Alucard made it back to town by the time the sun had fully risen. The air was still cool and misty, the grass and leaves still wet with dew not yet burned away by sunlight. He wondered who could be up yet, and saw only ponies he did not recognize. He passed a large red pony, setting up a stand with apples of all kinds and states. Applesauces, jams and jellies, small pies wrapped in paper with a larger one set for display in clear glass cake stand. Whole apples of different colors were shined to perfection and sitting in a wicker basket. The pony was meticulous in the placement of his wares, like he had done this many times and had long ago worked out the perfect system of how to fit the many products on the stand surface.
Alucard passed him, catching his eye. The pony looked up, taking in the dhampir's expression with a critical and discerning eye and then looked back down to his stand. The pony knew a customer when he saw one and Alucard was definitely not a customer. A pony with bright fur and a dark red mane pranced up to him, smelling of flowers. She struck up a conversation, with most of the talking on her end, and the tall Prince was forgotten from his mind.
Alucard moved with purpose down the streets, twisting and turning through the town. His destination came upon him, a large carousel-shaped building with pony mannequins wearing long flowing gowns for parties or more modest clothing.
He ducked through the door, and saw Rarity fussing with a cobbled-together mannequin that was distinctly bipedal. “Lady Rarity,” he began, announcing his presence in his deep voice. She jumped, spinning in place to see him.
“Prince Alucard!” One of her front hooves came up to pat her freshly curled mane, though it was more out of habit than actual worry for the hair. “I was just wondering how to get ahold of you today.”
“I am glad to have saved you some trouble.” He bent at the waist slightly, giving a small bow. He had no idea if she knew what the gesture meant. Ponies most likely showed deference in a completely different way.
“Not at all, good sir! I merely wanted your approval on the pieces.”
“Pieces?” He questioned suspiciously. He had not been awake for even a week’s time and he was already steeped in debt.
“Well, yes…” Rarity responded, sheepish. “I got a little inspired and made more than one. There were so many parts to just one outfit! It was like a dream come true!”
He merely huffed out of his nose, and moved further into the shop. “Very well. Show me.”
Rarity gave an excited little shuffle before she got down to business, and began her showing. She had made it all. From capes to coats, all the way to cravats. Buttons and embroidery elegantly decorated the pieces and added a personalized flair to them.
He spotted a small area with a screen that he could change behind, though it would cover only up to his stomach. He could not help but mumble, “What is the purpose of a changing screen when ponies are nude to begin with?”
Rarity seemed surprised at his question. “To make it a surprise! You go behind the screen, put on your outfit, and come out a new pony. It’s like a game.”
Alucard hummed in acknowledgment, and moved behind the screen to put on his first choice. As he was dressing, he heard the door open again, the small bell giving a chime. Rarity looked over to the new customer while Alucard worked on becoming decent again. Though he felt Rarity had given him too much and had no idea how to repay her, he was very glad to be out of the torn up rags he had been wearing before.
“Welcome to Caro-- Rainbow Dash? Whatever are you doing here?” Rarity asked, confused. She knew her friend wouldn’t come to her shop if she could help it. It was a terrible shame, in Rarity’s opinion. The mare had a delightful mane if she would only take proper care of it.
“Trouble in the Everfree. Fluttershy is a wreck, but what else is new.” Rainbow said bitterly. Her eyes flicked over to the tall prince who was stepping out from the screen. Rarity followed her eyes but was overcome with an entirely different emotion.
Alucard walked a little taller. Lady Rarity certainly knew what she was doing. Outfitted in dark colors that contrasted his white skin and hair, he looked and felt regal. Looking down to Rarity, he gave an uncharacteristic smirk.
“Your work is impeccable, my Lady.” He gave a bow. Rarity picked her jaw off the floor and twirled her hoof, indicating he spin to show the full outfit. The long cape strapped to his shoulders flicked and whispered around him.
“Dear Celestia, I have outdone myself. You look marvelous! We should burn those tatters you had on. You look every bit your title.” She paused for a moment, simply staring at him before she squealed in delight and did a little jig.
