"Oh my..." Rarity let the meticulously crafted card fall from her magic grip. It fizzled into little bats that flew away. "Darling..."

Bright was at her aside in a bouncing rush from where he had been relaxing elsewhere in their dim headquarters. "What's up, Rares?"

"Curious phrasing." She wrapped one arm around Bright, drawing them closer. "I've received an invitation."

Sweetie glanced up. "Is this our business?"

"I'm afraid not." Rarity touched her hooves together. "They'd be quite upset if I went and invited you all... But you." She pushed Bright away, turning him to face her. "You, wonderful thing, are my familiar. They can't forbid me from bringing you along."

Sweetie cocked up a brow. "Yeah..." She slid to her hooves. "Now you're going to tell us what this is and why we should give you time off to deal with it."

Bright inclined his head towards Sweetie Drops. "She's not wrong. Fill us in. Why are we running off suddenly, and for how long, and...?" He rolled a hand dramatically with that trailing question.

"You see." Rarity's horn glowed as she unfolded the map of Equestria, just to wave over it in no specific place. "I'm not the only master or mistress of the night." She let her fangs show with that. "There are a few others... And we've formed a, shall we say, society of sorts. It's a good thing, really, I assure."

Sweetie wrinkled her nose doubtfully. "Yeah... Why are we just hearing about that?"

"Because they aren't causing problems, dear." Rarity folded her arms and tossed her mane. "They're just ponies... who happen to have a little extra. They aren't breaking laws. So, why would we be involved, hm?"

Bright shrugged. "I can't argue those facts. If they're nice vampires, I say we let 'em keep being nice."

Sweetie Drops nodded slowly, though her eyes remained narrowed. As head of Equestria's supernatural affairs division, the idea of an entire cabal of vampires operating secretly didn't sit easily with her.

"And this mysterious 'society' just happens to be gathering now while all those weird magical incidents keep happening lately?" She fixed Rarity with a stern look, one hoof tapping. "I don't like coincidence, Rarity."

Rarity's eyes flicked away guiltily before Bright nudged his mistress encouragingly. "Hey now, no need to give Rarity the evil eye just 'cause she's got cool secret friends," he chided Sweetie gently. "I'm sure if they were up to anything shady, she woulda told us."

He fluttered his long eyelashes up at Rarity beseechingly. "You just wanna go hang and have some fancy blood punch or whatever, right?"

Rarity tittered, leaning down to nuzzle her familiar gratefully. "Quite so! Merely social visit among like-minded gentleponies." Her bright red lips curled into a sly little smile. "Well, gentle-pony might be debatable for some attendees... But I can personally vouch for their character!"

Sweetie Drops was still clearly uneasy, but she waved a hoof resignedly. "Yeah yeah, you two go have your weird double date or whatever. But first sign of anything fishy, you call us for backup!" She leaned in close, glaring from beneath the brim of her hat. "Capisce?"

Rarity mimed zipping her lips, locking them and tossing the imaginary key over her shoulder. Then she and Bright vanished into the night to join their mysterious gathering.

Sweetie sighed softly and pulled out a paper. "And, as usual, paperwork goes to me. I swear..." The others hadn't filed for the time off, so it fell on Sweetie to do it.

Rarity appeared in a cloud of bats, allowing both to step free into a gilded entry hall, stairs extending upwards from there. "Welcome," bade Rarity. "I'd tell you where we are, but that's something of a secret, dear. This is where we gather each meeting."

Rarity and Bright gazed around the opulent entry hall, hoofsteps and light taps of claws echoing on polished marble floors. Gilded columns lined the walls, winding upwards to an ornately carved ceiling lit by a glittering chandelier. Heavy velvet curtains framed arched windows overlooking moonlit gardens.

Towards the back of the hall, a grand staircase swept upwards, the rich red carpet continuing along a balcony corridor overlooking the space. Intricate tapestries woven with silver thread depicted elegant ponies in various aristocratic pursuits - sipping blood-red wine, admiring jewels, dancing under the stars.

The finery spoke of generations of noble lineage, the very walls seeming to resonate with an ancient power and privilege. But any stuffiness was offset by a subtle gothic edge in the design and decor choices. Beauty and danger mingled artfully.

"Goodness, the old money certainly shows itself here," Rarity murmured appreciatively to Bright. "I suppose when one has a few centuries to accumulate wealth, one may get creative about where to spend it!"

She stifled a delicate laugh behind one hoof. "Though I dare say some spaces are a touch...overdone, if you ask me. Restraint can speak volumes too!" Still, being surrounded by such luxury suited her essence well enough for an evening's amusement.

"Shall we mingle then?" She extended a hoof to Bright elegantly. These nights were always more entertaining with one's familiar close by.

An offer Bright was swift to take, wrapping Rarity's hoof with his paw. "Gladly. Now, where are--"

Landing before them was a dragon. A dragon with very sharp fangs. "Rarity... I was wondering if you'd bother to show up."

Rarity gestured to the new vampire. "Dear, this is Crackle. Quite an esteemed holder of the circle, she was here long before me."

"And I'll be here long after you." The green dragon leaned in closer to Bright. "Who's this? I smell some of our blood on him... Convert?"

Rarity drew Bright closer. "Familiar, dear."

Bright showed no fear of the looming dragon vampire. "'Sup, Crackle. I thought you... looked a lot different." He gestured in the air, trying to capture the big dopey presence he remembered Crackle being. "Good glam up!"

