> Heart Of Darkness > by Fanskapet > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Chapter 1 Awakening > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Uh unh?" Twilight mumbled, slowly opening her burning eyes, looking around the dark room she was in, blinking a bit as she looked over at the only source of light, a single candle on a desk on the far side of the room, with what looked like a dark hooded figure hunched over the desk. "N-nuuh?" "Hmm?" The figure turned around after hearing her mumbling. "Ah so you finally decided to wake up, I was beggining to wonder if you would ever wake up." The figure wheezed as he got down from his chair and walked over to her. "Whuahuhhh?" She tried to ask who this stallion was and what he was doing here, but it only came out like some throaty gasp, grabbing her throat in pain as she tried to sit up. "Ssshh don`t try to talk, it will only hurt, just answer with a nod or a shake of the head, understood?" The unknown stallion said, putting a hoof against her chest and gently pushing her back into the bed. "Mhm." Twilight mumbled in response, closing her eyes again as she laid her head back against the soft pillow. "Does your chest hurt?" He asked, levitating a quill and a red book with golden trim around the edges in front of him. Now that he mention it, my chest feels like it is burning Twilight thought, giving him a small nod, before she grimaced in pain as she felt a bolt of pain in her chest. "That is good, does it hurt somewhere else?" He asked, putting his right hoof in front of his mouth to stiffle a series of violent coughs. "Apologies." He wheezed before writing something down. Thirsty so thirsty, throat feels so dry Twilight nodded, motioning a hoof towards her throat and sticking out her tongue. "Ah, the dry throat and thirst, do not worry I will take care of that." The stranger smiled as he watched where she was pointing. "Now do you remember anything?" He continued, stroking her mane. Where am I? Who is he? Twilight thought, shaking her head in an atempt to clear it, wincing in pain from the movement, giving him a shake of her head before sighing a bit as she tried to discern the stallions features, hoping anything about him would help with her memories, while trying her best to ignore the uneasy feeling of a stranger stroking her mane. "Hmm that... was unexpected, well no mind that, it will be alright, everything will be alright eventually." The stallion coughed a few times as he wrote something down. "Well just lay down and I will bring something for you to drink, then I will try and explain as much as I can." He said, putting a hoof on her forehead stroking a few strands of her mane from her face, coughing and walking out of the room, levitating the red book after him. Do I know him? maybe he is an uncle? he cares for me so he must be someone i know. She thought looking at the stranger as he walked out of the door, before putting a hoof to her chest as a another bolt of pain went through it. Unh is-is that stitches? She pulled away the blankett to look down on her chest, seeing what looked like a crude atempt to stitch her up. Did I have an operation? is that why it hurts so much? Why is it sticky? am I bleeding through? She prodded the stitches on her chest again, taking a look around in the darkness trying to find a light source, spotting the small candle on the desk. "Unh....hhhh...ngh." She grunted, as she slowly squirmed and crawled closer to get a better look on the stitches. Come on just a bit more, I can almost yes. She thought, as she managed to reach the end of the bed, closest she could to the lone candle to see her chest, gasping in surprise as she saw it, a big vertical scar going from the top of her ribs down to the lower part of her ribs, narrowing her eyes as she saw what looked like an old hoofboot lace had been used to stitch her up. "Did I not tell you to lay down and wait?" She heard from behind her, causing her wings to fold out in surprise, her big leathery wings. "Uuwaah? *cough* "w-what?" she croaked, dragging her hoof over the leathery wings, amazed that she hadn't noticed she had those before, or that she had wings at all. "Please let me help you lay back down." The stallion said putting down a chalice he had been levitating next to him on the floor, walking around the big bed and gently putting his hooves on her back and chest, gently helping her back towards the pillows. "There there stay calm, please try and tuck your wings to your sides again." "W-what? w-wha-*cough* why *cough*" She tried to talk only to break down in dry coughing, taking a few deep breaths as she laid her head down on the pillow. "Ssh ssh sssh, here drink this and I will answer any questions you have." He stroked the side of her face, levitating the chalice from the floor and towards her lips, smiling to himself as she greedily drank it all. "T-thanks, that was delicious." She coughed a bit as she licked her lips, a bit surprised it suddenly felt so much better. "See, I told you everything would soon be better." He coughed, pulling up the covers over her and grabbing the now empty chalice with his magic and putting it down on the nightstand. "What was that drink?" She asked, licking her lips again. "Wolf blood." > Chapter 2 Disgust (Slightly Rewritten) > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Eh hehe you got me there, no really what was in the drink?" She gave him an unsure smile, which fell as she noticed he didn't say it as a joke. "Y-you were joking right? right?" "I never joke when it comes to my work." He snorted. "S-so you actually made me drink blood?" She swallowed, staring wideeyed at the stranger. "Yes." He gave a short nod, not breaking his eye contact with her. "B-but I you unh ugh." Putting a hoof against her mouth as she begun to gag. "I don't see the problem, it made you more healthy and stopped you from coughing and wheezing like me." He tilted his head slightly to the right, observing her reactions as he put his right hoof to his chest. "B-bleh, but it is wrong ponies are not supposed to drink blood!" She spat, dragging her hoof over her tongue. "....you really don't remember do you?" He coughed. "Remember what?" She mumbled, raising an eyebrow as she used her blankett to wipe her tongue free from the lingering taste of blood. ".........." "Uhm hello?" She let go of the blanket as she noticed him spacing out, turning her head to where he was staring, seeing nothing but darkness and the wall, scrunching up her face in confusion as she turned back to him, jumping a bit in surprise when he finally spoke. "Hmm? ah apologies, just lost myself in thought for a moment." He shook his head and scratched his neck with his right hoof. "What is it I don't remember?" "Other than me?" He coughed. "Yes." He sighed as he stood up, walking back and forth before finally sitting down again next to the bed, conjuring a small green floating ball of light. "..............hmmm very well, do you have any clues about who I am?" "I-i'm sorry but I don't remember anything about you, should I?" Squinting at the sudden light trying to