Author's Notes:

I apologize for the chapter my faithful readers. It didn't download correctly. Sorry :(

Dracula never counted on his emotions getting the best of him. For a thousand years he lived alone in the Everfree forest, but from the short time he has known Twilight and Rarity they have felt like real friends to him. And seeing the sight of Rarity, in the state that she was in did not make him feel right.

Dracula walked the streets of the strange town with a heavy heart and a lowered head. Rain began to fall and on the horizon over the rooftops he saw sunlight try to break through storm clouds. He looked up and closed his eyes, he took in a deep breath as he felt the rain fall. Breathing out he began to sing to himself.

“Wrap me in a bolt of lightning
Send me on my way still smiling
Maybe that's the way I should go,
Straight into the mouth of the unknown
I left the spare key on the table
Never really thought I'd be able to say
I merely visit on the weekends
I lost my whole life and a dear friend

I've said it so many times
I would change my ways
No, nevermind
God knows I've tried

Call me a sinner, call me a saint
Tell me it's over I'll still love you the same
Call me your favorite, call me the worst
Tell me it's over I don't want you to hurt
It's all that I can say. So, I'll be on my way

I finally put it all together,
But nothing really lasts forever
I had to make a choice that was not mine,
I had to say goodbye for the last time
I kept my whole life in suitcase,
Never really stayed in one place
Maybe that's the way it should be,
You know I lived my life like a gypsy

I've said it so many times
I would change my ways
No, nevermind
God knows I've tried

Call me a sinner, call me a saint
Tell me it's over I'll still love you the same
Call me your favorite, call me the worst
Tell me it's over I don't want you to hurt
It's all that I can say. So, I'll be on my way

I'll always keep you inside, you healed my
Heart and my life... And you know I tried.


Call me a sinner, call me a saint
Tell me it's over I'll still love you the same
Call me your favorite, call me the worst
Tell me it's over I don't want you to hurt
It's all that I can say. So, I'll be on my way
So, I'll be on my way
So, I'll be on my way.”

As he sang he walked the streets of the barren town and finally looking at his own reflection in a puddle he began to realize. One of them had feelings for him, he just did not know which one.

Twilight walked in the streets and heard the singing voice of somepony. She peered around a corner and saw that the one singing was Dracula. His voice now made her love for him unconditional. Normally she would not stare at a pony like she was but she could not explain it. She saw figures approach him and she decided to watch and not intervene.

Dracula lifted his head as he saw ponies come into view. Before they got close enough to see his face he lifted up his hood. There was at least ten of them, nothing Dracula could not handle. They all were Vampires, these had the power he remembered from the Children of the Night. They circled him and one said,”Who do you think he is?”

Another responded,”He has the same look as Dracula. Maybe he is Dracula…”
“Dracula died long ago,”The largest one said,”This can’t be Dracula.”

Dracula smiled and looked at all of them. They all had his bright red eyes and shadow coming off of them. From what he could tell Dracula believes Chrysalis has taken over their minds. These were not Changelings, Dracula said in his accented voice,”Finally. A worthy challenge. But may I just say.”Dracula pulled back his hood and activated his magic, swirling around his horn. Red energy furiously swirled around him. His eyes glowed bright red and a sword materialised. It looked to have frost roll off of it. Dracula continued,”I am sorry it had to be like this.”

Then the fight was joined and two Vampires rushed at Dracula. One he blasted with magic and he reeled but continued to charge. One tried to impale him with their horn, but Dracula parried it with his sword and stabbed his sword in the Vampire’s chest. The red energy in The Vampire’s eyes dissipated and he fell lifeless on the ground, blood slowly pouring out of his chest.

The other he cut diagonally across the chest and it fell to the ground in defeat. Dracula continued to hold his sword with his magic. Two brothers killed. Before he could continue he felt the ground shake and rattle. Dracula and Twilight turned to see Princess Luna land on the ground. Using her royal canterlot voice she said,”NO MORE BLOOD SHALL BE SPILLED UPON THIS HALLOWED GROUND!!! LISTEN DRACULA AND LISTEN MY OTHER CHILDREN!!!”

