//------------------------------// // Ally's Day Out // Story: Prince Of Darkness // by RegalCrescent45 //------------------------------// POV Alucard We stood like that in the archives for I don't know how long, but eventually we separated and smile at each other. For some reason I can't really explain this just felt... right. Like this was to be my second chance at being part of a family again. "So what do you say Dash, wanna give this old man a chance at being a granddad?" She sat there thinking for a moment before she grins and nods. With that we start making our way towards the throne room as that's where I assume where her friends are gathered. "Hey gramps?" "Hm?" "I thought about what you said last night and... I've decided to give them another chance. Just because they made a mistake doesn't mean I should hate them for it. Everypony makes mistakes, even me. I can admit that much. This doesn't mean i forgive them right now, they have to prove that they should be forgiven first, but I'll give them a chance." I smile knowing that at the very least she'll give them that much. "So anything you wanna share with me? Any stories from your life you think I would like to hear?" "Oh do I... Have you heard of the mirror pool...?" "...And so Twilight decides to make them all watch paint dry!" The entire walk she was telling me how her hyper pink friend had managed to clone herself into an army. "Sounds like this Ponyville see's a lot of odd things, I wonder how they would react to me visiting some time?" I muse out loud, this gets a gasp from up ahead. Looking to where it came from there was Pinkie Pie standing in the corridor with the biggest grin I've ever seen... This doesn't bode well. "Well looks like you'll have a Pinkie party to look forward to when you do show up." Rainbow says with her own grin. Yeah definitely doesn't bode well... "Should I be worried about it? This Pinkie Pie is rather frightening. She reminds me of an old friend. Several in fact... Now that's terrifying." Just then I feel a shiver run down my spine. We continue walking in silence. Upon entering the throne room we find Twilight and the others chatting with Celestia. Luna must still be sleeping. "Dash, don't tell them what we found. I wish to surprise them with it later." She looks confused for a moment before smiling up at me. "Alright." With that I set off for somewhere else, letting them work things out for themselves. After some time of just wandering the halls I find myself outside in some kind of garden. Fountains and statues depicting ponies long passed here and there. As I continue wandering along the path I notice more and more faces I recognize. I kept my eyes on the path lost in thought remembering all my old friends and I bump into one of the statues and almost fall over. Looking up at it my mind grinds to a halt. There, right in front of me was someone I thought about on a regular basis. He was one of the few friends who never truly faded from time, though I tribute that fact to his legendary stubbornness. Before me stands the statue of the mismatched creature known as Discord to most... But to me he has a different name. As I stood there looking upon what has become of him a song comes to my mind from somewhere through the constant static. As it becomes clearer I let a small smile form. It feels like it's been forever Since you told me our time wasn't going to last And now I'm wishing I could save you From your sickness now, and whatever comes to pass No, this is not the end It's the beginning of our story Tales of wonder and of glory Where we would save the world again Do you remember when We fought the monsters all away Now here we are today And I won't let our story end I've been counting days we have left And at this point it's twenty-four at best So I'm going to make the last the greatest Let's live our own adventure for the rest I guess our fairytale is over Because I'm watching you slowly fade away It's like an angel's here to take you now Because I'm feeling something dark about this day But I won't let go I'll make these last few hours memories No I won't let go Our chapter isn't closing yet it seems So I guess this is the end But I'll remember you forever And in my heart we'll be together You will always be my friend I'll still think of you when I need a hand upon my shoulder Because I know it isn't over Someday I'll see you again.... As the song finished and the magic faded allowing the music to fade as well. I wipe the tears from my eyes and make my way out into the city proper. Unknown to me the Draconiquus had heard every word. Making my way around the streets I begin to notice that the ponies around me give me a wide berth. Can't blame them since they had never seen me before now, hell I should consider it a miracle they aren't running around in a panic. Looking up at the sun I find it to almost be mid day so I start looking around for a cafe to relax inside and maybe have a cup of tea. During my search however I'm interrupted by a cry of alarm and a light tug on the bottom of my jacket. Looking down I see a little midnight blue colt looking back up at me in wonder. "What are you?" Was all he could say before his mother got to