I woke up on the couch I had fallen asleep on, but was surprised to find that I wasn’t alone. There was a weight on me and when I looked down, I saw Twilight snuggled up with me. I was on my back and her upper body was mostly on top of mine. I have a habit of cuddling with anything I can get my hands on when I sleep, so not only were we holding each other but our wings were around each other.

It wasn’t a bad feeling, not by any stretch of the imagination.

It was a few minutes before she started to stir. She opened her eyes and looked up at me, and then quickly looked back down with a blush.

“S-Sorry... I... I was having nightmares... and... I-I thought that you would be able to help me, but you were asleep... a-and...” She started stuttering out in embarrassment. It made me smile. I stopped her by pulling her closer and resting my cheek on her head.

“You’re fine, Twilight. I’m happy to help, even when i’m not exactly conscious. Besides, this is nice.” I said. Nice didn’t even come close to describing it, though. I eyed the clock in the corner and found it to be much later than I expected. I had fallen asleep around noon, and it was nearly eleven.

I must have been more exhausted than I thought.

“What a shame, our day was used up sleeping.” I said. The slight frown on my face that had formed turned back into a smile when Twilight looked up at me. I have an Idea, and it would be very fun for the both of us.

“Are you tired at all anymore?” I asked.

“Not really, I’ve always been a fast healer... And I slept well.” She said. I chuckled at that.

“Good, I want to show you something and see if a few old friends are around. You up to a trek in the woods?” I asked. She gave me a curious look.

“Do you mean the everfree?” She asked. I understand why, the Everfree was an incredibly dangerous place if you don’t know what you’re doing. That zebra, Zecora, still has my utmost respect for not only being able to go in there daily, but live in the edge of it.

“Don’t worry, nothing native to that place would dare attack me. And if we stumble upon where those bandits ran off to it’s a double win, eh?” I said. She thought for a moment before nodding. It was a bit awkward getting up, but we were out into the night quickly.

“We can fly to the forest, if you’re up to it, but we’ll be walking through the forest.” I said. She thought for a moment before concentrating. I saw a slight distortion fill in the gaps in her wings and she took to the air. I followed quickly and found her with her eyes closed, seemingly just taking in her surroundings.

“I haven’t flown since what happened... I never thought much of it, since I hadn’t been doing it my entire life like a Valkyrie would, but I can’t believe how much I missed it... It’s just so calming and serene, and you can enjoy the night to its fullest.” She said softly, her voice carrying on the light wind. I couldn’t help but grin at that last part

“Then we can take our time getting to the forest, where we’re going isn’t going to go anywhere.” I said. She smiled and nodded and we flew slowly towards the forest near the town. We wound up gliding most of the way, but she seemed a bit hesitant to enter. I was about to ask what was wrong, but I guess she sense the question.

“Just a few memories coming back... If we find their camp or wherever they ran off to in here, they won’t ever leave...” She said darkly. That made me smile a sadistic little smile.

“I might just look for them, actually. I’d enjoy wiping them off the face of the planet, you’ve shed enough blood lately.” I said, almost evilly. She smiled and nodded and she followed me as I walked.

I smiled as she gasped when we reached a destroyed rope bridge, she probably figured out where we were going. This bridge was special, though, and I was about to show Twilight why.

“Welcome, Twilight, to the Midnight Bridge. What do you know about dimensional travel?” I asked. She seemed surprised by the question, but she answered quickly.

“It’s incredibly difficult, but not impossible. There are many different forms of dimensions and dimensional travel. Some forms are like tunnels or stairways or doorways that uses the space of whatever form it takes to connect two places. This is the most common and can be opened almost anywhere, like a portal.” She explained. I smiled, she knew her magic better than I thought.

“What about dimensional bubbles and hubs?” I asked. The form she explained was in books in the library, but most other forms were either under the highest restriction or not even in the library. Though, now that I think of it, Twilight would probably have earned the right to access the highest restriction barriers, and I wouldn’t put it past Celestia to teach her some of the lost or sealed magics.

Turns out I was correct.

“A Dimensional Bubble is a self sustained area that maintains itself in a dimensional void, which is like an alternate dimension but completely empty, that can be manipulated and accessed at will. A hub is a much larger version of the bubble in which many different people can come and go as they please, like a transport hub in canterlot or something similar.” She answered me. I was impressed. There was one thing she didn’t know, though, or at least couldn’t know more than a few details. Not even Celestia knew as much about what I was going to say as I.

“Do you know the difference between static and dynamic portals?” I asked, portals used in this way meaning the doorways or tunnels that was the first form she explained. She looked puzzled by that.

“Well, by the name, I imagine a static portal being one that stays the same and a dynamic one being one that can change.” She replied. Close, but no cigar.

“Not quite. Portals generally don’t move once summoned, and if they were to change then so would the destination. No, A Dynamic Portal is a portal that is called up in no specific place by anyone able. A Static Portal, though, is a portal that is in one specific place and links to another specific place. They cannot be moved, changed, opened or closed without a certain set of requirements being met.” I Explained. She took in all the information quickly and asked a question I knew was coming.

