//------------------------------// // Pilot Part Two // Story: Vampires of Ponyville // by HarmonyRapids //------------------------------// After she had finished explaining to Vinyl literally everything about being a vampire, Vinyl had wanted to bust out the drinks. Apparently, learning that your friend is a vampire is 'too much to take'. Ha. If only she had seen half the stuff Rainbow had seen. She would've drank herself to death. Two times over. Vinyl asked Rainbow what type of drink she wanted. Rainbow opted for hard cider. But, as it went, Vinyl actually ended up admitting something to Rainbow in a drunken conversation by the T.V. But Rainbow wasn't really sure if it was drunken, because the cider didn't taste alcoholic. And her stomach was beginning to hurt. "Ya know Rainbow," she said. "You're hot. I mean, really, really hot." Vinyl hiccuped. Rainbow adressed that and went to check on the cider box that had held the cider that they had thrown away like 8 drinks ago. Rainbow had had twenty, and Vinyl had had three. Vampires could handle five times as much alcohol as other ponies without beginning to feel the effects. But Rainbow wasn't beginning to get a buzz yet, because, get this, the cider wasn't alcoholic. Did Vinyl think she could fake her out? And what was with this weird feeling in her stomach, and this metallic taste in her throat? Vinyl was a very good actor. And Rainbow did want to see what Vinyl was getting at. So Rainbow let Vinyl continue, through about five other hiccups. Then Vinyl began to speak once more. Her mind actually a bit muddled by the regular cider, Vinyl veered off course. "Say, Rainbow what's it like being a vampire? I'll bet it's really cool! Are you like just as cold as the grave?" Rainbow rolled her eyes. "No I mean seriously, do you feel really cold?", Vinyl said reaching over and touching Rainbow's arm. It was starting to feel very warm as expected. The jig was up. "I know that this isn't alcoholic cider.", Rainbow said. "Wha?", Vinyl asked. But her eyes were darting back and forth like a pendulum in a grandfather clock. "I know.", Rainbow said, "so just give it up." Vinyl sighed. "I guess you're right. This isn't alcoholic." "Obviously.", Rainbow said, rolling her eyes, but still feeling sick. But she shouldn't be able to feel sick, should she? "It's drugged.", Vinyl said, keeping her eyes downcast, a small smile playing on her lips. Rainbow began to feel woozy. "Surprise," Vinyl said, raising her head. And smirking victoriously. The teacher had been served by the student. And the student was enjoying it. Very much so. "That's right, in exactly ten seconds you will be dead.", Vinyl stated, staring into Rainbow's eyes bravely, but then averting them as if Rainbow could've turned her to stone. 'Okay Rainbow, think on your feet!', she told herself. 'Your life kind've depends on it,' she added. Not to mention, Vinyl's life. "Ten", Vinyl said, clearly enjoying herself. Secretly nervous because she had just drugged a vampire. The taste is strong and pungent, also very spicy. "Nine.", Vinyl said, popping her shades back on. Cockily putting her legs on the table. What tastes strong and pungent? "Eight." She didn't feel like she was dying. Maybe it was like that sudden death thing. You know in the movies when that one guy thinks he's okay, and then he just kicks the bucket in ten seconds flat? "Seven." Or maybe it was a sudden flash of bright vivid pain, accompanied by an explosion of your life before your eyes? "Six." Or maybe it was a combination of both? 'I'm getting off topic, gotta figure out what this is.' "Five.", Vinyl said, fidgeting slightly. Think Rainbow. Think. It's spicy and pungent. And how would Vinyl know anything about what to give vampires to kill them? There was always Zecora, but still. If anything, she's probably wrong. Yeah, Vinyl would probably be wrong, give her something stereotypical. "Four." Wait, she was starting to recognize this taste. The painfully spicy, horribly pungent taste. Yes, she knew what it was. At least she thought. She would just have to see. "Three." It was definitely not holy water. Holy water would only work if she drank like a bucket sized amount. And she would have to be tricked, at that. "Two." Vinyl rubbed her hooves together. Waiting in anticipation. Rainbow got ready to hit the eternal burning hay. To expire. To kick the vampiric bucket. "One." Vinyl said. Rainbow shut her eyes, hoping for the fire to consume her fast, not slow. But nothing came. Nothing but an itching throat, and an all consuming headache. She cracked open an eye. She was correct. The idiot D.J had tried to kill her with garlic. I mean, it made her stomach roil, and tasted disgusting, among other side effects, but seriously? She should've known Vinyl would go with some painfully wikihoofia type 'drug'. Unknown to Rainbow, Vinyl was slowly putting her hooves down off the table, and standing up. Vinyl was gonna have Hell to pay. Said pony was slowly backing away from the table. Maybe she thought Rainbow was like partly blinded from her stupid plan or something, Rainbow didn't know, but what Rainbow did know, was that Vinyl was gonna have one interesting night. "What did you put in this?", Rainbow asked. "What?", Vinyl asked, clearly shocked by the stunning revelation that garlic didn't cause vampires to burn up or something. Wow, what a shocker. "Fine, don't tell me and I'll drag your death out.", Rainbow said raising an eyebrow. "Fine. Fine! It was garlic!", Vinyl said. Cowering. It didn't have to be this way. 