Path of Kindness and Blood

by CommanderX5

Secret Meeting - Decisions and Consequences

“F-F-Fancy P-Pants,” Rarity said sheepishly as glass of red liquid trembled in her magical aura. “He is… a vam… I mean, a pureblood thestral? And Fleur as well?”

“Neat, isn’t it?” asked Vinyl whose attention was focused on the musicians, mostly on a grey earth pony playing on the cello, when suddenly a thump reached her ear. She turned to the source of noise, quickly noticing Rarity lying on her back with foreleg on her head, mouth open in shock with eyes rolled to the back of her head.

After being shaken by Vinyl in attempt to wake her up, Rarity shook her head and looked at the floor as she murmured to herself, “But this doesn’t make sense. Fancy Pants is the most popular and influential pony in Canterlot. He is the center of attention of all nobility and the princess herself. And Fleur, she is Equestria’s famous model with fans and paparazzi following her every step.” She looked Vinyl in the eyes and asked, “How can they hide this secret with such a lifestyle?”

Vinyl smirked and released Rarity from her hold as her flank slammed against the floor. She pointed at the moon while fixing her glasses and said, “You know the saying; hiding in plain light? Under the light it’s always the darkest, or something like that.”

“I guess you are right,” Rarity responded as she massaged her backside. “Still, to think that the Fancy Pants, the most known noble in Equestria, has a double life. He is like a thestral lord.”

Vinyl patted Rarity on the back, causing her head to hit the floor. “You’ve seen nothing yet. Now that you’re one of us, a completely new world is open for you to explore. It’ll be awesome.”

The fashionista sighed and massaged her muzzle before giving the DJ a defeated glance. "Who else do I know or have heard about that is famous is a thestral?! Sapphire Shores?! A.K. Yearling?! Tenderhoof?!"

Vinyl rubbed her chin. "Well, I think Photo Finish is one..." she responded before trotting towards the musician, Rarity soon followed.

"Huh, I am actually not surprised by that."

As the ponies went down from the stage, most likely to take a break, Vinyl shouted, “Hey Tavi, neat seeing you here.”

The grey mare looked back at her emotionlessly with a neutral smile as she spoke with a professional and cold tone, “Hello to you too, Vinyl. I cannot deny that I also found it hard to believe. When I and my musician friends were called on a short notice to play a concert in ruins of an old castle in the middle of the Everfree Forest, at first I thought it was a joke.”

“Don’t be like that. Look around you.” Vinyl pointed up at the night sky, and next at trees that were visible from small hole in the wall. “It’s a party filled with thestrals, rulers of the night. It’s organized by the third most powerful pureblood in Equestria. It takes place under an open sky inside some castle ruins within a forest full of flesh-eating beasts. If this isn’t set up for a super epic party, then what is?” As the grey pony nodded in response, Vinyl frowned and continued, “Still, the choice of the music is just terrible. No offense Tavi, but your music is way too calm. This set up requires more of DJ Pon-3!” She stood on her rear hooves and straightened her foreleg towards the sky. “Yeaaa!”

Rarity looked at Vinyl and next at her friend and asked, “Is she always like that?”

“Pretty much, but one can get used to it after a while.”

Rarity chucked, “I suppose.”

“My name is Octavia Melody, but you may call me Octavia. I am the leader of a Musicians Guild in Canterlot. Pleasure to meet you,” Octavia said as she raised her foreleg to Rarity, who quickly shook it.

Rarity pressed a forehoof on her own chest and said, “My name is Rarity, and I am the owner of a small boutique in Ponyville and take fashion related orders. The pleasure is all mine.”

As the talk commenced, both mares approached the dining table to take a few snacks and drinks. Vinyl looked between them and rolled her eyes. “Oh great. One snobbish pony I can live with, but two… I’m outta here.”

Octavia stopped her giggle and shot Vinyl an angered glare. “And where do you think you’re going?”

Vinyl pointed at the stage and said, “To provide this party with some hardcore music. I’ll make it epic, just you wait!” She dashed away before Octavia managed to say a word, who slowly lowered her foreleg and let out a sigh.

“Should not we… stop her?” Rarity asked while pointing at huge device that the DJ was pushing towards the stage. Where did she even get that thing?

