Adventures in the Dark of Night

The brisk air of morning filled Jubilee's nostrils as his mother pushed open the window next to his bed, the sun would've hurt his eyes if his chocolate mane wasn't covering them again. "Wake up, sleepy head, you've got school!" his mother chirped in his ear. He sat up, rubbing the crust left on his eyelids by the Sandpony, yawning. "I've got tea downstairs when you're decent~" she sang as she exited down the staircase. Jubilee rolled out of bed, almost literally as he adjusted to reality again. After learning how to walk again, he entered his bathroom, his hygiene utensils already laid out for him by his too-kind mother. He went about brushing, using both of his hooves to steady the brush as he ran it across his teeth.

Last night's activities reverberated in his skull, and excitement grew as he knew he had a choice to make, despite how grim it was. He spat out the minty tooth-and-saliva-paste, washing out his mouth with water. He sighed a breath of minty fresh, just to feel the seemingly cold air against his shiny teeth. He hurried downstairs, hungry from not eating last night. "Hey momma, what's for breakfast?" he asked as he set his flank down on the shorter of the two chairs. "Oatmeal, your favorite." his mother responded, setting down a piping hot bowl of oat-y stuff. "Looks delicious!" Jubilee said as he ate it without utensils. "Look at my little pony, so big." she said as Jubilee finished his bowl. a mess load of oats and cream covering his face and the table. "And messy!" she added as she wiped the oats from his face with a handkerchief. "I saw you ripped your satchel somehow, so I patched it up all nice and new, it's laying over by the door." she added as he stood up. "Okay, Momma, thank you!" Jubilee trotted over to his bag, tossing it onto his back and tightening the strap until it was snug. "I'm off to school, love you!" he stepped out the door quickly as she said goodbye again, sipping her tea.

Jubilee walked to school, the other fillys and colts walking faster than him. He smiled, though, as he passed the Old Schoolhouse. It felt nice having a secret the others didn't know about. He entered the school, moving towards his classroom, 1-B. As he got through the door and sat down the band of bullies surrounded his desk, Terracotta trying to use the same remark from yesterday. "Hey, Jubiloser, see any more-" Jubilee interrupted him, shooting him a clever smirk. "I don't know, wet the bed recently?" Jubilee replied all-too casual, knowing it was true. The other fillies and colts laughed, even Terracotta's pawns, who he quickly scolded. The teacher, Mrs. Applebury, entered the classroom and quickly had the foals calm down and open their notebooks.

"This morning, little ones, we'll be learning about advanced math!" through the mare's cheery voice the students' moans of dismay sounded together in unity. One rather incompetent Pegasus filly raised her hoof and complained, "But Mrs. Applebury, I don't even understand the basics..." Every other foal but Jubilee laughed because, in truth, he found her incompetence kind of cute. He would admit he didn't do very well on basics, but he could handle advanced. At least, he was pretty sure he could. The day drug on with silence from the scowling and obviously embarrassed Terracota, along with the very difficult advanced math. Jubilee decided to doze off, he was tired of the math and tired of school. He dreamed of many things; Whether it be his mother's delicious tea, or the sunrise and sunset. Then his mind drifted to Draculin, how he had a decision to make. His mind raced over the positives, the negatives. He'd get to leave this town, but he'd also leave his mother. He'd escape the bullies and their taunts, but he wouldn't get to see the incompetent Archer Wing, the filly he secretly admired. He would've stayed in his daze a bit longer, but a familiar voice washed over his conscious.

"Well, what's your decision?"

"Nnngg.....I'll come with you, Draculin...."

"Who?"

"What..?"

"Mr. Write, wake up this instant and come with me to the office!"

That's when he realized who was talking. His eyes darted up at Mrs. Applebury, who was standing just above him, on her hindlegs with her forelegs crossed. "Mr. Write, wake up, let's go!" Jubilee sat up, rubbing his eyes. She gave him an eye, so he got out of his seat and followed her out as the class chuckled.

"I am very disappointed in you, Jubilee.." she admitted as the door closed behind them. "Sorry, Mrs. Applebury...the math was just too hard." Jubilee partially lied, but she believed him. She sighed and patted his back, pulling a cloth from her satchel. She wiped the bit of drool that was on hid lip, nodding. "Yes, you and Ms. Wing weren't the only ones who were having trouble with the new curriculum." she looked off in the distance. "You go sit in the office and take it easy, okay?" she looked around cautiously. "I'm going to act like I'm really angry at you, so don't take it hard....and don't tell the other students." she giggled, quickly turning serious as they walked into the office.

