Angel of Justice: Blood Moon

Across the capital city of Equestria, most ponies were asleep.

Some were blissfully unaware of the struggles happening elsewhere, shaping their futures without them even knowing. Some were more tentative in their rest, tossing and turning and wondering just how many of their fellow equines were going to be hurt in the coming nights until this threat was dealt with, as all others had been. Still, most ponies were asleep.

Scootaloo was not one of these ponies.

The young pegasus was currently staring at the ceiling of her shared room at the palace, as she had been doing for several minutes. Her mind was awash with anxious thoughts about her friends off in Ponyville.

Rainbow Dash and the others had always come out on top before, but this threat, this monstrous alicorn, was different. She could still see the coldness in his glowing eyes as he threatened Twilight with Spike’s life like he was nothing. The sickening smile on his face. She wondered if he wore that same spine-chilling smile as he killed Tom.

With a slight groan, she turned over and thumped her head back onto her pillow, hoping to rid herself of these thoughts with a change in position. It didn’t work.

She opened her tired eyes and blinked, only to find another pair of eyes staring back at her.

“Can’t sleep?” Apple Bloom whispered blankly, sounding tired as if she had been wrestling with the same issue.

Scootaloo stared into her friend’s amber orbs, still half processing the sudden return to social interaction. Just because she couldn’t sleep didn’t mean she was fully awake. “Yeah…” She answered softly, peering over the yellow filly to see Sweetie Belle silent and still, facing the wall of their alcove.

“I’m worried ‘bout the others… what ‘bout you?” Apple Bloom asked, sitting up slightly and trying her best to not disturb their unicorn friend.

Scootaloo started to answer, only to stop herself briefly. “I’m sure they’re fine. But… yeah, I was worried too.”

“Should we get up or somethin’?” The young farmer proposed. “I don’t think one of Ms. Cheerilee’s lectures could knock me out now.”

“And do what?” Scootaloo shrugged. This seemed to put a wrench in the yellow filly’s carefully plotted plan.

“I dunno… Maybe we could find someone to make us a snack?” Apple Bloom said.

“A.B, it’s gotta be like one in the morning or something. Nopony is going to want to make us a snack right now.” Scootaloo lowered her brows slightly.

“Well, someone has to be up. How else is Princess Luna gonna eat when she’s up all night?” Apple Bloom reasoned.

Scootaloo trailed her eyes to the side in thought before nodding at her friend’s logic. “Good point.” She said before frowning a bit as she looked over to their silent friend. “But, I don’t know if I want to leave Sweetie out of whatever we end up doing. What if we end up doing something fun and get our cutie marks without her?”

“Well… Maybe we really just go get a snack and just bring her back somethin’? After all, if she’s gotten to sleep, I think she’s earned it after everythin’ we’ve been through.” The young earth pony said, more happy for the unicorn than jealous, though she couldn’t deny a touch of that as well.

“Yeah…” Scootaloo deflated back under her covers a bit. “You’re right. Maybe we should just try to sleep again?”

“Forty-two…”

A drowsy mumble came from beside them. Both fillies turned to see Sweetie Belle unmoved.

“Huh…?” Scootaloo wrinkled her mouth in confusion.

After a brief moment, the unicorn stirred. She turned over and looked to the pair with a pair of bags under her drowsy eyes, similar to theirs. “There’s forty-two stones in that wall.” Sweetie inched her head toward the alcove behind her. Both her friends were left stunned and speechless. “I couldn’t sleep either…”

Seeing this as a warning for their near future, Scootaloo sat up and stretched her tired body, even producing a loud yawn before shaking herself awake. “Ok, I think that settles it. We need to get up.”

“I think I’d rather sleep… Too bad that ain’t an option.” Apple Bloom sighed as she threw back the covers and followed her orange friend out of bed. She was surprised to feel something weighing her down, only to look back to see Sweetie Belle holding onto her and using her as a means of dragging herself out of bed.

“Mmmph… Sleep sounds nice.” The unicorn mumbled, barely coherent and barely able to keep her eyes open. She pulled the blanket behind her as Apple Bloom struggled to walk across the room with her holding on. She had a surprisingly tight grip for such a tired pony.

With some difficulty, largely due to the two having to hoist their friend to her hooves and nudge her along, the trio exited their room and walked down the halls with their loose objective of food the only thing guiding them.

Through their brief travels, they ran across a couple of guards or traveling servants. A few of them would pause and give the three fillies a lingering stare, but some quick thinking and promises of taking a quick walk dissuaded anyone from sending them back to their room.

Eventually, as they were cutting through an open sitting area off one of the outer hallways, the trio noticed some voices up ahead that sounded familiar as a pair of equine figures came into view. One of them had a small purple shape riding on their back.

“Has anyone ever told you guys that stained glass windows and wall sconces are so past out of style?” A grayish-blue pegasus mare asked, eliciting a tired sigh from the pink alicorn beside her.

