private Vampires run in the family.

[DarkHaert 277]

Façade smiled at Dark Beak, "Alrighty then Dark Beak, I'm Dark Façade." Façade put in the other canister into his upper arm, feeling the regenerative power wash over his burned hooves. Then after a moment, Façade's hooves felt fine. Façade ejected the canisters as he felt a migraine coming on. But soon it died when the canisters were removed. He put the ejected canisters into his satchel. "You need help?"

[cwhip9 1,078]

"I think your the one that needs it mate, cuz if that was your girl you need a new love life. c'mon lets get to a hotel something tells me talking here will lead to more trouble" The gryphon led Façade out and to a hotel a block away. Once they check in and went into Dark beaks room the gryphon locked the door behind them  

 

"ok now then" began the gryphon walking towards the fridge pulling out some drinks  "a buddy of mine was going to meet me here in manity. The boat he was on was attacked by a bunch of mercs, he's a hell of a fighter so I know he's alive just a matter of where" he looked at Façade a bottle of dragon cider in his talon handing Faced the other 

 

"your not a local so know anything about it?"  he asked.  

[DarkHaert 277]

"Thought you looked Familiar. No point in lying I s'pose. I rescued that 'friend' and his marefriend, whose cousin came too. The damn Hunters then blew up the ship, I think that mare was just.... a bounty hunter. She was taking orders from somepony who would be threatened by my, Crescent's, Emerald.... Are there any other vampires in this city? I mean like royalty!?"

[cwhip9 1,078]

The gryphon cocked his head to the side "cresent, royalty?? I think you might gotten hit in the head a bit hard by that mare" the gryphon said sitting down on the couch looking over the city. he opend the bottle and took a swig

 

"If he is royalty that's the first time ive herd of it also that's another reason im here where is that cousin the yellow one, and there are more batponys here then Hollow shades so running into more vamps wouldn't surprise me as much. This is the only place I know of where the courts deliver 'death by vamp' as a type of execution. Yet those rarely happen like once a year if my history is correct" said dark beak taking another swig

[DarkHaert 277]

Façade thought about it, "They were talking about how they didn't want to be royalty, but it wasn't until they were found out that everyone wanted them dead. That's too many coincidences." Façade looked about. He knew who the yellow mare was, "You mean Summer? And death by vampire. Huh, that's news to me." Façade looked about, he had an idea.

[Mentis Soliloquy 3,025]

"Hope this feast is just normal food, nothing um crazy I mean you know like a live pony or somthing, I know you said but I just don't get the feeling that it's always the case."

---

"Em your being silly again."

---

"I know it's just well i'm uneasy so forgive me both, Cres did not speak well of this place I mean to say that it's bad but well not good the situation I mean."

[cwhip9 1,078]

"being invited to be king will do that to anypony, and cres is just paranoid of everything even the cat next door, we don't have a cat to answer the question but that's just how he is" said Darklight as they approached the to giant doors towards the hall.

 

"as for the food again no pony's will be eaten today, if you wondered where he gets his love of pasta your about to find out" darklight said opening the giant doors herself to revile another grand table. The center of the table had the oldest looking pony emerald and summer had ever seen, the elder.

 

The elder had big bush dark blue eyebrows almost obscuring his eyes, his mane must have been blue but as the age was setting in it was more of a pale blue. His coat was like every other bat pony they had seen just more wrinkles here and there, with the usual bat like ears as well. Next to the elder were 4 gryphons in the red and gold armor to his left and right at the ready like many guards emerald had seen with her job. After the guards were the ponys emerald and summer guessed were the candidates for the crown as cresent sat between uncle dark heart and Wane along with two other ponys.

 

There were more tables faceing the grand one with other batponys in which dark light happily pointed out who was who from the aunts to the uncles to the nephews. Soon the mares found themselves a table near the main one "we cant get too close but enough to see them.

 

Cresent gazed around seeing emerald and summer his ears perked up he was about to get up and greet them when a hoof from his uncle tapped his shoulder. embarrassed he sat back down so he just waved mouthing with a smile 'love you' to emerald

 

"guh, men and there traditions Luna I wish we could cut the pomp and circumcrap out already" dark light commented. looking over the menu  (sleeping soon just a heads up bravo dark^)

Edited February 12, 2016 by cwhip9

[Mentis Soliloquy 3,025]

Emerald kissed a her hoof and blew it back at him. "Oh you are such a sissy Em."

