The Adventures of Vampire Cheerilee

by totallynotabrony

Chapter 4

Cheerilee’s eyes snapped open at the sound of the alarm clock. The shrill ringing did not constitute a threat, however, so she sat up in bed with a sigh.
What happened the night before had caught her by surprise. Why hadn’t killing the snake been as emotionally difficult as the other animals? Was it because the serpent was ugly and mean? Was she really that shallow?
Cheerilee shook her head. This was not the time to be thinking about it. She collected her things and trotted off towards the school.
When she arrived, she went about the familiar routine of opening blinds and cleaning. She remembered the gift that Twist had given her. It was still in her desk drawer.
Cheerilee took the candy cane out and looked at it. She’d tried eating regular food before, but it hadn’t ended well. She licked the peppermint candy tentatively, the familiar taste lingering on her tongue.
Nothing about the pleasurable flavor had changed. Twist hadn’t gotten her candy cutie mark for nothing. Cheerilee’s taste buds cried out for more, and she desperately wanted to eat the sweet confection. She felt a hint of nausea building up, though, and knew that one lick was all she was going to get.
She sat down and took a few deep breaths, the ill feeling passing quickly. Cheerilee dropped the candy in the wastebasket, concealing it with a bit of clutter. It would look suspicious if the candy was discovered there. Nopony ever threw away Twist’s peppermints.
I can’t even enjoy a candy cane. One more thing taken from her. One more thing that made her different from who she once was.
If the students hadn’t begun coming in at that moment, Cheerilee might have broken down crying on her desk. It was only for them that she put on a smile and shoved away her pain.
It was a relief that she could still get lost in her teaching. Despite what the little ponies might think if they found out her secret, they might be the only thing keeping her sane.
Today in class, a few more students were wearing t-shirts. Cheerilee started the lesson before they could begin comparing each other’s slogans and witticisms.

After the fillies and colts were dismissed that afternoon, Cheerilee sat at her desk for a while. Rarity’s suggestion of getting a hobby sounded nice, but where should she begin? It wasn’t like you discovered something new and enjoyable to do every day.
Her thoughts drifted back to the night before, and she hesitantly let them. She hadn’t lost control. She hadn’t woken up next to a blood-drenched dead creature.
Was there some way she could cause that to happen again? While still gruesome, it was better than the alternative of bloodlust and instinctive reactions.
As Cheerilee packed up to go home, she felt the pressure of what lay ahead bearing down. She needed to figure out what was different about her hunt the night before. She also needed to find a hobby that would keep her sane. Even if both those things came to pass, the best she could hope for was still a flawed life, however long that would last. She had no idea how to proceed.
Preoccupied, Cheerilee shut the schoolhouse door a little more forcefully than needed. It rattled the whole wall as it slammed shut. She drew her hoof back in surprise. Her strength had been boosted since the transformation, but she’d never tested exactly how much. If she had been trying, she might have even broken the door off its hinges.
All the more reason to be careful. She didn’t want to hurt anypony. The thought of having to monitor herself and constantly be on the alert every minute of every day sounded like a monumental task.
What if she were to remove herself from the situation? Could she stay in the forest and hide? Or perhaps…a more permanant solution?
Cheerilee shook her head. That was no way to think. Her students needed her. Regardless of whether she moved away or…killed herself, the town wouldn’t be the same without her. She may not get much recognition considering she was just the schoolteacher, but as long as she felt like she was making a difference in young lives, she vowed to stay.
How would a vampire even commit suicide, anyway?

