Raritys parents had paid good money for her to go on to a prestigious school when she was younger. Uniforms were a necessity, but the school uniforms had been a garish mishmash of poorly chosen colors that she had been forced to be worn every single day. That crime of fashion Rarity had to endure was on her mind constantly, along with all the ways she could fix them.
Daydreaming in her World Studies class on those lazy spring afternoons was costing her now as the imposing figure of some foreign antelope-thing briskly trotted over to her, flanked by two Pegasus ponies. They were smaller compared to him, heads only meeting his shoulders. His dark brown coat was decorated with varying colored beads in his fur, piercings at his face and tribal markings tattooed around his body. His golden grin matched the golden rings inset into his two very large horns curling backwards out the top of his skull ending at his back.
“I am pleased to see you’ve enjoyed our gift,” he said to her, his deep voice echoing around the chamber. “While we may not have your name yet you shall have mine. I am Jo’sun, leader of this humble tribe. The Pegasus to my left is Morsemere. To my right is Valerie. It is my great pleasure to meet you at last miss…?”
“Rarity,” she finished for him politely, uneasily letting him take her hoof “It would be my pleasure to find out what’s wrong with me and how to make it…go away.”
“What a lovely name you bear Miss Rarity,” complimented Jo’sun “It fits you being…such a lovely mare yourself.”
Rolling her eyes was an old, bad habit of hers that she was not very good at keeping under control when it mattered. Making a mental note she willed herself to keep them locked into the pale red eyes of this goat she was talking to.
Rarity forced a grin “Oh do stop your flattery please, you’re too much. Besides…you still haven’t answered my question about what’s wrong with me.”
“There’s nothing wrong with you, so quit saying that,” interjected Morsemere with a frown “You’re a vampire like us. Or almost like us anyway. The only wrong thing is your attitude.”
“MORSEMERE!” snapped Jo’sun throwing a threatening look his way. “Hold your tongue if you cannot keep your disposition in check!” He turned back to Rarity, the anger in his dark red eyes vanishing instantly “Apologies miss…Morsemere can be blunt when he’s not thinking before he’s speaking.”
“V-Vampire!?” gasped Rarity, backing away from them. “That’s one of those things from myth, old childrens stories. Not real. It can’t be real! I-I…“
“You have just finished feeding, miss Rarity, you cannot just deny what you are, what you’ve done,” finished Jo’sun with a wry smile. He grabbed her hoof again, pulling her upright “You have fed twice now correct? The life-blood of another sustains you now, keep your legs moving, your heart beating.”
“I’d rather die than live with what I’ve done,” she muttered with pain in her voice.
“Why’s that?” he asked, his voice gentle.
“Blood,” she cringed, turning her head away “I-I drank blood from my friend, I didn’t want to, but I did and now she’s…”
“She is fine Rarity.” said Jo’sun.
“No. I don’t believe you I…I’ve done a monstrous thing…”her voice trailed off, turning away from him.
“Walk with me,” Jo’sun said firmly, sidling up next to her. Finding no other course of action Rarity obliged, beggining a slow trot next to him.
The clear pool of water she spotted earlier sat ahead, the tiniest sliver of moonlight striking the calm surface and illuminating it like a mirror lit from behind. Jo’sun walked right up to it, peered at the still liquid and beckoned her over, motioning Rarity to draw near.
“Tell me what you see,” he instructed to her, his deep voice calm, “when you gaze into this pool.”
Rarity gulped, trotting slowly over to the pool, her hooves sinking lightly into the damp, earthy soil bordering the water. Head bowed, she leaned over and saw…
“Nothing” she said dryly, only being able to see a small group of pebbles clumped in various spots in the crystal clear water. Rarity thought of stamping her hoof to accentuate her displeasure, but maintained, instead turning to Jo’sun. “Is there something I should be seeing?”
“Nothing but the perfectly still surface which you see,” said Jo’sun wryly, as if the answer was painfully obvious “although I suspected a glimmer of shadow, a rippling image, yet that is not the case,” Jo’sun replied, gently cradling her chin with his hoof. “You are possibly the most beautiful creature I’ve ever laid eyes on, why should any mirror have the right to capture your image, distort it so ever slightly? Being like us, like you nearly are, it grants us all eternal life, eternal beauty, and you can discard the notion of worrying over your appearance since it will remain as perfect as you are right now. Look me in the eyes and see for yourself of any signs of a monster, since I myself can only see a unicorn of true beauty and grace.”
Rarity shivered more-so at his words than his touch, and Jo’sun thankfully let his hoof drop away from her face. She stared at his eyes briefly, seeing her white face reflected in his pupils. It was difficult; all those compliments to her form and figure really did sound genuine, and even though Rarity figured that hearing otherwise from the likes of him would be ridiculous the praise was striking a chord with her. To think! Spending the rest of her life without fear of sagging skin, or faltering complexion! It was an offhand dream that was practically a reality now, and yet….
“Do I…still have to?” she began softly.
“Yes,” he said, reading her mind.
“My job…I’ll have to abandon my career won’t I?” pressed Rarity with greater concern in her voice.
Jo’sun laughed, his deep voice cutting through the silence “Of course not dear Rarity, nobody shall deny your life’s talent, especially since you have the all the time in the world now to pursue it.”
“Well I…” she stammered, looking to the soil “…I will be accepted like this? For…for what I am now? Despite what I’ve done?”
“We are children of the night, dearest Luna will not shun her kin, we, the vampires, the gargoyle, the goblin, and all of us accompany her daily in her darkness, keeping the world alive after sunset and moving about in the moonlight,” e said quickly, voice firm.
“Princess Luna…allows us?” said Rarity in quiet disbelief. “You mean she is perfectly ok with us gallivanting around at night being-“
“Ourselves. Now that you understand, it is high time dear Rarity you meet the rest of our flock,” he clapped his hooves together “EVERYONE!”
