Long ago, Before Equestria was even a word. From a time of conflict and wars that are nothing but blurs on pony history. When each and every pony fought for land. Kingdoms fought for power. Down far south. Farther south then Equestria would ever know. There were three kingdoms fighting over a large plane of land. War took over. The smallest kingdom... didn't make it.

They had been at a stalemate for years, neither side could pull out ahead. Then, from out of nowhere there was a stallion who changed this, changed the war. All grew to fear him. He was Bloodlust, born by the blade, raised by the sword, and destined to die in battle. He was the Warlord and General. He fought along side his warriors. Brutal knights, covered head to hoof in thick armor, he and his knights were feared across the kingdoms. They fought and killed like a well oiled machine and changed the tide of the war. One of the kingdoms would fall. Bloodlust's army was approaching the rival kingdom's capitol. He had victory in his sights.

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Earth pony knights encased in black armor stripped a battlefield. The knights stabbed at corpses. Any pony found hiding among the dead was beaten to death by their armored hooves. The blood was fresh, and the coppery scent filled the air. Many from both sides were dead, but anypony could notice that one side had more corpses, and those were mostly not Bloodlust's attended knights. Their enemies corpses were brutalized. Not merely dead, but destroyed. Severed limbs lay in the field. Pony entrails were left to fester. Many helmets were caved in, holding in the gore. The very slight drizzle of rain fell. The battlefield was shedding a tear for the dead.

Bloodlust removed his helmet. Reveling a scared face and short cut mane style. His face was scarred badly. Steel colored mane, and a silver hide. Several armored ponies came to him, giving a quick bow and salute.

"Warlord, shall we prepare the feast?"

"Yes go. My warriors need it. Make the greatest feast thus far. For tonight, brings not only another battle, but our last." Warlord Bloodlust replied.

"Indeed sir, shall I give you your privacy until the feast begins?"

"Make it so soldier."

"Very well."

His stallions went about their duties. They harvested what they could from the battlefield, any usable equipment was taken. The enemy dead were left to rot. Allied dead were taken and thrown into a bonfire. To die in battle was the ultimate honor for these warriors. Those who could, began crafting a feast for the ages. All kinds of food was being prepared, even meats and alcohol. After the dead were burned, the soldiers socialized, talking about their role in the battle. Who decapitated who, who bashed in the most skulls etc, etc. The soldiers under Bloodlust were notoriously brutal. He had them trained to be that way. Trained to be monsters on the battlefield.

Bloodlust himself simply trotted back to his tent after the battle. He was the highest ranking officer, but he fought besides his men, in every battle. He made it a point to lead his army by the front lines. He made a name for himself that way. He stepped inside his tent, it was smaller then the other officers' tents. He didn't want any more room then his soldier's barracks would allow them.

His tent didn't hold much. A warhammer, greatsword, and shield. A place to take off his armor. And a mat to sleep on. He dropped his helmet to the floor, then sat on his mat. He was wet with the rain, but he didn't care. He slid off his foreleg's armored boots. Then felt under his mat, pulling out an old wrinkled envelope. He smiled sadly at the envelope. He opened it with a smile that was much more real.

My Dearest Bloodlust.

I cannot wait for this war to be over... to see you again..., to feel you around me once more. This war has gone on for far too long my love. Each day seem to grow longer and longer, and I am laden with worry. I know of your skill and reputation, but I fear that only makes you a target. I pray to the great Omniscience that I will see you again. Soon this war will be over, and I will be waiting for you. Please be safe. Please don't forget me.

For You Only

Valley Falls.

He took a deep breath and closed his eyes. Imagining his love, the smile on her face when he strode back into town a hero. He reread the letter too many time to count. He thought of Valley Falls, his wife and the love of his life. He longed to smell her sweet aroma. To feel her touch on his battle hardened hide. He fought for her. He would die for her. Do anything for her. He was easily one of, if not the most brutal warlord's in history. He got this title for her. He did all that, so he could protect her. Tonight, he would bring down an empire for her. It would be the final battle. They would ride in with the coming storm, under the cover of darkness, and the thunder of the storm, they would bring down the enemy capitol. After tonight he would be reunited with his love. This surprise attack would bring him to his love again.

