"The oldest and strongest human emotion is fear. And the oldest and strongest fear is, fear of the unknown.” H.P Lovecraft.

It was midnight, and Twilight all but slept peacefully and quietly in her bed. It had been heavily raining during the night, drawing forth dark emotions none should bear on themselves. Twilight dreamt of horrid things, dark beings of pure shadow with blood dripping down their gaping muzzles. Creations not meant for the pony psyche, let alone the dreamscape of one such as herself.

Twilight tossed and turned, trying with all her might to banish the evil creatures from her mind. They had uttered no sound and made no breaths. As if to add insult to injury there was a soft voice repeating the lines of a dark poem in her mind. Finally her fidgeting and rustling came to a stop as she shot up with a sharp gasp. She looked around her room and saw nothing but darkness and the shadows that were cast from the droplets slowly falling down her window. She controlled her breathing as she got out of her bed. She stared up at the shining and beautiful full moon that covered the sky. Staring long into the moon, she could remember Luna silently singing in her dream.

Follow sweet children I’ll show thee the way. Through all the pain and the sorrows

Twilight hoped to find some hidden answer behind the lines that repeated in her mind but came up with nothing. Why had she received this dream? What did it mean?. She elicited a sigh of disappointment as she turned her head away from the moon, and looked towards Spike who was sound asleep in his little bed on the floor. A brief smile spread across Twilight’s face as she watched the purple dragon sleep.

She drew in a deep breath as she lit a candle with her magic. As the small flame came to life she hovered it close to herself, hoping to expel any unseen shadows that would dare harm her. She quietly found her way downstairs, the only sound to be heard was the quiet clopping of her hooves. She carefully placed the candle on the top of the bookshelf. She glanced over the titles of many books. 'High Seas: Reference Guide to the Waters of Equestria', 'Myths and Legends of Equestria', 'The Arcanic Shift: What is it?'. Twilight found many more titles like those, many far fetched titles that Twilight would not catch herself reading at all. She enjoyed books that were written about something practical, however she did always enjoy a good book by Rick Riordan. That pony could write a good book. She slowly shook her head and focused back on finding what she needed for answers.

Finally she had found the book she was looking for and all it said about children of the night was a poem that read,

Come little children I’ll take thee away,

Into a land of enchantment,

Come little children the time’s come to play,

Here in my garden of shadows.

Follow sweet children I’ll show thee the way,

Through all the pain and the sorrows,

Weep not poor children for life is this way,

Murdering beauty and passions.

Hush now dear children it must be this way,

To weary of life and deceptions.

Rest now my children for soon we’ll away,

Into the calm and the quiet.

Come little children I’ll take thee away,

Into a land of enchantment,

Come little children the time’s come to play,

Here in my garden of shadows.

Reading the dark words on the page sent a shiver through her spine. But as she read on Twilight found out that the Children of the Night apparently were ponies that instead of worshiping Celestia, Goddess of the Sun. Worshiped Luna, Goddess of Moon. That was all that was written in the book, the poem and then that. Nothing more.

Twilight felt wrong to read this and uncomfortable to think about it. The words of the poem repeated in her head. Over and over again. All of a sudden she heard the hoof steps in a hallway nearby.

Twilight’s heart raced as she called out into the night, "Who...who goes there?”

As if expecting an answer she stood waiting for a reply. Nothing but the sound of rain against wood. But Twilight walked in the direction of the hoof steps. Holding onto the candle with her magic she crept through the shadows. Moving past the stairs and to a hallway that extended straight into the kitchen and two adjoining rooms. Twilight looked around the corner and saw nothing beyond the field of vision that was given to her by the candle.

Twilight heard the hoof steps again but it was much louder. It sounded like it came from one of the rooms in the hallway. She looked into the room and saw nothing but a single mirror. A mirror that was not there before. She walked over to it and looked at her reflection. A purple mare unicorn with a messy mane and tired eyes. Her coat was rough and course.

After minutes of staring at herself she was about to walk away when her shape in the mirror changed. It swirled into the form of Princess Luna. She wanted to scream but she could not because fear had gripped her vocal chords and she could not move or make a sound. The Princess stared into her soul and said in her mind,

“Twilight Sparkle, you must remember the poem. My Children will arise soon and with it a dark shadow to be cast upon this land. You must resist. But none can resist the lure of the dark."

