//------------------------------// // Nightmare Night // Story: Ponyvania // by Slycoopertr //------------------------------// Stairs. Were there a fouler thing? After following Death’s path of unholy ascend the mane 6 found themselves on a wide, semicircle look-out high above the castle. The floor was red… deep red. Why? Applejack preferred not to ponder too much and Rarity just complained that it was not “fashionable” compared to the other parts of the castle. Below the look-out lay a layer of clouds that phased out the ground and only the forest could be seen for miles. At the end of their balcony was (of course) more stairs leading up to a slightly blacked out tower shape that screamed evil. Given the layer of solid ground they were given, the mane 6 decided to lie down and rest for a while and chat about a various amount of subjects. “-and the bugs and critters comforted me, until he shows up again.” Fluttershy finished explaining. “Ah still can’t see that after all you went through, you still managed tah be nice to the varmint” Applejack said, given Fluttershy a confused glance. “Then again, you are the element of kindness” “And a SUPER DUPER FRIEND” Pinkie blurted out hugging the shy Pegasus. “Well,” Fluttershy said shying away a little from her friends. “Everyone needed a friend and a little compassion” “Huh, de’ja vu,” Twilight said lost in thought. “Haven’t we seen through this before?” “What? Demons, monsters and stuff?” Rainbow asked cocking her head. “No, the overall concept of our apparent situa-“ Twilight remember she was talking to Rainbow and dropped the subject. “Uhh…nevermind” “Yeah, so…Fluttershy! I swear there was this huge rock creature thing an-“ “Yes Rainbow, you’ve said” Applejack said in a bored voice. “But she hasn’t heard it yet” Rainbow said with a smug “Well umm…actually yes you have said” The yellow Pegasus said sheepishly. “Three times.” Rainbow stared for a bit before turning away grumbling about party poopers while the rest shared a chuckle. Applejack was the first stop laughing, and then she looked towards the castle. “So, who all knows who or what we would be dealing with here?” Applejack said addressing her friends. “I hope whatever or whoever it is has a place with decent décor. Or maybe even a spa!” Rarity hoped. “Oh sure, let’s go ask the previous master of Death to get gussied up and clean.” Applejack let the sarcasm flow from her mouth like a raging river. “Maybe it’ll have a personal grooming set that you can use” “OOH, you think?!” Applejack facehoofed with a smile on her face as she glanced to her other friends; Pinkie was trying to jump around rainbow and twilight was concentrating on the ground. “Hey, you alright sugarcube?” Applejack asked lying next to Twilight. “Oh, it’s nothing really. Just feels great to have a body again.” Twilight said picking up one hoof and examining it, her mind flowing into a stoic gaze. “You sure?” “Positive” “Nothing is eating at you” “Not a thing” “Not even spike?” The name cut Twilight deep in her heart. She had been trying not to think about her faithful baby dragon. Turning away to hides the starting tears was all she could do at the mentioning of her beloved assistant and closest friend. He had been all she could ask for; loving and with her to the end. Twilight was fighting off the creatures that were attacking her home, and couldn’t save Spike from the arrow that flew at him. Knowing that he could still be saved she quickly began casting her spell, but had not been watching the door…or the skeleton archers that previously had gotten the baby dragon. In the midst of her spell she had been shot 3 times: one in her left foreleg and twice in her chest, penetrating her heart. The spell she had been casting took a lot of condensed magic leaving her horn still glowing after being shot. The lavender light surrounding her horn seeped into her, but only half the spell was cast, leaving only her soul to take the revival magic. Twilight tried over and over to revive her faithful friend. Her magic could only do so much what with being dead. She could only lay next to him weeping over his lifeless carcass getting consistently more depressed. It wasn’t until dawn that she decided to leave to seek out others, which was fruitless. All of the shops and homes were burned down leaving stone pillars with blood spots splattered on every other one. Any creature still alive had run off, she assumed, and any one that stayed had been killed or ripped apart. After searching for a while in all of her close friend’s houses, the hospital, the park, Ponyville square, and even back to her old home she found nothing in Ponyville. Roaming around aimlessly she remembered something, all of her friends in Ponyville aren’t here. None of the bodies that she had seen (whole or not) still had their cutie marks and not one of them had any of her friends individual insignia. But what about other places outside? As soon as the thought came to her she rushed over to the nearest house near Ponyville, Sweet Apple Acres. The Barn had been in surprisingly good shape except for a few scratches on the locked door to the barn. The house…not so much. She contemplated how she was going to get through the door till she remembered that she didn’t have a solid form. After phasing through the door she found a familiar face unconscious on the ground. After seeing that she was breathing a flood of relief spilled over twilight. She no longer had to be alone. But what if they were attacked again? How could she, a ghost, do anything but observe. She couldn’t just do nothing, more research on ghost needed to be done. “So you’ve just been turned into a ghost and want to protect