Cantervania

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Canterlot sat atop the mountain, normal and fancy as it ever was. The sun was down for the night to reign, the moon shining high, and not a single star relented to shine. Down in the town of Canterlot, which everypony knows lays in the castle's shadow, things were a bit less than peaceful. The mist rolled in, not wavered by any eruption of chaos ponies knew how to bring.

They did not care about this, however. The ponies below ran in chaos from the horrors unraveling throughout their town. From fancy to farmhand, the ponies darted down the street, wreaking havoc left and right. Store windows and homes were carelessly broken as ponies made their own attempts to escape with their fillies, family, and any personal belongings they had time to grab. The mist was chasing them, pushing them from the town as fast as it could, never relenting, always breathing. It crept closer and closer to envelop the whole town and it's fleeing inhabitants.

Not a single pony looked back after they had parted from the town gates. The guards - the ones left, that is - rushed ponies out, not even attempting to keep order anymore. There were too few, and the damage had already been done. Now, they just wanted to get out themselves. The brave few who did not flee, and the lucky few who survived, stood at the gates to usher as many ponies out as they could. The mist was upon them now, but with strong faces they stayed, performing their royal duties to the last breath.

But then, the gate slammed shut by a powerful force that not even the gathering of fleeing ponies pressing against it could open it. The remaining guards were severed, none of them being pegasi, though the few civilians who were could not escape anyways. The mist had formed some sort of barrier over the town. All who were in were trapped, and all who were out fled, to their horror.

The screaming and shouting stopped. In the mist, a pair of pink, diluted eyes carved their holes, while a demented smile did the same. It's fangs glinted in the blurry moonlight; a powerful display to even the bravest pony. Slowly, and very reluctantly, the mass of final refugees turned around to face their fear.

(o,..,o)

Twilight was awoken by the scream of her number one assistant. She shot from her soft bed, collapsing to the floor. "Spike!" she yelled out to him, "I'm coming!" She did not know where he was, but she would do her best under the circumstances.

"I-I'm in the entrance!" he called to her. She took no time to burst through the door and charge down the stairs to face Spike's problem. Though dark, she could see with the help of the moon, which flooded its light through her open door.

"Spike? What's wrong? Did someone break in?" Twilight demanded, tossing her head left and right for answers. But it was too dark, and she grunted in annoyance as she resorted to magic this late at night. Her horn charged a deep burning violet, illuminating the room with a soft glow. Despite her attempt at subtlety, she still had to blink rapidly to regain her sight.

"L-Luna!" she choked at the sight of her beloved princess sprawled on the floor. "Oh my gosh! What happened?" Her coat was torn and beat, and her breathing shallow.

Still, the exhausted alicorn looked up to Twilight with the help of Spike, and began to mumble something. Twilight got closer, and closer still to understand. She practically had her ear to Luna's lips when she could make out the words.

"Can...Canterlot," the Princess mumbled. Her head drooped, but Spike quickly picked her back up. "Go...Canterlot...Friends..." With a sigh, Luna fell from consciousness.

"Oh my, Spike, this is bad! Write a letter to the Princess-"

"No!" the weak Luna coughed, finding her consciousness for a brief moment. "No... Go..." A heavy breath out, and Luna was gone again. Twilight looked around, confused.

"I, uh, well," she stammered.

Spike intervened. "Twilight you need to get going! I'll take care of the Princess, but you need to go! Go get Princess Celestia, she'll know what to do."

Hopping from leg to leg, she began to sweat from the stress. "Well, um, I guess, uh."

"Go!" Spike pushed her with words. He was actually dragging the princess to the stairs, with a look that showed how much he knew this would suck.

"B-But Canterlot is so far away," Twilight panicked. "I need to find Nurse Redheart."

Spike shot her an annoyed look, with plenty of words behind it. "No, Twilight, she said get to Canterlot. A Princess just told you to go to Canterlot! Go!" he urged her, nervousness apparent.

Twilight shook her head in confusion, but when she felt the spark of encouragement, she took it. The mare darted out the library, into the moonlight, when she slammed into something. The light on her horn died out as she rubbed her head.

"I apologize Miss Sparkle," a gruff voice said. She looked up, and found that it was one of Luna's personal guards. Only one.

"What..." she trailed as her head throbbed. Her plot was cold on the ground, but she did not stand.

"There's no time for an explanation. Please, we need to hurry. Get on," he said, almost ordering her onto Luna's personal chariot. He hitched himself into one of the two empty slots, giving Twilight an urgent look.

"Um, okay," she mumbled. Annoyed, the tired unicorn climbed aboard. "You taking me to Canterlot?"

The guard shook his head. "No ma'am, I was ordered to take you to gather your friends. Only one has been alerted so far, Miss Rainbow Dash." The pegasus promptly took off as he explained. "She has gone to Miss Fluttershy, and will be heading for a Miss Rarity soon. I told her to meet at the town fountain, in the park."

The chariot swerved left, and descended to the very nearby Sugarcube Corner. "What's going on? I want an explanation," Twilight ordered. The nighttime disturbance was making her cranky.

”I do not know all, but please, it is very important," the guard insisted as the wheels hit the ground. "Please, I shall explain in the park. Go get your friend, Pinkie Pie, I believe." Twilight sighed. "And be quick about it," the guard added.

Twilight snorted, taking the comment as rude, and jumped off the chariot. She trotted into Sugarcube Corner - she could just walk in, being on official business - and flipped the lights on. Pinkie would be upstairs, sleeping no doubt. Twilight liked it when she was sleeping.

She sighed, and turned to head up the stairs. But two ponies beat her to it. "Oh, um, hello Mr. and Mrs. Cake," she yawned.

"Twilight? What're you doin here?" Mr. Cake asked, his tired head popping out from the top of the stairs.

"I...Are you sweating? What...Ugh, just get Pinkie for me please?" she asked as kindly as she could

"Pinkie?" Mrs. Cake appeared, sweat drenched as well. "Whatever for?"

The unicorn shook her head at the thoughts. "I don't know. But Princess Luna-"

"P-Princess? She wants Pinkie?" Mrs. Cake asked, a shocked look on her face.

"Well, no, but-"

"Is she in trouble? I always knew she was a nut, but..." Mr. Cake trailed off, worried.

Twilight growled loudly. "JUST GET ME PINKIE!"

Both the Cake's stopped. "Well, um, I suppose," Mrs. Cake mumbled, turning and leaving the stairs.

Mr. Cake remained to annoy Twilight. "Did she do something wrong?" he asked.

Twilight facehoofed, but understood his basis. "No, she didn't. But something's wrong, and-"

"REALLY?" a jumpy voice cut her off.

"I can't even get in one sentan-"

Pinkie unleashed her usual barrage as she barreled down the stairs. "Twilight!" she flipped. "Are you here to have a sleepover? YAY! Ohmygosh, we gotta-"

"Pinkie shut up!" she snapped. Almost instantly she regretted saying those words. Her pink mane friend stopped at the bottom of the stairs, and fell to her seat. "I'm sorry Pinkie, it's late, and there's a lot going on-"

"It's okay!" she said, back to her usual psychotic self in seconds.

Twilight huffed, trying to breathe her annoyance and displeasure out. "I don't want to have a sleepover. We need to get out to Luna's chariot."

"Her chariot?" the pony asked, tilting her head. "Why is she here? I mean, I like her and all, but," she interrupted her own thoughts, "She can sleep over too!"

"Pinkie, we are not having a sleepover," Twilight darted Pinkie a harsh look.

"Oh, right, well still!" she bounced.

"And," Twilight continued, "Princess Luna is not with us. We need you and Applejack to get to the park with us."

Pinkie once again tilted her head, confused. "What's at the park. Twilight, it's like, midnight."

"I know Pinkie, I know," she said through clenched teeth. "Look, we really need to be going."

"Okie Dokie Lokie!" The party on legs bounced. She hopped past Twilight, straight out the door.

"I'll, uh, take care of her," Twilight assured the Cakes. They nodded, and she flashed herself out of the bakery, and onto the chariot.

(o,..,O)

The chariot landed gracefully at Sweet Apple Acres, and the annoyed Twilight eagerly jumped out. Pinkie could talk anypony to death, even after waking up at midnight. "I'll be right back," she nodded to the guard, who looked uneasily back at the sputtering pony. "And I promise to be quick," empathy rang from her voice.

She trotted up to the door to the farmhouse door. The guard that was flying them around had told them nothing; in fact, he barely said anything other than asking for directions. Twilight sighed a long, weary sigh, and knocked on the door. There was no answer. After what felt like at least a minute of waiting - five if Pinkie was talking, but the guard was shooting her angry looks - Twilight decided to try again. Harder now, she banged on the door. If this didn't wake anypony up, she was sure nothing less than an explosion would

Thankfully, and explosion was not needed. From between the cracks of the door, Twilight was hit in the eye with a light. Already angry with everything, she slammed her hoof on the door in annoyance and slight pain.

"I'ma comin," an old voice crocked. "No need ta go bangin."

It was Granny Smith; Twilight knew this could take a while. So, she sat on the itchy welcome mat that sat in front of the door, and waited.

The guard's voice pierced the cold air. "What's the problem?" He asked thickly.

"Give her a minute," Twilight assured. The next part she mumbled to herself. "Or ten..."

Yet surprisingly, Granny Smith was at the door in no time. The rattling lock came unbolted, and the old wooden thing swung ajar quickly. "Well hello there, deary," She smiled.

"Hi Granny, is Applejack home?" she asked.

Granny Smith's smile fell, and her face was soon that of worry. "Here Twilight hon, it's a note from Applejack." She reached to a small table, and picked up the small piece of paper with her mouth. Twilight took it in the same manner when it was offered. "She told me ta give that to ya should ya stop by. I didn't want to believe'r, but, um, you need ta get movin is all." With that, the green old mare slammed the door in Twilight's face.

The rudeness in the air tonight was spreading like a wildfire. Fuming with agitation, she dropped the paper, catching it with magic and quickly unfolding it. She had to squint to read in the night, but the message was clear.

Twilight-
Stay away from Canterlot. This ain't somethin for y'all.
Be home soon, see ya then.

-AM

AM? Her name was Applejack, not... Apple-whatever. Twilight dropped the note and sighed. "That note was from Applejack," she told the guard as she climbed into the chariot. "She said not to go to Canterlot."

"So she's not here?" Pinkie asked. "I'm confused."

Twilight nodded.

"You have a smart friend, Twilight Sparkle," the guard hissed, picking the chariot up and heading off into the night.

The flight to the park was short, sweet, and bitter cold. Pinkie was, thankfully, being silent, letting Twilight organize her thoughts. As much as she could, anyways, as she really had no clue what to make of this. Beat up Luna, midnight, Apple-M gone, a warning... She was beginning to form an idea, but the extent of her knowledge kept her from creating an organized hypothesis. Frustration morphed with her thoughts, exhaustion fueling it, with a hint of everypony behind the whole thing. All Twilight could do was lean over the edge and watch the trees go by as they approached the park.

By now the chariot was swaying. "I apologize," the guard said, preparing to land. "The flight here with Mistress Luna was exhausting."

"It's perfectly alright," The unicorn said calmly. She had cooled down enough for some limited social interaction now, but some coffee would help. Still she kept cool as the chariot landed with an ungracious thud on the grass by the fountain. Just as it stabled, the guard collapsed from the hitching, giving his burning muscles a much needed break.

Twilight was first out, followed by Pinkie, who's excitement had returned. She bounced and sputtered while Twilight did her best to ignore her. "Thank you kindly for the work you've done. Why not take a break?" she suggested to the sweating pegasus.

"I'm afraid I cannot. Direct orders from Princess Luna," he panted. "I have to get you and your five, er, four friends to Canterlot immediately. There are to be no interruptions, I was told."

"Only if you're sure," she said with sympathy. This was the only pony that hadn't annoyed her all night, so she was ever so grateful. "Rainbow Dash could help you, I think," she suggested, nodding to the empty hitch.

The guard perked his ears up. "Are you sure? Is she a strong flyer? This thing is heavy," he breathed.

"Oh absolutely. She's one tough pegasus," Twilight confirmed. The guard just smiled. "Actually, I think I hear them coming now. Good, we can finally figure out what's going on." A small smile of relief flashed on her face.

Her suspicion was true, and from the town came three ponies, all speed walking. "I already told you, I don't know," Rainbow Dash snapped.

"Don't you get all rude to me," A voice that was obviously Rarity's retorted.

Fluttershy chimed in. "Um, girls, sorry but I don't think this is a good time to get into an argument."

"I suppose you're right, dear," Rarity groaned. "That carriage you were talking about is right there."

Twilight watched them approach. "Girls, please hurry," she called to them.

"We're coming, chill," the grumpy Rainbow Dash moaned.

"Yeah, pick up the pace!" Pinkie barked in a mockingly ordered tone. Twilight shot her a look, and she backed down.

In the air, Twilight could tell that tension was growing from her continuous stare. Even when her friends were next to the chariot, they did not speak. Pinkie was backed against the fountain now, wanting to get away from the scowl on Twilights face. When she was sure - absolutely sure - that Pinkie would quit, she slowly looked away.

"Twilight, um, what's going on?" Fluttershy asked as the tension dissipated.

"I'm not sure. But this nice guard here does." She pointed to the guard, who was getting re-shackled. "I can tell you what I do know though," she said, giving the guard time to get fitted, "Applejack's gone to Canterlot, and doesn't want us to follow. We are anyways, but... yeah... Also, Princess Luna is safe." She nodded to Rainbow Dash, who's knotted look gave way at the comment. "Spike is taking care of her."

"What happened to the Princess?" Rarity asked, worried now. "Rainbow just told us that she was panicked."

"She, um," Twilight began.

But now that the guard was finished, he helped her out. "She engaged in battle with something powerful, but that's all I know," he spoke. With a hoof, he waved the five ponies around him, all of which were more than eager to hear him. "I'll tell you more on the way there." Each of them let out a slightly disappointed sigh. "I apologize, but we really need to be going. Now. Miss Rainbow Dash, Miss Twilight claims you are a powerful flyer. I cannot make the trip on my own. Would you help me?"

Rainbow was always eager to show off, and Twilight knew it. It was no surprise when the cyan pegasus agreed, and quickly latched up. For the rest of them, they all simply climbed into the chariot and waited. The buckling did not take long, and soon Rainbow jittered anxiously, excited to drive a royal chariot. "Are you ready?" the guard asked. A look was all it took; the guard had apparently seen it before. He spread his tired wings, and diligently flapped alongside Rainbow, and the chariot soon lifted from the ground and was on its way.

"I don't know much, to be honest," the guard panted. Ponyville was quickly being left in their wake, and Canterlot, though a long way off, grew larger in small portions. "I was in the barracks, with the rest of the guards." The cold night air was rushing onto everypony's face, chilling it greatly. The stinging effect was just a bonus.

"But," he continued, "I remember a sweat soaked private. Er, pony... Ah, nevermind."

(>,..,>)

"Yeah, my plot!" Commander Nightwatch slammed his tankard down on the wooden table, the noise echoing through the chow hall. The night was like any other; he had gotten into an argument with the commander of Celestia's forces, Daylight, and was about to end up at the wrong end of yet another bet.

"Right, and let me guess, you can swallow it whole, right?" his rival sarcastically suggested.

Nightwatch slid his ale away. "As if you could swallow it in half! You're lyin!" he claimed. His forces were around him, and Daylight's around him. The stare-off had begun.

"Well the barracks are almost empty tonight, thanks to you," the commander snorted. "So let's prove it, once and for all. I'll put thirty bits to say that you can't swallow it."

Nightwatch looked around, and noted that he was right. It was for a good reason, though. "I already told ya, I have a bad feeling about tonight. So I increased the security. Problem?" he sneered. The white commander just shrugged and grinned. "And I'll put thirty five to it!" He pulled out his coin bag from his saddle back, and slammed it on the table. The two forces stared in excitement.

Any thrill was a blessing now; there wasn't much exciting going on in Canterlot. A thief here, bandit there, but nothing major. The blue commander was beginning to fear that his forces were becoming limp. All the more reason to send more out tonight.

In the hearty warmth of the torch lit room, Daylight chuckled. "Alright, you're on! Hope you enjoy losing, friend."

"I never lose," Nightwatch bluffed. "Beanstalk!" he shouted to the chef, who too was watching intently for this new bet to go wrong. "Two of your extra large blood runner burritos, please!" The tan pony burst into laughter at the request as she backed off the food stand and went into the kitchen to prepare.

"Swallow this whole and I may just pay for your hospital bill," Daylight laughed heartedly.

Nightwatch smirked. "I have a stomach of steel. At least my bathroom will manage to stay clean. I remember the first time you ate half of one of these things," he chuckled. Daylight blushed, thinking of his next move.

Before another card was played, however, a blue, sweat drenched pegasus burst through the doors and slid across a few tables. "C-Commanders!" she exclaimed.

"What is it private?" he asked the trembling pony.

"S-Sir! We don't know what it is, but something is tearing us up out there!" From behind him, a vase shattered in the hall.

"Alright, calm down," Daylight said as he approached. "All forces move out and suppress this thing." Each of the ponies behind him nodded respectfully and charged out.

"You're safe private," Nightwatch promised, holding her trembling hoof. "Deep breaths, in, out, good. Now, tell us what's going on."

"I-I don't know sir! This mist. I-It just appeared! We got lost, separated in it! A-At first is seemed like a spell gone wrong, but then p-p-private Scrollward screamed, and-"

"We haven't got time for this!" Daylight exclaimed. He fled from her, and grabbed his helmet from the table. "I'll see you out there," he told Nightwatch. The blue commander nodded, and let Daylight go on his way.

"It's alright, continue," he said. The difference, he thought to himself, from Celestia's forces and us is that we take the time to figure something out before recklessly charging in.

The sporadic breaths of the private fell under control again, and she continued, "There was blood from where he was. B-But he wasn't there. T-There was a figure! But I don't know what it was... It was tearing us up! I-I got so afraid that I just ran! I-I figured that i-if the two commanders knew what was going on..."

"It's alright private, you did a good job. How bad is this thing?"

"I-It's bad. We c-clustered to fight it off in one of the h-halls. T-There had to b-be at least twenty of us in that block. It t-tore us apart in seconds." The private shivered.

"Alright," he told her, "Stay here. Do you know where either Princess is?" The private shook her head. "Okay. I need to find Mistress Luna and get her out of here. You stay here and get anypony you can in here with you. If that thing comes back, you'll need help. I'll send any help I can, I promise."

That said, he dropped the pony, and gushed from the door. To his right was where both the private and the commander had come and gone to. So, he turned left and rushed down the hall. If Luna would be anywhere, it would be her tower. Left right, up down, he flew through the castle, telling each and every frenzied guard he saw to do one of two things. Every other one, he told to get to the chow hall as fast as they could. The others, he told to escort anypony they could from the castle, and then from the city. This was an emergency, and was to be treated as such.

He swooped around a bend that would get him straight to Luna's tower - the stairs, anyways - but was stopped by the mist that was flowing through. Her tower's stairs were at the corner of a T-Junction, in the most regal part of the castle, and he knew this place as well as the Princesses surely. But this mist was what the private was talking about, meaning that that creature had surely been here. His fears for the princess worsened.

"Anything for the princess," he whispered to himself. Rearing his head, he charged into the mist boldly, turning as quick as he could to get up the stairs. This stairway was cold and dark; a wrong feeling, as normally the torches kept it warm and well lit. Without a moment of hesitation, he charged up the mist, doing his best to ignore the wrongness he felt about the area. The door to Luna's room would be just a few stairs away, and he needed all his nerves for what he might see.

The blue doors opened like paper when he bashed into them, and he fumbled in, looking for any signs of whatever the private had seen. What he found, was a blue alicorn spread limp amongst a huge mess of papers and belongings. He jumped over a topple bookcase to his princess. When he was able to truly see her through the mist, horror panned his eyes.

(<,..,<)

"I got her chariot as quickly as I could, and shoved her on it. The mist was spreading out of the front castle gates when I finally was able to depart," he said over his shoulder. The ponies all had looks of horror. "Well," he shouted over the wind, "What I could see down in the town was a mass choas of confusion and panic. I was lucky to be flying with the chariot; ponies gave me space. I cannot even begin to tell you how many pegasi were toppling each other to the ground in fear. Anyways, we got out thankfully, and made it to Ponyville. The princess had once told me of her new friends there."

Twilight blushed, but shot harsh words in her mind. This was no time for that. "Oh!" the guard picked up, "She kept mumbling something. I think it was 'Draculestia', but I'm not sure."

"Draculestia?" Rainbow asked through the wind. "Like Dracula?" Twilight smiled proudly; she had lent that book to Rainbow a few weeks ago. A lightning bolt from the forming storm scared her from her thoughts though.

"Like I said, I don't know. But I hope not," the guard, apparently Nightwatch, responded. Canterlot was growing faster as the quickly approached, and Twilight could see the mist drifting through the town and castle. It seemed almost... alive.

"Where are we setting down?" Twilight called up to Nightwatch.

"Probably at the town gates. I don't think flying over that mist is a good idea," he responded. She was inclined to believe him; after his last premonition, anything in that pony's gut was right to her.

"What about Princess Celestia?" she called to the front. "Did she make it out?"

Nightwatch turned over his shoulder. "I hope so. Daylight went towards her tower, so I can only assume so. He's a strong one, despite his mouth."

"I hope you're right-" A thunder clap from the merging clouds not only cut her off, but scared her greatly. That story already had her nerves on end. "Rainbow, was there a storm scheduled for tonight?"

"Not that I remember," Rainbow Dash called back. "I don't see any pegasi up there either." She searched for the source of the storm. "Yep, I don't know what to tell ya Twi-" Boom! Another lightning bolt flew furiously down from the clouds, striking Nightwatch with a flash of brilliantly terrifying light. His harness cracked on its supports, despite being metal, and before anypony had a chance to do anything, his harness unattached itself from the chariot and fell to the ground. The one source of information, and their only protector was lost in the dark trees.

Everypony watched in horror as he disappeared. "Oh my!" Rarity exclaimed. "Why, we can't leave him! Rainbow, turn around this instant and go back for him!"

"I...I would..." the strained pegasus said. Twilight turned back to see her as her wings began to fail. "I didn't... realize... how strong that...pony was."

All of them screamed as the chariot jerked left, almost throwing out Pinkie. Luckily, Fluttershy grabbed Pinkies hoof and used her wings to pull the pony back up.

"Rainbow!" Twilight called. "Set us down!"

"Almost... to...town..." Rainbow heaved. Her face was redder than an apple.

"It's alright! We can walk! Just set us down!" Twilight yelled.

The hard headed pegasus surprisingly relented. "Alright... hang.. on.." Twilight wondered if she was even breathing now. Despite the thought, the chariot began to fall to Equestria, rain soon after it. The cold liquid bit their coats as the chariot's descent sped.

"I...can't..." Rainbow pushed.

"Fluttershy, help her!" Twilight stomped.

"I... I," the timid pony panicked.

But it was too late. The chariot was falling faster and faster, and Rainbow Dash was beginning to sway. Too much strain burst a blood vessel, and she was having a hard time controlling any of her actions. The gothic ride swayed in the wind, the gates of Canterlot so close it mocked them. Twilight watched in dismay as the chariot fell to the tree line instead of the misty gates.

Five screams echoed as the chariot smashed to the hard ground below. Each of them were scattered from the harsh crash, Twilight of them all being the luckiest. She had been snagged by a tree branch. Dazed, she looked down at her friends. Her world was spinning, but the damage was clear. The moonlight helped, but Twilight could still see the shattered chariot, her mangled friends, and the...blood.

They were all still moving, of course, with the exception of Rainbow Dash. While she seemed the least damaged of the four, the strain had obviously gotten to her. She laid limply on the shattered iron chariot, with the rest of the ponies around her, crawling away. Some looked broken - Pinkie had a crushed arm - while Rarity and Fluttershy seemed better off.

Twilight was simply stuck in a tree.

"Girls," she called down to them, "I'm coming! Stay there!"

"Darling," Rarity coughed, "There aren't many places we could go."

Twilight sighed. "Well still! I'll be right there!" She put a hoof down on a lower branch, then one lower than that, and climbed down as far and as fast as she could. She wasn't high up; only three or four branches and she would have some solid footing. But on the last branch, her hoof slipped, and she painfully jostled down to the ground like a ragdoll.

"I... I'm okay," she said, rubbing her screaming head. The rain was beginning to get harder, beating down on her tauntingly. "Don't worry," she wobbled to her hooves, "I'm coming."

One hoof, another, then another again. She stumbled out into the crash, looking to each of her friend. Obviously Pinkie need the most help. Twilight went to her friends side, and bent down. "Pinkie..."

"Twi...Twilight," the pink mare smiled. "Hey Twilight. What's that?" Twilight knew she had to be in some sort of hysteria; her arm bones were jutting out of her. Still, she looked to see what the pony was pointing to.

"I-I think that's the mist," she stuttered.

"The one that..." Pinkie coughed, "That that guy was talkin about?"

Twilight nodded and watched the mist. It was breathing like a pony... "That's... That's not possible," the unicorn fumbled with her thoughts. "What is this..."

A voice from behind her beckoned. A very, very familiar voice.

"Twilight, Ah told y'all not to come round here!" she heard. Applejack!

"Applejack, do you know what is- whoa!" she remarked as the orange pony swept her up and tossed her back like a saddle bag. "Applejack put me down! We need to get to our friends!"

