Octavia woke from a dreamless sleep with a start. Blinking her eyes open, she discovered the cause of her sudden awakening was Melody shaking her.
"He's here! He's here! He's finally here!" She exclaimed.
"Mmmm. Who's here?" Octavia asked sleepily as she rubbed her eyes and Melody stopped shaking her.
"The guy I wanted to introduce you to last night. Our Coven Leader and founder. He finally returned!" Melody explained.
"Hmm. Oh really?" Octavia hummed a little sleepily as she was still shaking off its affects. She was startled awake entirely when Melody shoved her off the bed.
"Yes really." She said. "Now go get ready for the night. I'll introduce you after." And with that, she left.
Pulling herself off the floor, Octavia took the time to stretch before making her way to the bathroom. After making use of the facilities, she felt that she was a little grimy and hopped into the shower. With her mane and coat thoroughly cleaned, she then turned to her teeth. This was the first time she actually got a look at her new dental design, aside from what her tongue had been telling her, so she paused to examine herself in the mirror. The first thing she noticed was her prominent fangs that stuck out even when she closed her mouth. Behind the fangs where two other sets of fangs that were of diminishing sized compared to the first set and were easily hid in her mouth when she closed it. All the other teeth were simply much pointier than before. After studying these teeth for a time, Octavia scooped up a toothbrush and some toothpaste and began scrubbing.
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Octavia was halfway down the hall leading to the dining room, the smell of meat still making her cry internally, when Melody rushed up to her side. And she brought with her a unicorn stallion she hadn't met before. His coat was snow white and his hooves were a light grey. His mane was golden and his cutiemark was a compass rose. Melody slung her foreleg across Octavia's back and pulled her towards the stallion.
"Octavia, I'd like you to meet our leader and founder, Faithful Guidance." The mare introduced. The stallion gave her a polite bow.
"A pleasure to meet you." Octavia said, though slightly distractedly because that name sounded so familiar. Fortunately, Faithful didn't seem to be offended by her distracted tone. Instead, he seemed rather amused. Faithful Guidance then offered his arm.
"Would you mind too terribly if I escorted you the rest of the way?" He asked.
"No I wouldn't mind." Octavia said and she took the offered hoof. Soon they were walking hoof in hoof to the dining room. Melody however, ran ahead.
"I'm sure you've already heard this, but I'd like to formally welcome you to the New Moon Coven Safehouse." Faithful said.
"Thank you for your hospitality." Octavia thanked. "Since I arrived, I've felt very welcome amongst everyone. They're all very kind."
Faithful Guidance smiled. "I'm glad you think so. As a leader of New Moon, I always encourage spirit of care and acceptance. Of course, don't have to feel obligated to remain with the coven. When your Acclimation Period is complete, you're free to stay or leave to join another coven, go out on your own or even form your own coven if you wish."
Octavia raised a brow at the unfamiliar term. By this point, they were in the entrance to the dining room. But before the earthpony could ask what he meant, she was almost bowled over by a small, fast moving force. After regaining her balance, she looked over to see what had almost knocked her down and was caught completely off guard when she saw it was a unicorn colt, shuffling guiltily in front of her. His coat was a midnight blue and his mane was white. His right eye was the normal red of all the other vampires, but his left was silver, almost white, and pupilless. Poking out of his mouth was a set of fangs. And on his flank was a cutiemark depicting an eye with the moon as its iris.
"Um, I'm really sorry for running into you like that miss." He apologized. Octavia didn't answer. Instead, Faithful Guidance did.
"It was an accident and no one was hurt, nor was there any damage done." He told the young colt. "But I must warn you again about running in the halls Moon Eye."
"Yes sir. I promise, it won't happen again." Moon Eye promised.
"That's what you told me last time." Faithful countered with a playful, but slightly stern, tone. "And the time before that. And the time before that. And the time before that. You tell me every time there's an accident when you've been running in the halls."
"I know sir." Moon said. "And every time I do my best not to run. I really do." Faithful chuckled a little.
"I know you do." He said kindly. "But given the nature of your eye, you should probably resist a bit more. It's not safe for you to keep running into people and things because of your blindspot."
"I know sir." Moon Eye said with a light touch to his face below his silver eye. "I'll try a little harder next time. Promise."
"Alright son. I believe you. Now go eat your breakfast." He encouraged him with a light nudge.
"Yes sir!" Moon Eye exclaimed then ran off to eat. With the little scamp gone, Faithful turned to Octavia. The mare however, hadn't been paying attention to the exchange. She'd remained rooted in place, her gaze panning over the dining room. Now that her mind wasn't focused on the food and her heart wasn't as heavy with worry as it had been, she could see the children amongst the adults. Some were gathered with friends or older ponies like parents and siblings. There were colts that were fooling around with their food or teasing the fillies and there were fillies who were getting back at some of the boys or just eating. There were even mares who were feeding little foals with bottles.
