//------------------------------// // 2. Make sure the right one gets in. // Story: Chasing Eternity. // by the frank //------------------------------// The major difference between working as a semi-professional grave robber and the thrall of a overdramatic vampire was… Was... Sneaky/Tee frowned. She wasn't sure there even was one. After a month, she knew pretty much how the land lay, and it had not changed much. She still did most of her work at night at the cemetery, she still had to watch out for guards, and she still made a stinking amount of money. She had been right, there WAS money in this. Rarity had been rather wealthy in her days. Rarity... Alright, there was one difference. Having a boss was new, but a boss like Mistress Rarity that threatened to kill her if she misbehaved? Definitley a downer. However, she couldn’t blame anypony for lack of variety. One day she was drugging pegasi so the mistress could have a snack on the fly, another day she had to scrub the whole crypt because ‘a vampire deserved glamour’, and the next day she was negotiating with a broker over the price of a house in Canterlot. He was very reluctant, and in the end the mistress had to pay him a personal visit to make him accept their offer. The mistress was very silent about her plans, and even when Sneaky straight out asked if they were moving to Canterlot, all she got was a “perhaps.” But ‘perhaps’ had turned into reality just a few days back, and now she was walking towards Canterlot, with a heavy wagon behind her. The train was not an option since the mistress demanded her stone coffin be brought along, and that would have meant to many questions from the staff. After her first attempt to lift it, Sneaky had asked if it really was necessary to bring it, and the Mistress had stared at her, growled and shown her teeth. That was her most convincing argument, and Sneaky had just to put the yoke on and load up the freshly stolen wagon. That was three days ago, and now she could finally see the Gates of Canterlot not so far ahead. But she had considered bailing out more than once during those days. Yesterday she had decided that she had enough, and got a room at a hotel leaving the cart by the road. But the wound had began to hurt the moment she walked away and that night, she awoke with something heavy pushing her down in the bed. When she opened her eyes, she looked straight into the mistress red eyes. The room was pitch black, everything was the Mistress’ eyes and voice. “In case you have forgotten thrall, you are mine in flesh, blood and mind. Wherever you go, wherever you hide, I will find you. Try to escape, and death will be your only reward. But you are a good thrall, and not planning on running away, are you? This was just a moment of confusion, just the urge for a nice bed and nothing else, hmm? Tomorrow you will resume your work, won't you?” Just like a cat’s purr, soft and deadly, her voice was. Sneaky shook her head in panic. “Good thrall.” Rarity patted her on her head. “Oh, and darling. You look so rugged, and we both know I can’t have my personal thrall be looking… like that. You will find a new outfit for you on the cart tomorrow. And now, sleep. I need you in Canterlot in two days, or else. “ Sneaky couldn't get out of the hotel fast enough the next day. The clothes had been there, a new red shirt with a dark green vest. Making sweating and hard work look good. She had resumed her pulling the heavy cart. It was loaded with the coffin, all Rarity’s dresses, and the sewing machine. She didn't ask why anymore. In the late afternoon, she passed the gates of canterlot. Finding the right house turned out to be a slight problem since the only thing she knew well was the cemeterys and burial grounds everywhere from Ponyville to the Crystal Empire. But the landmarks and streets of the living ponies she had only vague ideas of, other than pawn shops and cheap diners of cource. She had to ask her way through Canterlot; from the main gates and all the way up to the hill district. Up, up and up. It took her a good two hours, and she wished more than once for 62 Carfax avenue to be around the next corner. Worse was, she had no idea what the house looked like. But in the end, the final corner was turned, and she strangley enough knew she was at the right spot. She knew them best as monuments and graves of cource, but how money looked like when turned into building material? She was an expert. This house was a prime example, although one of the better ones. Every weird angle and strange window screamed “expensively hoof drawn” and yet it looked perfectly reasonable, even good. She was a bit surprised that this was Rarity's choice of house, since her opinion of vampires was that they either lived in crypts or old castles. But she assumed that Rarity was an excecutive vampire. The house was painted a warm, creamy white, had two floors, and a large patio with a swimming pool. The inside contained a fully equipped Ponypohl kitchen, two bathrooms (both with jacuzzi) and even a music room with a grand piano. And of cource, a whole lot of wardrobes. The only thing that felt typically vampiric was the basement. Fittingly enough it was dark and a bit moist, although that could be blamed on the tumble dryer in the corner. The first thing she did was to make a cup of coffee, and then she began with the biggest task: arranging the Mistress’ wardrobe. That would take up the remainders of the day, but she had time. The Mistress was not due to arrive until tomorrow. The Mistress had been surprisingly sharp when she gave her orders, she didn’t have four days to move her stuff and get everything organized, she was not permitted to be done before the said date. That was however not a problem. She had worked almost all evening, and still she was only half way. The next morning, she had her breakfast at a nearby café and began working some time after ten. The wardrobe sorting was done at 14, then she had lunch and begun the next big project. The Mistress wanted a ledge for her coffin to stand on, just as in her crypt. They had argued a bit over the choice of material, but in the end the mistress realized that marble was not a discreet material. So, cement it was. While she waited for it to dry, she tried to unload the coffin. After five foul attempts, she gave up. killed by stone coffin of killed by vampire made no difference. She decided to take a nap instead. The house had been fully furnished, and Sneaky’s room was nice and cosy. It was placed on the ground floor, next to the basement door. That made her walk to the bed short, but she assumed the