Vinyl had never run so fast in her life before. Blood pounded in her ears and her heart pounded against her chest with every step she took, pushing her closer to the end of it all. Oddly enough, Big Boss' scent was getting stronger, which meant she was closer.

How was she managing to keep up with him? Was Octavia's blood really so powerful?

"Well, I did get that cocktail from the knights..." she remembered. Hopefully it would all be enough and she could finally end this. Coming across a staircase she started taking them three or four at a time, leaping up them and onto the wall to propel herself further up the staircase. Her eyes widened as she caught sight of Big Boss' boot fading behind a door.

"You're mine!" she screamed, barreling through the door and gasping as he spun, catching her by her throat.

"You are quite the pest Vanessa. Years of carefully laid out plans, all ruined because of this little revenge quest of yours." he sighed, tightening his grip. Vinyl grabbed his wrist, spitting in his face and swinging her leg into his ribs. Big Boss grunted and hooked his arm around her leg, keeping her held in the air.

"Defiant to the end. Your father would be proud. At least you can have that comfort before you die."

"Bite me old man." Vinyl's eyes began to glow, setting the mans hands aflame and causing him to drop her. He swore and stumbled backwards, muttering a chant to reduce the flames. In that time Vinyl had drawn her sword and rushed him, the man acting instantly and raising his arm to catch her blade.

Vinyl's grin faded away as the blade snapped against his arm. Big Boss stepped forward, smashing his fist across her face and sending her tumbling across the ground. She grit her teeth as she rolled to her feet, gripping the useless blade. She cast her eyes back to Big Boss, seeing his magic surround his entire body.

"Thats...the Death Dragon..." Vinyl realized.

"So you know of this technique? Interesting, I was convinced your father would have kept it a secret from you. It requires being a well fed vampire to use after all." Big Boss chuckled. Vinyl blinked, hanging her head as her thoughts raced.

You knew the whole damn time...the whole damn time that this would happen...didn't you pops? You crazy bastard...

"You could be great Vinyl. Weak as you are, you could be so much more than this. Let me teach you, let me show you what it means to be a Vampire." he offered, holding out his hand. Vinyl giggled as she stood upright, shifting into full on laughter and shaking her head.

"I'd rather die than join a backstabbing piece of shit like you." Vinyl spat, tossing her sword aside. She reached into her coat, removing several knives, daggers, silver coated wire, a pair of pistols, a boot knife, three grenades and a tootsie-pop.

"You came prepared." he noted. She scoffed and rolled her shoulders, cracking her neck and taking a slow breath as she shifted into her stance.

"Come at me bro." she grinned, her fathers Kata fresh in her mind. Big Boss sighed, assuming a similar stance as he rushed her. Vinyl kept calm as she slipped around his first punch, faking a right and smashing into his cheek with a left hook.

She roared as she leapt up, hooking her fingers behind the stumbling mans head and smashing her knee as hard as she could into his ribs, gritting her teeth against the pain of smashing into the aura around him.

Big Boss roared in anger as he reached for her, but she was already waiting for him, leaping away and skidding backwards across the ground, her fists raised and ready for him.

In his rage, Big Boss charged forward once more, Vinyl following suit and keeping low as she weaved around his punches, shifting her weight as she palmed one away, her hand burning from the sensation of his magic against her bare skin. She glanced at his eyes, seeing his gaze focused on her breast.

No...he's going for my heart. He wants to end this. she realized. Now was her chance to act. Roaring with all her might Vinyl shifted around his last punch, her magic flaring around her entire body as she shifted her weight, throwing everything she had into this last punch.

"Impossible..." Big Boss stared in shock as Vinyl's fist buried itself into his chest, the Vampire grabbing hold of his heart and glaring up at him.

"You drank from her...that wasn't a teleport...you two are bonded, but when did you learn..."

"Oh just fucking die." Vinyl grunted as she yanked out his heart and crushed it in her grip. She watched as the man who had torn her life apart fell to the ground, dead. She simply stood there, staring at his lifeless form and chuckling sadly.

"Thats it? Its just over like that?" she asked no one in particular. She had thought when she finally saw this man, when she finally killed him that she would feel...relief? Happiness?

Something like that. But no, all she felt was...emptiness...had she really accomplished anything at all? She sighed, turning away and snatching up her fathers broken sword, making the slow trek down the staircase, bruised and covered in blood as she made her way back to the Knights, and to Octavia.