"Twi, b'cause you didn't listen to me, our friends our out of the question!" the pony snapped as she fled the scene. Twilight watched the mist roll over her friends through the gaps in the trees.

As they drifted away, Twilight could hear her friends calling for her. Too disoriented to even raise her own hoof, she could do nothing but listen to their pleas as the mist devoured them.

(T,..,T)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UsC8jKgmEGo&feature=related

"Y'all was right Big Mac," Twilight heard Applejack say. "It was them."

Looking around, Twilight found herself at the gates of the city of Canterlot, doused in rain. There was debris on the road, most of it looking to be very personal items. As she rode sprawled on Applejack's back, she saw pictures of whole families holding each other. There were golden lockets, journals, notes, and even - and this hit her the most - a little teddybear holding a hear that said 'mommy'. Twilight looked away when she saw a tiny blood spot on its right leg.

She looked up at where she was being taken, wondering what had happened to cause this chaotic mess. Finding herself staring at the gates of a mist-logged Canterlot, she could only assume that this was what Luna was talking about. Next to the barred gates, was a rather large tent with a light inside. And there, poking his head out, was Big Macintosh. "Eyup," he nodded.

"Why do ya always have ta be right?" she sneered as she neared the tent.

Big Mac chuckled. "Not sure," he smiled.

Now at the lips of the folding tent, Applejack stopped, and with the help of her brother, slid Twilight off. "This ain't funny Big Mac, she's in danger, and so are th' rest of ma friends."

"Ah know," he sighed.

Applejack shook her head and turned to Twilight. "C'mon in, y'all don't wanna be out here long." The apple farmer was right, too. The night air seemed to watch them, the mist seeming to be it's pet. Gladly Twilight entered the tent.

Inside was cozy enough; there was a table with a lantern next to the support beam, its contents being some old books and a knife-edged Celestia figurine. The sides drooped, and connected with the ground with tacks. Though it was not the figure of the tent that made Twilight stop in awe. No, it was the contents of the little tent. Sprawled across the floor were countless whips, chains, crosses, and Celestia figures. It was an arsenal of the oddest weapons Twilight had ever seen.

"Don't mind them there," Applejack said, kicking a whip or two from her little straw cot in the corner. "C'mere and lemme have a look at ya."

Twilight, who didn't mind the attention, gladly walked to her friend, and sat on a spot that was patted for her. As soon as she sat, Applejack began inspecting her, tilting her chin up and down, and looking at her arms and legs. She even went as far as to check the inner thighs, causing Twilight to blush hard. But her friend did not so much as smile.

"Ah don't know if ya want answers, and Ah wouldn't normally care," she said, lifting Twilight's tail to peer down there. Twilight blushed again, but told herself it was for a good reason. "But, y'all is here, so now we don't have a choice."

"Actually, I do want answers," she explained in a stern tone. Applejack ignored her, and looked at her rib cage. "Why did you sigh you're letter 'AM' first of all."

Applejack immediately stopped, her look holding a curse behind it. "I... Dangit! How could Ah have been so careless. I thought Ah did everythin perfect."

"It's alright sis," Big Mac sighed, sitting next to her. "She may as well know. She's comin with us, after all."

"Now Ah never said that Big Mac!" Applejack rejected.

Her brother sighed, and kicked the dirt with his hoof. "Well she can't stay here alone, and she can't go back." There was a small silence, only the patting of rain on the tent making noise.

"Ah...Ah'll think of somethin," she sighed. "But... Ah suppose y'alls right." She turned back to Twilight, and inspected her other rib. "Look Twi, I signed it AB on accident. Listen here when I tell you... Mah name's not really Applejack."

Twilight backed up, taken by surprise. "W-What?" she stammered.

"I said, Mah name's not Applejack. It's AppleMont. And this here's Big Macinmont. We hide our names for a good reason, b'fore ya go cursin me," she sighed. "Twilight, y'all are a bookworm. You know what a vampony is?"

Twilight shot her a look that screamed of the situations insanity. "Yes, I do. Ponies that have fangs and suck blood of other ponies to survive. They're fictional creatures, nothing more."

"They're real Twi," Applejack said, seriously. "Look, ya like history, so maybe Ah should start with a bit of that. It was a long time ago, way before Granny Smith and her folks came here."

"Appleja, er, Applemont, this sounds like-"

Big Macinmont stepped in. "Ah know it sounds like a bunch a' horseapples, sorry for mah language, but it ain't. Listen. This is important to your life."

Twilight gulped and turned back to Applemont. "He's tellin tha truth. So, sorry to be rude, but just shut yer trap." She blushed, flustered. Her previous rudeness was coming back to her.

"Anyways, it was way back when, in a time when Celestia was havin trouble rulin Equestria," Applejack said. "Discord was finally defeated, and 'harmony' was restored an' all. But there was a problem, ya see. That problem was vamponies."

Twilight looked to Big Macinmont for clarification, but he just nodded.

"These were a huge problem fer Celestia, and whatever anypony tells ya, that castle in tha forest is where it all started. The vamponies like their castles," Applemont sighed. "With Celestia an' Luna startin to bicker, there wasn't no time for these pale freaks. But they kept comin, and takin anypony they wanted. Guards did what they could, but these vamponies were too strong. Eventually, Celestia was afraid of a full war."

The unicorn took a moment to soak all this up, but Applemont hardly gave it. "Now y'all should know of her faithful knight of the post discord age, right?"

Twilight thought hard. "Um...yes," she said. She had studied that age after all.

"Well that's who she called upon ta help with the problem. What she found was that this pony had a certain... talent fer this. Well, that pony was our ancestor, the first -mont." The 'mont' in front of Twilight was spewing more horseapples. "This -mont was a skilled bell maker in Canterlot, and was more than crafty. Fer her bells, people would do anythin. It helped that people thought her bells were blessed by Celestia. Turns out, one of em was. When Celestia told her about the vamponies, she made it clear that she wasn't gonna be able ta do it alone."

"So, Celestia told 'er to bring her the finest bell she'd ever crafted. I reckon she was jus' about as confused as you right now," Applemont tipped her hat to Twilight. "But, she did anyways. And finely crafted this thing was. It was quite the sight. Well, Celestia took it, and enchanted it with some powerful magic stuff, and gave it back to 'er. She used it to bring down th' vamponies at that castle. Wasn't pretty, I can tell ya that. But it was done, and when she returned to Canterlot in her flimsy armor, she was a hero only to Celestia and Luna. Bein kind an' all, they made her some special armor that looked like th' bell. From then on out, she was Celestia's vampony hunter. And there ya have it, the story of our ancestor, Bellmont."

"Bellmont," the words slipped from Twilights tongue easily.

"Eyup," Big Macinmont said, coming back to the cot with something in his mouth. He spat it out into Applemont's lap.

"Thanks Big Mac," she said, wiping the spit off. "This is that bell." She tossed the small globe to Twilight, who reluctantly caught it.

Though, it was true. The bell was marvelously made, with small inscriptions running down it's sides. It was a globe, with a tiny rattler inside it, and when Twilight shook it, a wonderful noise rang out that was darkly peaceful. It shined silver, even without direct light, and radiated of what she could sense to be extremely powerful magic.

"Problem is, it's only got one function now. It only rings when there's a vampony threat out there. Well, when it does, we head on down here as fast as we can to speak with the Princess. That's when we found... er, well this. Canterlot bein all messed up. Mist like that only happens in the presence of a very powerful vampony, usually a unicorn much like yourself. But there's somethin different about this mist. I don't know what it is, but it's pretty strange. That's why we got that there book." She nodded to the open book on the table that Big Mac was staring into. "That's Bellmont's journal. Says there's some powerful magic in that bell. Thing is, it says that Celestia used a 'strange magic' to activate it. I reckon that we need it in order ta stop this one."

"I could try to activate it," Twilight offered. She didn't like this at all... but it was serious, and the more Applemont spoke, the more believable it got.

But Applemont shook her head. "Nope. Journal also says that when the armor was made, it was fused with th' bell. Means we need her armor first. And every mont knows where that is." She looked away and scowled. "Castle Canterlot's hall of relics."

"So we just have to get into Canterlot and get the armor. Simple," Twilight sighed in relief.

Applemont ruined it though. "Two things wrong with that. One, there's gonna be some problems in our way. Always are, but this time, Ah think things are gonna be... a bit worse. Two, it's in the castle. That's the worst place for anythin to be right now, especially ponies. This is gonna be harder than y'all can imagine, Twi."

"Hey sis," Big Mac called out. "I ain't seen this before. It's smudged, but I'll read it out. It, uh, looks like Draculestia."

Twilight's stomach knotted. "Y'all okay Twi, you gonna be sick?" Applemont asked.

"No..." the pony shook her head. "Luna... Her guard said she was muttering Draculestia before she passed out."

"Huh," Applemont huffed. "Y'all don't reckon that has anything ta do with... Oh dear. If this is what I'm thinkin it is, then we got a bigger problem on our hooves than any mont in history."

"Eyup," Big Mac gulped.

Twilight looked at them both, beginning to panic. "A-Are you saying that.... The princess..."

Applemont shrugged this time. "Twi, listen, I don't want to think about it too hard, but we're gonna need ya. You've never done this b'fore, Ah know... My first time was hard too, but ya gotta stay strong and come with us. We need ya."

"Y-You want me to go into the city and attack the Princess?" she stammered.

"N-Now hold on there, we never said nothin about it bein the princess. Nopony knows. She might just be trapped, and you could be on a rescue mission." Applemont smiled nervously. "I-It could be all Prince Blulucard. He never liked Celestia much, A-Ah know, so m-maybe he's doin all of this."

Twilight sighed, and thought. It could be true... but to even think of her mentor as one of those... things. Those brutal mythic beasts that called themselves vamponies... then she just didn't know. But there was no way to be sure than to go in. "I... alright. But when do we leave?"

"Soon Ah reckon. If we wait, we risk lettin that vampony grow stronger than it already is," Applemont said. "But just so ya know, you're gonna be seein things in there that will scare ya fer life if ya aren't ready. I'd be lyin if I said I wasn't afraid myself."

Twilight sighed, and shook her head. "I...I'm just confused. But this is for Celestia, and the greater good of Equestria. So... I won't back down now. But one thing I need to ask. Where are our friends?"

Applemont looked down at the dirt. "Twi, I don't wanna answer that right now. If it makes ya feel better, Ah'm not sure. But..." her voice trailed off. "Don't get yer hopes up."

There was silence for a moment. "T-Then it's for them too," she stammered, trying to make herself feel better.

Her orange friend nodded with a small smile. "Alright good. Now we only brought enough equipment for the two of us, so we'll have ta make due. You can have mah whip, and I'm sure Big Mac'll share somethin with ya."

"Hang on," Big Mac said. "There's somethin wrong with this journal. Y'all go on in, I need ta stay here and figure this out. It seems important. Just don't... bite off more than y'all can chew."

"Big Mac, we're gonna need ya here," Applemont protested, standing from her cot.

"Enope. I need ta stay here and get this all figured out. Don't worry, I'll be fine. And Ah'll come for ya when I'm done. Till then I'll just keep shop."

The pony turned to Twilight uneasily. "Well, I, uh, Ah reckon that it's just us then."

"I, um, okay," she gulped down the new, unfortunate news.

Applemont cleared her throat. "Well, let's not waste any time..." She walked over to a small chest on the other side of the tent, and propped it open. There was an assortment of silver metal hoof wraps, helmets, metal saddlebacks, and small chestguards. Applemont took out four of the leg wraps, and shoved one onto each hoof, each resembling the royal footwraps. Then, she slid the chest guard on; Twilight noticed that it resembled the Princess's regal chest attire. Applemont did not seem to be impressed, but rather, continued gearing up with the metal saddleback. She tossed it on, latching it under her belly with ease. It was obvious that she had done this many times before. Then, she bent back into the chest, and pulled out a small metal cylinder. The pony threw her tail into the air, and soon after it she tossed the cylinder up. It flew down, and slid onto her tail as if it were lubed. Skill shone as she picked up the helmet, and shooed her hat away. With a flick of her head, it glided off easily, and she tossed the new head adornment on. It was much unlike anything Twilight had seen; it was silver, with inscriptions running down either side, both of which curved out onto her cheeks. The top of it had two curved horns that pointed inwards, and were both inscribed with the same symbols. Down the back, the metal curved to form a V-shape, stopping on her neck. Her ponytail fell, her hair lying flat on her head. This was definitely a new look for the pony, but it was obviously logical for the comfort of the helmet.

The metal-clad pony turned from the chest, and began picking various things up from the ground. Knives slid easily into small loops on the leg wraps, and two sharp edged Celestia figurines, skillfully crafted of her pose at the summer-sun celebration slid into loops on the saddle. She picked up her whip from beside the bed, and put in on a hook on the right of the saddle. After she had it secure, she walked to the bed and tossed the bell in a saddlebag. "Big Mac, can ya handle the potions while we're out?"

"Eyup," the tall stallion said, his nose still in the book.

"Good. Twi, we don't have any armor in yer size, sorry. But, um, here. It's Big Macinmont's whip. You know how ta use a whip, right?" she asked.

A vivid memory of when Trixie had returned to town flashed through her mind. She blushed, and said, "Yes, I'm, um, quite skilled."

Applemont gave her an odd look, but handed her the whip nonetheless. "Well anyhow, sorry for the lack of armor. But with that magic a' yers, I'm sure y'all are gonna be just fine."

"Um, T-Thanks," she smiled at the compliment.

The armored mare smiled back. "Well take a few seconds to prepare. I'll meet ya outside, by th' gate." She didn't even look back for a response before she slid out the tent.

Twilight turned away from her, and down to the whip. It was a normal whip, except the handle. Here it was a black metal that fumed of magic. Twilight snorted in repulsion. As long as it kept her alive, though, she'd be alright. It wasn't anything like that bell... Twilight shivered.

"Um, Big Mac?" she asked, turning her thoughts around.

"Eyup?" he asked, not looking up.

"Is there something I need to know before I go? Just... some advice, maybe?" There was a sincerity to her tone that was embellished with nervousness.

Now, the strong stallion looked up. "Just remember," he told her, looking her straight in the eyes. "All nightmares have to end sometime."

Cantervania II: Twilight's Quest

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5iPHgqiivg

Applemont and Twilight stood outside the gates, in the freezing cold rain. They could not see beyond the gates, and, being honest with at least herself, the unicorn didn't really want to. Scar her for life? That... was just something she did not want. But it was for Celestia, Equestria, and her friends. She would do anything for just one of those, so with all three involved, she knew she had to everything she could. Still, she gnawed on the whip in her mouth anxiously. Kicking a small chain on the ground, she resolved to being as ready as she ever would be.

She nodded to Applemont, who nodded back for assurance. But the message was said, and the silver armored pony walked up to the gates to buck them open. They swung ajar with ease. "C'mon Twi, we don't have much time."

"A-Alright," she stuttered, trotting up to her friend. The first houses were barely visible in the mist, the moonlight not even reaching them. "I'm ready."

The two walked into the town, slowly and carefully. Just as they were past the entrance gate, the mist shrouded them completely, but the rain kept falling. It was silent, almost too silent for the supposed chaos that had been wrought only hours earlier. They looked around, passing the first set of tattered houses, noticing the lack of everything. The ground, of course, was littered with blood and debris, but there were no bodies, and there was no pony in sight. "Stay on your hooves," Applemont warned, "This place is far from empty."

There was no time to ask what she had meant, for only seconds later a cracking noise echoed from a street to their right. They stood on the corner of the intersection, looking down at the source of the noise. With the mist in their way, they had no clue what it was, but they could hear it drawing ever nearer.

"Twi, getch'r whip ready," Applemont forbade.

"What? I- What if it's an actual pony?" She protested.

The armored pony said not to argue with a sharp dart of an eye. "If'n it is, then you can apologize for givin him a little cut. If it ain't, which it won't be, and y'all don't take it down..."

Twilight understood. With her magic, she brought the whip high in the air, and uncoiled it. "What i-if it doesn't know we're here?" She asked when the whip was stretched completely.

"Twilight, this is your first time, so Ah'll be nice. This whole place knows we're here, alright?" she calmly said.

"What do you mean-"

"Twi, hush and focus! This one's yours, you need a practice shot," she shushed, backing away. Twilight was about to flash another question, but a very close cracking noise, now louder than the rain, took her voice. The unicorn turned with her whip ready.

A bone unicorn stalked from the mist. It was creaking, the bones grinding together. It had absolutely no flesh, blood, or organs. Yet it still walked. "That's not possible," she muttered, backing away. The thing kept coming. "You...How..."

"Use the whip! Twilight, yer gonna have ta use the whip!"

"But this is impossible! How can you kill it if it's already... dead..." she covered her mouth with a hoof to stop from barfing.

"Dangit Twilight yer gonna be dead if you don't at least try!" Applemont barked. The skeleton was getting dangerously close.

Twilight brought the whip up, ready to strike, but only words escaped in the deep, rainy mist. "I-I can't! It's a skeleton! It can't-"

"Of for the love of Celestia, move!" Applemont galloped to Twilight, and shoved her on the ground. With her mouth, she lashed out at the bones. First hit, a perfect success. It's head flew off, and shattered on the wall of a condemned store. The rest of the bones fell quickly behind it. "Twilight, yer gonna get yourself killed!"

"B-But-"

"No buts! Y'all are gonna have to use that whip of yers if ya want to get to Celestia." The orange pony strode over to her, and helped her up. "This is why I didn't want ta take ya."

"I-I can do it! F-For Celestia, my friends..." Twilight looked away, shaking her head.

"I understand why y'all hesitated. But please, just, don't wait again. I can't always save yer life," she smiled.

The unicorn picked the whip up from the cracked ground with her magic, and returned the soft smile.

"Ah shoot, here they come!" Applemont exlaimed, pointing behind Twilight.

The mare turned around, and sure enough, a barrage of skeletal ponies was creeping towards them. They backed up, but once they hit the middle of the intersection, it was clear that they were coming from all sides. Waves and waves of these undead ponies were flowing in through all four ways, and would be upon them soon.

"Twilight, this way!" Applemont shouted to her friend. Twilight saw that she had run down a street, right at the wave of skeletons.

"Applejack! Er, mont, whatever! What are you doing?" she called, frantic of her friends decision.

"Well I reckon we can fight all of em if ya want!" she shouted back. Logic said that Applemont had made a fair decision. But logic was fading from relevance to Twilight.

So, she charged in after her friend. The whip reared high, and lashed down on the first skeleton. For the Princess, Twilight calmed her stomach.

The bones cracked, but did not fall. "It didn't work!" she cried out.

"Then hit it again!" Applemont barked, occupied with her own enemies. Twilight watched her crack at them, some only taking one hit, others taking two, and a rare few taking three.

The unicorn turned back to the first skeleton, and reared the whip again. It was right on her when she lashed at it, causing the bones to crumble to the ground. "I did it... I did it!" she yelled proudly.

"Well that's good an' all, now do it again!"

The harshness, Twilight assumed, was unintentional, and she lashed at the next pile of bones she saw. This one - obviously an older pony - crumbled with the first contact. She didn't know whether to feel disgusted or proud. Still, she lashed again, and again, harder and harder as the stress grew. Cracking filled the air as she made progress through the crowd of crumbling bones. Piles amongst piles of bones spread as she kept whipping her way through the crowd. It was the most awful smelling, mind numbing sounding, gut wrenching thing she had ever done. But she continued, all the way to the end of the mass of bones.

Applemont was waiting for her. "See? That ain't bad," she smiled.

"B-Bad? That was awful!" Twilight stammered, looking back down the misty, bone covered street.

"Twi, before the end of t'night, y'alls gonna know what awful really is. That? That was easy," she snorted. She stood from the curb she was sitting on, and came to her friend. "But I know, it's yer first hunt. And to tell ya th' truth, that was way more than I expected. This vampony's gotta be pretty strong, I reckon."

"I... Well..." the purple mare just couldn't find the words. It was as if the rain was washing them away.

"I know, Twi, I know. Let's get goin. We were told that if somethin like this here ever happened, to head down to a place called 'Grapesheer's wine emporium'," she said as she began down the street. "I think it's just up here, so if we're lucky, we can get straight to buisiness."

Twilight was almost disturbed by the casualness here, but followed.

The armored mare stopped, and whispered," This one's mine." Twilight did not see what she was talking about at first, but soon, a skeleton crawled into her view. It's hind legs were gone, so it was a slow mover. Applemont took no hesitation to whip the thing's head off, sprawling it on the ground. The glossy bones shattered to dust, and dispersed in a plume.

"How did you know it was there?" Twilight asked.

"When ya do this stuff for long enough, it kinda gets to ya," Applemont said. "Don't worry, Ah'm sure you'll pick up on it."

The unicorn shook her head, but resolved to keep the conversation at that. "Let's, um, get moving," she sighed. She let the whip droop on her back as she came up to her friend.

"Right. Th' place is up here Ah think. Not sure, though. You've been here b'fore, y'all should know," Applemont looked back at Twilight. "And hurry with the directions." The orange pony nodded to the unicorns back.

The purple mare turned around, and faced a huge crowd of skeletal ponies limping towards her. "Oh dear. It's, um, next to the castle wall I think," Twilight spurt, galloping away from the mass undead.

"Castle wall, eh? Well then let's get the buck outta here," Applemont said, galloping beside her friend.

They darted through the mist, and with Twilight's sense of direction of Canterlot, took the correct curves. Applemont took the liberty of lashing back any skeletons that were wandering around, cracking them to the ground. The unicorn just led, looking back behind her to see if the skeletal army was marching closely. She seemed to have lost them, but they were still there, she knew.

Down a few allies, and up a hill, the Castle itself came into view. It was normal, structure wise. But there were no lights on, and the dreadful mist was pouring out of any entrance it could. Matching her breaths, it pulsed out, towering over the two mares forebodingly. Ignoring the gut wrentching feeling in her stomach, Twilight took a sharp right, to the shops that were on the Castle Walls. She had never really been a drinker, but everypony knew where to go for a good glass of wine: Grapesheers Wine Emporium.

The fancy store stood as a silhouette on the wall, surrounded by other stores that were at one time fortunate to have such a prime location. Now, they were empty, their windows shattered, their once warm inside filled with chilly rain water. The two mares darted to the old entrance of Grapesheers, and kicked the door. It collapsed easily, but Twilight was met with another problem. Grapesheer had not made it out.

The skeletal horse twitched, and headed for Twilight. But now that she was pumped with adrenaline, she easily reared the whip with her magic, and snapped it across the skeleton. It collapsed to the ground with an awful sound.

"Nice one Twi," Applemont said, rushing in behind her. Her armor reflected the thin moonlight, almost like a pale torch. "Now c'mon, we gotta find whatever the Princess put here fer us."

The armored mare began tossing around anything that wasn't already destroyed, frantically searching for whatever. Twilight, on the other hoof, stared out the window in awe. "They're here!" she called back to Applemont.

"Well, uh, we can't take em all on!"

"Why not? You're a vampony hunter, right?" Twilight steamed.

Applemont kept looking around. "Er, yes, but that's a lot of skeletons! I ain't invincible," she snorted as she began looking around on the floor. "Aha! Right here! Twi, c'mon, get in!" Twilight looked back, and saw Applejack holding the trapdoor to the wine cellar up. All it took was one last look back at the creatures, as they creaked and groaned through the moonlit mist. The unicorn dashed to the cellar, and slid in carelessly.

Applemont came soon after, slamming the door behind her. "Well that was fast," she panted as she slipped down the dusty ladder. The cellar was dark, the cool air obviously useful for chilling the wine. "Glad we," she had to stop for a breath, "Made it. To tell ya th' truth, I didn't see that comin."

"Why didn't we fight them?" Twilight asked. "What if they go for Big Mac?"

"I ain't worried. We didn't fight em cuz we need to save our energy fer whatever's inside th' castle, not outside. Big Mac shouldn't have a problem, and we wouldn't have had one either. But we'd be plum tuckered out if we stayed," She explained as her breath returned.

"I, um, see," Twilight nodded.

Applemont sighed, and went to the back of the cellar. "Now Celestia put somethin here, but Ah ain't sure what. A sword, maybe?" she suggested, getting straight to the point. The cellar was full of wine barrels and casks, with rows and rows stretching far back. But in the corner of the old stone room, there were two huge casks.

"Wow, enough wine there?" Twilight muttered under her breath. Applemont apparently heard, and looked up to see the casks.

"Now wait just a second, see there, on that second barrel?" Applemont asked, heading to the twin casks.

Twilight trotted to them, her breath now returning as well. She was sweating, but that would have to wait. At the wine casks, she inspected the front to find what Applemont had seen. Down, by the small handle, was a tiny little symbol. It was strange; It was a fine carved C, with two small fang like things jutting from beneath it. It was right behind the nozzle, and so inconspicuous that she wondered how her friend had seen it. Maybe that armor of hers was special or something.

"That there is the same mark on this here bell," Applemont said, pulling out the bell. She compared the inscription on the metal, to the one on the cask. "Twi, I think we just found a passage to Canterlot."

"Well how are we getting this open?" Twilight asked.

Applemont did only a little thinking. "We'll just buck it open, I s'pose. Normally, I wouldn't, bein official and stuff, but the rest of Canterlot's destroyed, so what the hay." She nodded at her ideas.

