Applejack whistled as she gawked at the colorful windows and art pieces that filled Canterlot Castle. "Always blows me away, every time!"

"This way, darling." Rarity was leading the way to their office, willing a door open ahead of them. "This is where we do our work."

"Can't wait ta see it!" Applejack mosied on through just to stop at the door frame. "What the?" She craned her head left and right slowly. "This... ain't the same."

Bright scurried under Applejack into the room, hopping and landing facing her. "What? Everything looks where we left it. All good!"

"All... good." Applejack hiked a brow at Rarity. "Sugarcube, ah expect more outta ya."

Rarity colored, fanning herself. "Whatever do you mean?!"

Applejack waved broadly. "Let's start with it bein' dark in here!" She coiled around and stormed out into the hallway.

Bright laughed nervously. "Is it that dark? I really didn't notice."

Sweetie rolled her eyes at Bright. "It is 'dim'. I suppose creatures of the night may find that harder to notice."

Rarity pawed at the ground. "I... see. Where is Applejack off to, the dear? I should hope that wasn't enough to quit already."

"Ain't quittin'." Applejack entered with a collection of lanterns dangling from her jaws, casting bright light across the room. "Give a hoof gettin' these hung up, would ya?."

"Oh but of course!" Rarity sprang into decorating action, levitating lanterns from Applejack's mouth to hang artistically across gloomy walls while giving helpful critiques. "Hmm, perhaps over there to accentuate that tapestry...Ooo yes, lovely ambiance highlighting Luna's portrait!"

Sweetie Drops winced from deeper shadows as illumination encroached. "Is increased visibility truly necessary? Most missions dispatch after dusk, regardless. And keeping light levels low safeguards sensitive documents against exposure..."

Her weak protests went unheeded though as Applejack and Rarity busily transformed dreary quarters into downright homey space. Soon warm lantern-glow suffused the entire area with cozy luminescence the humble farm pony nodded approvingly over.

"There now, ain't that more hospitable-like?" Applejack surveyed their brightly transformed base with satisfied smile. "A little elbow grease n' lantern oil goes a long way makin' any space fit fer company!"

She noted scrunched Sweetie squinting painfully. "Oops, 'scuse me there..." AJ trotted over and plopped her hat atop the wincing mare, shading sensitive eyes. "I'll rustle up some dark lenses fer ya sharpshooter. But fer now, my trusty Stetson oughta help ya see, heh!"

Sweetie blinked gratefully up at the considerate farm mare above her makeshift visor. "That's...very thoughtful, Applejack. Thank you." She coughed diffidently. "And I suppose increased morale merits moderately increased visibility risks..."

"Atta girl!" Applejack slapped Sweetie's back, eliciting uncharacteristic giggle from the normally stoic agent. "Team'll work better feelin' better t'gether!" She nodded firmly over their now brightly welcoming workspace. "Mark my words, big diff'rence havin' a little light on things!"

Bright elbowed Sweetie. "You work with us night creatures so long you just like it better in the dark now?"

Sweetie swatted back at Bright with a hoof. "You became one only recently, and you're lecturing me?"

"I'm not the one complaining." Bright hopped to Rarity's side. "Don't see us vampony and vampony-adjacents doing that."

Rarity fanned herself as she was brought into that conversation. "Vampony eyes seem very flexible. Consider the ancient, feral ways about it." She chortled, thinking on the myths. "Creature of the night, stalking in purest of dark, but they stalked homes. What happens if the pony they're creeping upon lights a torch or shines a lantern on them suddenly? Are we to assume the vampony is suddenly blinded?"

Applejack tilted her hat back, considering Rarity's historical analysis on vampony visual flexibility. "Huh, never reckoned those scary stories 'bout nightstalkin' bloodsuckers from lurid legends and such - " She nodded politely towards prim Rarity, "- uh, present company excluded a'course!"

AJ laughed, rubbing the back of her neck self-consciously. "Aw shoot, pardon my rude country bluntness. Yer one sophist-icated and sweet-fang'd lady so them tales certainly don't apply!" Her green eyes glinted with curiosity not criticism. "Gotta wonder though iffen those old mares' tales had even a drop o' truth?"

