//------------------------------// // 5 Nightmares and Realities // Story: The Crusades End // by ColdChimera //------------------------------// He stood staring out over the army he had built up slowly, over centuries. He smiled down at them imagining once again his victory over the day, plunging the world into eternal night thus appeasing his goddess and allowing his children to feast. Moon Shadow allowed himself a small smile, it wouldn't be long now, he had waited almost one thousand years what was a few more days? “The new ones may still pose a problem” he thought, his sanguine eyes passing over the trophies he had taken from his most worthy opponents “I will have to watch them” he muttered to himself. The six ponies stood in the middle of the courtyard that the Crusaders found the day before. Meteor Storm barely pausing proceeded to nearly ram the door to the Inn off its hinges, the five following him confused as to his urgency. “TAIL WIND” he shouted as loud as he could. No reply. “Come in quickly” he said looking to them, closing the door as soon as the last tail crossed the threshold. He trotted quickly to the door that Tail Wind had opened the night before and shouted up the stairs “TAIL WIND” still getting no answer he slammed the door muttering “he must still be out.” “What is going on?” Applejack asked looking annoyed, her expression mirrored in Rarity’s face. The Crusaders looked at him in confusion. He sighed. “I guess I can at least try to explain parts of this by myself,” He said in a resigned tone, he gestured to the other ponies to find a seat. They pulled some chairs off the tables and sat in a small circle in the centre of the Inn. “First of all I’m sure you have all heard the story of this Inn that we are using, three warriors fighting off a large group of ‘monsters’ to protect the civilians inside.” He looked at them seeing all their heads nodding he continued “Good and another thing before I start, the only reason you two are here for this is because you are in a lot of danger, there is no doubt now that you three” he gestured to the Crusaders “are true Crusaders and possibly our successors.” this caused the three fillies faces to light up. A few seconds after he had finished his sentence the door opened to reveal a pegasus with a green mane wearing a long cloak that covered most of his body. “Tail Wind finally. There’s no doubt about it now, they all had a nightmare.” Tail Wind sighed. “I guess these are their family then, how far have you got with that explanation you prepared?” he asked “Yes this is Rarity Sweetie Belle’s sister, and this is Applejack, Apple Blooms sister,” he answered gesturing to Rarity and Applejack respectively “This is Tail Wind my fellow Crusader, and I’ve just started.” “Charmed.” “Howdy.” “Hi” he didn’t break eye contact with Meteor “need some help? You don’t normally do this part so well.” the pegasus asked his friend. “Sure thanks, but I don’t think I started out that badly. Maybe just jump in if I miss something?” he suggested. Tail Wind shrugged and walked over to the bar, leaning against it on his rear hooves with one hoof on the surface he gestured with his free hoof for Meteor to continue. “As I was saying the story is mostly fact but some of the details were altered by our predecessors to prevent panic and keep our existence secret. The ‘monsters’ were the most changed portion of this story. Before the start of the Celestial Wars, Nightmare Moon decided that instead of being angry at the ponies that slept through her night she would make some that would only stay out at night. She took some of the creatures that revel in the night wolves and bats were the main ones but there were others to. She blended them originally with ponies. Unfortunately pony physiology won’t allow this and they died in excruciating pain. The nightmare alicorn was determined though, and she soon found the solution.” The unicorn looked to Tail Wind. “There is a race of beings similar to ponies in almost every respect. The only difference being their physiology is extremely malleable so much so that they are able to change form at will this ability has lead to their name, Changelings.” “So Nightmare moon tried again, she blended bats, wolves and changelings with other creatures that live their lives in the darkness of night. This time while they could be formed and didn’t die immediately they grew weaker over a period of days and eventually died, this is because all living things are born with a certain amount of ‘life-force’ this life-force grows as we do and is used in everything we do, unicorns like me, Rarity and Sweetie Belle can tap directly into this and project it to cast magic.” Tail Wind jumped in saying “While we are all born with life-force one of the fundamental rules about it is that under no circumstances can it be