PlutoVerse: Tirek's Arc

by Vchart920

Him Again

Author's Note:

I am very sorry this has taken so long to get out. Hopefully there won't be anymore long time gaps between chapters from now on.

Tirek banged at the door, wooden surface bending as the gilded door knob clacked against its surface with each hit. He was impatient as is already, he wasn’t going to deal with anyone telling him no or to come back later. No was not an option for him. He gritted his teeth and knocked on the doors a second time. The door flung open revealing a cross Twilight, face scrunched in frustration, hair a tad bit messy from a night of sleep.

She turned her dark glare at Tirek. “What. Do you. Want?”

He returned the same glare. “I need to talk to Philter. Rarity’s getting worse.”

Twilight huffed. “I’ll see what I can do….” She stepped aside and opened the door wide enough for him to enter. He followed her into the castle and through the hall to whatever dark corner of the castle Philter was sleeping in. The hallway itself had its windows blocked all the way down, only fades of light remained at the tips of the shadows. Twilight walked to the door deep within the darkness and banged her hoof against it. “Philter! Get your flank up! It’s an emergency!” After another few knocks, the door cracked open revealing the eye of the tired doctor.

“Good morning to you too, Miss Sparkle.” His voice was groggy, crackled even, hints of sarcasm seeping through.

She rolled her eyes. “I’m sorry for the rude awakening, but Rarity needs... something, it’s getting worse.”

His eye focused behind Twilight noting the impatient centaur behind him. “Ah, for your marefriend. Give me a moment.” Before Tirek could retort, Philter closed the door. Not a minute later, he opened the door again, a shadowy claw floating out with a list that waved in Twilight’s face. “Could you retrieve these items from your potion’s cabinet? I should have the means of creation from last night’s session.”

Twilight snatched the list in her magic and looked it over before looking back to the two with narrowed eyes. “So long as you two play nice. Which means I come back to a castle entirely intact.” With an irritated flick of her tail, she went back into the light of the hallway.

“What are you going to make for her? Does it require any specific instructions?” Tirek crossed his arms, shuffling his shoulders irritably.

“A simple potion to relieve her of her pain and sickness briefly. She will need to take a spoon full every twelve hours. Normally, it lasts longer, but seeing as she is with a child, a weaker mixture would be safer.” He gave him a sly leer. “You will have nothing to worry about until we know how this embryo will develop.”

“I could care less about the child,” he spoke plainly and without reservation. “The sooner this is over, the better.”

Philter’s single eyed gaze turned to confident skepticism. “Are you sure? For someone who ‘lacks care’, you marched over here to bother me so early in the day.”

Tirek scowled at the door, slamming his hand next to the arch of the doorway as he leaned in. “I’m tired of taking care of her. That’s it.”

“Oh, sure you are. Hence why you came yourself instead of sending those two ‘nuisances’ offering their assistance to care for the ‘larger pain’. How inconvenient it would be to sit around and do nothing while they do all the heavy lifting.”

“I would have sent them if they weren’t cowards at the idea of waking you up. They brag so much about friendship yet they refuse to help Rarity because they’re afraid.”

His eyes narrowed. “Were they? So the brave, heroic Tirek took charge to face the monster and save the damsel. Seems you have learned something during your time here.”

Tirek rolled his eyes pulling away from the door as his posture slacked back. “You're as much a monster as I am. I'm not afraid of you.”

Philter chuckled. “Of course, no one is denying this. All I am doing is pointing out the obvious regardless if you want to admit it or not. One day, you will need to face it seeing as she is having your child, accident or not. Have you considered what will happen if she decides to abort? If not? The effects of your decisions?”

“That was going to be discussed before she woke up in such a state. Once we finally get the chance to, we'll figure it out.”

“Any concerns you wish to go through before you do? I assume you have some thoughts I may be able to answer.”

For a moment, Tirek was quiet, hunching and keeping all eye contact away from Philter’s peering eye. It wasn’t long before he gritted his teeth, rolling his head to meet his gaze. “If she did keep it, what do you think it will be? Would it give her problems later on?”

“That is hard to say until the fetus begins to form. The baby could be more pony like, minotaur like, possibly centaur. Of the three, I would be more concerned for the centaur form seeing as the structure body could pose trouble for a mare’s uterus, but more importantly, her cervix come delivery. Though mares have wide hips for childbirth, they were not made for a centaur’s body with the combination of beast top and horse bottom, there is no way for the body to be positioned on exit that would make the extraction simple. If it comes to this, a spell can be used to make the process and development easier for them, but I would keep a closer eye throughout to ensure their safety. Thankfully, I have had my fair share of experience in hybrid births. It is not impossible, but not easy either.” His eye softened a moment. “This is something you will want to mention to Rarity, consider having an examination once the fetus forms. A c-section is also an option, possibly the safest one. Despite what can be done to ease the process, it can be dangerous and it may be easier to abort since this was never planned. There is no shame in choosing her life over the other.”