"Thank you." Crackle batted her lashes. "The most effective place to hide, is where one can be seen. The dragons think little of me." She flashed her deadly fangs. "And that suits me well. They speak freely around who they think is less than a moron, and their secrets tumble into my reach."

Rarity tittered with a smile. "Oh, darling. Don't ever change." She pushed Bright forward. "Now, I do insist. Get along."

Bright laughed tenesly. "Nice to meet you." He offered a hand forward at the great bulk of Crackle.

"Charmed." Crackle placed a hand in Bright's, resting on the small paw. "Most familiars behave differently... I like it..."

Rarity fluttered her lashes. "Isn't he a treat? How, where can we find the rest of our little meeting? I imagine they won't tolerate us keeping them waiting, dear."

Crackle gave Bright's paw a genteel squeeze, sending a tiny spark hopping between their palms before releasing him. "Do take care, little morsel," she purred before turning on an elegant heel.

"This way to the west salon," she called airily back, waving for Rarity and Bright to follow her wide swaying tail deeper into the manor.

Soon signs of other nocturnal activity made themselves known - the drone of conversation behind closed doors, a scrap of dark classical music, the skitter and flap of distant bat wings. Other pale faces turned to glance their way curiously before vanishing back into shadow.

At last they reached an archway curtained in black and purple velvet. Crackle strode through without ceremony, the fabric seeming to part for her of its own volition. "I have returned with our darling Lady Posh," she announced to the guests beyond.

All within the dimly lit salon turned as one to face the new arrivals. An eclectic collection of elegant vampires lounged in high-backed chairs or stood conversing near crackling hearths. Expressions ranged from detached boredom to faint curiosity.

In the center sat a broad stallion with a neatly pointed beard, his half-lidded gaze authoritative despite indolent posture. "Welcome, Lady Rarity," he intoned in a honeyed baritone. "We were just discussing the troubling incidents of late..."

Another, a mare, huffed. "Inexusable, and impossible to ignore." She scowled at Rarity. "Have you heard of it, or have you been too busy playing kis... Who is that?" She directed a hoof at Bright directly.

All eyes were upon him. He took a step forward with a bright smile. "Hey! I'm Bright, Rarity's familiar." He wagged his tail, causing the bangle Rarity had given him to glimmer in the dim light even as he spread his wings. "Touched inside and out. I am her loyal servant forever and a few days."

Rarity leaned against him. "I know I said I was wary of such things, but Bright has been nothing but a charming and wonderful creature to have around. Please treat him well."

The stallion huffed softly, an equine snort. "Enough. We have business." All the vampires present looked far more serious suddenly. "Lights."

Rarity inclined her head. "Lights?"

"Lights." That vampire lord of a stallion leaned forward. "It was bad enough when they were a city problem." Some vampires sighed, perhaps familiar with that issue. "But they're spreading. Quickly, by our measures. Within a century or two, even the most backwards country ponies will have them. Night, as we know it, will be abolished."

Rarity inclined her head. "Darling, dear... You're being a bit hasty, aren't you? Electricity has scarcely spread. What makes you think it'll--"

The stallion held up a hoof for quiet. "Lady Posh." A name agreed upon for Rarity in that parts, it seemed. "You are barely a mewling infant among us." That got her to scowl. "When you become this old, you begin to think in centuries, millenia... For some of us, it seemed yesterday that Celestia banished her sister away. The coming of the light? Far faster... We must begin action now, not later."

Bright felt Rarity tense against him as the other vampires rumbled in solemn agreement. These electric lights did sound concerning if one preferred to operate under cover of darkness. But were measures as extreme as this coven seemed to desire truly wise?

He raised a tentative paw, clearing his throat. "Hey uh, I know I'm pretty new to all...this." He gestured around the ornate salon. "But maybe we're getting a teeny bit ahead of ourselves about some lights?"

The stallion fixed Bright with an imperious glare. "You overstep yourself offering opinions to your betters, familiar..."

But Rarity stepped forward, wings flaring. "Dear Bright merely voices what I myself worry - that we might act rashly without fully assessing the situation." Her ice-blue eyes swept the gathering. "What proof have we beyond base fears that these lights shall drive us into extinction?"

The assembly shuffled and glanced between themselves uncertainly. Their misgivings were clearly deeply rooted, but evidence seemed lacking still...

At last the grand stallion sighed. "Very well. We shall discuss more before deciding anything firmly." He lifted a hoof as conversations immediately revved up. "But a delegation must travel to Manehattan to observe conditions personally. Volunteers?"

Rarity stepped forward without hesitation, as did several others. If trouble was brewing, hiding in Ponyville wouldn't help. And she preferred knowing exactly what they faced over whisperings and panic...

She turned to Bright questioningly. Would her dear familiar join her on this vital mission?

Bright nudged her. "As if you even have to ask, really Rares!" He hugged her, quickly returned as they embraced in shared fondness.

The lord vampire snorted darkly. "You are very close to your familiar... Most use blood oaths and threat of violence... Yours would kiss your hooves if it'd make you smile, from the look of them. You found a sycophant and turned them to your ends." He smiled, bright fangs displayed. "Perhaps this will turn to your ends, or be your unmaking. I look forward to seeing it unfurl in either direction."

He looked to the others. "The mission is given. This meeting is concluded, to be re-adjourned when we have their reports at hoof for review."

Author's Note

Did you think Rarity a one time event? 16/29

Join the special community of folks who like my stories and/or get your own here at atreon!

Don't want to do an ongoing thing? You could

Join my discord to chat!