(Nightmare)

“WHAT DID I TELL YOU ABOUT TRYING TO ESCAPE!” Atlas yelled as he punched Shalltear in the stomach. “I told you the next time you tried that, I was gonna beat the living hell out of you didn't I?” He asked delivering another punch this time to face. “DIDN’T I!?”

“I-I’m sorry.”

“Sorry isn’t good enough you little freak. I told you what will happen if you do that.” Atlas punched Shalltear to the ground as he pulled out a syringe with a mysterious green substance.

“N-No, please, anything but that!”

“You brought it upon yourself, now let’s see if you can endure what we did last time.” Atlas said as he started to walk up towards the vampire.

“Please! I’m sorry, I won’t do it again I promise just please-.” Before the countess could say anything else, she felt Atlas reach for her throat and the syringe being jabbed into her neck.

“Shut up and accept your punishment like a good slave freak.”

        “AH!” Once again just like in Canterlot Castle. Shalltear found herself in a cold sweat laying on her bed; only this time it not in the guest room, but in her own home. “Dammit!” She yelled slamming her head against a pillow. “I thought I was over these stupid nightmares the moment I killed that asshole Atlas. Why the hell do I still have these nightmares?” Just as she was about to throw something from off her bed, she notice a bat shape plushie laying next to her. Out of curiosity and how adorable it looks, she decided to pick it up and remembered about what Max said.

“Guess this must be my token that Max made for me huh?” She said as she lifted herself from out of bed and headed towards the kitchen. “I’ll have to figure out how to send my token to the void. Normally I would’ve done it by now, but a certain sun princess locked away most of my powers away.” Shalltear made it to the kitchen as she levitated a bowl from the cabinet, cereal from the upper cabinet, and milk from the refrigerator. “But for now I’ll get something to eat before I do anything else.” Just as she began to pour cereal into the bowl, a black diamond fell onto of the cereal.

“The hell?” Shalltear picked up the diamond and started to examine it, mostly just biting it to see if it’s real or just a toy that kids would get just like you would see off of commercials. “Gotta give these ponies credit, they make real good toys if they’re giving you a diamond as a toy.” She said as she tossed the diamond behind her. Just as she did that a strange noise sounded out right behind the countess; which took her by surprise. The noise got louder and louder until, right before her very eyes, a old wooden shed materialized into existence.

“......I really gotta stop thinking that said object is nothing but junk.” Shalltear said as she started pouring her milk into her cereal. “If you’re a displaced come on out, you’re in no danger of being attacked by anyone.”

The door to the shed opened up, revealing an olive green mare with auburn mane along with a little pink filly with wild purple mane and wearing a set of thick rimmed glasses. “Whoops, looks like I misjudged the landing,” the mare said with a slight British accent. “Apologies madam.”

“It’s alright, not like anyone else lives here but me. So who are you if you don’t mind me asking?”

“Ah yes, introductions. I’m the Guardian and this my young wardess, Screwball.”

“Hiya!” the filly waved.

“....H-Hi?” Shalltear said waving back at the filly while trying to smile.

The mare suddenly clapped her hooves together. “Aha! Now I recognize you! Madam Shalltear, the Vampire Countess of Equestria.”

“How did you know about me? I didn’t even tell you who I am.”

The Guardian chuckled, walking completely out of wooden box, Screwball closing the door behind them. “Oh honey! I know every Displaced that ever existed! Past, present, and future, I know it all.”

“I don’t know whether I should be worry about that or not.” The countess said as she started eating her breakfast. “So you’re a time pony then?”

“Time mare, yes. I’m surprised you’ve heard of us. My kind isn’t really known throughout the worlds. It makes me a little giddy that you know of us.”

“I just guess really, but then again this is the multiverse so this comes to no surprise to me when I think about it. But what I don’t get is why you’re a pony when you used to be somewhat human?”

The Guardian let out a single, loud laugh. “I have always been equine in shape. A human? Me? Now that’s a laughable thought!”

“But there was that one world where we-”

“Not now, Screwy.”

“You brought it up,” Screwball muttered.

“Just because you can hide it from others, doesn’t mean you can hide it from me. If you know who I am then you know that I can smell it right?” The vampire asked as she took another bite from her cereal. “Don’t worry though, I won’t tell anyone about it.”

Screwball gave the Guardian a strange look, but the mare herself was unfazed. “Honey, I know precisely who I am and I have never been such a form in a previous regeneration. I am around similar creatures on a daily basis, several times a day actually. That is probably what you are smelling. Now,” she took a seat across from Shalltear, “how can I help?”

“I-I don’t know what you are talking about?” Shalltear said as she started drinking the milk out of the jug.

“The TARDIS took us here for a reason, Madam Countess. And I am here to help you in anyway I can so long as it’s to better yourself. I may know your future, but it can always change.”

“*Sigh* Man I pick the wrong time to try to be nice.” She said as she whipped the milk from her mouth. “Seeing how you know my past, present, and future. You know what I’m going to do to Blueblood right?”

“I can’t answer that,” the Guardian shook her head. “I can’t tell you anything that I know of, except for vague hints and strange trivia.”

