Zebrica, much like Vallaer, was a mysterious country in a far-off harsh land with their own traditions, customs, and magic. In the very distant past, the two countries shared a connection, one that allowed them to learn from each-other. Zebras offered alchemy and potion-making while vampires introduced blood magic and nighttime rituals. Ever since that time, both countries held the other in high regard, and so their connection never truly faded.
The return of vampires was chaos. Many years have passed, and many connections disappeared completely, and even Nicholas himself wasn't aware his kind was still remembered and even awaited by some. His brief visit would reignite the old connection, and it would resurge in power like never before. However, there were certain things that needed to be done by both sides.
In Tumaini Nzuri, Daring Do was led by Damu Msemaji deeper and deeper into its halls and chambers. The castle was far younger than Vallaer or Canterlot ones, but it proved to be just as complicated on the inside. Spiraling flights of stairs carved out of sandstone led into the basement and caves underneath. Stopping at one of the deeper levels, the Zebrican Queen pushed an unassuming ancient door, leading the two into a low, lightless hall. A gust of wind blew past Daring Do like a ghostly touch, the candlelight flickered into existence and begun its dance as if wishing to tell her something. For a brief moment, it seemed like the light reddened; but it was an illusion. Or so the adventurer tried to rationalize it.
"What do you want to show me?" she asked Damu Msemaji, somewhat confused.
"Please, be patient, and you shall soon see," she replied mysteriously, her crimson eyes seemingly glowing in the dark, "This is important that you see it, for I can sense greatness about you. There's more to it than simply looking for an adventure, that I am certain of."
Not having a reply, the pegasus simply followed the Zebrican Queen. The guards were nowhere to be found, but she felt like someone was watching her nevertheless – an invisible presence, a cold, penetrating touch of supernatural. She had rarely felt it, but certain ancient ruins emitted the same feeling, and it followed her in Vallaer as well. It unnerved her to the core, but she didn't know what she feared, for the presence was not hostile to her.
Finally, one of the doors opened in front of them by itself, letting them into a hall. It was filled with nameless books, some of which were empty, and many shelves were attached to the walls; the shelves stored many glass jars and vials filled with a familiar red liquid. In the center of the hall, a giant bowl of stone stood, ancient symbols etched into its outer side, leaving the inner so smooth one could see their own reflection in it.
As if on command, the hall lit up with candlelight bright-red, illuminating everything there was to see. Daring Do stopped in her tracks, considering running away.
"Do not be afraid," Damu Msemaji said calmly, "These vials are filled with blood, yes. But it is the blood of the willing. Each vial has a blood of someone, and it stores many memories. That is how I learned, that is how every ruler of Zebrica learned for generations. And that is exactly why we knew about vampires," she led Daring Do to one of the innumerable shelves, "However, there is blood belonging to no pony or vampire or a zebra... It belongs to the Red Moon," she grabbed an ornamented glass vial, and the blood inside it was moving as if it was alive by itself. Whispers could be heard coming from it, muffled from behind the glass.
"And... we're going to see something?" Daring Do asked slowly and carefully.
"Indeed," the Zebrican Queen nodded, "We knew it would come someday to use this vial, and now, I sense this time has come. What we're about to see will change history as we know it."
She swiftly removed the cork from the vial, and a thin red vapor rose from inside it. The blood bubbled for a moment, and then the zebra poured it into the stone bowl. Symbols along its edge glowed red, and the surface became like glass, smooth and without imperfections. As the mist cleared, an image appeared, and muffled sounds filled the room. The view was from above, and a familiar city lay beneath; the view was aimed directly at the center of the city where a giant obelisk stood.
"Is it... Vallaer?" Daring Do asked quietly, her voice full of amazement.
"It is, and we shall soon see if it is the past, the present, or the future," Damu Msemaji nodded.
The one through the eyes of whom the scene could be seen flew through the city and landed on the obelisk. Right under the obelisk, Daring Do could see two ponies, and one of them was immediately familiar to her. Sweat ran down her body as she recognized Princess Luna, who stood near Nicholas. The protective robes were gone and only a necklace remained, lying on his chest. His ear twitched and he looked up, and his eyes stared directly into Daring Do's. She almost exclaimed in surprise while Nicholas only raised a brow, but the scene continued to unfold as everyone else remained oblivious of being observed.
Princess Luna was holding a bowl in her magical grasp, blood filled it to the brim. For a while, she hesitated, watching how the red liquid subtly moved under her gaze. A curious scent penetrated her nostrils – something sweet and yet smelling strongly of hot metal.
