Scootaloo and the School of Ghouls

A second after teleporting, the two appeared in a lonely tower at what appeared to be the far end of the school, Scootaloo having felt as if nothing had happened at all. It was a sparse, drafty place. Obviously, no effort had been taken to decorate this area of the formally deserted castle. And that begged the question: why were they there?

"Follow me, Scootaloo. My teleport was off by a small margin..." Twilight grumbled, leading her towards a set of stairs that twisted down the length of it.

Now that she thought of it, though: this wasn't necessarily a bad thing. Being with the undead version of Twilight alone would give her the chance to ask a few questions...

"Um... Ms. Soulshard..." Scootaloo began, glancing at her curiously.

"Yes, Scootaloo?"

"I was just wondering..." she continued. "Who exactly was Artharius of Winter?"

Twilight paused in her steps at that. She turned about, lowering two eyebrows.

"Scootaloo... about my brother," she said slowly. "I... probably should have said something earlier, I'm sorry. But whatever he said to you… don't even worry about it. Just disregard it."

Scootaloo raised a hoof. "B-But he threatened to-"

"My brother threatens to do a lot of things. He was probably just trying to scare you, though I didn’t realize it at the time," Twilight sighed. "Remember that sword we were arguing about?"

Scootaloo gave a curt nod. "Yeah, you said it was doing something to him..."

"I think it was," Twilight said, her eyes narrowing. "You see, Shadowed has gained quite a few rivals, and enemies, during his long military career..."

It took all the willpower in the world for Scootaloo to refrain from saying, 'And he seems like such a nice guy.'

"I think this whole 'Ghoul Civil War', as he likes calling it, has presented an opportunity for one of those former enemies to get back at him."

"How so?" Scootaloo said, quirking an eyebrow.

"Think of it, Scootaloo..." Twilight said. "Give a more... foolish soldier a powerful sword, tell them it'll make him or her invincible, and what do you think he or she is going to do?"

Scootaloo thought for a second, before saying, "They'll try to play the hero... or maybe try to show how big and bad they are... by... taking out the most powerful ghoul nearby? The one commanding the opposing army?" Her eyes widened. "And you think that's what happened?"

"It's a theory," Twilight said whimsically. "But occasionally my theories have proven to be... spot-on. I believe the sword has been enchanted to create stress, and therefore paranoia in whoever wields it... and an attachment to them. Shadowed would have been attracted to it by its other properties, and over time, his career would be ruined by self-sabotage. And because of the attachment, he wouldn't want to let the sword go even if he suspected it had to do with his sudden incompetence."

"Wouldn't Shadowed try to make sure the sword was safe, though?"

Twilight merely chuckled. "No, I don't believe so. Such enchantments are somewhat unheard of. Whoever did it would have to have access to powerful magic. I only knew of it because I am, as you know, well versed in the magical arts." She then shot Scootaloo a wide smile. "But there's nothing to worry about now. I'm sure he'll be alright now that the sword is parted from him."

Scootaloo smiled back at her. "I hope so... I'd hate to be fighting with my own brother..."

Twilight’s smile didn't falter, and a second later, she began to trot down the stairs once again. "The Slendermare was right to place you in Noctus, you know. One of the qualities of it is empathy... something many ghouls lack these days, as evidenced by what happened during Nightmare Night."

"Thanks, Twi," Scootaloo said appreciatively.

"So much for Ms. Soulshard," she chuckled to herself.

"Oh, sorry..."

"Heh. No worries. You may call me what you wish."

Feeling encouraged, Scootaloo continued on with, "But, still... I was wondering. Just out of curiosity... if you could tell me more about Artharius…"

"Artharius..." Twilight sighed, still trotting along. "Scootaloo, that was before my time. In the early, perhaps primordial days you could call them, of the Nightmare Realm."

"So you don't know anything?"