There was no sound, wind or rustling hoof steps to accompany the arrival of Jo’suns remaining vampires, and it took Rarity aback at how quickly the ponies had surrounded her. She took them all in immediately, there were the two healthier looking ponies earlier, Moresmere his pugnacious face twisted in a scowl, and the quiet mare Valerie, standing next to a pale pair of colts, both nearly as white as her, another pale Pegasus pony, a thin filly shivering between her legs.
Rarity cringed, realizing that the pair of them must be related. She turned to Jo’sun, gulping back the horror of their situation.
“Is this it then? Where’s that…awfully rude ram gone to? Shouldn’t he be present with the rest of us?” she inquired politely, unable to see any others around her.
“I’m afraid that he won’t be joining us tonight for your ceremony, beautiful as it shall be. Some creatures, like him, just aren’t suited for the adjustment of scenery and lifestyle, and ends up being relegated to…a lesser fate,” said Jo’sun swiftly, as if the details of the missing ram were entirely irrelevant.
“I see,” replied Rarity, assuming the fate of the ram was no longer a matter of discussion.
“I bet you see…” muttered Morsemere under his breath.
Jo’sun glared darkly at him, before thinking better of responding.
“Follow” he commanded, trotting away from the group, Morsemere glared hard at the white unicorn as she trotted away to join the ibex.
“Subtlety is naught your forte,” commented Valerie, cocking an eyebrow.
“I’m not happy Val, why should I hide it?” he snapped, when the two were out of earshot. “The blasted Ursa and its cub finally leave after three centuries, we get a feast of goblins and ponies and Jo’sun gives the order to not swoop in? We’ve slept on empty stomachs for all these years but he denies our fill because he falls head over hoof for some filly?” Morsemere spat in the dirt.
Valerie sighed “He fetched us the ram…”
“One tasteless ram, not nearly enough blood in him to sleg our thirst amongst ourselves after that…filly had first bite,” he shook his head in disgust, “then to spin all that nonsense how we aren’t a blight on Lunas night.”
“So?” said Valerie impassively
“What?”
“So what’s with you attitude Morsemere?” she pressed.
“I don’t know. Nothing. He wants her, he’ll have her. I don’t know if she bought it or not, but it’s been far too long Val,” he unfurled his wings, giving them a silent flap “If I don’t hunt soon I’m going to forget how.”
“We’ll have fresh blood soon,” she offered glancing across the room.
“I’m still not happy,” he complained.
“I don’t expect you should be, we’ve all been starving in this cave.” She said flatly.
“Listen here then since…,” he paused, matching her gaze “since he’s preparing her before the full moon tonight, right under Lunas eye of all things. According to him her first victim has been well on her way all day, and since it was a bite to the neck she’s nearly transformed herself by now. Still, as for this Rarity, has only drank blood twice…and-“ he stopped, his jaw unable to work out those last few words.
Valerie let out a low whistle “If only you could see the look on your face…”
Rarity stamped her hoof a few times, trying to accentuate her displeasure “Must I really? I…I’m not even feeling the least bit peckish to be perfectly honest with you. I only did this not even half an hour ago!”
“It is vital that you drink a third time before basking in the glow of the moon, it wouldn’t be completely necessary had you, ah, been ‘bitten’ by whichever member of my flock stumbled across you in the depths of the caves tunnels.” He fiddled with his goatee, the colored beads woven into his hair clacking noisily.
“What if I don’t?” she replied.
“Postponing this will result in you being less than…” he stopped playing with his hair, trying to find the right words “well, let me put it this way, do you recall how you felt up to the point where you, had your first drink?”
“Inescapably,” replied Rarity, putting a hoof to her brow “It was the worst feeling- starving, sluggish, and I was dead tired but I couldn’t get any sleep if I tried. And I did try.”
“Well that is what you would have to endure if this does not happen tonight,” he grumbled, finally having made his point. “We can slumber for as long as we like, though hungry, not nearly as fatigued as you had felt.”
Rarity took a moment’s pause, rapidly shuffling through her options only to find none. What she had to endure just to get through that day was staggering…but this offer, morbid as it was, was her only chance at a possible return to form for the rest of her life. Mulling it over a few times she decided if there was ever a way out of this grim situation, she would seize the opportunity at any cost. Her standards of living were much higher than this…but in the meantime she would compromise.
“Okay, I will do it,” she flashed him one of her best fake smiles.
Relief washed over Jo’suns’ face “Good, wonderful.”
“You still wish me to…”her voice trailed off as the ibex raised his head high, displaying his neck to her.
“Drink deep and do not fret, dear Rarity. Clear your thoughts and fill yourself. We shall trot out to the caves entrance soon enough to finalize your entry within our humble pack.” He grinned at her, motioning with his head for Rarity to draw close.
Rarity did, venturing forth cautiously, before slowly clamping down on his neck, his skin breaking under her fangs.
As the blood rushed her mouth, her thoughts didn’t clear, she thought of Twilight Sparkle, her dear friend certainly cursed to share the same fate, she thought of all her other close friends that may never see her again, she thought of her parents, her job, her home.
She thought of Sweetie Belle.
***
“I can’t do this! Why did you guys bring me!? I should be with Twilight! She needs me!”
Rainbow Dash hovered directly above Spike, hanging her head to meet his “C’mon Spike, me, Fluttershy, Pinkie and Mac don’t have any way to hold that thing right.”
“Eeyup,” agreed Macintosh, who was keeping a steady pace just behind the purple dragon. “If we want to put down them rotten things that been attackin’ everypony it’s gotta be a perfect drive through their hearts jus’ like the doc said.”
Fluttershy whimpered, trailing on the ground right behind Macintosh “Um, I really don’t see why we can’t just, talk to them maybe?”
“Flutters, they didn’t do so much talkin’ last time when they had Rarity and Twilight for lunch,” pointed out Dash, certain that she’d made a good point, and zipped back to the head of the line.
“It’s okay Fluttershy! You don’t have to do anything really!” Pinkie Pie bounced up next to the shuddering yellow Pegasus, wrapping another string of garlic around her neck “I know stuff like this is all kinda bad and I’m SUPER stoked myself that instead of wanting to be a bunch of meany-mean bitey necks they’re just raring to stetch their hoovsies and have a party instead!”
