The sun finally began to rise and Riptide could already feel the warm glistening sunlight on his face. A light breeze brushed past him, cascading through the dawn. Riptide lowered his head as he looked out over the town of Ponyville. All of those who were able to, begin making repairs to the damaged shops.

Riptide heard Night Dancer walk next to him and she said, ”It’s a slow process but they are rebuilding.”

Riptide says,”Yes. I only hope that Mother and dear brother are having as much luck.”

Night Dancer nods her head and they continue to watch the work ponies fix everything; ponies from other towns even came to help. Some ponies even came to volunteer to join against the Changelings. Their forces stood only at 1,528. So the volunteers were helpful. Around 1,000 came to help in their cause. Riptide once thought that the Children of the Night were the only last defenders of Equestria, but most of these ponies flung themselves in the face of danger with almost no thought about it.

Night Dancer and Riptide saw to the recruitment and the registering. They made sure only the strong and the capable were coming for training. Riptide then looked over and saw blacksmiths working away to making armor and weapons, he turned and saw others training in hoof-to-hoof combat.

Riptide turned towards Night Dancer and said,”Mother would be proud of what we have done thus far.”

Night Dancer nodded and Riptide said,”Come on we must see to the recruitment.”

Night Dancer uncrossed her hooves and followed behind Riptide. Twisting and turning through the streets they also noticed that a handful of unicorn masons began building a stone wall around Ponyville. Walking past more ponies they finally found themselves in the main square. In the center at the steps of the Town Hall was an empty booth with a long line of ponies ready to sign on to the cause. Riptide and Night Dancer sit in their seats inside the bright blue makeshift booth.

An average hour goes by and 70 more ponies signed on to the roster. But they see three ponies push past the rest. The orange one in the cowgirl hat said,”What in tarnation is goin’ on ‘round here?”

The pink one next to her says jumping up and down,”Yeah, I wasn’t expecting these many ponies for our welcome back party!”

They come to the front of the line and the orange one says again,”What’s goin’ on here?”

The yellow one with light pink mane and tail said softly,”Don’t worry Applejack I’m sure it’s nothing. We should just move along.”

Riptide looks at the one who he suspected was Applejack and he said,”So, will I be signing you up or not?”

“Fer what?”Applejack replied raising an eyebrow. Night Dancer says,”For the Dark Crusade. The Changelings have returned and they are killing, they already took Canterlot and attempted to take Ponyville. Would have succeeded too had it not been for Dracula.”

The pink one gasped and said,”Dracula...as in the Vampire Dracula?”

Night Dancer nodded and she dashed away saying,”I’ll be right back! I need to stock up on a few things!”

Applejack screamed at her,”Pinkie you get back here!”

Applejack rolled her eyes and turned back over at Riptide. Riptide gave her a cold stare and she said,”Have you seen a purple mare around here, named Twilight Sparkle?”

Riptide thought for a moment and said,”Hmm...Oh, yes she left with Dracula, Luna, Celestia, Cornell, Emerald, and Rarity to go and face Sombra. They will arrive back in Ponyville in a day or so. I would suggest not following them, the Changelings are stronger now. As capable as you might be, I would advise against it.”

This was the second time she heard the name Dracula. Was there a replacement of power since she was gone. Applejack was only gone a couple of days. Now stone walls were being put up, ponies were training in the fields, and she had a bad feeling about this Dracula character. There was more this pony was not telling her and she needed to get answers.

Applejack motioned for Fluttershy to follow and she did. Applejack said,”Somethin fishy’s goin on here and I want to know what.”

Fluttershy said in a quiet and soft spoken voice,”It could be dangerous. I mean...Princess Celestia and Princess Luna are there. It is probably really important.”

Applejack said,”So important that Twilight wouldn’t tell us. She has even Rainbow Dash and Rarity in on their mission. That and I don’t trust this Dracula character, it seems as if he just came out of nowhere.”

Applejack turned her head and Pinkie was right next to her and Applejack jumped and said,”Ah!...damn it Pinkie. What are you doin?”

Pinkie had a black brimmed hat, rings of garlic, a handful of stakes, some crosses, and a crossbow. Pinkie shrugged and said,”This is Dracula we’re talking about...We. Need. To. Prepare. By the way, does anyone have holy water? I ran out…”

Applejack shook her head and said,”We have to find out who this Dracula guy is. We’ll try to catch him in the Everfree forest.”

Fluttershy said,”Um...if its okay for me to say...I think we should ask around before we start going Vampire Hunter on him.”

Applejack thought for a moment and said,”Alright. We’ll ask round to see what we can find out.”

Applejack looked at Pinkie again and just shook her head. They went off and started asking the ponies around who Dracula was. Most did not know who he was, but those who did know who he was told them that he was a great pony and a good leader. And those that knew what he was called him Brother. Applejack didn’t know what she was getting herself into but she needed to know that this pony was alright. She motioned for Fluttershy and Pinkie to follow her into the Everfree Forest.

