//------------------------------// // The Two Dinners // Story: The Legend of Spike: Dracula // by DiabloGuapo //------------------------------// It was another beautiful morning in Ponyville as usual. The birds were chirping merrily as they flew through the sky, the ponies were up and about their daily business, Celestia’s sun was shining brightly from above, and a clear sky was scheduled for all of the day. Spike the dragon stepped outside the castle and smiled at the wonderful sight of a new day. Truly, he thought, nothing could go wrong today. He hummed a cheerful tune as he walked down the streets of the humble, yet danger prone, town. He felt like a new dragon after his heart to heart talks last night with Princess Luna and Twilight Sparkle. It was as though a great burden was lifted from his heart. In fact, he felt almost ashamed of himself for letting fear and doubt get the better of him. After a quick walk, the purple dragon had arrived at his destination; Carousel Boutique. He opened the door of the clothing store and heard the bells above the door announce his arrival. “Coming!” he could hear Rarity call from around the corner in a singsong tone. The alabaster mare came into view and her face light up as she saw her special somedragon standing in the waiting room of her house/store. “Oh, good morning, Spikey-Wikey.” Spike smirked at the sound of his nickname. Even though he had grown a lot since he had first arrived in Ponyville, he still enjoyed the cute pet name she had given him all those years ago. “Good morning to you too.” “What can I do for you?” “Actually, I’m here to discuss our plans for dinner sometime this week,” he explained. “After all, it was your idea.” “Yes, of course,” she said, remembering their conversation after the movie last night. “Let me see…” The Unicorn with the violet mane lifted her scheduling book to her with her light blue magic and flipped through the pages. She looked up from her book with a smirk and said, “How about today?” “Wow, that’s convenient,” he said as he smiled back at her. “Good thing you had an opening in your schedule.” “Oh, Spike,” she laughed as she returned to her workroom. “I always have time for you.” Oh, yes. Nothing could go wrong today, he once again thought to himself, already planning out his evening with Rarity. ***** Snow was falling outside as a train made its way south from the Crystal Empire. Its destination was Ponyville and it would be arriving around sunset. The engineer was busy shoveling coal and the conductor was making his way through the passenger cars. The conductor was an Earth Pony by the name of All Aboard. He had a gray coat and a brown mane. His cutie mark was a pocket watch and he wore a hat and jacket as his uniform. He also wore glasses and had a large handlebar mustache. So far, everything was in order; the passengers had their tickets, they were on time, and nothing was out of place. However, this changed when he walked into the baggage car. Along with the suitcases and trunks of the passengers were four large wooden crates. There was nothing unusual about the crates. Ponies transported cargo by train every day. What was unusual was the red Pegasus mare sitting behind the crates. All Aboard did recall punching her ticket earlier, so she wasn’t a stowaway, but why was she hiding back here? “Excuse me, ma’am,” the conductor called to the blonde mare. She jumped a bit and looked over the crates at the conductor. “Yes?” she asked nervously. “Please come out from there, Miss…” “Field. Renny Field,” she introduced herself as she stepped out from behind the crates. The Earth Pony briefly noticed two little marks on her neck, but thought nothing of it. “Miss Field, passengers are not allowed in the baggage car,” he explained. “Oh… um… you see…” she stumbled for an excuse. She then pointed to the crates and said, “I’m shipping these crates to Ponyville and they contain very valuable and important archeological discoveries. I just wanted to make sure that they don’t get damaged or stolen during the trip.” “I can understand that, Miss Field, but I’m afraid I’m going to have to ask you to return to your seat,” he sternly told her. She braced herself against one of the crates, looking like a foal trying to hide something behind their backs from their parents. “But…” she tried to argue, but he shook his head and led her towards the passenger cars. She reluctantly let go of the crate as he escorted her to the nearest baggage car that was named “Demeter.” “I’m sorry, but it’s railroad policy,” he explained. “But the crates…” she tried to resist again and looked back at that one particular crate. “I assure you, Miss Field, they will be fine,” he told her as he opened the door to the “Demeter” passenger car. She relented and entered the car without further argument. With the Pegasus returning to her seat, All Aboard resumed making his rounds. As he walked down the baggage car, he paused by the crates that the blonde passenger was hiding behind. Suspicious of the passenger, the Earth Pony conductor decided to investigate a little further. He inspected the tags on all of the crates but found that they all read: “Property of Renny Field. Ship to Ponyville from Crystal Empire.” “At least they are hers,” he said to himself, relieved a little bit. However, suspicion was still nagging in his head. She simply could just be nervous about the safety of her artifacts. Then again, maybe she was trying to hide something. Maybe I should take a peek inside one for the security of the train. All Aboard looked