Life is such a strange thing. At first you struggle alone in this big, big world. At some point in time you are bound to meet ponies to share your loneliness with. However, the second two ponies share their loneliness the concept of loneliness itself becomes non-existent. So, loneliness will be replaced by happiness if you encounter a mind similar to your own. That concept I vaguely started to understand but one thing I did not understand about it…
Why did I want to have some distance even though I just filled the gap in my life with opening myself to her? Was it strange? Was I strange? I did not know…I never had a friend like her before…a true friend . I always thought I understood the concept of friendship…I did not…not until I met her...
The reason for my complicated thought process should be obvious. After Vinyl and I got out of that restaurant and rid of that creepy stalker she started to dig up a lot of things I had kept to myself.
She wanted to hear every little detail about the way my life derailed when I met that certain pony with that certain box. Oh her eyes started to sparkle when I mentioned what the box was capable of. However, the thing that surprised me the most was how calmly Vinyl accepted my stories. She truly believed me…or at least she was a better actress than my mother had ever been.
I also told Vinyl about my life before I met her, about the emptiness, the loneliness, the gap in my life that never seemed to fill. She listened to all of it…she did not jest around…she seriously listened to all of it. I was truly happy.
Vinyl tried to persuade me to lead her to Victors place. She wanted to talk to him, wanted to make herself a picture of the situation and wanted to find a solution to all of this. The appearance of the strange stalker who evaded our memories more and more made her uneasy as well. To me it seemed like that our current situation just mirrored how the world around us always used to work: Things we do not know make us fear them all the more…
Do you now understand the problem I had back then? Of course I wanted her to know as much as possible and of course I wanted her to back me up in my quest to find the truth about all the craziness but…
I did not want her to get involved any deeper in my problems. I did not want my newfound friend to suffer through something that had to be my fault to some extent…
Even though it took me a long time I made her understand that this time I had to talk to Victor alone. She would, however be able to tag along the next time. Oh…how would I get out of that one? I did not know. Still, I bought some time…and that was all that counted.
Her safety was my first priority now. I just hope she did not stir up some deep waters when she helped me get away from the creepy colt. It was no coincidence that he wanted something from me. Seriously no pony coincidently stalked another.
I told Vinyl that she should make herself comfortable while I was gone and that it would become late if push came to shove. She looked very worried but put on a grin for me while she started to distract herself with music.
Oh if I wouldn’t die from terrible news, my usual circumstances, a psychos stalker or anything else the neighbours would kill me when I came back. Vinyls music was something a normal pony wouldn’t be able to endure for hours…
It didn’t use me long to find the way through the alleys of Canterlot. That time I also felt like some kind of prey with a creepy predator behind my back. I was happy when I lost them through ways one couldn’t find with their eyes.
When I knocked and Victor opened the door he looked at me with a confused look. Of course…he could sense my paranoia…oh and he probably read my mind as well...I really hated that...
He offered me something to drink while he led me to the library. He then politely asked what exactly startled me that much because according to him I looked like a mess.
I told him that there was a strange pony at the cemetery who stalked me. He had crimson eyes like Victor and an appearance I already forgot.
Victor became very stiff when I mentioned that took a deep breath and sighed loudly. He probably knew what was going on but wasn’t sure how to tell me…well I did not care how he’d tell me...he just had to.
“Dear Octavia…do you remember the stories of old I used to tell you? The ones about vampires?” he asked.
I gulped. That was moving in the wrong direction. I seriously did not want to hear any more of this. He already knew that but went on as if my reaction was nothing more than a cheerful “yes”.
“Those vampires still exist among us. Well, not the savage and brutal ones but there are still a lot of vampires out there that still wander around us.”
“Victor…stop kidding around…I mean…why would I start to see them now if they were there all along…” I told him faintly.
That couldn’t be true I told myself…he just wanted to get a laugh out of me.
“The vampire probably wanted to feed on you. You seemed like a lonely pony…one he could feed on without attracting too much attention. Once a vampire decides on his prey he wouldn't give up on it.” he told me in a serious voice.
“B-b-but we got rid of him…”
“How so?” he asked in a serious tone.
“My friend made me look like a mare who only wanted to use him for my own benefit.”
“Ah…impure blood...vampires tend to avoid that…”
“I don’t understand…why…isn’t blood just blood?”
“Well you could fill yourself a cup with muddy water from a pond or you could drink some vine…”
“Oh…so he thought my tast was of? that I was…disgusting?” I asked curiously.
“Well yes, he lost interest after he found out about you…”
Oh so I was safe as long as I acted impure. That was a good thing to know. Vinyl would be safe as well because she did not seem very innocent to anyone. I guess we were safe. We just had to look out for red eyed…wait…a shocking thought crossed my mind.
“Victor…are you one of them as well?” I asked very nervously.
“Yes…indeed I was also affected by the curse of vampirism my dear.” he said.
My mind went blank. I really messed up big times now. I had to get out of here as soon as possible. Oh if I look back at my behaviour from back then it must have been so much fun for Victor. I reacted in the most hilarious and cliché way ever.
