//------------------------------// // Part 4: When the Saints Go Marching In/Hunt or be Hunted // Story: MLP-Destiny's Play // by The Bricklayer //------------------------------// “Agh, I don’t get it,” one Neon Lights growled out to another of his fellow Fangires, a member of the Apple Clan calling herself Brown Betty. Few years back, they’d been turned by the current Bishop and made to serve in his legions of Fangires all in preparation for the day the King finally returned to the throne. “Why aren’t we just going out and gathering more souls for the Fangire Army? Seriously, we have a whole town out there for us to go snicker-snack on and yet here we are, just sitting around waiting while Rook just goes and runs wild playing his pathetic little games.” “Easy, we keep up the ruse for a little while longer, gather up enough souls till we have an army not even the Princesses themselves could stop and then, and only then we strike!” Brown Betty lectured. “Granted, Rook’s little games are going to wind up being trouble for us in the long run if someone doesn’t reign him in…” “Bah, that’s for the Bishop to worry about! Not us!” another Fangire, the Rhino Fangire specifically joined before shifting back into his pony guise, a pegasus named Hoops. Like Brown Betty and Neon Lights, he too had been turned by Bishop. Bishop was an unusual Fangire in most respects. For one thing, in the King or Queen’s absence, he delivered out Fangire judgment, such as killing traitorous Fangires who happened to fall in love with mere mortals. Secondly, he, unlike most Fangires, couldn’t just sap you of your life energy, but actually turn you. “I’ll tell you what we really need to worry about,” Hoops continued. “Kiva! That’s what we really need to worry about! I mean, think about it, he could easily blow our whole ruse out of the water anytime he desires! If the ponies of Ponyville ever stop fearing him and wanted to listen to whatever he has to say about us then we would be in trouble. Big trouble. The Guard, they’re no slouch. They could easily sniff us out if they wanted to, and devise spells that could detect Fangires on the spot! Especially when Ponyville’s guard is commanded by Tempest Shadow herself, AKA Princess Twilight’s personal bed-buddy! We’d be dead within days! All of us, you hear? Every last single stinkin’ inch!” “I don’t think we need to worry about that right now,” Neon Lights remarked. “I mean, the ponies are blaming Kiva left and right for every death in this town now. Why, just last night I was talking to a friend of mine, and he was so bloody terrified that Kiva would come to call he was hanging up tons of garlic. Sure, it wouldn’t work as we’re not your average run-of-the-mill vampire breed, but funny as hell to watch all the same.” “Neon,” Brown Betty spoke up. “May I remind you of something? Your friend Vinyl, the one who’s so in love with her vubs or whatever she calls them, she’s Ponyville’s premier disk jockey and she runs a local radio show to boot! She could easily blow the whistle on us any time she liked, if she ever were to find out about our existence. Strong sense of justice, that’s what she has, and an obligation to tell the truth. She must be silenced if we are ever to progress forwards. If the Bishop is ever to progress forwards.” Neon swore loudly. Brown Betty was right, Vinyl would be a problem. “Yes, you’re quite right. I’ll deal with her shortly. She’ll never see me coming after all, but there’s something else we need to think about. King, and Queen.” he remarked, taking his signature shades off his face and turning into this massive bear-like creature with razor-sharp claws, mostly white but covered in the Fangire’s signature stained glass features. “Oh?” Brown Betty asked, turning to look at Neon with a curious look. Hoops was soon to follow. “Think about it. King, before he passed by the hands of Princess Luna or Kamen Rider Kuuga if you prefer, probably birthed a child. That’s the only possible way a pony could take up the identity of Kiva for this long without dying from the sheer strain the powers would take on the pony body. We’ve got a Dhampyr on our hands, and that means whoever Kiva is, he or she would be next in line for the role of King or Queen. Now, we can’t narrow it down who Kiva is, and obviously, there’s no chance of turning him or her to our side as it’s quite clear where Kiva’s loyalties lie so Kiva must be silenced if we are to survive,” Neon continued, no small trace of fear in his tone. “Think of it, if Kiva were to sit on the throne of the King’s old castle then he’d order us all annihilated. He’d ally himself with the Princesses, and they join forces and hunt us all down! Now, Luna may be smart enough not to break the news that life-sucking monsters namely us are hiding amongst her subjects possibly even amongst her guard but what if Kiva and Luna were to join forces? What then? We MUST stop Kiva in the here and now!” Neon shouted. Hoops scoffed. “Now that’s a task that’s easier said than done, really,” he deadpanned. “Are you out of it? I mean, look at how many of our brethren have fallen before Kiva’s power already!” “Rook’s still out there,” Neon pointed out, Brown Betty just sitting herself on a church pew and watching this exchange with no small amount of interest. “He, for all of his love of those sick little games of his, is still incredibly powerful. Seeing as how Kiva has yet to unlock his or her full power as far as we know, there is a chance Rook could easily do away with the problem.” “As far we know,” Hoops pointed out. “Like you said, as far as we know. Kiva could be already powerful enough to go Emperor on us and we may not even know it. But you’re quite right Neon, we must silence Kiva. That begs the question though, how to do it?” “I think I might know, actually…” Brown