"The smell is... interesting," Luna commented, her nostrils flaring, "I... remember a similar smell, but... I can't quite place it where I experienced it."
"This blood belongeth to Lună Roșie, her scent is unmistakeable," Nicholas said, "I doubt She gifted thee before, but... all is possible. But now, Her blood is for thee to intake."
"I've read about blood magic, but I don't think I've ever seen anything like this," Twilight Sparkle commented, gaining the attention of the Vampire King, who turned to her, his brow rising as he looked at her.
"And what didst thou read, precisely?"
"All blood magic is to be done in cauldrons, otherwise the blood eats away at the material," she said slowly, the questioning gaze of the vampire only feeding her uncertainty, "The rituals are to be performed in complete darkness, and at least a litre of blood is required, nothing less."
"I didn't know what else I expected to hear," Nicholas snorted, displeased with what he had just heard, "Cauldrons... A litre... absolute darkness... The books thou hast read about blood magic is nothing but a fool's knowledge, if it can be even called knowledge at all."
Twilight recoiled from him as his voice suddenly rose. Noticing it, he recomposed himself, reminding that her ignorance was not malicious and merely stemmed from the ignorance of others. Her eyes, her expression told him she wanted to learn and to know the truth, and she would perhaps be willing to accept the factual knowledge.
"Blood doth not eat away at materials, otherwise thou wouldst not be able to bandage thy wounds," he explained patiently, "Any vessel will suffice as long as it's clean and can contain liquid. Cauldrons... can be used, but stone hath certain properties we find beneficial."
"The books don't say that," she protested, to Nicholas' annoyance, "I don't think they would get anything wrong, they're from Canterlot Archives."
For a moment, the Vampire King was silent, contemplating with a frown on his face, his eyes peering into the eyes of the unicorn, making her uncomfortable. He wondered how she could possibly not see her mistake. Alas, to him, ponies were always ignorant, always in need of a teacher, lest they spew unthoughtful theories and false practices from their ignorance and misdirected imagination.
He let out a quiet sigh, suppressing his anger. As foolish as Twilight Sparkle's assumption of her books' absolute legitimacy was, perhaps it could be fixed.
"We are vampires, we have developed Blood Magic to the level it is now," he began, "We have written countless books about rituals, how to perform them, and why they are performed as they are. I have already pointed out the errors of thy book... art thou still willing to trust it?"
"I... I mean..." she stuttered, and then said weakly, "They're from Canterlot Archives..."
"Insufferable..." he fought the urge to raise his voice again, but a growl made its way into his voice, "In time, thou shalt learn the truth. Thy books are nothing compared to the knowledge we have amassed. Untill thou learnest, thou art not to debate what is correct and what is not, thou art only to ask the questions 'why' and 'how'. And for now, thou art to observe thy princess, for she is at the doorstep of knowledge. Lună Roșie will show her the truth, and thou shalt learn from it as well."
Twilight nodded slowly, her ears drooping slightly. As impossible as it seemed, the books she had read could be false. Or, if not false, at least slightly inaccurate. Nicholas offered a good point, and she would do well to listen to someone who rivaled Equestrian princesses in age and knowledge.
The conversation became silence, and Luna finally brought herself to continue the ritual. It wasn't much of a ritual, but the air of mysticism around the vampires made her anxious. The fumes of the blood entered her nostrils again, tickling them with the unusual scent. And yet, something drove her forward. To the last drop, the blood disappeared into her maw, and then she placed the bowl back where it was. Once it was done, her eyes turned completely crimson, and she froze in place like a statue. A vision came to her.
The sun was high above the snow-capped mountains, the white canvas sparkling underneath the rays. The cloudless sky was blue and cold, and winds blew around the valleys and pathways around the Moon Mountains. From the south, an army was marching, making their way between two mountains: a tall one on their right and a small one on their left. The wind whipped them, getting through their warm cloaks and armor, making them shiver as they felt the frost creep through their hooves.
The moon rose from behind the tall mountain, and the army stopped, confused. Higher and higher the moon rose, turning crimson; the shadows lengthened and darkened as a cloud of red surrounded the moon like a disk of mist. The sound of a horn rolled across the mountains, and the army hesitantly continued its way further north. Whispers emerged, spreading like wildfire among the soldiers: fear and uncertainty began to poison their minds, slowing their movements, and bringing out the worrying thoughts they had to suppress during their campaign. It was noticed by the commander, and he ordered the troops to silence and continue marching. However, no order could suppress the inner thoughts, leaving them clear before those who could see them.
