Dracula sat next to his mother and waited for her to awake. Early in the morning he sat in a chair. Dracula had not blown out the torches just yet. The entire room gave a dark but welcoming sort of look. Dracula looked at his mother’s calm and beautiful face. He rested his head on his hoof as his mind began to wander.

He then heard the door to the room open and entering was Twilight Sparkle. As she entered she said,”You left before we could go over what we would do next.”

Dracula made no response and his gaze followed her as she sat down across the room. Dracula slumped in his chair and said,”I apologize Twilight… I wish I could tell you about what I’m going through right now.”

Twilight shifted into a comfortable position in her chair and said,”Why can’t you?”

Dracula managed to smile and said,”You’re a good friend Twilight. Okay, since you want to know I have to start way back in the day. Do you know of the Alicorns?”

“Not much,”Twilight responded,”The books on Alicorns are very limited and not many in the Canterlot Library. And only a handful in the Golden Oak library. The Alicorns were powerful ponies that reigned over the rest of Equestria before Princess Celestia and Princess Luna destroyed them.”

Dracula shook his head and sat up saying,”I am sorry to say but you are wrong. The Princess’ didn’t want anypony else to know this information. But Luna told us Children of the Night this story because of one of our roles in the prophecy.

“Long ago there was an Alicorn by the name of Midnight Shadow. But most called him the Living Shadow. He was taken in charge of the night and its splendours. But he realized the errors in the ways of the Alicorns. And so he betrayed his brethren, slaughtering them to the last foal. After he killed the last of his own kind he sought out Ponyville, all the way there he expected to be praised. This was not what he saw.

“They cursed his name and called him a murderer. They even threw rotten foods and spat on him. He then became resentful and embraced his dark gift and destroy everything. For years he made horrible creations and relentlessly attacked Ponyville. Eventually word was received in Canterlot and they send their most powerful unicorns to stop him, Celestia and Luna.

“The Castle of the Two Sisters was not theirs to begin with. It was the Living Shadow’s castle. They fought their way to the keep and had one final battle with the Living Shadow. Before they struck him down he released some of his energy and made an ancient artifact, the Alicorn Stone.

“Luna struck the final blow and had thought they had killed him. They took the stone and left the castle, hoping to never return. But the very next day they had ascended into Alicorns and thus their journey began.”

Twilight was intrigued and listened to every word. She was always interested in learning something new, especially if it had something to do with history. Dracula finished his story and walked up out of his chair and walked over to his mother. Dracula lowers his head and closes his eyes and says,”The reason I tell you this it is because I am the Living Shadow’s son. I am destined to be overtaken by him. Become a monster. He is the very reason why my special talent is what it is. When I use it I use his dark magic.”

Twilight walked out of her chair and walked over next to Dracula. Twilight rested her hoof on his and said in a tender and loving voice,”You will never become your father. This I can promise you because you are stronger than him and I have faith in you, as a good friend.”

Dracula opens his eyes and looks deep into hers. He sees on her face the look of beauty and brought calmness to him. He looked away and said,”I am not so sure about that Twilight.”

“Why is that?”Twilight said leaning in a little bit closer. Dracula still did not look at her and said,”Because Rarity is dying. And the only way to save her is terrible and I can only use it if there are no other options. Mother imbued Rarity with her own magic, only delaying the inevitable.”

“How is she dying?”Twilight was unmoved but was never the less sorry and concerned for Rarity. Dracula continued with a heavy sigh,

“She is dying because all those that see me use my special power and live, become cursed. They fear the very air I breath. The very ground I walk on. My very presence. Eventually it will get so bad that she will die. It is amazing that she is still alive.”

It finally sunk in. Twilight stepped away from Dracula and collapsed to the ground in tears. Crying on the floor. Dracula leans down and tries to comfort her. Dracula could do nothing else but hate himself, he was going to kill one of his only friends. He knew the only cure, but he could not do that. It would cause her to lose her Element of Harmony.

Minutes of Twilight crying go by and Dracula closes his eyes as a single tear falls down his cheek, splashing onto the floor.

“If it is not too much to ask, I would love to take home some clothing designs after we are done here. I would not to be able to live with myself otherwise.” Rarity said with a good spirit as she followed Heartfire and Blazer as they took her to the Well. They spent the past couple minutes moving through the towns extensive and winding stone streets.

Heartfire walked next to Rarity and said,”I am sorry to say this Rarity but...you are dying.”

Rarity stopped and looked down in defeat and said,”But...ho...Oh by Celestia you’re right...is there any way to avoid this?”

Heartfire was about to answer when Blazer lifted his hoof and shook his head. He said,”Yes. Our dear mother Luna is infusing her magic into you, allowing your resistance to dark magic to increase. You will be fine. Yes you are starting to die on the inside but you will recover.”

Rarity blew out a sigh of relief and they continued on. Heartfire and Blazer took the lead and made sure to be unable to be heard by Rarity, Heartfire said,”Why can’t we tell her? She has every right to know.”

Blazer drew out a heavy sigh and said,”Not yet. She doesn’t need to know about anything yet. Besides, I was half right. Mother’s magic is healing her, slowly but we need her spirits up so she can succeed.”

