The Trial Of Rainbow Dash
During the daytime, Fluttershy was thought of as a nervous mare, but today was a rare exception. For today, she was an incredibly nervous mare. She shuffled awkwardly on Rainbow Dash’s doorstep, tugging incessantly on her sun hat all the while. She hated being up so high, it always gave her vertigo and it was difficult to escape the harsh rays of the sun from up here.
In her hoof was a slim black envelope with Twilight’s cutie mark stamped in purple wax on the back. On the other side in red ink was Rainbow Dash’s name and nothing else. Fluttershy thought it was a little ominous, but the council thought it perfectly displayed the importance of the words within and gave an air of fear that Twilight had insisted on.
She sighed and took a deep unnecessary breath, building her courage. Rainbow needed to receive this letter and simply leaving it in her mailbox was not an option. Lifting her hoof to knock, Fluttershy hesitantly rapped on the door twice and gulped.
This was not going to be good.
She was about to lift her hoof to knock again, having heard nothing from within the cloud house when her keen ears picked up the sound of shuffling from upstairs, followed by the clattering of glass bottles. Fluttershy rolled her eyes and sighed, of course she had been drinking again, it was unfortunate that the word drink in this instance had two meanings or else she wouldn't be here, delivering such grim summons.
A few seconds later and Fluttershy could hear the small thump of hooves on cloud, followed by Rainbow Dash yelling from outside her bedroom. “Be there in a second!” Then, in a quieter voice, she muttered, “I swear to god if Derpy is accidentally delivering mail on a Saturday, I’m going to drain her dumb ass.”
Fluttershy scowled silently, she should have known it was Rainbow Dash who had been harrassing the local ponies and judging from the tone of her voice, she had also been the one that had smacked Derpy around a few weeks ago. She suddenly didn't feel quite as guilty delivering such a letter.
Finally, after a brief tumble down the last few stairs, Fluttershy could hear Rainbow Dash behind the door. “Who the fuck is it?”
Fluttershy rolled her eyes. “It’s Fluttershy.”
It took only a second for the door to come flying open and the grinning face of Rainbow Dash to appear. “Well, why didn't you say so!”
Her large smile revealed two prominent canines that stuck out of her mouth, which only served to anger Fluttershy further. The fledgeling hadn't even covered up her teeth or her blood red eyes. Worse still, she wore a thick leather jacket over a voluminous hoody, the hood of which was thrown up, casting her features in shadow despite the fact that it was midday. All over her jacket were various pins from Rainbow’s favorite bands, most of which were not the type an average pony would enjoy.
“What's wrong, Flutters?” she asked, noticing her friend was scowling at her, while her eyes roamed up and down, judging Rainbow’s attire. “Like the new digs?”
The clueless mare turned to the side and stretched, displaying the sides and back of the jacket that sported a red drop of blood surrounded by an equally red circle around it. Under that were two words, that were same color as the drop and the circle. Blood Pact.
“I am very disappointed in you, Rainbow Dash.” Fluttershy shook her head, wiping the arrogant smile from the cyan pegasus’ face.
“What are you talking about, Flutters? The Blood Pact are awesome, we fly fast and party hard.” The mare grinned and struck another pose.
“You know they are using you, right? The pact doesn't care for a fledgeling and they are more than likely going to use you as scapegoat if they need it,” Fluttershy remarked plainly.
Rainbow stopped posing and frowned at her longtime friend. “What are you talking about? The pact are my friends, they wouldn't do that.”
Fluttershy’s brow creased and she pressed a hoof to her head. “We can talk about this later, for now you have a letter.” She stopped massaging her temple and hoofed over the letter.
The leather-clad pegasus looked down, confused at the oddly intimidating letter. “Who is this from?” She turned it over, inspecting both sides. “Wait, it's from Twilight? Why wouldn't she come here herself?”
“She's busy, besides it's not from Twilight exactly, it's from the council. You've been summoned,” Fluttershy remarked grimly.
The mare didn't seem to understand the gravity of it all and cocked her head to the side. “What, like the town council? Cuz’ I moved my house where they wanted me to.”
Fluttershy rolled her eyes. “No, the council.”
Rainbow cocked her head even further, only for her to laugh suddenly and toss the letter over her shoulder. “I don't know who pranked you into doing this, but there is no council around here other than the town council and those geezers wouldn't use such fancy ink and paper.”
She leaned in close to the butter pegasus and wrapped a hoof around her shoulders. “Say, why don't you and me ditch this place and go and grab an apple from Applejack’s?”
Fluttershy had about lost her patience and she easily pushed the other mare back in front of her and placed a surprisingly heavy hoof on Dash’s shoulder. “Rainbow Dash, this is serious.”
The cyan pegasus gulped nervously. “What are you talking about, Flutters? It's just a joke, who put you up to it? Was it Twilight?”
The usually shy mare gripped Rainbow’s shoulder painfully tightly and fixed her with a firm glare. “I am not joking, you forgot your glamour.”
“What are you talkin-”
Fluttershy flicked a long canine with her wing, drawing a surprised expression to Dash’s face, only for one of cool confidence to quickly replace it. “Oh, this? It's just a costume I left on after I got back from a costume party last night, where everyone wore costumes.” She brushed Fluttershy’s hoof from her shoulder and smiled confidently.
“Your eyes are showing too, you know.”
Rainbow Dash blinked. “Err, that's part of the costume, I’m a vampire. Bluh bluh.”
“Vampires do not say bluh bluh.” Fluttershy lifted an unconvinced eyebrow and sighed once more. “Look, Rainbow. I know what you are. Now, would you please read the letter?”
Rainbow gulped and laughed nervously. “Haha, good one, Flutters. I guess I should read it, so that we can get this joke over with, huh?”
She spun on her heel and grabbed the letter from where she had tossed it. Glancing one last time at a still annoyed Fluttershy, Rainbow opened the letter and peaked inside. She pulled out the black paper with red ink and laughed. “Going hard with the whole red and black theme, huh?”
Fluttershy just snorted and gestured to the page held in the mare’s hooves, urging her to read.
Rainbow Dash nervously glanced down, more than a little unnerved by her friend’s sudden change in personality.