“Ugh! I’m gonna kill him and the rest of his bloodline. The only ones that will be spared from my wrath are those who are not assholes like Blueblood or Atlas Star.”

“Why would you do that?” Screwball asked, taking a seat next to the Guardian. “Would killing really solve anything?”

“Just like his ancestor Atlas Star. He tried to rape me and make me his slave. I’m not gonna relive that hell of my childhood again, and to make sure no one else have to go through what I did. I’m going to end it…...personally.”

“Can’t you just report him to Princess Celestia and let the courts deal with him instead of committing mass murder?”

“Celestia is the reason why my life went to hell!” The countess yelled, as a scarlet aura surrounded her. “She gave me to Atlas Star all those years ago. Yet even though she knew what happen to me, she pretty much just gave him community service and let him walk free. When I heard about that I decided to kill him for what he did to me, and yet I was punished for it.”

“Hmm,” the Guardian mused thinking things over for a moment before letting out a long sigh. “I shouldn’t be doing this, but… I will help you in a more… suitable way. Come along, we shall speak with Celestia and Luna.”

“Hey I already got the okay from Luna, saying that it was okay to kill Blueblood and have any good family members of his as servants. Why do I need to go back and deal with Celestia?”

“Because I will not allow another Displaced to fall into infamy for simply upholding what is right,” the Guardian replied with a serious look as she stood from her chair. “Now come along. We have a princess to meet.” Screwball rushed forward, opening the door to the TARDIS for them.

“Dammit, I can’t get a moment to myself without something weird happening huh?” Shalltear asked as she followed the pony into the TARDIS. “Geez isn’t this a bit much?”

“I have been around for over one hundred thousand years, Shalltear,” the Guardian said from the console. “I have seen many things I wish I could have prevented and I refuse to sit back while your life falls even more than it deserves. You’re a beautiful woman who does not deserve the hand she has been dealt. I will correct this injustice to the best of my abilities.”

“Good luck with that. No offense but if Luna couldn’t try to knock some sense into Celestia, what makes you think you can?”

She smirked as she walked over to the switch, “Because I know how to break her.” She flipped the switch, the entire room suddenly jerking as shaking as that strange sound from before echoed about.

“Why do I get the feeling I’m gonna get blamed for this when Sunbutt see’s me? And for the record the only thing I was pretty much planning was just kill Blueblood when Luna say I can, and only do passive aggressive stuff to Celestia. Mainly just steal her sweets.”

“Shalltear, I know your future. If I am so stuck in doing this, what does that tell you about what’s in store?”

“Oh what, like I become an evil ruler trying to take over the entire multiverse or something?” Shalltear asked sarcastically.

“Smaller, but you’re on the right track.” There was no humor in the Guardian’s tone. The TARDIS landed and the Guardian and Screwball headed for the door. “Are you coming?”

“W-What do you mean by that? How can I be evil in the future when all I wanted was to kill Blueblood, and live in peace for the rest of my days?” The countess asked as she follows Guardian.

“It’s a very slippery slope, Countess. A very slippery slope,” she said simply as they walked out and locked the TARDIS behind them. “Let’s go interrupt Court, shall we?”

“I still have a few questions after we do this, you know that right?”

“And there will be time for it, but for now, let’s see if we can’t get through Celestia’s thick skull.”

“Good luck with that. I’m just gonna stay next to Luna seeing how she calms me when I’m around…..her.”

“If that makes you feel safer, than go for it,” the Guardian said, marching up to the throne room entrance.

“Guardian,” Screwball said, “at least try to keep your cool this time? You’re, uh, rather scary when you go off the deep end.”

She patted Screwy’s head lovingly. “Don’t you fret, Screwy, I’ll keep my head on this one. I promised you after all.” She walked right up to the guards. “Greetings gentlecolts, would you mind opening the door? I have business with Celestia.”

“She’s busy, nopony is allowed to enter. Especially the vampire, sorry those are our orders madam.” Said a bulky earth pony.

“Oh, of course! You’re only following orders. But, you must realize something, boys.” The Guardian’s horn lit with golden magic. “I wasn’t asking.” Both guards were shoved aside and the door blasted open in the same moment. The Guardian strode forward, Screwy and Shalltear following closely.

“Starlight.”

“Yes Ironhide?”

“I think I’m planning on finally retiring from the royal guard this year.”

(Court Room)

“Well that’s one way to make an entrance.” Shalltear said walking next to Guardian and Screwy.

“She’s a dramatic one,” Screwball whispered to her. “Angry dramatic is one I don’t like seeing, though.”

“Who dare to interrupt my court-.” Celestia’s eyes harden the moment she saw Shalltear. “Oh, it’s you. I thought I told you that you will have your chance to kill my nephew when I was done with court.”

“I am the reason we have come, Celestia,” the Guardian spoke up. “I’ve come to understand you haven’t been particularly fair with the Countess here. I’d like to hear you side before administering some logic.”

“Her action almost caused equestria’s economy to fall. Something like that would’ve cause problems seeing how she killed off all of the members of the Equestrian Government.”

