I stood in a hazy fog. Fog so thick I couldn’t tell if I was walking on solid ground, or walking on a cloud. I couldn’t see anything with what little distance I could see.

“I’m dreaming.” I decided.

“Indeed you are young one.” came a voice like a silver bell. I turned to see a mare in a black dress, sitting on a wrought bench. A black veil covered her eyes.

“I know you.” I proclaimed.

“I’d be surprised if you didn’t.” the mare riposted, taking a sip from a cup of tea that had not existed seconds before.

“Why do you talk to me?” I demanded. “I just learned that everypony hates me because of you.”

The silver mare swirled her tea, as if pondering her answer.

“Not many would be brave enough to demand anything from me.” she eventually sighed.

“I wouldn’t care if you were Queen of Unicornia, you’re ruining my life.”

“And that’s why you are chosen. You are not afraid.” the mare looked up, bright silver light peaked through the threads of her veil. “May I answer you with a story?”

“I- What?” I asked, confused at the turn this conversation was taking.

“Long ago, before the Flight of the Alicorns.” the mare began, ignoring my question. “A mighty stallion rose to prominence. He was a charismatic leader, a skilled magician, and a strong warrior. But he was greedy. He yearned for more, arguing that a pony as skilled as he was deserved more than even a King or Queen. And he got his demands. Royalty, all across the world paid handsomely for his services. It was not long before he became the wealthiest pony alive.”

This sounded like a long tale so I sat down on my haunches.

“But for all his wealth, he could not buy one thing. He could not stop himself from dying. He drove himself to madness in his quest for everlasting life. His vast riches began to dwindle as he pursued this one thing. He demanded more extravagant payment for his services. More and more did he demand, all to fund his obsessive quest.”

The silver mare took a sip from her tea.

“But his quest was in vain. At the eleventh hour before his death of old age, he stood as destitute as the day he was born. In desperation he reached out to a dark power and made a deal. He would be granted eternal youth if he were to steal one thing for this Primal Darkness. And so, the Darkness sent the stallion forward. And long did he quest, searching for this object. Unable to die until he had failed his mission. But the stallion did not trust this Primal Darkness. So when he found this object, he ordered his minions to take the object and to hide it in a castle he had claimed as his own. So that he may retrieve it at will. When the Primal Darkness returned to the stallion; ‘Where art the artifact?’ it inquired. ‘I am looking for it.’ The stallion lied. ‘You lie knave.” the Darkness accused. ‘But hark, you have claimed it in my name. Therefore you shall be given half of the payment agreed to.’ And the stallion shuddered, as the fine drink he had been partaking suddenly tasted like ash in his mouth. ‘You shall have life, but it shall not be eternal. To live, you must steal the lifeblood of others. You will labor under this curse until such a time you lose my artifact, or give unto me my payment.’ The stallion grinned, for he had fallen far, and cared not for the lives of his fellow ponies. That dread night, the stallion held a grand ball for his closest associates. There he ritualistically drained them of their blood, but forced them to ingest a few drops of his own blood. It is this way he passed on his curse. And thus the first coven of vampires was made.”

“Not to be rude, as this is a tale I’ve not heard before, but what does this have to do with you?” I interrupted.

“Can you not guess? I’ve already mentioned myself in the tale.” the silver mare admonished.

“... The stallion was after you wasn’t he?” I asked after a moment of thought.

“Yes.” the mare nodded sadly. “But fret not, not all of my hope is lost.” she waved and conjured a shadowy image of a bright white rock. “The stallion wished to keep me for himself, but could not touch what tethers me to your realm. If he were to do that, he would be forced to give me up for his eternal life, or die.”

“What are you asking me?” I asked, my voice squeaking a little.

“For now? Nothing.” The silver mare set her teacup aside and put her front hooves in her lap. “You are far too young to ask for a favor. But do not mistake me.” she paused for a moment, giving me a serious glare. “Someday, I will ask you for something. And when that day comes, know you are free to refuse me without consequence. I choose you, but you must also choose me.”

“I’m- I’m not sure I understand.” I said.

“No.” the mare agreed, her veil bobbing slightly as she nodded along. “But don’t worry… You will. You will.” she promised.

