//------------------------------// // A Flight with Rainbow Dash // Story: The Legend of Spike: Dracula // by DiabloGuapo //------------------------------// Books began to pile up on the floor of the palace library as Twilight Sparkle and her number one assistant searched book after book for the information they needed. What Fluttershy and Rarity told them at the hospital had reminded them of something. For Twilight, it was something she remembered reading about in a history book. For Spike, it was something from those books of monsters he had read after Cheerilee was attacked. “I got it!” they both shouted in unison. They stared at each other in surprise when they realized they spoke at the same time. “You go first.” They paused to let each other speak, but when no one did, they continued. “Alright, I…” “After you,” Spike said, letting Twilight share her discovery first. “Alright, when Rarity mentioned Trotsylvania and Prince Vlad, those names rang a bell,” the Alicorn started. “I remember seeing those names in a book before, but I couldn’t remember where.” Using her magenta magic, she lifted a dusty looking tome from the pile of books. “Obscure Equestrian History,” Spike read the title aloud. “Yes, immediately after Princess Luna became Nightmare Moon and was banished to the moon, there was a short but violent conflict in northern Equestria,” Twilight explained as she flipped through the pages until she came to the one she was looking for. “Where is it? Where is it? Ah, here it is: ‘Princess Celestia used the Elements of Harmony and banished Nightmare Moon permanently in the moon. Though the Mare of Darkness was vanquished, her followers remained. A number of royal guards had defected and joined Nightmare Moon’s cause. Lead by Vlad Vanguard, a captain of the guard, they abandoned their posts and fled to Vanguard’s home in the northern province of Trotsylvania. Vanguard was the heir of the house of nobles that governed the region and he proclaimed himself Voivode, or Warlord, of the province and made his family’s ancestral castle his headquarters. From there, he mounted a war in hopes to overthrow Princess Celestia. Despite being fewer in number than the Royal Guard of Canterlot, they provided heavy resistance. It wasn’t until the Princess’s intervention did the battle finally end with the death of Vanguard. After his short reign, Vanguard was remembered as a ruthless tyrant and a relentless warrior.’ “From what we learned from the hospital is that a Unicorn named Prince Vlad has arrived in Ponyville from Trotsylvania. We know the first victim was All Aboard, and apparently, he was attack on the train that was coming down from the Crystal Empire. Look here.” Twilight pulled out a map of Equestria and pointed to the Crystal Empire in the Arctic North. “See, the Crystal Empire is here and Trotsylvania is here…” She slid her hoof to the mountains that were just to the east of the Crystal Empire. “…Right next to the Crystal Empire. Now, Cheerilee was the second victim, and she was attacked the same night the train arrived. The next night, Count High N’Mighty and his friends were killed.” “According to Rarity, they had an argument with this Prince Vlad earlier that day at her store,” Spike added. “Yes, and do you remember what else that happened that night?” Twilight asked. Spike thought for a moment and then remembered what Fluttershy had told them. “Fluttershy saw him heading into the Everfree Forest!” “Exactly, and she was the next one attacked!” Spike had a look of confusion on his face and then asked, “But what about Applejack and Pinkie Pie?” Twilight pondered about this for a second before saying, “I’m not sure, but I remember hearing the door opening the night Fluttershy was attacked. I came down stairs to see who it was, but nopony was there. But, I felt like I was being watched. It was like a dark presence was lingering in the castle, but then it vanished.” Twilight paced across the floor of the palace library as she tried to make a connection between these events. She stopped and looked over to a bookcase. On it was the journal in which she and her friends had written the lesson they had learned about friendship. Seeing it, hers eyes lit up with understanding. “The Elements of Harmony! Whatever it was, it must have noticed the Elements' power and they drove it away! Rainbow Dash was right; it must be targeting the Elements because it knows they can stop them! And from what we can tell from the marks on the victims’ necks, I think the answer is obvious to what it is. Though I hate to admit it, there is a vampire here in Ponyville.” “See, I told you!” Spike shouted in exasperation. “Yes, Spike. You were right,” Twilight conceded. “But how are we going to stop it?” “That’s what I was reading about,” Spike announced, holding up a book that read “Nosferatu” on the cover. “I knew the name Trotsylvania sounded familiar. It’s where most vampire stories and movies take place.” “But those are just