around to see if anypony was watching him. Finding himself alone, the mustached stallion grabbed a pry bar and went to the crate that Renny Field was clinging on to. Something important had to be in this one. Why else would she so desperately try to protect it? He placed the pry bar under the lid of wooden crate and put his weight on the other end. There was a creaking sound as the nails in the lid pulled away from the crate. After a few more times, the lid was free. “Alright, let’s have a look,” All Aboard said as he pushed the lid away. What the Earth Pony conductor found inside the crate was dirt. However, lying in the dirt was the body of a gray Unicorn stallion. All Aboard gawked at the sight of the corpse. A body? Why is she shipping a body to Ponyville? And why did she say it was an archeological discovery? He had heard of mummies before, but this wasn’t an ancient preserved body of a pony. This one still looked fresh. He looked to the other crates and began to wonder if the Pegasus was some sort of maniac and if these were her victims. As the conductor tried to figure out what exactly was going on, he looked back down at the body of Unicorn in front of him. Without warning, the corpse’s eyes snapped open! All Aboard made a startled gasp as the dead pony looked up at him with blood colored eyes. Its face contorted into that of a demon’s and it gave an annoyed snarl for having been so rudely awakened from its slumber. All Aboard started to back away from the creature as it bared its dragon like teeth at him, but before he could flee, he was caught in the vampire’s grip and screamed as he was pulled into the coffin. The lid was lifted from the baggage car’s floor by the red aura of the vampire’s magic and slammed back into its proper place on top of the coffin. ***** Rarity sat at a table at one of Ponyville’s finest restaurants. Actually, since it was a small town, it was Ponyville’s only fancy restaurant. She was wearing an elegant red dress and mane was done up in a fancy style. To go along with her dress, she wore her beloved fire ruby necklace that was given to her by the dragon that was sitting across from her. Spike was wearing his gem covered bow-tie that she had made for him. The couple was looking over their menus, trying to decided what to order. Spiked hummed as he tapped his chin in contemplation. “It sounds like you’re in a good mood today,” Rarity commented. “I am in good mood,” he confirmed. “A lot better than yesterday.” “Was the movie that awful?” she teased as she raised a brow at him. “Ha! No, that wasn’t the problem,” he chuckled. “I was just concerned about something.” “About what?” “Oh, nothing,” he tried to brush it off. “Oh, do go on. You know you can tell me anything,” she urged. “I was just concerned about, you know, being… a dragon,” he confessed. Her eyes shot up from her menu to carefully observe him. She remembered what he had told her about what he experienced in the parallel world of Trotina and what mental ordeals he had to endure. “Is it about… that?” she asked Spike with concern. “You know Spike, you shouldn’t keep it bottled up inside. You really ought to talk to somepony about it.” “I have, I have,” he told her. “In fact, I’ve talked to Princess Luna and Twilight about it. Don’t worry, I’m over it. I’ll tell you what they told me: If I only focus on the bad, then I can’t enjoy the good. Well, more or less.” “Knowing them, I’d imagine that it would be quite a bit more rather than less,” the Unicorn mare laughed. “Yeah, you’re right,” Spike agreed, also laughing. “May I take your order?” asked the waiter. “Yes, I’ll have the rose petal salad,” Rarity replied. “Excellent choice, and for you sir?” the waiter asked Spike. Being a dragon, Spike would have preferred some gems, but restaurants usually don’t have dragon customers. He instead ordered a bowel of jalapeño soup with extra peppers. “As I was saying,” the young dragon continued. “I’m not going to let it bother me. I shouldn’t let it bother me, and I don’t care what other ponies think of me. I should only care about what I think and what my friends and family think. I mean, does it bother you?” “Not at all, Darling,” she reassured him while smiling. “Actually, I am quite honored to have such a wonderful dragon such as yourself in my life.” “You mean you don’t care what a lot of ponies are saying behind our backs? You know, about you being a pony and me being a dragon?” “Not in the slightest,” the alabaster mare said confidently. “At least it gives them something to gossip about. Spike, ponies fear change. That’s a fact. Just give them time, they’ll come around. In fact, did you know that even after the founding of Equestria that the three tribes had a hard time socializing with each other?” “Really?” Spike asked. “Why yes,” she answered. “They were so accustomed to their segregation that they continued to only associate themselves only with members of their own tribe and it continued like that for the first few years.” “What caused the change?” Spike’s question caused Rarity to smirk. “The marriage of Princess Platinum and Commander Hurricane, the first inner tribe marriage in the history of Equestria.” “Really, I didn’t know that,” Spike replied. “That’s surprising,” Rarity teased. “Considering that you grew up in Canterlot with Twilight Sparkle, the most knowledgeable unicorn in all of Equestria.” “Hey, just because I grew up in libraries doesn’t mean that I have read every book in them,” he defended himself. “Unlike somepony I know.” “I imagine that she has,” Rarity agreed