Twilight was still uneasy about... well, about everything. But once again, she confided that it was for the Princess. Applemont was already in position, waiting for Twilight. Cautiously, she turned around, and bucked hard with her friend. The armored pony bashed through her part, leaving Twilight in awe. There was a hole big enough for them to get through, made by solely her. That was it, it was official; her armor was special somehow, someway.

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mMFZ7to5RPM&feature=related

The two of them walked along, looking at what they were walking in. At first it was simply a small tunnel, of old mossy bricks. But when it opened up, they began walking in some sort of underground swamp. It seemed like the Canterlot sewage dumping area. They were sticking close together, treading through the cavernous swamp.

"Alright," Applemont continued, "The key should be in the dungeon. And we're lucky, b'cause I reckon seeing the entrance to this place at one time or another. It should connect with the dungeon."

"Well I'll trust you either way," Twilight said. She didn't really have much of a choice. Besides, now that she thought about it, her friend here was the Element of Honesty. Her eyes grew wide as that thought sunk in.

Applemont looked back. "You alright, hon?"

"I, er, yes," she smiled weakly.

The two were on an old, mossy platform, that was connected with a sprawl of others. The stones on this thing were falling into the black sludge almost everywhere they stepped. It was nasty looking stuff too; it was black, too thick to see, but swirled with horrid smelling...stuff. Twilight did not like to think of what was in it.

From the roof of the cave, huge moss ropes dangled carelessly, still as death. In parts of the sludge, deformed, twisted trees sprung up with no leaves. Those were the only signs of life in this foul place, with the exception of the rare mushroom bundle. Nothing moved in the darkness, nothing at all.

"Twilight, do ya think you could charge yer horn up?" Applejack asked. "We need th' light."

Twilight liked the suggestion. Pausing to charge her horn, the light around them grew, vivid and purple. Now, with their sight increased from just two feet to a few meters, the ponies breathed easier.

But in the distance, something shifted. "Hey, what was that?" Twilight asked, her heart thumping away.

"I dunno, but Ah saw it too," Applemont confirmed.

"It looked like... a pony," Twilight squinted. "Do you think that someone might me down here?"

The armor clad pony shook her head. "Nah, this place's been deserted for a while, from the looks of it... Twi, get out yer whip."

"Again? We just got done with the skeletons though, and-"

"I don't set rules, when there's a problem, don't ask, fight. Got it?" She harshly whispered.

Twilight scrambled to get her whip in her mouth, not wanting to use her preoccupied horn. She could do this. Remember Trixie...

"Ah shoot, it's on the walkway," Applemont cursed.

"What is it?" Twilight backed away in disgust. Her question was answered when she bumped into one behind her. With an eep, she jumped and galloped to Applemont.

The thing she had bumped had a slimy, nasty feel to it. It was squishy, too, almost like putty. As if by reaction, she lashed at it with her whip. A cracking sound bellowed through the cavern as the slimy pony looking thing recoiled. To her dismay, it did not relent. The monster continued it's walk to her, slow, steady.

She lashed out at it again as it came into her light. It was shaped like a pony, but was... mossy, and covered in a green ooze. Again, she hit it, yet it still did not collapse. "Applemont..." She muttered, backing up onto her friend.

"Ah know," the silver shining pony said. Her helmet gleamed as she turned around. "Keep hittin it, nothin's invincible."

With the advice, she twitched her neck, and let the whip snap again. It lashed across the face, and finally, the thing stumbled, and toppled. It fell onto its face, and did something that almost made Twilight finally lose it. The green moss pony splattered into a green ooze that stank horribly. Almost as if it were still alive, the goo slithered to the sides of the old stone pathway, and back into the black water.

She had to lean over to the side to gag a bit. "I'm gonna finally lose it," she mumbled.

"Not right now, you ain't!" Applejack said in a commanding tone as her own whip lashed out at an oncoming moss pony.

When Twilight looked back up, she saw another one crawling out of the water to her left. It's mossy hoof made a sloshing sound as it hit the cold stone and splattered. She whipped it once, and it fell back to the water. Sooner than a second, it came back for a second attempt. With its other hoof, it pressed itself onto the stone. She smacked it again with the tip of the whip, watching as it recoiled. It, like the last one, did not stop. Once more, she lashed it, and now it fell to goo in the water. Her stomach was in an upheaval.

"Twi, I need some help here," Applemont said, her whip cracking away.

Twilight turned, and saw three of them charging in. As fast as she could, she brought her whip up, and began snapping away at one of them. Lash one, lash two, lash three, and the first moss pony fell to slosh. Applemont was whipping away at another, which soon fell to the same fate. One left, the two ponies took a joint effort, and cracked at it. The joint whip was enough to topple it into the water, and goo quickly floated up.

"We need to go before more come," Twilight urged. Applemont nodded in agreement. Side by side, they barreled down the long, straight path into the darkness. Around them, more of those moss creatures were making their way from the water. When they could, they kicked them back in, but it did little to stop the mass behind them.

With Twilight's magic, the two mares could see the cavern wall nearing in their fore. "Do you see the exit?" She asked Applemont in a hurried tone.

"I, uh, there!" She nodded up at a door. The old wooden thing was facing in to them, but was high up, only accessible by severed stairs. The stairs looked as though they had been purposely destroyed; a huge part of them was on the floor, crumbled to dust. Still, the ponies charged onto the large semi-circle landing that connected with the cavern, and ran up the stairs as far as they could.

"What do we do?" Twilight nervously asked Applemont.

The armored pony looked around, the whip ready in her mouth. "We need ta get to that there door! Any ideas?" She eyed the swamp creatures coming.

"Well I could form a magical bridge, I think. Then I could just teleport over," Twilight snapped to a decision.

"Ah like it! Hurry with the magic stuff! I'll hold these plants off," she spat at the moss ponies, as the first one stepped hoof on the stairs. She immediately whipped it.

Twilight turned, and focused all her magic on the gap. This would not be easy, but she was adept in magic, and would make due. With all the energy and force the mare could muster, she beamed down light across the gap, and spread it like oil in a pan. "Go!" she yelled to Applemont. The pony was more than happy to oblige.

As soon as the orange mare had a good hoofing on the other side, Twilight released the spell with much relief. But when Applemont yelled out to her, she snapped out of her relieved haze. "Twi, hurry! Ah can't help ya from here!"

She checked behind her, the room now dark, and found a mass of these foul things charging her. It scared her half to death. Quick as she could, she charged her horn again, and focused on getting to the other side. When one of the moss ponies scraped her plot, the adrenaline shot her across the gap, landing her on the other side with a violet flash. She fell to her stomach on these stairs, taking deep breaths to try and stay calm. A few of the moss ponies attempted to make it across the gap themselves, but wound up on the cold stone below.

Applemont helped her up. "C'mon, I don't wanna stay here much longer," she forced a chuckle. Twilight managed to smile back in the cool, tense dark, and gladly took Applemont's helping hoof. Her metal hoof wrap was freezing cold, but Twilight could help but smile at the warm gesture.

"Thanks," Twilight blushed as she walked to the door.

(^,..,^)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDzt2cpj8Do&feature=related

Both of them slouched on the door at the top of the long, winding stairs they had just climbed up. They were in the dungeon, as was obvious by the racks, cells, and shackles that lined the room. Yet the torches were lit, despite the rest of the castle being desolate. At least, it seemed desolate from the outside. Still, it did not answer the torches here.

"Applemont," Twilight began, her breath finally having caught up to her. "What time do you think it is?"

"Well I reckon about midnight. But, I ain't sure," she sighed. Her helmet, pressing her hair flat against her neck, smelled of sweat. It was reasonable, Twilight knew, but she would have appreciated it if Applemont had left it on. Now, her flat hair and the helmet emitted odors of pony sweat so sour she would rather eat a rotted apple than smell them.

She was no better, she figured. "So, um, what now? I mean, I know we get the key to the room from here, but do you even know where the key is?" she asked.

Applemont was busy tightening the strap on her belly. "Er, no. Ta be honest, I ain't been to the Hall of Relics b'fore. I have no idea where that key is. But," she grinned, "Ah know where th' hall is."

"That's good I suppose. Where is it?"

"Ah, ma plot hurts on this stone. Sorry, um, anyways, it's in the entrance of th' Castle. Y'all know how when ya come into the castle, ya got that big staircase that splits into two. Y'know, the one you and Celestia stood on durin the Gala?" She asked. Twilight nodded, and continued to listen. "Well, in the middle of that room, there's that star thingy. Celestia showed me an' Big Mac one time. Said she'd take us in when we we're ready." She laughed quietly. "Thanks Princess."

"So that's where it is. But how are you supposed to, you know, get in?" Twilight asked, flaring her tail as she examined the dungeon. It was small, obviously only a portion of the whole thing, but the place seemed to be the most used.

"There's a tiny little hole somewhere I reckon. We'll just have ta find out. You ready?"

"I guess. Let me get your whip," Twilight said, pushing herself from the door, to her hooves.

Applemont stood, her whip already on her side. "It's, uh, yer whip now. Ah can get another. That whip suits ya." She slid her helmet on, and walked away.

Twilight blushed. She blushed hard. "Oh my, well, um, thank you," she shyly said. The armored pony turned, and chuckled at her red cheeks. "L-Let's get moving," Twilight smiled back.

"Alright ya little deviant. I think th' key is probably gonna be in the dungeon warden's place. Definitely not in this little torture cave," She snickered.

"Applemont, I don't think Celestia would torture anypony," Twilight remarked.

The pony turned around, stopping at the exit door of the torture chamber. "Y'alls right. Celestia wouldn't. There are two Princess's, ya know."

"L-Luna wouldn't," Twilight stammered.

Putting her hoof on the door, Applemont sighed. "You don't know her too well, do ya?"

Before Twilight could throw a retort, the door slammed open. Applemont was thrown back onto one of the X-racks, and landed on the concrete with a thud. Sporadically, the unicorn searched for what had happened, looking first to her friend, then at the door. The door held nothing; the hall outside was simple and empty, as a normal dungeon should be. But in the chilly air, she could see the breath of a pony.

She hardly had time to see what was happening, when a bulky pony walked into the room. He bore a dark hood on his face; it looked like an executioners hood. But this pony, even besides the hood, was not normal. His tail was tattered, he had no mane, and Twilight was fairly sure that he was missing an eye. What set off her fear, though, was the fact that his ribcage was completely exposed. No living pony could have that.

"Applemont!" she called to her friend.

The strong pony stood and glared. "Ah dunno what yer waitin fer, start hittin him!" She yelled, taking her whip off its sheath.

Twilight nodded, and grabbed Big Macs, er, her whip with her purple magic. Fast as she could, she began lashing at the gruff black pony. It seemed to only make him mad.

Her turned, and charged at Twilight, picking her up with his head and slamming her into the wall. Her back hit one of the wall shackles, and she let out a cry of pain before falling free to the ground.

Applemont cracked her whip on the Executioner's back. He turned, and growled at her. "C'mon meathead!" She taunted, leading him away from Twilight.

She was on her hooves in no time, the whip back in control. She levitated it to the towering Executioner, and snapped it on his head. She must've gotten him straight on the temple, as he stumbled to his left and leaned up on a wall. Applemont gladly took the opportunity to escape her corner, and rushed to Twilight. The look in her eyes was easy to follow.

Both of them darted from the room, Twilight giving the whip a crack on last time. She brought it back to her, and fled with it in her mouth. Soon behind her, the Executioner slammed out of the room, and chased them down.

The two mares darted down the first hall they could. It was a small stone hall to the right, that led down a row of cells. No time to think, they darted through to the end. Before they left, Applemont turned around with her whip.

"What are you doing?" Twilight frantically asked.

Applemont shot her a look. "Well we can't have him followin us through the castle. We gotta get rid of the brute!"

"Have you seen him! That guy's gonna kill us!"

"He'll do it if we run too. I say we stay here and give him a good beatin, and if he gets too close, we run," she suggested, shrugging.

Twilight hated to think about it, but that was actually...logical. "Fine. But..." she looked away.

"You're scared, Ah know. I was too in this situation at first. But I ain't invincible, so neither is he," she snorted. "Here he comes! Get ready!"

Twilight watched down the empty cell block as the Executioner fumbled over his own beefy legs. Stabilizing, he glared down the hallway with his one eye. He did not stay still, and was soon charging full speed down the cell block. "Get him!" Applemont yelled.

She did not have to think twice. With her magic, she took the whip and brought it down with a hard crack right atop the Executioner's head. He fumbled, but kept his pace. Again, she brought the whip down, and again and again. She was sure anypony taking that much of a beating would be down by now. But this was not a normal pony.

The Executioner was soon very close, and now Applemont could reach him with her whip. Together the mares beat him down with what should've killed anypony. But this one slammed into the armored mare, knocking her into the junction hallway. She slammed on the ground, coughing hard. Twilight, in fear and shock, found it hard to control her whip. Doing the best she possibly could at the time, she snapped the whip down onto his back, pulling him away from Applemont.

He growled, and faced Twilight. She stood ready, cracking him again with the whip. Angry as ever, the Executioner flew at her, head butting her down the cellblock. She rolled down the stone floor, feeling warmth running down her lips. When the rolling stopped, she brought a pained hoof to her mouth, and wiped the warmth away. The red liquid was not plentiful, but obviously blood still.

Now, Twilight was angry. Slowly standing - the pain in her legs was great - she twitched to the Executioner, who stood ready for another charge. He snorted and scrapped the ground, his evil eye piercing through Twilight. But the fierce growing anger in her eye flared back, and she quickly took up the whip with her horn and snapped it across his face.

The Executioner gave Applemont a quick buck to stifle her recovery, and charged at Twilight. She slammed the whip down on him, but ultimately did nothing. As he approached, she jumped out of the way, and snapped the whip across his mouth to knock him off course. He stumbled away from her, but skid to his rear, and faced her once more.

Applemont was up and ready now, charging in with a war cry that Twilight had never heard before. She screamed at the top of her lungs, and without her whip, jumped at the Executioner. In the bravest move Twilight had ever seen, Applemont jumped onto the Executioners back, using her forelegs to swing her weight around his neck.

She didn't understand, but the unicorn went with it, giving the Executioner another lash on his face. The orange mare seemed appreciative of the distraction that held the hooded pony's attention as she reached down to her hoof, and pulled something out. The whip cracked against his skull again, knocking him to the right, and almost throwing Applemont to the floor.

Wasting no time, Applemont raised on of the knives from her hoofwraps, and brought it down to the Executioners skull. It pierced him easily, and the strong, bulky creature fell to the floor, limp. Blood was spurting from his wound, and Applemont did not even bother to take the knife from his skull as she dismounted. Now, in the middle of the cellblock hallway, the huge Executioner lay dead in a pool of his own blood.

"That... was... interestin," the vampony slayer panted.

"Applejack!" Twilight cried out, dropping the whip and rushing to her friend. It did not even matter to either of them that she had used the wrong name. They embraced, holding each other fondly. "I, um, well I was scared," she admitted. "Thank you."

Applemont smiled, and hugged her friend tighter. "Nah, Twi, thank y'all. Ya saved ma life more than once." Twilight blushed, and buried her face in her friends shoulder, just above her chest piece. The two mares, a vampony hunter and a very powerful mage, stayed there for a while, embracing each other. The moment brought some much needed comfort to the both of them.

"Twi, we can't stay here much longer. If there's anythin crawlin around here, it'll be lookin fer us," Applemont sighed.

"Y-You're right," the unicorn blushed, falling back from her armored friend. "Let's get that key."

Applemont was far ahead of her though. "Um, well Twi, lookie here. This is a key alright, but it ain't the one we're lookin fer. It's the key to Luna's room." She bend down to the dead Executioner, and yanked a necklace from his throat. The small things shimmered in the torches, shining a deep blue, like that of Luna's mane. It even twinkled like a star. The vampony hunter held the star-shaped thing up to Twilight, who eyed it over carefully, before she slid it into a satchel.

She came up to the Executioner's corpse, and gave it a small kick. "Why would he have Luna's bedroom key?"

"Ta be honest, it's kinda reasonable. If'n ya think about it, leavin the key in it's original place would be a bad move, seein as it leads to somewhere important. Vamponys'r clever. It's the key to th' key," she explained.

Twilight was astonished. "Wow, Applemont, I didn't think you were so... logical," she admitted. After a few seconds, when the pony did not respond, Twilight retracted the comment. "I-I'm sorry," she said. "I didn't mean to offend you!"

Applemont began laughing, despite the tension. "Well shucks, I didn't expect you to be as strong as ya are, so we're even," she smiled a genuine smile.

To her own surprise, the unicorn chuckled. "I'm kinda flattered," she said, looking up at her friend.

"Me too," the pony smiled.

"I... I'm glad." Twilight gave her a curt hug, and blushed.

They were silent for a moment. "We, uh, ought to get away from this corpse," Applemont said. "We got work ta do." The violet unicorn nodded slowly. "Alright, first things first, we ought to get to Luna's room. Twi, you've been here more than me, unusual as that is. Do ya know of any sorta tunnels, or passageways that can get us to Luna's tower fast and discrete-like?"

Twilight thought for a moment. Her conclusion sent a shiver up her spine. "The fastest way up is through the guard barracks." The image from Nightwatch's story flashed through her mind.

"Well good, lets get movin," Applemont smiled, stepping over the Executioner, and heading to the hallway from which they had come.

"Actually, I, uh," Twilight fumbled around her thoughts more than the corpse.

The tough pony shot a confused look as she reached the cellblock's end. "Pardon? Y'all okay, Twilight?"

"Um, yeah," she said, shaking her head. Clear thoughts, that's what she needed to get through this. She followed the huntress to the hall, down to the right. "So we caused quite the commotion. You think anything's coming still? Wouldn't it be here already?"

The turned another corner, Applemont somehow knowing where to go. "Maybe, but this is always a game. We're just the players," she sighed. The stairs from the dungeon were coming into view. "Vamponies. Ain't nothin like em, I'm afraid."

Twilight gulped, and got up next to her friend. The dungeon was about to be left behind for the main part of the castle, and by now she knew all too well that horror was everywhere. "I'm ready when you are," she nodded to Applemont.

The orange, silver armored pony nodded back, and gently pressed on the door, cold, damp air rushing in to greet them. It seemed welcoming, as if it beckoned them in. When Applemont looked back at Twilight, their exchanged looks sparked fires of unease in them both. This mutual feeling of acceptance and greeting was sickening in a way, and disturbing in more than one.

"Well, I, uh, le's go then," Applemont said, obviously nervous.

Twilight nodded, and followed her friend out of the warm dungeon, and into a dark, haze filled hallway.

(@,..,@)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBKKYJLF3kA&feature=related

The castle was deserted, gone, the only thing in it was the low haze. Of course, there was the array of broken vases, shattered pictures, and the blood.... The blood was the worst. It was on the walls, the carpets, and even the shattered tapestries. The lack of bodies was confusing, and horrifying, but at least they weren't walking around. At least, they weren't walking around the halls.

But they weren't in the normal halls anymore. After they had gone from the icy, hazed front hallway, they had taken the side hall to the guard barracks. The stairs in this part of the castle were the fastest route from point a to point b a pony could ask for. Nightwatch's story rang in her mind, though, echoing and cursing at her. Twilight stayed, staring at the archway to the barracks. Two toppled guard statues, one of Celestia's and one of Luna's guards, laid crumbled in the arch, but that was not her obstacle. Nor was it the torn hallway she was actually staring into. It was the fact that most of the guards were slaughtered here. The strong, royal guards who could handle themselves against an ursa at least, were torn to shreds in this part of the castle.

"Twi, c'mon now, we ain't got much time left. Whatever vampony is in charge of all this, it's only gettin more and more powerful," Applemont urged her.

Twilight just replayed the image over and over, of the mutilated guards. "Applemont, I'm nervous," she confessed.

"Oh, Ah know Twilight. I am too. But we have ta do this. Fer-"

"For Celestia, I know. Still..." She blushed and looked down to the tattered carpet. "This is the guard's tower. Most of them died here."

Applemont hopped back over the statues, and comforted her friend. "Twilight, we handled that other pony. We can take anything, I'm sure. Now, please, c'mon," she pleaded.

"I, uh, yeah, alright," Twilight sighed. She had her whip on her back, ready for use, but it didn't do much to comfort her as she stepped over the statue. Her hoof made a ripple in the low haze as she finished getting over, and with lesser hesitation with her friend, she began walking.

"I'm here fer ya," Applemont promised, nuzzling up under Twilight's chin. The mare smiled, partly nervous, partly happy. But the gesture was always welcome.

Twilight nuzzled her back. "Thank you. It means a lot to me." She smiled as they walked down the first, empty corridor.

A little down the hall, with no signs of un-life anywhere, Applemont spoke up. "So you know where y'alls goin, right?"

"Well, yes, mostly. I know if we find the chow hall, we can make it from there," Twilight assured. They turned a corner, Twilight almost tripping on a shattered vase.

"Th' chow hall, eh? Yep, I think I can get there. Ah was invited to eat there one time, some nice fella named Daylight," she remarked. The unicorn's stomach knotted.

"D-Daylight?" she stuttered.

Applemont nodded. "Yup. Really nice fella, I swear."

Twilight gulped, and changed the topic. "So tell me about vamponies," she said nervously. Of course she had read about them, but this was an actually vampony hunter. A rare chance, not to be missed.

"Well, lemme start off with sayin that garlic is a buncha cow crap," she said, suddenly bright and excited. Twilight could tell she was trying to play it cool, though; this was something she didn't get to do often. As they reared a left, passing by a closed door, she continued, "So are stakes. Ya wanna know how to kill a vampony? A blessed blade, enchanted by Celestia. Only way." She waved her hoof in the air. "These here Celestia blades are just that, actually. Blessed by her, herself."

The passed more doors, each with names and ranks on them. These were the officers sleeping quarters, she knew. There was Sergeant Stronghoof, Colonel Brighthammer, and even Major Uproar. These were some prominent members of the guard. She could remember being a filly in this part of the castle, how every one of the guards looked up to these ponies. She reveled in the memories.

"An' when ya try to talk sense to one, they just sputter random things," Applemont continued. Twilight had not noticed that she was still talking.

"So they aren't very right in the head?" she asked, trying to make it seem like she was paying attention.

"Naw, they're right. They're just demented," she snarled in her helmet. Along the way, she kicked a shred of the tattered rug. "I swear though, holding a conversation with one of 'em is the hardest thing I've ever done." She chuckled now.

"I see. I've read about their speech patterns before. In fiction, of course, but-"

"Twi," the vampony hunter cut her off, "Most of that fiction ya read, ain't fiction at all."

The unicorn gulped, and looked away.

"So, um, do ya know where the chow hall is from here? Ah'm a bit lost maself," she smiled, trying to lighten the mood.

"Well I remember, a long time ago, when Celestia took me here," Twilight began, lost in thought. The castle was in a state she had not thought possible, and her memories were lost in this new scene of old. "These are the officers quarters, which means the enlisted bunks are a level up in the tower. Then, a level above that, there's the chowhall, and the bridge that connects this tower to the two regal ones. If I remember correctly, that is."

Applemont smiled. "So you remember where the stairs are, I reckon?"

"Um... yes! They should be right around this corner," she nodded. Her pace picked up, opposite from her reluctance earlier, and she trotted quickly around the bend. The armored pony followed contently, and was not surprised to find how right her friend was.

"Yep, see! Right there," Twilight smiled proudly. In front of her, a door stood cracked. The golden label on it read 'stairs', to their delight. Pounding through the haze, they both went to the door, and nudged it open.

"Ah'll lead," Applemont puffed her chest out. She took the front, carefully stepping up the stairs. The only light in the small spiral was that of the moon, which shone in from tiny windows that followed the stairs. One by one, and almost tripping plenty of times, the two ponies worked their way up the stairs, and to the door that led to the barracks. "Um, Twi, why do the stairs end here? I thought they went all th' way up."

"They don't. They stop here, and then we have to get through the barrack to get to the other," Twilight explained.

"Are ya sure? C'mon, is there another way around? I have a very bad feelin about this place," She choked.

"There's the long way, but then we'd have to go through the royal courts, and-"

"No, nevermind. We'll go this way," Applemont stammered. "Just get yer whip ready."

Twilight nodded, and reared her whip with her magic. "Why are the courts a big deal, though?" she asked.

"Princess Celestia told us never ta go through the courts in an emergency. She was very, very clear," The armored pony said. "Now when Ah open this here door, we're gonna run in, and take whatever's in there by surprise, got it?"

Twilight nodded, and stretched out her whip. Applemont sighed, and mouthed a countdown. Three...Two...One. She kicked the door open, and darted into the room. Twilight followed, ready to attack. The two blushed, and looked out into the empty rows of bunk beds.

"Well, this was interesting," Twilight remarked. That somehow got attention though. A pony - a guard from the looks of his bloody armor - peered over one of the bunks. His mouth was bloody, and his skin was falling off. It was truly disgusting, and the moonlight that shone in through the huge side windows made it much more so. "Ew, what is that thing?" Twilight asked.

Applemont looked very serious. "That there's a ghoul, Twilight. Come from the dead to eat corpses, I think," she sighed. "It's only one, though, so we're fine."

As if on cue, another popped its head up, bloody and disgusting as the other. Then another behind him looked over a bed.

Soon, there was a huge mass of ghouls staring at them. "Twilight," Applemont whispered. "Run." And run she did. The two ponies darted down an aisle of bunks, the demented creatures giving them twisted, blood drenched looks.

