The night continued in a lighthearted manner. Laughter was had and amusing jests about the noises and displays Shadow Dancer, Gray Mane and Tactics were creating was abundant. It was probably one of the most low-key evenings I had ever experienced. An evening I was seemly in desperate need of.

However, like all good things, it wound down when most of the others required rest. As such I kissed Twilight and wished her and the rest a pleasant sleep. I even commented that I would join her after my watchful task was over. In turn that just left me and Princess Luna as the last two remainders at the table.

This situation presented me with a rare opportunity. It was not often that I was alone with Luna for any stretch of time. Usually it was either in fleeting moments or from official business. So as it seemed that I had a few questions on my mind I figured this would be the perfect time to ask them.

Although before I was able to ask any of my inquiries, Luna spoke up. “Is there something troubling you, Blood Moon? You have been unusually silent since our companions left,” she said before taking another sip out of her goblet.

“Hmm? Ah yes, there are two topics I have been meaning to ask you about if you do not mind, Princess,” I stated trying to collect my thoughts.

She merely let out a lighthearted laugh before stating “I truly had figured as such. You always appear to slip into silence when deep in thought. State your inquiries and I will answer to the best of my abilities.”

I fidgeted with my goblet for a few moments as I felt my face start to heat up. The first of my questions was on a more intimate nature. So after gnawing on my lip for a second I stated, “Well my first question is…well I am not certain how to truly word it. As you know, me and Twilight have gotten rather...close...and we…hmm. It hmm…started after a few times she fed off of me and it well…”

“Became pleasurable to the point of ecstasy?” Luna replied with a sly grin and a side glance.

I could feel my face heat up further as I responded with a simple, “Yes.”

She let out a quiet chuckle and refilled her goblet. “It would amuse you how many had asked me the very same question. It became so frequent at some point in the past that I decided to research that strange phenomenon in response. The results of such were quite...interesting. Firstly, as you already know when the ‘change’ takes place in a pony, several alterations are made. While physical attributes are easily recognized, biological ones are often overlooked,” she said and took a few sips from her goblet.

She then thought for a moment before continuing, “One of which is that the digestive system reconfigures itself to accommodate our different…appetites. As such a modification to aid us in our almost exclusive nutritional requirement from blood, our saliva is altered. A type of venom is generated to act as an anticoagulant and a strange calming agent. It is that calming agent that is the source of your intrigue.”

I narrowed my eyes in thought. “I suppose that makes some sense, but why did it take several bites. As well as why does it only seem to be Twilight that can cause that effect on me?” I inquired with a raised eyebrow.

She smiled in amusement and said, “Firstly it takes several bites to achieve the effect. The first few bites, although painful, will merely relax you enough for them to properly feed. The venom then builds up to where your body physically craves it, hence the pleasure. The second is that each pony has their own unique venom so the ‘build-up’ effect is separate from each other. One last point of note, the underlying craving can persist for quite an extended period.”

I began to question about the “extended period” comment just as Luna grinned and pulled my right foreleg close to her. Before I realized what was about to happen, she retracted my leg armor and sunk her fangs in. At first a sharp pain hit me and then an overwhelming pleasure took its place. My eyes then rolled back as my head slammed into the table.

My body became unbelievably relaxed and for some strange reason also became uncomfortably aroused. It was rather fortuitous that I had remembered to re-armored to my body earlier, thus sparing me any future embarrassment. Although at that point in time I doubt I would have cared about anything. I only snapped back to reality when I groaned in disappointment because Luna pulled her fangs out.

“Mmmmm as delightful as it was all those moons ago. Now, what was your second inquiry?” I barely heard Luna say while her voice seemed to be accompanied by the sound of her licking her lips.

My mind seemed to refuse to process anything. I could not even fathom the concept of a question for a few moments. I ultimately had to run the definition through my mind a few times before I understood her. After which I pulled my dazed head off of the table while I attempted to remember what I was going to ask her. Then the fog cleared and the thought came to me with little effort as I healed my leg.

I suppose it was the fear that motivated me. This question had been embedded into my mind ever since Luna had attempted to remove that horrid nightmare I had. Maybe it had been there even longer. Either way what I did know is that I did not remember anything from that fateful night. I had tried to ask her what happened a few days after the event, but all I received was a look of terror in response. However I needed to know once and for all because I doubt I would get another opportunity to speak with her like this again. So it was either now or never.

