Sanguine Joy

Chapter 12: Grand Finale

“March!” Greenleaf shouted at the assembled guards. Right after the meeting ended, Greenleaf checked every record he had on the suspect. There were already reports that the suspect hadn’t been seen in days, but it had gone unnoticed due to more pressing matters: actual corpses.

The evidence was stronger than the case against Ignavus, and this time there was no doubt about loyalty of what guards remained in Ponyville. Ten ponies and Corporal Loyalshield were all he had, apparently another unforgivable failure in Scisco’s eyes. ‘You should have maintained respect! If the men do not listen, then it’s the fault of their leader! blah blah blah blah...’ I’d like to see him try!

As insufferable as Scisco was, nopony could doubt his usefulness – it was he who obtained the yellow hair from Rarity, he who confirmed the vampony rumours, and he who got the testimony from Bonbon about the ritual. Still, Greenleaf had never met a more annoying pony.

“Faster, faster! You are slower than a group of snails!” Scisco shouted. He had become increasingly irritable since leaving the barracks, which Greenleaf attributed it to the excitement of finally being on the killer’s trail. Yet, it got worse and worse by the minute. “Are you feeling alright, sir?”

“Of course I’m not, damn it! Your men are too slow! The killer is going to die of old age before we arrive there!” Something about his voice felt off to Greenleaf. A few glances later, he realised that Scisco’s coat was dripping with sweat. “Sir? Maybe you should go see the doctor, sir?”

“To that charlatan? Never!” He looked like he was about to explode. “And why do you care? Do you want to catch the vampony alone, to get all the credit? You have already Bretty much obtained the Sergeant rank, so where the hay are you aiming? You want to make it to a Captain or what?”

The ripple of grumbling from behind told Greenleaf he wasn’t alone in his frustration. Why was Scisco needed anyway? One more pony won’t make any difference, especially when that pony does nothing but undermine morale. “Sir, I’m not sure you should be here–”

“I am your superior, Corporal, and when I say that I’m going, then I’m going!” Scisco replied, his face red as a tomato. Greenleaf shrugged and motioned for his men to move faster.

After a while, Scisco began to tarry, huffing and gasping for air as he slowed. “Why are you in such a hurry, Corporal? I’m sure the killer can wait for a few more minutes. This isn’t a competition, so let’s maintain a reasonable pace.” Half of the guards laughed, while the rest mumbled and groaned.

“Sir, are you absolutely sure you are alright? You don’t seem to be in best health...”

“Nonsense! Keep your nose out of my health and focus on the task.”

“What’s the hold up?” asked a voice behind Greenleaf. Turning around, he saw Twilight smiling at him, seemingly unaware of the grim task ahead. It’s all just a big adventure for her, isn’t it? If anything goes wrong in that house, you’ll be in for a rude awakening.

“He’s the hold up.” Greenleaf jabbed the hoof at Scisco. “He’s obviously not fit for duty, yet he insists on coming with us.”

“I’ll go check on him. I read some medical books – maybe I can find out what’s wrong with him,” Twilight said, trotting over to Scisco and raising her hoof to Scisco’s forehead.

“Don’t you dare touch me!” he said, but Twilight didn’t seem to give his protests any attention.

“He’s burning! With this kind of fever, I doubt he’ll be capable of even walking for long.”

“Nonsense!” Scisco said, collapsing onto a nearby porch. “I just need to... rest for a while.”

“Is he in danger?” Greenleaf asked.

“Well, I don’t know what’s wrong with him, so...”

Greenleaf trotted over to Twilight. “He kept eating some suspicious red stuff the whole yesterday. His mouth smelled like sewage when he was talking to me. Maybe that has something to do with it?”

“What stuff?”

Greenleaf scowled. “Red stuff. If I knew what kind of crap he was eating, I’d tell you, alright?”

Twilight stepped closer Scisco, who was breathing heavily. “Um... sir? Could you tell me what was that you were eating?” He was either ignoring her, or was incapable of reply.

“He kept it in his left pocket,” Greenleaf said.

Twilight found a white wrapper in Scisco’s pocket that still had a thin layer of residue on it. She smelled it and quickly put it away, wrinkling her nose. “It smells like mushrooms mixed with... something foul. I can’t really discern it.”

“Well, what’s wrong with him?”

“I’m still not sure, but let me try something,” she said, scraping out all the remaining paste. It wasn’t much – just a little lump on the tip of Twilight’s hoof that she dropped into his mouth.

“That’s positively disgusting. Now what?” Greenleaf asked.

“If it’s what I think it is, his fever and breathing should get better.”

Greenleaf walked over and pressed his ear on Scisco’s chest. “It sounds the same.”

“Wait for a little longer. It might take a while to take effect.”

Greenleaf kept his ear pressed on Scisco’s chest for about a minute. “Still noth– No, wait. I think it’s getting calmer. It’s not as wheezy anymore.”

“Good,” Twilight said, smiling. “Then it means that he’s suffering from the effects of drug withdrawal.”

“How’s that good? I can’t waste any more time on him. It’s his own fault he’s a junkie, and the killer might be planning his next murder as we speak!”

“Well, now you can just ask somepony to take him to the infirmary.”

“I... oh.” Greenleaf stepped onto the porch and knocked on the door. It took ten bits and a little negotiation to assuage the occupant’s fear of going outside, after which Greenleaf rejoined his men.

“Well then,” Greenleaf said. “Now that we got this over with, maybe we can finally focus on catching the murderer. Men, march!”

———

So you think you can defeat a fully fed, experienced vampony? Don’t make me laugh.

Rarity winced, but continued walking – she could already see the supposed killer’s house. The voice only spoke of how hopeless her situation is; couldn’t it just shut up? Sure, she could just silence it using the spell, but what if the Voice had some important piece of information?

What is it this time?

