//------------------------------// // Setting things up // Story: Fangs and Wings and other Things // by Kinetic Heat //------------------------------// ''That way?'' Twilight pointed her hoof over the tops of the trees that made the brim of the Everfree Forest. She turned her head back to Applejack, who was following closely by, narrowing her eyes so she could actually see her friend. The constant night had made her eyes accommodated to it, but anyhow, the smooth light that the moon dispensed was only a mild consolation for her loss of vision. Everything seemed more ominous, though Princess Luna must have had tried her best to make the darkness as comfortable as possible. Applejack nodded. ''Yeah, he flew off as soon as he came to his senses. Can ya track him down?'' Her voice was still a bit hoarse but she hid the uproar of her emotions successfully. She had to. For Applebloom and Big Mac. And for herself. ''Maybe, if you can give me something that belonged to his body''. Twilight had turned to face the trees again, her mind already going through a bunch of methods to find a pony, or in this case, a vampire hybrid. When she couldn't hear Applejack saying anything, she turned around. ''Applejack, what's wrong? Just bring me something like a hair or a feather.'' ''That's just it-'' Applejack fidgeted with her hooves. ''-I don't really know if I have anything like that.'' Twilight looked at her in disbelief. ''That's ridiculous! Everypony loses a strain of hair once in a while. It is impossible he doesn't-'' She raised an eyebrow. ''-Is there?'' Applejack bit her lower lip. ''Ya know, he told me once. When we made him cook, Granny wanted him to wear this net, so none of his mane would get into the dough, but he just said, 'Ah don't need that, the reason ponies lose hair is because they decay; Ah'm immortal so Ah don't decay.' And now, well...'' Twilight stood there with her jaws dropped. What Applejack had told her made sense, but that put up a huge problem for them. Damn this stupid vampire stuff! Twilight scratched her chin with one hoof, a gesture she got used to when in thought. Maybe there were some leftovers on Granny Smith's bod- Twilight shook her head. How dare she come up with something this disrespectful and morbid? Boy, this darkness was already getting on to her. ''There's one option'', Applejack's voice cut through Twilight's trail of thought and she looked curiously at the orange farmer. ''And that would be?'' After a moment of hesitation, Applejack bent her head sideways revealing the side of her neck to Twilight. Said unicorns eyes grew wide as she saw the tiny holes in the amber flesh. ''Ah thought that maybe there would be some leftovers inside the mark. If there is, it won't be much, but-'' ''Applejack, that's fantastic! How did it feel? Did it hurt? Oh, I so need to record this!'' Twilight had drawn near to Applejack staring with her usual eagerness at the small wounds. ''Actually, it felt pretty nice, but let me save that for later, please. Just tell me if ya can work with it.'' Twilight took a closer look and set her horn aglow. The magical energy surged through Applejack's whole body and pulsated through her every limb, until it compressed itself and circled around her neck area. A strange sensation overcame her as she felt how her wounds opened up and, like a soft tug, something was ripped out of her. She glanced at the glowing object caught in Twilight's levitation, which seemed like a tiny, transparent orb of water, she had to look twice to actually see the shift in the air. ''You were right, Applejack, there had been residues of his saliva in you. Glad I found all of it before it was lost in your body.'' Applejack squinted at the floating liquid in front of her face. ''Me too, but is it enough?'' Twilight levitated the saliva closer to herself, bringing it close to her eye. ''We'll find out.'' Twilight let the glassy drop float further away from her and closed her eyes. Then, when she had gone through every step of the spell, her horn glowed brighter and shot a lavender beam at the hardly visible drop. The light engulfed it let it sparkle like a little star, but then, all of a sudden, the thing exploded into a shimmering haze of droplets, that swished around in a misty, glimmeringfog, that came hovering around Twilight. The stardust whirled around her and began to glow even brighter, making Applejack avert her gaze onto the ground. When she looked up, before her stood her friend in her usual appearance, safe for her light staggering. She held her hoof out to support Twilight and finally the unicorn got to her former balance. A confident smile made its way up her face. ''I know almost exactly where he is!'' Applejack