I held my head not looking at her. I then cleared my throat and stated, “Princess Luna, I know that I had asked this of you this once before. It has been on my mind ever since. What I am about to state I beg that you please answer truthfully.”

“I am not certain I enjoy where is this going, Blood Moon. However, what is your question?” She replied in a stern tone, but it had a slight hint of worry.

I lifted my head, looked into her eyes and said, “What happened when you tried to remove my nightmare all those moons ago?”

In reaction she fumbled and spilled her goblet all over the table. The stern and scolding demeanor she wore previously gave way to naked fear. Her body started to shake all over as her eyes stared at the table unblinking. She then looked at me as she screeched in panic, “I THOUGHT I TOLD YOU NEVER TO MENTION THAT EVER AGAIN!”

I narrowed my eyes at her and said in a firm tone, “You never stated anything of the such! You just stared at me in terror and ran away!”

“Well I am stating it now! Do…Not…Bring that up...AGAIN!” she snapped back.

“I have every right to know! It was me that this has happened to! I deserve an answer!” I raised my voice in response as I stood up to look her in the eyes.

“Happened to you?! HAPPENED TO YOU?! DO YOU REMEMBER NOTHING?!” She stood up and yelled in my face.

“REMEMBER WHAT?!” I yelled back as our faces were almost pressing together.

Her facial features slowly slipped from burning rage to a deep sorrow. Red tears welled in her eyes before they streamed down her face. She then sat back down where she was originally and lowered her head. “You do not remember what happened, do you?” she said as she took off her crescent moon necklace she always wore.

The left side on the base of her neck now showed a strange looking scar. I looked closer and it appeared to be as if something had bit down on her and with a decent force too. A few seconds of analysis passed and my mind concluded it to be a vampire bite. It seemed to also be a stallion vampire based on the shape. One of most likely a medium build close to mine.

It was then it finally dawned on me. I felt the color drain out of my face as I realized who could have created that scar. I swallowed hard and stated in a shaking voice, “Pri-incess Luna, w-who ma-ade that scar?”

She wrapped her forelegs around herself and then her wings. Then I felt my heart sink when she barely whispered, “You.”

I just sat there in shock. There was nothing I could do or say to comfort her. A few minutes passed by in painful silence. At this point an overwhelming amount of guilt had taken over me as red tears flowed from my eyes. I was on the verge of a mental breakdown before I felt a wing wrap around my back.

I looked up to see Luna sitting next to me. She gave me a half smile as she wiped the tears out of her eyes. “You are right. You truly deserve to know what happened,” she said in a quiet voice.

She took a deep breath and continued, “Ever since I thoughtlessly exposed you and the other Midnight Knights to my sister, I had felt truly guilty. While the other children of the night secretly scorned me for my actions, you and Black Wing had not. You two had even defended my honor countless times though I did not deserve it. I wanted to aid both of you for your efforts, but Black Wing would not accept. She had only requested that I find some way to help your…condition.”

Luna then closed her eyes and looked as she was in deep concentration. She then bit her lip and said, “I…I had not known how damaged your mind was until our rough…tryst. You had lost consciousness shortly after you had mended yourself. In my guilt for harming you, I held you while you slept. You…you soon began to scream somepony’s name in your sleep. I ultimately had to activate your armor to prevent further damage to your lab.”

Her face looked pained at she continued, “It was at that moment I knew what I must do. I had assumed you would reject my assistance so I took matters into my own hooves. I lured you into the forest outside the palace and cast a sleeping spell on you. As you began to scream, I entered your dreams. However in that single act of foolishness, I committed a grave folly.”

Luna’s eyes opened up and she took on a distant look of terror. I could see sweat pour off of her face as she swallowed a few times. It took her a few minutes before she continued her dreadful recollection, “I-I-I triggered something…something unspeakable. You broke out of the sleep spell and stood up. The burning gaze you directed at me was you and somehow not you. The only words you yelled were ‘you are all going to pay,” before you openly assaulted me.”

I could feel her start to shake as her sweating increased. I did not know how to comfort her. She was slowly becoming a wreck before my very eyes. As I was about to tell her to stop the tale, she put a hoof over my mouth and said, “Please I must finish, lest I lose the fortitude to continue. My guilt is too great to hold the truth from you any longer.”