“Has anyone ever told you that you talk too much?” Cadence droned. Suddenly, she stopped walking and looked ahead with face wrinkled in surprise as she noticed the three fillies. “Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle…? What are you three doing here?”

The trio adopted a sheepish appearance as the princess of love approached them.

“We couldn’t sleep,” Scootaloo admitted.

“Join the club.” Spike chimed in from atop Cadence's back.

Meanwhile, Raincloud produced an amused snort. “Hey, I’m awake because I chose to be. Maybe you all need some warm milk or something.”

Cadence cast a deflated glare at the pegasus, having lost the energy over repeated incidents to even wrinkle her eyes. However, her features softened as she turned back to see the fillies looking to the gray mare with uneasy expressions, similar to how Spike was earlier.

“Why is she here?” Sweetie Belle asked in a soft voice, flinching back slightly as if she were afraid of the pegasus hearing her.

“Why is that always the first question ponies ask about me?” Raincloud grumbled.

“Maybe if you didn’t try to kill everyone you meet…” Spike muttered under his breath while trailing his eyes up and away.

Raincloud scrunched her face up at the dragon, partly because he was actually above her on the alicorn’s back. “What was that, pint siz...zzzz...uh...” She backed up and smiled nervously as Cadence shot her a particularly potent death glare. For the princess of love, she was certainly showing a lot of veiled anger recently.

After getting the ornery pegasus to quiet down, for the moment, Cadence turned to the fillies and offered them a sympathetic expression. “I know she’s hurt you three in the past, and I know you must be scared of her, but don’t worry. She’s a better pony now… and she’s really sorry for what she did to you. Isn’t that right, Raincloud?”

“I mean… I guess.” Raincloud shrugged half-heartedly, almost like she was trying to annoy the alicorn, which was a strong possibility.

“Whatever.” Scootaloo huffed and turned her nose up at the pegasus. “I’m not scared of you anymore. You’re just a big jerk with superpowers.”

Once their fearless leader spoke up, the other crusaders gained the courage they needed to chime in as well with some vocal agreements.

Hearing this, Raincloud lifted a brow at the orange filly. “Huh… I like you, kid.” She nodded before flattening her expression. “But don’t call me a jerk again.”

Cadence glanced between the fillies and started to say something when a sudden noise made her ears shoot up. It sounded like some faint yells and other such commotion.

“What’s that?” Apple Bloom asked, turning toward the source of the noise behind them. Apparently, they hadn’t noticed that they had walked past a balcony.

While the children were growing a bit concerned at the faint clamor, Cadence lifted Spike off her back and turned to Raincloud with a serious expression. “Stay here for a minute. All of you.” She instructed before trotting toward the balcony. The fillies and dragon watched her uneasily, while Raincloud merely stared toward the outside.

As the pink alicorn drew closer to the balcony, she could identify the yells to be those of guards. Much to her horror, she could also hear some chillingly familiar feral growls.

Cadence cautiously peered over the railing and looked down. She was above and a little to the side of the main entrance. She widened her eyes as she saw what she was dreading most.

A band of nearly a dozen vampires was storming the front doors. The few guards stationed there were quickly overwhelmed, with one being instantly knocked to the ground and ripped into by two of the pale ponies.

While most of his colleagues barged through the doors and entered inside, one of the pale stallions pinned the only remaining guard up against the wall and snarled threateningly at him.

“Where is Princess Cadence?!” The stallion demanded.

The guard was obviously in way over his head, but even through his fear, he refused to answer. Cadence gasped and recoiled back a few steps as she watched the pale pony rip into the defenseless stallion’s neck.

With thoughts racing nearly as fast as her heart, Cadence darted her eyes around as she tried to think of what to do next. She had to protect the children behind her first and foremost. However, as she turned around, she found the crusaders and their dragon friend much closer than she told them to be.

“What’s wrong, Cadence?” Spike prodded gently.

“What were all those yells?” Sweetie added, thoroughly unsettled by now.

Cadence wasted no more time with idle explanation. They had to move. “We need to go. Now.” She stated, already trotting away, or at least starting to.

“Woah, woah, woah, where’s the fire?” Raincloud asked, eliciting an impatient groan from the alicorn, only this time it seemed to be directed at something other than her.

“We don’t have time for this, Raincloud,” Cadence said with a glint of urgency in her eyes.

“Let me guess… more of your fanged friends?” Raincloud inferred.

Cadence didn’t answer verbally, though the look on her face spoke volumes. She knelt down to the four children and looked to them with a serious air about her that immediately garnered their full attention. “Stay close to us, and do not fall behind. Understand?”

“Y-yes Princess,” Scootaloo answered while her friends merely nodded shakily. By now, they were starting to get freaked out at the thought of more ruthless vampires coming after them.

