Rarity's sick and there is a swarm of vampires threatening to destroy the princesses and take over Equestria.
After a night of partying at a brand new night club, Morningstar and Rarity almost share there first kiss when a vampire fruit bat interrupts. now theirs a mysterious mare threatening to overthrow Princess Celestia and take over Equestria. on top of that Rarity's sick and it looks like Morningstar is the only one who can stop it, but at a price he may be willing to pay
The air of the night was ice cold and the sky was pitch black with only the moon illuminating the roads and homes of the ones who used them. Everyone was in there bed sleeping soundly after a hard day of preparing and decorating for the Nightmare Night celebrations taking place a few days later that week. But for some ponies, the celebrations were taking place a little earlier that year. Ponyville had just opened a brand new nightclub the week prior and has been blowing up in popularity. Hundreds of ponies arrived to party in the new building, but most had to wait their turn. There was a line of anxious party goers stretching stretching around the entire building.
“Pinkie, i don’t know about this. I’m not much of a stay up late kind of pony.” Morningstar stated as he, Rarity, and Pinkie Pie made there way past the crowded line.
“That, and this line is rather long. Are you sure you can get us in without having to wait in line darling?” Rarity stated while analyzing the length of the line. Pinkie ran up to the bouncer and revealed a certificate to him. He quickly and closely Looked over the sheet of parchment.
“Hello miss Pie. you and your friends can go right in.” he stated in a deep relaxed voice. They walked past the bouncer and entered the large building. The neon lights were flashing in there faces and the crowd of ponies were slamming their hooves on the ground to the beat of the song that was playing. The heavy beat pounded in Stars chest, at times feeling in sync with his heartbeat, and reverberated off of the decorated walls. Ponies were wearing glow stick rings on their hooves and around their necks. With it being so close to Nightmare Night, some were wearing costumes and masks.
“Pinkie! Where are the others?! And how did we get in so fast?!” he screamed over the intense pounding music and the high pitched screaming of the ponies enjoying it.
“Twilight has princessy things to do tomorrow! Applejack said that the zap apple harvest was tomorrow! Fluttershy didn’t want to come! And Rainbowdash is at the Wonderbolts academy!” she explained while they made there way through the crowd.
“But that doesn’t explain how you got us in here! Did you bribe somepony?!” he continued the screaming to combat the intense noise that filled the room.
“Of course not silly! Everypony that helped in the construction of this place gets a free entrance pass that has unlimited uses, and they can have a maximum of like four friends!! Isn’t that awesome!!!” she sped off to join the rowdy crowd of dancing party goers.
“Care to join me for a dance darling?” Rarity asked, slightly moving her body to the pounding beat.
“Na, i think i’ll just go sit down over there.” he gestured to a table in the corner.
“Are you sure darling?”
“Yeah. You go have fun with Pinkie. I don’t want to stink up the room with my “obviously can’t dance” dance moves on the dance floor.”
“Very well then.” she elegantly began passing by Star on her way to the crowd. She paused and looked at Star with a seductive smile on her face and said “I’ll be saving a dance for you.” As she continued, she lightly whipped her tail around his neck and let it drag the length of his body. Star felt chills run up and down his spine from the action. He continued on his way to the corner table and sat down with a sigh. The table had remained empty for the next few minutes with only Star as an occupant.
Hours had passed and every time a group of ponies would leave, more would take there place. Star still sat at the table as its only occupant and had began drifting off to sleep. Before he could close his eyes for the last time of the day, a mare had sat next to him and spoke to him in a sweet and almost hushed voice.
“Why aren’t you up there dancing with everypony? Are you OK?” Star turned his head and looked up at the hooded figure. Her face was hidden by shadow. All that was visible was her muzzle and pointed white teeth that would poke out when she would smile. Star sat up slowly waking himself up in the process and looked at the hooded mare.
“I’m fine. I just don’t know how to and don’t want to dance.” the mare turned to Star and removed her hood revealing her bright red eyes, pale coat, and black mane. “I’m Morningstar. I uh…. I like your vampire costume, looks so real.” he continued.
“My name is Rosemary.Thank you, your alicorn costume is realistic as well.”
“Oh this isn’t a costume. I’m a real alicorn. I just ain't royalty” he said with a smile. Her eyes widened and began glistening in the multicolored neon light that pulsated all over the room. She cracked a devilish smirk and leaned in closer to Star.
“Not royalty!” she gasped “If it were me, I would march to the princess and demand that she make me royalty.” she got closer “Why do follow the princess so mindlessly little lamb?” he could feel her breathing heavily down his neck. Her breath smelled like lavender and tea leaves. The smell was soothing and intoxicating at the same time. He felt himself drifting to sleep once again and losing the will to stay awake. “Why not give in to the sleep that you obviously crave so much, little lamb” his eyes finally shut and his head fell back. Her fangs began inching towards his exposed neck. “And be mine until the end of time.”
“Star darling, they're closing early tonight so we’re leaving now.” She approached the table. She tapped on Stars head to wake him up. His head shot up like a bullet and he looked at Rarity with tired eyes.
“Oh, we’re leaving now? Wait where's Pinkie?”
“We’re leaving without Pinkie. She wants to enjoy the party for as long as she can.” they turned their heads to look at the crowd.
There, on the stage stood Pinkie Pie screaming at the top of her lungs “ Are you ready to party!!!!” she then leapt off the stage and into the crowd. The crowd of ponies then carried her around the room. “Bye guys! See you tomorrow!” she shouted as they moved her passed Star and Rarity. They made their way to the door and left. They crossed the street in front of the club and started their way home.
“Why don’t I walk you Rarity.”
“Oh Star you don’t have to. I’m perfectly fine with doing that by myself.” she replied placing her hoof to her mouth.
“It’s the least i could do pay you guys back for asking me to come along. Also, it’s really dark, a lady shouldn’t have to walk home alone in the dark.” he paused and looked at Rarity “Are you OK your face is red”
“Yes i’m fine darling just a little hot as all.” she laughed hysterically and then continued “shall we proceed darling?” they continued down the road on there way to the Carousel Boutique.But they did not notice the pair bright red eyes watching them intentivly. The two arrived at the Boutique and stood in front of the door.
“I had fun tonight Star. i hope we can do it again.”
“But all i did was fall asleep in the corner of the club.” she placed a hoof on his mouth in an attempt to stop him from talking.
“That’s not what i meant.” she closed her eyes removed her hoof and went in for a kiss. For Star, everything began moving in slow motion. He thought for a moment and realized that it was a once in a lifetime opportunity for somepony like him, to kiss somepony like her. He leaned in to return the action. Inches away from their display of affection, the red eyes that had been watching them from afar, suddenly sprung to life sped towards them and started flailing in there faces with a high pitched squealing. The creature revealed itself to be a vampire fruit bat. Rarity let out a bloodcurdling scream. She reared up, kicking frantically. She lost control of one of her hooves and struck Morningstar in the face. He fell unconscious and the bat vanished. Rarity ran as fast as she could to Twilight. They returned to find Star still on the cold hard ground with a stupid smile on his face. Twilight through a pail of water on his face. Star sprung back to consciousness gasping for air.
“The bat, where is it?!” he asked frantically.
Twilight stepped forward with an exhausted look on her face. “Do you have any idea what time is!?” Star began to say something in retaliation but was shut down by the angry alicorn “While i agree that a vampire fruit bat attacking you two is strange, it can wait until the morning! Now i’m going back to the castle to go back to sleep. If you don’t want to be attacked again, i suggest that you two do the same!!” she spun on her heels and left for castle.
“I- I should get going. Good night Rarity.” he started towards the castle. Rarity opened the boutique door and entered the darkened room. She turned around and closed the door, then leaned against it and slid to the floor. She sighed, recalling the events, how they could have been and what they could have led to. She imagined herself in an elegant wedding dress and Star looking handsome and dapper in a black tuxedo waiting for her at the end of the isle. Their friends and family sitting in the front row, eyes filled with tears of joy. The princess saying “you may kiss the bride.” and her lips making contact with each other signifying the beginning of the rest of their lives together. She imagined raising a foal with Star, teaching them how to fly and use magic. She imagined growing old with Star, sitting on there patio reliving the adventures of the past and having weekend dinner parties with there friends.
Her fantasies were interrupted by the grandfather clocks bells ringing in at 1:00 am.
“One in the morning?! I have to finish the final designs on everyponies costumes tomorrow.” she quietly made her way up to her room, climbed into her soft bed and instantly fell asleep. Darkness filled the room and swallowed the light, all except the red eyes that had been watching them before. The two red eyes fluttered away from the darkest corner of the room that it had been hiding in. They landed on the floor in front of the bed. In a wisp of black smoke and magic, the pair of little red eyes became a silhouetted pony with pointed pearly white teeth that glistened in the moonlight. She motioned towards the sleeping Rarity.
“I can sense your affection for the lamb, but i want him for myself and you will not get in the way of my plan. The blood that runs through your veins, i can sense, is bittersweet like refined wine. Even now you dream of his company, how makes you feel, and how badly you wish to be with him.” she paused at the thought then continued “Maybe you can help me claim what i want.” she grinned devilishly. She hovered over Rarity’s neck, gazing at it as if she was looking right through her. She slowly brought her head down on to Rarity’s neck and sunk her teeth into the lush white flesh. She brought her head back up, her teeth now crimson red, and vanished with another puff of black smoke. The only evidence of her visit was a piece of white paper that fluttered to the ground.
“What do you mean? What’s wrong with Rarity?” Star asked asked as Sweetie belle pulled him through the castle door. She looked worried and panicked as they ran across town.
“Just come on Star! She told me to come and get you and the others!” they ran passed Spike, Twilight, and Starlight outside of Trixie's cart “Come on guys there's something wrong with Rarity” there faces instantly dawned worried expressions. They made their way to Sweet Apple Acres, which was having its annual cider sales for Ponyville. “Applejack, Rainbowdash, Pinkie Pie! Come on something is wrong with Rarity.” They saw her panicked expression and that she was on the break of crying and began to follow. They finally arrived at the Carousel Boutique, charged in and ran up the stairs and exploded through the bedroom door to discover Rarity lying in her bed. Her coat was pale and washed out as if it were sun bleached and her mane was mangled and ratty, also washed out and pale.
“She can’t hear anything i say and she won’t wake up. I don’t know what to do.” she broke out and started crying. Star place his hoof on Sweeties shoulder in a consoling manner.
“Don’t worry, we’ll find out what’s wrong” he smiled at her and she smiled back. She gave him a hug and left. While the others were inspecting Rarity, Star noticed the white paper underneath a nightstand. “What’s this?” he picked it up to discover it to be a note, he began to read “I knew you would come to her aid little lamb” the others gathered around to listen. “Your friend in the bed has been poisoned with my incurable venom. If you wish to save her, come to my lair in the frozen tundra beyond the Crystal Empire, bring the dying wad of flesh with you, other than that, come alone. Signed Rosemary Queen of the vampire race.” a long silence filled the room. Star made his way to the bed and hoisted Rarity onto his back.
