Rondo of Blood

by Lord Sylus of Night

First published 2nd of February, 2015

“It is more shameful to distrust our friends than to be deceived by them.” ― Confucius. Indeed this is a story proceeding Children of the Night and is one filled with betrayal, and a whole new beginning for the land of Equestria. And bey

(Think of this as the intro to the story)

Symphony of the Night Series
Book One - Book Two

The symphony began three years ago. The tension rose deep within our veins. But like everything else, it must have a rondo. And this one will be filled with blood.
~Prince Dracula Belmont~

It has been three years since the events of the Dark Crusade. Dracula has destroyed the curse upon him by his father and defeated Tirek. Twilight has ascended into an Alicorn and she is now officially the ruler of Ponyville.

But not all is well and good. Tensions have begun to rise between Luna and Celestia. With southern and eastern Equestria at Luna's back and perhaps the support of the Ebonmanes. Things could easily turn into all out war.

As the game is set, many will see that there are even darker secrets that lie ahead in the future. Deception and betrayal seem to follow these two sisters. Perhaps even run them into their own graves...

I am not doing this to make it hard for you guys but, man points of this fic would make much more sense if you read some of the one shots I have written. Now you don't need to but it would help. Sorry, again not trying to be that guy, but it would help. Don't...shoot the messenger please.

Prologue - The Dream

Whisper in the yard and turn the trees all into toys.

Lay there on the ground, and turn the dirt into your joy.

From what I see and what I know, it's all been boring lately.

So I suggest we trade a question mark in for a maybe.

Time your riddles right, and make a point that has no sense.

Make sure that you're smiling, and the money's been well spent.

Innocence and ignorance, it all goes hand in hand.

I'm not sure that I'm right, but I hope you'll understand.

I hope that you're still searching for the start that has no end.

And all the plastic ponies have now become your friends.

Before you start to drift and your soul begins to scream.

I just wanted to tell you that you're listening to a dream.

On the borders of broken memories and of broken visions Dracula thrashed himself awake. As those lines of a poem echo in his mind, images flashed along his psyche. Scenes of slaughter. Scenes of war and of death. And scenes of despair. Dracula's breaths were short and uncontrolled. He moved a hoof to his scarred eye and hunched his back in pain. Lately, his scar has been acting up. Shooting with fiery pain. Normally it would not act up like this. He focused on the scar and the pain slowly dissipated.

Controlling his breathing he refocused. A flash of lightning exploded in the sky just outside, lighting the darkness of his bedchambers within Blacklight Hold. Bringing the dark grey floors to glow in the flash, but soon dying. Then the crash of thunder exploded above him in the sky. Dracula sat at the edge of his silken sheeted king sized bed, made of dark mahogany. Ornately carved and smooth to the surface. Exactly what Dracula wanted.

But what was on his mind now was those images. Too many and too fast to count just how many there were. Many of them included him and Twilight, or Dragomir. Or Celestia. Or Luna. It was almost more than Dracula could handle. He rested his elbows on his knees and shoved his closed eyes in his hooves, contemplating what they meant. They could not be visions of the future, everything was going well. The world could not be in danger. He hoped to have more time to do what he hoped in his heart to ask Twilight. He needed more time. Soon, he would ask her soon but he couldn't now if the world was thrust into a war.

His apprentices needed more time to train and more experience. Davirus was barely nearing a Risen vampire and Haldere is excelling greatly in his field, but refuses to go further. And his Vampires are at their height, if he were to enter them into a war he would risk everything he has done to keep them away from their animalistic side, he was already on Celestia's wanted list for becoming real, by definition, Vampires. She does not need anymore ammunition against him and his subjects.

Dracula lifted his head out of his hooves and looked over at the other side of the bed. He could imagine the lying form of his beloved Twilight Sparkle. Resting quietly. He can hear the slow melodic breaths escaping her as she rests peacefully. But she was in Ponyville, researching more on what she does not know or was kept from knowing. Dracula offered her a few books from Blacklight Hold, now the largest library in all of Equestria. It appeared he longed for her more so than him to her. He took a deep breath and rose, keeping good posture. Shoulders back. Chest out. A stern and concentrative face, not allowing any sign of emotion to seep through. His chest was bare and his hind legs in black trousers. Dracula cast a spell that flashed the time in his head. 8:30. Earlier than he usually woke up. But, he could live with it.