Well, I just thought that maybe I could talk you out of killing yourself. You know, since what you and those guards are doing is basically a mass suicide.

You overestimate the vampony. It can’t beat eleven guards and two other vamponies!

It can and it will. Stop underestimating vamponies! Just because you and Pinkie Pie are both pathetic weaklings that refuse to feast on blood doesn’t mean that every vampony is.

Rarity scowled. How dare you? Self control is a strength, not a weakness!

I don’t think this particular ‘strength’ is going to help you here. Please, don’t go in there; it’s like asking to be killed!

“We’re here,” Greenleaf announced. “Men, position yourself at every entrance, be it a door or a window, and jump in on my command. Any resistance has to be obliterated!”

I beg you, don’t go in there! I’ll do anything! You want spells? Have them all, just don’t enter that building!

“Miss Rarity?” Greenleaf said, walking towards her and her friends. “I’d like to ask you to stand back; there could be some fighting inside before we restrain the culprit.”

Rarity nodded. “Of course. But should anything go wrong, Pinkie and I would like to help.”

“Oh don’t worry about that,” Greenleaf said, laughing. “I’m sure my men are more than capable of handling this. Two mares would only get under their hooves. Now.” He turned to his men. “Go!”

There was the sound of breaking glass and splintering wood as the guards broke into the house.

Run away. Now.

Why? It seems like everything’s under control.

Do you know what kind of ritual the vampony performed with those bodies? Well, I do! You don’t want to be here after those guards die, you really don’t!

Rarity shifted uncomfortably when shouting and inarticulate screaming reached her ears. “Perhaps we should ask the surrounding towns for reinforcements and withhold the attack until then?”

“Too late for that. Besides, there really is nothing to be afraid of – there are ten trained soldiers apprehending one sneaky, cowardly vampony.”

That cowardly vampony is cutting through his men like they were butter. Run away! Even with all the spells I can provide, we still can’t survive this!

“Maybe we should go in and help them?” Pinkie said when another blood freezing scream emanated from the house.

“Or maybe we should set the house on fire and hope it burns the murderer to death?” Rarity asked, earning a glare from Greenleaf.

“Perhaps they do have problems in there, but I’m not about to burn the house down with my men still inside! Besides, we still have to have a trial with the suspect.”

“They need help. I’m going in,” Twilight said, running towards the entrance.

“You stupid fool! This isn’t some adventure book where everything ends happily – this is reality!” Greenleaf shouted as he went after her, closely followed by both Pinkie Pie and Rarity.

The shouting inside the building got louder as they neared the door, as did the voice inside her head, yelling for her to run away lest she’ll die. She might have considered doing that – the screams of the guards inside told tales about horror and pain – but she couldn’t leave Twilight and Pinkie Pie behind. She wouldn’t fail her friends ever again!

Twilight disappeared into the doorway. A few days ago, Rarity might have done the same thing; they were the bearers of the Elements, the heroes of Equestria. Why should one criminal scare them? Any feelings of ‘immortality’ were beaten to dust after she had been assaulted, but Twilight never experienced that. It was probably just another chance at impressing her mentor, and she was going to grasp that opportunity no matter what.

Inside the house, the ground floor was clear, but the screams came out of the cellar. “Twilight! Don’t you dare go in there!” Rarity yelled.

Pinkie leapt in front of Twilight. “Yeah, Twilight, you’ll get hurt!”.

“Those ponies need our help!” Twilight said, grinding to a halt. “I’m not going to stand idly while they are being killed just because they can’t defend themselves against vampony magic!” She sidestepped Pinkie, disappearing down the staircase with Greenleaf right after her.

“Pinkie, do you think we stand a chance down there?”

“I don’t know, Rarity, but I guess we’re about to find out,” Pinkie said, descending downstairs.

The voice in Rarity’s head was louder than ever, but after a few moments she followed into the cellar nevertheless.

———

Pinkie was greeted by the familiar stench of blood and death. At the bottom of the stairs, Greenleaf and Twilight stood with their mouths open, staring at the unicorn looming over the dead guards arrayed around her.

“I... I...” Greenleaf studied the carnage before him. “I hereby arrest you, Lyra Heartstrings, for numerous accounts of murder and assault! Come peacefully, and the judge might yet find mercy and give you a life sentence instead of an execution.”

“Oh, Detective,” Lyra said with a broadening grin. “Do you really think I’ll go to prison willingly? Why should I? I killed all your men without breaking a sweat! They’ll serve as a delicious meal.”

Twilight’s face turned pale. “Lyra, why? What did those ponies do to you? Why would you want to kill them?”

“And why did you kill so many?” Pinkie asked. “I mean you couldn’t have drunk so much blood; it just wouldn’t fit into your stomach!” Pinkie’s muscles tensed every time Lyra moved – she knew well what a vampony is capable of.

“And how did you kill all those guards on your own? You can’t be that strong,” Rarity said.

Lyra laughed, looking at each of them separately. “I killed those ponies ’cause I was hungry and because it tasted good. As for the remaining questions... I think I can show you how. Come forward!”

From the darkest corners of the room two figures appeared like ghosts from the mist – one yellow-coated, the other red-maned – Bonbon and Rose. They both had fangs glinting between their lips, but while Bonbon smiled and showed her new teeth off, Rose scowled at Lyra and stayed more or less in the shadows. That’s two more friends forever lost.

“Rose, Bonbon,” Rarity said, “you can still do what’s right! Help us defeat Lyra and I’m sure the princesses will forgive you. Lyra’s the one who turned you into the monsters you are now; don’t you want revenge?”

“They’re not monsters,” Lyra said, moving towards Rarity until she stood close enough to touch her. “Being a vampony is a gift! You’re stronger and better in every way. Muscles, agility, magic... all boosted. And ’sides, they couldn’t betray me even if they wanted to. You found the remains of my rituals?” She grinned at Greenleaf.