“What do you think you’re doing?” asked Twilight
“What do you think i’m helping Rarity. I’m going to this place to find Rosemary and make her fix Rarity.” his face beamed with intensity and determination.
“At least wait for Princess Celestia to…..” Star stopped her
“No. look at her Twilight, she won’t make it till then. I need to go now, if i don’t then she might……..” he paused and peered at the floor. A single tear fell from his nose and hit the floor. “No, lets not think about that right now. Twilight, I need you to teleport me to the Crystal Empire.” she looked at Star and noticed his legs, they were shaking. She realized that he wasn’t doing it because he wanted pay back or to look brave. He was doing it for her. “I can do you one better.” she smiled. The tundra was cold, the wind was howling and the snow was blinding. Despite the unrest and chaos, the tundra was peaceful. Suddenly, a flash of light dropped hooves into the undisturbed snow. Star pulled down his mask and looked around. He could see faint lights and the silhouette of the Crystal Empire through the twisting wind and piercing snow. He put his mask back on and began walking in the opposite direction. His hooves sunk in the snow with the weight two ponies. Rarity lie on his back, still unconscious, wrapped in multiple blankets to form what looked like a cocoon of fabric with just a small amount of her face showing.
Star walked for what seemed like days scaling small mountains, navigating ravines, and searching. He took shelter in small ice caves and crudely crafted igloos. He ran out off food on the sixth day and knew he wouldn’t be able to survive much longer. Three more days without food or water and Star is beginning to feel the side effects. Finally, on the last day, he couldn’t continue. He collapsed under the pressure, unable to carry his own body weight. Before he blacked out he noticed that Rarity fell beside him. He looked at her exposed face as his eyes began to close.
“I’m sorry. I tried” a tear rolled down his cheek and froze. He blacked out. Minutes after he went under, two silhouettes appeared over their unconscious bodies. They nodded at each other, hoisted the bodies onto their backs and vanished into a wisp of black smoke.
“I’m so glad you came to visit my little lamb.” Star regained consciousness and slowly sat up to see the mare from the nightclub.
“Rosemary? Where am I?” Stars light headedness prevented him from sitting up all the way. When his vision cleared, he noticed he was in a large and luxurious bed with red fabric. He was also wearing a red robe that had a black belt and felt as though it were made of silk.
“Hmm, you remembered my name. That’s wonderful.” she smirked in a strange and seductive manner and began hovering over his impaired body. Just then, his stomach released a loud, deep, and empty growl. She looked at his stomach then back at him and continued to smile seductively. “I keep forgetting about how long you’ve been out there without adequate food.” she gestured towards a dark part of the otherwise empty room. “I put this together when you first arrived here. I hope you enjoy yourself, little lamb.” as she finished, torches began igniting one by one down what looked like a dinning hall. The torches illuminated a large wooden table piled high with amazing looking food of all different shapes and colors. Steaming boles of roasted chestnuts, large layered chocolate cake, warm apple pie, plates filled with all kinds of cookies, and a whole lot of brownies. Star stood up and rushed over to the table and began eating.
Rosemary sat and watched his throat as the food and water slipped down into his stomach. She gazed at him, scanning him, admiring his living flesh. She could hear his heart pumping blood through his warm body to a rhythm that completely entranced her. She could feel his lungs fill the air with his breath.
“Wait, where's Rarity?” she snapped out of her trance and noticed that the table was half empty.
“Well, i guess that you were going to ask eventually.” she turned towards a dark part of the room. “Follow me.” he followed her through the dark hallway and into a large dimly lit chamber. Star could hear the howling of the tundra wind and what whispers carried by the breeze. Rosemary lifted her hoof to her chest and projected her voice. “Light the torches!!” Her voice reverberated of the seemingly empty walls.
One by one, like the bedroom, the torches were ignited, illuminating the whole chamber in an eerie glow. The walls and ceiling were covered in hundreds of bats, they were then startled and flew down to the ground. In one swift wisp of black smoke the horde of bats became a group ponies. Star, startled by the suddenness of the transformation, cowered in fear of what would become of him. He then heard what sounded like a stallions voice speaking to Rosemary. He calmed himself while on the floor and began listening to conversation.
“This pitiful sack of pony flesh is who you chose to lead us as patriarch? This underling couldn’t even lead his way out of a plastic bag.” the group began laughing.
“Leave him alone Burtrum! I’m the matriarch of this coven, which means that you have to respect my decision.” he spun around and got up in her face.
“Don’t call me that! My name is Bloodborne.” he growled in contempt. Star continued to lie there, feeling the breathing of the other vampires watching him, examining him.
“While i agree that he isn’t much now, but he has the potential to be the one we were looking for. He matches the description of the prophecy.” she picked up his wings and displayed them. “He’s an alicorn outside of the royal family.”
“Ha!” he bellowed in confidence. “You mean the ramblings of your grandfather on his deathbed. Look, i understand that your father was killed all those years ago by those vampire hunters, but that doesn’t mean you can use your heritage to fill the heads of the others with fairy-tales.” she dropped his wings and looked at him in scorn.
“Don’t you dare bring my father into this.” she unfurled her bat-like wings for assertion and intimidation. “He was the best patriarch in the covens history and i will not allow you to sully his name in any way shape or form! You will learn your place underling.”
“Resorting to intimidation, I see.” he chuckled. “Shall we see how he feels about the babblings of an old, feeble, and delusional stallion.” he made his towards Star and picked him up by the elbow. “What do you think of all that is going on around you right now?” Star remained silent. “Speak inferior creature!”
“Where's Rarity?” he asked in a menacing tone.
“You mean the other one we found with you? She’s in our holding cell.” he gestured to one of many cave like corridors in the wall. “But cretins like you are not and will never be allowed to enter.”
“Unless you become one of us, a vampire.” she intervened. “Follow little lamb and listen as I reveal to you the beginning, middle, and end of our covens history.” Star followed Rosemary down one of the many corridors; peeking over his shoulder to see the others watching as they vanished into darkness. Bloodborne watched Star intently with a look of doubt plastered on his face.
They continued down the cavernous corridor. The only source of light was a candle she grabbed prior to their entrance. They continued down the dark narrow hallway for minutes before they came to stop.
“Our race was once a powerful one. We had ruled over what is now known as Equestria hundreds of thousands of years before the ponies came from across the ocean. There land was being terrorized by the windigoes, forcing them to come to our shores.” she dropped the candle into a small stone pot. The pot ignited with a small burst of flame and light revealing a dome like room that they had entered. She turned to look at a portion of the illuminated wall that had detailed pictures and drawings of ponies and vampires. “We offered them peace and prosperity, but they returned with war, death, and destruction. We lost many great friends at that moment in time.” they continued to the next picture. “We were forced underground and after hundreds of years, lost the ability to withstand sunlight. We eventually gained the artillery to strike back and take back our home. Under the rule of my grandfather; we fought back and came close to victory. We made our way to Canterlot and much to our surprise, two ponies stood up to us and took us down singlehooved. There power was overwhelming and elegant. They were able to beat everyone in the coven In one fell swoop.” she dropped her head and her voice lowered to a saddened monotone. “The sunlight at their backs and wings out stretched; they commanded the sun and turned most of us into dust. My grandfather was Siriusly injured during the sun's deadly onslaught. We retreated and healed him as best as we could. When he awoke, he began shouting that he had some sort of vision.” tears began flowing from her eyes and lightly patted the ground with grace and sadness. “His wounds were to severe and he died shortly after waking up. But before he passed; he shared his vision with the coven.” she paused.
“What happened? What did he say?” he gradually made his way towards Rosemary to comfort her. He placed his hoof on her shoulder, noticing her ice cold skin that felt both soft and brittle at the same time. She looked up at him, eyes full of tears and anguish.
“H…. he said that he saw the future.” she paused wiped her tears away and continued after calming herself. ”He saw a powerful figure bearing wings and a horn; that would one day lead the coven to a future of peace and prosperity. He said that the figure would become the patriarch who would return us to the sun’s grace; and we will walk on the surface again, basking in its heavenly glow. Our eternal thirst for both blood and revenge would be clenched.” she pulled down a large red curtain; revealing another painted section of the wall. “This is what we envision for the future of the coven!” The wall depicted a large battle between two groups of what looked like ponies and vampires charging at each other with spears drawn. The top of the painting depicted three creatures that looked like alicorns, but one had goliath bat wings and was painted without a face or any other defining features. The other two alicorns on the opposite side of the painting felt familiar to Star. one was white and had a long flowing pink mane while the other was a dark blue, shorter than the other, and had a shorter mane. He lightly took off and hovered around the top of the painting in order to get a closer look. He noticed the painted sky above the three deities was strange and seemed almost, split. The area above the one without features was blackened to a dark red and the sun was just depicted as a black circle with a little yellow halo around it.
“I can’t shake the feeling that I've seen that weird sun before; or at least something like it.” he pondered as he began his descent. Rosemary wrapped her arm around him and pulled him close to her.
“My grandfather said that the coming of the figure would be marked by the eclipse. The black sun would rise high into the sky and change it to a beautiful shade of blood red.” Star, with sudden realization, spun his head around to look at his flank. He realized that his cutie mark bore a striking resemblance to the painted sun on the wall. He then thought of Rarity and the condition he last saw her in; the urgency behind his mission lead him to make a quick and immediate decision.
“You said something about me becoming a patriarch?” he paused. “A vampire?”
“Yes I did little lamb.” her voice showing signs of confidence and level headedness.
“Then i’ll do it; i’ll become a vampire.” her eyes lit up with a sense of accomplishment. “Under one condition.” her smile had vanished and her face returned to its original intensity.
“Oh!? And what would that be?” the question had a seductive undertone. She waltzed flirtatiously, closing the gap between her and Star. “Because from my point of view, you don’t have a lot of…” she paused for a moment and moved even closer. At that point, there noses were just inches away from touching each other. She bit her lip and continued. “Wiggle room.” she tapped his nose with her own.
“Rarity” he said keeping the position that the mare had put him in. “I want your word that you will cure her and return her to Ponyville unharmed.” she thought for a moment; pondering the consequences of her choice.
“You know I can just kill her and keep you from leaving, right?” he nodded confidently. “Very well then, you have my word. She will be cured and kept safe until her return home.” Star felt a wave of relief wash over his body at the thought of her being safe. “Now my little lamb, you will fallow me to the chamber of new blood.”
Star waited in the bedroom for what seemed like hours. Screeching of bats and whispers of voices could be heard beyond the wooden door. He realized that he’s never truly felt the cold and dark embrace of loneliness until that moment. The darkness in the room felt as though it were closing around him; preparing to pounce and drag him into the emptiness.
The knob slowly began to turn. The door swung open creating a small gust of cold wind. Bloodborne stood silhouetted in the doorway motioning to Star to follow him. They walked down multiple corridors until they reached a brightly lit cavern with an altar in the center. The altar was expertly crafted from the naturally occurring stone in the cave. Torches illuminated all sides and at the bottom were old looking pony bones. The entire coven were seated all around the altar like a stadium and chanting cryptic words in an oddly soothing monotone. Rosemary stood atop the altar in well kept hooded robes grinning. He made his way to the area where she had been waiting.