pouted. ''Almost?'' The confident smirk on Twilight's face was replaced by an awkward flickering gaze to the side. ''It's more like a strong intuition. You know, like something inside you dragging you into a direction?'' Applejack was too impatient and was too uninterested to ask further questions. With a nod, she gestured Twilight to take the lead and the lavender mare did as told. Just when she had taken the first step, a multicolored streak blocked her any attempt of advancing into the direction of her destination. ''Whoa there, what are you guys up to? Don't tell me it's nothing, that shiny thing was visible all over the sky! So, what'cha planning?'' Rainbow Dash had fallen into her usual fighting stance, blocking Twilight's and Applejack's way. Applejack exchanged a long look with Twilight, who nodded in a manner that implied that she didn't care anymore, Rainbow would find out sooner or later, so why should they delay anymore. Applejack cleared her throat. ''We gonna go and seek Hazel, ya can come along if ya want.'' Rainbow straightened herself at Applejack's words and tilted her head. ''Hazel's gone missing? What happened?'' Before she was able to give a reply, Applejack was cut off by Twilight, who dashed forward, leaving the two behind. ''We don't have time for that now, move your hooves I'll explain everything on the way!'' Applejack and Rainbow quickly tried to catch up with their friend. ''Hey, where are we going to anyways?'' ''Ah've no idea, but Twilight will know.'' Amaimon's steps reverberated throughout the huge thrown room, as he furiously walked up and down. The guards had been more than disappointing, it was like they had never used a weapon! Those fools had been staggering around as if they were drunk and nearly impaled themselves on their spears. The pegasi hadn't been that bad, their flying skills at a remarkable level, the unicorns, however, were what had set him off the most. All they knew was shielding magic, not a single one knew a combat spell, no fire, electricity or anything else that could imply damage. If only he had known that this army was in such a terrible state, he would have extended his plans far more. With the odds stacked like that, he had to start at point zero, but be it that way, at least he could form his subjects the way he wanted them to be. Disgraceful disappointments.... Fine, we shall begin with step one: The source. Amaimon walked through the huge door at one end of the room and stepped to the balcony a short way down the hallway. With the sound of wind from an ocean getting caught in the cavity under a cliff, Amaimon's wings flapped open and he took off into the eternal night he had brought over his new realm. Three days. For three days there hasn't been sunlight anymore. Despite his seizure of power, he handled his presence as subtle as possible for now. He wasn't finished with planning and before that, he wouldn't engage on anything. He had always been the tactician, the strategist. His brother had always sprung into fights like a headless amateur, hell know how he ever managed to get out alive. No, headbutting into insecure situations was not his kind of style. His sharp gaze traveled over the dully illuminated streets of the capital, his eyes scanning for a suitable life form. His attention was suddenly averted to a block-shaped house, flat roof, hardly any windows, with bright neon letters on the front that read 'Club Pon-3'. Bright floodlights flashed their light into the sky, the booming sound of loud electric music audible even up to where he was flying. Amaimon dove down and looked closer. The bass boomed through all of the building, letting the crowd on the dance-floor glide into a trance of exertion and ecstasy. The multicolored neon lights cut through the artificial fog that the machines were producing and gave the whole play an unreal touch. Bobbing her head in the rhythm of the music, a white unicorn mare with blue hair of darker and lighter shades, that seemed like it would shoot bolts of electricity if one touched it, and a pair of purple sunglasses, stood at the turntables and let her hooves dance over the disks. The owner of the nightclub worked her records with expertise ease as she rearranged her headphones and took a proofing look over the ponies before the heightened stage where her equipment was set up. Although there hadn't been sun in around three days now, for her, this was absolutely no reason to throw in the towel. It was rather a reason to cheer, since the ongoing night only drove more customers in, who were in search of distraction. Vinyl Scratch, better known as DJ Pon-3, gave her disks another spin, the final before a short break. She would be back