“What did those rituals do?” he replied, gritting his teeth as he surveyed the corpses of his men.

“Simple – they bound Bonbon and Rose to my will. They have to obey my every command. Look – Rose, go and break that guard’s leg.”

Rose glared at her, but performed the task nevertheless. The crunching of bone was sickening, and it showed in Greenleaf’s expression.

“I believe my demonstration was sufficient?” Lyra said with a sneer.

“But we found three of the bodies mutilated. Who’s the last vampony?” Greenleaf asked.

“I did wonder if you’d notice. Mr. Rich is sleeping the effects of the ritual off. His wealth will be very useful for bribing what remains of the Guard. What, did you think I’m going to run forever? I plan to settle down and replace the Guard with my own. Now that you so kindly removed sergeant Ignavus, there’s a useful post vacant.”

Pinkie’s brow furrowed. This is not the Lyra that I used to know. This Lyra is drunk with power and outright evil! What did the voice do to you?

“Why now?” she asked. Two weeks ago, we were chatting and laughing over the usual nonsense. What changed you so much in those few days?

“’Cause it was only now that I became a vampony,” Lyra said, rolling her eyes. “A few days back, somepony dragged me into a back alley and bit me. I still don’t know who it was, since I was grasped from behind, but I’m sure I’ll stumble upon that vampony sooner or later. And then it will be yet another binding ritual!”

“Why are you telling us all this?” Greenleaf asked.

Lyra laughed again. “Well, there are several reasons, but mostly I like to brag. How about I tell you everything, Corporal? You put so much effort into figuring things out, so let me sate your curiosity.” She took a deep breath and closed her eyes, as if she was reciting a prepared speech. “After I was bitten, Caramel found me lying unconscious in a deserted room – it was there that my inner vampony woke and I killed him. I was weak and horrified by what I did, so I didn’t even drink all the blood. I slit his throat to throw the investigators off track – successfully, it seems. But since I didn’t drink enough, I got hungry again and had to kill yet another pony – some guard that I didn’t even know, who cares. It was much easier that time, and there was this voice that helped me overcome my moral qualms.

“Sadly, or maybe fortunately, Bonbon noticed that I wasn’t acting normally and tracked me there. I found her shaking in fear right behind the corner, too scared to move, the poor thing! I was already fed and didn’t feel like killing my best friend, so I asked my little helper for assistance. She suggested the ritual, so I did it, and then again with Rose – the more the merrier, right? ’Sides, I didn’t really know Cloudchaser and never liked Cherry Berry.

“I was disgusted the first time I did the ritual, but the only other choice I had was killing Bonbon – I couldn’t let her walk away after what she saw. When she was turned and bound, I began to see my full potential – I can actually become somepony with a big ‘S’. I don’t have to keep doing the peon work, I can be the queen!”

Twilight’s eyes widened, and Lyra giggled momentarily.

“Don’t worry, I don’t plan to overthrow the princesses; I’m not that confident. They could vaporise me in an instant, but, who wouldn’t like to govern their own little town of vamponies? I could live the rest of eternity – my helper told me vamponies don’t die of old age – in luxury and be beloved by my kind. It would be a haven for all the outcast vamponies out there. Don’t you see? They deserve a place to call home, and I aim to provide that. ’Sides, what’s so wrong about feeding on ponies? Doesn’t a cat hunt for mice? The strong eat the weak; it’s natural. But I’m getting off track, aren’t I?

“While I was welcoming Rose into our little group, your detective friend – that I, sadly, don’t see here – interrupted me and shot Bonbon in the chest. She was left incapacitated for a whole day! I’m sure she’d love to repay the favour.

“Lastly, we all made a large raid yesterday – like a rite of passage for them. Bonbon took Lemon Hearts, Rose took Minuette, and I took Lemony Gem. While we were at it, we decided to include yet another pony into our society. Mr. Rich was a perfect choice! We then grabbed Crescent Moon for the ritual, and ate Ballad who walked in on us while we were committing the deed – she decided to visit the wrong pony at the wrong time.”

“Wait...” Greenleaf said. “Why would Bonbon tell us about the ritual if she was the one participating in it?”

“To throw you off track, of course,” Bonbon replied. “What? Did you think I can’t speak? I can do whatever I want to as long as it doesn’t break Lyra’s orders.”

Pinkie tilted her head. “Wait, so you aren’t slaves?”

“Of course not. In fact, I see the ritual as a good thing – our kind doesn’t need any guards or soldiers. We can’t break the law and each of us is stronger than any member of the Equestrian Army. Zero crime and zero defence spending – wouldn’t you call such a place a utopia?”

A home. I would call it a home! And I could keep my friends – I’m sure they would all prefer being vamponies to being dead. Rarity already did! I’m sure that together we can persuade them all, and then everything will be like it used to be, only I won’t have to hide anything!

“Lyra,” Rarity said, “am I getting this right that you only turned Bonbon, Rose, and Mr. Rich? Nopony else?”

“Yes, why?” Lyra said, raising her eyebrow.

Oh crud. That can only mean...

“Pinkie Pie!” Rarity roared, turning her horn towards the mare.

“Listen, Rarity,” Pinkie said, receding from her. “I know what you are thinking and it’s probably true, but I can’t remember anything about it, honest! It must have happened while I wasn’t myself. I really didn’t...” Her haunch touched the wall – she couldn’t retreat any further.

“What is this all about?” Twilight asked, moving between them. “Rarity, I’m sure that whatever Pinkie did, it can wait!”

Greenleaf’s forehead bore a pulsating vein, reminding Pinkie of a volcano before eruption. Meanwhile, the vamponies just stared at them, probably interested in what the hay was going on just like everypony else.