“I’ve come to understand her actions occurred because you allowed a criminal to get off basically with a slap on the wrist for committing atrocious acts. Care to explain yourself?” Her tone was mocking, as if she was talking to a misbehaving child.

“Atlas Star was an important and vital member of the Equestrian Government. He was in charge of for foreign affairs, moneycontrol, and debates when with other countries. When he and the rest of the members died by that little monster’s hands, Equestria went into a state of disaster for the past 200 years.”

“YOU THINK THAT EXCUSES HIS CRIMES!” the Guardian shouted at her in the Royal Canterlot Voice. “You honestly believe that if a pony has enough power than they are exempt from the laws of the land?! You allowed a pony to get away with slavery and attempted rape simply because they were a government official?! They get a simple slap on the wrist yet you banish your sister to the moon for a thousand years simply for not setting the moon for one night?! What kind of hypocrisy are you running you old hag?!”

“SILENCE! How dare come into my court and disrespect me like you’re my mother! Atlas Star along with the other members were the only ponies that kept this kingdom alive with my help, when they were killed, Equestria was forced into a depression that kill almost 10,000 ponies due to poverty because of that monster! I gave her a chance hoping that she would be accepted by other ponies, but after what she did. I made the right choice in sealing her up for the past 1,000 years!”

“Do you even hear yourself?! You are the most powerful pony on the entire planet, you control the very sun itself and yet you’re saying you can’t even keep your own country running without a bunch of pompous morons who only care about themselves?! And did you just try to justify a thousand year banishment of your own sister?! Really showing the love for her, aren’t you? As for my tone,” the Guardian stepped right up to Celestia, staring her down, “I will refer to my minor however I please, Tia.”

“I don’t have time to deal with somepony like you. I have important things to do, and one of them isn’t talking to somepony who thinks she can force somepony into doing something they want them to do.” Celestia said as she pulled herself off her throne and began to walk off. “Court is dismissed until tomorrow, we’ll finish this up another time.”

“If you walk down this path, you doom your country and every single pony within it,” the Guardian said in a deathly serious tone.

“This is my kingdom, not yours. I am the ruler of this kingdom, and it will stand even if I fall.”

“I never said you would fall,” the Guardian replied. “But if you so simply choose to be ignorant to anypony’s problems but your own selfish needs than I declare this: you should be removed from power and have somepony else take the throne. At this point, your sister Luna would be a much better ruler than you. At least she knows the true troubles and desperations of all peoples living in your country and can help make it better.”

“Keep you nose out of other world’s country’s problems.” Celestia said as she left the courtroom.

The Guardian screamed in frustration. “You spoiled little child!” she shouted after Celestia. “Your actions will condemn everypony and you sit back and watch! You have learned nothing over the years! You’re still that ignorant little brat from way back when!”

“I work too hard to let this country fall to anypony. You think I’ll believe somepony like you who just waltzes in and think she owns the place. No, this is my country and I;m doing a fine job running it for this long.” Celestia turned around and began to walk off. “Now if you’ll excuse me I have work that needs to be done.”

“You showed such promise before, Celestia,” the Guardian said in tone of disappointment. “I thought you would improve over the years and yet you still have too much to learn. I may wear a different face now, but I still remember one of my favorite students. It surprises me how much you’ve failed.”

“I don’t know who you are pony, but don’t think I’ll forget you face after what you just did.” She then turned her attention at Shalltear. “As for you monster. Sooner or later you will snap from the nightmares you’ve been having, and when you do I will be the one to put you down.”

“You know very much who I am, Tia,” the pony said stepping between the two again. “I’m the Guardian.”

“Don’t you dare use her name like that! The Guardian died 1,000 years ago protect Equestria from Discord. And you don’t look a thing like her.”

“I’ve always been a special pony, Tia. But if you require proof,” she looked to Screwball. “Screwy, could you please go grab my memorial box from the TARDIS?”

She gave a salute before zipping off and returning a moment later holding a green tool chest. “Foooound it!”

The Guardian took it with a smile. “Thank you, Screwy.” She placed the box down, opened it and leaned nearly half of her body into it. “No, that’s not it. No. Nope. Oh, I didn’t even know that was in there. Ooh, I’ve been looking for that. Aha! There it is!” She pulled back out, holding a little golden picture frame. “Remember this Tia?” she asked, making sure she could see it and the picture within of young Celestia and another purple pony. “It was such a sweet birthday present. I still remember what I said to you: ‘I will always treasure this little Tia, just as I will always treasure you’.” The Guardian looked at Celestia with her eyes full of sadness. “What happened to that little Tia I once knew? Where is that little filly that wanted to make the world a better place? Because she certainly isn’t the mare standing before me.”

Celestia said nothing as she turned around and started to walk off. From what Shalltear could tell she could see tears flowing down her face. “She died the moment you left me by myself.”

“Tia…” the Guardian softly called. She turned to Shalltear before looking to Screwball. “Keep an eye on her Screwy. Keep her safe, I need to fix an old mistake.” Without another word, she raced after Celestia.

“Well…...that was something.” Shalltear said as she turned her attention to Screwball. “Wanna watch some TV with Luna?”