“You…you think they might?” peeped Fluttershy, scrunching her nose at the extra garlic. It was Pinkies idea for the necklaces to ward off a bite from the neck. Big Macintosh had his work collar on and said he didn’t need the garlic.
Pinkie looked away for a moment, her face momentarily betraying her words “Of COURSE silly! Also if Raritys there I bet you all of Gummys baby teeth that as soon as she sees us that’d she’d totally come to her senses super pronto and we’ll get her all fixed up by the doctor and everything will go back to normal and be sunshine and lollipops in no time!”
Fluttershy blinked “But, um, didn’t the doctor say…”
“Oh that doctor was a silly billy,” Pinkie stuck out her tongue “There’s always an answer for everything, and that Doc isn’t a very good doctor either.”
Macintosh, who had been drifting in and out of the conversation, turned his head back at the last quip about the doctor.
“What makes ya think that there Pinkie?” he drawled.
“Remember that party I threw way wayWAAAY back when before Twilight came to town and I made that big pot of chili?” Pinkie said cheerfully.
“Eeyup, hehe, that was some gooood chili,” said Macintosh.
“Welllll, I may have put a teensy eensy too many black beans in the pot, soo…”
Dash snorted “Oh yeah, I remember that day. Glad I skipped out on that. Anyway Fluttershy, long story short, AJ wasn’t feeling too well and when she went to the Doctors office about it she got as red as her apples when he misdiagnosed her,” Dash lowered her voice “ ‘You’re pregnant Miss Applejack’!”
Macintosh started chuckling deeply, and Dash laughed with him and Pinkie Pie, clutching her sides and spinning in the air.
Spike grumbled up ahead, twisting the cold stake in his hands. This whole thing felt wrong. The pony of his dreams, the most beautiful one in Ponyville, in Equestria, was now supposedly a vampire. His stomach churned at the thought.
And she’d snuck into the library in the dead of night to drink at Twilights blood and turn her into a monster as well.
“How could you do this?” he whispered to the stake, his breathing shallow as anger bubbled to the surface “Why would you do this to her?”
Images of Rarity flashed through her mind, grinning wildly, biting down on Twilights neck and laughing, licking her lips.
That was delicious, say goodbye to your Twilight Sparkle, you’ll never see her again.
“No!” he twisted the sharpened tool in his hands “She’ll get better, I can save her, I’ll fix her…even if I do have…even If I have to…”
Twilight flashed in his head, her two hooves clasped in chain, her face strained in a scowl of pure hatred and contempt, pale pink eyes boring into his own…
“Spike!”
“YES!” he cried, jolting out of his thoughts.
“You alright?” asked Dash, one eyebrow raised “You look kinda…not so good there for a sec.”
“Sorry, I’m just, you know…thinking about Twilight you know?” he answered, trying to look less worried.
Dash punched him lightly in the shoulder “Just don’t worry about it Spike, we can handle whatever those freaks in that cave got to offer. I’m not afraid, and I’ll handle this no sweat even if Fluttershy and Pinkie back down.”
“Really?” he asked, with just a hint of sarcasm.
“You bet! I’m made of tough stuff!” she boasted, quickly doing a loop in the air and flexing her forelegs with a confident smile.
“Alright but what about Rarity?” he finally asked
“What about her?” returned Dash coolly, coasting above him.
“I don’t want to have to do this…to her…” he looked skyward, past Rainbow Dash, thinking of that happy purple unicorn “but if it’s the only way to save Twilight then I gotta right?”
“Hey,” she thumped him on the shoulder again, “don’t sweat it till ya see it Spike. Raritys a blabbermouth and she’s not dumb enough to really fall in with a bunch of monsters you know.”
“Are you sure?” he asked.
“I’d bet you she’d found a way outta that mess already! You remember when she got kidnapped and just walked away from those Diamond Dogs with all their stuff right?” said Dash quickly, trying to lift his spirits.
“I guess,” Spike smiled weakly at Dash “Yeah, maybe everything will turn out okay. I still wish I could have stayed with Twilight though, even though she’s acting kind of scary right now.”
“Applejack’s there to chat it up with Twi, and you saw that she couldn’t get out of those chains.” Dash landed next to Spike, folding up her wings. “The doc is there too, so don’t beat yourself up over it. I know it sucks, but she’s still a little concussed and we’re down two unicorns. When the time comes for action, if it ever does, be ready for anything!”
Spike looked down the dirt trail, seeing the gaping maw of the Ursas former den looming in the distance just waiting to swallow them up whole. He loosened his grip on the silver stake, his mind drifting back to Twilight still imprisoned in her stretcher.
***
Applejack shifted nervously on the stiff wooden chair. She’d pick a different one but they were all horribly uncomfortable. Complaining about it wasn’t her so she opted to just sit on her tail which provided a fairly decent amount of cushion for her. It did little to dent the air of tension that had settled in the room, like an ominous fog it drifted through the room and sat in place between her, the doctor…and the previously bright purple filly staring directly at the two ponies, studying them with thin, pale eyes.
“Jus’ sit tight sugar, this’ll all be over before you can say chicken noodle soup!” offered Applejack trying to do anything to provoke a response from her friend.
Twilight snapped her head up, making Applejack flinch at the sudden movement “Sitting tight is all I seem able to do AJ, thanks for reminding me.”
“Girl you know its for your own safety, and ours, until all our friend manage to off that nasty varmint that up and bit ya,” she replied, fidgeting under Twilights cold gaze.
“Sure Applejack, in a few short hours everything will be perfectly fine and things will go back to normal and I’ll be all better,” Twilight said sardonically, her words dripping with contempt.