Their path was stopped when one jumped out in front of them. His skin was blue, his armor was falling apart, and the blood on his face was horrendous. Twilight felt the urge to puke hit her with full force once again. This thing was bloody, and crawling towards her with an awful look in his eye. It was just terrible. The worst part, though, was the moan it let out. It was long, dreadful, something only the dead could produce.

Without instruction, Twilight lashed the whip across the thing. It connected across the things face, knocking it to the left. It got up without problem though, and began coming at her again. She snapped the whip again, and now, the ghoul fell to the floor, gone.

Looking over her shoulder, she saw that Applemont was having problems. The ghouls were piling up on her, and she was only one pony. So, in the dark moonlight, Twilight brought the whip up, and cracked it across any ghoul she saw and could reach. It was a lash fest, cracking sounds echoing throughout the room. Ghoul after bloody ghoul fell, but they just kept on coming. It was madness.

"We need to go!" Twilight cried to Applemont.

Frantic, the pony shouted back, "Ah agree! Let's get movin, you take lead!" They nodded to each other, and Twilight turned around.

But she was faced with another bleeding, decomposing ghoul. With her magic, she snapped the whip across his face, and back again. He was tossed to the side a bloody mess. Now, as far as she could see, it was clear. "Let's go!" she called behind her, galloping down the aisle. The cracking behind her stopped, and the trotting began. The moans of the ghouls owned the night air now as they fled to a door at the opposite of the room.

"Stairs are right there!" Twilight shouted. With her magic, she bust the door open, clearing the way for the two of them. Quickly, the fled into the dark staircase, tripping on the first stair, but managing to stay on their hooves. Twilight first, they dashed up the spiral, the moonlight their guide again.

At the top, there was no conversation this time. They burst through the door, toppling out ungraciously. Behind them, Applemont slammed the door shut, locking the bolt on the top. "That ain't holdin em for long, ya know."

"I know," Twilight agreed. "But for now, we need to get to Luna's tower. The chow hall is just down this hallway, here to the left." The purple mare galloped down the split hallway, left here. An arch on their right was exactly what she was looking for. Making sure that Applemont was following, she curved into this new hallway, and charged down a ways.

"Right... here," she said, coming to a complete halt almost instantly. Before she even saw the inside of the chow hall, she wanted her stomach to be ready.

Applemont did not know, however, and trotted past her, into the chow hall. For such a strong pony, she seemed sick almost immediately. The orange pony backed away slowly, carefully, eyes wider than Twilight had seen them before.

Scared, but with the confidence to suffer with her friend, Twilight stepped out of the shadowy hall, and into the doorway to the chowhall. She was completely taken aback by the horrible sight. There was blood splattered across the tables, the walls were completely painted red. Much of the furniture had been turned into what looked to be a barricade. That being the central point of the blood stain, the barricade had obviously not worked. And in the awful scene, a fire from the kitchen illuminated it all.

"I-I can't believe it..." She mumbled.

Applemont had turned away now. "Ah can. Vamponies are merciless creatures. This is very believable..." She shuddered. "But it's still awful. C'mon, Twi. The guards did their best, now it's up to us to finish it."

The unicorn stared at the scene for a few more moments, unable to even begin to comprehend it. When that private had said they were getting ripped apart, she was being very literal. Now, Twilight's fate came into question. What had she gotten herself into? Shaking her head of the thoughts, she turned to Applemont. "Right... Let's g-go."

They began down the hallway, Twilight almost tripping on the shattered vase that Nightwatch described. "The bridge is here," she said, turning right down a square hallway. Her voice was grim now, reasonably so. Anypony who saw that sort of thing would probably be the same.

Down the square hall, the windows that were opposite each other let in pale moonlight that bounced off the haze, and lit the place up fairly well. The walls were bright and pale, the blue tapestry torn, the moons and suns now in shredded pieces on the torn carpeting.

"So that there's the princess's door?" Applemont nodded to the door in their fore.

Twilight shook her head as they approached. "No, her door is up there," she said, opening the door to reveal a flight of stairs.

Applemont rejected the sight of more stairs. "How many stairs does this place have?" she sighed, heading up.

Twilight followed, and forced a chuckle to try and lighten the mood. The stairs here were few, and they soon reached the top of them. Luna's door was heavy and golden, with a small star indent in the center. On one side, there was a moon. On the other, the C with the fangs stood alone.

"Somethin ya didn't know," Applemont said, pulling out the little star key, "Is that Luna was originally the overseer of all this." She slipped the little trinket into the socket, making a perfect fit. The crack between the two sides glowed a bright blue, and died away second later. Applemont pushed on the door, and it easily swung open. "She was quite the leader, Bellmont claims."

As the doors opened, and the word ceased, the two ponies entered the freezing room. "This place is wrecked," Twilight said, kicking a book in front of her. The bookshelves were on the floor, the tables overturned, and even her bed was scrambled. But, there was a little chest, untouched by the chaos. It was sitting alone at the foot of Luna's huge, starry bed.

"This is it," The vampony hunter sighed. "Right here, in this tiny chest. Yer guess is as good as mine as to if we're right, but here's hoping." With her foreleg, she kicked the chest open, and a tiny light flickered a deep blue. Twilight stared into the chest as she came near, the blue velvet obviously artisan crafted. But that was not the focus; in the center, laid a very small golden key, no bigger the size of a mare's tongue.

Eagerly, Applemont picked it up, and tossed it in her saddle pack. "Well, everythin seems ta be goin fine. Now, we just need ta get to the main hall, get that armor, and fix this mess. Easy enough," she smiled in relief.

"Well then let's go!" Twilight said, just as much relieved as her friend. "Back to the tower?"

"Oh hay no! You're buckin mad. Skeleton's are one thing. A crowd a' ghouls, now that's different. What's the other way out, again?" she asked.

Twilight thought in silence for a moment. "Ah, yes. The only other way out is through the Canterlot Courts."

"Oh nelly," Applemont gulped. "Ya sure there's no other way?" Twilight just nodded. Silence filled the wrecked room once more, yet only for a second. "Then... Then, let's get movin, I s'pose," she sighed in fear.

As Applemont left, Twilight took a moment to have another good look at the room. In the silence of her mind, she prayed that Celestia had not befallen the same fate.

(~,..,^)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LuyFitLW2g0&feature=related

Here it was, the entrance to the Royal courts. The huge blue and white doors had been knocked to the tile, laying strewn and shattered under the arches. Inside, the mist, heavy and low, crept across the dark floor. High windows that stood under the painted ceiling, letting in the soft moonlight intrude on the otherwise empty court. Below the windows, yet still high above, were the two large rafters. They ran down the opposite sides of the court, much like a tuning fork, meeting at the royal landing overhead.

Everything in here was in keen condition they noticed as they walked in. But for the normality here, something was wrong. Silence breathed in this place. It anticipated the next move faster than either pony as they entered the main floor. In this large, empty space, where nothing but the mist reigned, both ponies sauntered in, well aware of this.

Stubborn to herself mainly, Twilight whispered, "Why'd the Princess tell you not to come through here? It's empty."

"Ah ain't sure, but the Princess knows... er, knew vamponies better than us, so we trusted her. And Ah still do," Applemont gulped. Each step she took reverberated a little clack through the place. That armor of hers was a mixed blessing.

"I'm just saying... I don't doubt the Princess either, but maybe she didn't expect an emergency like this," Twilight suggested.

A voice on the royal landing behind them called out. "Do not move!"

They both jumped, Twilight's heart reaching a bursting point. Turning quickly, she faced the oddly familiar voice. There, atop the landing, was Prince Blulucard. "Blulucard?" Applemont called up to him. "Are y'all behind all this?"

"How dare you make such an assumption!" he sneered. When he turned away, his upper lip curved, revealing a horrible sight to Twilight. "If I recall, you're the vampony hunter."

"He's a vampony?!" she exclaimed to Applemont.

The pony nodded. "He is. Reason Princess let's him stay is cuz he can talk to them more reasonably," she explained. She then turned her attention back to the vampony on the landing above. "Well if you ain't, who is?"

He scoffed. "You are a fool. How can you not know by now?" his acid words spat.

"Well we haven't run into the vampony yet, so..."

"Stay there," he snorted rudely. His horn charged a dim blue, and he quickly disappeared in a small flash of light, only to reappear a second later on the same level as the others.

"So then it really is..." Applemont trailed off, looking away from the oncoming royalty. He sighed, and got directly in front of her.

"Of course it is," he maintained his posture as he spoke. "How do you think Canterlot could be overtaken, hm?"

"Ah just didn't want to think that it actually happened. Tell meh, Blulucard-"

The stuck up pony cut her off. "It's, Prince Blulucard, thank you very much." Now Twilight remembered who this pony was exactly. Rarity had plenty of fussing to do after the Gala.

"Prince Blulucard," Applemont huffed, "How did it happen?"

The 'fancy' pony stopped, and kicked the mist. Rippling waves flowed away from his foreleg. "I can't be sure. I was down in the gardens when it happened. Which, by the way, brings me to a point that I feel you may want to know," he eyed her dramatically. "Being a hunter of my kind and such."

Twilight watched in strange awe as the subtle scene unfolded. "Well quit hidin it. Spit it out already," she demanded.

He mocked disgust. "Well if your impatient little country brain must know, the garden entrance is the only way to get to the chapels now. The front doors are barred. And I know how your kind is with Celestial Chapels."

"Thank ya kindly," Applemont said, a new disposition towards the jerk unfolding.

"Indeed." He glinted his fangs at Twilight. "And who is this? Another mont?"

Applemont had to turn to follow Blulucard as he traced around her. "She's a friend. Got dragged inta this on no fault of'er own," she said with a hidden warning.

"I see," the prince said, quickly regaining his stiffness. "I'll leave you to your worries then. Let me guess, you'll be heading to the hall of relics, yes?"

"We are," Applemont confirmed.

Normally unsmiling and cold, the Prince chuckled. "Well well then," he snickered, charging his horn. "Watch out for the daylight. I'll see you soon, I suppose." With that, he flashed away.

Twilight turned to confront her friend. "So that would explain his attitude," she sighed.

"Ah told ya vamponies were hard to talk to," Applemont spat at the spot Blulucard was standing a moment ago. "C'mon, we should get goin. The main hall, if Ah'm right, is out here, down the stairs, an... ah, what the hay. You'll know, Ah'll follow."

The unicorn got the hint, and took the lead. "What do you think he meant when he said 'watch out for the daylight'? Because I have a very bad feeling..."

"Ah, Twi, don't ya go worryin yourself over nothin. He was just bein a vampony, is all. That's all they ever do, is scare ya," The Vampony Hunter scoffed.

Twilight gulped and turned back to her front. Applemont had experience on her side, but Nightwatch's story still panged in her head. If it was the same 'Daylight', then things could get ugly. The guard commanders were notoriously strong. Yet, she resigned to the judgment of her good friend. "If you think so..."

"Ah know so Twi. Let's just keep goin, okay?" the question flew up to her.

She turned and nodded, a grim look hiding her sick stomach.

^(o,..,o)-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_QtPG_Sbo8&feature=related

The key slid perfectly into a tiny hole in the middle of the star. Carefully, Applemont turned the small thing, making but one sole clicking noise. When it would go no further, she darted off the star, to Twilight, who stood at the base of the main stairs.

As if by magic - Twilight knew it probably was - the lines that bordered the stars glowed an intense, glossy gold that shone up through the haze. It pierced the mist, and shot all the way to the chandelier on the ceiling. Quite the spectacle ensued. Instead of being a boring, mundane opening, the light refracted from the chandelier, shooting fragmented beams across the room. These beams painted the dark walls with golden C's, each with the fangs under them.

A small clinking noise pulled back their attention. Apparently, the key had been sucked into the lock. The main star shifted and groaned, dust plumes shooting up into the haze as sections began to split. At the tip of the star, a small, stair-sized platform sunk. Behind it, another followed, and then another. Soon, the whole star was divided into small platforms, each sinking at their own pace to form a staircase.

Both ponies stood, side by side, mouths agape. They stared down the stairs, at a small, inverted triangular door that was embedded in the cobblestone wall. It was a fierce red, with what looked like satin gracing its front. On the center, divided by the two parts of the door, was another clean cut C with the fangs.

"W-Well, let's, uh, get down there then," Applemont commented, beginning the movements.

Over the small clacking, Twilight said as she followed: "What, um, what's in there?"

Applemont shrugged as she decended the stairs. "Hay if I know. We're about to find out, I reckon." She smiled over her shoulder.

"I, um, okay," the unicorn blushed and sputtered. Applemont chuckled, and heaved open the door. It was rough; the hinges were obviously in a state of disrepair. It managed to open fully though, and Applemont, first by a feeling of deserving, went through.

Twilight followed into the small hallway that was fully revealed now. It was lit by a strange magic that crackled in the torches; blue shining mini stars flickered in strange metal holders on the wall, illuminating the hall with a soft, eerie light. She noticed the doors on either side were no less strange. Each one had a golden plate to its side, bearing a name. There was Fireheart the Brave, The Shadowed Mare, and even one named Ironpony. Yet the most intriguing one, at least to Twilight, was the door with the nameplate of no other than Starswirl the Bearded.

The unicorn felt like a filly again. She darted to the door, and pressed up against it. "Applemont!" she squealed, "We should go in here!"

Armored did not mean humorous though, and Applemont just sighed and gave her an annoyed look. "I'm sorry Twi, but we don't have time. Maybe when this is all through, y'all can ask the Princess to take ya down here," she secretly scolded. "Now c'mere, this is the door we want."

Twilight huffed in extreme dissapointment, but came to her friend without question, knowing that she was right. As she approached, she read the new name: Bellmont. "So this is what we're looking for? Are you sure the armor's in here?"

"Without a doubt. It's gotta be," she smiled. The pony gave a harsh push on the door, and it slammed open. As if planned, the armor appeared on a dusty old mannequin in the center of the dull room. "By Celestia, it's amazin..."

Twilight peered over her friend's shoulder, and marveled at the sight she saw. The armor shined in one of the dim star torches, the light reflecting off the seemingly new metal. The hoofguards were well crafted caps, with the C on their sides. They linked up with the large leg coverings; these metal platted cylinders bent at the two knees via small cloth links, and each shined it's silvery metal gloss. Rows of the C's ran up the sides of the leggings, all the way up to the underbelly guard. This was a large metal plate, obviously custom made. Here, though, was not a C, but rather, a large encrusted B. The font was that of a very royal script that Twilight had seen scribes use on a rare occasion. This plate linked with the back plate. The unicorn could see soft padding under this, though atop it was a large, artisan crafted crescent moon. At the back, the tail cylinder protruded four or five inches. It resembled that of a bracer; two large round vaults encompassed the end, while the beautifully designed interior showed that of a master steelworker. The head of the mannequin was bequeathed with a helmet of the same craftsmanship. It split on the neck, curving around the ears in a gothic manner. At the eyes, the metal split, caressing the brow and beneath the eye. The metal extended forward, onto the muzzle of the lifeless figure. At the forehead of the helm, a hole for a unicorn's horn was easily visible, but the strange thing about this was the two small curved horns that pointed inward. These horns mirrored each other from the side of the hole, making Twilight's memory snap. She had seen this before; it was a rare technique used in the making of magical armor. The two horns channeled the wearers magic easily, making spells almost ten times easier to cast. It was a hard, labor staking process to get these to function correctly, indicating that - despite the master craftsmanship - that this was forged by a true metal working god.

As she entered the room, she noticed the same horns atop Applemont's head. Now she understood what made her armor so special - it was magically inscribed. Twilight was astonished to say the least, yet somewhat proud that her thick-skulled, lovable earth pony friend was finally respecting the ways of her art. She giggled.

"Uh, y'all okay Twi?" Applemont asked, looking over her shoulder.

The unicorn nodded with a sheepish smile, and began to explore the rest of the room. In the various cases were items such as Bellmont's whip, her knife, and even a Celestia figurine that matched Applemont's. "Y'all mind poppin those things open fer me?" Applemont asked as she kicked off her leg wrappings. "I'm gonna slip this here armor on, and then we can finish this all up fer good."

"Uh, alright," she complied. At the Celestia figurine, she popped an ancient latch. It made a strange grinding noise as it clacked open. The glass in the front was spring loaded, catching Twilight by surprise as it snapped open, lashing her snout. Grumbling, she grabbed the figure with one hoof and rubbed her nose with the other. Applemont chuckled.

"It's not funny," she mumbled, getting onto the next one. Behind her, Applemont was almost out of her armor, the last thing being the tail piece. Twilight was about to mock her for a change, but the chance was cut short.

"Y-You're not the Princess..." a gruff voice came from the doorway.

"What the hay?" Applemont said, turning to see who had made the obvious comment. Both her and Twilight found themselves looking at a golden clad guard. But this one was different than the ghouls in the tower. He seemed... sentient. Unstable, but sentient. His armor was blood splattered, the red liquid dripping freely from it.

"Oh my, are you alright?" Twilight asked, stepping forward.

His head twitched to meet her gaze. His pupils were... dilated horribly, and his eyes were bloodshot. "That means, girls," he smiled, "That you're in a restricted area. And that won't do."

"Um, sir, are you Daylight perhaps?" Twilight nervously threw out there.

"Why yes I am little missy. And did you know this other fact? This is a restricted zone..." his voice trailed off to a grinding groan "So I'm afraid you'll have to die."

Applemont sighed. "This ought ta be easy. You aint undead," she scoffed. Picking her whip up from the ground, she brought it back, and lashed it across his face, then back again. To her surprise, he did not even stumble.

The guard commander twitched his head back around, and met with Applemont. "Lethal force was authorized," he let loose a demented chuckle. From his side, he pulled a short sword out with his teeth. Quickly, he stormed at Applemont and brought it down upon her. The orange mare dodged, but just barely.

Fast as the whip, Twilight took up her own arms and lashed the guard. "I knew it! You know Nightwatch!" she called out to him for any hope of sanity left.

Daylight looked over his shoulder, and smiled. "Nightwatch?" was all he muttered. Without further hesitation, he turned and charged at his new target. The sword fell upon her, missing and striking the floor below. Twilight cracked the whip on him again to buy some time for Applemont to jump in.

When she could, Applemont lashed out at him, gashing a wound down his left cheek. His helmet flew off, landing in the corner with a thud. That was when Twilight knew to give up hope. Part of his skull was gone, with a pink mush throbbing out from it.

"That's his weak spot!" Applemont called to Twilight. "We need ta get him outta here, and then we can take'im down!"

The unicorn nodded as the sword barely missed her again. With another snap of the whip, she cracked him across his snout. He held tightly to his sword though, swinging it at her sharply.

She had to duck left to dodge it. Applemont snapped her whip across his flank, stealing his attention to Twilight's fortune; she had been cornered. Daylight snapped right, and charged at her, lunging his sword straight for her heart.

In a clever maneuver, Applemont, now unarmored at the unfortunate time, used his enraged charge to crack her whip at his sword, knocking it, and a few of his teeth, from his mouth. The items fell to the floor in a blood drenched heap.

He screamed out to her. "By Celestia you shall not escape punishment!" He reared onto his hind legs, kicking the air in a display of power. Applemont took the chance to escape the room, Twilight soon following. They ran down the short hall, and up the dusted stairs.

"Twi, he ain't got his sword. Ah told ya this was gonna be easy!" But the panting made it evident that she was completely bluffing.

"Here he is," Twilight pointed down the hall at the furious guard who was storming towards them. A glinting metal from beside her caught her attention.

"Take this Twi. Drop the whip, and take it," Applemont frantically handed her a dagger. Twilight did not have time to question, so instead, just did. She took the blade with her mouth, and got in a defending stance.

Daylight burst up the stairs, headbutting Twilight. He carried her to the stairs behind her, and tossed her up the flight easily. That was no normal headbutt; it was physically impossible to have that much force to any sort of head related attack. Twilight brushed the brains off her, gagging, and stood back up.

Applemont was busy fighting Daylight hoof to hoof, her whip strewn across the ground in front of her. The orange pony beat Daylight on his bloody face, and Daylight uppercut Applemont straight in the gut. The pony recoiled a bit, seeming to have trouble holding down the contents of the hit area.

Twilight quickly picked up the dagger from the ground, and charged in. She tackled Daylight to the ground, almost tumbling down the set of star-shaped stairs. The unicorn jabbed at his throat in an attempt to end him there, but missed each time. The powerful guard gave her a hard punch to her face, sending her tumbling across the floor.

Daylight stood and ran for Applemont again, who was already coming for him. They locked hooves, Applemont taking the first blow. The guard used a free hoof to slam into her chest, knocking the wind from the pony. But she was tough, and resisted with a roundhouse kick that broke their engagement. She fell back to all four hooves, and barreled at him.

But he bucked her back, sending her falling into the star stair's hole. He flung himself into it, and onto her. Twilight, back on her hooves, took up the dagger and was ready to strike back.

From the hole, however, a strained Applemont yelled out, "Twilight! Cut...the chandelier!"

"Are you crazy?!" she yelled back. "You'll get crushed!"

"Ah'll...be fine...just...do it!" she ordered.

"Deep breaths, Twilight, Deep breaths!" she panicked to herself. Applemont knew what she was doing. She needed to trust her. No! The chandelier could kill her! But, she was strong. She knew what she was doing....

Resolute, if very unwilling, Twilight used her magic to levitate the blade up to the chandelier. She brought it back, and gave the thick rope a large gash. Then, she swiped at it again, and then again. Soon, the supports creaked, and the heavy glass chandelier fell into the hole. All sounds of combat stopped.

Sick to her very core, Twilight peered over the edge. Slight relief was brought to her as she saw her friend laying on the stairs, mangled with glass and blood, yet better off than Daylight. The guard had been taken by the glass chandelier, and now he and the bloody thing were silently strung out at the entrance to the hallway.

Carefully, Twilight leapt into the hole, and got beside Applemont. Glass shards were everywhere, her skin included. "Alright, Applemont, hang on, we're getting you outta here."

"Twi, you are one crazy pony, y'all know that..." the bloody mare coughed.

"No, you hush," She told her friend, almost on the verge of tears.

Applemont had obviously seen this, and sighed that long, probably patented sigh. "I ain't gonna die," She told Twilight. "At least, not right now."

"You better not," she forced a worried, sad chuckle that mangled with a soft whimper.

"I just wanna say, Twi..." she coughed hard. "Y'all's pretty cute when yer scared."

Twilight chuckled again and blushed now. "C'mon ya silly mare, let's get you out of here before you lose any more blood and start spewing out weirder things."

As the unicorn helped Applemont onto her back, the pair shared silent grins.

Cantervania III: Draculestia's Revenge

View Online

(>,..,<)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1lm36RIydUw

Through the silent corridor, out the shattered cellar, and through the ghost town Twilight galloped, Applemont on her back. It was easier than when they had entered; now, most of the skeletons had scattered from the huge mass. There were bones to jump over, and fallen house timbers to duck under, but Twilight had more than enough motivation. Applemont was losing blood, and fast.

The gates appeared from the mist, wide open for Twilight. She seized this gap, and cantered from Canterlot. Motivated, the unicorn swooshed from the misted gates, turning a sharp left, using magic alone to keep the bleeding Applemont on her back. She trotted to the Mont's tent, taking no precautions as she ripped through the entrance flap.

Big Macinmont snapped up from his book. "What'n Equestria is this?" he asked, quickly maneuvering to his sister. Twilight brought her to her bed, and with the help of Big Mac, slid her down. She limply fell down, her head just hitting her pillow.

"We got in a fight with a really tough guy, she can explain later. Can you fix her?" Twilight urged.

Big Mac looked down at her, and Applemont smiled weakly up at him. "Yeah, Ah s'pose. Though, t'be honest," he said, turning to face Twilight, "Ah expected y'all t'be here, not her. Glad ta see yer doin alright." He smiled at her, and went back to the chest in the corner. Bending down, he rummaged through it, for what Twilight did not know. The large red colt shifted through most of the trunk before he finally found what he was looking for. The unicorn watched Big Macinmont pull out a small red bottle, its contents swirling without even being shaken. He brought it to the tattered pony, and set it down on her. As if by unspoken command, Applemont grabbed the bottle and chugged it.

"What was that?" Twilight gave a puzzled look.

Big Mac chuckled. "Health potion, of course."

The unicorn had heard of health potions; they were just myths though. Then again, so was everything else she had seen tonight. She shook her head, and got back to the matters at hoof. "So, um, did you find anything out while we were gone?" She asked.

Big Mac, back by the journal, said," Eyup. Not much though. Gotta get the armor, they yer gonna go to the restricted section of th' library. I ain't sure why yet, gimme a sec here."

Sighing, Twilight turned around to face her badly injured friend. "Applemont, I-"

"Ah, shush. Don'tcha get all upset now," she chuckled. It morphed to a cough, though. "Ah'm fine. It's you Ah'm worried about. You ain't never done this before, an' now yer goin into the castle all alone."

"Oh, yeah, I'll be, uh, fine," she flashed a quick, nervous smile.

Applemont snickered. "Ah'm sure ya will. You proved t'me that yer a pony who can handle herself. I trust ya, Twi. Make the mont family proud." She raised her hoof, and put it on Twilight's shoulder.

"T-Thank you Applemont," she smiled. Twilight bent down and nuzzled her snout under Applemont's head, a warm gesture to anypony. "You stay safe."

"Same ta you," she said, giving a warm hug that pushed Twilight even further down. Not that she minded, though. It was nice to have a close friend in these times.