Tirek’s mouth grimaced in confusion. “What’s a c-section?”

“When there are complications with the birthing process, a doctor may have to intervene by cutting open the mare and removing the baby directly from the uterus.”

Hearing the explanation caused worries to spin in his mind. He could only imagine what consequences each scenario might bring up. Most of which involved Rarity’s wailing and complaining. He started to wonder what would be the best option for that not to happen. They were very slim. “I can only imagine her complaining about how she’d look after that.”

“Oh, believe me, no matter what you do, she will complain. My stomach is huge, I feel like a whale! Why must the child compel me to eat such rubbish?!” Philter impersonated her in the whiniest voice he could muster. “If it is not the hormones, it will be her dramatic personality. The fact you have made it this far is a miracle. Stallions wish they had such perseverance.”

Tirek couldn’t help but let out a chuckle at the vampire’s impersonation of her. “You’ve known her before this? How did that go?”

Philter leaned against the doorway, more of his body pressed out from the shadows revealing his lack of orange striped vest and broach as his dress shirt clung loosely against his body unbuttoned. “It was in the afternoon. Miss Sparkle practically begged me to keep Miss Rarity busy for the duration. She was going through a rough time after yet another break up and Miss Sparkle was dealing with some important guests. I brought my son along because he did not want me to suffer and to help shield me from the sun. The moment I walked in, I knew it was going to be a trip. Of course, she had the place prepared for my safety, windows covered, anything especially scented such as garlic removed. She dragged me about, trying on all these outfits, used me as a means of making adjustments to others. If that was not bad enough, all she did was whine and cry about her love life, how stallions were awful but not my son or I, we were gentlecolts, then proceeded to flirt with my son. The moment I told her he was my son, the reaction was worth all the trouble. If I never had my night with Miss Sparkle, I swear she would have crawled all over me.”

Tirek gave a hearty laugh from that. “I wish I could have been there to see that for myself. And who’s your son?”

“Haunting Hour, the one I had with Luna. That was so long ago.” His gaze drifted a moment before looking back to him. “Perhaps you will see him during one of his visits someday.”

“You had a child with Luna? How did you manage that?” Tirek had to admit, that was rather impressive.

“We have been together for over a thousand years now. Aside from some time she wanted to take upon her return, but we are together once again along with another.”

Tirek grew more curious. “With another? I wouldn’t think any of the alicorns would be in that kind of relationship given their titles.”

Philter snickered. “You would think there are many things they would never do, but they have.”

Hoof steps filled the halls as a tired Twilight approached, a bundle of items held in her magic from potion ingredients to supplies needed. “The castle’s still intact. Great.” She shoved her haul into Philter's chest. “Here. Make the potion and get him off my back.”

He summoned his shadowy magic and took them out from hers. “Thank you, Miss Sparkle. I can take it from here, why not fill your stomach with some breakfast?”

“So long as you don’t snark him into exploding… literally….”

“Have you not seen? We had a nice chat while you were gone.”

Twilight raised an eyebrow. “Uh huh, sure you were.”

“He isn’t being sarcastic, Princess,” Tirek snarked at her remark.

She looked to him in disbelief. “Seriously? You two? Getting along?”

“Is it so impossible for Tirek to have an earnest conversation?” Philter sneered at her.

“This… this is….” Twilight’s face lit up, smile and eyes wide as can be. “Amazing! I can’t believe this! That must mean it’s working!” She teleported a pad of paper and a pencil in front of her, getting closer to Tirek as she took flight. “Tell me all about the conversation! What sparked it?! How long did it take before you two were enjoying the conversation?! Do you see yourselves becoming friends?!”

Tirek growled and pushed Twilight out of his face. “And yet you wonder why I’m so pissed off all the time.”

“Sir Tirek, would you mind accompanying me into my room?” Philter motioned into the darkness of his bedroom, pushing the door wide open.

He snorted and stood up, “Gladly.” He stepped into his room and shut the door behind him.

“But-” The slam cut Twilight off as Philter let out a sigh of relief.

“That mare. I swear one day, her mouth will lead her to trouble.” Philter set his supplies and materials upon a work table nearby, organizing everything as he went to work preparing the ingredients.