Dear Rainbow Dash,
I am writing to you today under unfortunate circumstances, for as of today, you stand accused of threatening the integrity of the masquerade and have been thusly summoned to the Twilight council for judgement. Member Fluttershy will escort you there after you are done reading this letter.
Since you no doubt do not believe me, I will mention that you were turned illegally by the Blood Pact gang and the current punishment is death by ultraviolet. Something I doubt a fledgeling like you has yet to even hear of, but you have my word that it is incredibly painful, the likes of which mere words cannot express.
You have been given an opportunity to explain yourself and plead your punishment, use it. Do not leave town, do not go back to the pact and do not expose yourself among the general population.
Or you will be hunted down and staked in order to be returned to the council for judgement.
Your friend,
Twilight Sparkle and the council of five.
Rainbow Dash gulped nervously and looked up at her unmoved friend. “This is a joke, right? Please tell me this is a joke.”
“This is not a joke, Dash, you will come with me to the council chambers,” Fluttershy replied sternly.
Dash looked down at the letter that was slowly disintegrating in her hoof, the paper it arrived on already having dissipated to nothing and blown away. The mare flung the dissolving paper from her hoof and tossed it across the room. “What the-”
She looked back to Fluttershy for answers, answers she did not give.
Rainbow Dash gulped nervously for a chuckle to suddenly explode from her lips. “Hahahahaha!” She fell to her side, clutching her stomach and laughing hard enough to bring a tear to her eyes.
Fluttershy frowned and walked inside, closing the door behind her. “What is so funny?”
Rainbow put up a hoof while she tried to find enough air to speak. “Good one, Pinkie Pie, you can come out now.” No pink pony appeared. “You got me! You totally got me back for that fly in the cake prank last week, I admit defeat!” Her voice rose as panic crept into her voice.
“I assure you this is not-” Fluttershy was shushed by Dash putting her hoof up again.
The cyan pegasus’ eyes searched around the room, looking for any trace of pink hair or the sound of the earth pony’s helicopter contraption. “Alright, Pinkie, come on out! I know you are there!”
Fluttershy snarled uncharacteristically, reached down and backhooved the frantic pegasus hard enough to make her head rebound off the solid cloud floor.
“What the fuck, Flutters? I was just-”
Fluttershy gripped her head in both forehooves and stared deeply into the other mare’s eyes, forcing Dash to whimper pathetically. “Listen to me, Rainbow Dash, and listen well. This is real, this is happening and unless you come with me, I will stake you and haul you before the council like the worthless bag of feathers that you are. Do you understand me?”
“I-”
“Do not speak, you are not allowed to speak unless spoken to. You will nod or shake your head and that is it. Understood?” Rainbow gulped and nodded her head. “Good. Now get up, and get ready to follow me.”
Rainbow nodded weakly and pulled herself from the floor, the throbbing in her face and head a reminder of Fluttershy’s strength. She rubbed the painful spot on her face and followed the pegasus weakly through her front door and onto her porch. Once there, they opened their wings and launched from Rainbow Dash’s cloud home towards the Everfree.
After their course was set, Fluttershy looked back and commanded, “Enact your glamour, fledgeling.”
Rainbow nodded weakly and pulled upon her innate vampiric abilities, hiding her eyes and fangs and returning to her preturned appearance. Below her Ponyville flitted by, quiet as ever. Only a few merchants had bothered to set up shop on such a pleasant day and most that would have set up, had taken this opportunity to take their families on picnics or hikes and otherwise were out enjoying the nice day.
That all didn't matter to Rainbow Dash, the cool wind over her wings didn't matter, the clear blue skies she usually loved didn't matter. She flew numbly, barely aware of her surroundings save for Fluttershy’s tail. Her mind was whirling with questions, how did Fluttershy know she was a vampire? Were the tall tales of the council true? How was she so strong? Was she a-? No way, that couldn't be... Right?
She opened her mouth to speak, only for Fluttershy to spin around and glare at her. “Is it something that could be said amidst a crowd of living ponies?” Rainbow gulped and closed her mouth, shaking her head. “Then keep your mouth shut. I will let you know when we have some privacy.”
Rainbow nodded weakly again and followed in silence.
Below them Ponyville had thinned, the houses becoming less numerous as did the wandering ponies, until all at once the signs of civilization died out, save for Fluttershy’s cottage that had just came into view. Rainbow Dash hoped that they would land there and Fluttershy would announce it was all a joke, but the chances of that dimmed by the second until they passed right over the cottage without slowing. The rolling hills surrounding Ponyville quickly vanished, replaced by the twisted Everfree forest.
Rainbow gulped and looked around, expecting some sort of winged horror to leap forth from the forest. Catching herself thinking such weak thoughts, she straightened her spine and smirked. She was an Element of Harmony, a Wonderbolt reservist, a member of the Blood Pact and a vampire. There was nothing this forest could throw at her she couldn't beat.
She glanced up at Fluttershy, who hadn't so much as looked down at the twisted forest below, intent on flying and ignoring everything else, remarkably unperturbed by the potential danger mere meters away. That was probably the strangest part of this entire encounter in Dash’s mind, Fluttershy. She was stern, authoritarian and had gone from the most shy pony Dash knew to the least, seemingly overnight.
Time passed at a snail’s pace as they flew for what seemed like hours, though it was probably minutes. Rainbow’s mind was a flurry of questions, suddenly thrown off by Fluttershy speaking. “You may ask your question now, there is nopony around for miles.”
The cyan mare coughed awkwardly. “I, uh, was just going to ask if you were, uh, well, you know.”
“A vampire?” Fluttershy asked.
Dash nodded weakly, only to remember Fluttershy wasn't facing her. “Uh, yeah.”
“Yes.”
Dash had assumed as much, but to get such a calm answer disturbed the mare. “When?”
“About eight years ago, after I first came to Ponyville,” Fluttershy answered simply.
“How?”
“I wandered too deep into the Everfree, trying to find a scared chicken and was mortally wounded. A warden happened to find me and turned me in order to save my life.”
“Warden?”
“A keeper of the Everfree. What? Did you expect all the monsters and horrors just stayed in the Everfree of their own free will?” The mare chuckled darkly to herself, much to Dash’s confusion.