“Easier said than done,” the musician said with a sad tone before raising her head and turning to Rarity. “Let’s hope the guards will handle this situation.”

Rarity nodded before noticing a small flashlight attached to Octavia’s saddlebag. “A flashlight? I thought that vamp… I mean, thestrals do not need to use those.” She looked around the ballroom. There was no light source outside of the stars and moon, and yet she saw every movement and even colours as if it was a day. She had to admit, night parties under a nearly clear sky looked simply divine.

Octavia chucked, which caused Rarity’s ears to drop slightly as she stared back in confusion. “I assure you, Miss Rarity. I am not like you.”

“Whatever do you mean?”

Octavia took a glass of water for a few sips before answering, “Unlike the majority of those attending this party, I am an earth pony. Nothing special about this one.” She giggled again. “Now that I think about it, not being like the others in a way makes me special.” After not receiving any answer or reaction outside of opened mouth, she added, “Many would call me a donor.”

“Donor?”

She nodded in response before explaining, “Yes. This is a term thestrals use to call ponies who are not turned or half breed. Ponies that are on friendly terms with them, keep their secret safe and even offer their own blood out of goodwill.”

Rarity tapped her chin. “So you are just like Rainbow Dash... How did you learn about the thestrals’ existence?”

Octavia finished drinking her water and placed it on the table. She sat in front of Rarity who exposed her long bat-ears. She lectured, “I will tell you, but in return, I would like to learn how did you became one.” Noticing a nod, she started, “It all started when Vinyl...”

“I see,” Fluttershy said after listening to the full lecture. “So you wish for me to stay hidden until my hundredth birthday. Then I would participate in a ritual where I will sleep for months so my body can adapt to my new powers?”

“Precisely,” said Fancy Pants with a firm nod. “Ever since your parents’ deaths and your disappearance, leftovers from the Cloudsdale clan spread across Equestria, leaving the city in the sky out of our influence.” He sighed. “Not that the clan was big in the first place as your parents rarely turned anypony.”

Fleur stepped closer. “Returning to Cloudsdale is no longer a possibility as it has become an area of a power struggle. Without a pureblood family to oversee this place, many young ones from different clans started to wage a war over this territory. Surely you would not like to participate in this conflict?” Upon hearing a weak whimper, she continued. “We will inform the most trusted ponies from your parents’ clan that you are still alive and live in Ponyville. Though tracking them down may take some time.”

“We already discussed this matter with other families,” Fancy Pants pointed out. “They are not specifically interested in a small town such as Ponyville and agreed to respect your territory.”

“So with your blessing, I can form my own clan here in Ponyville and other purebloods will leave me alone?”

“Correct. As long as you will respect theirs, they should leave you alone, especially since you are under our protection,” Fancy said with a reassuring smile.

Fluttershy made a full bow. “Thank you very much.” She raised her head to look at the towering thestrals. “However there is something important I would like to discuss with you about... if it is okay with you.”

“We are here for you, young lady,” Fancy said gently as he straightened his foreleg to Fluttershy and helped her stand. Meanwhile, loud and heavy music started to play in the background as it startled the crowd. “We will try our best to help you past these hard times and protect you, so please, speak freely.” Muffled by the loud music, he turned his head to the source and called out, “What in Celestia’s name?” before raising his eyebrow. “Vinyl Scratch. I say, I should have seen this coming.”

With a gulp, Fluttershy turned around and pointed at the chained pony. “It’s about Applejack,” she said as a sound similar to drum rolls followed.

Fancy Pants rolled his eyes at the sound of loud thumps that matched his steps as he approached the huntress. The guard bowed, stepped to the side and flew towards the stage to silence the musician before she could play a funeral march, party rock, Crawling in my Hide or other craziness like that. After the noise of fighting was replaced with silence, Fancy Pants examined the farm mare thoughtfully with his perceptive eyes and other senses, analyzing heartbeat and blood pressure. Fleur and Fluttershy slowly caught up as he lowered his head to huntress’s neck and bit it.

Fluttershy yelped quietly, but didn’t dare to say a single word. Her attention focused on Fancy Pants while her heart was beating faster and faster. Just like that fateful day when she could do nothing to save her parents, she once again felt powerless. Unable to do anything to protect Applejack but hope the older thestral would show mercy.