in no time, but keeping the house filled for three days straight took its price. She set down her precious headphones, which were a custom made product only for her, and walked down the stairs and through the door at the backside of the stage. The small room behind the main hall of the club was sparely furnished, a worn out couch was set in one corner of the room, a low table next to it. This room served mostly for Vinyl to get a break from her job, when the music was getting too loud, even for her. She walked over to the small fridge that had been set up and levitated a bottle of cola out of the lower drawers. Vinyl lay down on the couch and took off her shades, rubbed her eyes and simply let her head sink into the pillow. ''Vinyl? Are you in there?'' The most melodic tones a voice could produce sounded into Vinyl's ears, coming from behind the door. ''Sure am, come in!'' The door opened and what stepped in was the mare of Vinyl's heart. Sleek figure, well combed, jet black mane and a coat of the color of gray marble. The treble clef and the cute pink bow tie that hung around her neck finished off the image of the high class cellist, who was also Vinyl's club's manager. ''Hey, Tavi, wazzup? Anypony causing trouble?'' Vinyl only cracked one eye open, while hiding the smile that dared to curve her lips. She was in a bliss whenever Octavia was around, and by Celestia, she wanted it to never change. Octavia shook her head and walked over to her marefriend, settling down next to her on the brim of the sofa and sighed in exhaustion. ''No, that is not it, I just feel so tired. What is going on with the sun? We can't keep this up forever, you know? At one point, which will be soon, we have to close. Do you understand?'' Octavia looked deep into Vinyl's one, blood red eye, her concern showing greatly. Vinyl set up and nuzzled the gray pony's neck. ''I know, Tavi, but look: All these ponies are gonna be so sad when we shut the club. You're right, the thing with the sun is as strange as it gets, but we have to distract them. Besides, have you seen how much we've been making for the last three days?'' Octavia stared back at her for a while, then raised a hoof and massaged her forehead. She stifled a yawn. ''Vinyl, I know that we made lots of profit in these past days, but we can impossibly keep this up much longer. I'm so tired...'' Her head began to lean forward and she caught herself just in time before she would fall over. Vinyl snickered at her partner's poor condition and drew her into a tender embrace, whilst planting a soft peck onto her forehead. ''Ya know, there's one option how we can get you awake again.'' She had narrowed her eyelids in a quite seductive way and was now playfully nibbling at her ear. Octavia raised an eyebrow at her mate's attempt, but was more than willing to take the offer. ''And what option would that be?'' Vinyl withdrew from her beloved's ear and locked her lips with those of Octavia. ''You tell me.'' The white unicorn lay Octavia onto her back and began placing one kiss after another over her neck, then her chest and made her way downwards over her belly. Octavia bit her lips and the soft humming from the beginning soon turned into a light moaning the deeper Vinyl reached. Suddenly, the two lovers were interrupted by a beeping chime that came from behind Octavia's head. Vinyl stopped in her tracks and looked more than mildly disappointed at the gray pony. Said mare longed at the backside of her head, where she pulled out a wire, at the end a small microphone, and tucked it into her ear. ''Octavia here?'' ''Yeah, um, Miss Melody, we've got a problem. The last two barrels cider were found to be spoiled and now we have no resources. What shall we do?'' The deep voice of one of the bar ponies echoed well audibly through Octavia's headphones. She sighed once again and looked down her body where Vinyl was still sitting, head resting on Octavia's belly, and looked up at her with a pleading expression. The gray earth pony uttered an apologetic smile and tenderly stroked Vinyl's messy blue mane. ''I'm sorry, honey, but I guess we just have to save this for another occasion.'' Vinyl pouted and rubbed her cheek against the fur on Octavia's stomach. The gray mare got up and turned around for a last time, once again smiling at her lover, before proceeding to walk out of the door. Vinyl let her hoof draw small circles on the mattress of the sofa as she lay on her belly, keeping the warmth that had arisen from the contact with her marefriend tightly clutched to her. Maybe she was right. Maybe she really needed a break. Three days. Three days had gone by since the sun had refused to acclaim its former place in the sky, and Vinyl