//------------------------------// // Curtain Call // Story: Equestria's Dark Shadow // by InTheStands //------------------------------// Chapter 18: Curtain Call My name is Bill Lillian. In the six days we've been here, we've somehow been able to get every amount of bad luck this universe has to offer. Just when we thought it couldn't get worse, we find the town celebrating their Halloween on the last night we're able to keep these pony forms. Time only knows whether or not we'll find Barnabas among these disguises, but considering our track record... §§§ The sun had almost completely set. The town was packed with various ponies in various costumes. All seemed to be in good spirits for the night ahead. Most of them, anyway. "Look at this," Rick sighed in utter disbelief. "Look at it! It's going to be a nightmare looking for Barnabas now!" "Even worse," Willie began to think. "We don't know how many ponies he bit." "What are you talking abou - Oh God, that's what you're talking about," Bill realized the answer to his own question. "He's right, Rick. Any one of these ponies could be a vampire, too. Maybe they hide it better than humans. Rick - I think I'm having a panic attack." "Calm down, both of you!" Rick ordered. "We can't handle this if we can't calm down. We just have to slowly look around the town and-" Rick was cut off by a loud scream. In the distance they could see a stallion, mouth open and leaning back as a mare had its mouth over his neck. "Sweet Lord no!" Bill shouted out. He immediately sprinted towards the scene, swerving past passers-by before jumping and tackling the attacker. He looked at the pony pinned down... And was met with a familiar, screaming face. The exact same mare he ran into two times earlier that week. With no fangs whatsoever. "Oh, you've gotta be KIDDING ME!" Bill growled out as she screamed. Then, remembering what happens next, he looked up at the stallion above him, a newly-formed hickey on his neck. He shut his eyes as he saw the hoof rising up to fall against his face. §§§ Ponyville's jail was usually empty, save for a common drunk or two. But tonight, three ponies occupied a cell, with two glaring at the third one. The ticking of a clock could be heard as the guard on duty snored away at his desk. Bill lightly tapped his front hooves together as Rick and Willie turned to stare dejectedly through the bars. He opened his mouth. "At least they're not pressing-" "Not. Another. Word. Bill," Was his brother's deadpan response. §§§ A large crowd was gathered around the newly-formed outdoor stage, eager for the play to begin. After a moment or so, the lights on the stage turned on, and music could be heard playing. The crowd quieted down as the curtains were pulled apart. The backdrop was of a large, ornate foyer, complete with huge double doors. Hoofsteps could be heard in the distance before stopping. Then, from the side of the stage entered Barnabas - though he wasn't Barnabas tonight. He was dressed in dark red robes, sported shimmering jewelry, and carried a candelabra. He approached the double doors and swung them open, startling the male pony on the other side. "Welcome to my home," The man bowed slightly. "Enter freely, and of your own free will." The stallion stared up at him, amazed, before obeying, entering the 'room'. He continued to look up at the human before asking, "Count...Night Mist?" The man bowed again. "Yes. To ponies, I am Night Mist. I bid you welcome to my home, mister Morning Rounds." He exited the room, returning with a suitcase or two. Morning Rounds protested, but Night Mist insisted. "My servants, I fear, are not available at the moment. But you are my guest. Let me see to your comfort..." §§§ The audience was completely absorbed by the performance, losing track of time. They had seen Morning Rounds discover Night Mist's true past, watched as he avoided capture and death at the hands of his host. They had looked on as a ship's crew were picked off one by one. And now they saw four stallions walking through a graveyard, searching for a pony that 'Night Mist' had turned into a creature of the night. Clear Sight led the three young stallions into one of the open crypts, stopping at one particular coffin - one lined with lead. Reaching into a toolbag, the unicorn pulled out a screwdriver and removed bolt after bolt until he could lift up the lid with both hooves. Quickly they peered inside the coffin, only for the three colts to gasp. "Doctor," one of them began. "Your word is all I want. I wouldn't ask this usually, but this goes beyond both honor and dishonor. Is this your doing?" "I swear by all things sacred I did not move or touch her," Clear Sight shook his head. "We came here two nights ago and opened this coffin, with an equally empty result. The next day - she laid within as if untouched. Is that correct?" One of the colts nodded nervously. "And now last night. Nothing moved at all. Though I suspect it were the garlic cloves I had laid out over the coffin. So I removed them. Come - we must hide." The colts did as they were told as Clear Sight and they kept out of sight from anypony. This went on for a moment until a strange sound filled the air. Then the crowd finally saw the quartet's target: A white mare with a messy, silvery mane and tattered dress. Blood ran down her front from her mouth, her fangs dripping. She turned her head, sensing something. Then she spun around to the audience, fully revealing her contorted, vampiric face. The onlookers screamed in horror at the sight before them, screaming even as she wandered back into the tomb. The group waited a while longer before Clear Sight deemed it safe for them to enact the final part of his plan. Using his magic once again, he pulled out from his saddlebag