Betty smirked, before changing into a chameleon-like form. “I’ll shadow the next Fangire attack, and when Kiva shows up to stop him or her and if the Fangire manages to drive Kiva off or said Fangire gets killed I’ll shadow Kiva once he or she cancels her transformation. Follow them back to their dwelling place. They’d be exhausted, and that’s when I go in for the kill.” “You’re being awfully risky here,” Neon remarked, rather disturbed by Brown Betty’s plan. “And to be frank, I want no part of your particular slice of madness. You’d let a Fangire die?” “The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the one. Kiva needs to be dealt with, and soon. Like you yourself pointed out Neon, if Kiva and Luna were to align themselves then we would have a massive problem on our hands. Luna would no doubt gain the courage to finally break to the populace using some trick up her sleeve that the Fangires are alive and well,” Brown Betty pointed out. “It’s hunt or be hunted now.” Then, with a loud creak, the doors to this long-abandoned church opened and Rook in his pony guise stepped in eating a cone of ice cream. His every step made the old wood beneath his paws creak. All the other Fangires present tensed up at this leonine creature, knowing exactly the power and status he held and how completely insane he was. Hell, none of them would put it past Rook for them to be hunted down in one of his little ‘Time Plays’ if it amused him. If he got bored, he would always find some new type of game to amuse himself somehow, and it was always sicker or more disturbingly twisted than the last in some way somehow both amazingly and frighteningly enough. There was a very good reason no sane Fangire wanted to be even near Rook for any amount of time, lest he turn on them just because it would please him. Rook for his part, didn’t seem to mind the others in the room being scared out of their wits by him. In fact, he seemed rather amused by all of that. “So, how goes things?” He asked in a light-hearted tone, chomping down on the cone. “The usual bickering and in-fighting, I presume?” he snarked. Hoops growled, and shifted back into his Rhino Fangire form before Brown Betty held him back shaking her head. “He’s not worth it, don’t give in to his little jabs.” she told him. “Actually, we were just devising a plan to hunt down Kiva,” Neon Lights remarked. “King didn’t spend centuries of building up the Fangire race and hunting down Doran to build his castle around him all for his great work to be wiped out in one single stroke by one single damn pony!” “Well, aren’t you ambitious little life-suckers?” Rook laughed uproariously. “You three idiots, hunt down Kiva? What a laugh! I’d suggest you children step aside, and just do your job of feeding the Fangire race, and let the big boys handle the job of killing Kiva. You, in charge of killing Kiva? Now surely you jest!” Brown Betty narrowed her eyes. “Oh Rook, give us a break! You've never met anything you didn't instantly target for one of your games, have sex with, or make a boat out of. Then probably killed afterwards.” she deadpanned “Bigots! I like boats! I'm a damn' Viking! I'm supposed to make boats out of things!” Rook exclaimed, throwing his arms up in the air in exasperation. “I mean, that’s pretty much my whole life purpose, rape, and pillage and all that! What else am I supposed to do? Make a family with someone? Settle down and have kids, be a loving Fangire daddy?” “I don’t know, might be amusing if you ask me,” Neon Lights chuckled. “I’d absolutely love to see what sorta spawn you’d produce. Obviously, you raising them would be a concern considering you’d just raise them to your outdated Viking ideals but it’s still worth a thought. To be quite frank actually, having you produce some sort of offspring would actually be a good idea, given the fact that the spawn of a high-ranking member of the Fangire race is automatically in line to be King or Queen.” “Can you not act like children? I mean, at least pretend to act your age for once in your lifetime,” Rook growled out. “I’d be a perfectly capable father!” “Yeah, sure and the Kiva will return to our side any time soon. Eat shit and die,” Neon Lights snapped back. “Yes, screw you too!” Rook snapped back as Brown Betty rubbed her temples in the background. Children, she was surrounded by children in men’s bodies. No wonder she was only considering having offspring if all the other Fangire males in the world dropped dead along half the females. Along with possibly some of the animals at that. “Just thinkin’ aloud here,” Hoops remarked raising a finger. “But what if Kiva’s dwelling is surrounded by running water, like a river or say a moat? For all we know, Kiva could have taken Castle Doran for his own!” “So what? We still siege it, and then kill everyone inside,” Rook remarked with a shrug of his shoulders. “I've been told vampires couldn't cross running water.” Neon remarked in reply. “We’re not vampires, we’re Fangires! Learn the bloody difference!” Rook snapped. “Hell, I've been on boats. I've had baths.” “Since when?” Neon deadpanned. “When?” Rook blinked, rather confused by all of this. “But that’s beside the point innit? Baths aren't running water though, are they? I mean how can baths be running water? The water stopped being poured when you get in right?” “Oh for God’s sake…” Brown Betty muttered. “Here we are, arguing about running water, and yet all the while Kiva is hunting us down member by member! ...We’re all gonna die.” “Probably.” Hoops agreed. Castle Doran: Meanwhile, at the ‘Keep of Kiva’ if you will, Jiro found himself talking with a little gold mechanical dragon of all things. Tatsulot, he called himself, apparently an old family retainer like Jiro and his fellow Arms Monsters. “And we’ve never noticed you in the Castle