Author's Notes:

Two chapters in one day. Haven't had that happen in a few chapters. And once again publishing it at night.

Twilight paced back and forth waiting for Dracula to return to them. They met in the council chambers for the Originals. It was a medium sized room made of black stone and metal. A large circular table sat in the middle made of polished granite, as well as the floors. Sitting in the chairs was Princess Luna, Princess Celestia, Emerald, Con, and Wraith. Standing near the Princess’ was Spectra and Rainbow Dash standing firm and at the ready to fight. Wraith was the first to speak as he said in a metallic voice,”What happens to us when the Dark Crusade is over?”

Celestia looked at Luna and motioned for her to explain. She seemed very calm and collected as she spoke,”The Children of the Night will officially be recognized as a new kingdom for Equestria and a call out for new members for Knights of the Moon. The time of living in the shadows is over.”

Con sat up straight in his chair as he said,”You are putting too much faith in these subjects of yours Luna. Do not act like some of them won’t react negatively. Dracula, Rho, and I were hunted at one point by Children of the Day who knew of our existence.”

Spectra stepped forward and said,”Yes but he told me that he personally destroyed the Brotherhood of Light long ago.”

Con looks at Spectra squinting his eyes he replies,”Do you really think that you can just kill an entire order? Somepony will find its teachings and revive the dead order. It holds ideals that can never be forgotten, we will be hunted no matter what. A war that can never be won by either side.”

Celestia nodded her head and said in a wise and hopeful voice,”Such things will be addressed when they come up. I will meet with this Brotherhood of Light and tell them that the Children of the Night are no longer to be feared.”

Twilight also heard a tone of worry. Perhaps she feared for the safety of her subjects if the Children of the Night are announced to the public. Or maybe perhaps it was from something else. Whatever it is Celestia is very unnerved by it. Twilight glances at Wraith and Con who seemed to carry faces of great deception, they were hiding something. She also noticed that Con was wearing very ancient and powerful plate armor, very detailed and made from the purest polished metal. He crossed his front hooves across his chest and waited patiently for Dracula’s return.

Wraith leaned on Reaping Sorrow as a faint pale glow emanated from the crystal spear. There were no words to describe to how she felt about this new ally. He gave off the aura of an enemy but he acted very genuine and friendly. His voice just cast out every feeling of friendship or happiness. When he spoke he always spoke like he was distant, like he was in another place entirely. At that moment the doors burst open and entering was Discord, and the Cutie Mark Crusaders. Discord wore dark scarlet and grey plate armor with a knotted wooden staff, and the Cutie Mark Crusaders were older and more slender. Scootaloo hovered into the room, which was odd considering that her wings were crippled at a very young age. She was very serious and her demeanor told everypony that she was ready to fight and defend her friends.

Applebloom was almost the same as before but only taller and again more slender. She wore leather straps and pouches filled unknown substances. Her pink bow was gone and replaced with a thick black leather brimmed hat. A scarlet red scarf was wrapped around her neck. She also noticed that around Applebloom’s and Scootaloo’s necks were tight golden necklaces that had magical properties. They most likely gave them small amounts of telekinetic powers to hold and wield their weapons. Scootaloo with a longspear and Applebloom with two daggers.

But Sweetie Belle was the only one that changed greatly. Her normally curly and finely combed mane and tail was now straight and mostly uncombed. Her eyes were a darker shade of green and she carried herself as if she had a great burden to carry and nopony could help her. Her face and eyes were as well filled with woe and longing. Spectra rushed at Sweetie Belle and said,”Sweetie Belle! What are you doing here? What happened to you?”

After the quick hug she unsheathed her staff and activated her magic with energy flowing out of her eyes and gems adorning her armor. She stood next to Rainbow Dash who had her broadsword drawn and ready to fight. Spectra said,”Did Discord do this to you? Because if he did I swear by all that is holy…”

In an alien voice Applebloom replied,”No, he is actually the one that saved us. It was Living Shadow that did this to us.”

Sweetie Belle nodded at her sister and said,”Him and Dracula. They fought off Living Shadow and helped us understand what to do next. He told us to come here and help you ponies.”

Celestia and Luna watched and listened with great interest. They knew something that nopony else knew. Twilight looked up at Celestia, whom she sat next to, and said,”What is it Princess Celestia?”

Celestia did not break her curious stare at Discord and said,”He has changed. He no longer wields the powers of Chaos, merely using it as a font of strength and his mana source. But he wields the magic of Time and Space itself. A minor form of Aether energy.”

Twilight looked back at Discord and definitely saw that his cocky demeanor was gone and was replaced with a pony who carries himself with great wisdom and strength. Whatever happened changed Discord for the greater good, she hoped something like this would happen. She always lived by morals that no pony was beyond the path of redemption or rebirth. She then thought of Dracula and looked down at the necklace that he had given her. It seemed to pulsate with his power and she knew this by the red glow it gave off.

It accented well with her armor, her now faded golden plate armor. She then began to think of the times before all of this, memories that were filled with great happiness and filled with good friends. Now events have change all the Spirits of Harmony, she knew this because it was bound to happen. Everypony changed, even Dracula. She does not know what the future might hold for him but she hoped that it would forever involve her.