created, it’s absolutely impossible. All things that are born are given enough to survive because some is given to them from their mother, the amount you use during the day is replaced when you sleep and eat that is why you’ll almost never see Meteor without some form of snack. These creatures grew weaker over time because they had no mother to give them life-force; they were forced to use what was left over from the Changelings after most of it was used to prevent them from dying and converted their own bodies into it to keep themselves alive. They found a way around this though, it’s possible to steal life-force. So they stole it from ponies during the night, they will die during the daylight if exposed for too long as sunlight is formed of solar magic the exact opposite of the magic that created them. They came to be known as Vampires.” “And it was the Crusaders duty to destroy them, after the higher ups learned that we can use any weapon we want.” Meteor Storm continued nodding thanks to Tail Wind “But Nightmare Moon wasn’t the only one to try this Celestia did a little dabbling but not to the extent of her deranged sister. So our forebears decided to alter their orders to destroy all the abominations the war had generated, they weren’t entirely successful. They got a great number of them but they were eventually overwhelmed, they died in a blaze of glory, but not before they recruited some apprentices.” “Why us?” Sweetie Belles voice cut through the silence that followed the older Crusaders statements like butter. “What do you mean?” Meteor asked confused. “Why don’t we have Cutie Marks I thought they ran in families” “They normally do, but we honestly have no idea why some people become Crusaders it appears to be random” Tail Wind answered. “So the Crusaders are Vampire slayers” Apple Bloom said thoughtfully “Not originally, but the vampires were in the greatest numbers and they are the hardest to kill so it soon became that way.” Meteor answered “What was that about the nightmares, why did you suddenly change your mind about us when you heard about our nightmares?” Scootaloo asked. “Because that’s been a curse of the Crusaders since the wars. Some of the oldest vampires have the ability to see dreams like Luna can now the most powerful of these can actually alter them, something Luna herself either can’t or won’t do. Some of these Vampires have learnt how to find the dreams of Crusaders specifically, they have used this in the past to lead some Crusaders to do things like tell the vampires secrets, and giving them information then used to kill the Crusaders, in some cases entire chapters, they have also used them to lead others to their deaths or betray and kill their fellows in their sleep. It’s very important that you tell us everything you saw in your dream. It also means that now you can’t stay anywhere too long until the vampire stops attempting to track you.” “Not to be rude or anythin’” Applejack said looking at Tail Wind “but that is the biggest load of horseapples I have ever heard” “I must say that I agree with Applejack dear, even if I would have worded it differently” Rarity commented looking towards Storm. “You don’t believe us then?” Storm asked with a small smile. “Not even as far as ah could throw you.” “Storm, I think we need to bring ‘it’ up from the basement” Wind said frowning at his friend “You know if we do they will know we are here again” “If we do they will believe us and we will have to leave anyway if we don’t you know what will happen.” Storm opened his mouth trying to find an argument against the pegasus. Eventually he sighed “fine, I still don’t understand why you are the one who suggests speaking to it when you’re the one who hates it the most,” he said as he walked towards the door at the rear of the inn. He disappeared through it and they heard his hoofsteps descending a set of stairs. They heard another door open followed by the sounds of something heavy being dragged. Tail wind walked to a small hatch set into the wall and opened it to reveal a dumbwaiter shaft. After a few minutes of scraping the dumbwaiter started moving. “Don’t under any circumstances look into this things eyes; it can take over your mind almost instantly.” As the dumbwaiter was raised the top of a cage came into view, the dumbwaiter kept rising until the cage filled the space in the wall. When it stopped Storm started back up the stairs. In the cage was a pony, but it wasn’t quite right. It had no mane or tail, it was black as night except for its face which was grey fading to white around its eyes and mouth. Its mouth caught Applejacks attention; it had fangs similar to those of the changelings they had fought at the wedding. Rarity had noticed its lack of a mane and tail but were attracted (against the warnings of Tail Wind) to the things eyes; they were red