Calming down she breathed in a heavy breathe. And her next words caught the ear of thousands within the settlement,

“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.”

The eyes of the Children of the Night dissipated and Luna took a deep breath and collapsed. Dracula rushed to his mother’s side and said,”Mother! Are you okay?”

Luna blinked her eyes and said,”Yes, I just haven’t sang that song for while. With results I mean. Their connection has returned to me and their minds are clear. I just need to rest.”

Luna slowly closed her eyes and Dracula stared at her face. Over a thousand years he has not seen his dear mother and the Living Shadow wants him to kill her. Dracula looked up and said,”Don’t just stand there. Help me find some shelter for our mother.”

Two ponies rushed to Luna. One a mare and the other a colt, they carried Princess Luna on their back. Six remained and two stepped forward and Dracula recognized them, they were Heartfire and Blazer. Two twins with dark orange coats and matching red and yellow manes, their special talent spoke for themselves. For as long as they are next to each other they can summon fire, whether its fireballs or igniting their manes they could do it.

Heartfire stepped forward, a mare. She then ran towards him and hugged him, she said,”It is so good to see you Dracula.”

Dracula smiled and said,”It’s been too long Heartfire.”

“I thought you died.”Blazer said stepping closer to them. Dracula quit hugging Heartfire and said,”So did I.”

“Who is the one hiding behind the corner?” Blazer said pointing his hoof towards Twilight. Dracula turned and said,”Come on, they are fine.”

Twilight came out and walked next to Dracula and he said,”Blazer. Heartfire. This is Twilight Sparkle one of the Chosen.”

Heartfire’s eyes grew wide and hugged Twilight saying rocking back and forth,”Oh thank you so much. I have been waiting to go back home.”

Blazer looked around and said,”Where is the second?”

Dracula turned his head and saw a bright white unicorn walk down the ramp and walk next to Twilight. And Dracula said,”This is Rarity. The other Chosen.”

Heartfire gave a strange look at Rarity and looked back at Dracula and said,”You do know that…”

“Yes, I know. That will be a complication that shall be fixed in time. Right now we have to find the Harvest Well.” Dracula said unmoved by the comment. He was well aware what he had to do.

Blazer rubbed his chin one of his hooves and said,”The Harvest Well… we just came back from there. Back from spreading the keys all over.”

“Keys?” Rarity asked raising her eyebrow. Heartfire answered,”The keys to opening the Harvest Well back open. We can’t give you anymore information than that because the rest is hazy.”

Dracula walked a ways past Heartfire and Blazer saying,”Why is Chrysalis finally using the Children of the Night now?”

Heartfire answered again,”Because when Mother was banished to the moon, we all just shut down. But how come you didn’t shut down.”

Dracula looked away from Heartfire and Blazer and looked over at Rarity and Twilight. They made no expression or movement, they did not need to. Their eyes said it all. He then peered over at the setting moon and said,”I do not know. But it appears I as well have a part to play in this. Heartfire, can you remember where you hid these keys.”

Twilight’s eyes got brightened and shifted through her bag and pulled out a dark red key that glistened softly in the setting moonlight. She said,”You mean a key like this.”

They all looked at the key and Blazer said,”Yeah where did you find it?”
“Over back at the Castle of the Two Sisters.”Twilight said. She looked over at Dracula and then finally back at Heartfire and said,”How many keys are there?”

“I can’t recall the exact number of keys,”Exclaimed Heartfire,”But maybe we can find out by going to the well.”

Dracula turned his back from the conversation. He heard a voice in his mind say,
Turn back my son. This Harvest Well will give you nothing but grief and sorrow. Accept my help and we can rule the Night together. As father and son.

No. Your corruption will not find its way into this world. I will get to the Harvest Well. And you can bet on it that I will kill you.