Fancy Pants licked the wound after taking a little taste. Fleur did the same. Both purebloods turned to Fluttershy whose ears dropped while her eyes stared back pleadingly.

“Forgive me for asking, but why did you bring this pony here? More or less chained to this seat?” Fancy Pants asked curiously, quickly sensing desperation and fear.

Fluttershy opened her mouth to answer, but Sharp Eye beat her to it, whispering into his master’s ear as all she could do was catch fragments of what he said.

“Thank you,” Fancy said as his spy bowed in respect and left. With his eyes now on Fluttershy, he spoke, “So... this huntress followed you to the Everfree Forest and tried to take your life. She discovered your identity and swore to kill you before my faithful spy put her to sleep.” His stare sharpened and so did his tone of voice. “And once you found out that this huntress was also your friend, you decided to spare her life?”

Murmurs echoed through the room as many looked at Fluttershy with clear disapproval. In return, she looked at the crowd, and next back at Fancy Pants and smiled awkwardly. “I... did…” she squeaked quietly.

For several seconds, both purebloods looked at the trembling Fluttershy who barely could look them in their eyes. The silence was broken the moment Fancy Pants sighed as he knelt. Once lowered to Fluttershy’s eye level, he said, “Your family was famous for their, how would should I say it…?”

Fleur continued, “Very peaceful nature and outstanding mercy.”

“Thank you, dear,” he said while not taking his eyes from the nervous thestral. “Your father was a friend of mine, one of many, but still a friend regardless. I do miss him.” His voice suddenly lost its confidence and authority, becoming heavy and filled with regret. “While I shared his point of view, I disagreed with his methods. There are times when we cannot afford mercy without paying a hefty price. You should know this the best.”

Fluttershy nodded, but her lips failed to produce any words.

“He and his wife lost their lives because they showed mercy to our enemies. Because they rarely turned anypony into thestrals, their mansion did not have enough guards to repel the attack,” Fancy Pants said with a sad tone before pointing his hoof at Fluttershy, nearly touching her muzzle. “And it seems that history is repeating itself.”

Fluttershy looked at Applejack while Fancy Pants stood back to his hooves and looked at her as well. “This huntress knows your face and lives in the same town as you. Should you let her live, nothing but suffering awaits.”

“B-but…”

“If she informs the guild, there will be no place in this small town for you to hide. Cloudsdale is far too dangerous for you to return. Furthermore,” he paused and cleared his throat, “the ancient agreement we have followed for millennia state that each family owns their own clan and territory. As pureblood, your uninvited presence in another town will be taken as trespassing or act of hostility.”

Fluttershy was about to respond, but Fleur was the first to as she sat on her left side and placed a hoof on her shoulder. “In any other circumstances, we would probably adopt you, or at least let you settle up with us in Canterlot until your hundredth birthday. However…” she sighed and looked to the side. “Canterlot in the next few years will become a very dangerous place. My dear Fancy and I... we may be very powerful and influential, but we have powerful enemies. The less you get involved with us, the better.”

“I am afraid there is only one solution,” Fancy finished as he turned his judgmental eyes at the young pureblood.

What should I do, oh, this is too much! Fluttershy thought as she felt conflicted and overwhelmed. A very nice day filled with games, stories, and somewhat tasty apple products had turned into one of the worst nights imaginable, like some sort of nightmare. A pony she considered to be her friend turned out to be a huntress that tried to kill her. To make matters worse, Applejack learned that she was a pureblood, the hunter guild’s biggest enemies. She no longer could return to Cloudsdale and wasn’t welcomed anywhere else. If she spared her friend’s life, Applejack and other hunters would come back to kill her.

Applejack was my friend, but she tried to kill me. My mother and father always told me to not take life unless in dire circumstances. She looked between Fancy Pants and the farm mare. But it’s a dire situation. It’s kill or be killed. Her confused look was replaced with an angered one, her fangs exposed. Applejack is a huntress, hunters kill us and never show mercy. My parents hesitated and were killed in return. Why should I?