'I don't blame you.', Rainbow thought. 'If you were the vampire, I would have tried to dispose of you to. Just not that stupidly.' "You thought I would be like that one guy, didn't you?", Rainbow asked. "I'm sorry, I don't understand.", Vinyl said in her scratchy tone. But now it was a fearful scratchy tone. "You know that one guy in the action movie, or the horror movie?" Vinyl shook her head, her terrified look never leaving her face. "That one guy who has ten seconds to live, and then he's gone. Just like that?", Rainbow asked. Vinyl nodded, her eyes never leaving Rainbow's face. "In ten seconds flat?", Rainbow asked, calmly, her eyes never leaving Vinyl's, boring into the wood of her soul like visual termites. Rainbow began to get up from the table. Walked over calmly. Halfway there, she asked, "Why?" "What?", Vinyl asked. "Why did you try to kill me? I mean we've been friends for years, surely you must've known I wasn't going to actually hurt you." "Oh," Vinyl said, then backed away further. "I mean, until you tried to kill me. I have to admit, I had always thought it would've been your head on the chopping block, not mine." Rainbow was standing in front of Vinyl now. "Have you ever heard of Hoofurabi?", Rainbow asked, taking one step closer. Vinyl took one step back. "You know an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, a hoof for a hoof? Stuff like that?", Rainbow said, not waiting for Vinyl's answer. "Yes.", Vinyl said. "Good.", Rainbow said, pausing. "Good", she said again. "You know that rule I just mentioned?", Rainbow said. Vinyl bobbed her head again, afraid to disagree. Took a step back. "Well I'm a firm believer in that rule. Then again, if that rule were enacted all the time, I would be one bloodless vampire. A thousand times over, if I might add." Rainbow took a large step forward, and grinned. She had Vinyl cornered. "So here's my idea.", Rainbow continued, "You tried to kill me. I get to try to kill you." Rainbow slammed a hoof against the wall, making the unicorn flinch. All humor was gone from Rainbow's features. Where there was a twinkle in her eyes, they just eerily glowed. Blood red. Her teeth elongated. "And true to your plan, fair is fair. I'll give you ten seconds to live. If I don't find you, then you're safe for now. But if I do...", she said trailing off. "You know what? You guess what I'll do." "You- You'll kill me.", Vinyl said, her voice shaking like a twig in a thunderstorm. Rainbow just nodded. "If I don't find you in one minute, then you're home free." Vinyl managed out a bold but quiet, "But this is my apartment." "You know what I mean, don't play with me," Rainbow said, baring her fangs. "Not playing with you, got it," the normally ongoing D.J managed in a little fillies' voice. "Personally," Rainbow whispered, "I'm hoping that you don't make it." She slipped her muzzle against Vinyl's neck, inhaling largely. Sniffing. Holding it in place with her hoof so Vinyl couldn't get away. "You would taste," she said, bending it back, lightly brushing her lips against it, "so good." Vinyl stiffened, feeling taken aback by this sudden display of affection. She liked it. But hated herself for enjoying the feeling. It was just giving Rainbow more power. "Oh and one more thing", Rainbow added. "Might wanna run." But Vinyl hardly had enough time to process the warning, before Rainbow bit her. Vinyl squeaked. "Again," Rainbow said, stopping, "just so I can track you more easily." Rainbow remixed her mouth from Vinyl's neck and brushed her off. "There," Rainbow joked, "good as new." Vinyl just looked at Rainbow confusedly. "Well you have only ten seconds. Better start running." And as Vinyl crashed out of her apartment, Rainbow called out one last thing, "Oh, and watch out for Octavia." Vinyl ran, tearing down the steps from her apartment level. Heart pounding, mouth gasping for air that she just wouldn't quite let herself get. "Ten", Rainbow yelled, backing away from the wall, smiling. Looking at what Vinyl had in her liquor cabinet. Nothing good, in Rainbow's humble opinion. She guessed a bourbon would have to do. Grabbing it, she popped off the cap. Vinyl continued to tear down the steps, sprinting toward the one place she knew would be safe. It was ironic, but it was a large crowd, so Rainbow would likely get confused. Or maybe not such a large crowd... No it was a Saturday night, of course the crowd would be huge. "Nine," Rainbow boomed, her voice shaking Vinyl's apartment. She took a swig of Bourbon. She would've had hard cider, but that wasn't strong enough. And she would rather not to be sober for what she was about to do. Plus the cider was drugged. Vinyl dashed toward the apartment doors. Pushing them open, she surged out into the street, heading straight for the place she thought Rainbow wouldn't possibly think to look for her. "Eight!", Rainbow said, quieter than usual, as she was taking another swig of the Bourbon. Vinyl ran into the club, not noticing that