Dracula closed his eyes and gazed at the rising sun. He could slightly feel in his veins the power being drained out of him. He said,”Despair has its own calms.”

He then got up and went inside the building that was having Princess Luna reside in. Silver Star Inn.

“Come on Spike, you’re slowing me down.”Rainbow Dash said hovering over Spike as he breathed heavily. Spike was not one for keeping up as far as walking 20 miles in one night. Spike stopped and said in between breaths.”Can’t we just stop and take a break for a moment?”

Rainbow Dash rolls her eyes and lands and says,”Fine but only for a couple minutes.”

They stopped and set up a simple campfire. Spike shivered, he nudged himself closer to the flame. After a few minutes of awkward silence Spike asked,”Have you ever kept a secret from one of your best friends?”

Rainbow responded,”Yes of course I have. Spike, there things in this world that you can’t tell anypony. You don’t have to tell your friends everything. Does this have something to do with you and Twilight?”

Spike nodded his head and said,”Its just that there hasn’t been anything she hasn’t told me. Why would she keep this a secret?”

“You’re forgetting that they’re keeping a secret from me too right. Lets stop worrying about it, okay?”

Spike drew out a heavy sigh and nodded his head. Spiked quietly listened to the sounds of the night. The warmth of the fire was comforting to Spike. But he heard a noise that jerked him to pay attention. Spike said in alarm,”Did you hear that?”

They both were silent and tried to listen. Rainbow then said,”It’s just the night Spike…”

She was going to say something else but was cut off as they heard something like an animal snarling. Spike then got wide eyed as he saw a horrifying sight. A pair of red eyes as they stared right into his soul. Behind Rainbow Dash’s head. Spike said in great fear,”Don’t move Rainbow.”

Rainbow Dash put on a look of concern as she slowly turned around. She saw the pair of red eyes then the beast came into view. It was a humanoid wolf thing with teeth as sharp as daggers and claws that could cut steel. The thing roared in Rainbow’s face and he went to attack Rainbow but faster than she ever moved before she swept up Spike and dashed through the night. But she felt a stinging sensation in her right haunch.

As Rainbow flew with Spike on her back Spike said,”By Celestia’s mane what was that!!!”

Rainbow shook her head and said,”I don’t know and I don’t want to go back and investigate.”

She flew on for hours and just before sunlight broke through the sky her eyes grew heavy and her right haunch began to tingle and her last memories were her hearing Spike screaming and them falling to the ground.

Emerald continued on and Princess Celestia followed him. Twenty other guards followed them as they walked through the dark halls of their only exit. He did not know for sure but he suspected that it was early in the morning. As they walked through the darkened halls he said,”Where do you think Princess Luna has wandered off to?”

Princess Celestia stopped and said,”I truly don’t know Emerald. But my only hope is that she is finding out a way to stop Chrysalis.”

Princess Celestia bore the look of concern and Emerald could not imagine how she feels right now. She might have lost her sister or worse. But he stopped thinking of such things. They all crept into the darkness, hoping that nothing would come and surprise them. But Emerald heard a noise like the sound of music. Emerald motioned for the guard to stop and nodded at Princess Celestia to follow him. They silently crept through a small opening and saw candle light within the stone corridor. They peeked around the corner to see what the noise was. It was classical music, and saw a giant colt.

It looked to be made of many different parts of different ponies sewn together. It then spoke and said,”No...father made me like this. He will seek me out soon. He will return to me. And I shall return unto him.”

Emerald and Celestia silently stepped into the room. And they suddenly stopped when they heard the pony say.”I can hear you creeping in the shadows. Silently walking by, hoping not to be noticed. Thinking that because of my abnormal size that I am too dumb to hear you creep in the shadows.”