“Morningstar? What’s going on?” he stopped in his tracks, mortified at the sound of her voice. He slowly peered over to his left to see Rarity chained to a deteriorating stone column. Blood dripped down from the old rusty chains that clung tightly to her wrists.
“Hey we had a deal. My life for her safety.” Bloodborne walked towards her at a slow pace and stood next to her with a mischievous look on his face.
“Just a little bit of insurance; to make sure you don’t try to leave. She should also serve as a bit of motivation.” the smug tone in his voice was almost lost in the chantful humming of the onlooking vampires in the room. He then turned to Rarity, blood now dripping onto her exposed belly, and started eyeballing the blood as it ran down the length of her body. He stuck out his lacerated tongue and began licking it off of her cheek. “You’re sweeter than I expected.” he lowered his head to meet her blood covered stomach.
“I swear if you don’t leave her alone…”
“If you want me to stop then you should hurry up.” he looked Star in the eye as his tongue began slowly caressing her belly; fondling every drop of blood it lapped up. Her skin crawled with touch of his barbed, sandpaper like tongue. Her face began to redden as the wet appendage explored every inch of her underbelly.
Star turned towards the altar were Rosemary stood patiently waiting. When he got to the top of the altar; a wave stench hit him like a freight train. He stood on a large grate above what seemed like a pool of churning blood. Rosemary extended one hoof into the air and without warning, the rhythmic humming stopped.
“Coven!” she shouted. “Today we gather here to witness the coming of a new era, the fulfillment of a prophecy set forth many years ago, and the rise of a patriarch that will lead us to greatness once again. By bathing in the blood of our ancestors; he will be given our strengths and none our weaknesses. He will end the reign of the sun and the moon and rule over the ponies of equestria for all eternity.” she looked at Star. “Do you, Morningstar, agree uphold the traditions of the coven?”
“I do.” the words slid off his lips without hesitation.
“Do you, Morningstar, promise to love and respect your matriarch with all of your heart?” Star was surprised at the question. He looked over his shoulder at Rarity, who had been liked clean of blood, and smiled.
“I do” once again without hesitation. When he turned back to Rosemary, she planted a kiss on his lips. The kiss was romantically executed and dragged out. All of the on looking vampires in the room cheered for the entire length of the affectionate display.
“Morningstar no!” she cried. “Why are you doing this!?” she could feel the life she had envisioned for her and Star slipping away. Tears began welling in her eyes as she tried to fight free of her restraints. Star pulled away from Rosemary and turned to Rarity, who then used her magic to break the chains and gallop to his company. She wrapped her arms around him and buried her head into his chest. She could hear the rhythmic pounding of his heart with her ear pressed against his chest. “Morningstar, what’s going on? Who are these ponies?” Star gently pulled her head out of his chest.
“They’re vampires. They think i’m some sort of chosen one; destined to lead the coven back to greatness.”
“This is ludicrous Star. Why can’t we just fly home and forget about this?”
“Look around.” he said softly and patiently. “They outnumber us ten to one. They’ll overpower us in a matter of seconds and then kill us.”
“But why are you joining them? Why do you have to do this and not someone else?” she said frantically, tears still streaming down her eyes.
“Because if I don’t then they will kill you and everypony back in Ponyville.” he stopped and turned back towards Rosemary. “I can’t let that happen. So we compromised. My allegiance and leadership for your health and the safety of everypony in Ponyville.” he looked back at her with tears in his eyes. “We all make sacrifices for the ones we love. And what we sacrifice sometimes determines the amount of love we hold for that other pony.” he wiped his face free of tears. “Whether it be declining that big promotion at work to spend more time with your family, helping your grandpa with household chores instead hanging out with your friends, or giving your life to save another. This is my sacrifice. Giving my life to to save my friends and family.” Bloodborne and another vampire swept in and restrained Rarity, pulling her back and removing her from the grate. Two other vampires came up to Star and restrained his hooves, latching him onto the grate.
Rosemary removed herself from the metal platform leaving Star as the only one left standing in the center of the platform. She pointed her hoof at the sealing as the room fell silent. The room felt empty and lifeless, a pin could have been heard hitting the ground. Rosemary dropped her hoof and hit the ground with a loud boom that echoed throughout the quiet room and bounced off the walls, reverberating and shaking the grate beneath Stars feet. The grate began to lower into the pool. Rarity, once again, broke free of her restraints and ran up to the ledge of the pit.
“Morningstar! I LOVE YOU!” she screamed into the the pit.
“I know.”
His hooves entered the blood. Pain rushed through his body with a burning feeling that was equivalent to his skin melting off. Star let out a blood curdling scream that echoed off the pits walls. He continued screaming until the blood entered his mouth filling his stomach and lungs. The blood entered every orifice that could be considered an entrance, whether it was painless or painful. His screaming was silenced and the fell quiet once again.
`Where am I?` he thought to himself. `That’s right, the blood. How long are they going to keep me in here?` the question echoed through his mind as if he were screaming into a dark canyon.
“When you finally realize the darkness inside you and embrace it.” Star’s eyes shot open at the sound of the mysterious voice in the back of his mind. He looked around, trying to see beyond the overtaking crimson fluid that had entered his body. He was able to catch site of a silhouette, walking with a slow pace towards Star.
`Who are you and what do you want?` he asked in his mind, expecting the mysterious pony to be able to hear him.
“You know who I am.” he crept closer until Star could accurately make out the details of the figure's face. “I’m your darkside.” Star’s eyes widened as he stared in perplexity at the site of the near mirror-like image of himself staring back at him.
`What’s going on?! Why do you look like me?!`
“All you really need to know is that you are going to be the new patriarch. This area at the bottom of the pool is a type of in between, a state of Limbo if you will. What that means is that you can breath down here without drowning. You are also in a state of suspended animation; which means that you can stay down here for literally eons without getting hungry, thirsty, or tired.” he explained with an educated and prestigious tone.
“That doesn’t answer my question. Why do you look like me?” with each syllable, he could taste the thin layer of blood iron lining the inside of his mouth. He looked away from Star as if he were pondering multiple things at once.
“I represent the darkest parts of your soul.” he said with a menacing monotone. “Every one of your darkest secrets and fears pooled together and molded into what you see before you.” his voice changed to that of monsters; deep, scratchy, and demonic. With a flick of his neck, he looked back at Star bearing razor sharp teeth and glowing red eyes. “A manifestation of the darkness buried in the deepest darkest depths of your mind, body, and soul. I am your rage, sadness, lust, fear, and sin. I am your dark side!” he backed away from Star’s face and cleared his throat. His eyes and voice returned to their original state. “As for why i’m here standing before you is simple. Acceptance and acknowledgment.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“It means that you must come to terms with the fact that I exist. Your entire life has been spent suppressing me, betraying me, denying my existence in favor of being the good guy. Only then will I gain enough power to enter your soul and truly become one with the light in your heart. Once I achieve that, we will be able to climb out of this hole in the ground.” he continued his explanation. “And before you ask, no you will not lose control. You will simply become more……. real.” Star could tell he was lying through his teeth, but his mind was elsewhere. He didn’t care about the vampires or his darkness, all he cared about was protecting his friends.
“Fine i’ll let you in.” he said reluctantly. “How does this work?”
“Just stand there and clear your mind.” he replied with a devilish grin. “Hold still!” Star could feel the rush of darkness pouring into him. His dark side vanished in a black haze and entered his heart.
The blood around him, once again, started burning. He could feel his flesh melt off his body, exposing the muscle tissue beneath. He felt all of his muscles tightening, making it hard to move. He felt his bones grow in length and thickness, making him taller. His wings cept growing, becoming more than double their original size. The iron in the blood began accumulating on his horn; making it longer and heavier. He could feel his mind being toyed with; wires being pulled and new connections being made. He could feel the darkness pool inside of him, his magic becoming overwhelmingly powerful. His teeth began popping out one by one, gently cascaded to the ground, leaving his mouth empty and toothless. A stabbing pain soon replaced them as new and razor sharp teeth took their places. They erupted from the roof of his mouth and split his tongue half, leaving it lacerated as it too continued to grow. Then, everything went silent.
His body went limp and his head fell. His skinless body lie there at the bottom of the blood pool, still bolted to the steel grate.
`It’s so…… cold.` he thought. `I’m so……… hungry.` the blood lust began to build, forming a void in his stomach. The blood began to flow around him in a gentle stream. The blood current moved along the length of his body, manifesting itself into a solid and replacing the original skin with a thicker and darker substitute. Metallic flesh covered the muscle and bone that had once been covered in feathers. As his new skin finished growing, his mane grew longer until the tips of his mane turned blood red.
“You are ready.” the voice rang for one last time.
His eyes opened and the blood separated. His horn released a power beam of red energy, hitting the cave ceiling with great force. The beam subsided and the grate began to rise to the upper level. The grate came to a halt with a loud clang and the onlookers began to whisper, wondering how Star would react to his newfound power. Rarity watched in horror of what happened to him, yet also wondered how this would turn out. He hoisted the heavy horn into the air as the torch light shimmered off the polished iron.
“Star?” Rarity asked with a worried tone. He looked at her through the corner of his bloodshot eye.
“Get her out of here and back to Ponyville.” his deep and monstrous voice shook Rarity’s soul and instilled fear where there had once been hope that he was okay. “Before i lose control and drain the blood from her body.” he then smiled and addressed the coven as whole. “Coven! Your new leader has arrived!” he said projecting his voice. “I am your new Blooded Patriarch!” he paused as if waiting for dramatic effect. “The Prince of Darkness!!!” the chamber then filled with booming sound of voices cheering. “And now a throne fit for a prince.” his horn was illuminated with dark red energy as he looked at blood pool. The crimson matter shot into the air like a geyser and then solidified to form an iron throne.
He climbed the steps and sat in his new royal throne. He then levitated Rosemary and placed her in the throne he had constructed just for her. He peered at Rarity as two members started dragging her to the exit.
“Rarity.” her skin crawled at the sound of her name in that voice. The two that were dragging her to the exit, stopped and forcibly spun her around to look at him. “When you return to Ponyville, tell Twilight that war is coming.” Rosemary looked up at him in bewilderment. As they dragged her away, she spotted a single tear roll over his cheek and watched as it plummet to the ground.
Back in Ponyville, Twilight had been pacing back and forth in the throne room ever since Star’s departure. Spike entered the room with a sandwich on a plate in one claw and a glass of water in the other. He looked at her with an expression of concern and started a conversation with the fatigued princess.
“Twilight, I uhh…. made you a sandwich.” he held the plate up to her face but was instantly ignored. “Listen Twilight. I know you’re worried about Star and Rarity, but you haven't slept in days and i think it’s having negative effects on your mind. You’ve barely had anything to eat or drink, you’re getting thinner and not in a good way.” she continued to pace back and forth, ignoring the concerned dragon. Spike grabbed her tail in an attempt to get her to stop but only ended up being dragged along the floor with his heels skidding against the ground. “Twilight, stop and eat something!” he shouted trying to get her attention again, but she eventually kicked him off. Frustrated, he jumped and grabbed her face, pulling her down to meet his gaze. “Twilight! You need to eat something!”
