Canterlot, Present Time
Princess Luna raised the moon as her sister Princess Celestia lowered the sun. The night had begun in Equestria...
...and it could not be a brighter or happier night!
It was cause for great celebration. The invading Storm King had finally been defeated, Canterlot had been saved, old friendships were strengthened, and new friendships from Equestria and beyond had been made.
The conquering heroes came together in celebration; the long delayed Festival of Friendship was in full swing!
The friendship of Twilight Sparkle, Spike, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Applejack, and Fluttershy had grown stronger than ever over the course of their latest adventure.
The Hippogriffs finally came out of hiding after years of living under the sea as seaponies, and started to reestablish themselves as a people thanks to the bravery of Princess Skystar fighting against the Storm King's forces with the ponies.
The scoundrel Capper, a smooth con-cat, and been touched by Rarity's generosity and overcame his selfishness to fight for something larger than himself.
Captain Celaeno and her parrot pirate crew regained their fire, thanks to Rainbow Dash, and lead the charge to liberating Canterlot defeating the Storm King's army.
The Storm King's second in command, Shadow Tempest, had turned on her former master and chose to embrace friendship thanks to Twilight Sparkle's example. She opened up her eyes and embraced the pony way again. She even was okay with trusting them with her real name: Fizzlepop Berrytwist
Twilight encouraged her to not let her broken horn be an impediment, so Tempest provided fireworks to accompany the celebration.
I can see a rainbow
In your tears as they fall on down
I can see your soul grow
Through the pain as they hit the ground
I can see a rainbow
In your tears as the sun comes out
As the sun comes out
Sang the popstar pony Songbird Serenade as the fireworks lit up the night sky, while ponies played games, danced, ate, drank, and made merry.
The Festival of Friendship was the party of year and it brought about a great peace through the city and it's citizens.
But little did they know that their peace was not to last.
This was about to become a night that would threaten to destroy their world. The Beginning of The End.
After defeating one great evil, none of them were not prepared for a much worse one to come.
Later on that night, as the party finally began to die down, everypony went to their homes and hotels to finally lay down for sleep.
All the citizens of Canterlot and across Equestria settled in for the night, and everything was at peace.
Briefly.
The Mane 6 including their new friend Starlight Glimmer; formerly an enemy, but now Twilight's second student in the magic of friendship (the first being Sunset Shimmer who currently lived in the human world) all settled down in their suites in the Canterlot Castle for the night.
She had even managed to get a room reserved for Tempest Shadow and Grubber who were both granted suites in the castle for the night. They, actually just Tempest, protested against such charity believing that they didn't deserve it after everything they did.
The royals and the main six would not take no for an answer, and Grubber giving her puppy dog eyes, finally pushed her to accept their generosity.
When everypony laid down to sleep, that is when the enemy decided to make her first move.
All was calm and still until a mysterious shadow slid it's way through the dark and pristine halls of the Canterlot Castle. Quickly and silently, Guards went down one by one, dead, as the shadow moved across the walls. A trail of blood seeping from the corpses necks began to collect on the floor.
The shadow stopped for a brief moment to become corporeal and licked it's lips and fangs clean of the guards' blood. Delicious, but not the blood she was out for.
The shadow turned into mist and proceeded towards it's intended prey.
After peeking through several bedrooms, the mist found it's intended prey: Starlight Glimmer.
The mist entered effortlessly into the room of Starlight Glimmer. The pastel purple pony slept peacefully, unaware of the bloodthristy intruder in her room. The mist transformed into its corporeal form...Chrysalis the former Queen of the changelings! Her elongated fangs bared and ready to bite!
I will finally have my revenge for you taking my hive away from me. I have finally conceived a revenge terrible enough to exact on you. I will feast on your blood, and then all of Equestria will soon follow. Everything that happens from this point on is all you fault! Chrysalis monologued internally before striking.
Her fangs were about to sink into the unicorn's neck until...
"CHRYSALIS!" A voice shouted out loud accompanied by an intense magic blast interrupted Chrysalis's attempted feasting.
Starlight quickly awoke from the sudden noise, with hazy eyes she took in the scene before her.