The artist being played was Marezart, his most famous piece in fact. Princess Celestia was the first to answer stepping into the light,”We did not want to…”

“It matters not what you wanted to do. It did not happen. Your plans were foiled because of your profiling. The shadows are not thous friend, only to the Children of the Night. My former brethren. But now no more than a distant memory, one that I want to forget. To forget all the pain and sorrow as they stood and was horrified at me. The only one who truly loved me was father, but he abandoned me as well. What hope is there left for me?”

Emerald and Celestia looked at each other in amazement. They did not expect this giant to form real sentences and speak the old Equestrian way. It took them a moment to process everything then Princess Celestia said in shock,”Wait...Children of the Night? What are they?”

The pony sat up from his fancy chair and stood up. He was twice Celestia’s size and his face was the only part of him that wasn’t made of multiple parts. Just one smooth elegant face, a little scruffy and rough but looked over all charming. It looked like a giant Earth Pony, again from multiple parts. The pony said,”Before I explain I would like to introduce myself to you, for you both are the first ones that have not ran in fear within five seconds of knowing me. I have no official name but my father called me Subject Z. How do you do?

“Now onto explaining what the Children of the Night are. They are made from pure darkness. Every dark and evil legend you know of. Vampires, Werewolves, and Phantoms are what they are. Reigning over the night and doing as they please. They are however civilized and regal. Their ruler bears the dark name of Dracula, the most powerful of the Children of the Night. Right hand to their creator herself. And their creator is none other than the fair and beautiful Princess Luna.”
“Luna...Luna made them?”Celestia said in amazement. Emerald could tell it was not from excitement. Before Celestia blew a fuse Emerald said,”Lets not make a scene about this right now…”

“I have every right to blow a fuse! My own sister went behind my back, after I explicitly forbade her!”Celestia paced back and forth trying to calm herself down and Subject Z said,”While you have every right to be mad you should not.”

“Oh, and why not?”

“Because the Children of the Night will be your only hope if you wish to stop Chrysalis. These dark creatures can only be stopped by other more dark creatures. You heard the casualties, 1500 as compared to the 30,000 that resided in Canterlot. They are your only hope against the Changelings.”

Celestia was even more amazed than before. And though she hated to admit it, he was right. Subject Z turned towards Emerald and said,”You look vaguely familiar...I can’t put my hoof on it.”

Emerald felt uncomfortable and said,”Well I have never seen you before.”

“Do not fear green one,”Subject said dropping his hoof back down,”I will think of it soon. And if you wish to get out of these caves the normal way you will find a dead end. There was a cave in recently blocking the path. But I know of another way out.”

“Where might that be?”Emerald said raising an eyebrow. The room was of regular size and cluttered with books. Torches hung on the walls and Subject led them to one of the torches that was hanging on the wall. He examined it and finally with all of his strength punched the wall with his hooves. A large hole was revealed and he said,”This was an old tunnel that ran from Chrysalis’ old hive to here. Her first invasion plan, I however held them at bay and recovered the hole in stone. This can not only get you closer to the Children of the Night but also a way back into the castle if you ever decide to return.”

Princess Celestia said,”Thank you for your help kind sir. Emerald! Go to the guards and gather the rest. I will wait for them to come.”

Emerald nodded and rushed out of the room. Celestia looked back at Subject and said,”You have been too kind to us. And the only way to fully repay you is to reunite you with your father.”

Subject Z said,”No, everything I do is because I want to help. Despite all my flaws I think of it as a strength. I need no reward Princess.”

Princess Celestia looked down the tunnel and sensed a magic beyond the darkness. And she said,”What is that magic I sense beyond the darkness?”

Subject said,”Those are weapons that belonged to the Children of the Night. Blades of Shadow they were once called, legend says that with them you can bend the night and its shadows to your will. But nopony has ever grasped a blade and lived to control its secrets.”

Celestia then began to think and says,”I am going to scout these tunnels and find those blades. Tell Emerald where I went.”

Subject was about to object but she made her decision and Subject said,”Wind’s speed Princess.”

Celestia’s form disappeared in the darkness and Subject said to himself,”Light guide you and shine the way for you.”