"My Lord" A deep and well aged voice announced. Dracula turned to see one of the latest additions to Blacklight Hold's staff. Eusef. A light grey stallion Earth pony, wearing a black overcoat and a matching waistcoat, the accent colors being scarlet red. the standard colors of the servants in Blacklight Hold. Dracula and his subjects were just starting to get used to sleeping sometime during the day. To get them more accustomed to the darkness they reigned over. And they needed protection. Luckily, there are ponies in this world who are willing to be two kinds of servants. Ones to be butlers, like Eusef. And others to be their cattle to feed on. Dracula authorized no killing of the cattle or to suffer ten minutes under direct sunlight. While Vampires are not very affected by the sun it is very slow. Irritates the skin, but does not turn them into ash. Dracula focused at his dark cyan eyes as he finished with a respectful look, "I heard sound of a ruckus. If I am not impeding on my rights, may I ask, are you alright milord?"

Dracula adored the way Eusef talked. The way his accent rolled off of his tongue and how he spoke through his nose, sounding very nasally. It was crisp and clean, with a hint of wisdom and respect behind each word. The only other of his favorite servants is Renfield, but he takes care of Black City. Dracula looked at Eusef and answered, "Yes, Eusef, I am alright. I appreciate the concern."

"Will you be awakening, sir?"

Dracula moved to one of his large open windows. Staring at the storm that raged above in the sky. Dracula responded with a distant tone, "Yes...after you help me into my armor would you please awaken the other Originals. We have much to discuss before my other subjects awaken."

"Of course my lord." Eusef answered with a bow. Dracula kept his gaze on the grey skies above and he bore the face of longing and forlorn. He heard Eusef walk into the room and go over into the far corner of the room. There resting on a rack was Dracula's armor, his red and black scaled armor. Made from the scales of a dragon, which are lighter than one would expect giving the wearer more mobility in combat. Dracula took in a deep breath and heard a low hum as his horn came to life, glowing a dark red. Concentrating Dracula felt his material form evaporate and dissolve into mist. Once he was completely mist he traveled to Eusef's side of the room and swirled into his armor. Mist fitting in the cracks and soon filling the suit with his form. Once he knew it was fully on him he became his normal form again and stepped off the rack.

"You look like your father in so many ways." Announced a voice that projected from one of the large open windows. Dracula knew instantly who it was, it was Princess Luna. His mother. His heart sank almost at the sight of her. He did not know the strife she carried and did not want to know. He hurt her and he felt guilt for it. He did not want to hurt her but he was just so angry.

There was nothing else to say to her other than, "Mother...what brings you to Blacklight?"

Luna shrugged her shoulders and asked, "What? I can't visit my firstborn son on informal terms?"

Dracula gave her a look that said, 'Don't pull that'. Dracula could feel that she had something to say, some news on Equestria and the Equine Empire. And whatever news that was, he could tell he was not going to like it. Dracula looked over and saw she was donning her usual garb. He then said to Eusef, "That is enough for now Eusef. Go wake the others."

"Yes sir." Eusef bowed and left the room.

Luna watched the earth pony leave the room. She held in-accepting eyes as he finally moved out of sight. Luna said with longing, "So. You have finally become what I hoped to keep inside of you?"

"Don't pull that," Dracula replied sharply crossing his hooves over his chest, "You kept us from being what we truly are. Vampires. Sooner or later this would have happened, if not by me then by another. Vampires feed off of blood, that's it. If you take that away from them, then they are something completely different."

Silence ensued after he spoke. Both not wanting to say another word, out of fear of what happened the last time they spoke. A death inducing silence. Luna finally spoke up and said, "I...bring news from Equestria...but...you won't like it."

"What is it?" Dracula asked with a twinge of fear. Not lasting very long.

Luna opened her hoof and a scroll slowly appeared in a blue aura on her hoof. She held it out and said, "What lies in my hoof is the key to Equestria's next great war. Not with another nation. But with itself."

Dracula stood as still as stone. Dracula responded coldly, "Luna...what have you done?"

Luna lowers her hoof and keeps her expression as she explained, "I am doing the right thing here. You have not seen Celestia as of late. She is turning into something that I have seen before. She is allowing her hatreds to take control of her and letting her anger be her ally. She is turning into a tyrant. It has to stop."

"So you answer with revolution?" Dracula slowly turns towards her as he continued, "So your answer is civil war? Have you seen the state Equestria is in right now? There are full families living on the streets. There are more orphans than I can count. You are in debt up to your neck. And to make matters worse, their rulers cannot even trust each other."

There was a pause in his next words as he heaved a calming sigh and closed his eyes as he continued, "I know that you want to make things right. But fate has its own way of making things play out. If you let yourself do this, then you will make it a hell of a lot more bloody than it needs to be."

A stinging silence ensued between them. Until finally Luna replied, "What choice do I have? She's my sister, I only want to help her. That is all that I have ever done. If I have to go so far as using revolution, then so be it. I have southern and eastern Equestria backing me up. That and she is not the only one with tricks up her sleeve."