with a giggle. “Multiple times,” Spike added. “Multiple? How many times exactly? “I’ve lost count,” Spike half admitted and half joked. “Anyway, Princess Platinum and Commander Hurricane became Queen Platinum and King Hurricane,” Rarity continued. “Wait a minute, I think I remember this one,” Spike said thoughtfully. “That’s right; they were the parents of Princess Celestia and Princess Luna. Though I wonder why their daughters were born Alicorns. It’s never happened since. There are many Unicorn and Pegasus couples, but they don’t have any Alicorn children. Twilight was a unicorn and Cadance was a Pegasus before they became Alicorns, and they are certainly not immortal like Celestia and Luna.” “Nopony really knows for certain,” the Unicorn said thoughtfully. “I suppose it has something to do with their destiny and their connection to the sun and moon.” “Regardless, it was still a pony marrying a pony,” Spike said. “Should that really matter?” retorted Rarity. There are other examples of inner tribe marriages.” “I assume you mean zebroids and mules.” “Exactly.” “But those are still equines marrying equines,” Spike noted. “Has there ever been an example of… well… a pony… and…” “A dragon?” Rarity finished for him with an amused look as Spike blushed. A little embarrassed, Spike took a drink from his glass. “As a matter of fact, there is.” This nearly caused Spike to choke on his drink. “W-What? Really?” he asked as he coughed. Rarity slyly smiled and took a drink from her own glass. “Well, don’t leave me hanging,” Spike urged her to continue. “What happened and how did you find out about it?” “To answer your second question,” Rarity began. “I found out from Twilight. When she became a princess, she gained access to more historical documents and ancient tomes. In them were some rather interesting tales and legends. As for the first question, one of the legends I asked her to research for me spoke of the kirin.” “The kirin?” Spike repeated. “What’s a kirin?” “The kirin is a half dragon and half Unicorn. Apparently, dragons, due to their powerful magical nature, can have children with just about any creature, though it is quite rare and hard to do so. However, it is said to be easier for a Unicorn and dragon to have a child due to them both having a strong affinity towards magic.” “And why did you ask Twilight to research such a tale for you?” Spike asked amused as he raised a brow and smirked. It was Rarity’s turn to blush and take an embarrassed drink from her glass. ***** Renny Field sat fretfully in her seat and looked out the as the sun lowered beneath the horizon. From the window, she could see that the train would be at its destination soon. As she sat, she wondered if that meddlesome conductor discovered what she was hiding in the crates from Trotsylvania. Her master wouldn’t be pleased if anything got in the way of his plans. Renny Field, a dark voice echoed in her mind. Answering the call, she headed back to the baggage car. Once inside, she found her master standing in the center of the car, staring at her with his ice blue eyes. The conductor stood by his side with two marks on his throat and a glazed look in his eyes. “I’m sorry master, he…” she started to explain. “Be silent,” he calmly, but firmly ordered. She immediately closed her mouth and lowered her head. Dracula turned to All Aboard and said in a commanding voice, “Forget all that you have seen here and go about your business as if nothing has happened.” “Yes master,” the conductor droned then left the car. After he was gone Dracula returned his attention to his thrall, staring into her eyes with his hypnotic gaze. “When we arrive at this Ponyville, you will take the coffins to the residence of Professor Dig Site and await for me there.” Dracula turned his head to look at the crate that contained the body of said professor. “When I arrive, we shall then search for a more secluded location.” “Yes master,” Renny Field said mindlessly under the power of the vampire’s spell. Dracula’s horn glowed and dark clouds gathered over the train. He thought it would be best to have a little distraction to cover his arrival. They will be too preoccupied with the storm to even notice that the Dragon has come, he thought as he grinned with sinister intent. ***** Meanwhile, Spike and Rarity had just finished their meal and were leaving the restaurant. Spike was being the noble dragon and was escorting his lady back to her home. As they were walking, they were enjoying a pleasant conversation until Spike noticed something strange. To the north, the dragon saw that there were large black storm clouds rolling in fast. “That’s weird,” Spike said, looking at on coming clouds. Hearing this, Rarity looked to the north to see what he was talking about. “I didn’t know the Pegasi scheduled a storm for this evening,” she remarked. “They didn’t,” he replied. By chance, he saw Rainbow Dash along with some other Pegasi flying overhead. “Hey Rainbow Dash!” The blue mare swooped down from the sky when she heard her friend calling her and said while hovering, “Hey guys. Sorry, but we’re in a hurry.” “What’s up with the weather?” the purple dragon asked. “There shouldn’t be a storm tonight.” “That’s why we’re in a hurry,” she responded with a look that was a mixture of confusion, frustration, and a hint of concern. “We’ve gotta find out what’s going on.” She then sped off towards the storm with the rest of the weather team. Spike and Rarity stood there in the street and watched with concern as their friend head towards the ominous clouds.