Rarity bared her teeth as growled. “No, Twilight, this can’t wait. What I’m about to do is actually long overdue.”

I am so dead.

Rarity shoved Twilight out of the way.

Pinkie could only cry. I won’t hurt her; I won’t! She’s right – not only did I turn her, but I also turned Lyra! All these murders happened because of me! I’m dangerous, and she’s in the right. Besides, we’re all going to die here anyway, so what does it matter who strikes the killing blow?

Rarity’s hooves flew towards Pinkie and... hugged her.

“Huh?”

“Pinkie,” Rarity whispered into her ear, “I forgive you. I know you weren’t yourself when you did those things. It was wrong of me to blame you for Berry’s death – I cast the spell that killed her, not you. And it was Lyra’s actions that killed all those ponies, not yours. Pinkie, you never willingly did anything wrong, so what right do I have to be angry at you? I forgive you and hope that you can forgive yourself too. Now, can you forgive me for my mistakes? I wasn’t under anypony’s control when I killed Berry, and I was fully aware of what I was doing while I was fighting you.”

“Rarity,” Pinkie said, sobbing and smiling. “Of course I forgive you. That’s what friends do after all, right?”

“Yes, Pinkie, that’s what friends do.” Rarity’s eyes welled up.

“I’m really sorry to interrupt you,” Greenleaf said flatly, “but did you both forget we are about to get killed?”

“Actually, Corporal, that’s not the only possible result,” Lyra said. “You see, there was another reason for why I told you all this. We could use somepony of your influence, and you would profit too. With all the vampony skills, you could even make it to a Captain. I could just force you with the ritual, but then you’d probably use every last bit of your free will against me, finding loopholes in my orders and the like. I can’t afford you divulging anything. That would probably mean your death too, but soldier types tend to be... impulsive, having their heads full of ‘Rather dead than without honour’ or similar nonsense. So, will you join us and live a long, comfortable life full of luxury, or will you die?”

“Betray the princesses? Betray Equestria? I will never join you, never!” he screamed, and charged Lyra.

Lyra raised her hoof, waited for him to get near, and struck. The hoof bent the metal of his helmet, pushing its way into his skull. Greenleaf slowly, in cotrast with his previous speed, collapsed on the ground.

“A pity,” Lyra said, looking at the corpse. “Now.” She looked at Pinkie, Rarity and Twilight. “What do I do with you three? And what are you two even doing here?” she said, pointing at Pinkie and Rarity. “I get why he brought such an excellent spell caster like Twilight along, but why did he also bring two completely unimportant, useless civilians?”

“We insisted on going with him,” Rarity said.

“Well that was very stupid of you, unless you wish to either die, or join us.”

We can join? Yes! A home. And I will be able to keep my friends – once they are turned, they’ll understand the urges I had to fight with; they’ll understand that turning Lyra was just an accident. Besides, I’m sure they’ll enjoy all the perks that go with it. Eternal life means we will be able to have eternal fun!

Twilight’s horn flared up with a bright, purple light, but then died down. She tried twice more, but with no more success.

“Trying to teleport away?” Lyra chuckled. “I’m afraid that won’t work. Look at the walls and you’ll see why.”

Pinkie stared at the various stones in the wall, but saw nothing special at first. However, after focusing, the black swirling shapes she thought to be shadows turned out to be complex symbols and strange runes. She couldn’t see whether they were written by blood or just a black chalk and didn’t feel like finding out. Twilight seemed to see them too, as her attempts at teleportation ceased.

“Anyway,” Lyra said, looking back at Pinkie and Rarity. “Decision time. Will you take what the Corporal refused? It’s always better to have willing subjects – the unwilling ones tend to be rather unpleasant after turning. Rose, for example, is sour all the time. Right, Rose?”

“Go to Tartarus.”

“See? While I certainly will have my vampony army, it will be much better to have it full of willing ponies. Decide: if you choose to join, we’ll just turn you, bind you, and welcome you among the higher race. If you don’t, then we’ll turn Twilight here – in her case I’m willing to be very specific about every order I give so that she can’t betray me – and use you two as sacrifices. It’s an easy choice, I think.”

Pinkie glimpsed at Rarity. Her expression was made of stone – a face calm and uninterested, not betraying a single emotion. What if she refuses? I have to convince her!

“Um, can we take a little while to consult each other? Please?” Pinkie asked.

Lyra frowned. “What? Isn’t the correct choice obvious enough? Very well, take a while but be quick; I don’t have the whole day for you three!”

Pinkie quickly leaned towards Rarity, whispering, “What do we do? Accept the deal?”

“Pinkie, I–”

“What are you girls whispering about?” Twilight asked.

“Sorry, Twilight, but this is a private discussion. We’ll fill you in later, don’t worry,” Pinkie said, pushing Twilight aside.

“So, what do you say, Rarity? Join them, right?”

“Pinkie, I can understand your point of view, but it’s skewed,” Rarity said, laying her hoof on Pinkie’s shoulder. “I know that it sounds nice, especially since you had to hide your secret for so many years, but this isn’t the way! I know that I’d probably want to join them too if I had to go through the same ordeal you did, but don’t let your wishes and hopes blind you to the facts.”

“But I don’t see a problem!” Pinkie said, shaking the hoof off her shoulder, “Didn’t you hear Bonbon? They have free will and can do whatever they want to as long as they don’t break the law!”

“Yes, and who will make the law? Besides, just look around the very room you’re standing in! She just killed eleven ponies, and even more before that!”

“Those guards attacked her; she had to defend herself! Also, she was right – we have to feed, it’s a law of nature.”

Rarity gave her a light slap. It didn’t hurt as much as it shocked her – didn’t they just work things out? “Pinkie, wake up! If you can survive without murdering anypony, then so can she! Her inner voice deformed her so much, that she probably even enjoyed killing them! She’s insane! Do you really want to give your future into the hooves of somepony like that? And don’t forget about our friends – are they also weak and deserve to be eaten?”