see the stallions face, only seeing what looked like some kind of white porceline like mask covering his face. "Why are you wearing a mask?" "So it seems you have forgotten everything about me too, guess it was a good choice to wear it now." He sighed, tapping the mask with his right hoof, emitting a soft *dink* sound from it. "Y-you are disfigured aren't you?" She put a hoof to her mouth as she saw him nod, regretting she said it as soon as it left her lips. "Good, now that is out of the way we can move to the next question, which is either who you are or why you have bat wings." He said as he stroked the top of her right wing with his hoof. "N-no I actually wanted to know your name first." she stuttered using her hooves to tuck her wings away from his touch. "Oh, very well my name is ...... I use the name Scourge" "Use the name Scourge?" She repeated giving him a weird look. "Yes, ponies at my kind of work is often using an incognito, for safety *cough" "Are you some kind of criminal?" "No, but we are often *cough* shall we say hated for our life choices." "D-do I want to know what your life choice is?" "You already did know it once, but let us save that question for later, it might be hard to comprehend completely because of your amnesia." He said ending it with a series of heavy coughs. "I...guess that makes sense, but how do we know each other then?" She said, remembering a bit she read once about amnesia in an old book of medicine. "..... we have been living togheter for a long time." "Oh, oh so uhm you mean me and you?" She blushed a bit, motioning a hoof between them. "No not like that, only a student/teacher kind of relation." He patted her softly on her shoulder. "Teacher in-" She begun, only to flinch in surprise as somepony knocked on the door. Scourge sighed as he walked over to the door, opening it and blocking her view of whoever it was who knocked. "What is it?" She leaned closer, doing her best to listen in on the figure by the door whispering. "He's finally here? good, show him to the study, I will be joining him shortly." "Apologies seems I am needed elsewhere, I do not know how long I will be gone so try get some sleep." He turned his head at her, giving her a short bow before walking out of the door, lighting his horn making the the balls of light disapear, wrapping the room again in darkness with the exception of a lone candle. "W-wait what kind of teacher?" She reached out a hoof trying to stop him, sighing and letting it fall back on the bed as the door closed. "Great alone and still no idea who I am." Yawning as she stared at the ceiling. "Maybe I should rest a bit, weird how much better everything felt when I drank that delicious blood, I would just love to have some-" "No! no! don't think like that! just go to sleep sweet *Yawn* sweet sleep." She said to herself, closing her eyes and trying her best to fall asleep, tossing and turning trying to get comfortable for a few minutes, giving a tired sigh as she felt her stomach growl. "Guess thats the end of that then, hope he's not gone much longer." Rubbing her eyes and looking around the room, smiling a bit as her eyes fell upon the desk at the other end of the room, spotting an open book lying on it in the candlelight, biting her lip a bit contemplating if she should read it or not, loosing to her curiosity, giving the door a quick look before tossing off her blanket, reaching out her front hooves, getting ready to get out of the bed, only to stop as she got face to face with that lovely chalice on the nightstand, with just the most lovely smell coming from it, blinking in confusion as she didn't smell it before. "M-maybe just a lick, that's all." She mumbled, taking the chalice in her hooves seeing a few drops of blood still at the bottom, holding out her tongue with a smile as she emptied the little left. > Chapter 3 Hunger and new faces (rewritten) > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Aaw its still not enough." She mumbled trying to shake the last little drop of blood to fall on her outstretched tongue, sighing as she let it down on the bed, licking her lips and rubbing her growling stomach. So hungry, maybe there's some more closeby. She thought scratching her chin for a moment, sitting up on the bed again and putting the chalice on the bedstand, jumping down from the bed, walking over to the door opening it to glance out, only to freeze in place as a dark furred pony head with pupils like vertical slits looking right at her. "Eep!" Slamming the door shut in surprise, swallowing and collecting herself, opening the door slowly, again being greeted by the same scene. "U-uhm hi?" She greeted the pony, seeing another one standing on the other side of the door, both having a dark charcoal coloration, bat wings, those unsettling eyes and wearing intricate armor. "Is everything alright?" The same pony asked looking down on her unamused. "I-I uhm yes I was just... who are you two?" "We are here guarding the lords interests." Both ponies bowed their head in unison. "Oh... you mean Scourge?" She asked, a bit unsure as both ponies turned forward again from the door. "Yes." The guard said giving her a quick glance and with a frown turning back forward. "So..oh I just well nevermind." She shrunk back a little as she got the evil eye from the guard, who was clearly annoyed with her now. "Shouldn't you be resting?" The other one asked, though he made it sound like what the hell are you doing here. "Well I-I-" She begun to shrink back into her room, unsure how she would ask for more blood to drink, only to be interrupted by her growling stomach, causing both guard to look at each other and giving her a tired sigh. "How bothersome, call for the servants will you?" The one to her right rolled his slitted eyes, turning to his companion, who nodded pulling a rope going along the wall and under the roof, giving off a distant sound of a bell. "Oh I-I don't wan't to.cause any problems" She begun, only to be silenced as the guard gave her another glare. "Just go back inside and wait." The guard snorted. "O-okay, uhm thanks I guess." She said heading back into her room, sighing as she closed the door and crawling back up on the edge of the bed to wait for whatever would happen. I don't get it why they are so angry, did I do something? did I commit a faux pas? Getting lost in her thoughts confused, a bit scared remembering nothing, yet seemingly having two enemies or atleast two very unfriendly ponies right outside her door. *Knock* *Knock* "Eep! oh uhm come in?" She answered startled. "Hrm hrm old Snaggletooth heard you be hungry." A small yellowish humanoid wearing an old worn tuxedo carrying a big bowl filled with some dark liquid, entered through the door smiling at her showing off a wide array of sharp teeth. "Ahem! Snaggletooth may be old, but he ain't an old artifact to oogle at." The creature smiled, snapping her back into reality. "Oh, oh I-I didn't mean to stare" "Ah Snaggletooth knows, no worries at all he often gets the same reaction from other ponies." He laughed at her blushing, putting down the big bowl on the