The puzzle of what had happened the night before continued to trouble Cheerilee. Her paperwork had been graded, and she sat staring out the window. The sky had gone orange in preparation for the sunset. All the buildings in town cast long shadows in the street.
Cheerilee got up. She wasn’t desperately hungry. I can control this, she decided. Just a walk.
The Everfree Forest was just as intimidating as she remembered, but with the faint daylight still left, it took on a slightly more friendly appearance.
Cheerilee waded into the trees. She wasn’t really sure what she was looking for, but felt that she’d know it when she found it.
There was a slight sound behind her. Cheerilee stopped and then turned her head. A flash of orange was all she managed to see.
“Valiant?” she called.
The stallion stepped out from behind a tree. “Got me. I guess I got a little lazy. I thought all vamponies were as deaf as Rarity.” He shook his head. “Worst vampire ever. Enthusiastic, but not very alert.”
He was wearing some kind of device on his back. Cheerilee vaguely remembered it being tested on Fluttershy to improve her speed when the pegasi were forming the water-lifting tornado.
“What are you doing here?” she asked.
“I just came to see what was up. You aren’t scheduled to be hungry right now, so I thought something might be happening.”
“You’ve been watching me to see what my habits are?”
Valiant nodded. “Yeah, I get bored sometimes. By the way, that thing you did last night was pretty cool, snake eater.” He chuckled to himself at some memory.
Cheerilee took a step in his direction. Despite his words, Valiant wasn’t relaxed. He didn’t react very much, but he definitely noticed her getting closer.
“Anyway,” he said, “just get back to what you were doing before. Pretend I’m not here.”
Cheerilee took another couple of steps. Valiant shifted his hooves a little.
“You look nervous,” she said.
“Sorry. I’m just out here in the middle of the woods with a bloodthirsty killing machine. I’d be stupid not to be.”
His straightforward admission surprised Cheerilee. “But why did you come?”
“Truthfully, I’m probably as confused as you are. A big part is doing it for the science. Another reason is that I feel somewhat responsible. Good or bad, I did this to you, so it’s my responsibility alone to secretly follow you around and see how you cope.”
“I’ll tell you how I’m coping!” shouted Cheerilee. “I have never felt so lost, helpless, depressed, or disgusted with myself! I’ve killed things!”
Valiant nodded. “I know.”
Cheerilee kept walking towards him. “So you’re responsible, you say? I don’t want to be a vampire anymore. Maybe you can help me with that.”
“We don’t know for sure if killing me will turn you back,” he pointed out.
“I’m willing to give it a try.”
“See, this is why I brought the jetpack,” said Valiant. He activated a control and the device rocketed him up to the branches of a tall tree above Cheerilee’s head.
“Come and get me!” he called.
Cheerilee glared at him and sank down to her haunches, preparing to jump to the first limb. If she caught him, fine. If she fell and broke her neck, well, there were worse ways to die.
“Oh Cheerilee?” called Valiant. “You may want to take a look at that big ugly thing that’s sneaking up on you. I’ll see you around.” He activated the flying device again and soared away towards Ponyville.
“What did he mean…” Cheerilee swung her head around, suddenly confronted by a timberwolf that had crept up behind her while she had been focused on Valiant. She wasn’t sure whether to be more surprised by it, or the fact that Valiant had been decent enough to warn her.
The creature was a little larger than Cheerilee and made of animated wood. Rough bark served as its coat. Sharp splinters filled its mouth. It growled at her, laying its ears back.
Almost by themselves, her lips pulled back to reveal her fangs. She was not prey.
The timberwolf charged, and Cheerilee met it head-on. They clashed together, each trying to attack the other’s weak points. Cheerilee felt a rough set of claws rake her flank. She tried to find a good place to bite.
The wolf attempted to gain the advantage by knocking her over. Cheerilee pushed back. She struck with her front hooves, evading the sharp claws. One powerful shove by her back legs sent the timberwolf sprawling.
The pony leaped on top, pressing the advantage. On its back, the wolf had suddenly become an easy target and struggled desperately. Cheerilee’s teeth found the wolf’s throat and tore it open.
The creature may have been made of timber, but it was still a fatal wound. Its resistance ceased and Cheerilee sat back, breathing hard.
The scratches on her side were not deep and appeared to already be scabbing over. Cheerilee stood up, suddenly weary. She spit out a couple of wood shavings.
It was time to call it a night. She walked slowly back towards Ponyville, occasionally pausing to expel more splinters from her mouth. By the time she reached her house, her mild wounds had almost completely healed.
After a quick shower, she laid down and was asleep in minutes.

A couple of days later, Cheerilee was back in Twilight’s library. Valiant was off doing something, so they were alone.
“I don’t understand it,” said Cheerilee. “I just feel a lot better about killing something if I know that it would have done the same to me.”
“I’ve never been in that position before,” said Twilight, “but I think I can understand what you mean. So, are you trying to hunt only predators now?”
“I suppose. I never really thought of it that way, but I guess I have stopped attacking anything that I would consider cute.”
Twilight appeared to be deep in thought. “We haven’t talked about it specifically, but I got the feeling that Princess Celestia knew that Blueblood was a vampire. Maybe I can write to her and ask for more information. If I keep things vague, nopony has to know about you.”
“But what would you talk about?” said Cheerilee.
“Maybe she can suggest a place where a vampire could be useful, like dangerous animal control.”
Cheerilee thought about that for a moment. The term useful vampire sounded like an oxymoron, but what if there was something she could do? It certainly beat feeling useless.
“That sounds okay,” admitted the schoolteacher.
Twilight smiled. “I’ll get started writing the letter.” As she moved away, she called, “It’s nice to see you coming to terms with the situation.”
Cheerilee almost snorted. She didn’t want to come to terms with anything. Being a vampire was still as repulsive as it had been on day one. Still, if she was going to be stuck this way, she might as well make the best of it.
The world might be a cruel, unforgiving place, but she didn’t have to be. Well, except for Valiant, Cheerilee wasn’t about to forgive him.
Twilight returned with a piece of parchment and wrote out the letter. Cheerilee sat, deep in thought. She couldn’t change what she was. She couldn’t learn to like it. That didn’t stop her from making the best of things, though. And sometimes, that was all you could ask for.

Author note:
As I finish this up, the story currently has 82 likes and zero dislikes. I’m surprised and very pleased at the attention The Adventures of Vampire Cheerilee has received. Thank you so much.
Does Celestia have jobs for vampires? Is there a Royal Vampony Corps? I sure hope so…hint, hint.