The Princess’ face smirked and dark mist began to envelop Twilight and she could not move or speak. The mist fully engulfed her and her vision blackened and she heard Luna say, "Here in my garden of shadows.”

“Geez Twilight if you didn’t like my stories you should have said so.” Rarity said as she worked in her boutique. Twilight awoke and she was panting again. She thought to herself.
Okay this has to be reality now

Rarity stopped to look over at Twilight and lowered her head to look past her glasses. Her face said it all, she was troubled by something. Rarity said, "Do you have something on your mind darling? While you slept you mumbled to yourself and shifted most often.”

Twilight thought for a moment, she thought to herself if Rarity deserved to know. Well, she was a unicorn and its because of that, that she somewhat deserves to know. She hasn’t seen Pinkie, Fluttershy, or Applejack in a while so she might be the only one to tell. Well, Rainbow Dash was around but she can be a little judgmental. So, Rarity might be the only one who understands.

Twilight sighed heavily and explained, "For the past week and a half I have been receiving vicious nightmares that has plagued me for all hours during the day…”

“You too?” Rarity said stopping what she was doing and looked at Twilight wide eyed.

Twilight returned the expression and said, "You mean...you have heard this, Weep not poor children for life is this way, To weary of life and deceptions?”

Rarity’s eyes got even wider and Twilight continued, "Well then, did you have one last night? One where you saw yourself get out of bed walk downstairs and stare into a mirror. Only to see Luna stare back at you and envelop you in black smoke hearing her say Here in my garden of shadows.”

Rarity walked over and sat next to Twilight, and tried not look at her in the eyes. Rarity said warily, "I’ve barely had time to finish some of my latest designs because of these nightmares. And yes, I had one last night exactly like that...What does this mean?”

She finally looked over at Twilight but seeing her downcast face was answer enough for her. All Twilight said was, "I don’t know Rarity. But we have to figure this out, one way or another.”

Rarity looks back down for a second then looks back up, like she took the time to think. Rarity finally says, "Maybe there is a book at the library that can help us here.”

“I don’t know Rarity…”

“Darling, it’s the only lead we have so far.” Rarity said putting her white hoof on Twilight’s shoulder. Twilight thought for a moment and then nodded her head and Rarity responded in an equable tone, "Don’t worry Twilight we’ll figure this out.”

Then they both heard the sound of hooves galloping past the boutique. Rarity walks to the door and opens it. Twilight says to Rarity, "What is it Rarity?”

“I don’t know,” Replied the white unicorn, "But there's only one way to find out. Come on.”

They both walked out into the town square and a crowd had gathered around something. Rarity and Twilight found a spot open and they were in the front where they could see what was going on. What everypony gathered around was a dark grey stallion. A unicorn to be more specific. His eyes were bright red and Rarity nudged Twilight and said, "Do you know who this is?”

“No, who is it?” Twilight said.

Rarity looks at her with an astonishing look and said, ”Sweetie, you really need to get out more. But that, is Basarab. The greatest traveling one stallion actor ever born. Hush he’s starting.”

Twilight looked back at this Basarab. He stopped for a moment and finally he said in a deep baritone voice, "Today, what you will see before you will not be a usual act I do. But today I will recite an old poem. All the way back to the founding of Equestria itself.”

He paused for another moment. Twilight never was a fan for this kind of thing. But the way that he said his words and how he carried himself around that just made her, enticed. She paid close attention to every move and every breath he made.

Finally continuing to recite in that deep voice,
”Come little children
I'll take thee away, into a land
of Enchantment. Come little children
the time's come to play
here in my garden
of Shadows. Follow sweet children
I'll show thee the way
through all the pain and
the Sorrows. Weep not poor children
for life is this way
murdering beauty and
Passions. Hush now dear children
it must be this way
to weary of life and
Deceptions. Rest now my children
for soon we'll away
into the calm and
the Quiet. Come little children
I'll take thee away, into a land
of Enchantment. Come little children
the time's come to play
here in my garden
of Shadows.”

As Basarab said these words mist began to form around them. As if he was summoning them at will. When he said the final words he held open his hooves and they all saw the shade of a crescent moon. When the mist cleared he had his head bowed. Everypony stomped, everypony except Twilight and Rarity.

