I took a few deep breaths and attempted to clear my mind while my magic began to flare. One minute soon turned into two and then three. ‘You are stalling, Blood Moon,’ I thought to myself. I knew what was coming given by the lack of feeling of my lower body. The impact into the metal wall had damaged my spine. It needed to be repaired if I had any desire to walk again. However, deep down in my mind I cringed at the well evident fact that a world of pain awaited me.

I took one last deep breath and flowed my magic into boosting my body’s vampiric healing. It did not take long for my worries to be realized. The pain was borderline unfathomable. My vision turned pure white and I felt my mouth lock into a silent scream. Each newly healed vertebrate brought more feeling and even more agony in its wake. I ultimately had to stuff my armored right forehoof in my mouth in an attempt to muffle what little strangled screams I was making.

Then it happened, the biggest horror of all. The last vertebrate clicked back into place and the nerves to the lower half of my body woke up. The pain was worse than when I was healing myself from being burnt to a crisp at the apple orchard. At least then I had the luxury passing out every so often. No, this time I was fully awake and aware.

Soon screams of unfiltered blood curdling anguish came out in a never ending flow behind my hoof. I believe somepony may have asked if I was alright at some point. The only response I gave was briefly uncovering my mouth. No further questions were brought forth. It would have only received more of same anyway.

After an unknown period of time the pain had subsided. Well, either that or my brain’s pain neurons may have burnt out. My vision cleared and I realized I was sweating profusely. My face was also soaked from the massive amount of tears that seemed to have poured down it. I looked around and everypony was staring at me with worried looks on their faces. I swallowed and stated “I am…fine…now.”

Rainbow Dash was the only one brave enough to speak up. “What in the hay was that!?” she stated in a mixture of worry, fear and what I could guess as morbid curiosity.

I took a deep breath and stated, “Have you ever had your spine broken and then have to forcefully piece it back together by yourself with no pain medication?”

She rubbed the back of her head with her right foreleg and said “umm…no.”

“Yes, I would highly advise against doing that,” I replied with a twitch in my left eye.

“Oooh…” Rainbow Dash stated and it included looks of empathetic pain from her and Twilight’s friends.

Gray mane snorted and stated “Ha, just a broken spine? That is nothing compared to that time you threw me out of a five story palace window.”

“Ahh, but the only difference here is that you deserved that,” I retorted with a raise eyebrow and a grin.

“Hey you have no complaints from me. It was about time somepony stood up to me,” Gray Mane replied with a toothy smile.

It appeared that Cloud Streak’s curiosity had piqued. “Umm Blood Moon, what in Equestria does it take for an earth pony to deserve being tossed out of a five story win-” she began to state, but cut herself short and started to look around. She looked out of one of the train engine windows and said “Uh, why are we slowing down?”

I looked out one of the windows, then out of the back of Train engine and stated “That is a very good question. Could you please find out?”

“I…I can’t,” she stated while looking at the floor and holding her bandaged right wing in her front legs.

“I got it” Rainbow Dash piped up and zipped out of train engine before I could say anything. She returned after a few moments, looked at me and said “The lead train runner wants to talk to you.”

“Lovely, just what I had desired, more complications. Thank you Rainbow Dash for your services. I will see what they require when the train stops.” She nodded and sat back down with the others. I then rubbed my face with my forehooves and grumbled under my breath. I was in absolutely no mood for this. I had hoped against hope that the rest of the trip would have gone smooth. However, it appeared fate was having an amusing laugh at the others’ and my expense.

Eventually the train engine steadily slowed down and came to a stop. Not long after that, I tested my hind legs and while they were stiff, they seemed to be working. I then took great care to slide out from under Twilight. After a few moments I picked her up in my forelegs, carried her, and laid her down next to her friends. I then leaned close to her and whispered into her ear. “Twilight, if you can hear me. I am going to put your armor into statue mode. I am not sure what you will do in your sleep and we cannot take that chance. Please, rest well and thank you for saving my life,” I said before giving her a small kiss on the cheek. I then reacted out with my magic, re-armored her helm and activated her armor’s statue mode.

Applejack gave me a weak smile and said “Don’t worry. We’ll take care of her.”

I just gave her a smile in kind, said “Thank you,” and walked to the back of the train engine. I had attempted to climb down, but it was more on par with a fall. I wish it had been graceful. However, it seemed I was beyond such pleasantries at that moment and landed sprawled out on my stomach with a loud thump. I heard my lieutenants snickering to each other. At least the blunder had only injured my pride.

I got up, shook my head, and looked around. It was mostly pitch black outside minus the small amount of moonlight. I continuously thanked Luna for my vampiric sight as I navigated to the front of the train engine. Before I walked out, I re-armored my helm and tried to make myself move and look somewhat normal. I had no wish to scare the train runners half to death.