She turned towards stately Luna entering, likewise wincing subtly adjusting to lantern-lit headquarters bearing scant resemblance to the discreetly dim ambiance left. "Evenin' yer highness! We were just debatin' whether vamponies can see inna dark as well as you alicorns. So whaddya reckon - fact or fiction?"

Luna blinked pensively, sweeping the brightly lit space with midnight gaze before settling upon shadowy Sweetie sighing resignedly beneath wide hat brim. "Mine friends, radiance crafts visibility yet obscures insight in equal measure..."

Her horn glimmered gently removing Applejack's gifted stetson. "Does this deeper dimness now better suit our shrouded sister, brave Applejack? Vision borne not solely through vulgar eyes sees truer treasures left overlooked in light overabundant." Luna smiled softly towards unshadowed Sweetie Drops. "Is it not so, loyal guardian?"

Sweetie peered up hesitantly then broke into relieved grin feeling welcome gloom restored as Luna worked magic of the night that worked like a fine pair of sunglasses. "Far better, Your Highness! Forgive my ingratitude earlier..." She turned to Applejack earnestly. "I truly appreciate you ensuring we feel... included and, well, part of the home team."

Applejack blushed beet red at such earnest praise from normally stoic Sweetie and enigmatic Luna alike. She scuffed a hoof self-consciously, unaccustomed to alphorns applauding her efforts however humble. "Aw shucks, t'weren't nothin' much...jus' wanted the place feelin' friendly as the farm fer everypony is all."

Bright leaned forward with a smile towards their newest member. "Well, we got the lights. Ta da!" He threw his arms out to either side. "The base. Now that you can see it properly, check it out!"

"Checkin'..." She turned slowly in place, considering. "A bit... messy." She reached for a stack of papers, hesitating when it looked ready to fall over with so much as a tap. "Bright or not, what's yer excuse?"

Sweetie darkened rapidly. "I accept blame for that." She hopped to her feet with a clop. "Keeping the documents in order should be my responsibility." Without another word on the topic, she got to work cleaning up.

Applejack huffed. "Makes sense. If the one in charge ain't got night eyes, and ya kept it dark in here..." She rolled a hoof. "Follows she might miss somethin', even if she gets used to it."

Luna settled in her chair. "It would seem recruiting you is having small side benefits, Applejack. Rarity, Bright, can you assist Sweetie Drops with organizing?"

Rarity saluted fancifully. "Of course, darling." She slid down to her hooves and trotted over, horn glowing as she picked through the papers and began floating them towards a filing cabinet, humming a little song along the way.

Bright leaned back in his chair. "They got this handled. I'd just get in the way."

Applejack snorted at that. "Well, 'least yer honest about it." She cocked a brow, spotting Bright reaching for his earring. "Who ya callin'? We're all here."

"Not everyone." He whistled innocently, just to perk up. "Did you know your cart's extended warranty is running out?"

"It is?!" gasped Pinkie on the other end of the line. "Oh no! What do I--"

Bright hung up on her. "First prank call of Equestria, completed."

Luna raised a brow. "Was that Pinkie? That was most unkind of you, Agent Bright. These are for vital communications only."

"And you gave one to Pinkie?" Bright smirked at the very idea. "Strange idea of 'vital' there. She's not even part of the team."

Applejack swatted Bright with her regained hat. "That ain't neighborly, ya long-eared trickster."

"Guilty as charged." He hopped up onto the back of his chair, threatening to topple it. "Oh, Rares, I had a question for you."

"Hm?" Rarity looked over from where she was reclaiming a clean spot on the table. "What is it, darling?"

Bright grinned with a clap. "Show me how to do vampire magic! I'm part vampire, right? Show me, sensei."

Rarity blinked pensively. "Well 'vampire magic' proves a misnomer actually dear... Our talents manifest from the same arcane forces fueling any caster's spells." She waved towards regal Luna nearby. "Her Highness wields the innate gift where only study lends sophistication to my modest mystic mastery."