“Eat something? Eat something?! Eat something?!!!” she pulled away from his grip. “You expect me to eat in a time like this?! Last time we saw them, Rarity was sick and Star was heading for the tundra! It’s been eleven days since they left and Shining Armor hasn’t said anything about them returning to the Crystal Empire! They ran out of food five days ago and Rarity was on the edge when they left!
“Twilight, I just…”
“You just what, Spike!? Let's evaluate the current situation! Star and Rarity are lost in on the tundra, there is currently no sign of them returning, Princess Celestia doesn’t know about any of this, and you want me to eat something?!?! Honestly Spike, do you even care about……..” she was silenced, mid sentence, by the sharp pain and purple bler of a dragon claw slapping her across the face. She looked at him, his arm still raised, and placed her hoof on her cheek.
“Don’t you dare accuse me of not caring!” he said with his claws balled into fists at his side. “You know me better than anypony else, so you know I would never not care about my friends! This isn’t only your burden to bear Twilight! Sweetie belle is at Sweet Apple Acres waiting for her older sister to return! We are all suffering from this.” Spike stormed out of the room and Twilight sat there, still dumbfounded at the baby dragons actions.
She looked at the sandwich he had made her sitting on the ground. Tears began welling up in her eyes when she noticed that he had made her favorite. She sat on the ground facing the door, pulled the small meal closer and began eating with a smile on her face and tears rolling down her cheeks.
As she finished the final bites of the well crafted sandwich, a loud banging was heard at the door. She pushed the door open to find Rarity lying on the ground, nearly drained of energy. “Oh my Celestia! Spike come help me it’s Rarity!” He sped onto the scene and helped Rarity onto Twilight’s back. “Spike! Go out and tell everypony that we found Rarity.”
“Yes ma’am!” he dashed out of the castle. Twilight, having been able to muster enough strength, managed to get the unconscious Rarity to the closest room with a bed, Star’s room.
She entered the dark room, found the bed and put her in it. She thought to herself `Spike was right. I’m to tired to even use my magic.` Twilight sat there in the dark, by Rarity’s bedside, waiting for her friends to arrive.
Meanwhile, in the coven’s cave system. Morningstar lie’s on his back in the bed of velvet fabric that he first awoke in, staring at the ceiling. Rosemary came out of the closet in another red silk robe, and got the bed with him.
“Last night was amazing my shepherd.” she said as she wrapped her around his chest. Star could hear the exhaustion in the way she spoke, but decided to change the subject.
“Shepherd? What happened to little lamb?” he turned his head to look at her.
She giggled like a small philly. “You’re no longer a servant of the crown. You’re the patriarch of the coven, the shepherd of the flock.” she smiled at him and pulled his head closer to hers. “And I am the shepherd’s wife.” she planted a kiss on his ice cold lips. As she turned away, now facing the wall, she dawned a look of concern. Silence filled the room as Star continued staring at the ceiling.
“Why did you tell the meat bag to warn the crown of our attack? Don’t you care about our victory?” she kept her eyes on the wall, worried about what his reply would be.
“I wanted to give them a fighting chance. When I drain the blood from Celestias veins and take her spot on the throne, I would like them all to know that they put up a good and honorable fight.” he got out of the bed and made his way to the door.
“Wait, won't that inspire an uprising later down the line?”
“Maybe, maybe not.” he left the room and made his way to his iron throne. He was soon followed by Rosemary.
“Why are we out here?” he responded with an empty stare into nothingness. As he sat in the hard iron throne, his eyes seemed as if they went blank or entered a state of meditation. He idly sat there staring into the darkness of the room with no hint of movement in the near future.
Back at the castle in Ponyville, the mane six, and the royal sisters were gathered around Rarity’s bedside, waiting for her return to consciousness. Sweetie bell was laying in the bed with Rarity, head on her chest and tears flowing out of her eyes. Rainbowdash was using her time to go through Star’s things.
“Hey, Dash. Do yuh really think this is the time fer that?” Applejack asked.
“Oh come on AJ! Just think about it. We really don’t know anything about Star. Pinkie doesn't even know when his birthday is.” she explained while still rummaging through his things.
“It’s true!” Pinkie chimed in. “I asked him tons of times and he never tells me. I mean, why wouldn’t you want to celebrate your own birthday?!” Rainbowdash crawled under the bed, continuing her search. She came out with a black and blue duffel bag in her teeth. She reached into the bag and retrieved a small tape recorder.
“Ha! I found something that may help.” Twilight levitated the small piece of technology out of her grasp. “Hay, give that back! I thought you were too tired to use your magic!”
“I am.” she explained. “I’m lucky i’m able to even do this much.” she directed her attention to the recorder. “Rainbowdash, I don’t think we should be poking around Stars room like this.”
“Think about it Twilight. That recorder might be the only way to wake up Rarity!” they all looked at her with befuddled expressions. “I’ve been thinking, what if Stars voice was the only thing that could wake her up wake her up? I mean, she did like him so much. And it is the perfect opportunity to learn more about him.” Twilight thought for moment then nodded at Rainbowdash. She pressed play on the tape recorder. With a click of the button, the small black brick began projecting a hushed background noise that sounded similar to rainfall. A few seconds of background static passed before they could hear a voice calmly speaking into the mic.
“Day one in Equestria.” everyone in the room gathered around, listening to their missing friends voice. “Today, I met everypony that I’ll most likely spend the most time with, but first my thoughts on the two princesses.” Celestia and Luna came in closer. “Celestia is kind of a blank slate. I have know idea who she is behind the goddess physique that she projects all the time, so i don’t believe we will be getting to know each other anytime soon, and I honestly kind of regret that.” Celestia withdrew her head. Twilight caught a slight glimpse of regret on her mentor's face. “As for her sister Princess Luna, the case is the exact opposite. She’s outgoing, kind, and has an actual personality. She’s the kind of pony that I would like to have as a friend.” Luna smiled in praise, the tape continued.
“On to the one that i’ll be spending a lot of my time with, Twilight.” she brought her head closer. “She is extremely powerful and gifted in all things magic, but is a bit of a know it all. Sometimes it seems like she rubs her knowledge in her friends faces. But this is just an initial analysis of her personality. I’m sure i’ll get to know her better throughout my stay in Equestria.” the tape came to an end with click and a buzzing sound.
“FLIP THE TAPE OVER!” they all shouted at her in unison. Twilight hastily popped open the tape dock, ripped out the tape, and shoved it back in on the other side and pressed play. It clicked back to life and continued.
“On to Pinkie Pie.” she smiled and got closer. “She is so fun and energetic, she's always on the move. There is not a single negative thing I can think of about her. She sang me welcome song as soon as I introduced myself, I mean talk about a first impression. If I met somepony more like her back home, I would have thought that they were crazy.” the smile on her face only grew to make up more than half of her face. The tape continued.
“Rainbowdash” his voice projected through the speaker.
“I bet he's just going to drone on and on about how awesome I am. I mean who wouldn’t?” they all shushed as she crossed her arms and rolled her eyes.
“Honestly, i’m at a loss for words. She’s a little impulsive, hard headed, and is more of a show pony than anything else. But you can tell that everything she does is to change what you think of her for the better. She’s supportive at one point and competitive the next. She is fun to hang out with though and I look forward to knowing her better.”
“Not exactly what I expected.” she said rolling her eyes again
“On to Fluttershy.” she backed her head away in fear and concern for what he might say about her. “She’s the kindest and coolest pony i’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting and i’m proud to call her my friend. The only thing holding her back is her shyness, if she were to be more confident, then she could achieve so much more in life.” her face dawned a small, bashful, yet satisfied smile.
“Now for Applejack.” she repeated the actions of her friends and drew closer. “I uhh…. Have a confession to make.” he paused. A nervous gulp could be heard in the background. “I think like her, as in more than a friend. Sure she seems a bit stubborn and hard headed, but that voice is like honey to my ears. Or, in this case, it would be apple cider.” she just stood there with her cheeks turning red, listening to all the things that he was saying about her. The warm fuzzy feeling that filled the room vanished as soon as he stated. “I know I said that I was going to do the things that I would never do back home, but I can’t ask her out. I’m uhh….. I’m terrified of rejection. I don’t know what I would do if I asked and she said no. She probably would have said no.” the tape went silent with the only sound coming through the speaker was something that sounded like crying. He sniffled, then continued. “And i’m the one who said Fluttershy needed more confidence. Why is it so hard to tell beautiful mares how I feel?”
“Did he just call me beautiful?” she looked at the floor, lowering the brim of her hat and said. “Ah never woulda’ guessed that he felt that way.” her cheeks were still flushed with a reddish hue.
“On to the last one, Rarity.” her ear twitched slightly. “She seems a little uhh... pretentious. But she also seems like a nice and generous pony. It might take a little adapting to retaliate, but I think we’ll get along just fine. Although, I have noticed that she’s a little touchy feely on me, her eyes wander a bit too much, and I do occasionally catch her staring at me. If I didn’t know any better, I would say that she actually likes me.” there was a moment of silence before he continued. “Might just be my imagination though. But if she does like me like that, then I don’t know what to do. If I say something, then I might end up scaring her off. But if I don’t do anything, then somepony else will come around and she’ll lose interest. I’m so confused, I've never had somepony like me before. Well, that I'd noticed, at least.” he paused once again. “Why am I working myself up like this, over something as insignificant as small looks. I doubt that she likes me like that. I’m not that interesting, I would even go as far as to say that I don’t believe that i’m attractive at all. ” the tape, once again, came to an end with a click. Everyone in the room stood speechless, gazing at the now silent tape recorder.
“It was nice hearing Star’s voice the way it used to be.” Rarity stated from the bed. They all turned to the bed in surprise and gathered around her.
“Rarity!!” Sweetie Belle ran up to her as fast as she could and hugged her as if she was never going to see her again. “I was so worried about you.” she began crying into her sister’s chest. Warm, salty tears pouring down her cheeks in streams and dripping onto the bed sheets. “I thought I was going to lose you.” she tightened her vise-like grip on her. Rarity lightly caressed her head, wrists still red and tender from the old rusty shackles. She turned to Twilight noticing her apparent worn out condition.
“Twilight darling, what happened? You look almost as bad as I feel.” she dawned an anemic and sickly smile, trying to hide the pain she was in.
“That’s not important right now. What is important is how you’re doing, how did you get back, and where in Equestria is Morningstar?” the sad smile on Rarity's face vanished as tears began streaming down her cheeks. She stopped stroking Sweetie’s mane and placed her hoof back at her side. Voice full of mourn, she told them of everything that had happened to her, and to Star. She told them about the vampires of the coven and what the guards told her of the prophecy. Everyone in the room listened in disbelief as more and more of the story came to light. The tale ended with the message that Star gave to Rarity.