I wasn’t sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing.

I awoke the next morning to the Pegasi breaking camp. They eyed me wearily as I watched from our cart, but did not directly comment. They took off within the hour, leaving the remnants of our village alone.

“Good riddance” Hoarfrost grunted as he hitched himself to the wagon. “Next time Celestia, let me do the talking.”

“I beg your pardon?!” Tia gasped as she got into the cart beside me. “The only reason we’re still alive is because I started talking!”

“Better to die with our honor as Unicorns than live as servants!” Hoarfrost rebutted as Torchwood hitched himself to the wagon as well.

“Better alive than a bullheaded dolt.” the tan Unicorn muttered.

“What did you say?!” Hoarfrost challenged.

“Bucking drop it dumbass.” Ocean Breeze stated out loud as she walked by. Hoarfrost began to sputter, until his eyes landed on my and my Pegasoplian spear.

“What do you have there goblin?” his eyes alighted with opportunity.

“A spear.” I stated as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

“One of the bird’s spears.” he corrected. “Throw it away, we have no time to deal with birdbrain nonsense.”

“No.” I stated, clutching it to my chest.

I was starting to really not like him.

“Throw-” he began again.

“Hoarfrost is it your intention to get on everypony’s nerves?” Celestia admonished. “Because you are swiftly becoming a nuisance to everypony.”

Hoarfrost glanced around to see everypony glaring at him. Pegasi made or not, the spear was much better than the carved sticks we had made.

“Fine.” Hoarfrost grit his teeth. “But keep in mind who’s going to teach the goblin how to fight like a Unicorn.” With that, he turned up his nose with a “Humph” and made a point of ignoring the rest of us.

“Alright Tia, you seem to be taking charge well, any idea where to go?” Torchwood asked.

“Keep heading South. We’re not too far from the edges of Clan territory. We can still find an Earth pony settlement and barter for food. Failing that, the vegetation further South should be sufficient to forage.”

Hoarfrost snorted derisively, but otherwise made no comment.

“Sounds like a plan to me!” Torchwood grinned, making to pull the cart.

The following week went by in mostly silence. Hoarfrost stuck his nose up at anything the rest of us had to say, with the exception of Snow Step, Brisk Road, Emerald and Sapphire. I learned Emerald and Sapphire were his nieces, so it made sense where they got their dumbness from.

We did see a few more swarms of Pegasi in the distance, if it was Hurricane’s swarm or another raiding party we didn’t know. But they never got close enough to see our cart so they didn’t bother us. I spent my time foraging for greenery and moving the Pegasi spear in my magic, trying to get a feel for how it moved when I needed to use it again. I noticed it was surprisingly light compared to the crude spears we had made out of wood found on the side of our path. I could whip the point around so much quicker than the stick. I debated trying to find a rock to saw off the blunt end of the spear, just to see what it was made of, but decided against it. I didn’t want to ruin the balance I had been learning.

The monotony came to an end as Violet shouted.

“There’s smoke off to our right!” she exclaimed. As sure as daylight, plumes of smoke rose in the distance. Not enough for a wildfire, but more than a single campfire.

It could only be another village.

Ocean Breeze and Star Song, the two currently pulling the wagon, began to veer towards the smoke.

“Are we seriously considering bartering with Mud Ponies?” Hoarfrost asked, addressing us all for the first time in days, stopping Breeze and Song in their tracks.

“Do you have a better idea?” Torchwood asked, rounding on the white stallion.

“Obviously.” Hoarfrost sneered. “Why barter when we can take? It costs us nothing.”

“Yeah, that’ll go over well.” Torchwood sarcastically stated. “A whole village against twelve ponies? Three of which are fillies.”

“Unicorns count as at least three Mud Ponies.” Hoarfrost stated.

“No, you agreed with bartering Hoarfrost.” Tia stated.

“No, I abstained from giving my opinion.” Hoarfrost rebutted.

“No, you had your chance to object and didn’t ‘Frost.” Torchwood accused.

“Then let’s put it to a vote.” Hoarfrost smirked. “In fact, let’s vote for who should be Reeve. Right here, right now. All in favor of me being Reeve say ‘Aye’.”

