Rarity and Twilight walked through the night to where Chrysalis’ old hive remained. A cold wind brushed against them and the dark leaves rustled. The moon very gently shined over them, beckoning them forward. Minutes of them walking go by and Rarity says,”Oh what a beautiful night this is. Can you not agree Twilight?”

There was silence when she waited for an answer. She looked over and did not see her friend. Another cool breeze rushed past Rarity. She began to have bad feelings, the soothing light of the moon turned dark and encased her in shadow. She listened and heard Twilight say,”There is no hope left for you. You are as good as dead already. Finish it, so you don’t curse the rest of us.”

Rarity looked around and finally found Twilight moving into the shadow of the moonlight. But twilight did not look like herself. She was a darker shade of purple and pink, giving her presence a threatening feeling. And her eyes glowed bright red like the crimson blood that ran cold through her own veins. As Twilight spoke next Rarity saw fangs in the wall of white,”End it. End all the suffering now. Do it or I will make your death a long and painful one.”

Rarity closed her eyes and fell to the ground, she felt defeated. She felt her heart beat at an abnormal speed. Not fast but beating abnormally slow, taking three seconds through every beat. She felt even more cold and breathing became so difficult she fell on her side and struggled for her eyes not to close. She began to realise what was happening, she was killing herself.

She saw a shade kneel down into Rarity’s vision and heard a familiar dark voice of Dracula say,”Let the shadow of night embrace you. Let it engulf you. Let it take you.”

Rarity gasped as she felt her heart stop beating. The sharp sting of the cold rushed over her, she finally fell out of consciousness. She was dead. And saw nothing but darkness, she however heard the voice of Twilight silently say,

“Rarity...Rarity...Rarity...Rarity.”

Rarity shook herself and saw Twilight giving her a concerned look. Rarity said trying hard not to look at Twilight,”I...I’m...I’m fine darling...don’t...don’t worry about me…”

It was dark and the night glistened with the moon and the stars. Blissful and soothing was their light upon Rarity. They were in the Everfree Forest, a few miles out of Gemini. Rarity began to lose her sanity once again, her mind splitting in two pieces. She did not know what the cure was that could stop this, but she did not care. She wanted this to stop, she wanted this darkness to end.

Her present nightmare did not let her look at Twilight the same. Twilight looked at Rarity now in fear and said,”Come on we are almost there.”

They walked on through shadows and darkness. Twilight lead the way lighting their path with a light spell that was on her horn. Bright purple light illuminated the path as they walked on. Dark feelings settled in Rarity’s mind, she heard the voice of Dracula say,

Come on, end her right now. She wanted you to kill yourself, what kind of friend does that. Kill her before she kills you.

Her head twitched and she continued to walk on and ignored Dracula’s voice echo inside her mind. This was a curse, an unrelenting curse. Her body shivered and her head ached in great pain. She needed Luna to work her magic again, but the first time she did it, it only lasted a few hours. Maybe she needed the cure Dracula and Heartfire was talking about.

Finally after an hour of walking they found themselves in a clearing of a giant insect hive. A large hole was in all sides of it and it shined in the moonlight. Rarity stared long at it, it was silent and looked to be barren. Twilight stepped forward on the soil and said,”This is a different soil. It feels, sharp. Let’s be careful Rarity.”

Rarity nodded her head and they walked up to the entrance to the cave. Rarity looked at the ominous entrance and she heard a different voice in her head say,

I know what you seek and what you ask for Rarity. You want a way out. I can take away what has haunted you for so many nights. All you have to do is say yes. I will wait for your decision.

It was the voice of Nightmare Moon. Rarity held what Nightmare Moon said. Maybe she could help her, or maybe this was only to betray her. Rarity could not be sure and she started to walk in when she said,”Let us not waste anymore time.”

The walls glistened in the light that they used to see their way. The walls were a dark green color and were slimey. Rarity said echoing in the damp cold air,”How can these Changelings live in a place like this. It is so...filthy.”

Twilight chuckled to herself and said,”You have to remember that they are insects.”

Rarity nodded in agreement as they twisted down the mucky halls of the hive. Finally after three minutes they heard the sound of something in the next room,
“Chrysalis said to keep the keys and the swords secure. I don’t understand why you are complaining.”

Another said,”I just don’t want to be stuck with a job like this. We’re invading Ponyville in a couple days, and we are stuck here guarding something that nopony knows about.”