“War is coming.” she said allowed. The room fell into a dead silence. The tension increased as they all stood there, minds processing the prospect of war between the living and undead. The long period of silence was ended by the urgent pitter-patter of Celestias hooves hitting the bluish crystalline floor, making her way for the door. She exited the room and addressed the two royal guards she positioned outside the room. “You! Go to Canterlot and prepare all troops for battle. When I give the word, you are to assemble outside the city facing to the north!”
“Yes Princess!” he proclaimed with a solute before departing. She turned her attention to the second one.
“And I want you to go the Crystal Empire and notify Princess Cadence and Prince Shining Armor of the impending attack on Canterlot and ask them to send extra troops to support our military.” he repeated the actions of the first and left. Celestia had started making her way for the door, determination filled her every step. Her eyes, filled with fortitude, stared sharply at the door as if it were going to vanish without a trace.
“What are you doing sister!?” the booming sound of Luna’s royal voice was enough to get her to stop in her tracks.
“I’m preparing for the attack. We’re going to need as much help as we can get. The vampires didn’t win last time and they won’t win this time.” she turned to look back at Luna “Come Luna, we must prepare our armaments and condition the guards.” she turned to face the door assuming the her sister would obediently follow.
“No.” she replied. Celestia spun her head around to look back at her sister astonishment. Luna stood there with her head cocked back and wings opened to there full length. “While I agree that something needs to be done about the vampires, I don’t think an all out war is the best answer. I know it doesn’t seem like it now, but Morningstar would never let us down. I can’t explain how but I know he’ll come through for us in the long run.” Celestia, now with her head lowered projecting an aura of sadness, looked up at her sister and replied with.
“If you don’t want to fight along my side, fine. But don’t you dare put your faith in an evil blood sucking vampire!” with that, she left for Canterlot.
“Excuse me princess.” Fluttershy chimed. “If you don’t mind me asking, why does Celestia hate vampires so much?” Luna turned to look at them. She sighed and told the story.
“You all know the story of hearth's warming, correct?” they nodded in accord. “Then you have not heard the aftermath story.” they all looked at her with curious expressions. “Our story begins many moons after we came and settled here in Equestria. We lived and survived under the veil of friendship which allowed us to find peace amongst the three races. But as we began to immigrate further inland, we discovered that we were not the only things that called this place home. We discovered a native tribe of creatures that referred to themselves as vampires. Because of the lack of leadership and the language barrier, the early Equestrians saw their actions and culture as hostile and attacked the vampires.”
“So this all just one big misunderstanding?” Twilight inquired.
“I wish it were Twilight, but several moons after my sister and I rose to power, they attacked a small village barely in its infancy and slaughtered hundreds. They claimed that they were retaking land that was had been stolen from them. Enraged by the deaths of her citizens, she retaliated by placing a horrible curse on them.” she took a deep breath. “My sister is the one responsible for the vampires inability to go out in sunlight and there unquenchable thirst for blood. This secret is one that not even the vampires are aware of, not even in the slightest.”
“That’s it! Why don’t we just break the curse? If we do that, then maybe they will stop the attack.” Twilight insisted.
“I understand your intentions Twilight, but that is simply impossible. The curse can only be broken by Celestia, and only Celestia. In her mind, the only thing we can do is fight. She wishes to do away with every vampire, and at the moment, that includes Star.” the room fell silent at the thought of the death of their friend.
“Princess.” Twilight, with a plan in mind, spoke confidently to Luna. “You should go and be with Celestia, everypony will stay here and help me with my plan.” Luna nodded reluctantly and left for Canterlot. Rarity told Sweetie Bell to home to the carousel boutique and Twilight sent spike to keep her company.
As they gathered around Twilight to discuss her plan, Morningstar ended his all seeing gaze into the darkness of the Covens main chamber. When he became aware once again, he discovered that the others had gathered around him, waiting for instruction.
“Get ready, we leave now.” he arose from the iron throne and started for the exit.
“But sire, we will die in the light. We will be fighting the sun and her children, we are at a disadvantage.” He stopped in his tracks and peered over his shoulder at the underling. He looked back at the exit and continued.
“Don’t worry, I have a plan for that.” he dawned a devilish grin as his horn began emitting the dark red aura.
The royal castle of Canterlot was quiet and dimly lit by the moonlight. The rooms, corridors, and even the streets below lay barren and devoid life. The citizens of the glistening city were in their homes cowering, waiting, and anticipating the arrival of the vampire forces and the mystery of what lie on the horizon for not only Canterlot but Equestria as a whole. The moon began it’s descent and soon after, vanished into the horizon. As the moonlight faded into darkness, the sun’s rays of light emerged from the eastern horizon. It’s light cascaded across the sky, shimmering on the polished silver and gold armor of the mobilized troops. It continued casting it’s light up the royal tower to reveal a fully armored Celestia. She stood there, eyes full of intense rage and hatred for the enemy. Her armor covered her from head to tail in glistening gold plating that reflecting the light in a way that made it seem as if the armor itself was crafted from it. She was soon joined by her sister wearing armor similar her own but instead was a dark hue of silver and covered all but the head. Celestia stepped forward, her glistening armor catching the attention of the large battalion stationed outside the northern border. Using her royal voice, she addressed the contingent of troops down below.
“Attention my loyal subjects!” her roaring voice was heard for miles, grabbing the attention of even those not in iron clad armor. “We have lived in peace and prosperity for thousands of years, worry free and confident that the day war threatened to destroy our way life would never come upon us. But that day has come; the day to pick up arms and rise against evil. Our enemy is one you have heard legends of, but dismissed as myth. They skulk in the shadows and strike without warning. They go by many names but there’s only that you would recognize. They are vampires.” the troops were shocked but remained at attention. “They are evil, seductive, and murderous blood sucking demons that not only threaten to end our way of life but also threaten to end our lives. We owe it to this great land we call Equestria for protecting us. We will defend it from darkness and eradicate the vampire race. Today is the day we change the definition of what it means to win a war!!!” she reared as the hundreds of troops stomped their hooves, hollered, and cheered at the eloquent speech. As dead silence returned to the battlefield, the rhythmic pounding of drums could be heard in the distance. A blanket of shadow could be seen off in the horizon, crawling over hills making its way towards the troops. The strange mass grew closer and revealed itself to be clouds shrouded in darkness. Beneath the shroud was the entire vampire army. They stood there, protected by the shroud.
“Oh Celestia!” the monstrous voice rang in mocking tone. “I humbly request a parlay. Let us talk things out.” Celestia made a gesture to Luna signaling her to follow. They landed in the field between the two armies, waiting to see what there once trusted ally had become. “I’m glad you could make it. I hope i’m not interrupting your busy schedule.” he stepped out from the crowd and made his way to the edge of the shadow being cast by the shroud. The only thing that could seen where his eyes backed by a menacing tall silhouette.
“Star. Is that really you?” Luna asked, mortified at the sight of her student. Celestia placed her hoof in front of Luna’s face, signaling her silence.
“You can’t win. We have the upperhoof, the sun will not be going down this day.” she gazed into his demonic red eyes, firmly standing her ground. He grinned, presenting his large gruesome white fangs.
“Where's your pet frankenstein Discord? I thought for sure that you would have dragged him into this.”
“He has no business being here. This is between the ponies and the vampires.” the grin grew into a smile. “Why do you continue to smile, what are you planning?!”
“I just think it’s funny, that you think you have the advantage. Without chaos or the Elements of Harmony you have no hope of defeating me. It doesn’t matter if you have the sun at your back anymore.” he continued his slow pace towards the edge of the shroud. He lowered his head and shut his eyes. He left the safety of the shroud, light bouncing off his vicious metal horn. With each step he took, the grass turned black, weathered, and died. He unfurled his massive black metal wings, and hoisted his head using his size to intimidate Celestia. He slowly opened his eyes. There piercing gaze instilled fear in the hearts of the platoon. “As you can see, I’m not like the others.” he turned his gaze to the sky. “You have no idea of how powerful I really am.” he returned his gaze to Celestia. “I think it’s time for a demonstration.” his horn began emanating a massive amount of red energy. While Luna and the other troops turned away from the blinding light, Celestia never took her eyes off of him. She continued watching him until something that she thought was impossible caught her eye. Rising behind him was the moon and the starry night sky. It sluggishly moved across the sky, bringing the bone chilling night air with it.
“That should be impossible!!” Celestia shrieked. The moon finally reached it’s destination. As the darkness of night overpowered the light of day and the moon merged with the sun, the sky turned a very rich reddish orange color and the moon blocked the sun's harmful rays.
The light emanating from his horn ceased and the shroud vanished. “Welcome ponies of Equestria.” he addressed the kingdom as a whole. “To the Age of Eclipse!!” he pointed at the sun-moon hybrid hovering in the space above them. “You no longer have control over the sun or the moon, I’m the only one who can separate them.”
“I won’t let you get away with this.” then, in the blink of an eye, Celestia held a large sword up neck. “Tell me monster, do you bleed?” he just smiled and pulled Celestia in by the collar of her armor. They came face to face, mere inches from touching noses with the blade still at his neck. They looked into each others eyes and saw nothing but anger and determination.
“I don’t know, do you?” he responded with a toothy grin. “Let’s…. Find…. Out.” his horn illuminated with red energy that continued to grow in intensity.
“Sister no!” Luna shouted as she charged, head first, into the unknown spell being cast. With a flash of red they vanished.
“What did they do with the princesses?!” a guard shouted from the back. The Equestrian army took up arms. “Where are the princesses!?” another guard shouted. They began charging, the front line had their spears drawn and pointed at the vampire forces. Rosemary stood and shouted “Charge!!”. The two armies ran towards each other with no intent on losing. They screamed their battle cries as the dust picked up. The pounding of hooves and the beating of flapping wings sounded similar to a thunderstorm. The two armies collided with one another, spears piercing undead flesh and razor sharp fangs delving into fatty muscle tissue. Blood curdling screams of pain and agony were heard by the residence of Canterlot as they cowered in their homes.
Little did the two armies know, their leaders were teleported to the Castle of the Two Sisters in the Everfree forest so they could fight their own fight in privacy. With a bright flash and a loud bang, the three bodies were sent flying in opposite directions. Luna’s entering the spell caused it to destabilize and implode, resulting there launch from the spell field and a shock wave that reignited the torches lining the walls. They climbed to there hooves and stared at each other as if they were in an old western.
“Why did you bring us here?” Celestia asked, clearing dust from her throat.
“I need to work on my landing.” he said shaking his head vigorously. “I figured that it would be poetic, being that this is where you defeated Nightmare Moon. this castle is where you will meet your end as well; amongst the ruins that you once called home.” he turned to look at the restored banners of the sun and moon overhanging the two dilapidated thrones. “Once I beat you your highness, i’ll return to the battlefield with your living body and drain your blood completely. I want your blood to be the first that I taste. I want to know what it tastes like, how it feels when the thick red liquid courses through my veins.” he liked his lips anxiously.