With little more acknowledgment than a slight nod of assurance, Cadence turned and rushed off. Her gray companion, along with Spike and the crusaders all followed after her with varying degrees of hesitance or reluctance between them.

Down a hallway, through a room, around a few confused servants that Cadence quickly bade to hide or run. The three fillies and even the young dragon were starting to wonder if there was a method to the seemingly scattered path they were taking.

“Princess, where are we going?” Apple Bloom piped up, darting her eyes to every doorway and corner around them.

Cadence stole a glance behind her at the children. They were understandably scared, and it wasn't like they could cling to Raincloud for comfort or reassurance. “We’re going to the equipment room to grab something to protect ourselves, and then we’re going to run or hide… probably run.”

“But… Cadence, I don’t understand. Why are they here? Everyone they would want to hurt is away!” Spike reasoned.

“I think they’re after me,” Cadence said, her voice a bit diminished. A series of tiny gasps came from the children.

“Well, that solves things pretty nicely. All we have to do is avoid you.” Raincloud stated sarcastically, though the look in her eye seemed to suggest some sincerity.

“Raincloud, if you’re not being helpful, I am really not in the mood to put up with you right now,” Cadence responded.

“You know, I’d be a lot more helpful if you found one of those spare remotes.” Raincloud tapped her collar pointedly and raised her brows.

“I think I’d rather take my chances with the vampires.” Cadence deadpanned before turning and continuing on her way.

“Hey… just a thought.” The pegasus shrugged.

The three fillies and their dragon friend closely followed the two mares into yet another hallway. This one seemed to be a balcony of sorts, with a railed-off opening into a larger room downstairs full of various paintings depicting the royal sisters and even the elements of harmony.

“Come on. There are some stairs right through here. The equipment room isn’t far.” Cadence beckoned with a hoof, pausing before a door and waiting for her group to catch up before opening it. As she peeked inside, however, she suddenly froze.

A small group of pale ponies was in the next corridor, searching rooms hastily and making a mess of the place.

Cadence closed the door as quickly and quietly as she could and drew air between her teeth. “Horsefeathers…” She muttered.

“Where to now, fearless leader?” Raincloud asked.

Suddenly, Cadence’s ears pricked at the sound of more voices. “Ssshh!” She gestured wildly for the group to be quiet before walking over to the railing and peering over it.

“She’s not here either!” A mare’s voice called from the room below.

“You two look upstairs!” Another voice instructed. Cadence widened her eyes as she saw two pegasi standing below her, who quickly shifted their eyes up.

The others watched as the alicorn backpedaled and darted her eyes around in rapid thought. Finally, she settled eyes on a door and threw her aura around its handle before opening it and quickly ushering them inside. Cadence herself narrowly made it in before they heard the sound of wings flapping as two pale ponies landed on the balcony outside.

Spike and the three fillies felt their hearts skip as they watched the alicorn keeping her back up against the door and holding its handle tightly with her magic. She gestured a hoof to her lips urgently, and even Raincloud was inclined to listen.

Soon, the sound of hoofsteps approached. Cadence winced nervously as she felt resistance on the knob. The pegasus outside was trying to open the door.

Ready to fight or flee at a moment’s notice, Raincloud and the four children watched anxiously as the alicorn held her ground and the knob with equal intensity.

A frustrated sigh came from outside the door, and a couple of particularly hard jostles shook the knob before a thump came, seemingly a kick at the immovable barrier.

“Stupid thing’s locked.” A mare’s voice reported. Everyone deflated a bit with relief.

“Just ignore it. We’ll find a way around.” A stallion stated.

The mare outside let out one final agitated snarl. The monstrous sound sent shivers up the three fillies’ backs.

“That pretty little headache better hope I don’t find her first.”

Then, much to the group’s relief, the sounds of hoofsteps started walking away. Soon, they were left in relative silence once more.

Cadence gave the silence a few moments to sit before dropping to her hooves and turning to the group. “Follow me. We’ll have to go around.”

“You’re going to get all of us killed. You know that, right?” Raincloud muttered flatly.

“Just shut up and move, Raincloud. You wouldn’t be in this mess if you stayed in your room like you were supposed to.” Cadence said through clenched teeth, trying to keep her voice down to not further unnerve their young companions with her spectacular anger. She gave the pegasus a not so gentle shove forward and walked ahead herself.

“Alright, alright, I’m going. Sheesh.”

Meanwhile, Apple Bloom whined nervously as she and her friends followed along behind the two older mares. “I wish Applejack was here.”

“I wish Tom was here…” Sweetie added, on the verge of fearful tears. Nobody seemed to have anything to add to that.

Cadence paused and looked to the fillies and dragon with sympathetic eyes. She wanted nothing more than to assure them that everything was going to be ok, but she knew that it was but a hollow comfort. All she could hope to do was make this assurance a reality.