Dracula felt a deep and ancient magic residing within Luna. It took form and molded to shape inside of her, contorting inside of her. It felt like a whole other entity, wielding different powers. Dracula tried to sense if she was being controlled and manipulated, after a few seconds the spell he used died with nothing. She was operating on her own volition. But what scared him the most was this was the same magic that his Death Knights and Lichs used.

Dracula sighed and responded, "So you are going to use revolution? I can sense the magic you are harboring. This is not just revolution you are hoping to use, this is all out war."

Dracula could tell she knew exactly what he was talking about. She rested a hoof on the crest of her chest and she said, "I pray to Adena that it will not come to war. I only hope that she will come willingly."

Dracula shook his head and said, "I cannot. I cannot accept this alliance. If Celestia learns of me siding with you then I will be dragged into a war strictly between you two. I will not get my people involved in this."

Dracula turned away from his mother and he felt rising through him was a wave of agitation and stress. In all of his years of leading ponies he has never had the stress over take him. He never thought of it as a chore rather than what it really is. But now it was putting more weight on his shoulders than is required, he felt his anger deep inside of him. It swelled and only continued to grow as he heard more of what his mother had to say, "But your people strive on war. Your ponies feed off of the dead and become stronger. If you were apart of this then my victory will be nearly absolute. Please...I'm asking you as your mother."

Finally his anger overtook him and his voice alone shook the stone room, "DO NOT!...no...you are asking too much. I am not getting involved in your affairs. Me and my ponies are not going to be apart of your revolution, we are not involved. She has enough ammunition against us as it is."

Dracula tried to keep his gaze away from his mother who just looked downcast. He had not seen her in three years and still he shouts at her, it hurt him every time. But, her actions just seem to contradict what she thinks is right. Luna lifted her head and holds the scroll in her open hoof and she said with a darkened tone, "You are involved in this more than you could ever know."

Dracula steps in front of his mother and levitated the scroll out of her hoof and opens it up in front of him. He crossed a hoof to his elbow and lifted the other to his chin. The aged parchment seemed to glow under the red aura, the neatly scrawled writing of Celestia danced across the page and Dracula read after the seal of the Equine Empire,

To my faithful subjects,
We have been forced into change. Change most of us are not comfortable with, conditions that we loathe but we allow to happen anyway. For we live at the doorstep of a nation filled with monsters out of our nightmares. And we allow them to walk our streets with nothing restraining them. So that is why immediately I will be having full support and control over the Brotherhood of Light, a league of monster hunters, to protect our streets where we are unable to. If an Ebonmane even thinks of attacking any of Equestria's citizens, they will be publicly executed. And their death noted to Dracula, their ruler. We are in a weakened state, my little ponies, and we can't let these monsters fill our streets.
Your Immortal Princess,
Princess Celestia

Dracula felt hate burn through his core and the fury was barely able to be contained. The parchment burst into flames and when he noticed that happen he breathed controlled breaths. His fangs revealed themselves and his cornea's had a yellow tint around the edge, animalistic hunger and anger filling him. He growled, "If she thinks that this will go with no repercussions for her actions. She is sorely mistaken."

His breathing was less wild and he calmed down. Dracula looked to his mother and stood back up straight as he noticed she had a fearful look. She had never seen him take the life of another pony with draining their blood. And he never hoped for her to see that. Dracula said moving towards the door leaving the room, "We will confront Celestia about this before you raise a banner in revolution. If there is a chance that we can prevent this civil war then we need to try."

Luna let a sigh of relief come out. She said as Dracula offered her to leave. She crossed the room and said as she was in front of Dracula. She stopped and said, "That was my hope all along. The less blood to be spilled the better."

She went to leave when Dracula grabbed her hoof and said, "Wait."

She looked at him with questioning eyes and Dracula took a pause in his words and they came out as she retorted, "I...I am sorry...for what I did to you...truly I am...it's just...I..."

His voice faltered as he continued, his voice trailing off. Luna rested her hoof on Dracula's cheek and said with a smile, "It's okay Dracula. You don't have to explain. Your life has been filled with death and pain. But you do not need to worry about that now. You finally have the mother you never had."

Dracula gave a heart felt smile and he said, "You are right. I was foolish to think what I did three years ago."

The look on Luna's face was one that Dracula will never forget. Like she can finally rest easy knowing her son has forgiven her. Something that Dracula can get used to seeing. She sauntered off through the dark halls. Dracula watched her round a corner and just as she was out of sight he saw Eusef step next to him. Eusef bowed respectfully and exclaimed, "They await your arrival in the Great Hall, sir."

Dracula nodded and straightened his back and said, "Thank you Eusef. That will be all for now."

They separated their ways and Dracula made his way to the great hall. With a crooked smile on his face.