“That’s not going to happen, not now, not ever!” with a flash of light a blade appeared within Celestia’s grasp.
“So that’s how it’s going to be, good. I was hoping you would put up a fight.”
He turned to look at his foe, her blade suspended in a bright yellow aura with the tip pointed at his neck. Her eyes fixated on him, analyzing his body. She stood there, her senses primed for his first strike. Her jaw dropped and her head shot back in appall as he ripped the flesh off his forearm with his fangs. The blood was black, lifeless and resembled thick sludge. It oozed from the wound, hitting the ground with loud and heavy thuds. He spat the giant chunk of flesh out of his mouth and dawned a large vicious smile that displayed the sludge dripping down the savage flesh ripping teeth in his mouth. It was then that she realized that it wasn’t hatred she felt for the monsters but fear, fear of their potential for great power. She realized that the monster that stood before her was millennia in the making.
The black sludge stopped flowing from the wound as the last drop hit the ground. A large puddle had formed at his hooves. It sat there, still and lifeless, with little to no emotion being shown by Star except the same smile. “What is the meaning of this? Why would you wound yourself before our confrontation?” Celestia asked cautiously, unable to anticipate the outcome of his seemingly suicidal action. He just kept staring at her, smiling. Then, in the blink of an eye, the vile pool of sludge wrapped itself around Stars entire arm squeezing it tightly. It then released its grip and started to climb up the length of his arm and began to solidify.
“Watch closely Celestia!” he proclaimed just before the hardening sludge enveloped his face completely. “You have lived for more than a two thousand years. I think it’s about time you gazed upon the face of death!! And I am your Grim Reaper!!!! HAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!” he howled in laughter as the sludge completely engulfed the rest of his body. For a moment, everything fell silent, and the suspense was nerve racking. Celestia kept her sword raised, unable to move from her readied position. After several minutes, the silence became deafening with Star encased in some kind of stone, Luna still passed out in the corner, and Celestia waiting in anticipation.
The sounds of cracking stone had broken the silence. As more and more of the stone broke away, the more and more of his body was released. Heinous laughter could be heard echoing of the walls. As the last of the stone plummeted to the ground, it was revealed that the sludge had become vicious black armor that covered everything but his face and neck. His mane and tail grew longer as well and swayed behind him in a way that mimicked Celestia. The whites of his eyes had gone from red to a dead white with only a single vertical line as a pupil which made it resemble a cat's eye. His horn had become a dagger like blade with serrated edges along with his wings, which had also become more dagger like with each feather presenting a new blade. His face had appeared as though his lips had melted off leaving nothing but a razor sharp smile.
“Oh Celestia……” his voice sounded more ominous and foreboding, like something you would hear in a nightmare. He stretched out his neck until it was straight and opened his mouth ever so slightly. Slowly, a strange metal object began sliding out of his throat. It was black and possessed a long blade running along the shaft until it came to a halt halfway to the end. He levitated it the rest of the way, sludge dripping from the weapon in a way that seemed as though the weapon itself were bleeding. He loudly slammed the bottom pommel on the ground revealing it to be a scythe when the blade sprang up. He stared at her, his gaze so sharp that it could cut through steel. Intimidation ran down her spine as a cold chill. The longer she stared into his eyes, the more frightened she felt herself becoming.
Celestia shook her head “YOU WILL NOT WIN!!” she shouted as she lunged forward with intent of a quick decapitation. Suddenly, there was a loud clang and a bright flash of sparks that scattered across the floor. He stopped the attack using the scythe blade as a shield and managed to trap Celestia in black chains. Sending her sword flying into a distant wall, he threw her against the wall in between the two thrones. The chains then anchored themselves to the wall in order to keep her pinned.
He inched closer to Celestia, bringing his face just an inch away from her’s. She could see his fangs in terrifying detail. He lowered his head to meet her gaze and stared at her with heinous intentions that were not yet quite clear.
“I can hear it you know.” his words gave off a steam as he spoke.
“Hear what?!”
“Your blood coursing through your veins, like a freshwater stream in the summer time. The fast but soothing pound of your heart beating to its own unique rhythm. And sound your lungs make when you inhale and exhale, inhale and exhale, inhale and exhale……..” he spoke softly and in slow repetition as if he was in a trans. “The sounds your body make are so hypnotic. Like a symphony of the most wonderful instruments.” he ogled at her skin with eyes full of yearning. He opened his mouth again, but instead of a weapon, a lacerated and slimy pink tongue with two spines on the end slid out. It thoroughly inspected her entire face leaving everything covered in slime. The spines located on the end of his tongue lightly stabbed her in the neck, drawing blood. He drew the gross appendage back into his mouth and proceeded to lik his non existent lips. “Just as I thought. The years have been good to you…… and your blood.” his pupils dilated and focused intently on her exposed neck. “Blood is much like a fine wine, you see. With age, it increases in flavor. And your blood has been fermenting for millennia.” his massive teeth slowly inched closer to her neck.
“Wait!!” Celestia shouted in panic. “Answer this one question.” he pulled his head and nodded slightly in conformation. “Why are you doing this? You’re a monster now but you used to be one the nicest ponies I've ever had the pleasure of meeting. So please tell me Morningstar, what in Equestria would compel you to betray your friends like this?” his eyes widened at the question. For the first time since everything had started, Celestia could see remorse in his eyes. She could see that Star was still there.
“F-For them.” he stumbled. “I’m doing this for them, my friends. It’s the only way I can protect them from the others. So you want to know why i’m doing this? I’m doing this to save them.” he paused for a moment as a single tear rolled down his cheek. “From me. I gave into the darkness to ensure that they will always be kept separated from the vampires.” he turned away and peered at his reflection in a piece of broken window glass on the ground. “Now that i’m like this, i can always ensure their safety and protect them from the evils that lurk in the dark…. Including me.” he turned back to Celestia and brought his back to her neck in preparation. “They won’t obey me if they think that my loyalty to the coven is shaken or false. Draining your blood is the only way I can do this, while at the same time, ensuring that the vampire race will last until the end of time.” he whispered into her ear with a murderous undertone.
“I’m sorry Star!” he heard a familiar call from behind him. He spun his head around and, much to his surprise, saw Luna in the air above him holding Celestia’s sword. She swung it above her head and brought it down as hard as she could at his side. The blade smashed through the armor like a sledge hammer and cut through the soft, meaty, and now lifeless body that it was protecting. The two halves hit the ground stirring a little dust in its wake. The chains that once bound Celestia had vanished. She got back on her hooves and made her way to the quiet Luna.
“Luna, are you okay?” she sat there silently, blood trickling from her forehead wound, gazing at the body of what once was her student and her loyal friend. A few moments of silence had passed when a slight pitter patter could be heard. Below Luna’s head were small droplets of blood and tears. “Luna?” she turned Luna's head so that she was looking at her. Celestia saw that Luna’s heart was broken beyond imagination, her face was covered in tears pouring from her eyes and the blood that started mixing with them on her cheeks. Her eyes were red and swollen, her heart was beating rapidly, and she couldn’t stop crying. “It’s okay Luna.” she embraced her sister, burying her head in her chest “it’s over now.” she said as tears began pouring from eyes as well.
They sat in silence for a short time while mourning the loss of their friend. Celestia’s grief was interrupted when she felt Luna begin to tremble. She started breathing heavily as if the air was being pulled straight out of her lungs. She pulled her away to ask what was wrong but what Celestia saw was not an expression of misery but one of complete terror. The air turned cold as a threatening shadow loomed over them. She looked into her sister's eyes and saw the reflection of the silhouette of a monster unlike anything she had ever seen. She turned her head slowly and fearfully gazed into the soulless eyes of the pony shaped monstrosity that stood there in place of their dead friend.
Its skin was completely black and resembled the sludge from before. It dripped from its body and caught fire on contact with the ground and had grown to be almost twice its original size. It leaned in with its massive head and sniffed the air. Celestia and Luna were petrified by fear and did not move a muscle. It stuck out its tongue and slid it across Luna’s face, clearing it of her blood.
With a gust of wind and a splash of blood across Celestia's face, the monster had torn an incredibly large chunk of flesh from Luna’s neck. Celestia looked over at her, and she slowly looked back. Celestia screamed in horror at the site of her little sister's lifeless body fall to the ground.
Celestia sat in silence, her soul growing cold, mind vanishing, and tears in her eyes. She gazed upon her sister lying on the ground, blood pouring from the open wound. She glanced at the monster who still had her flesh in its teeth.
“You can’t beat me.” it said to the broken Celestia. “I will just keep returning, stronger than the last.” it grew closer to her. “The untimely death of your sister is the result of your resistance to your inevitable defeat. I had planned to spare her, but you dragged us into it. It’s you fault.” he said in hushed voice. “If you hadn’t cursed us, then a monarch would not have been needed. We would be living in harmony underneath the shining sun and all of its glory. You brought this upon yourself and everyone that you hurt.”
It sunk its teeth into her neck, her main began turning a dark gray color. She could feel the life being drained from her body, the blood coursing through her veins in one direction. As the few last courts of blood began leaving her body and her thoughts started to become hazy, she thought to herself. `This really is my fault. I’m going to die cold and alone. In all my years of living I have never revealed the full truth of why I made Twilight an alicorn. I will never feel the warm embrace of my sister or anypony else ever again.` she began losing consciousness when they heard the door slam open.
“Star! If you’re in there, you need to stop!” Twilight proclaimed standing proud at the door. It stopped feasting, dropped the almost lifeless Celestia, and turned to look at them.
“I was wondering when you show up to the party.”
“If this is a party, then it’s the worst one I have ever been to!!” Pinky shouted from behind Twilight.
“Hahahaha! That’s what you came up with in terms of trash talk, how pathetic. A fetus could come up with something better!” he mocked. “But it’s exactly what i would have expected from you.”
“Hay! Leave her alone!” Rainbowdash demanded.
“Shouldn’t you be out finding new ways to kill yourself? You’ve broken your limbs so often that i’m surprised they haven’t fallen off yet.” he turned his attention to Fluttershy, who was cowering behind Applejack. “What’s wrong Fluttershy, you’re not afraid of me are you?” he grinned from ear to ear, once again showing off his blood soaked teeth.
“Don’t pay no mind to him Fluttershy. He’s just trying to get your mind.” AJ said to comfort her.
“You should listen to her Fluttershy. I mean, why should you be afraid of my razor sharp teeth that capable of tearing the flesh off bone? Just ignore my soul piercing gaze and my demonic appearance.” he started walking towards them. “So you should just pretend that i’m not fantasizing about ripping you all limb from limb.” his brisk pace gradually turned into a hasty trot. “Ignore the fact that I am more powerful than you ever could have imagined!!” his trot quickly became a rapid gallop. “Just ignore the fact that i’m going to kill all of you!!!!” he screamed at the top of his lungs. Just seconds before he got to them, Twilight put up a domed shield surrounding them.