For the longest few minutes of their short lives, Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom, and Spike followed the princess of love and their unlikely ally through the once serene and picturesque halls of the royal palace. They tried their hardest to remain silent as the grave, but every stray hoof fall or scuff against the floor louder than previously thought made them seize up and dart their eyes around.

As they made their way down a lesser-known stairway meant for staff, they could already hear faint commotion around them, either from the pale ponies rushing through in their fervent search or from guards rushing to stop the incursion.

“How much further?” Spike asked.

Cadence looked ahead at a familiar corner and managed a slight smile for the dragon. “Not much.”

Hearing rapid hoofsteps coming from around said corner, Cadence stood in front of the children protectively and lit her horn, while Raincloud merely lowered her stance in preparation to fight with nothing but her bare hooves. The alicorn was relieved to see a pair of guards rushing out into the hallway in a hurry.

Upon nearly running into the group and recognizing the pink mare, the guards skidded to an abrupt halt.

“Princess Cadence.” One of the guards spoke, clearly alarmed by the sudden attack they were just rushing to repel. “It’s not safe for you here. There are-”

“Intruders. Yes, we know.” Cadence said, trying to keep a steady and calm voice. “We were on our way to the equipment room. I believe that they are here for me… and possibly anyone else close to Celestia or the elements.” She glanced at the group of children behind her hesitantly.

The two stallions looked at each other, sharing an uneasy expression for a moment before turning to the princess in their care and stiffening their postures. “Right this way, Princess. We’ll keep you s-”

“THERE SHE IS!”

A feminine voice yelled from down the hall. Cadence and the others turned to see a pale unicorn mare pointing a hoof their way, with a pair of earth pony stallions close behind. Soon, a series of voices and feral barks approached from a doorway near the pale trio as a veritable gang of more vampires came bounding out into the hallway toward them, headed by two strigoi clad in guard armor.

Everyone’s eyes nearly popped out of their skulls as they saw the small mob rushing toward them.

Immediately, the two guards ran in front of the alicorn’s group and drew their silver blades. One of them turned and shouted behind him.

“Go!” He demanded. Perhaps noting the hesitance in the princess’s eyes, he turned to her with a more serious expression. “We’ll buy you as much time as we can. Get yourselves out of here!”

“Princess!” Sweetie Belle squeaked, having paused with the others as they realized the alicorn wasn't following them.

“Cadence!” Spike yelled.

Cadence didn’t know what to do. She had to protect the kids. This much she was certain about, but she also knew that leaving the two stallions was basically giving them a death sentence.

With the pale horde beating hoof down the deceptively small corridor, and time running out in mere moments, Raincloud grabbed the indecisive alicorn by a foreleg and shook her. “Move it or lose it, crayon head!”

Finally, Cadence tensed her lips and gave in. “I’m sorry!” She shouted behind her to the brave guards before running down the hall with her friends and Raincloud.

The fillies and dragon ran faster than they ever had before down the moonlit corridor. Raincloud and Cadence were just ahead of them, with the alicorn keeping pace with them more than the gray mare.

Spike yelped as he tripped over himself in his hasty scramble. Before he could even lift his head to look behind him, a magical aura wrapped around him and whisked him forward and onto Cadence’s back.

“In here!” Cadence frantically instructed as she threw open a red door and ushered the fillies inside.

Just as Raincloud entered the darkened room and Cadence was about to close the door, she paused as she heard the sounds of some feral growls and shouts from behind. Turning back toward where she had left the two guards, she could faintly see a mess of shadows cast against the back wall depicting swinging blades, reaching hooves, and bared fangs.

A few embers drifted out into the corridor, seemingly indicating that the pair had slain at least one of the creatures, but a pained scream and a spray of blood quickly confirmed what the alicorn had feared.

With heavy heart racing under the fear and adrenaline, Cadence could barely offer the two stallions a somber thought before she ducked into the room and quickly shut the door before anyone could come around the corner.

Spike hopped down and leaned a hand against the wall to rest as he and the fillies surveyed the dark room, only illuminated by Cadence’s soft magical light.

The dragon vaguely recognized this to be the equipment room. He had been here once or twice, mostly due to Twilight visiting Glimmer Shine’s team and asking them about the magical charms that they used. For the fillies, this was their first time seeing it.

The space wasn't cluttered by any means. Glitterball at least seemed to keep the floor space open and the various shelves and containers in some order. It looked very professional and would have been exciting for the children under other circumstances.

Scattered groupings of sealed boxes lined the walls, with one opened one containing what appeared to be guard helmets leftover from before the team of monster hunters moved into the room.

Three tables were in the room, two of which were small ones against the back wall holding the leftovers of a tinkering session. Empty glass vials with different brass caps sitting beside them, along with pouches and containers full of powders, liquids, and other such ingredients were left mostly unattended.

The third table stood in the middle of the room next to a tall shelf lined with books. On this table, there were parts for crossbows and the newest weapon the team was using, a uniquely designed vial with a more encompassing casing, all empty.