until now why?” Jiro inquired, looking at the little thing curiously as it fluttered about above his head. “Amico, non hai capito bene?” (Man, don't you get right to the point?) Tatsulot asked, speaking in Calabrese of all things. “Simply put, I only show myself when I want to. I like the peace and quiet, really.” “Okay then,” Jiro remarked. “Second question.” “Fuoco via, lupo!” (Fire away, wolfy!) Tatsulot chimed in, Jiro groaning and feeling a rather sizeable headache coming on. He didn’t even know it was possible for Timberwolves to get such things. “Seriously, I’m like an open book!” “Right…” Jiro muttered. “An open book I wouldn’t mind throttling…” he grumbled, and Tatsulot winced. “Man, you really need to chill. All that anger, so not good for you. Seriously, I know this member of the Kivat species,” Tatsulot advised. “Real sweetheart, almost completely white. She could calm a raging Fangire with her voice so I’m told, and I’m willing to bet she could do the same for you, lupo!” Jiro growled, baring his fangs. “Sorry, just trying to help here…” Tatsulot sighed, rolling his eyes. “Anyways, your question?” “Fine, fine…” Jiro grumbled. “Anyways, how in the name of Faust did Lord Shy ever manage to get his hands on you?” “Tension fortissimo!” Tatsulot exclaimed. “Now that is a question, and quite the tale. But I’m sure a wolf such as yourself has no time for such things.” “Regale me.” Jiro deadpanned. “Well, you know how Fluttershy is Half-Fangire right?” Tatsulot asked. “I’m well aware,” Jiro deadpanned. “Giusto ... Scusa, domanda stupida! Stupido! Silly me!” (Right… Sorry, stupid question! Stupid! Silly me!) Tatsulot continued. “Thing is, Lord Shy in all his wisdom knew if there ever came a time when Fluttershy had to take up the Kiva mantle, she would one day have to have some form of accessing her full power. Without those chains of hers, the ones scattered about her armor in really gaudy fashion holding her back. So, he searched through a bunch of old books and eventually learned of yours truly. Made a contract, sealed it in blood as you do, and so I’m bound to this castle. Not that I mind, my beloved Kiva-la makes such good company -and so do you for that matter now that I think of it-  and I get to watch my Lord’s prized daughter learn and grow. “So what do you do exactly, when Fluttershy’s ready?” Jiro asked. “Ah, that would be spoiling now wouldn’t it?” Tatsulot asked, wagging a claw as he got right up in Jiro’s face, with the Timberwolf taking a swipe at the little gold dragon. Thankfully, Tatsulot was much too nimble to ever be caught. “But thing is, before dear Fluttershy ever will get to meet me, she’s got to earn my respect, show that she’s worthy of the power being the future Queen of the Fangires comes with.” “Q-Queen?” Jiro stammered out, taking a few steps back in surprise. “What, don’t tell me you didn’t know?” Tatsulot asked, and gauged Jiro’s reaction. “...Wow. You really didn’t. Look, it’s like this. Mrs. Shy, or Posey if you like, Lord Shy never told her but he’s the very direct descendant of the former King. So that means, in effect, Fluttershy is the next Queen of the Fangire race, the last hope of bringing the two races together once more. Bridging that gap between Ponyking and the Fangire race.” “By Faust…” Jiro whispered. “Yeah, it’s quite the burden. One I wouldn’t wish on the poor girl, but alas… Jiro, will you help me?” “Yes, yes I will. I swore an oath to Lord Shy before he passed to protect his daughter. Raise her. And I will not break that oath now no matter who she’s related to.” Sometime that next night, Vinyl was hard at work composing her next hit record. Or at least trying to anyways. To be honest, she’d been in a slump lately, not sure why. For whatever the reason, she just wasn’t feeling the wubs speak to her like they had in the past. She absentmindedly fiddled with her latest mix, and then groaned. “...No, this isn’t going to do it. Not, not at all.” she mumbled, sighing and resting her head in her arms. “Vinyl, are you alright?” Octavia asked, her distinctive upper-class accent ringing out through the home as she entered her roommate’s personal recording studio. Admittedly, at first Octavia was not a fan of Vinyl installing such a thing in their home, but after learning the acoustics were just that perfect not for just Vinyl’s ‘wubs’ but for her own classical styles, she’d soundly changed her mind. Granted, Vinyl got more use out of it than her given Octavia preferred to work with a good-sized orchestra but she admitted it had its charms. “You’ve been stuck in here all day, I’ve just been getting worried, that’s all.” “...I… I… I suppose it’s nothing really,” Vinyl muttered, though her tone and the fact that she wasn’t even wearing her distinctive shades betrayed her. A glass of whiskey sat beside her, and the mare was severely underdressed. It was like she hadn’t even bothered to care about such things. “Oh Vinyl,” Octavia sighed rubbing her friend’s shoulders in an attempt to comfort her. “Everyone experiences creator’s block, even me. It’s nothing to be ashamed of really.” “You say that, but lately, I dunno what it is… Newer artists are scoring more and more hits, and I dunno… just suppose I’m starting to feel… irrelevant I guess you’d call it?” “By Faust… This really is affecting her,” Octavia thought in shock. “She’s not even using any of her usual lingo, or even wearing her favorite shades for crying out loud! I’ve got to do something, but what?” She then snapped her fingers as an idea hit her. “You know something, Vinyl?” Octavia asked as she sat down beside her friend. “What you need, well I think you need some inspiration!” “But I-” “Tried everything?” Octavia asked, putting a finger to Vinyl’s lips. “I wouldn’t think so, oh no. Perhaps what you need is another pony in