The way back to Marebon Street was just as mind-numbingly boring as the previous trip. The only difference was the fading light and that I had three audio files I could listen to. So with nothing else to do but walk, I hit play on the first one.

”Hey, Crystal. You there?”

“Yeah I’m here, what’s up? Did you make it here safely?”

“Well, technically yes. The only way I could get out of Hoofington was to take up a management job at one of the M.O.A towers here. While that’s not so bad on its own, that company of Aqua Rangers you were talking about are stationed here! They’ve taken up the whole seventh floor of the building!”

“That shouldn’t be a big problem. Just don’t do anything suspicious and keep your calls to me to a minimum in their presence. Also, Aqua Rangers?”

“Yeah. Their armour is modified for aquatic missions. Basically diving suits with jet propulsion and guns.”

“Interesting. I thought Ministry Mare Applejack didn’t want modifications, that they were perfect as is.”

“Yes, but these were a joint project between the M.W.T and the M.A.S to make armoured soldiers capable of preforming amphibious invasions in zebra territory.”

“Well what are they doing here? As far away from the Zebrician coast as possible?”

“They’re waiting for the Aqua Armour project to be approved by Princess Luna. To prove their worth spending government money on, they’re here to speed up construction on that underwater stable. Apparently it’s not coming together as fast as StableTec wanted so they called in a favor from some higher ups in the O.I.A.”

“That makes sense. The ‘zebra spies in the Treme area’ story was probably just a ruse to get the relocation approved by the Ministry Mares.”

“That’s what it looks like. By the way, the CEO of the O.I.A talked to me earlier. He would like you to contact him. Something about a business deal.”

“You haven’t told him about my research have you!?”

“Of course not! I would never sell you out like that! He probably just wants to talk about a job. I hear Goldenblood has been picking up quite a few eh... Interesting scientists lately.”

“What do you mean by interesting?”

Suddenly the audio file ended with a loud KIZZTK, bringing me back to reality.

Checking my PipBuck, we still had a couple of hours to go. The sun had dipped down towards the horizon, slowly fading away until we were left in the dark. To avoid taking a misstep I turned on my PipBuck’s flashlight, letting it bathe the area in front of me in a swath of green light.

I could just almost see Shadow ahead of me, apparently just fine without anything to illuminate his path.

“Back to the world of the living eh? Hope whatever was on that tape was worth taking the time it took to download it. Otherwise we’re trotting through the dark for nothing other than your stupid decision to wander around the tower instead of getting what you came for.”

Shadow seemed quite perturbed at the moment. Though I’d only known him for a day or so he seemed a little more moody than usual. Maybe it was the fact that we had to travel at night, but Shadow was definitely not the kind of pony to be scared of the dark.

Something else was bothering the irate unicorn. Something he wasn’t telling me.

Suddenly Shadow stopped dead in his tracks. He sniffed the air and grimaced.

“Damn it. Vampires.” He said as he drew his massive revolver out of its leather holster. “Get behind that broken skywagon and pull out your biggest gun. This may get real bad, real fast.”

Just as I finished complying with his orders three ponies appeared out of the shadows of a alleyway several yards in front of us. The trio wore matching fedoras and black trench coats. The only facial features I could see were their eyes; a bright, violent red with glowing yellow slits for pupils. One of them stepped forward, giving us a sinister smile filled with jagged teeth.
“What do we have here? Three poor souls traveling at night? What a terrible decision honestly. Who knows what lies in the dark?”

Wait, three travelers? Were we being followed?

Shadow pulled back the hammer on his revolver.

“I don’t think you fools know who you are dealing with. Leave before I terminate you as painfully as possible.”

All three creatures laughed maniacally. Obviously unfazed by his threat.

“All I see is an idiotic unicorn who thinks he can handle three vampires by himself. It’s high time you were put in your place.”

I slammed a magazine into Ifrinn and trained my sights and on the leader, causing him to look towards me. I wasn’t the best shot, but with how close I was to the target and the calibre of the gun I wasn’t too worried about my aim.

“Ha! You think you and your little friend up there will fare any better than the fool in front of you? You will die slowly and painfully as I drink your blo-“

Before the vampire could finish his sentence Shadow had his gun pressed against the bastard’s head, a second later that same head was wiped from existence with a single shot. The other two vampires just stood for a moment, shocked by Shadow’s speed. Cursing loudly, both charged the two of us.

Surprised by my friend’s sudden movement I pulled the trigger, somehow managing to blow out one of the vampire’s entire chest cavity, spraying all of us in crimson.

The final beast sidestepped Shadow and ran towards me. Still trying to figure out why my vision had gone red, I wasn’t able to get my rifle up in time. The creature jumped at me with a hellish scream, mouth wide open to rip me apart.

But instead of the sound of teeth sinking into flesh there was a soft thunk! noise, and the final vampire’s lifeless body dropped into my lap, an arrow embedded in it’s skull.

A very familiar arrow.

Shadow reloaded his revolver and looked around cautiously, his eyes passing over the buildings that surrounded us.

“The vampire said three travelers. The reason I thought we were alone was that I only smelled hippogryph, must be another one nearby.”

I threw off the body as fast as possible and tossed Ifrinn back into my Inventory. Jumping up onto the skywagon, glancing around frantically.

“Ashaa! Is that you! It’s me, Blitz! Don’t worry, Shadow’s a friend!”

I heard a small gasp from a building to my right. I heard the flap of wings and then I was suddenly run over by one extremely happy hippogryph.

”OhsweetNovoit’sreallyyouhowareyoustillalivewherehaveyoubeeni’veneverbeensogladtoseeyouinmyLIFE!“

I quickly returned the massive, spine-cracking hug I was being given as I tried to understand what she was saying.

“Calm down Ashaa, I’m not going anywhere.”

“Yes you are. Back to Marebon Street before we run into any more vampires.” Shadow retorted. Obviously still not in a good mood.

“Can’t we just make camp here?” Ashaa replied, tilting her head. Shadow laughed humorlessly.

“Camp here? Where we just killed three vampires? That’s just asking to get us in big trouble with whoever these guys work for. And possibly cursed by the demonic souls that inhabited those creatures.” Ashaa and I both grimaced at the idea. We looked at each other and nodded, we’d catch up on the road.

Much to Shadow’s annoyance, we talked for the rest of the trip. Ashaa had washed ashore unconscious about a mile or so away from me, making me wish I had kept walking that first day. She encountered a group of raiders pretty early on, after ‘dealing’ with them she made her way inland, wandering the wasteland for civilization. I knew she wasn’t telling me everything, but Ashaa had obviously been through a lot these past couple days. So had I honestly.

To lighten her spirits I told her about around Trip’s deal and Midnight Rain’s mission. Hearing that there was a way home put her in a better mood.

“That’s good! Now all we have to do is find Father and get the money! Shouldn’t be that hard, right?”

“Yeah, now that we’re together we can get this done even faster!”

Footnote:

Quest progress: Radio Gaga: Radio equipment 15/10. Take radio equipment to Midnight Rain to receive your caps.

New perk unlocked! Van Hellsing 1: you’ve killed your first vampire! Buffy would be proud. You now deal 15% more damage to vampires.

Author's Note

Ashaa’s back! Yay!

Thank you to everyone who reads my story and gives feedback! It really helps to have a second opinion sometimes.

-ABloodthirstyUnicorn.