“What are we gonna do?” Scootaloo fretted as she looked around the dark room. “We’re sitting ducks in here!”

“It’s ok,” Cadence assured, not able to spare a moment to comfort the fillies otherwise as she sprang into action. She darted her eyes around the room, taking in whatever information she was searching for amid the shelves and tables in an instant, before rushing forward and wrapping her magic around a silver dagger nearby.

Much to nearly everyone’s surprise, she gave it to Raincloud.

“Uh…” The pegasus eyed the weapon in her hoof, and then the pink alicorn, with a raised eyebrow.

“Raincloud, take that and hold the door as long as you can.” Cadence instructed, already rushing off to do something else. “Girls, Spike, come here and help me look for something.” She said, pausing before a large wardrobe of sorts and throwing it open.

The three fillies and their dragon friend stared at the contents of the wardrobe as they approached. It seemed as though the team of ponies used this to store their spare gear. Anywhere from four to five tactical vests, flat and devoid of any equipment, were hanging inside. There were also some miniature shelves and drawers built into the wardrobe that were chock full of spare charms and tools.

“What are we lookin’ for?” Apple Bloom asked curiously as her friends walked up behind the alicorn, who was already rifling through drawers and compartments.

“It’s one of the vials Glitter and the others use, like their strobes. Only, this one has something other than liquid inside. I think it was… some kind of flakes.” Cadence said. She had been on the receiving end of a few letters from Twilight gushing about the unicorn getting the opportunity to examine the team’s equipment, but it was hard to remember in such a rush what each individual vial did.

With a few hesitant glances between each other and the pegasus pressing against the door, Spike and the crusaders got to work.

Sweetie Belle stood on Apple Bloom’s back to reach a higher drawer, while the young farmer searched the few compartments she could reach. Spike opened some compartments along the side, and Scootaloo was practically burying herself inside one of the larger drawers.

It seemed as though at one point the wardrobe had been organized. The group found certain vials and tools next to others of their type. But then, at some point or another, it seemed as though the less tidy members of the team had rifled through and replaced items willy nilly without a care in the world for where they belonged.

If they were being honest, it was probably Sunspot. They would have to remember to be upset at her later for it if they lived.

“Hurry it up, pipsqueaks!” Raincloud whispered urgently from over by the door. She could already hear the sounds of the pale ponies rushing down the hall and checking the other rooms, getting progressively closer to their hideaway. “Unless you want to be a living juice box, you better find those stupid… whatever you’re looking for!”

“You try looking through a bunch of junk and then get back to us!” Spike retorted.

“Clearly you’ve never seen my brother’s room at the mansion,” Raincloud added.

“Ooo!” Sweetie perked up as she held up a vial, drawing Cadence’s attention. “Is this one?”

Cadence inched closer to see the vial in the pale light before her face lit up. “Yes… yes! That’s exactly what we need! Keep looking for more.” She said after taking the vial from the young unicorn and holding it beside her in her aura.

Spike and the others got a good look at the vial before returning to their search with renewed vigor.

A few moments later, Scootaloo cheered triumphantly. “Aha! Here’s one!” She waved the vial in her hoof, jingling the dry flakes inside the glass compartment.

Just then, the sound of the doorknob turning rang out, making everyone freeze. Raincloud cringed and pressed herself against the door harder as more resistance started to push back.

“Hey! They’re in here!” A muffled voice called.

Cadence cursed under her breath and darted her head to the children before looking elsewhere. “Bring these vials with you and follow me.” She instructed, handing the vial she already had to Spike and rushing over to a single shelf standing against the far wall. “Quickly! There’s no time!”

The dragon and the trio of fillies were a little confused and more than a little panicked, but they did as instructed and scampered over behind the alicorn as she stood before the shelf.

Sweetie Belle started to speak, asking what they were going to do, when she was suddenly silenced as Cadence wrapped her magic around the shelf and pushed it aside, revealing a hole in the wall of all things.

The hole led into a small space, just large enough for a small group of adult ponies to stand cozily close together. For them, it would be a bit larger. There were boxes full of bottled water and emergency food inside, along with a magical lantern and some scattered supplies.

“Woah…” Scootaloo looked around the hidden room with a hint of intrigue in her eyes.

“What is this?” Sweetie asked.

“It’s a secret room,” Spike answered, seemingly knowledgeable on the subject. “There are loads of them all around the castle for different things. Twilight used to use them to get around faster or hide when she thought she was in trouble... I’ve never seen this one, though.”

“Everyone inside,” Cadence said, ushering the hesitant children into the small space. She used her magic to light the nearby lantern before lowering herself to be at eye level with the petrified group. “Those vials will keep them from finding you, but they only work at a very small range, so stay close together.”

Scootaloo and her friends looked down at the two vials in their possession. Would they really be enough to keep the pale ponies’ unnatural senses at bay?