“No, of course not! I didn’t mean...”

“And where do you think she’ll find the ponies for the sacrifice? She’ll turn half the town, and use the other half for the ritual. Do you really want to see them dead? Do you think she’ll spare the Cakes just because you ask? Everypony will ask her to spare their close ones, so why should your request be of any higher importance? She’ll also need some stable food source – will we have pens full of ponies ready to be bled? Pinkie, if she succeeds, Ponyville will never be the same, and the change will definitely be for the worse. We can’t join her!”

Pinkie looked at the death around her and then at Lyra, who still wore a small smile. “I... I guess you’re right... But what do we do then?”

Rarity checked that Twilight wasn’t listening and pulled Pinkie closer. “Lyra doesn’t know that we are vamponies, so we can use that to our advantage. We’ll say we accept her offer and let them come closer. When they’re close enough, we’ll attack. Remember that even though Rose seems like she’d like to help us, she is still under Lyra’s control and will fight us! Let’s hope that Twilight won’t do anything rash after finding out about us.”

“Shouldn’t we tell her now then?”

“Definitely not! We have no idea what she would do; she could even scream ‘More vamponies! Ahhh!’ or something like that, which would completely ruin any chances on surprising them we had.”

“Well... if you think so...”

“I do. Now let’s get to it!” Rarity said, and loudly cleared her throat. “We have decided to accept your offer.”

“Great!” Lyra positively beamed.

“What?” Twilight said. “You can’t be serious! Is this your idea of ‘filling me in’? I have never... I never...” Her furrowed brow, pressed lips and hard stare substituted the missing words clearly.

“I’m sorry, Twilight,” Rarity said. “Now, I suppose you will want to bite Pinkie and I, Lyra?”

Lyra scratched her chin. “Nah. I think I’ll take Twilight. Bonbon, Rose, turn these two.”

Bonbon approached Rarity, while Rose went for Pinkie. Pinkie waited for the signal, forcing herself not to tremble as Rose approached. “Now, Pinkie!” Rarity shouted when the two vamponies were just a hoofstep away. Pinkie struck Rose right between the eyes with all the strength she could muster and watched her resulting flight through the air.

Meanwhile, Rarity lifted Bonbon up with her magic, sending tendrils of darkness towards her.

Where’s Lyra?

As soon as that thought hit her brain, so did Lyra’s hoof. It had the strength of a flying canon ball and was, by far, more damaging than all of Rarity’s efforts from yesterday combined – the world lost all its colours for a few seconds, leaving everything in darkness, and restored itself only after Pinkie hit the ground. “Wh... Wha...?” She could feel the wetness on her head, but no pain.

“So, two vamponies think they can beat me?” Lyra huffed and looked at Pinkie, her face wry with anger. “Too bad they are so weak! Rose, finish her off; I have to help Bonbon!”

Pinkie’s view was filled with Rose’s broken muzzle. “I’ll make you pay for this!” She then raised her hoof like an executioner raises his axe over Pinkie’s injured head.

“Leave her alone!” Rarity cried and threw Bonbon at Rose, knocking her away from Pinkie. Lyra’s horn flared up, aiming at Rarity – no sooner did Pinkie notice it, than Rarity lit her horn too. Tendrils of darkness began to seep out of both their horns, fighting in the air between them.

Pinkie shakily got on her hooves, afraid that her legs might not support her. She looked at where Bonbon and Rose were lying and saw that while Rose was getting up, Bonbon just lay on the ground, blabbering: “They got into me, Rose. They got into me! Don’t let them get into you.” It was clear what she was talking about – Rarity’s spell. Bonbon’s yellow coat attained a greyish hue and a little cloud of black mist came out of her mouth every time she spoke.

Rose’s face reddened. She looked at Pinkie, gritting her teeth, and started running towards her. I can’t fight her in this state!

She quickly looked at Rarity, but saw that Lyra’s spell was pushing Rarity’s back, threatening to reach her.

Mobilising all her strength, Pinkie ran towards Rose in a rickety gallop. The world was spinning around her and the floor wobbled under her hooves as if she was standing on a ship’s deck, but she continued running nevertheless – this was the only chance she was about to get.

As Rose lifted her hoof to strike, Pinkie let herself collapse. She slid underneath Rose, catching one of her legs and sending her bloodied face towards the floor. Pinkie then quickly ran towards Bonbon, praying to Celestia that Rose can’t get back up too soon.

She grasped Bonbon by the throat and yelled, “Stand back! Stand back or I’ll kill her!”

It was like holding a doll. No defence whatsoever, only incomprehensible mumbling and irregular breathing. Rose stopped dead in her tracks and started slowly circling her. “Once Lyra deals with that bitch, she’ll come here and deal with you.”

“Oh, really?” Pinkie said, a little smile creeping on her face. “Lyra, leave Rarity alone or I’ll kill Bonbon!”

“What the–” Lyra said, looking in her direction. “Rose, how the hay did you let this happen?” Rarity’s spell started to regain ground.

“Go to Tartarus, Lyra! Just tell me what to do.”

Lyra bit her lip for a moment, her eyes jumping from Bonbon to Rose to Pinkie. “Kill her. It will require a lot of effort, but I think I can heal Bonbon afterwards no matter how injured she’ll be.” Lyra refocused on Rarity and saw that it was her who was in danger now. “You’ve got to be kidding me!”

Rose continued her charge, leaving Pinkie no other choice but to fulfill her threats. “I’d like to see how you heal this!” she said, and twisted Bonbon’s head until she heard a crack. She then buried her teeth into Bonbon’s throat and sucked. She didn’t know what a vampony blood will do – she never had the chance to taste it – but thought that if she’s going to die, she’ll die with a full stomach.

