Rainbow Dash felt her stomach lurch as she closed her eyes and tried not to vomit all over her hooves. She had come to check if her lackeys had yet to find any information on her missing friend, Fluttershy. She expected to find three tortured vamponies begging for mercy and their lives, but instead she had found the entrails and remains of her former followers scattered around the room.
Rainbow covered her mouth, attempting to keep down the cucumber sandwich she had eaten at lunch. Unfortunately, her eyes wandered to Dumbbell's crushed, headless carcass and she was no longer able to contain it. She emptied the contents of her stomach on the already wet and bloody floor.
Although she was clearly not in the best shape at the moment, Rainbow still had an amazing ability to move quickly. Which is exactly what she did when she heard the sound of slow, methodical hoofsteps approaching.
"Who is it?" Rainbow asked, wiping her mouth and turning around.
As Rainbow tried to focus on the approaching figure, she went into defense mode and quickly flew up from the ground. She had a feeling she was in danger, and if so, she planned to use her speed to her advantage.
Rainbow's eyes narrowed as a lone mare stepped into the room. She cautiously looked on at the intruder. The light illuminated the stranger's features and for the first time Rainbow was able to get a good look.
The first thing Rainbow noticed was the unicorn mare's stunning aqua green eyes. For a moment it seemed she could not look away. Rainbow blinked, trying to free herself from whatever trickery was afoot. As she was finally able to break the mare's intoxicating gaze, she then noticed the vibrant red, sun-streaked mane and her deep orange coat.
Sunset Shimmer smiled sweetly up at Rainbow Dash.
"Rainbow Dash! I'm so excited to finally meet you. Have you been admiring my work?" Sunset asked, waving her hoof in the direction of Hoops and Dumbbell.
"Y-You did that?" Rainbow gasped, her mouth dropping open.
"I figured your not-so-secret fortress could use a bit of redecorating. A new rug here, a throw pillow there, and my personal favorite, two disgusting pegasi carcasses. I think they give the place some character, don't you agree?"
"You're sick!" Rainbow yelled, striking a defensive pose.
"Maybe."
"If you're going to try to kill me, let's skip the talking and get down to it." Rainbow said, gritting her teeth.
"Oh, relax. If I really wanted to kill you, I would have done it while you were losing your lunch." Sunset grinned, flashing her fangs.
Rainbow felt her cheeks redden.
"What a cute blush." Sunset cooed, giving Rainbow the once over with her eyes. "I didn't expect the big, bad Rainbow Dash to embarrass so easily."
Rainbow wasn't sure what game this vampony was playing, but she didnt like it. Still, her body betrayed her and her cheeks continued to glow a deeper shade of crimson.
"What do you want bloodsucker?"
"I need your help."
"What makes you think I would EVER help a vampony?" Rainbow asked defiantly.
"I've done some research my dear Rainbow Dash, and it seems we have a common enemy."
Rainbow's eyes narrowed.
"Blueblood." Sunset smirked, as she watched the color drain from Rainbow's face.
"W-What? He's dead! I have intel in Transylmania and they told me--"
"He's alive." Sunset interrupted. "Not so long ago, I used to travel with his pack. Until I realized he's even more sick and sadistic than yours truly."
Rainbow swallowed hard. She had always wanted to go after Blueblood. He was the one who had taken her mother from her and torn her family apart.
"He killed my mother, then defiled her while my father was forced to watch." Rainbow murmured. "The other pony he was with, used some sort of hypnotization spell and my father confessed to the police. Even though the police knew my mother's death was the work of vamponies, my father's confession held up. Everypony just wanted to sweep the whole mess under the rug. I tried and tried to tell them the truth, but nopony wanted to believe it."
"I know. Like I said, I did my research." Sunset continued. "I have a propostion for you."
Rainbow looked back at Sunset, feeling slightly vulnerable after admitting what happened to her parents.
"I'm listening..."
"I'll lead you to Blueblood and even help locate your friend Fluttershy, assuming she's still alive. In exchange you and your followers will leave Vinyl Scratch and her marefriend, Octavia Melody alone."
"That's it?" Rainbow furrowed her eyebrows. "Why do you care about them?"
Sunset sighed. "It's hard to explain, but I have my reasons. Vinyl Scratch is off limits. Once we've finished with Blueblood you can do whatever you like to the rest of those losers who hang out at Fangtasia, but Vinyl and Octavia are MINE."
Rainbow shrugged. "Fine. But I won't need your help. I don't trust vamponies, no offense."
"None taken. But even you aren't dumb enough to think you can do this on your own, are you?"
Rainbow crossed her forearms over her chest.
"Seriously?" Sunset laughed loudly. "No, unfortunately neither one of us can do this alone. To defeat Blueblood we will need your voice."
"My voice?" Rainbow asked.
"Yes, you're Rainbow Dash, Vampire Hunter extraordinaire, the voice of all the little powerless ponies. It's time for them to play follow the leader."