Lună Roșie watched from the above, observing what she couldn't directly prevent. Alas, as sad as it was, she needed to allow it to proceed as it did, for She needed Her children to learn from their own mistakes and the mistakes of others. Warnings were sent, but the proper action didn't follow, and now the consequences showed themselves.
However, She was there for Her children, doing what they asked of her, for too, they knew the value of learning. The harm would come to them as it did before, and they stood against it by themselves underneath Her light. She had taught them many things, but, as all children did and do, made mistakes; some of those mistakes stemmed not from ignorance or malice but out of good intentions and even good deeds.
Underneath Her light, Nicholas the Vampire King stood, the First of Her children. As all sapient beings were, he too was not without flaws. And yet, he was Her favorite, for he guided his kind and protected it like a family. And now, rage boiled inside him, for he was wronged, and his family suffered. His rage spread among Her children, making an unstoppable force. They felt his emotions and welcomed them, and they knew what they needed to do to release them of their rage.
Blood would be spilt that day, She knew; a needless waste that could've been avoided. However, ponies and vampires were not without their flaws, and logic didn't always govern their thoughts and actions. This day, grief and hatred prevailed, and the vampires were ready to fight to the last drop of blood, theirs or their enemies'. At that moment, the outcome didn't matter to them – what mattered was the oncoming fight. Finally, they would be able to unleash their wrath, to spill the blood of those who wronged them, and bring the justice they deserved.
Lună Roșie overshadowed the sun, casting darkness across the land. The Equestrian Army stopped, and no orders could make them proceed. A red tint covered the mountains and the snow. From the shadows, glowing eyes appeared, and then vampires revealed themselves. Dressed in armor, weapons in their grasps, they were ready to strike. Some of them took their positions behind the ponies, cutting off their escape. Unicorns hid among the snow on the mountains to the sides of the narrow pathway, readying their crossbows and spells. And yet, they didn't attack, standing like statues.
Halberds and pikes were like thorns, piercing the sky. Proud black banners of the Red Moon flapped in the wind, and the drumbeats echoed across the battlefield. A few red-robed Blood Priests were standing behind the main bulk of the army, their horns and staffs working their magic, summoning the might of their Goddess to help them in their fight. In front of them all, one vampire stood – Nicholas, Her favorite. Armored in the finest plate, he stood, and his crimson eyes glowed with hate from behind the helmet's visor. A longsword with a curved hilt was sheathed on his side, and a polehammer was in his magical grasp.
The vampires were hissing and growling, readying for the inevitable battle, and yet they stood, awaiting the order from their king. The pony army faced the main bulk of the vampire army, although the confusion was apparent.
The drums stopped.
"He who hath killed my brother, step forth," Nicholas demanded loudly, a growl in his voice, "May justice be done upon him and all who aided him in his unjustly slaughter."
None answered him. The silence didn't last long.
"Then you all are guilty, for you hide the slayer among yourselves," he declared, "You are guilty of slaughtering my brother, the Heir to the Throne. You are guilty of slaughtering my people. The punishment is death, and we shall deliver it in full. For our blood, our honor, and the darkness that made us!"
The vampires chanted their hymn, beating the ends of their polearms against the frozen ground.
"Sânge! Beznâ! Onoare!" they chanted, "Sânge! Beznâ! Onoare!"
A deep horn rolled across the battlefield, and the vampires silenced. Those behind the ponies lowered their pikes and halberds, making an impenetrable wall of sharp thorns. They hid behind the shields, rendering arrows useless and allowing the bolts of magic to dissipate as long as the neighboring shields touched. Some shields were raised above their heads to protect them from volleys.
The vampires in the front stood, placing their shields in front of themselves as well. Nicholas swung with his polehammer, and a rain of arrows emerged from behind him, whooshing past him and onto the ponies. Some managed to cover themselves with shields, some were lucky enough to receive the hit in the plate, but there were those that died either silently or screaming as the arrows hit them. Blood spilled on the ground, melting the snow and painting it red. The second barrage of arrows was met with raised shields and spells, and the exchange began.
The spells, bolts, and arrows flew from one army to another, sometimes missing or breaking against the shields and armor, and sometimes striking their target. The vampires slowly advanced, their pikes forward. Ponies knew they couldn't retreat, for there was a second wall of weapons waiting for them behind. Their spears were shorter than the pikes of the vampires, so the only option was to advance to close the distance.
Nicholas flew up and surveyed the battlefield from above, easily dodging both spells and random arrows aimed his way. He knew whom he needed to kill, to sink his fangs into until their last drop of blood was his. He felt it, he sensed the one who so mercilessly butchered his brother and his family, and Nicholas swore upon his life that he would avenge all of them. As the fumes of blood rose in the air, he couldn't help but inhale deeply, already imagining tearing apart the slayer by himself, using his own teeth. The vampires below him were yelling curses, urging to charge and tear the pony army to shreds. Just like Nicholas, they felt rage and hatred, and they wanted justice for their pain.