Screwball clapped her hooves together as she began to hover thanks to her propeller cap. “That sounds like fun! Can we watch adult cartoons?!”

“If this world has any then sure, I don’t see the harm in that.” Shalltear said as she lead Screwball to the guest room she was in two nights ago.

(Elsewhere)

[Celestia’s Chamber)

        Celestia entered into her private chamber as she levitated a glass of water and two painkillers next to her. With what had happened to her during the past few hours, not to mention seeing the countess she needed them to dull the pain she was getting for her head. “Why can’t I have a normal day without anything stressful happening?”

“Because this is Equestria,” a familiar accented voice said from the doorway.

“What do you want?” Celestia asked in a vile tone, not turning her head to look a Guardian.

“To talk,” she said, closing the door and turning the lock. “Because… it seems we really need to.”

“What’s there to talk about? You left and I had to run Equestria by myself.” Celestia said as she swallowed the pill; along with some water to help it go down.

“And it seems to me that, you were not happy about what happened.” The Guardian made her way further into the room until she was right in front of Celestia. “Tia,” she said softly, “I am still your friend. Please, tell me what’s wrong.”

“Really? Who wouldn’t be happy when their so called friend fake their own death, then appears out of nowhere after 1,500 years?” Celestia said sarcastically. “So you tell me what’s wrong?”

The Guardian let out a long, pain-filled sigh. “It wasn’t supposed to happen like that,” she admitted. “I faked my death to Discord so it would give you the push you and Luna needed to take care of him. That’s how history was supposed to be written. I had planned to come back afterwards to show you I was still alive, but…”

“A lot of good that turned out didn’t it!? Do you know what is was like trying to run a country by myself after my sister became Nightmare Moon, and having her sealed within the Moon!?” Celestia took another drink from her glass before continuing. “I WAS BUCKING HARD! Especially when that little monster came and made it even harder for equestria to recover from Discord’s ruling.”

“You’re angry, I get that,” the Guardian nodded. “But who are you really angry at? Because it doesn’t sound like you’re mad at Shalltear or Luna or Discord. If you have something to say, Celestia, then say it.”

“I’M MAD AT HOW EVERYTHING TURNED OUT! MORE SPECIFICALLY YOU MOST OF ALL!” Celestia yelled as she tossed the glass of water past The Guardian’s face. “Called yourself my friend but you’re nothing more than a bucking liar, and an abandoner!”

The Guardian was silent for a moment. “You’re right. I did abandon you. I left you, but not because I didn’t care about you. I left because I knew you were ready to leave me behind. I knew that you could lead, that you would be the greatest ruler this kingdom ever had. I left so I wouldn’t hold you back from greatness. But it seems that… I was wrong.”

“I never wanted to rule this kingdom.” Celestia said as tears started to flow down her face. “All I ever wanted was to just be normal like everypony else. After the battle with Discord we’re suppose to just leave and let somepony else run the kingdom. But you had to fake your death and run off with somepony else.”

“Somepony else? What are you talking about, Celestia?”

“That pony with the swirls in her eyes. Who else?”

“Tia!” the Guardian sounded hurt. “Do you honestly believe that I… I replaced you?!”

“Why else would you leave me alone for all these years?”

“Because I died!” the Guardian shouted at her.

“You faked your death! If you were dead then why the buck are you here if you did died!?”

“Because I’m not like other ponies,” the Guardian said. “I’m not normal. I didn’t die that day, but a few years later, I did. And then, I died again. Our time together was two lifetimes ago for me. Many, many, many millennia ago for me. And every time I die, a little part inside of me dies to, sometimes even my memories.” The Guardian hung her head, yet Celestia could clearly see tears streaming down. “I forgot about you and Luna and this entire world. I’ve been trying desperately to reclaim the memories that have faded with time. Yet, here I am, with somepony I care about so dearly only to learn that not only does she hate me, but that I let her down. I’m sorry, Tia. I’m so sorry.” Her words turned to sobbing as her sadness took hold, crying in front of the princess.

“.....J-Just go, you’re not the pony I used to know and loved.” Celestia said as she started to walk towards the window.

“I won’t go!” the Guardian shouted. “I am her. I will always be her. I messed up, I’ll admit that. All I ask is a chance to make up for it. I want to be there for you again, Tia. Please… just give me another chance. Please!”

“.........Fine, I’ll give you a second chance. But I swear to if you buck this up, and I mean really buck this up like you did last time. I will never forgive you.”

The Guardian gave her a teary smile. “Thank you, Celestia. I just want to make it up to you for leaving. If I had known, I never would have left.”

“Yes, you should have known.”

“How can I make this up to you?” she asked. “Please. I want to make things right.”

“Don’t ever lie to me ever again, and don’t pull that crap you did with Discord got it?”

“I promise,” the Guardian nodded. “Then let me tell you the truth about what will happen with Shalltear. Please, just lend me your ear.”

“I don’t have a choice do I?” Celestia asked as she took a seat next to the Guardian. “Okay then tell me about what will happen to that little monster.”