your life. Not just a friend, but a lover.” “Look Octy, I like you and all, but honestly I don’t really see you in that way.” “I didn't mean me. You’re an attractive mare, right?” Octavia asked, and Vinyl nodded. She at least liked to think so. “Don’t think I didn’t notice when you dragged me off to one of your shows that quite a few stallions and several mares for that matter were eying you. By Faust, I swear when one of them pretty much asked you to sign their breasts I about…” she trailed off, fighting back an urge to punch something. “But never mind that. Point is, I’m sure it’ll be easy enough for you to find some form of companionship. Everyone needs someone to love, right?” “I… I guess.” “Maybe there’s that Neon Lights fellow. You both are fellow lovers of the bass and drum genre right? I’m sure you two can make some good music together, if you catch my drift.” “...Well, now that you mention it, the guy is an attractive looking stallion and he has been eying me on occasion,” Vinyl mused to herself before smiling. “You know what, I’ll do it!” “That’s my girl,” Octavia smiled before she frowned. “Though... uh, Vinyl?” she asked, pressing her fingers together nervously. “Yes?” Vinyl asked. “...Wear something nice, if you please. I get you wanting to get Neon into bed with you, but I think it best if you not get thrown out of whatever restaurant you book for public indecency.” Octavia deadpanned, and Vinyl blushed. “Point taken.” That night, Vinyl found herself in front of one of Ponyville’s most prestigious restaurants, called the Green Gables wearing a silver strapless dress. She groaned to herself, so totally not her style but Octavia had insisted on making her look classy if she was going to ‘woo’ Neon Lights. Vinyl personally wanted to throw up, she didn’t do pretty or fancy. She wasn’t Octavia. Personally, if anything she highly suspected Neon would have rather had met her in a club. Maybe have a few drinks, then maybe a romp in a bathroom stall somewhere. But no, Octavia in all of her infinite wisdom had decided this was the ideal way to stir up some romance between the two. Vinyl chuckled as she walked into the restaurant. She loved Octavia, she really did, but that mare did not understand at times that the two were completely different ponies and that the two had completely different sets of tastes. Least she didn’t make her change her mane style, Vinyl had flat out refused when had Octavia tried that, and put her hoof down. Octavia had backed off fairly quickly, realizing it probably wasn’t a good idea to change Vinyl completely. Vinyl, as she was shown to her table hummed a song under her breath, one of Neon Light’s latest numbers. Shot right up to the top of the charts. More rap than his usual techno style and Vinyl deeply suspected his record company Thrasher-Horn (Responsible for putting bands such as Death to Celestia, and Burning Heart on the map music wise) had something to do with that, but it was infectious she would admit to that. “Breeze! Burn up, the heat is on! The soul of the city is in this hero! “In the cold night, freeze! We’re connected by our fiery hearts, these two pieces! This generation grasps a new wind The nation is born before it all wastes away. “Keep attacking with a variety of colors! Shut everyone up with your brightness! The Darkness is spreading in this city, so please moon shine a brilliant gold! “Move it down your finger Finger on the Trigger Set your selfishness free!” She didn’t quite understand the meaning of the lyrics, but like Octavia liked to say, sometimes true art was incomprehensible. Besides, it was a damn catchy piece to listen and dance to, as Vinyl was now demonstrating to the restaurant as a whole, the fancily dressed ponies staring at her with wide eyes. “Um, miss?” a pony with a slicked back blue mane and a curly mustache -a waiter, judging by his garb- asked Vinyl, with a tap on her shoulder. “Do you mind madam? Please, I’d like it if you weren’t so much of a disturbance. Me and the rest of the Gable’s patreons.” “Aw mou… Disrupt my flow will you man?” Vinyl grumbled. “But fine, fine! Rest assured though, I will be filing a complaint with your management!” “I have no doubt you will,” the waiter said through gritted teeth as he showed Vinyl to her table. “You seat, madam.” he continued, having to practically force the words out of his mouth. Neon Lights, he was already present and had probably attracted quite a bit of attention himself what with his “Death to My Little Corgi!” shirt under his nicely pressed jacket. “Seems the high life doesn’t suit you either Vinyl does it?” Neon laughed, having ditched his usual rave shades for simpler ones which rested around his neck via chain. Vinyl thought it made him look like some little old lady in some aspects but was polite enough not to mention that. Everyone had their own style, after all. “Granted, can’t say I blame you. These ponies wouldn’t know good music if it danced up to them completely in the nude. All they listen to is that classical crap.” Vinyl frowned. “Hey, I’ll have you know my sister in all but blood plays that ‘classical crap’ as you so kindly put it.” she stated, with a hint of warning in her tone and Neon got the message and almost immediately backed off. “Oh right, I’m so sorry. Forgot about that, I guess there’s an exception to every rule,” Neon apologized, although Vinyl was still rather miffed understandably. That was her sister he was talking about, she thought defensively. Her opinion of how this date was going to end was dropping rather low really, and rather quickly at that. “I apologize. By the way, I’ve always been curious. How did a pony like you, and a pony like Octavia actually meet really?” “To be honest, it’s exactly not that surprising if you think about it,” Vinyl replied. “Band camp, back