nightstand. "Sorry I was just surprised, I was expecting a pony and and and is that blood?" She gave him a apologetic smile, before loosing her concentration as her eyes drifted to that dark liquid in the bowl. "Yes yes Snaggletooth bring nutricious blood for pretty pony." Never letting his grin falter, plucking out a spoon from his pocket cleaning it against the tuxedo and holding it towards her. "Snaggletooth also bring spo-." He managed to say, Before she dove head first into the bowl, srugging and putting the spoon back into his pocket. > Chapter 4 Full > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Well well, is she satisfied?" He asked standing next to the bed with his hands clasped behind his back, looking patiently at her finishing her meal. "Slumngmph, nnnnh soooo heavenly." She mumbled licking he muzzle clean from every little drop of blood. "S-sorry." Blushing as she looked back at the butler, shrinking down in embarrasment putting down the bowl on his outstretched hand. "Aw pony no worry, Snaggletooth will see her every need." He grinned pulling out a small handerchief from his pocket and whiping her muzzle clean. "That was delicious, thank you so much Snaggletooth." She smiled giving him a friendly nod, scratching her neck a bit before asking the question she had on her mind since Snaggletooth walked in. "So uhm are you a goblin?" "Yes old Snaggletooth is a goblin, he has been since he was born." He grinned giving her a small bow. "Have you been with uh ....Scourge long." She questioned pausing a bit to scratch at her chest. "Scourge? ah oh yes been with Scourge long Snaggletooth have." Looking a bit confused before grinning again. "Yes.. but *scratch* how long *scratch* you I mean gah!" She continued, only to be disrupted by her chest wound again, scratching furiously at it. "W-what now?" ".... ah right if pony escuse Snaggletooth for this." Putting down the bowl on the ground, putting a hand against her muzzle forcing her on her back and taking out a thin object from the same pocket he put his spoon. "What are you-" She begun a bit shocked at his actions, only for her to become silent as she saw the thin object flipping around in his hand, flipping forth a blade. "Now pony be still otherwise this will be ugly." Putting the blade against the stitches and cutting the end up, putting back the small knife folded into his pocket and taking one of the ends in between his fingers and slowly sliding it out of her wound. "Owowow OW!" Grimacing as he pulled the last bit free holding it up to her and backing off. "Apologies pony but she would not want this grown into her wounds." Waving it infront of her face. "C-couldn't you just tell me instead?" She frowned rubbing her chest. "Then it might've been to late and Snaggletooth had to cut out the wound, that or ahem Scourge would have done it." He grinned letting the hoof boot lace fall down in the bowl. "I-Im not bleeding?" She looked at her hoof seeing only a tiny drop of blood and found only a hastily formed scab on her chest. "Snaggletooth don't know how much Scourge told pony but vamponies, nosferatu and the like have incredibly quick healing especially after feeding." picking up the bowl in his hands, giving her a small bow. "Are you leaving?" She asked as she saw him opening the door. "Ah yes Snaggletooth can't be with her all night, he has to continue his other chores, but he wishes pony well." Giving her another bow as he closed the door, leaving her alone in the small room. > Chapter 5 Bad News > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- It had been a very slow hour going by just sitting in the room, going by the old grandfather clock chiming at one of the walls, not daring to go outside the room, risking upsetting the guards anymore than she already had, sighing as she stared up in the ceiling, with her leathery wings spread out under her, having already looked and inspected every centimetre of her wings about 20 minutes ago. *knirrr* "Apologies, that took way longer than I thought it would." Scourge said as he walked inside, turning his mask clad face towards her, shutting the door behind and walking towards her stopping next to the bed. "But atleast it seems you are feeling better and I heard Snaggletooth came by." "Yes,I ... asked for some more eh blood." Scratching her neck as she sat up carefully folding her big leathery wings behind her. "Still uncomfortable about it? don't worry my dear *cough* you will get the feel for it soon enough." he said stroking her shoulder with a hoof, tracing it downward to put it against her chest. "Seems he also took care of *cough* your chest, hope he didn't do it to roughly, he has always had a bit of a violent streak." "Oh it wasn't to bad, it was just ehm surprising to be forced down on my back." She answered feeling a bit uncomfortable under his touch. "I will take it up with him when I see him, but for now it seems we have to speed this up, seems Equestria is brewing and ready to erupt any day now." He said letting his hoof fall to the floor again. "Erupting? what do you mean?" Tilting her head in question. "Well I will be brief with you, 29 days ago a princess of Equestria was assassinated in her castle, ever since it happened the unicorns of Canterlot has blamed the earth ponies in Ponyville for letting her die." "But what could they have done if it was an assassin?" "Nothing of course, but sadness and fear will push logic away." "But that is not all, even the pegasi of Cloudsdale has begun to fume, blaming both earth ponies and unicorns of not being good enough guards for Equestria and has begun to consider reforming the old brigades to keep Equestria safe." "Oh .....that is terrible! but what does all this have to do with me?" "Well, I will need you to help with a few plans to ensure stability, it is true me and my associates will be able to act more safely when the tribes all blame each other, but it is not only the higher ups of the tribes that uses this instability to get what they want, I expect gryphons and changelings will begin to encroach on Equestrian territories." He said in one go, causing him to break down into a series of violent coughs again. "Oh uh there there." Twilight winced as she patted him on the back. "Hrm thanks, I will not lie I am seeking to gain some ... things for myself and I do apologise but I am desperate and you are one of my last hopes." "W-what do you mean?" "I will have you trained and ready to use your body once more." he said causing her to blush slightly and give him an uncomfortable look. "Not in that way!" he barked. "Oh but eh what about the princesses uh Celes? Luntar? I-i can't really remember." "Close, it is princess Luna and princess Celestia, but the admiration and respect for them have dwindled since Tirek almost took over Equestria, that and that they were not present during Discords return are factors in this... conflict, but I think they are doing their best to try and keep Equestria from erupting into a civilwar." "Wait I remember those names, something about a long dragonlike creature and a... centaur?" "That is correct