"Remind me why I have to go?" Crimson asked from the changing room. Many dresses to pick, all in assorted dark and gloomy looking colors.
The colors and the fashion would be enough to have Rarity scream in terror.
"You are a bat pony, the entire room would be filled with bat ponies." Luna said. "I cannot use my magic due to the fact that this country disruppted my magic."
"That's specieisum-ow! Coral, be careful where you pull."
"Sorry mama." Coral said.
"I wish I could help." Fluttershy whimpered.
"The bat has it undercover." Dash said, keeping a lookout for the guards.
Crimson came out of the changing area. The dress was as blue as the sapphire skies. The fabric hugged her athletic curves, the black cape hid her unusable wings very well. Her mane and tail were in curls and her face was covered in an decorative mask. It looked extremely beautiful on her. "I looked ridiculous." She grumbled.
"I think you look beautiful." Fluttershy smiled. "You look like you can be a Countess."
"For Luna sakes, don't call me that, ever." Crimson said, walking up to Luna. "I still don't see why I have to go out? I'm not good dancing." She hissed.
"The other bats will immediately spot us, since we are not clearly one of you." Luna said. "You are our best option."
"You mean only option." Dash grumbled. She would kill to have payback with that Count but she'll have to wait. Saving Twilight was their primary objective.
"Wish me luck." Crimson said as she trotted to the door. "Don't wait up." with that, she used her tail to close the door behind her. Something what Pinkie Pie would have done.
"What's taking too long?" Dash asked, pacing around in the air as she awaited for Crimson. "I bet that stupid bat ratted us out."
"She wouldn't do that." fluttershy said. "Crimson is our friend."
"She's a Shadow Bolt! I bet she planned all of this!" Dash snarled.
"Actually, I'm a retired Shadow Bolt." Crimson's voice snuck up behind Dash. Dash shrieked and turned around to face her.
"Where did you come from!?" Dash snapped.
"She came through this secret passage way." Twilight slowly walked behind Crimson. Her lavender coat was paler than usual. Her mane and tail was the same. She looked really sick.
"TWILIGHT!" the other mares shouted in glee. Fluttershy and Spike gave her a big hug.
"After I got the key, I went ahead with setting the princess free." Crimson said, using her fangs to tear the dress off of her. "I hate dresses with a firey passion. That damned bat of a count KISSED ME!" She shrieked as she tore the dress off. The ponies and Spike noticed something as soon as Crimson took her dress off.
Especially her right hind leg. It was missing! Literally, there was no limb whatsoever.
"My apologies, Crimson, I had no idea." Luna said. "If I knew you were incapacitated, I wouldn't have set you out there."
Crimson looks at her missing limb and just shrugs. "Don't you pity me guys, I can handle myself, worry about Twilight there." She said as she walked over to Coral. "Are you alright?"
"Yeah, I was worried about you." Her daughter said, giving her a hug. She wasn't affected by her mother's leg not being there.
"Are you alright, Twilight?" Spike asked, hugging her tightly in his scaley arms.
"I-I don't know." Twilight said. "the Count....did something to me...I can't explain it in any scientific way....but....it isn't good."
"That's it, I'm killing me a bat." Dash snarled as she took off.
"Dash, wait!" Both Twilight and Crimson shouted at her, trying to call her back but Dash was already gone.
"We lost a lot of time as it is." Luna said, heading to the window. "This has to end, tonight!" Luna as well took off.
The three remaining mares and the two baby dragons were all what's left.
"So, what now?" Fluttershy asked as she helped Twilight to the bed and helped her lie down.
"I-I overheard Count Blackheart talking about a machine...that drains the..blood from the bats here." Twilight huffed. Her mouth was dry and her throat hurts. Spike gave her some water. Having to lift her head and forced the water into her throat. "Thanks Spike."
"He did mentioned that during our..."Crimson shivered. "Dance. H-h wanted to show me where it was. I said I heard a rumor of what they were doing and wanted to try."
"So, looks like you-"
"I'm not putting on a dress again." the bat cut off the yellow pegasi. "But...I think I know who can take us to the machine. their kid."
"Blood Moon?" Spike asked, remembering what the count said earlier about their daughter.
"Yeah, she was there when I danced with her father, hiding behind one of the pillars." Crimson said.
"Let's go talk to her." Fluttershy said.
"Shy, you stay here and keep an eye on the princess, I'll take the dragons." Crimson said.
"Oh...okay." Fluttershy said softly.
"I-I can walk." Twilight huffed, she was beginning to sweat and was extremely thirsty.
"You are in no condition. You look worse than when I busted you out." Crimson said. "I'll take care of her, you two stay here." Coral climbed onto her mother's back.
"How can you walk with three limbs?" Spike asked, walking over to her, hopping on her back as well. When he did, he blushed, realizing that he was extremely close to Coral.
"I practiced." Crimson then nod at the princess and her friend before taking the drakes with her.