when we were just about ten or so. They called it Camp Wolfgang, you know after the musician?” she asked, and Neon shrugged not really familiar with most of the great classical musicians which didn’t really surprise Vinyl really. Wasn’t his genre. “Anyways, believe it or not, I was the shy one of the two of us when we were younger, can you believe that?” “Not really, no,” Neon remarked. “I mean, you’re the mare who waltzes around every day treating life as some big party half the time, and the other half you are the party. Seriously, you give Pinkie Pie herself a run for her money in sheer outgoingness.” “Well, it’s the truth,” Vinyl shrugged, eating some of the spaghetti. Had nothing on a little quickly cooked Ramen, but it was nice enough she supposed. “I mean, I couldn’t get a word in edgewise at the camp, most of them thought I was probably mute I suspect!” “So what changed?” Neon inquired. “I mean, how’d you actually meet Octavia and all that?” “Well, heard what I admit was pretty bad music at the time being played from a corner of the campgrounds near this lake. There was Octavia, looking exceedingly frustrated trying to play Ave Maria I think it was. Had to do something, as I didn’t really like seeing a fellow musician in dire straits. Believe it or not, parents classically trained me in cello as well so I was suited to help Octavia. Walked right up to her, and helped her then and there, showed her how to play the notes. Pretty much the rest of the camp, we were inseparable. Musical tastes may have drifted, but that’s one thing that hasn’t changed. Even in school, we always tried to get the same seats next to each other and the same classes. Two peas in a pod, y’know?” “Hmm, that’s kinda awesome,” Neon replied, taking a sip of his wine. “How goes the music?” Vinyl’s groan and face slamming against the table gave him all the answer he needed. Neon winced. “That bad huh?” “Yeah, Octy thought putting us together and I mean together together would stir up some inspiration, but you know something? I’m just not feeling that jive, that buzz. You know what I mean dude? We’re just not really… clicking in that way she would want,” Vinyl confessed. “I love her and all, but I think this was sorta a mistake on her part.” “Yeah… same here,” Neon agreed, asking for the check. “I think we’re better off as friends. Least I can do is walk you home though, right?” “Yeah, that’d be nice. Catch up a little on old times, really,” Vinyl smiled. “It’s been a while since we last spoke, after all.” “Sure, sounds fun,” Neon replied. “But seriously, are you sure you don’t see Octavia as something more than just a sister?” he inquired. “I’m quite sure, really. Trust me, if I wanted to jump in bed with Octavia and give her a night she’d never forget, I think I would have done it a long time ago,” Vinyl laughed as the two walked out of the restaurant. “Seriously, I would have. Plenty of opportunities given we share the same household and all!” “But what about mares in general? You sure you’re not interested in them?” Neon inquired. “I suppose it’s possible, there are some pretty hunky stallions -I mean take Big Mac, for example, I mean woof!- but I’ve never shown interest in a lot of them really.” Vinyl replied with a small shrug of her shoulders. “Here, down this alleyway. Bit of a shortcut, and should keep us away from the main crowds and street traffic,” Neon suggested. Vinyl nodded, tired of getting practically beat up by the bustling crowds on a Saturday night. “Seriously, thanks Neon. May not be a good choice for a romp in the bed or wherevs but you’re a good friend dude,” Vinyl commented, not noticing the shadow of Neon behind her had changed rather considerably. At least, not until two fangs came out of nowhere, with Vinyl dodging them at the very last second. Vinyl then let out an exclamation of: “What the flying feather!?!” as she took in Neon’s new form. “N-Neon, is t-that you?” “In a sense. I’m sorry to take you away from your dearly beloved sister so soon, but not to worry, she’ll be reunited with you soon enough.” Vinyl tried to run, and to her credit, she did get somewhat far before tripping over a piece of wooden plank. Clutching her knee in pain, she fired off a few magical blasts from her horn that Neon caught in his claws, formed into an orb and gobbled up. He burped, and then patted his stomach. “Hmm, not as good as life energy from a pony but I admit it makes a nice substitute. Really, the fear creeping up your spine? Now that’s what makes a hunt worthwhile I think!” Neon grinned devilishly. “Shame I can’t take you as my bride, but let’s face it, things never would have worked anyhow…” Suddenly, before he could say anything more Fluttershy came out of nowhere and gave him a flying side kick to the stomach making Neon stagger backwards. “W-Who the hell do you think you are?” “The last face you’ll ever see… Fangire,” Fluttershy stated as she helped Vinyl up. Her tone, it was frighteningly cold. “Have you made your peace with Faust? Because you're about to meet Her. Kivat!” she barked. As Kivat fluttered down, Vinyl’s eyes widened as all the pieces began to come together. “No. way.” She thought before a smirk etched itself across her face. Whatever this thing was, -as it sure as Hell wasn’t Neon, at least not anymore- it was in for it now. “You sure about this Milady, unveiling yourself in public in front of her?” Kivat asked even as Fluttershy grabbed him out of the air. “Quite sure.” “Alright then. CHOMP!” he shouted, before biting down on Fluttershy’s arm, and her veins went all stained glass and her eyes slitted as a very distinctive form of distorted violin cut through the air and a belt wrapped itself around Fluttershy’s waist. Soon, standing in front of Vinyl was the infamous masked killer herself, Kiva. Though killer