, and pointed a hoof right to his face.

"You must have made one TARTARUS of a good impression" she spat with a leer, "My Princess may have ordered me not to harass you, but I will be keeping a very close eye regardless. And if ANYTHING goes wrong - if you slip up in ANY way - I will have no qualms about taking you down and having you reported." She jabbed him in the chest, "Got that, vamp?"

Instead of answering directly, he questions her, "Why are you so hard pressed with my removal? Why will you not trust me?"

Derpy backed off slightly, but remained stern. "I don't want a monster to be loose around my kids." And with that, she left Janos alone and returned to the party.

"SO," she exclaimed in her usual, bubbly self, "WHO WANT'S TO PLAY 'MUFFIN TOSS'!"

"I DO!" Pinke Pie exclaimed, racing to Derpy in a blur of her trademark color, "I even have the game set up inside!"

"Then, let's go!" The two mares bounced all the way back into the library, which left many party goers with slight bewilderment of their exuberance. Janos, however, was left with his puzzlement over the duality of such an individual.

-v-v-v-v-v-

The ancient wandered back into the library to mingle a little more, hoping not to find another who would threaten him so blatantly. Little did he know that he was under the surveillance of a certain cyan pegasus, and she was so sure that he was a vampony. She could just feel it in her feathers. And by Celestia's name, she would expose him to the world, even if it kills her. The problem was that she had to have proof. Proof that would be tricky to obtain without him finding out her intentions. The wheels in her head began to turn as the rainbow colored pony hatched an idea once she laid her eyes on the punchbowl. Trotting towards it, she filled a glass up, gripped it with her wing, and approached Janos.

Janos was clearly preoccupied with other conversations from other ponies, not realizing the mare was approaching. She had the element of surprise on her side and decided to take advantage of that. She trotted closer to him, careful not to be noticed, and as she got closer, she pretended to trip. The cup she had in her wing flew out of her grip and towards the ancient, where the punch landed on him with a nice and obvious splash. Yes!

He turned in shock to look at the offending liquid that landed on his pants, but before he could say anything, Rarity rushed to his side. "Oh dear me! Janos, darling, go and wash that out quickly before it sets. The bathroom is upstairs. Quickly now!" Janos nodded and did as he was told, racing up stairs and shutting the door behind him. Rarity turned to Rainbow Dash, whom was on the floor at the time. "Rainbow, you simply MUST be more careful with your drinks. We don't want any more mishaps like that. That piece of clothing he wears is a loan from me, and I would be devastated if they were ruined by careless party goers."

Rainbow Dash grunted in failure, dismissing the fashion diva's concern. None the wiser of her friends hoof wave and satisfied that she said her peace, Rarity helped her friend back up on her hooves and wandered off back to her own conversations. The pegasus dusted herself off, and returned to the confectionery stand.

"Drat," she muttered to herself, "I thought I had him. Aren't vamponies vulnerable to water? Sure, it was punch, but that punch was mostly water, wasn't it? It should have gotten through those pants at the least." She huffed in defeat, and breathed in through her nose to calm herself down. That was when she noticed a strange smell. She took another wiff, and turned to the source. It was a veggie pizza, fresh from the oven, topped with cheese, peppers, olives, and had a tomato sauce filling mixed with-

"Garlic!" she almost exclaimed with victory, "Vamponies have a problem with garlic. I don't remember what it does to them, but I bet I have to get him to eat it!" She wrung her hooves together, chuckling darkly as she plotted against Janos once again.

After a good half an hour (long enough for the smell of garlic to become subdued), the blue pegasus returned from the bathroom finally, wearing a now clean and dried out pair of pants. He wandered back into the crowd, and started up a new conversation with Time Turner (or, Doctor Hooves, as he prefers to be called). They went on to discuss theories and the mechanical principles of time and space. Noticing his return, Rainbow Dash took two slices of the pizza, reserving one for herself, and approached the two stallions.

"Hey Janos!" she exclaimed, which interrupted there conversation. Time Turner, though a little miffed that Rainbow Dash had butted in unexpectedly, decided it was time for him to go and look for his wife. He hoped she isn't playing 'Muffin Toss' with Pinkie again, remembering the paperwork he had to help fill out for the authorities the LAST time it happened.

Janos politely bid farewell to the stallion, and turned to the cyan mare with a smile. "Hello, my child. Rainbow Dash, was it?"

"Yeah, that's my name, don't wear it out," she joked halfheartedly, "Listen, we didn't really get a chance to get to know each other last time we met. I was a little... distracted. Ya know, with things..."

Janos was rather curious to the mare's trailing sentences, but let it go as he figured she was just being reserved. After all, he thought, she hardly spoke a word when Twilight brought me over to that little orchard earlier today, aside from her hearts desire and her work. Speaking up, he addressed her with his usual politeness, "It is quite alright. What would you like to discuss?"