The blood tasted... wrong. Completely different from that of a pony. This blood was bitter and tasted like bad eggs, but it also spread the usual warmth through her body at double the speed. The dizziness left her mind like a rising mist, and strength returned to her muscles, which now screamed for some sort of energy release – Rose was a perfect target.

Pinkie threw the lifeless husk away and wiped her mouth. Rose was right before her now, turning around at the last moment and bucking Pinkie with her hind legs. While one of the hooves managed to kick Pinkie into her chest, she managed to stand her ground and catch the second hoof – the power Rose used felt almost laughable now. Pinkie pulled that hoof towards her, making Rose lose stability and fall, and aimed her hoof at Rose’s head.

Pinkie didn’t want to kill Rose – even now, she knew that the sound Bonbon’s neck made when she snapped it will haunt her for the rest of her life. However, Bonbon was different – she openly admitted that she loved killing ponies and, considering the state Rarity’s spell left her in, what Pinkie did was a kill of mercy in her mind rather than anything else. Rose, however... There won’t be any excuses if she kills Rose. But this wasn’t the time to linger on these things.

Rose put an end to these musings when she lashed out and knocked Pinkie’s hind legs from under her. As Pinkie fell, she thrust her front legs downwards to make a hammerblow, but Rose pushed Pinkie’s hoof out of its trajectory hundredths of a second before it landed. Pinkie swung her other leg as they wrestled on the floor, but again she was thwarted, leaving their legs entangled in a test of strength and willpower.

Pinkie rolled herself on top of Rose, using her weigth to keep Rose down and bombarding her with blows, but even with her augmented strength, she could not get any blow past the defenses of a full strength vampony with the hard floor to press against.

“Don’t... you... dare!” Rose said through her clenched teeth after she saw how Pinkie’s head began to fling back. Pinkie then answered in the form of strong headbutt that hit Rose right into her broken muzzle. And then again. And again. And again. She continued until Rose’s hooves fell helplessly on the ground.

I hope she’s just unconscious, otherwise...

“Pinkie! A little hoof over here?” Rarity shouted. Lyra’s spell had gained back everything it lost and was now further than even before the interruption. Pinkie stood up and ran towards Lyra. That is, until her stomach started to feel like something was hammering its way out of there.

She bent over, unable to take another step, and pressed her hooves against her chest as if trying to counter the burning pressure. Then, she felt a large shift in there. While the burning remained, the pressure was gone, and Pinkie knew exactly why – the blood she ate just minutes ago was sent flying out of her mouth like a disgusting red waterfall. She got on her knees as she puked, just like one would vomit those metaphorical bad eggs. The blood wasn’t the only thing that left, however – all the strength that stemmed from it was gone too, making standing up as hard as climbing a mountain.

Meanwhile, Rarity was being pushed back. The only thing that separated her and the spell now was a feeble, thin barrier of darkness that was already showing several cracks. I have to help her! Try as she might, Pinkie wasn’t strong enough to move her hoof, let alone attack Lyra.

“Help!” Rarity cried out, one of the tendrils already moving towards her eye. Then, it stopped. All of the tendrils did, and dissolved into thin air. Pinkie looked at Lyra with her brow furrowed.

Why would she spare Rarity? Did she find a trace of forgiveness and mercy in her heart?

Lyra fell forward on her face, revealing several smoking wounds in her side. Twilight stood behind the dead mare, her cheeks wet with tears and her eyes burning like the fires of Tartarus.

“Twilight...” Rarity started, slowly walking towards her.

“Stand back!” Twilight yelled. “Don’t you dare come any closer! Go to Pinkie Pie and just... just stand there and don’t make any sudden moves!”

Rarity did as she was told and lowered herself, inspecting the wound on Pinkie’s head. “Twilight...”

“How could you?” Twilight said, aiming her horn at them in a threatening manner. “You lied to me, both of you! You are both vamponies and... and you use forbidden magic!”

“Twilight, Pinkie’s wounds seem quite dire...”

“What did you plan to do after killing Lyra? Kill me? Turn me into one of you? Was that why you attacked? To take Lyra’s place as the head of your little ‘society’?”

Rarity’s eyes moistened. “No, Twilight, we are nothing like them!”

“Oh, is that right? Then what did you just do?” Another wave of tears started flowing out of Twilight’s eyes. “I can’t believe that my friends could do something like that! The spell you and Lyra used against each other was the foulest kind of magic I have ever seen! And then Pinkie killed Bonbon in cold blood; she even started feeding on her! Just... why?” Twilight bowed her head, tears splattering on the ground.

“Twilight,” Rarity said, her expression melting. “I am really sorry for not telling you, but there was no other way. What would you do if I told you?”

Twilight’s head shot up and her brow furrowed. “I would have made a plan! If I knew you two were so strong, I know I could have helped you restrain them! Princess Celestia would have helped them and you! But now? You killed them. You took a life and forced me to take one too! I thought we were friends, so why did you make me do something like that?”

“Twilight, please, calm down. First, would you allow me to heal Pinkie Pie? She needs it, and I think she’ll have a lot to say too.”

Twilight stared at the oozing wound on Pinkie’s head, fuming but also biting her lip. “Fine! But if you think you can beat me just because there’s two of you, you’re gravely mistaken!”

“Twilight,” Rarity said as her horn began to weave thin black threads of magic into the injury, “we would never attack you.”

“Even the good magic you use has an evil aura!” Twilight said, looking at the healing process. “And Pinkie didn’t seem to have any problems with attacking Bonbon. Answer me honestly now – was she the first pony you two have killed?”

Rarity bit her lower lip and looked anywhere but at Twilight. “I can honestly say that Bonbon and maybe Rose – I’m not sure if she’s dead or not – was the first pony Pinkie killed as far as I know.”

“And you?”

