Nightmares, oh how I hated them...but right now I would rather be asleep, fighting off dreams than dealing with what my life had become. Well, so I had to learn it the hard way that the worst nightmares were those you couldn't wake up from...
I knew before it sounded as if I was the strong one but hay…the glimmer of hope I held onto faded into nonexistence. My fears were fuelled by the darkness around me and it was a rather suffocating feeling. Why did it happen so late you ask? Well I guess acceptance was not one of my strong points. However looking at Vinyl I probably was still the stronger one…
Who was I kidding…I was in no way less pathetic than her. I sat awake in my bed…covered in blankets looking directly at the moon through my skylight while letting tears flow nonstop. My thoughts were hunting me. All the plans I had for the future just turned into dust. Questions haunted my mind.
Would it really matter how I lived my life from now on?
Was everything predetermined or just some key elements of my life?
What about my friendship with Vinyl?
Talking about Vinyl, she wasn't even ready to face her problem. When we came home she acted still hyped up and occupied with everything but our impeding doom. For a short moment however I really thought she really did not care. Maybe she really was strong but the image of her that started to build in my mind was shattered when I saw her in her room.
She was wearing those big headphones and stared at a blank wall. I watched her for a few moments and waited for her to let it all out. She never did. It broke my heart to see her like that. I knew that feeling far too well. Reality tried to break her apart as it tried with me back then. I would have been so happy if she simply snapped, hit me and blamed all her problems on me…but she didn’t. She just sat there and faced the wall…
The sun raised and both of us weren’t capable of sleeping. When I entered Vinyl’s room and asked if she wanted to eat breakfast she still faced the wall but gave me a slight nod. How sad...that mare had really turned into a broken puppet…
I made us some coffee and took out some cake I had put in the fridge before as well. My coffee tasted bitter as usual but even the cake that should have been sweet tasted like…well...horse apples. Vinyl didn’t come on her own so I had to call her. Without saying anything she just sat down and took the cup I offered her.
A long time we just sat there with our coffee cups and two nearly untouched pieces of cake. I didn’t know what to say in such a situation it was just far too bizarre. After some time had passed and we still did nothing more than looking at each other and completely ignoring our food Vinyl broke the silence.
“Well Tavi, I have thought about a few things tonight…” Vinyl said in an unusually depressing tone.
“Such as…” I asked cautiously.
“I know you probably torment yourself for pulling me into this whole mess…” she went on.
I gulped. She was dead on. Of all the things I ever had to burden…the guilt of getting a friend in trouble was probably the worst thing I ever had to experience in my life. Well, I never had friends before…and I was pretty sure she would cut all her connections to me after all that happened. I could understand her pretty well…I was probably the most egotistical mare in Equestria.
“…but it isn’t your fault. It was me who decided to help you and it was me who wanted to know more about the craziness that surrounds you. So don’t think I blame you. It just is a lot to take in you know…” she said with a breaking voice and a weak smile.
“No…I am the one to blame. Helping me shouldn’t mean for you to lose your life. I never wanted something like that to happen. I just wish that I never had been born and…” I said and trailed off insilence letting my thoughts wander a sad path.
“Tavi it is not your fault. Forget about it okay…” she said with a little more life in her voice now.
“But…”
“No…I think we should live our lives as if nothing has changed.
Think about it...
We still have some options.
We can still be successful in life.
We can still attain happiness.
We still have each other.
There is no reason why we should worry about our future. Nothing will change expect we'll grow fangs or have to donate blood on a weekly base. I think we should just give it a rest. ” she said trying to convince me as well as herself.
Well, she raised my spirits a little and as far as I could see she tried to integrate what she said in her own mind-set as well. To be honest it was good that she found a grip on herself and even better that she didn’t hate me after all…even if I really deserved all of her hate.
After thinking about what she said a little more I came to the conclusion that her personal solution to the problem wasn’t perfect but at least viable. The only thing where I would have loved to tell her she was straight out wrong was the end. I did not believe that you could have a happy yet meaningful life. However that I wouldn’t bring up now…
“So what are you scheming?” I asked when I saw that the fire in her eyes was finally burning again.
“Maybe we should enjoy ourselves a little more.” Vinyl said in her normal, cheerful way.
“Vinyl I certainly think now is not the right time for…”
“When would ever be the right time for someone like you?” Vinyl said and let her eyes roll.
“Whatever do you mean? I can’t follow…”
“You need to come out of your shell…”
“Pardon me?” I asked in confusion.
“You are far too introverted. You close yourself off from life Tavi. You see everything as a huge string of problems that comes crushing down on you but you know what? Buck it. Problems are just one small part of life. Just enjoy the time when you don’t have to deal with em.”