She smiled slightly. That’s it, I just need to get rid of her and all my problems will be gone, The easiest solutions are always the best. Her smile vanished quickly and was replaced with the one of guilt as her long ears curled and wings dropped. But what about her family? Big Mac will miss his sister and his work will become twice as hard without her help. Granny’s old heart would be wounded deeply, maybe even ceasing beating. That sweet little filly would have to endure losing her sister and growing without her… just like I have to now…

As Fluttershy was deep in her thought, Fancy Pants raised his foreleg and added, “I say, eliminating just this one huntress will simply not do. Monster hunters pass on their knowledge through the generations.”

Sharp Eye smiled widely before smirking as he turned to his master and said, “The Apple family in Ponyville is a threat that need to be eliminated. Shall I do the honors?”

Like thunder, their words made Fluttershy flinch as she was pulled from her thoughts. Her eyes opened widely, pupils shrank, mouth agape and legs and wings trembled uncontrollably. Kill an entire family… no no no, I don’t care if they are hunters or not, they don’t deserve this. She steeled her legs and began to hyperventilate, doing her best to calm her nerves. An entire family killed, for my sake… I can’t let this happen, there must be another solution.

“N-no…” Fluttershy said after her mental struggle.

“Hmm?” Fancy Pants turned to Fluttershy and adjusted his ear. “No? I believe I misheard you. Would you please repeat it, young lady?”

“I s-s-said n-no… She may be a huntress, but she was my friend.” Fluttershy gulped. “Her family was very welcoming and I can’t let them die for my sake.”

“Friend?” Fancy asked before looking at the huntress once again while Sharp Eye facehooved. “She is not your friend anymore. Hunters are enemies of our kind.”

Sharp Eye continued, “They will be eliminated. If not for your sake, then for those thestrals that would die from their hooves.”

“Please…” Fluttershy looked at them with a pout on her face and pleading eyes, a look that caused Fleur to giggle and stunned Fancy Pants for a few seconds.

The noble pureblood cleared his throat and recovered from the visual assault. “I am truly sorry, but this is for your own good.”

Fleur nodded before levitating a rapier that aimed at Applejack’s heart, but Fluttershy jumped in the way and spread her wings protectively. ‘I s-said no.”

“Excuse me?” Fancy Pants raised his eyebrow as murmurs filled the crowd. Many angered stares were directed at the young pureblood who curled slightly in fear.

“What I meant was... there must be a better solution.”

Fancy Pants was about to lecture the naive soul, but Fleur approached and spoke first, “There is none, I am afraid. Many hunters are being taught from a young age that we are undead beings or merciless monsters. Unlike common ponies, if you turn your former friend into a thestral, she would rather take her own life than live as those she hunts. Or she will become a target herself.” She knelt and stroked Fluttershy’s cheek gently as she looked at her with concern. “Erasing or manipulating her memories will fail. The guild regularly checks their members for influence of mind affecting spells.”

Mind affecting spells… Fluttershy thought before her ears straightened upward as she gestured for Fleur to lower her head. She whispered, “What about blood hypnosis?”

“You learned about blood hypnosis?” Fleur asked while Fancy Pants and Sharp Eye looked at them both with curiosity.

Fluttershy nodded. “It’s a special ritual that makes effect of hypnosis permanent. My father often taught me how to use my eyes to affect other’s mind without hurting them for self defense, he called it ‘the stare.’ I once asked him if there are other ways to affect ponies mind,” she explained, doing her best to hide her desperation behind a facade of confidence.

Fleur chuckled before straightening up. “For a young one to be able to perform such a feat, I am truly impressed.” She rubbed her chin. “Unlike turning an undead corpse into a ghoul, or standard hypnosis, we can control a pony by injecting small portion of our blood and it cannot be detected, even by the hunters' guild mages. We even use this technique to have spies in our enemy organizations, though this is very difficult for many reasons.”

Fluttershy nodded absentmindedly, her attention focused on saving Applejack. Please, let it work, please let it work.

Fancy Pants approached. “Excuse me. I apologize for overhearing your little discussion, but I could not resist.” He looked Fluttershy in the eyes sternly and spoke, “Young Lady, blood hypnosis has severe downsides. If you were to use it on your former friend and her family, it would weaken your mind from constantly keeping them under control.” He paused before adding in a firm tone, “And you will need to forever keep them by your side.”

