Almond Twirl and Hazel Thunder often picked on Starlight, Lumina and Blood Blossom but the three fillies chose not to let it bother them. Lumina moved to Celestia's school for gifted Unicorns having gained her cutie mark raising the moon with Luna she needed higher education than ponyville could offer. Air Stream and Cable Stitch where newbies at school making them a target for the two bullies Almond Twirl and Hazel Thunder. Feeling sorry for the pair Starlight and Blossom normally helped them out and pulled them away from the bullies. Air Stream explained that she was the daughter of Moondancer and Zephyr breeze, Zephyr had moved to ponyville to be closer to his sister, Cable Stitch was her cousin, Moondancer's sister had become sick and died, Moondancer took her in out of respect for her sister.
Wild Strikes was already friends with Lemon Drizzle and Fermata Forte, they all lived in ponyville, Octavia and Vinyl the mothers of Fermata often spoke with Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash, they'd all been friends for as long as they could remember. It was in high school that Lemon Drizzle the daughter of Lyra and Bon Bon who suggest speaking to Starlight, she always spent her time with the same three ponies, maybe it would be nice to get to know them. Wild Strikes scoffed "Starlight Sparkle, daughter of Nightmare Moon? Seriously, not to mention she always hangs out with that vampire Blood Blossom, could her name be anymore on the nose." Lemon rolled her eyes "Princess Luna isn't nightmare moon anymore and the bat ponies are more than vampires ya know." the trans stallion shook his head "Go if ya want and when she bites don't come cryin' to me." Lemon and Fermata were getting sick of Wild's bad attitude, they knew he was struggling with his transition trying to prove he was as big a stallion and any other. But he was becoming mean. The two friends left him in favour of speaking to Starlight, Blossom, Cable and Air Stream.
Wild Strikes told himself he didn't need anyone, his friends had abandoned him. It was better alone, the closer he got the his sixteenth birthday the more vampiric traits he was showing, he kept it hidden thanks to a necklace Princess Twilight enchanted for him, she had assured the stallion her daughter would understand if he only spoke to her but he refused. If he didn't have friends he was less likely to hurt someone.
Nightmare Night was always hard but he was sixteen now all of the traits he'd inherited from Fluttershy reared their ugly head, fully on energy and craving blood he'd escaped the cottage and headed for town. Wild Strikes perched on a tree watching the ponies running on instinct instead of rational mind, he was waiting for his time to strike… Seeing his friends he'd come to his senses and backed off. But it wouldn't be enough. Air Stream knew what her cousin was going through and once spotting him chased after. Not realising the rest of her friends had followed.
The group cornered him in the everfree forest, Wild Strikes in his panic to get away flew into a tree before crashing to the ground, he shook his head and got to his feet turning around to see Starlight had lit her horn "Wild Strikes?" she spoke calmly, the vampire pony hissed at her in return, she wasn't upset, Cable backed up as did Lemon. Starlight took a step forwards "Wild we're you're friends, we only want to help you…" Wild felt cornered he growled "I don't need help from the likes of you! If it wasn't for your mother me and my mom wouldn't be like this! She's supposed to be finding a cure she" Starlight cut Wild Strikes off "Fluttershy… Didn't tell you? Twilight checked with Luna there isn't a cure… Once you've become a vampire you can't go back. But there are pills, supressants so you don't end up like this, here." Starlight reached into her saddle bag and pulled out a jar of pills with her magic, she took the lid off and offered one to Wild Strikes "It won't cure you, but it makes the hunger manageable Trust me." the pegasus took the offered medication and swallowed and almost like magic he felt his hunger subsiding to a noticeable but defiantly less painful amount.
The pegasus was silent for a few moments before he spoke up, quietly with his head hung "Thank you… I-I don't deserve this after how I've treated you an" Starlight cut Wild Strikes off "It's not your fault. Me and Blood Blossom went through the exact same thing as we came of age. We're headed to Lemon Drizzle's mom's house for the night, we're gonna play games and have a sleepover, join us." Wild Strikes agreed and they called at the cottage to tell Fluttershy and Dash was happened and grab his sleeping bag.
Wild Strikes joined the group of friends and they were better friends than ever.