//------------------------------// // Act One // Story: Blood is Magic // by Crimson Rose //------------------------------// Night lay across Equestria, all the ponies were resting through the night. Some were out for a lovely walk under Luna's night. Princess Twilight was up in her library, reading Celestia's diary that she took from the Castle of the Two Sister the last time she was there. "Ooh, Spike listen to this." The princess giggles. " Dear Diary, today was most exciting day than ever. Luna and I was flying through the Ever-free forest when I lost concentration and crashed into a tree. The tree was covered in sap so I had gotten my hair stuck. Luna tried to get me out but ended up getting stuck to the tree as well! Needless to say, we ended up with a new mane style! Oh gosh, I should go back to that castle to see if they had a picture." "Does *yawn* Princess Celestia know you have her secret diary?" Spike asked sleepy. Rubbing his tired eyes. Twilight blushes. She was about to speak when she felt something vibrating. She looked down at her cutie mark and saw it was glowing. She gasped softly. “Is that what I think it is?” Spike asked, looking at her flank. “Let’s go Spike.” Twilight said, getting up from her seat and ventured off. Her loyal assistant follows her. It didn’t take long for Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash to make it to the tree castle. The girls gathered around the friendship table. The map had risen up for them to see but the map was different: It was at a place unknown and their cutie marks was on this large black continent. “I got called from a Daring Do session for another Adventure? This is a good day!” Rainbow Dash shouted with anticipation. “It looks like the map wants us to go to a place far from Equestrian Borders.” Twilight said, studying the map. “A country overseas.” “That place looks….scary.” Fluttershy whispers. “Even the name sounds a bit scary.” Spike said. “The map wants you to go to this place call Transylmaneia.” He holds his Rarity plushy tightly. “I guess it’s another land of ponies, I don’t know.” Twilight said. “I never heard of it.” “I have!” Rainbow Dash squealed. She zooms out of the castle briefly before returning with a Daring Do book. “Daring Do had been there! I can’t believe we’re going where Daring went! It’s my favorite!” Fluttershy looks at the title. “Daring Do and the Vampiress’ Heart?” She read it out loud. There was Daring Do and some-pony in an authentic hooded cloak standing side to side, holding swords in their mouths like they were ready for a big battle. “I don’t even have that, where did you get it?” Twilight asked the mare in a jealously way. “I won a race for this baby.” Rainbow grinned before opening the book. “Daring Do was on her way back with the Ruby Ring of Destiny when her balloon had crashed. She find herself in a land of eternal darkness and rain. The residents were all bat ponies! She had to go to this little village for a ride home, but that village was in control of a mare who uses her enchanted voice to enslave the ponies there. With the help of the only pony who was not affected by the bat pony’s song and her daughter, they worked together to defeat the vampiress. After bringing the vampiress down, the mysterious mare helped Daring get another balloon and she took off! This is exciting!” Fluttershy was hiding behind her throne. “I think I’ll pass. Angel is sick and I need to take care of him.” “Oh come on Fluttershy! This is a territory that no pony has ever ventured! Well except Daring.” Rainbow egged her. “Hmm, there is no books in my library that talks more about Transylmaneia and their residents.” Twilight said indicates. “Luna has bat guards when she came to Ponyville a year ago. Maybe she knows. Spike,” The purple dragon took out a scroll and quill. He licks the tip and nods. “Ready.” “Dear Princess Luna, My deepest apologies, I know you are busy guarding your beautiful night. Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, and I are about to embark into unknown territory called Transylmaneia. With your help, we would appreciate it if you would give us some information before we go on our quest of Friendship. Sincerely, Princess Twilight Sparkle.” “And...done.” Spike said, finishing writing the letter. He rolled the scroll up and breathe fire at it, magically transporting it to the Princess of the Night. “Alright, now all we need to do is-” “I have received your letter, Twilight Sparkle.” The voice of the princess filled the room. Luna walked into the room. “Whoa, that was fast.” Dash said. “Faster than me.” she frowned. “I was dealing with Vinyl Scratch’s dream when I received your urgent message.” Luna said, sitting on Rarity’s throne. “Could you help us?” Twilight asked. “Boring,” Dash said. “If we want to know about those bats, we’ll go and deal with them.” Luna’s bright eyes glowed with anger