him. "Oh I'm so sorry, please to don't mind him-" "Miss, It's quite alright. I bear no ill will towards you or your son." I say with a warm smile. "Now might I ask for your names? I wish to know who this brave young lad is." "I'm Shade Song, and this is my mommy Shady Pines!" The colt was grinning ear to ear, though now that I look closer I notice little wings on his sides. Though these aren't the wings of a Pegasus... But a Thestral. While the mare was a unicorn, so I assume the father was a thestral then. "Well, would the two of you like to join me for some lunch? I was actually looking for a good place but I seem to be a little lost." I ask looking towards Shady. "I wouldn't want to impose on y-" She started before I silenced her placing a finger over her mouth. "Nonsense miss Pines, I would like to get to know you a little more. If I am to stay here would it not work in my favor to know who my neighbors are? Now since I do not know where any good cafes are I shall let you decide on the place." I then smile down to Shade Song and pick him up much to the horror of the other ponies who had stopped what they were doing to watch the exchange. Each of them looked on as if I were about to devour the colt right in front of them. Instead I reach up and place him on my shoulders letting his front hooves rest on my head while placing my hat on his. "Here ya go bud." Though the hat engulfed his whole head making him giggle happily. With Shady Pines leading the way we come to a small cafe that looked like it hardly saw any business as it was a little run down but still manages to look cozy. "Well lets not just stand here, lets go in so you can get some food, and I can finally get some tea." I say as I walk into the place and a bell chimes above my head. I guess the best part about Canterlot is that it was standard to build doorways so that dignitaries could visit shops and places like this. So the frame was high enough I didn't have to duck to enter. We walk over to a corner booth and take our seats while we wait for somepony to come and take our orders. "So I believe I have yet to answer Song's question. Well what I am is a little complicated. What you are seeing is my true form, but I can shift into any creature known on this planet and a few that aren't. I guess I should introduce myself as well. I am Alucard Nebula, Husband of Luna Nebula and co ruler of Equestria." Pines looked like a fish out of water with her mouth opening and closing trying and failing to make a sound, but Song looked like he was about to faint from happiness. "You know the Princess?" He asks looking at me in awe. To which I nod my head. "That's so cool!" I chuckle and turn back to Pines seeing she has calmed down a bit and is just staring wide eyed at me. Just then a waitress trots up floating a note pad and pencil in her magic. "Hello and welcome, what can I get... For..... You...?" She trails off when she notices me sitting at the booth with the mare and her son. "I'd like an earl grey tea please." I say with a smile to the mare. Turning to Pines and Song. "You two can order what ever you want to, my treat." To which Song beams. Song orders a hayburger with a strawberry smoothie while Shady asks for a salad with steamed veggies on the side with a glass of lemonade. once our orders were taken the waitress takes them back to the kitchen to get them filled. "Your Highness, may I ask you something?" Pines asks looking down at the table. "Sure go ahead." "Why are you being so nice to us? We're just random ponies you bumped into on the street. Why ask us to join you and then pay for our meal like this? It just doesn't seem like something a ruler would do." "It's actually rather simple, I don't want to be a cruel tyrant. I actually care for my subjects enough to the point I would lay my life down for them. From fighting their battles to just being there to listen to their problems." I say just our food arrives. Once we finish with our meal we head out into the street, Pines turns to address me. "So sorry, but Song and I must finish shopping for dinner tonight." "Allow me to assist you Pines. I feel like I'd get lost otherwise." I say with a mirthful laugh. "It doesn't help that I haven't left the castle since I got back, I need to familiarize myself with the layout of the city, I'd be happy to pay you for a tour Shady." She looks hopeful at this. "Really? To tell you the truth bits are rather hard to come by these days. My job as a grounds keeper at the local cemeteries doesn't pay all that much. I've had to take up a part time job at the tavern across town to help make enough to keep food on the table for Song here." "I'd be glad to help Pines, You shouldn't feel the need to carry everything yourself. I learned that the hard way a long time ago, it only took Luna beating me into the ground a dozen times." And with that she starts leading me around the city while stopping at the market for food, which I insisted I help pay for, and we continued onward. She asks if we can make a stop at her house to drop the food off. Once the shack is in site, I call it that is because it looks more like Swiss Cheese than a house, I notice a dark gray pegasus stallion standing out