stories to scare and entertain little ponies,” Twilight dismissed. “Mom, you should know better than anypony that some legends are true,” Spike reminded her. He then went to the fiction section of the library and pulled out another book. “Dracula by Buck Stoker?” Twilight read the title. “But Spike, Dracula is just a fictional character. Sweetie Belle even dressed up like him for one Nightmare Night. There may be a real vampire here, but it’s a thousand year old warlord, not a character from a book.” “Don’t be too sure about that,” the dragon corrected her, holding up “Nosferatu.” “According to this, Buck Stoker got his inspiration for the character and the location for his book from the historical Vlad Vanguard. He was even called ‘Dracula,’ which means ‘the Dragon.’” “We have got to warn the others,” the lavender mare said adamantly. “I’ll go to Carousel Boutique and tell Rarity what we discovered and then try to find Rainbow Dash.” “I’m coming with you,” Spike told her. “No, I need you to stay here,” Twilight ordered. “Check every book we have and look for every way to stop a vampire. Over the years, there have been hundreds of books and movies about vampires and each had their own way of killing them. We can already rule out sunlight, because Rarity saw him out and about during the day. I need you to check up on garlic, stake through the heart, and anything else you can find.” “Yes, ma’am!” he saluted and then turned to the piles of books. Twilight nodded and then teleported out of the palace in a flash of magenta light. ***** Rainbow Dash finally arrived at the Wonderbolts’ training facility. Below her, she could see recruits running drills under their instructors’ orders. Various Pegasi wearing blue flight suits with gold trimming and goggles flew in formation through rings made of clouds and practicing making sharp turns. Some were practicing maneuvers that involved impressive dives followed by sudden flips and rolls. Rainbow Dash scanned the training field, looking for a certain pony. She touched down on the training course and ran up to a light blue stallion with a navy blue mane and green eyes. He wasn’t wearing a flight suit, but an officer’s uniform with a whistle around his neck. “Hey, Soarin!” the mare with the rainbow mane called to the stallion as she galloped up to him. “Ah, Rainbow Dash,” he said, acknowledging his junior teammate. “Spitfire was looking for you.” “That’s good, because I really need to talk to her and probably you too,” she told him. “What’s going on?” he asked curiously. “Come on, I’ll explain when we get to Spitfire’s office,” she said before running off towards the main building with Soarin following her. “So, how’s Scootaloo doing?” he asked as they ran, trying to make small talk. “Soarin, we can talk later, but now, something big is happening,” she shot him down. He frowned a bit in disappointment. Maybe he could try again over some pie. They reached the office of the Wonderbolts’ captain and knock, to which a voice answered, “Come in!” They opened the door and saw a golden mare with a fiery mane sitting at the desk. Like Soarin, she was wearing an officer uniform, but she was also wearing her trademark aviator sunglasses. “Ah, Rainbow Dash, just the pony I wanted to see.” “Captain, I…” Rainbow Dash began. “I got a paper here from Canterlot,” Spitfire says, holding up said paper in her hooves. “It says that there is an island off the coast of the zebra homeland. Apparently, they’ve been receiving messages from there that say they need help. They’re even offering quite a generous reward to anypony that can help them. From what I understand, they’ve also been sending the same offer to any bounty hunter and mercenary they can get a hold of. The higher ups at Canterlot want us to take care of it and I think you’re the right mare for the job.” “I appreciate the offer, ma’am, but it will have to wait,” Rainbow Dash declined. “Wait?” Spitfire repeated in disbelief. “Come on, Rookie. I would have thought you would’ve jumped at the opportunity.” “I would, ma’am, but there’s a situation in Ponyville,” Rainbow Dash reported. “When isn’t there a situation in Ponyville?” Soarin sarcastically asked. “What kind of situation?” Spitfire asked, leaning back in her chair and bridging her hooves in front of her mouth contemplatively. “Something has been attacking the civilians,” Rainbow Dash explained. “It even killed a count and his companions and appears to be now targeting the Elements of Harmony, myself included.” “What kind of ‘thing?’” the captain asked. “We believe…” Rainbow Dash paused to take a breath to prepare for the reaction she knew was inevitable. “…it’s a vampire, ma’am.” There was a moment of silence, but then the two senior Wonderbolts busted out laughing. The blue mare sighed in frustration as they continued to laugh. “That’s a good one, Dash,” Soarin said, still chuckling. “Yeah, you had me going there,” Spitfire commented as she steadied her breathing. “But