Big Mac spoke up, forcing a close to the embrace. "Ah got somethin here," he said. Twilight almost left Applemont's side, but Big Macinmont waved his hoof for her to stay. "Says here y'alls gonna have to go to the restricted section of the library, and find a book called "the Bellmont Amulet." I still ain't sure why, but if'n I were you, Ah'd stay away from this 'Draculestia' b'fore ya got that book. When ya do have it, bring it on back, ya hear?" Twilight nodded in silent response.

She then turned back to Applemont, and prepared to say her temporary farewell. But, Applemont cut her open mouth off. "Twi, b'fore ya head in there, cuz Ah know that's where yer about ta run off to, I just wanted to tell ya somethin. C'mere, it's a secret." Weakly, she beckoned Twilight closer.

Twilight bent down, her ear turned towards Applemont's mouth. She was right on her before anything happened. She could not see it, but it certainly felt like what it was. A kiss, right on her cheek. Twilight drew back, blushing hard.

Applemont was blushing equally. "Ah... Ah'm sorry, Twi. I just... I just don't know how all this is gonna turn out, and I couldn't not letcha know," she confessed, looking away.

"Apple...Jack. Can I call you that?" Applemont nodded slowly, still blushing. "Applejack," Twilight continued, lowering her head back down to her friend. "Thank you." She kissed the vampony hunter gently on the cheek, blushing harder than ever before.

"Ah didn't wantcha involved in this, cuz... well, it's cuz Ah didn't want ta see y'all hurt. But it's up to you, now. So y'all stay strong, Ah have faith," Applemont smiled, blushing back up to Twilight.

The unicorn smiled down to her softly. "Thank you Applejack."

(^,..,^)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pyXRV7wkeyo&feature=related

Twilight, her chest puffed out, strode into Canterlot once more. She went deep into the mist, not looking back to the Mont Family's tent once she had left. No, her mind was focused. Armor, bell, book, and then she could end this nightmare. And, just maybe, get a marefriend. She smiled at the thought; it was about time she got to have an actual relationship with a mare. Trixie was fun, but... just the thought of Trixie made Twilight reach for her whip.

She had it in her mouth, not stopping the instinctual grab; she knew her whip would be needed for the town. Unfortunately, she also knew that the secret entrance - that foul sewer cave - was out of the question. When she had run through there with Applemont on her back, the place was crawling with those moss ponies. She was only one pony, and logic said it was a bad idea to charge that many of them.

The skeletons would be a different matter, though. Trotting down the deserted, rainy street of Canterlot - Gate Road, to be exact - she lashed at a skeleton that was crawling around. It's skull cracked, and it fell lifeless again. She ran past the pile of bones, down this main street. It forked ahead, and she went right. Canterlot wasn't mapped out for her, but she knew how to get to the main gates of the castle at least.

As she turned at the fork, another skeletal pony burst out of the mist. In no time, she cracked it in half. It snapped to the sidewalk, dead. Twilight leapt over it, continuing to the castle. The houses here were battered and broken, with business signs on the pavement and glass strewn everywhere. She was making good time, despite the obstacles though. Not even the hard rain was slowing her down, nor the mist or the ice.

Wait, ice? There was ice on parts of the sidewalk and street here. This was strange; even in winter, there was rarely ice in the business sector of the city. Still charging, she jumped over a broken tea shop sign, almost slipping on a thick patch of the forming ice.

Now, another skeleton came into view. This one was contorted, but Twilight found in just as easy to crack at. Whipping her head forward, the whip snapped down on the neck of the skeleton, severing it's skull. The bones creaked, and it slid to a pile on a thatch of ice, crumbling away. She darted around it, cantering past another beaten shop.

If she had her friend with her, she could have some answers for the ice patches she was skidding on. But, she was happy that Applemont was still alive, so she tread on. Galloping down the forsaken road, she lashed at another skeleton, dropping it easily. She jumped over it's old bones, barely missing a pair of shattered beams that had fallen from a fashion store. Once over this small obstacle, she darted left at an intersection. The mist and rain made it hard to see, but her wits were about her now, and she mapped the roads subconsciously. Here, she needed to go down the ice covered road till the next intersection, and take a sharp right. The castle gates were a straight shot from there.

Down this moonlit road, she cracked her whip at yet another skeleton. She was beginning to wonder if there were more than just skeletons creeping around this place, or if it was in fact just these lifeless bones. Snapping from her light thoughts, she swerved right, and began up Golden Road, which led right into the castle grounds.

Almost slipping on an ice slick hidden by the mist, Twilight charged up this hilled road. Shattered houses and businesses lined the road, forming a chute for her. The gates shone in the moonlight as they stood atop the hill; though, as she approached, she found that the gates were not the only thing standing atop this road.

She slowed her pace as she neared the golden gates, eventually coming to a trot. The gates of Canterlot were huge, with a metal, golden sun in the middle of the bars. They were rumored to be magically enchanted, but Twilight never felt anything magical about them. Yet considering the circumstances, she was inclined to believe it.

At the sides of the gates, two ponies stood. They were still, almost as a statue was in the royal labyrinth. Through the rain and mist, with the help of pale moonlight, Twilight could see their armor. It was blue, steel plated, with red trip on almost everything. The bore axes, large and double edged. Both guard-like ponies were unicorns, their pale grey horns protruding from their heads.

At first, as if by instinct, Twilight wanted to talk to them. But Daylight had proven finally that nothing in this place would act kindly towards her. A flash of lightning bolted down from the sky, illuminating their faces. Or, what should have been their faces. Inside the armor was... nothing. Not a thing but darkness. Twilight shuddered at the sight.

With her whip ready, she crept up to the gates. She was no more than a few hoofsteps away when the two empty armors came to life. Metal grinding on metal, they shifted their gaze down to her. Their movements were almost mechanical; they lacked life in every sense of the word.

Mal intent radiating off them, the ferociously stomped their front hooves down in unison. Twilight bit on her whip harder. "I-I don't know if you can hear me, but I'm warning you! Stay back," she hissed.

The empty armor took another intense stomp towards her. With their magic, they yanked the axe from their sides, and began spinning it in midair.

"Oh, so you want to play with magic?" Twilight snarled. This she could do. With her violet magic, she took the whip up, and loudly cracked it in the air. "I've had too much crap today to put up with you!"

The armor sets just came forward again. The one on the left took his axe and hurled the spinning blade at her. She jumped out of the way, but soon found the other's axe spinning towards her. No sooner had she dodged that one, did the other shoot his axe out again.

This wasn't going to be easy, and she'd only be worn down like this. Dodging another axe, she began devising a plan. It was clear that this armor was not fast moving, and it was more than obvious that it's horn was it's only true means of attack. "Sever the horn," she muttered to herself.

As another axe flew at her, she jumped the other way, landing in a muddy puddle off the road. Here, she pulled up her whip, and cracked it down on the head of the closest armor. It neither recoiled nor flinched, but instead hurled its axe at her again.

She leapt back onto the road, her mane falling into her eyes. It was drenched with rain and sweat, blurring her vision. Her vision was distorted so bad by her mane and lack of oxygen that she did not see the other axe coming at her. By the time she could do anything, it was on her face. A deep gash opened on her cheek. Her mind exploded with rage.

Not because of the pain; the adrenaline was taking care of that. No, that was the cheek that Applemont had kissed, and that was one of the most special gifts ever given to her. Twilight let out an enraged scream, the likes of which she had never released before. It wailed through the mist, louder than even the repeated cracking of her own whip as she unleashed a barrage onto the armor.

One crack was lost in another as the whip hit the empty shell so fast that no attempt was made to stop her. When the armor had reached its end, it simply fell apart to a pile of beaten shrapnel. Twilight laughed at her victory as she turned to the next one.

It had its own axe ready, swiping it down upon Twilight quickly. The mare skid back. Now or never, her mind hissed. The whip flew up in the air, bulleting down on its new target. The tip connected with the armors horn, shattering it into many little metal pieces. Red and blue, the armor mechanically backed away as its axe fell to the ground.

Twilight brought the whip back around, and lashed the armor across the face. No sooner had she done this, did the whole set drop to the ground, empty and lifeless at last. As much as it could be, this time. Not as it was, Twilight noted in her mind.

She walked up to the gates, ignoring the blood on her cheek for now. Pressing against them with her full bodyweight, and shivering - they were freezing in this rain - she heaved on them to open. Either they were heavy or stuck, but they did not even budge when she dug her back legs into the ground for support. Heaving and pushing did nothing on them, and eventually Twilight felt as though her blood vessels were at a rupture point. Remembering Rainbow Dash, she sighed and slumped over.

But as her mind fell silent to itself, her ears picked up on noises. Were they noises? Wait, they were voices! Eagerly Twilight shot up. She pressed her face to the bars, searching the mist for the voices. She could hear them, but not see them. Yet one of them was too familiar. Blulucard.

In front of her the mist parted, and she was met with a strange, gut wrenching scene.

Blulucard was on the path that led to the castle doors. The mist parted around him, and soon, around what had put him down. A large figure stood over him menacingly, smiling down at his broken body. This huge pony had a large horn on her head, but what really made her different, was that she also had wings. Her wings spread out, their feathers ending in points, causing for a most impressive overpowering display. The mane of this pony was long and flowing, multicolored and vibrant.

Twilight had it all pieced together now. Tears streamed down her wet face as she fell to her plot, and watched silently. "P-Princess...Celestia..." Her voice was quiet, but a whisper in the heavy rain.

Seemingly oblivious to her, her beloved princess hissed at the beaten Blulucard. "Did you honestly put effort into that display? I felt like I just crushed a roach," She sinisterly snickered.

"Y-You are quite the roach, yes," Blulucard smiled, pain contorting his face.

"No no no, Blulucard. I am not the roach. You are, I'm afraid," she sighed. Celestia, or Draculestia, gave Blulucard a little kick. "A little roach to do my bidding. Yes, I think that's exactly what I need." Her fangs glinted in the pale, waterlogged moonlight.

Blulucard forced a small laugh. "I... Hate to break it to you...But you most certainly smell like one," He pushed out.

Draculestia gave him a hard kick in the gut. "Blulucard, you're in no place to talk, don't you think? Look at you, wet, beaten, soaked in mud," She tossed her head in sarcasm.

"I...Still look...better than you..." he scoffed.

"If you think so now, you won't soon. Come, we have much to do," Draculestia gleamed an awful grin.

Blulucard moaned. "R-Really now? You...finish in bed...in five...but you take hours to...do all this..."

Twilight had not realized that the snooty prince had such a mouth. "Hush," Draculestia snapped. Twilight even cringed at the demanding tone. "You are coming - and with no more annoying insults. Unless you actually have something interesting to throw out, not just some crude humor."

"How...dare you...call me crude," he coughed. The prince used a vulgar gesture, despite his statement.

Draculestia, who now seemed to be flat out annoyed, sighed and kicked some dirt into Blulucard's face. Without another word, but a still annoyed face, Draculestia charged her horn up. Instead of the brilliant magical display that she normally produced, however, it glowed a dark black, the only kind of black one could ever see from looking to the darkest regions of space. Draculestia beamed this above Blulucard, opening a swirling vortex directly above him. He apparently had no clue as to what was happening, as his face became horribly panicked and pained.

It twisted even more so when his body began to fractal. Shards, crystalline and dark, tore away from him as they were sucked into the vortex. The prince struggled to get to his hooves. His progress was stifled when his hooves began shattering as well. The diamond shards tore from him, and flew into the vortex above. A piercing scream filled the night air.

Soon, the whole body of Prince Blulucard had been fractured and sucked away. Twilight was in horror as she watched the vortex close, sealing his fate. She then turned to Draculestia, who was staring straight at her, a vile smile on her lips. Those pink, pale, bloodshot eyes stabbed right into Twilight's soul. Her fangs glinted in the moonlight as her horn charged again. Before Twilight could see her again, she had flashed away.

As her vision returned, she saw that the gate was completely open for her, and she was alone again.

(o,..,e)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1noRLyi_QtI&feature=related

In Bellmont's hall, past the shattered mess of glass and Daylight, Twilight had fitted the armor on. It was a tight fit, but it felt like it was supposed to be. Belting up the last of it, the tail cylinder being the hardest piece, she glanced down at the pile of Applemont's armor. In the little pocket on its side, she had taken the bell from, and stuck it in a foreleg pocket on the new armor.

Applemont's Celestia figurines were belted onto Twilight's sides tightly, though her whip was still strewn out in the hallway. Instead of using hers, or keeping her own, Twilight had taken up the whip of Bellmont herself. Such a vampony hunter must have something special regarding her whip, Twilight reasoned. With the metal whip by her side, she felt prepared for anything. Still she grabbed Bellmont's Celestia figurine, and her hind leg dagger just in case. Suited up for the oncoming horrors, the unicorn turned, and trotted out the door.

Little clacks followed her as she exited the hallway, carefully stepping over Daylight's mangled corpse. She clopped up the stairs, into the dim, unlit main hallway. The royal Canterlot library, she recalled. The thought made her shudder; the restricted part of the library was only half library, the other half being the labs. She did not want to see what was in those labs, not now. The back of her mind pushed her though, as she had always been curious as to what lay beyond the metal bars of the restricted zone's gate.

Of course, curiosity or not, she was doing this to save... the thoughts boldness died down as she completed it: the princess. A shrill chill scarred her spine, ending at and below her tail. Up the front stairs, and to the right she went, forcing this as far from her mind as she possibly could. She had a mission, and she was going to complete it. By Celestia she was going to complete it! The trotting pace she strode at increased, first to a canter then to a full out gallop. The armor was surprisingly light and airy, letting her move almost unencumbered.

She darted through the archway atop the right stairs, and into a long hallway. Everypony who had seen the castle at least once knew where the library chamber was - at least, Twilight liked to think so. She sped down the length of this hall, swerving left.

There, she slammed into another lifeless armor suit. It twitched down to her, nothing gazing upon her. She backed up, and with her magic, pulled out her whip. The axe armor used its own dark magic to begin twirling his axe. Without a moment to spare, it launched the axe at the unicorn. But this is what she wanted. When the axe was past her, she cracked the whip down, doing a quick double take for the results. After two hits, the horn on the armor crumbled. It mechanically advanced, despite losing its weapon though.

For a little spice, Twilight spun on her forelegs, and bucked the armor. With a pang, it fell to the ruined carpet. Proudly Twilight jerked around again and continued racing off to the library. "Out the hall, through the labyrinth garden, and up the tower," she recited to herself. And out the hall, being the first, approached soon.

There was a large doorway at the end of this hall, of which Twilight knew led out to the Hall of the Elements. From there, down a flight of stairs, was the exit. She slammed into these doors, erupting into the Hall. It was deserted like she had never seen before. The memory of Hearths Warming Eve beamed through her mind, eliciting a smile. Yet now the hall was just cold and empty. But, ignoring the eeriness of the place, she ran through the upper landing, and turned to the right doors.

They swung open, releasing her into the chilled night air. Here, the castle labyrinths spanned miles. Her memory of Discord flashed through her head, but so did the awful realization that this was worse. She galloped through the gardens, soon to reach the statues, and from there the huge library tower.

In the statue grounds, she hadn't expected to find anything. Idiotic thinking, she scolded herself later. There was a ghoul, just creeping out of the maze entrance. She seemed to be the gardener, based on her straw hat. Twilight took no time in lashing at the undead pony, sending her to the ground with a splat. She moved on, through the statues.

The statues were rather eerie in the haze, rain, and moonlight combination she was running through. Their eyes seemed almost... living. It was just wrong. Still, this was another worry for her to shove to the back of her head. The mare darted on through the mist, the large library tower soon coming into view.

"Up the tower," she repeated herself. The doors of this large structure were second nature to Twilight, as she slammed into them head on. But that's all that happened, was her slamming. The doors did not budge.

(O,..,O)

From behind her, the groans and creaking of what sounded like stone reverberated through her ears. It was an awful echo to hear.

She slowly turned around, feeling sick from the nervousness. The moonlight reflected off her horror, illuminating a truly gut churning sight. There, in the mist, the huge statue of Victory had stepped down from its pedestal. It was standing on its hind legs, stomping the dirt, staring at Twilight. Twilight could do nothing but gulp at the imposing sight.

The statue, not bound by fear or horror in any manner, twirled it's flag rapidly, before grabbing it at the base, and pointing it at Twilight as though it were a sword. Victory got in a battle stance, prepared.

Twilight jumped to her hooves, and with her magic readied her own weapon for battle; Bellmont's whip. The statue did not move. The eyes, however, stone and dead as they were, displayed an eagerness in them. Accepting the challenge, Twilight charged in at it. She brought the whip to the front, and hit the statue as hard as she could. The whip slammed on the stone so hard it almost fell from control.

Victory stood strong and untouched. The statue took it's turn, and stormed in, still on its hind legs. With the flagpole, it swept Twilight's side. The hard stone bashed into the armor, and threw her away like her smartie pants doll.

When the rolling and tumbling stopped, the mare cursed under her breath. This was her first 'boss' without Applemont, and it was a huge, powerful stone statue that walked on its hind legs. She was sure that without Bellmont's armor on, her ribs would've been cracked, and she would be dead now. Thankful for the life saving metal, she got back to her hooves, and stormed the statue. The whip first, cracking down on the Victory's snout, then a good buck to the leg...which did nothing. Victory was unscathed by this feeble attempt, and in return, lashed her stone tail at Twilight, scoring a direct hit on her jaw.

The unicorn flew to the right a few feet, blood pooling in her mouth. She spat it out and moaned. Her jaw had never been this sore in her life. It was easy to see that if she wanted to get out of this one alive, she would need to think outside the box. But the statue was on its way, and she had to cut her thinking off to dodge. She leapt left to avoid the flag, landing herself in a puddle. Her eyes grew wide as an idea struck her.

But she was bucked, or kicked, the terminology being confused. The crushing blow sent her flying to her side, tumbling to the front door of the tower. Her mind became contorted with rage. Twilight jumped to her hooves, and flew at the statue. Once again, whip first. The whip lashed at the neck of Victory, not seeming to do much other than scratch her surface.

Victory swung her flag, knocking Twilight at least a few good feet across the rain soaked grass. The jumbling reshot her thoughts, though. Licking her lips for the blood, the mare stood in the rain. Violence the answer? Sometimes. Magic? Always.

She recalled a very powerful spell she had been working on, crafted on the basis of his very own magic bolt spell. It was very powerful indeed. Even with a joint effort from Rarity, she had never been able to successfully cast it once. A quick glance up to the inverted horns atop Bellmont's armor gave her just the confidence boost she needed. Though, she needed a conductor...

Back to her hooves, she used her magic to straighten the whip as much as she could. This was a one shot thing; each time she had tried and failed, the results had been so depleting that neither she nor, occasionally Rarity, could stand for a few days. Her stomach almost convulsed at the thought of being immobile while Victory tore her to shreds.

She didn't have a choice, though. Anything she did to the statue seemed to have no effect on the lifeless thing. It only ended with her being tossed away, bloody and hurt. Praying to the actual Celestia, she launched the whip at Victory, impaling the stone. The whip went straight through, and fell limp when it was completely embedded.

The statue did not take this lightly, of course. It raised the flag, and charged Twilight, shaking the ground with each heavy step. The flag swung down, crashing onto Twilight. All the air escaped her lungs as she fell, sprawled on the mud. This, oddly enough, was just the opportunity for her. She took it, and rolled out from underneath the statue. Effort was all it took for her to get back to her hooves and dart away from Victory. "Okay," she breathed, falling into concentration, "Focus...focus..."

Rain pelted down on her, adding onto the frustration she felt from her wounds. Focusing was the hardest thing to do right now. She managed to force herself to, and channeled all the magic she could muster up. It surged through her veins, rushing to her head and materializing in her horn. The buildup increased, becoming more and more intense. This was a burning sensation like no other; she was losing her tolerance for it by the second.

Then, her magic, and the burning, split from her horn. Two small spots on her forehead became white hot. She knew what was happening; the two horns were absorbing and rechanneling her magic. This was good, she was almost done. More focus and sweat pouring into her horn as the sound of stomping began. Victory would crush her in a second or less if she couldn't get this out.

The release that any unicorn felt after casting a large spell was nothing compared to the post-orgasmic feeling Twilight felt as this spell discharged. In a blinding display of melting purple lightning, two plasmatic beams cracked from her horn. They twirled around each other, sparking whenever they touched. At the front of this beam, they connected in a V, a huge, bright violet spark flinging plasma everywhere.

It slammed full force into Bellmont's whip, filling the metal with the spells charge. It spread through the whip, and up through Victory itself. The statue froze, it's cracks glowing deep purple. Twilight had fallen over, a huge rush of endorphins and magical tension relief flooding her brain. She stared as her spell took effect, watching each crack's glow brighten more and more. At this rate, Victory should-

Boom! The statue exploded, huge chunks of molten rock spewing across the garden. Parts of the grass, despite being soaked to the root, lit on violet fire. Bellmont's whip, much unlike Victory, was on the ground, perfect as ever. Though behind it was a different story. The tower had a huge hole blown in it, opening it up to her. She sighed in relief; two problems, one very, very heavy stone. Giggles couldn't be suppressed.

(^,..,~)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBKKYJLF3kA&feature=related

Endorphins still fresh in her system, Twilight picked up her whip and proceeded into the hole in the tower. Her spell was much more powerful than she had imagined; blowing Victory to pieces like that was, in simple terms, awesome. Proud now more than bold she smiled around the large entrance way. This, being the main part of the library, was simple. There was a mist covered reception desk, tattered and destroyed, that sat in the middle. All around were a large assortment of books and scrolls which she had not had a chance to read since her Canterlot days.

In nostalgia she trotted to the stairs that spiraled on either side. Princess...Celestia...had taken her here on many private matters, but never let her into the Restricted Zone. Nevertheless, she knew exactly where to go. Leaving the rain behind was especially easy, its cold sting rather unpleasant. The library tower was not warm by any means. However, it was rather dry if the haze could be ignored. Her right hoof made a clack on the first stair. The haze here parted without struggle.

She began to ascend the stairs, one at a time. Her forelegs burned, her hind legs stung, and she was sure that at one point, Victory had gotten a good swing at her haunches. Even with this pain, the stairs were easy to climb. The only thing that made them difficult was the gash on her cheek. Her sweet, sweet cheek. Pausing, she raised a hoof to it. That kiss from Applemont... it felt so warm. Twilight wasn't necessarily sure that she rolled towards mares, but one thing was certain; Applemont deserved more than just a peck to the cheek in return. She made a mental note of that, blushing deep crimson in the dark tower.

Here was the second rung of the library, the spell section. This section was famous to all equestrian unicorns. In fact, she had seen some take visiting as a sort of pilgrimage. The reason why was blatant. Across the dusty shelves stood tomes upon tomes of the most powerful and wise unicorns of Equestrian history. Starswirl the Bearded even had his own section! There was of course more; looking around, she reveled in the titles she had not seen for so long. Firemage's Apprentice, the Astronomical Wizard, and even A Celestial Account: The Court Wizard's Tome, stood out to her like golden torches. She couldn't help but smile.

Past these old, yet marvelous books, sprawled another spiraled staircase. Twilight began up this one in hesitance; not being here for such a long time made her wishes to read these reveled books intense. But she continued, once again repeating her reasons in her head. Now, unlike the last multiple repeats, there was one added: Applemont. So up the flight of stairs she went.

Here was the basic reading section. It held everything from fantasy, to fiction, to made up piles of plain crapapples. Nothing non-fictional was on this rung, so it didn't catch Twilights eye much. Actually, she almost skimmed over the shelves blankly. Only one or two titles really rang in her mind; Daring Do, The Headless Horse, and Lord of the Pony: the two Ponies.

She had no problem ascending from this rung. The next one, however, was one she frequently visited while she was studying in Canterlot. The non-fiction section held many biographies, auto and non. It appeared, however, that books were not the only thing this part held. Ahead in the haze, with the moonlight behind it piercing through a window, stood a cloaked figure. In the pale light Twilight made out some of the smaller details. It was obviously a mare, and a unicorn at that. There was no blood on her, and she seemed to be normal. Sane, in fact.

This mare was reading over one of the dusty tomes from a shelf. Past her dark blue cape and blue wizard hat, Twilight could not see more. "Um, hello?" Twilight beckoned the mare.

She turned to reveal her striking green coat and mane. "Have you come from Dragulestia? What are the orders?" the mare demanded.

Twilight's eyes widened. This was no mare... she was something else, but what remained to be seen. "Y-You work for Dragulestia, eh?" she stammered, trying to throw some confidence into her voice.

"I do. And from the looks of your armor, you do not," she hissed. "I've read of that armor. Bellmont, is it? I thought you had died a long time ago. And, I kinda thought you had a white coat. Not some flamboyant purple."

"Huh. Cape, hat, annoying," Twilight listed. This mare reminded her of Trixie. "Tell me, do you like whips?" Her eyes darted, and her mouth began watering. To relive that day, Twilight would give almost anything.

"Whips? What do you take me for, a bondage loving freak?" The mare scoffed. "No! I am a highly respectable witch thank you very much!"

Twilight grinned. "Witch, sure. But I don't see any respectability in you."

"How...How dare you! I, the strong and mysterious Eixirt shall squash you like a bug," she boasted. The witch reached to her left, and grabbed a broom.

Armored Twilight sighed. "Please, just please don't start flying around on a broom. I've seen too much stereotypical stuff today to put up with some deja vu witch who flies on a broom."