“What are the requirements?” I smiled.

“For starters you have to either be the creator of the portal or have a key from them. You also have to not only know where the entrance is, but where it comes out as well... or at least have someone with you who does. A static portal can take you anywhere, but you also need to have permission to enter the place it comes out or it’ll spit you back out. That part only applies if the place belongs to someone, though, like a house or a dimensional bubble.

Though, with bubbles it’s different. You can enter without permission, but you’ll have to either get permission from or defeat the guardian or guardians.” I continued to explain. I smiled at the look on her face, it was a look only a girl in love with learning could have when doing just that.

“Guardians?” She asked. I grinned and didn’t speak.

“This particular static portal is only accessible by myself.” I said.

“Is there a reason for that?” She asked. I chuckled and, letting my fangs extend, slit my palm with one of them. I licked what little blood spattered on my lips and smeared the open gash on one of the support stones that would normally have the rope of the bridge embedded into it. She watched in awe as the stone absorbed my blood and a dark blue aura appeared around it. A bridge built itself, identical to the real one, but this one was made of the blue energy that made up the portal.

“A bridge?” She asked. I simply nodded and stepped onto it. It didn’t shift, it didn’t creak, it didn’t even budge a centimeter. When she followed it seemed to fascinate her, as she was staring down at it as she walked. We reached the end of the bridge and stepped back onto land, the bridge disappearing right behind us.

“Where are we now?” Twilight asked, looking around. I laughed.

“On the other side, of course.” I replied. She looked confused. “Take a look around, does anything look different?” I asked. I didn’t expect it to take long, and it didn’t. First she looked at the surroundings, which were almost identical to how they should be.

Except for two things. The first was the sky. There was no moon, only an endless expanse of stars. And second, instead of of a riverbed at the bottom there was nothing but darkness. The void was like a black hole. Though, on the off chance that you lived, it would randomly spit you out. It wasn’t a very pleasant experience, let me tell you.

“We’re not in the same world, are we?” She asked. I had to think about that one for a second.

“Well, it’s a copy of how this place used to be. The Temple of the Warrior Sisters used to me my home and Celestia’s, and it is home to a few things we’ll be needing.” I said, it was the best way I could think of to word it. I set off along the worn path and she followed after a moment.

As the castle came into view, Twilight gasped again. It was whole and complete and pristine, well as pristine as a towering cathedral can get. A giant mass of shadows stirred at the gates. After a moment a single massive blue eye opened, it reminded me of Spike somewhat. Twilight yelped and hid behind me, to which I giggled, and I stepped forward until I Was right in front of it.

A massive black draconic head looked down at me, it’s massive maw inches from me. I laugh and put my arms around it, hugging it in an odd sort of manner.

“Oroboros, it’s been too long.” I said. I really missed this dragon.

“Oroboros? You mean the black dragon that represents balance and infinity?” Twilight asked.

“Precisely so, young Warden.” The dragon said with a surprisingly intelligent voice. Well, surprising to her at least.

“You’re as out of the times as I was upon my return. They’re not called Wardens anymore, they’re Night Guards, though I guess I am still more used to their old name. And this girl isn’t a Warden, she’s just a very powerful friend.” I explained.

“Wait what do the Night Guard, or Wardens, have to do with this?” Twilight asked. I smiled and turned on a heel.

“They’re vampires, every single one of them. Well, at least back then they were. I’d say about a third of them still are, though the looks are basic transformation spells engraved into their armor to uphold the traditional look.” I explained. She seemed to accept it without question, though, and she looked at Oroboros. He grinned a sharp toothed grin before suddenly shrinking to the size of a large fox or other small animal. I proceeded to pick him up and he laid himself across my shoulders with a giggle.

“Is he your guardian?” Twilight asked. I was going to answer, but Oroboros answered instead.

“No, I’m not here enough to be so. I’m usually out and about in other dimensions or exploring the void. Those are the guardians.” He said, pointing his oriental snout at one of the two large statues on either side of the large castle gates. They looked like I did when I was fighting, like reapers.

“Awake, mine creature of the night, your queen wishes for thy presence.” I called, reverting back to the old tongue. I imagine that Twilight was expecting the statues to come to life, but no. That would be too simple, and giant stone creatures weren’t exactly the best at fighting small things.

No, it was what the black crystal statues contained. The statues had skeletal faces under the shadows of the hoods, but as their eyes glowed red they were revealed. The mouths opened and what could only be described as the presence of death spilled out like fog. The two streams of what looked like shadows coagulated at the ground and quickly took form.

It was slow enough to where you could see bones materialize, though quick enough that it was only a glance. A cloaked form fully materialized, though the cloak was an entirely different material than what made up my own. The eyes flashed in a white, eerie glow and the skeletal face was illuminated.

“You called, Mistress?” It asked softly in a surprisingly gentle voice. I smiled and held my arms out, to which the creature quickly grabbed me and we embraced.