Sadly, the enemies knew that Bloodlust was a key factor in their defeat. Stop him, and gain a great advantage. How to do that? Take away what he fights for. For on this night, the Night of the Great Storm, enemy spies would infiltrate Bloodlust's home, and kill his wife. Their hope was that if he lost her, his will to fight would be lost as well. Unfortunately, the war would end before word reached either them or Bloodlust... Bloodlust was going to end it. But the spies were already on their way, on their mission. Nopony in the world beside the enemy general knew that they were even there.

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“War Master Bloodlust, the feast is ready to begin sir.”

“Very well...” He had spent enough time with this letter. He told himself that next time he thinks of Valley, that she will be right in front of him.

Time had come for the feast. Bloodlust spent hours with that letter, now he did not hide it, he just dropped it and made his way outside.

Once he arrived the feast began. Warriors drank, and ate to their heart's desire. They feasted until their hunger was gone, and then some more. They knew that for many of them, it would be their last meal. The storm was brewing. The soldiers were gorging themselves. After, they would rest. Bloodlust did not. He just steeled him mind for battle.

After the feast was long over. And the final light of the sun had faded. The army mobilized. The storm grew worse. The rain fell hard. The army trotted on. Straight to the enemy capitol.

The sky was black, no stars pierced the veil of the storm. A deep darkness gripped the kingdoms. That blackness hid the army well. The invasion had begun. The sound of thunder and lightning hid the sound of siege weaponry very well. The capitol walls were no match for the invaders. Howling winds hid the sound of screams, and clashes of metal weapons. Too many died there that night. But Bloodlust would have his victory.

The sky was black, no starts pierced the veil of the storm. A deep darkness gripped the kingdoms. That blackness hid the assassins well. The invasion had begun. The sound of thunder and lightning hid the sound of shattering glass very well. The old building's walls and doors were no match for the invaders. Howling winds hid her scream. Too many died there that night. But the assassins would have their victory.

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Bloodlust had won the war. His man bowed to him as he took the rival kingdom's king into a large open hall. Then disemboweled him for all to see. So that all kingdoms would know not to fuck with the Army of Bloodlust, the Prince of Darkness.

The assassins had done it. They laughed as they dragged Valley's body out of the old building. They hung her from the building's roof, so that he would see. So that he would know that it was his leadership that brought such an ugly fate to such a beautiful mare.

The storm lasted ten more days.

No mail could be sent.

Bloodlust took his most trusted troops, and returned home himself. He didn't wait for permission. When he arrived back to his capitol with news of victory, he was held as a hero. The queen named him a hero to go down in history. Then he returned home. Anxious to see her. He never see her alive again.

He expected his love.

He saw a Priest of the Omniscience waiting for him.

His heart filled with ice and fear.

The Priest explained to him what had happened.

He made no sound. No tears. No sign of any emotions.

He instead trotted inside his home, not making a single sound.

He just stayed inside him home. For years, he just vanished. The Priest of the Omniscience would stop by to drop of food, and send him a prayer. Those prayers most not have worked.

So much time had passed that Bloodlust was a husk of his former self. He had become sickly and pale. His once mighty and powerful body had fallen. He was now more feeble and weak then he had been in his entire life. He was scrawny and his many was matted and shaggy. His silvery and metal color was all gone, like his whole body had been coated a boring dull grey. He just sat there in a chair. Just sat. Nothing else, just sat. He may have eaten when the Priest brought food to his door, but he just never saw the point. He felt nothing. He was blank. Not even pain or hunger. The bleak sorrow and horror had simply taken over. He was broken, he had given up.

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He could hardly move, everything felt like a battle. Breathing was challenge. He sat there on his old chair. Blankly staring into nothing. When a dark crimson mare strutted into his view.

“Aww, your about to die old buck.” She told him. It took him a few seconds to even realize that she was there. She was an odd color. A color he had seen a lot but simply couldn't place where. Her mane was like silk, and elegant and beautiful midnight black. Her coat looked like velvet, an odd colored velvet. Her cutie mark was the same cross and omega symbol as the church of the Omniscience, only upside down. His eye's looked to her, but his body didn't.