My jaw dropped a little. Was that really how it looked to her? Somehow I didn’t believe it but at the same time I knew she hit the mark. I was surprised, a little offended, and swallowing a bitter truth all at the same time. I couldn’t even imagine how dumb I had to look.
Well in the end, it seemed Vinyl just wanted to have some fun with me from time to time. Shopping, clubbing, basically whatever I felt up to. While at first I wanted to decline her offer, I simply gave in to her, and told her I’d be up for it. I mean, I did it for her...and maybe she was right. I mean, it wasn’t like I really was introverted...or didn’t like to have fun...and...oh whatever...
Come to think of it...that stupid mare...she never failed to amaze me. She was probably the only pony in Equestria that could fall in depression and get back on her hooves that fast. She even brightened up my dark thoughts a little...
I bet every psychologist would like to conduct research on her mind. Oh and thinking about medics…there was still this courtesy visit I had to make at the hospital. I guess the head physician would need to check if I was fine after all. Well, some things had to be done. I wouldn’t like it very much if I ran into him somewhere again and look like I didn’t give a horse apple about his advice.
I told Vinyl that we could do something in the evening but I had to visit the hospital before. She told me that she thought that was a good idea and added that she would have advised me to do it anyways. She then, influenced by her crazy DJ mind, said she just hopes that I would get myself a sexy nurse outfit there as well. Naturally, I hissed at her comment. Well at least now I was sure she was back to normal…
It was around lunchtime when I entered the hospital. At the reception they told me I had to wait for a few minutes until a doctor would have time for me. I nicely replied that the head physician told me to meet him in person.
The receptionist, a cute mare with a bright pink mane and golden coat rolled her eyes and told me as sarcastically as possible that she believed me. She then said that she knew I had to be very busy because princess Celestia herself waited outside of the hospital for me. I sighed in response and told her that if that was the case I was done here.
Oh sometimes life is just a comedy. She had such a stupid attitude and still…I was the one who had no job. However just when I was on the way out I saw the head physician passing the reception. He immediately spotted me and asked why I wasn’t directly coming to him as he told me before.
With a fiendish grin I replied that I was trying to meet him however the receptionist just didn’t believe me. Oh I loved how her eyes widened in horror when she saw what she just had done. Normally I really wouldn’t stoop that low but…she had it coming. He gave her a cold look while I showed her a big smile before he led me into his office.
“Well, miss. How about you tell good ol doctor Coldsteel how you feel?” he said with a smile.
“I can’t really complain. I feel as healthy as a horse should feel.” I answered.
“Did you show any strange kind of reaction?” he asked now a little eagerly.
“Not really…” I replied short.
His mind wandered off then. When I just wanted to ask him if I could already go he started talking again.
“Not even emotional instability? It happens a lot when these things happen…you know?”
Shivers ran down my spine. Those were in no ways symptoms of food poisoning. He simply knew about the pheromones.
I felt very uncomfortable and suddenly had the urge to get out of here as soon as possible.
“No…should there have been some?” I asked innocently.
“You know what I hate most in the world?” Coldsteel asked in response.
“No…” I said and gulped.
“Misinformation and those who spread it…” he said now rather cold.
“So…I have to wonder…why are you lying to me.”
“I-I didn’t…I…”
“Do you think I am a fool?” the colt cut me off short.
“I-I…”
“Why would you lie to me about your mood swings then? If you knew nothing about your situation you would have simply agreed to my last question or asked if there was a connection between food poisoning and emotional instability you never heard of. Everypony would have done that for self preservation. So to keep it short…you know far more than you want to let me know…”
I couldn’t even manage to bring out another word. His question was just bait. He only used it to verify if I wanted to hide something. I was in deep trouble now…however wasn’t I untouchable according to Victor?
But did he already inform that council thingy? I wasn’t sure.
Should I just try my luck? Then
another thought crossed my mind. I could still change my position…
“Maybe I just wanted to get everything over with pretty quickly?”
“Stop wasting our time. Your manner of speaking and body language show traces of nervousness not hastiness.”
“What do you want to know…” I said, already accepting that I couldn’t lie to him.
“Did you feel a major change within your body…” he asked bluntly.
“No…there aren't any signs of pow…” I answered.
I regretted that answer immediately I even wanted to facehoof. He never said anything about powers.
Know he knows that I know far more than he anticipated…just great.
His eyes already turned into slits…so I knew what would come.
Well it was for the best if I changed my approach now.
“No powers huh…and why would you know about that if you hadn't already achieved some?”
“Because that is why you people planted that stupid seed to begin with?
You wanted to test me and just look at that…I turned out a failure…happy now?” I answered in mockery.
“Did he tell you?” Coldsteel now asked in confusion.
“Yes, he did…why? Is there a problem with that?” I replied.
So he knew about Victor…great. Once again my life just had to get super exciting for no reason. However that wasn’t the excitement I wished for. Why did I attract those stupid vampires anyway?