people,” Twilight was planning a while back to get rid of this way back when she first got it, something about the title made it seem, useless and unreadable. How ironic that she found everything she needed from tele-communication spells to making one’s being into armor or other objects into permanent weapons at the cost of blood. Regrettably, making the whip was something she knew she had to do. Applejack had always been good at using her rope and the only weapons she found she could make from the book were a whip, a spear, a short sword and a Gatling gun with unlimited bullets (but that one required an immortal fragment). Using the blood of the village ponies (begrudgingly) from the stone pillars she created Applejack’s whip and added her own little touch with style using Applejack’s cutie mark as a design for part of the handle. Going back to the library she found her book again and opened to page 394 where it gave more instructions on binding one’s self to a pony and spawned armor around said pony. What an amazing book! She took a gander at the binding to find ”Yusuke” as the author with co-writers of “Hachikuji” and “Nappa”. With everything set she went back to Applejack’s barn sneaking a peek back to her dragon assistant in some hope that he would suddenly spring to life and tell her everything would be okay…he didn’t. Instead he laid there and she began to journey back to Sweet Apple Acres. As expected she found Applejack still unconscious, the only thing she could do was wait unless the orange pony woke up. It didn’t help that the fire from last night has dimmed the sky into a light gray and the smell of burning flesh still hung in the air. Before she could figure out how she had the ability to smell she heard a stir on the ground. “He was the best assistant…is the best. When this is over we’ll find some way to bring them back, right?” “Right, don’t you worry none, we’ll be done before ya know it” Applejack let out a confident smile and wink. She never lied and she didn’t. They would find some way to help out the town. Twilight and Applejack got up and joined the others as Rainbow finished her story about the rock golem she had continued regardless of what anypony else thought; Fluttershy didn’t want to interrupt and Rarity was still looking around for a mirror. When she was done the rest of the mane 6 got up and stood in a line staring at the tower’s silhouette against the gloomy sky. With a group nod they began walking up the stairs. There was a metal door big enough for a full dragon at the top of the stairs, the design on it was that of a human-shaped demon with its wings spread out on each side of the door. Each side was old and faded, but clear enough to see the small details. Applejack pushed the door open feeling cold on her hooves that shot up threw her legs and down her spine. “Guys, I’m not so sure ‘bout this” Fluttershy said with worry. “Oh come on Fluttershy” Rainbow said giving an annoyed sigh. “It’s just a giant big metal door with creepy drawings on it high atop a doom and gloom castle that’s caused us an abnormal amounts of pain. What ELSE could possible happen?” And just like that a misty black tendril sprung from the metal doors as they opened suddenly and grabbed Applejack by her back hooves. It swiftly dragged her behind the doors allowing her only one yelp before they slammed shut. Darkness Swirling darkness with hints of electricity flowed all around her like she was inside of an angry storm cloud. Applejack awoke after something had knocked her out. Where was this place? Where were her friends? Where is the ground? Her eyes looked below her as she noticed that all she was floating in a pit of despair. She was alone with her thoughts, torture for some who don’t want to think about their past events. She had attacked countless monsters, left her friends helpless and was now unable to do anything. A single tear left her eye. Only then did she realize that she couldn’t give up, not now. They were so close to being done; she had to get out. “HEY!” She shouted. “Whoever done put me here, come out an’ fight!” Her words reached emptiness and never returned. No echo. A while after she felt a rumbling around her. But, that was impossible. No amount of fancy mathematics can change the fact that she was floating. “APPLEJACK! Oh how splendid it is to see you again. Tea?” Said a voice in the deep darkness. Wait, she knew that voice, it was vague and long forgotten, but familiar in a way. “Oh come now, you can’t possibly tell me you’re not happy to see me. You can’t lie to me.” Wait what? Who in tarnation…lie? ”Discord?” Applejack whispered. “Oh ho, right you are my little pony.” A flower burst out of her hat. “So what brings you to this wonderfully empty space?” The draconequus asked. “Trying to get out.” She said with a sneer. “What are you doing in this place anyway?” “Sight-seeing of course. Why? Does that seem weird? Oh hey Big Zam” The flower burst into flames and was transformed into a ten gallon water container wearing a Gatsby hat and Big Zam floated aimlessly behind them.. “Coming from you? No. But why don’ ya show yourself? I know you ain’t here for fun. You’re trapped here just like me.” Discord let out an audible sigh and popped into existence on Applejack’s back as tiny as a puppy with an annoyed expression. “Very well you caught me. Oh woe is me! How my heart doth ache for companionship and conversation!” Discord said with sarcasm dripping from his snaggletooth. “Oh quit it! Now really, what are ya doin here?” The orange pony said scowling at the creature laying down on her back like one of those French mares. Discord frowned. “Fine.” He teleported away from her with