"Well... I do know a few things," Twilight chuckled. "I am, as Rainbow loves calling me, an 'egghead' after all." She then paused, as if gathering her thoughts, before saying, "Artharius was... an interesting specimen. He was not a ghoul, nor a pony, nor even an Eldritch Abomination such as Blackblood. He was... something different. Unique. And the last of whatever he was."

"No wonder he was so lonely..." Scootaloo said.

"More than you could possibly imagine..." Twilight said breathily. "They say he was brought into Null Space from his own world by an Elder God named Abholos, a creature of pure malevolence, after Abholos ravaged it. Abholos was fond of keeping... trophies."

"Another world... like an alien world? Was he an alien?"

"You could say that..." Twilight said. "It was not a holiday world, mind you, but a 'primary', as they are called, such as the 'real' world where you come from." She took a deep breath. "I can't tell you much about it, though... they say it pained Artharius to speak of it..."

"What happened to Abholos, though?" Scootaloo asked in a worried tone.

"He's still in Null Space," Twilight said, before adding in a comforting voice, "But he's no threat to Equestria or the Nightmare Realm. He wouldn't dare mess with Princess Celestia or Nightmare Moon. Their powers seem to be able to harm Eldritch Abominations to a great degree."

Scootaloo sighed in relief.

"Artharius served under him for many, many years. Millions, perhaps. Trapped in Null Space doing his bidding... but eventually, either he was set free or found a way to break Abholos’ hold over him, and he was offered amnesty by your father.”

"How did my father know he wasn't going to try to pull anything here, though?" Scootaloo asked. "If he wasn't technically an Eldritch Abomination..."

"So many questions," Twilight chuckled. "But not foolish ones, I may add. And the answer to that is simple: your father was a great empath, like most vampires are. And though he couldn't read the mind of Artharius, he could sense that Artharius had no ill-will for the Nightmare Realm."

"But he did!" Scootaloo protested. "I thought Artharius tried to take over!"

"It's... complicated," Twilight said in a sad tone. "He... loved the Nightmare Realm. He loved that they accepted him here. But he loved it too much. They say that he tried to take over because he believed Nightmare Moon... was not 'seeing the coming storm'. What that storm was appeared to be an invasion from Null Space from one of the Old Gods, even though Nightmare Moon, at least in theory, should have easily been able to thwart it."

"So he thought he'd be a better leader?"

"No, I don't think so," Twilight said, shaking her head. "Nightmare Moon often spoke of him as a sympathetic soul. He simply believed he needed to put himself in a position where he could make the Nightmare Realm fully battle-ready."

"But why start a massive civil war?!" Scootaloo squeaked, lowering her eyebrows.

"It wasn't intended to be. It was intended to be a quick coup... but unfortunately, that little spark created a raging fire. And well, you know the rest..."

"And noghoul knows what happened between him and my father..." Scootaloo sighed, before her eyes widened. "But Shadowed said that my father was tainted by him somehow!"

Twilight paused at that, before continuing, in a grunt, with,

"I honestly have no idea how Shadowed would know that. He was probably making guesses-"

"No, he said he got the information from Nightmare Moon herself!"

Twilight halted. She turned to Scootaloo. There was a look on her eyes of pure confusion. For a moment, all that could be heard was ghostly winds beating upon the tower wall.

"I... I don't know what to say," she said. "I'll have to talk to him about this..." And her tone returned to its usual perky self. "But anyway, let's keep going, Scootaloo. At the bottom of his tower is where it lies..."

"Alright..."

And eventually, they reached it. A lonely, circular room occupied only by a blue, glowing orb hovering a few feet off the floor.

It was an eerie thing, to be honest, though it reminded her somewhat of a crystal ball. A strange humming noise emanated from it, joining in with Twilight and Scootaloo's hoofsteps and the howls of the wind outside.

"I wonder what it would take to convince Rainbow to pull over-time today," Twilight muttered. "A fiercer storm than usual is blowing over the Southern Pass..."

"She really likes twinkees," Scootaloo stated.

