A very noisy rift in the air cracked open near the strategically placed labyrinth. It blew a stranger wind with an even stranger heat.
A few guards noticed it and decided to investigate. They managed to get a few glimpse of the background before two pony-like figures, one bigger than the other, trotted out slowly and calmly.
The guards could not believe what they saw; one of the guards even ran off without notifying his partner.
The two unknown ponies were surprised by the not just the fact that he ran off like he had seen a ghost but because they haven’t seen ponies in armor for many million years. Their thoughts changed immensely whilst the remaining guard ordered them to remain where they stood.
What the guards didn't know was that the strange ponies communicated telepathically.
They spoke in strange tongues. In common speak they said:
“We are in stranger worlds indeed”
“I would be inclined to agree, talking equines is a rare sight”
“The soldier is getting his superior”
“Perhaps we can inquire as to why this castle looks like a battlefield”
“And why we have become equines ourselves”
“Tell me brother what have I become?”
“You are a unicorn”
“And you are an omnicorn”
“How peculiar, but also rather unnerving”
“Perhaps this word is interpreting us”
“If so, it has a big bias towards me”
The soldiers, watching them only saw a pair of stone cold faces. That of demons, that which showed no emotions, but that which have seen it all, every dark corner of existence, merciless nights and burning days, something you would not wish upon anyone.
The brothers stood still, did not move a muscle. They almost seemed dead for a while and they remained as such until the guard returned with his superiors consisting of two ponies
The princess, her mane and coat looked rough and messed. Not to regal as history remembers her.
The second was another armored pony. The two brothers assumed it was high ranking military office, possibly since her armor looked a little sturdier than the other but still very worn.
The sight of Celestia triggered something in the bigger brother’s brain and he suddenly became a different pony, his eyes became livelier. He didn't seem so dead for a moment and he couldn't help but spout out:
“Celestia! Oh my creator how long has it been, a few thousand years? you still you as beautiful as ever. Oh my I still remember when I saw you sleeping in Galaxia’s hooves, how peaceful you looked and you dear little sister… so peacefully…” He stopped himself before he went on his fifth tangent. He shook his head as if he tried to regain something in his mind.
“Pardon me I don’t know what I’m saying” He excused before turning towards his brother
“Doneuida halno justi?” He said to his brother
“Tjal” His brother answered
“Helkvar meigan?” The smaller brother asked
“Umut fimum magekrosa”
Celestia was paying close attention to their strange way of speaking whilst the guards had turned into a walking question mark. They could tell that Celestia knew what they were saying and was a bit hesitant to ask, yet she answered their silent question.
She said that the taller one asked his brother if he knew what that means, which apparently he did. The smaller brother then asked how long and then the taller brother answered 10 – 50 years.
The guards were not so surprised that Celestia could understand them. They didn’t expect less from their sun goddess but it was when Celestia said, yet it didn't help, what was "that"?
“They are speaking in blood tongue, the language of the vampires...” “They are vampires”
That the guards almost lost it. They initially though they were strange creatures from another world but now they were more afraid than ever, they were well aware of vampires being one of Zalgo’s oldest creations and one of the most dangerous. Not as dangerous as the void dragon or the slender-pony but they came close.
“SOLDIERS TO ARMS, THE DEMONS HAVE INVADED CANTERLOT” the general shouted.
The two brothers gave him an evil look and before they knew it, they had 40 rusty spears pointing their way.
The two brothers did not seem to care though. If anything they were a bit disappointed by their weaponry. They could smell the rust and the worn of the weapons, they could bend it with their hair alone.
“Would you please put your weapons away before you hurt somepony?” The smaller brother asked as calm as they were before.
“Silence demons, we do not take orders from the likes of you” a ranking officer barked.
The two brothers were about to facehoof until the taller brother though of a reason why they reacted the way they did. He looked at his brother before saying.
“Listen I know what you’re thinking but you are wrong. Our kind abandoned him eons ago.”
“Say that to my dead son!” A spear pony cried with all his heart.
“Believe it or not but it is a fact. We have resisted his dark influence for millions of years.” The smaller brother shouted aloud
“We are not falling for your poisonous silver tongues” The general shouted furiously.
The taller brother was getting really annoyed by this needlessly shouting back and forth. He blinked and his eyes changed, not in shape but in mindset.
“Goddess of the sun, if you wish for me to spin the tale of my kind you must make your warmongers remove their tools of war from our façades” The winged brother spoke.
The way he spoke. His choice of words started something in Celestia’s head. She knew that manner of speaking. Something from when she was a filly, but she couldn’t place her hoof on it, but it caught her interest so the told the guards to do as he requested. They did so reluctantly.
The guards kept an eye on them at all time whilst the winged brother tell his tale.
The winged brother began telling about a historical event he called The Shadow War. It was a conflict between The Vampires and Zalgo. Chrysalis was initially part of the conflict, but she didn’t really care about Zalgo’s creation and let them do what they wanted.
The Shadow War lasted 425 years and ended with the vampires becoming free of his influence to a certain degree. Because they are never truly free and they will at some point have to return to him, when the end is near as he said:
"We can only keep resisting him until the end comes where we will join him once again”
The winged brother noticed shortly after how poetic he spoke nearing the end, but such had been commonplace for him so he didn’t care.
Celestia seemed to believe him but she was the only one. The guards felt his story was phony.
“How do we know you’re not just lying vampire!?” a guard asked aggressively
“Well I could return to my castle and bring the evidence if you like.” “My name is #%&¤!* by the way.”
Some strange noises came out of the #%&¤!*’s mouth as he tried to speaks his name, something like static and a very piercing screech.
He heard both his name and the strange static noise at the same time and he judge by Celestia and his brother’s expression that it wasn’t exactly bearable.
“But most people refer to me as The Commander or Commander when speaking to me directly.”
“And this is my brother Second Commander Ragnok.” The Commander added
“My pleasure.” Ragnok added. Celestia just noticed that Ragnok sounded a little strange, rough but not too deep
Just now they presented themselves with a formal bow and The Commander saw an opportunity
“Celestia, if you do not mind me asking why this castle looks like it has been at war for decades.”
Celestia was about to answer before a guard stated doubt
“Your highness, perhaps it is unwise to tell him why, he could be working for the enemy.”
The Commander saw it as a valid argument and proposed an offering
“Perhaps we can trade. If I repair your castle, you will share the name of your enemy”
Celestia was heavily considering the offer but had no time to answer because a pegasus soldier came flying as fast as he could with an alarming message. The demons were marching full figures towards Canterlot.
The two brothers had an idea of who this enemy is, but hoped with all their hearts that this wasn't what they thought it was.