---

They sat at the table, "When it comes to him I'm a soopy teenager I can't help it, alas that is love for you Summer."

---

"I guess so, i'll find out on day."

---

"Yes one day you will and you will know nothing else it's like a drug love, somthing you can never have enough, like the blood..." That more somber note made them pic up there menus and started look through them. After some time they put down their menus. "Anything with pasta, love pasta."

---

"I Fancy a pizza, or maybe one of the burgers."

---

"They have burgers on there?" Summer lent over and put her hoof on a section. "Oh there, thanks." Emerald went back to reading.

---

"So Light why where you turned did you want or ask for it?"

[DarkHaert 277]

Façade looked at the hotel room, and saw what he was looking for, "If it is within the Royal Families of the Vampires, then that means that somepony is dying, and there is competition. Problem is, the metal assassin we faced no doubt will have a bounty set on your head. As for me, well, they only have a picture of me in a hood." Façade pulled a smooth coat hanger off the wall. "I'll need this. I'm going to buy a bow."

[cwhip9 1,078]

Dark light looked up from the menu blinked a bit "well I was just a filly back then when they found me in that shack being turned soon after I assume it was mostly do to the fact I was server wounded or something like that summer"

 

there was a ringing of the glass as the elder taped his fork to it getting evryponys attention "my apology's everypony to leave you in suspense on who is to take my place. I am dying, this you all can hear in my blood and with that is why this decision for who gets the brown makes it so hard to say this"

 

The elder stood up from his chair "The blood trail for the crown will be the underground maze" he said

 

As he said this two gryphons untied a note behind the table reveling a large scroll showing the guests the map of the maze. The maze lines were complicated, hard and sharp, and surprising enough to emerald and summer odd squiggle lines here and there.(its floating more or less above the grand table if it helps picture it) 

 

"in the center of the maze is the crown first pony to touch it will be the new king, we have a system in place for emergency if they crop up, for those family's of the few chosen now's the time to be with them before the trail. It begins when the chosen get done eating so, chosen" the elder turned towards cresent and the others

 

"may our night mother bless you journey ahead and come back safe" he said. The waiter pony's started getting everyponys order to their tables, cresent was seen saying something to the elder. The elder nodded at him and cresent flew from the table towards emerald hugging his lover tightly following it up with a kiss "hope I haven't been too long" he said.      

[Mentis Soliloquy 3,025]

She did not care and gave him a hug back. "Too long, a second is too long." She lent back and stuck her tongued down his throat, (ok that is boarder line) then pulled back almost at once, then blushed. "Oh right. we are in public."

---

Summer facehoofed and shook her head. "Em you are dumb sometimes." she looked to Light, "Your family is not like this are they, well excluding Cres?"

---

"I don't really care." She stroked his cheek with her hoof, her face still red with embarrassment but she just missed him in the dark somewhat unnerving castle. "just remember to lose hun, unless you want to be king?"

[cwhip9 1,078]

out of the two ponys summer couldn't tell who had the brightest blush cresent was blinking a bit after the kiss and snuggled her back "easy love we'll do that later" he whispered in her ear playing with her mane.

Darklight rolled her eye "as in these two, eh love has many ways of showing itself summer" she then looked at the yellow mare "as for how all this is going down the family isn't usually like this. save-" before dakrlight could continue she was interrupted  

 

"don't worry I'm better, and besides" said Wane leaning on the table next to summer "once I become king it'll be more party's. you haven't seen an proper vamp party have you?"

 

Darklight trotted over kicking the legs from under Wane having him fall giving him a glare "aside from him, were pretty chill when it comes to things" she said looking at summer standing between the two

 

Cresent back up from emerald seeing his cousins quarrel "don't worry love, I have a plan" he said pecking her cheek

 

"will you two just get a room already" wane said getting back up "all though cres, nah never mind enjoy the meal" wane said grinning at cresent looked back at summer then left towards another table

 

"sorry bout him, he easily gets jelly" said dark heart "but I got to go see that idiot before he go's into the maze. He may be my brother but he's not dying in the maze" she then looked at cresent meaningfully "I know don't worry the others wont know, just don't let him win that's all I want"

 

Cresent nodded "good thanks for helping them" he hugged dark light then let leave towards the table Wane went to.

 

"I don't care who else wins, I just have him to stop. He's a bit more on the pure side of mind then anything else if he wins also." he said looking at emerald and summer seriously "no matter what happens you two cant interfere once I go in, it'll be an instant kill towards me and you two" he said

[Mentis Soliloquy 3,025]

"Nothing at all I wont stand idle if someone is about to kill you, not gonna happen but otherwise I will not interfere."

