Chapter 1

The red moon rose gradually in the sky, overlooking the Night of the Blood Moon Festival.

It was what the mare looked forward to every single year. From her perch upon the Town Hall, the svelte and clandestine creature grinned at the full moon in the night sky. The stars were gleaming from on high, thousands upon thousands of distant lights residing elsewhere in the galaxy, but her gorgeous red eyes were transfixed, desire set on one light source only.

What a splendid night, the vampiric unicorn thought to herself. It feels like it has been eons since the last blood moon. It might as well have been. The mare was starving for a good feast. Rarity was one of the few vampires still remaining upon the earth, most having turned to dust generations before her. She had never truly understood how she had become a creature of the night, yet had ceased lingering on it years ago.

Having such a form meant that she would never age, something quite useful for a lithe mare such as herself. This night was truly special for the fashionista, for it was the one night in which she allowed herself to give in to her vampire needs.

Over the years, the unicorn had managed to control her more primal urges and survive off of cooled blood packets. Since Rarity had become a fully realized vampire, the food that she ate lost much of its taste. She could still eat it of course and easily fool whosoever was present at the time with a touch of flair for the dramatic, yet the prospect of real blood always weighed on her as she ate.

Eventually, she had found an outlet in only feeding on animals in the Everfree Forest. With her red eyes, the vampiric unicorn had a much easier time of seeing in the dark than any other creature for miles. She could hide herself within the shadows of the trees and the shrubs and buildings as she stalked her prey. The thrill of the chase was something that Rarity couldn’t live without at that time.

To be honest, I still relish a good chase, she pondered, looking out over her home town and grinning at the wonderful feast that she would soon partake in. Yet I am simply too hungry to put this feeding off for any longer.

For quite a while the monsters of the Everfree gave Rarity the necessary blood for her survival, and pony blood packets, stolen from Ponyville General Hospital, if she felt like something more special; although recently even the packets of pony blood would not sate the vampire’s lust. She knew that her control over her vampire half was fading, yet at this point under the moon she didn’t care.

Her entire body craved real blood and in this dark moment the unicorn was happy to provide the necessary fluids that drove her existence.

Rarity’s red eyes scanned the town, her irises dilated in order to pick up on the most miniscule of details in whatever or whoever fell into her vision. Few ponies were out at this late hour, most safely tucked in their beds, or so they believed, yet there were still some insomniacs wandering about and enjoying the night life.

She saw a few ponies leaving one of the bars in downtown Ponyville and a solitary mare out for an evening walk. The vampire licked her lips at the possible taste of that pony’s blood on her tongue.

Over the years, the taste of wild animal blood had grown lackluster to Rarity. Even the sheer thrill of the hunt was not enough to account for her want of pony blood. She spread her wings from her sides, aroused by the sight of the delicious looking veins coursing through the fit mare’s body. With no further objections to her vampiric nature, Rarity fell from the Town Hall and caught the breeze blowing past. She glided silently to the ground, shrouded in the shadows cast by the buildings on her right.

Her lustful eyes trailed after the mare as she continued on uninterrupted. The longer the unicorn watched the blood flow in the pony in front of her, the further her fangs protruded from her mouth. Rarity could hear the careful heartbeat of her prey and relished in the fact that the rate of its beat would quickly change due to her tantalizing acts.

That in turn would make drinking the life giving fluid that much simpler. She saw her chance as the mare spun and stepped along a darkened alley. Rarity took off with a single flap of her bat-like wings and slammed into her noiselessly, carrying her victim farther into the dark alleyway. The mare merely managed to whimper as she lay upon the ground, belly facing skyward, before Rarity placed her hoof over her mouth.

“Shh, darling, no yelling now; this is something that both you and I will enjoy.” The vampire caressed her free hoof over the mare’s neck, revealing the pulsing vein that Rarity had become so fond of.

Her wings gave an excited beat at what this new blood would taste like, before she brought her glistening fangs down upon her neck. The pony screamed, the sound muffled by the hoof of Rarity. Warmth coated her teeth and poured into her mouth, before she removed her fangs and placed her mouth over the two wounds.

The mare continued to try and call for somepony, yet within a few seconds her silenced shouts turned to gentle moans. She fell against the soil, her eyes rolling into the back of her head. Rarity grinned into her feeding, further excited by the pony’s relaxed manner.

From the taste of the new blood type, the vivacious unicorn moaned out of delight; it was incomparable to anything else. Not even the pony blood packets were this scrumptious. She heard the other mare exhale in ecstasy at what was being done to her. The saliva that dripped from Rarity’s mouth and into the wounds was swift to arouse and sedate her prey. The designer learned long ago that vampire saliva glands produced a chemical which mimicked sexual stimulation, allowing the vampire to drink the blood from their intended prey with little struggle.

This is amazing. How I could have prevented myself from experiencing something so delicious for so long is a matter that I shall never understand. Her wings flexed at her sides, her entire body flooded with adrenaline. She needed more. Rarity released her victim with one last swallow of the life giving fluid and licked her lips.

The pony lay on the floor, rendered unconscious from the excitement and fear bubbling up in her body. The vampiric unicorn smiled seductively and leaned in to place a gentle kiss on the mare’s cheek. “Pleasant dreams, darling. You were a very helpful victim this night.” Yet I need more, her primal side screamed at her.

Her fangs were still protruding from her mouth, her long thirst for real pony blood finally being met. She had been like this for years, for as long as she could remember, her body always craving for something more.

No matter how many packets of blood Rarity stole from Ponyville General Hospital, it still yelled at her for a unique taste. I don’t think that you will have to worry about going thirsty anymore. This is too much to pass up now.

She sped off into the darkened streets of the small, unsuspecting town, searching for another late night meal. Her wings carried her through shadows at impossible speeds, intent on locating another vessel of blood.

She ceased in her stride at the corner of a street, spotting a group of ponies hanging around near the Ponyville Market. Her red irises narrowed further as she clung to the side of a building, her heart fluttering in anticipation at the prospect of having three victims to choose from as she remained clandestine within her shadows.

Now Rarity, not even a powerful vampire like yourself could take on three stallions at once. I will simply have to separate one of them from the rest. The seamstress quirked her head to appraise her wings and furled them carefully against her body, fashioning them into a transparent cloak.

She blinked her eyes a few times and felt them change to her once natural sapphire coloration. The final touch, Rarity managed to retract her fangs enough to not be noticeable, her emotions still running high on the elation of the blood now coursing through her veins.

Rarity flicked her mane once before sauntering out into the light of the street lamp near the three ponies, adding a voluptuous sway of her hips. The tall one noticed her first, turning on his hooves to smile at the unicorn. He was handsome, if she were to be honest. He had a strong form, shimmering blue eyes and course black hair. A suitable candidate for a date with the old Rarity, however the Vampire Rarity harbored a darker, more intrinsic plan for him.

“Well, well, what do we have here? You seem to be lost, miss,” the male called.

Of course, Rarity imagined with a grin of her own; a surreptitious and predatory smirk that she allowed none of them to notice behind her frightened façade, while she halted her approach a pony’s length from the threesome, chivalry with hidden intentions behind each smile. This will only make things easier. “Oh my goodness, yes; I am afraid that I have rarely traipsed along this way and I am uncertain whether I will be able to return to my home without some sort of peril befalling me.”

The unicorn with the deep blue mane and tail stepped forward, offering a hoof to Rarity. “Would you allow me to walk you home?”

“Oh, would you be so kind, sir?” she asked, fluttering her eyelashes delicately.

“It would be my pleasure.” He was thin, yet not unhealthy. Rarity could see the blood rushing through his body and to his face; it was enough of an indication for the vampiric mare. “I’ll see you guys later. This beautiful mare needs to get home.”

Chivalry, although I know what he hopes to receive upon his generous deed…and my, my, what another rather practical use for my charms. The two began walking, the stallion already settled close beside her.

“So where might your home be, miss…?”

Rarity smiled sweetly at him. “Oh yes, my name is Rarity. I live in Carousel Boutique, near the Ponyville Library.”

“Oh yes, I remember you. Quite the eye for fashion I might point out. My name is Clear Skies. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

“Likewise, my dear,” she returned eloquently, yet inwardly the alabaster unicorn groaned. Honestly, how desperate can you be? “Well, thank you most sincerely for walking me home at this time of night.”

The stallion grinned widely at her. “It’s no trouble, my lady; happy to help.”

“So where might you be from? I am afraid that I haven’t seen you around here before.”

Clear Skies laughed pleasantly. “I’m not too surprised. I haven’t lived here for some time. I moved to Baltimare ages ago, but luckily for the both of us I still know my way around.”

Rarity raised a curious eyebrow in response, merely playing the role of the distressed and interested mare prior to having the male within her home. The fact that you have no relatives residing here will be of benefit to me, however; not that a concerning issue has ever arisen due to my feasts. “You moved from Ponyville to Baltimare? That is no small journey. What would cause such an alteration of residence, if I may ask?”

“Oh it’s nothing that you should be worried to ask about. I’m here visiting some friends and their family.”

You dip your head in recognition, flicking your tail this way and that. “Ah, well that sounds lovely, Clear Skies.” As the two arrived at the boutique, Rarity sauntered along the front step to unlock the front door. The fact that his friends saw him leave with a beautiful mare in need will also allot me a time to deal with him and grant myself an alibi explaining why he will not return to their home for at least another day.

“I suppose I should be going.”

Tossing her mane to have it dangle in front of her right eye, the proper lady inclined her head sweetly. My dear male; we both know what you truly wish to say. “Won’t you stay for a moment? I could set some tea on for us; to make up for you walking me home.”

“Well, I…”

There we are, almost there. “Please?” Her eyes flashed red, a sultry and hypnotizing glance falling on the stallion. Rarity stepped over to him, smiling to herself knowing that her combined charms and vampiric nature had rooted her next victim to the sidewalk. The lady placed a gentle kiss on his cheek.

“O-okay,” he muttered, staring forward in a dumbfounded manner; lips curled upward slightly.

The mare led the hypnotized stallion into her house, sitting him down near her display table in the living room of her boutique. Rarity grinned at the knowledge that she had complete control over her victim, much like when she fed off of wild animals. Yet, something about controlling other ponies was more fulfilling.

“Now you simply relax, darling. I shall return momentarily. I purely need to prepare the tea.” The mare watched Clear Skies, his lack of a reaction other than a nod and a lustful smile told her how deeply she had him. She leaned in further and stroked at his neck with a fore hoof. The pulsing vein could be plainly seen directly under the skin of her prey.

Rarity watched the flow of blood throughout his body, truly relishing in the sight given to her with her transformation. Nothing in the world compares to this, even my sewing. I cannot believe that I managed to stave off this craving for so long.

She allowed her wings to unfurl and her fangs to protrude, excited from the prospect of feeding so quickly after the first time tonight. Rarity had always controlled the extent of blood which she would consume despite the deep protests of her primal self. She took only what she truly needed to survive, yet with the beginning of this night, she shook off those morals.

Her glistening fangs pierced the flesh of her victim’s neck, opened a portion of the blood vessel and greedily drank the red liquid. Clear Skies shouted in surprise and pain for a few seconds, before Rarity’s special saliva did its work. He slumped to the ground, with the fashionista falling on top of him while she continued to feed.

She felt something hard press up against her stomach. Rarity pulled her lips from his neck and glanced between their bodies, producing a vivacious smirk once she realized what it was.

“Becoming enticed, are we? My, my, how many mares must this have encountered over the years?” She drew nearer upon him, rubbing her cheek against his own. “You must really want to enjoy my company, yet I am afraid that you are not my type.”

Rarity pressed herself down on his member, pinning it to his stomach so that she could finish feeding without any unwelcome interruptions. The stallion moaned into her, kissing her neck in an attempt to arouse her. Honestly, I imagined that he knew who I was; a lady of control and refinement. Yet for a brief moment, a distant, impossible thought occurred to her; imagining that a different creature, who the elegant mare truly desired, would appear before her red eyes, comfortably nestled beneath her lithesome form. Her marehood screamed at her to gain some measure of satisfaction from the vision, a heat developing between her hind legs. Her fancies assuaged, swiftly comprehending that this was not who she envisioned, she resumed her original task.

She finished drinking his blood a few moments later, glad that the stubborn stallion had slipped into an unconscious state from the loss of blood. Rarity pushed herself to her hooves with a delicate toss of her tail and licked her lips of the delicious fluid yet remaining there. “Not as good as the first one, possibly due to intoxication, yet still divine; now what to do with you?”

The vampiric unicorn looked to the clueless male, seeing that she had drained quite a bit of his life blood in her need for more. “He was obviously drunk, so I could put him in an alley to be discovered in the morning. He shouldn’t recall what transpired tonight, if I have anything to voice about it. Regardless, no vampire has been documented in over three thousand years, before the princesses and I am quite happy to remain undocumented and unknown as well, thank you.”

Nodding to herself at her rationalization, Rarity lifted the stallion in her magic and meandered toward the front door. Her fangs retreated into her mouth, if through a touch of coaxing by the vampiric unicorn, yet her eyes remained that red coloration that she had grown to delight in and her wings stayed extended.

Once her saliva rapidly performed its secondary task of coagulating the blood of the two bite wounds, concealed well beneath his fur, she found a splendid spot for Clear Skies near Quills and Sofas, placing him in such a way that indicated that he had passed out from drunkenness after escorting her to her abode. Rarity stared at the pony, quite satisfied with how tonight had gone for her.

Yet this is only the first night, she thought with a grin. As she returned to her home with a gentle sway of her hips and a promenade, the proper lady gazed skyward at the moon that was giving her this chance to feed. “What a lovely red moon. This will truly be a Nightmare Night to remember.”

Chapter 2

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The mare woke in the morning to a loud pounding on her door. She felt groggy and tired from lack of sleep. Rarity tilted her head to look at the time, peering at her bedside clock with squinting sapphire eyes. Who could that be? she asked angrily, before settling her nerves and accepting that she had been woken up early.

It was faintly apparent that the sun was rising in the sky, rays peeking into her room and upon her floor through her carefully drawn purple curtains.

“Purely a moment, darling,” Rarity sung, her pleasant tune carrying easily through her home.

She delicately lifted herself from beneath her warm blankets, stretching her back and flexing her wings; a delighted moan escaping her lips from her efforts. The alabaster unicorn exhaled and, with a wiggle of her backside, hopped from her mattress. Rarity prepared her bed for later slumber and set out to tidying herself in front of the mirror of her room’s bathroom. She made perfectly certain that her fangs and wings were suitably concealed. Simply because I am a vampire doesn’t mean that I am not also a sophisticated lady. Now, let us see who wishes to speak with me.

Once she was certain that her fur, mane and tail were in a wonderful state of perfection, Rarity descended the stairs and unlocked her door with her aura. She found Spike standing behind it, grinning from ear to ear at the mare.

“Good morning, Rarity. Did you sleep well?”

The fashionista smiled at the purple dragon. Four years of growth had done him well. He was as tall as a pony now and three feet longer with that tail. His wings had grown in good time also and it had long since become a joy of hers to view him soaring in the sky, wishing that she could join him. You have truly grown quite handsome, haven’t you, my dear? “Hello, Spike. I had a lovely sleep, thank you. What brings you here, if I may ask? I thought that you would be out and about, organizing the town for Nightmare Night.”

Spike scratched at his neck and chuckled softly. “Yes, I am about to, but I thought that I would come by and ask if you wanted to join me.”

“Oh; what would I be joining you for, dear?” Rarity was curious. Was this an attempt to have her leave the boutique on Nightmare Night, or was it something else? Perhaps he was asking her on a date? She kept a clandestine smirk across her features as she expected something along those lines.