Rarity smiled indulgently, beckoning eager Bright. "But your unique condition may unlock latent talents! Let us explore your awakening powers, my captivating champion!"

Blue aura enfolded red as mentor and protégé communed magically. "Relax and focus inward for your inner magical spark..." Rarity skillfully soothed Bright's scattering thoughts until subtle supernormal energies stirred.

"There, you feel it?" She murmured encouragingly. "Gently coax it outward through will!" Their frames shone as mystic patterns swirled patiently produced by Rarity until suddenly separate scarlet sigils manifested - crude but conjured by unfamiliar foxy force!

Rarity squealed delightedly. "Marvelous first manifestation! With practice, magic becomes second nature." She floated celebratory cider from her pocket. "To tapping your emerging talents alongside Equestria's most exceptional!"

As glasses clinked, Luna lifted her gaze approvingly. "Another worthy wizard walks among us, Sir Bright! Here adventures spawned on midnight wings - foretelling future feats fusing myth and magic to wonders beautiful birthing under starlit skies!"

Applejack shook her head. "Don't mean to be rainin' on no parades or nothin', but ah don't think that qualifies fer 'wizard' just yet."

Sweetie snorted. "They're just being happy he managed anything. Let them have their celebration."

"Hey." Bright glared at Sweetie before raising his chin. "I'm going to be an awesome vampire, or at least a familiar of a vampire. Oh!" He hopped up on Rarity, a privilege only he had without permission. "What can you do? I bet I could copy some of that."

Rarity tapped at her chin. "Well, do you remember what I was trying to do, a few assignments back? To become a bat, or a night-stalking wolf, yes, those are both very vampiric talents." She clopped her hooves. "I don't know if a familiar can also do them, but it shouldn't hurt to try, dear."

Rarity turned consideringly towards Bright. "I suppose the simplest first step would be emulating my innate transformative talents, presuming a familiar shares their vampire’s more...esoteric abilities."

She gestured expansively, gem horn glinting. "As you know I can manifest eldritch essence as wolven or chiropteran aspects. The deepest magics tap archetypal energies woven through reality’s fabric." Rarity winked playfully. "Or perhaps merely legends leave literal prints thus!"

Pacing around eager Bright she continued lecturing. "The vital vortex anchors one’s sense of 'self' beyond transient frames - to touch its depths allows...renegotiating corporeal contracts shall we say?" Her horn flashed as leathery wings unfurled emphasizing metamorphic mystique.

"There - now focus your identity’s locus through our link! Feel bat-bones wishing to awaken within while keeping firmest focus on fundamental 'Brightness' lest selves scatter improperly." She smiled reassuringly. "I shall guide the process - trust thy Rarity to avoid unprettily permanent predicaments!"

She leaned closer, voice dropping intimately. "Imagine then mine own heartbeat echoing within thy breast Bright...what flitters just beyond familiar fur that shares my sanguine symphony's singing summons?" Her magic cradled him comfortingly seeking secrets slumbering inside. "I am here darling, always here..." shimmering sigils swirled as mentor and apprentice embraced empathic communion kindling untold wonders!

"Your heart." He put both hands to his own. "Yeah. That feels more important." He closed his eyes, tail swaying faster and faster behind him. "I can feel that. Just reach out..." With a great explosion of smoke, Bright was gone. A rabbit with especially long fangs landed where he had been. The new critter squeaked in... surprise?

Rarity pinned her ears back. "Oh dear..."

Applejack burst into laughter. "Wow... Jus' wow..." She patted the new rabbit. "Look at you, cute as a button." That got a glare, not that this stopped her in her petting of the transformed Bright. "Were ya aimin' fer a bat, or a wolf? Shoot, either way, ya missed..."

The Bright Bunny bounced away from Applejack to the protection of their mistress.

Rarity brought a wing down over him. "We all make mistakes, dear. This will take some practice..."

Author's Note

Mistakes may have been made. Let's just move on. 28/29 The lovely patron demanded I take x-mas eve, xmas, and new year's year off, at least for this story.

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