"Actually," she said, while presenting a plate of two pizza slices with her wing, "I've noticed you haven't really eaten anything yet, so I figured I'd offer you something. A pizza slice, courtesy of Pinkie Pie." She forced a smile.

Janos stared at the pizza, nervous. "I cannot," he declined, "I was taught, back in my old home, never to accept complex foods offered by those I do not know well." Humans attempted to poison me once with an intricate multi-layered cake as a peace offering.

"Oh come on," she rebuttled, "You can trust us. We're the most honest, trustworthy group of ponies you've ever seen. We're so honest, Applejack is the element honesty itself!" She points a hoof to the stetson hat wearing pony who's playing twister with a few other fillies and colts. Come on, she thought, trust us.

Janos bit his lip in the dilemma. Perhaps it is not poisoned, but it could still be painful if any significant amount of water is left in its ingredients. "It is not just that, though. I have been trying to watch my diet for a while now. I do not think-"

"Dude, it's a party. Cut loose a little. Besides, you don't want to disappoint Pinkie, do you?"

Janos looked towards the pink party pony. Her rambunctious spirit and personality gave him the impression that she was just a young one at heart. Probably just as delicate towards rejection of any sort, especially if she worked hard to create something for someone. He looked back to the pizza. Fighting all of his past memories and instincts, he finally caved in. Believing that he couldn't pick anything up with hooves, he reached out with his teeth and grabbed on of the end of one of the slices, pulling it off and onto the flat of his hoof. He bit a piece off, and tested it with each chew. The flavor hit him like a tonne of bricks.

"G-garlic?!"

Yes, yes, YES! the cyan mare thought wickedly, I have you now!

Janos then smiled widely, which confused Rainbow Dash for a moment. What confused her more was when he exclaimed in jubilation, "This is absolutely SUBLIME! I have not had garlic in years! Thank you very much for convincing me to have this wonderful treat!" Thank the heavens that it is dry enough for me.

"Yeah," she deadpanned while beginning to wander away, "You're welcome..." He merrily continued to much on the slice, oblivious to Rainbow Dash's confusion and frustration. She returned to the confectionery stand, and began to seethe in her failure. Why, she thought, why didn't it work? I thought the garlic would have surely exposed him for what he is! "Aren't vamponies supposed to be weak against garlic?"

There was a soft crunching noise near the table, followed by a high pitched scratching voice of a young colt, "Wrong."

Rainbow Dash turned to the origin of the voice, and saw Snips. A small, pudgy unicorn with greyish opal coat and dark orange mane. He was snacking on a candy cane. "Haven't you read the newest Daring Do?" questioned the young pony.

"There's a new one out?!" exclaimed Rainbow Dash in fanfillish glee.

"I thought you were the President of the Ponyville Daring Do Fan-Club, Dash. Shouldn't you know that?" Rainbow Dash blushed in embarrassment. Not just for being the leader of a club for school ponies, but because she failed to keep tabs on her all time favorite series. The little colt continued, "Anyway, vamponies aren't necessarily weak against Garlic. Garlic cloves in a bulb are actually used to trigger an obsessive compulsive behavior that forces them to count each segment individually. It works best when there are a number of the bulbs on a string. The same principal can be applied to a bowl of uncooked rice. But, the biggest issue with that is that these things must be presented to the vampony in some way at eye level. Hanging garlic over door or window frames tend to be the most effective." He snorted, "Or a bowl of rice beside the bed, though that one doesn't always work. If they don't notice it, they won't count it."

He finished his treat with a satisfying crunch before wandering off towards the newly started up game of 'Pin the Tail on the Manticore' (which was resurrected by Pinkie after the game of 'Muffin Toss' was interrupted by Derpy's husband). Rainbow felt defeated tonight. With nothing at hoof to help her trigger a reaction out of the suspect vampony, and running out of ideas to expose Janos, she decided it would be best to do a little more research before she continued her machinations to expose the new pony for what he is..

She raced to the book shelves, cursing the fact that the books are re-arranged every other week, and located the book she needed. The latest Daring Do book. "Daring Do and the Gothic Gold Guardian," she muttered the title with grim satisfaction. Quickly speeding towards Twilight, whom was chatting with Bon-Bon at the time, she interrupted the conversation and requested to check out the book in hoof. Twilight made a quick transaction, and as she returned to her conversation, Rainbow Dash blazed out of the library like greased lightening, disappearing into the night sky.

-v-v-v-v-v-

The night began to age as the party diminished to it's last few moments. The last of the guests had just begun to make the decision to go home and prepare for another day, and the librarian began to lament over the mess that was left behind. To be quite frank, it was a nightmare of a mess. Paper cups and plates littered the library floor and furnature, food was stuck to the walls and ceilings, and confetti and streamers were scattered absolutly everywhere. Not to mention the various balloon pieces that flew into various locations after Berry Punch went on a wild balloon popping spree. Clearly, that pony had a few anger issues, Twilight thought.