a wooden stake. He beckoned the others to follow him carefully... §§§ "Come on..." Rick, Bill, and Willie had enough of prison. Realizing the guards failed to confiscate everything on their person, they scrounged for anything that could set them free and back on the road to saving Barnabas. "What're you two doing?" Willie asked as the twins pulled and poked at their suits. "Looking," Bill replied halfheartedly. "Willie, do us a favor? What kind of lock is on the cell?" "Huh?" The grizzled pony leaned out to look at the cell door. "Same as any jail door - one that needs a key. Why?" "Okay," Bill muttered. "Regular old jail key. Where did I put...ah!" Bill stuck his hoof into his opposite sleeve, pulling out a strange-looking stick - a lock pick. He held it in the air...and watched as it fell off his hoof with a clatter. The sleeping guard stirred slightly. "CHRIST-" Rick grunted through clenched teeth, then calmed down as he saw the guard fail to awaken. He shook his head at Bill before picking up the pick with his mouth. "You have those on you all the time?" Willie asked Bill. "All the time," Bill nodded. "And, you didn't use them earlier because...?" "Because where we're from, someone usually comes along and lets you free if you explain everything to them," Rick managed to speak through the pick in his mouth. "Apparently not here." Approaching the cell door, Rick spat out the pick and then gripped it between his front hooves. He leaned against the bars as he struggled to fit his hooves through and reach the lock. With a click, the pick found its way in, leading Rick to simply push at the instrument with his hooves. He pressed and jiggled, until, finally, the door opened. He turned to his brother and Willie, and pressed a hoof against his lips. Slowly he pulled the cell door open, so as not to make too much noise, getting it far enough for them to sneak by one by one. He removed the lock pick as Bill and Willie carefully tread past the still-sleeping guard, with him following suit. Once they were out the door and back outside, they looked around them calmly before bolting away from the police station as fast as they could. Within a few moments, they found themselves back in town. Now, however, the streets were calmer than earlier, with fewer costumed ponies out and about. "I guess everyone went home?" Bill suggested. "Home?" A stallion dressed as a sort of monk asked. "Just about everypony's in the center of town watching the Fall of the Vampire." "What?!" Rick shouted. "There's still time to get there, right?" "I dunno," the pony shrugged. "It's just about over." "Sir, please," Rick walked up to him. "We NEED to be there. Can you lead us there?" "Hm...don't see why not." The stallion began leading the three to the middle of town, with the trio praying over and over that they weren't too late. §§§ After so long, the final confrontation between Night Mist and the heroes of the story had commenced. Clear Sight, Morning Rounds and the others managed to intercept the vampire's coffin and force Night Mist out. With minimal effort, the human vampire tossed off his attackers, dodging their swings and jabs near his chest. Then, jumping into the air, he landed square on Clear Sight, pinning the significantly smaller animal down. "You cannot fight death, professor," Night Mist sneered at Clear Sight. "Your struggling only makes my hunger stronger." "Know your feeling of hunger, beast. It'll be the last thing you ever feel." Clear Sight mustered as much strength as he could to keep the weakening vampire from his neck. Meanwhile, Morning Rounds approached Night Mist from behind, raising a wooden stake higher and higher, building enough force to pierce the heart through his back. The crowd sat at the edges of their seat, waiting for the final blow. "NO!!" Grunts and shouts of pain followed the ear-splitting outburst before a blue earth pony leapt onto the stage, kicking back 'Morning Rounds'. "Keep your hooves off him, you damn dirty horse!" 'Night Mist' let go of 'Clear Sight', the two of them staring at the intruder. The pony turned to them. "Barnabas! Come on, before they get up!" "BILL!" A second voice screamed. Two more ponies jumped onstage. Another blue pony shook his head. "What was THAT?!" "You didn't see that?! They were going to stab him! I-" "Willie?" Barnabas' mouth hung open slightly, staring at the plaid-wearing pony that bore a striking resemblance to his servant. "Yeah," Bill nodded. "It's Willie. And WE are getting you out of here before - AHH!" The intruder was tackled by another pony, running in from backstage. Several more equines stormed the stage, surrounding the three gatecrashers. But as chaotic as this scene was, it paled in comparison to what occured next. A light mist began forming over the three ponies, before a quick, sudden flash came and went. Instead of ponies, the actors now found themselves gripping onto three humans, who quickly made use of their newly-restored strength by shaking or punching their captors off. "Willie!" Barnabas repeated. "It IS you! What are you-" "If I could explain I would!" Willie shouted as he kicked at several more horses. "But I can't!" At last, the curtain operators attempted damage control by letting the cloth fall, hiding the brawl from view. The blows, shouts, and crashes, however, were still very much audible. "The Hell is WRONG with everyone in this world?!" The one called Bill could be heard shrieking, before it all went strangely quiet. The audience sat, dumbfounded and confused as to what just happened. Lyra stared expressionless at the stage before jumping up, startling the other ponies. "WHO THE BUCK FORGOT TO TELL ME ABOUT THE HUMANS?!?" The mint green unicorn pointed accusingly as Bon Bon tried to sit her back down.