“She kills you,” the Guardian said simply. “You, and Blueblood, and the nobles. Luna is the only one she doesn’t kill, instead making her into a… a pet, I suppose you could say. And all that happened because she was treated differently. Instead of being treated like a living creature, like any other pony, you allowed her to be treated like property. In her rage, she gave into the bloodlust that lurks deep below.” She looked up at Celestia. “I shouted at you because letting you die is not something I could handle. Will you listen to me now and trust me?”

“It pains me to say this, but fine I’ll listen to you seeing how I’m giving you a second chance.”

The Guardian reached behind herself, “I know it’s a little late, but… I do have something for you.”

“If it’s another one of those jack-in-the-box pie prank like last time, you are so gonna get pranked hard.”

She chuckled at the joke. “No, actually, it’s uh…” She pulled out a little wrapped present. “Your, uh… your birthday present. The one I had meant to give you before Discord happened. I kept it, hoping one day, I could finally give it to you.”

Celestia levitated the present towards herself, and began to unwrap it. The sun princess’s eyes widen and begun to cry at what she saw. “A little late than never huh?” Celestia gently levitated the sun shaped picture frame to the side of her bed.

“‘To my little star pupil, may your future shine ever brighter than the light you have shone in my heart’,” the Guardian read from memory of what was encarved in the frame. “I know I messed up, Tia, but I promise to you that I will never do it again. You were special to me then, and you’re special to me now. I don’t replace ponies in my heart, especially not the ones I cared about the most.”

“T-Thanks.” Celestia said, as she whipped away her tears from her face. “Faust, I’m such a fool and an idiot for letting this happen.”

“No, you’re not. You are a wonderful, beautiful mare who just so happened to have a fool and an idiot for a teacher.” The Guardian pulled Tia’s head down to her level and placed a tiny kiss on her forehead. “You’re more than I could have hoped for in a student and a friend.”

“So now what?”

“Now? I think you owe Shalltear another chance as well. Don’t you?”

“I get the feeling she’s not gonna be happy about this.” Celestia said looking away from Guardian. “After what I did to her I wouldn’t be surprise that she would kill me.”

“I won’t let her kill you, but you and I both know that what has happened must be fixed. And after that… after that, you and I will spend as much time together as you wish.”

“I would love to, but I think you might want to help Shalltear with her problems that I caused to her.”

“I can only help her so much, Tia. She has her own path to walk, just as you did. Unlike with you, however, I know for certain where my interference must end. After this, my position in her life is done. In yours, though, it has just begun again. I have many thing to show you, Tia; many wonderful, frightening, and amazing things.”

“I would love to listen to what you have been through all these years on your adventures my friend.” Celestia said as she lifted herself up from Guardian. “But there’s something I need to fix before we do talk.”

The Guardian chuckled a little. “I was gonna do more than talk. But it can wait. Shall we, my little sun?”

“I thought I told you not to call me that?” said Celestia as her face turned red in embarrassment.

She only smiled. “Oh, but you’re just so cute when you blush~,” she cooed.

“L-Let’s just go please?”

“Alright,” the Guardian giggled.

(Elsewhere again)

[Luna’s Chamber]

“So how long before your sister is done talking to Guardian?” Shalltear asked laying on top of Luna.

“We have no clue, this is the first time we seen her like this.” Luna said as she pressed the remote to change the channel on the TV. “1,000 years away from home and still there’s nothing on on TV.”

“I’m surprised that you this place have a TV, you don’t think Guardian would be mad for letting Screwball watch this stuff do you?”

“Eh,” Screwball shrugged, sitting right in front of the TV. “I see worse at the orphanage. Half the time it’s lesbian porn. I was just hoping for something that’s at least entertaining.”

“Dang, really?” Shalltear said, as she changed her position as she is now cuddling next to Luna. “And here I thought the orphanage I was in was odd.”

“It’s a decent place, Den Mother Loving is just a big push over. The colts run the place basically. I mean, at least it’s not some rundown dump. I get my education too, so that’s a plus. Heh, if it wasn’t for that part, I don’t think I’d ever have run into the Guardian. It’s weird though, she keeps so many secrets that even her secret secrets have secrets. You never know what you’re dealing with when it comes to that Time Mare.”

“I’m pretty sure that’s with anyone that can travel through time and stuff.” Just as Luna was about to change the channel. Celestia and Guardian appeared next to them, only a few feet away from the bed. “Speak of the devil she’s here, along with sunbutt.” Shalltear said as she glared daggers at Celestia.

“Shalltear, my little sun here has something to discuss with you,” the Guardian said, walking over to Screwball.

“Hi Guardian,” Screwy greeted.

“You’re not watching anything age appropriate are you?”

“Nope. Adult shows, the non-porn kind.”

“Good, enhances the brain.”

“So how did your little talk turned out?” Shalltear asked.

“Go on, Tia,” the Guardian encouraged.

“*Sigh* Shalltear, what I have done to you in the past was wrong.”

“Really? You finally figured that out?” The countess said sarcastically.

“I guess I deserved that; anyway I would like to apologize for wrongfully punishing you and for what happen with Atlas Star.”

“Apology not accepted.”