“Well, it is simply that…I never see you on Nightmare Night and I thought that you would like to see the set up. If you are not too busy already, I mean.”

This truly had her interested. It was risky, she knew that much, yet perhaps she could spare a few hours to join her friend. “I am not too terribly busy, no. I suppose that I could go out with you for a little while. Yet why, if I may ask, do you wish for me to be out on Nightmare Night so deeply?”

He appeared to expect that kind of question and relaxed a little as he stood ahead of her. “To be honest, I am kind of surprised that you don’t participate each year, Rarity.”

“What do you mean, darling?” she quizzed with a tip of her head, yet noticing the subtle, sweet reactions that she could draw from the gentledragon, even after so much had passed between them.

“Well,” the sweet creature began, rubbing one of his forelegs in a cute manner, “this would be a great time to display your dresses more. I know that you fashion all sorts of scary costumes for the foals and the adults, but a week prior to the beginning of the festival you start closing really early, like you don’t like the events. I thought that you would like to dress as something scary.”

You have no idea, Spike, she pondered. I thought that it would have something to do with my dress designs. Honestly, it would benefit me to sell such things directly leading up to Nightmare Night. Yet, as you said, Spikey, I would have to be open then too and I cannot risk losing myself, even if I have had no issues prior. I don’t wish to lose what I have. She beamed at him, giggled and stepped out of her shop, standing quite close to the dragon. “Very well; let us see what it is that you do each and every year.”

Spike flinched at the sudden closeness of the mare, making Rarity’s clever visage only widen. “Uh, okay…a-and I don’t do it every year, but Twilight is out of town this time and I was the next choice.”

“Oh, nonsense, my dear,” Rarity responded, bolstered by Spike’s hesitance to be near her. “I am certain that you have been a far greater aid in this day’s preparation than what you let on.” He was frozen in place by her warm presence, startled by how close that she was and yet unwilling to retreat. It was always endearing to the proper lady; she didn’t need her vampiric nature to garner a reaction out of him, not that she would ever allow such a thing. No, not to Spikey-Wikey; control yourself, Rarity. She was swift to fight off her impulse to extend her wings.

The purple dragon chuckled nervously, sweat flowing along his forehead. Rarity could see the blood pulsing in his veins, directly under his scales. She always desired to know what his blood would taste like; dragon blood. “Well, I guess that I learned a lot over the years. I have everything under control, but I thought that you might like to see some of it.”

Rarity rested a hoof against her chest, lying on her appreciative face; easy to do whenever it was Spike who offered an invitation. “Oh, well isn’t that nice of you? I would be happy to accompany you on your last rounds. It has been so long since I was out with somepony.” In the day time, that is.

She was glad to view that her simple acceptance garnered such a wondrous smile. “Great! Are you ready to go right now, or did you need anything from your house?”

The fashionista waved a hoof in dismissal of his question. “Oh, no, I don’t believe that that will be necessary. It is merely a short excursion about town, isn’t it? Where to first, Spike?” she asked, smiling sweetly at the five foot-tall dragon. “I await your kindly escort.” Spike inclined his head and stepped away from the front door to allow the seamstress through and they began to meander toward the center of Ponyville.

“The Town Hall is the last thing on my list to complete,” the gentledragon explained, keen emerald eyes set gently on her. “It isn’t finished yet, but there are several ponies working quite hard to put the final touches outside and inside the building. I thought that you would like to have a first peek at what is transpiring this year.” Rarity giggled that he would want her to see how his plan turned out above everypony else.

She looped her hoof underneath his arm, surprising him again with how close that she now was. The vampiric mare gazed into Spike’s eyes and saw the blood flow along his neck quicken. What in the name of fashion am I doing? Maintain that measure of control that you always have with him, dear. I know that he is quite handsome, but he is also your friend. The two stopped and Rarity dropped her hoof to the road. “Sorry, Spike. You are purely so adorable, offering to give myself and myself alone a special tour.”

The pair continued their walk, the reddening of his cheeks and a timid beam as she commented was enough of an indication of how she yet affected him. “That is okay. I simply thought that you would like to have some fresh air and be out for a little while.” Rarity kept pace with him, grinning when he said that.

Always looking out for me, hm? “To tell you the truth, Spikey-Wikey, it was becoming a touch stuffy in my home. To partake in a leisurely stroll with a dear friend of mine will unquestionably be refreshing, especially with this lovely little breeze.”

“I am happy to be of assistance,” he merely replied with a gallant nod.

“Oh, you sweet talker,” the alabaster unicorn cooed, flipping her mane a tad for effect. This may never be, dear. You know how you are about him even during the day, even in this very moment. The fashionista adjusted herself and glanced about, viewing how all of the houses and stores seemed to be decorated in some sort of creepy designs for Nightmare Night; ghosts made of translucent fabric draped over tree branches, flowing slightly in the breeze, pumpkins seated eloquently upon house steps, carved into crude faces and honestly, some rather tasteful seasonal designs. Spider webs and their felt constructed owners attached one house to another all along the streets. It is for the best. I know that it is sad for me, yet Spikey means so much more to me. “So, Spike, if you are planning this year’s Nightmare Night, will you also be dressing up?”

She was quick to garner his attention, the purple dragon quirking his head from glimpsing the sights himself to regard her. “Yes, most likely,” he answered, dipping his head.

“Oh? What would you be?” she asked, genuinely curious.

“Well, I thought about being a vampire again this year. I dressed up as one a few years ago and I still have the costume. Vampires are one of my favorite fantasy creatures, after all.”

Rarity gazed at him critically as they neared the Town Hall. “I remember.” She didn’t really know why, yet she hadn’t expected him to say that. She felt her wings stiffening, growing restless. Nonsense, Rarity; he means as a mythical creature. If he knew what you truly were, he wouldn’t feel the same way.

With little much else to say, the two friends arrived at their destination. Spike held the door open for Rarity to enter and she thanked him kindly. She gaped at what was held within: skeletons, ghosts, giant spiders sat upon webs along the walls and bannisters, hordes of bats hung from the ceiling and dark drapes cut the light from without to a minimum. Spooky colors and creepy creatures lined the building interior, with the stage crowded with ghoulish zombie ponies and vivacious vampires. Pumpkins and gravestones rose around the perimeter of the room, some of the pumpkins being carved or painted in intricate patterns that showed the season or a haunted house, or carved into a scary creature or pumpkin face.

The elegant mare sauntered along the floor a few paces, glancing this way and that to behold all of her friend’s hard work, quirking her head to peer over her lithesome form at the dragon. “My word, Spike; this is wonderful; so very bone chilling, yet intriguing at the same time.” She saw several ponies working in the background on different stands or statues or pumpkins, yet Rarity simply resumed her attention upon her escort. “You certainly have an eye for the spooky, my dear.”

Spike scratched at the scales on his head, grinning and wandering forward to stand by her side once again. “Thanks. That means a lot, coming from you.” She beamed across at him for the sincerity that she always heard from his praises and compliments. “I made sure that the curtains and drapes were suitably dark and light reflecting so that they gave off an eerie feel. That is honestly thanks to you, Rarity.”

“Truly?” she inclined her head at him. Rarity’s countenance merely brightened when he presented her with a mute nod. Deciding to have a bit of a gander herself, she meandered along with a sway of her hips as Spike followed behind, to inspect the nearest curtain. “Let us have a look then, shall we?” She held the drape aloft in her magic, allowing her to brush a hoof across its dark velvet surface. “Well, you certainly chose your fabrics nicely. This must have cost quite a number of bits though.”

The dragon shook his head as he returned to his spot beside her on her right. “Not really. I bought all of this when it went on sale. Yet another thing that I picked up from you, Rarity.”

She flushed at how much Spike had retained from his constant helping at the boutique. Rarity didn’t imagine that he would remember such things and was only interested in amazing her, yet it was still quite flattering to have given him such ideas on saving bits and choosing materials.

“Well, I am impressed, Spike,” the proper lady complimented, quite sincerely. “I had no idea that you were listening to me quite so intensely while I sewed, or that you honestly garnered my sense of fashion. Rather, I know that your advice and attention was helpful; yet to have you apply it outside of my boutique is a touch surprising.”

“Pardon me?” he asked, chuckling and holding part of the curtain in his claws. “Rarity, I was always paying attention. I don’t know about my sense of fashion, but without helping you with your dresses this never would have looked quite so good. I know that you have never been out on Nightmare Night, but without you this probably wouldn’t have happened in this way.”

This was becoming an even greater stirring of emotions for her, only realizing now that through this unbelievably kind creature, Rarity had been having an effect on the festivities despite her physical absence. “Are you saying that you have done this every year?”

Spike shook his head, appearing pleased with his reveal and her astonishment. “No, not every year. I didn’t really have the proper fabric or could never find the proper materials for the situation, yet this year is my masterpiece. Well, hopefully. I was kind of hoping that you could tell me how good everything is.”

Rarity blinked in surprise at Spike wanting her opinion on this. She had always liked to hear what he had to say about her gowns and dresses, especially if she was the one wearing the ensembles. His compliments and embarrassed glances would always bring up feelings in her. The fashionista hid them well, fearing that her vampiric instincts would consume her. She never wanted to harm a friend such as Spike, even if she knew that both of them would end up enjoying the feeding. That is not something that I ever wish to put him through.

She cleared her throat to stall and to regain her composure from what she had been thinking. Rarity dipped her head to the gentledragon and took off in the direction of the stage. “Very well, darling; although I have never had the opportunity to set up something such as this, I will give you my best possible answers.”

“That is all that I ask,” he softly assured, trotting along to draw near and match her elegant saunter at her side.

For the remainder of the day, Spike took Rarity to different locations decorated for Nightmare Night; neighborhoods draped in festive paraphernalia, crop mazes and other such adorable activities for foals and mares and stallions alike. Rarity would give her best opinion of the designs and locals; talking about alternate color shades for a drape within a market, the Ponyville General Hospital and especially the Ponyville School, or if something could be generally creepier with some added devilish accessory or fabric. Yet for the most part, the vampiric lady truly did not have much to recommend. It was tremendous to her that he had fashioned all of this himself; she was quite impressed with his imaginative ability.

While he spoke with a couple of ponies asking about his plans for a specific haunting arrangement, the lithesome unicorn stole some glances at her knight in shining scales. I never should have doubted him. I am sorry, Spike, to you most of all for not being able to attend Nightmare Night. Yet it has to be this way. It is far too dangerous for you to be out with me on this night. I purely can’t trust myself to be with you.

At the last important point that he had taken her, Rarity noticed the setting sun.

It is late. I need to prepare for tonight and make certain that I don’t feed off of my friends. She focused on him with mounting guilt. The purple dragon appeared so glad to have her with him during this celebration for once. It made her so happy to yet be a part of his life and it also saddened her that she would have to disappoint Spike once again. “I am sorry, my dear Spike,” she apologized, garnering his unwavering attention. “I am afraid that I must go. It is quite late and I have some orders that I must fill.”

It broke her heart to view him deflate ahead of her, his eyebrows rising in worry.

Please, Spikey-Wikey, don’t make that face. You are not the reason why I am leaving. Rather, you are the only reason why I desire to stay and after this special day together, merely enjoying each other’s company, it is even more difficult for me to deny you your simple wish. You have done everything that a beautiful, sweet and caring mare would deserve from their mate. Yet I don’t deserve you, Spikey. I can’t be your special mare, no matter how much I may wish to be.

Spike spun on his heels to look upon the alabaster unicorn. He drew in a breath and straightened himself, likely in an attempt to assuage her concerns for him, before inclining his head in acknowledgement. “Do you need any help with that? I could stop by after the second night of festivities is over.” He answered almost instantly, yet endeavoring to include Rarity in the night of nightmares and cheer.

“That is…that is very sweet of you,” Rarity whispered, trying not to think of how her fangs were almost protruding from her mouth, or how close that she was to crying and embracing the poor dear. This is nothing like that stallion last night. Spike truly has innocent intentions to help me with my work, which is precisely the problem. “You are always looking out for me, aren’t you? Yet I am afraid that I must decline. You have this festival to attend and if I am not mistaken it persists long into the night.”

“But I know you.” It was his time to step toward the elegant mare. Spike sat ahead of her on the soil path and ever so delicately lifted her left foreleg and cradled her hoof between his clawed hands, causing her to give him her utmost focus. He merely gazed at Rarity and his emerald eyes and soft touch spoke volumes to her about what he wished to impart to her. “You will be awake long into the night too and I can help. Please? Let me help you this once, so that you won’t be alone.” The look on his face was undeniably cute and his honest chivalry went above and beyond to help her, as usual. Rarity didn’t have the heart to deny him.

The proper lady sighed, beaming at him serenely and trying not to take notice of how much she desired to have him hold her near. If only you truly did know me and would accept me for what I am. “Very well; I can see that there is no point in arguing with you. Although,” she paused, stepping nearer to him with her eyes lidded. “I do hope that you are not coming simply to see me in the dresses that I am making.”

The closeness made Spike gulp loudly. He released her hoof and retreated that time, something that Rarity expected from the purple dragon. He shook his head vigorously at what she had joked was his hidden motive. “No way! I said that I would help you with completing your designs early so that you wouldn’t have to stay up all night.”

Underneath her lidded gaze, Rarity was regretting her decision to be talking this way to him, admonishing herself for her mistake. Spike…you are making it very difficult to keep up with this charade. She cleared her throat and ceased in her surreptitious flirting. “Alright; come by at around twelve in the morning and I will let you in. If something should come up, let me know and I will do the same for you.”

Spike smiled happily at that, appearing excited merely at the prospect of her accepting his help. Rarity never could fathom why he enjoyed being with her so much, yet that didn’t mean that she didn’t enjoy the attention.

“Well, I suppose that I should let you return to your home then. Don’t do too much until I arrive, alright? I don’t want to walk over and see that you are about to faint from exhaustion.”

The alabaster unicorn giggled at his words, cheeks reddening that he had actually seen her like that a few times in the past. Those were honestly the most dangerous times, especially when you would carry me to my bedroom. “Yes. I will take it easy, as it were, until you arrive. Also, thank you again, Spike. You truly are a very helpful friend.”

He smiled brilliantly at her in return. “You are a friend worth helping, Rarity. I will see you in a couple of hours then.”

“Indeed you will.” I simply need to make sure that I feed quickly and return before he arrives.

“Bye, Rarity. Good luck with your dresses,” Spike said softly, melancholy yet peeking through his visage as he beamed at her. The fashionista returned the sight in kind and turned to the side. She wanted nothing more but to touch the gentledragon’s foreleg to reassure him that she would take care of herself until he arrived, yet the possible regrets from what could occur after if she touched him held her at bay.

“So long, darling; I shall see you later tonight!” I can’t even touch him.

Rarity exhaled deeply as she managed to shut the door to her home. Her wings ached the entire journey home and she finally allowed them to fly open in excitement at seeing the flow of blood in Spike’s neck veins. She tried telling herself that it was purely that; wishing to feed on her friend, yet Rarity had known for a while that there was more to it than that.

She had been fighting with this craving for most of the years that she knew the dragon and it had only grown more apparent and wounding as he grew.

“Calm down, Rarity. Honestly, you may be a vampire, but you are still a lady and must not allow your feelings to take charge.” She stood up delicately and began to prepare the house for the dragon’s visit, organizing her living space for her special companion. It would not do to leave this place in a state of disarray when I begin my feeding.