Hot Tea approached while levitating a tray with glasses filled with blood. He gently moved one towards Fancy Pants who recaptured it with his own magical aura as he drank the blood from it. The butler turned to Fluttershy and said with a professional tone, “My master is absolutely correct. The controlled target is connected to you by the blood you injected. While you would have no trouble keeping your former friend’s family in check in such small town as Ponyville, should you or they leave it, the distance would break your control over them.”

Sharp Eye added with a hiss, “It’s far too risky and a huge waste of time. Just get rid of them and problem solved.”

Fluttershy wanted to say no, but her mouth refused to open as crowd of ponies stared at her mercilessly. Come on, Fluttershy. The fate of a family filled with good ponies is in your hooves. You can’t back down now. She closed her eyes to ignore the stares, and with a deep breath and firm stomp, she said, “I, Fluttershy, also known as Flutterbat and daughter of Cloudsdale’s pureblood family whose life was taken by members of a hunter guild, shall decide Applejack and her family’s fate.”

Fluttershy took a few steps towards her former friend and added with confident tone, “For being a member of a Monster Hunter's Guild and making an attempt on my life, for learning my true identity, I, as a pureblood thestral and guardian of Ponyville, sentence you and your family to lifelong servitude under blood hypnosis.”

Loud murmurs filled the party area until Fancy Pants silenced it with a firm command. He swiftly turned to Fluttershy and asked, “I hope you understand the consequences of your decision. Is it final?” Noticing a hesitant nod as his tone of voice became very intimidating, he continued, “You will need to keep your friend and her family in Ponyville or keep them company whenever they leave it, risking wrath of thestrals from other clans. You will spare their lives, but take away their free will. Do you understand?”

Fluttershy shivered, only to steel her nerves as she answered, “I swear to not abuse it and give them as much freedom as possible.”

Fancy Pants sighed as Sharp Eye approached and asked, “My Lord, you cannot possibly consider it.”

With depression surfacing on his features, he sat and nodded.

Fluttershy’s wings flapped joyfully as she turned towards Applejack, ready to start the ritual, but Fancy Pants’ voice caught her attention. “I cannot support your decision, but I won’t stand in your way. For keeping members of a monster hunter guild alive in your territory, I cannot protect you any longer. You will be forced to show resolve behind your choices and deal with those who oppose them. Furthermore,” he pointed at the young pureblood, “should you foolishly lose your life,” and next at Applejack, “she and her family shall share your fate.”

“I… understand,” she replied as sweat started to fall from her forehead while her heart was beating even faster than before. In exchange for her enemy’s life, she lost the protection of Fancy Pants, one of the most powerful pureblood thestrals in Equestria. Her chance for raising a clan in a calm and peaceful environment was gone as even more hardship was added to the plate.

“Lastly, once the ritual is over, I wish to ask of you to present us the results.”

Fleur was about to speak, but Fancy’s raised foreleg gesture silenced her.

Fluttershy with now crumbling confidence approached her former friend. Her eyes focused on the long orange neck. She could see the veins hidden behind the fur and skin and could hear blood flowing through them. Applejack’s was chained with her mouth opened as small drops of saliva fell from it.

With a few seconds of hesitation, she pierced Applejack’s vein on her neck as she drained small bits of her blood before injecting it mixed with her own. She found the taste superior to the hard apple cider that Granny Smith let her taste today as the blood made her feel strong and energetic for a few seconds. The sudden feeling of hunger and desire for more filled Fluttershy when she returned the blood while adding in a mix of her own.

Ignoring her instincts telling her to drain the farm mare’s blood, Fluttershy focused on the spell as her eyes flashed a strong red. Many could only stare with a jealous expressions, wishing they could possess such power. As the process lasted for several seconds, the young pureblood slowly took out her fangs and licked the wound, her breath quickly became heavy and forelegs soft. With a weak thump she fell onto her flank and put foreleg on her aching head.

“Sharp Eye, please remove the effect of the sleeping spell,” Fancy Pants said calmly before turning to the crowd as he ordered, “I wish for all of my loyal followers to stay silent for an incoming event. I wish for not a single word to be spoken.”