“Shit! Did it take you forever to fucking get here. Now that you're about to fucking die we can talk baby.” her voice was as beautiful as she was. However he words were crude.

“Get out.” was all he stated. All he could state.

“You haven't even heard me out yet honey, I can help you. Make your dream's come true sugah.”

“I don't know who... or what.. you are but I don't care. Kill me or leave.”

“Don't you wanna know why I am here?”

“No, go away.”

“Oh well, -” she tossed her mane back “- I guess you'll just let Valley Falls down again.”

That cut deep.

“Valley... Valley Falls?” The very name cut into his soul.

“Mmmhmmm.” She hummed

“She's... dead...”

“But you can bring her back.”

“What? How? But she's been gone for so long..”

“Oh sure, but you know all that shit about your immortal soul. She still just hanging around, lost. She needs you, she need you to guide her back. But I guess your just gunna leave her... again. ”

“What necromancy is this?”

“Not necromancy exactly.... more like an extension of your power.”

“Power, I am but an old man.”

“That's where I come in, I can give you power, lots of powers. Power to bring her back.”

“What's the price? What's the catch.”

“No catch, but some warnings. Deals are final saggy balls, no backsies alright? And in this new form, you must feast on life energy to be... productive, not eating the stuff wont kill you, it'll just make you weak as fuck. And, you only get one extra life pal. Die somehow, and you're gone for good. Anything you create follows the same rules that you do. That's it. You get unimaginable power, and immortality. You can still get murdered, but you will live forever. That is to say you will never die of natural causes.”

“Life energy? This reeks of black magics... but... but Valley...”

“You game stinky? Being here is a pretty big chore, and really hard, so if this is happening act fast. Deal is leaving the table real soon.”

He stayed on this. He thought about, well... more over he thought of Valley Falls. They loved each other, but would this cross a line ethically? Of course this was wrong, but.... would the ends justify the means? To be honest, there was never a time he would have said no to this deal.

“I'll do it, give me power!”

The off-crimson mare grinned, then pulled his head toward her own. Forcing a kiss that was literally painful. She pulled her head away, tossed her mane back with a laugh.

The Bloodlust fell out of his chair, choking and gagging, unable to catch his breath. Then, for a while, he laid there motionless. After a few minutes, he stood. His coat was as white as snow. His mane was shaggy and just a bit grey compared to his coat. His scars had completely healed. His body was youthful and young again. He looked to the mare. His mind was fresh. He remembered the color. It was the same dark crimson as sitting or dried blood.

However, the mare somehow vanished a second later, she was simply gone. He looked about for her, but couldn't find her. But he wanted to figure out his new powers. He wanted to bring his love back. For the first time in a long time he took a step outside.

The sun was bright, and burned. Really burned... like fire! He jumped back into the shadows. The sun hurt him. He should wait for night to fall, but he had to find out how to bring back Valley Falls. He dressed in his thickest mantle and hood. They hid him from the sun. For a moment he worried about the potential heat. But after that moment he realized that he didn't really feel anything. He wasn't warm or cold, he could hardly feel. The sun had burned, but everything else felt numb. He didn't care. He trotted into the sun, into the town where he once lived.

In the following days he spent the majority of his time learning of his new abilities. He also learned of his hunger. His unrelenting hunger... When he first felt it he did not recognize the feeling, however ironic that may seem. He never truly experienced a bloodlust quite like this.

He trotted in the shadows, hiding from the sun. He stuck to walls and tried to remain out of sight. He felt sick, slow, clouded, his mind was acting like he was in slow motion. Then he saw her, a young mare, still full of life and happiness. Out of new found instinct, he stalked her. He kept back, keeping her in sight, but never entering her sight. Then, when she trotted into a shady alley to cut across some roads, he attacked. Fueled by something primal he never felt before, he pounced like a cat. His body slammed her into the ground, he was too fast. She never even screamed. The fangs he didn't even know he had yet sunk into her tender young throat. Her blood poured into his mouth, he drank it down greedily, then dropped her dead body on the dirt floor, her face forever trapped with the horrible expression of fear, confusion and pain. He let out a loud booming roar. His head was clear, his vision was clearer then ever. His mind was moving faster then he previously thought possible. He felt fresh, renewed, the life blood he drank filled him with energy and life. He ducked into the shadows, and felt his body want to move, he learned that he could move along the shadows at a high speed and remain completely silent. He loved his power, giving no consideration that they came with killing an innocent mare.