“What will-”
“We are here. Get ready to dive, we don't have time to go through the normal entrance. Ready for some fancy flying, Dash?” The butter pegasus looked over her shoulder and shot the cyan mare an arrogant smile.
Dash just snorted and cast off the only illusion she had remembered to cast this morning, revealing her leathery bat wings in all their dark glory. “I was born to fly.”
Without missing a beat, Fluttershy cast off her own illusion, revealing strong, powerfully built leathery wings. Rainbow’s eyes went wide at the impressive set of wings that quickly tucked into the other vampire’s back, dropping her into a steep dive.
Dash reacted quickly, mimicking the other vampire and diving straight down into what looked like the forest floor. The trees rapidly blotted out everything else and still Dash could not see where they were diving to. Her wings itched and she was tempted to pull out, as there was nothing but uneven ground and trees for as far as she could see and the spot of the ground Fluttershy was intent on appeared to be a boulder.
But Fluttershy didn't pull up, didn't slow even until she was about to impact with the rock at terminal velocity. Instead of splattering all over the ground, she passed right through it, disappearing through what had looked like a solid boulder. Dash grinned and she followed the other vampire’s path and passed right through the same boulder as if it didn't even exist. Once on the other side she could barely see Fluttershy’s wings shoot open and bank suddenly to the left.
Dash’s vision was usually perfect for the darkness, but she hadn't had enough time to adjust to see what exactly she was dodging out of the way of. Thinking quickly, she mimicked the other mare’s moves and opened her wings at the same point she did, banking just as hard. Her hooves clattered over what seemed like a solid stone and she pulled them up, fearing her hooves would catch on something and send her smashing into a wall.
She blinked a few times, her night vision only now kicking in and catching only the briefest glimpses of Fluttershy before she twisted to the right and vanished once more.
“Holy fuck,” the pegasus swore, only narrowly missing a large, gnarly-looking root jutting out of the cave wall.
She could feel her tail brush the exposed root and gulped, if she had been any slower she would have become rainbow-colored paste. Thankfully that seemed like the last sharp turn and she could see the tunnel narrowing and rising somewhat, forcing the mare to open her wings and give a few flaps, lest she hit the ground running.
Ahead of her, Fluttershy flapped hard and dove down suddenly and vanished once more. Rainbow slowed, unable to see where exactly she had dove as all she could see was the end of the narrow cave and the hard stone wall beyond. Trusting her friend she dove down right at about the same spot Fluttershy did only to miscalculate and catch her hoof on a jut out of rock.
Tumbling down she passed through the second illusion, her wings flapping uselessly before banging into another wall and reflexively retracting and sticking to Rainbow’s back in order to avoid further damage.
The mare fell for a few more feet before bouncing off something hard and getting launched into what felt like an open room. Landing on the hard ground, the mare spun around and around until her momentum bled out and her head was left spinning. She could already feel bruises and breaks rapidly being healed, but it would be a long time before all the damage would be fixed.
Above her, somepony chuckled darkly. “If anypony could manage the dive on their first try, I thought it was you. I guess I was wrong.”
A firm hoof gripped Rainbow’s barrel and hauled her to her hooves and pulled her forward. She was only dully aware of this as her eyes still felt like they were rolling in her sockets and her brain had been run through a blender.
By the time she was completely aware of her surroundings, her helper tossed her back to the floor, in the center of a large circle arcane circle, the edge of which glowed white. “What the fuck, Fluttershy?”
She stood up and shook her head, ready to cuss out her best friend, only to take a step back when she noticed what looked like several podiums surrounding her. Atop each one of said podiums was another one of her friends.
“Pinkie Pie?” She blinked. The usually cheerful mare wore what looked like a tight leather outfit with far more buckles than what was necessary, her straight hair was done up in a bun, held together by a black bat pin. Her cheeks were sullen and her coat had lost most of its luster, her hooves were painted the same shiny black as her leather outfit.
“‘Sup?” Pinkie asked mirthlessly, smirking slightly as the stunned mare continued to turn, silently.
Applejack stood at a podium to Pinkie’s right, wearing a black suit with a white undershirt that barely poked out, a crimson tie around her neck and a small pin over her heart in the shape of an apple with a bite out of it. The farm pony scowled down at the speedster with unrestrained contempt and Rainbow was fairly certain that she would have gotten spat on if she landed any closer to the angry mare.
To the right of her stood Rarity, though she seemed more interested in the state of her hooves than Rainbow Dash’s sudden appearance. The mare wore a black teal lace dress that would have dusted the floor if she was standing. Around her hooves and neck, the black lace turned blue and extended to the floor and nearly half way up her face. Her hair was done in its usual style, though it also had a stripe of black running through the center. Noticing she was being watched, the mare looked down her nose at the pegasus and scowled before pulling a file from somewhere, beginning to work on her finely manicured black hoof.
Next to her was Fluttershy, same as before, though she was leaning to her left, whispering to Twilight, who was perhaps the most imposing of her friends.
Her hair was as long and regal as the royal pony sisters’ and where Celestia had a rainbow within her mane and Luna stars, Twilight had small pin pricks of darkness that swirled within her mane. She wore a black torc around her neck with a massive purple gem sat in the center, a lighter purple star painted around it. She towered over the podium and Rainbow Dash could see her hooves were clad in the same strange black metal as her torc and extended up her hooves a few inches in a starburst pattern.
Twilight nodded a few times and whispered something back to Fluttershy who also nodded before suddenly turning her attention to Rainbow Dash. The mare couldn't help but gulp, all her friends had the same blood red eyes and prominent canines as she did, but Twilight was on a whole another level. Her glowing red eyes seemed to pierce Rainbow’s soul and her long fangs were unlike anything she had ever seen. Her wings clung to her side though even then Dash could see that a claw-like hand was atop each wing, a lot like a true bat’s wing, which was further emphasized by the tuft of fur at the top of Twilight’s ears.
“Ahem.” Twilight cleared her throat. “At ease.”
Dash relaxed slightly, noticing she had drawn to attention when Twilight had cleared her throat. The power, the authority, it was unlike what even the other princesses’ had. Rainbow’s very blood seemed to compel her to stand in the presence of such majesty.