The doctor watched from his seat, three chairs over from the orange filly so bravely engaging her friend with hopeful chatter. He was a little relieved she opted to do so. It was unnerving to be stared at the way she had been, as if the pony was contemplating the taste of his neck. Of course years of working in the bustling frantic mayhem of Manehatten General already meant his nerves were shot, so at the momentary lapse in their conversation he got up from his chair. His throat was dry from doing so much talking earlier. At least there was an easy cure for that problem.
“Pardon me ladies, I’m going to step outside for a moment and get a glass of water,” he said as delicately as possible.
“Don’t drag your hooves now,” said Applejack with the slightest tip of her hat.
Twilight said nothing, instead opting to see him out of the room with another hateful scowl.
She looked over at Applejack, seeing that she was now staring up at the ceiling instead of looking at her.
Probably thinking of more inane ways to cheer me up
“Don’t mind him none, I doubt he’s gonna be long for jus’ a glass of water,” said Applejack looking to the door now.
He’s out of the way now, just me and her, no distractions
“I wouldn’t mind a drink myself Applejack,” said Twilight flatly.
Applejack looked over at Twilight and snorted “Ya’ll heard him before, no more of that ‘till we get you all cured.”
There’s no cure in the world for me after midnight, you really think those vampires are just going to stick around town and wait to die?
Twilight locked eyes with Applejack, staring hard at her friends’ brilliant green pupils, “That’s okay Applejack, I wasn’t too thirsty, but I really am exhausted lately, you know how that feels right?”
Concentrate concentrate on her eyes nothing but the eyes focus on the eyes
“Ya’ll know me better than anypony else Twi,” chuckled Applejack, not breaking line of sight with Twilight “but yeah, ya’ll look kinda sweaty there all of a sudden now that ya mention it.”
Keep her talking don’t break eye contact focus on the eyes
“I can’t wipe my forehead myself, could you help me please?” requested Twilight in the sweetest voice she could muster.
Get up and walk over here
Applejack shifted in her seat again “Well…t’aint entirely…”
Get off the chair and come to me
“Please? It’s really uncomfortable,” she added.
Come to me
“Alrighty, no harm in it I s’pose,” said Applejack plainly, hopping off the chair.
Twilight allowed herself a grin. Her plan was a success so far. Vampires’ inherent powers of suggestion were natural to all those afflicted, and with Applejacks move she knew she had successfully tapped into it. If she could already do that, then it wouldn’t be too difficult for her to move the orange mare in whatever direction she pleased. Since it was working the next stage of true mental possession was just around the corner.
As her friend rounded the bed, Twilight kept her head turned to follow hers, chains clinking quietly as her hooves shifted on the thin blue bed sheets. Applejack grabbed three tissues from the small square box in rapid succession, bunching them up with her hooves. Twilight bent her neck forwards, offering her forehead while still concentrating on watching her eyes.
Fortunately, Applejack was direct enough to look her right back at her for each question.
“Thank you very much, I feel better now,” smiled Twilight, after her friend patted the moisture below her purple fringe a few times.
Stay here by my side look at me stay and chat
“No problem sugar,” returned Applejack, tossing the tissues away. Beads of sweat were beginning to form on her forehead. Twilight could practically sense the blood in her veins as her heart began pumping faster.
“This thing on my head though, it’s grinding against my horn, it hurts so much,” pouted Twilight.
Reach forward with your hoof and pull it off
“Oh that silly thang? I imagine it would…be hurtin’. It does look mighty uncomfortable,” said Applejack, her voice slipping into an even monotone.
Twilight narrowed her eyes, staring fiercely at the pools of green just a foot away from her own
Reach forwards
Applejack planted her hoof on the bed “I mean, it does look awful constrictin’ I imagine.”
Raise your hoof
“It’s scratching at my horn, it hurts a lot AJ. A whole lot.” Twilight said quickly.
RAISE YOUR HOOF
A vein bulged a little on Applejacks forehead; sweat rolling down her cheeks as her hoof lifted itself up, dangling in the empty space just between her and Twilight
“I know that feeling Twilight, it’s just awful isn’t it?” replied Applejack, voice completely devoid of its usual country twang.
GRAB AT THE CAP
“Very awful. Please help me. I need your help,” pressured Twilight
Twilights mind was screaming, her unicorn magic buzzing at the base of her horn, clawing for release from its enchanted pewter prison. A soft, tender hoof was pressing against the metal encasing her horn. The metal started to give, sliding upwards along the grooves.
PULL AT THE CAP
Saliva was starting to pool in her mouth. Applejacks neck was right in front of her. The fine orange hairs on her throat outlining every curve, every contour of that perfectly taut neckline. It would take just one swift motion…
The door to the room banged open. The doctor stepped inside.
“Sorry about that, had to make a quick stop in the lavator-“
He froze, the color draining from his cheeks at the sight before him.
Twilight didn’t even look, concentration fully devoted to Applejack, who blinked. Thinking fast, she lowered her head from the loosened cap, and shook her head violently.
The metal casing that restricted her fell free, clattering to the floor. Gasping, the doctor leapt at it. Twilights horn flared to life.
“AHG” he choked out, his body being magically pressed against the wall of the room.
Twilight summoned some rope, immediately binding him before turning back to Applejack, who was teetering on her hooves.
She met her gaze immediately, feeling her newfound powers being amplified with her magic, and demanded loud as clear as possible with her magic to grab at the invisible force she had been chipping away at so carefully for the past few minutes.
YOUR WILL IS MINE
Applejack seemed to stumble forwards a little, the air in front of her rippling despite no wind or breeze. Her hat slid off her face, falling aside as her pupil dilated, growing until her eyes were pools of deep black.
“Twilight! Don’t do this! There’s still time!” called out the doctor, desperation filling his voice.
“It’s too late doctor, much too late for me, for you, for everypony involved,” said Twilight triumphantly, turning to Applejack.
“Lean over,” she growled.
“Sure thing Twi,” obliged Applejack, delivering her neck.