Against the wall was a transformed Chrysalis. She now looks paler and almost sickly. The parts of her body were green and dark cerulean were now varying shades of red and crimson, roughly the color of blood. Her fangs longer and more deadly than before. She was not the same changeling as she was before. She was now a vampire.
Princess Luna was in the doorway, angry and ready for battle. Her horn smoking from the blast.
Chrysalis hissed and fled out the window...
...and then quickly reappeared behind Princess Luna!
The vampire changeling threw the lunar princess and herself out the window. Luna wrestled herself free from the monster's grip in midair, and retaliated with more magic blasts.
Princess Celestia joined in on the fight, using her magic to create daylight for a few minutes, banishing the vampire changeling away from the air.
"Thank you sister. I couldn't have beaten Chrysalis by myself." Luna spoke in sincere gratitude, after shielding her eyes from the intense light.
"Of course sister. I wouldn't leave you alone to defend yourself like that." Celestia responded. Love and truth spoken in every word.
Not realizing that their enemy transformed into a shadow among the buildings, Chrysalis looked on as the royal sisters congratulated each other on beating the rogue changeling.
Adorable. They think they've actually beaten me. Not this time. Never again.
Chrysalis re-emerged, attacked Celestia from behind and the battle was on again.
The battle was intense, taking the three fighting monarchs to the skies and down to the Earth, zooming through the city, and back into the castle breaking into a room that was hidden by a wall, now demolished and open for all to see.
The battle came to a stand still, when all three opponents stood in a room that was unknown to the vampire changeling and the lunar princess. The solar princess knew this room very well, which is why it was kept hidden from everypony.
The room itself was bare save for the numerous cobwebs and the magic mirror in the corner which was similar to the one that Twilight Sparkle and Spike used to travel to the human world and the "Reflections" universe; one that was home to Princess Celestia's lover, the good King Sombra.
This mirror was unknown to Luna, but very much known to Celestia, who hoped to keep that mirror a secret from everypony.
Chrysalis could clearly see the look of worry on Celestia's face, quickly deducing that it wasn't for Luna's safety or her own, it was finding that magic mirror. An evil grin crossed her face, figuring that what lay on the other side of that mirror must a dangerous secret that the solar princess must want hidden away from the world.
Chrysalis slowly backed away, feigning defeat. Only to suddenly grab Princess Celestia and jumped straight into the mirror with the solar princess as her prisoner, regardless of what lay on the other side or what danger there was in doing so.
"No!" Celestia and Luna cried out simultaneously.
Princess Luna charged after the Changeling Queen through the Magic Mirror. Running through the mirror to an unknown destination that laid on the other end the safety of her sister was her only concern.
Twilight, Tempest, and Princess Cadence found the three monarchs in that mysterious room, but weren't there in time to stop them. They witnessed all three of them go through the mirror.
Tempest and Twilight were about to pursue the two sisters on the other side of the mirror, but were held back by the glow of Cadence's magic.
"Cadence, let us go! We must save Luna and Celestia!" Twilight yelled in protest, trying in vain to free herself from her sister-in law's magical grip.
It was Cadence's turn to yell some sense into her sister-in-law "Twilight, stop! We don't know what lays on the other side of that mirror. What good will we do just charging in without a plan? Even you know better than to go charging into trouble headfirst!"
"I hate to admit it, but the Love Princess is correct. It would be more imperative for us to have a plan before charging into battle unprepared." Tempest interjected, trying be the voice of reason to the friendship princess.
As much as Twilight wanted to argue with her friends, she knew that they were both right. Feeling defeated and helpless for a brief moment, Twilight prayed to whatever deities that might be listening out there to protect Luna and Celestia and bring them home safely.
The long night had begun in Equestria...
...and it couldn't have been a bleaker or darker night.
Author's Note
If there was a theme song to be interested here I think it would be combination of remixed My Little Pony theme from the first Equestria Girls film and the the first 2:04 minutes of the End Credits music from Van Helsing
Please check out this blog for all the behind the scenes info as the story progresses.
Vatican City, 1891
Another night was beginning as the sun set on the edges of Vatican City, the seat of the Roman Catholic Church and one of the many headquarters for the Knights of the Holy Order; a secret multi-religious order that fights the great evils of the world, unknown to the knowledge of the rest of mankind.
