//------------------------------// // Introductions // Story: Lady Rarity // by Aegis Steelshield //------------------------------// Chapter 1 The story begins, as so many others, on a dark, stormy night... Outside the Prancing Pony, it was raining cats and dogs. Inside was hardly better. Cold, damp and the roof was leaking. Drip. Drip. Drip It was perfect for what he wanted to do, perfect for hunting his prey. There, it had arrived. The thing had a mare with it. Luna damn it, she looked young. He hoped that they would put her to sleep first. She shouldn't have to see what was about to happen. No one should. It talked to the inn keeper, before it moved closer to the hunter. It was close enough that he could hear the mare's panicked breathing. He didn't know how much she knew, but he hoped it was enough to know not to run. Some time had passed before the thing led the whimpering mare away. The hunter followed, mentally preparing himself for what he knew was to come. He almost walked into the other vampires before he saw them. He peered out around the corner, seeing the mare surrounded by no less than five of the damned things. Her terrified expression tugged at his heart strings. "He comes tonight, brothers. It is best we hurry," the one he had tracked whispered. "Let him come, brother," said the unicorn opening the door, "We will take him as one," It turned it's head to the mare before continuing, "Into the room, young one, or we will make this as painful as possible." Animals, the whole lot. They left one of their number outside to guard the door. The hunter silently counted to ten before rounding the corner, stumbling like a drunk in his travel cloak. "Celestiadamned guards, -hic-, wouldn't know fun if'n, -hic-, if'n it bit 'em on thar arse..." He stumbled a bit more before collapsing onto the ground near it's hooves. It leaned over him, as if pondering an after school snack. It realized it's mistake as the hunter shoved his hidden silver dagger through it's chest, and into it's heart. He leaned against the door, and that was when he heard the mare wail. "Please, somepony help me!!!" He smashed open the door in an instant, and saw the mare being forced down on the cheap bed. He counted six right away, and tossed his first knife into the closest. The vampire turned to dust, and the knife passed into the one next to it. The rest roared, furious at the hunter's interruption, and the mare shrieked again. A pegasus he hadn't seen before tried to tackle him from above. They wrestled briefly before the hunter snapped it's wing, and drove his second knife into it's throat. "Who's next?" The hunter taunted. He lived for these moments, the thrill of the fight, the rush of the hunt, the snapping of bones... His thoughts were interrupted by an earth pony's charge. The hunter felt his wings spread under his cloak before he took to the skies. He landed behind it, and with a flick of his hooves, only three were left. He laughed a bit as the other two earth ponies charged. Once again in the air, he watched them crash into each other. He threw a vial of water blessed by Luna herself at them. Pity their screams only lasted a few seconds. "Take the mare and leave, hunter," the unicorn hissed, "And we will not pursue vengeance for this... Slight against our kind." "Your kind? Your kind! Tell me, what of the mare's kind? You feed on us. You kill us, rape us, infect us!" Despite his clear anger, only now was his voice raising in volume, "You tear children from their mothers! You tear wives from their husbands! You rip ponies, young and old alike, to shreds! The punishment for this is death!" He slowly, calmly, pulled an amulet of the crescent moon out from beneath his cloak, "In Luna's name, I bid thee! I command thee! Speak only the truth! TELL! ME! YOUR! CRIMES!" As he reached his crescendo, the monster hissed and flinched away from the necklace, "I've murdered them!" It screamed, "Women and children alike! I've tortured and raped! I've drained their blood and enjoyed every second of their pain!" It fell to it's knees. "And now I will burn for all of it..." "May Luna have mercy on your soul." The Hunter spat out. With one last twist of his blade, the unicorn was destroyed. Then the hunter turned his eyes to the mare. She was stunning, beautiful really.Her snow white fur, her meticulously styled mane and tail, her eyes as blue as sapphires... Can we move it along now Sorry, I got carried away... The mare found the strength to look her savior in his eyes, "Th-thank you so much..." And then she passed out.