“But… Princess, what about you?” Apple Bloom asked, looking to the alicorn and even the gray mare with soft eyes. The others seemed equally concerned.

Cadence started to answer when a loud thump drew her attention behind her. She could see Raincloud struggling to keep the door from just flying open. “We’ll be fine. You four stay in here and stay quiet, no matter what you hear. Understand?” She looked to the dragon and fillies with a serious air behind her reassuring expression as she slowly closed the shelf back over the opening.

“Cadence!” Spike started to reach for her, only to be stopped by the shelf fully obscuring the alicorn from view.

The pink mare cast a regretful look at the shelf before sighing and steeling her expression as she turned around. She grabbed a silver bolt from a prototype crossbow nearby and held it aloft in her magic as she walked toward Raincloud.

The pegasus grunted softly as the door behind her smacked into her back. Her hind hooves dug into the floor, but even then she was having problems with holding fast.

“I hope your hubby taught you how to fight,” Raincloud said, gripping her silver dagger tightly.

Cadence exhaled softly. “I hope you’re more than just shadow magic and a pretty face.”

The pair gave each other a solemn nod, resolving that they were the only thing standing between the other being ripped to shreds, and so forming a temporary alliance.

In one swift motion, Raincloud rushed forward out of the way of the door, allowing it to slam open. Several pale ponies glared at the pair through the newly unblocked doorway, only to widen their eyes as they saw Cadence pointing her glowing horn right at them.

“AH!” A pale mare and a few others yelped as they tripped over themselves to get away. They were the lucky ones.

A crackle of orange sparked from the pink mare’s horn, followed by a roar of fire. A veritable wall of immolation surged through the door. It didn’t seem powerful from a magical standpoint, but it didn’t have to be, as two distinct sets of crumbling ashes were left in its wake.

Once the way was clear again, the pale ponies snarled and charged to avenge their fallen comrades. Five vampires and two strigoi came rushing in, fangs bared and eyes burning with crimson rage.

While Cadence sent her silver bolt zipping into a leaping strigoi’s neck and wrapped the five ponies up in magical auras, Raincloud stabbed her dagger into the remaining strigoi’s ribs as she dodged a leap from it.

As the pegasus turned her head, she received a hoof to the muzzle. The violent strike sent her stumbling back as two more ponies entered the fray.

Cadence was forced to throw all of the floating ponies back before her magic was overwhelmed. She placed a shield in front of herself as two unicorns fired energy bolts at her. The pair of pegasi she saw before tried to flank around both sides of her barrier. She caught one in the back with her floating bolt, while the other made a lunge for her.

He would have connected with her too if he wasn't abruptly reduced to ash by a dagger in the side.

“That all you got, you monster mash dropouts?! I’ve made scarier things than you my bitch!” Raincloud yelled as she cautiously backed away with the pink alicorn beside her.

I really hope that shelf is soundproof… Cadence thought to herself. Perhaps she shouldn’t have been thinking about the innocence of the children behind her being shattered by some colorful language, but it was a better thought to have than how she was probably about to die.

The pale pack of ponies didn’t seem dissuaded by the gray mare’s taunts, instead creeping forward with vicious growls and sadistic chuckles.

Not one to let the enemy make the first move, Cadence shot out a fireball down the center, hoping to hit most of the creatures. She barely clipped one, as all the others either ducked or jumped out of the way, and the one she clipped wasn't damaged enough to kill.

One of the pale mares made a fierce yell as she charged toward Raincloud. The pegasus swiped at her with the dagger, only to catch a pair of forelegs to the shoulders and get tackled backward before she could connect.

“Raincloud!” Cadence widened her eyes as she saw her ally in trouble. She started to zip her floating bolt toward the pale mare, only to suddenly have her legs pulled out from under her.

As she landed on the floor roughly, the alicorn looked up to see the two unicorns snickering at her with horns aglow. They apparently made good use of the fact that their magic wasn't handicapped by a paranormal entity.

Racing back to at least a sitting position, Cadence started to try to teleport away. Before she could even light her horn, however, she was set upon by an earth pony mare and a unicorn stallion and felt something sharp pressed to her neck.

“Ah, ah, ah.” The mare said, pressing a knife she had apparently found on one of the tables nearby into the alicorn’s throat harshly. “The Prince told us to take you alive, but he can work with a corpse too.”

Meanwhile, over to the side, Raincloud was still caught in her miniature wrestling match despite the fact that the battle had mostly ended. She tried to wrench her dagger hoof free of the mare on top of her, but the vampiric pony was much stronger.

Raincloud grit her teeth and glared up at the beige mare, who had a slight smirk through her own clenched jaw. Both of the pegasus’ forelegs were being held down, and the pale pony seemed to only be letting her continue to fight for the fun of it.