“We are gathered here today to judge you for your actions. You stand accused of endangering the masquerade by going out in public without a glamour. Siring a fledgeling without express approval by this council as well as perhaps your most heinous crime: gang affiliation and the murder of a royal guard.” The other vampires either scowled or ground their teeth together in barely contained anger and Rainbow couldn't help, but shrink slightly under their combined angry gazes.
“Where’s the evidence of any of this, huh? Shouldn't I get a lawyer or something?” Dash asked.
Twilight waved her hoof and the pegasus found herself once more on the ground, this time unable to move. “Your crimes have been proven, your innocence a foregone conclusion. You are here today not to try and plead your innocence, but explain why and to argue what punishment you feel is just for your transgressions.”
The mare scoffed. “Who cares about some dumbass royal guard? He wandered into our party and tried to shut us down. The fucker was asking for it.”
Rarity’s lip curled in disgust. “You uncultured swine, his name was Radiant Shield and he was a good pony with a wife and children that you left without a father!”
Rainbow’s leathery wings opened and she launched into a standing position despite the crushing weight exuded by Twilight. “Who cares? It was just some dumb little pony.”
The mahogany crumpled under Applejack’s grip and she leaned over the podium, looking down at Rainbow. “If we go around killin’ and drainin’ random folk, then the masquerade will be over and our days will be numbered, you idiot!”
“So what? Do they care about the grass and vegetables they eat? No, of course not, so why should we care about our prey?” Rainbow shot back.
Pinkie Pie tsked. “You foolish, shortsighted moron. They may be prey, but they still outnumber us a thousand to one. Do you really think we could take on every single pony in Equestria, even with our vampiric power?”
“Well…”
“How many ponies do you think you could kill before you were brought down by the weight of numbers? Ten? Twenty? A hundred? It doesn't matter as you would be crushed beneath their hooves like the filth you are!” the pink mare spat back.
“Quiet,” Twilight whispered. Instantly, the other mares returned to their podium or the floor, all looking at her. “Why did you sire a fledgeling without approval?”
Rainbow felt like telling her friend to shove the question up her ass, but the words refused to reach her lips and she couldn't help, but feel compelled to answer. “The pact doesn't allow a vampire to have more than one fledgeling and one familiar at a single time and even though Thunderlane was a good familiar, after I tasted Scootaloo’s innocent blood, I needed her. So, I sired Thunderlane and brought Scootaloo on as my newest familiar. Simple.”
Twilight ran a hoof down her face and sighed. “That is not the question. Why did you not seek approval from the council first?”
The mare laughed. “What, you were serious? No one in the Blood Pact asks. I didn't even think the council even existed until like, twenty minutes ago?”
“I told you this was going to happen, Mistress,” Pinkie Pie added, quite unhelpfully.
“Quiet Pinkie, I headed your words, but it seems as though my plans did not move fast enough.” She turned down to the accused, who was running her tongue over her fangs idly. “What happened to the emissary sent to the pact when they first moved in?”
Rainbow Dash shrugged. “Dunno. The boss talked about staking some dumb vampire and tossing them to the wolves a few weeks ago, though.”
Twilight nodded grimly. “I was afraid of that, it seems as though this little gang needs a lesson in respect.”
Applejack snorted. “They needed one a year ago.”
“Quite right, darling. Should I assemble the troops?” Rarity added.
Twilight shook her head. “We will talk about mobilization later. We have the question of punishment left to consider.”
Rainbow Dash poked the edge of the circle, only to recoil as pain lanced up her leg. “Ah wouldn't do that if ah were you, that circle is reinforced with pure sunlight, a second longer and yer hoof woulda been dust.”
Rainbow blew a raspberry at the country mare and scoffed. “Sunlight doesn't hurt, I’ve been outside tons since I got turned.”
Twilight shook her head. “What you feel outside is a paltry comparison to true sunlight. Now, I have one more question before we begin our deliberations, what-”
“Well I have a few questions of my own first,” Dash interrupted, drawing a startled gasp from the other four mares.
Pinkie Pie snarled and nearly leapt from the top of the podium. “You dare interrupt the Mistress! I should flay you alive for such an affront.”
“Silence Pinkie, your faith is appreciated, but I would like to hear what the fledgeling wants.” Twilight dipped her head to the mare on the floor. “Go on.”
“First, why do you call me a fledgeling? I have sired my own and taken a familiar I am a full blooded vampire!”
Rarity tittered behind a hoof. “You? A full vampire? Don't be absurd, you are little more than cannon fodder.”
Before Rainbow could launch into another tirade, Twilight beat her to it. “Tell me, how old are you, fledgeling?”
“Twenty-four.” She snarled back, unable to stop herself from answering.
Applejack laughed and slapped a hoof against her podium. “You were serious with yer little cutie mark story? Well shoot, now ah feel silly.”
“Oh yeah, how old are you?” Rainbow pointed an accusatory hoof at the farm mare, careful to not break the circle.
The mare snorted. “Four hundred and fifty-six.” She scratched her head. “Or fifty-seven, is it March or February?”
“March,” Pinkie whispered.
“Then four hundred and fifty-seven,” she said proudly.
“Bullshit!” Rainbow yelled back hysterically.
“Pfft, that ain't nothin. Why, Rarity here is just over six hundred, we think,” Applejack added
That drew a chuckle from the fashionista. “And that is the best guess you will ever get, my dear.”
Applejack snickered. “Sure, sure, one day I’ll figure you out.”
“Ooh, ooh and I’m one hundred and two!” Pinkie Pie added.
Rainbow rolled her eyes. “Now I know that's bullshit, we met your family, remember?”
“You really thought that was my family? We don't even look anything alike!” The mare giggled and slammed a hoof into her podium. “They are just a bunch of familiars, you silly filly. I mean a rock farm, me?”
Applejack chuckled. “Ah can't believe you actually fell for that one. Does Pinkie look like the type a pony to come from a rock farm of all places?”
“Well no, but-”
“Exactly, besides, none of us can hold a candle to Mistress Twilight. With respect.” Applejack nodded to the larger mare who merely smiled politely back.
“What are you talking about? Fluttershy, you are the same age as me, right?” Rainbow asked pleadingly.
The mare shrugged. “By a few months, yeah.”