"Stereotypical?" the witch sneered. "Deja vu? I've had enough of being insulted by some pathetic vampony hunting moron!" She jumped on her broom, and took to the air. "And! I'll have you know that flying on a broom is much harder than it looks!" The stress of that last word rang in the air, as she bolted lightning down at Twilight.

The spell was so pathetic that it had no consequences. Twilight gave her an annoyed look. "Really? That was it?"

"I-I, well, y-you do better!" she stammered.

Twilight knew it now; she didn't even have to try. Raising her whip with magic, she levitated it in front of the dumbstruck witch. She coiled it around her and her broom, and dragged her to the ground quickly. The witch landed on the ground with a thud, parting the haze.

"How was that?" Twilight grinned. Trixie was starting to surface in her mind again.

"I demand you release me!" The witch, apparently Eixirt, yelled out.

Twilight shook her head. "Tell me again, do you like whips?"

"W-Whips? I already said no!" she stormed.

Now, the purple unicorn was breathing heavily on the teal green mane of the witch. "Do you. Like whips?"

"I-I don't understand..." the tangled mare gulped.

Twilight just laughed. Trixie was full on in her mind now. "I'll show you," she said with a demented smile. Using her magic, she dragged the struggling witch around a row of books, into a dark ally of shelves.

[Falling books, a few screams, and a good twenty minutes passed, the events of which are completely irrelevant to this otherwise {anyways} strange story. These events hold no importance, consequence, or foreshadowing. Oh well. This was fun.]

Twilight, sweaty and panting, stepped out of the mangled bookshelves, her whip by her side. She was just getting her helmet back on now. "Everyone needs a bit of stress relief," she assured herself as she pushed her dirtier side to the back of her mind. Though, in all fairness, she did feel a bit more confident about the future.

The unicorn left the scene, and dashed up the last set of spiraling stairs to the small spire level. Here, as she crested the top, she knew was the important public court accounts - nothing truly important to her at all. Yet there was a door here, at the opposite side of the huge, vaulted spire room. Celestia had left her in this room long enough to know that this door was more of a magical elevator than anything.

A hole on the side was used by the princess to activate the thing, and Twilight knew just how to do it. She slid her...slick...horn into the hole, and charged it up. The whole door, red and puffed, glowed a bright silver, before slamming open on either side. Sudden movements scared Twilight now, and this was no exception. The unicorn retracted her horn and jumped back.

It was nothing bad, however. The elevator door just opened. "It's okay, calm down," she giggled. Stepping forward, and then onto the elevator, she breathed a sigh of relief. And, the elevator was warm.

Looking around, she noticed the rather utilitarian construction of the elevator; it was just a cage on a chain. It didn't have a way to start either, so when the doors closed, she could do nothing but hope for the best.

(o,//,o)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kx2E6aXd9PI&feature=related

After the horribly rickety ride, Twilight stumbled out of the elevator eagerly. But she was faced with something more pressing for her attention than just her sick stomach. The old iron door in front of her read 'LABS/RESTRICTED'. This was where she needed to be.

Quicker than before, she galloped up to the door, the dim star torches in the dungeon like hallway lighting her path. The iron door was already cracked, so all Twilight had to do was give it a good shove, and it heaved open. The grinding sound was sure to draw attention, but she didn't care. She wanted this to be quick.

Through the doorway, she saw star lit torches on the wall once again, illuminating a most interesting room. There were long, black iron tables that spanned the length of this room, each with vials and bottles of multi colored brews that steamed and boiled. On the wall were many tube hanging racks, where there were in fact some right now.

At the end of this themed room was another iron door. Twilight could only guess that it lead to the main labs, not this. So, that being her goal, the unicorn darted down the length of these tables, her armor glistening in the torchlight. The door approached rapidly, and she was ready for it.

She slammed her forelegs against it, and heaved it open. It snapped to the left, and she barreled through. Victorious in the moment only, though, as she came to an abrupt halt. In front of her, and another door in this small linking room, was an empty set of armor. But this was not blue and red, like the Axe Armor. No, it was orange with a yellow trim. Still lifeless and hollow, though.

In no time she cracked her whip down on it with magic. The armor did not flinch. Instead, it reached around with it's foreleg, and pulled out a small black orb, the top of which held a lit wick. This armor had a bomb.

Twilight's eyes widened at the sight. With the whip, she cracked at it again. Yet the armor was not phased, simply stepping forward and tossing the bomb. The unicorn let out a little eep at it, jumping back. The black thing exploded ferociously in her fore, shrapnel barely missing her already gashed cheek.

Though her ears were ringing loudly, she managed to focus enough to use her whip on it again. The metal whip lashed down, and cracked the armor on the helmet. It seemed to be weaker than the Axe Armor; that good crack was all it took to knock it to the floor in a pile of metal and scrap.

Her face was blackened with gunpowder. That bomb was small, with a relatively confined explosion. Logic, she told herself, says that that bomb was made for protection. That in mind, she kicked the door open, and dashed through it.

Here were an array of racks again, each with cauldrons now. It seemed as though they had something fresh brewing; something Twilight found odd, being the state the castle was in. Still, she ran forward, now lost. She had absolutely no idea where the restricted part of the library was. But places like this normally had a directory so that this didn't happen. Twilight kept her eye out for one.

Beyond this cobblestone room, there was a hallway that split. She flew to the middle of it, and looked both ways for directions. This was a long, straight hall that had multiple rooms branching off either side. Lack of direction sent her flying left on snap decisions. In this blue starlit hallway she dashed to the end, hopes moderately low. With gusto she leaned and curved right at the last doorway. She almost tripped, but fumbled around fortunately; on the floor in front of her was a huge spike strip. It was so out of place, but after recalling all the cauldrons and vials that were strewn across the hall, everything was.

She backed up for a good distance, and gained a running start at the spikes. Easily she flew above them, landing on her metal hoof caps and continuing down this new hallway. Again there were doors adjacent to each other here. Twilight decided to take another right. She leaned down, and curved into the next archway. Now, she found herself in a laboratory different than the others. It was large, empty, but obviously highly important.

On the wall a pony was chained. But this was no normal pony, and the chains were not buckled. This pony held stitches across its whole body, and the random pattern of colors made Twilight's face twist in disgust. Many coats from many ponies had been used to create this thing. It had no mane, though it's eyes were different colors: one red, the other green. On its neck were two iron bolts that seemed like they belonged in a house support rather than a mash of ponies. It was like... Frankenpony.

Then it moved. Twilight shrunk away from the abomination as it forced its foreleg from its binds. Stitched together rather well, the leg made only a slight tearing noise as the chain fell from it. It was revolting. The unicorn was not going to let this one get the upper hand. With her magic she drew her whip and took a good crack at the head. She succeeded in twisting it around about ninety degrees, but not in stopping the thing all together.

As it turned back to her, the head made a repulsive cracking sound. It sounded much like bones being popped out or into place. Twilight snarled, and whipped it again. This time the barb of the whip struck Frankenpony on the leg, causing a most disturbing deformity. The leg just cracked back into place though, just as the head.

Twilight backed away from it, bumping into a small table as she did so. Scaring herself, she jumped, turning to face what she had hit. Finding that it was a table brought some alleviation, but the rattling of a chain from behind her brought otherwise. Her heart skipped a beat, and she prepared to turn and strike Frankenpony once more, when a little black book on the table caught her eye. It was open to a certain page, with some scrawled writing on it.

With closer inspection, the full situation came into view.

Log 228, New Equestrian Soldier Project. (N.E.S.P.)
We did it! It finally worked! Equestria's new supersoldier! It took a long time to get the magical bindings worked in, but now, not a single arm, leg, or even the head will come off. It was a gruesome project, I admit. But what can anypony say? We took them all from the dungeons, and the Executioner was more than happy to hand them over. It's nice that Princess Luna gave the greenlight on this project. We've gotten so far! It even thinks, to a degree. Right now it's pretty malicious, but we're working on making it controlled at least. Still, it can walk, mutter a few words, and even hold a few things! Should this work, we could take the guards and completely reform them! How exciting!

Twilight's face was that of extreme repulsion. They had cut ponies apart, and turned them into an indestructible monstrosity. Under Princess Luna's watch, at that! But now was no time for hate; now was time to run. If it was true, that this thing could not be killed, then she needed to get going. Chains were rattling from behind her; that thing would be free soon.

Turning from the table to the door the unicorn dashed out of that room. Into the hallway, and to the opposite room she ran, desperate to find the library. In this new room, she was greeted by the rest of the ponies used to make Frankenpony. This was a scene that something only a gridmark horror tale could present, and she quickly found herself back out in the hallway. If she made it out of here alive, she thought, she may have to pay that witch pony another visit. Her nerves were on end already.

When she re-entered the hall, she saw that Frankenpony was already free from his bonds and slowly walking out of the room. He elicited a yip of fear from the running unicorn. Twilight ran the complete opposite direction now, and landed herself back in the original hallway. Her worries had just begun.

At the end, walking out of what appeared to be another hallway that connected in the manner of the previous, a pony trotted out, looking much like the witch. The cape and hat this one wore was red, however, a huge contrast to her white coat and yellow mane. She was reading something, using her horn to hold the book close to her face as she entered.

Twilight began running again, not caring about the clacking she was making. The witch pony had turned up from her book to see the unicorn flying at her. "What're you, some sort of flashy knight?" she sarcastically spat at Twilight.

She did not retort this time; Frankenpony was on the way, and she could deal with him. So a new idea fomulated. "I am the guard of Draculestia herself!" she boldly announced. Saying Draculestia made her choke a little, but this was her chance. "I demand you point me to the restricted library!"

The witches eyes opened widely. "Oh my! I, um, I'm terribly sorry! T-The library is just down this hall, past the iron portcullis. The lever is on the wall."

Nervously, Twilight - who was hopping from leg to leg as the witch fell for her lie - darted off.

"Oh wait please!" the witch called from behind her.

Not wanting to blow her cover, she turned around with a very uneasy smile. "Did you see a teal-ish pony up there? I'm afraid she's my new apprentice, and she's very self confident."

"I, um, yes! She's busy studying!" Twilight lied.

"Ah, good. I apologize for any trouble the headstrong pony gave you," The witch said.

Twilight forced a chuckle. "Oh, no she was fine," she lied. "I really must be going! Stay, um, safe."

The witch nodded, and turned to continue walking. Twilight sighed, and turned back around to the new hall. If that was the true witch, not the apprentice, then she was glad that it all worked out. For now, that is. She wondered how long the witch would last against Frankenpony. Poor gal, she said in her mind as the portcullis came to view. Just as promised, the lever was on the wall, and Twilight took no time in yanking it down harshly.

The portcullis fell with a sharp metal clank, and Twilight charged through. Here were a set of stairs that descended only a second, and opened up into a huge underground library. Twilight was in awe as she stepped into the open area, taking in the large library. The ceiling vaulted at the top of what was surely a hundred feet at least, where a starlight chandelier hung overhead, illuminating the room with a soft blue glow.

But she snapped from her awe, realizing that Frankenpony could be behind her at a moment's notice. "Bellmont's amulet," she muttered to herself. Immediately the librarian at heart got to work.

She spotted the towering shelf with a B, and dashed over to it. All the shelves, from A-Z were lined in rows in front of her, with no reception desk or guard post to provide over watch. To Twilight, this was good; that meant that she wouldn't run into any demented or deformed pony abominations down here.

Turning down the B aisle, she galloped down to Be. There was no ladder, but she figured no one would mind a mess. Quickly, with magic, she began yanking books off their shelves. "Benevolent magic...no. Becoming a werepony... no. Because I could, an account of Celestia's... oh my." She used her magic to throw that book as far away as possible, before resuming her search. "Aha!" she exclaimed in relieving glee. "Bellmont's Amulet!"

She tucked the book into a saddlebag on the armor, securing it tight with her magic. Now that that was done, she could just get the buck out of the castle again. Turning out, she rushed from the B section, and to the dark staircase once more.

Up these stairs, and out the portcullis, she darted as fast as she could. But when she turned the corner, she was faced with quite the scene. The witch was hoof to hoof with Frankenpony, trying desperately to beat him down.

"Y-You! Help me, please! I-I can't hold him much longer!" The witch pleaded.

Twilight, faced with a choice, was too kind hearted to see a sentient pony be beaten to death by something she had fled from herself. Reluctantly, she raced up to Frankenpony and zapped him with a good lightning bolt. He stumbled back, the electricity zapping off of his bolts. "Go!" she ordered to the witch. "Get to the elevator. I'll be right there!"

The witch stumbled to her hooves and nodded, before rushing out the door. Twilight turned her attention back to Frankenpony, who was moving again. Each step he took made a horrific, bone grinding noise. "Bring it!" she yelled at the thing.

Frankenpony did not comprehend, but instead just stumbled forward and swung at her. The unicorn turned to him, and let her armor take the powerful hit. When he had stumbled back, Twilight pulled out her whip and snapped at Frankenpony's forelegs. They snapped in every direction, and he fell face first to the cold floor.

From there, Twilight charged out of the hall, back into the second cauldron room. Then over the bomber armor, and soon to the elevator. To her surprise, the witch had waited for her. She was sweating from nervousness, much like Twilight.

"Hurry, please!" she urged.

Twilight barged onto the elevator, and the witch cast a spell. The doors to the cage slammed shut, and the elevator began up. It went much slower than last time, though. Twilight could tell how uncomfortable this would be.

When she was back to her hooves, the witch began a conversation.

"You aren't Draculestia's guard. You wouldn't have left me, and you wouldn't have destroyed my bomber armor," she sighed. Her coat was bloody and beaten from the battle, and she looked simply exhausted.

Twilight reached for her whip, but the red clad witch shook her head and continued. "I won't attack. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't even be standing. I swear, that thing almost killed me. Though, I thought it was locked away tightly."

"You won't attack?" Twilight repeated, shocked.

The witch shook her head. "I am sworn to the service of Draculestia, but not bound. I take my honor code rather seriously, thank you very much. You saved my life, and I'm in your debt. Thank you."

"Oh, well, um, you're welcome," the confused pony said.

"So I assume my apprentice is..."

"Oh, no! I couldn't bring myself to kill her. After being attacked by all these... things, I'd have a hard time killing any sentient pony," Twilight explained her weakness as the elevator swayed.

The witch giggled. "Well you may need to change that if you're ever going to make it here. But, if you don't mind me asking, what did you do to my annoying little apprentice?"

"Well, I, um..." Twilight blushed and looked away.

Again, the witch just giggled. "Ah, I see. Don't worry, I've done it before too. Sometimes we all just need a way to relax. I'm Blackmoon, by the way."

"I'm Twilight Sparkle," she reluctantly confessed. "Why are you being so nice again?"

"You saved my life, so I'm not putting up a struggle here. Why do you think I waited for you? I knew you weren't with Draculestia right when I saw that pile of armor, yet I still waited. Besides, there's not a lot of social interaction, so this is sort of nice," she said. Her voice was oddly sweet.

"Well...thank you too, then," Twilight smiled. For being employed by a powerful being of darkness and hate, this Blackmoon was rather nice. It made her wonder.

"Ah, we're at the top. I wish you luck to whatever crosses your path in the future, Miss Sparkle," Blackmoon the witch as they both stepped off the elevator.

They went to the stairs, and Twilight said, "The same to you, Miss Blackmoon. And once again, I'm sorry about your, uh, apprentice."

Descending the stairs behind Twilight, Blackmoon picked up, "It's quite alright. Here, I have something for you." At the bottom of the stairs, Blackmoon levitated a small fire ruby to Twilight. "Just strike it with magic when you're in trouble. Take it as a gift of gratitude."

Twilight, confused still, smiled and gladly accepted the gift. "Why thank you Miss Blackmoon. Your apprentice is over there by the way," she said, pointing to a sleeping mare covered in sweat.

"Ah, yes. Thank you. Best of luck to you, then!" she called out, disappearing behind the dark, hazy shelves.

Twilight smiled at the odd interaction, and trotted down the remaining stairs and out of the moonlit library, her armor gleaming all the way.

v(-,..,-)v
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJMiA4fYP-I&feature=related

The unicorn stood at the edge of the Castle, on the road to the town. The rain was still falling, heavy as ever, and the mist still consumed the area. The moon, a huge orb in the night sky, shone brighter now, adding the extra glow that the mist needed to become as eerily wrong as it was. The ice, now spread over the whole town of Canterlot obviously, shimmered in the light.

Twilight quickly strode down this road, and into the - for an unknown reason to her - freezing Canterlot. Ice was slick everywhere now, on the sidewalks, the roads, houses and stores. There was no denying it now; something new was sweeping the town. She trotted down the ally of now iced stores and houses with a keen eye. Her whip stood ready for her to command, and her armor was shining, as if warning anything daring to attack her to stay back.

A figure soon appeared out of the icy mist. This was a blue unicorn, pale and ghostly. Her skin seemed frozen, as if she had been dead in this ice for a while. And her eyes... her eyes, trapped open, seemed to be made of fine ice. They were doomed to stare out, cold and alone into the rainy night. Lightly blue, her horn glowed. It was manipulating the frigidness of the air, and in fact the ice itself. Around this shade were three large icicles that spun, trapped by some sort of freezing gravity.

This pony, suspended in the cold air, levitated towards her with theses icicles. Twilight took no hesitation in drawing her whip and lashing at her. A small gash opened on her exposed stomach, but snow poured out. It wasn't as disgusting as some of her experiences earlier, but it was strange nonetheless.

Now, this shade pointed one of the three icicles at her, and darted it thought the mist. It flew easily, gliding along to Twilight. She did not know what this was, and failed to dodge it in time. The ice slammed into her side, shattering on the armor and toppling her to the ground.

She immediately shoved herself back up, and cracked the whip again. This time, the gash grew across the wraiths face, pouring out another leakage of snow. In retort, the wraith aimed another icicle, and slung it at her. With better judgement now, she leapt to the left and let the ice fly past her. It hit the ground behind her, and shattered into tiny pieces.

Crack! The whip fell hard upon the shade, finally causing it to stumble. The wraith swooped left, then to the right, before finally falling from the frigid air and crumbling on the icy ground. Twilight shook her head; that was...interesting. Luckily, the ice had not hurt her. She had her armor to thank for that.

With her strength, she pushed off with a gallant headstrong shove. The unicorn dashed down the street, meeting but one lonely, frozen skeleton which she easily cracked. Beyond that, just as she had before, she turned left on the intersection. Another frozen shade stood waiting for her, but her experience with...everything now, helped her shatter the lifeless excuse for a corpse in seconds. It dropped and shattered like it's sister, and she continued through the blasted wasteland called Canterlot City.

A sharp right, and she was down her straightforward path. She stuck to the sidewalks here; the ice was piling up on the roads. The houses on either side were ice riddled, with fresh icicles hanging from them. The whole scene looked like it was from the arctic regions of Equestria, and certainly as cold as them.

Up ahead, she saw the city gates forming through the mist and rain. A clear shot, if that could be defined as such, and she would be out of the city for now. Picking up her pace, the mare clanked her way to and out of the city another time.

Super Cantervania IV

View Online

Twilight slipped into the mont's tent, glad to escape the rain and enter a safe haven. The candle in the middle of the cloth shelter glowed brightly, wavering though it did. Big Macinmont was still engorged in the journal with an intent look on his face. Applemont, on the other hoof, was laying on her straw cot at the edge of the tent. She was looking better for the wear; the cuts were already on a road to healing, and Big Mac had pulled out all of the glass. It lay in a blood drenched pile on top of the little chest of theirs: an unwelcome sight, if Twilight ever saw one.

Her helmet dropped to the floor with the use of magic, and she spoke up to Big Mac. "Here's that book," she told him softly, levitating the book from her pack and giving it to him.

He said nothing, letting his actions speak. With a wink and a nod, he urged her over to the sleeping Applemont. Twilight caught on, and strode to the pony with a pride about her. Such a beautiful pony, she thought to herself, has somehow drawn out my feelings. She considered herself lucky; love was the rarest material out there. And here she was, a glowing orange pony silently snoozing in front of her. A smile grew, softly, proudly.

Unbeknownst to the slumbering pony, Twilight lowered her head and gently licked her ear. That was a feeling like no other. It showed great affection, and a sense of comfort, as well as also just feeling, well, nice. This gentle motion of sweet caressing could sway anypony to a feeling of comfort, especially the one doing it. She could feel her anxiety working itself out with each warm little lick, this solace taking hold.

As she licked, Applemont began to wake up. "Wha...Oh, hey Twi...mmmm..." she lolled her tongue out. Rolling onto her back, Applemont's blush grew very visible in the dim candlelight.

"How do you feel?" Twilight whispered softly into Applemont's ear.

The orange pony grinned as hard as her blush. "Y'all have no idea'r," she mumbled as Twilight unrelentingly licked.

"Oh? Nah, I do. Going from death and vamponies, to the soft fur of a special orange coat is very...relaxing," she whispered. Her eyes were closed, the moment washing over her.

"Ah didn't think y'all would take it like this..." Applemont, eyes also closed, whispered back.

Twilight giggled and kept licking. "Truth is, me either. I did a lot of thinking though... It started when I was hit on my cheek."

"What happened t' yer cheek?" Applemont opened her eyes for a look at the damage. The unicorn tried to hide the gash, not wanting her friend to worry. She retracted from the orange ear and turned to the left.

"How bad are ya hurt? Big Mac, get'r a potion!" She demanded. Big Mac sighed, the annoying willingness floating along with his breath. He walked over to the chest, kicking the glass off, and popped it open with his snout. Out of it he pulled another tiny red vial.

He brought it over to Twilight, and set it in her hands before heading back to the book. "Pop'r open, soups on," Applemont chuckled.

The armored mare did so, gripping the vial in her hooves and yanking the cork out with her mouth. Quickly she chugged it, snarling at the awful taste. It went down smoothly, yes - the taste, however, was that of old mud. Or something of the sort, Twilight commented in her mind.

Applemont, who noticed Twilight's scrunched face of repulsion, chuckled again. "If yer wonderin, part of it's made with some snail extract. It's b'cause it helps digestion er somethin. I dunno, we just take'm from the nerds up at Canterlot."

"Well, it wasn't, um, too bad," the unicorn noted. It's aftertaste was oddly sweet, with a hint of bitter. It was almost like what a pony could expect from a fine dry wine.

The effects were similar too.

As Twilight's vision blurred, her pain quickly vanished from her completely. "Dont'cha worry about that blurrin ya see, that goes away." She opened her arms. "In th' meantime, why not, um, gimme a hug er somethin..."

The both blushed scarlet. And even with that burning heat in Twilight's cheeks, she bent down and wrapped her forelegs around her friend. They covered each other in this embrace, glad to still be able to hold each other despite the events of this night.

"I...I think it's a bit early to say... love. But Applejack, I..."

"Shhh, Ah know Twi. Just...shhh," Applemont smiled. She pulled Twilight in deeper, the cold armor only separating them bodily.

It wasn't long that they were like that until Twilight felt something wet on her exposed fur. Opening her now clear eyes, she looked up to Applemont to find tears in her eyes. "Applejack, are you alright?" Twilight whispered, concern in her soft voice.

"I...um, yeah. I ain't cryin, am I? Ah shoot..." she muttered. "Ah just didn't know if y'all was gonna make it out is all. Big Mac kept sayin that rookies don't make it, but Ah tried not to believe him." The orange mare squeezed Twilight.

"Glad to know you had faith in me," Twilight snuggled deep into her.

Big Mac stood up. "And Ah'm sorry I didn't. Yer turnin out to be another -mont, ya know that?"

Heat rose into her cheeks again. Beneath her sweaty purple coat, a scarlet burned on her cheeks. "T-Thank you," she forced out with a smile.

"Enope. Thank you, fer, well everythin. But ya gotta get goin again. Come'ere, I got somethin ta show ya."

Twilight licked Applemont's ear once more before breaking away from her. She stood back to her full height, her back cracking audibly as she turned. As she approached, she inquired, "What is it?"

"Right here," Big Mac marked something with his hoof. "Turns out Bellmont's amulet ain't no amulet after all. It's th' element a' magic."

"Really? That's...well, that's great! I know just where that is," Twilight beamed proudly.

"Enope," he said again. "Yer gonna need a princess t' unlock the door. And yer gonna need one t' use th' element. You can't use it."

The unicorn lost her bold smile. "W-Why not?" She got by Big Macinmont's side, and gave him a serious glare.

"B'cause," he told her, "The bell has t' be held by a mont. An' shootin yerself with th' element of magic is a bad idea, we're told."

"But I'm not even a mont!" she stammered.

Applemont coughed to get her attention. "Actually, Twi, ya are. Big Mac an' I were talkin, and we decided that since yer doin this by yerself, that you'd be taken into th' mont family. If'n that's what ya want, that is."

The purple unicorn's cheeks flooded once more. "It's... an honor," she shyly smiled. She was now a vampony hunter. It was actually kind of... cool.

"Welcome to th' family," Big Mac smiled as he welcomed her. "Now back ta this. Yer a mont, wearing Bellmont's armor, so it has t'be you. But the princess problem..."

Twilight spoke her mind with difficulty. After what she had seen in the labs and the dungeon, this princess was not her 'favorite', per say. "There's princess Luna," she choked.

"Can ya get in contact with'r?" Applemont asked from her cot.

"I think so," she responded in thought. "I've been working on a teleportation spell for objects, so it's possible..."