Finally, Nicholas spotted the slayer – the Equestrian King Cassius. He was in the middle of the army, issuing orders, his golden-plated armor shining even under the pale moonlight. The Vampire King would do well to wait, but his judgement was clouded by grief and anger, and so he dove downwards, closing in on his enemy. They noticed him too late, and he crashed into them, sending a shockwave that allowed him breathing room.
The first pony in his way had his neck broken by a powerful blow of the polehammer. The second one was pierced through a gap in his armor and left to bleed out on the snow as he convulsed in great pain. They were many, but they were barely a match for the enraged vampire. He broke them, stabbed them, crushed them in this dance of death while their swords and spears could barely leave a scratch on his armor, let alone a dent. Disrupted, the ponies began to scatter, and the vampires could contain themselves no more, rushing into them, hacking and slashing. The organisation of both armies collapsed, turning into incomprehensible, brutal bloodshed.
A sharp pain in the side of the Vampire King made him focus. Cassius managed to find a gap and exploited it, striking Nicholas with the sword. Growling with both pain and hatred, the vampire retaliated, trying to strike the helmet of the pony king. He evaded the hit, and the duel among the carnage began. Throwing away the polehammer, Nicholas unsheathed his sword and battled the Equestrian King, advancing on him, trying to overpower him. And yet, Cassius defended himself well, glaring into the eyes of the Vampire King.
"You are all monsters," Cassius growled out in between strikes, "You deserve what is coming to you."
"Sayeth the monster," Nicholas retorted as he struck, "The mares, the foals... some of thy own kind. I saw their blood, their bodies. Thou shalt die."
"They became monsters the moment they went with thee and thy filth," the Equestrian King snarled, "Blood-sucking demons of the deepest night, that is what you all are."
"Thou canst not begin to understand who we are," the Vampire King snorted, "Ignorant little pony... And to say that my brother believed in thy goodness... His grave is a lesson for us, and we learned..."
"Thy last lesson will be the final death, vampire."
The fight continued on, screams and yells and clashes of steel all around the two as they dueled, barely paying attention to the chaos surrounding them. The battle cries mixed with the screams of the dying, the blood flowing like rivers, tainting the snow, the ground below, and the soldiers struggling to survive amidst the death. History would see some of them as heroes or villains, but ultimately, it was war – a merciless scythe cutting them all down without distinction. Lună Roșie weeped in sorrow as She saw Her children dying, their souls forever leaving their bodies and losing their identity to be formed anew with the birth of others. Life would always go on, but this unnatural massive loss would leave a dent in the balance of the world, allowing the chaos to take a stronger hold than it should, plunging the world into the pandemonium, confusion, and turmoil no one had ever seen before.
The ground shook, the smaller mountain moved. A dozen of powerful unicorns were standing on the other side, their horns glowing brightly. A back-up plan of the Equestrian King to ensure that his defeat would also be the defeat of his foes. Nicholas saw through it but refused to back down, only pushing, hacking, and thrusting in the hope of getting Cassius, for he must face punishment, and death must be delivered properly.
The mountain exploded as the unicorns lost control of their magic with a small nudge from the Lună Roșie. Her Children would disappear for centuries, but She wouldn't let their murderers disappear without Her own punishment. However, Her Favorite was crushed under the rocks, broken and ground into dust by the remains of the mountain. The vampires that avoided the rocks faded into nothingness, for they could not live without their king. He died, and they died with him until his return millennia later, for he could not die as long as other vampires existed. Their souls were trapped, their identities remaining but unable to find new bodies or resurrect with the old ones until their king could.
A few ponies were left alive, but their chances of escaping were slim, for they were beaten and broken. Their king was gone, their comrades were gone, and they were left alone in the north without guidance, their path uncertain.
Silence reigned.
Luna returned from the vision with a loud gasp, her eyes returning to normal. She almost fell but managed to regain the control of her body, making herself stumble. She breathed heavily, the images of the vision still in front of her eyes as if she had just personally experienced them as one of the soldiers. She couldn't speak or think, her mind completely blank, and Twilight Sparkle rushed to her.
"Luna?" she asked carefully, nudging her, but the alicorn didn't respond. The unicorn turned to the Vampire King, "What happened to her?"
"She is in the state of shock," Nicholas replied, "I have seen it before... her vision troubleth her. She cannot return to us yet."
