//------------------------------// // Inside Ponyville (Rarity) // Story: Shadowland // by mocandragon5 //------------------------------// I had finally come to my senses after having been knocked out, looking around the room. The first thing I noticed is that these ruffians surely had an idea of irony. The building our group had been thrown into was the remains of my boutique, which I had spent years of blood, sweat and tears to keep in pristine condition. The next thing I saw was a group of ponies, no doubt our attackers, were sitting on the stage I used to show my brand new outfits. They were glancing around the room, so as one of them, a mare with rugged features, was about to turn her attention to me, I resumed the position I had found myself in. It was then I realised that the floor was covered in dirt, obviously they hadn't cared for the place since I left, and that my mane was in an appalling condition. Something must have caught one of our captor's interests, as I heard one of them coming in my general direction. "So one of them finally wakes up." Said a rather broken imitation of an upper class stallion with a Canterlot accent. I was expecting the stallion to grab me, but I heard someone behind me get picked up. "What do you want with me?" It was Rainbow Dash. Of course it was. Knowing my friend was in immediate danger, I used my magic to reach out for one of the mannequins dotted around the room and knock the ruffian behind me with it as if it were a bat in some kind of sport. Talking about bats, that what they were. Those wings, fangs and crimson red eyes reminded me of that time Fluttershy became, I called, 'Flutterbat', though something else was off about them. Their eyes had more than a mere basic comprehension behind them, also showed off by the fact they could talk. I watched as Rainbow was dropped to the floor, noticing they had taken out satchels and weapons with us. "Rainbow, darling. Wake up the others and I'll hold these vampires off." I told the pegasus, now sat on the ground next to a berserk bat wielding daggers in his mouth. I raised the mannequin once more, blocking off the vampire from Rainbow as she went around, rousing up the guards first and Pinkie Pie last. Soon enough, we were in another battle, though we were highly outnumbered, as vampires came in from the front door. There was no way we could win. We had barely any weapons apart from polystyrene bodies, and even then the best we could do was knock them out for a short while, and our spells, which only a few of us could use, were drastically weakened due to the fact these vampires had some magic resistance due to the magic of their being, as Twilight had told me once before. A few of us, a few of the guards more specifically, were killed in the battle, and the rest of us were dragged off, awake this time, as the vampires were saying something about their 'matriarch'. Knowing this was Ponyville, I did have a suspicion which did give me dread, as it would mean facing one of my friends whom we could not save. We were taken to the remains of Twilight's crystal castle, seeing many vampires along the way. On the path, I did notice some non-vampires which confused me, as surely vampires wish to feed and create more of them? This did make me question one other thing; Why hadn't we been transformed yet? Another thing which grabbed my attention, and actually gave me some hope, was a brief look at a certain mare from my past; a mare whom we had thought long dead. I could have sworn I saw Applejack, and I could have sworn she saw us, being dragged along. After being forced through the castle up to a set of old, rotting wooden doors; strange as this castle didn't have those doors last I was there and so they couldn't be old enough to be rotting, the guards opened the way to what they called the 'Throne Room'. On the other side was just as I had feared. Sitting on a grand throne, made of what seemed to be a corrupted form of the crystals which had been hewn together to form this castle, was the first vampire to enter this world those years ago. Sat upon the throne was a corrupted and twisted form of the once kind Fluttershy. She stared at us as we made our way further into the room, almost examining us, thinking about how much of a meal we would make. "Why have you come here?" the vampire, whom I shall refer to as 'Fluttershy' for simplicity's sake, asked us, having lost any hint of kindness in her voice. "Fluttershy, why have you done this to us?" I asked, taking a step forward. This was a mistake as I was instantly struck at by a guard. "I asked the first question." Fluttershy stated, "But I suppose I could answer your question. My citizens found you approaching our fair village with weapons drawn. You were obviously going to attack us. I didn't beleive it could be you, Rarity, as I had thought you would never stoop so low to try to kill a friend." "You are not Fluttershy." I merely stated in response. This thing had corrupted my friend and was now using her, as I had once been used by dark forces also. If Twilight were here, she may be able to redo what she had done the first time Fluttershy had become a bat, though I knew this was much worse. "Oh, really? Then why did you call me 'Fluttershy' then, if you truly beleive I am not her?" Fluttershy asked, a smirk forming on her face. Oh, how much I wanted to just knock that creature senseless. "Because she is in this room, but she is not listening." I replied. "What are you implying? And I do suggest you watch your tone, lest you want to become a slave for the perfect race." Fluttershy hissed. "Stooping to racism now? And slavery? You must have done a lot to stop Fluttershy from being able to stop you." I replied. "I am Fluttershy!" Fluttershy hissed, leaping out of her throne and commanding a guard to hand her a long, scythe-like weapon. "And if you are wanting to think of a smart reply again, perhaps you should get acquainted with the feeling of being our next meal." "Alright." I replied, backing up slightly. "Another question, if you don't mind. Why are you using slave labour, and not turning all those earth ponies out there into vampires?" "The are not worthy." Fluttershy replied. "Also, despite all of the great things being a vampire brings with it, our bodies do become rather frail, so is it surprising we use earth ponies to do our work?" "Why Applejack?" I asked. This caught the creature who claimed to be Fluttershy off guard. "What do you mean?" "Why keep Applejack as a mere slave? Surely one who was such a good friend to you in your imperfect state deserves to be elevated to be one as well, and not a slave?" Rarity asked. "I suppose you are right. And as it was your suggestion, you may watch her ascension." Fluttershy replied. "Thassra, go and bring in Applejack. She should be heading to the old town hall, if she is following her schedule." One of the three guards nodded and left via the window. "Any other questions, Rarity?" Fluttershy asked, surprising me as this was the first time she used my name. "Not until Applejack arrives." I responded. "Alright. You, Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie will wait here. The rest of you will be taken for physical examination. See whether you will be useful in labour, or as a meal." Another guard began dragging the soldiers away, leaving the three of us, a guard and Fluttershy in the room. Within a few moments, a voice came from outside the door. "I have brought Applejack, your highness." I am so sorry, Applejack.