“Aye.” Brisk Road chirped.

“Aye.” Snow Step murmured.

“Aye.” Emerald stated.

“Aye.” Sapphire rose a hoof.

“Needless to say I vote for myself.” Hoarfrost smirked.

“I- I abstain.” Violet blushed.

“All in favor of Celestia being Reeve, say ‘Aye’. Aye.” Torchwood announced, raising a hoof.

“Aye.” Firelight agreed.

“Aye.” Breeze replied with a smile.

“Aye.” Song murmured.

If you want me to be Reeve, then I suppose I better vote for myself.” Tia blushed, raising a hoof.

“Aye!” I chirped gleefully.

“Quiet wretch. You’re far too young to vote.” Hoarfrost snarled. “That means it’s a tie.”

“No!” I challenged the older pony, not caring in the slightest what he thought. I wouldn’t allow him to overshadow Tia. “If I’m too young to vote then Emerald and Sapphire are too young as well! Which means you only get three votes to Tia’s five!”

A vein pulsed in Hoarfrost’s forehead, looking dangerously close to bursting.

“Fair is fair Hoarfrost.” Torchwood remarked. ”Even if you allow Luna a vote, that means it's six to five with one abstain. You lose.”

“You there! Violet! Change your vote to me!” Hoarfrost demanded. “If there’s a tie then it falls to a duel of honor!”

“I- What?! No!” Violet exclaimed in surprise.

“Change your vote or I’ll-”

“Hoarfrost!” Tia barked, with strength I didn’t know she had. “You have lost.”

A forced hush fell over the crowd of Unicorns as Hoarfrost glanced around at the gathered ponies. Most of the other adults had gathered behind Tia… Or rather, Reeve Tia now. Behind himself however, were two fillies, and two ponies barely out of their teens. Even if he were to go as low as start a fight, he was hopelessly outmatched if spells started to fly.

“I will remember this.” Hoarfrost stated through grit teeth, turning around to sulk off into the woods.

“I should hope so.” Tia replied. “If you didn’t I would have serious concerns about your combat expertise.”

Hoarfrost stopped, shaking with fury, but he didn’t say anything and walked away without turning back around.

When he was out of sight, Tia seemed to sag and sigh with relief.

“D-do you ponies really think I’m worthy of being Reeve?” she asked.

“After handling Hoarfrost like that? Without a doubt.” Torchwood grinned. “The stupid shit is too blinded by his own arse to see clearly.” Firelight, Breeze, and Song both nodded their agreement to Torchwood’s words.

“Why would I ever vote for such an awful pony?” I asked, looking up into Tia’s magenta eyes. She snorted briefly with laughter, but quickly caught herself.

“Thank you, thank you all.” Tia smiled, genuine tears beginning to form in her eyes. “I promise I’ll do my best to watch over each and every one of you. Yes, even you ponies.” she looked over to Hoarfrost’s supporters, who stood awkwardly by as their chosen leader stormed off.

“Yeah…” Brisk sighed, rubbing the back of his head. “We knew he was waiting for an excuse to start a vote, but I didn’t think he’d be so irked if he lost…” the stallion admitted.

“What are you talking about?!” Emerald screeched. “Why would I ever trust somepony who loves her?!” she pointed a hoof at me. “She ruins everything she touches!” She put her nose up and followed after Hoarfrost, Sapphire wasn’t far behind, her nose also in the air.

“I’m sorry Tia… I’m sorry they won’t trust you.” I kicked a hoof at the dirt below.

“Don’t worry about them Lu. You have no control over their opinions.” Tia hugged me.

“I knew I shouldn’t have voted for him…” Snow Step muttered, loud enough for the rest of us to hear but mostly addressing herself. “I’ll go talk to them, somepony has to be a voice of reason over there.” She excused herself and followed after the twins.

“Alright then.” Tia wiped tears away with the wrist of her hoof. “We’re all agreed then? We’ll barter with the Earth Ponies?”

“Aye!” We all cheered.

Next Chapter: Chapter 68 The Memories Part 27 Estimated time remaining: 10 Hours, 30 Minutes