The doctor could only watch in silent horror as the pale purple filly ravenously bit into her friends’ throat. Even worse was the lack of any emotional response from the orange pony. There was only a placid, happy smile etched on her face as Twilight sucked greedily from her neck, blood dribbling down her neck onto the bedsheets. It’s effect on Twilight was even more frightening. The rich purple color immediately surging back to her coat and replacing the pale lavender that had overtook her.
Less than two minutes later Twilight released her mouth, licking her lips in satisfaction.
“Ooooh,” she rolled her head, bones in her neck cracking softly. Applejack stared listlessly into space.
Twilights horn glowed again, the chains clasped to hooves shuddered, glowed, turned to wood and burst into flame. The engravings in the once metal chains were immediately warped by the heat, shattering into gray ash.
Free of her bindings, she hopped off the bed and stretched her legs.
The severity of the situation was fully upon him the doctor now; he wiggled helplessly on the floor, trying to get to the doorway.
A purple aura shimmered around the door, and it slammed shut, locking quietly.
He turned around and saw Twilight looming above him, her bloodied lips twisted in a proud, macabre smile.
“You don’t have to do this! There’s-“
“Nothing” she finished for him, telekinetically propping him up “After midnight by the full moon I’m going to be stuck like this permanently. If you think those vampires, whatever bit me hasn’t flown the coop by now after being trapped by the Ursa for all those years then you’re just…foolish for thinking that I’d have any chance of getting back to normal.”
“But-“
“BUT NOTHING!” she roared at him, flecks of blood spraying his face. He winced, shrinking backwards to the wall.
“If you had bothered to look, really look through that book over there you could have caught this thing before it took control of me. I know about this because after my run-in with the goblins I read everything else in then there too. Guess what? There was a complete section on vampirism,” Twilight leered at him, voice shaking with disgust “that was just so informative to all the signs, symptoms and methods of halting the infection before it worsened.”
The doctor whinnied, “What…what are you going to do then?”
“Leave,” she said looking to the window, her composure returning quickly “Find somewhere new to go, to live. I can’t be seen in the suns light anymore, but I won’t go alone oh no, that’s not fair to me is it? To make all these friends and lose them already…no.” She turned to Applejack, her eyes wild “Isn’t that right AJ? We’ll all be friends forever! All of us!”
“I wouldn’t think nothin’ against it,” said Applejack placidly, eyes still glazed over.
“Good,” she chuckled to herself “You see Doc? We can be together forever!”
Twilight snapped back to him “Only one quick loose end to take care of…”
***
Rarity smacked her lips the whole walk back through the cave, leading the way alongside Jo’sun. While the taste of blood now carried a more pleasurable taste to it the texture was still impossible to get used to. It was akin to drinking a thick, warm milkshake with the consistency of light maple syrup. The way it settled in her stomach was not favorable either, sloshing about inside like a plastic bag filled halfway with water.
She had decided that a liquid diet was not for her.
“We will own this night, you and I,” he stated, his words a continuous flow of the promises of an eternally better life.
“Of course we will,” she replied meekly, trying to keep him talking. It was all she could do at this point.
“Your entire life up until this point my dear, just leading up to this moment. Soon under the midnight moon you will ascend to greatness, a chance to rule anew!” he continued, shouldering past the last bend to the cave’s vaulted entrance.
“I can hardly wait…” said Rarity as honestly sounding she could muster.
The other members of his little tribe were following a short distance behind, silent as ghosts. Rarity occasionally turned to see if perhaps they were chatting very quietly under their breath while she listened to Jo’sun drone on about her new, better life. He seemed to be thrilled for this whole situation, but she wasn’t paying much attention, only nodding in agreement when he looked over her or smiling when he smiled at her.
Her mind was elsewhere and the finality of the approaching situation was almost too much to bear. Pale moonlight met her eyes as she exited the cave, craning her neck skywards to get a look at the moon that would be lighting the rest of Raritys life.
“Stop,” he said not only a foot away from the mouth of the cave. Rarity looked at him warily. He was staring straight ahead into some nondescript bushes by a tall chestnut tree.
“Is something the matter?” she asked, a hint of false worry in her voice.
“We’re being watched,” he replied. Jo’sun snapped his neck to the left of her to a small pile of rocks “More than one.”
Rarity felt her heart skip a beat “Really? Should I be worried?” she scanned the bushes herself. A twig snapped softly somewhere in the underbrush, she strained her ears, making out some barely inaudible whispering in the background.
“No of course not,” he said brushing aside the comment. Jo’sun turned his head, motioning for the rest of the ponies to come along side him “In twenty or so minutes-“
“CHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGE!”
Pinkie Pie bounced out of the chestnut tree in front of them, landing on the ground and doing a backflip over their heads. The pink pony whooping wildly and stunning the vampires into silence.
“PINKIE PIE!?” shrieked Rarity just as shocked as the others “What are you doing here?!”
“We’re here to kick vampire butt!” Pinkie said landing on her back hooves and doing a pirouette.
Rarity heard it before she saw. Unusually heavy footsteps charging down the trail just ahead, and Big Macintosh galloped into view, the red hue of his coat matching a determined blaze in his deep green eyes. He charged right through the middle of the group, the vampire ponies scattering away from him. Rarity dodged him easily. Macintosh went right on running. Morsemere grunted, spreading his wings and flying after him as he rounded the cave entrance for another charge.
The airborne vampire would have clipped him too if he wasn’t immediately tackled by a multi-color blur.
“TAKE THAT YOU BLOODSUCKER! YEAH!” hollered Rainbow Dash as one well placed buck of her hind legs sent the Pegasus hurtling into a boulder, the wind knocked out of him.
“AW YEAH! YOU GO PINKIE!” she pumped a foreleg in the air, watching Pinkie Pie tussling with the other nameless pair of colts. Rarity watched as Pinkie bounced around their attempts to grab her, occasionally hissing aloud if they got too near the strands of garlic around her neck.