Darkness peeled out of the throne room of Canterlot, spinning and swirling around and through the many entrances. Chrysalis sat knelt to the floor in the middle of this storm of darkness. Bearing down upon her threateningly high above her head was a pair of bright glowing red eyes. The voice of Living Shadow boomed and shook the room as he shouted,

“Dracula has to die...but it appears that my disciples are too INCOMPETENT to fulfill a simple ASSASSINATION!!!” Living Shadow yells through the Canterlot throne room. The room was filled with shadow and kneeling in the dark was Chrysalis. She looked up at the giant red eyes and she said,”A minor setback I assure you…”

“Minor?*laughs* A minor setback? Dracula has absorbed the power of Lord Cerberus AND killed my new champion King Sombra. That and YOU and your weak and spineless Changelings were overtaken at Ponyville by only 1528 ponies. And you say this is a minor setback! I have never given power to so many ponies and them not use it to their full extent! Give me one good reason why I should allow YOU to live!!!” Chrysalis could not see his anger but she could hear it ringing in her ears as she speaks with Living Shadow. The large eyes narrowed waiting for an answer. Chrysalis thought for a moment and said,”Because I’m your best chance of you returning to Equestria.”

She heard a large sigh and Living Shadow said,”For years I have been in this form. And I grow tired of being defeated. In order for me to return I need a pony of great power, which is why I was to anoint King Sombra my champion, to cast a spell on Dracula once he ascends to an Alicorn. He must become an Alicorn. And once I have control over his mind I will finally have my revenge on the two who have wronged me.”

“What of Marrok?”Chrysalis said in the darkness. Living Shadow’s voice boomed through the room and said,”Marrok is a pawn. A pawn to draw the attention of Dracula towards a particular area. His fall will come soon. If he proves worthy he will be granted status as a new Lord of Shadow.”

There was a long pause in the rest of his words and he said,”I created you and your kind. Made you to be my soldiers. You feed off of their love, their hate, their compassion. I found you and redeemed you, first of the Changelings. For this you will be my champion.”

The eyes shut and swirled on the ground it made the shape of a dark Alicorn. His coat was all black, his mane and tail were bright red with a long silver gray streak. His eyes swirled blue energy out of them and his armor was dark grey with scarlet red accents. Living Shadow’s shape struck fear into Chrysalis’ eyes. He walked around Chrysalis and said in a threatening voice,
“With my great powers over darkness I grant you the power to eclipse the sun itself. To part seas. To bring Equestria to its knees.”

His horn glowed black energy and swirled around Chrysalis. It enveloped her and began pouring into her body. Shooting pains washed over her and she cried in horrible pain. It felt as if her veins were on fire. Her shape changed. No longer was she partially made of shadow. Her form nearly glowed dark energy and her eyes swirled bright green energy. She felt more powerful than before and the pain began to subside and she stopped breathing heavily and she looked at Living Shadow and said,”I will not fail you.”

Living Shadow smirked and said moving back into the shadows,”If you don’t you will become the first of the Rebirthed Lords of Shadow.”

Marrok blinked as he looked out at Canterlot below. The fires of war began to slowly die and the grief he carried in his heart began to fester and boil. From the many battles he has seen and been in, it left a scar. He was not like most Children of the Night, he could not block the trauma of battle. All the lives he has taken still brought much tragedy bearing down on his soul. Marrok turned his head to the approaching sound of Discord coming his way.

Marrok began to recall what his Mother told him about Discord. She told him that after they ascended to Princesses Discord arose to challenge their leadership. They confronted him initially but they were defeated. Celestia learned about the Elements of Harmony and she told Luna that they could use them against Discord.

But what they did not know was that the Elements have a side effect to whoever uses them. In the final battle Luna had been knocked out and Celestia made the ultimate sacrifice and wielded the Elements to fight Discord. She imprisoned him but they left a scar on Celestia. Luna began to think if that was her start to her tyrannical rule as a Princess. That might not be the case but something happened and she had changed from her tender loving ways to a mare Luna did not know.

Discord floated next to Marrok and he said,”Alright champ. Got a plan to get in?”

Marrok says squinting his eyes in the darkness and shadows of the once great castle town of Canterlot,”Yes. I’ll silently sneak through the castle grounds and when I give the signal, you will come down and we will face Chrysalis together. Ready?”

Discord summons a hammock and lays down on it and he says summoning a sasparilla,”Well, don’t take too long I might get bored.”

Marrok rolls his eyes and transforms into a Werewolf. On his hind legs he jumped and descended down on the castle. Landing on the roof of one of the guard towers he used his Predator Vision to see through the walls and see ponies heat signatures. There were only five of them. Two were guarding the entrance and the other three were sleeping. Marrok leaped to the tower that held the Changeling guards and he looked down at the two at the entrance.

Slowly he climbed down the walls of the tower. Sneering he made sure to keep his talent activated. Now just above their head he snatched both of them up and crushed their throats as quick as lightning. Dark blood gushing everywhere and staining himself. He put the bodies at the top of the tower. Marrok dropped down silently to the ground and stalked through the shadows keeping his gaze on the three sleeping.