Silence quickly overtook the room as the spy hissed at Fluttershy before attending to Applejack, his horn pressed sharply against farm mare’s forehead and flashed in bright black. “Time to see how grateful your huntress friend will be for sparing her life.”

“... and that’s how I became a va… thestral. I hardly remember anything from that dreadful event in the spa. Fluttershy brought me to her cottage and took care of me until I woke up.”

Octavia took a sip of tea before placing the cup back on the table as she was sitting on the opposite side of it, her collected posture hardly showing any interest she had in the story. “I must say. I am pleasantly surprised. Not only did your master turn you into a thestral as her last resort to save your life, she actually made quite an effort to ensure that nopony would think you are no longer among the living.”

Rarity nodded. “Indeed. Fluttershy is such a sweetheart. She cares about others even more than herself.” Rarity levitated a snack into her mouth and bit quickly before cleaning her lips with a napkin. She continued, “I always thought she was shy and afraid of her own shadow. To some degree she still is, which I cannot blame her since she had to witness the death of her own parents, but to think she was a pureblooded thestral this whole time. All this time I took her outside, the poor dear suffered under the sunlight, giving me a fake smile while her body was becoming weaker.”

The earth pony looked behind Rarity, her attention focused on the talking purebloods. “Indeed. From the rumours I had heard about her parents being murdered in front of their daughter’s eyes, I am impressed she is still able to go on with a smile. She is much stronger than she looks.” Octavia cleared her throat and continued with a weak smile, “On the bright side, you didn’t have to dig yourself out from your own grave, only to search for the first victim to satisfy your uncontrollable hunger. Surely she provided you with blood and an explanation the moment you woke up.”

Rarity blushed as she bit her lips, which caused Octavia to tilt her head to the side in confusion.

“Your friend is now also your master. From what you told me about her, she feeds off blood of her animals. She provided you with it as well, am I correct?” Octavia asked.

“Well…”

Octavia's eyes opened widely, so did her mouth. “You… didn’t,” she whispered very quietly, afraid of sensitive ears of other guests. “You didn’t drink your master’s blood.”

Rarity looked to the side, awkward smile on her face as she waved her foreleg dismissively. “Of course not, how could I do such a thing?” She looked back at the musician, who stared back at her with emotionless judging smile. Rarity tipped her hooves together as she added with squeaky voice, “Maybe a little.”

“And she didn’t take a whip and lash you to the limits of your newly gained regeneration abilities or went for a slow kill?” Noticing a quick nod, she added quietly, “What you did was one of the biggest insults for a pureblood. If you value your life, do not tell any thestral. You may have a very forgiving master, but others of her kind are, how should I put it… very, very strict when it comes to rules and traditions.”

Rarity looked around, her attention focused on the fashionably clothed thestrals. Each displaying good manners and high standards, their posture as regal as of lords and emperors while their way of speaking both calm and pleasant to hear. Suddenly, an image of them turning into an angered mob armed with whips, maces and other instruments of torture advancing towards her flashed in her mind. You did the unspeakable. There is no redemption for you. You are a disgrace to our proud race. You are mud on the face of fashion and good etiquette. Burn the witch, a stream of insults went through Rarity’s mind as she shivered and her ears dropped. She gulped and whispered, “I… will keep that in mind.”

After a moment of awkward silence, Rarity broke it by pointing at Sharp Eye, a self-proclaimed spy assassin. “May I ask? If rules are so important and strict, then why he did not show any respect to Fluttershy and get away with it?”

“Oh, him,” Octavia said as she gave him a look of annoyance as he whispered something into Fancy Pants ear. “He is nearly three hundreds years old, and quite a popular one to be honest. I have heard that Lord Fancy Pants found him in an orphanage and raised him for his unique skills.”

“Like an adopted son?” Rarity asked, shocked.

Octavia chuckled, shook her head and whispered, “I would say it is more of a master and pet relationship. When you are as powerful and old as Lord Fancy Pants, you lead hundreds of servants and spies. He cannot afford to be attached to somepony he’d chosen and turned into a thestral because of talents.”

“I… see. But then, why he was so mean to Fluttershy? She outranks him.”