---

"By Celesta's tail will you two give it a rest i'm the young cute one here jeeze." Emerald just rubbed her head.

---

"We know Summer," She looked back to Crescent. "You do what you need to do, but don't win we don't live here so just don't win then we can go home."

[cwhip9 1,078]

-At the hotel
Dark beak turned around seeing façade with the hanger "listen mate you might need more then a bow to take her out next round but ethier way you probably cool your jets. Gunning for her now would be exactly who ever I think this is is dogging you" he looked back at the table with his bottle

 

"not sure if you answered this,but how do you know cresent again?" the gryphon asked

 

-At the castel

 

Cresent nooded "wouldn't dream of it love, now whats good on the menu?" cresent said looking it over. The three of them ate as cresent asked what they thought of the castel while he listened to the two mare his mind was racing with so many ways to get through the maze without wining and stopping wane from getting the crown. Soon Cresent could eat no more, as he saw the others go out of the room and the windows in the hall had changed there picture of an over view of the underground maze. Once cresent got up he hugged summer and gave another long hug towards emerald kissing her

 

"I promise ill be back" he said and flew off towards the hall door.  

 

Once the chosen had left a bared gate came up blocking the entrance's to follow them with the gryphons in the gold and red armor The elder clapped his old wings to get everypnys attention. It was at that moment he took off the crown and to the surprise of emerald and summer revield a horn underneath. His horn glowed and a giant sphere materialized showing the "chosen" starting through the maze. Wane and another pony the two didn't recognize started at a full on sprint through the odd turns while cresent began slowly and Dark heart looked like he owned the place confidently trotting on through the maze.   

 

"remember you wont be abel to hear them only see them in this orb" the elder said

[Mentis Soliloquy 3,025]

The pair of them watched on in a state of dread and anticipation, like everyone else in the room the only exceptions were the Elder and the gryphon guards. There were whispers and and cries and so on as they went the pair of them as it when where hugging and watching on...

[cwhip9 1,078]

Dark light sat next to the mars hugging them "don't worry guys, cresents a hell of a fighter" she said with a smile

 

In the maze Cresent had no idea where he was, he was just trying to find Wane out of the others. He also remembered back to the conversation with the elder about the idea of pure blood reign vs half blood. He shook his head still annoyed at the whole mess, finding a small blood beat he began to gallop near it that was until he saw in of the oddest things hed seen. It was a table that had a giant rabbit blocking the passige behind it. The rabbit had a monicel on its eye and a small glass of tee in its paw "ah yes, the burnt one...been expecting you but not this soon"

 

Cresent scratched his mane "something tells me your not just a spell" he said

 

"I may be, I may be not whos to say and whos to know, the real question is who's the foe?" the rabbit said

 

-In the hall
Darklight blinked a bit with her good eye "that's a rabbit, im seeing this right? my eyes isn't going that bad is it?" she asked outloud looking at the screen

[Mentis Soliloquy 3,025]

Emerald was getting worried something in her gut made, compelled her to leave the hall she back away and snuck out she was going to find a way into the maze there, she started down one of the corridors to find another way in. She stopped a heartbeat near her then a voice she could not make out properly, "Hmm...you will do nicely..." She did not see or hear anything else she was knocked unconscious within milliseconds.   

---

Summer was just kept jaw a gape watching what was going on...

[cwhip9 1,078]

"is that the riddle who is the foe?" asked cresent

 

The rabbit smiled "there is no riddle why dose every pony I meet in here think I will fiddle with that while I just want to have tea with somepony" said the gaint rabbit pouring out 3 cups of tea on the table. Cresent placed his front hoofs on the table.

 

"how do I know these arnt posion?" he asked sniffing them each

 

The rabbit chuckeled "that's for you to find out and see for only through the tea will you be set free" the rabbit said sipping his tea. Cresent looked back up at the rabbit then down at the three teas

 

All three were in the same style of cup and smelled all the same, he spent a bit looking at each cup contemplating

 

-in the castel

"something to do with tea's....why dose a king need to know about tea's?" thought dark light outloud She looked at summer "any idea's?"

 

-somewhere else
As emerald opened her eyes feeling the pounding head ach she found her self strapped down on a table with some sort of muzzle on, she herd sompony whistling a odd tune she didn't recognize. As she looked around she began to see she was in some sort of operating room with somepony who's back was too her making the whistling had a lab coat on.  