“See! And she's a member of your stupid council thing too, so ha!” Rainbow announced much to everyone’s amusement. “What's so funny?”
Twilight shook her head. “Fluttershy here defeated an eight hundred year old elder vampire in single combat after also defeating an adult red dragon and draining him dry. She is a thousand times the vampire that you will ever be.”
Rainbow Dash recoiled and looked over to Fluttershy. “There is no way that's true, right?”
“I’m afraid it is. The old Master of the Wardens was planning a coup, so I used the blood of the red dragon to empower my stare and forced him to cut out his own heart and stake it. After that it was merely a matter of tossing it into the sun,” she replied with a shrug. “I was lucky that he wasn't expecting that.”
“Nonsense, my dear. That was a stunning move on your part,” Twilight said with a smile, drawing a blush from the smaller vampire.
“Well, how old are you, then, huh? Miss weird alicorn vampire thing!” Rainbow sputtered, pointing her hoof at Twilight.
The alicorn raised a hoof towards Pinkie, shutting off the angry tirade she knew was coming. “I am two thousand three hundred and seventy-six years old.” She leaned closer and glared down at the smaller pony. “I am also the first vampire and your rightful queen, so you will show me respect.”
Rainbow nodded and before she could even think of resisting, she spoke, “Yes, Mistress.”
“Good, now tell me what you think a suitable punishment would be, and be honest with me.” Her eyes grew sharp and Rainbow knew better than to resist.
“I think I should have all my holdings stripped from me and my public persona killed off. After that, I believe that I should be placed in Lady Rarity’s care to be reeducated and reintroduced at a later date.” She bowed her head only to blink. “What the fuck was that?”
Rarity laughed. “I think you laid it on a little thick, Mistress, the poor dear seems to be quite confused.”
Twilight laughed as well. “That it may be, but I think you can all agree it was warranted.” The others nodded.
“Hey wait a second, I-”
Twilight slammed her hoof down on her podium. “You will be silent unless spoken to, fledgeling.”
Rainbow felt her lips lock together and despite her best effort, she couldn't so much as summon a mumble of anger.
“Our judgement is complete. Rarity, would there be any trouble if I asked you to carry out the punishment this fledgeling has asked for?” Twilight asked.
Rarity shrugged. “It would be my honor to carry out your will.” The mare bowed low, drawing a nod from the alicorn.
“Good. Then see it done. After she is gone, we will speak more on our little Blood Pact problem.”
Rarity whistled and a sharp dressed stallion appeared suddenly, rising from the shadows cast by the many stalactites. “You rang, miss?” the stallion droned in a deep baritone voice.
Rarity gestured with disdain toward the still kneeling form of Rainbow Dash. “Yes, I did. Would you please put this one in the dungeon and ask my dear Serrated to be at the ready to teach somepony a lesson?”
The stallion smiled. “As you wish.” He turned and dragged the still unresponsive pegasus from the room.
Twilight smiled. “Well then. We have a dilemma on our hooves. One I think we can take the chance to enjoy.”
Pinkie grinned maniacally. “I wouldn't miss this party for the world.”
Applejack flexed, her suit straining under her bulging muscles. “Sure sounds like quite the shindig there boss.”
“Finally a chance to cut loose,” Rarity added with a smirk.
“Well, girls, what do you say we go have some fun?” Twilight said with a smile that showed her long fangs in all their glory.
Pinkie Pie shivered. “Coming along too, Mistress?”
Twilight smiled. “I think I am going to enjoy taking apart these upstart fools.”
(Feel free to ask any questions about the story or the world in the comments! I didn't get the chance to explain a lot in this short fic but I did plan an answer to pretty much any question you may have.) HIGHLY recommend checking out the comments if you want to know more about the world as I have answered a few questions there.
Edited by the everwonderful EverfreePony
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My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic Fanfiction
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It's pretty good, I was a little confused at first but after reading for a while I figured things out, very creative I liked it.
Ok, sure.
WHAT IS THE CONTEXT FOR EVERYTHING???!!!! I NEED MORE DETAILS ABOUT EVERYTHING!!!
8710253
Anything specific you would like to know?
Is it supposed to be friend?
8710303
Herp, yeah.
8710298
EVERYTHING!!!!!
8710345
Well I cant answer everything but feel free to ask something specific.
8710379
When I think of something, I will.
Hmm to be honest I am finding it honestly hard to believe that any of these characters would even be capable of wielding the elements of harmony given how they are shown to act.
I also have seriously doubts either Luna or Celestia would tolerate their existence.
8710440
"Hmm to be honest I am finding it honestly hard to believe that any of these characters would even be capable of wielding the elements of harmony given how they are shown to act.
I also have seriously doubts either Luna or Celestia would tolerate their existence."
Alternate Universe tag my freind. In this world the elements dont care and are able to be used by whomever Celestia wills them to be.
Luna and Celestia not only tolerate them but are in league with the council. Trusting that Twilight can keep her progeny from running too rampant and controlling their population.
Can you give us more please
8710487
Maybe eventually.
More?
Please?
I mean with the way they were acting, their names seem almost like formalities. Rainbow Dash, Applejack, and Rarity I can see being similar but all the rest might as well have been entirely original characters for the resemblance they share to their names.
While I thought this was interesting, I DO have a few questions.
One, how did Twilight become the first vampire? How's something like that happen?
Two, how did Rainbow not know all of her other friends except herself were vampires?
I'm a bit confused...
What is the context of being taught a lesson in the Council?
Is Rarity actually trying to reeducate her on the laws of the Council and how they are important (as in trying to get her on the right path), or is some sort of torture to submit Rainbow to respect the Council?
It's obvious Rainbow would have to gain trust from the Council to even be on her own again, but does it seem possible that they will ever respect her again, even after an century or two?
Also if an old public ponysona is killed off, how does the new public ponysona enter into pony society (especially a fleshling), when they have nothing?
8711008
Thats the thing with such a short story, I dont really have time to establish the fact that they are the same characters, I think their original personalities still shine through for the most part though.
8711130
Very long story with Twilight but suffice it to say she was always a vampire and I'm still toying around with her origin story, either she was a creation by Celestia and Luna for a third immortal, one that could balance eachother out and help with ruling. Or she was the original third alicorn sister that meddled in things beyond her understanding and became a vampire.
