Chapter 1
Celestia was lying on her rug in the room of her palace. Although numerous, most of the problems were land disputes, she was ready to fall into a peaceful sleep under her sister's moon. A flash of light snapped Celestia awake. Three robed ponies were standing about five feet away from her. The ponies' robes were in three colors: white, gray, and black.
“Princess.” the one in the white robe said in a feminine voice, bowing.
“Princess.” the one in the gray robe said in a calm voice, bowing.
“Princess.” the one in the black robe said in a gruff voice, bowing.
Celestia bowed her head, “It's good to see you all again.”
The three ponies were known as the Triad. Long before Celestia and Luna both ruled Equestria, all of the decisions were made by a council, which Celestia and Luna themselves were a part of. However, the council never did anything without the approval of the Triad. The three ponies were probably the strongest users of magic in Equestria, even compared to Celestia. A few thousand years ago, when a powerful member of the council, known as Discord, betrayed them all so he could rule Equestria alone, the council decided to disband and left Celestia and Luna as the new rulers of Equestria. When Celestia and Luna defeated Discord, the Triad decided they would leave the ruling of Equestria to the sisters alone, becoming a myth to other ponies. So far, the sisters had been doing exceptionally well.
The three ponies looked at each other, “If only this were a social visit.” the white robed pony said.
“A vampire has escaped.” the black robed one said. Celestia paused, vampires were a plague on Equestria years before the council disbanded.
“But they were all destroyed.” she said coldly, remembering the hundreds of dead bodies a vampire could leave in its wake. The three ponies glanced at each other again.
“During the war one was captured,” the gray robed pony said, “we had decided it was best the council not know of our decision.”
“That was a mistake.” Celestia said.
“We told you now so you can protect your people.” the white robed pony said.
Celestia shook her head, “Why did you need one alive?” she asked.
“Research.” the black robed pony said.
“That's no excuse.” Celestia said.
“It's the only one you need.” the black robed pony snapped.
“Delocrix!” the gray robed pony said, “You forget yourself.”
Delocrix remained silent after that. “We apologize for our rash decision,” the white robed pony said, “we found it necessary at the time.”
Celestia looked at the three of them, “Are my little ponies in danger?”
They looked at each other, “Your ponies are in danger,” the white robed pony said, “but we will watch over the town diligently.”
Celestia looked out the window at the night, knowing her sister was now watching over all of the ponies. “Thank you for informing me.” she said, not really sure if she meant it.
The three bowed, “We wish you and your sister many years of leadership.” the gray robed pony said. The Triad and Celestia bowed in unison and the Triad vanished in a flash of light. Celestia closed her eyes, knowing in a few hours she would have to raise the sun again.
*More than a Thousand Years Later*
Twilight Sparkle was heading home from Zecora's. She had gotten another batch of her favorite tea, and was eager to get home. It was so dark in the forest, even though the sun was blazing just outside the treeline. She had walked this path before, but today felt different. For some reason, it felt like all the animals had gone silent. She stopped suddenly, feeling like eyes were watching her, like a predator was watching her.
She turned around quickly, horn glowing. A pony was standing ten feet away from her. He was dressed in a simple traveling cloak, which was hooded and covered his mane. His coat was as black as a moonless night and she could see a horn just poking out of his hood. His eyes were what made Twilight pause, they were bright red with snake-like irises.
“Easy.” he said, holding up a hoof. His voice sounded calm and calculated. Twilight didn't move an inch. “You're cautious,” the pony said, “That's always good for a filly in the woods.” He paused, “Miss, if I wanted to hurt you, I would have tried to do so already. I just want to make sure you get out of this forest alright.” Twilight hesitated for a moment, then turned off the magic in her horn.
“Who are you?” she asked.
The pony smiled, “I'm just a traveling nomad, I enjoy telling traveling stories to towns and cities.”
Twilight hesitated, “The entrance shouldn't be far from here.” she said.