"If I ever catch you sleeping in my class again I will have you expelled!" she exclaimed in an extremely convincing tone, slamming the door on her way out. The secretary, a Unicorn with a talent for organization, sat at the desk shaking his head. "She's rather tough, isn't she?" He smiled sweetly at Jubilee standing up to usher him to the back. "Just take it easy in there, kid." He opened the door to the medical room, a very small room with two beds. Jubilee shook his head, not wanting to sleep again. "Can I just sit with you and help...?" he asked quietly, looking up to the pale red unicorn. "Sure, kid, why not." he replied, the two walking back to the secretary's large desk. "Wait here a moment." he said as he walked towards the back again. A few seconds later he came back with a smaller version of his rolling chair, being pushed magically.

"Here, you can sit in this." he said as he pushed the chair to a small spot of his desk. "Just, uh...." the unicorn tried to think of an easy task, but could only come up with one. "Here, go make 53 copies of this..." he handed a rolled up piece of paper which Jubilee took in his mouth, walking to the back. The copier room was a simple one, papers everywhere with one clear desk for the secretary and a few other office workers to eat at. He put the paper in the slot, hitting the buttons to print out 53. As he sat and waited for all 53 to finish printing out the final bell rang. "Oh crud, I must have slept longer than I thought...." he walked out in a hurry, telling the secretary that they're in the back.

He rushed back into the classroom, getting his bag. He walked back outside, shaking his head so that his mane would cover his eyes and protect them from the bright sun as they adjusted to the light. He walked to where he usually did, towards the old schoolhouse, and didn't notice the group of three that followed him.

"You stupid little coltcuddler!" Terracotta shouted from behind him as his lackey rammed Jubilee to the ground. Jubilee got up quickly, running for the schoolhouse. Terracotta proceeded to send his minions after him, and they were faster. They got past Jubilee and spun around, using their forelegs to bring Jubilee to a stop, seizing him and holding him infront of Terracotta, hooves and forelegs locked to his side.

"How dare you make a fool of me!" Terracotta said, spitting on Jubilee. The one on Jubilee's left chuckled as the other, more slower, lackey laughed with his deep, almost "simple" sounding voice. "Haha, teach'm a lesson, boss!" Terracotta obliged and lifted his hoof back, readying for a quick punch to the gut. "Never cross me again!" he shouted as his hoof propelled forward, connecting with Jubilee's stomach. It winded him, making him fall to the ground, gasping for air. "T-T-T-T...Terracotta!" Jubilee choked out of his throat, holding his stomach.

"Steady 'im, boys." Terracotta said with his rough voice. Terracotta's faithful lackeys picked Jubilee back up, making him still and trapped. Terracotta made another swift punch, this time hitting Jubilee in the face. A small dribble of blood went down the colts bottom lip as Terracotta punched again, leaving a bruised eye socket. "Now, here's the last one, but certainly not the least!" Terracotta cocked his fist back again, aiming once more for Jubilee's face. Terracotta built up power in his punch, getting ready to release it like a gun does a bullet.

Then, the old schoolhouse behind them shook, rumbled, rattled, and every other form of movement that could be thought of. A figure busted through the roof, a Pegasus, and stopped in front of the sun, outstretching his wings. he became a silhouette as smoke or steam or something poured off his body, and a the small glint of four sharp teeth were the only light that emitted from the black silhouette. "Draculin!" Jubilee gasped, knowing that the sun could kill him. The pony figure quickly shot forward, landing with such force that it shook the two goons from Jubilee, who collapsed on the ground. "Leave now." thundered an unfamiliar voice that came from Draculin, which seemed to reverberate the air around them. Terracotta was stricken in place with fear as the other two ran away, leaving behind a thin trail of liquid. "Did you not hear me?" Draculin thundered, bringing his face closer to Terracotta's, baring his teeth with simulated hunger. "Leave, now!" Terracotta ran away, leaving a puddle of urine in the grass. As Terracotta left their view, Draculin dropped the scary act, quickly tiring out from direct exposure to the sun.

"Let's get back in the schoolhouse....." Draculin murmured, picking Jubilee up by the scruff with his teeth. Draculin flew back up and into the schoolhouse, landing in Jubilee's nest of pillows and blankets. "Draculin, are you okay?" Jubilee muttered, laying quietly next to Draculin, who was also laying down. "Fine, just tired." Draculin looked over to Jubilee who flipped over, a small trail of fresh blood down his lip. "Poor thing." Draculin leaned close and lapped up the blood, licking his lips. Jubilee shuttered, but stood up, wiping the grass from his mane.

"I'll head home, get some sleep." he said, walking towards his exit.

"Wait, Jubilee, what did you pick?" Draculin asked, yawning.

"I'm coming with you." Jubilee said as he stepped outside, walking home.