there was in fact, no crowd. No music, no thousands of heartbeats, that could distract from her own. "Seven," Rainbow said, gulping down the rest of the Bourbon, and sighing in undead contentment. "Well that's about as close to drunk as I'd care to get." Vinyl, not knowing that Rainbow had been counting ridiculously slow in order to build suspense, thought that surely Rainbow was done counting. So, cringing in fear, she hid behind a table. "Six.", Rainbow said, examining, her hooves. They looked just as dirty as always. Whatever, maybe ponies were onto something when they got those hooficures. Vinyl was trembling with suspense and fear. If Rainbow wanted her scared, she had got her way. "Five," Rainbow said, dragging it out as long as she could. It would make it a lot easier to deal with Vinyl if she was already petrified. Less commotion. That type of stuff. But then she felt guilty for a split second. Should she do this? Should she kill Vinyl? Vinyl by this point was just damned pissed. She was sick of Rainbow, and sick of hiding. So, feeling bolder and more mad than ever, she raised her voice and called out, "Come and get me you stupid piece of horse shit!" Rainbow's ears perked up, her motivation to kill was back. Her eyes narrowed. "So be it," she thought, throwing Vinyl's wineglass against the wall. But, hearing a sound from the doorway, Vinyl peeped back down, her confidence suddenly spent. Then, she heard the door open, and wheels turning. Somepony was whistling. It was a low tone, sure, but Rainbow already had a voice like a stallion, so why not a whistle? The whistling continued, and Vinyl just had to know. Was it her doom, or a savior? Vinyl poked her head cautiously up above the table. It was just a cleaning stallion... Rainbow made her way down the stairs to the apartment, and walked out onto the street. She could literally smell Vinyl's fear. And she followed it. All the way to the nightclub they were walking home from when it all started. And now it would all end here. Rainbow ran a tongue across her fangs. Was she ready for this? The cleaning stallion was whistling cheerfully. He was maybe in his early thirties? Vinyl couldn't really tell. Rainbow heard Vinyl's panicked heartbeat, but it was slowing down. That sucked. She could also her somepony else's heartbeat, somepony else's unrecognizable whistle. She pushed open the doors quietly, hearing the heartbeat and the whistle. She followed the two sounds to the dance club's main dance floor and bar. There, she peeked from behind the corner at the stallion sweeping in the doorway with his cleaning cart. He was in her way. She was just called a 'stupid price of horse shit' from one of her oldest friends. She wasn't in the mood to be merciful, or patient. Or kind or compassionate. She was in the mood, to drain Vinyl dry. She was also in the mood to kill anypony who got in her way. To bad for the cleaning stallion, he looked like a very nice pony. Oh well, too bad for him. She wanted to make an entrance. One that would scare Vinyl more than the quiet stallion and the yelling stallion combined. And that was what she was going to do. 'Quickly now,' she told herself, 'before he gets too far from the doorway.' Vinyl poked her head up further. The cleaning stallion looked harmless. Maybe if she just asked him if he could help her... A light flickered. The stallion looked up nonplussed, before going back to his sweeping. Two lights flickered. The stallion looked up, and this time gave an inspired shrug, before simply ignoring it again. 'Okay,' Rainbow said, 'obviously Mr. Tough stuff needs more of a show.' So, Rainbow raced over to the light switch. But of course, she just looked like a blur to other ponies. The cleaning stallion included. As soon as Rainbow got over to the light switch, she shut off all the lights. Mr. Tough stuff whinnied like a filly. "Mr. Tough isn't so Celestia damned tough anymore, now is he?", Rainbow mumbled to herself, smirking. Vinyl kept hiding behind the table, trying to be quiet, and inconspicuous, yet she couldn't stop watching. Squinting, she tried to make out who the stallion's mysterious torturer was. A menacing laugh echoed throughout the dark room. The cleaning stallion yelled, and tried to get out of the room, but Rainbow had had it jammed. "No one gets out," Rainbow had mumbled to herself as she had blocked it seconds ago. The stallion rattled the door handles, to blind with fear to realize that the door was only jammed by a bit. Then again, not everypony had vampire night vision, so she couldn't blame him. She grinned, flipping on the light switches on either sides of him on dim, so he could see that somepony was coming for him, but he would never see who. He would see her silhouette, but not her. He would have one last sight of blood red eyes before dying. And so would Vinyl. Knowing the curious D.J, she was probably watching right now. Good, the arrogant mortal should see this. She hadn't been gorging herself for fear of being caught, but tonight, no, tonight would be the exact opposite. She wanted it, and she was going to get it. She had played decent, morally inclined vampire in Vinyl's presence for too long. She wanted it, and she was going to have it. In the darkness, Rainbow felt her