I had to admit I had begun to fully regret ever asking her to tell me. Each new sentence brought some horror I had never fully known to light. In addition, the toll it was taking on her was becoming immense. Either way I no other choice then to let her continue.

In turn she took a deep breath, but it did not seem to aid her. Her voice even took on a tone of fear as she continued, “You did not yield in total disregard of my pleading. I was soon forced to defend myself, but this only served to enraged you further. In your anger your magic reached out to anything within range. Soon howls of agony erupted from the forest. It was then I bore witness to atrocity incarnate. You somehow twisted the forms of several woodland beasts into shambling puppets. Their mangled corpses had frightened me beyond words.”

“In my shock and horror I was caught off guard and you dove at me. You then sunk your teeth in and began to drain me. I had felt my life slipping away and in blind panic I had somehow succeeded in teleporting to the palace. You remained in that state for three full days. You had only stopped when I had assumed you exhausted your magic to the point of depletion,” Luna said and red tears welled in her eyes again.

“I had found you later unconscious in the forest laboring to breathe. Around you laid the bodies of dozens of creatures you twisted and all were drained of blood. I had cleaned up the atrocity and told not a soul. I even hid it from you when you had asked what you had done. I…I…I just wanted to help you…I did…I…please…please forgive me,” she stated and then broke down into heavy sobbing. As she buried her tear soaked face in her forehooves, her moon tiara slid off her head and clattered to the table.

I had not a clue what to say. The events that she stated were so awful that my mind had blanked out. It took several moments before I snapped out of my trance enough to comfort her. However even after I placed her tiara on her head and told her that forgave her, she did not let up. She then quickly grabbed her moon necklace and teleported away.

With a mind full of unpleasant thoughts, I sat in silence at the table alone. I did not snap out of my trance until I felt a tap on my shoulder. As I turned I noticed Gray Mane, Tactics and Shadow Dancer were standing next to me. They all possessed a varying form of satisfaction on their faces. I quickly wiped some red tears from my eyes and stated in a cracking voice, “I hope everypony had their fill.”

Gray Mane merely laughed as Shadow Dancer said, “Fill? Yeah I’d say for a month give or take. Ah think Ah’m gonna be sick.”

Tactics replied with his slightly brighter monotone voice, “I feel disgusted with myself,”

In response I stated, “That is pleasing to hear,” before sniffing a few times and staring back at the table in front of me.

“Are ya alright, Blood Moon?” I heard Shadow Dancer inquire.

“I am...fine,” I replied in a quiet voice.

“Are ya sure you don’t-” he began to say before I interrupted him.

“I AM FINE!” I yelled as a red haze covered my eyes and I slammed my forehooves into the table in front of me. The table then shattered to pieces as the red haze dissipated from my eyes.

“Whoa! Easy there! Alright alright yer fine yer fine. Ah think we’re gonna check on the others and turn in. We’ll leave you to it then,” Shadow Dancer sputtered out before I heard them all walk away.

I sat alone for about twenty minutes before I got up and cleaned up the mess that we had made. I then silently walked down the hall to my quarters. I tried and failed several times at the seal on my door before it finally opened.

I looked in to see Twilight fast asleep on my bed. I wanted nothing more than to slip quietly next to her and forget anything happened. However, my grief overtook me and I just sat with my back to the hoofboard. I then attached the two closest of the manacles to my forelegs before breaking down while holding myself.

It did not take long before Twilight woke up to my quiet weeping. “Oh my gosh what happened?!” she blurted out in a panicked tone as she jumped out of bed.

The only words that I could seem to say were, “I am…a monster,” before breaking down further.

I believe Twilight was about to rush over to me before I heard a knock at my room door. “Oooh this is really not a good time whoever you are,” she said in response.

In my slightly blurred vision I saw her open the door and look at me. She then looked back and opened her eyes in surprise as she said, “Princess Celestia? I'm not sure this is a great time.”

“I do realize this may at an odd hour Twilight, but is Blood Moon here? I truly need to speak with him,” I heard Celestia reply on the other side of the door.

“Well he’s here, but I’m not sure…he’s not doing so well at the moment,” Twilight replied.

I heard Celestia take a deep breath and state, “Hmm it appears he’s not the only one. May I come in? We need to talk.”

I saw Twilight look back at me and bit her lip before opening the door. Celestia walked in, took one look at me and frowned. “Something told me you would be in here like this. This is not the Blood Moon I know in such a wrecked state.”

