//------------------------------// // Chapter 11: Blood and Breakfast // Story: Children of Chaos // by shirotora //------------------------------// Chapter 11: Blood and Breakfast Great Oak stared at the wall, the warm water of the shower cascading off his back. He loved his friends, but ever since he started hanging out with Razor and Surprise, his life had become chaotic. It made sense, Razor being a chaos mage, but still. He wondered what his life would have been like if they never met. A smile spread across his face, realizing he had actually taken to the tigony’s effect on the world. It made life interesting, but this… His smile faded as thoughts of the current situation replaced the nicer ones of his friends. For a time, he blamed them for it, but that only lasted a matter of minutes before being quashed. He already missed his family and friends. It wasn’t Surprise’s fault the cave exploded. Hell, she saved their lives... well, most of them. His thoughts drifted once again to Winter Snow, Razor’s sister. Tears threatened to break free at the memory of one of his newest friends. He didn’t know her well, but she had sacrificed herself for them. He shook his head, clearing the thoughts. It did him no good to dwell on the past like that. He needed to find Razor and Surprise, and get back to their own time. When they're safe at home, they can mourn her loss. His musing was interrupted by the door to their room opening. An lightly armored earth pony stallion entered and gave a crisp salute, stating, “Tiriel has requested that you and the others join him and his wife for breakfast.” At that, Blaze sat bolt upright. “Wife?! My little bro is married?” “He's five hundred years old, B,” Autumn giggled. “Not to mention still kinda cute. The gray in his mane makes him look all distinguished. Heck, Ah might haft'a ask him out if we ever get back.” “Dude, he's your cousin!” “Only by marriage. Not to mention Midnight was adopted, so he's far from bein' blood.” The farm filly suddenly got a wicked grin. “Oh, Ah can just imagine him on top'a me, poundin' mah-” “Stop! I don't wanna hear about my brother having sex, even if it's hypothetical.” Autumn broke out into laughter, clutching her sides. “You make it too easy for her, Blaze,” Oak chuckled as he stepped out of the 'bathroom'. Bathcorner would have been a more accurate name, as it was just a toilet and shower-head over steel grating stuffed into the back, left corner of the room. It was a good thing ponies weren't modest about things like nudity. “Shut up, Oak.” Blaze glared at the earth pony. “Come on, guys. I want to meet my sister.” Oak just laughed and turned to the soldier, “Lead the way, please.” Once again, the trio found themselves following a pony they didn't know through the stony hideout. Things seemed a little livelier than the night before, though. Ponies were running to and fro on the various tasks that an army needs to function. The thought reminded Oak of their situation. Almost everyone they knew was gone, murdered or from old age. His patents... “Here we are,” their escort said, saving Oak from darker thoughts. “Go on in. You're expected.” Oak took a look at the unassuming door before Blaze threw it open and barged inside. “Yo, Str- er... Tiriel,” called the dragony, “where the hell are you, you dweeb? Why didn't you tell me you got hitched?” A laugh echoed from deeper within past the room they found themselves in. This room was obviously an office of some kind, complete with desk, chairs (if one could call flat stones chairs), and a bookshelf. Behind the desk to the left was a door, where the laughter was coming from. “Oh, darling, your brother is simply adorable!” said a feminine Prench accent. “What?!” Blaze said, indignantly. “I'm not 'adorable', I’m awesome!” “Oh, my,” said the voice as its owner walked through the door. She was a tall white unicorn with a pink mane and Fleur-de-lis for a cutie mark. “You take after your mother, for certain.” Two of the three stared at the mare with slack jaws. Oak was the first to speak. “Y... You're Fleur-De-Lis! You... how?” “Who?” asked Autumn.” Blaze was the one to answer, “You're kidding, right? She's the most famous super model and actress of our time... but that's just it, our time. Shouldn't you be, I don't know... dead?” “One would think,” the mare tittered. “Now come. Let us sit to breakfast before we continue.” Fleur lead them through the door and into the living area while she spoke. “Tiriel has prepared pancakes and eggs, with sausage for himself and Blaze, and oat cakes for the rest of us. Oh, and if you choose, Ms. Gold, my love has made a donation I would be willing to share, if you indulge. Your mother never did, but that was her choice.” “Uh... What're you talking about?” Autumn asked as they entered the dining room. Fleur regarded the mare as she took her seat, “It is alright. I know of your family's legacy... Oh, do your friends not know?” Autumn's eyes widened with shock, “Wha... h-how do you know?” Fleur giggled musically, “Because Applejack and I were friends.” “Really?” Autumn asked dubiously, “Ah never woulda thought you and mom had much in common.” “Well, we both do have one thing in common,” Fleur said with a wink, “We both tend to enjoy biting as we make love.” “Eew! Ah do not wanna hear 'bout... wait,” Autumn looked up at the mare, “Are you... you're a vampire?!” Fleur's smile broadened, “I am, though you needn't worry about me. I would never take what is not freely given.” “But... when?” Autumn asked in slight concern. “Was it durin' the Battle of the Tartarus Gate?” “Oh, no,” Fleur laughed, “It was when Nightmare Moon launched her revolution against Everfree City. One of her officers tried to... 