Miracle for the Cursed

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.