The Last True Champion of the Night

The fifth sister was hiding in the clouds above the dark castle of Hollow Shades. It had been hard for her to escape the gazes and expanded hearing of the guards that continually patrolled the place, especially during the nighttime.

The hardest challenge was maintaining herself fed, as the nearest village from hollow shades was almost half an hour away from the castle, even flying, so she didn't have a way to swipe away some dumb and small pony as her lunch. Her luck was that around the castle there existed a big and dark forest full of small critters that she could use to feed – Of course, she would trade all the animals of the forest for the taste of Pony flesh.

Even so, she managed to survive in hiding, just awaiting any chance she could get to capture Far Reach, her prey that managed to escape. She was determined to "teach" her "little brother" how to properly behave and not to runway. "Maybe he won't need his wings or legs?" She caught herself thinking several times while drooling.

That's when her luck seemed to change, as all the guards patrolling the courtyard had disappeared, and a lone bat pony left the building. She looked at him for a moment, many terrible acts passed through her mind to do with him, but her favorite was the meal he could become.

The pony in question was tall for a bat-pony, with a short black mane with some gray threads, everything combed back in a way that, combine with his posh attire, made the fifth sister smile devilishly. A posh pony, alone, strolling during the night in the big unguarded courtyard of the castle. "This weaponless pony must be one of those business ponies I saw on Baltimare when I was making the reconnaissance. An easy prey." She thought.

But the posh pony stopped as the fifth was reading herself for her attack and looked at her general direction, which took her by surprise.

• I know you are there, reveal yourself. - The pony spoke firmly, the way he spoke made the fifth sister remember of the first sister. - If you don't come, I will make you regret it.

The hen was confused, "how did he know I was here?" She thought, but it was useless. If her location was found, there was no reason to hide again. So she leapt from the cloud and glided to a spot a few steps from the newcomer, in her hands, her short sword ready.

• Good, this makes everything easy for me - The pony didn't seem afraid of her imposing features, or even her armored state, and this made her very angry - I will ask you some questions, and you will answer. Simple, right?

The rage inside the fifth sister was growing with each word of the bat pony, and before she thought, she yelled at him.

• Little pony, do you know who I AM? - The fifth sister yelled - maybe this big sister should teach you what men to feel fear!

• Oh, I know you very well - calmly answered the bat pony - Kirsten the hungry, currently working under the dark claw. I can't believe the "mother" accepted a trash like you as a high ranking officer in her organization, but seeing that even Callaghan managed to enter, it does not surprise me.

• WHAT, HOW DO YOU NOW?

The voice of the pony was severe and regal, his eyes shining a bright red under the moon's light while he spoke.

• Kristen, you entered my domains after my guest. Do you think I wouldn't know who the invader or its associates are - The Count Vlad started walking to the now frightened hen - And do you really believe that someone as dangerous as you would be free to roam my lands and endanger my subjects?

• How did you know I was here?

• I knew it from the start, but chose to let it slide as long as you behaved yourself - he was getting close, his mouth twisting a dark smile and his red eyes making the hen shake - furthermore, I wanted to deal with you... myself.

Seeing Vlad stepping under her reach, Kristen leaped into action, her short sword aiming for the Count's neck, only for him to dodge her attack to the side and, while dodging her, continue to talk.

• What is the goal of Dark Claw? - Vlad dodged a new attack from Kristen, who was taking a dagger with her other hand - Why did you go after the Pegasus?

Kristen wasn't going to answer any question the Count asked, no. She was determined to kill him right now, and she would do it, no matter what. Without taking her eyes from her enemy, Kristen flatted her wings and managed to put some distance between the two.

She then smirked, and she summoned the magical energy she gained from the second sister experiments. And as the energy enveloped her, in both of her sides, perfect clones appeared.

This change of events made the leader of Hollow Shades change his demeanor to an even darker one. Kristen then pointed a talon at Vlad and the two clones advanced, attacking recklessly.

The Count on his part tried to dodge the attacks of the clones, moving from side to side, retreating a few steps and evading each and every attack thrown at him. But even so, one of the short swords hit him.

And nothing happened.

Then Vlad looked closer at the clones and realized they were nothing more than minor illusions to distract him. Now, ignoring the harmless clones and burning with anger, Vlad looked at Kristen, who was now pointing the tip of her dagger to him with a smug look on her face.

• BURN, COUNT OF HOLLOW SHADES! BURN!

From the tip of the dagger, a cone of flames erupted, engulfing the Count inside it. And while the flames raged, Kirsten heard the voice of the Count come loudly from amidst the fire.

• I tried being reasonable with you, I tried talking and only arresting you, but now... - From the point where the Count was supposed to be in the flames, an energy surge reverberated, countering and canceling the spell of fire. When the flames subsided, there was an imposing figure wearing a full suit of dark blue heavy plate armor with the symbol of a new moon engraved in its chest, while smoke was still being exhaled from it. Inside the helmet, Kristen could still see the red of the count eyes – But you just crossed a line you never should have.

Kristen felt the pressure of his power that the count held, and disregarding her orders, chose to flee, flapping her wings as hard as she could. But as she was getting out of the ground, the Count pointed to her and spoke with strength.

• By the light of the moon, I compel you - he spoke firmly - FIGHT ME!

Kirsten stopped and touched the ground once again, her mind clouded by something she couldn't put her finger on. The only thing she knew is that she NEEDED to fight the count. So, she turned to him with her dagger and short sword and advanced.

The helmet the count was wearing disappeared as if it was made of smoke or clouds, and he smiled at the enrage hen, and when she trusted her short sword, Vlad was quick to grab the arms by the base of her talons pulling her to his side and, when she was with her arm stretched, he bit into it.

The hen's eyes widened as the pain spread into her body and her blood spilled into the ground. With all her strength and desperation, she managed to get out of the Count's terrible hold over her arm.

She managed to get some steps far from the count before looking at him and seeing his fang and his muzzle covered with her blood. That sight, mix with his dark-blue armor and the natural darkness of the moon, made her shiver in fear.

Vlad's helmet reappeared in his head.

• How do you feel being in the menu for once, Kirsten, the foal eater? - The fear of Kirsten rose, this pony knew about her past—but we already dragged this far more than I wished. I'm going to finish it now.

The armored Vlad started running towards the injured hen, his right arm and hand stretched, and there, in the palm of his hand, a beautiful and frightening Great Axe appeared from thin air.

Kirsten opened her wings to try to escape again, but she barely had time to react when Vlad hid her with his shoulder, sending her back with unnatural strength. She tried to use her wings to readjust herself midair, but the Count struck again, this time with his great axe in an ascending arc, completely severing Kirsten's left wing clean.

Kirsten screamed in pain with tears falling from her eyes, looking at the more than half of her wing lying on the ground.

• This was for one of Far Reach's wings, now let's see about the other one - The count spoke under his dark helmet.

Kirsten tried to retract her right wing, but she didn't have the strength to do so. The pain she was feeling was so great that she even let her weapon fall to the ground.

It only made the target easy for the Count that, with another strike of his axe, severed her right wing, and then followed with a strike with the head of the axe on the chest of the hen; making her unconscious instantly.

Vlad then looked to the dark sky and smiled, and at that time three figures dressed in dark robes and wearing necklaces with the symbol of a new moon descended, kneeling at him.

• Take this hen to the dungeons and treat her wounds - he spoke casually - she will tell us her secrets and the ones from the dark claw. She wanting it or not.