Twilight has just opened her school for all creatures to attend, only for the EEA to shut it down. Starlight brought her out of her rut, and Twilight's ready to open the school again... only for her star students to be missing. With threats of war on the horizon, the missing students need to turn up fast.

Someone else, however, has other things in mind for the students. And the first step involves releasing a serious threat to Equestria. Something that only those with a select power can face.

A power that the students now have.

Cover by alts-art.

It has been said that nothing lived on the land of Equestria before the three pony tribes became one and settled there. It has also been said that ponies cultivated and created Equestria with their own hooves.

This is wrong.

Thousands of years after the cultivation of Equestria, Zachery a human soldier whose sole task is to protect the human race is allowed to take a leave of absence. It has been thousands of years since the last pony sighting and being in constant state of wartime is deemed too stressful for both the militants and civilians involved.
While this is happening, Twilight Sparkle an alicorn princess of Equestria unearths information on a lost race that lived in Equestia thousands of years ago. Unknowingly to the both her and Zachery, she slowly sets into motion the events that will cause the two species that had violently divided to once again meet. For better or for worse.

A dragoness who has seen the world and its wonders. A dragoness who has been on countless adventures and has found dozens, if not hundreds of treasures thought to be nothing but myths. A dragoness who hides a dark secret that is tearing her up inside, is forced to face her guilt head on when she takes a trip to Equestria.
A baby dragon who was raised by ponies. A baby dragon who feels at odds with his own kind. A baby dragon who wonders why he lives as he does will soon get his answer when a stranger comes to town.
Now two souls brought together by fate will build a bond that has always existed through trials and tribulations neither could have predicted.

This story was inspired by three things. The first was the breakout hit, Ten Years Gone, by Some Other Guy, of which you may notice some slight similarities in the beginning. The second was a comment that made me wonder, "What if it wasn't a human coincidentally made to look like Spike?" And the third was me watching Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. The inspiration from that last one will become more apparent later in the story.
I hope you like this, I don't usually write fanfictions, after all.

The lands of Equestria aren't as safe as they once were.

What was once a gently trek across fields of beauty and wonder have changed to battles with spirits and death. Most ponies can't go a few miles without having to battle for their souls against ghosts and spirits, all who wish to drag them to the dead.

And to top it all off there's a creature that haunts a mountain at the edge of Equestria, a creature that no pony has ever fully seen. Fast as a blur and cold as the grave, none know who or what it is.

All we do know is that whenever it appears, it brings disaster with it.

This story is a bit of an experiment for me, so if things seems weird or don't add up all the time, that is why.

“What would you say if I told you, that there was another race of ponies that lived upon the face of these lands? A kind that feeds itself on the blood of others and is said to live for a near eternity. One would declare me crazy of course, others would just walk away without a word said. But what was thought to be just myths and legends, have become a surprising reality. A reality I’m forced to live in. A curse of blood is rushing through my veins and a monster lurks beneath the lady I once was.” -Rarity

What can one simple and humble unicorn tailor do when her life suddenly gets turned upside down? That she finds herself as a being that was by many believed to be nothing but folklore of the dark ages and ghost stories to scare the foals? How would the world react to her when she tells that what she has become?

Only one simple answer could be found on the question and that is to live her life in secret for the rest of time. Never reveal that what she has become to anypony, not even to her own family. If things were only ever that simple. For Rarity, the mare of beauty and fashion, is suffering a curse of blood. A curse she had gained without her even wanting it. But two things are more than sure. Neither Rarity nor her boutique will never be the same again.

Can the graceful unicorn withstand the temptations of the night long enough to keep her sanity in one piece, or will she fall from her stand and crumble into the darkness that is her own madness and new nature? Is she strong enough to fight off her the mental demons that haunt her mind? Blood will be spilled and drunk, that is the third certainty that can be given.

