Author's Notes:

These are the last new characters. I promise.

Icarrus remained stern and fierce from the ash rising in the sky. He carried the unconscious form of Sweetie Belle as if she weighed nothing. They slowly walked towards the keep in almost complete silence. The Changelings rushed to make up for lost time and refill the guard positions. They would glance over at them and give a disapproving look. They always have. They have taken the names of the “Half-Blood Princes”, as they are half Alicorn and half Changeling. Their father was apart of the Alicorn Council and was captured by Chrysalis as she wanted children and loyal servants. Their father was Lord Rycon Brightstar. He survived alongside Highlord Uther in the Alicorn Schism. While they fled together, but they were separated and Uther presumed Rycon dead.

But Rycon was still living and found himself in the Everfree Forest and at the time it was inhabited by another surviving member of the Alicorn Council, Athelis Blackdawn or as she is later known as Nightmare Moon. Athelis found sanctuary in the Everfree Forest and that was where Nightmare Moon was birthed from and where the Wilds originated. When Rycon met with Athelis he begged her to help him and Uther defeat Living Shadow. But she refused and she attacked Rycon with her Wilds.

Rycon however had proved too strong to face by herself so she embraced the nightmares of the night and transformed herself officially into Nightmare Moon. But she also created the Orb of Darkness that she used to cripple Rycon’s powers as well as injure him greatly. The tables were then turned and she over powered him in a cavern underground. She imprisoned him forever underneath the Everfree Forest as punishment for trying to kill her.

For five hundred years his emotions overtook him and could feel nothing but burning vengeance for all the wrong Nightmare Moon had done. But after that half millennia Queen Chrysalis came across him weakened and not at all the god like being he should have been. She took advantage of the situation and broke him out and got busy with Rycon. They had four children but they did not turn out quite how Chrysalis had hoped. She expected them to turn out like her, but they were different. instead of feeding off of love they all fed off of different emotions and feelings.

Their names were Aros, Icarrus, Vacius, and Kydaos. They took up characteristics of an Alicorn but they each had the black hue of a Changeling. Their manes and tails seemed to be made of glowing energy and flowed like Celestia’s and Luna’s. Chrysalis put Rycon back in his prison and she found out a different way to make Changelings. She would pump her magic through Rycon and into her. Because he was an immortal Alicorn he had an endless supply of magical energy and the first of the Changelings was Princess Isaris, future queen of the Changelings.

Icarrus came back to reality when Aros said to him,”I don’t see what this does for our benefit, Icarrus. All this will do is spur further hatred towards us.”

Aros talked with a tone of knowledge and power. He as well carried himself as such, Aros was the Half-Blood of Justice, the emotion he fed off of. Icarrus answered in a voice of nobility and honor,”Do not be so certain Aros. These are the Crusaders of Darkness, new creations of Living Shadow and Discord the god of Chaos himself. We have just given our dear mother the upper hand against the Children of the Night.”

“Why do we prove ourselves to her?”Vacius answered in a deep toned and gruff voice,”All we’re doing is giving her a better reason to hate us. I don’t understand why you seek her praise Icarrus.”

“I do this to be on good terms with our mother,”Icarrus snapped,”Our arguments are a thing of the past. I just want her to live long enough to know that her four first born sons still wish to be on her good graces.”

Kydaos snickered as he carried Scootaloo and Applebloom with no hinderance on him. He said in a cocky and sarcastic tone,”I’d say Shitlist rather than good graces. We’ve always been on her bad side. Dear brother, I have to take their sides on this one. She’d much rather see our heads strung on the rafters than see us leading the Changelings.”

Icarrus shouted,”Enough! This discussion is over! We all know that I do not wish to lead the Changelings, the exact opposite actually.”

That much had been true Icarrus never liked the Changelings. He much rather preferred his brothers and him to be Chrysalis’ most powerful children. Changelings feed off of the weakest form of emotional energy, love is almost as unpredictable as Kydaos. But Honor and Loyalty are forever, the emotions that gave Icarrus his powers. His powers were almost unlimited as the emotions each of them feed off of. Their manes get their color from the emotions they feed off of.

Icarrus looked ahead of them as they now stood at the entrance to the broken keep. It was nothing impressive outside as it looked like a crumbling mess. But inside it was much different. They stepped inside the foyer and looked around. Icarrus never enjoyed the decorating tastes of their mother. She liked to have it look like their old hive. Smelly and unpleasant to look at. It did not shine from cleanliness it shined from the goo that the Changelings are born in. Pillars of solid black kept the ceiling up and prevented the whole place from collapsing. They looked at the approaching figure and saw it was their dear sister, Princess Isaris. Isaris was the first born full blooded Changeling and the future queen of the Changelings. Isaris had looked almost the same as their mother just younger and as far as Changelings go, more appealing to look at. She said,”Thank the darkness you all are alright.”