Through the darkness he could see that the inside was very small and had a lot of crates. On top of one of them was a sleeping Changeling. He hovered his large Werewolf hands over the sleeping Changeling. With a crooked smile he grabbed the Changeling and bit down on its throat. Blood splattered all over the wall and himself. He left the body and went on to the next of his victims.

The third Changeling awoken and attempted to rush to the alarm. Much to the CHangeling’s surprise he did not even make it out the door. Marrok bounded and jumped off the wall and tackled the Changeling to the ground. Crashing on the stone floor and under the weight of Marrok, the Changeling exploded in blood and guts. Like rain it fell down upon Marrok.

Marrok rushed out of the tower and looked out at the castle grounds. He was not more than 30 feet away from the entrance of the castle and he sensed no more Changelings. This was very strange to Marrok, he needed to be on his guard. Marrok leaped to the top of the tower and reeling he let loose a howl that pierced through the night and echoing across the night sky. Travelling through the air into the ears of Discord.

Discord awoken and flew down to Marrok. Marrok waited for Discord and when he hovered next to him Discord said,”What took so long? I was just about to lay down for a nap.”

Marrok rolled his eyes and said,”Lets just get this over with shall we.”

They then proceeded into the castle. Almost endlessly they winded through the halls of the castle, until finally they walked into the highly decorated throne room. Lit up by only the shining light of the moon. Marrok could feel darkness beneath the surface of the stone floors. Something ancient was lying beneath the stone.

In the middle of the throne room stood Chrysalis. She was made of complete shadow now, no longer partially. Her eyes blew out red energy almost endlessly. She said in a voice that could cut steel and at a tone of great power,”Living Shadow has told me you would be arriving soon, Marrok. And Discord, I was hoping that you would last through that stone a little while longer.”

Discord shrugged and said,”What can I say I don’t want to remain stiff for another thousand years.”

Chrysalis smirked and she said,”You were stronger than I thought you were. I can sense great magic inside of you Discord, Unicorn magic.”

Discord rubbed his claw over his chest and said,”What? Me? Why, I don’t know what you are talking about?”

Chrysalis squinted her eyes and said,”No...It can’t be...you...you're supposed to be dead…”

Marrok said looking at the surprised look on Chrysalis’ face,”What are you talking about who is he?”

Chrysalis clearly was very feared now and she gulped down the fear in her throat. Hiding her scared look she said,”He’s...he is Starswirl the Bearded.”

Marrok turned his gaze towards Discord and saw that he had froze in astonishment. Something clicked in Discord. Marrok had learned of Starswirl the Bearded, he was a great Unicorn of excellent and masterful talents in Unicorn magic.

Discord was dumbfounded. He was basically frozen in shock. Marrok suspected that he could not believe what he was hearing had to be true. Chrysalis chuckled to herself and said,”My...the mighty and chaotic Discord was once the most powerful Unicorn in all of Equestria. But this is not about you Discord...no this visit is about you Marrok.”

She turned her head towards Marrok and continued,”You see, the Living Shadow knew you would come back and he has plans for you.”

Marrok gets ready to charge at Chrysalis and says,”You would have to kill me first.”

Chrysalis laughed and said casting a spell.”Who said anything about fighting?”

Chrysalis lowered her head and point her hishapen horn at Marrok. Marrok felt something inside his head and he tried to fight it, but it slowly started to overwhelm him. Marrok screamed in horrible pain and he looked at Discord one last time and he disappeared from sight. Marrok thrashed and swiped at nothing and Chrysalis said,”Yes, fall to your knees. Beg for mercy. Living Shadow has plans for you. He will not take over your mind, it’s too weak to hold his power. No you will be his slave. A pawn to a greater game.”

Chrysalis laughed and Marrok wanted to respond but the pain coursing through his body was overwhelming. Marrok fell to his knees and darkness began to come into his field of vision and before he could no longer see he heard the voice of Living Shadow echo in his mind,”You are the first of many. The first of the Fallen.”

Chrysalis stood above Marrok and she waited. Finally Marrok lifted his head up and said,”What is our lord’s bidding?”

Chrysalis smiled and she said,”You are to lead an attack on Ponyville. One final assault. And face your brother on the field of battle. When you are finished you will tell them my location, which will be the Castle of the Two Sisters.”

Marrok smiled and said,”When do I start?”

Marrok walked past Chrysalis and stood on the balcony. He looked at the smoking ashes of what was Canterlot and he could hear the roar of one million Changelings. With these numbers he would be unbeatable. A sea of ponies filled the ash ridden streets and over filled the castle. this was why he did not see many Changelings when he arrived. Marrok’s voice boomed across the hellscape as he said,”For you have been wronged for too long. Called monsters. But it is them who are the monsters. I too have been labeled a monster but embrace this hatred, accept your dark powers given to you by the Living Shadow. Tonight we will remain victorious. Tonight we shall take our places among the greatest. Tonight the True Night will REIGN!!!”

He lifted his hoof to the sky and a roar of triumph and glory erupted and sounded through the night, booming across the winds. Nothing had been done like this, and they will be remembered. Marrok smiles as he begins to think to himself.

All shall burn under the flames of fury.

Author's Notes:

So sorry that this chapter took so long to make. I had began taking an interest of drawing again.