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Donations are welcome.
*featured on 09-16-2013* Thank you all so much!
Rated Teen for suggestive themes and spilling of blood as well as minor gore.
Others tag is for all the other characters that are used within the story, including OC's.
Cover image was created specifically for the story by the ever so wonderful and talented Pokefan271.
Listen to the song made for the trailer by nobody else then then the equally wonderful and talented RaRa Leaire.

Don't like the FIM fiction format? Try these then,
Google Docs index
Fanfiction prologue
Pony fiction archive prologue
Fan wiki page

Rainbow coloured gas plunged the world into chaos, those touched by it had themselves turned into ponies and had the compulsion to hug those who were human, transmitting this pony virus, and effectively tearing North America apart. Celestia was hailed as a hero to pony kind when this happened, bringing peace and prosperity, bringing order to chaos. However her rule over New Equestria made it so that the truth behind these events would stay hidden. A lone reporter from the United Kingdom has traveled to the No Mans Land between what remains of Canada and New Equestria, to report on what happened fifteen years after the fact. The hunt for answers brings her to Northern Ontario Canada, where she meets someone who was thought missing and another who was thought dead.

Her hunt for the truth begins now, within journals and her experiences with the two in No Mans Land, she will find what truly made the world what it is, for better or for worse.

The truth must be revealed.

This story is a sequel to My Little Investigations: The Silent Dirge

The name's Amethyst Star, but most ponies call me Sparkler. I'm a jeweler's apprentice and part-time foalsitter in Ponyville. I like to think that I lead a pretty simple life. Sure, my mom's a bit of a kook, my little sister's too smart for her own good (no really, she is), and my boss always sticks me with the one customer in town who thinks that we're running a candy shop. But really, that's pretty tame compared to the lives of some other ponies I could mention, and honestly, I wouldn't have it any other way. Hey, I said my life was simple, not boring.

Now, however, things are just spiraling out of control. See, my boss decides to let me run the store on my own for the first time, and just my luck, some jerkwad ransacks the place before I could even open up for business. They even left a note saying that more terrible things will happen if a gem tribute is not paid. Sounds like something out of a crime drama, doesn't it? But wait, it gets worse. I can't pay this tribute even if I wanted to. Why? Because this dock-hole thought it would be hilarious if he remained anonymous! Apparently, I have to guess the identity of this wannabe gangster! I'm sorry, but am I the only one who thinks that's just a little counterproductive?!

But wait, it gets worse! Because this guy isn't targeting my boss, oh nonononono. He's after me for reasons beyond my comprehension. And just to make things even more complicated, he's not bucking around. The day before, my mom was attacked on her mailing route by an unknown assailant, and the only reason she's still alive is because she was rescued by the Mysterious Mare-Do-Well. Yeah, you remember that weirdo pony who kept showing up Rainbow Dash with her acts of heroism? Apparently, she's back now. Um, rejoice? I mean, I'm very grateful, but I'm also very confused.

Now, I'm not an adventurous pony. As you're no doubt aware, I've got enough craziness in my life as it is. But I can't in good conscience just ignore this jackoff and let him do whatever he wants. So, I guess I'll have to play the gumhoof and get to the bottom of this. Why do I get the feeling that I'm gonna end up regretting this...?

The story I'm about to tell you is real, although some details may vary depending on your point of view. Seeing as I already told you my name, it wouldn't make sense for me to change everyone else's. Also, this is not gonna be your children's bedtime story of gumdrops and ice cream, so all you kiddies clear out (no, not you, Dinky).

((Case 3 of the Mare-Do-Well Files))

Twilight has always been the mare to go to when you have a situation. But what happened if no one looked to her for help anymore? Her sole purpose was to help ponies and give them information. That's why she loved the library. But......what now? Now that the traffic's stopped, the others , her friends, don't even talk to her when she expresses her concerns. Along with lies and things that have gone untold about her.

What now......that her sole purpose is gone?

P.S. Not too depressing, but you sure are in for a shocker! Includes action, adventure, and Family as well!

Has been updated to a Teen Rating due to sexual references in later chapters