[Mentis Soliloquy 3,025]

"I have no clue, how should I know what about you Em?...Em?" She looked around to find her gone. "EM!?" she got some looks from ponies around her, she took of from the ground and looked around the room at the various faces she could not see her cousin...

---

Emerald tried to speak but she could not she just made odd noises and she struggled against her bonds, he anxiety kicked in she was going to transition to escape in a moment...

[cwhip9 1,078]

Darklight also looked around seeing the lack of emerald was troubeling, not only was she the possible queen she was also one of her new and few friends outside manity. After flying around asking if anyvamp saw her she was met with the same response, saw her head to the restroom they all thought. "bit me sideways" Darklight said

 

It was then some of the crowd apluded having darkllight pause her serch momenterly.

 

-the maze

the one pony emerald and summer didn't recognize panted as he sat down next to the now knocked out Monitor he spat at it and licked his dry lips "so much for storys" he ground

 

It was another voice that made the vamp jump "you know after that whole fight im surprised you didn't think if this" dark heart said pulling out the thorn in its paw "i guess, wait" the vamp got in a defensive stance

 

" whats wrong bane im just your friendly uncle" dark heart said

 

"no pony said we could work together, theres only going to be one king" said the vamp

 

Dark heart's smiled turn into a frown "your no fun you know that" he said
 

[DarkHaert 277]

Dark Façade looked at the griffon. "I was hired to kill Crescent and Emerald. I nearly killed them several times, but the problem was I have a shade. It's basically a chaotic evil version of my self. But Summer, she killed it. Then I realized that the shade had been manipulating me into a monster. When I was free, I rescued the lot of them, and then the shade returned. But you see, it had bowed down because it needed a host. And regarding the reason I'm so different from other ponies, I was created in a laboratory. And who said I needed more than a bow and arrow?"

 

Façade left the building, and ejected the canisters out of his arms, they are starting to cause a major headache. Façade went down to the merchant's sector, and after an hour of searching. He had found a weapons depot.

 

Façade stood before the merchant looked at several bows, before picking out a compound bow. He shoot a few arrows, getting used the feel. It had been several months since he had used one. Whirlwind always had made sure Façade knew how to use one, well. But Façade was going to change it up.

 

Façade bought a leather gauntlet, and several gears and metal strings. He returned to the hotel, and laid out his supplies, he attached the gears and two hooks. He rounded the pointed parts to minimize he danger. After several experiments and hours, Façade had designed and produced a gauntlet which when he tensed, and flicked his wrist, the hood would flick up. Façade lifted the bow, balancing on two hooves, and then shot the bow with hook gauntlet. The hook would pull the drawstring, and then when he tensed and flick his wrist, the hook would release the arrow. After several more hours, into the next day, Façade had perfected the gauntlet and bow to the new firing style.

 

"This isn't the only thing I'm using," Façade grabbed a mahogany telescope out of his bag of purchases,"I've got several more tricks."

Edited February 13, 2016 by DarkHaert 2099

[cwhip9 1,078]

The gryphon scratched his head "and I thought my boss was bad" he took another swing of his cider and turned on the tv news

 

-at somewhere
"oh goody your awake, glad I didn't knock you out too bad" said a somewhat familiar voice that emerald herd. Wane approached Emerald seeing her struggle "aw don't worry hun, this wont be as confusing as it is painful for you. I mean every other attempt to kill you two and the simplest one has you in my hoofs" he snickered too himself going back to a tray with a set of what looked like medical tools

 

"now your probably wondering how I got from the maze to here" he said finding a scapula inspecting it "all I can say is changelings will do anything once you catch them. Also seeing you bleed there family dry might do it to" he laughed again no approaching emrald

 

"now, the family will have a policy on half bloods once I'm king so relax your going to be the first of the reformed vamps  of the program now to find where you were bitten" he said looking her over "think of it as a cure really to help others down the line, sure you will die but its the science that matters I guess we could start with this" said the batpony going over to her cuti mark "you wont be needing this" he said beginning to slice into the flesh

 

-in the castel
dakrlight was getting frantic as summer was, but she was showing more of it she flew towards one of the gryphons "we might have a lost mare"

 

"you know the rules we cant do anything without proffer Light" said the gryphon

 

Dark light rolled her eye "we are talking about a future queen cant you get a search going?!"