That night he beamed, flowing through the darkness he knew his goal, he knew what his next move was. After feasting again, he would find out how to bring back his love.

The second kill came easier then the first. Sleeping ponies have a poor understanding of what's around them. Once again brimming with stolen life, he slipped through the shadows, until he arrived at a graveyard. The night was a rush of zealous energy. He found his love's grave and dug her body up, it was dead, rotting, but to him, she was a beautiful angel still. He had no idea how to resurrect her. He was still an earth pony, so he didn't have magic. Then an idea popped into his mind. If drinking other's life blood gave him new life and energy, what would happen if somepony drank his blood? He bit into his hoof and held above his bride's mouth.

For a long moment nothing happened. Then her body began to heal It pulled itself back together. And Valley Falls let out a long gasp for air. She looked the same as when she was alive, only now she was much more pale, almost as white as Bloodlust. She gazed at him in sheer disbelief for a long time.

“Ba..bll...Bloodlust?”

“Yes my love...” he was having an incredibly hard time finding words to say.

“But, I was... I was dead, I remember dying...”

“I brought you back.”

“...How? Wha...why?”

Bloodlust looked at her, then breathed a sigh. He told her of bloody crimson mare, and what he had done to get here, what he was, what he turned her into to have her again. He told her of the years he spent waiting for death, the year's he spent feeling like nothing. He told her that the past days filled him with a whole new life. She cringed at nearly every word.

“Bloodlust... you're a monster....”

“I was a monster long ago, I fought and killed for a king I care nothing for, I was a nightmare on that battlefield. They enemies pissed themselves in my presence. I invaded a town, just like this one under the veil of a storm, and murdered, everypony. Yet I give up my life to be reborn, so that I can bring back the soul of my life, and... and I am a monster now? I have always been a monster, you knew that Valley.”

“Bloodlust, this isn't like you!”

“I spent a lifetime waiting for death so that I can join you in the after life, I did everything in my power to try to make you happy, that is what I've always done. I couldn't wait any longer.”

“This crosses a line! I'm a monster, you made me into a monster!”

“So that you and I can be together, forever, all eternity. I can build us a home in a forest, hidden away, just you and me, like we always dreamed.”

“At the cost of our equinity!”

“At the cost of everything. The feeble minded ponies of this land will not understand our love.”

“This isn't love! This is a desperate attempt to cheat death!”

“Not love! NOT LOVE! LOOK AT WHAT I'VE DONE FOR YOU. I WAS A MONSTER, I BROUGHT DOWN AN EMPIRE IN YOUR NAME! I BECAME A NIGHTMARE FOR YOU, ALL THE BLOOD I SPILLED, ALL THE LIVES I ENDED! AND THAT IS NOT LOVE!” he roared his fangs out and showing. Valley just backed into her coffin, terrified. Bloodlust stopped in his tracks, realizing what he had done all too late.

“Valley.... I'm so sorry.... I... I just.... I was weak. I had to go so long without you. I knew this was wrong, knew that this was... was evil! But... I wanted you back so badly.... I'm sorry...” He literally cried, unable to control himself, he fell to his knees. Valley saw that he was just a desperate stallion. He had gone far in to the dark side, and he dragged her in to it as well. But none of that mattered. She embraced him, and let him cry into her breast. They held each other for a long time. What they did, did not matter, as long as they were together, nothing else mattered. Their love was reason enough.

When the sun began to rise, He quickly led her to his home. The place where she was murdered. The home they shared for so long in life, they would share in undeath. With time, they both realized that the home would not do forever. He had a castle built deep in a forest, hidden away from the world. They had livestock to feed on, and they lived separate from the world outside. Just like he had always wanted. Just him, and his love. Bloodlust and Valley Falls. Together at last.