and its draconequi." He nodded clearing his throat as he saw her scrunching up her face trying her hardest to remember. "But it is unimportant who is what, come follow me I have someone you should meet, she will teach you and make you understand your vampirism......again." He said, as he held out his hoof helping Twilight down from the bed. > chapter 6 Teacher > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Here I present to you, lady Maldición" Scourge said as he stepped aside as they entered through the door, motioning a hoof towards the lone unicorn pony standing in the room, clad in exquisite looking clothes, an ivory mask covering everything except the lower jaw, the pearl white horn and a headdress made out of newly polished gold. "So this is the child you spoke of? hmm she does possess some beauty I must admit." The mare purred, as she walked up beside Scourge. "I uh thanks?" Twilight said, tensing up a bit and taking a cautious step backwards as the masked mare draw closer to her. "Oh don't be shy, she may look .... exotic but she will help you get aquaintad with your *cough* self" He said watching as Maldición begun to circle around Twilight. "W-well lady Maldición it uh is nice to meet you?" Twilight stuttered, looking at Scourge for help as the weird mare rounded her again. "Stop toying with her and get to it." Scourge shook his head at the pair. "Ah fine, but I expect to be compensated for my time." "Of*cough*course, now teach her everything she needs to know and Maldición be nice to her." He bowed and walked past the pair and shutting the door behind him leaving them alone. "Uhm...so lady Maldición was it?" Twilight asked, slowly turning towards the other mare. "Yes, lady Meri Maldición of clan Vhaal, but please call me Meri." She gave a courtesy bow and a big grin showing off her fangs. "Well uh a pleasure to meet you Meri, my name is ... uh uhm." Twilight begun, only to grind to a halt as she remembered or rather forgot to remember that Scourge hadn't told her that part yet. "I-I'm sorry he didn't get to tell me." "Hmm he didn't- oh right your amnesia, I almost forgot what he told me." Tapping her chin in thought for a moment. "Hmm he actually never told me your name either, how about we call you.....Dusk.....Shine?" "Something about it sounds familiar, but yes I kinda like it." Twilight/Dusk nodded. "Well then Dusk Shine, my name is Maldición are you ready to let me teach you?" She asked holding out her hoof for Dusk. "Yes lady Mal- eh Meri I am ready to learn." Dusk took her hoof as they nodded at each other. "Good take a seat and then we shall start." Meri pointed a hoof towards the table in the room waiting until Dusk sat down before she begun to speak again. "Now where to start?....hmm ... ah tell me what do you know about vampires" "Oh uh they suck blood?" "Yes." Meri nodded as she took a seat oposite of Dusk, waiting for her to continue. "They burn in the sun?" "Hmm partially wrong, but expected nothing else, we vampires are weak as any mortal in daylight, though for some of our kind it burns their very being, same with most form of water." "What do you mean some of our kind?" "Well our kind are divided into clans, each special in its own way, like my clan Vhaal that is specialized on conjuration and necromancy." She shot dusk a proud grin as she mentioned her own clan, looking dreamily somewhere behind Dusk. "How many clans are there?" Dusk asked, after following Meris gaze seeing nothing special behind her. "Many, too many for me to keep count, most are just minor clans of barely a hundred, mine is almost a thousand equines strong." "Oh I did not expect vampires to be so numerous." Dusk raised her eyebrows in surprise hearing such big numbers of vampires hiding in Equestria. "Ah we used to be so many, but nevermind that, it is ancient history I am here to instruct you in your new life, not give you a history lesson, let us get some blood in here, it always help me think." She grinned, lighting up her horn to yank a thin rope hanging down one of the walls. > Chapter 7 Knowledge > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- "You called?" Snaggletooth entered after a few minutes of waiting, with an exaggerated bow, with the never ending grin of his. "Yes, we require atleast... 2 litres of blood." Meri looked at the goblin in disgust, turning her head away from him and saying her demands. "Any special sort?" he continued without raising himself from his bow. "Equine, what else?" "Sorry, no my dear, only wolf and smaller animals." Snaggletooth held up his hands and gave a shrug in answer. "Very well, wolf it is, unless you want something else?" Meri said, looking over at Dusk. "Me? w-well I haven't had anything but wolf, so I guess I continue with it." Dusk shrugged. "Good, then 2 litres of wolf blood it is then and be quick about it." "At once." He gave one last low bow before backing out of the room. "Well we might aswell continue." meri said after shutting the door behind the goblin. "Now take a seat and we will continue with your questions." Meri motioned a hoof towards a pair of rickety old chairs standing in the room. "Okay uhm clans, wich clan do I belong to?" Dusk questioned after taking a seat. "Hmm that is a good question, you got the characteristic so called bat wings of the Nightwing clan, yet you have a horn which their kin does not have." She walked over to drag a hoof over Dusks batwings, tracing the long thin bones making up the frames of her wings, before pointing her hoof to Dusks horn, cocking her head slightly to the side as she saw Dusks eyes space out for a moment. "I see on your face you remember something about batwings, true?" "I- yes yes I remember something, princess Luna got such guards right?" Dusk nodded. "Ehm no, but I can see how you would get them confused, princess Lunas guards are actually descendants of dark magics infused on captured pegasi guards over almost one or two thousands years ago, by the now twice defeated king of the crystal empire, Sombra." Meri leaning back in her chair, looking up at the ceiling creating an illusory scene in the air, depicting the horrific events. "Atleast that is what the old stories of the Nocturnals say." "Oh....but what are the Nocturnals?" Dusk swallowed unable to keep her eyes from the horrific scene of tortured pegasi unfolding above her. "Batponies of Luna to be blunt." Meri shrugged, sighing as she dispelled the illusion "But now you got me to give you another history lesson, though it brings me back to older days, I am here to teach you about your eternal life and that is what i will do." "Still you seem to like it." Dusk smiled, glad to have the illusion dispelled. "Who doesnt like old histories?" Meri replied, smiling behind her mask. "Well anyway back to the subject, I am unable to place you in any particular clan, so I cannot say for certain what you may have inherited but I may give you the basics *hrm* as a vampony you will need to feed atleast once a day or you may enter a state that we call bloodrage, a terrible state where you might loose complete control and violently