She felt the connection to him instantly when she first saw him. She never felt such a way with anypony, she then remembered the poem he spoke that first time she met him,

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.

She snapped back to reality as she heard Dracula enter the room with the voice of a leader,”Do not let this event stop us from the truth. This is the workings of destiny, events were set in motion long ago for this day to come and we will make the best use of these events to our advantage.

“Now, on to bigger and better things. Wraith has told me that his forces are marching as we speak to meet us at the eastern edge of Ponyville, here.”

He pointed his hoof at the map that laid before them of Ponyville and the Everfree Forest. His charisma and determination almost radiated off of him and she paid great attention to every word he spoke.

“Now, I have tasked with Discord and the new Crusaders of Darkness to sabotage Queen Chrysalis’ forces as best they can to give us every advantage we can use. While they are doing that we will defeat the forces trying to invade Ponyville. Cornell, Night Dancer, and Riptide can keep them busy as best they can but their defenses will not last long. It will be similar to the previous invasion of Ponyville but it will not be met with subtly.

“Initially the Werewolves will be lead by Rainbow Dash who will lead the frontal charge from behind the millions of Changeling Drones, they are being called the Changeling Swarm. With Rainbow Dash and her forces striking them head on they will not notice the Vampires lead by myself, Twilight, and Spectra. We will split them in two groups to flank them on both sides, I will lead one and Spectra and Twilight will lead the other. The Phantoms lead by Celestia, Luna, Con, and Wraith will wait until Wraith and his reinforcements arrive and they will charge from the air and on ground.”

As he spoke everypony paid great attention as he drew the battle plans and when he finished Con and Wraith bowed low and Wraith said,”Foolproof my Prince.”

Con nodded in agreement. Dracula looked at the others and said,”Now I do not know if any of us will survive from this battle but if this is the last we will see each other I wish to say this.”

He used his magic to implant this in all the minds of his brothers and sisters as he spoke. He said,”Let me just say that it has been a pleasure and an honor fighting alongside you. Whether you are old friends or new companions it matters not. But what does matter is that the end is nearing and fate calls for the death of Living Shadow. And let me just say as well that just by getting this far we will go down in history as the greatest defense Equestria has ever seen.

“After all of this is over and we stand battered and broken, the final banner of the Children of the Night will wave high in the sky and with it those that survive will cry out in glorious victory, let it be us. Let be the ones that greatly deserve this act of vengeance. This act of righteousness. This War of Brothers. This DARK CRUSADE!!!”

Everypony heard him and cried out in agreement. They could be heard for miles and it brought great inspiration to their hearts and they became more determined. The drums of war began beating and their were its choir. They were its Symphony of the Night. They fight for vengeance and retribution. Dracula turned back and saw through an open window the sun staring straight at him with a warm orange glow. He glanced at the ponies in the room and said in a voice of great confidence and determination,”Today marks a new era for Equestria. Today marks the beginning of a new kingdom to defend the just and the right. Today marks the dawn of the Kingdom of the Ebonmanes.”

Princess Luna smiled and clopped her hoof in his metal clad shoulder and said looking him straight in the eyes,”Indeed. This is your kingdom now. Remember what I have taught you and you shall never falter. Even though they are still connected to me, you will reign with over them as their Prince of Shadows. This is your new domain, you will be the light of the darkness. We will share raising and lowering the moon as well as the stars of the night sky.”

Dracula nodded at Princess Luna and met the gaze of Twilight Sparkle. He said not moving his gaze from her eyes,”I will meet you in a few minutes I wish to talk to Twilight alone.”

They leave the room with haste and soon they are left alone. Twilight rushes to Dracula and embraces him tightly in her hooves. She says still embracing him,”I will look for you when the battle is over.”

Dracula lets go and he says looking down with great emotion in his eyes and in his tone he said,”I will wait for you to come. This I promise. I love you, always.”

Twilight answered,”I love you too.”

Dracula leaned down and kissed her. This was their longest one and after several seconds they released each other and Dracula said,”Let us not waste anymore time. Lets finish this.”

Dracula and Twilight stepped out into the morning sky and breathed in a breathe of fresh air and the smell of stone and fresh spring air filled his lungs. He looked out and saw that the Children of the Night were all outfitted in various dark armors. Cloth, leather, or full plate armor. They as well carried various weapons. Halberds, spears, shields, longswords, bladed bracers, staves and magic, daggers, or crossbows. Flapping in the wind was their new banners which was a crescent moon with his Northstar cutie mark filling the gap of the crescent moon. It symbolized the new reunion of the Northstar and their beloved Mother. A smile crept across his face and he cried out at the hundred thousand ponies that stood in battle lines in front of him all around the streets and above the rooftops,”Lets get us win our Vengeance we so righteously deserve.”

He pumped his hoof in the air and they bellowed out a loud cry of agreement and they turned around and began marching past the streets of Shadow Garden. He burst through the air and found the Ebonmanes he would be leading. He felt Twilight blink and teleport next to Spectra and they exchanged glances at each other. Twilight summoned Dreadtouch and her dark aura erupted around her. Before he left the city he said looking back,”We will return soon.”