Rainbow Dash scratched her head. She wasn't quite sure what Sunset Shimmer had in mind, but if it meant a chance to face Blueblood after all these years, she was in.
"So, do we have a deal?"
"Deal." Rainbow grunted.
Both mares stared each other down, with Rainbow once again being caught in the mysterious glare of the orange vampony. The cyan pegasus shook her head, trying not to think about the vivid green pools that captivated her gaze.
Damn that unicorn magic! Rainbow finally managed to tear her gaze away and clear her head. She didn't trust Sunset Shimmer one bit and it would be a cold day in Tartarus when she worked together with a vampony.
But for now, with the promise of revenge on Blueblood she found herself following Sunset Shimmer out of the cave.
"Where are we going?" Rainbow asked.
"Fangtasia!"
"WHAT?????"
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Octavia Melody yelled loudly. It wasn't something she normally did, but when she had to, she had quite the commanding presence. At the moment she was insanely frustrated, dealing with an insanely frustrating mare.
Vinyl Scratch.
As promised, DJ PON3 had delivered her safely to Fangtasia. She had immediately been welcomed by Bon Bon and Applejack, who were both happy to see her safe and sound. Rarity and Lyra were still regaining their strength and currently resting. Before Octavia had a chance to really talk to anypony else, DJ PON3 had disappeared.
Octavia had frantically searched the basement of the club and finally found her marefriend laying face down on one of the beds in Rarity's fancy guest rooms. A short while later Vinyl was back. Octavia had given her marefriend time to rest and then they had begun a lengthy conversation about the events that had taken place over the past few days.
And now they were fighting.
"Octavia..." Vinyl said, her tone somber. "I can't allow this to continue. You're in danger, and I'm not letting anything happen to you."
"Vinyl!" Octavia sighed, exasperated. "I'm not some silly little filly that you need to take care of. I'm your very capable and loving marefriend, who is tired of you running away. That seems to be your answer for every problem. I know you're just trying to protect me, and I love that valiant and gallant side of you, but I'm tired of this!"
"That's exactly the reason you need to go."
"Shhhh." Octavia said, using her hoof to clamp down on Vinyl's mouth. "Can you just please listen for a moment?"
Vinyl could feel Octavia's hoof as it grazed her muzzle and then moved upwards without warning. The shorter earth pony slowly removed her marefriend's tinted glasses, forcing the vampony to look her straight in the eye.
"I love you. I know those are just three small words that anypony can rattle off, but I know that you know it's true. I don't know when it was that you first started loving me, but I've loved you for a very long time."
Octavia playfully stroked Vinyl's muzzle as she continued. "I want to be an equal partner in this relationship Vinyl, without being scared that you're going to run away or tell me to leave. I've spent my entire life chasing you and now that I've found you, I'm not letting go so easily. Don't you have faith in me? In us?"
Vinyl nodded slowly. It was hard to disagree when Octavia was touching her so gently.
"I know that I messed up with Frederic, and that you have some sort of odd relationship with Sunset Shimmer, not to mention the fact that we are attacked on a daily basis by ponies who don't agree with our relationship and want to separate us."
Vinyl cracked a small smile.
"I just want what every mare wants. I want to come home to my marefriend, and relax in our home, cooking dinner together and then having you watch me eat it." Octavia finished, gently pressing her lips to Vinyl's neck.
The vampony chuckled softly. Her arms made their way instinctively around her lover.
"Living the Equestrian dream huh?"
Octavia snuggled further against Vinyl's chest.
"Vinyl, you're my best friend. You always have been, since those lonely days at the hospital. Please dont give up on us."
"Tavi..." Vinyl groaned, struggling for some words of protest. "I just want to protect you. You can't trust DJ PON3."
"Vinyl, DJ PON3 is just an extension of you. I'm not going to lie and say its not weird, because it is, but she has never put me in danger. In fact, she has been there when I needed her."
"And I haven't?" Vinyl asked.
"Vinyl! She IS you!"
"No, she isn't. I don't expect you to understand what I go through when my alternate personality emerges, but I don't recall or remember one thing about the time spent as DJ PON3. It's scary waking up, not knowing where you've been, what you've done and with who."
"I know that." Octavia said, wrapping her hooves around Vinyl's midsection. "I just meant that, you're always protecting me, no matter which personality is controlling your body."
Vinyl closed her eyes as they held each other closely. Every sane bone in her body was screaming at her to let Octavia go. There was no way that this could end well. She had been down this path before, a long time ago with a young Sapphire Shores. Sapphire had claimed to love Vinyl as well, saying all the right things, but when push came to shove she couldn't handle being the marefriend of a vampony, let alone a vampony with a split personality disorder.
Could it be different this time?
Her back and forth musings were cut short as her best friend Lyra charged the door.
"Hey! You guys gotta see this!"
The mint colored unicorn beckoned them both with her hoof, and as quickly as she came in, she was gone.
Octavia and Vinyl both exchanged knowing glances.
What now?