attack and suck any living being too close dry." "Wait if we vampires must feed once a day, then why did I not attack Scourge when I woke up?" Meri cocking her head to the side looking at her, "Really? how long were you in your ...comatosed state?" "I uh i'm not sure but my throat was sore and I could barely move." Touching her throat as she thought back. "But you felt no rage or thirst?" "No, just confusion and weakness." "hmm I have no answer to that, but well, don't ever starve yourself, ever." "Now let me get back on track .... lets see.....clans... blood...thirst... ah yes weaknesses, like all living creatures we keep away from fire, but for vampires it disrupts our accelerated regeneration." Meri shuddered for a moment, like she just remembered something. "And if that isn't enough we burn like if we were made out of dry hay." "So avoid fire when I can." "yes. good you are a quick learner." "Oh and another thing, don't ever hunt in another clans territory, it will only end badly to steal anothers food." Meri shook her head. "Hunting? like rats and birds?" "Don't try and act ignorant, you know what I am talking about." "I kinda hoped you would not mean ponies." "I think I can remember that feeling, even though it was so long ago." Meri said shaking her head and smiling at her young student. "Don't worry you will learn to like it soon enough..... now where is that damn goblin?!" "At the door currently." Snaggletooth said, closing the door, causing them both to jump in surprise and turn towards the door, seeing him carrying a tray with 4 plastic blood bags on it and grinning at them both. > chapter 8 learning (part 1) > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Hmmpf what took you so long rakash!?" Meri snorted grabbing one of the bloodbags with her magic and summoning up a golden goblet to pour it into. "Many stairs to climb and very little blood to be had." Snaggletooth grinned, not seeming to notice or care about her displeasure about him. "Oh thank you.." Dusk said, as the goblin walked over holding the tray towards her and giving her a wink. "Yes, yes lovely now begone." Meri spat, displeasure clear in her voice. "As Meri wishes." Snaggletooth slowly turned around doing an exaggerated bow, taking the tray under his arm and giving a second bow as he walked out of the room closing the door behind him. "Filthy creature" Meri snorted, filling up her goblet, looking down at the contents and taking a deep sniff of it. "Atleast we got the blood." She continued taking a sip out of it. "Isn't that a little mean? I mean he is just a servant right?" Dusk asked, a bit uneasy at her teachers disgust for the goblin. "Yes and he will never be anything else, that and he is a goblin." Meri frowned, swishing around the blood in the goblet, catching any stray drops flying out with her magic collecting it into a small sphere of blood. "What's wrong with goblins?" Dusk asked, as she looked at the blood bag in her hooves and wondering how she would drink it. "Other than they are filthy and have undrinkable blood? I'd say because they are mischievous and cleptomanic!" Frowning again and taking another sip. "Oh uhm that's bad .... say eh how do I drink this? just sink my fangs into the bag oor?" Dusk nodded slowly sensing her teacher getting riled up and annoyed, deciding to quickly change the subject before something bad happens. "I know what you are trying to do." Meri said, looking Dusk in the eyes and summoning a second goblet like the one she had but silver. "Use this, also... thanks, I get riled up by such foul beings." "Thanks." Dusk smiled, taking the goblet in her hooves, biting a small hole with her fangs, pouring it clumsily in her goblet and giving a nervous smile at dusk as she shook her head and levitated all little droplets infront of Dusks mouth, who understood what she meant and opened her mouth letting the small blob of blood slosch around in her mouth with a content smile. "Soo uhm does blood taste different depending on the eh source?" Dusk asked, after swallowing it and licking her lips. "Why yes, how do you know?" Meri asked, a bit surprised at the question. "Well this tastes differently than the other I had when I woke up." Raising the goblet towards Meri. "Really? it should be the same since.... no he couldnt have?" Meri mumbled walking forward, taking a small sip and sighing. "Equine blood, that worthless little cretin!" "What? this is pony blood?" Dusk gasped, looking down at the red infront of her, almost dropping it if it weren't for Meri quickly grasping it in her magic, giving her a dissapointed look. "Don't ever waste blood infront of a vampire of higher standing than you." Meri frowned, levitating the goblet and placing it on a nearby wooden barrel. "And yes this is equine blood like I said, from the taste I would guess a stallion around the age of thirty....a pegasus if i'm not mistaken." "That... is a bit disturbing, also a bit fascinating, well sorry I didn't mean to spill it and break some uhm rule." "Well I am to blame here, I should've told you about these things, let me give you a few of the more important ones, *Ahem* the rules any vampires should know are these, number one: if you meet a vampire of higher standing than you, you do not drink infront of them unless they permit it, Number 2:do not hunt in another higher vampires territory, number 3:do not spill blood infront of another higher vampire and just so you know it is of good etiquette to present a vial of unicorn blood when having an audience with a clanlord." Meri said, smiling as she saw her student having a very concentrated look on her face. "Oh and also don't ever make yourself known to the equestrian society as a vampire, any hunt you do and ends with death, hide the corpse or make it look like some animal attack." "Hmm I would need to write this down, uhm do you have a pen and paper?" Dusk asked, looking around the room for something to write on, seeing only cobwebs, broken furnitures and dust, lots and lots of dust. "No I do not, but let me call the rakash, I have some unsettled things with him anyway." Meri frowned, lighting up her horn causing a bell to sound and almost instantly the door opened and in stepped Snaggletooth with a big grin on his face. "*Ahem* You called?" He bowed. > chapter 9 learning (part 2) > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Snaggletooth wore his usual grin as he walked over to Dusk, handing over a small notebook, which she quickly took in her magic. "Oh thank you, now I only need a p- oh." She begun, stopping as she saw Snaggletooth holding out his right hand, which held a large feather pen, winking at her as he opened his left revealing a small ink bottle. "Snaggletooth you pathetic worm, explain yourself now!" Meri growled, grabbing dusks goblet and holding it towards him. "Whatever do she mean?" He gave a nonchalant shrug as she grabbed the collar of his clothes in her magic, dragging him towards her only centimetres from her masked muzzle. "This! You said you were out of pegasus blood!" She growled, baring her fangs at him and shaking both the goblin and