“Hmm…I just don’t get what Bliss is after…” the colt now mumbled.
“Elusive Bliss?” I asked in shock.
“So he even gave you his name…what a strange turn of events…” the colt said lost in thoughts.
“What is your relation to him?” I asked curiously.
“Every answer has it's price.” he replied cold.
“Oh…if that is how it is than pursue your answers alone…” I told him with an icy smile.
“You think I would let you leave? I am the head physician.
I can simply declare you insane and lock you away for my experiments.
If that is what you want…try to flee…” he answered emotionless.
I knew that there was no way around it so I braced myself to tell him my story.
He would know if I hid something or lied to him anyways.
“Okay, here is my story in a nutshell. I sat there on a park bench when suddenly a unicorn male appeared who tried to hit on me. I fell in love with the colt because I somehow managed to get covered in a lot of pheromones that were not his. I managed to get aways from him due to my sheer willpower without really talking to him. Then my best friend came back with a drink that contained vampire venom.
Before I drank the venom we hit on each other thanks to the pheromones as well. After that I acted accordingly to all the other pheromone layers that were put on me until I washed myself. So that was my story…can I go now?” I answered trying to cover as much as possible. Lying would do me no good anyways.
“Pretty interesting…but how did you know so much about pheromones and why those weren’t his in particular? I doubt he would tell you something like that. It also throws up some new questions. How did you learn about the seed or his name if you didn’t talk to him. How do you know so much about us anyways?” he now asked rather intrigued while polishing his glasses.
“Well I know one of your kind. He is called Victor and I found him by following the hoofprints of destiny or something like that…”
The colt’s eyes widened for a moment and then he put on his thoughtful expression once again.
Did he know Victor? Was he convinced to leave me be now that he heard my tale? I hoped so.
“Interesting…so you know the guardian…
What a fascinating specimen you are. Your recovery rate after taking in the venom alone was extraordinary but now it gets far more interesting. The guardian and a keeper both took interest in you. Wait…you said you visited the guardian? What did you wish for?” he said now a little warmer and with real excitement.
This cold calculating living lie detector just turned into a young filly who found himself a new toy.
Oh great…guess aunty Octavia had to give him what he wants, so that she could leave.
“I didn’t state a wish as of yet. About Victor, well he helps me to understand the mess I just slipped in.
However what bugs me are this Bliss figure and you. I don’t know what both of you see in me.”
“So that is how it is. Those informations were very valuable. I guess in that case you get some insight in my agenda as well.” the colt told me in his newfound warm tone.
“Oh, where to begin with…well…who are you?” I mumbled.
“Dr. Coldsteel, gatherer of ancient wisdom and keeper of a bloodline.”
“What do you want from me?”
“At first I was just curious because Elusive Bliss took an interest in you. If that unicorn is involved in something it shouldn’t be overlooked. I ordered some of my subjects to trail you after my informations were verified. However my reasons have changed since then. Now it is my goal to win you over.” he said with a smile.
“Eh…I do not really date vampires…” I said with a little blush. What was he saying?
“Not romantically speaking of course. To be more precise I want you as part of my clan.” he answered and gave me a wink.
“So...what about Bliss? What does he want from me?”
“Well he wants you to become one of us but I don’t know the reason for that either. After Bliss became aware that I took interest in his activities he told me about his fascination for you. He then explained that his curiosity overweight’s his personal benefit in that particular matter and offered that he would vote for you to become part of my clan just to see how you'd turn out. In exchange he merely wanted all the information I gathered on “bat ponies”. However that deal makes no sense. That information is trivial at best. It only has historical value and I don’t think that is what Bliss is after. I think he just wanted to offer me a deal I wouldn’t turn down.”
he explained to me while lost in thoughts.
“So…will you take his offer?” I asked curiously.
“I’m still not sure…to be honest…”
“You said you used your subjects to trail me?”
“Yes I sent two members of my bloodline after you that one time.
I even allowed them to use their bloodline on you as they saw fit.”
“Bloodline?” I asked completley confused.
Wasn't that just part of his title? Seems there was more to it than caught the eye.
“The guardian didn’t tell you about that? Well…I guess it won’t hurt to give you just a little insight. On the contrary maybe it would even give you some initiative to join my bloodline.” He said with a smug face before he went on.
“My clan has the ability to influence the psyche. This ability directly messes with your head so no pheromones involved. One of my loyal subjects for example has the ability of perferct memory others could possibly trap you in your mind, or take control over your body against your will. The ones I sent after you should have been pretty weak. Maybe they made you feel at ease…something like that…”
Well,I figured bloodline powers were bad news as soon as he mentioned it. However that was simply terrible. So in addition to racial abilities and nature manipulation abilities I knew of, there was another power and it seemed by far worse than the other two.