'recruit' me. Fortunately, I was saved by another vampire. He killed the one that turned me and took me in. He taught me to control my thirst and resist the call of the elders. He was a good stallion, and like a father to me.” “Wait... that would mean you're over a thousand years old!” Blaze exclaimed. “One thousand, five hundred, and fifty two,” the vampiress specified. “But, I've seen you walking around in the sun,” the dragony pointed out. “Sunlight does not kill us, merely weaken us.” Fleur looked over at Autumn with concern. “This isn't going to be a problem is it? I assure you, I have never harmed another except in battle and self defense.” “Ah... Ah guess. Ah remember momma talkin' 'bout how you and her got into a fight, but y'all worked it out. She said it was all cause she thought you was doin' bad things, but you weren't.” Autumn sighed, “Alright, Ah believe ya, but don't make me regret it.” “Excellent,” Tiriel said triumphantly, “Now that you're done threatening my wife, lets eat.” They accepted his proposal and dug in. They hadn't realized how hungry they were until that moment. Autumn kept steeling glance at Fleur and the cup of blood in front of her. Fleur just smiled and held the cup toward her in her magical grasp. Autumn's eyes widened as she shook her head in refusal and cast a quick glance at Oak. Fleur noticed her gaze and nodded in understanding. Autumn sighed in relief, but panicked again when Oak spoke. “If you want to try it, go ahead,” said the future botanist, “I already know.” “What?!” Autumn half-shouted, “How?” “I'm pretty observant,” he explained. “She said that your mother always refused, but bit during... well, you get it. But if you were a vampire, your friends would have known that they weren't killed by sunlight, which means your a hybrid, a... um... dam-pyre?” “Dhampire,” Autumn corrected, “You don't mind?” Oak chuckled, “You know what they say about Ponyville ponies, they're all half-monster, part of a secret ancient culture, or have strange powers.” “That's,” Blaze was about to protest... until he thought about it. Me and my bro are dragony, like dad. Mom is a pegasus with wings made of pure magic that can break the sound barrier. Aunt Jynx has a Gundam in her basement and is married to a tiger chaos mage from another dimension. My cousin, who's half tiger, half pony, is dating a changeling that was raised by ponies. My adopted cousin is a druid that can control plants and talk to animals. My best friend is a dhampere. One of mom's friends is the princess who used to live in Ponyville trying to hide who she was, even though everypony knew and only let her think they didn't. And her other friend is a dragony that can see the future. “... True,” He conceded. Taking that as proof, Oak continued, “Exactly, so I’m not surprised that you are part vampire. To be honest, I was thinking werewolf at first, but that's mostly because of your family's history with vampires.” Tiriel started laughing. “Oh, wow. I like this guy.” “Well...” Autumn said, still trying to wrap her mind around the fact that the new guy doesn't care about what she is, “Then Ah think Ah'll try some a' that blood, as long as it's okay with Tiriel.” “I don't mind at all. I actually gave a little more in case you to wanted some.” With that, Fleur levitated a decanter and filled a cup with its crimson contents. Autumn looked at it with a combination of eagerness and trepidation. Her mother had told her how addictive it could be, and had seen the marks on her father's neck when her took off his yolk, and even on Midnight. On the other hoof, she had also said it was intoxicating, and made you feel powerful. Swallowing nervously, Autumn reached out a hoof. She took the cup, the magical field all ponies possessed around their hooves keeping it in place. The crimson liquid still steamed with warmth and the smell was intoxicating. She didn't even notice her fangs instinctively extend, anticipating her first taste. “I said keep your hooves off me!” shouted a familiar voice. The wall behind Autumn shook with a terrifying impact, startling the farm mare and causing her to spill the blood all over her barrel. The door opened and a strange looking, jet black pony with a mane that looked like purple fire walked in. “Specter, what's going on?” Tiriel asked the newcomer. “I found somepony you're going to want to see,” replied the nightmare. Another pony walked in after, glaring at the guards behind her, a striped pony with a unicorn horn, sharp teeth, and cat-like eyes. Autumn and Blaze stared with wide eye before they both shouted, “Snow!” and leaped from their seats, tackling their hot tempered friend. “We thought you was dead!” Autumn cried. “I should have been,” Snow replied. “Specter here saved me and... used his particular talents to heal me. Uh... Why are you covered in blood, and why did you get it on me?” Oak, who hadn't moved an inch since the dark stallion entered, finally spoke up, grabbing a knife and holding it out. “Can somepony please tell me why the fuck a demon is standing here?” Snow let a low predatory growl at the earth pony, reminding him of her heritage. “That demon saved my life. So unless you want to have problems with me, I suggest you put that knife down before I use it to give you an enema.” Oak scowled, but remained firm, knife in hoof, “Well, forgive me for not trusting a demon.” “I thought you learned from that bullshit with changelings and Surprise about judging somepony because of race?” Blaze challenged. “I did,” Oak shot back. “That's why I haven't gutted him already. Do you know how many ponies die every year because of the ones that remained after Chronos opened the rifts? I've lost family to them.” Tiriel placed a hoof on the younger pony's withers and said soothingly, “I understand, but he's not like that. He works with us and is the best healer we have.” “Hell yeah he is,” Snow confirmed with a stomp of her hoof. “I got blown up! I probably had pieces hanging off!” “Your back left leg was severed, actually, and a few feet of intestine were hanging out,” the demon stated. “Really?” Snow asked. “Awesome. You rock dude.” Oak thought about it for a second before lowering the weapon. “Fine.” Out of nowhere, Blaze tackled his older/little brother. “Why shouldn't I kill you?” “What the hell!?” Autumn shouted. “What are you doing?” “What?” The dragony asked with an innocent smile. “Everypony else got to threaten someone, why can't I?” Autumn calmly, serenely, trotted over to her best friend and smacked the dumb ass dragony right across the back of the head. “I missed you guys,” Snow said warmly.