might not have been the right term, given what Kiva seemed to be doing. Fluttershy dodged a swing from Neon’s claws, before dodging another swing and catching it in-between her elbow and her knee. She then kicked the Polar Bear Fangire backwards, before Kivat spoke. “Power against power, only way to beat this guy Milady!” Kivat advised. “Right!” Fluttershy nodded, holding up a purple-whistle like device and placing it in Kivat’s jaws. “Dogga Hammer!” Kivat boomed out, as a foghorn-like sound cut through the air, and storm clouds boiled over before chains wrapped themselves around Fluttershy’s arms and chest before purple armor replaced it and a massive hammer appeared in her hands. “WAKE UP!” Kivat shouted, as Fluttershy swung the hammer over her head gathering electricity before she brought it down. Vinyl only now just noticed this hammer was themed after a giant fist, with an eye opening up on said fist as the Polar Bear Fangire shattered into a million pieces. Panting and sweating, Fluttershy canceled her transformation. “Come on Vinyl, let’s get you back to my place. It should be safe there,” Fluttershy said. “B-But what about Octavia? How do you know that thing doesn’t have friends? How do you know she won’t be targeted next?” Vinyl asked in a panic, and Fluttershy gave her a reassuring look. “Trust me, she’ll be fine,” Fluttershy stated, having already asked Jiro for a pack of his Timberwolves to keep a constant eye on Vinyl and Octavia’s home. Unknownst to them, even as Vinyl nodded weakly, a shadow kept them in her sights. This ‘shadow’ followed them all the way back to Fluttershy’s cottage, where even now the Element of Kindness was bundling up the now shivering Vinyl in a blanket. Brown Betty smirked, before revealing herself poised to strike before she heard a low growl behind her. She turned, only to see a Timberwolf clad in a leather jacket and wearing sunglasses of all things fangs bared and green eyes narrowed. “This is for my race…” Jiro growled out venomously before he pounced never even giving the Fangire a chance to scream. Meanwhile, Fluttershy was taking care of Vinyl. Having offered her a cup of tea, she’d begun explaining everything to the poor mare, whose eyes were now fully wide open to what lurked in the dark. “By Faust…” Vinyl whispered. “All this time, those…. those things were hiding in the shadows, and nobody ever knew?” she asked. “Probably a damn fine thing nobody ever did,” Kiva remarked, from his roosting place in the rafters. “After all, can you imagine the panic?” “Y-Yeah, I suppose. B-But why isn’t Princess Luna saying a word to the guard? Why isn’t she telling anyone in their ranks about who’s out and about?” Vinyl asked. “Think about it,” Fluttershy, taking a sip of her own tea. “I don’t think Luna or anyone even me would be able to trust the guard. We don’t know who’s a member of the Fangire Race and who isn’t really. They could have members, cells even, placed in any of the guards and none of us would be the wiser simply because we have no way of detecting them. No spells, nothing of the kind!” “It’s… It’s that bad?” Vinyl whispered out in fear. “Mhmm, sadly it is,” Kivat nodded. “Even when the King was defeated by Lady Luna long ago when she was Kuuga the Second, the Fangire race still found some way to survive. They always do, they’re like cockroaches in that respect. I wish we could foster peace between the two races, but honestly…? That would take the Fangires actually wanting to not want to suck us all dry. Basically, unless the Fangires suddenly change their tune, we’re fighting this battle day and night.” “Oh, Fluttershy…” Vinyl whispered before bringing the shocked mare in for a hug. “Arigatōgozaimashita. Faust… You shouldn’t have to go through this, any of this and yet…” “I know. I know, I don’t want to fight but I have to,” Fluttershy sniffled. “I do hold out hope that one day the Fangire race will be willing to foster peace between us, but honestly I can’t see it happening anytime soon.” “...Yeah, don’t look like it does it?” Vinyl muttered in distaste before stifling a sob. “Goddess, I can’t believe that Neon… For all this time… He was…” Kivat sighed. “Yeah, the man was a pony just like you or Fluttershy once. Once.” “You mean that…?” Vinyl whispered, fighting back another sob. “Yeah,” Kivat growled. “There’s a Bishop alive and well in this time. The only possible way for a pony to turn to a Fangire. That’s the only possible way. Trouble is, finding the Bishop, he doesn’t make public appearances that often.” “Then we’ll find him, together. And stop him, he’s got to pay for what he did to Neon, and Goddess knows how many other ponies besides,” Vinyl snarled, fists clenched tightly enough to draw blood. “Nobody messes with my friends and family. Nobody. Fluttershy, I don’t know how long you’ve been fighting this battle alone, but that’s going to change from here on in. I’ll help, in whatever way I can.” “But-’ Kivat and Fluttershy stated. “No buts. Nobody messes with Ponyville, nobody,” Vinyl stated, her horn crackling with magenta magical energy. She sighed, and then fought back another sob as she remembered what happened to Neon. “Fluttershy? Can you stay with me, just for tonight? I… I can’t…” she whispered, unable to finish the sentence. Fluttershy, although blushing nodded all the same, and let Vinyl snuggle up against her as Kivat pulled the covers over both of them. “Poor kids. They shouldn’t be fighting this war, none of us should be. But here we are… Damn you King, damn you to Hell. If you’re still alive somewhere, I hope you’re in such pain from Luna’s battle with you, and so afraid of her you’ll never crawl back into Equestria’s borders ever again.” he growled to himself. But life had to go on, and even with Vinyl now on her side it didn’t mean Fluttershy’s troubles