Twilight looked baffled. Slowly, she spelled out, "Twin-kees?"

"It's uh... a snack in Equestria," Scootaloo simpered. "Dunno why I even brought it up..."

Twilight gave a smirk. "Actually, this might work out well for a demonstration."

She then led Scootaloo to the orb, before gesturing at it, smiling. "This little device has been a pet project of mine for a month or so. I was hoping to use it to contact you with, but... only with the help of your side's Twilight was I able to actually make it work." In an excited, nearly Pinkie Pie tone she continued with, "We were able to make a an infusion into the primary fifth dimension with the help of a magically created, quantum singularit-"

Scootaloo blinked.

"Uh... we were able to make a small tunnel between universes," Twilight coughed apologetically. "Only big enough to allow messages to get through."

"So... it's like a radio?"

"Exactly!" Twilight chirped. "It's called a Proloquor Orb. Not of my own design, of course, I've merely modified it for cross-dimensional usage. All you need to do is say, 'volo contact' and then a name and the possible location of the pony you wish to speak to."

"What if there's two people with the same name, though? Or what if I don't know where they are..."

"Then two people will be given the option of wishing to 'pick up' the transmission," Twilight stated. "But everyghoul in Necropolis seemed to have unique names, at least from what I remember, so I assume the same will be true in Equestria."

"Heh, that's true,” Scootaloo nodded. “Names were pretty much one-of-a-kind in Ponyville..."

Twilight smiled brightly at her again, before saying, "And if you don't know where they are, then simply say a name. Just trust me, it'll work. Allow me to demonstrate!" She then cleared her throat before saying, "Volo Contact Pinkie Pie, Ponyville."

There was a pause, before the face of Pinkie appeared in the orb. Scootaloo's eyes widened.

"Hiiiiiiiya Lichy Twilight! Hi Scootaloo!" she chirped.

"Hi Pinkie!"

“Pinkie! Awesome to see you!” Scootaloo beamed.

"You too, but woah- you look all ghostly!" she said, glancing at something in front of her. "Are you ghosts now or something? Ooooo, that's spooky."

"Er," Twilight coughed. "We're not actually there. Didn't you get the 'accept Proloquor Call' message?"

"Ooooh, so that's what that voice in my brain was! Hard to tell with all the other voices in there," she chirped.

Scootaloo's mouth parted in horror.

"So... it's like your there, but you’re not?" she continued.

"Sure, something like that," Twilight shrugged. "Anyway, I was wondering... do you know how to make Twinkees?"

"Of course!" Pinkie chuckled. "What kind of sweet maker would I be if I couldn't?"

"Mind if I get the recipe?" Twilight smiled, whipping out a quill and parchment from seemingly nowhere.

"Sure! Why not? Is it for Rainbow? She always loved those things!"

“Mmhmm… yeah, it’s for a bribe, to be honest.”

“Hehe, well then, I can relate,” Pinkie winked. “Here, let me give it to you…”

And so Pinkie explained the recipe, and after a bit of chat, the call ended.

"And that's how it works," Twilight smiled at Scootaloo, before something seemingly racked her memory. "Oh shoot, you're probably late for your next class, aren't you?"

Scootaloo nodded. "Yeah, but it's alrigh-"

"Missing class is not alright!" Twilight grunted. "Hang on! Let's get you there! What is it?!"

"It's uh... Basics of Mind Control."

"Ahhh, with Nosferatu?” Twilight nodded. “Gotcha. Hang tight!"

And the two blinked away, leaving the orb to sit in the lonely tower. A second later, they popped back into reality outside a classroom in an area of the school Scootaloo had never seen.

"I'm so sorry, I can't believe I made you late!" Twilight said, her ears sagging.

"Heh, seriously Ms. Soulshard, it's no big-"

She then began to scooch Scootaloo towards the door. "Hurry! You don't want to miss it!"

"Wait! Twi... how do I get back to the orb?"