The vampire chuckled, slipping on her shades as her eyes faded to blue and she pushed the door open. The Knights sat before her, playing a game of cards with Octavia, who, if the pile of bits was any indication, was extremely good at poker.

"Well, how about that. She's alive." Firefly chuckled.

"So, I take it this means Big Boss is dead?" Spike asked as he stood. She held up her bloody arm and hand.

"This proof enough for you, or do you wanna see the big hole in his chest?" Vinyl joked. Spike shook his head, a smile touching his lips.

"No, thats good enough for me. I guess that means we're all in agreement. Twilight, if you would?" Spike asked. Twilight Velvet stood, dusting herself off and marching over to Vinyl.

The vampire blinked as her longtime friend put a hand on her shoulder, archaic symbols glowing across her body and her voice echoing with power.

"Vanessa Diamondheart Filigree, Welcome to the Order of the Solar Knights." she intoned. Vinyl gasped and winced as her shoulder started to burn, the sensation traveling down to her heart and burning like a miniature sun inside of her body.

"Vinyl!" Octavia gasped as the Vampire shook and cried out. Spike caught the Gaian by her wrist.

"She's alright. It's just part of the process." he explained softly. Finally it ended, Vinyl standing there and groaning with a hand against her head.

"The heck did you just do to me Twilight?" Vinyl mumbled dizzily.

"Vinyl. I'm not the young Magian I use to be. These fights, I'm not cut out for them anymore. But you are. You've shown you have both the magical and physical prowess needed to be the Knight of the Ancients. So I have passed it on to you." she pulled back her shirt slightly revealing a fading Sunburst mark on her left breast. Vinyl blinked, pulling her shirt down and spotting the mark.

"Thats uh...kinda cool..." she mumbled. Twilight smiled as she shook her head.

"With this Mark you have Celestia's blessing. It is a rather complex spell and in time you'll come to realize what it truly means." Twilight sighed, blinking as Vinyl put a hand on her shoulder.

"What about my sisters?" she asked.

"What do you mean?"

"Twilight. We just took down one of the biggest crime lords in the city, nevermind that he was a vampire, he had connections in all of Celamont and probably other places too."

"Vinyl is right. But with the vampires out of the way we can hunt down his connections and pick them off." Spike grinned.

"Yea, WE. I'm still in on this which means theres no one watching my sisters." Vinyl pointed out. Firefly pointed her thumb at Cheerilee.

"We were actually discussing that ourselves, and I think we have a plan." Firefly chuckled.

Octavia sat beside Vinyl as she slept on a pallet in the back of the van. It was a slow trip home and there was a lot on everyones mind. Cheerilee sat beside Firefly, her arms crossed and eyes closed in thought. She hadn't said much since they had left Big Boss' so called castle. At least until now.

"I was wrong." she said softly, turning her attention to Spike.

"Alright? I said it, I was wrong" she repeated

"Alright, and?" Spike replied, raising an eyebrow. Cheerilee sighed, glancing at her bandages.

"And I accept your terms. As a Hunter...you learn to trust no one but your partner. My partner betrayed that trust...but if what you said is true then that won't be an issue with the Knights...will it?" Cheerilee asked.

"We work for Princess Celestia, we fight for her and we die for her. Theres no going back once you're a Knight and...after being convinced of it...it was made so that one couldn't betray their fellow Knights. Firefly, if you would demonstrate." Spike turned to Firefly who drew a pair of pistols, firing a bullet at Spike and another at Vinyl, both just barely missing and burying themselves into the van floor and the wall behind Spike.

"That proves nothing. I've seen her shoot." Cheerilee scoffed. Spike sighed, standing in front of Firefly and putting the gun against his head.

Octavia stared with wide eyes as Firefly struggled to pull the trigger, sparks dancing across her body and causing her to cry out as she dropped her gun. Cheerilee blinked, jumping as Firefly glared at her.

"Satisfied?" she growled. The Hunter nodded slowly

"I'm sorry...I just had to be sure." Cheerilee apologized.

"It's fine. I know better than anyone what true betrayal feels like...Lets just leave things at that shall we?" Spike said as he returned to his seat. Octavia hung her head, gently squeezing Vinyl's hand.

"What about me?" she asked softly. All eyes turned to the Gaian as she spoke.

"I've no home to return to...no place I belong...and for all I know some other vampire could be after my blood..." She shook as she spoke, gasping as Vinyl squeezed her hand.