“Star, snap out of it! It’s us your friends!!” Twilight pled. The cry echoed in his mind, heart, and soul. Buried deep within the monsters psyche was Morningstar… the Morningstar that represents everything good. He sat there in his subconscious, his head down, pale and fragile looking skin, and a puddle of tears at his hooves. All around him were echoes of the negative thoughts he had of himself.
“Why am I so stupid?”
“I can’t do anything right.”
“I’m going to die alone.”
“There’s no way that anypony could love me more than just a friend.” these thoughts and several others played on repeat, weakening the light and strengthening the dark. But one voice of positivity broke the chain, Twilights.
The monster placed one hoof on his forehead and cringed in pain. “GAAAHH!!” he shook his head and cleared it the foreign voice. “Cease these petty attempts!!!!! There is no talking sense into me nor is there negotiation. As you will soon see, i’m much more powerful than the illusion of friendship!!!” he grit his teeth as the migraine progressively grew worse.
“Friendship is not an illusion! It’s the wonderful thing in existence. The real Morningstar saw that and gave his life to protect that!!!” Twilight preached.
Frustrated by pain he shot an explosive spell at the shield while screaming “ENOUGH!!!!!!!!!!” The shield shattered like glass and the explosion sent them flying in seperate directions. The spell kicked up so much dust that the cloud was to thick to see through. They all sat up, rubbing there cuts and bruises when they heard the ominous voice through the dust cloud. “You can’t save Equestria this time. When this over, I will mount your heads on my wall as trophies of my victory.” Rarity squinted to see through the dust. “And the crown jewel of my collection……” her squinting intensified. “You!” he said as he appeared from the dust cloud, right in Rarity’s line of sight.
She knew full well that he had intentions of killing her, but instead being afraid she was devastated at the sight of what he had become. She placed a hoof on his cheek and slowly ran it down to his chin. “Oh Star, what happened to you?” her voice was soft and comforting like she was singing a lullaby. His eyes returned to normal for a brief moment, but when they turned back he ducked back into the dust with anger in his eyes.
Moments later a powerful red glow began emanating from the dust. It slowly and steadily increased in intensity. “Dash, clear the dust!” Twilight showted to Rainbowdash.
“On it!” wasting no time she flapped her powerful wings and cleared the room of dust. He stood in a crouching position that was similar a dog about to attack a stronger adversary. The ground began to tremble and some of the stone walls started collapsing.
“I will not let you stop everything that I have started! I’ll annihilate everything you stand for and kill everything you love! I will rule over this land, even after there is nothing left to rule over!!” he hollered as the light began emanating a deep red glow from his eyes and mouth. His body began levitating from the sheer power of the spell alone. He unfurled his massive wings as he shot high into the sky at a high speed and the light of the spell grew so intense that it could rival the sun on a cloudless day. “Watch as I use my power to purge the land of the vermin that infest my new world!! WATCH AS I DESTROY EQUESTRIA!!!”
“Not if we have anything to say about it!” Twilight shouted from the ground. He peered down at them as they formed a circle around the center of the ruined castle. It wasn’t until Twilight’s eyes began glowing that he noticed the gold pendants and crown that were once considered The Elements of Harmony. He remembered that the stones that truly gave them power were used in the fight against Tirek and still reside with the Tree of Harmony. The other five joined Twilight as they began to float into the air and a colored aura surrounded their bodies.
“NO! THAT’S IMPOSSIBLE! THE ELEMENTS WERE LOST TO THE TREE OF….” he fell silent as when he caught a closer look at the jewelry. In the slots where the real elements were once positioned were clusters of other gems that could have been found anywhere in Equestria. `I can feel their power and yet they’re nothing special!` his thoughts ran amok in his head. Just the mere idea of falling to such inferior magic filled him with rage. “I WILL END YOU ALL!!!” he shouted.
He threw his head downwards and unleashed his fully charged doomsday spell directly at them in the form of a huge red energy blast. The six mares on the ground unleashed their own spell in the form of a rainbow that consisted of several pastel colors. The two spells collided in the sky with a bang so loud that the sound resembled thunder as it echoed through the Equestrian skies. The roaring sound could be heard as far as Las Pegasus and drew the ponies of Ponyville and other neighboring towns out of their homes to see what was going on their backyards. The aforementioned war being waged outside of Canterlot came to a grinding halt as the two sides observed the pillars of glistening light.
The two streams fought for dominance but were caught in a mutual state suspension. Neither side was dominating the other and the beams remained constant. A short time latter, sparks began shooting from the area between the streams and progressed into thunder clouds. The clouds continued to grow out of control and began shooting lightning in all directions, striking everything in its path. The creatures of the Everfree ran in terror as the thick forest erupted in flames. Smoke filling the sky and crimson flames devouring the anything unlucky enough to get trapped within.
“You…. should have gotten out…. when you had the chance!” the beam started to gradually widen as the spell’s power increased. “You will die today. N-not by fire, but by my hoof! I have more power than any of your past enemies! E-even the lord of chaos is just a worm beneath my boot!” the red column started to slowly overpower the other. It inched its way downwards, gradually increasing its speed. Several moments later, just before the spell was able to engulf them, Rarity spoke up.
“Morningstar!!”
The eye on the right side of his face dimmed and returned to its normal coffee brown color while the other remained as it was, fixated on the targets. Shortly after, the intense magic began receding and eventually vanished. “Impossible!!!” he shouted as he withdrew into his mind. “You!!” he said pointing a hoof at Star. “I was planning on erasing you after you watched the ponies you love and the land you call home burn in fire and rot in the darkness of history, but I think it would be wise to just do it now before you become anymore of a nuisance!” he swung his hoof across Star’s face. Star sat up to see him standing over him charging another spell. He cocked a big toothy grin, “Any last words before I erase you from existance?” Star didn’t cry, he didn’t beg, and he didn’t bargain, all of which are things he expected to happen. Instead, Star did something incomprehensible. He met his gaze with a big stupid grin plastered across his face.
“Yeah, I do actually.” confidence irradiated in his eyes. “Reality Sucks.”
His eyes widened as he remembered what was happening outside the mind. He exited the purgatory space in enough time to see the beam of energy streaming at him. Without enough time to react, he was slammed with the raw power of friendship and harmony. The glistening light could be seen from everywhere and in every direction. The rainbow continued past him into the sky and struck the eclipse, separating the moon from the sun. As the moon sluggishly moved out of the path of the sun, they emitted a rainbow of colors shooting across the sky. Back on the battleground, the vampiric soldiers began emitting an aura that matched the colors in the sky. Their wings began growing feathers, fangs started popping out, and most important of all their hearts started beating.
The pounding in their chests came as a surprise to them all for most of them had forgotten what it was like to live. They fell to the ground holding their chests and crying out in pain as the the lifeless and still blood started circulating once more.
Still being blasted with massive amounts energy, he screamed in pain as the black metallic skin disintegrated. As the last bit skin receded and the screaming stopped, all that was left was Morningstar. The six mares slowly ended the spell and gently lowered his unconscious body to the ground.
The taunting voice echoed in Celestia’s mind frightening her awake. She quickly sat up out of her bed, cold sweat beading down her face and breathing heavily. She quickly scanned her surroundings, realizing that she was back in her bed at Canterlot. She continued to scan the room, this time with her mind at ease, and noticed a needle in her arm attached to tube feeding her what looked like blood. With her eyes, she followed the tube back to a blood bag that had been hovering over her head. The bag was half empty with an O-negative scrawled in a white box on the front.
She gently removed the needle from her arm and started clambering out of her bed. Stinging pain shot up and down her legs as she struggled with step. She peered into a mirror that sat across the room on a mantle and noticed the bandages wrapped around her neck. As she unraveled them, they revealed more and more of the large marks on her neck. She tossed the remaining strips into a nearby trash can. Now standing close to the mirror, she caressed the wound with her hoof. They looked like several bit sized reddish holes that seemed as if they were ready to bleed at any moment. As she spent more time gazing at her reflection, she began noticing several other smaller things. There were now dark rings around her eyes, a large cut on her mouth that went from her nostril to her chin, the colors in her main weren't as vibrant as they once were, and the lingering sensation of the blood leaving her veins.
The haunting images of Luna’s death flashed in her mind, the blood pouring from her neck and her body falling to the ground. But the one image that she knew would haunt her for for the rest of her life was the look on Luna’s before she died. Blood covering the right side of her face, tears streaming from her eyes, and the worst of all were the feelings terror and helplessness that flickered in her eyes.
She glanced over at a framed children's drawing that hung on the wall beside the mirror. The paper had begun turning yellow from age and the glass was slightly dusty due to lack of maintenance. The old cedar wood picture frame looked exactly as old as it was in the sense that it was nearly falling apart at the seems. Once adorning 24 carat gold, the only thing that remained of it were small crevasses and grooves were the gold had once been. In the picture were two colorful blobs of paint that semi-resembled ponies, one was dark blue and the other was a whitish in color with big smiles painted were there heads would be. The two images had crudely drawn arrows above them that pointed to the names “Luna” and “Celestia”. Below their hooves, underneath a green zig-zag that represented grass, was the word sisters written in black crayon.
“Princess!!” she turned to see a relieved Twilight standing at the door. Her eyes had dark bags underneath them as if she hadn’t slept for days. “I was worried that you wouldn’t wake up!” she ran over to Celestia enthusiastically and gave her a bear hug. Celestia sucked her teeth when she a large amount of pain shoot up her back. Twilight quickly released her grip “Oh no, i’m so sorry! I got a little excited.”
“You do not need to apologize for your excitement Twilight.” she peeked over at the door. “The rest of you can enter as well!” she called to the rest of them outside the door. A few seconds later, the rest of them entered the room.
“All of Equestria has gathered outside the cities walls. They’re waiting for news on your health.” Twilight stated when there was a knock on the door.
“Enter!” Celestia called. The door slightly creaked open and, with his head down, Morningstar entered the room.
He had bandages wrapped around one of his hooves, the left side of his face, and both of his wings were in casts. His head hung low, attempting to not make eye contact with the scorned princess. “I just wanted to see how you were doing.” he said with his eyes still fixated on the ground.
“Morningstar!!” Rarity beamed.
“Morningstar!” Celestia spoke up.
“Yes princess.”
“You stand trial for your crimes against Equestria that are as follows.” everyone in the room looked at Celestia in bewilderment. “Siding with the enemy, mounting an attack on Equestrian soil, threatening to destroy Equestria, and the death of one of Equestria’s greatest leaders Princess Luna. You’re punishment….” the others continued to look at her with the same expressions. “Banishment from Equestria!” they felt their hearts sink at the news. Rarity, instead of following the others, felt only rage.
“That’s not fair!” she said raising her voice to Celestia. “You’re banishing Morningstar for something that he had no control over?! The only reason he joined them was to save my life!” her explanation turned into a rant. “He carried me on his back for more than eleven days just to find a cure that might not have even existed! Star brings out the best in everypony he meets and you’re just going to send that away?!”