body come alive once again. Her predatory instincts kicked in. Crouching, she plotted what to do. Should she just go straight for the kill? Should it be silent? Should she be theatrical? The idiot cleaning stallion was still banging against the doors. Sucker. All Rainbow wanted to do was crouch, leap, and kill. But no, she wanted Vinyl scared. She wanted Vinyl at the point where she wouldn't even try to hide. She would just be paralyzed. She wanted something theatrical. Something that made a statement. Something bloody. Her eyes were beginning to glow red. But the stallion and Vinyl hadn't seen them yet. She wiped away her urges for one second, and tried to be more civilized. That didn't make it, and she just ended up even more red eyed. So she hid. She didn't have much time. Soon enough, the stallion's adrenaline would wear off, and he'd figure out the door, and get a flashlight or something. Rainbow couldn't have that. But still though... Rainbow had it. She had a plan. She had it now. And she was gonna do it. Grinning, she flipped back on the lights. But only the ones where it would be useful to her setup. He cringed, noticing half of the lights coming back on. She crept up behind him, taking in it all. Yes, she had missed this. She had missed this so much. It was so much more satisfying to scare them first. She came from the shadowy side, crouching down low, and purposely crushing a can beneath her hoof. He tensed, body on fire with adrenaline. Should he run, should he hide? Vinyl looked on from behind the table. Heart pounding, she wished the stallion mercy. 'That's right,' Rainbow thought, 'go ahead, get worked up, it'll be over soon anyway.' In the heat of the moment, Rainbow allowed her eyes to flash. And it gave her away. The blood red betrayal was far from useless, in fact, it gave the stallion a motivation to run. Which ultimately made it more theatrical. "Thank you, creepy eye thing," Rainbow mumbled as the stallion stumbled off, weaving through the dark and light parts. Rainbow threw a wineglass one foot in front of him. He shrieked, stumbling back. Interesting, he was a tough stallion who in fact was actually a scared little colt. Dually noted. She let him run for a bit, stumbling more often than not, and almost killing himself once. He even ran into a wall. He reversed, only to make another mistake, to run into something. Something strong and lean. Something that was Rainbow Dash. Putting her strength to use, she wrapped him in a headlock, flashing over to the light switches, turning on the one spotlight that was above them, and transporting them back. "Vincenza," she called out. "I know you're here." The stallion struggled in her iron grasp. Vinyl watched with dark rapt anticipation as Rainbow prepared to kill him. "Cmon, don't be such a mama's colt," Rainbow said. "Stallion up!" Vinyl rolled her eyes at Rainbow's joke, but then remembered that they weren't friends anymore. Averting her face from the vampire's face, Vinyl flushed a deep red. They weren't friends, she told herself. She was the hunter, and I'm the hunted, was what she told herself. "Vincenza," Rainbow whispered. "You may as well quit hiding, you're going to keel over either way." 'Maybe,' Vinyl thought. 'But isn't there still a chance?', she thought. "You have no chance," Rainbow said, shaking her head. "But he might," she added, gesturing to the stallion in her arms. 'Wow, so she's a mind reader too,' Vinyl thought sarcastically. The stallion looked up, curious. "See," Rainbow started, "I don't want you to die," she said looking at him. He looked confused. "No no no.", she said. "All I want is for Vincenza to see what happens to ponies who threaten a supernatural being.", she said, putting extra enunciation on Vincenza. He looked less confused, more relaxed. "And you," she continued, "were my example." He didn't look confused, just terrified. "But...", she said trailing off, knowing he was hanging onto her every word. He looked interested now. "If you can bring her to me, maybe scare her a little bit, you don't have to die." He looked determined. Vinyl looks scared. "If you bring her to me, I won't kill you.", Rainbow said, simple as that. He looked shocked. Vinyl hid behind the table, chest heaving. Not believing what she was seeing. Would the stallion do it? Would he trade her life for his? He spoke. "Seriously? Are you serious?" Rainbow nodded impatiently. "Your voice is annoying, yes or no?" He looked at the creature before him. Her blood red eyes, her affinity for mind games. He didn't wanna die at her hands. Vinyl waited with baited breath, hoping against all hope that the stallion would just be morally satisfied, and stop wearing such an ambiguous face, and do the right thing. "No," he said. Vinyl silently shrieked with joy. Rainbow raised a eyebrow and said, "really?" The stallion nodded. "Well you're boring.", Rainbow said. "Thanks," the stallion said smugly. 