In the dark of the night

In a bright flash of light, Twilight appeared in Princess Luna's bedchambers. Looking around, she discovered that nopony was there. Glancing at the windows, she saw that the sun had finally set. As she walked towards the doors to leave though, a piece of bright yellow paper that contrasted with the dark oaken doors caught her attention.

Twilight Sparkle,

My deepest apologies for summoning you like this.
However, I am afraid that there was no other alternative...
for our meeting must be kept a secret. I shall explain upon
my sisters arrival, for she will need to be present as well.

-Princess Luna

**P.S. Feel free to help thyself to the fruit basket upon the nightstand if thou hungers.

Twilight glanced over to the basket. Some of the finest fresh fruit from all over Equestria was in the basket. How could she resist that after her long day?! She gingerly picked up a strawberry and bit down, the exquisite flavor of the fresh fruit rolling over her taste buds. She finished the morsel before her ears picked up something that she hadn't noticed before. The sound of classical music and running water. Turning her gaze over to the direction from which the sounds were coming, Twilight saw the door of what she only guessed was Luna's personal bath. Shrugging as she looked back over at the fruit basket, Twilight caught a movement out of the corner of her eye. The main doors had opened, and in walked none other than Princess Celestia.

"Princess Celestia!" Twilight said excitedly.

Celestia turned her head towards Twilight, a slightly surprised expression painted across her features.

"Ah, hello my faithful student. What brings you to Canterlot?" Celestia asked as she closed the door behind her.

"A- Actually Princess... I was hoping YOU could tell me that."

"Ah." Celestia said as she spied the note on the door. "I take it then that Luna-"

Any further speech from Celestia was cut off as the door to Luna's bath flew open and the alicorn of the night walked out in a cloud of steam. It seems she had heard Twilight's outburst and knew that both parties where present and the door had been closed.

"Twilight Sparkle. Sister. I'm glad you could make it, for we have much to talk about."

"So, let us begin." Luna said.

"Um, Princess Luna... not to interrupt, but why did you bring me here?" Twilight inquired before Luna could get started.

"We are getting to that, and I suggest thou listens well Twilight Sparkle... for the topic of which I speak is no trifling matter." Luna said as her expression grew grim, instantly changing Celestia's attitude.

"What do you mean sister?"

"I'm afraid a darkness unlike any other has started to creep its way through Equestria. It has started to show up in many of our major cities. Manehattan, Las Pegasus, even Canterlot itself. A corruption that would make even Nightmare Moon and Discord look like child's play. For this corruption lies within many of our little ponies, and is led by one that..."

Luna halted and sighed before continuing.

"and is led by one that I thought to be gone. Lost to time itself." Luna hung her head at her last statement.

"Sister, you don't mean..." Celestia started to ask, halting before she could finish. She didn't want to think that what she thought may be true.

"Yes... one of my... My "children" Tia. They have fallen down a path that I cannot save them from. Nor can I alone stop them. Which is why I called upon Twilight Sparkle. Tia... she's one of the only ponies we can trust." Luna said with tears starting to stream from her eyes.

Celestia's eyes grew as she processed what Luna meant.

"What are your intentions sister?"

"I intend to ask Twilight for help. However, I shall let her choose whether she helps us or not. I shall not force this on her Tia, for I could not live with myself if I did so." Luna turned her head away and whispered. "Not again."

"Um... Princess Celestia, Princess Luna?" Twilight inquired. "Pardon my bluntness, but what the hay are you two talking about?"

Luna turned to face Twilight and said "I'm afraid I must ask you something that I have asked of nopony for well over 1000 years, Twilight Sparkle. I must ask that you become a... actually, it would be better if I just showed you." Luna said, looking to Celestia.

Giving her younger sister a small nod, conveying her reluctant approval, Celestia braced herself for what was about to come next by casting a soundproofing spell on the room.

Luna turned back towards Twilight and closed her eyes. Twilight watched with a mix of fascination and horror as Princess Luna grew a set of fangs, the moon in her cutie mark turned to blood-red and her billowing mane and tail became as black as the darkest shadows. Opening her eyes, irises now as red as her cutie mark, and looking upon Twilight, Luna continued what she had been saying previously.

"I must ask that you become a child of the night... A-" Luna again hesitated. "A Vampony, Twilight Sparkle."

"WHAT?!!" Twilight shouted. Celestia's head snapped to look at her faithful student, expecting to see a look of terror. However, she was somewhat relieved to see a slight smile on Twilight's lips though she looked at Luna with eyes opened to their max."

Then both of the royal sisters got a surprise. Twilight started laughing.

"Aaahahahahahaha!!! A Vampony! Good one Princess!" Twilight said mirthfully.

"Dost thou think we jest, Twilight Sparkle?" Luna asked, rather vexed that the purple unicorn wasn't taking her seriously.

Twilight stopped laughing to look at Luna, the smile still on her face, but a hint of doubt in her eyes... was Luna serious?

"Well, yea. Vamponies aren't... real... are they?" Twilight looked at Luna but received no answer. Only Luna's flat stare. Panicked, her smile instantly faded as she looked to Celestia.

"She's joking... right?" Twilight said, looking to her mentor as a truly worried expression crossed her features.

"I'm... afraid not, my faithful student. Vamponies ARE real, and Luna is indeed a vampony. Queen of the Vamponies for that matter." Celestia said, nodding her head towards her sister, who had returned to her normal appearance.

"But then-... I-... you..." Twilight stammered as the full force of what was being asked of her hit home.

She once again surprised the alicorns before her. She shook her head and visibly calmed before them. Looking back over to Princess Luna, Twilight spoke calmly, asking the questions she though she would need to know the answers to.

"So, how many of the vampony legends are true?"