As for RD, well, frankly... Shes an idiot. In this story I kind of crank up that a few notches as well. In addition the rest of the five are good at hiding, whereas RD is not.
8711239
What do you mean what is the context? Its fairly evident in the story. The fact that they dont care about the council's existance, RD explaining that they have been creating new vampires without the council's permission, potentially murdering their envoy, etc.
Rarity is not entirely defined, its sort of both, rogue vampires need to be taught a lesson but only if RD really fights back would it stray toward outright torture.
They fully intend on giving her a measure of respect, as well as her freedom, after she knows the rules and is willing to follow them. It may not even take that long. It would have to be long enough for anypony she knew to have died of old age, provided she also learned and accepted the rules in that time.
Depends, they could claim they were hermits, or simply from out of town. I imagine Dash's cover story would be something like that after she knows how to disguise her very unique coloration.
And its fledgeling.
8711257
Yeah, she is kind of a stupid.
Well, if you do more, I look forward to seeing it.
8711269
Maybe eventually.
I have too many big projects in the works to take on another right now.
8710253
Ever heard of Vampires: The Masquerade?
Like this. Which is where the cover image came from.
img00.deviantart.net/b6af/i/2011/304/4/d/my_little_masquerade_wallpaper_by_rhanite-d4ems2g.png
8711416
The game specifically is what served as my inspiration for this but it is purely as inspiration and I didnt really transplant any lore etc to this world.
8711426
True.
Hmmm.
This might just be vampire paranoia talking. But all of rainbow dashes friends are elder vampires. Vampires who are on the twilight council. If I were were a subtle or powerful enemy of the twilight council, I would say that this may very well be a deliberate... attack? Insult? To the council through the mortals around them. In this case by kidnapping RD, embracing her, and then encouraging her to disregard the councils laws.
Perhaps controlling RD by way of blood bond.
That or there's some apocalypse cult that wants all of the elements of harmony to be vampires.
Or the council wanted all of the elements of harmony to be vampires.
Who can say really?
Werewolves as diamond dogs?
8711274
Just thought of something else.
Why is Pinkie so slavish towards Twilight?
And if Pinkie's family were her...what, actors? Minions? What does that make Maud?
8711488
The elements dont care if they are vampires or not so long as their primary attribute is the same. That being said they are going to have to break RD of her loyalty to the blood pact. Soo....
8711688
The werewolf curse was born of the diamond dogs where it originated as a last ditch ceremony to use on their warriors to make them more fierce and powerful. Only used when their tribe was facing an insurmountable foe and then when they survive they must execute their afflicted brethern. Needless to say that didnt happen somewhere down the line and the curse spread.
8712190
Pinkie is basically part of the last remnant of a cult that surounded Twilight and hailed her as a goddess. Over the millenia of her absence it has faded but when she returned she embraced the cult and turned it towards 'good'.
As for her family, im still toying around with the idea of just her 'parents' being familiars or one of them being a true vampire and enslaving the rest. Right now I'm thinking about making Maud the one true vampire that controls the rest as she seems to connect better with her 'sister', Pinkie Pie.
8712470
I guess that probably explains the rest of their 'families' as well.
Is there anything that can take them?
8712485
Yes and no. The core (hehe) of the apple family are vampires and the 'ruling' members so to speak are all vampires as well or well regarded familiars that are on their way to becoming vampires.
The cakes are familiars of Pinkie Pie.
Sweetie Belle is a familiar of Rarity and the rest of the belle family are like minor houses in Rarity's empire. She draws from their young and talented and helps to raise them in order for them to eventually return as fully fledged vampires in order for them to lead the house Rarity took them from. Think of, old school vasal/lord relashionship but they are more then happy when Rarity chooses as that means they are going to have a wise and eternal leader, nevermind the generosity of their mistress is legendary.
Fluttershy's family is the only one (besides RD's) that are both not familiars and dont know as Fluttershy didnt return home untill after she mastered disguising her true nature. She also has no desire to bring her family into the dark underworld of vampire politics so she merely places a warden outside her family's home to ensure no upstart would find out their relation and try and strike her through her family.
RD hasnt been turned for terribly long and its been shown in the show that she doesnt exactly visit often or talk about herself too much to her family. So they are in the dark and she doesnt care about giving them 'protection' as she doesnt think anyones dumb enough to cross her.
Twilight is a special case. She spent centuries being guilted and eventually turned from the 'dark side' so to speak, by Celestia. After that she was locked in the body and mind of a child in order to truly experience life among what she considered 'lower life forms'. After seeing the error of her ways, Celestia set up one last task before she would fully unleash Twilight's old powers. Which was redeeming and removing the vampire curse from her sister, who Twilight had attempted to turn in order to take over Equestria. Even with her old memories Twilight knew what she had to do and with the redeeming of Luna and the removal of the curse, Twilight proved herself trust worthy. Celestia began removing the restrictions she placed on Twilight and eventually when she showed off her trust worthiness again she eventually let her alicorn level power to be unleashed and set her on the new task of uniting the underworld of vampires in order to bring them in line. WHich brings us to now.
As for her family, the parents were eventually told but Shining has been left in the dark, that being said Cadance was eventually told as well. They have mixed royal guard, loyal vampire protection detail but they are neither familiars or vampires as Twilight considers them as a second family and cherishs them immensely.
8712497
Doubtful, but then again in the story they have only managed to wrestle control of the underworld in Ponyville, the surounding countryside and a few other villages. Eventually Twilight will spread her influence and attempt to dominate every other town or city that has a population of vampires and she is old and doesnt know what's out there.
8712516
Then I think that leaves me with just one more question: what exactly is a familiar?
8712823
They are basically human or in this case pony servants or slaves that are used by vampires as walking blood banks to use whenever they are thirsty. They are also basically bound to the vampire and will do pretty much anything the vampire wants. The process of making one usually involves giving the familiar a taste of the vampire's blood which hooks them on it and temporarily gives them a taste of vampiric power, like speed, streangth etc.