“So…what about Bliss? What can he do?” I asked...already fearing that the answer would give me nightmares.
“The Bloodline of Bliss uses light as far as I know. I can’t tell you how wide their abilities vary because most of us keep our powers a secret. The only thing that I know is that their powers are extremely potent. The reason for that is that unicorns do not get additional abilities when they are changed…their magical power just raises exponentially in the process…”
Oh well...light doesn't sound that evil I thought. The part about how unicorn powers grew to unknown peaks while affected by vampirism was another story. That really freaked me out. Great unicorns like Starswirl the bearded or Princess Twilight Sparkle before she became an alicorn were already powerful without any unnatural boost to magic. I thought I shouldn't think any longer about that and just ask another question.
“You mentioned something about mind manipulation before. Why did you not use those powers on me? You could have forced me to talk through one of your subjects right?” I told the medic.
“Obviously, I honour free will. That is also the reason why I want you to join me on your own.
Why else would I offer you information even though I am not obligated to?
You amaze me and I don’t want you to be killed or wasted as a pawn.” he answered unnaturally warm.
“Oh…eh…well thank you I guess…but I rather stay a normal pony you know…” I answered him while crouching a little.
“Well the choice is up to the council and I will honour your wishes but let me ask you one thing.
What should I do if the decision came down to death or vampirism.
Which one would be more to your liking?” he asked me with a serious tone and expression.
“I would need some time to think about that…” I answered him honestly.
“Well…I will vote for mortal servitude as long as that is a viable choice, so don’t you worry. You still have some time right?”
“What about my friend, Vinyl? Do you have plans for her as well?” I asked now rather curiously.
“No I don’t…and even Bliss didn’t seem to be that interested in her. She probably will end up as a pawn or dead.
Neither Thanatos nor Bliss would be interested in a simple unicorn without great magical potential to begin with...” he replied cold.
So they did not know about Vinyl being a harbinger…how interesting. Or did they know and just don’t care?
Was a unicorn just measured by her raw magical powers? What about me then?
What makes me special for an earth pony? Oh…there is so much I do not understand…
“Well there is still something I need to know.
Who put those pheromones on me back at the park ?
And why does my friend have different memories of what has happened?” I asked carefully because I thought I already knew the answer.
“Well after Bliss realised I knew of his newest obsession he confronted me directly. He asked me if I could lend him a hoof with planting the seed. Normally I wouldn’t aid Bliss. He is as far from trustworthy as a changeling but well as I said I took a personal interest in you because of his weird actions. His offer raised my curiosity even more…
So, I placed a colt right next to you. He was the one who covered you in pheromones. Bliss told me he wanted you to fall for him, getting closer to you and giving you the seed via a kiss. However he also had a backup plan. In case you wouldn’t fall for him he already put some venom in a can which he would hand your friend at the shop. In addition he also wanted my subject to use love pheromones that worked on both unicorn genders. You see...that colt let nothing go to chance.
However about your friends memories...that question seems to be worth some research...” he said and trailed off.
“Well I guess that are all the questions I could come up with for now.” I said still rather disappointed about the last answer.
“Good…I on the contrary still have one that needs to be answered…”
“What do you want to know?” I asked now a little curious. It had to be something big as far as I could tell...
“It is less of a question and more of an inspection. I will look for indications of power usage.”
He then proceeded to inspect my body. He searched for the smallest pieces of evidence. However he didn’t find anything but a minor injury I got on my hoof when I stomped in anger back then and a blister on another. Well look at that…just as I said...I had no super powers…who would have thought.I could only reign in the impulse to roll my eyes in the last minute. I think it wouldn't be a good idea to make fun of him if he tried so seriously. After a while Coldsteel just sighed and gave up. Realising both of us were quiet for far too long he tried to explain himself. He said that he had hoped to find singed hair or raised electro static in my coat...
I didn't really care, the results were still the same. After waiting for a few more silent moments I asked him if it was okay to go now. He nodded and told me I could come back and talk to him any time I wanted. I said that maybe I would take him up on his offer, gave him a smile and was gone.
To be honest I didn’t really want to talk to him again because his personality was creeping me out. If I wanted some advice on the supernatural I could get it from Victor right? Furthermore he cooperated with that shady Bliss just to satisfy his curiosity. Well at least a lot of things started to make more sense now...
Now there was only one more question to be answered: What should I tell Vinyl when I came home?
Should I tell her the truth or should I act as if nothing happened. I did not know.
I wasn’t sure if she even wanted to hear about vampires in the next few years and lying seemed so much easier.
Well I guess it didn’t matter…there was no reason to bring it up anyways...was there?
No lies? No tears? No guilt? What an elegant solution...
A smug grin formed on my face…I started to be my usual self again.