It didn't take long after moving into their new home for Valley to become the bearer of a child. She and Bloodlust never thought anything of it, it was a gift. They were full with "life" and happiness. However... as the baby began to grow, Valley became weaker and weaker. Bloodlust would not find out why until it was too late. By the time the baby was due, she was weak and feeble. When the child was born, Valley died. She was simply gone. Bloodlust tried to give her his blood to give her life again, but it was ineffective. She was gone. The child itself was undernourished. It passed soon after it's mother. He would that this was due to Valley only eating livestock, which did not provide enough sustenance for her or the baby to survive the birthing process. Once again. Bloodlust was alone. All alone.

This time, he had nothing to blame but himself. She died birthing the child he gave her. He killed her. This time, he wasn't silent. This time, he was pissed. He left the castle and went to the nearest town. Once their he ravaged it. He ripped ponies apart, he consumed not just their blood, but their flesh as well.

“YOU FUCKING CUNT WHERE ARE YOU, SHOW YOURSELF DEMON.” He thundered as he torn down ponies' doors searching for the crimson mare.

“What's on your mind champ?” her sweet voice was tender.

“FUCKING CUNT YOU MADE ME KILL HER.”

“He tried to slam into her, but his body just went through her, he crashed into a building instead.

“I didn't do anything.”

“YOU DIDN'T SAY THAT MY CHILD WOULD KILL HER.” He knew she wasn't really there, that she was intangible, he tried to bash her anyway.

“You and your bitch fed of the life and blood of things, did you think that your brat wouldn't do the same?” Bloodlust stopped in his tracks.

“I... YOU...you...”

“It's not my fault you were to stupid to think of the obvious. You killed her because you were stupid. That's on you, being here is a pain. I'm done.”

“NOOOOOOOO YOU BITCH, YOU FUCKING CUNT, YOU STUPID FU...fuuu.....fucking....” Bloodlust wanted to blame that mare. But he knew that he couldn't. She was right. It was his fault. He was a fool. And now he had to pay for it. His roar filled the air. Sounding like the cross between a manticore being stabbed and dragon growling. That roar, would haunt the dreams of all the survivors in the town.

He returned to his old castle. Alone. He walked though the halls, his steps echoing through the halls. Alone. He trotted past the graves of his child and love. Alone. They both died so fast, it was so unreal, that now, he was only fully of anger. Soon after a wave a sorrowed filled him. He wanted to die. But he knew that wasn't exactly possible at the moment. He was right on assuming that not being a infant, he wouldn't starve to death. And that not being a mare, he wouldn't be drained to death by his child, either. He was alone. Utterly and painfully alone. Sitting upon the throne he built, the seat beside him empty. He cried.

After his tears had fallen, he was done. He gave up again. He had become a monster, more of one then he had ever been. So why not dive right it? He would be branded a monster no matter what. So why not be a monster? He knew how to infect normal ponies after all. All it took was a mouthful of his blood. Before long, he would have an large pack of his own kind to command. His kind would come to be known as vampyres. Those of pure blood, or resurrected by pure blood, would be Vampyres, those who were turned from a living pony, or impure, became vampires. They would spread across the world and land like a disease.

When their numbers became a menace the Seekers put them in their sights. A war began. But Bloodlust did not care to win. He wanted to drag it out as long as possible...

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“Dr. Acula? It's been a long time since I've been called that.”

“Prefer Bloodlust? I know that name to.”

“How do you know my names?” Bloodlust growled.

Sun sat up, the chains that had bound him fell to the floor. He gave a stretch, and an exaggerated yawn. The two's eye's met again. They both let a grin slide into their lips.

“I'm Sunfall, you know that. It's my job to know everything about fuckers like you.”

“Your words are going to be the end of you here boy.”

“Are they? Because the way this looks to me, I'm calling the shots.”

“Arrogant child.”

“Not arrogance, I just know that I am going to win this little “encounter” of ours on way or the other.”

“What makes you think that? You're but an ant to me, I swat you off my leg.”