8712834
Figures it was something like that, thanks
Hm when is this happening? With the premise that are here there is no way that anything canon worked as expected. The whole Nightmare Moon situation would just not happen... The premise that the Mane 6 are vampires may work... that Twilight is two thousand and some years old... not much... As Twi is an Alicorn... has she ascended as per the series? Discord would also not work out properly... And Twi would have got to interact with him on historical basis... as she would be present on Luna's transformation...
It would definitely NOT go as the show... So fundamentally here we have characters that share a name and some physical characteristics with the Mane 6 but that's just it...
8718523
The time line happens right after Twilight 'becomes' an alicorn.
Everything did function as expected as that is their cover. The elements dont care that they are vampires so long as their primary atribute is their element.
As for alicorn Twi, i mentioned down in the comments more about her, take a peek if you want to know how that all worked.
AS for Discord he knows their secrets but plays along anyway as he finds it perfectly chaotic and revealing them would end that little spark of chaos. In this world it is primarily what 'rehabilitates' him. He knows the world is plenty chaotic so all he really has to do is sit back, watch and occasionaly prank people when he gets bored.
I disagree with your last asertion and find people's intense hatred of anything that strays from the norm to be disheartening. They are pretty much the same characters, their personalities are more or less in tact, they also act exactly like the characters in the show when out in public. Almost all the events happened like in cannon only with a few minor changes.
8718800
Hmm the problem with that is that you CAN'T be that Twilight with two thousand year of age. Same can be said for Pinkie, Applejack and Rarity. It's quite difficult that things went the same... A lot of what happens in canon is due to lack of foresight, power or naivete... Once you start having uber old vampires there... well you can say that EVERYTHING is sort of scripted but then it start to be an EXCEEDINGLY complex plan. Again there is fundamentally NO friendship among this Mane 6 so at least either ONE element is radically different or Twilight would not qualify. The various let's call them "test" in the Everfree would fall FLAT in an incredible way... The scare solved by Pinkie would be completely nonsensical with this cast. The one for Applejack well.. what would it mean? How would it work? Then the REACTION from Nightmare Moon would be quite different with a two thousand year old Twilight... she would be something relatively known at the time... It implies a LOT of changes. The frantic overeager Twilight is NOT there this Twilight is a scheming mastermind aeons old who doesn't fundamentally give a damn about her friends, Fluttershy is hard, resolute and almost a dominatrix... They do not appear with the traits that should have...
8712516
One question here... WHAT dark underworld?... with the Apple family, the "empire" of Rarity, and the backing of fu*king Sun Goddess Celestia, Twilight and her coterie would be ALL the vampire underworld...
Equestria is small... you can't have too many vampires... it doesn't work well...
[I posit that at least here vampire works more or less as in Vampire The Masquerade RPG and CAN feed without killing or changing the victim]
Ponyville has less than one hundred inhabitants, we have the mane six minus rainbow and an undefined number of blood circle that got there in relatively recent time... That is what? one vampire every three pony? that is a LOT...
8719018
Why cant there be freindship amongst the mane six? What part of them being vampires stops them from ever having freinds. Why wouldnt Twilight qualify? Which element is radically different?
What test in the Everfree would fall flat and why?
Why would the scare be nonsensical?
The one with APplejack would be difficult to explain but would it be impossible?
Why doesnt she give a damn about her freinds? You seem to be making a metric ton of assumptions not based on anything in this story. Why wouldnt Nightmare moon react the same way? The Twilight of that time would be incredibly different from the one now, what proof is there that NightMare Moon wouldnt think she was a distant relative? What bonified proof do you have that Twilight didnt fake her own death before hand, making NMM think this pony was completly different?
How does Fluttershy acting resolute for a bit completely negate her kindness? Are the two mutually exclusive like you are insinuiating? If so, explain why being resolute is the antithesis to kindness. How can you prove that they dont have any of their traits?
8719035
The vampires have had over a thousand years to spread covertly even with a ton of backing do you think its possible that Twilight wouldnt have been able to find and subjegate all of them? Plus she has a cover to keep, vampire powers to relearn and a library to run.
How do you know Equestria is small and how do you know they are only in Equestria?
Yes vampires work like in the masquerade and the process of making a new one is quite the ritual. How do you know that Ponyville has less then a hundred ponies? Where in cannon does it say that? Where in cannon does it say that population did not increase after Twilight became an alicorn? Where in cannon does it state that this also accounts for everyone living on the fringes, in the Everfree or hiding?
How can you prove there are 3 to 1? How did you come to that number and where in cannon or in my story does it give evidence to that assumption?
8719338
By the behaviour she is keeping with Rainbow Dash. The whole "YOU BROKE LAWS AND WILL BE JUDGED!"[even though she DOESN'T know the law. NOBODY told her the law, this "Circle of blood" are a bunch of idiots that just waltzed in their territory without a hitch, got one of their most close friend to turn and make a mess.], The casual use of mind control, at a MINIMUM she is NOT friend with RD . If they are so damn good in keeping tab on everyone they just dropped the ball quite badly on RD case. How long does it take for the ritualized change to happen, Did RD just rush through everything?
The thing about Ponyville having few inhabitants is apparent from the show, Even counting the background ponies, you don't get to much.
It's simply stretches QUITE much the suspension of disbelief that having a change SO big in the baseline everything else gets back the same with "minor changes" here and there...
8720311
"By the behaviour she is keeping with Rainbow Dash. The whole "YOU BROKE LAWS AND WILL BE JUDGED!"[even though she DOESN'T know the law. NOBODY told her the law, this "Circle of blood" are a bunch of idiots that just waltzed in their territory without a hitch, got one of their most close friend to turn and make a mess.],"
Thats a bit of a stretch. If you were a cop and lets say murder was okay in canada but not in the states, I come down to the states and murder someone and say "Its not a crime where im from." Or "I didnt know." Does that dismiss me of guilt? Is ignorance of the law a justification for breaking it? They were also informed of the law through the emmisery Twilight sent but they killed. Also, they are going to go to the blood pact and murder them for fucking up so badly so dont you think they went a little light on RD? Doesnt going light on the punishment, be something freinds would do?
"The casual use of mind control, at a MINIMUM she is NOT friend with RD . If they are so damn good in keeping tab on everyone they just dropped the ball quite badly on RD case."