Rarity looked down at her hooves, frowning. “I can’t say the same about me.”

“Rar...Rarity?” Pinkie said, the feeling returning to her numb hooves.

“Yes, Pinkie?”

“You... you didn’t lie.”

“No, Pinkie,” Rarity said, a small smile briefly appearing on her face. “I don’t lie to my friends.”

“You killed Berry Punch, didn’t you?” Twilight asked. “She’s the only victim Lyra didn’t name.” Her pupils dilated when she saw how Rarity silently nodded. “By Celestia, you really did! How could you? What has she ever done to you?”

“I couldn’t control myself!” Raritry said, tears rolling down her cheeks. “It’s the voice in my head – it told me to use a spell, so I did and... and then Berry died.”

“A voice in your head? Lyra was talking about the same thing! Oh my... you are just like them!”

“No! Remember how I asked you to cast a spell on me? It was because I didn’t want to be its toy.”

Twilight’s eyes narrowed. “And did you use that spell? Did you erase the voice from your head?”

Rarity’s gaze started to wander again. “Well... no. B–but I can do it now! Look!” A faint purple glow enveloped her head for a few seconds, and then it was gone. “See? It’s gone! No more forbidden magic for Rarity.” She gave out an awkward laugh.

Twilight’s weight shifted back of her hind legs and her horn no longer pointed at them, but she still maintained her offensive posture and kept her eyes narrowed. “And Pinkie? She never came to see me about this sort of thing, and... How long have you two been vamponies anyway?”

“Well,” Rarity said, a wide smile plastering itself on her face.

You know you’re off the hook, don’t you?

“I became a vampony on the day Berry died. Pinkie came to my shop at night, attacked me and turned me into one. She was a vampony for... how long?”

“Ten years,” Pinkie said, slowly lifting herself off the ground.

“Ten years? But that means...”

“That means that I was a vampony even before we met. I was a vampony during all the adventures we had, and I was a vampony when we defeated Nightmare Moon. Don’t you see, Twilight? It’s still me, the same old Pinkie Pie!”

Twilight slowly shook her head, looking at Pinkie and the carnage surrounding her. “No, you’re not. The old Pinkie Pie would never break Bonbon’s neck like that. Why, Pinkie Pie? Why did you turn Rarity? Did you turn Lyra too?”

“I don’t know!” Pinkie shouted, her face reddening. “I haven’t heard the voice for ten years, but then it suddenly jumped back into my head and even controlled me!” Pinkie dropped back to the ground, her face regaining its pink colour. “I didn’t even know I was doing something wrong until it was too late. And now they are all dead because of me.” Her eyes began to moisten when she saw that Twilight’s face hadn’t softened in the slightest. “If you think that I caused all this willingly, then you are wrong! Do you think I haven’t asked myself all these things before? I just wanted to move to Ponyville – to make some new friends there – when somepony suddenly jumped at me, and the next thing I know is that I’m a vampony. I just buried it inside me, never telling anypony, and hoped that maybe nopony will notice, that maybe I can live a happy, normal life together with my friends – with you – but then, when I finally lived that life, the Evil Voice came back and destroyed it all!” Pinkie started sobbing, hiding her face behind her hooves.

“Pinkie...” Twilight said, dropping her defensive posture completely. “I’m sorry; I didn’t know... But why did the voice suddenly reappear? What were you doing when it came back?”

Pinkie sniffed. “It... it was on my birthday a few days back. You all wanted to make me a surprise party, but... but I didn’t know! I thought you no longer liked me. I thought you figured out who I am! I have never been so sad in my entire life and th–then, when I felt the worst, the Evil Voice appeared. It took control for a while, but then I woke up back in my room and thought that nothing has happened. But when I returned from the party, I found... I found Caramel lying there, dead. I thought I’d done it! The Evil Voice was stuck in my head ever since then.”

Twilight scratched her chin and furrowed her brow. “So... it appeared when you were really upset... Like some kind of emotional defence? Can you hear it now, Pinkie?”

Pinkie stuck her tongue in the corner of her mouth, stretching her ears to hear even the subtlest of sounds. “Well... No. I can’t. And now that you mention it, I haven’t heard it in a while. Not since I... err... argued with Rarity and realised that it wasn’t me.”

“It’s clear then,” Twilight said. “I now know why you did what you did, and I don’t think that it was your fault. I’ll just cast the same spell Rarity used, and you can get rid of it for good.”

A faint purple glow enveloped Pinkie’s head, digging deep into Pinkie’s mind and dragging the entity to light.

So you found a way to destroy me after all. But are you sure that this is what you really want? With my help, you could take Lyra’s place. You said it yourself that a vampony town would be a bliss. This time it could be you at the helm. You wouldn’t do the things Lyra did and would govern the vamponies in all fairness. You could feed everypony using changelings or... blegh... animals. You wouldn’t even bind them if you didn’t want to! All the ponies in Ponyville would be stronger, faster... better than they are now at the expense of creatures that either seek to harm you, or are too stupid to even understand what you’re doing. The fun would be eternal!

All you have to do is store the spell inside your mind instead of immediately destroying me. It’s not hard, I can tell you how. The spell would prevent me from taking control of you again, so you would truly be free.

Or you can refuse my offer. You can spend the rest of your life lying to everypony but the chosen few, always afraid that somepony figured everything now. And then, one day, you’ll look around only to see that your pony friends are all old and withered, and that it won’t be long before they depart from this world. I wonder what you’ll say when somepony at their funeral asks you how come that you still look so young. They will figure it out eventually, Pinkie Pie, but when they do, your friends won’t be there to help you anymore. You will live a lonely, bitter life and the only thing that’ll ring through your heard will be: “What would have happened if I accepted the Voice’s offer?” And then, one fateful day, you’ll end your life yourself.