“Really? Answer me this one, what the hell are you doing all the way out here? You hail from the south, far south. So what is the first Vamp doing out in Equestria's backwater? Sounds like you're hiding. You've been ignoring the Seekers, and now you are trying to mass produce a new generation. What's the matter? Population getting low?”

“You know nothing...” Bloodlust growled.

“I know that I killed way more vamps then what normally make up a nest this size. I know that you are fighting a losing battle here. And that you seem to be the one not showing the right amount of respect.”

Bloodlust laughed. “Me? I'm now the foul-mouthed son of a bitch.”

“Do you have any idea how this is going to play out?” Sun said with a bit of a laugh, and more disbelief.

“I kill the last remaining member of the Sunfall bloodline?” Bloodlust stated with a hint of pride in his voice.

“Maybe. Maybe...”

“What's wrong, what happened to that bravado Sunfall?”

“Oh its still here. Let me explain something to you old timer.”

“You have my attention. Speak, all warriors deserve to have state their last words.”

“This is going to end badly for you, no matter what. The only reason why I lost our fight earlier was because I was pissed, and I didn't know it was you that I was fighting. Now you lost that advantage, and I've calmed down quite a bit.”

“Foalish boy.”

“I wasn't done. Now then either I kill you, or you kill me. If I win, then I walk out of here and butcher this entire rape factory you've built. Or you kill me, and become the guy who killed the Sunfall. Now tell me, with a title like that, don't you think that all the other Seekers are going to e gunning for you? Who wouldn't want to be the Seeker who not only avenged the Sunfall, but proved that they are better then them by killing the killer , get it? It will either be me, or some other Seeker who wipes this place, and all other places like it off the face of the planet. If there are even anymore then this one. No matter what, you lose, and when you lose, I win. Get it.”

Bloodlust just stared for a moment. He wanted to disprove his words, but he couldn't. Sun was not far from the truth. Bloodlust was once a general, he knew that if he started this fight, that he would lose eventually. Sun grinned at his enemy's silence.

“Now then, as for the whole respect thing. You know who I am. You know what I've done. Need I remind you? Within the past few months alone I've fought and killed more then you can even fucking understand. I single-hoofedly killed a fucking Hiderunner. I blasted a Black Dog into fucking meaty chunks. I torched a Blight, and a fucking Banshee, then jumped out of a fucking building, and LAUGHED about it! I killed a coven of six, SIX angel witches! I turned a pack of LYCANS in to ash piles! I stopped a fucking zombie invasion, even AFTER I was eaten by a zombie Minotaur, and killed him from the inside for fuck's sake! I IMPALED THE IMMORTAL METAL ON IT'S OWN FUCKING TUSK! IF YOU THINK FOR A SINGLE FUCKING SECOND THAT YOU CAN BEAT ME, YOU BETTER TAKE A LOOK AT MY FUCKING TRACK RECORD, BECAUSE YOU'LL BE FAR FROM THE FIRST TO MAKE THAT MISTAKE AND YOU WONT BE THE LAST! I AM CALLING THE SHOTS HERE, AND IF YOU WANT YOU'RE SPECIES TO LIVE, THEN YOU'RE GOING TO DO EVERYTHING I SAY BECAUSE YOU'RE MY FUCKING BITCH NOW!” Sun roared out like a lion.

The two traded glares. There was a silence. Sun composed himself.

“I know it may risk a losing battle, but while you have victory in the long run, I have your friends.”

“I haven't forgotten.”

“Then what is your plan here?” Bloodlust gave a sinister grin.

“Let's make a deal Doc. One where nopony goes home... empty hoofed."

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Zecora and Twilight waited in their cage for what felt like hours. Midnight was down for the count. They doubted that he would wake up until morning. The two mares, however were too on edge to sleep. All they knew was that Sun Strike had been defeated, and that things were not looking good at all. They had no idea that as they sat worried in their cage, Sun was negotiating with the Vampyre Lord Bloodlust. They waited and waited. It was the dead of night, and it was dark. They both stood when they heard the creaking of and old throne room door. They strained to see through the heavy darkness. The sound of hoofsteps grew closer and closer.