"There's a teleport orb in the main hall that'll take you near it. The one labeled ‘Northern Tower.’ It’ll take you to where we teleported. But... try to keep it between you and your mortal friends, alright?" she winked. "I might need to use it a bit more often sometime soon."

"My lips are sealed," Scootaloo chirped. "I'll see you later, Ms. Soulshard."

"Bye, Scootaloo!" And in a bit of a foreboding tone, she added, "And good luck..."

Scootaloo then entered the class on her own.

Like with Flutterfright's class, it took place in a darkly lit room, cram-packed with vampires. However, a very menacing looking one stood at the front of class, a far cry from the goofy 'Count' and timid Flutterfright. At her sight, he suddenly halted in his lecture.

"My oh my... if it isn't the famous Scootaloo Wintercall," he said in a snide tone. "My apologies if my class is keeping you from autograph signing..."

"S-Sorry," Scootaloo squeaked. "I didn't mean to- I was… doing something with Ms. Soulshard."

"You were... 'doing something' with her," he said, lifting an eyebrow. "You aren't just trying to make excuses, are you? If I were to ask her..."

"I'm telling the truth!" Scootaloo cried.

He gave pause, before continuing with,

"Either way... I still do not tolerate tardiness. But I wouldn't want to upset your fans by throwing you out, would I?" he growled. "Take a seat..."

There were a few chuckles from Mortus vampires as she nervously took to a desk.

"Now... where was I?" he said. "Ah yes... as I was saying, while there are many advantages of vampirism, one of the most prominent... and useful tools in your arsenal is the ability to bend minds to your whim. It is an intoxicating power... and one that can make slaves out of anyone you choose, once you learn how to hone your skill, that is. Your enemies will tremble beneath your hooves, and your allies... will learn never to challenge you."

Talk about a ghoul on a power trip..., Scootaloo thought.

'Listens to him... this is ones of the most useful skills there are!' her instincts growled.

"It is also a power that can be used, and most effectively, I may add, in order to procure fresh blood during feeding expeditions to the mortal world..."

Vlad Seed quickly raised a hoof.

"Yes...?"

"But... but I thought that the portal to the other world is open only on Nightmare Night!"

"Such ignorance," Nosferatu groaned. "Though I've learned to expect that from Noctus students. My dear, do you honestly believe Nightmare Moon is going to be able to enforce the law withholding vampires from true feeding for long?"

"Well... I don't know…" she said.

Nosferatu gave a dark chuckle. "Only twenty years ago, there were five great feeding expeditions a cycle. But it was given up in favor of keeping the portal open longer on Nightmare Night. Now, Nightmare Moon expects us to simply drink blood out of the tap, or from Edeathstria's rivers like sickly animals. But that is... nowhere near as good. And feeding off a fellow ghoul is not the same as a mortal pony... One day, and one day soon, we will be allowed to feed on the other side once again... and when that day comes, you will need to be ready."

"What about Princess Luna, though!" Scootaloo quickly blurted out.

Immediately, she would regret doing so.

"My dear Wintercall," Nosferatu growled. "I know you must be yearning for attention, but ghouls in this class raise their hooves..."

Scootaloo narrowed her eyes as the Mortus students gave another series of chuckles.

"Ten points from Noctus," Nosferatu grunted.

"What?!"

Nosferatu returned the glare. "Twenty... points from Noctus."

Scootaloo wanted to protest further, but she quickly snapped her mouth shut, anger boiling in her chest.

"Even if it was brought up in a juvenile way," Nosferatu continued. "Our young celebrity does make a good point. Princess Luna has explicitly stated that vampires are not to be feeding in Equestria anymore without enduring her wrath..."

A smile slowly crept over his features.

"But... us vampires have a way of blending in with her night... so what she doesn't know won't hurt her. But I digress..." He paused for a moment, before continuing with, "Now, there are many aspects to mind control. Simply completely controlling another individual is what most think it's all about, but there are much more simple uses you can use your powers for without going... 'full throttle', you could say. Who here can tell me what part of the brain controls vision?"