The pony nodded, “Then shall we be off?” Twilight waited for the pony to catch up, then they walked side by side down the path.
“Where are you from?” she asked. The pony smiled, “I've been traveling so long that I've forgotten.” Twilight looked at him curiously and he sighed. “Not so much I've forgotten,” he said, “but that I don't like to think about it.”
“Oh.” Twilight said, “Sorry.” They walked a while further, Twilight could tell the entrance was only a short way away, when the pony put out a hoof in front of Twilight.
“Wait.” he said, looking around.
“What?” Twilight said, trying to following his gaze.
“Listen,” he said urgently, “no matter what happens, run to the entrance, don't turn back no matter what you hear.”
Twilight was about to question him further, but a blur pushed her away. She fell and gasped in horror as a timber wolf had the pony by his leg. A second and third came and surrounded him, seeming to forget about Twilight. “RUN!” he shouted, then was flung into a tree. Twilight was scared and confused, so she turned and ran as the three wolves jumped on him.
****
Twilight ran to the entrance and turned, the pony hadn't followed. She started to go to Fluttershy's cottage, but then turned back to the entrance. She didn't have time to run to Fluttershy's, a pony was in danger right now. Wait...teleport! Her horn started to glow with magic but a cough interrupted her. The pony was standing there with a huge gash in his shoulder and cuts everywhere. “Not too bad.” he said, brushing himself off.
“'Not too bad?'” Twilight repeated, “You have a gash in your shoulder.”
“I do?” he asked, then looked at it, “Oh.” He fell forward and seemed to pass out. Twilight ran up to him and, without really thinking about it, teleported him and herself to Fluttershy's house. They stopped right outside her door and Twilight knocked frantically.
Fluttershy opened the door, “Oh, hi Twilight,” she said, “What-” Fluttershy gasped as her eyes fell on the injured pony. She ran inside and came back out with gauze. She wrapped the pony in it and turned to Twilight. “He needs to go to a hospital.” she said. Twilight nodded and focused, then all three of them were teleported to the hospital.
*****
The pony regained consciousness, but kept his eyes closed. He was on a hospital bed...super. He listened and could hear ponies talking outside his door. “But you saw for yourself,” he heard Twilight say, “his wounds healed quickly, so he should be fine.”
“Ms. Sparkle,” a female pony said, “you said he had a gash in his leg, but when you bought him in it had almost sealed up entirely. You know things like this must be reported to the Princess.” the pony's heart stopped, The Princess...coming here? “Furthermore,” the female pony continued, “the Princess herself said no one was to see him until she arrived.” The pony's eyes snapped open and shut again as he was met with a face full of sunlight. With a curse he used his magic to lower the curtain and opened his eyes again. The hospital room was simple in layout. One bed, his, two windows, one in front of him and one on the far left wall. Not the best layout for an escape.
“Ah Princess!” the female pony said, “Good, the pony is in here.” Shoot. The door opened and the Princess walked in.
*****
Princess Celestia looked at the pony on the bed. To be fair nothing seemed incredibly special about him. Twilight and three unicorn guards walked in behind her. “Twilight has informed me of what you did for her.” she said.
The pony shrugged, “I just did what anypony would do in our situation.”
Celestia looked him over, “Your wounds seem completely healed.” she noted.
The pony smiled, “They have fantastic doctors here.”
“Indeed.” Celestia said, “Show me your teeth.”
Twilight looked at her in confusion as did the pony, “Pardon?”he said.
“You heard correctly.” she said, making a slight gesture for her guards to move closer. The next events happened so fast Twilight could barely keep up. The pony jumped from the bed and ran at the window on the left wall as Celestia cast a spell and the guards ran forward. The result left the pony writhing in magical bindings held by two guards, one guard unconscious on the right side of the room, and the window blocked by a barrier. The pony snapped at the guards and Twilight was shocked and horrified to see his teeth were sharper than the normal pony's.