a pop and reappeared in front of her in a hammock. “I was imprisoned here by the prince of darkness. He promised to release me from that stone state if I would help him out as well. After I was free I was brought to this endless abyss because I turned his little room into an area I thought fit much better. Turns out the Count doesn’t take too kindly to flying pies and a chessboard for a floor. Oh I do hope my cotton candy pillars are still there...” “That still doesn’t explain why I’m in here. Couldn’t that there Count whatever just face me himself?” “Ah, Count Dracula has had some…skirmishes in the past that he would prefer not to repeat…again. It’s a rather funny sight actually.” Discord was suddenly holding her whip. Applejack looked to her side to find it missing. “He’s been dealing with the Belmont family (his long time vanquishers) and their prized possession for so long he thought he might try a new tactic.” “An’ what would that be?” “Getting rid of the person (or in this case pony) before he had to fight them. Such as throwing them in a place with no way out” “How in Equestria do you know all this stuff?” “Oh please Applejack, did you honestly think I would just sit around all day? I’ve been reading his mind since I got here, just like I did with you.” He mused flicking her forehead. “I may have also shown a few images of his dear friends from the past a few times. I may not be able to leave, but that doesn’t mean I don’t have any influence on what’s going on in here and sometimes with him.” “Alright, so how do we get out of this here place?” “Ah ha, now there is the question I’ve been asking myself for a while now.” He examined the whip closely then took it. “You know, this whip has got a bit of magic in it.” Applejack lightly coughed, wanting her procession back. He ignored her. “It’s just a theory but, why not give it a go? I’m up for a little fun.” Discord raise Applejack’s whip into the air and brought it down. The crack brought forth a wormhole that swirled a little faster than the area around them. He started making his way through it before a voice caught his attention. “Hey! Y’all get back here and get me outta here!” Applejack yelled at the draconequus. “He’ll probably just send you back here anyway!” He stopped and pondered that a bit “Oh, fine. But you fight him” “What?” “TOO LATE” Discord grabbed the cowpony and flew through the portal without another word. “Oh you just HAD to say it, didn’t you?!” Twilight shouted at the cringing, rainbow colored Pegasus. “EVERYPONY knows that sentence means instant karma!” “How was I supposed to know that Applejack was going to be taken by…things?” Rainbow asked looking away from the others to hide her face. “Please, darling. Shouting isn’t getting us anywhere.” Rarity interjected. “We need to help Applejack, not dispute myths.” Twilight looked down in shame. “I know, but we already tried everything on those doors. It must need a key or something.” “Uh…excuse me?” Fluttershy spoke daintily getting nobody’s attention. “Actually, I don’t even see a keyhole here.” “I may know of a way t-“ “Who in Equestria makes a door without an-“ “Please listen!” Fluttershy yelled (or actually went up to normal speaking voice volume) then blushed at her own retort. “Why don’t we get Mr. Death to help us?” “Twilight pondered a moment then asked Fluttershy, ‘do you think that’s a good idea? Do you even know if we can trust him?’” Pinkie said, reading off my page…HEY! Fluttershy just went with it. “I trust him. Besides, he’ll be with us for a while.” Twilight sighed in acceptance before giving any more resistance; how can you resist Fluttershy and her sad eyes? You can’t. Begrudgingly she followed her other 4 friends back down the stairs and only looked back once in worry for her lost friend. “I thought that would be the case, although I would’ve preferred not to open that accursed chest again. The last time it just sprayed that fool’s blood over the floor. But the reaction of the prisoners trapped here was quite amusing.” After finding their way back into the dungeon, the mane 5 found Death idling his time, sharpening his scythe. They explained the situation and asked Death for any possibilities on getting past through the doors. “You mean another pony tried to get into that part of the castle?” Twilight asked. “What? Oh, no. You see one day I was bored so I decided I would offer ‘freedom’ to anyone who was foolish enough to take it. I didn’t tell them they had to fight what was inside that chest. I only did that once…or twice...probably more. It just makes the whole place look terrible when blood flies everywhere.” Death explained as if telling someone about their day. “What’s in the box? Can’t you just…I don’t know, give us whatever we need?” Rainbow asked. “Now how would that be any fun?” Death had hints of mischief in his voice. “Please Death?” Fluttershy asked staring up at him with puppy dog eyes. Death quickly looked away knowing he would lose if he glanced to slow at his new master. “That creature has what you need; you must kill it to find your companion.” Rainbow got ready to fly at the floating angel of death, but was pulled on by her tail before she had the chance. “Rainbow, don’t start any more fights than we need to” Twilight disciplined. “We have to save our energy.” Rainbow huffed, but obliged. “So where is this stupid thing anyway?” Rainbow said sounding very annoyed. “Over there.” Death pointed his scythe to the corner of the room as he said his words. The tip of Death’s scythe started gathering electricity and producing sparks. Death held his weapon out sideways as the sparks grew. Clouds started forming over the ponies and the rumbling of