“I figured as much. So as a way to try to make things right with you, I’ll allow you to do whatever you want to my former nephew Prince Blueblood.”

“This isn’t some kind of joke or trap is it?” Shalltear asked looking a Guardian to make sure.

The Guardian shook her head. “We’ve all made mistakes, Countess.” She gave a comforting smile. “And we could all use a second chance.”

“...Celestia. Normally I would’ve killed you, Blueblood, and all the nobles in Canterlot for what you did to me. But seeing how I’m starting to get….somewhat back to normal, I’m willing to give a second chance under one condition.”

“And that is?”

“I still want Blueblood dead and anyone else in his family that is corrupted and can’t be turned. What I want is for you to unlock whatever it is that is blocking from getting my powers back to full strength.”

“That might be hard to do seeing how the seal can’t be broken by me or anypony else.”

“What seal?”

“Seeing how you couldn’t be turned to stone, the elements simply sealed your powers away. The only way for your powers to be back is for the seal to wears off.”

“And how long will that take?”

“I have no idea, I’m sorry.”

“Well fuck.” Shalltear said as she laid on the bed next to Luna. “So I’m stuck like this until the effect of the elements wears off?”

“It will take some time, but I can guarantee that that time won’t be wasted. You have a strange adventure ahead of you, Countess. But it will be something you will never regret.”

“I’ll take your word for it.” Shalltear said as she turned her attention at Guardian. “If by any chance if I do see you again during your final days, will we still be friends? Or are you gonna be one of those crazy ponies that throw stuff at ponies saying ‘get off my lawn’ or something?”

The Guardian deadpanned. “I’m old, but I will never be that old. And my ‘final’ days are a long way off. I have seven more lives to burn through before I finally kick the bucket, as it were. You should learn to be less rude, it’s unbecoming of a lady your age.”

“You and I both know that part of me died off 500 years ago. And I’m just saying ponies who lived long tend to rude, jerks, or have no love left in them.” Shalltear said as she and Luna points to Celestia jokenly.

“Oh haha, very funny.”

“Oh come now. My little sunny is still a loveable filly. She just needs to use that brain of hers every once and awhile.”

“I get the feeling I’m never gonna hear the end of this huh?”

“Nope,” replied everyone in the room.

“Ugh, I’m going to my room for the rest of the week. Luna have the guards take care of noblemen problems for me while I deal with other things from my past.”

“On it.”

“And as for you mon-I mean Shalltear. Ask for anything and I will let you have it. Think of it as an apology for doing you wrong all those years ago.”

“.....Fine, I’ll accept it for now. But that doesn’t mean I’m friends with you as of this moment.” Shalltear said as she pulled herself away from Luna. “Now if you’ll excuse me I have somewhere to be at the moment.” She said as she started to walk off towards the palace dungeon.

The Guardian looked between Shalltear and the Princess. “Tia, I do intend to keep my promise. However, I would like to state that I cannot stay forever. I will have to leave again soon.”

“So soon? How come?” asked Celestia.

“Well,” she chuckled good naturedly, “I have to get Screwball back in time for school of course. But just because I leave, doesn’t mean I won’t come back.”

“Guess that’s understandable, just don’t be away for too long okay?”

Screwball taps the Guardian’s shoulder. “Hmm? Yes, Screwy?”

“Um, I just thought I’d remind you… today was Friday and it’s a three day weekend. Can’t we stay a little longer?”

The Guardian smiled, looking to Celestia. “Well, what say you, Celestia? Can we stay?”

“I don’t see why not.” Celestia said with a smile on her face. “It’s not like anything bad is going to happen.”

The mare and filly face hoofed. “Now you jinxed it,” they said in unison.

“What do you mean I jinxed it?” Celestia asked, only for her question to be answered as a blood cover Shalltear came back into the room with an adorable smile on her face.

“I’m back!”

“......I don’t know whether to find that disturbing or adorable.” Luna said.

“Disturbing,” the Guardian said with a simple nod. “You could have at least cleaned yourself before coming back. It’s just common curtesy.”

“Do you know how big this place is? It’s kinda hard to find a bathroom without have to look through each door and finding out it’s a fucking storage room.”

“Better than the alternative,” Screwy said with a disturbed look. “Wish my glasses weren’t on so I don’t have to see this.”

“Oh sure you didn’t have a problem seeing blood when we watch that zombie movie a few minutes ago. But seeing me covered in blood you have a problem with?”

“Real life is always more disturbing than what’s on the screen.”

“Whatever. I got what I needed don’t so I don’t really care at the moment.”

“And what, exactly, did you need down there?” the Guardian asked.

“Well I was about to kill him until the dumbass tried to escape. Only when he did he slipped and fell on a rusty file.”

“I did not need those images,” Screwy moaned. “Stupid overactive imagination.”

“Then why are covered in blood?” Luna asked.

“Well seeing how my breakfast was interrupted by somepony.” Shalltear said looking at Guardian. “I wasn’t gonna let that blood go to waste so~.”

“Oh no, don’t you go putting that on me. You very well could have brought your cereal along. It was your own mistake, Missy. You make defending you very hard; I feel sorry for anypony that ever becomes your lawyer.”