"I...uh...hunh?!" Octavia spluttered. "Are even children bitten?" Faithful Guidance grinned and laughed a little.
"Ah ha ha, no no. That would go against our Coven's principles." He answered.
"Then....where....?" Was all Octavia got out. Faithful kindly guided the shell shocked mare to a seat before taking his at the head of the table.
"They were born vampires." He said calmly.
"Born?" She was coming out of her initial shock but her head was now flooded with questions. "Don't vampires multiple by biting ponies?"
"A common belief." Faithful said evenly as he served her. "We can turn ponies, but it is not the way we reproduce. Vampires can have children together like any other species. Just ask Chocolate Mint and Strawberry Bonbon. Mint is Strawberry's older brother. I believe that myth started because we are A. known for our ability to turn ponies with a bite and B. child vampires aren't seen very often. And in a world where we are feared and hated to the point where ponies try to kill us, do you believe that any parent would want to send their child out into that world?"
Octavia looked around at the fillies and colts as she considered the question. "If I was a parent, I don't believe I would do that to my child. At least not until they were safe or prepared."
"Exactly." Faithful said as he set the plate in front of her. "That's another one of the purposes of a safehouse. To provide a safe environment for parents to raise and teach their children. When they're old enough, then they leave to go out on their own, join a different Coven, form their own coven or even stay with this Coven."
As she ate her food, her mind mulled on what she'd been told. It barely even registered that she was eating meat. As she thought it over, she remembered the question that she'd wanted to ask, but hadn't got the chance.
"Wait, earlier you said something about an Acclimation Period earlier. What does that mean?" She asked. Faithful took a moment to swallow his food and dab his mouth with his napkin before answering.
"Ah yes, the Acclimation Period." Faithful Guidance said. "I knew that you would ask. In basic, the Acclimation Period is a period of time where Newborns, and I mean ponies who've received The Bite like yourself, remain hidden from Day Kind society. That's another purpose for safehouses like this. This is because when a pony receives The Bite, they basically die amongst the Day Kind. And if a pony that's meant to be dead is seen walking around, ponies get suspicious and suspicions lead to discovery and very bad things amongst us."
Octavia thought back to yesterday and what she'd learned about Red Script and his lover. She also felt like she'd need some time to adjust to all this anyways.
"I understand." She finally said in a quiet tone.
Faithful smiled kindly. "Newborns like you usually use this period to adjust to their new lives and learn how to control their abilities. I've got some free time today, so I can help get you started on mastering your psychic abilities."
"Thank you sir." Octavia said gratefully and Faithful Guidance chuckled gently.
"Please, no need for formalities." He said. "Here in New Moon, we are like one, big family. You can call me Faithful."
At that moment, it clicked and Octavia remembered why this stallion's name was familiar. "Wait a second, when you say your name is Faithful Guidance, you can't mean THE Faithful Guidance?" Octavia asked with growing shock. "As in the son of Princess Platinum herself and founder of the Royal Gaurd?"
The stallion laughed again. A good natured and lightly amused laugh. "I suppose I couldn't keep my identity secret for long, now could I?"
Octavia's mental processes threatened to short out at this information. Faithful Guidance had been known as the very first Royal Guard since he'd been the one to found the Royal Guard. His strategies had been something of legend and his combat skills, unparalleled. They'd said he'd disappeared on a top secret, high risk mission and was presumed dead. And now here she was, sitting down beside a legend eating breakfast. It was a little too much for her to stand and her mind simply gave out.
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"How are you still alive?!" Was the first question to come out of Octavia's mouth when her mind rebooted.
"Back in my day, after the banishment of Luna, there were many duties that Celestia had to shoulder." He started his tale. "Amongst these duties was the care of the Night Kind. This would've been, by no means, an easy task. So I volunteered to become her advisor and liaison between her and the Night Kind. And what better way to advise on the Night Kind than to become one myself. The only ones to know about this were Celestia herself and my closest Captains, advisors and Lieutenants who all swore that they'd take this to their graves." For a moment, a sad look crossed his face. "And true to their word, they did."
Octavia blinked at his mournful tone. "I'm sorry for your loss." She apologized. Faithful smiled kindly and apologetically to her.
"It was years ago, so don't worry too much about it." He said. "I'm sorry for making you worry about me."
"Um...okay." Octavia honestly had no idea how to respond to that and she once again thought about how drastically her life had changed in such a short time.