“Give her some leeway, sir. She is young.” Steward pushed himself off his bed and walked over to them. Noticing an as always well dressed Steward walking over, Tirek took a moment to scan the room. It was a simple guest bedroom aside for the blocked windows covered in a thick tarp with two now roughed beds, an unusually large bookshelf brimming with reading material for at least a year or more, and a clearly recently installed set of cabinets and a chest from which Philter pulled a few tools for mixing the materials.

“Young and in need of proper social cue recognition.” He retorted, going about his work as he filled a medium sized beaker with crushed up roots.

“I didn’t think anyone could be worse than Rarity. How do you stand her?” Tirek took a seat near where Philter was working.

“With plenty of patience.” He placed more ingredients within the beaker, measuring each carefully as he did so. “Had we not encountered each other as we did, I would not be here. Yet despite the ways she can get on my nerves or nag me for this or that, I cannot help but love her company. More specifically when she does not feel the need to pester me over my choices or what I do with my business.”

“You think that’s what I need to do with Rarity? Patience?”

“If your current relationship was anything like Twilight’s and mine, give it time. She may be upset with you now, but she will come around.” Philter poured a white and blue liquid into the beaker, taking a glass stirring stick and swirling the substance. “What I did was have her stay at my mansion a week, spend time with her and have her acquainted with my family. I was open with her and she with me. Eventually, we found common ground and built a strong relationship. At first, she lectured me because she saw me as some ‘villain’ in need of reformation. Now she lectures me out of worry and care.” He tapped the stick against the beaker, a soft clang emanating from it. Carefully, he set it aside and pulled over a bunsen burner, a metallic platform that sat over it, and a flint spark igniter, the knob on the burner turning the gas on. With a few clicks of the ignitor, its small cup head held over the top of the burning, a spark flickered setting off the glass. Using the nearby tongs, he gently placed the mixture atop the metal surface and laid it to rest.

“Let’s hope this works first. Maybe then we can sit down and work things out. I don’t hate the mare, but she is annoying.” Tirek sighed, wondering if he should talk more in detail. He decided to trust Philter. “I have to admit, my plans backfired. I planned to manipulate her and use her to get out of the reformation idea. Her personality is striking and stubborn.” Tirek kept his mouth open, unsure if he wanted to continue the thought or not. He decided on closing his mouth and letting Philter work.

“I wish my excuses were so clean.” He smirked at him. “Upon our first month together, Miss Sparkle became so drunk, she let go of all her inhibitions which led to where I am today. There is only so much you can do when trying to keep your identity a secret and a powerful alicorn is pressing you into the bed, inebriated, but still forceful.”

Tirek snickered at the thought of Twilight being so drunk, she accidentally had sex. He couldn’t help but imagine her clumsy foreplay or making nerdy pickup lines.

“Perhaps this could be a good thing. Would Rarity harm the father of her child?” Philter’s smirk turned into something sly and even a little sinister. “Not that I am giving you any ideas.” It faded and returned to normal. “Though, if you truly wish to release yourself from it, you should consider convincing them you are not a threat. Despite their acceptance, I still kill and perform unspeakable acts. No one cares, so long as I do not harm their precious Equestria. Not that I would, there is nothing to gain by conquering this place.”

“There is a lot of magic, but I suppose you would not benefit from anything here. I’ll have to think on that advice.”

Once the liquid in the beaker turned a bright light blue, Philter took the tongs and carefully took it off the flame, setting it aside. The light of the flames slowly faded as the burner was turned off returning the room to darkness. Steward went to work pulling out a corked flask, pushing it over to Philter. “Perhaps if you can convince Miss Rarity that you are more than a threat to Equestria, she can convince the others as well. After all, you are more than some villain, correct? You have your reasons, a life you live. What ponies seem to lack in understanding is that morality is not so black and white. Try to have Rarity see that while also showing you can understand her.”

“How do you suggest I do that? I'm not exactly charming like you are. I have a bad history with her and all her friends.”

“You do not need to be charming. Why not find some common interest to bond over? For Miss Sparkle and I, that was books, magical studies. There must be something you and Miss Rarity share.”

“We both enjoy archery, but there is only so much to do with that. Especially with how she’s feeling.”

Philter took the beaker and the flask, uncorking the latter and pouring the warm liquid inside. “I am sure something will come up eventually. Ponyville never stays quiet for long.” He placed the flask within a shadowy claw emerging from the ground. It slithered its way over to Tirek, extending its reach to Tirek’s height presenting the potion to him. “If you need any advice or a place for retreat, you may ask Miss Sparkle to borrow the portal I positioned in her library if I am not around.”

Tirek took the flask from the shadowy form. “I’ll keep that in mind. Every twelve hours you said?”

Philter nodded. “A simple spoon full will do. Refills will be prepared monthly.”