“It has been so long... So, so long...” It said in a whisper. The voice was feminine, and I saw Twilight’s very confused face over the creature’s shoulder. I had to introduce them, this creature was very important to me.

“Twilight, this is Schnitter. Schnitter, Twilight. Schnitter is the only Pureblood left besides myself and the one we are against.” I explained. Well, she wasn’t exactly a Pureblood anymore. “She is what we call a Wraith, when the soul and life force of a vampire lives on in another form.” I continued.

“That’s... That’s amazing. How do you become a Wraith?” Twilight asked, looking over Schnitter as we stepped away from each other, well she kind of floated but whatever. I never understood how it happened, but that skeletal face showed a sad expression.

“You die... You die, and your soul carries on. Your body turns to bones, but your life force lives on. You die, and there’s something keeping you bound to life. For me, it is protecting this place. A Wraith cannot die, only be defeated and subdued, until they have finished what they started.” Schnitter explained. I couldn’t have put that in such a way, it actually made me feel a bit bad for binding her here...

“Don’t you ever want to just die? I mean, you can’t enjoy a life just guarding this place... Right?” Twilight asked. Schnitter actually chuckled at that.

“For the past thousand years, yes, though not anymore. You see, I’ve been guarding this place since my death. That was at least a century before Luna’s Banishment. My dying wish was to be bound here. It was fine, I’m not bound specifically to this spot. I can go anywhere I want here, and so whenever Luna or another Warden came I would not be bored or lonely.” Schnitter explained. Her face somehow fell once more, though.

“Though, with me gone and all vampires being hunted... Nobody’s been in here for three hundred years... The only reason I’m still sane is because of Oroboros’ stories when he returns from his adventures and maintaining the place...” She said solemnly. I put my hand on her shoulder and smiled.

“Well I’m back, I’m going to give Twilight here access and I’m going to round up the rest of the surviving clan members. I imagine they’ve started their own families, but they will love the chance to merge again.” I explained. Schnitter smiled her boney smile and I looked to Twilight.

“Alright Twilight. This is going to hurt a bit, but try not to resist.” I warned her and nodded to Schnitter. Twilight gained a cautious expression, but she nodded.

“I’m going to siphon off a bit of your life force. Well, it’s more like I’m devouring a part of you, but that makes it sound terrible. It’s merely allowing me to detect your presence instantly, thus allowing this place to accept you in full.” Schnitter explained to the girl. Twilight nodded, and I thought of something.

“Give her access to the Static Portal as well, I’ll give her the key later.” I said. What that entitled, though, would come later. Schnitter looked at me with an expression that said ‘you sure?” and I simply nodded. She shrugged and floated directly in front of Twilight.

“Steele yourself.” She warned the girl and Twilight once again nodded. Schnitter then appeared to take a huge breath, but what looked like a shimmering lavender force was inhaled instead of air. Twilight flinched, but after it stopped she opened her eyes which she probably hadn’t realize she closed.

A girl her age was staring back at her. She had pure white eyes, without pupils nor iris, and icy blue hair up in a rough tail, though I only knew that from memory since only her face was visible in the cloak.. They were about the same height, though Twilight was definitely much fuller and built, the other girl lean and slender. Schnitter then gave her an awkward smile, as if saying ‘sorry for this’ and promptly kissed Twilight.

I don’t know why but I felt a pang of jealousy, and it almost made me laugh. I did laugh as Twilight sputtered and stumbled backwards as an icy blue tendril of energy went from Schnitter’s mouth to hers. She coughed a few times and exclaimed “What was that?!”

“Essence of this place, or I guess you could say part of this place’s life force.” I said.

“Did you really have to kiss me?” Twilight asked after a moment, blushing slightly. Schnitter grinned awkwardly and giggled.

“That’s how I do it, or would you rather have me inject it directly into your heart? If you’re not a vampire you probably wouldn’t have survived it.” Schnitter said mischievously. I laughed at that.

“Well... That was kind of my first kiss...” Twilight said, flushing up in embarrassment. I froze and that jealousy came back in full force. It was kind of aggravating now.

“Well you didn’t kiss me back, and I wasn’t really kissing you. I was just putting our mouths together so I could transfer some of the essence without killing you. You’re still a mouth virgin, don’t worry!” Schnitter giggled. There’s the playful girl I remembered. I felt writing on my shoulders and remembered Oroboros was still there. He was rolling around silently laughing his head off.

“Alright, we should head inside before Oroboros dies of laughter.” I said, turning towards the gate opened without any command.

“I’m really going to need to get used to this...” Twilight sighed, though it was a happy sigh and she was smiling. She wiped her mouth and followed. “By the way, Schnitter, you taste like dust. No offence.” She continued. We all started laughing at that.

Author's Notes:

I lied, one more chapter. I promise we'll get to some wiping bandits off the face of the planet later : P
so Schnitter randomly came to my mind as I was writing the scene. I was just going to have it as a reaper guardian, but the nI came up with the idea of Wraiths on the fly.
what'd you guys think?