the goblet. "No Meri wanted equine and ol' snaggletooth just happened to find a bag." He said, grinning wider than ever at seeing meri fuming with anger over his little mischief. "I swear if you hadn't been the servant of Half-Dead I-" She begun again, only to be silenced by a long green finger against her lips and for the first time since Dusk met the goblin his grin faltered. "Apapap Scourge, S-c-o-u-r-g-e, even Snaggletooth remembers that." Snaggletooth scolded her, holding his finger against her lips and shaking hishead at her, only for a second later his grin came back and he pointed with his other hand towards the door. "Scourge also tell Snaggletooth to get masked pony to Scourge room." "Don't touch me again filth." She spat, batting away the goblins hand with her hoof, nodding her head towards Dusk who sat silent looking very uncomfortable watching the two fight. "What about Dusk then?" "Scourge did not say, but Snaggletooth will keep company yes." He shrugged, walking over and standing next to Dusk patting her on the shoulder. "Hmpf I will go see lord Scourge, we will continue this later." Meri snorted, giving the goblin what could only be described as a look of death, walking out of the room closing the door with an angry slam. "O-okay." Dusk mumbled as the door slammed shut, rubbing her leg a bit in awkward silence. "Now Dusk have time to write" Snaggletooth leaned in and whispered in her ear after a few minutes of silence. "Oh right, sorry." Quickly grabbing the feather in her magic dipping it in the ink and quickly scrawling down what they had spoken about. "Uhm Snaggletooth?" "Yes?" "What was all that about?" She asked, still looking down at the small notebook scrawling away. "What was what?" He asked back with a raised eyebrow. "Well the Half-Dead part and will you be okay? Meri seemed almost ready to kill you there." Putting down the feather, looking at the goblin with concern and a bit of curiosity, also getting her first really good look at the little goblin, small and greenish-yellow skin, large ears and eyes, wearing what she could only see as a mix of different cloths and rags sewed togheter to form a sort of tuxedo like clothing. "Touching that a pony feels for Snaggletooth, even though he is filth." He grinned, putting a hand on his chest and wiping away a non existant tear. "Hey come on you aren't filth, you can't possibly believe that?" She said, levitating away the notebook towards the table in the room and turning her attention completly on him instead. "Ah yes, Snaggletooth knows his place in pony lands and he will serve Scourge." He answered, holding up a finger and walking around Dusk in a circle. "You mean Equestria right?" She asked, putting her hoof at her chin thinking about it for a second before it clicked. "Oh and about the Half-Dead part?" "Yes, yes Equestria the where ponykind live free and happy." He nodded, wringing his hands, walking over to where she had put down the notepad, picking it up and eyeing through it. "Writing is well, your motorics is well and function." "Oh well uhm thanks?" She said, as he tossed the notebook over to her, catching it in her hooves. "And the question?" "But sloppy e." He coughed, picking up one of the goblets and taking a quick sniff of it, shrugging and running a finger inside it and putting it against his tongue. "Snaggletooth..." "But c and k is nice yes." He nodded, walking over to the other goblet shaking out the last drops with a disgusted face. "Fine if you don't want to answer just say so." She frowned, crossing her forelegs with a huff, annoyed at him refusing to answer her questions. "Soo uhm have you served Scourge long?" "Hmm? ah yes very long, 10 of the years of ol' Snaggletooth, less goo than last master." Putting a finger to his chin for a moment in thought, balancing both goblets in his other, tossing them lightly into the air as he sifted through his memory. "Less goo?" She repeated, grimacing and beginning to regret she asked. "Yes yes last master had too much blood guts and bone, the breaky kind." He shook his head and made a motion with his hands which could only be taken as either breaking a stick or in this case a bone. "I uh maybe I shouldn't have asked." Feeling incredibly uncomfortable as the goblin did some more motions, some looking more like he was scooping icecream, but going after what he was talking about she really didn't want to imagine what he was thinking about. "Hehe Dusk has no idea, but as she wishes no old memories about old master." Snaggletooth grinned as he stopped the motions, getting enough enjoyment watching Dusks unease. "Thanks." "But forget about ol' Snaggletooth, how is Dusk faring? hmm? she look much better than earlier yes?" Putting down the goblets on the floor and jumping up onto the chair oposite of Dusks, crossing his legs and staring intently at her. "Well yes, after the eh blood I don't even feel the chest pain and it feels my head is clearer too, but was it really true about the equine blood?" Smiling at him and touching her chest. Snaggletooth nodded and smiled at that, holding up a finger as he begun to speak. "Yes, all true but Snaggletooth see next question, no it was not a dead equine only bloodbags, yes from ....Snaggletooth forgot the name of hospital." Slowly stroking his chin in thought. "Oh okay that's good...." Dusk mumbled, fiddling a bit with her hooves. "Yes? Snaggletooth see another question gnawing her." "Have I really been with Scourge long?" Rubbing her neck not sure she should really ask the question. "....Dusk has doubts?" Snaggletooth asked, raising an eyebrow at her. "Well kind of, this whole thing seems wrong the more I think and feel about it." Throwing out her hooves motioning all over the place. "Dusk speaks of her second life?" He asked, letting his grin falter a bit. "Yes! drinking blood and this place! no memories other than today! yet I know about things like Equestria, the princesses, it all just feels so wrong.... like it really isn't me." Throwing up her hooves and rubbing her head, messing up her mane, taking a few shuddering breaths before looking at Snaggletooth again. "This was...sudden, been gnawing Dusk whole time yes?" Snaggletooth blinked, a bit taken aback at her sudden outburst, stroking his chin for a few seconds before the grin returned. "Dusk, Snaggletooth does not know what Scourge told her, but is expected after hard revival." "Yes I know he said something about it being confusing and I think everything will come back, but for now- I- when I drank that equine blood ... something happened...." She said, shaking her head slightly looking down at her hooves. "Dusk....do not worry, look at Snaggletooth." Snaggletooth let his grin drop completly, getting down from the chair and taking one of her hooves in his hands, looking her straight in the eyes unblinking. "Snaggletooth has been long in the works so very very long, Dusk is not the first to feel wrong, Snaggletooth has had many like Dusk yes, one even went mad, it was first vampire Snaggletooth served." Shaking his head at the memories. "Oh w-what happened to him?" She