'Okay that's it', the voice in Rainbow's head said, 'make him pay.' "Unfortunately," Rainbow said, her eyes turning redder, her fangs coming out, "I'm not a fan of boring people." "Well than you obviously weren't a fan of your mom.", he said, as he was looking at the ground out of fake boredom. Vinyl gasped. She partly gasped because he had said something incredibly stupid, and was sure to get killed now. And she also gasped partly, because she had never seen Rainbow's fangs before, or her face, when she was a vampire for that matter. At least, not in light. He looked up, when he heard a little raspy chuckle, and a voice to go with it. And he panicked. "My mom died a long time ago," Rainbow said, opening up her jaws, her eyes getting as red as vampirically possible. "And now, so have you." And with that, Rainbow latched onto his neck with her fangs. He screamed. Oh how he screamed. But it was in vain. He was helpless. Rainbow drank and drank and the liquid rubies flowed down her throat, quenching her undying thirst. The voice in her head shut up. She grabbed onto his neck, nurturing it, as she was killing him, as though it would shy away. "Don't struggle," she whispered against his neck. He saw her red eyes boring into his pearly grey ones with a hellish intensity. He flailed, fought, clawed, screamed, but in ten seconds, he was dead. Vinyl recoiled in horror from what was happening to the stallion. Rainbow continued to drink, feeling quite content with finally feeding the beast. "Now Vincenza," Rainbow said, as she unattached herself from his neck. "It's your turn," she said, smirking. The blood running down her chin. She let it do just that, knowing it would make Vincenza want to run far, far away. Advancing toward her at a steady rate, Rainbow walked toward Vinyl with a bemused expression on her face. "I have to admit, I didn't want it to come to this," Rainbow said, wiping a hoof across her mouth to remove the excess blood. "Uh huh," Vinyl said, "just like you totally didn't enjoy drawing the life out of that stallion," Vinyl said, keeping her wits about her while shaking in her metaphorical boots. "What? And here I thought Ponyville was the place where all differences and mistakes were accepted.", Rainbow said connivingly. "I will never accept the mistake you just made," Vinyl said, pointing at the dead stallion laying on the floor. "Well, the mistake you made walking with me down an alleyway late at night wasn't very wise either.", Rainbow said, her gaze burning into Vinyl's. "Screw you.", Vinyl said. "And this was different," she added. "You killed somepony!" "I'm a vampire, it's kinda what I do.", Rainbow said. "However, your mistake was just stupid." "You made the mistake with me, and that mistake didn't cost a life!", Vinyl screeched. "I don't know about that.", Rainbow said said sadistically. "That mistake lead to this mistake.", Rainbow said, gesturing all around them. "And the mistake previously mentioned," she said pausing to roll a table top speed toward Vinyl, "lead to this mistake." Vinyl barely mentioned to dodge in time. "That wasn't a mistake," she said through teeth gritted with worry and anger. "How should I know? I'm a cold blooded vampire, who's been alive for about a hundred years now. It's not like I have feelings or anything.", Rainbow said raising her voice. "I don't feel anything when my friend tries to poison me, or drug me, or whatever crap you tried to pull back there.", Rainbow said raising an eyebrow. "How should I have known?", Vinyl asked. "I mean you're a vampire for buck's sake!" "Oh I don't know, maybe if you would've asked the question? Or maybe given me more time to explain before you tried to kill me!", Rainbow said, rolling her eyes. "You know what? You're right," Vinyl said sarcastically. "I'm sorry Ms. Dash, would you like to explain anything to me before I freak out and try to kill you?" "First of all, that was not funny, or witty", Rainbow started, "and second of all, Celestia dammit would ya just start running!", Rainbow said motioning wildly. Vinyl just stood stock still. "Oh, I'm sorry Vincenza, would you like for me to wave a checkered flag for you?", Rainbow said glaring at her. "I wish you wouldn't call me that," Vinyl said getting more and more pissed by the minute. "Yeah? Well you can wish a lot of things Princess, but they're not gonna happen.", Rainbow said smirking. Vinyl huffed. "Do you want me to run?", Vinyl asked. "Yeah!", Rainbow said, getting exasperated. "Do you really want me to run?", Vinyl asked. "Honestly, what do you think?", Rainbow asked. "Yes?", Vinyl asked, pretending to be clueless. Maybe if she stalled Rainbow long enough somepony would show up to help. It was doubtful, but it was something. "Honestly? This is the oldest trick in the book.", Rainbow said rolling her eyes. "What trick?", Vinyl asked nervously, sweat running down her Dentyne white coat. "I see what you're trying to do here," Rainbow said. "You do?", Vinyl asked, her nervousness showing more. "Yes, I'm not stupid," Rainbow said, "you're trying to save your furry little flank by buying time." Vinyl gulped silently. "But it's not gonna work.", Rainbow said, getting closer. Vinyl scooted back. "You know why?", Rainbow asked. Vinyl shook her head, knowing but not wanting to believe it. "Because you will be dead." Rainbow stated it simple, for something that held such precious meaning. She kept a level gaze, a lukewarm one, and an honest stare. It made goosebumps raise in Vinyl's arms. "No.", she said, stumbling back. "No. No.", she said two times, trying to run backwards. Then