had done what every business mare would have done: Make themost of the situation. Since the first day without sunlight, Club Pon-3 hadn't closed its doors. And since then, Vinyl and her staff had only barely slept. She drew in the pillow closer to her face and sniffed on it. Octavia's scent was still lingering inside the fabric. ''A beautiful gem you have there''. Vinyl's head snapped back when she heard the voice of an angel speak to her from the corner in her back. Anxiously, she turned around and instantly found the source of the sweet tones. Leaning in the corner of the room, right next to the door, a tall figure was standing, arms crossed and shifting his weight onto one foot, while the other was set against the wall. Vinyl was too startled to respond to that. First, how did he, if this thing was a he, come into her room without her noticing it? The doorkeepers did one hell of a job keeping strange ponies out, and if this guy had slipped through, she would have to have a word with both of the stallions out at the entrance. Second, what was that thing? ''Uh..I-'', Was all she could manage to bring forth before the man walked around in the small room, straying over to the fridge and taking a look inside. Vinyl scratched her elbow forlornly, not letting the strange guy out of sight a single time. Eventually, he stood up and walked on to Vinyl. He knelt down to come at eye level with Vinyl, though she still had to look up to him as he topped her by at least a head's length. Angling his right arm before his chest, he bowed slightly. ''But where are my manners? My name is Amaimon, self-determined leader of this country. May I know your name as well?'' The white unicorn gulped down and tried to suppress the uprising nervousness in her gut. Whatever this Amaimon was, Vinyl felt strangely attracted to him, wanting to fulfill every wish he would utter. She noticed his flashy red eyes, that soaked her in like a vortex, as well as the two triangular edges of two uncommonly long teeth sticking from beneath his upper lip. She gasped. Long ago, when she was just a little filly, her parents had told her about the spooky things that lurked in the darkness. Of ghosts and werewolves and more. But they had always mentioned that vampires would be the most dangerous of them all, that they would creep into your room at night, steal you away, hypnotize you and then drink your blood. Vinyl had always thought of them as good late night stories, but never had she thought that there could even be a spark of truth to them. The man standing before her proofed them real. Too real. She wanted to get away, but something inside her held her firmly in place. She urged her legs to move; without success. Seeing that she was helplessly caught, she stared anxiously into those burning dots before her face and desperately tried her best to stand her mare. ''V-Vinyl Scratch.'' Her voice was shaking like she had just come out from a frozen lake. the man smiled charmingly and nodded. ''A very uncommon name. I like it. Say, Vinyl, I couldn't but overhear the conversation you were having with that other girl and it occurred to me that you are having a problem in terms of keeping this- what did you call it?- club open.'' He stood up and walked back to the small fridge. He picked up a black can with three neon-green stripes that looked like three sharp claws had dug into the metal. He sniffed on it and tossed it away, while rubbing his nose. ''What if I told you, that there is a way to help you out of your dilemma? A way, that, if you are willing to take my offer, allows you to keep this club going on and on and on? Interested?'' Like a thick mist, haziness shrouded around Vinyl's thoughts. Maybe it was the fatigue, or the lack of fresh air in this room, but Vinyl felt like she would collapse any second on the ground. She wouldn't tell Octavia, but she was at the limit of her strength, too. Now here she was, just barely trying not to fall down and sleep, and a creature of many horror-stories was standing right before her, offering her a way to keep on going. ''I...take...your offer.'' Her head was bobbing down and her lids felt like lead, but she had to maintain upright. Amaimon strolled back and once again knelt before her, raising her chin, so she would look into his eyes. ''Very well then. Only one last thing: In exchange for my gift, you are going to do me a favor, alright?'' The DJ could only nod, while the words that were clinging to her became more and more feint and soon faded away completely. ''Take a drink whenever you feel like it, and tell those who you have bitten to do so as well. And for now, good night, Vinyl Scratch, when you awake, you shall be my child....''