Heartfire decided not to argue, Blazer was right anyway. Without Rarity’s full attention she might not want to save Shadow Garden. But that did not change Heartfire’s feelings about the moment. She disregarded the sunlight that began to rise. They walked on through the street in complete silence, Blazer and Heartfire drew Rarity closer to the Well.

Finally they found it. In the middle of a town square. A stone well that lied dormant and cold in the square. Heartfire and Blazer stepped aside and motioned for Rarity to step forward. She reluctantly stepped forward and ten feet ahead of her was the Harvest Well. As Rarity drew closer to the well she could feel a great dormant power, one even greater than Celestia’s power. This was a dark power, she could not imagine absorbing this power.

Rarity stopped in front of it and saw it was closed, stone shut the top of the well and three large key holes remained in the stone. Each one a different color. Sure enough there was a red key hole. One was a blue key hole. And the other was a dark green. Rarity stepped back and turned towards Heartfire and Blazer. She said,”There are two keys remaining. We need to think of a place where she most likely would hide them. Any ideas?”

Heartfire and Blazer thought for a moment until finally Blazer said,”There might be two locations where she might hide them. One would be in her old hive, most likely she’ll have left a few of her drones in there to guard it. And the other might be more difficult to get…”

A Vampire rapidly rushed to Heartfire and Blazer and said in between heavy breaths,”Heartfire...Blazer...we have just received word that Chrysalis has taken over Canterlot and is mobilizing to take over Ponyville. They have at least three days until they are ready to do so.”

Blazer thought for a moment until finally he said,”Bring this to the attention of Dracula. He is most likely comforting Mother, go quickly.”

Heartfire said,”What should we do about the keys?”

It was a good question that could only be answered by Blazer and he said,”The two Chosen should retrieve the key from Chrysalis’ old hive. We shall await our Mother to wake up and wait for her orders. I suggest that you Rarity should find Twilight and find out where Chrysalis’ old hive is located. Go, every moment we waste, gives an advantage to Queen Chrysalis.”

Rarity nodded and rushed off in the direction where they came from. Heartfire and Blazer locked eyes and Blazer said,”And so it has begun…”

Heartfire did not disagree with him but continued her twin’s statement,”The beginning of a war.”

Dracula was sitting next to Luna’s bed and so was Twilight. Silence ensued until Luna had finally awoken, blinking rapidly and finally stopped. She turned her head over at Dracula and smiled and said,”Thou hath always been the first face I would see when I would wake up.”

Dracula smiled as well and said,”Well I was sworn in an oath not to leave your side. And I don’t plan on breaking that oath very soon.”

Twilight could not help but smile at the conversation. Finally Luna sat up and looked over at Twilight and said,”I am surprised at you Twilight.”

“At what Princess?”Twilight said raising an eyebrow. Luna continued.”I expected you to tell my sister of this. Thou being her ever so faithful student.”

Twilight moved away and looked at the sun that was in the middle of the sky, she said.”I have a new perspective. I always thought that Celestia was right and never wrong. That everything she did she did for us. But now…I’m not so sure. You have your own people to handle and deal with, you have every right to be co ruler of Equestria. You possess greater leadership skills than I have seen in Princess Celestia.”

Luna smiled at that and said,”I thank you Twilight. I now see that not only my children can trust me but also the Children of the Day.”

The door burst open and a Vampire burst through the door and he took a moment to catch his breath and he said,”Dracula...Mother...Chrysalis has taken over Canterlot and is gathering forces to take over Ponyville.”

Luna and Dracula turned to each other and Dracula said,”It looks like we have less time than we thought.”

Luna nodded her head and said,”If we are to act we must do it quickly.”

Luna got up out of bed and paced around the room. Twilight had a look of concern and worry on her face, waiting for Luna to answer. Finally she stopped and said,”I have a plan. But you might not like the idea Twilight.”

Twilight tilted her head keeping the same expression. Luna said after a heavy sigh,”In order for my plan to work, she needs to take over Ponyville.”

At first Twilight was shocked to hear such a thing from Luna. But she knew that Luna had a plan. So she said,”I have to trust you.”

Then they saw Rarity walk in and she said,”Twilight we have something to do. While they are preparing a plan to help Ponyville, we are to find a key to the well.”

“You know where one is?”Twilight asked and was answered with a nod. Twilight looked back and gave Dracula a very small look of concern and fear. Dracula saw this and something clicked in his mind. He could not say anything because Rarity and Twilight walked out and down the stairs to leave.

Dracula turned and saw Luna staring out of the window. Her face held the emotion of deep longing. Dracula stepped next to her and said,”What is wrong Mother?”

Luna did not move when she said,”I sense the presence of my sister. She is nearby.”

“Where?”Dracula asked

Luna looked at Dracula and said,”Chrysalis’ old hive. Most likely she used the escape tunnel in the castle. She is heading right to us and I know who is guiding them.”

“Who?”Dracula asked again.

Not moving her gaze away from him she said,”Subject Z.”

Dracula had no response. Finally Luna looked away from Dracula and said,”The hour hath begun. Change is on the doorstep and we must decide when to let her in.”