Then like a beacon of hope through the darkness Radiance bloomed. Surrounding Sun Strike. Dressed in his trench coat. He held Radiance in his mouth and moved slowly toward the center of the room. Where he reached down and retrieved his hat. He glanced toward Twilight and Zecora with a sad look on his face. He put on a fake grin.

Bloodlust trotted to the cage door, unlocking it with a key. He opened it wide, then trotted to the next cage, unlocking that one as well. He went on halfway down the throne room. Unlocking half of the cages. Then he stood by Sun Strike in the center of the room. The group of mares all moved out of their cages slowly, cautiously. Bloodlust turned to the two new room guards.

“Guards, one of you get the one's we've already taken. The other tell the nest that the ponies leaving are not to be attacked. Anything stupid enough to go against my will shall regret that decision.”

The mares who had been taken grew even more pale. Twilight looked at Sun Strike.

“What? You... your leaving them here?” Twilight looked at him with horror filled eyes.

“That's the deal.” Sun said sorrowfully.

“But... but... they.... their gunna....” Twilight tried and failed to hold back tears.

“I know.... I know. The deal is that all of those who haven't already been... selected get to leave with me. All those who are already... you know, they have to stay.”

“But Sun!-”

“I know... The sooner you get over it the better. Sometimes... sometimes when things get bad. You have to bite down and deal with it.” He interrupted.

“Sun Strike these mares-”

“Twilight he knows, it is his cross to bare. Do not misunderstand, this was the best he could do, he does care.”

“I care a lot Twi... but it's either this, or we all die. I am willing to die to stop him, but I refuse to let my friends suffer for this. Just... please shut up. We can talk about it later I promise, I need to get these mares home.” Sun spoke with a unusual level of sorrow in his voice.

Twilight said nothing. She just looked to the ground and let the tears fall. The mares and the Seekers grouped up. Sun put Midnight on his back, and took point. Zecora kept at the back of the pack. Bloodlust saw his guest out into the forest. Once they went far enough, he vanished.

Sun escorted each mare back to their homes, he convinced them that it would be best if they told nopony of what happened to them within the past few days. He didn't worry much, even if the did tell others, nopony would believe them.

Zecora and Twilight did not follow him for this process. Instead they both went to Zecora's hut, which she was now thinking of relocating. They treated Midnight's wound with better tools and medical skills. After, they waited. Sun promised to return to them after he knew all the mares were home safely.

For a long time, they waited in more silence. Then there was a knocking on the door. Twilight's magic lazily pulled the door open. The two mares looked at the dripping wet Sun Strike.

He stepped in and sat on the floor by the humble fire Zecora had made.

“Jumped in a river on the way here, get the blood off.” he stated flatly.

“Is... is that it?” Twilight asked, obviously upset. She literally shook with anger.

“Twi... let me fill you in on something.”

“Please do.” She nearly growled.

“You do what I do long enough and you learn something. You can't save everypony. No matter how hard you try, ponies die. It's nature. That doesn't mean stop trying. At least that's never the way I saw it. I do my best to save everypony I can, but sometimes I fail.”

“Sun... you left those mare to be raped to death. RAPED. TO. DEATH.”

Sun took a long deep breath.

“This wasn't the first time I've had to deal with Vampyre nests. A long time ago. When I went Seeking with my brother and father, we came upon a nest similar to the one you were in. Fewer Vamps. We wiped them out pretty quickly. But all of the mares had been raped. This is where the problem started. To become a vampire, you have to be infected by a Vampyre, there are other ways too, but wont go into that. You get infected by getting their body fluids. Saliva, blood, other body fluids if you catch my drift. So all the mares could already infected. It doesn't always work the first time, with tolerance and all, there was a chance that some of them could walk away alive. It's not very likely, but it could happen. I wanted to get them home, hope for the best, save as many as I could. They both thought they were going to turn soon.” Sun had to fight back tears.

