Alucard had requested some papers and a quill to sketch some basic designs for his clothes while they waited on Celestia’s guests to arrive. He had a passing thought that his current action gave off the impression of picky tastes and an uppity attitude, but he could live with that. He preferred the term ‘selective’.
Celestia was in her study doing some paperwork. The dhampir had no earthly idea what it was that Queens, or Princesses in this case, did regarding bureaucracy and the running of a country. His father had been less concerned with making laws and more concerned with conquering mortal lands, fending off the Belmont Clan, and bolstering his monster ranks.
Therefore, he did not disturb his host and let her figure out her ruling affairs on her own.
He surmised halfway through a sketch of a suit that there was no trends he had to conform to. He tossed that one out and began with a more complex outfit that he was familiar with.
Alucard didn't have much done, only a few drawings because of their complexity, by the time a servant knocked on his door and alerted him that the guests had arrived. He gathered his crude sketches and walked leisurely down the corridors, led by a young mare with her mane in a tight bun. He did not ask her name, and she did not attempt conversation. He used the time to imagine the Princess’s guests.
Before Alucard had been collected, Princess Celestia greeted the Elements personally. They all bowed before her and exchanged pleasantries, then got down to business.
Pinkie could not contain her excitement over meeting a new pony and immediately started asking where he was and rambling about parties and how ‘I have to get out the invitations right away by the way here's yours and yours and yours and—‘. On and on she went, pulling little envelopes out of her frizzy mane and stuffing them into her friends’ hooves and even mouths on a couple occasions.
“Pinkie Pie, I do not know if that is a good idea.” Their fair princess spoke, halting the hyper pony in her tracks.
“What? Everypony deserves a party! If they don’t have a Welcome Party, how will they know they’re welcome? What if they don't get one and think they aren't welcome and get all depressed and leave and then we’ll never see them again and everypony will think to themselves ‘why didn't we just have a party!’ And then WE’LL be depressed and—“
“Pinkie, our new friend is very… quiet, you could say. And I think having a party with everypony in town would overwhelm him. Why don't you have a small party? Just you and your friends, and he can meet the others on his own terms.”
Pinkie got a far off look on her face, and scrunched her eyes. “A small party…” The cogs in her frizzy head were already spinning, thinking of ways she could make a small party fun. It wasn't her usual style but she could make it work.
“Rarity, our new friend needs some clothes. He is quite a big fellow, though.”
Rarity looked surprised at this. Why was the Princess telling her this? Maybe this stallion has some taste, she thought excitedly. “I would be honored, Princess! I'll just need his measurements and then I can get started right away!”
Celestia turned to address somepony else while Rarity started making patterns in her head. “Fluttershy, our guest has a particular taste in food, and I think you would be most suited to telling him where he can get it.”
“M-Me?” The buttery pegasus asked quietly. Her talent was animals, so unless… Fluttershy gulped.
“Twilight Sparkle, our friend is not familiar with this land, so answer any questions he has. Though, I do not think he will ask very many. He catches on quite quick.”
“Yes, Princess!” Twilight Sparkle agreed wholeheartedly. She would attack this new task with everything she had.
“And Applejack, Rainbow Dash… Show him friendship.” Celestia smiled kindly to them. She did not know any tasks she could appoint to them specifically, and could see the disappointment in their eyes, even as they agreed without question.
Just then, a mare led someone down the hall. “Everypony, this is Prince Alucard.” Their eyes locked onto his knees confusedly, before traveling slowly up his form. It occurred to Twilight that Celestia had never said their guest would be a pony, so she couldn't reasonably be shocked.
Pinkie ran up to him without hesitation and stuck her hoof out, “Hi! I’m Pinkie Pie!”
He looked down at her with calculating eyes, shocked in his mind that these were Celestia’s guests. He bent way down and grasped her small hoof in his hand, knowing that the others were watching. “Charmed.”
The rest slowly trotted up to him, wary of him but trusting that their Princess would not introduce them to someone dangerous. They had no idea that even Celestia herself was a little wary of him. She hoped, in time, that Alucard would open up to them just like Twilight had.