when Dash commented them like that. Dash flinches and lands. “Those ponies are a separate race but they are much similar to us ponies here in Equestria. They have earth ponies and unicorns as well. However the unicorns there are masters of the dark arts.” Luna explains. Twilight’s ears lay flat. The last time she used black magic was in the Crystal Empire when she and Spike had to go through a door that shows them their darkest fears. It was one experience she never wanted to go through ever again. “It was an accident when I discovered Transylmaneia. Back then, it was a small country. Residents were at the maximum of one hundred. I had an argument with my dear sister and took off. I did not realize where I was going and got lost in a storm. The storm took me to that dark land. When I was awaken, I was surrounded by the bat ponies. I was in a land where other ponies relish in my glorious night. Those who walk under my stars. They knew who I was immediately and worshiped me. They made me feel like a true ruler. I wasn’t under my sister’s shadow. Some even call themselves Children of the Night. Calling me their Mother. I loved it back there.” Luna smiled in remembrance. “It was upsetting when I had to leave, however I promised that I shall return and unite Equestria and Transylmaneia. I had talked to Celestia about it. She had denied my idea and told me to not venture back. It was one of the reasons I have became Nightmare Moon.” “Princess Luna, I’m so sorry, I didn’t know.” Twilight apologized. “It is alright.” Luna said. “I apologize for not putting any more input. Maybe it is best if I were to come along with your quest. I still want to unite the ponies. I hope things do not change that much.” “More the merrier princess.” Rainbow Dash grins. “Thank you for coming along.” Fluttershy smiled. “We can travel in the traditional Canterlot Royal Boat. It is the only way to even grant access to Transylmaneia. It is a land of harsh weather in elements that Twilight and I cannot control.” Luna said. “We leave at once!” The girl took off to Canterlot and set sail to the land unknown. “Ooh!” Rainbow Dash moans. Her body was leaning over the port side. Her face was green. It was midday, day 3 on their voyage. “Are you alright, Rainbow Dash?” Twilight asked Dash, walking up to her. “Flying I can handle, turbulence yes, falling from a thousand feet, no sweat, but…*groans* I want off of this crazy boat.” Dash pukes her breakfast. “I have a spell that can cure your sea sickness.” Twilight suggests. “And here you go Mr. Dolphin.” Fluttershy giggles, feeding a dolphin some fish. She was at the open water. “Oh you are such a cute little thing.” “Fluttershy!” Twilight calls her out. Fluttershy turns her head at the boat and turns to the dolphin. “You take care now.” she smiled before flying back to the boat. The girls’ boat was docked at the shores of Transylmaneia. The sky was gray, rain pummeled the mares constantly. A dark and eerie feeling swept across this new land. Fluttershy was already shaking in her hoofs. “Sweet Celestia, I am glad to be off of that boat!” Dash stretched, feeling better and overcome of her sea sickness. “I hate boats.” “Dash, those waves nearly killed us.” Twilight glared at her, kicking a crab that hung on her tail Luna looks around with a frown. “It looks like this place had changed over a thousand years. I feel a disturbance in the air. Let’s make haste.” The girls came towards a local urban village. Something was way off from the start: the streets was empty. Fear was everywhere, boards were on the windows. Not one creature was even out. Only rats run a muck. “This place isn’t so bad.” Spike said. “Kinda wet and rustic, reminds me of Ponyville.” “Where is every pony?” Twilight asked the group. “Something is wrong, terribly wrong.” Luna commented. “I cannot describe it, but this village….this was the village that had founded me.” “Hey, isn’t that a castle up there?” Spike said, pointing at building north of them on a frightening cliff overbearing the village. “Is it too late to turn back?” Fluttershy asked, slowly walking backwards towards to the boat. “We just got here,” Rainbow Dash protested. “The map brought us here, let’s see what’s the problem and solve it.” “Rainbow Dash is right, we must continue.” Luna said. The gang walked towards the town square. They came across a platform. where an elderly black male bat pony with silver hair was chained to the platform. “Preposterous!” Luna grew angry. She spread her wings and was about to fly towards the pony when somepony in a black hooded cloak ran towards them. “Hide!” It sounded like a mare’s voice. “What is going on?!” Luna shouted at the mare. “I’ll explain, Princess Luna, but please, you five must hide!” the pony shouts back. Twilight closes her eyes, her horn glowed. She used a spell to make the six invisible. “Don’t even move or the spell is