seriously, about that assignment…” “Ma’am, I wasn’t joking,” Rainbow Dash interrupted her in a serious tone. “I know it sounds crazy, but five ponies are in the hospital, four of them are my friends, and they all have two bite marks on their necks, and there’s about a dozen dead nobles down in the morgue that look like they’ve been chewed up by a manticore.” “Come on, Dash. A vampire?” Spitfire asked, still not buying it. “Regardless,” Soarin stepped in. “Ponies have been killed. Doesn’t that deserve looking in to?” Spitfire took off her aviators and exhaled as she placed a hoof to her face. “Has Canterlot already sent an investigation team?” the golden mare asked. “Yes, ma’am,” Rainbow Dash answered. “Are they already on the case?” “Yes, ma’am.” “Then there is nothing else I can do.” “But…” Rainbow Dash started to protest, but Spitfire held up a hoof. “Canterlot has already sent a team in. Murder isn’t something we normally handle. This ‘Krazoa Island’ situation is,” she said holding up the paper again. “If we stepped in now, we’ll be up to our necks in red tape. Look, I know this is important to you, but unless I hear otherwise from Canterlot, we can’t do anything about it.” “But... Yes, ma’am,” Rainbow Dash said in defeat and then turned to leave the office. “Rookie,” Spitfire said as the blue mare opened the door. Rainbow Dash stopped and looked back to see her captain giving her a sympathetic look. “I’m sorry. Just go and do what you got to do.” “Yes, ma’am,” Rainbow Dash said as she closed the door behind her. “Take care of yourself,” Soarin called after her with concern. ***** Back at the castle, Spike was scanning book after book trying to find a consistent way to kill a vampire. He had a quill and was taking notes as he read. Garlic seems to keep them away in most sources, he thought as he scribbled the information on the paper. They can’t enter a house unless invited. But how did he get into Pinkie or Fluttershy’s house? Did they invite him? Twilight said he may have been in here, but I know for certain I didn’t invite him. This says they can’t cross running water. What's up with that? But what’s the proper way to kill them? This one says to drive a wooden stake in the heart. This one says to drive an iron stake in the heart. This one just says to stab the heart and then cut off the head. Ew… A noise that was coming from outside the castle broke the purple dragon’s concentration. He looked up from his notes and saw a strange glow outside the window. He placed his quill down and moved the books to the side. As he headed towards the door, he heard the sound of many ponies rambling. He opened the door of the palace that was built inside a crystal tree and saw a mob of angry looking ponies armed with torches and pitchforks headed towards the building. At the front of the mob, he saw Clue Finder, Cold Case, Gum Shoe, and a bunch of soldiers that looked like they meant business. “What?” Spike asked himself. The guards halted the crowd, but the three investigators continued to walk towards him. Clue Finder had a triumphant smirk on his face. “Spike the Dragon,” the olive colored unicorn investigator said in an authoritative voice. “What?” Spike said back to him. “You’re under arrest!” Clue Finder declared. His smirk grew when he saw the panicked look on the dragon’s face. To him, bringing a murderous dragon down meant a major career boost. He would be famous for saving Ponyville from the threat of an evil monster. Maybe Princess Celestia herself will recognize his achievement and give him his own stain glass window in her palace. “What?” Spike shouted in disbelief. “You’re wanted for the murder of Count High N’Mighty,” Cold Case explained. “What?” “And also for the murders of ten of his associates,” the gray investigator continued. “What?” “And also for the assault on All Aboard, Cheerilee, Fluttershy, Applejack, and Pinkamena Diane Pie,” Gum Shoe added. “What?” Spike shouted with even more confusion. “So, are you going to come quietly?” Clue Finder asked as his smirk turned into a grin. “Or are we going have to do this the hard way?” “…WHAT!?” ***** Renny Field watched as the sun lowered behind the western horizon from her apartment’s window as she waited. Outside, she could hear a commotion and saw groups of ponies running through streets carrying pitchforks and torches. She realized that the investigators had set up search parties to find the dragon known as Spike. As she continued to watch the dragonhunt from her apartment, her master appeared behind her. The vampire king silently walked across the room and stood behind his thrall. “Renny Field,” he whispered in her ear. “Master,” she answered his call and turned to face the undead stallion with the piercing blue eyes. “The time of my vengeance draws near,” he declared. “Soon, the Elements of Harmony will not be a threat to my plan any longer and then I will build an army of darkness.” His eyes looked down and his attention went to the marks