were over. Far from it, as she found out one day while dealing with the Rhino Fangire. “Hey, hold it! Kiva, you’re under arrest!” a very familiar voice to Fluttershy’s ears called out, and she looked to see Tempest Shadow standing atop some giant drain pipes in full Guard armor. “Ah crap, just what we didn’t need right about now…” Kivat muttered, as the Rhino Fangire took this as his cue to leave. Tempest’s eyes narrowed, and she threw a belt around her waist before bringing out what looked to be a knuckle of some sort and pressing it against her own fist. “Henshin!” she bellowed. “Fist on.” the belt stated, as an alarm began to blare as Tempest clicked the IXA knuckle into place before a golden hologram was projected in front of her. Very quickly, the armor that the hologram displayed formed around her. It was mostly white, with a golden cross making up the helmet giving a Knight Templar aspect or theme to the whole thing. Then, the golden cross opened up to reveal two red eyes, as a wave of heat blasted itself out from Tempest. “Kiva, now it ends. Return those lives you stole to Faust.” Tempest stated, drawing a blade and leaping down from off the massive sewage pipes to Kiva’s level. Tempest’s broken horn glowed beneath her helmet, causing Fluttershy to brace herself out of reflex. “Of all the ponies to become Riders,” Kivat sighed. “It had to be her didn’t it? Why couldn’t it have been that wimp Flash Sentry?” he grumbled. Tempest charged, her horn sputtering bursts of energy and crackling with lightning her violent emotions at their peak. Fluttershy jumped back when she knew she was within range of Tempest’s explosive burst that was her trademark. However, instead of an explosion, a wild flash of light blanketed the area, turning Fluttershy’s vision white. Before her senses could be returned to her, a sharp pain rang out from her side. Fluttershy staggered backwards, clutching a bleeding arm, Tempest smirking with her sword in hand. “So you do bleed. Excellent.” Tempest grinned devilishly under her helmet. “Since when was she able to do that?” Kivat muttered to himself. “So, you let your bat do the talking for you? Guess it fits with the whole silent killer thing I suppose,” Tempest remarked, swinging again with Fluttershy leaping back to avoid the strike.  “This sword? It’s called Ixa Calibur. Made just for dealing with you, Kiva. May not have access to magic anymore for the most part, but I still figured out ways to fight.” When Tempest went to swing horizontally, Fluttershy dropped low and swept her leg out to knock Tempest off her hooves. Tempest leaped back, and formed a flaming orb in her palm, before launching a spout of flames at Kiva/Fluttershy, who just barely rolled out of the way to dodge it. Fluttershy then ran towards Tempest, and dealt out a flurry of fast punches to the gut, before rolling out of the way to avoid another blast of flames. “We need a way to douse those flames,” Kiva whispered, hoping Tempest wouldn’t hear him. Fluttershy nodded, before grabbing some wooden beams, and hurling them at Tempest like lances. “...Then again, why listen to me? I’m just the all-knowing bat here!” he muttered as Tempest sliced the beams apart before Fluttershy grabbed a girder and began using it as a makeshift bo staff. Fluttershy spun the girder around catching Tempest in the side making her grunt out in pain slightly, and Fluttershy let out a small whimper. “...What, are you really that afraid of me?” Tempest asked, as she switched her blade into that of a pistol, driving the blade itself downwards into the hilt. She pressed the trigger, and fired out a series of bursts from the weapon. “No… No, I just wish I didn’t have to fight you!” Fluttershy spoke up, and Tempest’s eyes widened under her helmet. Both from Kiva’s proclamation, and the voice. It sounded familiar in a way, but she couldn’t exactly place where she’d heard it before. As the two Riders ran through the construction site, Tempest pressed the trigger, again and again, sending out bursts of machine gun fire with some shots nicking Fluttershy in the side and others missing. “Okay, I’ve had enough of this. Milady, use one of them now!” Kivat ordered, and Fluttershy nodded, bringing out the Garulu Saber Fuestle. To her surprise, Tempest brought out a similar device even as she placed the Fuestle into Kivat’s jaws. “Garulu Saber!” Kivat barked, and the moon turned blue as a sharp howl cut through the air. Jiro, now in Saber form rocketed towards Fluttershy’s hands, blade extending with Fluttershy’s armor reformatting itself for the appropriate power limitations. That’s what the chains on her armor were for, to hold back her true power. She wasn’t ready for it, at least not yet. She had to prove herself worthy. Then, Tempest slammed the fake or knock-off Fuestle into her belt, and it made a mechanical sound that sounded very distinctly like: “Garulu Saber.” The saber shot out of Fluttershy’s hand as her eyes widened, her armor reshaping itself back into her base form. Before she could fully process things, the sword landed snugly into Tempest’s waiting hand. “What you can do, I can do better. Courtesy of Twilight Sparkle.” Tempest stated smugly as she twirled the blade in her hands getting a feel for it, and resting Ixa Calibur on her belt. “No, Twilight wouldn’t…” Fluttershy thought to herself. “Calm down,” Kivat mentally told her. “Twilight doesn’t know any better, and neither does Tempest. From their perspectives, you do look like a killer remember?” “I know, it’s just that…” Fluttershy told him. “You don’t want to fight your friend? I understand, and I’m truly sorry for this. Both for you having to fight Tempest, and having Jiro’s powers used against you.” Kivat told her softly. With the threat of her other weapons being stolen as well, Fluttershy would