Adventures in the Dark of Night

The sun burned brighter than ever today, making the day seem longer and more difficult to withstand. Jubilee sat quietly at his desk with his Schoolmates, though he wouldn't consider any of them mates. Especially Terracotta Baker. "Hey, Jubilee, see anymore ghosts?" he teased, referring to the unfortunate sleepover that his mother forced him to attend. "Shut up, Terracotta, that was a dumb prank you pulled almost a year ago." he responded, turning his head the other way. He put his left hoof up against his head, blocking his view of Terracotta further. It was only a few more minutes before the bell rang to end the dreadfully long school day, so he just ignored the immature Terracotta and his mocks. The bell eventually chimed it's cheery jingle, and the teacher reminded the class to bring their homework back on Monday, followed by a wave of her hoof in a good-bye.

Jubilee's filly classmates passed him, giving him nervous glances and small giggles, most likely about rumors spread by Terracotta and his Gaggle of followers. While the other foals turned left at the end, Jubilee made a sharp right, heading off towards the Old Schoolhouse, and abandoned building that's rather broken down, not to mention slightly burned from the fire fifty years ago. The colt snuck underneath a partially broken board and got inside, the slight shafts of sunlight that illuminated the one-room schoolhouse gave everything a sort of fairy tale elegance. The room was mostly intact, besides the holed ceiling and cluttered mess of old desks. Towards the center, a small pile of blankets, and a pillow lay in a neat, nest-like circle. Jubilee walked slowly towards his secret sleeping place, patting it down with his hooves before he dropped into a tiny, cream coloured mess. His mane was chocolate in colour, and laid over his eyes as he got comfy. His mind began to drift a little, to life, to family, to the friends he slightly wished he had. He stopped on that last thought.

He wasn't hated by all, he just felt that the other foals were to boring for him. They talked about stupid things, like who was the toughest, who had the coolest cutie mark, what the latest fashions were. His irritation with them grew and he felt as if he were about to hit something. Then, as if another bell had gone off, something moved in the darkness.

A slight shift of broken boards, right behind him. The chill that ran down his spine was of the highest caliber, making him quickly jump around. "Who's there?!" Jubilee surveyed the area, only seeing a quick shadow. Jubilee was in truth afraid of ghosts, so he darted for his exit, his satchel getting caught on a nail, tearing off. Jubilee must have lost track of time, the sun was nearing the horizon, he needed to get home for dinner. Jubilee made it home rather quick, it was just a block away from the school.

As he opened the door his mother looked at him and smiled. "Welcome home, deary, were you out playing with that nice Terracotta boy?" she had the same cream colored coat, but her mane was a dark pink. She was sitting by the table sipping tea or soft cider, her hindleg on top of the other. "Hi Momma, no, and Terracotta is not a 'nice boy', I was playing at the park." Jubilee sweeped his hoof across his face rather quickly, brushing the tangled mess of his mane from his eyes. He went over to the table and sat down, pouring himself a cup of the warm drink. "Jubes, hon, where's your satchel?" he reached behind him and realized that he didn't have it. "Oh, shoot, I must have left it at the park!" Jubilee exclaimed, jumping up. "Wait 'till after dinner, and then hurry over there." the oven dinged as he ended her sentance, and the smell of roast wafted through Jubilee's nostrils, and he quickly licked his lips. "Okay, if you say so..." Jubilee sat back down, eagerly but patiently waiting for a big slice of roast to be placed on his plate. His hunger was filled as his mother slapped a large gooey blob of what was supposed to be roast. "This is roast?" Jubilee asked rather rudely, his mother snorted rather unladylike and said with a huff, "Well if it looks so disgusting then don't eat it, gentlecolt!" she was obviously offended, so Jubilee took it upon himself to just steer clear.

"I'm going to go get my satchel...." His mother was still in a ditz about his rude comment, and didn't even notice him inching his way to the door. He open and closed as fast as he could, stepping out into the cold nights air. The moon shone brightly in the sky, defying the darkness that usually crept out at this time. Jubilee nodded towards it in silent thanks, and headed the direction of the school--and the Old Schoolhouse. He galloped his way there, wanting to get there and gone as fast as he could, he was still spooked by the shadow he saw earlier. He reached the Old Schoolhouse and snuck under, using the moonbeams like the sunlight to guide his way around the fallen and broken furniture.

He made his way towards his secret sleeping place, the sudden darkness that seemed to ignore the brightness of the moon crept into the schoolhouse, and as Jubilee scrambled about his comfy place, he felt a cold breath upon the nape of his neck. This sent a chill down his spine, and before he knew it he had turned around and was face to face with a stunning Pegasus, black mane and unnaturally red eyes. "Gh-augh!' he meant to scream 'ghost', but was caught off guard by the Pegasi's powerful foreleg covering his mouth. "Shh, kid, you'll get me found out..." a calm, sweet voice said. Jubilee heard a hint of mischief to his voice, and his smile was that of a young kid.

This stallion looked as if he had just reached maturity, but he had the eyes of an old man; Wise and peaceful, but somehow defiant. The stallion introduced himself as Draculin, and reached behind him and picked up with his teeth a satchel...Jubilee's satchel! He moved his foreleg away from Jubilee's mouth, stretching his wings out and yawning.

"You woke me up earlier, kid, and you left this as you ran away..." Jubilee looked at him oddly, paying attention to the odd garment around his neck. It looked like some sort of scarf, but an old-aged Victorian era one. He'd seen one in a few paintings of Sommerston's Old Days. "Why're you sleeping in the old schoolhouse?" Jubilee found himself asking. Draculin looked at him and laughed. "Because I live here..." he glanced around his 'home', then added, "lived here since it burnt." Jubilee looked at him oddly. Since it burnt? "Mister, that was fifty years ago. There ain't no way you could've lived here that long." Draculin laughed and opened his wings, stretching them out to full length. He took up into the air, but hovered maybe a foot off the floor. He came in real close to the small cream colt, opening his mouth wide. "Fifty years ain't nothing to a Vampony."