“Correct,” Octavia responded. “But he made himself believe that he’s some sort of personal student of the Lord Fancy Pants. He respects only strength and your friend does not seems the type to impress him. He may be a normal thestral, but in terms of power, he can rival young purebloods while exceeding them greatly by experience. Being so close to Fancy Pants, one of his social standing is often forgiven for his lack of respect.”

Now that I think about it, Octavia seems to know more than she should, Rarity thought as she levitated over a sugarcube towards the earth pony’s tea. “One or two?”

“One please.”

Rarity nodded as she carefully placed the cube to dissolve in the hot liquid before doing the same with her own teacup. While drinking blood proved to be much more filling, tea drinking in nice company brought her the feeling of nostalgia. “You seems quite knowledgeable. I am quite interested in the story between you and Vinyl.”

“Of course,” Octavia responded firmly as a so-called wubs echoed through the party. This in turn received many complaints and annoyed glares. “It all started with a night club. As you may have noticed, she is rather enthusiastic when it comes to her genre of music…. a loud one if I may add.”

“It is an understatement,” Rarity responded with a wave of her hoof as her attention focused on several small loudspeakers. She rubbed her eyes the moment she noticed another instrument that came out of nowhere as rumbling the sound of a drum rolling reached her ears.

Octavia chuckled. “You get used to it after a while. As I was saying, my friend Vinyl loves loud music. She once followed her parents to a nightclub when she was just a filly and asked the DJ there to let her play once. He agreed, most likely unable to resist her puppydog stare, and after her performance, Vinyl got her cutie mark, or at least this is what she told me. Ever since that day, she pursued her dream and at a later age, she worked part time in nightclubs with a dream to own one.”

“Charming,” Rarity interrupted. “Should I assume that some accident occurred and a thestral who was nearby saved her life?”

“Not all purebloods are like your master and turn ponies just to save them,” Octavia answered. “Vinyl just happened to perform in a nightclub where Lord Fancy Pants’ and Fleur’s son were attending. The very next night, Fancy’s family turned her into a thestral and two weeks later, hired her as their personal DJ.”

Noticing that Rarity’s mouth was opened agape, she carefully closed it with a hoof and added with a smile. “That is how many purebloods do, they turn ponies without giving them a choice and assign their roles. On the good side, my friend found it, umm... ‘radical’, that’s the word. Ever since then, they called Vinyl to perform at their son’s private parties, and she got her personal nightclub to run in Canterlot, as well as one in Ponyville after she was temporarily removed from the clan."

Rarity looked to the side as she just met a more harsh part of society she have become a part of. If anything, she was lucky to have Fluttershy as a master, if only because she didn’t want to be her master. Not only had her friend saved her life and ensured everypony in Ponyville that she was alright, but also didn’t take even a slightest amount of freedom. Were she turned by Lord Fancy Pants, her fate would be different. She released her breath and looked at Octavia with a depressed look and asked, “ If I may ask, how did you learn about Vinyl?”

Octavia responded, her voice slightly muffled by the crowd’s murmurs and complaints about her friend’s music. “It was rather simple, actually. Vinyl and I were roommates in Canterlot. It was rather hard to live in one room with her, but she usually means well. My mother was the leader of the Canterlot Musicians Guild, she ensured my education so I could take over. I have no quarrels following in her hoofsteps.”

She took a slot breath. “When I took over, I asked Vinyl if she would be interested in joining. She was a fellow musician after all. And guess what happened?” She slowly raised her foreleg towards her forehead before slamming it firmly. “She hugged me with strength that could put earth ponies to shame, started thanking nearly as loud as her music and outright told me the story of her life.”

The teacup fell from Rarity’s levitation and was captured centimeters before crashing against the floor while the liquid itself nearly escaped her mouth. She coughed a few times before asking, “She just told you she was a vampony, just like that?”

“Not just that. She told me about her master and pleaded to meet him the next night.”

“Did you panic?” Rarity asked curiously.

“Not really. At first I thought she was joking, next that she went crazy, but when I met Lord Fancy Pants in person…”

“Why he didn’t turn you? How did you react?” Rarity asked, her eyes wide and ears straightened, muzzle nearly touching Octavia’s.