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After breakfast, Faithful and Octavia went to a secluded part of the garden to start practicing. Surrounded by nightmist flowers, the two settled to begin.
"Now, first we're going to meditate." Faithful said. "Get yourself into a comfortable position and breath deeply through your nose."
Octavia did as she was told. Faithful nodded approval.
"Good. Now we're going to relax and clear our minds by focusing on our breathing." Faithful continued. "This'll help you access your psychic abilities and by extension, control them."
Octavia quickly lost track track of time as she focused of her breaths and the calming scent of the nightmist. Gradually, she became faintly aware of other minds. She could feel them and here their thoughts, but they were muffled so she couldn't hear what they were saying. She was only aware that they did have have thoughts. By contrast, she could feel her thoughts blaring out loudly. Without thinking, Octavia started focusing on blocking her thoughts as well. Slowly but surely, she felt her thoughts begin to shield themselves.
"Very good." Faithful Guidance said and Octavia opened her eyes. "Now at first it can be a bit of a strain, but if you practice daily, then very soon it won't be."
Octavia blinked as Faithful Guidance stood up and started to leave. "Wait, that's it?" She asked in confusion.
"Yes. There really isn't much to our psychic abilities." Faithful said. "I could teach you how to send certain thoughts only to specific vampires who are within your range, but that's a lesson for a later time. After you've mastered controlling your thoughts. We aren't a very psychic species. Perhaps you could spend your time to meet some new people and making friends?"
On that note, Faithful Guidance left Octavia sitting amongst sweet smelling Nightmist.
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For a minute, Octavia stayed in the garden before going inside. At current, she was just sort of wandering around the halls with no idea of what to do. Her cello had been brought and was currently in her room, but at this moment she didn't feel like playing. She was still very confused about a lot of things. Suddenly something dropped in front of her with a thump, making her rear back and stumble to the ground in surprise. When the dust that had been kicked up on impact settled, Octavia saw a familiar midnight blue colt with a white mane and pupiless silver eye in her direction.
"Nuts!" The colt, Moon Eye if she recalled correctly, 'cursed'. "Almost there. One more try!"
Before she could say anything, Moon Eye swiveled around and at that moment, took notice of her. His eyes widened. "Oh my gosh!" He exclaimed then held his hoof out to her. "I am so sorry for that!"
Octavia took the offered hoof and was shocked to find herself, a full grown mare, being pulled to her hooves by a child. But with how things had been going for her lately, she didn't dwell on it for too long.
"Ah, its okay." She answered the colt. "I'm unharmed so there's no reason for me to be angry."
"Still, I'm sorry I didn't see you." Moon Eye said then he paused to take a good look at her. "Hey, didn't I bump into you earlier? When you were with Faithful?"
Octavia nodded. "Yes, I recall you as well." She answered. "It was quite the shock for me to see children vampires." The colt's eyes brightened in understanding.
"So then you must be a Newborn." He said then reached his hoof out again but this time in greeting. "Well, we've never been formally introduced. My name's Moon Eye, but everyone else just calls me Moon."
"My name's Octavia Philharmonic. It's a pleasure to meet you." Octavia said as she tapped her hoof with Moon's in greeting. Moon Eye's expression then became thoughtful.
"Octavia...Philharmonic..." He muttered then trailed off. "You wouldn't happen to be the Octavia that Melody Note Philharmonic always talks about, would you?"
"Melody talks about me?" Octavia asked in reply and Moon grinned.
"All the time." Moon said. "Because she was in the middle of her own Acclimation Period she had to come back to the Safehouse periodically and every time she was here, she'd go on and on about you."
"Really?" Octavia asked in surprise. Moon Eye nodded.
"Uh huh. It's a pleasure to meet you at last." He said.
"A pleasure to meet you too." The earthpony replied.
"So what are you doing around here?" Moon asked.
"At the moment, nothing." Octavia said. "Faithful taught me a bit on how to control my psychic abilities, but there wasn't much to learn so I've just been wandering around trying to find something to do."
"What about playing music?" Moon suggested. "Melody says that you're an accomplished musician." Octavia didn't answer. Instead she looked away which was enough for the colt to figure it out. "Oh, sorry. Well if you've got nothing to do, we could hang out and I could show you a few things about being a vampire."
Octavia nodded slightly quickly. "Sure, why not." She answered and the colt started leading her away. As she followed the young colt, a thought occurred to her.
"By the way, how is it that you dropped from the ceiling?" She asked. "What were you doing up there?"
"I was practicing my ceiling walking." Moon answered. "See, vampires can walk on walls. Even the colts and fillies. But the adults can actually walk on the ceiling. I was practicing and I had a pretty good grasp on the ceiling that time when I lost my grip and fell. And because you were in my blindspot, I didn't see you and I could've crashed into you. Again, sorry."