Hearing the dark words come from him, he made it sound personal. Like, he knew exactly what he was saying with all of his heart. This was no mere coincidence that Basarab came to say the poem that day. Basarab slowly walked away and the crowd dispersed. Twilight and Rarity looked at each other and followed Basarab. The mist was so thick that they could barely look in front of them.

Chasing Basarab in the town square they lost him. The mist thickened so much that they could no longer see around them. Then they heard Basarab howling through wind,

“For I know what you two seek Twilight Sparkle and Rarity.”

Twilight tries to look around her but the mist was too thick she called out, "Rarity where are you?”

“I’m fine Twilight don’t worry about me. Where are you Basarab?”

The mist parted and revealed Basarab. His dark red scarlet eyes stared longingly into the very souls of Rarity and Twilight. He did not move, it didn’t even look like he was breathing. Basarab said, "You wish to know more of the Children of the Night. And of your recurring nightmares.”

“How do you know such things?” Rarity says stepping closer.

Basarab chuckled and replied, ”The minds of the Children of the Day are weak. Easy to read, and to manipulate.”

Twilight stared long into his red eyes and finally said, "What are you?”

Basarab smirked and answered, ”I am the answers to your prayers. Both of you. I came because my dear sweet Mother told me of your plight. It is sad really, nothing like this has happened in over a thousand years.”

Twilight was fear struck. She had a feeling that behind his soothing voice was the voice of treason and deception. Twilight was the only one to answer, "How do we know we can trust you?”

Basarab's devilish grin slowly dissipated and he said in a neutral tone, "Allow me to answer your question with another question, if you did not trust me then why did you seek me out in the first place?”

There was a long pause between the next spoken words and Twilight thought of Basarab’s words. He had a point, if she didn’t believe what he was saying she wouldn’t have come talk to him.

Rarity said, "You didn’t answer our question though.”

Basarab said in response, "Allow me to explain everything to you. Long ago when Celestia and Luna ruled Equestria and its inhabitants, there lived long everlasting peace. All seemed fine and no evil to speak of. Luna, Goddess of the Moon, knew that evil must always exist in Equestria. So, she decided that she will have her own worshippers. These would become known as the Children of the Night. But once she talked to Celestia about the idea she cast it aside and dropped the matter for all eternity. Broken by her sister's words she defied her sister and made the Children of the Night.

“And for years the Children of the Night lived in harmony with the Children of the Day. Non existent, but in harmony none the less. But not long after that a darkness swept over the land and fought its inhabitants. For years the Children of the Night kept the darkness at bay, but were ultimately defeated. The darkness did not want to wipe out the Children of the Night but merely twist them into something they weren’t. All of the creatures of the night Werewolves, Vampires, Phantoms and so on are these corrupted ponies. They did not want to be pure evil, that the darkness made them. When Princess Luna heard of this she was outraged, so much so that she blamed the Children of the Day and Princess Celestia for her children’s corruption.

“Thus Nightmare Moon was born and I’m pretty sure you know the rest. And now she flies through the night trying desperately to call her children with the poem, but every night it is no use.”

Twilight and Rarity couldn’t believe what they had heard. They thought Luna turned into Nightmare Moon on purpose out of spite for her sister. They couldn’t help but feel sorry for Luna, all she wanted were loyal ponies to follow her. But this still doesn’t explain the nightmares. Rarity said letting go of fear, "But how does this explain the nightmares?”

Basarab walked closer to them and motioned for them to stand in front of the statue of Celestia. He said lowering his head, "For Luna made a prophecy that one day two unicorns of the Children of the Day will receive nightmares and this will tell all the Children of the Night that they were to be trusted in helping rescue their land.”

Twilight rubs her chin with her hoof and says, "So, are you one of the Children of the Night?”

Basarab nodded his head and lowered it back down. He explained in a depressed tone, "I am the only Child of the Night that left at the first sign of an invasion. I tried to warn my people but they were determined that they could stop the invasion. I am the only uncorrupted Child of the Night. Luna does not know of my existence. I changed my name and travelled through Equestria for over one thousand years looking for the two unicorns.”

Rarity being the element of generosity comforted Basarab. She rested her hoof on his shoulders and said, "I am so sorry. I can’t even begin to think about how hard it must be for you.”

Basarab rubbed her hoof off and said, "I didn’t come here for your sympathy. I came here to gather you two to help me retake my home.”