Chapter 10: Alone Against a Madpony
After hours of difficult fighting, the Vampire Changeling Army was finally stopped once and for all. That still left one Vampire, though.
And Nightmare Moon was hot on his trail.
"Give up, Vladmane," yelled Nightmare Moon, "You've lost!"
"I haven't lost as long breath continues to flow through my lungs," responded Vladmane, who was a short disance ahead of Nightmare Moon.
Nightmare Moon had been chasing the Vampire Lord since the battle ended a few hours earlier. She knew very well that if he escaped, he would surely return with an army even larger than the one he'd had, and so if he came back, Equestria would surely be doomed.
She couldn't let that happen. She wouldn't let that happen.
She knew what had to be done.
Count Vladmane Dracula had to die, if not for revenge then for the sake of Equestria's survival as a nation.
The chase led them out of The Crystal Empire and into Equestria, and deep into the forgotten depths of the mysterious Everfree Forest. Eventually, they came to an ancient stone tower, old and weathered by centuries of neglect, and leaning over a large chasm, the bottom of which could not be seen. Count Vladmane entered this tower with Nightmare Moon right behind him.
Count Vladmane finally stopped at the top of the tower, now having nowhere to run, as the top was suspended over the chasm, so the only way was down. He would have flown away, but one of his wings had been mangled during the battle. He took up a defensive stance just as Nightmare Moon emerged from the tower and onto the roof with him.
"You shall never take me alive," yelled Vladmane as he fired a magical projectile at Nightmare Moon, which she gracefully dodged.
"Who said anything about taking you alive," said Nightmare Moon as she fired her own magical projectile, not at Vladmane, but at the base of the tower.
"What are you doing," Vladmane said, firing another projectile, which Nightmare Moon again dodged.
"It would be wrong to kill you myself," said Nightmare Moon as she fired another projectile at the base of the tower, causing the whole tower to shake.
"You wouldn't," Vladmane said with the realization of what Nightmare Moon was trying to do.
"I already did," Nightmare Moon said as another projectile hit the base of the tower, "Goodbye, Count Vladmane."
With that, Nightmare Moon jumped off the tower and hovered in the air to watch.
The stone on the side of the tower facing the chasm exploded into a cloud of dust and debris. The tower began to lean more and more, crumbling as it leaned ever futher over the chasm. After only a moment, the tower slid off it's foundations and began to plummet into the chasm.
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOoooooooooooo," Vladmane cried as he fell, the sound gradually decreasing in intensity until all was quiet once again.
At long last, Equestria was safe from perhaps the greatest villain to ever walk it's lands.
But Nightmare Moon took no comfort in what it had taken to do it.
~~~~~~~~~~
Nightmare Moon wandered aimlessly through the Everfree Forest, caught up in her guilt and sorrow. Yes, she had personally dealt with one of the greatest threats Equestria has ever faced, and she hadn't killed him directly, but she still felt responsible. So many innocent ponies had died in the short time that the Vampire Changelings been attacking, and she felt that she had failed them, failed to protect them from the Vampires. It was very depressing, to say the least.
"Nightmare Moon," called a feminine voice.
Nightmare Moon tore herself from her thoughts as she turned to face the speaker. Captain Nightshade of the Shadowbolts stood before her.
"What happened," she asked.
"Count Vladmane is dead," Nightmare Moon said solemly.
"You killed him," inquired Nightshade.
"Yes, I did," replied Nightmare Moon.
A silence hung in the air for a good while. After a few minute, though, Nightshade continued.
"Everypony has been looking for you," said Nightshade.
Nightmare Moon nodded. "Lead on, Captian."
If anyone can cheer me up, it must be Winter, Nightmare Moon thought as she followed Captain Nightshade out of the forest.