Rarity and Twilight looked at each other and they creep closer to the wall in the other room. It was two Changelings, they looked to be in a room of almost complete darkness. There was a stone table that had some things on it. Rarity was about to rush in the room when Twilight raised her hoof stopping her and whispered,”Wait.”

Then Rarity looked in and saw that there were shadows of others entering the room. They carried something on their backs. A large white mare with wings and a long horn, with a mane and tail that flowed even though there was no wind. Twilight gasped in horror and tears began to form in her eyes, Twilight feared the worst.

Twilight turned her head away when Rarity said to comfort her,”Wait, maybe it isn’t as bad as you think.”

Twilight turns back and a tear rolls down her cheek as they listen closely.

“We found this one trying to snoop around trying to find the Swords of Shadow. She isn’t dead just unconscious. King Sombra wants her alive.”

Twilight blew out a sigh of relief and now looked at the Changelings. There were six of them now. Rarity stood up and walked in the room, before any Changeling could say anything she charged in and crushed a Changeling under the weight of her hooves. Blasting another with charged magic. One was about to knock her out behind her but Twilight blasted that one with magic.

They finished the fight within moments and no Changeling was left alive. Twilight stopped breathing heavily and looked at Rarity. Her bright white coat was now stained once again with the blood of Changelings. When Twilight saw her fight it was like watching a Vampire fight, she actually fought a lot like Dracula.

It was in that moment that she realised what the cure was. She gasped in horror and got the attention of Rarity, she turned around and said,”What...what is it Twilight?”

Twilight looks into Rarity’s eyes and says,”The cure...the cure...your cure is…”

Rarity said in excitement,”Yes, is what?”

Twilight then sat down and said in horror,”The cure is to become a Vampire.”

Now Rarity bore the look of horror. But before anymore words could be exchanged they heard a moaning sound and looked at Celestia who was waking up. Twilight rushed to her side and said,”I’m here Celestia...don’t worry Celestia.”

Celestia awoke blinking her eyes rapidly. She stopped and looked over at Twilight and said,”I am so glad you are okay Twilight.”

Celestia leaned up and hugged Twilight. She was covered in blood and muck but Twilight did not mind. Celestia says,”You have always been the first face I would see when I would wake up.”

Twilight responds,”I am your faithful student. I am to never leave your side.”

They stop hugging and Celestia looks over at Rarity and says,”What happened?”

Rarity says,”What do you mean?”

Celestia gets up and walks over to Rarity and says,”I mean I can sense my sister’s magic inside of you. What happened?”

Rarity winced and said,”Well...Dracula…”

Celestia stopped her and said,”I had a feeling that HE had something to do with this. I warned him of what would happen if he harmed one of my subjects.”

Twilight said interrupting Celestia,”He had nothing to do with this. Dracula is the one trying to fix it.”

Celestia looked over at Twilight and said,”You don’t need to defend him Twilight. He had a part to play in this and for that he will be punished, but for now we have a task ahead of us.”

Twilight sighed and said,”What is our task?”

Celestia walked over to the table and levitated the three swords in the air and said,”These swords will aid us in our fight against Chrysalis. I shall wield one of them and you Twilight will wield another. Luna shall wield the third.”

All three swords looked to be the same but each was a different color. One had bright red energy come off of it, another had blue energy come off of it, and the third had yellow energy come off of it. They looked familiar to Twilight and then it came to her. They looked like Dracula’s sword but she did not say anything, for fear that it would cause a bigger rift between Celestia and Dracula.

They heard hoofsteps come towards them and in the dim light revealed a green pony in honor guard armor and a sword sheathed at his side. His name was Emerald and Twilight rushed to hug him and said,”I am so glad that you are okay Emerald.”

Emerald hugged her back and said,”I’m glad to see you too Twi.”

Twilight released from hugging him and looked at him. And she saw Dracula’s features but she was looking at Emerald, that was impossible. She pushed the thought aside and released from Emerald and walked over towards the stone table in the middle of the room. She scanned the table for the key and found it and levitated it over to her and put it in her saddlebags.

Then Twilight said,”Is there anyone else who came with you?”

Emerald nodded his head and said,”1,498 others. The only survivors of the raid at Canterlot.”

Twilight was dumbfounded. 1,500 was all that remained, she pushed the sorrow back inside of her and said,”Well...bring them out here we have a place we can keep them.”

Rainbow Dash and Spike wandered through the Everfree forest for what seemed like hours. Then they heard the sound of people talking and they rushed to some bushes to hide behind and they listened and watched closely. They saw a pack of at least twenty Werewolves having a conversation with ten ponies. The pony that spoke was dark grey with a jet black mane and tail with red eyes. His cutie mark was unable to be seen because of his armor that hid it.