"Then hurry up," Applemont chuckled. "We ain't got all day."

Twilight rolled her eyes, and asked Big Mac for some paper and a quill. He gladly obliged, taking the requested items from that little chest. Wasting no time, Twilight hastily scrawled her message.

Spike!
Don't ask, just tell the Princess to teleport to the gates of the city. Now, please! We don't have much time at all, and it's very important.

Stay safe,

Twilight.

Her worry may have been a bit embellished, but she figured it would help. She charged her horn with her violet magic with all the strength she could; this was a hard spell to cast, but she could do it. With her library visualized in her mind clearly, she whisked the little paper away in a flash of violet light. "We may have to wait a bit," she admitted.

"Ah'm, uh, alright with that," Applemont sheepishly said. The strong pony let her weak side out, turning away and hiding her face.

Twilight, blushing probably twice as hard as her friend, strode over to her, and laid down beside the cot. She reached a foreleg over Applemont, and pulled her close. The two met in the middle, one armored, one bare, and held each other for a while. Big Macinmont sighed with a happy undertone and continued reading.

A flash just outside the tent announced the newcomer. It was bright and deep blue, and everypony knew what had happened. Twilight sprung to her hooves and dashed to the front flaps of the tent. Big Mac followed, and Applemont just stayed on her cot. Eagerly, she poked her unarmored head outside to see the Princess.

Luna, sure enough, stood tall in front of them. Her health was not in good condition, but she seemed to be managing herself fine. "Twilight Sparkle, you have set up camp with thy friends? Good. May I come in?"

"Of course," Twilight said. She had pushed her anger towards this princess back as far as she could; she needed to take care of the matter at hand, not argue. "Although, it's only Applemont and Big Macinmont here."

"You know of the monts?" Luna questioned, stepping in from the rain. Applemont and Big Macinmont smiled and waved, much different than the normal bowing and groveling that most ponies did. Luna, to Twilight's surprise, waved back with a weak smile.

"Yes, I do. I know...a lot of things now. But that's not the point. Princess, Big Mac here says we need to get in the castle and get the element of magic."

"Indeed," Luna agreed, sitting next to the large red stallion. "I see you have the whip, armor, and book. Quite the progress. Tell me, what of my... sister," she asked, the words falling flat from her tongue.

"Princess, no offence er nothin, but y'all know what's up with yer sister," Applemont said.

Luna nodded, reluctance more than obvious. "I do. And you are correct, we do have very little time. Come, we must be going to the Element's Hall."

"Are you sure you'd rather not rest? You look beat?" Twilight said. An injured pony teleporting was less than easy for sure.

"No, Twilight Sparkle, we must make haste! It is why you called me here, is it not?"

Twilight sighed, and used magic to refit her helmet. "I suppose."

"Good. I shall await you at the gates," Luna said, teleporting out of the tent.

Twilight shook her head, and walked over to Applemont. "I'll be back, and better this time. It's almost over," she assured herself more than anypony.

"Ah know Twi, I have faith in ya still. Now get goin, y'alls got vamponies t' hunt!" She said with gusto.

The unicorn giggled, and bent down once more. "You better be here when I get back," she whispered into Applemont's ear.

"Aw, shucks, fer my knight in shinin armor, I will be," Applemont smiled.

Twilight couldn't help but chuckle. She leaned into her friend, and gave her a small peck on her lips, before teleporting herself to Luna's side.

(^,//,^)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qnlMK0aiRk&feature=related

Luna stood next to Twilight at the gates. "I'm ready when you are, Princess," she said, a bit quieter than she had intended.

"Of course. After you, Twilight Sparkle."

The unicorn gulped, but after checking the expression on Luna's face, she could see that the princess was feeling no better. It was probably out of nervousness that she pushed Twilight ahead, anyways. Understandable, Twilight told herself. After the condition Luna was in at her door, she supposed anypony would be so nervous.

A weary twinkle in her eye, the purple unicorn carefully entered the town. The mist here was falling into a haze - just as it was in the castle - letting the moon shine in further. Unceasing was the rain, however. It continued to pound upon Canterlot and its frozen denizens. Twilight made a note of the piling ice's growth; it seemed to be getting worse, despite there only being rain. It wasn't so bad around the city gates, and the first few houses only had a bit crusting them, but further in, Canterlot was an icy wasteland.

"What has happened here?" asked Princess Luna, dumbstruck from the moment.

"I'm not sure about the ice in the town," Twilight explained, "But the castle's no better. So it's obviously Princess...Celestia." She shuddered at the name.

The pair walked further into the town, ice beginning to trip them. An intensive vibe in the air kept them from really talking to each other much; even as one of them began to skid on the ice, she would not ask for help. Rain and cold seemed to steal their voices, or at least their aptitude for talking.

Though, Twilight had something important on her mind. Too important to keep silent. "Princess?" she grabbed the alicorn's attention.

Luna's blue coat shimmered in her own moonlight as she looked down. "Yes, Twilight Sparkle?"

"Princess, did anything like this ever happen before?"

Luna stopped dead in her tracks, staring out into the hazing mist with blank eyes. A certain hesitation in her eye glinted in the moonlight. Her lip seemed to quiver as she spoke up. "Y-Yes, it did. I believe the last known time this occurred, it was called the Nightmare Moon incident."

"Oh my..." Twilight bit her lip. This was that bad. "B-But how can you freely change into Nightmare Moon?"

"Split Personality," She said grimly. The alicorn cantered to Twilight's side, and they began walking again. "I hope you understand the full extent of the situation now."

"I do. Let's, uh, pick up the pace," suggested Twilight in her unnerved tone.

Luna nodded in concurrence.

They both increased haste, quickly coming upon the first intersection. A sole frozen shade hovered here. Three ice shards spun around her in selective harmony, fracturing and splitting the moonlight within their shattered insides. As soon as she came into view, all three shards snapped into position, their sharp edges aimed directly at the princess.

Twilight would not hesitate for anything. Bellmont's whip rose high in the air, and forcefully swiped down upon the shade. It cracked the thing on its head, sending it stumbling right. The unicorn nodded to Luna, who the proceeded to bomb the thing with ferocious strikes of lightning. It quickly fell to the floor in millions of shards.

"Ah, I almost missed this," Luna chuckled to herself.

Twilight ignored the comment for various reasons as she split left. The few bones from her previous expeditions laid scattered around, not causing any problems for her. A few were freshly frozen, though, and she did manage to skid and slide on a few of them. Bellmont's armor didn't have the best traction.

At the second intersection, with Luna close behind, Twilight stopped abruptly. A horrible sound streaked across the sky in a blue beam. It was awful laughter, that of three voices in one body. Just the sound was enough to make Twilight want to hurl yet again.

(*,..,*)

The armored mare and the alicorn watched a mysterious figure hover above them. This figure, with it's deep, gruff voice was laughing its terrible echo.

"I-I know that stallion!" Luna acknowledged. "How did he fall to this?"

Before Twilight could inquire any further, the figure floated down from the clouds. He landed directly in front of them, in the middle of the intersection. The figure was still shadowed and dark here, but Twilight could make him out now as well.

"Nightwatch?"

The figure just laughed. The mist around him parting, his glowing yellow eyes stabbed Twilight to the soul. Nightwatch's legs were crushed - they reminded her of Pinkie - and his wings were little more than bones... Yet he still managed to fly.

Nightwatch leapt into the air upon the boned wings, and circled around them. His laugh did not stop, but rather grew as it rained down upon them. Luna in particular seemed extremely worried about this.

"Twilight Sparkle, duck!" she yelled after the laugh's intensity grew to a wail. The unicorn did not understand, but fell to the ground anyways. In this, her faith in Luna was restored a bit; just as she hit the ground, a huge sonic boom funneled down, barely missing her. The house behind her lost its front to the boom, now laying in a pile of broken rubble.

"What in Equestria was that?!"

"Why do you think I know!?" Luna snapped back. Nightwatch shot another boom down, just missing Luna by a hair.

Twilight growled. "Look, can you fly?"

"I'm afraid not," Luna apologized as she stood. "I have no control of my wings whatsoever. Draculestia shot them with some sort of magic."

"Buck it all... Well we need to get him out of the sky then!"

The princess thought for a moment, giving Twilight the leisure to dodge another channeled sonic boom. "I believe...I believe that I can cast a spell to reflect his sonic booms."

"Then do it! We don't have time for this," the short tempered Twilight ordered. Luna may have been royalty, but her respect for anything having to do with this blasted castle was diminishing quicker than the mist, and flowing away like the rain.

Luna scrunched her face up at Twilight to express what she thought of her rudeness. But another boom drew their attention back up to Nightwatch, it's effects causing the loss of a sidewalk chunk. "Alright! But I will need time!"

Twilight nodded in mutual understanding as she pulled her whip out again. Nightwatch would be hard to hit in his swirling path, but she could manage the physical stuff with determination. The true reason it would be hard was that Twilight actually liked Nightwatch, so it was a shame that it had to come to this.

Another boom hailed down from above, striking the ground next to her. The blast sent her flying forward and landed her on her face. Luna, breaking focus, called to her, "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine!" she yelled back. Jumping to her hooves gave the indication that she was in fact fine, and Luna went back to her spell. Twilight raised her whip and struck the flying Nightwatch. All night she had been doing this; it was becoming second nature to her. Just as the whip fell below the commander, she launched it up for a lash under his chin.

The undead forces commander glared at her angrily, and shot another sonic boom down. Twilight had just enough time to see Luna's spell charge fully before this boom was upon her. She closed her eyes and braced her face in preparation for the worst, but the sound blared in her face before shooting back.

Twilight was deafened, but not hurt at least. When she opened her eyes she saw Nightwatch falling from the sky. The limp body shot down and crashed on the ice below, creating a good sized dent in the crystal water.

"Now, Twilight, finish him!" Luna panted. That spell had really taken it out of her.

Twilight, who barely heard her over the ringing in her ears, gulped and ran to the middle of the intersection. Nightwatch was getting up already with his shattered legs. All remorse aside, the unicorn brought her whip down on him, lashing at his skull. Three to four times over again, the bone finally cracked, and the commander fell to the bloodied ice.

The princess stood by Twilight as she retracted the whip. "T-Thank you, Twilight Sparkle. That was not easy for me to see, and I am sure it was not for you either. But... please, we must continue."

"I know, Princess," Twilight said, her intellect returning in her tone. She turned the intersection, and began on Golden road, Luna following close behind. "I know..."

(O,..,O)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nefeFdmeobI

The castle was normal, at least compared to the rest of the night. The front doors were battered open, and there was no light but that of the moon.

The newest mont stepped through the large, open castle doors only to be stopped dead in her tracks. Luna was no different; she froze, and her jaw dropped. Both of them stared up the stairs with terror in their eyes and fear in their souls.

"What ever is the matter?" Draculestia chuckled. She sat at the top of the stairs, her wings spread in their sharp points, and her fangs glinting in the pale moonlight. The eyes of the evil Princess were still vibrant pink, but were dilated and pale. With a demented, twisted smile the most powerful vampony Equestria had ever known stared down at them.

"S-Sister! I demand you stop this!" Luna stepped forward.

Draculestia just sighed and rolled her eyes. "Sister? You do remember the last time you were so bold, no?"

"Please, Princess! Stop," Twilight implored. This was her chance to stop this all without violence.

"Oh, I'm sorry my faithful student, did I hurt your feelings?" This Draculestia laughed heartedly.

Twilight just spat. "I thought that maybe I could get through to you..."

"You do too much thinking," the vampony sighed.

Luna snarled, stomping her hoof down. "You will die monster! You don't belong in this world, you are not Celestia!"

The large, imposing vampony took a gentle sip of the wine she was drinking. With her dark, black magic she raised a silver chalice up to her lips and drank. When she had taken her sip, and after whipping her mane around to let it flow, she continued. "It was not by my hand that I was given this form. I was called here by ponies who wish to pay me tribute," she said in a calm, alluring tone.

"Tribute?" Twilight stepped forward. This was not the princess, so she felt at ease to hiss at her. "You steal ponies souls and make them your slaves!"

"Ah, perhaps the same could be said of the Celestial Church," Draculestia sighed. Her sharp wings had lowered down to her side, but her drink raised to her lips again.

Luna scowled at the heretical remark. "Your words are as empty as your soul."

"Ponykind ill needs a savior like you!" Twilight spat. Ponykind needed Celestia.

Draculestia stopped drinking, and spat her wine on the floor angrily. "What is a pony?" she snarled. Throwing her chalice on the floor in front of her, she answered her question: "A miserable little pile of friendship! But enough talk... Have at you!"

The vampony teleported from atop the stairs, down to the main foyer. She landed on the now closed star, and snarled. "I tire of you already."

"You shall not win thou monster!" Luna screamed, slipping into her royal Canterlot voice. She charged in at Draculestia, and the two butted heads. They rose onto their hind legs, trying to shove the other to the ground.

Twilight snapped out her whip and lashed down at the vampony, cringing at the sight of her mentor being hit. "You. Aren't. Celestia!" she screamed, mainly to assure herself that her actions were just. She cracked down the whip again, atop Draculestia's horn.

The vampony grinned with darted eyes. She pulled her right hoof back, and swung it down on Luna. The princess stumbled back, opening an opportunity for everypony to make attack.

Twilight cracked her whip across Draculestia again, but this time, the vampony responded with magic. She shot a dark bolt of lightning across the room, striking Twilight on the chest. The bolt exploded, sending the unicorn forcefully into a wall.

Luna was back onto her hooves now, and stormed Draculestia, her horn charged. A magnificent lunar beam shot from her horn and sliced the vampony. The beam hooked off, leaving Draculestia open for the princess to ram straight into. Both of them toppled, with the vampony getting the better shot.

Twilight shoved herself back to her hooves by now. She let out a wail of agony and anger as she brought the whip down again. It's crack echoed through the hall, yet it left no effect on Draculestia. The evil alicorn glinted a smile as she shot another shadowy lightning bolt out.

After the armored unicorn was down again from yet another blast, Draculestia turned to Luna. She had ended up on top of the princess, and was taking swings at her. One across the face, two down on the chest. Luna was taking a beating only an alicorn could survive.

A vampony hunter true to heart, Twilight was up again despite her pain. Across the room were the two princesses of lost grace. She charged over to them, not even bothering with the whip this time; Draculestia was beating Luna to death. At full force she slammed into the tall vampony, both of them thrown to the ground beside Luna.

"Get out of Celestia!" Twilight shouted through gritted teeth. She was atop Draculestia now, taking the swings she could. A few managed to land across the face, but she was soon bucked off. The vamponic alicorn leapt to her hooves with force and anger in her eyes. As she stood on the center star a twisted grin spread on her face.

"You...You don't understand!" She laughed an evil laugh. "I AM CELESTIA!"

Behind her a huge light radiated, and her mane seemed to be swept in it like a vortex. It was huge an brilliantly bright; The bright blackness was almost like a torch of space itself.

"Twilight! Run!" Luna screamed to her. The unicorn turned back to see the princess laying, mangled in the doorway.

"I won't leave you!"

"Go you fool!" she screamed. "Go to the elements!

From Luna, Twilight turned back to Draculestia. The sight was that of the abyss itself. The light behind her grew, and now, her eyes had a matching color. Her fangs were huge now, matching her growing form. The horn atop her head now had two smaller ones twisting around it, and the crown had fallen to the floor. She was breathing black fire, leaving the air scorched. The wings on her back - once simply sharp - were huge shadows, resembling the fire she breathed.

Twilight grabbed the whip with her magic, and ran past Draculestia. With teary eyes she darted right, the light growing behind her. By the time she was in the archway, the light had grown so powerful that it was overpowering the entire room. She didn't look back - she couldn't. All she could do was run and listen to the screams that soon ensued.

(v,..,v)

In the Hall of the Elements Twilight soon found herself. Her mind was a wreck, just like her body. Both ached horribly, though it would help if she could breath. Slowing down for air, a trotting pace took place of the galloping. She was in the hall, and could have the elements as soon as-

There, in front of the open element's vault, stood four familiar ponies. Each was pale and twisted, and each held at least one element of harmony. Twilight lost all the breath she was regaining, and fell to her plot in tears.

"R-Rainbow...Fluttershy..." She muttered. Her breaking point was close now, she could feel it in her tears.

Her pale, seemingly undead friends said nothing, but rather, laughed. "W-What happened to you all..." Twilight whispered. "Do any of you remember me?" She stared at them for a while, but they only laughed.

"Of course they don't remember you, you low class imbecile," A stuck up voice from behind her said. Twilight jerked around to see this stallion, and found that her situation was worse now.

Prince Blulucard, his eyes glowing an orange-red, circled her. "You really are too late, you buffoon. And here I thought you were friends with the monts. Did they teach you nothing?"

"W-What happened to you? Blulucard, what happened to you?!" demanded Twilight through a scrunched face of mental agony.

"Blulucard? Oh have you seen him?" This pony quipped. A grin on his face, he continued in his suave, uptight voice. "Face to Face with Draculestia, hm? And how'd that go for you?"

"I-I-I..." stammered the armed pony.

"I-I-I see not so well, then? Honestly, did you expect less?" He chuckled again.

Twilight stood with fire in her wet eyes. Her head traced the circling royalty, twisting a few times the wrong way. "What happened to my friends?" her quivering lips muttered.

"What do you think, you backwater moron? Take a good look: Pale coats, bloodshot eyes, smell like...eck, garbage. I'd say they're dead, wouldn't you?"

She looked past Blulucard at the four ponies that stood with the Elements of Harmony. They indeed seemed beyond the grave. "Y-You're all going to pay for this...All of you..." she grinded her teeth so hard they almost bled.

"Ah, perhaps. We shall see. Come girls!" Blulucard nodded to them. They all slowly gazed over to him, their haunting eyes showing the terrible absolution. "To the chapel!"

In a flash of diluted blue light, they all disappeared, leaving Twilight with haunted images and a new destination. In the face of such urgency, however, she could hardly stand on her own four hooves. She soon found herself leaning up on the wall for support. The images of her ghostly friends staring at her, their raspy laughs echoing through the hallway... More tears crept from her eyes now. This was too much.

But...But she had to get going. For...what now, she was unsure. The Princess and her friends were far gone, and that just left Equestria and Applemont. So really, it was just Applemont. She sighed, and wiped away a tear on the verge of falling.

Her mind was swelling with thoughts now. Emotions asunder, she felt like a maelstrom of anger, love, revenge, somberness, hate... All the things she had at one time believed she would never feel.

"...The chapel it is..."

(Y,..,Y)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KwbqgG50IHI

Twilight tore away from the Hall of the Elements, dashing down her previous path. When she saw no light in the main atrium, she dashed in there as well. Yet she could do no more than stop. The room was refilled with mist, black and evil as it was. The mare saw neither Luna nor Draculestia; they had completely disappeared, with no evidence as to their whereabouts. Twilight could only assume that they were in Celestia's tower.

Luna brought on thoughts of guilt and sympathy, but there was just no time. Twilight darted down the stairs, into the black mist. There, she hooked right, and went into the huge archway here. It funneled her into a distraught hallway, turning her left, then right again, before spitting her out in the gardens.

At the entrance to the gardens, another lifeless suit of armor stood ready with an axe. Twilight dropped it easily with two cracks of her whip, and darted over the heap of metal. Alas, there was yet another.

Though this one was different. In this green suit of armor, an actual pony stared at her with pale yellow eyes. On the warriors lips were large bloodstains; this pony was long dead. And here she stood, a sword in her bloody mouth, green and yellow armor adorning her rotting skin. A zombie knight stepped forward from the archway entrance, stumbling on the armor heap and axe before it.

Twilight cracked the whip at the zombie knight, only twisting its head with a cracking sound. The knight twisted back around, and swung it's sword at the unicorn. Metal hit metal, the armor taking the full hit. She didn't even feel it. With more force this time, she snapped the zombies neck with her whip. It fell limp.

"Easy," Twilight murmured under her breath. She jumped over the corpse and the armor, and was finally, truly in the garden.

Normally, the Canterlot gardens were a place of peace, tranquility, and every so often, love. But tonight they held a somber tone. The moonlight illuminated the various plants and trees here; soaked with rain, the plants had no problem fracturing and sharing the light. Speaking of the rain, Twilight spoke in her mind, it has gotten harder. She could feel the patters of the downpour through her armor.

In a way though, it felt...good. Almost cleansing, if it could be called that. The rain definitely lightened her mood either way. She began her trek through the royal gardens, thinking over her route. These gardens connected to the Main Ballroom. From there, she would go through the large golden doors to the opposite gardens. Then she could just follow the wall to the gold and blue chapel doors. Simple enough.

As she walked, she reveled in memories. Not only of when she was a filly - though warm memories of Celestia and her sitting in the gardens on a sunny day sat in her head - but also of her time with her friends at the Grand Galloping Gala. Her live friends, that is. Not the ghastly shells of them she saw in the Hall.

Something hit her side, knocking her out of her memory. It wasn't hard, per say, more just firm. She turned to see her assailant. What she found instead, was a huge weed that towered over her on a single vine. At the top, was a large yellow flower that spewed another mushy thing from it. It stood in the middle of a few hedges, still soaked in rain; Twilight took this to be an indication that it had been there for a while. This little thing was a ball of some sort of watered down pollen that traveled slowly in the mist.

This weed was almost pathetic. Twilight raised her whip, and lashed at it's stem, knocking it to the mud. She rolled her eyes, and turned back to the Main Ballroom. But in front of her, there was a huge flower. This thing had sprouted up from nowhere, and was already in full bloom. It's rose pedals flowered graciously in the moonlit rain, wafting a scent that smelled divine. In it's center, though, was a small horn. A small, white horn.

And on cue, a white coat pony sprung up halfway from the flower. She was quite alluring; her white coat and red mane matched her green eyes strikingly well, Twilight found. The rose pony smiled at her, waving a friendly gesture. Sure, it was strange, but the mare found herself inching closer to the flower still.

"Um, hello?" She asked it. If it was sentient, then just maybe she could use it to her advantage.

The mare just giggled and waved her closer.

"Do you understand me?" Twilight asked again. Yet the flower simple giggled, blushing and waving her closer.

Twilight was done playing the stupid mare. For advantage, she inched closer for a good shot. When she was within reach, she pulled out her whip with her mouth, lashing the flower mare on her cheek.

It was reasonable, too. The white mare growled and shot out vines with her horn, swiping at Twilight. Her armor took the initial damage, but she was tossed around nonetheless. That she would not stand for.

She ducked under a vine with moderate agility, rolling beneath it. Covered in mud, she wiped her eyes for her vision's sake. Another vine was being lashed out from the allura une, but Twilight dodged it hastily and began cracking her whip.

A good hit to the face on them both made a mirrored recoil. The vine had swung back around and lashed Twilight with a thorn - Twilight did almost the same with her whip. Yet now she knew not to face pain in the moment. With her magic, she crashed the whip down one last time on the white mare.

The pony screamed out as vines shot up from the flower and wrapped around her. These green thorn vines wrapped around her waist, shoulder, and neck, before finally dragging her down into the flower itself. As her horn vanished, the flower snapped closed and withered within seconds. All that was left of the large flower was a wilted pod.

Twilight took in a deep breath as she stared at the brown, dead pod. "Good job," she panted to herself.

Around the pod she galloped with newfound pride. The Main Ballroom was just up ahead; in the moonlight, Twilight could see the collapsed doors. She had to trample over a few flowerbeds, and through a few hedgerows, but she figured nopony would care, considering. At the doors in less than a minute, she trotted her mudded hooves in.

The Ballroom was cold, haze filled, and broken. If one wished to understand the state of the castle, they needed to go no further than here. Tapestries lay strewn across the floor, decorated with crumbled stone, and topped with a hint of blood. The main chandelier hung by a thread - or chain, as it were - and was bound to crash to the floor soon. Over by the statue of Celestia, the legs stood tall. Only the legs, though; the rest of the statue was but a heap of rubble. There were some party adornments around, seemingly in preparation for a small regal get together. They, of course, were on the floor in tatters too.

Even in this mess, sqeaking noises echoed in the Main Ballroom with each step Twilight took. However, the nasty noise was not the only thing filling the Ballroom. While inattentive, the unicorn was smacked by something. Or, she soon found, somepony.

(o,..,O)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjzrqf6_7ko&feature=related

A pair of ghostly ponies, a colt and a mare, danced elegantly along. Twilight was close to throwing a few curses at them, but their transparency brought her words to a halt. This pair of finely dressed ghost ponies twirled and danced in harmony; She could only expect this eloquent of dancing at the finest moments of a Gala.

Throughout the room, ghost dancers spun around each other synonymously. Their rapid, organized movements painted the scene with grace as a four pony orchestra played on the stage. Their music was somber and mellow - perfect for these dancing fiends.

Twilight couldn't stand without getting smacked again. It made no logical sense, even for the situation; ghosts were supposed to be intangible! How were they hitting her? Not that it really affected her next move, though. When she was back on her hooves, out came her whip.

She cracked it upon a pair of ghosts, and they broke their embrace, falling back. Just before they hit the floor, their empty bodies evaporated in a light mist. These ghosts only took one hit...

With her whip ready in her mouth, Twilight cantered through the Ballroom. She lashed at each ghost she could, with the same dissolving effect taking them each time. It almost made her sad, in honesty; As the ghosts would fall from each other, their faces held much sorrow. The type of sorrow that could only be felt at the loss of a lover.