Rarity opened and closed her mouth, failing to find words for the situation. Morsemere re-appeared from behind the boulders and immediately gave chase to Rainbow Dash, spitting a plethora of curses at her colorful tail. Jo’sun and Macintosh were locked in a fierce fight, the enraged ibex furiously trying to land a blow with his enormous curled horns. Macintosh ducked and weaved. He punched with his forehooves, kicked when the limber goat circled his backside. One brief window of opportunity presented itself allowing him a bite at his throat, but the heavy work collar foiled the attempt expertly.
Another pair of wings were flapping over head now, Rarity twisted her head seeing Fluttershy hovering above her, expression twisted into one of guilt.
“Oh Fluttershy,” she said, the hard look on the yellow Pegasus’ face tearing right through her resolve.
“I’m sorry,” her friend whispered above, the words inaudible but the expression on her lips perfectly visible. She dove, then twisted in mid air. Spike leapt off her backside, his claws outstretched.
“Augh! Spike!” Rarity didn’t have time to react. She only managed to rear up in surprise as the purple-green dragon barreled into her, knocking her onto the hard ground. Rarity instinctively twisted and kicked at him, completely forgetting her magic in the heat of the moment. He stood on her chest, a silver stake clutched between his teeth.
Raritys eyes locked on to gleaming object, every fiber of her being already screaming for her to get away from it. Don’t touch it. Don’t look at it. She could already feel her muscles seizing up at it, the hair on her forelegs standing up on end.
“How could you do this to her!?” demanded Spike, removing the stake from his mouth, the tip dangling precariously close to her face.
“Spike, please, I didn’t want to do it! I didn’t mean for it to happen!”
“You snuck into the library,”
“I only wanted her help! Not to-“
“Then you got her while she was asleep,” he continued, gripping the stake tight.
“Please,” she cringed, seeing the intense anger, hearing the ache in his voice “Please stop, this was horrifying enough to go through, not again…”
“Then you turned her into of them. Into one of you,” he pointed an accusatory claw at her, his face unflinching.
“Spike I-I” her voice wavered, every inch of skin felt like it was on fire, the string of garlic around his neck nearly brushing against the white coat of her belly.
“I have to Rarity,” he pressed against her chest, feeling her heartbeat slamming against his palm. “This is the only way to have…Twilight back now. Right through the heart a-and it’s because you were the one who got her. The only way to get her normal for sure and for-ever is for me to do this.”
Spike sniffled, raising the stake high above her. Raritys eyes grew wide, seeing nothing but the tip of that lethal weapon poised above his head. She shut her eyes, the tension in her body winding her tight as a knot.
“I’m sorry,” they both said.
Spike plunged the stake downward with all the force he could muster.
SHNK!
And hit dirt.
“NO,” roared Jo’sun, his teeth clenched around Raritys purple head of hair. He’d dragged her away at the last minute, the stake burying itself deep into the ground. The bulky ibex had torn away from Macintosh, who was now squaring off with Valerie.
Spike tugged the silver stake free from the dirt, running as fast as he could over to them. Jo’sun lowered his head and clipped Spike with one of his horns, the little dragon sent spiraling away into the underbrush, his weapon vanishing into the darkness.
“She shall be not be destroyed for this! You will not vanquish my Queen so easily!” he roared at Spike as Rarity shakily got to her hooves.
Spike wobble uneasily, then sat back on the ground, his face a mask of pain as his green eyes began welling with tears. Rarity looked over to Macintosh, lying on the ground gasping for air, Valerie standing atop him triumphantly with her fangs bared. She looked above, spotting a squirming Rainbow Dash struggling against Morsemeres grip on her. Pinkie Pie was pressed against the wall by the two vampire colts, each a hold of one pink foreleg and far from the intoxicating stench of her garlic necklace.
“Soon my sweet, in less than two minutes all will be bound eternal,” assured Jo’sun, his voice resuming its proud tone.
“Two minutes…” she whispered. Something nagged at her. Something Spike said not only thirty seconds ago before his attempt to drive the stake through her beating heart. She bit her lower lip, fangs digging into the skin and drawing blood.
Jo’sun stood next to her, his dark eyes staring at the moon. He looked without a care in the world.
“Yes, not too long now. Are you ready for this Rarity?” he asked.
Rarity looked around desperately, ignoring the wound she just inflicted on her mouth. She couldn’t find anything nearby that she needed! Rarity sat on her rump. She folded her head down, clutching her head with every intention to give up right then and there.
Inspiration struck her. Rarity gasped aloud, the solution now extraordinarily obvious.
“Rarity?” Jo’sun asked again, his gaze unwavering.
She drew her head back, counted to three, then thrusted her head into his chest with all her might.
Her well filed horn pierced his skin and jabbed right into his heart.
“AAUUUGH,” he drew away from her screaming in agony, rearing backwards. Raritys crimson coated horn slipped out of his chest. He shook his head back and forth. Spitting blood he fell onto his side, heaving and coughing. Everypony watched as Rarity calmly walked over to him, a strange, ethereal bile bubbling from his sides. He spat, choking on his own blood.
“…Why?” he inquired, the acrid film of blackness starting to rise from his form.
“Unfortunately the notion of spending the rest of my life knowing I’ve ruined somepony elses does NOT sit right with me,” she glared at him “especially my dearest friends’ own. If this is what I have to resort to in order to protect them, then so be it.”
The stench from his innards was quickly overwhelming, the fallen ibex gave one final cough, then his body went up in thick black smoke and orange ember. Rartiy yelped, feeling a painful sensation crawling through her coat before funneling directly into her forehead. Suddenly blinded with the pain shooting through her she felt all four legs give way. The cool Earth rushed up to meet her.
Rarity blacked out.
***
“Fluttershy be super careful with those streamers! Those ones rip extra easy!”
“Okay Pinkie,” she gingerly draped the streamer over the little hook on the wall, being careful to slow her wingbeats so it didn’t catch and tear the material.
“Thank you so much for your help Pinkie Pie! Everything is shaping up wonderfully,” Rarity walked over and nuzzled her on the neck “I have to admit that considering the recent circumstances perhaps a little extra flair in the festivities is called for don’t you think?”