thunder was heard. As the tip overflowed with discharged it eventually enveloped the whole blade, but leaving the shaft alone. BZZZZT! A bolt of lightning charged down from the clouds, reflected off the blade and crashed in the corner of the prison creating a plume of dust unable to look through. The mane 5 just stared until the dust cleared. The only thing visible was a golden chest laden with an assortment of jewels. Rarity was the first to react. “*Gasp* It’s gorgeous!” She exclaimed rushing over to the chest and holding on to it for dear life. “And It’s mine ALL MINE!! MWAHAHAHAAAAaaaaa…..” “Uh…something you want to discuss Rarity?” Twilight asked a little hesitant. “I mean…we need to get this box so we can save Applejack” She let go of her treasure and walked away slowly back to her friends with an Applejack lying face on. Trying to ignore her, Twilight switched the subject. “Alright girls let’s do this, but be careful, we don’t know what evil, demonic creature lay inside that chest.” They walked (Pinkie bounced) towards to chest, the clouds above them clearing. Rainbow flew over and reached the chest first. “Rainbow wait” Twilight warned. “Oh come on Twilight” Rainbow shrugged,” I’m pretty sure we can beat anything right now” Rainbow thrust open the container and became wide-eyed. Her horrific nightmare came back to her. The creature that stared at her had caused her grief and turmoil for years. Now, she knew that there were more days where she couldn’t sleep at night. Before her stood a foot-tall, fluffy-tailed bunny that was glaring at her. “ANGEL!” Fluttershy yelled. She scooped up her best creature friend and hugged him tightly. Rainbow groaned as the memories came back to her of all the times she hung out with Fluttershy only to wind up in some bad situation because of that thing. Fluttershy was absolutely giddy having her old bunny back. “Oh I’m so glad to see you again. But, Angel, how did you end up here?” Fluttershy asked. The bunny on his part began doing a series of movements that no one could understand, but he was going for something like “After our little village became a wasteland of forgotten ash, I followed where you were going. After I found this area I was discovered by a minion outside the castle who I had to slay. More of them came and I fought with heart and courage, but alas I was captured and brought to this floating, cloaked skeleton that stuck me in this containment unit. I was let out a total of 5 times; each time I had to fight what seemed like a prisoner and each one tried to get inside the box. I would’ve let them if they each hadn’t have tried to kill me first. I did what I had to do to survive. Every time I tried to escape I was forced back into that thing. In all truth, I believe that killing 5 creatures in an hour is not bad if I do say so myself. There was also this odd shaped crescent stone that consistently glowed.” To which Fluttershy responded with: “You must be hungry after being trapped, did you at least have something to do?” Rats, she still can’t understand me. “Hey girls, there is a sort of…thing in here.” Rainbow pointed out. “OOOH, is it candy?” Pinkie asked. “Oh I love candy. All types of candy really. You know like chocolate, butterscotch, apple, grape, mahogany and pies. OOOH PIES, you know Soarin really likes pies? He does, I know. Applejack can make good pies but when it comes to cakes the Cakes really take the cake on that one. And SPEAKING of cake-“Pinkie thusly had a hoof shoved in her mouth by Twilight. Using her magic, Twilight lifted up the object and observed it for a bit. It was a crescent shaped stone that illuminated a faint blue. “That’s all?” Twilight asked. “That’s all” Death said, still a little hurt that there was no blood splattered on the wall. “That’s Disgraceful!” Rainbow pouted. “Would you rather had a boot to the head?” “Uh…no?” “Then I suggest to get moving before someone or somepony does” Death twisted his scythe as the edge of the blade sheened. “Y-Yes sir” Rainbow rushed over to the exit. “The rest of you should be on your way as well…and take that infernal thing with you, I’ll find something else to kill this lot with than that fluffy bunch of annoyance.” Angel shook his paw at Death. Applejack woke with her face on the ground. She could hear giggling in the background as she looked up and stars circling her. “BWAHAHA! Oh you should look at your face!” Discord yelled producing a mirror and shoving it in front of Applejack’s face. “Get that away from me.” Applejack said as she hit the mirror away. “Now where are we?” Looking around she could she a sort of throne room lit by candles on marble columns that were placed with the rectangular room. Behind her was the door she was pulled through, she assumed, because it has the same design. There was a red carpet that stretched from the doorway to a stair dais. On top of the platform laid a coffin painted pitch-black with red trimming and a luminescent, purple bat symbol on the lid. “So is this here where…uh, that guy is?” Applejack asked. “Dracula and yes, my little pony, it is.” Discord answered “Well, where is he?” She was answered with a deep voice above them. “Right here, you incompetent fool.” A Human shaped figure appeared above them and slowly descended down towards the coffin. He wore a black and red 1800’s trench coat type suit with an overlaying black cape that covered most of his body except for his head. His face was pale white; eyes were blood red. He gave an expression that he was looking at two beggars fighting in the street for food, almost pitying. As he descended down waves of fear and anger flowed through Applejack. Who was this guy really? He gave a sense