//------------------------------// // Soliloquy of Flowers, Part 2 // Story: The Life and Times of Everypony // by Leafdoggy //------------------------------// “Pinkie, I really don’t think it’s a good idea to mess around here.” Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie made their way slowly through the grand, empty hallways of Dracula’s castle. The walls were lined with everything one might expect, from suits of armor to family crests to massive portraits of ponies from thousands of years ago. Every so often they’d come across another painting of the lady of the house, and in those paintings her eyes seemed to follow their every move. They weren’t especially common, but whenever either of them would check, they were always within eyesight of at least one depiction of her. Fluttershy was walking carefully, trying to be as respectful as possible as if she could make up for Pinkie, who was skipping along as merry as ever. “But they love me here!” Pinkie said. “What in Equestria would make you think that?” “Well, they keep letting me in.” Pinkie shrugged. Fluttershy sighed. “Pinkie, I want to make a good impression.” “And you will! Nopony could ever think you’re anything less than the most amazing perfect pony in the world.” Fluttershy smiled. “Flattering me isn’t going to get me off your case, you know.” Pinkie giggled and kissed her on the cheek. “Yeah it is.” Fluttershy laughed. “Yeah, okay. It probably is.” Before long they were standing in front of a pair of heavy iron doors. They were right in the middle of the massive labyrinth that was the castle, and there was no doubt in Fluttershy’s mind that this was the throne room, even though there were no guards and she could sense no ponies in the room ahead. Fluttershy took a deep breath. “Ready?” “Yup!” “Alright.” Fluttershy stepped forward and reached out for the doors. As she did, though, they swung open on their own, revealing a pitch dark room beyond. Pinkie hopped into the room without hesitation. Fluttershy pursed her lips and hesitated for a moment, but she followed soon after. As soon as she was inside, the door slammed shut behind her, and they were in complete darkness. “Ah, Fluttershy.” A smooth, commanding voice spoke out into the dark. “How lovely it is to see you. I wasn’t sure you’d make it.” “Um, o-of course,” Fluttershy replied nervously. “I, um…” Her voice petered out into a just squeak. The voice laughed. “Alright, that’s enough. I’m not here to terrify you. Not this time, at least.” With a blinding flash, a row of torches erupted into pure white flames, lighting the room just enough to see the deep red carpet leading up to the throne before them. The light didn’t stretch far beyond the torches, though, and came nowhere close to meeting the ends of the room. Darkness still surrounded them on all sides. The throne was tall and thin, a bright red velvet accented with streaks of silver. To either side of it sat massive, sleeping timberwolves, and on the throne sat the Lady herself, Dracula. Her brilliant, flowing white mane seemed almost to give off more light than the torches, and it painted the metallic gray of her fur with a delicate sheen. Dracula was lounging luxuriously, her legs strews over one arm of the throne while she leaned on the other, idly stroking the timberwolf. She was drinking a glass of something Fluttershy decided to believe was wine, and had a warm, inviting smile. “Good evening, dear,” she said. “Oh, I, um,” Fluttershy looked around nervously, then bowed. “Good evening, um… Am I supposed to call you My Lady?” Dracula laughed. “It’s customary, yes, but I won’t hold a grudge. No bowing, though, it’s beneath us. I’m no Princess, and while I respect the ones Equestria has at the moment, I’ll not grovel for them.” “Oh, um, okay.” Fluttershy stood up straight and forced herself to meet Dracula’s eyes. “Good,” Dracula said. “Now, come closer, let me get a look at you. And bring along your… Pet.” Fluttershy blinked and took a moment to think through what she meant. Then she jumped with a start. “Oh! Pinkie’s actually, um—” “I know,” Dracula interrupted. “I simply don’t wish to acknowledge that you somehow… Respect that creature.” “Aw, you know you love me, you old kidder.” Pinkie chuckled and bounced up to stand before the throne, and Fluttershy nervously walked up and stood beside her. Dracula grimaced at Pinkie for a moment, then turned her attention back to Fluttershy. “You know the invitation was only for you, correct?” “Yes, I know,” Fluttershy said, and after a moment of thought she followed it up with a quick “My Lady.” “Then why have you brought her?” “Um, she kind of… Stowed away,” Fluttershy said. “I didn’t realize until I was already here.” Dracula sighed dramatically. “I suppose I’ll need to have another discussion with my staff about keeping out unwanted guests.” “Woah, there’s more than just me they’re supposed to keep out?” Pinkie asked. “No,” Dracula said, “I just didn’t want to give you the satisfaction of being the sole reason for it.” Fluttershy frowned. “Um, if I may ask… Why don’t you like Pinkie?” “She vexes me. I’ve no patience for a disrespectful whelp who insists on monopolizing the time of all those around her.” “Oh…” Fluttershy lowered her voice to a near whisper. “Well, you don’t have to be mean about it…” She raised an eyebrow. “Girl, I’m Dracula. I’m not nice.” “You’re nice to me,” Fluttershy said. “You’re one of my own. Protecting my family is the entire reason I’m not nice to the creatures of the day.” “But… I love her,” Fluttershy said. “Doesn’t that make her part of your family? I saw other normal ponies out in town.” “Yes, but they don’t annoy me.” Dracula sighed and placed her glass on the floor. “Enough of this. We’ve business to attend to. Come, stand where I can reach you.” Fluttershy