on the mare’s neck. “It is time, my dear.” “Really?” the red Pegasus asked hopefully. “Yes, you have served me faithfully and you shall receive your reward,” Dracula told her, his eyes going back to her's. As she looked into his glowing eyes, her mind became hazy as her will was bent to his. Her eyes became half lidded and the corners of her mouth curled up into a smile. She titled her head to the side and moved her mane away with a hoof, exposing her neck. Dracula wrapped a foreleg around her and drew her in close to him and opened his mouth. The entranced mare moaned with delight as his fangs punctured her neck again, reopening the marks on her neck. She sighed contently as he feed off her lifeblood, but something was different this time. He wasn’t stopping when he did when he fed off of Cheerilee or the Elements. Renny’s strength was leaving her, her breathing was labored, and her heart, which had been rapidly beating to compensate for the loss of blood, was now slowly down. Dracula pulled away from Renny's neck and carried the dying mare to her bed and laid her gently down. Her eyes were half open and her mouth was slightly agape as she stared at the ceiling with an empty look on her face. Dracula raised his foreleg and bit his own fetlock. He stretched the bleeding limb over Renny’s mouth and her eyes blankly stared at it. She opened her mouth wider and weakly grabbed Dracula’s foreleg pulled it to the waiting mouth. She closed her eyes as she began to drink the cursed blood. Dracula smiled proudly as he watched as his thrall became his fledgling. After a few moments, Renny’s legs fell from Dracula’s foreleg and her head rolled to the side, blood still on her lips. Her eyes closed and her chest stopped rising up and down as she succumbed to blood loss. “Rest now, my dear child,” Dracula said to the dead mare. “When you awaken, you will be reborn into the world of night.” Dracula looked up from Renny’s body and saw a rainbow colored streak fly across the sky through the window. The vampire grinned, baring his monstrous teeth, and flew out the window in pursuit of his prey. The sun had just set as Rainbow Dash was drawing near to Ponyville. She looked down at the streets of the town and could see the flickering light of fire. She stopped and hovered over the town and scratched her head in confusion. As she continued to watch, she saw that ponies were going around in groups carrying torches along with pitchforks. “Torches and pitchforks?” she scoffed. “How cliché.” However, she began to wonder what was going on. Did Twilight organize a mob to go hunting for the vampire? From the corner of her eye, she happened to see something headed her way. Turning her head, she saw a bunch of shrieking black bats with beady blood red eyes flying right at her! “Woah!” she exclaimed as she flew straight up to avoid the swarm, but they circled around and came right back at her. They surrounded her and angrily shrieked at her. She tried to swat them away as she shouted, “Hey, cut it out!” The blue Pegasus bolted out of the midst of the swarm and sped away. She wiped her forehead and exhaled in relief, but then turned her head back around. Behind her, the swarm of bats was following her, but they couldn’t keep up. “Nice try, guys!” she called back to the bats mockingly. “But you’re gonna have to do better than that!” Accepting her challenged, the swarm swirled together and formed one giant monstrous bat with a gnarled face that let out a bloodcurdling shriek of rage. “Oh, horseapples.” The Pegasus took evasive maneuvers as she tried to ditch the hideous bat. She made sharp turns, dizzying rolls, and numerous loops, but the creature wouldn’t give up. As she flew over the Everfree Forest, she got an idea. As the bat drew closer, she suddenly turned around and flew past it in the opposite direction. “Ha! That outta shake him!” she gloated to herself. When she looked over shoulder to see if it was still following her, it wasn’t there. She then stopped and panned around, but couldn’t see it anywhere. She decided she better take this opportunity and get out of there before it came back. Before she could leave, something appeared in a swirl of dark mist and grabbed her from behind, pinning her wings to her side. Instead of falling from the sky, the two of them floated in the sky above the forest as Rainbow Dash struggled to fight her captor off. “Let go of me! Get off!” The monster turned her around and Rainbow Dash could see the face of a gray unicorn stallion with icy blue eyes and a black mane and goatee. He grinned and she could see his two pointed fangs. Her eyes widen as she realized that she was now the grasp of the vampire. He lunged his head forward, bit Rainbow Dash on the neck, and started to suck her blood. She shouted in pain, but then started to feel lightheaded and dizzy. With the last remaining ounce of will she had before she fell completely under his spell, she pushed away and fell to the forest below.