not ruby red like Vinyl Scratches but more of a deep crimson, the colour of blood. “Are you making an exhibit of me now Wind?” the thing asked. Its voice was scratchy but still obviously that of a mare. “Don’t talk to me, you’re lucky you’re even still alive, if it was up to me you wouldn’t be.” Tail Wind was starting to get visibly agitated, he had started pacing and throwing dirty looks towards the cage when he passed it. Eventually Meteor Storm re-entered the room and took up a position near the cage. Tail walked out of the inn. “He doesn’t like talking to her.” Meteor informed them. “No, really?” Scootaloo said her voice dripping with sarcasm. “He used to like talking to me, but then I changed.” the Vampire told them “This is a Vampire, it’s still alive because we occasionally feed it a chicken,” Meteor Storm informed them, “It is also the reason there are only two of us here.” Apple Bloom thought about that for a second “Why would he stop likin’ talking to ya, and what is the reason there are only two of you?” she asked. Rarity shuffled in her seat. “They are the same thing, this is the third member of the Trottingham chapter of the crusaders.” This statement was met with a stunned silence. “Ah thought you said the Vampires were made by Nightmare moon.” Applejack commented looking slightly confused. “They were, but any moderate level Vampire can sire more, we don’t know how the process works but we do know not to get bitten by one.” He answered; Rarity was at the edge of her seat. “Do you believe us now Applejack?” he asked. Applejack nodded “A bit more, it doesn’t mean ah believe everything or trust you much yet, but ah do believe more now.” “Alright, I’ll put her back.” he reached into the dumbwaiter beside the cage and was just about to flip the switch there when Rarity moved so fast she was little more than a white and purple blur. She grabbed the unicorn stallion while his arm was trapped, eliciting a shout of surprise from the stallion, and forced his face into the cage. Applejack jumped up and grabbed Rarity pulling her away from the cage and Storm, who quickly pulled away less than a second before a pair of fangs whistled through the space his neck and chest had occupied. “What’s gotten into ya girl?” Applejack asked a struggling Rarity. She moved her head so her horn was pointing towards the lock on the cage. In a flash Meteor Storm had raised a barrier between her and the lock. Tail Wind charged through the door, a pair of swords affixed to bracers on his hooves. “Hi there Tail, You mind taking it back into the basement I’ve got my hooves full.” “Sure, I guess you don’t want me to put an end to her then.” “No just the basement thanks.” Tail Wind removed the bracer from one of his hooves, and flapped over their heads to the door the basement. He opened it with his free hoof and flapped down, a few seconds later the dumbwaiter started to move down out of sight. Rarity was struggling harder now. “Scoots, Apple Bloom get her legs,” “Don ’t worry you’ll only have to hold her for a few more seconds.” Storm said looking at the top of the cage as it disappeared, as soon as the Vampire was below the edge of the shaft Rarity stopped struggling and Storm slid the hatch down. “What was that?” Rarity asked holding a hoof to her head “I feel like somepony has passed a wet sponge through my head.” “You looked into her eyes didn’t you?” Storm asked looking at Rarity, who nodded. “We told you not to but that is further proof what we are telling you is true.” “You alright Rare?” Applejack asked the look of concern on her face mirrored by that of the other crusaders. “Yes I shall be alright, thank you for your concern Applejack” The white unicorn replied a reassuring look on her face. “And yes I do believe you now, mister Storm” “Well since she has seen all of your faces now, and you are related to these three, I think we will have to take you with us for your own safety. Also we could use cooks and medics and other support while we train your sisters” He said with a smile. “What? What do y’all mean support roles? And we are very capable of defending ourselves.” Applejack groused indignantly. “While I don’t doubt that last part I doubt you have fought something that is more than five times stronger than the strongest Earth pony, and support roles to keep you away from the front lines so that the crusaders don’t have to worry about you getting hurt.” Storm explained. Tail Wind continued forestalling another protest from Applejack “Also it will allow you to keep an eye on your sisters and us, since you still have doubts. And we can’t train here for two reasons, the first is this place lacks the facilities and secondly-” “That Vampire has seen us and this place so her sire will know we are here” Storm finished “and you don’t want to meet him,” he added in an undertone. “OK