asked, surprised to see the goblin looking at her so intensly. "Never told Dusk it was a he, still fifty fifty chance yes, terrible terrible." Shaking his head once again before his grin returning in full force. "But the good doctor found use of the mad one, let it leave at that." "But Snaggletooth repeats it will be okay." Licking his lips and patting her on the head. "Trust Snaggletooth." Closing her eyes for a moment and taking a deep shuddering breath. "I-okay you have the experience." She nodded at him. "Good, good" He muttered, turning around and being silent for a moment before glancing back at her and asking. "....so has Dusk tried vampire magic yet?" "What? no we haven't gotten that far yet, only history and some rules." "Wish to try? to get mind of the bad?" He asked, picking up the chair he sat on earlier and moving it out of the way, making some room for the practice. Shaking her head quickly and stuttering out. "W-what? no no I can't, I don't know how and haven't learned enough!" "Ah ah Snaggletooth see in Dusk eyes, the need! the curiosness! the wan't!" Shaking his finger and grinning bigger than ever. "B-but I can't i jus... oh who am i kidding I so wan't to!" "Goood goooood now we start easy." Rubbing his hands togheter and pulling out a plastic bloodbag from behind holding it up for Dusk to see. "Easy blood drinking Snaggletooth will now teach, any questions?" "Where did you keep that?" "Question time over, now stay there and Snaggletooth open bag." Putting down the bloodbag on the table and giving a quick cough. "Now listen it is open here, now Snaggletooth want Dusk to focus on the blood, get in head that Dusk demand it in her mouth." He finished poining at the ground where she should stand, using his other hands nail to pierce the bag. "Okay I will try." Taking a deep breath and placing her hooves steady on the floor and rolling her neck. "Fooocus." Snaggletooth hissed in her ear, putting his long fingers on the side of her head, making sure she didn't turn away from the bloodbag. "Im trying." "If Dusk is speaking back to Snaggletooth she is not doing it." He snorted, flicking her on the muzzle. "JUST focus on blood, demand it to come to Dusk mouth and suuuuuck!" "....Ehm." Was all she managed to get out blushing a bit. "Yes yes snaggletooth heard it too, just do it." He said, rubbing the bridge off his nose and shaking his head. "Okay second try..." Closing her eyes for a moment trying to focus on the smell of blood reaching her nostrils, slowly opening them and taking a deep intake of air, managing to get a few drops to fly towards her, dropping the focus she had in surprise, causing the drops to land soundlessly on the floor. "This...is what Snaggletooth likes!" Blinking a few times and wringing his hands. "I-I actually did it!" She smiled meeting Snaggletooths eyes. "Yes! and Snaggletooth think Dusk deserve whole bag." Snaggletooth laughed, walking over to the chalices again, grabbing one of them and walking back over to the open bloodbag. "Here enjoy." Doing a low bow and holding out the chalice for her. "Thanks, but you do not need to bow and all that, it just feels...wrong." Taking the chalice in her hooves taking a few greedy gulps, licking her lips and enjoying the silence and taste for a moment, straightening up all of a sudden and freezing mid motion to another mouthfull of blood. "Dusk?" He asked, seeing her freeze up and perking her ears. "I-I think I hear singing....or growling." "Singing or growling? .....oh no." He groaned. "What? who or what is it that is coming?" She asked, only to late as the doors flew open at the fattest and biggest stallion she could ever imagine squeezed through the door. "I dug one thousand holes and cut a rug out of orphan foals *hnngng* now memories are blurred and their faces are obscured but I still know the words of this sooong!" The huge stallion bellowed, flopping down on the floor as he managed to squeeze through the doorway. "Orson...." Snaggletooth groaned, hiding his face in his hands. > chapter 10 learning (part 3) > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Snaggy! how have you been? it's been uh long." Orson smiled, lifting his head towards Snaggletooth, shaking back the hood of his robe a bit to get a clear view, revealing a overly fat and wide sickly yellowed muzzle. "Not long enough." Snaggletooth mumbled, frowning at the huge pony laying on the ground. "So this is the new one?" The large stallion continued, as he stood up and turned his head towards Dusk, not even noticing the goblin mumbling anything. "Hrm this is the one yes." Snaggletooth nodded, walking over and patting her on the shoulder, giving the fat stallion a stern look. "Hmm kinda looks like that princess doesn't she?" Orson asked, scratching his chin and slowly walking closer, missing the deathglare Snaggletooth was giving him. "Shes looking at me weird." "Uhm uh hello?" Dusk mumbled, shrinking down on her chair uncomfortable over the large stallion walking close enough to lick her, frowning and desperatly looking over at Snaggletooth for help, whimpering softly as the massive stallion took a large sniff of her. "Just keep calm." Snaggletooth sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose in annoyance. "I-I uhm o-okay.." Dusk said, as the large stallion backed away and slowly begun circling around her. "This one is adorable! all dark violet, to think rotface found another one." Orson laughed, grabbing one of her wings and stretching it out. "W-what?" She blinked confused at what he just said and quickly pulling back her wing, turning around in her seat and staring at him, trying to prevent him from touching them again. "Does it have a name?" He asked, turning towards Snaggletooth with a grin. "It?! yes I have a name! and it is Dusk!" "A bit mouthy one isn't it?" He kept grinning, clearing his throat and spitting on the floor, giving a rumbling little laugh as he saw the ball of phlegm squirm before turning back towards her. "Not to worry little Dusk, big mouth is good for a vampire." "Why is Orson here?" Snaggletooth frowned, plucking out a handerchief, wiping the disgusting little pile on the floor and placing it back in his pocket. "Eh? oh finally found Trixie, apparently she got herself into the royal dungeons." He shrugged, sitting down heavily on the floor and wiping away some stray drops of spittle at his mouth. "Hmm will be problem." slowly stroking his chin, getting himself lost in thought for a moment. "But why is Orson here? where is Meri?" "Probably complaining to rotface." orson pointed a hoof upwards. "So you thaught the new one anything yet?" He continued, nodding his head towards Dusk. "The great and powerfull?" Dusk suddenly asked, getting confused looks from the two, at first wondering what she meant before Orson answered. "Oh you mean Trixie?" "Yes, is she....great and powerfull? or?" she asked again, blinking in confusion of what she just said. "Uh yeah and no, shes a boasting bastard but a usefull tool, but her magic skills are almost below me and that is shamefull for any unicorn, but have you really not heard of