“Oh sure because soggy cereal taste so good.” Shalltear said sarcastically. “Anyway it’s not I’m gonna cause trouble or anything; just as long no pisses me off then we’re good.”

“Well, I’m going to have Screwball keep an eye on you. In the meantime, I will be spending some quality time with a dear friend.” The Guardian smiled lovingly at Celestia.

“You honestly don’t trust me?”

“You’re a vampire,” the Guardian said. “If I couldn’t even trust myself when I was one, why would I trust a relative stranger?” She smiled smugly.

“Oh come on, what can I possibly do that you wouldn’t trust me?” Just as she said that a black mane pony with gray fur wearing a black dress, and a blue mane unicorn wearing a magenta color glasses and some revealing clothing that you would see in a rave club, appeared in the room.

The Guardian blinked. “Well, she happened.”

“Um...pay no attention to two ponies appearing behind me.”

“Sup little master, we took care of Blueblood’s body for yeah.” said Vinyl.

“You chucked his body off the cliff Vinyl.” said Octavia. “I don’t think that what she meant by taking care of the body.”

“Why are Miss Scratch and Miss Melody vamponies? And looking like they should be on the lesbian porn channel?” Screwball asked.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” Shalltear lied as she tried to look innocent.

“Shalltear,” the Guardian said in a scolding tone.

“Okay so maybe I drank too much, and accidentally bit them in my blood craze moment.”

There were four face-hooves at that moment, all of them groaning as well.

“What? It was an accident.”

“That doesn’t make it better,” the Guardian sighed.

“Well it’s not like they can die by sunlight or getting stabbed in the heart. And besides what’s the worse that can happen?”

Screwy and the Guardian both double face-hoofed. “Is everypony cursed to jinx themselves in this world?!” they cried together.

“I’m pretty sure you just answered your own question Guardian.” Luna said as she changed the channel on the TV.

Screwy deadpanned at Luna. “You’re not helping.”

“Who said I was? Anyway the damage has been done so it’s not like you could undo it or anything?”

“Anyway. I think it’s time for Shalltear to be heading off to Ponyville don’t you think?” Celestia said looking at Luna.

“Oh right, after what happen last night. Shalltear still hasn’t been fully introduced to the ponies in Ponyville.”

“Do I have to? Can’t we just pretend I went there and call it a day?” Shalltear asked annoyed at the thought of meeting new people.

“You know you can’t do that Shalltear. Plus I’m sure my little ponies will get along with you just fine.” Celestia said.

“Plus, you’ll have me!” Screwball zipped over, sitting on Shalltear’s head. “Come on, it’ll be fun! We can make fun of the ponies too!”

“Fine, but I swear to god if I heard somepony say I’m vampire from that stupid Twilight movie. Heads will roll.”

(Ponyville]

[Town Hall]

        “I’m starting to regret this already.” Shalltear said, as she felt sick to her stomach. Moments after returning to Ponyville, Princess Celestia and Luna ordered a town meeting to be held in the center of town to meet the new resident in Ponyville. But it was mainly a Q & A panel for the ponies to ask the countess questions about herself. “Is it too late to bail and run away?” The Countess asked, turning her attention at Guardian.

“Eeyup,” she said simply with that smug smile of hers.

“I hate you so much right now.”

“Ladies and Gentlecolts! Now I know you all been wondering who is the new pony that tooken residents in the house near the entrance of Ponyville. Well I would like to introduce to you all Ponyville’s first vampire to ever live here, Shalltear Bloodfallen! Let’s all give a warm happy welcome to the little girl shall we?” Celestia said as she very pony applaud awkwardly for a while, until the countess stepped on stage and spoke in the microphone.

“U-Um, hi everypony. M-My name is S-Shalltear BloodFallen. It’s very nice to meet you all.” Shalltear said trying not to stutter that much due to being nervous. There was an awkward pause for a few second until the vampire ran behind Guardian for someplace to hide. “I-I can’t do this. I haven’t be able to talk to ponies in the past few years.”

“You’ve been fine around us,” Screwball pointed out.

“That’s a good point, Screwy.” The Guardian looked at Shalltear. “Just be calm. You can do this, Countess. There is nothing to fear.”

“That’s because it was with a small group of ponies, there has to be at least 600 ponies out there. That’s something I’m not used to.”

“There’s nothing to fear,” she reasserted. “What’s the worst they can do? You’re a vampire for Death’s sake.”

“A vampire who is limited on power, but I get what you’re say.”

“Um, so does anypony have any questions they want to ask Shalltear?” Celestia asked as a young adult colt raised his hand.

“Are you vampire from the Twilight movie?”

“....Really? Do I sparkle in the fucking light?”

“A little bit.”

“....That’s it, I’m going home before someone else says something involving Twilight.” The countess said only to be stopped by Screwball and Guardian.

“You can’t run forever. You’ll have to face this, so you might as well get it done and over with now.”

“UGH! What are you my mother? Because I already have Max as my foster mother, I don’t need another one.”

