Castlevania Equestria: Paralogue 4 - Infernal Equinox

Abby's doing something she hasn't bothered to do in quite a while-meditating. She doesn't like doing it for a variety of reasons. Chiefly among them is it's hard to get a moment alone, another is that there's not often a lot of places, and yet another is that more often than not there's too much emotional turmoil bubbling below the surface for her to even meditate properly. However, she's made it a point to do it tonight, she needs to try to get herself under control. She can feel her desire to savage someone and lap their blood up building again, and she wants to see what else she can try... As she looks out across the Canterlot skyline on one side and the land beyond on the other, the last orange kiss of twilight slipping away as it gives way to inky night, she inhales and closes her eyes...and that's when it hits her: It's quiet. That's abnormal for her, because even in her least stressed moments, Ego and Paranoia usually had something to say. It only now occurred to her that they were not only quiet...but had been since about the time she had been attacked and put in the hospital. She knows from what they had told her previously that they couldn't leave her until she died, so they couldn't be gone...but why were they silent? "Hey....guys?" she says, still with her eyes closed. It's a good thing no one else is around, or else she'd look as insane as she felt. "Guys...Ego...Paranoia...ya guys are really quiet lately...what's going on? I know you don't like me thinking I'm on talking terms with you but...this is odd. Did you guys get hurt or something?" The jib about their mortality is enough to get the attention of Ego at least. "Hurt. No, you did. And changed into...this hideous thing. Wonderful work, Aubade, very well done. We've had nothing to say to you, only simmering disappointment..." Hearing Ego upbraid and insult her makes her heart soar. Ego never did that. Something was definitely up. "Whoa, someone woke up on the wrong side of the summoning circle today, sheesh! Do you need like some extra souls on the side? Mine too rotten? It's all the cheesecake isn't it..." she chortles as she kneads the moss below her hooves. "Seriously though, why have you guys been quiet? It's been since we tussled with that dude...which is odd..." now that she thinks about it, a lot of that was odd. "Why didn't you guys let him kill me and free you guys? Unless he's somehow more powerful? Is that it? If I die, you said Schism would awake, did he know about Schism?" All her questions are greeted with silence, which she hates. Her lip twitches as she grits her teeth, growling. "You know what, he's still after me, and I think he wants me-and I'm willing to bet if you're so afraid of him you can't answer me, then he might be morepowerful than I know, he might have a way to get you guys out of me. So unless you want me to go search him out for answers...." she leaves the threat hanging. The threat really is valid, and after a few seconds, Paranoia finally speaks up. "Yes, foal, he is powerful-not enough to remove us, but enough that we can't handle him. None of us." "Ohhhhh huuuuh?" Abby says, rubbing her chin. "Missed your voice Paranoia...keep talking..." she likes the amount of power she's feeling right now. "Charming cretin...anyway, he's a lord of darkness. They've shown up throughout history, they rise and fall, come and go. But this particular one is a vampire, which makes him particularly dangerous. Vampires...they are an imbalance to everyhing. They undead, yet still living, as they can breed and reproduce...they are powerful, and only get worse over time, resistant to many magics and fatal wounds, heal quickly, and worse, have dominance of demons and other creatures of the night..." well...there was that. It explained quite a bit. "There are as if chaos itself said 'We desire to upset the balance in our favor' and this is what existence was left with." Before Abby can answer, Ego butts in. "And you ARE one now! Bravo dear! Congrats on become a winged horror of the night. You should have listened to that old senile fool and run." She sounds so wonderfully disdainful right now. "What happened happened, I was protecting someone I loved. I don't regret that. I'm not dead. I might be better than ever now....if I'm now this powerful..." her heart leaps as she thinks about the possibility she might be able to have the power to defend her family herself finally. 'Not from him. You don't stand a chance against him." comes Ego's voice, disgusted. "He is an elder vampire, aged, experienced, and steeped in power. Just like we could not in any way overthrow Schism." Abby lip quirks in a small smile. "But wait...if I'm a vampire now...and they have the power to dominate demons...doesn't that mean he has to obey me now...and you two as well?" her smile morphs into a maniacal grin. Could this possibly mean...she could be the one in charge, for once...? The same silence as before greets her, and she just yells, "tick tock, I'm getting impatient!" "Kiddo if you want to try to fight Schism and win, be our guest, if you win Paranoia and I get a promotion, but if you lose, we ALL die. That's a rather large gamble we're not willing to take. Besides, are you going to let us go with the shitlord still creeping about? Are you sure this is a good choice?" Ego goads her slightly. "I'm making sure that I'm the only one WITH a choice, lady. Sides, right or wrong, if I try to fight Schism and you guys didn't side with me, what's to say tall dark and delicious ain't staying nearby to scoop all of ya up? Face it, I'm the safe choice, he can't get you as long as I'm here. You have to back me on any decision I make now-it's for your survival!" she starts cackling happily as she realizes how much she's in control here...it's heady. "Kiddo's got our hands tied Noi. What a great time to be alive." "Truly lovely. She doesn't even know what she's getting into here. You realize, after your wonderful wedding, how much suffering you're going to have to experience to summon him right?" Paranoia says in a soft hiss to the mare they're inside. "S'fine. I heal faster now...." She pulls something out of the inside of her jacket, looking at it...a blood bag? She just furrows her brow, glaring at it. "How did I get here. Negotiating with demons and drinking blood like it was Kool-Aid. " she hisses before biting the bag. "Bottoms up..." It takes her a few, pained moments to drink the stuff-it's like watching a desperate alcoholic pounding 99% to get drunk as quick as they can, and by the time she finishes, she looks like she's going to puke-but she doesn't, her formerly pale and drawn cheeks starting to fill as she huffs, rubbing at her tongue. "You guys waiting on invitation?" She turns about face to find a satin-coated, tall mare with horns curving back standing before her, gold eyes drilling into her. She looks rather pretty, but the wicked grin the mare gives her as she feels something wrap around her legs, binding her in place...is not pretty at all. "This is going to hurt sweet thing.." Before she can answer, something pierces her, feeling like it shatters her spine and ribcage all in one, the last thing she can hear before she blacks out is Paranoia's voice: "Don't worry, we're all going to enjoy this...!"