nodded and moved up as close as she dared. “Good.” Dracula reached out and cupped a hoof under Fluttershy’s chin, then pushed her head up. “Open,” she ordered, and Fluttershy opened her mouth. Dracula looked over her fangs for a long moment, taking in every blemish and pit, before eventually sitting back and staring silently at Fluttershy. Fluttershy closed her mouth and looked back anxiously. When Dracula didn’t say anything, and instead just kept watching her, she pursed her lips and glanced at Pinkie. “U-Um, are they—” “Abysmal,” Dracula said. “I’ve never seen fangs look that bad.” “Oh…” Fluttershy felt the side of her mouth nervously. “When’s the last time you used them?” Fluttershy’s eyes went wide. “W-What? Never!” Dracula scoffed. “This is why we don’t leave you to your own devices. Vampires out on their own so easily let their clouded morality run away with them.” “But I could never hurt anypony like that,” Fluttershy said. “You have a perfectly willing partner right there. I know Pinkie Pie well enough to know she wouldn’t say no.” “Oh, I tried to get her to do it!” Pinkie said. “See? It’s important enough that it actually got her to try and do something about it.” “But why? I don’t get cravings or anything,” Fluttershy said. “Twilight said it was optional.” “And when did Twilight get fangs?” Dracula sighed. “You’ve never even tasted blood, have you?” “No, of course not.” Dracula lifted her glass up and over to Fluttershy. “Drink.” “Is this…” “Only a bit,” she said. “You’ll taste it, though.” “Do I have to?” “Drink.” Fluttershy swallowed hard and took the glass. Slowly, shakily, she raised it to her lips and took as small of a sip as she could. As soon as the taste hit her, her eyes went wide. It was like nothing she’d ever tasted, nothing she thought anything could taste like. It tasted like love, like light, like pure, concentrated life. It tasted the way she felt when she first got her cutie mark.  It tasted incredible. She lifted the glass to drink more, but Dracula ripped it away from her. Fluttershy’s eyes followed it like a magnet, and watched helplessly as Dracula lifted it to her own lips and drained the rest of the drink. “So?” Fluttershy bit her lip. She wasn’t craving more, she didn’t itch for it, but it was good. She didn’t need it, but that didn’t mean she didn’t want it, and that started to put things in a whole new perspective. After all, Pinkie was willing… As soon as her head started to shift towards Pinkie, Dracula grabbed her cheek and made her turn back. “See?” “I guess…” “Fluttershy, look at these.” Dracula opened her mouth and showed Fluttershy her long, razor sharp fangs, sharper even than any needle. “I take care of them. They don’t hurt. Do you think your dull, pockmarked teeth can do the same?” “Oh.” Fluttershy swallowed. “So, then…” “Exactly. Any day, she could have convinced you to give it a try, and you would have put her in the hospital at best.” “I-I didn’t know…” “I know you didn’t.” Dracula stroked Fluttershy’s cheek gently. “And that’s my fault, for not telling you sooner. Don’t worry, though. We’ll teach you everything you need to know.” “There’s more?” “Oh, right.” Dracula laughed. “I got so caught up in your teeth I completely forgot why you’re actually here.” “It’s not just, like… A check-up?” “Oh, no, not at all.” Dracula leaned heavily against the arm of her throne. “Fluttershy, all the creatures of the night are my family. I love them all dearly. I would do anything for them. Like any family, though, that means I also know all of their flaws, their weaknesses, their… Oddities.” Fluttershy nodded slowly. “As such, there’s not many that I actually trust, not as much as I need to. That was my other reason for delaying my introduction to you; I was watching you in the hopes that I would learn if I could trust you.” “Okay…” “I’m happy to say you made the list,” Dracula told her. “At least for now, I’ve decided you’re trustworthy.” “Oh! Um, thank you, My Lady.” She smiled. “Of course, dear. You’ve made the list at an awkward time, though, because it comes with… Something else.” Fluttershy gave her a puzzled look. “Fluttershy,” Dracula continued, “I’d like to formally congratulate you on being the newest candidate for my choice of heir.” Fluttershy took a shocked step back. “What?” “My heir,” Dracula repeated. “I’m very old, and Equestria is a much friendlier, kinder place than it was for most of my reign. With every passing year, I fit in less and less, and as such I can offer my subjects less and less. We are in need of a new Dracula.” “And you…” Fluttershy choked on her words. Dracula nodded. “You’re in the running.” Fluttershy staggered back and sat on the floor. “But… But I can’t be Dracula! I’m not like you at all!” Pinkie gasped. “You’re gonna be Dracula!” She jumped at Fluttershy and wrapped her in a tight hug. “This is the best!” “She might,” Dracula said. “Nothing is set in stone. Just know that I’ll be watching.” She grinned and leaned forward, lowering her voice. “Just between us, though, you’re my favorite.” “B-But I…” Fluttershy was too stunned to speak. “Yes, yes, of course,” Dracula said. “Now, about the teeth, go see Minuette in Canterlot. Tell her I sent you and she’ll know just what to do. Alright?” Fluttershy nodded slowly. “Wonderful. I’ll see you around. Oh, and… Bye, I suppose, Pinkie. Don’t make me ban you again.” “Bye-bye!” Pinkie replied. As she did, a swirling mist rose up from the floor and covered them completely, blocking their view of the world around them. When it cleared, they were back outside the castle, standing by a row of flowers. Fluttershy was staring blankly forward. “What just…” Pinkie giggled and squeezed her again. “What a great day! You’re gonna be Dracula, and I got unbanned! Thanks for bringing me along.” “Uh-huh…”