“Just do as you are told,” the Guardian said, trying to be stern yet holding back a giggle. “It will be better for you in the long run. Trust me.”

“Dammit, fine.” Shalltear turned back around and grabbed the mic from Celestia. “So does anyone have any other questions...that doesn’t involve Twilight?” asked Shalltear as another pony raised his hand. “You there the nerd in the back.”

“Do you suck ponies’ blood.”

“Only if they’re evil, other than that no. Anyone else?” another pony raised their hand, this time it was a mare. “You, sexy mint color mare in the back.”

“C-Can I touch your hands?”

“M-Maybe after I’m done with the Q & A panel I’m doing right now.” She said as the mint color unicorn screamed in joy before passing out. “Okay….anyone else?” another pony raised their hand, this time it was an overweight pony with what looked like to be a sex pillow “Oh god please don’t tell me he’s one of those kind of ponies.”

“Uh yeah, that outfit you’re wearing. Where did you get, and how can I get it so I can add it to my collection?”

“Crap he is one of those ponies.” thought Shalltear as she put on a fake smile. “This outfit was made by the finest silk gathered from all across equestria. There is no other clothing like this.”

“Oh, can I have yours so i can make a copy of it?”

“No. Anypony else?” Shalltear asked as a little filly with magenta colored hair raised her hand. “Yes the pony with the kickass scooter.”

“Do vamponies get cutie marks?”

“No they do not last time I checked. Anything else you wanna ask me?”

“Wanna join our club seeing how you don’t have a cutie mark?”

“I’ll think about after tomorrow.” Shalltear handed the mic to Celestia as she began to walk off.

“I think that will be enough Q & A for today. Anyway let’s welcome Shalltear to our home, and hope she feels at home here.” Celestia said as the ponies began to clap before leaving. As everypony left to continue what they normally do, Shalltear rushed over to a trash can and began to throw up in it.

“Well, at least she didn’t throw up on stage,” the Guardian quirked.

“Geez I didn’t think you had a problem with huge cowards of ponies.” Luna said patting the countess on the back for comfort. “Is it really that bad?”

“If you haven’t notice I have trust problems, and be in front of huge groups of people. Or ponies seeing how I’m in this world.” Shalltear answered as she threw up again.

“There there,” Screwball said, rubbing Shalltear’s back. “Just get it all out.”

“Ugh, I am never going to do something like that ever again.”

“That might be a problem in three days.” Celestia said.

“What do you mean sunny pony?”

“I might have told some of the other nations about you, and they’ll be coming over to meet you during the grand galloping gala.”

“Oh the gala! That sounds like fun,” the Guardian said with a smile. “I do so love a good gala. Though not the snooty ones, they can be such a bore and I always feel as if I need to smack somepony. Which I usually end up doing sometime during the night.”

“Care to explain why I have to go?”

“That was my bad. I was hoping to expose you as a monster so I thought of doing it during the gala.” Celestia said, while rubbing the back of her neck. “Again sorry.”

“Fan fucking tastic.” said Shalltear as she remove her head from over the trash can. “Well I’m not going.”

“Language, my dear,” the Guardian chastised. “Screwball may be used to such crassness, but it’s still very rude to curse in front of a young filly. For goodness sakes, Countess, she’s only ten.”

“Guardian I been raped, abused, experimented on, having nightmares of my living hell, and been put to sleep for the past 1,500 years or so with nothing but my thoughts. I’ll say whatever I want until I can figure out a way to get a goodnight’s sleep, or until I’m tired of cursing.”

The mare actually snorted in amusement. “Call me after a few thousand years of that, then we’ll talk. Until then, keep it clean, shall we? I’m trying to be a good and decent influence on Screwball.”

“Ugh, fine I’ll try to keep it clean. But I make no promises if the moment calls for it.”

“I suppose that’s the best I’m going to get, anyways! Since Screwball can take the time off, I believe we should be able to stay for the gala. Afterwards, however, we will have to make our leave. Until then, I believe we should make every moment count, wouldn’t you say everypony?!”

“She does have a point.” Luna agreed. “As for where you two will be staying Guardian and Screwball, you will be staying with Shalltear for the next three days.”

“Oh you gotta be kidding me?” said Shalltear as she rubbed the temple of her head. “Doesn’t she have room in her TARDIS thing? The rooms that I have are already full.”

“Well, yes, it could be. In fact, I was going to suggest, well it may seem a little foalish, but a sleepover in the TARDIS tonight. I would like to show my old and new friends my home. After tonight, we can work out the living arrangements. Sound good to everyone?”

“Fine I guess I can Vinyl and Octavia share a room together. But for now I need to get myself ready.”

“Oh those two are more than welcome to join us as well. I have plenty of room. Speaking of getting ready, I need to get back to the TARDIS to get everything ready for tonight!” The Guardian gasped. “I don’t have anything prepared! I need to get snacks, and beds ready, and entertainment, oh so much to do, so much to do!” She raced off from them, frantically going over her party plans aloud.

“This is going to be a long three days.” Shalltear said as she began to walk home. Next Chapter: Chapter 5: Monster House Estimated time remaining: 2 Hours, 43 Minutes