of hate unlike she ever knew. His feet touched down and he glared at the two with a smug look. “Aaah, if it isn’t the draconequus…and partner. You should have stayed in the darkness where you belong.” The evil tyrant spoke with a distasteful and silver tongue. “What are you?!” Applejack yelled out. “Forgive me, where are my manners? Allow me to introduce myself. I am Vlad Tepes Dracula” He said giving a slight, sarcastic bow. “And who may I inquire as to you are, creature?” “The name’s Applejack” She said through teeth. “Now DIE monster! You don’t bel-“ Before she could finish a fireball shot in front of her sending her flying into the metal door. “Forgive me, but I will not have the past repeat itself.” Dracula sneered. “Better yet, I might as well end this now.” Dracula aimed another fireball at Applejack and fired. The flaming ball rushed towards the pony. Right as the attack closed in, the ball turned into a fluffy puppy doll and smacked into Applejack, it smelt of elderberries. “Don’t leave yourself open you silly pony, death shows no mercy.” Discord warned. Death looked around for a second. He had a feeling that he was needed for something and slowly started floating towards his previous master’s keep…maybe after he figured out how to get Cerberus in a chest and another “key” to his master’s door. Or at least, previous master. He wondered if his new master would want a secret keyhole on her door. Cerberus is still needed he guessed, then made a quick trip to Tartarus before heading to the keep. “Alright,” Twilight said confidently,” Let’s get this door open and save our friend!” The other mane 5 cheered. “Now, how does this work?” Twilight asked. Twilight raised the tablet in curiosity hoping something would happen…silence. “Maybe it’s broken” Rainbow suggested. “Ancient, dark tablets just don’t break darling.” Rarity argued. “How do you know?” “It’s magic, I do not have to justify my knowledge” “Umm, Twilight?” Fluttershy asked. “Uh, yes you do!” Rainbow shot back. “You can only know magic if you can use it dear and I don’t see a horn on you” Rarity explained. “Twilight, Pinkie has the tablet” Fluttershy pointed out. Before the others could take in what Fluttershy just said, she heard a big THUMP behind her. Turning around she saw that Pinkie took the old relic and threw it against the metal door. The tablet broke into multiple pieces and fell to the ground. A dark shadow exploded out of it and a quiet scream was heard; the door opened slightly. “Fixed it!” Pinkie yelled. “Buh habba suppa wha WHAT?????” Twilight didn’t have words. “How in EQUESTRIA did you know that was going to work?” “I didn’t” “Pinkie…you know what? Forget it. The door is open, let’s get Applejack back.” Twilight did her best to handle the frustration in her and headed towards the door with her friends behind her. The door led to a giant, centipede, dragon creature with blood soaked eyes in a desert area with darkness surrounding them. The door to the light shut behind them. ***Earlier*** Applejack got up on her feet after being pummeled into the door. The weariness of recent events was finally catching up to her. Her vision blurred a bit before she saw a clearer vision of her adversary who was now shooting dark, void spheres at the draconequus. The spirit of chaos dodged each attack and turned them into clouds of cotton candy spilling out chocolate rain. With each attack, the lord of darkness grew slightly angrier. Seeing an opportunity at hand, Applejack grabbed her whip and rushed him. She cracked the whip at his feet, but nothing happened, like his body was made of obsidian. She tried to attack him three more times before being swept away by a gust of wind. “You fool,” Dracula said. “How can you kill something that’s already dead?” He leaned down at the orange pony to express point. “You are worthless, nothing you do can-AARGH” He yelled out in pain. “Looks like your head isn’t so dense, or is it?” Applejack smirked after bucking him between the eyes. “Looks like my attitude’s rubbing off on you Applejack” Discord winked while drinking out of a cut in half cup of tea. “Insolent pests; I grow bored of you antics. Time to die!” Dracula yelled. Dracula drew in power around him and unleash a wave of red energy from mid-range. Applejack managed to duck under it while discord ballerina hopped over it. “Oh this is such a fun game we play. Should we take a 10 minute break or just push + to continue?” Discord asked snidely. “ENOUGH! Time to show you what real power is!” Dracula yelled out. The room dimmed and soon darkness was everywhere. A sudden wave of exhaustion hit both Applejack and Discord and they were both out cold. It was a dreamless sleep and everything was cold. Applejack awoke to find herself in a desert with a sandstorm blocking any vision of the horizon and black above her. She turned around and saw a Giant Dragon Creature staring at her. It had scale-y arms and claws with the body of dragon, scaled torso and centipede lower half that was curled up. Its head was shaped like a demon with horns and shape teeth. Applejack could only gape in awe and fear of the creature. Dracula surely was the epitome of all evil. Without another second Dracula let out a roar and send strands of energy after Applejack. She galloped quickly to escape only to have the strands go into the ground and created a massive explosion. Before she could even wonder how that happened she spotted three balls of energy floating at her. Not taking a chance, she sprinted to her right and avoided it; one of the balls hit the ground and also created a huge explosion, only this time sending her about 50 yard away. She got up with difficulty and