“Ummm can somepony tell me what’s going on?” Twilight inquired with worry and confusion in her voice.

Celestia sat down in front of me and let out a deep sigh. “It’s a long story Twilight and I’m not sure how much you know. As you have been reading his tome you may very well know more than I do. However, what you may not know are the full details of a certain event years ago. An event I didn't know about until Luna burst into my study in near hysterics. It’s ultimately my fault these two are in this state to begin with.”

I saw Twilight tilt her head to the side. “What do you mean it’s your fault?” Twilight questioned.

Celestria lowered her eyes and took off her tiara. She then held it in her forehooves and stared at the glittering gems. “It was almost two centuries ago. Some mistake in logistics or some other error happened. Regardless of the blame, the result was the same. A small village not unlike your Ponyville was assaulted by my Solar Channelers,” she said in a quiet tone.

I lowered my head remembering those horrid events in detail as she continued, “The initial report stated that they were a group of rogue vampires and their thralls. They were wrong…so very very wrong. I’d arrived much too late to stop them. Innocent ponies…all slaughtered.”

I looked up to see tears begin to well in her eyes though she remained resolute. She took a deep breath before she spoke again, “I ordered a search for any survivors. I had even dug apart the town hall with my own two hooves. That is where I found him. Buried under piles of rubble and debris, and holding onto the remains of his first love whom I believe was called ‘Pure Blood’.”

“They said he was some sort of monster that attacked them. It was the reason they had collapsed the structure in an attempt to destroy him. I didn't believe them and managed to revive him with my very own blood. I still remember the look of sorrow and despair in his eyes when he opened them. And the only thing he had said to me before losing consciousness again was ‘Why did you attack us, Princess? Why? We were good I promise, why?’,” Celestia said as her voice broke a few times.

I then saw her teeth clench and her eyes narrowed in anger. “It took him weeks to recover physically, but his mind never did. He had terrible nightmares that plagued him anytime he slept. And those that were responsible fled like cowards,” she said as her forehooves shook.

Celestia’s face relaxed again as she took another deep breath and stated, “My sister was just trying to help. It was foolish of her, but her heart was in the right place. She had attempted to remove the nightmare from his mind, but it only triggered some sort of relapse in him that left her gravely wounded for awhile. It appears she never told him of that event until tonight. Just like what I should have told him what happened all those years ago.”

She then put her tiara back on, wiped the tears from her eyes, and said, “It appears Twilight you are the pony we should all be thankful for. You succeeded where we couldn't. I just wish the cost hadn't been so high.”

Twilight blushed and said, “It’s alright I suppose. However, it does make brushing my teeth a bit trickier.”

It was such a simple comment, but it seemed to lighten the mood by leagues. I was about to stand up, but the chains and manacles held me in place. Celestia just smiled in response and said, “A little stuck are we? That will simply not do,” before she walked over to me and used her magic to uncouple the manacles on my forelegs.

After she was done, her eyes and horn soon glowed like the sun as she appeared to focus her magic further. She then said, “You don’t need these awful things anymore!” as she forcefully tore all four chains off the bed posts.

The broken chains then flew over my head before they stopped in front of her. The smell of burning metal soon hung in the air as she crushed and melted the chains into a perfect sphere with her magic. “And that’s that” Celestia said while she took a few deep breaths from exertion as she placed the smoking orb in front of me.

For some reason in that very moment it felt as if a great weight was lifted from my shoulders. Those dreadful chains were gone. They were finally gone. That metal ball in front of me was the only evidence they ever existed in the first place. I probably would have kicked it if I was not worried about breaking my legs. However, at least the damnable things could not do me any more mental harm.

Celestia must have noticed my mood. I saw her smile before she said, “I’m happy you are finally rid of those. Also don’t worry about Luna. She’s stronger than she looks. Pleasant rest you two.”

She then started to turn towards the door when a worried look covered her face. I raised an eyebrow and inquired, “Is something wrong, Princess?”

She stopped in response and said, “I'd just gotten some troubling news before coming here. It was about the war we've been fighting with the rogue factions. It seemed to have taken a worrisome turn recently.”

“What is happening? Have they attacked more towns?” I questioned with a hint of concern in my voice.

She shook her head before stating, “No, all three factions have disappeared without a trace.”

I wanted this chapter to complete a few pieces of the story puzzle before moving on. However, this is going be the last chapter before things start to take on a more serious and dark turn for a bit.