“ENOUGH!!!” Celestia shouted using the royal voice. “You are defending the criminal that murdered Luna, my sister, in cold blood! Whether or not he had control doesn’t matter! What matters is that his actions must be punished!” Rarity fearlessly stood her ground, unphased by the princess’ shouts and hollers.
“Uhh, hey guys.”
“What!!” they shouted in unison, turning their attention to Rainbowdash.
“He left.” she said pointing at the spot where Star was standing.
Morningstar hung his head in sadness as he slowly made his way towards the train station. He could hear the whispers of other ponies he passed on the street and the things they said.
“Isn’t that the guy that killed the princess?”
“Yeah. I heard that he almost killed Celestia too.”
“I heard that the light in the sky was him trying to destroy Equestria.”
He felt something heavy hit the back of his head with enough force to draw blood. He placed a hoof on the spot of impact and turned around to see a sizable rock on the ground in front of him. He looked up to see a small colt peering at him furiously, holding another stone of smaller size.
“Go away.” he said as tears began welling in his eyes. “Go back to where ever you came from!” the tears now streaming down his face. “My daddy was one of the royal guards sent to fight you, but now…….” he paused and looked at the ground. “Now he’s gone, because of you. It’s all your fault.” he chucked another stone at him. The surrounding bystanders turned to each other, nodded, and joined the small colt. They started throwing the surrounding stones of all shapes and sizes at him, not caring if they hit him or not. As he turned to run to the train station, one of the larger stones hit him in the pastern of his back leg causing him to scid on the ground a few feet. He looked down at his leg and saw that it was broken.
To weak to move and with a slowly approaching angry mob, he just rolled to his back and accepted his punishment. They circled around him, closing the gap between them and their sweet revenge when a purple dome suddenly erected it self around him.
“You all should be ashamed of yourselves.” Twilight called as she descended from the sky.
“But Princess, isn’t he the one who killed Luna and almost destroyed Equestria? Why would you defend him!” a mob pony asked from the crowd.
“That stuff doesn’t matter anymore, what matters now is that he’s back to normal.” Rarity pushed her way through the crowd to get to his side. Twilight dropped the shield. “It wasn’t to long ago that Princess Luna was called Nightmare Moon and threatened to destroy Equestria with much more sinister motivations. He aimlessly hiked through the snowy tundra just to bring Rarity closer to a cure that saved her life. He’s a hero that should be commended for his bravery but instead is being punished for something he didn’t do.”
“Would a hero order an attack that could have killed us all!?” one called out.
“Would a hero kill the princess?!” called another.
“Would a hero kill my dad?” asked the young colt.
“While I admit that these actions are inexcusable. I also have to tell you that, like Nightmare Moon, Morningstar had no control of his actions. What makes him a hero isn’t that he saved Rarity, it’s that he was able to overcome the biggest obstacle that all of us will face at some point in our lives, our selves.” she turned and looked at Star with tears in her eyes. “I’ve lived in Equestria my entire life, and if there's one thing that i’ve learned it’s that we are nothing if not forgiving.”
They all turned to each other, dropped the stones they were holding and gathered around Star with forgiving expressions. Rarity hoisted him up her shoulder, acting as his crutch. That’s when she noticed the gauze on his face were shredded to pieces. He turned back in time to see the small colt run away with tears in his eyes. Everyone in the mob had ended up returning to their homes after they returned him the Canterlot hospital. The nurse began unwrapping his old gauze so they could be replaced. Star sat there in the bed, his head still bowed in sadness.
“Why are you guys still here?” he asked the six mares standing in a semi circle around his bed. “I almost killed you and everything you love. What I did was unforgivable.”
“That wasn’t you Star, that was the monster. You can’t blame yourself for actions that weren't your own.” Twilight stated, trying to ease his pain. The nurse finally removed the last of the bandages that covered his face.
“Princess! There’s something wrong!” the nurse shouted as she dropped the bandages and brought her hooves to her mouth in shock.
“Oh my goodness!” she said upon close examination of the left side of his head. His skin wasn’t burned but looked like charcoal. His mane was still very long and possessed the red tips at the end and his eye still possessed features of the prince. They all gasped as Star gazed into a nearby mirror.
“Evil can not be destroyed, it can only be suppressed.” a slightly more healthy version of Celestia said from the doorway. “The longer you remain in Equestria the better chance of IT returning. I can’t have a monster as evil as you living anywhere near my citizens.” she entered the room and stood at Stars bedside. She peered down at him with an intimidating glare and said “So leave.” she turned around and left.
“Celestia wait!” Twilight called leaving the room. “Don’t worry Star, i’ll talk to her.”
Minutes of uninterrupted silence later, Star sat there still gazing at his reflection. He silently shook his head at the creature looking back at him. He climbed out of the bed and started limping for the door.
“Star! What are you doing?” Fluttershy asked.
“Y’ah can’t walk on that leg yet. It’s gonna heal all messed up!” Applejack called.
“You need your rest Star.” said Rainbowdash.
“Star! You need to slow down and take a breath, you know it’s important if i’m telling you to slow down!” Pinkie shouted.
“Star darling, you should listen to us and lie down.” Rarity suggested as she placed a hoof on his shoulder.
He whipped around to face them and shouted “SHUT UP!!”. He looked at the blood on the floor and realized it was coming from his pastern. “Listen.” he said in a calmed voice. “Celestia is right, I am a monster. I would stay in Equestria if I could, but I don’t want to risk any of getting hurt.”
“Y’all don’t have to worry us Star.”
“But that’s why i’m leaving. In the back of my mind, I can hear him screaming for freedom. The last thing he said to me was “When I get out, I will kill your friends and devour your soul.” he rubbed left eye as blood came streaming from it as if it were tears. “These marks on my face are reminders of that promise. If Celestia thinks it’s the best thing for Equestria, then who am I to argue.” he quietly limped out of the room and everyone followed. A few moments later he met up with Twilight and Celestia in the hallway discussing the terms of his punishment.
“Star what are you doing out of bed, you need to be resting?!” Twilight asked.
“Princess Celestia.” she didn’t make eye contact. “I wanted to let you know that I was leaving now.” she responded with a slight nod. He turned to Twilight. “You guys can have whatever you want from my room.” they all followed as continued to limp down the hallway, through the streets of Canterlot, and finally to the train station.
Just before he limped aboard the train headed for the eastern sea port he heard Rarity call out to him. “Star, wait!” he spun around only to greeted with an affectionate kiss being planted on his lips. It caught him off guard and even after she pulled him in for a hug, he kept his bewildered expression. He could feel the tears running down the length of his neck.
“Please Star, take me with you! I don’t want to be without you!” he lightly pulled away.
“I would if I could, you know that. But i’m not gonna let you uproot your life for me. Your boutiques need you, your sister needs you, our friends need you, and I need you to stay with them and enjoy life before you give it to somepony else.” he gave her another kiss and said “I love you Rarity and I always will.”
“I love you too Star.”
Steam from the train covered them and a voice called out “All aboard!” signaling the trains departure. Star turned to board the train but then stopped before he entered the car.
“Do me a favor?” he asked them.
“Sure Star, anything.” Twilight said, everyone's eyes welling with tears.
“Please…” he spun around to look at them, revealing that the left side of his face had returned to normal all except for his eye. “Please remember me for who I am, and not what I've become. Remember the good times we’ve had and not the bad ones.” tears started pouring from his eyes, both of water and blood. “You guys are more than my best friends, you’re my family.” Pinkie ran up to him crying her eyes out and locked him a massive bear-hug.
“Make sure you write every day, okay!” she said sobbing with each syllable.
“Don’t worry Pinkie I will.” he said returning the hug.
“All aboard!!” the conductor called out one final time. Pinkie released her grip on him and waved goodbye as the door closed, separating them from each other. The trains whistle sounded as the massive engine chugged to life and started moving down the tracks.
Rarity watched as the train sped further and further away into the distance until finally vanishing over the horizon. She could feel her heart shattering in her chest as she cried out in pain knowing that it would never again be whole…. At least, not without him.
“Royal subjects!” Celestia announced. “We are gathered here today to mourn the death of my beloved sister and princess of the night, Princess Luna.” she gestured to the glass coffin that hovered next to her, displaying the elegantly dressed corps of Luna. “we hold this service in hopes of honoring her memory by surrounding her with those who loved her as not only the princess but a friend. I would like to invite my faithful student and friend princess Twilight Sparkle up to speak.” Twilight climbed to the podium.
“Fellow ponies of Equestria, the first time I met Luna was several years ago as Nightmare Moon. Over time, she quickly returned to her original position as princess. She also became a close friend of mine and a mentor to one of the greatest stallions I’ve ever met.” tears started pouring from her eyes. “Although she is gone, Luna will always be with us in spirit, watching over us and our dreams.”
After the funeral, there was a service held in the castle's throne room to mourn the loss. The guests were comprised of only ponies who knew her personally which included the CMC, main six, Celestia, Discord, and several other ponies that were considered her friends.
“Attention everypony!” Celestia called. “I have an announcement to make. Princess Twilight Sparkle, please step forward!” Twilight went forward and kneeled before her mentor. “There is no need for that anymore.” she stood straight. “Twilight Sparkle, you have accomplished a lot since I sent you to Ponyville. You defeated Nightmare Moon, beat Discord, conquered Chrysalis, stopped King Sombra, overpowered Terik, and even saved my life and Equestria by stopping The Prince of Darkness. And through all of that, you never lost your faith in me, even if I wasn’t enough.”
“Celestia, what’s going on?” Twilight asked.
“Nothing, it’s just that I’ve finally discovered your true path in life.” she lifted her crown off of her head and placed on Twilight’s. “I hereby renounce my position as Princess of Equestria and pass on my title to Princess Twilight Sparkle.” everyone in the room muttered to each other as Celestia bowed her head to Twilight. She spun around only to see them all bowing their heads as well.
Several hours pass before the final guest left the castle. “Celestia!” she called to mentor. “Why now of all times would you choose to do this?”
“Because you were meant to take on this role. From the moment I met you, I knew you were destined for greatness. It wasn’t until recently that I realized that you are supposed to be leading Equestria, not me. I’m not not in my prime anymore and I’ve known that for years now, ever since I lost that power struggle to Chrysalis at the royal wedding. So I decided that my last act as princess should be to finally choose a successor.” she explained as they trotted down the hallway.
“But Celestia, I’m not ready!”
“Do you think I was ready when I was first coronated? Let me tell you it wasn’t pretty. I always felt everything I did was wrong or I made the wrong choice. But when I look at you, I see somepony who will always make the right decision.” Twilight looked at the ground with uncertainty. Celestia saw this and placed a hoof on her chin and pulled her head up to meet her gaze. “Hey, don’t be like that. If you ever need me I’ll be living at the Whinny resort in Hawineigh, I have a villa there. Okay?” she asked, receiving nothing more than a saddened nod from Twilight. She turned around and left for her room leaving Twilight in the hall with her newfound responsibility. She suddenly paused in the middle of the hallway and looked back at Twilight with a smile.
“Don’t forget your coronation speech, your highness.” she continued on her way down the hall, leaving Twilight still dumbfounded.