Icarrus gave Sweetie Belle to Vacius and Aros gave Discord to Vacius. Icarrus said,”Take them to the holding cells. Aros and I will join you soon for the interrogations.”

Vacius and Kydaos gave a nod in agreement and they left to the holding cells. Taking a left down the stairs and over into the darkness. Isaris rushed to Icarrus and they hugged and she went over to Aros and she hugged him as well. Isaris embraced the emotion she fed upon and loved her older brothers almost to a fault. Icarrus said,”It is good to see you again Isaris. How is our mother doing?”

Isaris shook her head slowly and said,”She is not happy with the recent sabotage done to the castle. She wishes to speak with you two, alone.”

Aros drew out a long breath and said,”Great. Another lecture about how inefficient we are and how we are easily replaced.”

Icarrus ignored his older brother’s comment he said,”Take us to her.”

All through their walk to the throne room where Celestia and Luna had originally ruled was dead silent. On the way there Icarrus remembered the intense fights he and Chrysalis would get in. Despite in the past being the most rebellious child, he was the most loyal to her. His true intentions of getting on Chrysalis’ good side is getting her to think that they are her allies but when she is least expecting it she will find her head rolling on the floor.

He also did it so he could grow stronger so he would have an even greater hoof in her demise. When they had grown of age she told them that they were to be the counterparts of the Originals. Icarrus was the equivalent to Dracula. Vacius was the equivalent to Marrok. Aros was the equivalent to Night Dancer. And Kydaos was the equivalent to Riptide. They met face to face only once and that was when they realized they were fighting on the wrong side.

The air was cold in the Everfree Forest and it was even colder because Icarrus was sweating profusely. His breathing had become heavy and his movements very slow from the bruises, sprained bones, and deep gashes. His blood poured out of their wounds and began to form a puddle beneath him. Despite the physical exhaustion and the mental exhaustion of all the spells he had cast, he kept a ready stance and a fierce gaze upon Dracula who stood proudly a few meters away.

Icarrus had some semblance of respect for Dracula, he outmatched and outgunned all of them in combat. Icarrus moved his eyes slightly to see Vacius bleeding out and unconscious on the forest floor. Vacius would live as their was nearly nothing that could permanently kill them. Vacius would return to his immortal state in a few hours. Aros was impaled on a branch with a shocked look on his face and finally Kydaos was kneeling in his own puddle of blood but despite this he had an arrow notched at Dracula.

And despite the hours of fighting Dracula had shown no signs of physical or mental exhaustion. Dracula’s magical aura swirling around him stopped and so did the aura around his horn. He was unscathed and despite this he wrapped his enchanted metal chain around his hoof and said in a deep and accented voice,”It seems we are at an impasse Icarrus.”

Kydaos released the arrow and Dracula reflected it faster than the arrow had shot at him and it stabbed right through Kydaos’ heart. Kydaos gasped in horror and fell splashing his blood up. Icarrus did the only sensible thing to do. Wincing he sheathed his axe and got out of his battle stance. Dracula smiled cruelly and said,”It is nice to see there is some semblance of honor among the Changelings.”

Icarrus nodded and said,”Unlike my brothers I know when I am defeated.”

Dracula dropped the smile and returned to a serious look and emotionless eyes. Icarrus did not know how he felt no exhaustion from the fight, perhaps it was from the fact that he accepted his dark powers and embodied what it meant to enact revenge. Or perhaps he had always fought like this. Nevertheless he stepped forward and said,”There is still one thing that does not make an sense.”

“What might that be?”Icarrus retorted. He tightened his gaze on Dracula and Dracula responded,”Your mother has succeeded in capturing my brothers and sisters and I now leave finding Shadow Garden to the two chosen. But she sends her Changelings after me anyway, why?”

Icarrus sighs heavily and he says hesitantly,”She...she has something planned that requires all of the Originals.”

Dracula slowly nodded his head and said,”You do know your mother despises you? I can sense your blood, your father was an Alicorn as it makes sense that you four are Alicorns or part Alicorns. But you remain loyal to her to the letter.”

Icarrus contemplated his last words and Dracula had turned to walk away and before he was engulfed in the shadows of the Everfree Forest he says,”You are fighting on the wrong side Icarrus. Just because you feed off of emotions does not mean you don’t have to embody that emotion. Remember that Chrysalis also feeds off of Revenge. You four I fear will feel her scorn one day if you do not realise her faulty.”

He disappeared and he left them in the cold air and finally Icarrus’ vision blackened and he let his consciousness slip away.