She worked on her dresses for as long as she was able, keeping her attention off of the craving of her vampire self and of her pony self as well. It was dark when she lost her last nerve. Rarity huffed indignantly as she sat upon her chair and tossed the fabric, which she had settled beneath her needle aside. She pushed herself up from her sewing table and peered out at the night lights.

It has been going on for a while now. I will have to be quick if I am to meet Spike here without any delays.

She decided that the cover of night was enough for her to sneak out of her house and into the world to begin the nightmare again.

The alabaster unicorn grinned at that thought; that she would be the one to cause the nightmare on Nightmare Night this year, for a select few. Without another thought but of the delicious taste of new blood, Rarity vanished from her home and resumed her perch on the Town Hall.

On these nights, this was her city and the town hall roof was the highest point in Ponyville, giving Rarity the best view of her would-be victims. She scanned the area, looking at all of the happy partying ponies dressed in their spooky, silly or pretty costumes. Being a true vampire, the proper lady had never truly taken a liking to Nightmare Night, or was too nervous of the consequences to participate and avoided it as best as she could. When she was smaller, it was easier to venture into the night with her mother or her father and not have any unbearable cravings, yet now that she was older and even with her poise and composure, Rarity did not wish to risk her exposure as a vampire to anypony; least of all to her friends.

“There,” she declared, her red eyes spotting a couple of ponies by themselves. Immediately, Rarity had a plan for trapping both of them for her to feed. She was certain to be sated with two more ponies and then she could return to her abode to allow Spike to help her with her clothing line, without the stresses of wishing to feed on his unique blood.

She did not need any further thought into the matter, so she spread her wings and extended her fangs to their maximum, prior to taking to the skies and landing in the shadow of the alleyway nearest the ponies.

Rarity could hear them speaking to one another of the incredible arrangement for Nightmare Night this year. She allowed herself to take pride in the fact that the one who designed the festivities was one of her closest friends and that he had learned much of what he used in this festival from her. If nothing else, Spikey, I am glad that you think so highly of me, despite what I have put you through and what you would think if I showed myself to you.

Setting those tender, impossible imaginings aside, she licked her lips, feeling the taste of blood that she felt last night. The fashionista knew that tonight would be as tasty to her. Remaining hidden in the shadows of the building, Rarity began to make a few whimpers and cries for help.

“Did you hear that?” one of the ponies asked, glancing around to pinpoint where the noises were coming from.

The other pony nodded. “Yeah; I think it was coming from the alley.” Rarity could see the first pony move closer into the darkened street. “What are you doing?”

“I’m going to see if there’s anything that I can do. It sounds like somepony’s in trouble.” He stepped a bit further into the alleyway, yet glanced behind him at his friend. “Are you coming to help or what?”

His friend hesitated before walking forward. “Okay.”

Yes, excellent, the mare thought, smiling wickedly from within the shadows. This is exactly what I desired from you.

Rarity drifted around them furtively, focusing her attention on incapacitating the mare prior to dealing with the stallion. Her hoof slammed against the pony’s neck and, with a touch of magic, she carefully settled her to the ground without causing too much trauma.

The male spun about at the muted clamor, yet Rarity was far too quick. Her eyes locked onto his and his hostile actions toward her ceased. He stood there, paralyzed by her vampiric abilities as she took her first victim of the night.

She settled her slender form upon the mare, straddling her waist, her fangs protruding from her mouth in the knowledge that her primal cravings would be satisfied once again. Rarity opened her mouth and bit down on the mare’s now rapidly pulsating vein, blood quickly squirting out of the wound as she removed her fangs.

The unicorn placed her mouth over the bite marks and began to feed. Before long, she heard the gentle screams turn into moans of guilty pleasure, her saliva once again performing its wonderful task. Once she was finished with the fallen pony, Rarity regarded her friend devilishly. He was still in a daze, held still by her transfixing red eyes.

She bit into his neck as he stood in front of her and groaned happily at the scrumptious feast that she was having with almost no effort. Pony blood is so much easier to obtain than wild animal blood; they are so predictable. Rarity withdrew her fangs once she had finished and wiped her mouth with a magicked handkerchief. My, my, delectable; it will be such a shame tomorrow when I taste the last of this sweet nectar for another year, yet I must draw the line somewhere. Otherwise I wouldn’t ever stop.

Rarity turned to look at the mare on the ground and then at the stallion. Now, what to do with you two? I must be quick if I am to not stir any suspicion in Spike.

Through the shadows the vampire hid the two ponies, ready to be found upon daybreak. She placed them in a manner that would not warrant misgiving of her once again before she made her clandestine return to her home in silence, flying from home to storefront.

Ponies were still out and about, celebrating well into the night how they had their Princess of the Night back, unaware of the nightmare soaring among the shadows. Rarity grinned at the fact that not even Princess Luna knew of her existence. If she is the princess of the night, then that must make me a queen. She giggled at her jest, not truly caring how she was named, as long as she was not seen.

Her curtains were pulled closed when she arrived at her beautiful abode, yet she kept the front porch lights on for Spike. Rarity waited patiently in her sewing room on the second floor, examining all of the dresses that she had finished and those that she would finish with Spike’s help.

He really has grown up, hasn’t he? she asked herself, brushing a hoof along one of the newly fashioned and gorgeous gowns for the coming chilly season. She developed a wicked idea as her smile widened and she hid her fangs and wings.

Rarity searched through her ensembles, looking for the perfect one to wear for his arrival. Where is it? I know that I put it out here; it was specifically for him to critic, after all. Aha! Here it is. The seamstress found it and slipped into the elegant dress. It was a brilliant amaranth and black color, with a bat winged collar and drapes cascading over her shoulders to the ground behind her forelegs. It was a short length ensemble, covering only enough to draw a possible suitor’s attention. It was made of silk, tightly woven to show the curves of the pony who wore it. Rarity’s shapely backside remained uncovered and she stepped into some black knee high lace boots that she had fashioned for it as the finishing touch.

Rarity gazed into her bedside mirror and gave her reflection a sultry grin. This will be certain to impress. She turned to the side and posed to view her perfect figure showing through the outfit. “Magnificent.”

She heard the doorbell sound shortly after and meandered along her spiral staircase, her left hoof gliding along the railing as she approached her front door. Using her magic, it swung open carefully, revealing the sweet creature of her fancy standing behind it. He was smiling at first, no doubt happy to see her, yet his eyes soon widened and his mouth fell open as he saw what she was wearing.

A vivacious smirk developed along her features at his staring, moving to allow Spike entry to her house. “Why hello, Spike; I see that you like the look of this dress that I am wearing. Won’t you come in, dear?”

He shook his head vigorously, being shaken from his conspicuous ogling by her voice. Spike stared into her eyes bashfully. “Yes; it-it is great. You…you look…beautiful.”

Rarity felt her cheeks heat up from his kind words and obvious acts. “Why, thank you, darling. It was purely a little something for me.” Yet if things were different, I would like it to be something for you as well. “I am truly overjoyed that you like it, please, come in.”

Spike merely dipped his head and ventured into the living room. “S-so, Rarity, how has your dress making been going?”

“Oh, well enough,” she responded, spinning about slowly to align her lithesome curves with his grand figure. “I stopped about an hour ago to have a bit of a relax session and await your arrival and of course to slip into this little thing.” The delightful creature nodded, trying not to allow his curious and mischievous emerald eyes to wander. “How was the festival?”

He brightened at that. “Great! Everypony really enjoyed it. Many of them told me how well it turned out and that they want me to plan the next year as well.” Rarity grinned at Spike, proud of her knight in shining scales for having such an interest in this event.

“Wonderful. I am happy that it all turned out well, Spike. You deserve it for all of the arduous work that you put into it.”

“Yes, but I wouldn’t have been able to make something like that without you.” He smiled at her, his cheeks slightly rosy. Her breath caught in her throat and she couldn’t speak. Spike didn’t seem to notice as he continued, making the proper lady quite thankful. “I was still kind of sad that you weren’t there.”

Rarity felt her cheeks burn with the possible meaning behind his words. She swallowed, finding her voice as what he added sunk in. “W-what do you mean by that, dear?”

He scratched at the spines along his neck, hesitating at first. “Well, merely that…you were my inspiration for making all of this possible. If anypony deserved to be appreciated for what they accomplished, it would be you.”

“Spike, I am happy that you hold my abilities in such high regard, yet I do not deserve credit for this. It was you, my dear. I said it myself before. I have nothing to really add to your ideas to make them any better.”

He stared at her in silence, seeming to read that this conversation was making her nervous. He hung his head, not daring to reply with anything else or even look at her. “I am sorry, Rarity. I don’t mean to make you feel uncomfortable.”

Seeing him so downtrodden, Rarity sauntered forward on instinct and placed a hoof under his chin, returning his endearing emerald eyes to her bright sapphire ones. His eyebrows rose and his face glowed brightly at her soft caress, waiting for what she had to say. It would be so easy to take him now, the vampiric unicorn imagined. He is staring directly at me and all that I would need to do would be to- She crushed that thought immediately, blinking once. “It is alright, Spike. I know what it is that you are trying to say and I am happy to have been such a noticeable help to you; truly, I am.” I will not use one of my friends. Even one so…attractive as him.

Spike replied with a kind smile, breaking Rarity from her warring thoughts. “So, do you want to begin work right away? You can show me what you have so far.”

She set her hoof upon the carpet and giggled cutely. “Truthfully, I imagined that we could have some tea and biscuits before we begin. Is that alright with you?” Please say yes, please say yes. I need something to calm me down; something to distract me from…who I want. She glanced at Spike’s neck briefly before removing her eyes from the flowing blood in his vein.

“Certainly,” he answered, glad to give her time to settle into the new atmosphere of working with him. “I could use a break from being on my claws for most of the day.”

Rarity swiftly adopted a sympathetic and understanding countenance, removing any attention from her primal difficulties. “Oh, I don’t doubt it, my dear Spikey. Being in charge of a big operation such as that is always daunting.” She chuckled and speedily made her way to the kitchen through the open archway to her left, although not quick enough to appear panicked. Easy, dear; easy.

Spike followed her into the room at a leisurely pace himself and stood near the open entrance, while she meandered throughout her many cabinets and drawers lining the right side of her home. “Yes; I am certain that you have had many experiences with that, Rarity. Having to attend those fashion shows all of the time and dressing up the town hall for the first Sunset Celebration that I was here for. Those are rather difficult tasks.”

“Yes and it never does become easier, I am afraid,” Rarity responds with a reasonable tone, quirking her head to regard him, prior to returning to her preparations. “I don’t mean to frighten you, but there is always something that comes up that ruins your initial plans.” She set the kettle to boil and spun about elegantly to wave a hoof in Spike’s direction over the marble counter top island, smiling compassionately. “Oh, yet it all works out if you remain in control of the situation.”

The purple dragon settled himself on the side of the circular table closest to the island and nodded his head in acknowledgement of her wise advice. “That is true. I had plenty of help from the others as well; it was the foals and the mares and stallions that really made these nights come to life.”

“Well, I am glad that you acknowledge them as well,” the fashionista soothed, following his actions to sit on his side of the table. “One must never forget the generosity of others. So, tell me, what did you wear for Nightmare Night; hopefully something suitably scary for the designer of the scariest night of the year? I am dying to know.”

Spike chuckled. “I hope that it was scary. I became so caught up in creating everything for the festival; I didn’t leave myself enough time to make something to wear myself.”

Rarity placed a hoof to her chest and leaned toward him, eyebrows rising in concern. “Oh, dear; yet I imagined that you already possessed one, yes?”

The dragon dipped his head, his tail flicking this way and that beneath his chair. “Mmhm; I had to use one of the previous year’s costumes that still fit me.”

Rarity nodded her head in understanding. “Well? You have me positively at the edge of my seat, Spike.”

“I wore my vampire costume. It was my best one after all.”

The room grew silent, at least to Rarity it seemed to. She couldn’t move, couldn’t speak, couldn’t look away. She saw the blood coursing through his veins and the look in his eyes as he smiled at her. Honestly, Rarity, control yourself. I cannot afford to lose my nerve now! I won’t take advantage of Spike.

“Rarity?” Spike said, leaning over to her in his seat. He touched her shoulder, breaking her from her thoughts and causing her to lock eyes with him. “Are you okay? You look really pale.”

No, Spike…I am not okay…I am about to…and it is all my fault for endangering you like this.

The dragon shuffled closer to her, so that their chairs were touching, before placing a claw on one of her forelegs. “Please, Rarity. Say something. Is there anything that I can do to help?”

Blood, thirsty…please, Spike…please leave…I can’t… Rarity could barely feel the claw on her hoof, senses fixated on the red coursing through Spike’s body. Her eyes focused intently on the vein in his neck. She could feel her fangs protruding from her mouth. “Spike…”

“R-Rarity, what’s wrong?”

“Please, Spike…” she whimpered, feeling her focus on keeping her eyes from turning red or her wings from spreading slipping from her mental grasp. He kept her gaze and the fashion designer hated herself for what she was about to do. I can see his face now, all hurt and confused, but I cannot do this. Not to him. Not ever. “I need you to go!”

She emptied the words from her mouth all in one rapid breath, shutting her eyes so that she had the mental fortitude to blurt out that necessary caution.

The kitchen was silent. The entire boutique had grown cold to her. Rarity peeked one sapphire eye open and was met with what she feared; injury and baffled eyes.

“What do you mean?” Spike asked, all sincerity and barely concealed anguish.

Rarity quickly allotted what poise that she had left to finish this awkward and painful moment and swallowed hard. She captured his eyes in hers. “I am afraid that I cannot have you here tonight. I…I am much too tired and I fear as though I am coming down with something; some sort of bug, if you will.”

“Do you…need any help?” the gentledragon offered instantly.

“No, thank you,” the lady answered nearly as fast. She knew that he would be all over that trying to aid her in whatever way that he could and Rarity adored him for it, truly; yet her control over her emotions and her vampiric nature nearly went out the window when Spike was about. No, I need to distance myself from him, at least until these cravings die down. I need to stop before I make a mistake that I cannot take back. “You are a dear to help, Spike,” she began again, almost unable to look at him now without her heart pounding louder, “yet I believe that I simply require a good night’s rest.”

His devastated expression then was almost the end of her. It was present for purely a passing moment, yet Rarity had caught enough of a glimpse of it all the same; it was often upon his face when she disappointed him in some way, or when he disappointed himself. Such as those experiences, Spike returned to an easy forgiving grin within moments, releasing his loose, yet worried grip on her hoof. “Oh, alright, no problem; I should know by now that you can take care of yourself, right?”

No, please don’t think that, she wished to scream. Don’t think that I do not want you to be around me. “Well, it is nice to have a little help every now and again. I simply think that it is but a one day kind of a bug, dear Spike. I should be feeling perfectly healthy tomorrow morning, I assure you.”

“Sure. You never let sickness stop you, right?” he chuckled loosely, stepping onto the kitchen floor from his seat. Spike glanced over his shoulder as he made his way to the front door once more. “I hope that I will see you tomorrow then.”

The seamstress had already hopped from her cushion at the same moment as he had and ventured along at a distance, keeping her eyes firmly away from the dragon’s neck, or his muscles. Rarity beamed brilliantly in an attempt to ease what sorrows of his that she could. I know that it is not much; that I am a terrible mare for placing you through all of this disappointment and that I do not deserve your affections. Yet I can’t stomach losing you forever. “Oh, yes and please do not think that this is because of you, Spike; please don’t. I am sorry to have called you all of the way from the town hall to help me and not have anything to do.” Ceasing in their strides at the threshold of her abode, the two stared into each other’s eyes abashedly.

“It is no trouble, honestly. Have a good rest, alright? No sewing or stitching at this time.”