So what do you say, Pinkie? Will you hide like a mouse from a cat for the rest of your life, or will you stand up and take your fate into your own hooves? The decision is yours.

The purple glow slowly disappeared. “I did it, Twilight. I’m free!” Pinkie said, smiling almost like she used to before the whole ordeal.

“The voice is gone, which excuses the things you did under its control, but what about today?” Twilight asked, shaking her head. “You killed Bonbon, Pinkie Pie! Rarity, you used forbidden magic, and I... I killed Lyra! There is no excuse for these things. We are guilty.”

“It had to be done,” Rarity said. “You heard what they were planning. And they already began to realise their plan – they...” Rarity’s eyes shot open. “Mr. Rich...”

Pinkie stormed up the staircase and searched every room. Finally, only the door to a backroom remained unopened. She galloped through them and saw Mr. Rich, lying motionless on the ground. Is he still asleep? She slowly tiptoed towards him, prepared to strike should he move in any way. He still wore his business outfit and looked as authoritative as always, but this time two white, sharp tips crept out from under his upper lip. Something about him bothered Pinkie, but she couldn’t quite place her hoof on it. She leaned even closer to Mr. Rich, and then it hit her – she couldn’t hear his breathing. She quickly checked his pulse, but while the body was warm, she could feel nothing.

“Twi-Twilight?” Pinkie said in a quiet voice. “There might be one more dead vampony than we originally thought.”

“What?” Twilight said, storming into the back room. “But how? Nopony went here! He’s not even injured. He couldn't have died, unless...” Twilight’s eyes widened. “Unless Lyra’s spell had a failsafe.”

“A failsafe?” Pinkie asked.

“Yes, a failsafe. A horrible, horrible failsafe that I should have noticed! The spell must have killed all the bound vamponies after Lyra died. It would be useful since no vampony would betray her – her death would also mean the death of the traitor. It also means that I haven’t killed just Lyra, but also...” Twilight dropped on her knees. “I suppose Rose wasn’t dead after just a few strikes into the head either. I killed three ponies today.” She stared at the dead body, her face calm like the water of a lake on a sunny, windless day.

“Twilight,” Pinkie said, and put her hoof around Twilight’s neck, pulling her closer. “Don’t be sad. You couldn’t have known, and I think I really killed Rose. She was deader than a flushed goldfish.”

“Really?”

“Really. I’m sure her skull couldn’t take the last impact and just gave in. Her head broke like a watermelon because I completely smashed it. Nope, no traces of life after I was done with her.”

Twilight gave a small nod, but her face remained the same. “And Mr. Rich?”

“He died peacefully in his sleep,” Rarity said, sitting next to Twilight. “He’s just another of Lyra’s victim that was, thanks to you, spared all the horrors she planned for him.” Rarity hugged Twilight around the neck, pressing herself closer.

“And Lyra?” Twilight asked in a filmily voice.

“A madmare,” Rarity said. “A victim of her own insanity that you put to rest. Don’t look at how many lives you ended, Twilight. Look at how many you saved today! Every face you’ll see once we get outside will be the face of a pony you managed to protect. Every pony in Ponyville has only you to thank for ending the threat to them and their loved ones – Lyra would either slaughter or enslave them all, and you know it.”

“So you don’t think that I did a bad thing?”

“No worse than us,” Pinkie said, hugging Twilight with both her hooves.

“What you did is completely excusable,” Rarity said, doing the same.

Twilight’s facade was broken by a smile. “Thank you, girls. I... I know you are just saying that to make me feel better, but it worked.” She forrowed her brow and pushed them both away a bit. “But what about you? You can’t kill ponies for food so... what will you do now?”

“Don’t worry about it, Twilight,” Pinkie said. “I will just continue feeding on the Cakes like I did up until now. They’ll be fine – I never eat too much.”

“Well...” Rarity said, fidgeting. “The only pony I could safely feed on is Sweetie Belle, but I would never do something like that to her. She’s just a little filly! So, I thought that... maybe... you could...?” Rarity looked like she might just bite her lip off.

Twilight’s face turned serious again. “That is... a lot to ask, Rarity.”

“I know, but what other choice do I have? I thought that asking you for permission is better than sneaking into somepony’s house and feeding there.”

“Oh yes, definitely. It’s just... Won’t it hurt? Won’t it make me dizzy or...”

“The Cakes never even woke up when I fed on them,” Pinkie said. “And while they looked a little paler next day, it usually got better by nightfall.”

Twilight’s eyes jumped from Rarity to Pinkie Pie and back several times, until she finally said, “Alright. But not too often! I need to be in top physical shape for my studies.”

“Oh Twilight!” Pinkie laughed. “Top physical shape? Don’t worry, once per month should be more than enough.”

“Hey, don’t laugh! This is serious!” Twilight said, but despite her words, smiled too. “How will we explain this, however?” She pointed at the dead bodies.

“The Corporal and his men heroically sacrificed themselves to defeat this major threat to Equestria,” Rarity said as if she was having a speech. “Sadly, the last survivor, who struck the killing blow, succumbed to his wounds. All the fame and recognition should go to the detective from Canterlot who managed to solve this grand case and to the Corporal and his men. We were just the ones who witnessed the whole thing and don’t deserve the spotlight.” Rarity smiled. “There. Does that sound good?”

“Well, yes, but won’t an investigation prove that it didn’t go like that?”

“And who would investigate? The guards are dead and everypony else will just bury the corpses and be happy that the nightmare is over. And even if they decided to send to Canterlot for support, these bodies would be likely half decomposed before they got through all the bureaucracy. And if not, we can always set this house on fire, or do many other things to hide the clues.”

“Alright,” Twilight said. “But what now? As in right now at this very moment?”

“Now go home and I and Pinkie will handle all the necessary things. And don’t worry, everything will be just fine.”

The End?