“I had to watch those mares get gunned down. I was so pissed that fucking left. All the anger I had built up, just exploded. I spent my life getting the shit kicked out of me, if not by my father, then by the brother who told me regularly that I murdered our mom. I fucking hate my brother. I was so done, so tired of being treated like garbage that I just left, trotted away. I just couldn't take the bitter taste of hatred day after day. You don't trot away from being a Seeker Twilight. I learned that the hard way.” His battle against his tears was getting harder.

“I was Seeking alone. And it was hard. I wanted to save everypony. But I couldn't. I have held so many ponies as they laid dying in my hooves. If I was just a little better, I could have saved them. There was this filly, little girl, like one the crusaders. Didn't even have her cutie mark left. Her daddy sold her to some demon for money. She got torn apart by Hellhounds, right in front of me. I couldn't do anything. Hellhounds can only be seen by ponies they are hunting, or who are close to dying. I was neither, I couldn't do anything. You can't save everypony. I gave that Vampyre those mares to save you and those I knew could be safe. I saved as many as I knew I could. I did... I did my best, all the cards were in my favor, but I still left them there! Killing them would have been better, damn it killing them WAS BETTER.” The tears came. Sun Strike couldn't fight any longer. He was done.

Zecora took a seat next to him and let his weight fall on her. She slowly took off his hat and set it down. Then held him close. His one eye wanted to fight the tears. He vented out the tears of years of abuse. Years of guilt. Years of blaming himself for his mother's death. Years of the shear horror that come with being a Seeker. Zecora had the same feelings, but now was not the time for her to express them. She wanted to cry to, she had similar feeling.

When Sun finally composed himself, he sat up, and gave a smile toward Zecora. He looked to Twilight, who looked like she had done a fair share of crying as well. Sun took another deep breath.

“Also, you should know... I think the world might be ending soon...” Sun began to explain the things his brother had found before his death. He and Zecora explained the things that must happen to let the Great Evil Lord free. Sun expressed his concern that the Prince of Darkness had just let the Sun free. Now only one last key had do be accomplished. The One True Light must be Branded by the Sun. Assuming that he was still the Sun in these warning, his plan was to lay as low as possible. He figured he should stay away from both literal and figurative “Branding”. Twilight reacted exactly the way he assumed she would. She freaked out, a lot. She panicked, then vomited, then hyperventilated, then paced around for a while. After she calmed down they shared a hug.

To be honest. Sun wanted to kill himself. If he was the Sun in this story, then if he was dead, then the Sunfall clan would be gone and the world would not end. But he was scared that “the one true light” was one of his friends, or perhaps his friendship itself. And him killing himself might “brand” it. If the world was going to end, he wanted to fight it until the very end. He was fully willing to die if it meant his friends would be safe. He was ready to stare whatever the end was in the face and fight it, even if it killed him.

They shared a hug, and he and Zecora walked Twilight back to her library. The parted with more hugging. He parted from Zecora. They both thought that morning was to close for them to try anything. It was an excuse not to try by both of them. Seekers are not exactly good when it comes to romantic interaction. The six mares that been watching them this entire time made jokes that they were acting like school fillies. They really had no idea how to really express their feelings for each other.

Sun got to his motel room with the injured Midnight Fire. He sat in his bed after setting his father down on a couch. He fell asleep almost instantly. He had gotten a lot off his chest. He had things he needed to say, and he finally said them.

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Twilight sat crying by candle light. She hated what she was going to do next.

This is wrong! He trusts me! He trusted me with all that... personal... stuff. I... I can't just betray him! He... he's done so much for me, for my friends... but what choice do I have...

She was finding that actually doing what she told herself she had to do to be much more difficult then she intended. She couldn't stop herself from crying. The tears just kept coming. But with some focus, her magic grabbed a quill and some parchment. Having the two things in front of her brought more tears. She hated what she was doing.

She hated betraying the Stallion how had just saved her from one of the worst imaginable ways to die... who also blamed himself for all the mares he couldn't save. She dropped the quill. Unfortunately she couldn't cry forever. Eventually she was out of tears. Emotionally and physically exhausted, she laid numb. Then her magic weakly grasped the quill again. Dipped it in ink and pressed it against the parchment.

Dear Princess Celestia.....

Author's Notes:

The end is nigh!!!!

The End is super Nigh!!!!