"W-what do we do?" Twilight worried, almost hyperventilating. However, something stopped her when the Vampire King looked into her eyes. His crimson penetrated her very soul, and a calming feeling washed over her.
"Worry not," he said in a soft voice, "She will return to us. Not yet, but she will. Then she will act on what she hath seen... and we shall all see where 'twill lead. Come with me, 'tis time thou and thy friends are fed. I believe the cooks have finished the preparations."
Twilight Sparkle nodded hesitantly but followed the vampire. Luna followed them as well, her eyes still blank and staring into nothingness. The unicorn shivered but didn't know what she needed to say or do, but all she could do was follow Nicholas to his castle.
Unbeknownst to her, his thoughts were troubling. He suspected Luna learned about his last battle, for there was nothing else that could possibly elicit such a reaction from her. Didn't she know about her father's campaign against the vampires? The daughter of the king would know about such things, would she not? But if she did not... it opened many possibilities, most of which were unpleasant to think about.
Nicholas let out a quiet sigh. He remembered what his brother told him about ponies, about how friendly, understanding, and helpful they could be. The Vampire King found it difficult to believe, but he was willing to give the benefit of the doubt to their current generation. Cassius and his army were long gone, and perhaps it would allow the vampires to peacefully coexist with ponies for the first time in their shared history. Children were not accountable for the deeds of their parents, so perhaps Luna would understand the history of ponies and vampires and draw the right conclusions that would lead to lasting peace or, at the very least, tolerance.
The Vampire King was self-aware after his death. Floating amidst nothing, he only had himself to talk to. Placed in a tomb by Lună Roșie, he regenerated for many centuries, preparing to return to the world. This imprisonment gave him plenty of time to think about it all. His rage was caged, and it thrashed, wishing nothing else but to be unleashed on the ponies in full. And yet, with time, it faded away, leaving Nicholas with nothing.
He remembered his brother's desire for peace. Was he thinking the same when he was cut down by those he wanted to be at peace with? Nicholas would never know, for his brother was gone for all eternity; vampires, after all, died like everyone else did. Their souls lost what made them who they were in life, and then mixed with other souls to form new beings of sapience. There was no Caedwyn, for he became just a drop of water in the immesureable ocean of things way beyond the understanding of ponies or vampires.
Nicholas was ready to go to war against right after his return, for he did not suspect how many years had passed since the last battle. His enemies were long gone, and he was left with no outlet for the remains of his anger. Perhaps, it would be wise for him to consider peace, for even the most fragile peace was better than a strong war.
If the peace was to be, he would simply spend his days governing his country, making sure his family was provided for. He had lost his brother, and his wifes that survived the Slaughter of the Cold Valley were long gone, succumbing to the natural deaths of old age; the foals grew up, perhaps procreated, and then died of the old age themselves. He had no family left except those he turned and who, in turn, turned others into a king truly his, for they all stemmed from him.
These memories brought him pain, for he always wished things could be different. If not for himself, then for his brother – an optimist, a lover, and, most importantly, a truly good person. With him gone, something disappeared inside Nicholas as if torn from him violently. Perhaps, he wasn't as close to his brother as he should have been, but he still remembered how Caedwyn saved him from many dangerous and stupid situations. Now, Nicholas was left unchecked, and the balance tipped against the common good.
Nicholas knew he was biased, for all sapient beings were biased for or against something. Caedwyn was a different person, and he provided an alternative point of view on the issues of Vallaer and the world vampires couldn't choose but to interact with. Caedwyn wasn't the only advisor Nicholas had, but without him, he felt as if a great piece simply disappeared, leaving him incomplete. What was he now? A king that simply oversaw the obedience to the law? An old legend whose time had long passed, who should've died with his brother? The world had changed, it had almost forgotten about him and his kind. It moved on without them. Would they better stay dead?
He shook his head, trying to get the dark thoughts out of it. However, a creeping realization was undeniable – ponies were there for a reason, and Luna saw a vision for a reason. The world perhaps moved on, but with the resurrection of the vampires, the world returned its attention towards them. Lună Roșie had a plan for them, he knew, and he would do well to listen, for She had provided for them for many years. She created them and, in a certain way, raised them. Perhaps, She had the answer that he did not.
A long time ago, he put great distance between ponies and himself. Centuries have passed as vampires tried to live by themselves, desiring nothing but to be left alone, and yet they failed time and time again for one reason or another. Perhaps, they were not meant to be separate from their roots. Nicholas believed he would find out the answer soon, for Luna would return to reality, and her actions would define the future of the two very different but similar kinds of beings.