She had a little laugh at his orders. “No such desires will befall me, I promise you, Spikey-Wikey. The only desire that I have is the desire to rest.”

Seeming satisfied, Spike nodded happily and opened the door. “Well then, goodnight, Rarity.”

With a few more parting words, he was gone. Rarity shut the door and once again slumped to her haunches, this time holding back tears. It wasn’t long before she allowed her fangs to protrude and her bat-like wings to fly outstretched. The alabaster mare clenched her jaw and sobbed quietly.

“Spikey-Wikey; I don’t…think that I can ever be near you again,” she moaned forlornly, cradling herself in her forelegs. “That was too close. I came too close to doing something to you that I could never reverse.” She sniffled a few times, attempting to calm herself.

It was silent once more and the only disturbance to her noiseless torment was the gentle beeping of the kettle, reminding her of the tea that she wished to have with her dragon.

It was nearly an hour later by the time that she ceased in her silent sobbing, muffling her cries with an alabaster hoof.

Once Rarity felt that she had her heart settled enough, she lifted herself from the carpeted floor. “It is not safe anymore; not with me the way that I am. Even though the Blood Moon is making these cravings more difficult to resist, I cannot deny that I am losing the control that I possessed years ago.”

Another breath cleared her mind and she managed to tuck her wings in again at her sides. “I need time to think; time that cannot be spent out there where I may lose myself in the light of day.” The vampiric lady exhaled through her nose and slowly ascended the spiral staircase to her bedroom, feeling emotionally drained.

It took little time for her to find her slumber, after removing her silky dress and knee high lace boots, yet images of her feeding on the sweet and generous dragon plagued her dreams for some time.

Chapter 3

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It was long into the morning when her senses returned to her and even after she had shaken off her initial grogginess, the proper lady still felt too guilty about almost biting Spike to leave her bed. Not even Opal, the sly and talented cat that she was, could garner a smile from Rarity this time. No, she didn’t deserve to be happy after what almost occurred; what a large part of her still wished to commit to.

She couldn’t be trusted to live a normal pony life anymore. The lady sat up in her bed, hair frazzled, eyes blood shot from crying and with a part of the sheets still covering her slender form. Rarity stared at her headboard with a forlorn reverie, images of how frightened the dragon would be if he had seen her the way that she truly was. It threatened to have her tear up all over again as she felt her lower lip tremble.

“How could I have even thought that that would have worked out alright, knowing what I am like on these nights and with him so close?” She wiped her muzzle and sniffed lightly. “No, I cannot ever let that occur again. I need to keep Spikey-Wikey safe…even if it means…that I can never see him again.”

It took roughly another hour for Rarity to approach the first level of her home, though she did not make herself anything to eat. The process had been unnecessary for some time now and at this point in time the alabaster unicorn could not muster the energy for such things. Instead, she nestled herself amongst the cushion of her chasse lounge and thought and stroked her cat’s fur as she lay next to her.

I appreciate what you are trying to do, Opalescence, really I do. Yet I am afraid that in my current state of mind, I am inconsolable. “I must lock myself up in my own home tonight, so that nopony will be hurt again and I will not lose any more of the power that I have over my vampiric tendencies.” Her cat focused on her intently, meowing softly when Rarity concluded. It almost succeeded that time and the mare held Opal close for a time. She drew in a breath and let it out, before picking herself up and walking through her house to the sewing room’s windows.

“Now, I suppose that I shall begin with you, seeing as this is generally my way out during my feeding sessions.” She gazed from window to window, noticing the hatch locks on all three of them. Those had been her choice to put in when she had first bought the boutique; the elegant hook shape seemed to compliment her rooms brilliantly and so she had paid a little bit extra. It was worth it in the end, especially now.

The proper lady turned her head toward her spools of thread and fabrics, resting neatly on her shelves. It was not her desire to sew at this time, yet another clever idea had struck her.

“A splendid plan indeed, dear, if I do say so myself,” she spoke, pleased with her ingenuity despite what it meant for her freedom. “Everything comes at a price.” Rarity stepped closer to her shelves and found what she had been searching for. A hoofful of fabrics, which she had cut from her other designs, levitated in her magic. “These will suffice nicely. At last I found a purpose for all of these discarded pieces. I am glad now that I have held onto all of this for so long.”

Without further delay, the elegant pony took the longest and the most sturdy of extra and unusable fabrics and threaded them through the locks. She tied them tight and made certain that, when she pulled on them in an attempt to escape the new confines of her own house, the windows would not budge from their positions.

I know that, even if my cravings should take hold, breaking this glass would not be an option, Rarity rationalized. I might be starved for pony blood, yet I am not stupid and this should hold me until the festival is completed.

More clandestine fortifications were performed on her house, including keeping the closed sign out, so that most would not attempt to disturb her. Doors, windows, everything that showed a glimpse to the outside world were blocked, either with a sofa or chair or more of her torn or spent fabrics. By the end, Rarity sat once more atop her lounge, allotting what courage and calm that she still held within her.

It was difficult, thinking of everything that her friends would do and see; knowing that they would wish for her to come along and realizing that that was no longer a possibility. She was an Element of Harmony for pony’s sake and she couldn’t even be of use should Equestria be in dire straits.

The vampiric lady shook her head solemnly. “No, because I would likely be a hindrance instead.”

With little else to say and another whole night to live through with her multiple desires weighing on her, Rarity lied down on the cushions and tried to receive some more much needed rest.

Later on, the day was torturous for the mare. She didn’t have much sleep, her stresses preventing her from relaxing completely into a happy slumber and the fact that ponies were periodically knocking on her front door did not aid her mood.

I am sorry, the pony wished to whimper, I cannot risk your safety.

In the evening, she had sucked most of her stored blood packets dry and still there was one more night of heavy temptation to live through. As Rarity sat so close to the front door, she could hear murmurs about whether she was feeling well and calls from her friends. Those hurt the most as the day drew on.

Upon emptying another packet, wandering about her house now, she managed to peek out of one of the drawn curtains of her kitchen, seeing how dark it already was. “This is yet only the beginning of the night. I hope that the others are not too worried about me. Please enjoy yourselves for tonight, at least.”

After another half of an hour in darkened silence, the proper unicorn found herself in her room at her bedside dresser. By then she had long since extended her wings from the feeding and the need to take flight outside and she hadn’t bothered to draw her fangs into her mouth. Even if she did, the cravings would soon start once more and no amount of control could prevent them from appearing again. So she simply sat next to her bed, knowing that, although she knew exactly what she wanted to see within that dresser, the mare couldn’t bring herself to look at her friends’ faces at this time…or Spike’s charming gift.

A few photos of Rarity with her friends were kept within that drawer, for whenever she needed something that would be certain to lift her spirits. The fire-ruby was a given to help with that, yet now it only seemed to bring her further dread over what she would have to do for the rest of her life, to keep her cravings and her friends as far apart from each other as possible. She simply wanted to hold the ruby in her forelegs, but feared what it would do to her senses.

Everything and anything could provoke my need to feed at this point, or to see Spike in his vampire outfit. I…I can’t. She clamped her red eyes shut, stemming the tide of tears for now. I don’t deserve it, Spikey. I truly don’t; not your company, not your gift, not your affections.

The fashion designer sat at one of her windows hours later, staring longingly at the town that she could once freely saunter along. Now it merely felt like a prison to her.

Taking a peek outside, Rarity could see the town hall lighting up the nearby streets. Still, it was an eerie sort of light that was certainly a brilliant idea on Spike’s part. She found some happiness in that his festival this year was a success.

“I am so proud of you, dear.” She held a weak smile as her fore hoof dropped from the window sill. If only I could enjoy it with you. Before any ponies could wander past and tempt her already needy self, the fashionista turned from the window and took to pacing down the hall before the stairs.

Her body shuddered and growled out in pain by the early morning. It was an easy matter to sense that the Blood Moon yet presided over the town and the longer that she went without any pony blood, the more discomfort and strife that she felt welling up inside her. She felt weak, drained. Her fangs hurt and Rarity constantly felt as though she were about to die.

She knew that death would never come, yet her primal side was quickly beginning to show itself. She had never held it back from feeding on this night and so her composure was rapidly fading.

After a moment of weakness, the mare blinked for but a second, finding herself attempting to tear the window of her room open once her eyes had reopened. Rarity let out a little gasp and pulled herself away, tumbling to her back upon the floor at the left side of her bed. She rested her backside against the corner of her mattress to calm her nerves.

“I didn’t even know that it had taken over,” she whispered through panicked breaths. “I have always been in control somewhat and I enjoy the feeling of feeding to a large degree, yet this…this is a frightening development. If simply closing my eyes is enough to trigger such an event, then how on Celestia’s earth will I manage to even look at a pony from now on?”

The last few hours of the morning passed by at such a slow pace, agonizing to the vampiric unicorn and she could not even allow herself to take a nap any longer, fearful of what she would awaken to afterward. Her body was in so much pain by the time the blood moon was lowering to the horizon. Rarity could feel the craving slipping to some extent, because the red orb had meant that she could obtain as much blood as she wished for nearly her entire life. Yet having gone without any sort of sustenance for such a long period of time had begun to take its toll long before.

Moments drew on and finally, finally the moon sunk below the horizon. Rarity fell to the floor of her room, her chin falling unceremoniously to the carpet. Celestia’s sun appeared shortly, managing to shine its light through the drapes to some degree. She felt relief, having survived the final night of the festival and soon, she gave in to her exhaustion. Her eyelids drooped.

Rarity’s eyes snapped open again, upon hearing a knocking at her front door. She was lying on her stomach before it, her fangs and wings extended in anticipation of who were mere paces away on the other side. The lady held in a gasp that whoever was at the door would otherwise certainly hear and took a deep, silent breath. She reset her wings at her sides and covered her fangs, but did not approach the door.

“Rarity?” a voice called. It was a lovely tune that she knew all too well and truly did not wish to hear at this time.

She turned her head away instead, staying put on her tummy. I am sorry, Spike. Really, I am.

The knocking came again. “Rarity? Are you alright? You said yesterday how you felt under the weather.” The mare had to fight to keep her emotions in check, although she could see his built form change a little, imagining that he had settled himself at her front door. “Everyone has been worried sick about you. Applejack said that she had come by here yesterday and tried to talk to you, but you weren’t answering. Is everything alright?”

No, Spike, nothing is alright.

“Twilight will be back in Ponyville soon and I told her that you might need some help, but…” He hesitated, lowering his head with a sigh. Rarity saw it all, pain coursing through her at seeing the dragon so upset and concerned for her well-being. “I know that you said I never needed to knock before I enter, but this seemed like an exception. So…please…if you are awake, feel better soon and well…if you aren’t awake, I will stop by tomorrow to see if anything has changed.”

She could tell that he wanted to say more, yet she knew that he couldn’t. He wandered off after a short silence shared between them and it broke her heart to be the cause of his grief. Rarity placed her head in her hooves and sobbed as silently as she was able, remaining by the door.

Applejack stood by a tree near the front of the boutique, waiting for Spike to approach. “No such luck?” she questioned glumly.

He shook his head. “No. I am really worried, Applejack. She didn’t even seem that sick the last time that I saw her. I purely hope that she is so busy with her dress orders that she hasn’t been paying much attention and simply missed our calls.”

“Ah hope so too. Maybe we should give her some time; another day or two, check on her then.”

“Whether I want that or not, I can’t just go barging into her home like that anyway. I know that it is different now than any other time that the shop would be open for business. I simply hope that she is staying healthy, whatever it is that she is doing.”

The farm mare placed a hoof on his shoulder. “Ah’m sure she’ll be fine, Spike. Rarity knows how to handle herself. She deals with stress all of the time, what with how many orders she gets every month.” Spike merely nodded solemnly. “Come on, ah’ll buy you a cupcake from Sugarcube Corner.”

“Alright,” he managed, after a brief moment. He quirked his head as he walked along beside the orange pony, peering at the unopened front door of his love’s boutique. “Please be okay.”

Chapter 4

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Two days had gone by since Rarity locked herself up in her home and now the entire town was worried for the unicorn.

Upon Twilight’s arrival in Ponyville, Spike had confessed to her in as much detail as he could muster about what transpired to bring them to this difficult situation. How he had invited the mare out to see his designs for the festival, what they had spoken of, how she appeared then and after the second night of the Blood Moon; even how close that she had sat to him while they talked, the purple dragon stating that she had never been that close prior to that event.

I won’t say that I didn’t enjoy the attention, or the closeness, Spike pondered, while he accompanied the princess to her castle. I almost can’t believe that she actually hooked her foreleg around mine. She has never done that before; not with me, at least. There was something different about her, I could sense it. Yet I can’t help but feel that Rarity requires my help with what is happening with her. She would never send me away like she did on that second night, not unless she or I was in danger.

The astute mare wanted to lend a hoof in whatever way that she could, but at the same time admitted that she did not really know how to go through with solving Rarity’s issue.

“I’m beginning to be really worried for her,” Fluttershy announced, sitting around the crystal table in the Hall of Friendship. The sky had once again grown dark, Celestia’s sun almost dropping below the horizon again. “If Rarity hasn’t eaten in over three days it could be really dangerous for her health.”

“You’re right, but what can we do?” Applejack quizzed from her seat. “Ah have seen how Rarity gets over an important dress order. If we go in and bust down the door, it could cause a whole mess of trouble. She’s not the type to run outta food and starve.”

Rainbow nodded in agreement. “Yeah, I know that she keeps up that kind of figure, but even she has her limits on how far she’ll go; slim, but healthy or something like that.”

“Girls, oh and Spike,” Twilight quickly clarified, glancing over at the dragon briefly, before resuming her thoughts. “This could be a really serious problem. I don’t think that we can wait any longer to see if Rarity is okay. I know that we’re all busy, but at least one of us should go and check on her, even if it means opening the door without hearing her say to come in.”

Everypony and dragon nodded their heads in reply.

“Well, I could go,” Pinkie put in. “But I told the Cake’s that I would be watching the twins. Plus, I really need to try these three new cupcake recipes that I thought up. Now some of the ingredients might seem a little weird in combination with each other, but I am almost sixty percent sure that most of them will taste partly okie dokey when they are all baked.”

“We’ll let you taste test them this time, Pinkie Pie,” the cowpony answered with a level expression and a cross of her forelegs.

“I will go,” Spike said, placing his claws on the table before him. I can’t allow this to persist any longer.

All eyes fell on him. Twilight put a hoof over top of his left hand, looking concerned. “Are you sure, Spike? You might see something that you won’t like.”

The somber dragon closed his emerald eyes, prior to peering at her lavender hoof. He stretched his wings and let out a sharp exhale of determination. “I know, but the longer that we wait and debate, the worse that Rarity could be feeling. If she is suffering somehow, then I want to be certain that she is cared for.” After a moment of silent eye contact between the two, Twilight dipped her head and released his clawed hand.

“Alright; go then. If you need us, simply send one of those emergency flares of yours, okay?”

Nodding his head in comprehension and knowing now what he must do for his love’s sake, Spike galloped out of the Hall of Friendship and along the many winding pathways and staircases, traveling as fast as possible on the darkened journey to Carousel Boutique.

Please, be alright, Rarity.

Rarity had only finished her little cleanup of the night prior moments ago, making certain that all of the fabrics and furniture blocking the windows and doors were returned to their original places. To a large extent, she had even managed to calm her nerves and cravings down since the Blood Moon had faded and her wings and fangs were once again concealed.

