//------------------------------// // Chapter 8: Search the Archives! // Story: Night of the Flutterbat // by Lunarpony //------------------------------// The two return to Canterlot where they were greeted by Shining Armor, Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie. "Hay what are you guys doing here?" Twilight asks. "I brought them here by Celestia's request." Shining Armor says "We know what is going on." "She told you?" Twilight sighs looking distressed as they nod. "I know it looks bad..." "Why didn't you tell us Twi?" Rainbow Dash asks "Well after I learned of Fluttershy I hoped it was just her. In fact, it was only recently we discovered that Applejack, Rarity, Scootaloo, and Trixie were vampires." Twilight replies "Even if you just figured it out Twilight we are your friends there was no need to go at it alone or with this stranger." Shining Armor says "Oh he's no stranger!" Pinkie says cheerfully "He is a regular at Sugar Cube Corner. his name is Lunar Relic but he prefers Lunar and he is a freelance researcher, his favorite color is red, he loves chocolate cupcakes and lemon muffins. He normally orders a dozen of each before he goes on a research trip. He also enjoys magic, books, artifacts and anything to do with Equestria! He's like a colt version of Twilight!" Pinkie inhales to continue but Rainbow Dash put a hoof over her mouth and muffled it. "I don't think I would have been able to learn so much about them if it was not for Lunar." Twilight says "He has a lot of information on these things. But he is not THAT much like me." "It's good to meet you Lunar Relic." Shining Armor says with a dip of the head "Thank you Shining Armor, and please just call me Lunar." the maroon unicorn responds. "So have you guys found a cure or anything?" Rainbow Dash asks. The two respond to the question by pulling out the rather large bottle of potion. "Is that it?" she asks and they nod. "All we have to do is make sure some of it gets on everypony in Ponyville." Twilight says "If we do that they will be cured however... Applejack is a different story..." "How so?" Rainbow Dash asks "Applejack is a Queen Vampire and as such she can only be killed in special ways. I only know of one and that is to use the water once used by churches in Equestria before Celestia became princess. If we could find some of that water, we could help Applejack the thing is none of the churches are left standing we would have to find where they got the water from." Lunar explains "I am going to pretend I know what you mean." Rainbow Dash says "So if they were torn down how do you plan to locate this water?" Shining Armor asks "The Canterlot Archive should have something on them." Twilight says "If not we will have to ask Celestia she might know something. I am surprised that there would be any ponies at all that would believe in stuff like that. I mean their chances of having one pony who was some all mighty savior are astronomical at best. But it did give them something to believe in and sometime if you believe in something enough it can get you through the toughest of times so at the same time they made sense..." "So then what?" Pinkie asks "Are we going to go some big dangerous adventure that may or may not be life threatening and one of us may or may not get totally hurt?" "I would like to try and avoid that Pinkie." Twilight says rolling her eyes at the hyper pink pony's statement. "For now can you guys let me and Lunar get settled?" "Sure." Rainbow says and the two walk to the Castle where they enter a bedroom. "You know I worry about that Pinkie Pie." Twilight sigs "She's a little too crazy for her own good." "What do you expect working around so much sugar and she can somehow float on a simple party balloon I will never understand that." he replies "I swear that Pinkie Pie has some divine force or something because she is a little crazy at times." "Trust me Lunar when I say this but she is crazy ALL the time." Twilight says using magic to move stuff to a dresser. "I will take your word on it." Lunar smiles as he finishes organizing his stuff. "So I will see you in the Canterlot Archives. I will ask Princess Celestia for access." he says walking out of the room and into the Throne Room where Celestia was talking to a guard before soon sending him off. Next to her was her sister Princess Luna who nudged her to let her know of Lunar's presence. "What can I help you with Lunar?" she asks "I would like access to The Canterlot Archives." he says "For what purpose?" Luna asks "Twilight and I have figured out that the potion will work but not on Applejack." Lunar responds "Why would that be? What makes her special?" Celestia asks "She is a Queen Vampire." Lunar replies "Simply put she is stronger than other vampires. In order to cure a Queen Vampire, we would need the same water that old churches used before you became Princess. If we can find out where it is we can cure Applejack as well." "I see..." Celestia replies before thinking for a few minutes Since the Canterlot Archives were full of various information that is under very strict access because of its importance or danger. "Alright..." she finally agrees "I will allow you access to the Canterlot Archives but do not make me regret my decision Lunar Relic." she answers "Thank you, your majesty." Lunar says with a bow before taking his leave. Meanwhile Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, and Shining Armor were sitting at tables eating lunch at a restaurant. "So do you really think Lunar Relic is so trustworthy Pinkie Pie?" Rainbow Dash asks "Of course!" Pinkie replies, "He is helping Twilight and she thinks he is okay. I have seen him many times at Sugar Cube Corner and he orders some muffins and cupcakes while talking with Mrs. Cake about his research. In fact, last year for her birthday he gave her a cookbook! He got me a cool baking pan that made unicorn head shaped cookies! I don't see any reason why he would hurt us." "But we don't know him Pinkie. For all we know he could be one of those blood-sucking maniacs and only hiding it! I mean he does know an awful lot about them more then Twilight! I think it is a little suspicious." "Well he is an independent researcher." Shining Armor buts in "Who knows what he might know about. I heard he runs a shop with a bunch of old artifacts too. Besides if he was he would have burned up this morning when we met." "I guess your right but he could have something we don't know about!" Rainbow Dash says "I think he is okay." Shining Armor says "I mean he did help Twilight out a lot I see no reason to think otherwise." Meanwhile Lunar Relic and Princess Twilight were in the Canterlot Archives searching for any information on where they could find this special water to cure Applejack. "Hay Lunar do you know how Applejack could have become a Queen Vampire?" Twilight asks "No... normally it is a family thing but... the only known vampire family was lost long ago and Applebloom, Big Mac or Granny Smith show no symptoms of vampirism at all. My guess is there is another way that we do not know of. But what is important is that we can find out where we can get this water to cure her. We can worry about how she became a Queen Vampire later if we worry about it at all but I will say this...all things have to have a beginning somewhere." Lunar replied looking up from the book he was skimming through. "Find anything?" Twilight asks him after a few minutes "I wish..." Lunar sighs moving to another page "But I haven't found anything in all of the books I have searched!" he groans "I found something!" Twilight says "Really?" Lunar asks hurrying over to see what it said. "In ancient times before Celestia was the ruler of Equestria many churches of religions existed the most famous were the Unitarians. A unicorn based religion they believed that magic came from an all-powerful force of good and dark magic from an all-powerful force of evil. When a member joined they were anointed with special water. This water was used also to kill demons and do what was thought to be impossible...cure vampires and return them to living ponies. Legend has it that the lake the water they used is still filled. It's locations if believed to be in the darkest depths of..." Twilight read but pauses as she looks at the last words before reading them. "The Everfree Forest..." "Oh no..." both she and Lunar groan when they read this. "Not the Everfree Forest..."