 

The elder turned towards dark light "if she went near the maze she's on her own. Captin" the elder looked at one of the gryphons he approached "begin a search I don't want this to jeopardized the future. find the half blood"

 

"at once" the gryphon bowed turning towards two other gryphons he barked something in Manity and the two saluted and marched out

 

"go with them child, the yellow might have better luck" said the elder

 

Dark light nodded "summer c'mon" she said leading her out of the hall

 

-in the maze
Cresent was still looking at the tea cups, he pulled three hairs from his mane

 

"oh there's a thought, would ruin the taste tho" said the rabbit

 

cresent placed one of his hairs into one of each of the teas and waited, they just floated there

 

the rabbit made a chuckle "you do think ahead good, but you now have to drink one of them to pass, or do you want to be last?" said the rabbit

[Mentis Soliloquy 3,025]

Emerald screamed out in pain, well she muffled out in pain, her features changed all of them her wings changed her fangs punched through the muzzle it did not help her and her eye's also followed suite, she struggled furiously. He was trying to cut her cutie mark off, she would of preferred him cutting her wings off not a part of her soul.

---

Summer started down a hallway in a blind panic until she stopped and looked down, to smell then see a few drops of blood which all she needed in her state. "Light is this Em's blood I think it is but i'm not sure I haven't been taught much yet. I mean it smells like Em, I think?"

[DarkHaert 277]

Façade sat down on a the bed, fiddling with a flashbang grenade, while watching the television. "Huh, you know anything on Crescent's family, Dark Beak? I know they're having a family reunion, of sorts. One he did not want to attend. Know why?" Façade tweaked the flashbang to have an additional 20% more light and sound when it exploded. It made it very painful for vampires, whose senses are razor sharp. He moved onto the composite bow, just tweaking a few things here and there in his tools.

[cwhip9 1,078]

Dark beak flipped through the channels "I'm not a liberty to say whether he wanted to go or not I do know the yellow mare I'm supposed to be keeping an eye on because she crashed into them enrout. ah I think were about to get some answer's " the gryphon said finding a news channel

 

On the tv it showed a new achor pony with a picture next to her of a family crest of some sort with a moon and twin swords underneath it, (wheather Facde understands manity or not is up to you but this is what she says) "and today is the 2nd day of the blood trials for the vampony crown our correspondent was at the dinner when it was announced by the elder vampony Charles the III the blood trail is a maze run we can bring you more from the vassel jenny how are things going?"  

 

the picture cut to a crowd standing outside the vampony caste "yes clover, I'm with the crowd and if you can see behind me are waiting for news on the new king of the vamponys we do know its a 4 way split between count dark heart, Prince's wane, lock and thought missing the found cresent did make it to the dinner after the boat attack. we don't know how he survived but will bring you more on the maze later we do have a feed of the maze but no audio as a rule from the Vassel family you should be seeing it now"

 

the picture cut again to 3 different panels the top most showed count dark heat fencing with prince lock. Cresent was on the bottom left circling a table with tea cups and the bottom right showed Wane dogging an incoming arrow from a trap he sprang  

 

"As you can see we have a lot of action going on with this blood trail which if you remember from the last one 50 years ago it being a race though a bunch of traps. we do know the winner will be the first one to reach the center with the crown will be crowned king. As too who will make we can only watch and wait. this is Jenny from the vessel, clover"

 

Dark beak turned off the tv looking back at façade "how much of that did you catch?" he asked

 

-somewhere else
"oh are you the fun one changing form are we? well there's a problem with that hun you see the more your struggling the deeper my cuts go, so if you want this to be a clean cut" Wane stepped back slapping her across the muzzle "stop fidgeting!" he looked back at the cuti mark half cut off

 

"its not like you got only one of them every pony has there's on both sides so stop being such a baby" he said going back to his work

 

"besides cresent got his burnt off via dragon you don't see him crying....yet" wane began to laugh as he cut more into emerald

 

-with summer and Darklight

 

Darklight put a hoof on summer's shoulder "summer, first blood lesson. tracking taste the blood and you'll be able to find the source of the bleeder we will find your cousin I promise" she said reassuringly trying to calm the yellow mare down

 

-in the maze
Cresent finely made up his mind and drank the furthest left tea cup, he then looked at the rabbit. The rabbit smiled "well you have chosen well cresent and here is your present" the rabbit clapped his paws and cresent now found himself on a bridge with a waterfall below him "well I'm not dead, hope I didn't worry em" he said trotting forward on the bridge