Opal approached the mare from her left side as she stood next to her bed, feeling the white cat brushing her side against her hind leg. “Well, I feel far better than I did before. Thank you, Opal.” She went to pet the feline, yet was overcome with sudden dizziness and plopped down upon her carpeted floor before she truly fell. Rarity set a hoof upon her head to regain some amount of her composure, hearing Opal meow as she sat before her.

It lasted for all but a moment, yet it spoke volumes about how she was faring after the two nights that transpired. Mmm, perhaps I am still not as alright as I imagined. She beamed at the little cat and gave her a few scratches at the back of her ears, hearing Opal purr in response. I shall pay a visit to the Everfree Forest upon the very next chance that I receive; that should suffice for now.

As she sat, giving her fluffy companion more attention, she worried over what she could do to prevent more episodes like that from occurring. “I certainly cannot appear outside feeling like this. Why, that would undoubtedly have everypony worrying over me. Not to mention if I ever passed out from it, my wings and fangs could be discovered by one of the doctors at the hospital. I definitely wish to prevent such a thing as that from occurring.”

A knock sounded at the front door again, shaking the proper lady from her fretful imaginings. Rarity glanced over her shoulder from within her room, giving her tail a flick to ease her growing concerns. Soon she was trotting along the staircase to the lower level to see who it was this time.

Now, who could that be at such a late hour? Nopony came by today, not even Fluttershy or Spike. The mare reached the door knob, yet hesitated. Her eyebrows rose. Am I really in any condition to entertain guests right now? She clenched her jaw lightly, prior to shaking her head. Of course, dear, really. You have your poise once more and I am certain that it is merely somepony wanting to know how I am feeling. I can’t continue to cause strife among my friends because of what has already passed.

With that matter settled, despite the nervous feeling in the pit of her stomach, Rarity encompassed the door knob in her sapphire aura and pulled it inward to greet whoever was calling on her.

“Rarity,” Spike shouted happily, looking relieved and troubled at the same moment. At seeing him; however, her confidence slipped by a wide margin. She had to fight off the urge to simply shut the door in his face. “You are okay.” Thank Celestia, the gentledragon imagined.

Attempting to appear at peace with meeting him again, the alabaster mare cleared her throat and gave him her best winning smile. “Hello, Spike,” she began, a bit shaky on the first word. “Why, of course I am alright. Although, yes, I was a little under the weather for the past few days; I apologize deeply if I worried you- err…and our friends, of course.”

He scratched at the back of his head in that cute way that she recognized, whenever she spoke with him. “A little, but, well…you seem to be fine to me. I was simply afraid that something had gone wrong; that you were hurt and that that was why you have been locked up here this entire time.”

“Well, I am sorry to have caused you to fear for my safety. Won’t you come in?” she proposed, though in her mind she really did not want to speak with him for long; not at the current time at least. I cannot have him here for long, even so. I will convince him that I am faring well and quickly send him off; it is late, after all.

“Thank you, my lady.” Spike bowed courteously, flicking his tail to and fro as he ventured into her home and Rarity shut the door with her magic once he was settled.

I always enjoy it when you call me that, Spike, she thought, smiling at the closed door. You speak those words with such sincerity and care that I have never heard in a stallion. “Was Twilight’s trip a success, darling?” the unicorn questioned, spinning about to smile and saunter with him into the kitchen. “Hopefully she had a good time at least.” She offered him his usual seat at her table and he thanked her. This time, Rarity sat a bit farther from the dragon, desperate to not see the vein in his neck.

That is the distance that I would expect from you, Spike imagined, a bit downtrodden that her affections on the day that he had escorted her about were only a passing thing. No, I shouldn’t think like that. This is good and Rarity looks well. Maybe I was only seeing things. He tipped his head and beamed lightly. “Yes, I think so. I told her all about how the festival went too. It was a blast, or at least that is what everypony told me afterward. Even Fluttershy made an appearance for a little while, but she wasn’t dressed up as anything.”

“Oh, well that is good,” Rarity spoke brightly. “I am glad that you all managed to enjoy yourselves.”

“Yes, um, Rarity; are you sure that you are alright?” he queried hesitantly.

She tittered softly, waving off his concerns. “Oh, yes. That bug that I told you about was a bit more bothersome than I had initially anticipated when we were here together last. Yet as you can see, it has been expelled from my system.” Rarity placed a hoof on top of the other to cease its involuntary shaking.

Spike smiled in response, yet he was still not completely convinced that something wasn’t troubling her. Whatever it is, Rarity, please let me help you. “Well, that is good. How are the dresses going?” he asked.

“Hmm, fairly well I would say. Honestly, I haven’t had much time to focus on them. I only just overcame my illness this morning. I needed a few good meals and a good time to relax to feel my best again. You came at purely the right time,” she lied. This is all a test, to see if I leave any kind of inconsistencies with my explanation. I know the process all too well, my dear Spike.

After a brief time where the two stared at one another, the violet dragon cleared his throat. “Do you want to have some help with those dresses then, Rarity? Like I said before I can always come in whenever you need me.”

You are a gentledragon to a fault, Spike, she thought kindly. “Oh, never mind those things for now, Spike,” the vampiric lady answered him, waving a hoof in his direction. “I yet have time to finish the designs, though I would not mind a little bit of help now and then. Yet for now, would you like some of the tea that I never managed to grant you?” Rarity chuckled to herself as she stepped upon the kitchen floor and meandered along past the island to her kettle, being certain to not sway her hips or do anything else that may elicit a reaction from her more primal urges or from Spike’s feelings for her. “I feel as though we are merely resuming our places from where we left off.”

The mare turned her gaze to him in time to view him nodding, chuckling a bit himself. “Yes, tea sounds lovely, please.” I know that it will not be easy to tell whether you are hiding something; you are terribly good at keeping secrets, yet if anypony can determine such a thing with how much time that they have spent with you, it is me.

“Then tea you shall have, my dear.”

She spun to face the kettle and set it to boil, gazing out of the window at the pleasant night atmosphere. Despite the festival having concluded, she could yet feel a tug at her wings, wishing to whisk her away to claim another victim of the night and her fangs wishing to bite into her dear friend’s neck. The proper lady stifled those desires easily, only letting those thoughts of finally having Spike to herself enter her mind.

This is not a good time to lose yourself to your desires, darling. Calm yourself.

Her thoughts were disturbed by the boiling water, which she hastily poured into two cups that she had placed on matching plates for the both of them. In mere moments, both she and Spike sat at the table once more with tea nestled comfortably before them.

“So then, Spike, tell me,” she started, after having the first relieving sip of her tea. “What was your favorite part of the Nightmare Night Festival this year; your fabulous decorations or the undoubtedly splendid costumes that everypony must have been wearing?”

He had his clawed hands wrapped around his cup, not yet having a taste of the beverage. The dragon leveled his gaze with her and she saw how much weight and pain his next reply was certainly containing.

“Actually, after that night when you said that you were sick, I couldn’t stop thinking that you were hurt and I couldn’t do anything to help.” Lowering his emerald eyes from the mare, he sighed and settled his right claw upon the white lace table cloth. What else can I do except tell the truth? I know that it likely won’t come to anything, but I have to try. “I kind of forgot about everything else, I simply wanted to know that you were going to be okay.”

The unicorn’s heart instantly broke for the poor dear. After what I said to you and you still feel as if it is your fault. She couldn’t help but reach out and place a hoof over his right claw, garnering her assistant’s gaze. “Oh, Spike. I am truly sorry to have caused you so much stress. It was not my intention at all. Your patience and kindness were plenty helpful, darling.” Yet even so, I need you to leave right now. I can’t see your sweet and innocent face any longer.

“Rarity,” he murmured, anxiety weighing upon him only briefly, before capturing Rarity’s eyes, “I really care about you and I don’t ever want to see you hurt. Please, if you ever have something like that happen to you again I want to help you.”

That sent her heart racing and her face glowing. She quickly averted her sight, although her hoof remained, comfortable over his claw. Rarity could feel her fangs protruding from her lips, yet hid them again with a touch of finesse.

“Rarity?” she heard him call, soon feeling a clawed hand on her extended foreleg. The lady stared into his eyes as he pulled his chair closer. “You look faint. You should go and rest.” We can talk about this later, she looks like she is about to collapse.

Rarity swallowed quietly, hearing his caring words and wishing that she could let herself feel what she did for him. Her wings were threatening to spread wide, seeing the steadily increasing flow of blood in his neck.

It was becoming painful, visions plaguing her mind about what would happen if she did not make Spike leave. Rarity inclined her head, staring at his chest would have to suffice for some measure of release. “Spike, you have to go, please.”

I can’t, he answered in his head instantly, hesitating only for a moment, prior to strengthening his hold a touch on her delicate hoof. The gesture and motion managed to gain her regard once again and she finally stared at him candidly. You are scared. “No, I am not going anywhere. You are in trouble for some reason and I am not leaving until you tell me what is wrong.”

The fashionista slammed her eyes shut, fearing what color that they were now; not wanting to see his face and be tempted by her vampiric nature to hypnotize Spike. “I can’t tell you!”

Rarity could tell that he had left his seat now. He was sitting so near her, almost cradling her in his arms as she spun in her seat to face him. It felt so good to be held like that, every part of her shouting for her to let go.

“Please, Rarity, I…I just…” I don’t know what else to do, please, talk to me.

Rarity opened her eyes and found him looking up at her, lips parted slightly.

It was too much. Her heart pounding in her chest, her haunches burning for the dragon of her dreams, the wings and fangs, how much she wanted to feed on him and how long it had been since she drank any blood.

I am so sorry, Spike, was all that she could think, before she allowed herself to feel all of the wants and needs that had built since their walk about the town together.

Her eyes flashed red with lust at the prospect of having another source of blood so close, being able to finally satiate her hunger. The vampiric unicorn’s wings flew open and she leapt at Spike, knocking him to the kitchen floor with ease. Before he could question her, Rarity silenced him with her eyes. A sigh escaped her lips as she settled her lithesome body atop the adorable creature, straddling his waist and finally feeling her strength return. She brushed a hoof along his scaled chest and shoulders, drawing nearer to his exposed neck.

She smirked in delight at having another chance to feed and after such a long time with her cravings going unanswered. Rarity was so close, her fangs glistening and ready to puncture his tough dragon scales, yet she vacillated.

Hold on a moment. I am about to feed on Spike. The vivacious mare blinked her red eyes once, gaining some measure of composure. I have always wanted this, yet, Rarity shook her head. “Spike,” she whispered, blinking again in an attempt to regain herself. “No, I can’t.” Rarity shut her eyes, releasing him from her control. He will certainly run away now. I will be found out and I won’t be able to see my friends again. I won’t be able to see Spike.

While the mare fought with her imaginings, Spike felt his daze fading. He moaned a little bit out of grogginess. It swiftly occurred to him that he was lying on his back on the proper lady’s kitchen floor. “Rarity, what is going on?”

Startling the elegant mare with his question, she opened her eyes, inclined her head and regarded him ashamedly. Her wings and fangs were yet quite extended, her stark red eyes obvious as she awaited Spike’s fear and ire. With his release, he would have eventually remembered what she did and looked like before regardless.

“Did you always have wings?” he asked, before his entire face reddened at a different realization. Why are you lying on top of me?!

I am sorry, Spike. I let you down. She took a deep breath. “Spike, I am so sorry,” Rarity soothed, garnering his regard even though she knew that his embarrassment at their compromising positions drew his gaze anywhere but at her slender form. Even in a situation such as this, I would expect nothing less from a dragon as gallant as you. “I never wanted you to know, but I promised that I would not bring you to harm.”

“What are you saying?” he asked fearfully. Spike set his hands upon her forelegs, flinching as he focused on the fangs protruding from her mouth. The purple dragon was piecing things together as he recovered his senses, heart yet beating out of control from their embrace, his hind legs cradling her backside contentedly.

She had to make this quick, before he ran away; try to explain all of this.

I can only explain in one way. “I am a vampire.”

He almost thought that he hadn’t heard her correctly. Certainly Rarity must have been jesting with him. No. No, you aren’t, Spike pondered, about to smile a touch, until he focused on her visage and found in her red eyes that she was not fooling about with him. “You…you are?” His emerald eyes widened in shock and fear at her confession, yet not believing it completely and still pinned beneath her.

The proper lady wasn’t holding him in place however, merely supporting herself on his chest. Spike could push her off at any moment and gallop toward the door; she wouldn’t make a move to stop him. Yet he didn’t; purely staring up at her with bemusement and his clawed hands maintained their hold on her forelegs.

Even so, once it truly sunk in what was happening, the dragon did give her a light shove unconsciously. He instantly regretted it, yet his limbs carried him backward out of unease.

Rarity fell to the floor of her kitchen on her side, deserving the treatment and much worse for what she was. Lifting her head from the tiled floor, she watched with concern as he retreated to the sink, hitting the cupboards as he reached the far corner of the kitchen. He didn’t run. She wasn’t certain whether he simply couldn’t with how she had attacked him however, or if there was some other reason that held him at bay and she was hesitant to speculate. Rarity had never let any creature go from her powers until she had fed, so this was an entirely new turn of events, for both of them.

“You are a vampire?” No; no, impossible, the purple dragon reassured himself in vain, eyes yet transfixed on her form. You can’t be a vampire; the wings, the fangs, the eyes. You can’t. Not my Rarity, she has always been so generous and kind.

His voice almost went unheard. If Rarity didn’t have super sensitive hearing from her vampiric nature, she most likely would have missed what he said. She blinked in sadness at the thought that this would be the last conversation that the two of them would ever have. She breathed deeply and pushed herself into a seated position on the floor. No sense in hiding now. He will know eventually, once he tells the princesses about me. “Yes, Spike. I am a vampire. I am so sorry that you had to find out. I never wanted to put you through this.”

He didn’t appear to be able to speak at this moment. His eyes were wide with terror it seemed, or curiosity? She couldn’t tell, yet the desire to enquire was present in his features. Rarity cleared her throat and decided to continue with her explanation.

“I almost caused you great harm tonight and for that I am truly sorry. I would not hold it against you if you told the princesses about what I am. Even though I managed to prevent myself from feeding off of you, I still have the desire to do so.” So much desire, Rarity added in her mind, trying to prevent herself from drawing her red eyes along his form.

“Tell the princesses?” Spike quizzed shakily, adjusting his wings against his sides. What are you talking about?

She nodded solemnly, feeling her heart beating sporadically for the poor dragon’s emotions. “It would be the best option. This has shown me how little control that I have over my powers as a vampire. If I can’t keep myself from feeding on you, Spike, that means that nopony will be safe.”

His eyebrows rose in bafflement at her words. Managing to will some calmness into his senses, Spike seated himself uncomfortably on the floor, rubbing a hand along his foreleg. Why am I an indication? he contemplated, wondering what Rarity’s curious words could mean. The dragon eventually shook his head, heart pounding in his chest for so many reasons; one of them being the most prominent and hopeful. “What,” Spike hesitated, but swallowed and breathed in, “what do you mean, if you can’t stop yourself from feeding on me?”

“Spike,” she replied, wrapping her forelegs around herself and folding her wings at her sides. It was certainly astonishing to the proper lady that he hadn’t left yet, although Rarity could clearly see that the gentledragon was having trouble staying composed in her presence. He truly couldn’t be blamed for his actions toward her. He had been hypnotized and nearly fed upon, something that she would have taken much worse in his position. “Spike, I need you to listen to me. I know that you are frightened to find out what I truly am, but please let me explain.”

Is this why you have been acting so oddly? he thought, holding himself as steady as he could. It would explain some things. Spike cleared his throat lightly and saw in his lady’s red eyes the true concern for his safety. Vampire or not, Rarity needs my help and I can’t abandon her.

