//------------------------------//
// Just In Case 
// Story: Equestria's Dark Shadow 
// by InTheStands 
//------------------------------//


Chapter 7: Just In Case


The trip to Canterlot was over before Barnabas realized it began. Darting his head around, the vampire found himself indoors, in a long hallway. Chandeliers overhead gave off the light needed to see in the nighttime hours. Rows of slender pillars lined either side of the hall. On one side were several windows, in which, despite the lack of sunlight, Barnabas could see stained glass designs.
"Follow me, please." Barnabas was instantly reminded of Princess Luna, who had teleported him here and who was still standing at his side. She led him down the hall, speaking to him as they walked. "Welcome to Canterlot Castle. It is from here that Equestria is given its leadership. Both in the form of me, and in equal part, my sister, Princess Celestia."
"...Two princesses?" Barnabas asked. "But what of a queen or king?"
"Neither of us felt the need to step any higher up the ladder of order," Luna responded. "And as for queens and kings...most such rulers in Equestria were less than admirable for their actions."
They had reached the end of the hall, coming across a large set of double doors guarded by two white stallions in golden body armor. They opened the doors, allowing the alicorn and the vampire inside.
Carrying his cane in both hands now, Barnabas again surveyed his surroundings. Judging by the enormous table lined with chairs and seats of all varieties, as well as various kitchenware and dishes, it was a sort of dining hall. Numerous paintings lined the walls, and in the middle of one wall was a white fireplace, a small blaze already set in its space.
"Luna," Announced a voice from across the room. "Welcome back."
"Celestia," Luna gladly replied. Barnabas turned to where Luna was looking. His heart was immediately flooded with surprise and slight fear.
The surprise came from the fact that it was another winged unicorn like Luna, only slightly larger. Instead of various shades of blue, this one had a white coat, with an eternally flowing mane striped with blue, green, purple, and pink. Both her crown and chest plate were gold with a purple gem in the center.
But the last part of her was where his fear came from: The mark on her flank was that of the sun.
She spoke again, this time to him. "We've been expecting you. Come, sit anywhere you like."
Worried about a possible side effect would he sit too close to her, Barnabas chose a seat two chairs down from the two alicorns, who were seated next to each other at the head of the long table. He rested his cane on the chosen seat and looked at the two beings in silence.
The white alicorn began again. "I'm sure my sister Luna told you who I am. But to be sure...I am Princess Celestia. As Luna rules the night, I rule the day." Barnabas nodded slightly.
"And I am Barnabas Collins. May I ask...do you and your sister often directly respond to the messages of your subjects?"
"We try to reply to any suggestions to the best of our ability, yes," Celestia said. "But you see, Twilight Sparkle is my student, and with her and her friends, they make up a group known as the Elements of Harmony. It is their duty, whenever called on, to aid in the protection, and, if necessary, rescue of Equestria."
"And these...elements," Barnabas began, "Are not hired mercenaries, bounty hunters of any kind?"
"Absolutely not," Celestia shook her head. "They do what is right in their hearts and the hearts of all ponies, not their wallets. But we're beginning to stray. Once Twilight informed me of your accidental arrival in Equestria, Barnabas, Luna and I made it a priority to keep you away from any ponies that may wish to harm you."
"We've arranged for one of the rooms in the castle to accomodate you," Luna spoke up. "And we are sending for your casket tomorrow - it still rests at Twilight Sparkle's residence."
Barnabas stared down at his empty plate. Luna took note of this. "The servants will be arriving with our food soon."
"No, I fear that's not what's troubling me," The vampire looked back up at the two princesses.
Celestia offered her guess. "If it's...other forms of nourishment you need, we can arrange for access to the Canterlot blood bank - though rations will be strictly enforced."
"I've learned a long while ago to make every drop of blood count, Your Highness. Thank you," Barnabas smiled slightly. "But that still is not what bothers me. It bothers me...that both you and your sister are speaking as though I will be staying in this world for quite an extended period of time."
Luna and Celestia looked at each other worriedly before Celestia sighed. "Mr. Collins...I understand that this world is completely foreign to you. And you have my assurance that Twilight is working on a way to bring you home as we speak...but..."
"But?"
"...We must be realistic about this," Celestia hung her head. "How you got here is as much of a mystery as how to send you back. Luna and I are...merely preparing for the worst-case scenario."
Barnabas rose out of his seat, staring directly at the two alicorns. "And this would be...?"
The white princess looked back up at him, finishing his question with her answer: "That there may be no way to bring you back."
Barnabas could swear he heard something within him shatter like glass. "No...no, this can't be!"
"As I said, it's only the worst that could happen," Celestia tried to calm him down. "But it may be plausible."
"I don't believe this," He whispered. He then turned back to them, a fury within him rising. "I WON'T believe it!" He quickly grabbed his cane. "The room, the blood - All of this is merely a ploy! A GAME to you! I should've seen this - you plan to do nothing to help me! You instead conspire to humiliate me! To trap me here and gawk at me like a caged animal!" He strode towards them, raising the cane, poised to strike.
He collapsed, hissed, and shielded his eyes as a flash of light erupted from Celestia's horn. Sunlight. Feeling his skin boiling, Barnabas backed away as the light died down, revealing an angered Celestia and a worried Luna.
Celestia stood up and walked towards the vampire, who peered up at her in confusion and fear. "You trouble me, Barnabas Collins. But it isn't your vampirism. That can be worked around. What troubles me...is your lack of trust in us. In me. In my sister. And especially in our little ponies. Tonight, eight of us had helped save you from certain doom at the hooves of an angry mob. If they were willing to do that, wouldn't you think they would be willing to help you get home?" She paused, but wasn't waiting for an answer. Barnabas, propping himself up with his cane, stood up slowly as Celestia sat back down. "We want to help you, Barnabas. Me, Luna, Twilight and her friends...we all do. But you need to let us."
The vampire quietly absorbed these words as he trodded back to his seat, listening as the doors to the dining hall creaked open and several ponies stepped in carrying various covered dishes. Letting the servants fill his plate, he thought to himself. Celestia's words rang true - the ones he thought wanted to harm him actually wanted to help him.
But would their help be enough to undo such damage as this?


