E.B.C - Equestrian Bureau of Control

EBC - 0076 (The curse of Blood) Part 1: The Prelude

Ten years ago.
Gran Marino Hotel, Penthouse — Canterlot

In the center of the beautiful place, the director of site 1, miss Sunny Skies was talking with her sister, the director of site 2 — Miss Lux Lumina.

"Lulu, this is insane" - Sunny was sipping her tea, trying to control her emotion — "Do you really believe they would be so bold?"

Miss Lux was calm, sipping a mug of coffee and, savoring the flavor, before continuing.

"Yes, dear sister. But they are not bold, they are desperate." - she put the mug in the small table in front of her — "They have been trying to run from me for some time, so I want to end this.

"But Lulu, what about the collateral damage!"- Sunny floated some piles of papers with her aura to her sister —"The city is full of life, and tomorrow is the summer sun festival!"

"Yes. I known."— a dark grin appears in her face, almost making her look like a villain—"That's why I brought my best troops, and there will be minimum collateral damages"

"So tell me, little sister; why are you so confident in this?"

"First, all my troops are in patrol tonight."

"Right, and..."

"And the goal of the sanguine matron is to take you."

"Ah, if so, it is ok..."— Sunny took a moment to process what was said, then her eyes widened —"WHAT!"

"It's fine. Dear sister, you are strong, and you know that"

"But I can't use my power here, the risk of using magic of this kind near normal ponies in addition with the peak of the summer sun celebration is madness..."— and Sunny started talking about the problems and risks, but her sister didn't pay attention to any of it.

Lux knew her sister very well, and because of this she prepared a secret weapon against her sister.

"Lulu, are you hearing me?"— Sunny started to glare, but Lux horn glowed and, in the table, a big and beautiful cake appeared. — "No, you didn't!"

"Yes I did."— the sly smile continues in Lux face

"You can't bribe me!"— Sunny was looking at the cake, drool occasionally escaping her mouth — "I'm a big and strong mare!"

"Yes, you are."- Lux stood up and started getting out from the penthouse, and as she was exiting the door, she heard the sound of somepony falling head on in a sugary icing —"By the way, I'm taking you apprentice with me."

"Shunshet?" — come the voice of Sunny, muffed by a mouthful of cake. But Lux didn't stop.

3 A.M.
Canterlot Public Square

Sunset waved her bacon-colored hair in the cold wind, waiting for her teacher to show up. She had no idea of her intentions, but by the urgency in the letter, it had to be important. That's why she put the first clothes she found and ran to the square, still yawning.

To her surprise from her, it was not her mentor to her, Sunny, but another mare who had come to meet her.

The Unicorn mare was high, almost the size of her teacher, but she wielded a much stern look in her eyes and a pair of small glasses which complimented her formal look and tight clothes. Her short mane was platinum and her fur was a beautiful dark blue.

"Miss Shimmer, do I take over?"

"Yes, and you?"

"I'm your teacher's sister. Call me Lux" —she raised her hand to Sunset, who took it — I asked my sister to call you, I want your help. "

"Wait ... Miss Lux!" - Sunset was astonished by the mare sentence— "I'm just a student, how can I help you?"

"You would be surprised" - Lux smiled slightly - "But wait a moment, it seems we have company."

With the last sentence, Lux stood quietly looking at the sky. Sunset was extremely confused and looked around, but no matter how many times she searched, there was only she and Miss Lux in the square.

In a blink, an unsuspected ring on Lux hand shone and a rapier appeared in her hand.

"Shimmer, do you know how to fight?"

"No ... why would I?"

"Well then, look and learn"

Lux horn started to glow a light blue hue, and she jumped higher than Sunset high. At the same time, two winged ponies cloaked by the dark night sky dove in Sunset direction.

As if she was dancing, Lux spun with the rapier and with a swift maneuver, both attacking ponies fell to the ground in pain, with their wings cut off. Lux landed next to them.

"Thestrals ... What are they doing here?"

"Sunset, they are not thestrals"

"What! '

"They are sanguine. They look alike, but these are nothing more than a plague." - Lux then slowly approached the two sanguine mares lying in the ground in pain as scars started to form in the wounded area— "Look, these two are trying to regenerate the wings ... worthless. "

"Wait! Miss Lux, there must be another way ..."

With a thrust of the rapier, one of the sanguine mares stopped moving, the other, horrified, tried to crawl away but was easily caught by Lux hooves of her, pinning her in the ground with a might stomp in the back of the torso.

"Tsk ... and I believe you would be cut for the job, but you are just like my sister, it seems" - The Sanguine mare started to wiggle in Lux hooves, but with another stomp, she got quietly - "They are sanguine, they drink blood and would kill even their own foals for a meal. "

"But this is just a little foal stories!"

"Are you blind, sunset?" - Lux was glaring at Sunset - "You saw how they attacked us. You are alive because I'm here."

'... "

"And yet, I need your help. Those two are part of the scouts, but with your help I can find their nest."

"O ... Ok ... so how can I help?"

"Do you know the basic magic 'light'"?

"Yes, it's a very simple trick, why?"

"I want you to use it in this sanguine till I tell you to stop."

"Okay ...?" - Sunset looked at the sanguine who was trying to breathe— "So ... when I start?"

"Now!"

Sunset closed the gap with the sanguine and glowed her horn, extending her hand near the sanguine face and muttered * may be light * - the response was immediately, with the creature trashing and trying to get way from Lux firms hooves, hissing in the process .

Lux then kneeled, still holding the sanguine in her hooves, and put both hands into the beast's temple. Her concentration made her aura start to shine in her horn, but it grew enough to encompass herself and the sanguine mare.

"Sleep" - Lux talked in a low tone to the Sanguine mare, closing her own eyes - "Sleep and ... Dream."