eventually she turned tail, running the right way. "And now she runs," Rainbow mumbled. "It's about time." Walking at a brisk pace, Rainbow tended to let her victims say what they needed to say before they died. You know, give them a chance to speak whatever they needed to get off their mind. But Rainbow had done something this time. Oh yes, she had brought someone. Someone who Vinyl was going to be so scared of once she figured out what they were, or at least, who she thought they were. Rainbow smiled. This was going to be a good reveal. A very good one indeed. ------------------------------------------------------------------- A couple minutes later... "I hate vampires!", Vinyl said, glaring at Rainbow. "Does that mean that you hate me?", Rainbow asked dully, amused by the mortal's bravado. "Probably," Vinyl said, "actually, yes, yes I do hate you. I hate you a lot!", Vinyl said, rage dancing in her eyes. She was throwing wine glasses at Rainbow. Rainbow nimbly dodged each one, though. Not getting hit once. "Huh.", Rainbow said. "Well if you hate vampires so much, why are you with one?" "I'm not with you.", Vinyl said, shaking her head and throwing another wineglass. "Oh, you think I'm talking about me," Rainbow said, shaking her head. "No no no," she said, "I'm talking about 'Octy.'" "Did you do anything to her? What do you do to her? Where is she?", Vinyl demanded, getting in Rainbow's face. "Relax, cupcake," Rainbow said. "I am not your cupcake!", Vinyl said, glaring and spitting in Rainbow's face. Rainbow pushed Vinyl back away from her face with her hoof, saying, "first of all, that was rude." Vinyl rolled her eyes. "And second of all, of course you're not my cupcake, you're her cupcake." "Octavia," Rainbow said, sweeping her hoof in a grand gesture toward the darkened corner. And stepping out of the corner, was the cellist. Well, if you could call her that. She looked the same. Except for one thing. Her red eyes. "You are a psycho. A bucking batponyshit insane psycho.", Vinyl said flatly to Rainbow as Octavia stepped out of the shadows. "I know," Rainbow said, smiling, not at all ruffled by the unflattering comment. "Hello Vinyl.", Octavia said with her accent. "Octy?", Vinyl said nervously, sweat running down her face. "Yes," Octavia said quite impatiently. "And if you could be so kind, don't use those types of words around me." Octavia was still classy, no, incredibly classy. But the joy and fire that Vinyl was so used to seeing in her eyes was long gone. They were glossed over, red. Vinyl scrambled back, finding the first thing she could grab, and bringing it in front of her for protection. She hissed with frustration when she realized that it was a frying pan. "Vinyl, put down the frying pan.", Rainbow said, rolling her eyes. Vinyl shook her head. She moved it in front of her toward whatever pony moved. "You can't seriously think-", Rainbow started to say when Octavia cut her off. "Vinyl, if you'll just put down the frying pan...", Octavia said, trailing off. Not knowing what to say. I mean, Vinyl was trying to defend herself against two vampires with a frying pan. What was she supposed to say? "Look," Rainbow said trying again, "I know you hate vampires so, so much, but if you'd just put down the Celestia damned frying pan, we could get this over with!" Vinyl was still uneasy. And really, why shouldn't she be? I mean, she was trying to trust vampires. "Get what over with?", Vinyl asked, gulping and praying to the Goddess Sun-butt that this would all just be an elaborate prank or something, and everypony would just laugh it off. Because that's what you do in this type of situation, you laugh it off. "Well, I was going to kill you, because, you know, that's normally what I do with arrogant mortals who call me a 'stupid piece of horseshit.'", Rainbow said moving threateningly toward her. "But then again," she said backing off, "you're still my friend no matter how many incredibly irritating Luna damned remarks you make. So, I decided that I couldn't kill you. No, that would make me guilty for another few several hundred years." Vinyl cocked her head, trying to find out what Rainbow was planning. She also put down the frying pan that she had raised when Rainbow had started to move toward her. "And," Rainbow said, continuing, "I was going to torture you but that's reserved for my best enemies, and no offense, but I don't really think you qualify." Vinyl was slightly offended. But also glad. If she wasn't going to torture her, or kill her, what was she going to do then? "Then, I thought about how much you seemingly hate vampires.", Rainbow said, slowly clopping toward Octavia. "I mean, your reaction when I showed you Octavia, it was to die for!", Rainbow said, pointing at Octy. Vinyl rolled her eyes. "Bad joke, I know.", Rainbow said, "but don't get smarmy with me, I hold your life in my hooves.", she said, smirking. Vinyl gripped the frying pan even harder. "So then I thought some more.", Rainbow said, stroking an imaginary beard. "And even more," she continued. "And then," she said, grabbing her head with her hooves exaggeratedly, "I had an epiphany!" Now Vinyl was scared. Rainbow had an idea. Normal Rainbow's ideas were always already kind've unagreeable and epic. But this