real reason was the Mistress wanting her close. She was just going to lay down for a bit, but she fell asleep the moment she lay down on the bed. When she awoke, two hours later, she noticed that the sun was moving down. She panicked, and ran through the streets. After a good nap, Sneaky wanted nothing more than to relax and have dinner, but the Mistress had ordered her to be at their rendezvous point EXACTLY at sunset, and that was now. Or at least, close to now. Luckily, she knew exactly the place for their rendez-vouz, as it was one of her old hunting grounds, The St. Megan cemetery. It was fairly close to the house, but she still had to run to get there on time and she ran through the east gate almost exactly as the sun was under the horizon. She was sweaty and rather hungry but on time. She sat down, panting, next to a tree. She sat there for a while, watching the sun go down and catching her breath. Nice sunset. But I should have eaten a bigger lunch. If I had but known... Oh well. Maybe I can get an oatburger later… or a carrot sausage, that would work too. But I guess the mistress has work for me again. Where is she by the way? It’s not like her to be late. And… “AAAHHHH!!!” She screamed from the top of her lungs, as a horrifying sight happened before her. The earth began to move in front of an old gravestone to her left. It almost looked as the earth was boiling, gravel and sand shot up from small holes and then! A white, dirty hoof shoot up! And then one more, and then a whole pony was rising up straight from the ground! Sneaky’s heart was halfway up her throat, but she soon recognized her Mistress growing up from the ground like a bad seed. And soon Rarity stood there, all four hooves on the ground, and the dirt as unmoved as before. “What… how…?” “Oh, my dear Sneaky… a vampire can rest in any kind of casket. Today I borrowed the spot from miss…” she paused to read from the tombstone, “Ah yes, Blind Spot. Pretty nice. Oak coffin, I think it was.” “But… so you could sleep… anywhere?” Sneaky tried to grasp this, and Rarity smiled. “Yes, basically. That’s one of the rather nice perks of being undead, don’t you think? “Yes, but… If you can do that, why was it so important that I had have to move your coffin here then?” Rarity rolled her eyes, and laid a hoof on Sneakys shoulder. “Darling… as charming as sharing a coffin is, black marble looks EXCELLENT in contrast to my fur. Now, come with me. You look exhausted, dear. There is this lovely little Bistro two blocks away. It has been ages since I had a good Equestrian WINE.” Sneaky just followed, silently. At the Bistro, Sneaky ordered grilled eggplant with hay fries and a cider. Rarity ordered a bottle of red wine. After the meal, and the lion’s part of the wine was consumed, Rarity spoke. "Well, thrall. I will assume that my orders have been carried out, at least if your way of eating is anything to go by. And now, it’s time to reveal…-” The Mistress took a long dramatic pause, waiting for just the right moment. “-my plan. My grand plan to win back the heart of my darling. In one month, Twilight Sparkle will, once again, be MINE!” Rarity lay her head backwards and laughed. The whole diner turned and look at her. Sneaky noticed how the mistress actually blushed as she got silent. When the patrons had turned their attention back to their meals and drinks, Sneaky broke the silence. “Alright. So, how will you do it?” This was another sensitive subject, since the mistress often talked about Princess Twilight and that she longed for her, but had yet to give any proper evidence about actually been close to the princess. Sneaky was not a well-read pony in that matter, and to her, the Mistress might as well been an obsessive stalker. “Ah, well. It’s quite simple. I need one week to get updated on the latest in fashion. Then, I need one week to make a dress. Then I will ask for an audience, and then I will reveal that I am alive, she will say ‘oh Rarity, is it really you?’ And I will say ‘yes’ and she will say ‘I don’t believe it’ and I will say ‘it is really me’, and then I will… kiss her and we will be so happy!” Her Mistress got a dreamy look in her eyes. Sneaky swallowed her last piece. Vampire or not, Sneak was to much of a proffesional not to call out a bad plan. “Are you sure that is the way it will go, Mistress?” Rarity broke her lovestruck stare and frowned. “But of course.” Sneaky swallowed. Oh well, have you said A...“Well, I don’t think that will happen.” “Oh really." Raritys voice was lean as silk, and her eyes grew red. "Who knows the princess best, me or you?” Sneaky looked back at her mistress. . “Well, I can only talk for myself, but… well, if my Brother, who died at the age of twelve, turned up here and said hi, I wouldn't hug him and kiss him. I would scream ‘aaaah, zombie!’ And try to beat him with a broom. Another pause, and Rarity narrowed her eyes. “You talk back a lot for being a thrall.” “Mistress, i am a demi-proffesional Excavator. I know some, and you need a better plan.” "Mind your place, thrall!" Rarity glared at her. "But I admit... you might have a point. I permit you to think for yourself in this matter." She was deep in thought for a couple of minutes more. “Ah! Idea! If yours, and Twilight’s reactions are alike, I will just do what I did with you the first week. It will work perfectly!” “Ehm... Mistress... What did you do to me? I didn't notice anything...” Sneaky began to sweat. “No, darling. And that was the point, I was stalking you. All nights and even a slight part of the day. You should clean your refrigerator more often, dear.” Rarity paused, and noticed Sneaky staring at her. “Oh, of course that alone won’t make her love me. But it will give me information! And with information I can make a hoof-stitched attack plan, exactly suited to all her needs and wants and desires! And THEN she will love me! But first, I need an alter ego.” Face-palming was probably to much, but Sneaky would have given her tail to be able to do that now. “Mistress, I don’t think… why would you need an alter ego anyway?” “Darling, do you ever read books? Magazines? At least bad softcore pornography? I need an alter ego so that I can get close to her while giving her subtle hints of my existence and then reveal myself to have been close to her the whole time while she had NO IDEA it was me!” And then, all of a sudden, her eyes turned red and her fangs shot out. Her smile instantly changed her from pony to predator. “And then… She will give in to me… and give me all I want.” In that moment, Sneaky definitely decided on the ‘obsessive stalker’ alternative.