have to get creative. She rushed forward, Tempest quickly getting into a stance to meet her challenge. When she was a few feet away, she jumped up, beat her now bat-like wings to further increase her speed and let loose a bicycle kick towards Tempest’s head. Tempest’s eyes widened at just how brutal Kiva was willing to get, and at the very last moment as time seemed to slow down she dodged out of the way, and let Kiva smash a massive pipe in half. “Oh, that might’ve been too much,” Fluttershy thought, examining the broken pipe. “I just want to knock her out, not…” She couldn’t let herself finish the thought, pivoting on her hoof to return her attention to the fight at hand.. “Okay, you’re good. I’ll give you that much,” Tempest remarked. “You’ve got guts,” she stated, even while firing off more bursts of flame from her palm that Fluttershy rolled out of the way to dodge. “You’ve got quite a bit of nerve fighting me even after I’ve stolen your prized… Garulu Saber you and your bat friend called it? Anyways, even after I kill you I’ll make sure to give you some sort of memorial for lasting this long.” she remarked, jumping skywards, and flipping behind Fluttershy and landing on her hooves sword still in hand. Fluttershy and Tempest traded blows, metal ringing out throughout the construction site as Fluttershy either caught or dodged the blows, and whenever she did catch one she managed to land one of her own. Most of the time. At one point, she tried to knock the Garulu Saber out of Tempest’s grasp with a powerful kick, only for Tempest to grab her by the hoof, and twist her arm in such a way that Fluttershy was sent spinning onto the dirt below. Fluttershy managed to jump back to her hooves just in time, as if she didn’t Tempest would have scored a direct strike to the heart. But even back on her hooves, Tempest was still a very clear threat to Fluttershy, as shown when several powerful slashes from the Garulu Saber landed. Fluttershy decided to press her mobility advantage, flaring her wings and jumping backwards into the air. Tilting her wings, she shot forward and stomped a hoof onto Tempest’s head before darting out of reach of her stolen saber. “What was that supposed to achieve?” Tempest laughed, before her eyes widened under her helmet as she realized IXA Calibur was conveniently missing. “Damn you!” Tempest roared in rage. “One good turn deserves another, I say. Don’t you?” Kivat snarked, and as Tempest swung wide in anger, he flipped off his perch on Fluttershy’s belt and bit down on the sword while Fluttershy shut her eyes for she didn’t want to see what was coming next. Whispering a quick apology to both Tempest and Twilight she then pulled the trigger, firing the IXA Calibur at its former owner making Tempest stagger. A brief sword fight was to ensue next, both Riders using their stolen weapons against the other. “She’s really good,” Fluttershy thought, her chest heaving from her labored breathing. “Course she is,” Kivat remarked. “Didn’t you mention to me once this was the mare that held Canterlot hostage and then chased after you and your friends all just to get to Twilight?” “Kivat, we might have to figure out a way to escape. I’m going all out just to keep up. Waking up could hurt her too much.” “Might have to,” Fluttershy thought, even as Tempest swung again and again, the clashing blades ringing out in the night as sparks flew as metal met metal. “First things first, we’re getting Jiro back!” “Agreed. How do you propose we do it?” “Don’t worry, I’ve got an idea.” Fluttershy replied. “Always ready to follow your lead, Milady!” Kivat smiled. Tempest swung, and Fluttershy actually caught the blade in her palms. Now normally, this would shave fur from skin, and skin from skin but thanks to the armor this wasn’t happening anytime soon. In Tempest’s shock, she was caught off guard long enough to be kicked in the chest and then knocked into the dirt via a leg sweep. The blade clattered to the ground, with Fluttershy tossing IXA Calibur aside. Taking a dive, Fluttershy grabbed at the saber, pulling it close to her chest. “Welcome home, Jiro,” she whispered, sniffling softly under her helmet. “Can’t… Can’t believe she’s made it this far against me…” Tempest whispered, chest heaving in exhaustion. Fluttershy then took a running jump off a wooden plank high into the sky, with Tempest following after her eyes alight with rage. Both aimed flying side kicks at each other’s chest. “WAKE UP!” Both belts shouted in unison, as Fuestles were placed into belts. Fluttershy’s hoof slammed into Tempest’s helmet, and Tempest’s slammed into Fluttershy’s chest. Both were sent tumbling backwards, and Fluttershy picked herself up off the ground breathing hard and clutching her chest in pain. Tempest was in an even worse state. Her armor was blasting off spouts of steam, and she was just barely able to stand. Tempest’s eyes widened, thinking back to Twilight’s warning. “However, I should feel free to warn you, while the IXA system has been refined over the years with various abilities being added or removed as time went on, there’s one problem that the Blue Sky Organization has always worried persisting as time went on. Namely, the toll this takes on the pony body. The first few users of IXA, back in its original state did wind up in the hospital from what they told me. Tempest, you don’t have to do this if you don’t want to…” “I’m such a fool…” Tempest thought as her transformation canceled itself and she fell towards the ground. Fluttershy let out a scream of fear, and canceled her own transformation and ran towards Tempest. “Is… Is she okay?” “I dunno kid,” Kivat murmured. “It doesn’t look good. We need to get her to a hospital, stat!” Fluttershy nodded, before picking up Tempest, hoisting her over her shoulders, and taking to the sky.