//------------------------------// // Village of the abandoned act 1 gathering intelligence // Story: Dracula's rising // by belmontzar //------------------------------// Dracula moans softly as the rays of the sun awoke him for the second time. Sitting up from his throne, he ignores the stiff pain of his unhappy spine to gaze at Celestia's star. Stretching out his arms, he pushes himself up with groan as a pair of skeletons run to him. "Bones and Yorick, good to see you both again." "Tis a grand honor to serve you again my liege. We bring news from those departed last eve, to chart a path into the Everfree natural labyrinth which surrounds our magnificent abode." Yorick says happily as Bones face palms. "Dudes left, Dudes came back, dudes saw stuff... only our dudes saw some other dead looking dudes... how weird is that man? for real man, I though the only dead dudes where the ones living here... but they got whole villages man!! Talk about far out off the chain!" "What my vernacular impairing companion means, is that during their journey forth with into the great green expanse of life that extends far beyond many of our mortals eyes past our glorious.." Boned foot steps echo as Dracula looks up to see Death holding his head and mumbling. "My lord, allow me to save you from the headache of listening to the ones who are poisoned by the elderly and the young of minded, and give you a proper report." "i say sir, that I am perfectly capable of speaking in an eloquent manner to our great grand glorious liege.." "Dude, your gonna talk like all day to say something that takes like.. a minute. Sides I gave the message man,,, its all good ya know?" Dracula laughs as Death raises up his scythe. "Depart my sight before I take off your heads and make you chase them down the hall again." The grim reaper commands in a cool calm oddly terrifying way. "I am reporting directly to our great master myself Sir death I do not need you-" The weapon fell down as Yorick's head bounced down the stair well, screaming what in his day was once obscene language involving ways to introduce bones to some sort of giant hound. "Hey cool your jets man, no need to lose our head.. or take mine off like ya did to mah Bro over there... I think we all just need to chill ou-" whack goes the second skull.. "NOOOOTT COOOOOLLLL MAAAANNNN TOOOOTTALLLYYYY NOOOOTTT CHIIIILLLLL!!" The voice fades before there is a scream and barking is heard. "So from what I understood from my err, challenged messengers, was that the scouts discovered a place populated by undead?" Death nods softly as he hands Dracula paper work, detailing information of other creatures and plants found, as well as the location of a miss 'zecora' who had been speaking with the youngest of the Apple family. Looking at the papers, Death had obtained a record of people dwelling within the town from 'Mayor Mare' at the request of Twilight sparkle. "So over there is the Apple family orchard, and a map of the town. I am guessing miss Sparkle created it?" "Yes she felt it wise to give you as much informational access as possible. Much of the information had already been gathered, though official confirmation of things was a welcome sight." Death says softly as he rubs his bony head. "Why don't you sit down for a bit and relax, look at the sun while I read up on things.." Dracula responds as he moves to a near by table to lay the papers down. "This is interesting... apparently Ponyville's reception of us was due to their being accustomed to monster attacks. records show that for the past few years many strange events have occurred including some involving a strange humanoid figure who had some sort of red and White armor named Zero. Thankfully no other recent events of note it seems based on the documentation." Death sits on Dracula's throne and nods in thought. "The Situation with the Village in the Everfree seems more of a pressing matter. According to written legend many ponies have vanished within the Everfree, so i also obtained a missing person's record. According to our scouts many of the ponies in the village match missing persons, though the ponies in the town match records dating as far back as hundred years to some that vanished just a few months ago. Scouts reported that on the surface the town looked nice and calm, full of youth and vibrant life. Of course its soaked in negative energy. So none of them really explored much. They want more men ready to investigate, or perhaps you yourself to lend a hand." Dracula nods listening to the report. "All legends do begin for a reason after all, should we involve the elements?" "i advise against it myself, if this village has the right curse then anyone alive will die shortly after entering it. That or it operates like our own home, with Venus flytrap principles. Looks nice, acts nice, gets you in and relaxed, then knocks off your head. Or in this case turns you into one of the well living dead. Aside from the negative energy, the inhabitants, if we may call them that, appear as alive as any person in Ponyville. Apart from a few that are missing limbs and the lack of breathing." "So i should take a varied group along with me then, to see what sort of power that village contains." Dracula murmurs softly. "Perhaps even find a way to bring these ponies some rest or maybe even rescue in a way." Dracula sets the paper down as he looks over. "i also read you found many petrified ponies as well, can Medusa restore them? Or do we need another solution?" "They are restored, but need physical therapy. Our medics are checking on their basic vital signs before we can move them to town. A bat was sent with a message to Princess twilight about the petrified ponies, word has yet to return." "Good work Grim. Repairs even seem to be going smoothly as well." Dracula smiles softly. "Still, I think we should tell the elements about the village, to see if they know anything about it. I will explain why we wish to explore ourselves, but I believe we need as much info as possible here." "As you wish Sire..."