☼☼☼

The rest of Scootaloo's classes went somewhat uneventfully, though she only had two others. At around five, she sighed heavily in relief, able to enjoy the comforts of Noctus' common room. Though questions were now biting at her like annoying flies she couldn’t swat.

"SPAAAAAAACE! LOOK AT ALL THE SPACE-"

"Ugh, shut up, will you?!" Sweetie cried at the 'Space Ghost'. "I'm trying to have a conversation here!"

"Sorry," it peeped. "Space space space space space," it continued whispering, floating away to another section of the commons.

Sweetie rolled her eyes. "Anyway, what were you saying, Scootaloo?"

"Nosferatu," she hissed. "He's out to get me! I swear!"

"Easy, sugar," Apple Bloom chuckled. "You've been under a lot of stress lately. Are you sure he ain't just a prick in-"

Scootaloo quickly shook her head. "No, I'm positive. He kept talking to me as if I were like... like a sponge soaking in all the fame I'm getting! And I hate being a celebrity!"

"Probably just an envious bloke," Pipsqueak huffed. "Bit immature for an older vampire, isn't he?"

"Very old... like one of the oldest I think," Scootaloo gulped.

"Nosferatu though... isn't the name of a movie?" Apple Bloom added

"Well, if he's that old, and if he's been to our side of the fence a few times before..." Sweetie postured, her eyes suddenly widening. "It's very possible he's known in legend in the real world. And that the movie was based off them. In fact, remember that one scary story session thing Rainbow did with us a year or so back? About that ghost castle in the Everfree Forest, you know, like a castle that's there one minute and gone the next? She said that in that castle lived a powerful vampire named Nosferetu. Creepy, huh?"

"Etu, though?" Scootaloo said, quirking an eyebrow.

"The name must have been smeared through history," Sweetie said.

“Huh... then it might have been him!” Scootaloo gasped.

"Either way, I'd say it's best to let by-gons be by-gons, lass," Pipbossa said. "Pipsqueak's right. He’s probably just jealous or somethin'. Don't let him get to ya."

"Mph, I think he’s going to use me as a punching bag no matter what I do," Scootaloo huffed, before glancing back down at her open textbook titled The Beasts of Everdead.

For many years, the dreaded Hug Monster of Northern Everdead was, by many, believed to be yet another creature that migrated from Null Space to the Nightmare Realm. However, only after an autopsy was finally performed were these theories squelched. This was permitted, of course, after its slaying by one Darksong Shadowbane, the Red and Black Alicorn and most feared creature in all of Edeathstria (he insisted we used his full title). After which, the beast’s origin was determined to be a result of a trans-dimensional accident that occurred between the Nightmare Realm and the mortal world-

At that, Scootaloo could read no more.

"Ugh, I can't believe Rainbow Death of all ghouls gave us so much homework..."

"It's only twenty pages," Sweetie said, lifting an eyebrow while holding a copy of the textbook of her own.

"Twenty too many," she grunted. "I think I need a break..."

Scootaloo then sat up, sighing, before heading to the black hole that was the Noctus Commons’ door.

"Hey? Where are you going?" Pipsqueak called.

"I just need a walk... I've got a lot of things on my mind..." she half-lied.

"Mind if I come with?" Apple Bloom said, smiling.

"I uh... kind of want it to be a private walk," Scootaloo simpered. “No offense.”

Apple Bloom blinked, looking slightly dejected. "Oh, alright then... seeya."

Scootaloo nodded appreciatively, before going through the odd sensation of being of being spaghettified by the black hole that was the Commons' door.

A second later, she popped into the hall near the Noctus commons, still feeling like she was about to puke. However, she quickly shrugged it off before making her way down the hall, the Proloquor Orb on her mind.

"Alright Captain Harness, let's see how much you know about my father..." she whispered.