reached for her whip which was, thankfully, still there. Using all of her strength she had left she tried attacking the nearest ball of energy which bounced off her attacked and flew into the other ball creating a loud KABOOM and shockwave. Applejack was sent flying again. “This is imposs-“ Applejack began, but was interrupted by Dracula throwing his hands in the ground a shoot two waves of energy at her, of which both whooshed past her. “Ah can’t even get near him.” Applejack looked upon the creature and saw more strands of energy coming towards her. “Ah can’t keep doing this” Her body refused to move as the light strands came at her. She remembered her home, friends and family. She’d let them down, all of them. The darkness began to enclose her as fate came at her. “I just-“ “Don’t give up” Death called out. With one swish of his blade, the light strands vanished. “Death? Why y’all even here?” Applejack asked weakly. “I was just in the neighborhood.” He answered. “You’re not just fighting for friends or family and I refuse to take your soul unless you keep going. Like it or not it’s time to get up.” Applejack smirked while getting up. “Y’all are evil ya know that?” “I get that a loAAAAAARRRGGH!”Death yelled as he was trapped in Dracula’s hand. “Betray me will you?” Dracula growled. “Maybe it’s time to find a different servant.” Death kept getting crushed between Dracula claws, being dead didn’t mean pain didn’t factor in. Applejack panicked and tried striking Dracula in the side. The result was a light “ding” that didn’t do anything. She kept whipping as the sound of Death’s scream filled her head. Light shown above Applejack almost blinding her. She could see faint splotches of color in front of it. “Applejack!” She heard before exhaustion fully hit her and she blacked out. “Hey girls it’s Applejack!” Twilight shouted to her friends after the door closed behind them. “Let’s get going!” “Um, twilight” Fluttershy said flapping her wings. “What are you standing on?” Twilight pondered this for a moment and rubbed her chin with her hoof for a moment. “I really don’t AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH Ompf” Nearly falling to her death, she was caught by Rainbow while Fluttershy got Rarity. Pinkie bounced by them on her tail like nothing happened. “Still got that problem with falling don’tcha?” Rainbow asked. “Oh, shut up and WHAT IN CELESTIA’S NAME IS THAT???” Twilight yelled as she saw Dracula’s true form. “And Applejack is right of there!” Rarity told them while running towards the orange pony. “She’s still breathing I think, but unconscious.” “Oh NO! Death” Fluttershy screamed. “You leave him alone!” “I don’t like traitors, you weird creature.” Dracula said. “Speaking of, I believe it’s time for all of you to die.” Swinging his massive hand he knocked both the Pegasi out of the air and near where the others were then sent three more energy balls near them. “Applejack you have to wake up” Twilight yelled at her unconscious friend. “Applejack? APPLEJACK!” In Applejacks mind she was having a light tea party with a couple of doll friends on a nice summer evening. Everything was peaceful until the sky began shouting at her. Each time it shouted it got louder and louder and she was eventually sucked in the sky itself. Applejacks eyes shot open as she looked around her to see her friends all looking at her minus two pegasi still on the ground. With Applejack awake, Rarity and Pinkie went to check on the other two before they were hit. “Quick! We need the elements of harmony!” Twilight shouted fast. “It seems to be the only way we can beat him!” “But I didn’t bring them with me” Applejack protested. “We ARE the element of harmony remember? We can just use our power together.” “Well, it’s worth a shot anyway.” The mane 6 gathered together and focused their energy. The balls of energy raged towards them and Dracula sent out the faster light strands after them as well. Ironically, instead of shooting their usual Rainbow light at their enemies, 5 of mane 6, excluding Applejack, began to fade into different shades of colored light and then were sinking into Applejack. A feeling of wellness and strength washed over her as the combined energy of her friends filled her up on the inside. A burst of energy exploded from her and the attacks from Dracula were dissolved into nothing. Looking at herself, she had a different kind of armor on, it was more comfortable, but black with red lining. The whip was now glowing seven colors of the rainbow and gave off a light illumination. Even her hat was changed into a black desperado style. The last thing she noticed was a dragon that was about to get his butt handed to him on silver platter. She rushed Dracula and cracked his arm with her whip cutting it clean off and releasing Death. The arm fell to the ground with a loud thump and the own roared out in pain, blood flowing out of his stub. Not given him a chance, Applejack took her whip and cracked it right across Dracula’s chest three times then galloped over and buck him in the chest, she heard the scales break and grunt from the devil spawn. Lastly, she readied her whip and cracked straight in the spot she bucked and the tip stuck in. She yanked hard and a black heart burst from Dracula’s chest. It pulsed a few times before exploding into black mist that surrounded the ground around The vulgar monster. Blood spewed freely from Dracula as he cried out in pain. Applejack landed on the ground and the armor broke apart sending her friends to land on the ground hard. Seeing his final chance at vengeance, Dracula grabbed Pinkie with his good arm and laughed in glee. “You have still failed orange one. None of