§§§


Barnabas had, a while back, learned to ignore the fearful staring of the unicorn servant escorting him to the room the Princesses prepared for him. He had realized there was no point in telling her not to fear him; She simply wanted to lead him to his room, close the door, and be done with it.
They came to a large door, stopped walking, and turned to each other. Barnabas held out his hand, saying, "I would offer you compensation for your assistance, but I fear my journey has rendered whatever coinage I have on my person useless. I hope you accept a simple hand - er - hoof, shake."
Unsure of the gesture, the mare shakily raised a foreleg, only to lightly tap the vampire's hand, withdraw sharply, and back away slightly before turning to leave. Sighing, Barnabas opened the door and stepped inside.
Instantly, he noticed the large window, the moonlight shining through (He also noticed the long curtains, allowing for darkness once the moon gave way to the sun). He then let his eyes wander, taking in the room's cylindrical shape, the dark rug on the floor, the ornate wooden armoire and vanity dresser, and finally the four-post bed, its size larger than necessary for a pony, but not large enough for him.
Not that it mattered to him. Immediately he found himself assessing the size and possible carrying capacity of the chandelier above him.
He removed all loose articles on him, from his medallion to his aforementioned useless change (and watching as the vanity mirror's reflection only gave off the impression of these objects freely floating). He took off his inverness coat, folding it and placing it on the small bed. He closed the curtains, plunging the room into darkness. Lastly, he cleared his throat, looked up at the chandelier, bent his legs slightly, and sprang up into the air.
Letting the light fixture swing, Barnabas grunted as he repositioned himself to hang freely from his feet. Waiting until the chandelier ceased its moving, he folded his arms across his chest, his palms resting on his shoulders. He let his mind wander as he waited for sleep, filling it with questions he wasn't sure he wanted answers to. Would any progress be made by Twilight and her friends? Was his family looking for him?
Would he have to accept the regrettably real scenario of forever being the only human vampire in a world populated by colorful, talking horses?