"My house is your house, you belong wherever the hell you want to belong and if some piece of shit vamp thinks he's getting his claws on you then he's gonna have to deal with me." Vinyl grinned, cracking an eye open. Octavia blushed, letting a smile touch her lips.

"Well said Miss Filigree" Twilight giggled

"Yea, whatever. Can I sleep now?" Vinyl grumbled. Spike chuckled as the van lurched to a stop.

"Sorry Vinyl, we've got work to do." he said as he hopped out through the back door, followed by Firefly. Vinyl sighed as she stood and stretched, hopping out of the van and taking in the scenery.

"Whoa...so this is the castle huh? It's uh...a lot bigger up close." Vinyl murmured as the walked the silent halls. Every so often they passed by a guard patrol that simply pretended they didn't exist.

It wasn't until Vinyl glanced at Twilight that she realized that was about half true. The Magian smiled at her, knowing the question already on her lips.

"A cloak of Shadows. The Knights identities must remain a secret. Only Celestia knows who we are and it has to stay that way." Twilight explained as they neared the throne room. Spike stopped before the door, placing his hand over his heart, Firefly following suit.

Vinyl gasped as bright white armor appeared around them, snow white capes billowing behind them as they stepped out of Twilights cloak of shadow and entered the throne room. Twilight led them inside before the doors closed, keeping close to Spike as he marched toward Princess Celestia herself.

"You've returned." Celestia spoke with a smile.

"Yes Princess. Our mission was a success. But there are still many connections he had that we need to sniff out." Spike answered, his voice quite a bit more masculine from inside his armor.

"And the recruits?" Celestia asked as she stood, sigils glowing across the walls and coating the windows. Twilights cloak of shadow fell, revealing the group.

"Uh...Hi there" Vinyl chuckled nervously.

"Vanessa Diamondheart Filigree. It warms my heart to see you alive and well." Celestia sighed in relief as she marched down the steps from her throne. She cast her gaze over the group slowly, her features softening after what seemed to be a headcount.

"Octavia Melody. I am sorry you got mixed up in all of this, though as I am sure you are aware, there is no turning back from it now" Celestia apologized. Octavia shook her head, looping her arm in Vinyl's.

"I only regret that my sister could not be here Princess" Octavia said quietly. Celestia turned her attention to Cheerilee, her smile fading.

"Have you come to a decision?" she asked quietly. Cheerilee, glanced at Spike for a moment before letting out a sigh.

"Yes, I have. As much as I hate to admit it, I was no match for those vampires...had I gone alone I would be dead now." Cheerilee murmured, looking up at the Princess.

"I need to be stronger and that means being part of a team."

"I am happy to see you've come around." Celestia rested a hand on Cheerilee's shoulder as her magic flared around her, wings spread out wide and runes glowing across her body.

"Cheerilee Sunlily, bound by oath and sword and flame, I give unto thee a new name. Once a warrior, alone and true, the title of Titan I give to you." Celestia intoned. Cheerilee grit her teeth, crying out and clenching her fists.

Celestia pulled her hand away, steam rising from Cheerilee's shoulder and the Gaian hanging her head, panting slightly.

"I apologize. We've not had a Knight of the Titans in some time and the process for the First is rather...intense." Celestia apologized. Cheerilee shook her head, sniffing back a tear and standing tall.

"I-I'm fine Princess." Cheerilee strained a small smile. Firefly chuckled softly, patting the Gaian's back.

"Well, you've won me over. I cried like a baby when I was marked." the Skyborn laughed

"Alright, now what?" Vinyl asked, Octavia still clinging to her arm.

"Spike has made me aware of the situation with your sisters. We can move them to a safer location, somewhere they can still live out their lives and have an eye kept on them." Celestia turned to Cheerilee.

"Your records state you were once a teacher. That will be your cover."

"Whoa, wait. You're gonna have her watch my sisters? Are we forgetting the part where she tried to kill me?" Vinyl argued.

"She is bound to bring no harm to you or those of your bloodline. But her unwavering eye and experience will provide us with Intel and keep your sisters safe. Is that good enough for you?" Celestia asked. Vinyl flinched slightly and nodded.

"Y-yea, I guess..." She mumbled.

"Good. I want all of you to keep in mind that the Knights do not exist. No one can know who you are" Celestia explained, glancing at Octavia.

"I doubt anyone would believe me if I tried Princess. I mean really...Vampires and Hunters and Secret Knights? I wouldn't have believed it myself if I hadn't seen it." Octavia pointed out.