“Seems somepony is really curious,” Octavia responded, which caused Rarity to blush and back down. “While I admit that I was confused and shocked beyond belief, meeting the most influential noble while finding out that he ruled a clan of thestrals in Canterlot for many centuries. I kept my cool and talked with him calmly and reasonably.”

Rarity’s neck bent back as she said with confusion, “And you convinced him to not turn you?”

Octavia responded with a nod. “Correct. I politely refused his offer to become like Vinyl and swore to keep everything as secret.”

“Hey, let me go, you blockheads! Can’t you see how much this party needs some beats? I need to wake up those zombies with some real music!” Vinyl shouted while struggling against a guard’s hold.

Octavia sighed before continuing, “He looked me in the eyes as I stood my ground, barely. After several seconds of his cold stare that turned most of my blood to ice… hypothetically that is. He smiled and said that he trusted me. But the worst part was…” she paused.

“Tavi, Octy, Octavia, help! They’re breaking the musician’s rights! Freedom to rock!”

“He asked me to take care of Vinyl, keep her from getting herself into trouble.” She looked at the stares directed at her after being called by the crazy thestral and next up at the stars in the sky. She raised her forelegs as if asking the fate itself, “How is this my life?”

Rarity rubbed her foreleg before carefully placing hoof on Tavi’s shoulder. “It cannot be that bad, right?”

After taking a few breaths, Octavia looked back at Rarity and said, “I agree. Lord Fancy Pants proved to be very generous customer for my guild. Ever since he started asking of our services for his high-society parties, both nobility and Canterlot thestrals started to call for our services.” She smiled more widely than usual which surprised Rarity as she could do nothing but stare. “I guess that realization of my dream is worth keeping Vinyl from impaling herself on a hunter’s stake, as well as giving away a little blood from time to time.”

“That was quite a story,” Rarity responded. “Though I must say that Rainbow Dash’s one was much more deep if I may say.”

“Oh right, Miss Dash, Fluttershy’s donor,” Octavia said as she looked around. “She didn’t come with you?”

“She said she was doing some investigation. She suspects that the earthquake that nearly killed me was not caused by a natural disaster,” Rarity said with a giggle before taking a last sip from her tea as it landed on the table. “She can be silly sometimes.” Much to Rarity’s surprise, Octavia’s expression was far more serious than before. “Is something wrong?” She quickly touched her muzzle before wiping it, “Do I have something on my face?”

“I think Miss Dash may be onto something. There are dark arts that can cause an earthquake, or so I heard.” Noticing a mix of shock and fear in Rarity’s dragon-like eyes, Octavia continued, “I do some research on thestral culture in my free time. During a struggle for power, purebloods don't hesitate to assassinate each other.”

Rarity lowered her head. Is this really possible? Would another thestral be responsible for that earthquake that nearly killed me? No, this had to be natural. Do not get paranoid, Rarity.

Noticing distress on her newly gained friend’s face, the musician decided to change the topic. “Speaking of Miss Rainbow Dash, how did she become a donor?”

The question woke up Rarity from her thought as she raised her head hastily. “Oh, uh, ha… Rainbow Dash, yes,” she mumbled before calming herself with a quick breath. “It turned out that she had a lethal accident when she was a filly, but luckily Fluttershy was nearby and saved her life. Unlike in my case, her wounds were not as intense so Fluttershy managed to save her without turning her.”

Octavia listened before smiling warmly once again. “It seems that your master has a tendency to save others’ lives. She should have a first aid cutie mark instead.”

“You have a point, but considering that her family was specializing in medicine, and since she is an immortal pureblood thestral, her talent to heal others is a given,” Rarity said calmly before her expression hardened. “She keeps delaying talking with me about immortality, though. How is Vinyl handling the fact that you, her family and other of her friends will one day pass away while she will still be young?”

Octavia opened her mouth and was about to respond, when a loud comment silenced her. “I wish for all of my loyal followers to stay silent for an incoming event. I wish for not a single word to be spoken.”

Both mares turned towards the scene as silence filled the room, their attention focused on Fluttershy and the tied up farm mare. Octavia facehooved the moment she noticed Vinyl breaking free from a guard’s hold and approaching the tied huntress.