I took a deep breath and gathered my thoughts, ‘Alright Blood Moon, you can do this. Surely they will see reason with minimal explanation so we can continue our journey without interruption…surely.’ I sighed recounting the events of the evening while holding my protesting stomach. ‘Yes and I am the queen of the changelings…’ I added to my thoughts. I groaned, straightened my back and walked out to meet the train runners.

They were all sitting doing what it appeared to be eating something around a few lanterns. My stomach further protested at the thought of a nice meal. I frowned as I attempted to quiet my stomach with little success. I then cleared my throat to make myself known. “I heard my presence was requested,” I stated in a stern, yet welcoming tone.

“You’re damn right I request your ‘presence’,” a snide voice came from the group. One of the ponies got up and started walking toward me. He was of a decent size, but his body looked more lean than bulky. His outfit was worn, probably from long usage. “First, you’re going to tell me who in Celestia’s name you are. Secondly, can you please explain to me why the rest of my train is missing?” he stated, his tone growing more angry.

I sighed internally and thought, ‘So much for my hopes of minimal explanations.’ I cleared my throat again and stated “Who I am is of little importance. However, the reason the rest of your train is…gone…is due to the sensitive nature of the ponies I am escorting.” I did not wish to tell him too much. The less he knew, the safer he and his team were. “In further relation for whom I am escorting, this train needs to keep moving until we reach Canterlot,” I added.

Much to my dismay he was not buying it. He straightened up, spit something out of his mouth onto the ground next to him and glared at me. “Like Tartarus we are. That little stunt you had us pull injured half my runners. We aren't moving anywhere till you tell us what’s going on,” he said as his angry voice got louder.

“You must understand. The less you know the safer you all are,” I stated in a more firm tone.

His eyes narrowed on me as he began to yell, “Safe?! You call this shit safe?! Most of my train is fucking missing! It’s completely fucking gone! Not to mention how…” he continued his belting rant at me, but the sound started to fade out. His voice in my hearing was replaced by something worse, his heartbeat. My eyes began to slowly crawl down from his face to his neck. They soon stopped and remained fixed on the quickened pulse. I then started to feel my blood magic crackle as it began to reach towards it.

I quickly slapped my left foreleg in front my eyes and turned my head away from him. His heartbeat was still ever present in my hearing. My unusual actions caused him to pause his boiling rant at me for a second. He responded with an angry shout, “What the fuck is wrong with you?! Are you even listening to me?!”

I fought back the sound of his heartbeat and stated in a quiet voice, “Please, I beseech you. We need to keep moving as we cannot delay any longer. I am beginning to have great…difficulties.”

“Huh? What ‘difficulties’?” he stated in a snarky tone.

“He is hungry,” I heard a familiar voice state as they got closer. I realized it was Night Star when I allowed myself a small amount of sight.

“Hungry? Is that all? I think we got a few sandwiches we can spare,” he replied with a small chuckle.

She sighed, “That will not help. Please, we need to keep moving for everypony’s safety,” she responded in a tone of growing concern. It was without a doubt she saw what I prevented myself from doing.

He snorted, “Look lady, we aren’t moving shit until I get some answers,” he stated with an angered and annoyed tone.

And I just could not take it this anymore. I was hungry, in pain, and in one of the worst moods of my life. I bellowed out, “See here you foolish whelp! If you desire answers then so be it!” as I picked him up with my magic and slammed him into front of the train. His workers started to get up until Night Star pulled out her throwing knifes and faced them. One by one they all sat back down.

My actions continued uninterrupted as I walked up to the leader and pinned him to the front of the train engine with my forelegs. “We are attempting to escort Princess Twilight Sparkle, the other elements, and her assistant, you fucking fool! Your train has been destroyed by an extremely ruthless group of rogue vampires solely because of this! They undoubtedly continue to dog our tracks in hopes of finishing us off! And to top off this horrid night, me and my unit have not fed in some time and we grow weaker by the hour!” I yelled mere centimeters from his now wide eyed face.

“So I say onto you!” I yelled at him as I slowly retracted my helm. I then glared my burning red gaze into his eyes and continued, “Either we continue our trip to Canterlot without further delay or I am going to drain you until you are nothing more than a shriveled husk!” I finished my statement with a loud snarl through my now bared fangs.

He began to shake violently and he very well may have invented a new shade of white. It felt unbelievably satisfying to finally have an outlet for my anger from this awful night. However, my feeling of relief soon turned to shame. When I looked into his wide eyes, I saw the monster that was me in their reflection. I had lost control and terrified some poor stallion that was just trying to look out for his other train runners and himself.

“I…I am…so terribly sorry,” I quietly whispered as I slowly lower him to the ground. I then took a few steps back and sat down, closed my eyes and lowered my head in continued shame. “I…lost control. I have no excuse for my actions. Please…forgive me.”