her acts?" Orson said, shaking his head slowly and scratching his chin, giving Dusk a confused look. "Ahem let Snaggletooth answer this, Dusks memories are jumbled and is wrong here and there." Snaggletooth coughed, quickly putting a hand over her muzzle. "Wait so her memories are there or not?" Orson said, tilting his head in confusion both at Snaggletooth silencing Dusk and what he was saying. "Much is missing." Snaggletooth shook his head. "So what use is she then?" Orson spat, pointing a massive hoof at Dusk, who blinked feeling offended yet unsure what to respond to the stallion, shaking her head and giving him an angry glare. "She will be of much use, Orson will wait and see." Snaggletooth sighed, shaking a finger at him. "Wait and see always this wait and see, Orson is tired of all these cloak and daggers! just spit it out already." Orson groaned, leaning his back against the wall in annoyance pulling back his hood and rubbing his temples with his hooves, revealing a too big and lumpy head for a normal pony even for somepony of his abnormal size. "Uhm are you done talking about me while I'm still in the room?" Dusk asked, a bit at unease at Orsons annoyance. "Oh eh why don't Dusk go back to her room, this will take long." Snaggletooth mumbled, placing a hand over his eyes and waving her away. "Thank you for your time Snaggletooth." Dusk nodded at the goblin giving him a smile, getting a friendly nod back, turning to give Orson a last glare before heading out of the room. "Orson." > Chapter 11 Rest > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Letting out a sigh as she closed the door behind her, feeling overworked and overburdened with information for one day, though she was pretty sure it had only been a few hours since waking up and piecing back a life she didn't recognize, resting her forehead against the cold stone, glad to be away from the pungent smell of that massive stallion, unsure how she didn't notice it untill she took a few breaths of fresh air, slowly shaking her head and taking one last deep breath before beginning to wander down the cold undecorated stone hall, soon reaching the stairs to the upper floor and taking the first slow steps on it, eventually stopping halfway as she looked up. "Ah the fledgling, I see you survived.....Orson." One of the guards from earlier sneered as he leaned against the wall in the middle of the stairs, looking down at her with clear distaste. "Pathetic, only been awake for a few hours and already tired and lost." The other one laughed, turning towards the first guard with a grin. "What do you want?" Dusk sighed, doing her best to ignore their remarks, seeing it best to hear them out and not muscle past them. "Not another clanless wretch in our territory." The laughing one spat at her, causing her to flinch in surprise at the sudden outburst. "I uh I'm sorry?" She blinked in confusion not sure what to answer him. "Yes I am sure you are, now let me escort you to your chamber as ordered." The grumpy guard said, giving the other guard a harsh glare as he turned around and nodding at her to follow. "Okay." She nodded, giving the other guard a cautious look as he walked past her and hitting her muzzle with a casual flick of his tail, sighing in annoyance as she begun to follow the first guard. "So ... why is he so hostile to me?" She asked as the laughing guard rounded the corner and got out of earshot. He walked in silence for a bit before looking back at her with a raised eyebrow. "...Didn't Maldición tell you?" "About what exactly?" "Vampire hierarchy and rules." He continued, turning his head towards her as they walked through the winding hallway. "Uh no, but a bit about weaknesses and nocturnals." She shook her head, hurring up to match his pace. Taking a few steps more taking a deep breath before he uttered, clearly uncomfortable to speak about it. "Hmm I am not the one to teach you but I can say you as a clanless fledgling is the lowest, unless you count the bloodstarved abominations in the hierarchy and you do well to respect it." "Okay, should I greet you in a special way?" Dusk asked, nodding in understanding as they both stopped infront of a door. "Not really, just with respect." "I thought that is what I did." Dusk said, looking at the guard confused at what he just said. "Yes but you acted like an equal, now get some rest I will go see to the mess Orson made." He said, frowning a bit as he held up the door to her chambers giving her a small nod, turning around and walking away before she could ask him anything more. "I...okay thanks!" She shouted after him as he disappeared around the corner, shrugging to herself as she opened the door and went in, yawning wide as she reached the bed giving the room and her wings a last look before flopping down on the bed with a tired sigh, looking up in the ceiling trying to process what had happened finally without interruptions tracing the cold hard stone cracks from the roof to the far wall, blinking a bit as she sat up and stared at a mirror in the corner. "Hmm." Smiling to herself as she got back up and walked over to see her reflection, turning her head back and forth, admiring he dark purple fur and even darker mane with a black streak going down the middle, before pulling back her lips giving the mirror a wide toothed grin, opening her mouth wide and letting her tongue lick around her fangs. "Not...bad." She smiled to herself, looking back over her shoulder at her wings, spreading them to their full length and giving them a test flap. "I apologize for being caught up in...do I come at a bad moment?" Scourge said, as he opened the door, stopping as he saw her standing at the old mirror with her wings outstretched towards the floor. "Uh no I was just winding down I guess." She answered, letting her wings fold back down on her back and turning towards him. "Ah yes it *cough* has been a hectic awakening and I am sorry for abandoning you with both Meri and ...Orson." he nodded, pulling an old decrepit looking chair to sit upon, taking a phlegmy cough as he continued. "I had hoped that you would get more *cough* time to wake up, I did not expect Orson for another month, but *cough* let me ask has anything jogged your memory? any *cough* glimpses of your past?" Tilting his head slightly to the side. "No I can't say anything usefull, only things like the princessess and some parts of Equestria." She shook her head. "How unfortunate, well *cough* tomorrow is another day or maybe I shall say night, I will not hold you any longer, i can see you are *cough* tired and need your rest." He said with a quick bow. "Good ...day I guess it is my dear." Motioning towards the bed before backing out of the room. "Thanks uhm you sleep well too." She waved at him as he begun to close the door, letting out a tired sigh once again as she went over to the bed and flopped over on her back with her leathery wings outstretched fully under her. "Guess it is good day for me." She smiled to herself as she closed her eyes, only for her to open them again with a grunt as she slapped her face with a hoof. "The Notebook!"