Suddenly, Raincloud thrust her head forward, knocking her skull into the bottom of the mare’s jaw. This was enough of a shock to distract the mare, allowing her to jerk her foreleg free so she could point the dagger forward and stab,

Only to get an inch away from breaking skin before a magical aura jutted her knife to a stop.

Despite her best attempt at a struggle, Raincloud had her silver weapon ripped from her hoof and sent sliding away as her limb was pinned to the floor. She looked up, only to see a pale unicorn, the rest of the vampires, a captured Cadence, and even the mare on top of her staring her way.

“Aww, son of a-”

*Crack*

In an instant, the pale mare bashed her own head into the pegasus’ face, silencing her instantly with a pained grunt. She looked down at the bloodied pony and smirked. “Watch your language, bitch.”

Raincloud took a moment to focus her dazed eyes. Her nose stung, and she could feel warm liquid seeping out. It was broken. “Lousy karmic retribution…” She mumbled, head lolling around and throbbing. Then, she croaked abruptly as she was lifted off the ground by her throat.

With both the alicorn and the pegasus in their possession, the remaining six vampires relaxed a bit.

Their appointed leader, self-appointed or not, seemed to be a pale unicorn mare with green fur and red mane. She sniffed the air for a moment with an irritated expression and walked up to Cadence, who was still being held at knifepoint by a single other pony, inching closer to her face with narrowed eyes.

“What did you do with the kids? Where are they?” She asked, or rather, demanded impatiently.

“I’m not entirely sure what you’re talking about. What kids?” Cadence feigned innocence, only to flinch back slightly at a snarl.

“We don’t have all the time in the world, smartflank. I want to be out of here before more of your little guards show up.” The unicorn grabbed the front of Cadence’s necklace and pulled her close. “I saw all of you out in the hallway, and we’ve already checked the other rooms. Where are they?!”

Despite the mounting pressure from the pale mare and the knife being pressed so hard into her neck that she was certain she was bleeding, Cadence didn’t relent.

Eventually, the pale mare snorted, silently signaling the other pony to ease up on the knife. She turned to look at her companions, eventually settling her eyes on Raincloud. A slight twitch lifted the corner of her lips.

“How about you? You look like a smart girl… street smart, anyway.”

“I take offense to that.” Raincloud retorted, casting a thoroughly unimpressed look at the pale mare, at least until she heard a growl in her ear and felt a hoof grabbing her shoulder and holding her head down, exposing her neck. She trailed her eyes up and to the side, only to see the beige mare holding her with jaw open and fangs ready to sink into her throat.

The hungry mare waited and watched, allowing the green pony to stroll up to Raincloud with a sly grin.

“Still feeling brave?” The green unicorn asked before flattening her expression. “Look… I just fed, so I’m willing to let you live. My friend, on the other hoof, hasn’t eaten in a while.” She said, almost in perfect time for a drop of saliva to hit the pegasus, who wasn't sure whether to be unsettled or disgusted. “Just tell us where the kids are, and we’ll let you walk.”

Raincloud looked at the pale mare and the other pale ponies around her. She looked to Cadence, and down to the side. She didn’t look to the shelf, but she was thinking about it. A lot. Sweat started to form on her forehead as the hooves holding her dug into her shoulder and pulled her mane, brushing against her collar as they shifted.

Her damn collar. It had caused her so many problems recently. She could solve so many problems if it weren’t there. Of course, her ‘allies’ put it on her because they didn’t trust her.

And maybe they were right not to.

“Alright, fine...” The pegasus sighed, lifting a single hoof and pointing right at the hiding spot. “They’re behind that shelf.”

The room fell quiet after that, those words filling the space and then fading to grave silence like the ring of an executioner’s blade.

Cadence felt all of the air leave her lungs in a stunned, quiet rasp. Her jaw hung open as she stared at the pegasus, who wasn't returning her gaze. “Raincloud…” She muttered. She wanted to say so much more. How could you? How dare you? She wasn't one to curse anyone, but right now she felt like swearing like a sailor. Raincloud said nothing further.

The unicorn gave an amused snort. “Cold… I like it.” She said before motioning for the mare to let Raincloud go. She then motioned for two of her companions to follow her. Two of the three ponies watching the door walked over and joined her as she approached the shelf.

“No! Leave them alone!” Cadence cried, trying to rush forward only to get pulled back roughly.

Once they reached the seemingly innocuous shelf, the green mare looked it over for a moment before gesturing for her fellow vampires to move it aside. The unicorn stallion and earth mare got on one side and pushed, and much to their surprise, it actually moved.

The red-haired mare watched as a small space was revealed behind the shelf, smirking at the sight of three shivering fillies huddled at the back with an equally terrified-looking baby dragon standing in front of them.

“Hello there…” The mare said softly.

Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom screamed, while Spike and Scootaloo merely produced a short sound of terror and a garbled mess of half-formed yells respectively. All at once, they all made a break for it.

Scootaloo got caught almost instantly by the green mare reaching out and snatching her.

Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle barely made it free of the two other ponies, when they were lifted off the ground against their will by a magical aura.

Spike almost made it the furthest out of any of them. However, he was tripped and sent to the floor by a hoof stepping on his tail, uncaring of the pain such a fall would cause.

Cadence was nearly in tears by the time all the children were captured. “Please, just take me. Dusk just wants me… Just let them go, please! You were ponies once… surely you must have some compassion left in your hearts?”

“Sorry, your highness,” The green mare said, voice dripping with sarcasm, “but the Prince’s plans don’t just involve you. Don’t worry though, I’ll ask him to make it quick… just for you.” She grinned before turning to the others. “Alright, boys… let’s pack it in before we’re up to our eyes in guards.”

Raincloud watched and rubbed her still bleeding muzzle as the pale ponies started to leave. She met eyes with the pink alicorn, only to look away as Cadence gave her a disapproving glare while being led out of the room.

She looked over to see the three fillies and the young dragon still struggling, or at least Scootaloo was still struggling. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle were merely flailing uselessly in the air, and Spike was being held too tightly to move his legs.

“Let us go!” Scootaloo cried.

“Raincloud, please!” Sweetie Belle looked to the gray pegasus with fearful tears in her eyes. “Princess Cadence said you were a better pony… so please! Help us!”

If Raincloud did have a heart, it was currently in a blender. She grit her teeth as her conflicted thoughts raced. She did the only thing she could do in the moment. It was the only thing that made sense.

They were outnumbered. They lost. She had to do whatever it took to keep herself alive. After all, the kids would be alright. They were important enough to be taken, so they would be ok for a while longer, right? Either way, it didn’t matter. Her life was more important to her.

The pegasus sighed and lowered her head. She closed her eyes, unable to watch the terrified faces of the three fillies and baby dragon any further.

“Hay with it…”

With that, Raincloud shot forward, reaching for a small object on the floor. She picked up her previously lost dagger and rushed at the earth pony mare at the back of the group that was carrying Spike.

The pegasus yelled and leaped onto the pale pony, plunging her silver knife squarely into the mare’s neck.

Every vampire in the room turned as a blood-curdling scream was drowned out by the whoosh of fire and ash. They saw the gray mare standing there alongside a dazed and surprised dragon on the floor.

“Kill her.” The green mare instructed flatly with a roll of the eyes.

Raincloud immediately rushed after the next pony with death in her eyes. The unicorn carrying Sweetie and Apple Bloom.

In a blur of motion, Raincloud leaped up, reared her foreleg back…

… and failed to touch the ground.

The pegasus’ body gently floated in a colorful aura as the unicorn approached her. She struggled, but her limbs refused her commands. The stallion smirked and wrenched her dagger out of her hoof before spinning it around to face her.

“Let’s see how you like it!”

Then, the dagger flew back before plunging into the gray mare’s chest.

Again. And again. And once more for good measure.

Spike and the three fillies were helpless to do anything but watch as blood sprayed from the pegasus with each strike, her yells growing softer and softer. She barely offered a painful sputter by the end of it before she was tossed to the back of the room, where she landed with a cringe-inducing thud.

“Raincloud!” Spike yelled, absentmindedly reaching for the pegasus that he once feared, now left in a bloody heap on the floor after trying to save him and his friends.

Before one of the other pale ponies could think to grab the dragon again, he whirled around with a fierceness in his eyes and ran up to the smug unicorn.

All at once, the sadistic joy faded from the stallion’s eyes as they widened at a sharp pain. “Gah!” He yelled, nearly losing his magical hold over the fillies. He looked down with an angry growl, only to see a purple dragon biting into his foreleg.

“Get OFF ME!” He bellowed, flicking his foreleg with unnatural strength.

In a blur, Spike was loosed from the unicorn’s leg and sent flying at the back wall. He barely got off the beginnings of a fearful scream before a sickening crack sounded out when his body collided with solid stone. He bounced to the ground and slid down the wall limply, leaving a few spatterings of blood behind.

The crusaders gasped as they watched their friend settle into a motionless heap a short ways away from Raincloud’s body.

“SPIKE!” Scootaloo yelled, struggling even harder against her captor to no avail.

The unicorn stallion looked to the dragon and the blood on the wall, then at his hoof still held aloft, before chuckling. “Ooops. I guess I don’t know my own strength.”

“What do we do with him?” Another pony asked. “I don’t think the Prince wants any dead dragons.”

“Leave him.” The green mare stated. “If he’s dead, he’s dead. If he’s alive, we don’t have time to check. Let’s go!”

And with that, the pale ponies all rushed to join their leader in exiting the room. They had what they came for, and now they were to leave before meeting any further resistance.

Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, and Apple Bloom didn’t even struggle anymore. All they could do was stare at the two motionless figures against the back wall, bleeding out onto the equipment room floor.