your…What?” He asked. “What is this madness?” He looked again and saw that he was holding a larger, meaner looking creature that seemingly represented the one he was holding. The monster began slashing at his hand in vain, seeing that Dracula didn’t seem affected by it. Then the pink creature clawed at its own chest releasing not blood, but the small pony he had been holding originally. Using her alternate side, Pinkie gave up her powers to be sacrificed instead of her. “Oh so that’s why the author made me into a werewolf.” Pinkie said. “I bet he made that up at the last minute when he realized that it tied in to another part of one of the games” Hey! Uh…yeah. “Either way, one day I will be revived and will seek revenge on all of you, mark my words.” The black mist that had been around Dracula begun to swallow him as he was still roaring with agony. It slowly swallowed him in until he disappeared completely. There was silence for a while and the mane 6 got back together. They looked at each other and gave a big group hug. It was over, finally over. “YYYYYYEESS” Rainbow shouted out. “That was sooo awesome!” “Hoooiieee, ah have to agree with ya on that one Rainbow.” Applejack smiled. “I’m just glad everyone’s safe.” Fluttershy said. “Even death didn’t get hurt too much.” “Don’t celebrate just yet.” Death warned. “The writer isn’t done.” “Huh?” Pinkie asked. “But there isn’t any more of the script left.” I BURNED IT~~~ The desert around them shook and rattled, the sandstorm becoming more violent. The ground beneath them fell like quicksand and the entire mane 6 fell into darkness. Pinkie was the first to wake up and gaze upon the crumbling castle. A shield left evaporated as Death released his spell. The mane 6 had appeared on a cliff overseeing the lake and castle they had just been. She looked around to see the others beginning to arise and look towards the castle. All the parts of the architecture started to fall and break apart, crashing into either the castle grounds or the lake below that was now cloud free. Eventually the side of the cliff broke off and the entirety of the old castle fell into the lake never to be seen again. Their job completed, the drowsy mane 6 schlepped their aching bodies back to their home through the Everfree Forest. Ponyville was still in shambles. Most of the buildings were burned down or just plain eradicated. Applejack’s barn seemed to be the only standing building that wasn’t hurt too badly. The mane 6 began searching through each of the buildings to find any possible survivors…none, just like when Twilight or applejack first searched. Bodies of ponies, stallion or mare, were scattered randomly across the town, dead or ripped to shreds, just as Twilight remembered it. “This isn’t a town anymore,” Twilight analyzed. “It’s a graveyard.” With that the group of friends gave one group sigh and stared into the distance. All seemed lost for the differently colored ponies. Where would they go now? Canterlot most likely. They could explain the situation to Celestia and move to Manehatten or los Pegasus. Then a thought occurred to Twilight. “Wait, graveyard? That’s it!” Twilight shouted. “Fluttershy, do you know where death went?” “I haven’t seen him since we left the lake area. But maybe he followed us back here” Fluttershy stated softly. “You rang?” Death said behind Fluttershy making her left out a small yelp. “And I already know what you want purple one, the answer is no.” “I’m lavender and come on” Twilight pleaded. “Think of how much this could help out our town, we could rebuild.” “You can’t just bring people or ponies back from the dead without consequences. A debt must be paid.” “You brought me back” “You were necessary to defeating Dracula” “Well why are you even here then!” Twilight shouted a little more than she wanted to. Death floated a while before answering in a business-like tone. “I follow the yellow one. I ferry the souls of the living and obey my master when needed.” “Then do this for me please, I mean if you wanted to that it.” Fluttershy squeaked. Time felt like years as he pondered this for a while before Death gave his final answer. “I will do this on one condition.” “Yes ANYTHING!” Twilight answered desperately. “I need an assistance.” “What?” The mane 6 answered. “It takes quite a bit of work to ferry souls and if I am needed be the yellow one than I need someone to complete my tasks for me. So who will it be?” The group of friends looked at each other. None of them wanted to lose each other, not to mention they needed the elements of harmony for dire situations. Before any of them could say anything they all heard a very familiar voice. “Fools! You think that you can get rid of the Great and Powerful Trixie just like that? I may not be a vampire anymore, but I will still defeat you, MWAHAHAHA!” exclaimed Trixie in her usual show tone voice. “Prepare to b-“ “Hey Trixie!” Twilight shouted as she ran over to her formar rival followed by rest of her friends. “Wanna help us out by saving the town?” “And why, pray tell, would I do such a condescending thing like that?” Twilight looked over at the death angel. “Death, this job, does it include housing and food with a nice bed?” “And a lounge chair with scented pine wood for breaks.” He answered. “We are non-union though, but I think it’s better run that way.” “What do ya say Trixie? We’ll visit too if you want.” Twilight looked to the show pony with great earnest and puppy dog eyes. Trixie had been in a spot of bad luck before the events had taken place. After being defeated Twice by Twilight (one was technically Applejack) she wasn’t in too much of a mood to help them. Sure she had learned a lesson the