Then Rainbow saw a familiar mare. It was Princess Luna, Rainbow could never have guessed what she was doing there. But she listened closely and the grey coated pony said,”My brothers and sisters under the moon, I ask of you to help us retake our home. What say you Cornell?”

Cornell shifted uncomfortably and said in a deep voice,”Why should we help you Dracula? We ran rampant through the Everfree Forest for a thousand years and you made no attempt to help us.”

Dracula must have been the grey coated one. Luna spoke up and said,”That is because he thought you all were dead; I thought you were dead. But that does not mean you should punish us and yourselves by not fighting alongside us to retake Shadow Garden. Please we need all the help we can get.”

Cornell turned away to think for a moment and said turning back around,”Alright we will help you retake Shadow Garden. Where do you wish to send us?”

Rainbow heard a sound come from her left and saw that Spike was sliding down the side of the hill and heading towards Princess Luna. He stopped at the bottom and Dracula yelled at the top of his lungs jumping into the air and landing on top of Spike holding him down,”What is the meaning of this intrusion!”

Spike cowered in fear as he looked deep into Dracula’s eyes and Rainbow very rapidly and quickly transformed into a Werewolf and tackled Dracula screaming,”Keep your muddy hooves away from Spike!”

Dracula kicked his hind legs and sent Rainbow Dash into the side of a hill. She got up slowly and growled at Dracula. Before Dracula could charge Luna yelled,”STOP!!!”

And Dracula nodded and stopped. Rainbow calmed down and transformed back into her regular pony self. Then Luna turned towards Spike and said,”Spike...what are you doing here?”

Spike rushed over to Luna and said grabbing her leg,”We...we were just going to find out what Twilight and Rarity were up to. That’s it we didn’t want anything to do with this, but Rainbow was scratched by this Werewolf and…”

Dracula shot a look at Cornell and said,”Cornell! Do you even know who she is!!!”

Cornell shrugged his shoulders and Dracula yelled,”She is the Element of Loyalty! You could have just broken Equestria’s one weapon of defense!”

Rainbow said getting the attention of Dracula,”But...I am still the element of loyalty. Zecora said so. I only came here so Cornell can help me control my Werewolf instincts.”

Dracula thought for a moment and turned towards Cornell and said,”Alright. But do not think that this will not go unpunished. There will be repercussions for this misdeed.”

Dracula then turned to Rainbow Dash and said,”I apologize for my earlier behavior. Allow me to introduce myself.”

Dracula bowed low and said,”I am Dracula, the first Originals. And you must be the illustrious Rainbow Dash.”

Rainbow Dash put on a face of confidence and said,”So, you have heard of me?”

Dracula motioned to her mane and tail and said,”Just a hunch.”

Princess Luna said,”Cornell. Meet us back at Gemini. We have much to discuss right now.”

Cornell nodded his head and motioned for his Werewolves to follow. Luna watched as they left and leaned her head down to Spike who was clinging to her leg. She said,”Twilight is okay. She and Rarity are helping by getting a key from Queen Chrysalis’ old hive. And I only fear that Celestia will meet us soon.”

Rainbow stepped forward and said,”How is that a bad thing. You guys can use all the help you can get.”

Dracula sighed heavily and answered,”It’s bad because she’ll find out about the Children of the Night.”

Rainbow shrugged and Dracula continued,”Celestia disapproved of the idea but Luna did it anyway. She disobeyed Celestia and Mother will surely be punished for this.”

Rainbow raised an eyebrow and said,”Mother?”

Dracula said,”We are called Children of the Night and she pretty much raised us and took care of us. Took us off of the streets and raised us like her own children.”

Spike said,”Wait...you said Twilight was okay. What about Rarity?”

Dracula and Luna looked at each other with sorrow and Luna said,”Well...she...she’s dying.”

Spike let go of her leg and fell to the ground and wept. Dracula looked down and then lifted his head at Luna and said,”I have to use the cure.”

Luna shot a look of frustration at him and said,”No. I am taking care of the matter.”

“And how long do you think you can prolong the inevitable,”Dracula snapped,”How long can you do that until it starts to not work and she dies. I have to turn her.”

Rainbow said with fear in her voice,”Turn her into what?”

Dracula looked over at Rainbow and said mournfully,”Turn her into a Vampire.”