Pinkie Pie giggled “You betcha! I’m glad I managed to round up all this stuff beforehand or else I would have missed out using up ALL these special decorations. Also, the best part is that now I can go buy a brand new amazing set of party supplies I’ve had my eye on for almost forever for the after birthday party!”
Rarity eyed the rest of her now colorfully decorated boutique. Rainbow Dash was slipping some colored filters over the stage lighting and rotating them in various angles with help from the rented DJ (just one speaker Scratch it’s a childrens party!) to provide more diversity amongst the stage. Some of the school fillies were already arriving, and Cherrilee was busily herding them over to a spot out of the way to avoid tripping into wayward wires or materials.
Rarity trotted over to Twilight. The unicorn was nursing a small cup of punch and sandwiched between Applejack and the Doctor. Her expression was muted, desperately trying to wiggle away under the table but to no avail.
“It’s perfectly alright you know Miss Sparkle. No permanent harm has come to any of your friends. The remaining vampires have fallen to ash and scattered to the winds. In the meantime this is suiting up to be quite a party and you should enjoy yourself,” The doctor motioned to her right. “Your friend here has already forgiven you!”
“Yeah, only ‘bout a hundred or so times,” smiled Applejack, ruffling Twilights purple mane with a free hoof. “Lighten up will ya sugar?”
“I just don’t know how you can be so okay with me after I did that to you,” mumbled Twilight into her punch, her eyes drifting to the white bandage on Applejacks neck.
“Ya’ll weren’t right in the head remember? Doc here was fixin’ to shove that stake in your chest if ya’ll didn’t get better ‘fore midnight if I recall in case ya made an escape,” she chuckled, “which ya did anyhow.”
Twilight sipped her drink. The cup between her hooves shaking just a little. She looked on the verge of tears again.
“Listen sugarcube, that’s self preservation. I ain’t fixin’ to hold a grudge, and Rarity here isn’t frettin’ as bad as you are when she drummed up her ‘plogy.” She rested her hoof on Twilights foreleg “So do yourself a favor an’ please stop getting’ all worked up over it.”
In one quick motion she gulped the rest of her juice, looking back and forth between the two Earth ponies.
“You’re sure?” she finally said, her voice small.
“C’mere girl,” Applejack hugged her friend tight, “S’all water under the bridge now. Let it go an’ you’ll start feelin’ better pronto.”
Twilight took a deep breath, holding it, and then released it slowly. All the weight of worry on her shoulders melted away.
“Well?”
Twilight smiled for the first time since yesterday “I…do feel better now-”
She put a hoof up to her mouth to cut her off “Don’t you start with the sorries again neither. Now we’ve gotta party to throw!”
Rarity sighed happily, walking away from the two towards the small table piled with presents. Her parents waved from the far side of the room, both of them fussing over a particularly knotty handful of streamers. The mountain of presents before her was mostly credited to them and their tendency to splurge whilst shopping. She magically added some more color to the largest ribbon. The magnificent yellow strand glowed a much brighter gold.
“Rarity? A moment please?” said a soft voice behind her.
“Yes? How may I help you?” Rarity replied, meeting the doctor face to face.
“Are you feeling fine?” he squinted at her “That nasty spill after you were cured left quite the mark.”
“A temporary blemish,” she automatically reached at the fading bruise on her left cheek “which is nothing to worry about. I’m more concerned for poor Spike. Good heavens the look on his face…”
“I haven’t spoken to him myself since last night…poor little guy,” he looked at the wall thoughtfully.
“He’ll be okay soon I’m sure. When he gathers the nerve to apologize I’ll accept and he’ll be fawning over me in no time,” she giggled, “this I’m certain of.”
“I see you’re pretty confident about that,” he said.
“Oh I’m afraid you have NO idea what I usually go through. Had these recent events been less morbid I would be enjoying this reprieve from his attention,” Rarity said adjusting her hair.
“Well assuming he does dog you like you say it appears that you’ve been able to set up this party in record time for, er,” he rubbed the back of his neck “forgive me what was your little sisters name?”
“Sweetie Bell,” she answered for him “Come to think of it I haven’t seen her since I left my house that night…”
“Macintosh! Could I borrow you for a moment?” called Rarity.
The red stallion cantered over to them, the usual sprig of wheat he chewed on replaced by a single toothpick he’d pulled from the plate of hors’devors set out on the table.
“Eeyup, need any help?” he asked.
“Yes have you, ahem, seen Sweetie Belle around?” she inquired earnestly.
“Sweetie, Scootaloo an’ my littlest sister all had a sleep over ‘n their crusader clubhouse las’ night out in the orchards,” he drawled, sounding bored.
“Have you seen them today?” Rarity asked.
“Nope ‘fraid not. Come to think of it I haven’t seen none of them at all since yesterday. They didn’t even come by for early mornin’ grub. Though I suspected at first it was because they’re none too partial to grits.”
The doctor cleared his throat “Miss Rarity. When you last saw Sweetie Belle…under what circumstances was it?”
“I was seeing her to bed before I left for Twilights library,” she recalled, a hint of worry creeping into her voice.
“Were you…suffering at the time?” he pressed.
“Yes” she answered swiftly, then lowering her voice “and I had almost committed a most unspeakable act.”
“So you didn’t bite her, ah, that’s good news,” said the doctor with a sigh of relief.
Rarity cringed “Well….”
He shot her a quizzical look “Miss Rarity?”
“On no accounts did I actually do anything to her, but I shall admit that it was a very close call.”
His eyes widened “How close did you get to her when you were still virile?”
Rarity gulped “Let’s assume that I…had my mouth at her throat for nearly a split-second shall we?”
“Rarity!” he cried “Did you-”
“I said I didn’t!” she snapped, “I swear it!”
The doctor stamped his hoof “No worries! I completely take you word about not drinking her blood. However, do you remember breaking the skin with your fangs?”
Big Macintosh was staring intently at her, his usually tranquil visage replaced with something of worry. Raritys blue eyes darted back and forth between his face and the doctors. She felt trapped, like a doomed mouse cornered by Opalescence.