She is making her sit and not hurt herself by leaving the circle, she also forcing her to be honest. Are those two things really that bad? forcing a freind to be honest when you know she isnt about to be and making her not hurt herself? Do you know everything that has ever happened with every single freind? Or do you think your freinds might have secrets they wouldnt tell you? Do you believe that your freind having a secret makes them not your freind anymore?
"How long does it take for the ritualized change to happen, Did RD just rush through everything?"
I dont even know whats going on in this sentance.
"The thing about Ponyville having few inhabitants is apparent from the show, Even counting the background ponies, you don't get to much."
This is admittedly only an assumption on your part. IN CANNON it is described as a town, and a town has anywhere from 1,000 to 20,000 inhabitants. I doubt there are 20,000 obviously but if there is even 1 thousand then the numbers are fine.
8720377
The thing is they KNEW that they were in town, they knew that they were idiots, they knew that RD was getting influenced by them, RD IS an element [event though it's not really clear how much that is relevant in this universe... She IS the exemplar of loyalty canonwise, here it's not really clear how much it's important]
The question on RD rushing things is about what timeframe did they get from RD turning to the killing of the guard to Rainbow turning Thunderlane and "familiar" Scootaloo [i guess that is your term for making a ghoul] So they could have intervened EARLIER, instead of leaving their friend to make a mess.
And let's not talk about the issues with the need to stay hidden... that is a big problem in a LOT of Vampire situation... In the Masquerade it MAY make sense as humanity in the last two hundred years has got to be INCREDIBLY efficient in killing even smart things... At the time of the Dark Ages? hmmm a group of Vampires would be QUITE able to keep a LOT of humans subdued. Given that they DON'T need to KILL people to feed it becomes illogical to stay hidden... but that is a problem with the WHOLE Vampire issue... It applies on MLP as the MLP universe is QUITE low tech. The situation does not flow...
The point of staying hidden make sense for Dracula because his vampires are three against the world, have SEVERE weakness that need to sleep during the day leaving them completely vulnerable. It starts to be a bit of a fiat already on Vampire The Dark Age but still sunlight is CRIPPLING LETHAL, and going around in daylight is fundamentally impossible. Here they can go around in full sunlight during the day [else half of the episodes go to the bin], they appear to have a "normal" sleep cycle without an obvious set of weaknesses, they already have EMPIRES that numbers SEVERAL houses of ponies that have ZERO issues on being servant and i guess donors for the vampires... WHY keep it secret? On top of that they have the backing of Celestia... And let's put there also half support from DISCORD... ehr... there are a LOT of way that this could evolve more sensibly...
8720464
Again, everything you have stated is pure conjecture, everytime ive asked for evidence, proof or a solid line of reasoning you have yet to answer me.
You assume they knew about RD, you assume that the ponies have no way of fighting back despite no evidence of this, you assume for whatever reason that discord would fight vampires. You assume, you assume you assume.
8720919
What way of fighting back do the pony have given what is seen in the cartoon? They are completely at mercy of ANYTHING there. Be it Trixie, Spike, Tirek, a bug bear or whatever else happens in the series... Without the Mane 6 they would be boned...
YOU are positing that they WOULD have ways of fighting successfully a reasonable amount of vampires...
[And again... on the side in general in the various vampiric media... it MAKES no sense to NOT set up a worshiping system when you are that much powerful AND you DON'T need to kill people for food... The whole God Among Commoners works QUITE well if you can back it up with that kind of oomph... but let's not go there...]
I said half support from Discord... But it's not even needed.
You present the mane 6 minus RD in this fic as this hidden control of the place... but then you say that they DON'T have any control? a bunch of guys comes in, flouncing any kind of masquerade mind you, have time to turn one of their best friend, kill their envoy, and then have the time to turn also ANOTHER pony, all that BEFORE they even try talking to their supposed friend about the fucking mess she is in... Either they ARE competent and on the ball with a lot of centuries of experience OR they are a bumbling group of self centered vampires with an inflated ego and casual disregard for their "friends".
8720983
Jesus christ your one opinionated dude.
They dont 'have a way to fight back' in the show because there would be no show if they did but think about it. All the magic Twilight uses could be used by any significantly determined individual. Pegasi can summon cyclones, change the weather and use clouds to shoot lightning bolts. Earth ponies have been shown in the show to do some pretty incredible feats of streangth.
Also, as to your rambling about control. Do you have any proof, evidence or anything you can point at to back up any of that? Whats to say this wasnt Twilight's plan the entire time? Whats to say she didnt want to wait for an excuse to go in there and bust some heads? How does a single rogue element mean she has no control over anything?
I presented them as they have some control, its you who made this wild and frankly stupid assumption that any hiccup in control means that they have no control at all.
Twilight is not omniscient. I dont know why you seem to think that. She is not a litteral god, she does not know everything in existance. The fact that you seem to think that she knows litterly everything and chooses to do nothing about it is just plain idiotic. Have you even considered the fact that the blood pact's size is not expressely stated and they might just be a small time gang and Twilight might not want to bother with as she has bigger fish to fry? At least untill she found evidence that they were causing more problems then she thought? No of course not, Twilight is an omniscient god that sees all, knows all and can do all and the fact that she hasnt fixed everything, might have made a mistake is evidence in your mind that my versoin of Twilight is a complete dunce.
Look man, you evidently have a massive chip on your shoulder and you are more then willing to type out pages upon pages of angery text because someone had the audacity to make an alternate universe. You need to chill the fuck out. People are allowed to make AU's, people are allowed to stretch the characters, characters are allowed to be imperfect, they sing an entire song about it on the show. Just because every single character in every single story in the entirety of this site are not perfect cookie cutter copies of the one from the show is okay.
People are allowed to change the characters, get over yourself.
I hope to see a sequel or a prequel for this story one day.
Good story you have here, keep up the good work!
8721275
*applause*
My thoughts exactly!
Well said jest
8720983
Here let's give an example about numbers
I have a very hungry swarm of 50k fire ants
You have 2 Wolves that are placed in a room with the nest
Who wins?
If your answer was the ants you are correct! Even though the wolves kill 10s of ants per paw step the ants will swarm and eventually take them down by sheer numbers.
heres an example of how effective these guys are
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=R3Mt2E1M6dU
9079931
Got a link to wherever you got your profile pic? I like it.