Their best knight in their righteous cause is Gabriel Van Helsing. Dressed in his long black duster and wide brimmed black fedora, his gatling crossbow strapped to his back, he walked atop the rooftops of Vatican City patrolling the city and taking in the quiet and peaceful scenery. He occasionally took time to caress the sliver cross that hanged around his neck; a cross that used to belong to the late Princess Anna Valerious.
Three years ago when Van Helsing, and his loyal friend and assistant Friar Carl, were sent to help Princess Anna Valerious vanquish the evil Count Vladislaus Dracula; lifting a millennia old bar from the Valerious bloodline where none of the souls of their ancestors or descendants would enter into the Kingdom of Heaven until Dracula, an estranged ancestor who became a vampire, an unholy creature of evil and darkness, was wiped off the face of the earth once and for all. Van Helsing and Friar Carl, aided Princess Anna in her war against her evil ancestor and was defeated; but with not without great cost. Princess Anna Valerious had been murdered by a werewolf after Van Helsing killed Dracula by driving a silver stake though his heart.
At least that was the version that was told in the Order's official archive reports and to any who asked about the story in person. In truth, Van Helsing had been bitten by a werewolf, and killed Dracula after he became a werewolf himself. When Princess Anna cured him from the curse of the werewolf, with an antidote created by Dracula himself, Van Helsing accidentally killed her in the process as the antidote was jabbed into his side. Gabriel and Carl agreed the truth of Dracula's defeat and the monster hunter's brief time as a werewolf as a secret between themselves.
Their mission had been completed, Dracula was destroyed, and the entire Valerious bloodline finally had achieved eternal salvation in Heaven, including Anna.
Despite the good that had been accomplished, he still mourned for her and what could have been between them. Never mind, she is at peace now. he often reminded himself. Though he mourned for her, and his unfortunate role in her death, that mission had given him a new sense of meaning and purpose for his mission; to save God's people and destroy evil wherever it hides.
Van Helsing strolled slowly along the rooftops enjoying the peace and quiet...until a scream pierced the night.
"Time to get back to work." he said to himself as made his way down from the rooftops, and on to the cobblestones below. The hunt was on again.
Walking through the cobblestone street, Van Helsing located the source of the scream and saw a young nun praying and sobbing over four dead civilians. All four men had their necks chewed out and their blood poured out all over the cobblestone street.
Van Helsing knelt down and examined the bite marks on the three victims. Vampires. No question about it. Van Helsing thought to himself.
Van Helsing made the Sign of the Cross over himself and over the four men taking a moment to pray for their souls.
He then turned to the crowd gathering by him. "Did any of you see who, or what killed these men?" he asked. The crowd gave out multiple denials. He then turned to the frightened nun. "Sister, did you see who or what killed these men?" The nun finally broke her silence; "As I was turning the corner on the last street I saw this dark figure chewing out one of their necks and then it disappeared when it saw me." She whimpered in fear continually crossing herself to calm herself of her trauma.
Van Helsing took what little information he had into consideration. "Thank you Sister. Now go somewhere safe while I investigate this." The Sister did what she was told and left. He then turned to the crowd "The rest of you, call the proper authorities and go home". The crowd did as there were told.
After the authorities had marked the crime scene and collected the bodies, Van Helsing was on the hunt again. Readying his gatling crossbow he proceeded to investigate the darkened streets of Vatican City, since he could detect his prey's presence nearby.
Turning through several dark alleyways and streets, he found nothing. He was one of the few humans who could actually see in the dark as plainly as the light, and sense the presence of evil, but his search was proving fruitless. Finally, he sensed something as he approached another dark alley and saw something shuffling among the garbage. He could see the figure hiding itself in the shadows. Such deception would easily fool any other man, but not Van Helsing.
Van Helsing could sense great evil and darkness coming from the shadows. He readied his loaded crossbow, preparing to attack.
"It is no use hiding. I can sense you and I know that you are responsible for those murders. Surrender now!" he called out to his prey. The shadow did nothing, but shuffle further into the darkness.
Van Helsing stepped closer, and the creature's eyes snapped wide open and attacked with a great lunge. Van Helsing fired a few arrows before being thrown back by the creature. The opposing attacks managed to throw both opponents off balance. Within that moment Van Helsing was able to get a good look at the creature he was fighting.