in front of the stoop. Something doesn't sit right with me and I place my magic on high alert looking for anything out of the ordinary. Reaching down I pick Song up and hold him to my chest getting ready to teleport both Shady and us to the palace if the need presents itself. As we drew closer the stallion noticed Shady and started walking towards us with a glint in his eyes, one I rarely saw anymore. Red flags start going off as he get into Shady's face and starts laying into her for no apparent reason. "THERE YOU ARE... I WANT MY RENT NOW. IF YOU DON'T PAY UP I SWEAR TO CELESTIA I WILL KICK BOTH YOU AND THAT MONSTROSITY OUT ONTO THE STREET." Then without warning he raised his hoof and struck Shady on the face leaving a cut on her cheek. In an instant I levitate him off the ground and slam him down stunning him just long enough for my long strides to get me standing right over his prone form. When he looks up he finally notices me and his eyes shrink to pinpricks at the sight of an unknown biped standing over him. Though that isnt all I had done on my brisk walk over to him. From my shadow rose another biped, though unlike me it has armor and a large lawgiver on its back in between two massive brown feathered wings. Once it steps free of the darkness it turns to me. "You called Master?" "Indeed, I need to you take this scum into custody for the assault of Shady Pines. Present him before Princess Celestia and deliver this message. I don't care how you get him there, you can drag him if you want." I turn and walk back towards Shady and Song, who I had deposited on her back as I passed her, and got down on one knee so that I was eye level with them. "I won't allow you two to stay in that dump, go collect what you want to keep and then we can go." But before she can move I bring my hand to her cut and pass a little magic into it, sealing it shut and removing the scar that would have persisted. "There you go. I'll wait out here, just shout if you need help Pines." The two go inside for about ten minute before they re emerge with saddle bags filled to the brim with personal belongings. Shady nods to me indicating she's ready to go and I start leading them back to the palace. After a few minutes of silence I here Shady speak up. "Thank you Prince, if you hadn't stopped him then... I don't even want to think about that. But what about the rest of our stuff? I doubt it will remain there for long once he gets out." She looks down at the cobble road making our way up the main drag where all the high class snobs live. I life her chin to look at me. "I shall send for them later today, for the present the two of you shall be staying in the castle as my personal guests." We enter the castle, the guards informing me of a strange creature dragging a stallion in by his hind legs. That gets a grin out of me and I swear I could see the guards faces pale a little. Once inside my top priority is to find a pair of rooms for these two, stopping a guard I have him escort us to the guest section of the castle. After the guard goes back to his patrols I move over to one of the doors and look inside. The room beyond seems to be a common room of sorts while other doors are individual bedrooms with two bathrooms for the eight person lodging. Perfect. "You two can stay here, just pick out a room and ask a guard if you wish to go anywhere." I say as I turn to leave I feel something latch onto my right leg. Looking down I find Shade Song hugging me while tears flowed from his eyes. "Thank you for saving my mommy." "You don't need to thank me little one, How can I call myself a Prince if I don't help those in need eh?" I say and ruffle his mane. I make my way back t the throne room and find pandemonium as the Solar guard are engaged in a struggle with my guard.... and they were losing. "Steel Wing, Stand down. I don't need you putting my sisters guards in the infirmary right now." And at once he leaps back to stand beside me in a relaxed manner. "Alucard, who is this? He dragged a stallion in a bit ago and dumped him on the Dias mentioning you giving him orders to do so." Celestia called up from the raised platform, said stallion having been untied and the gag removed. "That's the creature that attacked me Princess!" He exclaimed pointing at me from where he stood. "Is this true Dear?" Came a voice from behind me. Turning I spot Luna trotting up the steps and taking her throne. "He seems to be missing some details but yes I struck him earlier today, I quite enjoyed it too. Also, Love do you mind informing the guard of the mare and her son staying in the guard quarters. I don't want any misunderstandings happening." I say turning to the dark mare. "Also he must have conveniently left out te part where he assaulted the aforementioned mare while in sight of her son and myself... directly outside of their home on the outskirts of the city." At this the Stallions eyes shrunk as even I could feel the anger in the room, you could cut it with a knife. "GUARDS! Take this scum to the holding cells while Luna and I decide upon his fate." Celestia all but bellows. Once the screaming stallion was out of sight they both turn to me. "So where are Twilight and the others?"