Celestia took a breath and Twilight could swear she heard a shudder. “So, we finally found you.” she said coldly. The vampire smiled, revealing his teeth. “One thousand years it took us to find you...” Celestia said.
“Well here I am.” the vampony said.
“Princess...” Twilight started, at a loss for words, “are you saying...he's...”
The vampire looked at her, “What? Thought we didn't exist?” the pony asked, “Why Celestia! I didn't know you kept secrets from your subjects.” The bindings tightened and the vampony hissed in pain.
“Why did you help Twilight?” Celestia asked.
The vampire left out a laugh, “You don't help your subjects? And here I thought you were a saint.” He laughed again, but was cut off by the bindings tightening.
“Answer.” Celestia demanded.
“Why? To try and convince yourself we're as evil as you were led to believe? So you can hide behind your lies?” the vampire asked. If looks could kill, these two would be shooting daggers. Twilight thought. The vampire's gaze shifted to her. “What do you think little filly?” he asked.
“Leave her out of this.” Celestia snapped.
“Why?” he asked, “I believe she has every right to form her own opinion.”he said.
“Be that as it may,” Celestia said, “the Triad will be informed of your capture.”
The vampire paled, “You wouldn't.”
“Of course I would.” Celestia said, “You are a danger to all of Equestria and must be dealt with.”
The vampire frowned, “They won't 'deal with me', they'll continue their 'experiments'.” Twilight frowned, experimentation on a sentient creature was wrong.
“How did you survive all these years?” she asked, “Don't you need...blood?”.
The pony looked at her, “I stuck to the forest and fed on predatory animals,” he said, “much better tasting than herbivores.”
Twilight shuddered, “But you never...”
“Ate a pony?” he finished, “No.”
Twilight looked at Celestia, “Can't we...keep him under guard or something?” she asked, “I mean, he did save my life...and didn't kill me.”
Celestia shook her head, “He's too dangerous for any guards to watch him.”
The vampony coughed, “What about a Sacred Swear?” Celestia stared coldly at him. “It's the only way for you to know I'm telling the truth.” the vampire said innocently. Twilight remembered reading that a sacred swear was a bond between two unicorns, and breaking the swear would be...
“Fine.” Celestia said, stepping forward.
The vampire shook his head, “Not you,” he said, “her.” he turned to Twilight.
Twilight stepped back, “Absolutely not!” Celestia said.
The vampire smiled, “No offense Princess, but I trust her more than I trust you. Plus I doubt she would break her end of a deal. And if I do, well, problem solved.”
Twilight gulped, “I'll do it.”
Celestia put on a neutral face as Twilight stepped towards the pony. The pony lowered his head and Twilight lowered her's. “Darkfire.” he said.
“What?” Twilight asked, perplexed and nervous at the same time.
“My name is Darkfire,” he said, “you'll need it for the spell.” Twilight gulped Then touched his horn with her's.
“D-do you Darkfire, promise to never hurt a pony in Ponyville?” Twilight asked, then, after a pause, was about to add more when-
“Yes.” Darkfire said, “Do you, in return, promise to, within the extent of your power, keep me out of prison and keep the Triad from being called unless necessary?” Twilight's heart stopped, he had just written a 'get out of jail free card', and she had to sign it.
“Yes.” Twilight whispered. A bright flash of light and the spell was cast.
Twilight backed away and looked at Celestia, “I'm sorry, he answered so fast I-”
Celestia walked up to her, “It's alright my favorite pupil,” she said, then to Darkfire, “What now?” Darkfire's horn flashed and the bindings around him released. The guards looked startled, then their horns lit up, but Celestia waved them down.
The pony walked to the window and watched the sun descend, “Now?” he said, “I'm free.” He jumped out the window, breaking the glass. The guards ran at the window, but the pony was nowhere to be seen. Twilight gulped, she just gave a powerful creature the power to do whatever he wanted...