The creature had a feminine figure with gray/black skin, bloodstained crimson colored hair, large insectoid eyes, long fangs and tusks with fresh blood on them, a large horn sticking out of it's forehead, and had large translucent insect-like wings. The creature looked liked one of Dracula's brides, only blacker and more insect-like. Most importantly, the creature gave off an unholy presence of unbridled evil.
This creature is clearly demonic and must destroyed immediately Van Helsing thought to himself.
The creature hissed and growled loudly and menacingly at Van Helsing, clearly recognizing that he was it's enemy.
Van Helsing fired upon his enemy, and his crossbow's bolts would have successfully hit the beast had it not been for another figure entering the battle.
Swooping in out of nowhere, was another figure who came to his aid. The new figure quickly took the evil creature away from Van Helsing, and put up a fight with the evil creature up in the air.
Van Helsing got a good look at the new figure that came to his aid. This one too had a feminine figure, but she seemed to be more pure. She to had wings coming out of her back, but these looked more avian. Her hair looked it had been made of stars, and wore a tiara. She looked like an angel, but dressed like an ancient Greek goddess. The rest of her was human, save for the large horn that protruded from her forehead.
The two opposing creatures fought each other in midair, exchanging magical laser blasts, punches and kicks. They took the fight across the skyline of Vatican City, and Van Helsing climbed to the rooftops in hot pursuit.
Van Helsing chased after them across the rooftops of the city. All the while he reloaded his crossbow with a new special type of ammunition developed by Friar Carl after the Transylvania assignment; Holy Water arrows. Ever since Friar Carl witnessed Van Helsing vanquish one of Dracula's brides by immersing the crossbow in Holy Water, it had inspired him to create a special kind of arrow that had a container of Holy Water in the center. Unlike the regular wooden arrows, the Holy Water arrows were much thicker and bulkier and thus were made in much less supply than the wooden arrows. Ammunition was limited so thus, Van Helsing had to be extra careful with how many shots he fired. His aim with the crossbow had significantly improved since Transylvania.
Taking the first opportunity he had, when saw a brief pause in the fight was coming to a standstill between the two opposing creatures, Van Helsing fired one Holy Water arrow at them, separating one from the other.
Both the "angel" and the "vampire" had different reactions to being hit by Holy Water. The vampire felt like the Holy Water was eating away at her; Her body was feeling weaker, burning and sizzling since she was filled only demonic emptiness. In contrast, the "angel" felt the Holy Water replenishing and rejuvenating her, feeling stronger than before.
However, when the "angel" tired to fire back at the "vampire", and the "vampire" the same, but neither was able to do it.
The "vampire" tried to fly away from the city but was instantly stopped by the many Crosses which adorned nearly every roof in the city. Upon gazing at the Cross, she felt a strange emotion she only thought herself immune to: paralyzing terror. She thought herself a creature that was incapable of feeling fear and could inflict fear very well upon her enemies.
Yet, here she was being cornered by the many Crosses on the rooftops of Vatican City; and terrified by the sight of all of them.
She was taken out of her stupor by a shot from Van Helsing who resorted to using his shot gun. One accurate shot to her shoulder and the "vampire" yelled in pain from the bullet, and flew away in the night sky, despite the searing pain coming from her attacker's weapons and the city.
The "angel" on the other hand looked upon all the Crosses in the city and felt they were protecting her, giving strength to her soul, and she felt at peace even in the heat of this battle.
She was about to pursue the "vampire", but Van Helsing shot several tranquilizer darts from his blow gun at her and she was out cold instantly. The "angel" fell from the sky and he ran to catch her before she hit the cobblestone road below.
Van Helsing caught her, and laid her down gently on the rooftop where he stood. He overlooked her body, simultaneously taking in her beauty and her unusual form. He did not know what she was, but he could sense that she was not an enemy.
He need more information, but he could only get it once she was awake.
Van Helsing lifted her on his back, and proceeded to make his way back to the Vatican.
The Order will be surprised to see that I brought back a prisoner alive. For once. He mused to himself along the way.
Author's Note
All the weapons of Van Helsing (especially the tojo blades and the gatling crossbow) are high on my "most wanted movie props/weapons" list.