second time around however, she still hold a little bit of resentment towards her superior unicorn for being just so much better. She tried to make it in life by trying to perfect to magic tricks which got better, but not amazing. The reason she wanted another fight was to learn from the magic being thrown at her. And yet. Even after all that she had tried to do, she was being offered a home and food with a job that made her seem like someone important. Plus, now she would have friends that wanted to visit her. It wasn’t something she decided too slowly. “I-I, uh, ahem, very well, The Great and Powerful Trixie will agree to this. Isn’t Trixie so nice?” Trixie asked boastfully. Trixie hadn’t had anything to eat in a couple days before becoming a vampire either. Besides, whatever she had to do can’t be that bad. “Also, what will Trixie have to be doing?” Trixie asked forgetting that she agreed to a job that she knew nothing about. “Oh nothing,” Death cut in. “Just ferrying souls from the living to the afterlife for an eternity with me.” “Oh is that all? Wait, WHAT?” “You make souls wait till you say they can go and you get a scythe for yourself” “Hmm.” “And you can make people be like an audience as they watch you.” “Hmm.” “There is also pinecones and a deck of cards in the break room” “DEAL!” “We have a contract. Now for your task, purple one.” Death said, turning to twilight. “My name is Twilight” Twilight said a little aggravated. “OOOH, and my name’s Pinkie Pie!” Pinkie cut in and began introducing everyone there. “And this is Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Rarity and Fluttershy!” “Be quiet pink one or you’re next on my list of people to kill.” Death said glaring Pinkie. “OKAY!” “What have I got myself into?” ---One month later--- “Y’all better hurry up with those planks a’ woods Apple Fritter, we still got a lot more work to do.” Applejack shouted to her cousin and she continued monitoring the repairs on the small village. After Death had broken a few laws of time and space then argued with a pony coming out of blue box, everyone that had been murdered during the raid was back to life. Upon being asked what happened, mane6 said that a mysterious magic swept over that land that destroyed their village and put everyone to sleep. At the mention of magic, most earth ponies and pegasi just went with it. Some became skeptical, but pretty much kept it on the down low. Death was not mentioned, but continued to follow Fluttershy when she needed the help (although he mainly just helped her get heavy things). Applejack walked around the town before hearing a familiar voice. “Oh come on Twilight, please?” Spike asked riding on Twilight’s back. “I only want to say hi” “Maybe after we’re done Casanova” Twilight said with a smile. “Besides, weren’t you going to help her out with her dress-making tomorrow anyway?” “Yeah, but tomorrow is all the way over there. Rarity needs a dragon to be vigilant and always watching for anything that could happen now.” Applejack chuckled to herself and continued walking through the town. Walking down a way she found another two familiar looking ponies. Vinyl Scratch and Octavia had also been turned back from being vampires, although Vinyl was still suspected for a while after because of her night life. They had to remake their house and rebuild their life with the haunting memories that clouded their brain. “You remember when we were clouds in the air, right Vinyl?” Octavia asked. “Yeah, what about it?” Vinyl responded. “Do you remember a dream where we were both…creatures?” “YEAH, it was awesome!” “If that ever happens, promise me you won’t go solo and try to kill that silver pony by yourself like in the dream.” Vinyl contemplated this for a second then replied with “Nah. Besides, I can’t be a vampire and there are no werewolves around here.” Octavia sighed and looked at vinyl and froze for a second thinking she saw a sharp tooth from her mouth. She then started to think of why they hadn’t had anything with garlic in it recently. Most of the ponies had returned to their normal lives aside from the few that still were building their new houses and workplaces. She had to call in her family to help with some of the repairs. Even Rainbow dash was helping out with repairs by bringing material from other towns at lightning fast speeds and occasionally taking a nap whenever she felt like it, such as right now on a cloud above her. Seeing that things were in progress in town she decided to see how her barn and house was doing. Finally, everything seemed to be going to normal, albeit now everything was equipped to battle dangerous monsters. Everyone and they’re mum had a silver sword or two stashed away somewhere. Plus, the town started practicing the way of the sword (or bow if somepony was a unicorn). While her barn was still the same, the Apple family’s new house was larger, stronger and better. Her close family chose to build their new house by themselves after helping out some of the others, yet it was finished way before anyone else could get theirs done; Big Mac’s strength and Applebloom’s design’s made sure of that. With nothing much else to do for the moment Applejack decided to spend some time in the barn. It looked like nothing much had changed except for her whip that hung on the side of the wall. Memories of that day flooded into her brain with a hint of nostalgia. She took the whip off the wall by the handle and turned around to face the hay she sliced way back when. With one quick and sudden movement she cracked her whip at the hay slicing it horizontally and sending the two sections to opposite sides of the barn. “Heh,” Applejack said. “Still got it.”