so you can’t stay here, not that I trust you yet, but if we are coming with you then I guess I can allow it depending on where you are taking us.” “We’ll be going up north near the Crystal Empire.” Storm answered “We’re going to the Crystal Empire!” Sweetie Belle nearly shouted in her excitement. “No, we’re not going to the Crystal Empire we will be close, however, we need to train your resistance to cold and you need to be able to fight effectively in it.” He responded quickly. “The crusaders have a training post a day’s travel to the north.” There was a collective “Aww” from the three fillies. “We have to go as soon as possible so all of you collect your things and meet us at the train station. You can tell your families you won’t be coming home for a while but not where you’re going.” “Well I suppose ah could tell them ah was acomanyin’ ma cousin to Appaloosa with Apple Bloom” “I’m not expected back for a while either, and I can say I’m going to the Crystal Empire to observe their fashions if anyone asks” Rarity said thoughtfully. “Ok, Tail will meet us at the train station; I will accompany you and help with your bags,” Storm informed them. “We’ve got 30 minutes until the next train to the Crystal Empire leaves, we will be on it, see you in a few” and with that the grey pegasus left the Inn. When the three Crusaders together with their siblings and Meteor Storm reached their hotel room they began to pack hurriedly, Meteor Storm helping them find their things with magic. “Why do we need to hurry anyway?” asked Apple Bloom as she sat on one of Rarity’s suitcases forcing it closed while Storm closed it with magic. “We need to hurry because a Vampire can track your mind now they have entered your dreams, and one has seen our hideout so any Vampires that are nearby will have seen us there and will be moving in.” He explained helping the yellow earth pony down off the case, and watching as she went to her saddlebags. “How could they have all seen us?” Apple Bloom asked turning to look at him “there was only one there” “They are part changeling; they have a hive mind structure. Each is as intelligent as a pony but they can become more effective within proximity to each other. So that one could alert others to where she is and where we are and they would know how many of us there are and our positions without communication that we can detect.” When he finished there was silence, he looked around to see the others had been listening and where now staring at him. “We have had a long time to study them.” “Ah’ve just had a thought” Applejack said looking curious “why don’t y’all just talk ta’ Princess Luna and ask her to stop them?” “We would but the Vampires were created by Nightmare Moon, they see her as a sort of god and think of Luna as a usurper. They won’t listen to her.” He explained looking to the orange mare “also we don’t trust her much.” he added as an afterthought. “What do you mean you don’t trust the princess?” Rarity asked in a worried tone. “She has betrayed us all before and is the cause of a lingering evil.” He answered simply “It’s nothing against her, if Celestia had done something similar we would be mistrusting of her too.” Applejack just shook her head as she went back to helping Rarity pack. Less than ten minutes later they exited the hotel, Storm helping carry Rarity’s cases. “You know Tail will make you drop a lot of this stuff don’t you, if you’re not travelling light yet he will force you to.” Storm told the alabaster unicorn mare. “He wouldn’t dare!” She exclaimed “Oh believe me he would, the other crusader was similar to you at one point then she met Tail and learned how to make do with a tooth brush a towel and a blanket, when she was lucky.” “How horrid.” Storm just chuckled and continued walking towards the train station. They arrived to see the station completely empty, surprising for a city that large and especially for that particular train. They spotted Tail Wind at the other end of the station; he spotted them and walked over shaking his head. “I called in a few favours and got the station to ourselves, the train too.” He told them. He then turned to Rarity motioning to the hovering suitcases with a hoof he asked “are all these yours?” “Yes, just a few necessities” she replied smiling towards Sweetie Belle who giggled at the inside joke. “Well we shall see if we can’t make that even fewer necessities,” he replied a smile coming to his lips. “What exactly do you have in there?” Ten minutes later He had managed to reduce the amount of luggage Rarity had brought to one large suitcase. Rarity held it in her light blue aura looking like she was about to cry. “We still have to get rid of all this when we arrive but you have the entire train ride to help you adjust to the loss.” Tail said with a grin, just as the train pulled into the station.