"Oh its nothing to worry about." Octavia quickly said. "I wasn't paying attention. If I had, I would've seen you."
"Mom says I have to be careful since I can't always see out this eye and I haven't mastered it yet so the fault is more mine than yours." Moon said and Octavia looked confusedly at him.
"Wait, what did you mean when you said you can't always see out that eye?" She asked. 'I thought you were blind in that eye.' She added to herself, completely forgetting to shield her thoughts from him in her shock. Fortunately he didn't look offended.
"To an extent, yes I am blind in this eye." He explained and Octavia flushed in embarrassment when she realized he'd head her thought. The colt pressed on in his explanation. "But that's not what this eye's supposed to see. You see my eye here has the gift of prophecy."
"Truely?" Octavia asked as she looked at the silver white iris.
"Yep. That's what my cutiemark means. My gift to see into the future." He said proudly. "However I haven't perfected it yet. I rarely get visions and whenever I do, they come and go like that. The rest of the time I can't see out this eye. But mom says that eventually I'll master it. All it takes is hard work, patience and training."
'Sounds like when I was training to play my cello.' Octavia thought sadly and Moon Eye looked at her with an unreadable expression which then brightened.
"Hey, I have an idea what we can do together." He said, drawing Octavia's attention from her thoughts. "I can teach you how to walk on the walls. C'mon, its so cool and fun too."
Octavia relented and let herself be lead by the colt.
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Octavia had to admit that the young colt was right. The mare's inner filly was squealing as she found herself walking on the wall as though it were flat ground. She even tried for the ceiling once she got wall walking down. She lasted longer than the young colt, but she still fell to the ground like he did. Octavia figured that if she was a pony, so many impacts from such heights would leave her sore all over to the point where she'd have a hard time moving. But as it was, all she had was a lightly sore rump and back. But before such thoughts could poison her mood, she shoved them away.
"You know you're getting good at this." Moon Eye said as they hung onto the ceiling once more. The colt's grip was slipping, but Octavia's held on.
"Thanks. I'm no stranger to hard work and practice when it comes to mastering something." Octavia said just as Moon lost his grip and tumbled down with a thud. Octavia quickly loosened her grip and dropped down beside him to help him up. "And I think it helps that I trained my hooves to pluck the strings of my instrument."
Moon Eye smiled. "Melody says that you're the best cellist she'd ever heard." He said. "Think I could hear you play?"
Octavia frowned and looked forward. "I'm not sure if I can play again." She said. "I'm still not sure how I feel about Melody. I was just a filly when she died and playing the cello was my way of connecting with her. But now that I'm with her, I'm just not sure how to feel about her or even my cello."
The two sat in silence for a time before Moon broke the quiet. "You know, soon I'm going to be a big brother." He said. "I don't know if it'll be a brother or a sister, but mom says that I should make sure to look after them. I'm a little nervous but I'm also excited to have a sibling to look after and teach."
He then turned to look up at Octavia. "And I'm sure that Melody felt the same way when you were little. I can tell when she tells us about you. She always sounds so happy about your accomplishments but also sad. I didn't understand why until mom was expecting. What if I wasn't there for my brother or sister for the happy times and sad times? I'd be sad too if that happened to me. But now you can see each other again and get to connect with each other like you couldn't do before."
Octavia sat there and let those word sink in. When they registered completely, she stood up. "Excuse me, I've got somewhere to be." She said then rushed off, leaving Moon Eye with a grin spreading across his face.
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Melody looked up in surprise when her sister entered the common room with her cello case slung over shoulder. As the earthpony mare opened the case and started checking to make sure it was in tune, Melody approached her to asked a question.
"Tavi, what are you doing?" She asked. Octavia pulled out her bow and pulled the cello into position then smiled at Melody.
"I'm playing a duet with my sister." She replied then began playing. Melody was silent for a few minutes before she grinned. With a flash of her horn, she summoned her own cello and began playing her own cello.
At first it took some time for the two melodies to sync up, but when they did the resulting harmony was gorgeous and it brought smiles to all the assembled vampires and those that were gathering when they heard the sound. Among them were Faithful Guidance and Moon Eye. Right at the moment when the twining melodies reached their peak, something clicked into place for Octavia and she felt like everything was going to be okay and that she could take on anything that the world could throw at her.
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Saddlebright was by no means a huge or famous town. It was located not far from the borders of Equestria but not so close that it could be considered a border town. Despite being near a large thick forest that was often rumored to be haunted, Saddlebright was a very peaceful, lovely town. Just perfect for the black and white stallion who was trying to forget the past.