I jumped on my hooves and tried to run for the door. Victor just stood there watching me while I was overwhelmed by a sudden burst of heat. The room temperature must have risen by a few degrees. Something was wrong.
When I finally stood in front of the door I had to back away. Just before the door their was fire dancing in the air. I looked back and saw a pony wearing the same red evening attire as Victor ablaze. It seemed as if he had caught fire himself a truly disturbing sight...if you asked me. I tried to scream but the heat was too much and…I collapsed.
When I came back to my senses I woke up in a big dark bed. Victor was there waiting for me to wake up.
This time I knew better than to run away…it would have been pointless anyway.
“Well my dear I thought it would prove more effective to show you what exactly it is this world tries to cover up in its shadows.” he said with a calm, soothing voice.
I looked at him in disbelief. I could not understand it. Why did such things always happen to me? I just couldn’t put up with anything that confusing any longer and I cried fountains. I cried away all my fear, all my sadness...all that was stuck up my conceited flank for all those years. It jus burst out...
He watched me for a few minutes before he started to talk again.
“I know it is hard to understand…but be sure…this fiery warhorse knows better than to hurt you.
Do you understand? If I wanted to I could have killed you all the time but decided not to.”
“Was that the reason why you wanted to chase me off the first time we met?” I asked with a dry throat and a lot of whimpering.
“Well…I told you it would bring you no good if you associate yourself with me. I am a monster and I have an artefact that alters ones destiny in my possession. One must not be a genius to figure out bad things will happen when you stay around me.”
“So…you killed p-ponies to drink their b-blood?”
“No…after we drink their blood we make them forget about us.
It is a hard task but at least we do not have to do that a lot as long as we do not overuse our powers.”
“Powers? You mean those flames? Vampires can set things aflame by will?” I was shocked. This world was a dangerous place as it was...we certainly did not need any pyromanic vampires causing havoc in Equestria...
“It isn’t that easy and you probably would not need to know.
However…after putting you through this horrible experience I think I owe you at least some basic information.
Every vampire has an ability to control nature to some extent. My ability allows me to raise temperature by will.
Those flames came to be because I heated up the dust motes in the air.
I also specifically raised the temperature of your body until you collapsed. It was the easiest way to show you. “
“Why didn’t you try another way than scaring the hell out of me and making me collapse?” I asked now really angrily. I mean heck that colt should be wiser than that...I mean after all the centuries he had lived one would suspect that right?
“It was the safest way to show you that I had no bad intentions.
I did not suck your blood and I did not kill you.
You should know that I do not want you to be harmed.”
“Maybe you could just have…well talked to me?” I told him agitated. Was he really that dense?
“My dear…distrust is something I always want to avoid. However that wasn't my only reason to take actions as I did.
Think about what you might have done with your wish if I just talked to you. Maybe you would have unleashed something more terrible than vampires could ever be in your fear.
You are the first pony who did not use her wish on the spot...after all.
Unknown things use to be far more dangerous than anything you could prepare for.”
“So…I…scared you? You reacted like a psycho just because you did not know how to handle an unknown situation?” I asked expecting that he was just playing a joke on me.
“Yes.” he said seriously.
I wanted to facehoof...situations like that show it once again. Colts were the most helpless when you needed to count on it. Just great...he only relied on his experience and lost the last traces of common sense over the centuries.
Well at least I was sure he did not want to hurt me. The information about the nature ability made also sense.
So my stalker could make clouds gather and make it rain. Still there was one thing that bugged me a lot.
“So…why do I forget how he looked? I didn’t forget you? What kind of trick is that?
And why did I just recently start to recognise vampires? Any explanations for that?” I asked.
Oh it must have seemed very impolite and demanding but why would I care in such a situation. I needed the answers.
“Well, where do I start…hmm..." he said and took a few moments to collect his thoughts.
"Yes wiping one pony’s memories is as natural for a vampire as breathing is for you.
The reason why you didn't forget me is also easily answered. I allowed you to remember.
It is something I have to decide on.
Your last question is a little tricky and the answer to it more of a specualtion.
I think you can remember a shadow of their existence because of a mistake on my behalf.
When I told you off the last time you probably saw the bloodlust in my eyes. You may have not known what it was but once seen you would recognise it anywhere again. It may be called the survival instinct of a sane pony.”
“That makes a lot of sense…” I mumbled to myself.
“What should I do about them now?” I asked him curiously.
“What have you done about them until now?” he said and formed a smile. He then went on.
“They do not hurt you and if you act impure they do not even try to drink from you.”
“So I should just ignore them?” I asked confused.
“Yes that sums it up pretty well…” he said.
He then proceeded to offer me some biscuits and we chattered on about me, my life and Vinyl.
Still, it was awkward to suddenly realise that ponies were not the only dominant race of Equestria...
When I was on my way home I dimly remembered something about a mare who would have been torturing all ponies around with her music. Oh, buck it. I guess I probably would have been easier of to take on all the vampires out there instead of my not so friendly neighbours when I came back home...
Well I would find out eventually…and I chuckled at the thought.
Nothing could surprisme me anymore...not after all those crazy revelations....
At least my mind was at ease because I knew for certain that Vinyl and me would not be further involved in this world of craziness…or so I thought.