Since that night forward he had secretly remained loyal to Chrysalis, biding his time to finally strike her down. Isaris opened large doors into the enormous throne room. As they walked in Isaris remained silent as they walked ten feet away from the throne. Sitting on the throne was Queen Chrysalis. She was completely made from shadow and her eyes glowed bright red. Even though her face bore no expression they could tell that she was uneasy. She said as they knelt in front of her,”Too slow and too weak. How did you manage to capture Discord the Spirit of Chaos. I don’t know if I should praise you for capturing such powerful enemies or scorn you for not capturing them in time.”

Icarrus lifted his head to meet her emotionless gaze. She stared right through him into his soul, a look he had grown used to. Icarrus said,”Not to worry dear mother. Your invasion will not fail.”

Chrysalis grunted and continued standing up and walking around her throne,”It was meant to fail you insolent foal. It is meant for fail so it draws Dracula here. You four will surely be punished for this, especially you Icarrus.”

Icarrus lowers his head in defeat and he says,”Forgive me.”

“How can I,”Chrysalis snaps,”When all you do is fail me.”

Aros looks over at Icarrus and bares a look of companionship. Then he looks at Chrysalis with a deadly look and and stands up shouting at her,”He has done nothing but try to be on your good side. But you are too much of a tyrant to see it. He wants to prove to you that he is not what you think but you just always seem to find something bad in everything that we do and I am SICK OF IT!!!”

Chrysalis stepped forward threateningly,”If you know what’s good for you you’ll watch your tongue. I detect treason on your lips Aros. I am your Queen and you will show me respect!”

Aros grunted and said,”Respect? The only type of respect you should receive is respect of the dead.”

“You bastard! How dare you talk to me like that!”

“Your days are numbered mother,”Aros says turning to leave,”And when that Night of the Hunter comes you’ll know who has stabbed you in the back with a black blade.”

Aros leaves and slams the doors. Icarrus watched in silence of their discussion. Chrysalis was mad as she showed it by clenching her jaw and teeth together. She turns her scornful look at Icarrus and says cooling herself down,”Perhaps he is right...you have done everything to please me and I have done nothing in return.”

She steps down very regal like and continued in a metallic voice that could break steel,”You have more than proven to be a valuable ally and an honored son. Oh if only your father were here to see this, but he sealed his fate long ago. Remember Icarrus, bloodlines are the only thing that can kill you. The next time I have a meeting with Living Shadow you may attend. Now leave me.”

Icarrus bowed his head and said on his way out,”Thank you. You will not regret this.”

Vacius reclined in his chair next to the cell that held Scootaloo who was now attempting to wake up as well as the other three. Scootaloo and Applebloom were in regular cells but Sweetie Belle and Discord were in cells that severed their ability to perform magic. Vacius and Kydaos reclined in their chairs directly facing their prisoners. Vacius looked over at Kydaos and he said watching him inspect his arrows,”Why do you think we aren’t allowed to be in those meetings?”

Kydaos grabbed a piece of cloth and began shining the arrow and said,”Who knows and who cares is what I say. I leave that to my imagination.”

Kydaos quickly put down the cloth and arrow and said addressing the prisoners,”Hello and welcome to the Castle of Two Sisters. I would have directed you to the beverages and food right now but there is none because you are prisoners. I hope you slept good because it will be the only good sleep you’ll have in a while. Now all we’re going to do is ask you a few questions individually and you’ll give us the truth.”

Scootaloo slammed her hoof on the ground and said,”How will you know if we’re lying?”

Kydaos leaned his hoof on her bars and said,”Vacius over there can smell liers. And he does not like lying so if you lie. I would have to leave all the physical harm left to him. Oh and by the way he is a bit bloodthirsty.”

Kydaos stepped away from her jail bars and went back to addressing the rest of them.”Now does anypony have any statements or questions? Oh wait what am I doing, Kydaos you dandy. Never mind just remain in your cells and wait until it’s your turn to be interrogated.”

Kydaos turns to his brother and says,”Who’s first?”

Vacius scans over their prisoners and stops at Discord who was sitting on the stone floor meditating. Vacius points his hoof at Discord and says,”Him. He’ll take the longest.”

Kydaos was giddy with excitement and he says,”Oh I am so excited to be interrogating Discord! He is my idle!”

Vacius rolled his eyes and says,”Yes I know won’t stop talking about him. And you’ve said that...about twenty five times.”

“Twenty five? You are over exaggerating brother.”Kydaos says as they entered Discord’s cell and closed the enchanted iron doors. He says looking at Vacius,”Put on a smile Vacius. This is our guest and no one wants their host to be a sour patch.”