He nodded after another brief moment of silence shared between them and honestly, he appeared to relax despite the circumstances. She still thought that he could bolt at any time and she wasn’t entirely certain by this time if she would attempt to stop him either, too wrapped up in the moment to really think about that possibility.

“Thank you, Spike.” Rarity bowed her head low, attempting to fashion some semblance of their lovely relationship to ease his stresses. She swallowed gently, prior to catching his emerald eyes in her red ones. “You see, I have been a vampire for as long as I can remember; even when I was a filly, living with my mother and father.” She paused briefly, even managing to smile at the long passed memories. “It was easier to live with when I was younger, yet I still knew what I was. Most of my time as a young pony was normal. I even went out with my parents on Nightmare Night. It was even fun.” She giggled forlornly, noticing how the gentledragon shifted closer to her when she lowered her head.

It drew her regard again, wondering how he appeared so composed. Does he still wish to help me? she asked herself. Again, Rarity cleared her throat and gave a light flap of her wings. “Yet as I grew, Spike, I also grew…needy, lustful for blood. I quickly learned that I craved the blood of other creatures. I read the books, I knew the signs. Nopony had been recorded to be a vampire in two thousand years. It had passed into legend; fairy tales and fiction. Only most of it is true. I stopped going out on Nightmare Night, I fashioned schedules for spending time with friends that would not allow my cravings to become too much for me to bear. So, I am certain that you can understand now why I would not want to be present on this night.”

He averted his sight from her with knitted eyebrows, making her heart sink.

What a mess that you have made of this friendship, Rarity. He will never forgive you for this and I deserve that. Nothing could be worse. “I have always craved blood. I can’t help it. Without drinking the blood of others I would be weak and frail. You have seen it first hoof, err- hand, I mean. I am still quite weak because of not having fed. I usually limit myself to the blood of animals from the Everfree. Yet on the nights of the festival, I have taken to feeding on the blood of ponies.” Spike gasped and turned to stare at her with wide eyes. She flinched in answer, knowing and fearing that that was the expression that she would receive upon revealing her true nature to him.

She swallowed hard and continued. “I did not mean to hurt you, Spike. Yet I did anyway. If it was anypony who found out this way, I would not wish it to be you. I am so-” Rarity hung her head, unable to finish and listened for the front door to swing open and shut.

Yet there was nothing.

Her ears flicked back and forth for any sounds of claws on tile or carpet, but none came.

You still haven’t answered my question. Please, Rarity, I have to know. “Why could you stop yourself from feeding on me?”

Rarity returned her gaze to him in surprise. Her lip trembled as she looked at Spike, whose concern for her well-being was ever present across his face. He sat still now, only his tail swishing from side to side as any indication of his interest in the difficult topic.

She lowered her head again, ashamed. “I couldn’t. That is exactly it. I have lost the control that I have had my whole life. Pony blood is more addictive than I imagined.” Please, Spike, don’t make me say it. I can’t hurt you like this again after you learned what I truly am.

Spike shook his head and leaned nearer, gazing upon the mare with new courage; courage that he could only gain from the desire to help his friend. “Yet you said that you didn’t bite me. I don’t feel a bite on my neck. You stopped yourself from feeding on me. Why?”

Rarity was almost crying, shutting her eyes to stem the tide of tears. This won’t happen now. I knew that it could never be, but if I don’t speak the truth while I am yet able I will regret it for the rest of my life. “You…” She stumbled with her words, but lifted her head to look him in his eyes and tried again. “You are special to me, Spike. You always have been.”

“What?” Spike uttered, his concern and composure shattering upon Rarity’s confession. I am special to you? The mere thought in his head caused his cheeks to flush once more, his wings stretching at his sides.

If it had been under any circumstance other than this, the alabaster unicorn would have found his reaction quite endearing and adorable. Rarity simply nodded. “You have to understand; you cannot be here any longer. You have to leave, Spike. I am not safe.”

“No, I can’t simply leave. Not when you are-”

“Yes, you will,” she breathed harshly, trying to ignore how sweet his voice sounded as he continued to care for her. Rarity planted her forelegs in front of her and stood; near enough to him to set her point across that he needed to leave. “Do you want me to lose control again?”

Spike swallowed lightly and shook his head. “No, but I can’t leave you like this. You are special to me too.”

The mare almost lost it there, hearing those words from Spike’s mouth. Her wings were stiff and her fangs ready to pierce skin, or scale, as it was. Rarity wanted to feed, to take what she needed. Yet it was more than that. Rarity wanted him also and she knew that she couldn’t have him without the inevitability of biting him. “Please, Spike,” she whispered, tears flowing along her cheeks. The unicorn shut her eyes and stepped a few paces away, preventing herself from looking at him and viewing the sorrow in his features. “You can’t say things like that to me. I am too dangerous to be around right now.”

The kitchen fell silent once more. Rarity was too scared to open her eyes or use her senses as a vampire and see if he had left. She merely cradled herself in her forelegs, curling her wings about her lithesome form. Yet she hadn’t heard any footsteps leaving. They were growing nearer.

She felt Spike’s arms wrap around her body moments after and, startled from his act, the alabaster unicorn set her hooves on his chest, regarding him fearfully. “S-Spike-”

“Rarity!” the purple dragon shouted, interrupting her and pulling her tighter onto his lap. Rarity yelped in disbelief that he had been so bold and stared at the creature, waiting for him to speak again as pristine fur brushed delicately against shiny scale. “It is okay.”

“Pardon?” she questioned him, tears yet falling from her eyes. His tender embrace was almost delirious to Rarity, feeling as his grasp yet again loosened, merely supporting her right hip and left shoulder in his forelegs. This is nothing like being carried to my bed by you, Spikey.

“You aren’t dangerous. You stopped yourself from biting me, didn’t you?” He swallowed hard, hesitating about what he was going to say.

Spike, what are you trying to do?

The dragon took a deep breath, keeping his eyes on her. “You don’t need to bite ponies anymore.”

Rarity tilted her head. “What do you mean?” Her eyes flashed with realization, coming to understand why he was behaving this way. She pressed her hooves against his chest and leaned herself away from him, yet his hold on her never faltered. “Spike, no.”

“You can feed off of me whenever you need to. I won’t mind.”

She shook her head vigorously. “I can’t!”

“Yes, you can.”

“No! Out of everypony I know, out of everypony that I wouldn’t allow myself to feed on I could not bear to live knowing that I had done that to you. I can’t take advantage of you like that!”

“But I love you, Rarity!” he shouted, once again silencing the vampiric unicorn before she could say more. Rarity retreated, feeling her cheeks burning from what he said. “Please. I can’t lose you because of this.”

She looked at his face and set a hoof under his chin. I can’t lose you either, dear. Rarity’s mouth began to water involuntarily, salivating over the prospect of feeding and from viewing the vein directly below the scales of his neck. At the same time, the mare felt her cheeks and haunches burn for who she was about to feed upon. She leaned forward, yet fighting the urge to drink his blood. “Spike, please…you don’t need to do this. After starving myself for two days, I don’t know if I will be able to cease before you die, Spikey!”

Spike looked fearful, no doubt that the fangs would hurt and clearly at the prospect of dying. Yet he shook his head and turned his neck to her. I will do whatever it takes to keep you from harm, my lady. The fashionista gulped, seeing the want to help in his eyes and the excitement from having expressed his feelings to her moments ago, causing his blood to flow faster.

Opening her mouth, Rarity exposed the fangs that she had been trying to control so desperately to the dragon. With every effort that the lady could muster, she grabbed the sides of Spike’s head and pulled him in for a passionate, lustful kiss.

He deflated into her, loosening his grip on her supple body. She kept him there for as long as she could, relishing in the fact that he was enjoying this as much as she was. Rarity released him after a few moments from a need to breathe.

“I…uh…what?” was all that he managed.

She kept her eyes focused on him as Spike’s cheeks glowed red and his eyes were glazed over. I am sorry, Spike. I can’t hold myself away any longer, she thought, before sinking her fangs into the vein in his neck. He gasped in pain, regaining his consciousness from the bite.

The vampiric unicorn shut her eyes and let her tears run, hearing Spike sigh as her saliva made his experience a pleasurable one. She removed her fangs and let out a sob before she lost herself to the arousing feeling of sucking the blood from his wound. It was unlike anything that Rarity had ever experienced prior; she could feel a wetness dribbling along her inner folds to her backside purely from their emotional embrace and Spike’s erect duel members brushing at her soft alabaster fur moments later.

As Rarity hungrily lapped up his deliriously delectable blood, flapping her wings uncontrollably, her desires and moans only grew in intensity when she felt Spike’s gentle caresses along her slender figure break through her cravings; the only creature that the proper lady would allow such passionate ministrations from. She let go for an unknown time, yet fearing what her love’s condition would be once she regained herself; when her feeding ended, guilt and regret washed over Rarity’s heightened senses, fearing the worst.

Spikey, please be alright. I don’t know how long it has been since I began; please, please don’t be dead.

She kept her eyes closed, not wanting to see the state of the dragon that she cared for, yet knowing exactly what it must have appeared. The lady couldn’t feel his heart beat, not from her position on top of him or from her vampire senses. Rarity cried and collapsed onto Spike, cradling his head against hers.

“No, Spike, you can’t be dead. There was still so much that I wished to tell you.” She buried her face in the crook of his neck, overcome with grief at the situation.

“Rarity?”

The fashionista opened her tear stained eyes and saw Spike lying there beneath her, staring at her through bleary emerald eyes. He was still awake; still alive; she felt his heart. She smiled shakily, her lips trembling with barely contained relief and happiness. “Spike…”

“What happened? Are you okay? Did you drink enough of my blood?”

She remained silent, hesitating only a moment before she nodded. I almost end your life and yet you manage to worry about my safety first. How dare you scare me like that, you great big unbelievable softy. However was I so lucky to have the affections of a dragon so caring? “Yes, I did. It was enough to satiate me, yet now I am truly worried about your health.”

“Well, I don’t feel much different; perhaps a little light-headed and dizzy from our first…kiss, but I feel fine otherwise.”

The seamstress said nothing, merely looking down at him as she could see the incredibly diminished supply of blood which he now had. You always had a knack for cheering me up; however, I can always see through you, even without these abilities of mine. This time makes little difference. “I enjoyed it too, my dear. I am sorry, Spike, for not being able to control myself.”

Spike smiled at her in return and tried to sit up. Rarity inclined her head in acknowledgement and slipped off of his comfy lap, carefully seating herself in front of him once he had settled. “I told you that it was fine though. I wanted to help.”

“I know. Yet when I was new to drinking pony blood years ago, I became carried away and almost…killed many ponies. I don’t want to think about what would happen to you if I lost control and went too far with you, especially after two days without blood.”

“Well, you don’t have to worry about that,” Spike commented, wiggling forward and lifting her forelegs in his hands. “Dragons have a large amount of blood, likely a far greater amount than what ponies have. I mean, if I did have a similar amount of blood as you, I probably would be close to death,” he added, regretting that he had spoken that aloud quite soon after, upon viewing her reaction. Stupid, why? Why?

Rarity flinched at his answer, although she imagined that he had the right of it. “I suppose that that is true. I am simply happy that you are still alive, Spike. I have much that I need to say to you.” She tightened her own hold upon Spike’s clawed hands and she watched in amusement as the purple dragon swallowed. It was not difficult to tell what he thought that she might be referring to. “Spike, I love you and right now, I would very much like to kiss you. Is that alright?”

Spike seemed to lose focus, obviously not believing his luck. She chuckled at his innocence and waited for a proper response. Rarity wasn’t about to allow herself to lose control again, not on her proper lady side. Her thirst was sated as a vampire, yet she still held desires as a pony.

“Uh…uh- yeah…I mean, if you want to. That is uh…I would like to and all, but…”

She giggled again and wiggled closer toward the nervous-talking dragon, resuming her place upon his warm lap and pressing her hooves against his chest and feeling his muscles contort under her. “Oh, Spike, you are so cute.” So well-muscled too, she added to herself.

“I am?” he answered, gulping at their positions and the way that Rarity was now staring at him. It was an expression that he had only seen a few times when she glanced occasionally at stallions. Spike’s face flushed once again and he drew his arms across her back, causing her to exhale blissfully, yet not to falter in her sensuous focus upon him. He felt his twin penises rising against her backside and gasped when they rubbed against it, her clandestine smirk telling him that garnering this reaction was precisely her plan from the off. “Does this mean that whenever you were staring at other males, that you only desired their blood?”

“Simply kiss me, you adorable and sexy dragon of mine.”

Chapter 5

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Their embrace appeared to her to last for eons while she pressed herself into Spike to enhance the experience. For her passionate efforts, Rarity heard the lovely creature moan into her hot mouth. It gave her a blissful feeling when she drew her wet tongue along his lips and sharp teeth and as she finally drew her supple lips away from him, she yet felt his members quivering against her backside, tempting her marehood.

Rarity giggled cutely at his dazed appearance, while her own excitement dribbled onto his scales.

By this time, the night had fully set in and with her desires sated, Rarity’s full strength had returned nicely. From her seated position upon the lap of her knight in shining scales, the proper lady saw the darkened, starry skies through the large sliding glass doors at the backside of her abode. Smiling, she flicked her dampened, curled tail in coziness.

She breathed in softly with her red eyes shut and could see the blood flowing throughout the ponies wandering about within Ponyville, yet it brought none of her interest away from her special guest.

I don’t have any cravings either; not even those which I normally have after feeding on ponies. It was honestly a relief to not have to stifle her yearnings to a bearable extent, while she resumed her attentions on Spike. You are magical, my dear sweet dragon.

“Rarity?” he asked, surprising the unicorn out of gazing at him.

They were yet within her kitchen, Rarity being quite relieved to have his undivided attentions and also to have at long last finally kissed him.

“Hm?”

“I…I may have…underestimated how much blood that you took.” Groaning from the dizziness and nausea from the feeding and his vampire lady’s vivacious ministrations, Rarity watched his eyelids flutter shut and he began to fall backward.

“Spike!” Rarity shouted in concern that he would certainly hit his head on one of her cupboards. With precise accuracy and inconceivable speed, she leaned forward to save her love and caught his back in her forelegs. It was a simple matter to support Spike’s weight and lift him into a seated position once more, yet that was not what was highest on her list of distresses currently.

“Whoa, you are…pretty strong, Rarity,” Spike mumbled, managing to open his bleary emerald eyes to view the alabaster unicorn. It was obvious to her that he couldn’t see her that well, although as she delicately cradled him, it was vehemently apparent that his blood supply was considerably lessened from what his body required to function properly.

She managed to chuckle weakly at his attempt at lightening the mood. You silly, sweet and clumsy fool; I told you that it would not be so easy. “I am not as innocent or delicate as I let on, Spikey dearest. Yet before we continue this lovely embrace, I believe that it would be best to allow you to rest.”

He waved a limp foreleg in her direction and shook his head. “No, I am fine. Don’t…don’t worry about me, Rarity.”

“Spike,” she commanded sternly, silencing him like she knew that her allocutions would. Even without her abilities as a vampire, Rarity knew that he would always regard her with the utmost amount of respect. “I shall hear no more from you on this matter. While I appreciate that you are attempting to ease my sorrows for being the pony who did this to you, it is you who is injured and not myself. It is nearly as rude to deny a proper lady’s assistance as it is to lie about one’s obvious health concerns. I am no fool, Spike.”