“Maybe a little?”
***
“Can I come down Applebloom? I promise I won’t do it again.”
“NO” said the little filly, stamping her hoof into the floor “Ah saw what ya did las’ night. Ah ain’t lettin’ it happen again.”
Sweetie Belle groaned, wiggling helplessly in the air. She was currently hanging upside down by a string of rope tied to her hind leg, swaying back and forth slowly and facing the upright Applebloom who had detained her this way last night.
“I don’t even feel like doing it again. I said I was sorry!” pleaded Sweetie Belle, trying to reach her leg with a stubby hoof.
“Ah’m not fixin’ to believe a word ya gotta say after ah saw ya bitin’ Scootaloos neck! That jus’ ain’t right an’ you shoulda warned us yah was a vampire pony!” Applebloom put a hoof to her chin “Course I shouldn’t expect ya to be tellin’ us you was thirstin’ for blood.”
“Well…you could at least let Scootaloo down right?”
Sweetie and Applebloom both looked to Scootaloo, who was also bound upside down by some rope, a rag stuffed in her mouth.
“Nah, she could be a vampire pony too by now,” stated Applebloom.
“The sun isn’t even hurting us though!” exclaimed Sweetie Belle, motioning to the afternoon sunlight streaming in through the windows of the clubhouse.
Scootaloo muffled eagerly in agreement.
“Nah, s’gotta be a loophole or somethin’ I’m missing.” The cream colored pony peered out the open window, frowning at the sunlight “There’s a lil’ row a’ garlic mah sis planted after las’ years winter wrap up. Ahm gonna go an’ get some, an’ when ah get back if ya’ll don’t be allergic to it I’ll let ya both down. If ya are though, ahm afraid ah got to put ya down mahself.”
Applebloom trotted over to the door, just about leaving before Sweetie called out “Can you at least pull that cloth out of Scootaloos mouth before you go?”
“Why’s that?” inquired Applebloom, her voice suspicious.
“Just so I have somepony to talk to I guess…” said Sweetie quietly.
Bounding over to Scootaloo, she eyed her intensely “Yah better promise to not go hootin’ an’ a hollerin’ yer head off or nothin’ like that again. Got it Scoot?”
Scootaloo nodded fervently, and Applebloom pulled the rag out of her mouth and spat it to the floor, and turned tail out of the clubhouse, leaving behind a silent flick of her red tail.
“This totally sucks! AAARRRGH!” grunted Scootaloo in her bonds as soon as their little captor had gone out of earshot. She twisted around until she was face to face with her fellow upside down pony.
“It’s all your fault! Why’d you have to bite me!?” she spat.
“I’m sorry!” apologized Sweetie, her voice a stressed high pitch “I don’t know what came over me. One minute I couldn’t go to sleep and then I got kind of hungry last night but the cheese snacks weren’t working then you were right there next to me and I…”
Sweetie Belle let her head drop “I dunno why I did that…I’m so sorry about it.”
“Apology ignored for biting my neck and then pretending it didn’t happen right after!” replied Scootaloo indignantly, twisting away from her.
“I got better like almost after! I even threw everything up too!” she offered to her friends orange backside. Scootaloo just grumbled something in response.
“We’re both better now! We just have to be! You know it because the sun isn’t burning our skin off right now, even if Applebloom doesn’t yet…”
There was no response from her friend still muttering under her breath.
“She’ll let us down soon. I know she will!” she said.
No answer.
Sweetie sighed deeply.
“Please don’t stay mad at me. I honestly didn’t mean it. We’re still friends right?”
Nothing.
“Right?”
A breeze rolled through the window, they both swayed slightly in the gently wind, and the little orange Pegasus remained quiet.
Sweetie Belle gulped hard, trying to fight back the hint of tears welling at her eyes.
“…Scoot?”
Scootaloo friend swished her purple tail, and said nothing.
“This is the worst birthday of my entire life,” mumbled Sweetie Belle, fresh tears starting to roll down her cheeks and dripping unceremoniously onto the wooden floor.
The room remained silent for another minute, the two of them just swaying in the in wind together, Sweetie sniffling softly, her eyes squeezed shut tight.
Flapping her left wing, Scootaloo rotated to face the little crying unicorn.
“Today is your birthday?” she said softly.
“Yeah…”
“So you’re-,”
“Twelve, yeah…” said Sweetie quickly, wiping her cheek.
“Oh.”
Scootaloo shut her mouth tight, watching Sweetie drying the water still trailing from her light green eyes.
“……happy birthday Sweetie.”
“Thanks Scoot.”
“Hey,” she flapped her wings a bit, trying to keep face to face with Sweetie “Don’t cry on your birthday, you shouldn’t you know. It’s totally like against the rules or something.”
“I can’t stop…” she rubbed her face again “I’m-“
“I’m sorry,” said Scootaloo.
“Look I get mad sometimes like that,” she continued before Sweetie could speak “So I sorta get that maybe you totally meant to do it at the time but you’re sorry now when I’m still mad about the whole thing. I don’t hate you, and this sucks so much worse for you since it’s your birthday and I’m being all…making you cry like this.”
Scootaloo put a hoof to Sweeties shoulder.
“I’m still your friend you know.”
Looking around left and right real fast, Scootaloo pumped her wings and grabbed her in a tight hug, then let her go and swung backwards.
“Thanks Scoot,” she said, a smile returning to her face at last “When we get down from here we’ll all go to my surprise party that Pinkie Pie probably set up by now.”
“Okay, if Applebloom doesn’t come back and stuff us full of garlic first.”
They both broke into laughter, swinging in tune with each other. Sweetie glanced out the window, seeing Applebloom holding a single garlic clove by the teeth. A feeling of contentment washed over her, knowing this little test would be something they’d both be sure to pass. Sweetie Belle told Scoots, who immediately stuck out her tongue at having to munch garlic soon, making her laugh.
Maybe her birthday would turn out okay after all….
THE END