"Not much of the common vampony lore is true. How ever, some myths are true. As you could probably guess, you will have to take blood, but not much, and not often."

"How much is 'not much' Princess Luna?"

"No more than a few mouthfuls."

As Twilight asked Luna several questions, Celestia couldn't help but be rather impressed with her faithful student. Many ponies would have bolted for the door by now. However, Twilight was responding in her usual way. Trying to learn. Suddenly a thought hit her.

"Luna, do you still have that book tucked away? The one with your in-depth study on vamponies?" Celestia asked, interrupting an explanation from Luna.

"Yes I do. Why would-" Realization dawned on Luna, causing her to break into a smile.

"I believe I know what you're getting at Tia."

An indigo aura levitated a few books from her bookshelf in sequence before opening a small compartment hidden within the shelf. From this compartment, Luna pulled a small black book and presented it to Twilight.

"This book is essentially every truth about vamponies. What is written here are my observations of not only myself, but when they were many, of my "children" as well. If you like, you may read through this and decide. For within this lies every strength, every weakness, every pain. Most anything you can ask is in this book. Do you wish to read it?"

The scholar could not resist. She was being presented with the possibility to gain knowledge about something that up until mere minutes before, she had thought to be only legend. She reached out with her own magical aura and accepted the book from the princess. However, something was nagging at her. A question she had to ask.

"If I read this and decide no... will I remember what happened here tonight?"

Luna cocked her head slightly, giving Twilight a quizzical look. "Why would you not remember what transpires here tonight Twilight Sparkle?"

"Well, I guess I was worried that if I said no that you would... erase my memory." Twilight replied sheepishly.

The royal sisters looked at each other, then back to Twilight before each began to laugh gently.

"Fear not Twilight, for we know thou to be a trustworthy pony."

"Indeed my faithful student, your memories will not be tampered with. No matter your reply."

Twilight posed another question to the two alicorns before her.

"Luna, you said that Equestria is in danger... right?"

"Correct, Twilight Sparkle."

Twilight set the book down onto the side of Luna's bed and walked over to the window. Pulling back the curtains to allow the light of the full moon to stream into the room, Twilight looked up at the brilliant white orb, her thoughts consuming her.

"Answer me this." Twilight said, posing a question she had not yet asked. " If I do this, will I be able to go out during the day. Live a fairly normal life?"

"Yes, you will Twilight. This is a powerful blessing, not the curse that many have made it out to be. But with that blessings power comes a great responsibility. A responsibility we trust you with." Luna said, walking over to Twilight to gaze at the moon as well.

Turning to the lunar regent, Twilight steeled herself.

"Then I... accept. I will help to protect Equestria."

Luna looked upon Twilight slightly awestruck.

"Make no mistake, this is no small matter my faithful student." Celestia said as she walked to stand beside her sister. "This is something that shall forever change your life."

"I understand, but-"

"My sister is correct, Twilight Sparkle." Luna gestured to the book Twilight had set down. "Take with you that book, study it. Take some time to think about this."

Twilight was about to object slightly when Luna raised a hoof.

"We shall call thee back in three days hence. Aside from the other Elements of Harmony, do not speak of this to anypony. We know that they can be trusted."

Allowing a resigned sigh to escape her, Twilight complied. Though she didn't always understand why the royal sisters did the things they did, she trusted that their judgement, as it had in the past, would yield the results Equestria needed.

"I suppose I'll see you in three days then?" Twilight asked the royal sisters. With a nod of their heads, Twilight walked past them and picked up the book before turning back to them.

"We shall arrange a carriage to take you back to Ponyville." Luna said, walking towards the dark oaken doors and opening them, quietly sending one of her lunar guards to do her bidding.

"Ok, I'll wait by the gardens." Twilight said as she trotted out of the room quietly.

Celestia watched from the balcony as one of Luna's carriages flew away from Canterlot. Whisking Twilight back to Ponyville.

"Thou worries sister?" Luna asked as she joined her sister on the balcony.

"How could I not? My faithful student... she may choose a path that, while protecting Equestria from this new evil... may put her in more danger than she has ever been in before. You know full well that she could die Luna. So many of my little ponies, many our own personal guard, have already fallen. How could I not worry about her?" Celestia said, the sadness and worry evident in her voice.

"Fear not sister... for Twilight Sparkle shall not be alone should she take this path. However, thou may be surprised by whom shall accompany her."

Celestia turned to face her sister. "Who?"

"Do you remember when this kingdom was young, before my... banishment?" Luna asked, seemingly going off-topic.

"Yes, I do remember."

"Then you will remember many of my children from before then. Yes?"

"Yes? Luna, where are you going with this?" Celestia asked, her confusion evident on her features.

"Do you remember the huntress, Night?"

Celestia's pupils shrank and she froze in place as she whispered the name, half-terrified. "Artemis?!!"

"One and the same dear sister... No doubt you had heard that she died some 600 years ago. Correct?"

"Yes... but how do you know that? You were on the moon." Any subtlety on Celestia's part had flown out the proverbial window.

"I have my ways. I know you have been keeping tabs on my children sister. However, I do know where Artemis is. Without Twilight's help though... bringing her back will be... difficult."

"Bringing her back? She's dead!" Celestia nearly shouted.

Luna remained surprisingly calm as she glanced over at Celestia and quietly asked. "Is she?"

Celestia's eyes bulged and she froze in place as she mirrored her sisters question. "Is she?"

Luna looked up at the moon and said "Not quite... and I feel that shortly, Twilight Sparkle will meet the eternal huntress." And with that, she walked back inside. Leaving a shocked Celestia out on the balcony.

Looking up at the night sky as the wind picked up, Celestia whispered to herself "Faust help us!" And walked back into the palace. She wouldn't be sleeping well tonight.

A storm was brewing.