one, Vampire Rainbow's ideas? They would no doubt be insane! "Ponies already fear what they fear the most very powerfully.", Rainbow said, walking toward Vinyl. Vinyl blindly slashed the pan, demonstrating her skills with it like a stinja. But then the betraying kitchen device flew out of her grasp and slid across the room. "Well shit," Vinyl said. "You mean, well shite?", Octavia asked. Vinyl rolled her eyes. "No, she means 'well shit' Octavia. Jeez.", Rainbow said, rolling her eyes. "Anyway, as I was saying before some ponies started their oh so important argument," Rainbow said, "Vinyl are you afraid of what Octavia is?" "No," Vinyl said, shaking like a leaf in a tornado. Staring at Rainbow, she silently hoped a house would fall on her head. "Be honest.", Rainbow said, suddenly in front of Vinyl. There they were, eye to eye. Rainbow's hooves reache up to grab Vinyl's face, and hold it in place. Rainbow's red eyes stared into Vinyl's struggling purple ones, and she said the same thing a second time. Vinyl squirmed. "Be honest.", Rainbow said, staring into Vinyl's soft purple irises. Vinyl blinked. "Yes.", she said. It was as if she wasn't controlling herself anymore. She had to speak the truth. It was in her. An instinct to not disobey. It was controlling her. She had more to say. More to get out. She was also feeling a bit aroused for some reason, what with all the close contact. Rainbow could easily just lean in and bite her. "I'm afraid that now that I know, she'll come into my room at night and do what vampires do. She'll drink my blood. I won't know, but by the time I do it'll be too late. And then she'll kill me.", Vinyl finished, shuddering. Rainbow let her shiver a little more, then broke eye contact, and the connection broke. Vinyl gasped, still in shock at what Rainbow could make her do. Rainbow straightened up. "As I was saying," she continued, "ponies already fear what they fear the most very powerfully." Vinyl looks up at the pegasus, fear clouding her gaze. What was she saying? "But if something they fear is a certain thing that they could become themselves," Rainbow said, cracking her neck, "then it gets more personal." Vinyl thought for a moment. Rainbow waited for Vinyl to understand. Vinyl's memory was still clouded by Rainbow's compulsion so it took longer to think. But when she realized what Rainbow meant, the results were spectacular. Vinyl's eyes widened to a size Canterlot scientists would have named impossible. They were roughly dinner plate sized. Next came her scream. Which I'm pretty sure broke an all time record. At least it was entertaining. "No.", Vinyl said. She flat out refused to turn into one of them. "Well it's either that, or I kill you.", Rainbow said tactfully. "I'd rather be killed.", Vinyl said, still managing to hold onto her pride. "Well too bad, you're going to live.", Rainbow said. "What?", Vinyl said, panicking, "No!", she shrieked. 'Wow,' Rainbow thought as she backed away from Vinyl, giving her space to freak out, 'I have never met another pony that was that upset about getting to stay alive.' "Well you're going to sort've live.", Rainbow said, shrugging haphazardly. "I guess you'd kinda be half dead." "Oh," Vinyl said, thinking for a moment. "Well I still don't like it." "See, you're missing the point," Rainbow said, stamping the ground with her hoof indignantly. Vinyl flinched. "It doesn't currently matter what you think.", Rainbow said, the words stinging like alcohol on an open wound. "Rainbow," Octavia said, her voice a tone thick with warning. "Look, Vincenza, one of us is going to turn you. And it's going to be me, or Classy Lassy.", Rainbow said. "And Classy has been waiting to do it for a long time." "Rainbow Dash," Octavia scolded. "Fine, fine, I'll stop.", Rainbow said, enjoying the blush that was glowing on the earth pony's cheeks. "But just out of curiosity how long have you wanted to do it?", Rainbow asked. "Rainbow," Octavia growled, but answered anyway. "Since you were a foal," she mumbled. "I'm sorry, you're gonna have to speak louder.", Rainbow mocked. "Since you were a foal," Octavia said, in a now audible tone. Vinyl was shocked. Her marefriend was a vampire, and kind of a stalker one at that, and then there was Rainbow. Rainbow Dash, whom she'd also thought she'd known. She'd thought that she was awesome, but scary at times, and now she was finding out that it was the opposite. Rainbow Dash was incredibly scary, but awesome at times. So now she had to choose. Or, did she really? I mean, she knew that Octavia was a vampire, but she wouldn't possibly have let Rainbow turn her, would she? She was about to find out though, because if you can't trust your vampiric marefriend to have your back, who can you trust? "Not Classy or Sassy.", Vinyl said, feeling sure of herself as she spoke. Even if it was for a completely unfounded and stupid reason. Vinyl fully believed that Octavia would stand up for her. "I'm sorry, what?", Rainbow said, looking at her, annoyed. "Not Classy or Sassy.", Vinyl said, beaming. It was working, Rainbow was getting pissed. Now after Rainbow snapped, Octy would stop her. "Okay so you don't want Octavia to turn you, but who's Sassy?", Rainbow asked, still holding on to one more smidgeon of patience and