Ashamed, the dragon averted his brilliant emerald eyes. “Sorry, Rarity, I only wanted to-”

“Besides,” the voluptuous unicorn soothed, leaning close enough to brush her fur against the smooth purple scales of his chest. The color in his cheeks resumed and he swallowed stiffly as she held him closer and fluttered her eyelashes. He was certainly not delirious now, “I do need you at your full strength prior to having my way with you, Spikey-Wikey. My needs may not be met as a mare yet, but simply because they are met as a vampire for the nonce, it does not mean that I won’t delight in a bit of a nibble during.”

The reaction was almost too sweet. Spike lifted his chin to look upon her again, ear frills flaring and his face positively flushed with embarrassment. Quite soon after, Rarity felt his twin dragonhoods harden against her cheeks, speaking of his wants.

The poor dear merely mumbled incoherence, likely trying and failing to not contemplate being with the seductive unicorn. Yet shortly after she bequeathed those honeyed words to him, Rarity gradually lifted her curvaceous backside off of him; although she felt his members rising with her momentarily and heard his enticing moans of enjoyment at them sliding achingly along her lithesome form.

Relishing in the control that she possessed over him even without her vampire powers coming into play, not to mention how delectable that it would feel to eventually have his dual members within her inner folds, she giggled cutely and slid off of him, swaying her hips and brushing her dampened tail in his mesmerized face for her knight’s entertainment. Well, that shall wait until he himself realizes that he has been wishing for such a chance for as long as I have, of course. “Now then,” she sung, drawing magic into her horn, enveloping Spike in her sapphire aura and levitating him onto her back, aligned with her supple body with ease. “I believe that my chaise lounge will suffice for your swift recovery for now, hm?"

“Rarity, are you certain that you should be carrying me like this right now?”

A devilish visage appeared across her features as an image popped into her head, yet she kept her red eyes forward. “Why is that Spikey-Wikey? Might you be feeling a slight tingling down below?” she questioned sensuously, wiggling her backside against his penises and earning another sweet sound from the dragon. Spike swallowed heavily in response, his breaths growing strained in her presence. Easy, Rarity; one must not be unlady-like. Despite my little dragon being willing even when he knows that I am a vampire, Spike is yet quite a shy creature, despite his size or his desires for me.

“Yet what if I hurt you?” he asked rapidly, likely attempting to ignore her advances.

“Oh, nonsense, Spike; as I already informed you earlier, I am far stronger than I appear.” She paused elegantly and glanced over her left shoulder to capture his eyes in her own as they lidded, maintaining their stark red tinge. “I also already know what it feels like to have your members against my backside from our earlier embrace; you are quite well endowed, I might add.”

His wings splayed out above him, completely erect and flooded with arousal given what the mare was uttering. It garnered another giggle from her, yet she decided to quit while he was recovering. I don’t wish to cause the poor dragon to faint from using all of his blood to arouse his senses after all.

“I-I…um…thank you?” murmured the embarrassed and attracted creature, noticeably uncertain how and if he should truly respond to such comments.

Rarity let out a subdued laugh and shrugged off her vivacious ministrations, choosing instead to lift her left alabaster hoof to his chin to calm him. She fluttered her eyelashes briefly, returning her eyes to their natural sapphire coloration, to the apparent wonder of her lucky guest. Rarity giggled at the awe in his lovable features. “Very well, enough flirting for now, darling; I apologize for my uncouth behavior. You are, after all, in need of rest and speaking to you in such a way will not aid in that regard.”

“It is okay,” Spike replied, managing to obtain that smile that he seemed to reserve for her alone; a timid yet brave countenance, letting her know that he would accept and protect her no matter what. “I kind of enjoy it.” He chuckled, settling his wings. She matched his merriment in kind.

“Well, I am happy to know that, at least; nevertheless, our discussion about such matters can wait until later. Now, no more dawdling, rest and relaxation are your best medicines currently. Off we go.”

No more words passed between them while Rarity carried him through her home, sauntering along past her kitchen to her chaise lounge resting against the wall opposite. She funneled a touch of magic into her horn and adjusted the placement of the furniture, prior to carefully lifting Spike off of her and onto the cushion.

Upon relaxing against the soft amaranth pillows, the dragon released a pleased breath of air.

“Are you quite comfy, dear?” With a dip of his head, Rarity lit her horn and brought a syringe from her refrigerator. She levitated it before her to check that the amount was correct, careful not to shake the container or flick the needle. “Now, Spike, I realize that I am no doctor, or even a nurse; yet at this juncture one cannot be picky, darling. You are in severe danger and I don't want you to be suffering for helping me the way that you just did.”

His ear frills were perked to her every word as he inclined his head. “What is it, Rarity?”

“This should help you to recover, Spike,” Rarity explained, bringing the object in her spell nearer to her beloved for his scrutiny. “It will assist your body by increasing the production of your blood.”

“Are you certain that you know how to use it properly?” quizzed Spike, swishing his tail along the cushions. “How do you even have that?”

The fashion designer chuckled lightly and set one foreleg ahead of the other gracefully. “Well, it does help that I hypnotized a nurse from the Ponyville General Hospital and had her tell me what to do, should somepony have a severe case of blood loss. This was when I was relatively new to drinking pony blood and thankfully, I never needed to rely on this method. Well, not until now.”

Spike wasted no time, shifting closer on the lounge to have her attentions when she lowered her head and stared at her home's polished floor in remorse. “It is okay, Rarity, I trust you. Remember, I am the one that let you feed off of me, knowing what the consequences might be. Please don’t feel bad.”

Swallowing her sorrows, the fashionista raised her head in acknowledgement of his plea and strolled forward, to set a hoof upon Spike’s left foreleg. “Very well; thank you, Spike, for everything that you have done tonight and all of the nights and days prior for my benefit.” He grinned truthfully and rested his free clawed hand over her hoof. “I trust then that you wish to have this injection?” He nodded his head and once Rarity slipped her hoof out from between his shiny scales, he adjusted himself so that his left foreleg was easily accessible to the lady. “Excellent, Spikey-Wikey; well, first of all, so that you are aware, of course, I must pinch the scales of your tummy.”

“Oh,” he answered her, his cheeks reddening as he rolled onto his side to expose his tummy.

“Thank you.” The vampiric unicorn placed her hoof upon the edge of the chaise lounge, holding the syringe aloft in her sapphire aura for emphasis. “Now, the next thing is for me to inject the syringe into that pinched bit of scale and inject the entirety of the liquid within the container, prior to removing and disposing of the item appropriately. Are you comfortable with all of that?”

“I am as long as you are comfortable with injecting me with it.”

“Of course, Spikey; there isn’t anything that I wouldn’t do for you, my lovely and not-so-little assistant.” Yes and I will be certain that I never have to do this with you again, Rarity admonished herself sternly. Her words moved him greatly; given how he at first let his jaw slacken for a moment, before averting his eyes in a cute manner. Viewing such an innocent act, the alabaster unicorn chuckled and leaned in to place a loving kiss upon his rather exposed and kissable left cheek.

Once they both settled from each other’s behaviors, the procedure was swift and easy. In no time at all, the seamstress was settled upon her backside on the purple carpeted floor, rubbing her alabaster hooves along Spike’s left foreleg.

“Thank you, Rarity. I feel better already,” the creature spoke; calm and happy in the atmosphere that the two had fashioned.

“I should think so, with a lovely lady giving you all of her attentions in the middle of the night.” Rarity winked at the gentledragon and he simply managed a beam in answer. Electing for a simple giggle and a hold of his hand in both hooves, she dropped the spectacle. “You are most welcome, dear. Now, simply relax and let the medicine and your system perform their tasks of aiding in your recovery.”

“How long do you suspect that it will take?” he asked out of curiosity.

“Hmm,” Rarity speculated, giving a minute tilt of her head, “well, for an average pony it would be from about fifteen minutes to around half of an hour. Yet for a dragon, who are generally stronger and larger, it is difficult to say. I suppose that it depends on how quickly your blood flows.”

Spike purely dipped his head for a moment, appearing contemplative. After a touch of silence within her kitchen area, he returned his emerald eyes to her and shifted onto his stomach, stroking along the fur of her hoof with his free hand. “Well, actually, I am starting to feel better.”

“Truly?” she queried, giving her head a tilt and feeling her mane follow the motion.

Inclining his head, his face flushed red while he stared dreamily into Rarity’s eyes. “Yes; I do have a beautiful lady who loves me holding my hand, after all.” He finished with a goofy grin, yet holding her hooves as happy prisoners.

The vampiric lady smirked in response and leaned forward to give him a caress of the lips. “You and that silver tongue of yours, Spike.” She giggled daintily at the red tinge to his cheeks growing ever brighter upon her practiced actions and gave her wings a stretch, a soft moan escaping her lips for her efforts. Hmm, this gives me an idea. We never did have a complete conversation about it on our last meeting, so now is as good a time as any; especially since he knows how devilish that I can be. “Well, Spike, while I am happy to see that you are indeed feeling better, I would yet feel more comfortable if you gave it a touch more time. Please?” she asked, fluttering her eyelashes at the dragon.

Spike swallowed at the show of affection and concern and lightly nodded his head, releasing her forelegs carefully upon the cushion and adopting a more sedate posture to relax.

You are as gallant as ever, my dear, Rarity imagined with a joyful countenance. “Thank you, most sincerely, Spikey. I shall return momentarily, okay? I simply need to fetch something from upstairs and then when I return we can have our chat about whatever it is that you wish to know about me.”

As Rarity trotted along the spiral staircase and into her room, her visage turned mischievous. Well, we will once you have become accustomed to viewing me in my recently fashioned outfit for you to critique.

Giddily, yet still in a proper fashion, the vampiric unicorn collected her intended attire and once again slipped her lithesome body into it, tightening her thigh high lace boots. With her wings now allowed their freedom, curled at her sides behind the drapes of red and black fabric cascading elegantly to the floor behind her forelegs, Rarity sauntered into place before her mirror to glance at her enticing appearance.

“Perhaps a tad extra attention here,” she imagined, fluffing a bit of the red fabric on her left shoulder to draw the purple dragon’s regard. “Excellent; well, it is best that I don’t keep my patient waiting.”

Rarity meandered along the carpet of her upper floor and along the stylish spiral staircase, which she herself designed, to return through the open archway of her kitchen area. The motion caught Spike’s interest upon the lounge and he quirked his head to see her. It was swift to grow quiet within the room, the proper lady awaiting her knight’s scrutiny.

Hearing no such compliments leaving from his lips, but only witnessing his dumbfounded visage, she decided to inquire. “Well, Spike? I hope that you haven’t forgotten this ensemble of mine already.” She fluttered her eyelashes, extending her wings at her sides and posing before him. “It was fashioned for you, after all.”

“F-for me?” he stuttered breathlessly, his wings struggling to remain furled at his sides. “Why?”

Taking his unbroken focus as proof that Spike was beginning to mend, Rarity decided to continue; however, no longer displaying herself in a suggestive way. She simply approached him normally with her wings settled, which seemed to calm his nerves to some extent. “Well, if I may be honest, I was worried that I wouldn’t ever be allowed to confess my feelings to you, Spike.”

“I…I don’t-”

“Please, Spikey-Wikey, allow me to explain. I have a feeling that I shall be explaining a rather large amount of myself during our talks tonight and I may as well begin here.”

“You don’t have to answer anything if you don’t want to, Rarity,” Spike confessed, pushing himself into a proper seated position on the lounge. He patted the left side of the cushion and Rarity wiggled her backside and hopped onto her place.

Levitating his clawed hands, Rarity took them in her hooves and gave him a reassuring visage. “Thank you, Spike. I know that you care deeply for me and will accept whatever it is that I tell you, yet I would like to have no secrets from you in these matters. It has been terrible keeping a large portion of my life from my friends; from you especially.” He simply swallowed in response and dipped his head in acknowledgement of her wants.

With a bit of trepidation, the proper lady let out a little laugh and glimpsed her hooves wrapped about his claws. “This was a bit of a fantasy of mine, you see. I always adored the attention that you gave to me whenever I wore one of my dresses.” Returning her regard to the dragon of her dreams, Rarity scooted forward and pressed on. “Even when you were merely complimenting the designs or accessories; your word meant the world to me, darling.

“Well, if I am to make a long story short, I fashioned this little number as a way to vent my desires to confess my true nature to you. I suppose that wearing it during our last meeting was a mistake on my part; perhaps if I had not, we could have continued our conversation a touch longer. The red compliments my changing eye color and the black represents the time when I am at my most active.” Releasing one of his clawed hands, Rarity lifted her hoof to draw his attention there. “Of course these lovely lace boots were my final piece to one day have your gaze drawn upward on my body to my eyes for you to see how much I cherish you, even going so far as to resist my temptations as a vampire.”

Her explanation finished, the elegant mare beamed timidly at Spike to await his reply. The dragon scratched at his spines once again and peered off to the side for a brief moment, prior to resuming his view of her. “Well, can I start gazing upon you now?” he asked, profusely embarrassed yet meaning it nonetheless. Rarity simply let out a laugh and nodded her head, taken by how innocent that request was even with her so near him. “I know that I am not the best creature that you could fall in love with, but I will try to cherish everything about you as much as I-”

“Don’t you ever say that again!” Rarity cried, easily silencing him with a concerned expression and a frown. She leapt onto him, wrapping her hooves across his back and kissing him sternly on the lips. Once again settled on his warm lap, the seamstress held him tight. “You are the most noble and charitable creature that I know, Spikey-Wikey and I have known from the moment that we first met that you cherish me with all of your heart.”

He couldn’t seem to speak to that, purely locking his emerald gaze with her sapphire eyes for any chance that he may have to console her.

“I need you to promise me that you will never degrade yourself again, Spike. I regard you with such a high esteem, the same measure of respect and adoration which you show to me every day, so please trust that I would never believe that you don’t deserve to be with me.”

Spike’s indecision appeared to vanish as her voice carried throughout her home and he caressed his hands along the smooth and slender fitting fabric of the dress at her back. “Alright, I am sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.”

“No, you shouldn’t have. Yet I understand why you might have those thoughts and I am sorry that you have had to deal with such unconscionable scrutiny. Simply know that anypony who has met you knows how incredible that you are; while everypony who insults you or only views a scary dragon will have to answer to me.”

That earned her a chuckle from the purple dragon. “I am truly lucky that I am in your good graces, my lady Rarity.”

“You certainly are. I should give you a good thrashing for worrying me and being so rude to yourself; yet you know that-”

“Fighting isn’t your thing. I know,” he finished for her, beaming brilliantly, showing his white teeth and stroking along the soft alabaster fur beneath her dress, although she noticed that he wasn’t using his claws. “I am also a bit glad that you wore this outfit before. Not because it hurt you to have to shout at me to leave, but because it let me see you as you. Now I see it as really flattering that I am so trusted by you that you could show yourself like you did, even if I didn’t know at the time that you were a vampire as well. It led to us being together, didn’t it?”

Rarity wiped the moisture from her sapphire eyes and beamed at the noble gentledragon. “Yes, Spike, it certainly did.” So, are you still keeping yourself from placing your claws on me for my safety? I suppose that even with my reveal, you still wish to protect me and I appreciate it, precious. Yet after a little date, I shall have to reassure you that you need not withhold anything from me, Spikey. If you wish to satisfy me, you won’t be able to. “Now then, Spike, I am certain that you have a fair few questions to ask me. What would you like to know first, darling?”

“Well, I do have some questions, but can I simply hold you like this for a little while longer? It feels really good to have you like this.”

“Of course, my dearest Spike.” She leaned in and gave him another kiss, before adjusting herself comfortably upon his lap. "I don't mind the arrangement, myself."

While the night drew on and the adoring creature kept stroking along her back tenderly, Rarity pondered on when to reveal her idea to him. As his calming ministrations along her lithesome body drew a relaxed moan from the mare, she captured his emerald eyes and smiled. Spike chuckled nervously at her vocalization.