"Good, there is still one matter to take care of...The Filigree sisters knowledge of past events might make them a target..."

"So you wanna wipe their memories?" Vinyl asked softly, hanging her head. She had thought of doing much the same thing herself.

"It is for their own safety." Celestia explained.

"I know Princess, my dad left me a little present and knowing Rarity, she's already stumbled on it." Vinyl chuckled, shaking her head.

"By the time I come home, she'll think I was at the club getting drunk and be back to her old self."

Rarity immediately rushed up the stairs to her fathers room, staring at the dial for the vault. She swallowed a lump in her throat, spinning the dial back and forth.

"Please don't open." Rarity begged as she locked in the last number. The vault clicked loudly, a small door opening next to it and a roundish object rolling out and resting next to Rarity.

It took her a moment too long to realize what it was, the grenade exploding and filling the room with gas. Rarity coughed, trying to wave the smoke out of her face and gasped as she bumped into a tall figure. Her eyes widened as she looked up, seeing the concerned face of her father.

"F-Father?" Rarity stared in shock as he knelt down in front of her, putting his hands on her shoulders.

"My little Rarity. My how much you've grown..." he chuckled, kissing her forehead. She stammered and choked as she grabbed her fathers hand.

"Is it really you Father?" she sobbed. He sighed, shaking his head.

"Just a remnant my dear, a small piece of him left behind for you and your sisters. I've a promise to keep and I beg you to forgive me." he gently placed his hands against her cheeks, gently kissing her forehead.

"Father...I'm scared..." Rarity admitted.

"It's alright to be scared. Fear keeps you alive, keeps you smart and on your toes. Don't let it overcome you though my dear." he smiled, his hands glowing dimly and his magic enshrouding her head. Rarity's eyes rolled back as her fathers magic poured through her, the Magian slowly losing consciousness.

"Be safe, my little diamond"

A few days later

Vinyl sighed as she marched into her house through the backdoor as usual, Rarity standing there with her arms crossed and glaring at her sister.

"Another night of parties vinyl?" Rarity asked. Vinyl smiled, ruffling her sisters hair as she walked past.

"You know it Rare-bear." she said softly. It was a dirty trick, warping her sisters memory the way she had. But this way she knew Rarity would be safe.

"You got your stuff packed yet?" Vinyl asked. Rarity sighed, pointing to her suitcase.

"I still don't see why Sweetie and I have to move to this Eravil place." she fussed.

"Because I don't have time to keep an eye on you. Uncle Magnum has a place there for you and theres a nice school there too. I'm sure you'll like it Rares." Vinyl explained, sighing as her cell rang at her hip.

"Theres gonna be a car here to take you guys to the train station and Uncle will meet you at the Eravil station, alright?" Vinyl turned to Rarity, the girl rolling her eyes.

"Fine. At least then we'll be out of your hair." Rarity grumbled, marching upstairs to get Sweetie Belle. Vinyl smiled as she watched her go.

Better to be the bad guy then to have you out here in harms way sis. she thought to herself as she flipped her phone open.

"Go for V." Vinyl greeted.

"Theres a new club opening up nearby, some unfriendly competition you might wanna check out." Spike said on the other end. A new club had to mean a new job and unfriendly competition meant Vampires. It was gonna be a busy week. Vinyl marched into her fathers room, snatching up a bag and slinging it over her shoulder.

Looking out her window she could see Rarity and Sweetie Belle climbing into a car with Firefly, the skyborn winking up at her before driving off. Vinyl glanced around at her home, making her way back downstairs slowly and making her way to the front door. Octavia stood outside waiting for her, flipping through Jades notes.

"Can you even read that nonsense?" Vinyl asked, peeking over her shoulder.

"I've been studying. I need some way to pass the time while you're on the job after all." Octavia murmured. Vinyl shrugged, curling an arm around the Gaian.

"Well...I can think of a few ways to kill some time..." Vinyl grinned. Octavia glanced over her shoulder, slamming the book closed and planting a heavy kiss against the vampires' lips.

"Alright, give me an update." Spike ordered, standing at the end of a long table.

"The girls are safe, the info on Big Boss's goons and contacts is solid, and the Virgin Gaian is no longer a Virgin." Vinyl smirked.

"Well, that saves us some trouble." Spike mumbled, opening a small booklet and tossing it down the table. Inside were several pictures and profiles. Vinyl stared in surprise as she spotted Rarity among them.

"What the heck is this?" she asked, looking at the dragon-kin.

"Our number one Priority."