He coughed a few times and after a few moments he stated, “Who…What in Celestia’s name are you?”

I took a deep breath. “I suppose it is futile to hide now as I seemed to have revealed myself. I will start with the first question. My name is Blood Moon. I am a captain of the Reaper Knights and me and my lieutenants are charged with the protection of Princess Twilight Sparkle and her friends. As for what I am. That may be a bit difficult to believe,” I said and paused for a few seconds to gather my words. “In the bluntest of explanations, I am a vampire. I was attempting to withhold this information from you as most give the same reaction as you have,” I said lifting my head and looking at him.

He narrowed his eyes on me. “Is this some sort of trick or something? I mean nopony has glowing slitted eyes or…teeth like that. This has to be some sort of prank,” he stated with a nervous chuckle and then swallowed, hard.

I just smiled at him and said “My kind is as real as real can be,” before tapping my left fang with my left forehoof. I then proceeded to unconsciously lick my pointed tongue over my fangs.

“Your kind? As in, you weren't kidding on what is chasing us? I thought you guys were just some old mare’s tale cooked up for Nightmare Night,” he said in a shaking voice while he attempted to stand up.

I chuckled in a bemusement before I raised an eyebrow and stated “And now you know why I was trying to avoid the topic. There are not many that can easily fathom my kind’s existence. Now that I introduced myself, who are you?”

He brushed himself off and said in a tired voice, “The name’s ‘Break Runner’ and this is my crew. We may not look like much, but we've been through a lot more than you’d probably believe. Today just adds to the already long and growing list.”

I was about to speak when I heard Shadow Dancer’s voice as he walked from the side of the train, “What in Tartarus is goin’ on over here? Ah heard yellin’ and somethin’ slam into the front of the train. We should really get goin’.”

I let out a small laugh and said “Do not worry. We are all fine.” I glanced over at the Break Runner and added, “Well…relatively speaking mind you. I might have lost control and terrified these poor souls.”

“That’s putting it mildly,” Break Runner stated rolling his eyes. He looked at Shadow Dancer, then Night Star, and added in a nervous tone, “Let me guess. Those two are…vampires too?”

I could not help, but smile. The truth was mostly out about us anyway. I might as well indulge his curiosity. “Well she is,” I said gesturing at Night Star with my left foreleg. “But he is not,” I added, pointing at Shadow Dancer and smiling.

“Oh” he responded with slight surprise.

“He is actually a lycan,” I said while I continued to smile at him.

His reaction to my additional statement was amusing. His look of surprise turned to a look of disbelief that included a repeating twitch on his right eye. He slowly sat down, rubbed his face with his front hooves and stated “Of course he is.”

I smirked and stated “Do not believe me? Shadow Dancer, can you please demonstrate for him?”

Shadow Dance looked at Break Runner and then stared at me for a few moments before speaking. “Oooh no, Ah ain’t doin’ that again. Ah’m not just some act pony, at least not anymore,” he stated and looked lost in thought for a few moments before continuing. “Besides last ah showed mah true self to a civilian, she wet herself,” he added.

“Why in Equestria did you do that?” I inquired, genuinely curious.

He rubbed the back of his head with his right forehoof a few seconds and said “Well, she kept tryin’ to steal mah mug of hard cider.”

“And this warranted scaring her until she wet herself?” I said with a grin.

“Hey, you didn't taste last year’s hard cider batch,” he replied with a laugh.

A female voice yelled out from the other train runners, “Last year’s hard cider batch?! I would've fucking kicked her teeth out! That was the best year yet!”

Shadow Dancer let out small bit of laughter before stating, “Finally! A mare who understands me.”

The voice replied “You couldn't handle me big boy!” as several of the other runners started snickering.

“Ha, ah’ll take that wager,” Shadow Dancer stated as he pointed to the general direction of the voice with his right foreleg.

I rolled my eyes and stated “As much as this is amusing, please just show them so we can get moving. We have wasted more than enough time already.”

“Fine fine, but ah warned ya. Ah ain’t cleanin’ up any puddles,” he said shortly before retracting his helm. He took a deep breath and shut his eyes. He lowered himself closer to the ground and snarled. His flat teeth extended to points, his face took on a wolf-like visage, and his fur grew longer. Then his hooves morphed into clawed paws, completing the process.

The only voiced response came from Break Runner while he began to stare at Shadow Dancer. "Oh dear Celestia, this had better be one horrible dream. Because if it’s not, I’m going be drinking myself into oblivion when this is over," he said in a tired tone.

I let out a small laugh and stated “After what this night has been. I believe most, if not all, of everypony present will be joining you in that delightful endeavor.”

After thinking quite hard I decided to make this train ride into three parts. There was just so much that I wanted to write that cutting it down so much would have been terrible.