Tirek gave his thanks before leaving the room. He was glad that Twilight wasn’t waiting for him, ready to pester him with as many questions as her brain could muster. However, he didn’t want to run into her and made his way quickly out of the castle hurrying back to the boutique. When he entered, he went straight to the kitchen to grab a spoon. Deep down, he hoped Rarity was still in bed and had eaten something. Tirek went to check Rarity’s room to see Spike and Fluttershy sitting beside her, a tray of untouched food by her bedside.

“Tirek!” Fluttershy exclaimed and fluttered to him. “Oh it’s so good to see you! Please tell me you brought the medicine.”

Tirek held up the bottle. “She’s supposed to take one spoonful every twelve hours. How is she doing?” He went to her side and knelt down.

Spike looked to Rarity with worry. “She’s had better days….”

Rarity let out the most dramatic moan she could. “What do you want… haven’t you done enough already…?”

Tirek ignored her whining and uncorked the flask. He poured the spoonful and put it towards her. “I don’t know how it will taste, but it will make you feel better.”

“You better not... be trying to... poison me….”

“Philter made it, blame him if it is. Take it.”

Reluctantly, Rarity opened her mouth and swallowed the spoon full. Seconds after, she stuck out her tongue spitting a little. “What is in that concoction?! Insects?!”

Spike couldn't help but chuckle, desperately slapping his claws over his month. Fluttershy lifted a thoughtful hoof. “Some medicines have bugs in their recipes.” Rarity spat wildly as she futilely dragged her hooves across her tongue, the rancid taste leaving its disgusting sting behind.

Tirek shot the two a hard glare. “Don't you think she's stressed enough as it is? Worrying about potion ingredients is the last thing she needs right now.” He turned his attention back to Rarity. “I watched him make the potion, there aren't any insects in it.”

They froze, still as statues. Fluttershy slunk behind the cover of the bed and Spike kept his head low. After getting her distaste out of her system, Rarity flopped back in the bed, lying face up as she stared at the ceiling.

Tirek took a deep breath and sighed to calm himself down. “Let me know when you're feeling better then we'll worry about getting food in you.” He hesitantly reached out his hand and took her hoof in it, giving a light squeeze. She looked to him surprised. Though her first thought was to pull away, something kept her from doing so. Why wouldn’t she? This brute put her here, he was the one who insisted on having sex in the first place. Yet she didn’t want him to let go. Clearly the madness this pregnancy is inducing has a tighter grip on her mind than she expected.

Fluttershy peered from her hiding place, seeing Tirek holding Rarity’s hoof with care. Instinctively, she let out an adoring squeal, a sweet smile spreading across her face. Rarity practically jumped at the sound, seeing her friend squeeing at the sight of them. Her face nearly turned red. “And what are you squealing about?!”

“Don’t get any funny ideas. I’m not in the mood to deal with that.”

“But you are so adorable! I didn’t know-” Spike shot at her from across the room, clamping his claws over her mouth. Fluttershy let out a short, frightened squeal, words muddled.

“I think that’s all the help they need for now! Let’s go and clean up the boutique a little so Rarity has a nice shop to come back to! Okay? Okay!” Quietly, he shuffled her out of the room, closing the door firmly behind him.

“Finally some quiet,” he huffed. Tirek took a more comfortable seat on the floor. “Hopefully they don’t cause any more headaches today.”

“They are only trying to help.” Rarity stated, relaxing once again.

“Yet I had to be the one to go wake Philter up to get you this medicine. They were too scared of waking the vampire to help you.”

Rarity rubbed her temples. “Fluttershy gets anxious in those situations and Spiky Wiky is too polite to bother someone who’s sleeping. Do you think they care that he’s a vampire? We’ve been over it for well over a year now.” She took a deep breath as his hooves flopped back. “But I do appreciate you doing that for me… it was… sweet of you….” Her lips squeezed tight as she looked away.

“He and I had a rather pleasant conversation. Told about his travels, his life, and one of his sons that you tried to flirt with before realizing your mistake.” He eyed her with a smug look on his face.

Her eyes went wide, head snapping to look at him. “He was never introduced as such! If Philter had only told me!” She took a deep breath. “That never leaves this room.”

Tirek couldn't help but chuckle at her defensiveness. It was one of the few times there was a connection between them. His eyes drifted to the untouched plate beside her noticing the neatly prepared breakfast had turned sad and sat. “Anything specific you're going to want to eat?”

She gave a slight hmph and crossed her legs, trying not to look at him. “An omelette would be nice….”

“I’ll get that going for you.” Tirek stood up taking the plate of stale food with him as he went out the door. He added, “Call if you need anything,” before he left.

Comments

[Grekoy]

Aw.