But it was her duty now. Besides, she rationalized, who would want to be empty souls, doomed to dance for eternity anyways? That did not ease her discomfort, however. As she hit another, she watched them break, looks of loss and anguish on their faces. She actually began to feel a tear in her eye. What would it be like to lose Applemont?

That elicited another question though. What had everypony lost here, individually? Every life that once graced the castle had a story... what was taken from them? Twilight's head flashed a vision of her friends, cold and empty.

The tear fell, and her mind switched completely from headstrong and tough, back to its maelstrom of everything. And the tear hit the ground, lost in the silent dances of the ghosts.

"Aww, sh sh sh," A voice cooed. Twilight launched herself back into self preservation mode, snapping up to face this voice. "Don't cry," A calm mare in her vision coddled.

It was true, her eyes were still watered. "W-Who are you?" She snarled, wiping her eyes.

"Why, don't you know?"

"Yes...I do," She sniffled. It was only to stop her running nose, though; her emotions were pushed as far back as she could manage.

The mare chuckled. "Ah, good," she whispered in a seductive tone.

This was the cellist from the previous Galas - Octavia, if she remembered correctly. "Don't. Move," Twilight ordered the oncoming mare. "Another step, and I'll-"

"You'd hurt me? Why?" Octavia asked innocently.

Twilight looked her over, noticing a lack of blood or marks. "Because you aren't Octavia."

"I'm not? I'm not sure who else I could be," giggled the violet eyed mare on approach.

"I-I don't either, I guess," Twilight stammered. Octavia was rubbing up on her, gliding her head underneath Twilight's chin. "B-But what are you doing here?"

"Anything I want." Octavia snickered softly, her brown tail wrapping around Twilight's neck. "Why don't you tell me what you want to do?"

The unicorn blushed deeply as she felt Octavia's nose buried in her haunches."W-What do y-you..."

"Anything I want..." hummed the musician. She pulled away, and grinded her way up Twilight's side.

Heat full in her cheeks, Twilight said, "L-Look, I'm b-busy."

"Me too," whispered Octavia, who was nibbling Twilight's nape. The warm sensation on her back made her uneasy.

"No, I'm really busy," the unicorn gulped. "I-I have to get going-"

"Oh dear no, we're just getting started," Octavia smiled.

This situation was getting more uncomfortable by the second, and Twilight broke away quick as she could. As one of the few remaining ghost dancers passed in front of her, she snarled. "I appreciate the affection," her tone a bit rude, "But I really must be going."

Octavia just stood with a seductive grin.

Shaking her head, Twilight turned and headed for the open doors to the opposite gardens. "Awkward," she muttered to herself.

Then suddenly, the doors glowed red and slammed shut, knocking Twilight down. The purple mare rubbed her armored plot furiously.

"I told you," Octavia's voice sibilated, "We're just getting started."

Twilight turned around, an angry twitch in her eye. "I need to go!" She demanded.

"It's a shame."

Octavia's eyes glowed vibrant red, her coat burning up. She seemed to be on fire for a second or two. With a low pitch growl, the music mare's mane and tail sizzled off, being replaced by a deep red replacements in a puff of smoke. As the rest of her coat melted away to reveal a deep crimson, she unfurled two small, bat-like wings. Atop her head, a fiery red horn burst out, illuminating the dark room.

"Truly, it is," she laughed. Now Twilight understood the extent of the situation - Octavia was a succubus.

"It is; I wasn't going to hurt you earlier," the unicorn smirked.

The sneering succubus kicked a bit of dust on the ground. "I can't say the same." She backed up, letting a ghostly pair swing by, before taking her place in the center of the Ballroom once more.

Twilight had her whip in her mouth already. She just wanted to get destroying this annoying (Strikingly alluring) thing over with.

Red Octavia laughed with surprising confidence as she trotted towards Twilight. The unicorn took no hesitation in cracking her weapon at the succubus, striking a gash deep into her cheek.

The succubus leapt in retaliation, twirling in midair and lashing her tail into Twilight's face. The vampony hunter stumbled, but did not fall. Twilight only cursed and stabled herself. Her balance regained, she crossed her steps and strafed right.

Octavia followed her circle with haste, eyes locked with Twilight. Another crack of the whip fell upon her, knocking her balance off. But the succubus was not one to back down, eloquent demeanor or not.

She hissed, and lashed out at Twilight. The distance was short, and with her sharp teeth Octavia managed to take a good chunk from the unicorn's exposed neck. It was nothing too serious, but Twilight was on the ground in seconds.

"Ah...Buck you," swore the cringing pony.

"Quite the mouth," Octavia quipped. "I wonder what else it's good for."

Twilight beat her out of that fantasy. With the curt swing of a hoof, the succubus was well away from her. She pushed herself up, and charged up her horn. This pony wanted something in her so bad? Well, she could have it.

The hoof dagger levitated from its sheath and hovered above Twilight's head. "Well it's pretty good for throwing last insults!" she screamed at the succubus.

Before the red pony even knew what was going on, the dagger charged at her. It was a perfect flight; though, Twilight had expected no less from Bellmont's blade. The shining silver dagger flew with precision, executing Octavia with a plunge to the heart.

A shrill scream filled the air as the pony burst into flames. Her coat melted again, this time dissolving into smoke, just like the rest of her body. And the only thing that Twilight could think was how nice the warmth was.

(-,..,o)

Twilight galloped from the Ballroom, and out to the final span of gardens. The Chapel's side entrance would be one of the many towers sprawled throughout here, it's only difference being a large Celestia statue hanging above the archway. It was a fairly sizeable difference, so Twilight was sure she could find it with ease. She dashed through the rain, between a few hedge rows, and over a large collapsed tree.

The chapel was in view now, only a few meters away. If she just sped up a bit...

In a sudden flash of lightning, a creature appeared in front of her. She came to a sudden halt, and yanked her whip out to attack this new blockage.

Though she could make out some strange features in the moonlight; features she had never seen before in her life. This...creature, was some sort of ape thing. But it stood on two legs, and it's mane was only on top of its head. It had neither a tail nor hooves, and was fully dressed.

"Hello," it said monotonously.

Twilight snarled in moderate disgust. This was the most revolting thing she had seen all night. "Um, hi?"

"I am a Human," it continued. "I am in Equestria. I died on Earth. I woke up in the Everfree Forest with no memory. I wandered out to a cottage. I met Fluttershy. We fell in lov-"

A huge bat swooped down from above and snatched this creature up with its mouth. The purple unicorn watched in absolute confusion as the large bat flew away with its prey.

She blinked the whole scene out of her mind, letting the bat disappear behind a patch of clouds. The chapel was more important than sitting around wondering what...that was.

(0,..,o)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMNZ_nAwzEo

The blue and gold chapel doors latched behind Twilight, leaving her alone once more. Her breaths in this place manifested in steam as she examined the cold, empty structure. This was one of the side chapels, with the tunnel to the main Celestial Chapel next to the Celestia statue. She had been here a thousand times or more, each time a very serene experience. It was a shame to see it in such dismay.

As she maneuvered through some toppled pews she noticed something strange about the place now. Hovering above were bright little sparkles, almost radiant like the sun. But these were simple, tiny fractals that just sat there. Perhaps she could use them somehow.

Up at the Celestia statue, Twilight could spot something she had never seen before. The plaque held a new hoof indent with a large 'S' inscribed in it. It beckoned to her, screaming her name silently. She did not know why - or how - but she was being attracted to it. Her keen eye stuck on the golden plate, she carefully approached. The plate was at the base of the large statue, with ten or so burnt out candles around it. Behind the statue, Luna's moon illuminated the room with its glow, making the statue that much creepier. Yet still she approached the golden plaque.

She closely inspected the little thing: it read the same inscription as always, the only difference being that hoof dent. It wasn't normal, that part was certain, but still Twilight held her hoof up to the plaque. The armor hoof cap fell from her hoof, leaving it bare as she pressed against the freezing metal.

Just as she made contact, her body froze. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't move, and panicking soon ensued. But a warm feeling shot through her, erasing any pain, and flooding her with powerful magic. The twinkling stars that were floating above fell upon her in sync with the pulse of the magic; Twilight felt her tension and apprehensions falling away as these little orbs of light entered her body.

The last one vanished within her, and she was finally able to break free. She noticed now that her various cuts and wounds had disappeared; her skin was practically untouched. "What?" she asked herself.

Eh, no time, she made a mental note. Turning back to the archway to the left, Twilight stretched her legs out in preparation. If she remembered correctly, this tunnel would span a few catacombs, go through the organ room, and pop her out in the side of the main chapel. Good, she mentally sighed.

Charging off she took her whip out; The catacombs would obviously be flooding with something, and she needed to be prepared. She ran down the stairs, taking the sharp left at the base. The cobblestone undercroft that appeared in front of her was open and ready.

In she went, turning her head left and right rapidly. There was nothing yet, but surely there would be. It was a good walk to the main chapel, with plenty of time for something ugly to rear its head. She galloped through the tombs quicker now.

Casks laid on either side of her in their little wall indents. Princess Celestia would rarely take her down here, and now she knew why. The place was disturbing on a whole new level. Under a few stone pillars, Twilight actually had to jump over a fallen coffin. Though the urge to hurl was long gone, the disgust never left her mind.

Suddenly, from out of a side path, a huge, muscular thing flapped out. It had the snout of a pony, but the legs of a boar. Claws spread out of its...hands, and a sharp tail flickered from it's behind.

Twilight wasted no time in cracking down on it. The whip fell, and snapped on its horns.

Now it was pissed.

The demon pony-boar thing opened its mouth and unleashed a firebolt on her. It shot down, and barely missed Twilight. She jumped to the side, and snapped her whip again. A scrape ran down it's torso, pissing it off more.

Another bolt of flames discharged into the unicorn's face, barely missing yet again.

Time was running short. Twilight [and the author] did not want to waste this valuable resource. With her magic, the vampony hunter levitated one of the three Celestia blades, and slung it at the demon. The blade pierced it's chest with ease.

The demon screamed and exploded in a flash of red, bright light, and Twilight was back on her way.

The Celestia figurine followed swiftly, with the help of magic, and slid into the galloping Twilight's armor. She made her way further through the bone riddled catacombs with a few swears, keeping her anxiety at bay with reminders of Applemont. That headstrong mare was quickly becoming her driving force: Everything else she held dear was, well, dead.

Deeper in, she encountered another minor setback. In dull green armor, a zombie night sauntered out of a grave row. The mentally inept thing spotted her, and swiftly swung it's sword.

The blade missed Twilight by easily a foot. After taking in a good breath, she retaliated by cracking her used whip down again. An easy kill, she arrogantly thought.

Her pride was not misplaced. It only took a few good hits to drop the undead knight, and once it was on the stone and dirt floor, she proceeded to the chapel.

A utilitarian styled arch opened up the head of the tombs in her fore. Well, it would've if there wasn't something in the way. In the archway were four, no five, skull pony heads, all stacked up on one another.

"What the buck is-"

The one on top promptly coughed a bone out. The white femur spun in the air, and smacked the vampony hunter on the head, knocking her to the ground.

It certainly wasn't powerful, but it was enough to agitate her headache. Angry as ever, Twilight magically whipped a random head. It crumbled instantly, but the other four still stood tall. Her face was soon that of flat annoyance.

(-,..,-)
www.yousilence.com/watch?=thereisnomusichere

"Well it's about time," a rather stuck up voice snapped as Twilight barged into the Chapel.

Here, in this huge eloquent place, the torches lit up Blulucard's face. The vampony was up on the Celestial Altar, staring down at Twilight as she fumbled through the door. The purple mare took no time in galloping through a row of pews to the center aisle.

"Blulucard!" she hissed. "Where are my friends?"

"Not here, if you care. Only me, and these flashy little things," grinned the vampony. With his blue magic, he levitated the six elements of harmony behind him.

Twilight put her hoof forward, stomping down on the red carpet. "You will tell me where my friends are, and you will give me the elements!"

"Oh please, don't be so...rude. It's rather unladylike, you know," Blulucard sighed.

Behind him, the large Celestia statue that depicted her raising the sun stood tall, supported by two chains on either side. He lifted the elements to the top, where a large ornate sun stood. It was hollow, but made of pure gold, and rested on the statues hooves. The elements sat right in the center of the huge circle.

"I could say the same to you," Twilight forced a snicker. She examined the large room, in wait of Blulucard's oh so clever reply. The large place was actually rather nice; pillars mirrored each other on adjacent sides of the room, shooting up to the large, gold encrusted ceiling. The ceiling held a painting of Celestia and Luna on clouds, their hooves almost touching as they drifted away from each other. It was a bit vein, but hey, they were royal goddesses so they had room to be as such. In the actual Chapel itself, almost forty rows of pews shot up either side, each crafted from the finest mahogany. Large tapestries hung from the pillars, blue and gold alternating as they spanned up to the statue. All around the room, stained glass windows let in the moonlight, but it was quickly drowned in the light of the torches - of which Twilight was sure were the only actual torches left in the castle.

Behind her, the Lunar statue lay crumbled on the ground. The statue - once depicting the lunar goddess - was in a heap that blocked the entry way. Twilight assumed that Draculestia had done this for two reasons: one, out of spite, and two, for a strategic advantage.

"I find myself tiring of you very quickly, little girl," Blulucard spat.

"Well what's the matter, little girl?" Twilight snarled in response, "Afraid to get a little dirty?"

The vampony chuckled now. "Ah, so you wish to fight? And here I thought it was males who were testosterone-pumped."

"And I thought it was females who preferred to run like a coward," The vampony hunter tried her hoof at a chauvinistic attitude.

"As did I. Yet here you are, challenging me," huffed the uptight prince.

"Hey Blulucard, let me ask you something. You're a bastard, right?"

The prince stomped his hoof. "I most certainly am not!"

Twilight chuckled, and commented, "Well then where in Equestria did you come from?"

"I am Draculestia's nephew! How dare you insult me in such a manner!" he spat.

"Nah, I face Draculestia. Much prettier than you," Twilight flat out lied. They were both ugly.

Blulucard stammered, trying to throw out his next move. "I-I...W-Well fine! Should you wish to fight, then we shall fight!"

The vampony's disposition changed in a rapid swing. "Though, per etiquette, I have the first move." He chuckled, and with his magic, cut the two chains that held the Celestia statue up. Before Twilight could even begin to comprehend what he had just done, the massive thing fell upon her, crushing her like an insect.

Pain shot through her whole body as the torso of the statue flattened her. She felt many things crack, and even more get punctured. Her vision blurred, and finally blacked.

"It seems as though I have had the last move as well," Blulucard's voice invaded her bleeding ears. "You have lost, and WE have won. Have fun in eternity, Twilight Sparkle."

(O,..,<)

Twilight blinked rapidly, finding herself in front of the Celestia statue in the side chapel. Her bones were whole, and her organs still in one piece. "What...what was that?" she asked herself, rubbing her headache away.

(>,..,<)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CfRfVdwlHF8

"Blulucard!" Twilight shouted as she angrily galloped into the Celestial Chapel.

"Well it's about ti-"

"No! Shut up! I have no idea what the BUCK just happened, but just shut up and get down here!" demanded the fuming unicorn.

"Ouch. What bit your plot, miss Sparkle?" The vampony asked with a stiff upper lip.

Now Twilight found the Celestia statue upright, chained to the wall. "How did you put it back up..." she muttered. "Wait, nevermind. It doesn't have to make sense."

"Hm, I think the night's adventures are leaving you a bit weary, don't you?" he chuckled.

"Shut up! Just get down here before I come up there!"

Blulucard scoffed at her boldness. "Well if you insist. Though, per etiquette, I-"

"You have the first move, yeah, I know. Just do it please," Twilight snarled.

Sighing, the vampony did just as he had done the time before. The chains snapped, and the huge statue collapsed at Twilight. Now, however, she was prepared. The unicorn dashed back as the large golden sun fell around her.

"Get some new moves," grumbled Twilight as she jumped up on top of the rubble.

Blulucard's eyes began to glow an intense orange. "Bore of me? Well here, try something new as you wish!" Out of a bright light - deep orange red, this time - flashed a scythe.

A scythe? the vampony hunter thought in astonishment. She stared up at the menacing weapon, Blulucard's now bright orange magic encompassing it. "What did Draculestia do to you?"

He did not respond, but instead sent the scythe hurling towards Twilight. It spun in the air, cutting its path to the unicorn. She dodged, but just barely.

The scythe swooped behind her, and boomeranged around for another pass. Sharp metal glinted in Twilight's eye as she barely avoided decapitation. It spun in a curve, sweeping back to Blulucard.

At her chance, Twilight lashed her whip at him with magic. The whip cracked down on his face, smacking him right. The vampony stumbled, but did not stop. In his rebuttal, he shot the spinning scythe at her again.

Twilight had to duck under a row of pews to dodge it this time; Blulucard's accuracy was fairly strong. The scythe flew over her, taking the tops of a few pews off. The shattered wood would have been a problem were it not for Twilight's armor.

She was back on her hooves in no time, ready to strike yet again. Her whip fell to Blulucard's back, making him arch in pain. Seeing her success, Twilight cracked her whip down twice more on his back before he could get a move in.

The scythe split the air, twirling at her again. Not so lucky this time, Twilight had no time to move. The blade slammed into the side of her armor, knocking her back a good few feet with a cry of anguish. She flew into a side pillar, cracking a nice little indent in it.

Twilight spewed a few curses, her voice twined with anger and pain. With all the energy she could muster, she shoved herself back to her hooves and picked up her whip. The metal thing snapped on Blulucard again, knocking him to and fro. The vampony hunter was getting mad. She tossed her prey around with the whip; her entire being seethed with rage.

The vampony hissed and launched his scythe again. It swung horizontally now, curving around the chapel before finally slamming into the pillar behind Twilight. The large stone brace crumbled, shooting dust and stone everywhere.

A moment later, and Twilight was lashing out again. Her whip fell heavy on her enemy, just as planned. Yet Blulucard just would not fall. This many lashes had taken out countless enemies, and would have surely wilted the stronger ones. The vampony's damage toll was going higher and higher, yet he did not waver in the slightest, with the exception of the occasional fumble.

Then, like a bolt of lightning, an idea flooded her mind. That demon in the catacombs had burst out so easily when that Celestia blade pierced his chest... Maybe Blulucard would do the same. It wasn't like she really had anything else to try; Her whip was doing close to nothing now.

As the vampony's weapon passed by again, Twilight let the whip fall. She ducked under another row of pews to let it pass. When it did, she was up again, the Celestia blade in the grasps of her magic. Jumping out to the center aisle, atop the Celestia statue's ruins, she pointed the blade directly at the vampony's cold heart.

"Blulucard!" Twilight snarled. It was all she could push out, before shooting the goddess shaped blade at him.

"Oh, dear me," Blulucard rolled his eyes. "You're going to shoot me with an enchanted letter opener! How terrifying."

Twilight just laughed at his ignorance. With a glint of totality in her eye, she launched the blade at him. Just as before, it pierced his heart, and had instant effects. Blulucard's eyes glowed devil red, and his body shook violently. His mane lit on fire as he let out a horrible scream. The vampony's flesh melted away, revealing smoldering bone and crisping insides. The Prince screamed, and screamed, and screamed, his dying breath being let out in one final barrage.

After the fiery drama, the skeletal prince fell to the top of the altar, dead. The vampony hunter snickered to herself, using her magic to regain her whip. "Terrifying indeed," she quipped under her breath.

Around the altar, where the statue once stood, she found the elements of harmony on the carpet. First thing she did was pick up Magic, and place it atop her helm. She then bent down to start retrieving the rest.

Before she could get loyalty in her mouth, the corpse of Blulucard shifted. Twilight jumped back, staring it down. Her whip was ready again, should she need it. And she did, she soon found.

The skeleton of the dead prince twitched, his bones sticking together with a redish glow. "What the..." muttered Twilight, who starred in awe as the skeleton slowly levitated off the altar.

"Sorry for the melodrama," a thin, raspy, stuck-up voice came from everywhere.

"What the buck is this?"

The skeleton answered her. It turned it's pale head, and stared at her with surprisingly electrifying bloodshot eyes. A light grew in it's chest cavity, becoming an intense orange red in a matter of seconds. Now the bones were lined up, levitating above the alter as a normal pegasus would. But this was a bone unicorn, with a magical orb in it's chest.

"B-Blulucard?" Twilight gulped.

The skeleton laughed. "No...No you fool. Death."

Oh dear, Twilight mentally choked. Death's laugh grew louder, soon loosing contact with his embodiment. The laugh came from the walls, the roof, the floor...it was everywhere. "I-I'm not afraid of death!" Twilight sneered, with little to no confidence in her voice whatsoever.

Death's continued laughter sang a song of victory. "I'm sure," he chuckled.

Twilight raised her whip, and cracked death on his skeletal face.

"Eager to get to business, as always," he sighed. The whip had had literally no affect on him.

His bone jaw opened, and in it Twilight could see another ball of fiery magic. She tried cracking at this, but once again, nothing happened. On her end, that is. Death used this ball of magic to spawn not one, but two large, flaming scythes from thin air. They spun in unison, prepared to strike.

"I'm going to die," admitted Twilight flatly.

No! Wait! She had that stone from Blackmoon. She could just use that! But...what did she say?

"Just strike it with magic when you're in trouble."

The words rang through her head as if they were just spoken.

Wasting none of the sparse time she had - the scythes were swinging so fast that she was sure to be dead in a moment - she snatched the stone from her saddle bag. But it was too late, and the blades were hurling down to her. They got two sharp hits in, throwing Twilight to the front wall of the chapel.

Quick to her hooves Twilight ran back to the stone. She was in horrendous pain, but there was no time to dwindle in it. The stone had fallen beneath Death; getting it would be enough to focus on without the thought of what state her body was in.

She skid underneath the orange-glowing Death, grabbing the stone with her mouth. Barely avoiding slamming into the altar, Twilight hooked right and darted around it.

The stone flew up in the air, and she zapped it with a weak little magic bolt, hopping it would be enough. Surely and truly to the witches words, the stone glowed a fiery red as it thumped on the ground.

But then the light died. The fire ruby sat, burnt to a crisp on the crimson carpet, its searing indent leaving a black burn mark.

Death laughed at her pathetic display. His scythes swung at her again, just missing the top of her neck. The other scythe swept lower, hooking her belly and flipping her in the air.

Just below her, Death had a blade ready to impale her as she fell. The hit from the last scythe had taken all the wind from her, and she could hardly think of any way to stop it. This was it, she was dead. With no options in her irrationalized mind, she just closed her eyes and braced herself.

Boom. She hit something... not a sickle, though. It felt more like the hay of a broom.

"Well that's one way to say hi," Blackmoon chuckled.

"Blackmoon! Oh thank Celestia!" exclaimed the vigorously shaking pony. "Get us outta here!"

"What's the probl- oh my..." she laid her eyes on death itself. "Hold on!"

Twilight was already ahead of her though; she was gripping the length of the broom for dear life (literally). Blackmoon leaned forward, and the broom followed.

A scythe spun over them. If it weren't for the timing, the broom would have been sliced in half. But, the wooden handle of the scythe tapped the broom, only knocking it off course for a moment.

"How do we get out of here?" Blackmoon called back to Twilight as the broom rose.

Doing her best to pull her scrambled brain together, Twilight sputtered, "I, uh, um-"

"Of course," the witch sighed, mulling over her options. "Right then! Out the window!" She leaned forward again, launching them on a curved course around Death. Twilight was too far into her freakout to say or do anything as they arched around the skeleton. The broom flew past him, curving to the stained glass window of day and night.

Headfirst, the two ponies sprang from the chapel. The window around them shattered as they traded the warm glow of the torches for the rainy chill of the moon; a trade they were both more than happy to make, as they left Death in their wake.

^(O,..,O)^
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kx2E6aXd9PI&feature=related

"That was certainly...interesting," Blackmoon gulped as the broom glided through the rain.

"Y-Yes. It was," Twilight agreed. She weakly brought a hoof to her head, assuring that the Element of Magic was still there. It was, thankfully; going back was not happening.

"Interesting time to call me, I have to admit. I didn't mean to leave you hanging as long as I did," the witch blushed.

Twilight chuckled, her nerves finally cooling. "Y-you're here now, that's what matters to me. T-Thank you."

"I suppose we're even then."

"We are," she smiled to Blackmoon, who genuinely smiled back.

"If you don't mind me asking, though: what in Equestria was that thing? It was surging with some pretty potent magic," The witch said. She mused over it for a second.

"That was apparently Death," The purple mare said, finally releasing her death grip on the broom, and sitting upright.

Blackmoon's eyebrows darted. "Well Miss Sparkle, you certainly have a knack for getting yourself into...strange situations."

"Tell me about it," grumbled the mare.

Blackmoon giggled. "And what's with that...flashy thing, atop your head there." She pointed with a free hoof to the Element of Magic.

"Oh that? That's the thing that's going to end all of this," Twilight said, hopeful.

"Ah. Well just don't end me, please," Blackmoon chuckled.

The armored mare - still beat and hurting - sighed. "I won't. You're kindness tonight...well, thank you. You've done me a great service."

"Hey, don't mention it. No, um, really don't. If Draculestia finds out, I'll be wishing to have died from Frankenfreak down there," she giggled.

"How are you so relaxed all the time?"

"I have an apprentice, remember?" Blackmoon winked over her shoulder.

Twilight blushed. "Ah, um, right."

"Yep! So tell me Twilight, where are ya headed?"