“I hope that Twilight and the rest aren’t worried about me now.” Rarity tilted her head to have him elaborate. “We had a meeting about what to do if you were in some sort of trouble and I volunteered to come and check on you.”

“Thank you, Spike; how nice of you. Well, it is far too dark out for me to allow you to venture onto the streets. I am afraid that you shall have to stay with me tonight, Spike,” she remarked seductively, while squeezing his sides with her hooves.

The dragon gulped in response, yet Rarity knew that he enjoyed the thought of sleeping at her home, regardless of what occurred behind her closed doors.

“You know, darling, a thought has occurred to me. We do need to go out on a date at some point.”

He blinked at that, ear frills perking. “A date; you want to go on a date with me?” Nodding, the mare merely waited for Spike to sort through her offer. “Well, I didn’t think about that, but I would definitely love to take you somewhere.”

“Yes; however, not too many dates; we know so much about one another as it is already and a date would truly be more like a merry little addition. After all, I truly wish to have you in my bed with me as soon as possible.”

Spike’s wings unfurled behind him, aroused by those thoughts once again; yet the fashion designer giggled at him and caressed his cheek with a hoof to calm him. He leaned into the embrace and managed an exhale of relief. Lifting a clawed hand to her hoof, the purple dragon smiled. “Well, how about this; since you missed the third night of the Blood Moon Festival, why don’t we invite our friends to Twilight’s castle tomorrow and tell them about our relationship? After that, we can have a celebration of our own.”

“Well, that doesn’t sound much like a date,” Rarity speculated briefly, before giving him a cheerful countenance, “at least not in the traditional sense; yet I am a vampire and you are a dragon, so not much is traditional in this relationship of ours. Very well, it sounds intriguing enough to me and it will be nice to be able to experience a Nightmare Night-esque celebration with all of you for once. I accept.”

“That would be excellent. However, we should likely wait until the morning to begin sending those letters.”

“That is likely for the best, dear; perhaps you would like to ask me your first question now, hmm, Spikey-Wikey?”

“I suppose that I can’t hold you like this forever.”

She grinned and placed the bottom of her hoof to his nose. “Now whoever said that?”

Spike laughed lightly as he stared at her lace boot. Shortly thereafter, the vampiric unicorn replaced her hooves upon his chest and leaned against him to await his questions. “When did you…I mean,” he vacillated for a moment, likely pondering about how to word his inquiry, “you said that you love me. When did you…start?”

Rarity’s cheeks reddened a touch and she chuckled into her hoof, while thinking of what to tell him. She placed her hoof onto his left foreleg and grinned at him. “It has been a while since I held these feelings for you, Spike. I had my eye on you for quite some time, yet I never let myself have a chance because I couldn’t risk hurting you. I am sorry that it seemed like I didn’t care all of this time. I did, truly, even before you gave me that fire-ruby; purely you being you was enough to win me over, my dear Spikey-Wikey.”

The dragon smiled gladly. “I believe you, Rarity and of course I forgive you. I understand why you couldn’t tell me, but you really didn’t need to worry. If you needed me to help you with your vampire side, I would have.”

“I know that now.” Her lips curled in response, still feeling her wings unfurled from the excitement. “Yet I couldn’t be certain at the time. If I told you that I was a vampire straight out, do you truly believe that you would accept that?”

That caught Spike off guard. He tightened his grip along her back a touch, but shook his head. “It wouldn’t have mattered to me. My head is still kind of reeling from you actually being one, honestly; yet I don’t think that it would have been much different if you told me before. Maybe it would have saved you some trouble if I had known.”

Rarity leaned in close and set her hooves on either side of his face. “Well, there is no point in fretting about what could have been, right Spike? I am certain that you are as happy as I am to have each other now.” Spike stared at her wordlessly, seemingly paralyzed by her response.

He closed the distance between them slowly, drawing the alabaster unicorn in for another kiss. She shut her eyes in bliss; leaning into the embrace and feeling Spike do the same. I will take that as a yes.

When they drew apart, both of them were blushing profusely. The gentledragon glanced at her chest for a brief pause, yet Rarity remained focused on him, slightly surprised yet no less joyful that he had prompted such a passionate embrace.

Perhaps I will not have to wait too long for you after all, hm, Spike?

It took little time for Spike to resume his attentions upon her and it was rather simple to tell that he desired to know further matters pertaining to her existence and what was happening with their relationship now.

He brought his forelegs toward him, drawing them along her curvaceous sides and to rest over her hooves. “Rarity, what…what does it feel like to not feed off of creatures?”

Do you truly wish to know that so soon? Rarity swallowed softly and began. “It drains me, Spike. I suffer through intense withdrawal symptoms; painful fits and my body aches ceaselessly. I cannot even sleep during the event due to the fact that if I were to shut my eyes for the briefest of moments, I may do something unconscionable that I am unaware of until it is too late. Thankfully, I managed to avoid such an occurrence until you came along. I suppose that, in a large way, you helped me through it.”

Rarity adjusted her wings at her sides and beamed at the noble creature, hoping that hearing of how he had truly aided in her plight may alleviate some of his troubles from the reveal.

Spike simply nodded. “I see; I won’t feel bad about not helping you sooner, because you were only trying to protect me out of fear that you wouldn’t be able to stop yourself once you fed on me. It means quite a bit to me that you would go through something like that to keep me safe, Rarity. I simply wanted to know, so that I could thank you properly. So, thank you.”

“You are most welcome, Spike.”

As the room grew silent once more, Rarity heard the familiar mews of her cat, Opal. Turning from her comfy spot upon the dragon, she glimpsed her white companion settled on the carpet, fluffy tail wagging. She knew the look that she was regarding her with and purely rolled her eyes in good humor, before levitating a bowl of cat food toward the dear. Opal meowed in appreciation and quickly, yet primly began to eat her late night meal.

When that was concluded, the alabaster unicorn gave Spike her undivided attention. It was obvious that he wasn’t exactly certain how to proceed with this, nor was he certain of what this whole business with Rarity being a vampire was. “So, Rarity, how long exactly have you been a vampire for and were you turned into one? I thought that there hadn’t been a recorded vampire sighting in thousands of years, so how can you be one?”

“Hold on a moment! Slow down, Spikey-Wikey; one question at a time, please.” Rarity giggled at her mate, quite taken with his adorable attitude and innocent charms. “Well, I believe that I will start with the first one. Hmm, honestly, I cannot recall a time when I wasn’t a vampire. I suspect that I was born one, to tell you truthfully. I was never bitten by another pony, so I assumed it to be so; a pony born as a vampire. No documentation of vampirism I have read about had anything to do with being born into it.”

Spike tilted his head and seemed to think about that, placing a claw under his chin in a very becoming manner for the dragon. “Well, maybe you are meant to bring them back, Rarity.”

This time it was her turn to shift her head to the side, her mane following the motion. “Hm? Who do you mean, Spikey?”

“Vampires.”

“I don’t follow.”

“Well, think about it. There has been no record of vampires in over three thousand years, before the princesses were even around and now you come along and say that you might have been born one. There must be something important there and besides, you are already sophisticated, beautiful, fashionable and attractive. Those are all traits that vampires supposedly had.” Spike blinked once, as what he simply blurted out sunk in. His cheeks reddened then, yet Rarity had already beaten him to it, her face flushing quite easily from his compliments. “I…I mean, not that you needed to be a vampire to be all of those things a-and more! I am only saying that, ugh!” He covered his face with a hand. “I don’t know what I am saying; forget whatever it is that I am saying, okay?”

He lowered his head away from her and Rarity merely shook hers. How did I ever live without having you here by my side? “Nonsense,” the fashionista replied, lifting his chin with a hoof and a touch of magic. “I am beyond happy that you think so highly of me, darling. It means the world to me to hear you and you alone say such things to me, truly. Even if my appearance was attributed mainly to my being a vampire, I am certain that you would still feel the same way about me and I couldn’t ask for more than that. I know that you see more in me than purely my looks.”

Spike gulped and held her hoof in both of his claws, holding it loosely and comfortably as he responded. “Of course; I know that you have a kind heart. You are caring, forgiving, intelligent, resourceful, attractive and passionate, sly and sneaky and most importantly a very, very powerful friend.”

“Thank you, Spike,” Rarity responded, on the verge of tears again; tears of joy from hearing him say all of those things that she knew that he saw in her, “and you, my love, are one in a million; you are passionate about aiding others, even at the cost of your own well-being. You are so giving, thoughtful, generous, hardworking, handsome and most of all, you are mine.”

He flinched at that. If Rarity thought that he couldn’t become anymore flustered than he already was, Spike was swiftly proving her wrong. She giggled devilishly at his show of embarrassment.

“I am sorry, Spikey-Wikey. It simply slipped out. I only wish for you to know that I will do everything that I can to make you happy.”

Spike appeared to settle at her words, nodding sagely once he had regained his composure. “It is okay. We should be able to say such things to one another, considering that we know how the other feels and how well we know each other…and due to the fact that we have a date later. It is merely that I can’t believe how good it feels to have you say those things to me.”

Giggling at his elated disposition, Rarity rewarded him with another kiss.

After another moment, he raised an eyebrow. “Well, if you are a vampire, what does that make your family?”

“Ah, well, here is where things are a touch bizarre,” she elaborated, raising a hoof for emphasis. “You see, my entire family are pure ponies; no signs of vampire traits whatsoever. I was quite certain of it, when I first had a peek at their blood. My blood and pony blood are rather different, so that you are aware. It has a different color to mine, a different aura, if you will that I am able to sense; your blood included, mind.” Rarity paused for a moment, to rest her hooves upon Spike’s chest again and to be certain that he understood.

A single nod, accompanied by enraptured emerald eyes urged her to continue. “Now, directly after a feeding, my blood becomes far brighter in coloration than my blood or pony blood at their normal state, yet the difference is still noticeable. So, I examined them clandestinely and came to the conclusion that I was born as a vampire. It was curious how the doctors did not appear to be aware of this detail, so I hypnotized one and had him search through the files to find me. Apparently, I had no such abnormalities when I was birthed; I was, to all who saw me, a regular unicorn.”

“You were and still are an extraordinary alabaster vampire unicorn,” Spike corrected, kissing her lightly on the cheek and causing her lips to curl upward.

At least you are becoming more comfortable showing affection to me, darling. “You are sweet to say so, Spike; thank you most sincerely. Yet what I have said and uncovered is that, either my powers as a vampire manifested after a time; a less likely occurrence, bearing in mind that I have been to the hospital regularly since and have yet to be discovered, or that my abilities appear to become concealed when under scrutiny by somepony that I do not trust.”

“Truly? You have some dazzling abilities, Rarity.”

Rarity couldn’t help but giggle when Spike answered her. “I would say so, Spike. However, I do regularly have that same effect on you without using my vampire traits.” His reaction was adorable, he shuffled his wings about on his sides and adjusted himself a tad on her chaise lounge. Taking such acts as a sign to give her mate some release, Rarity set a hoof upon his cheek and stepped off of him to settle her backside on her side of the cushion once again. “Well, Spike, I believe that it is bed time for you and I. I simply have one question to ask of you now, my sweet little dragon.”

He scratched at the spines of his neck, growing profusely flustered about heading to bed with her and smiling at being called one of her nicknames for him. She only fashioned nicknames for Spike, something that she had not failed to notice early on. That was her first clue that she was developing feelings for the dragon and also how she thought that he might feel the same way for her, because he never asked her to stop calling him by such names.

Despite his embarrassment, Spike dipped his head. “Yes, it is only fair, after all. What did you want to know, Rarity?”

“Which side of my rather large and fluffy mattress would you like?”

“Uh, umm. Well…”

Rarity raised her eyebrows and placed a hoof on the cushion ahead of her as a token gesture, not truly touching him. “Please, Spikey; it would be quite safe with me. I promise that it will only be to sleep. If you have any concerns about this currently, we could say that you and I have been on a fair few dates prior to revealing our feelings. I have certainly asked you to lunch or dinner for aiding me in some matter or other, or at the end of your first dragon migration to celebrate your mature decision; which was also to celebrate that I had not lost you to those dragons either.”

Her confession seemed to garner his intrigue. Spike leaned in curiously, raising an eyebrow. “It was?” She chuckled and inclined her head in acknowledgement, appearing to remind her mate of something. “Well, you did seem to be more attentive while we were…together that time.”

“Yes, Spike. By the end of the migration, you appeared so glad to at long last be with other dragons that I thought that you would be better off without me; you wouldn’t have to fawn over a mare who could never love you or show too much affection and I would no longer need to worry about harming you. You would find a young dragoness to be with for the rest of your life and I would simply linger on.”

His reaction was immediate, clasping his hands about her hoof to alleviate what strife that he could. It drew her forlorn gaze to him and the look of guilt and determination brightened her smile. “I was so over the moon when you said that you would return that I nearly forgot that I was a vampire; I simply had to have you out to dinner.” The seamstress chuckled cutely, eliciting an adoring visage from Spike in the process. “Yet believe me, had you wished to stay with them, I would not have prevented you. It was your choice, Spike, as is this. You do not have to sleep with me if you wish to use the spare room.”

“No, Rarity, I would like to,” Spike responded swiftly, strengthening his hold. “How can I deny my lady’s wishes, or the wishes of a truly beautiful soul? Dragonesses couldn’t compete with you, Rarity; not ever.”

In answer, the proper lady giggled cutely. “Well answered, my dear. Are you already attempting to earn points with me prior to our little date?”

“I have to earn them where I can, right?”

“Well, you can relax a little about such things, darling. You already have my heart.” The purple dragon beamed gladly, a light tinge to his cheeks. “Shall we head to bed then, Spikey-Wikey?”

“Mmhm…my lovely Lady Rarity.”

The elegant mare giggled at his nickname for her. He wasn’t quite accustomed to this new routine, yet his nervous and honest behaviors were what she loved most about Spike. “Well, then, come along. I have a spare tooth brush in my bathroom that you may use for the night, Spike and then we can settle in.”

Spike dipped his head and stood, hopping from the lounge and holding a hand out to the vampiric unicorn to help her to the carpeted floor. She flicked her tail as she pushed herself to her hooves and smirked at him vivaciously. Glancing over her left shoulder at the dragon, draped in her vampire attire, Rarity placed her left hoof onto his palm.

He swallowed at the enticing spectacle, yet did not avert his emerald eyes as she gracefully stepped onto the floor before him, the red and black drapes behind her forelegs flowing.

With Rarity leading the way along the staircase, the two were swift to prepare themselves for slumber, the fashionista giving Spike a playful little nudge with her backside as they brushed their teeth within her bathroom. She slipped out of the dress afterward, to the amazement of her beloved and drew the sheets of her bed along the mattress with her sapphire aura, prior to sliding her lithesome form beneath the covers of the left side.

Ear frills and face properly burning now, Spike approached and lifted himself onto the mattress as well, settling his strong figure under the sheets beside her. Rarity was quick to make up their distance, giggling that despite his demeanor, her mate was also enjoying the closeness.

“Goodnight, Spike; I shall see you in the morning, my love.”

“Goodnight, Rarity. I love you,” he leaned toward the mare and kissed her on the lips. She fluttered her sapphire eyes shut to delight in the embrace, before he released her.

Resting their heads upon her lovely and purple feather pillows, Rarity snuggled close to Spike, hooves and clawed hands settled cheerfully at each other’s backs and with a touch of magic, she shut the lights in her room off.

The Blood Moon Festival

by Victoria_the_dragoness

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5