She could see Rarity asking about his style preferences, to which he handed over some papers. Celestia tried to pay attention, but her thoughts were on the way he had stared up at Discord’s statue and what he had said about the evil maniac. He was calm as ever, and if she could pin an emotion to his tone: rueful. ‘I think you are quite lucky … Did he kill anyone?’ Troubling indeed, but she would not judge him. Not yet. She would do what she was best at, trust her ponies. Nothing bad had come from that. They came through for her time and time again.
Celestia came back to herself. “You will all dine here tonight, and leave in the morning. Alucard, may I speak with you a moment?”
He walked over to her, and leaned down at her gesture. “I would like you to accompany them to Ponyville. I feel it will be more suitable, considering your need for meat. Fluttershy should be able to direct you on what is and isn't prudent to eat. She cares for many animals that are carnivorous.”
He turned and gazed upon the shy pegasus with her butterfly adorned flank. ‘She cares for predators?’ Alucard felt a new respect for the pony.
Celestia continued whispering in his ear. “Many species in Equestria are intelligent, and hunting them would be murder. Another thing, please do not go into the Everfree without a guide. I know you woke up there, but it is still dangerous. It is uncharted land.” She narrowed her eyes at his snort, but said nothing.
Alucard immediately disregarded her warning. He had faces countless monsters, and even made them his lunch if he was so inclined. He had no fear of a ‘dangerous’ forest in this sugar-sweet world. That warning was probably given to everyone, but they were most likely the natural inhabitants in this land. What was dangerous for ponies that didn't even come up to his waist was completely different than what he considered a challenge. He noticed Celestia’s glare and pointedly ignored it. If she thought a mean look would change his mind, she was a fool.
After a moment, she wiped the look off her face and looked back to her ponies, who were all talking excitedly about a slumber party in the castle.
“Now, my friends,” she noticed their pleased looks at being called friends, “Prince Alucard will be accompanying you to Ponyville. Please show him a wonderful time. I will see you tonight at dinner.”
They took that as their cue. After a bow, they walked away. They were all thinking about their tasks, except Applejack and Rainbow Dash who were chatting to each other.
Alucard began to walk away, though where he was going was a mystery to Celestia. In actuality, he had no destination. He was just planning on walking around until nightfall, and maybe going to the library if he could find it.
His thoughts were consumed as he strolled leisurely to nowhere about the ponies he had met, and the supposedly dangerous Everfree forest. He was unaware that the Princess was watching his trail disappear down the hall, and thinking her own thoughts about dangerous things in the forest.
He had emerged from the very ground of where ponies were unable to walk safely. She wondered if that was a sign. ‘It seems every time I speak with him, I only have more questions.’
INTERMISSION 1
The ponies filed into the dinning hall, all with rumbling stomachs. As they took their places at the table, Alucard was up in his room and watching the moon rise. He wanted to get out of his room but didn't want to interact with anyone, so the easiest way to do that was head out his balcony. He looked all around to make sure no one was watching, before slipping smoothly into one of his other forms. His outline wavered and shrank, and with nary a sound, a large bat flew off the balcony railing.
Luna was walking the grounds, letting the cool night air wake her up. She was thinking pleasant thoughts filled with the starry skies and the bright moon. Suddenly, she thought of Alucard and how harshly she had judged him for his scary teeth, and felt bad. Her sister had given her a scolding for possibly causing offense earlier. She would have objected from the fact that Celestia was not her mother, if she hadn't seen the truth to the words.
The dark mare noticed a large bat taking a rest on a statue, and trotted up to it. “Hello,” she called softly to it. It spun around looking alarmed, caught sight of her and immediate took flight. “Wait!” She yelled after it, but it was gone into the night.
Alucard, meanwhile, was flying away from her into the night. ‘Are even bats sentient in this world?! Am I expected to converse with ponies as a bat, even?! Heaven above… Next time I'll just turn into a poison cloud and any silly pony who walks in and tries to speak does so at their own risk!’
Luna looked at his dwindling form, unaware of his fuming. “Oh well…” She sighed and continued on her walk through the grass, humming a tune all the while.