"Ugh, I'm going to be up all night cleaning this up with Spike." Spike, overhearing the statement in horror, choked slightly on the cupcake he was munching on.

"Oh, don't be silly willies," the pink host of the party piped up with a giggle as she appeared next to Twilight, "I'll take care of everything, while you three rest your little heads." Spike sighed in relief as he finished off his treat.

"Pinkie, I can't expect you to clean up the library. I mean, look at this mess!" She motioned to the tornado disaster that was the main room of the library. "At least let us help."

"Nope. No can do Twilight. I will not accept your help. I started this party, so I'll clean it up. Besides, you and Jany had a busy day, going all over town. I should know, since I was following you the whole time." Twilight was about to question that remark, but Pinkie continued, "Now get going. I'm sure you're both tired. I've got enough energy to last me the entire week, so this'll be a cinch."

That's an understatement, Twilight thought with a snark and a smile. "Alright Pinkie. If you can handle it." She turned to the guest of honor, whom was in the middle of sneaking the last slice of pizza that was left behind. "So, shall I show you to your room, Janos?"

In the slight surprise of the sudden address to him, Janos dropped the pizza, which Spike caught before it hit the floor and zoomed away before he could be caught, as he turned to Twilight. He silently cursed his lack of dexterity in this world, but responded warmly, "I would be honored. Please, lead the way."

As Pinkie began to diligently, and somehow silently, clean up after the party, Twilight slowly led Janos up the stairs. She stopped in between the two rooms, and pointed to the one to her right. "This is my room here. If I'm inside, and you need help with whatever, don't hesitate to knock on the door. Ok?" Janos nodded, as Twilight moved to the left room and pushed the door open. "This will be your room while you stay here. Now, I know it's not that clean right now, but I can help you-" She looked inside, and noticed it was spotless. "How-"

"A twitch told me that Jany was staying here for a while," Pinkie interrupted Twilight from below them, "so, I cleaned it before I started the party. I hope you don't mind."

Twilight was slightly dumbstruck, almost speechless, but she was able to remind herself that it was just Pinkie being Pinkie while helping out. "Thanks Pinkie," she finally managed to say, "You actually saved us quite a bit of time."

"You're welcome elcome!" the pink mare beamed.

"I thank you all for the warm reception you have given me," Janos spoke with reverence, "And I once again thank you, Twilight, for being so gracious as to provide me with such hospitality."

"The pleasure is all mine."

They said their good-nights, and retreated to their respective rooms.

Janos shut the door gently, and wandered over to the bed that sat beneath a window, bathing the the light of the moon. He climbed into the comfort of the mattress and blankets, and began to reflect on his day. His sour exit from his land, his arrival and friendly greetings, the delights of the joyous sights and sounds of the populous that didn't fear him. Even the unexpected, and somewhat intimidating fact that he had tea with a GOD. For the first time in his long and unending life after the curse, he was truly happy. Truly satisfied with the way things have turned out. His only regret, a lingering shred of dread and longing, was that he is not able to bring his home to this peace. Receding into his dreams, as he watched the white beauty of the moon, he hoped that things would change for the better in Nosgoth. That a brighter future would finally be realized. For, as long as he was stranded, there was simply nothing he could do for his former home.

-v-v-v-v-v-

High above the clouds, just on the edge of the town's borders, hovered an extravagant looking castle made of clouds. It was the 'humble' keep of Rainbow Dash. The night subdued the radiance, and gave Rainbow Dash the perfect atmosphere for her session in her room. She sat in her bed with the latest Daring Do cracked open before her. 'Gothic Gold Guardian' was about a vampony villain named Count Lazarus, a greedy, manipulative, and malicious predator that fed on villagers during the night. Not only that, but he would periodically steal from his victims, taking gold and jewelery to add to his personal hoard.

The pegasus remarked on how Lazarus' descriptions almost fit Janos to a T. Black, slicked back mane, piercing yellow eyes... those fangs... The only differences between them was that Lazarus had bat wings, while Janos had large, black pegasus wings. Yeah, the size of the wings were rather abnormal, but it didn't strike her as too odd. After all, she knew a pegasus that had a body that greatly outsized his own tiny wings.

Never the less, the comparison was just too eerie to be hoof waved, and she was still dead set on exposing Janos. "Nopony has fangs, unless they are evil scheming vamponies like Lazarus," she exclaimed, striking the bed with her hoof. She read on, learning all the things to look out for, until she eventually came across a checklist at the back of the book. It read, "Is Your Friend a Vampony? A checklist for the kids when pretending a friend has become a creature of the night!". It was intended for make believe for little fillies and colts, but felt it would be useful never the less to keep track of her observations on her suspect.

Wringing her hooves together, she started to plan her stake-out session for tomorrow... before instantly falling asleep.