broken.” She warns them. Two seconds after she said that, gates from the entrance of the village lifted up. A tempting mare marched in. It was a bat pony but she had no wings but a horn similar to King Sombra’s horn. She was using magic to hold a large curved sword. “MAKE WAY FOR THE COUNT AND COUNTESS!” the guard mare shouted. With that, a mare and a stallion walked side by side. Both dressed in the old times. “Reminds me of Rarity’s renaissance line.” Dash muttered. “Quiet, please,” the hooded mare whispered to her. “There is something different about those bat ponies.” Twilight whispered softly. “They have horns...and wings like us.” “Are they royalty?” Fluttershy asked. Luna hushed them before watching. The elegant mare flew over to the old bat and grimaced, getting a good look at him.“Blackheart, this one is too old, too weak. His blood is far too tainted for us to consume.” She looked at the Count who followed her to inspect with her. “I know the villagers here have much more offerings than him.” The Count said, violently kicks the old pony. Luna was horrified to see this kind of action. Was this the result of her not fulfilling her promise a thousand years ago? “We have to do something.” Dash growled. She couldn’t stand just standing there and watch. “If they see you, you are dead.” the mystery mare hissed at them. Fluttershy was covering her eyes. “Make them stop.” she spoke up. She was crying softly. “Zeldina, how about we take something to our little Blood Moon? An eye perhaps to add to her collection?” Count Blackheart asked his wife. “No,” She said bluntly. “Kill him.” “No…” Twilight whispered, she was losing concentration, her magic started to short out. The guard mare nods, taking her sword, she swung at the bat pony, his head was chopped off.and his body fell on the ground. “EVERY PONY LISTEN UP!!!!!” Count Blackheart shouts in the traditional loud voice. “WE SHALL RETURN AT HIGH NOON TOMORROW. IF YOU DO NOT GIVE US AN ACCEPTABLE SACRIFICE, WE WILL KILL EVERY FOAL IN THIS PATHETIC VILLAGE.” “Let us go home my love,” Zeldina coos at her Count. “I just love how you give orders.” “We shall,” He chuckled darkly. Both spread their wings and took off to the sky, retreating back to their castle. The guard pony looked around before using a teleportation spell and teleported away. Luna raced over to the dead pony. She looked at him, filling anger boiling inside her. “Oh man...they killed him.” Dash gulps. She was terrified at this. Daring Do’s novel didn’t say anything about murderous counts and countess. Fluttershy was crying uncontrollably. “How could they do that? And I thought sacrifices were banned….” Twilight fell on her bum, looking back what the Count said. “I am terribly sorry for all this, strangers…” The cloaked mare said, apologizing. “I only wish we met in different circumstances.” Luna’s horn glowed, a scythe appeared, the blade in shape of a waning crescent. She charged at the mystery mare. She tackled her to the ground, putting the edge of the scythe up against her throat. “SPEAK! WHY WOULD YOU LET ONE OF YOUR OWN BE MURDERED IN A BARBARIC?! WHY!?!” “Princess Luna, let her go!” Twilight shouted, running up to her. “JUST STOP IT!!!” Fluttershy screamed. Luna looked down at the mare, who was being cut of oxygen. Her eyes were of Nightmare Moon. She held the weapon onto the bat pony’s neck for a few seconds before letting go of her. The mare rolled onto her stomach, coughing. “Y-you think I want this to happen?” She asked, pulling her hood down. Revealing to be a bat pony with crimson red coat, long and dark rainbow mane and tail with matching blue bow. Her eyes brightly blue. “I have been trying to stop this for two months….” "Why would they do this?" Twilight asked her. "I do not know, I have been trying to figure that out for myself. From what the other villagers told me, this whole sacrificing ordeal didn't start about two years ago. Since then, the bats here are terrorized of the Count and Countess." “I guess we came here to save these ponies and guide them out of the path of darkness." Luna said, looking up at the dark grey skies. "Who are you anyway?” Rainbow Dash asked her, glaring at the mare. The mare coughed. She looked and noticed in Dash’s saddlebag that there was a Daring Do book sticking out. “Last page.” She tells her. “Last paragraph..” Dash tilted her head before realizing what she meant. She grabs her book and flipped through the pages. She found what she was talking about and read out loud. “As Daring Do’s balloon took off, Daring turns to the mysterious mare on the ground. ‘What is your name? I never got it.’ She says. The mare finally pulls her hood, showing her true identity. Flashing Daring a smile with a clear view of her sharp, glistening fangs. ‘My name is Crimson Rose...and I hope-” “We’ll meet again.” Crimson Rose said, saying the last words that were said in the book.