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.

Author's Notes:

Oh my, this one was tricky. I forgot that I had changed so much of this story over time, yet I wanted to post one chapter a day at least, leading up to Halloween. My apologies for being late.