Rainbow Dash was not as effected with joy as her friend. She had a scowl on her face. Fluttershy had been a wreck after their fight on the train, and here Rarity was giving him a new wardrobe and making him look nice.
Twilight had explained that Fluttershy had done something magical on accident and Alucard had been reacting to it the only way he knew. Something about cultural differences. What Rainbow knew, however, was that Fluttershy had been trying to protect her animals friends and Alucard had yelled at her for it. So in her opinion, he was untrustworthy. Something else occurred to her in that moment though.
“If you’re a Prince, why didn’t you have nice clothes to begin with? Why were you wearing those rags in the first place?”
Alucard’s eyes shot away from Rarity and onto Rainbow Dash. He was studying her in a new light. He hadn’t had much of an impression from before. They had not interacted in any way on the train. But she had just asked a question that either no one else had thought of, or they had been too polite to ask.
“Rainbow Dash, come now. I’m sure he had just fallen on hard times! We shouldn’t be asking about royal affairs so openly. Where’s your manners?”
“Yeah, yeah, sure. Come on, Rarity. We should get going. I’m sure Twilight and the others are waiting.” Her eyes flicked back and forth between her friend and the large creature looming behind her.
“Oh, yes. We should go meet them. Prince Alucard, would you care to walk with us to Twilight’s? You’re staying there for the time being, correct?”
“I would be honored, Lady Rarity.” His eyes stayed on Rainbow Dash, calculating.
They moved out of the shop and onto the street, Rainbow flying above their heads lazily. Weaving down streets, Alucard caught ponies staring openly at him. He was turning heads for an entirely different reason than before.
They reached Golden Oak Library in only a few minutes. The rest of the group was standing outside the front, talking slowly. Fluttershy looked completely downtrodden. Upon their arrival, Rainbow Dash landed softly next to her.
The other ponies looked up to greet them, but instead looked up to the finely outfitted Alucard.
“Wow, you’re lookin’ mighty Princely today, uh, Prince Alucard.” Applejack drawled out.
“Thank you, and also thank the good Rarity, here. Her work is without compare.” He replied, smooth as silk.
Rarity blushed at his compliment. She seemed to be without words. The idea of being complemented by a Prince on her work, while he was wearing the work was overwhelming her.
“You look great, Prince Alucard. Anyway, girls, we should get going.” Twilight spoke, all business.
“May I ask what’s going on? I heard something about the Everfree.” He was genuinely curious. His eyes passed over Fluttershy, whose head drooped low to the ground. Rarity got ahold of herself and looked sadly at the buttery pegasus.
Twilight spoke up. “A new predator was spotted in the woods near Zecora’s house…” Alucard’s face fell a slight degree at that, though Twilight did not know why. She continued, “...and a dead body was found. Zecora came to speak to me about the new predator, then on her way back, she stumbled upon a manticore’s corpse.”
Alucard’s eyes widened at that. They apparently thought that the wolf she had seen had killed the manticore. They were correct in a roundabout way. They just didn’t know that the wolf was also standing in front of them.
Fluttershy spoke up, voice quivering. “Chewy hasn’t been back to visit me in a while… Then Zecora came out of the woods and said she’d found a body… That it looked…” She turned her head away, without words.
Gods above and below, they cannot be serious. Alucard couldn’t believe it. Did they know every animal in this entire area? He just happened to have fed on the one manticore and they knew it personally, and by name? That had to be what they were talking about.
“Let us be off.” Alucard spoke, wanting to be done with the mess. He was absolutely sure that when they arrived at the Everfree, they would find a dead animal with only a small bite on its neck as the cause, and not a single drop of blood at the scene of the crime.
Manticores are large predators. Alucard would not begin to be hungry until later, when the sun went down. Under the moon, he would start to thirst again. He huffed a small sigh. No manticores tonight, it seems.
The ponies walking beside him were blissfully unaware of his thoughts.