sanity. "You," Vinyl answered calmly. Those two emotions were blown quickly away as soon as Rainbow heard Vinyl's response. "Why you little-", Rainbow started to say, but stopped before she blew a fuse. She took a deep breath. "Nevermind, we'll choose for you." "Octavia, me or you?" This was the part where Octavia would swoop in and save Vinyl's butt. But that part never came. "I frankly don't care as long as it's done," Octavia said without emotion. "Octy!", Vinyl gasped. A tear started to slide down her cheek. "It needs to be done," Octavia said, looking at Vinyl with determined hard eyes. It held hesitation in them, which Vinyl took for a good sign, but then Octavia continued. "Nopony can know about us." And with that her gaze turned hard again, and she turned to leave. "Okay then, that was cold, I was kind've expecting her to try something stupid like charge behind me and try to tackle me with a-", Rainbow was cut off as Octavia tackled her from behind, holding something. Upon a closer look, Vinyl realized that it was indeed the frying pan. Octavia smashed Rainbow into the ground, shouting at Vinyl to run. Even though earth pony vampires had mighty strength, regardless of their past skill, battering Rainbow's skull with the kitchen device did nothing, since Rainbow's strength was increased by about one thousand percent more. Since Octavia as a cellist really didn't have that much arm strength, regardless of her added power, Rainbow was stronger. Rainbow had also been turned about 950 years longer than Octavia. And it was showing. Octavia hit Rainbow as hard as she could over and over, while Vinyl stood and stared. But Rainbow wasn't even dizzy. No, Rainbow just lay sprawled below Octavia letting her win, and drumming her hoof in the floor impatiently. "Well!", Octavia said as she saw Vinyl still just standing there, "run!" Ironic how many vampires had told her to run. "Are you done yet?", Rainbow asked looking up. Her response was a frying pan to the face. "Wonderful.", Rainbow stated, seeing stars for one second. Vinyl ran. She tore out of the club. Wheezing and panting, she ran as hard as she could- right into the crowded street so of Ponyville Square. 'That's great, just great', she though sarcastically to herself. Now there would be a massacre. And it would be all her fault. Starting to turn around, she saw that the crowd had grown around her in ten short seconds. 'Magnificent', she thought, 'just magnificient.'... "No seriously though, can I follow your marefriend now? We've given her like a two minute head start.", Rainbow said, flipping Octavia over after she had gotten sick of being hit over the head repeatedly with the cursed kitchen device. The aforementioned device spun away from them. "Quit acting like this is a game. It's not.", Octavia said, struggling to get out from under Rainbow. "And silently feeding off of her is?", Rainbow asked, raising an eyebrow cockily. "I'm not going to let you hurt her," Octavia said, punching Rainbow on the mouth. "I'm not hurting her, I'm turning her," Rainbow said, spitting blood. "Same thing," Octavia said, somehow managing to keep a level calm voice despite her obvious record breaking rage. "Oh cmon, lighten up gloomy pants.", Rainbow said as she smirked, punching the earth pony in the face. Now it was Octavia's turn to spit blood. "Hard to do that when somepony's trying to kill me.", she said, gritting her teeth. Rainbow smiled darkly. "My pleasure." "Curse you, arrogant ass!", Octavia yelled, trying to push Rainbow off. "Right back at you, goody two horse shoes.", Rainbow said as she continued to straddle Octavia, not budging an inch. Octavia groaned. "Okay," she grumbled. "You've clearly won, you've established your dominance, now what?" Rainbow took a moment to sit on top of the earth pony and think... 'Where do I go now?', Vinyl thought as she was surrounded by the pony horde. 'Then again,' Vinyl thought, 'maybe Rainbow will get confused, and not find me.'.. "Now," Rainbow said, "I'm going to kill you." "What?", Octavia said, struggling to get out from under the murderous vampire. "What?", Rainbow asked. "Did you not hear what I just said? I said I'm going to kill you." Octavia just shook her head in disbelief. Rainbow took that as a sign that Octavia didn't know what she meant. So she decided to explain it to her. "You know, right? I'm going to make you kick the vampiric bucket. I'm going to make you go bye bye. I'm going to make you bite the supernatural dust." Octavia nodded. "Good, now that we have that out of the way, we can just finish what we started.", Rainbow said. Her eyes glowed red, her fangs elongated and she said one last thing. "Before I terminate you, I just want you to know, that killing with a stake just seems impersonal. So I'll be draining you dry. Personally." She smiled, the malice lighting up the room. Octavia tried to struggle from beneath Rainbow, but to no avail. Rainbow saw Octavia's desperation, and bit into her, reveling in the taste of vampire blood. It was just so much more, filling. She shivered, nursing the wound with a rough barrage of teeth. Octavia sighed. So this was how it ended. Well this was not the most satisfactory death. But it was definitely not the worst. It was just very personal.