//------------------------------//
// Book One; Chapter Eleven 
// Story: What Happens After Dusk 
// by Tiaa OwO 
//------------------------------//


Book One; Chapter Eleven
The Plan

The four stallions mumbled to themselves as they let the new information sink in. They were right and wrong, apparently. The kidnapings were the work of the vampires but they were not being used as blood-slaves like they thought. Instead, they were going to be a meal! Simon was having panic attack and Caramel had to keep him from passing out.
"Why exactly did you bring him with you, Flash?" he asked. Flash gave Simon a hard look, causing the earth pony to flinch, and he rolled his eyes.
"He has a few talents that are useful to me."
"We are going to be vampire food!" Simon yelled. He put his face in his hands. "We're so going to die..." Blueblood sighed, missing his wooden knife and irritated,and got to his feet. He stretched and gave Simon an irritated look.
"You're about to be vampire bait so being food is the last of your worries." Simon gave him a confused look.
"Uhh... what?"



Maxii bounded down the hall to the royal chambers, grinning like Cheshire Cat and humming a random tune. She continued like this for a few minutes before running into one of her older brothers, a male werewolf and a female shapeshifter. Her brother looked a little worried when got a look at her expression, which was one of excitement. Knowing her, when she was excited it was time for everypony else to panic.
"Hey, Maxii. What's up?" he asked her. Maxii was actually happy to see him. He was the only one of her brothers that didn't talk to her like she was a grenade ready to explode or look at her like she was completely insane.
"Can't wait for the event! I know that this time around we'll be attending and I just enjoy being around fellow Other Worlders." The 'shifter and werewolf both glanced at each other and raised their eyebrows. The werewolf turned to Maxii.
"Your father did not speak of you when we discussed the guests of-"
"It's not my fathers decision. I'm choosing to go."
"You do know that you cannot go without consulting your father, right?"
"I go where I please."
"You go where your father orders you to go. Nothing more, nothing less."
"I am not a slave and I am not a dog nor a pony. I am not obligated to obey anypony and if you tell me otherwise, I will slit your gut open and force-feed you your own intestines." The werewolf opened his mouth to say something but quickly shut it and folded his arms. Maxii turned to her brother. "Louis, can I talk to you while I head to the royal chambers?"
"Of course, sis." Louis waved to the other two and gave them an apologetic look. The female shapeshifter smiled and shook her head.
She leaned to the werewolf and whispered, "She is a feisty one, no? I feel she will change things around here." The werewolf growled and started to walk away.
"Not if I have anything to say about it."



The filly watched the stallions with amusement. The plan basically was for Simon to attract the attention of the ones guarding the room and create a diversion. While the guards were busy with him, Blueblood would sneak past and get his bearings on the place, making a mental map of it and gathering weapons for when they made the real escape. Flash would keep watch for when he returned and would give the signal for Simon to do another diversion and allow Blueblood to get back in, weapons and all, without being spotted and caught. There was several problems with this plan, however and Caramel argued against it.
"Why are you heading out and not somepony else?"
"I'm the only pony here with fighting experience with vampires."
"But there aren't only vampires here. There are werewolves and shapeshifters and I suspect they have a ghoul around here somewhere. Do you have experience with those? And what weapons do you have if you get caught? A wooden knife?"
"What's wrong with my knife?!"
"Well, hmm, let's see..." Caramel pretended to think for a second before frowning again. "One, it only hurts vampires and I doubt any of them will let you get close enough to actually kill them. Two, this place is crawling with supernatural creatures...how will you fight them all? Three, they are stronger than you and all you have is a damn knife. Four, there are freaking shapeshifters here. Forget the werewolves who transform into canine killing machines! Those things can transform into any animal. What happens when one turns out to be a bear? Heck, one might even turn into a dragon!"
"I-is that even possible?" Simon asked, shivering at the thought. Caramel shrugged and threw his hands into the air.
"I don't know! That's the point I'm making! Too many variables! Too much risk!" Blueblood growled and folded his arms. The filly smiled and laughed.
"What are you laughing about?"
"Because I can just offer my services to my mistress and gather some weapons for you guys. Plus, I already know how to get in and out of this building. I know it like the back of my hand!" The stallions stared at her.
"And didn't decide to speak up about this before...?" Flash asked.
"It was funny watching you guys argue over a plan that made no sense to me."
"Troll much...?" Simon whispered to Caramel.
"Kid, I can tell we're going to get along juuust fine." Blueblood chuckled. The filly giggled and bounced over to the door. As she reached out to knock, she glanced at the back of her hand.
"Oooh, I never noticed that before..."