Eventually Dracula pushed open the large oaken doors and announced Prince Dracula coming into the room. Dracula looked and saw all of the appropriate leaders there. Riptide, of the Phantoms. Cornell, of the Werewolves. Malik, of the Vampires. Wraith, of the Death Knights. And Dracula's own right hoof, Spectra Crystalline. Malik was a newest addition considering Con's death at the rebellion in the south. Malik was a tall standing dark brown unicorn with piercing blue eyes. He wore splint mail over a layer of thick leather padding, his mane wild and like a lion's, just a jet black color. A large great axe sheathed on his back and he stood with his hooves crossed over his chest. Dracula had grown to like Malik in the short time that he had known the statuesque stallion, as he expected being Renfield's twin.

Dracula ushered himself in the room and noticed that the war table was set up. They might need it in the coming months. The rising pale moon offered a little light to the torchlit dark stone room. As Dracula crossed the room passing the Originals, he replayed the events that played out. The fateful battle that took place on the floor he now walked, the stains and wounds never to heal or to be cleaned up. Dracula looked and saw they stood at the table that was no more than five or seven feet away from the Obsidian Throne. Dracula decided he would not sit in it that night and leaned against the edge of the table, his back facing the throne. On his near right was Cornell and on his near left was Spectra and Malik.

All their faces were stern and respectful towards the Vampire Lord. Dracula nodded his head at them and said, "Alright. I come bearing bad news."

"Is there any other kind of news these days other than bad?" Riptide added coyly in his medium pitched voice. He hovered in the air and looked as though he was reclining on a couch rather than hovering.

Dracula only smirked at his comment and continued, "Celestia has made a recent decree that whenever one of our Ebonmanes enters a settlement of the Celestial Empire are to be watched by the Brotherhood of Light. And if they have reason to believe that the Ebonmane in question is there to harm then...they are to be publicly executed."

Gasps and growls of anger were heard all around, except from Malik. Malik just kept his stone like stance. Spectra was one that gasped and after her astonished reaction she added borderline to a low toned growl, "What gives her the authority to make such demands?"

Wraith rubbed his chin and said in his iron gripped voice that echoed with another behind it, "It is obviously a play to keep us on our toes. From all the other plays she has made over these three years I'd say that she is mobilizing for war."

Silence befell the council of the Ebonmanes, a silence that Dracula could cut with a knife. Dracula focused on the map of Acros, and the 6 countries that make it up. Equestria. Aviania. Cervidia. The Frozen North. The Badlands. And the Ashlands. Dracula owning the Ebonmane Empire or as his nation is being called Sanguinaria. Including the Everfree Forest and the Whitetail Woods, Sanguinaria. The silence was broken by Wraith's voice once again, "I can have my Death Knights ready to invade Canterlot in two days."

Spectra seemed shocked by his quick decision to invade Canterlot. Spectra hissed at Wraith, "So your answer is to invade the capital? There has to be another way other than war."

"And what would you suggest?" Wraith barked, "That we allow them to hand us our flanks on silver platters? That we make them a nice set of clothes? This is not the way the world works anymore Spectra. This is our only answer."

"So we are to revert to barbaric ideals? If we do this then Celestia will get what she wants." Spectra narrowed her eyes and gave a look of sharp daggers. Dracula was impressed with her showing some backbone, "She wants us to react like that, to prove that we are the monsters she claims us to be."

Wraith seethed with anger. He growled, "Yet we are to allow Celestia to control where are ponies are allowed to go? She raised an army in two years. She revived a long dead order. AND has improved the teachings of her unicorns, making the Canterlot Magi. If those are not clear signs she is mobilizing I don't know what is. Our answer should be to mobilize ourselves."

Cornell added in, "My packs have returned with suspicions that they are finding a way to create more weapons. A shipment of ten tons of Arkonite Crystals just came in to Canterlot yesterday."

Spectra knit an eyebrow and said, "Why would she need that many Arkonite Crystals? Her pegasi and earth pony mage knights only require one and she has not nearly enough knights to have them all be used."

"Dracula, my prince, authorize me and my death knights to mobilize and we will make Celestia regret she ever thought of handicapping us."

Dracula straightened and said sternly, "I will not authorize this attack. Luna and I will confront Celestia on this matter. And if worse comes to worse...then...then Equestria faces civil war."

Silence once again overtook the great hall only the eerie sound of the draft from the cracks in the walls. It was tense. Most of them shared his same reluctance to war and Dracula respected them for that. Malik finally added in a deep and melodious voice, "Then we will wait on your decision, my lord. We will assist in any way possible. Whether it is manpower or supplies, we'll assist."

Dracula looked over at Malik and nodded his head at the Sire and returned to the map of Acros. Spectra asked after glancing around the room, "Where is Haldere and Davirus?"

"They are on a diplomatic mission to the Crystal Empire," Dracula replied with a heavy gaze on the map, "To improve relations with the Ebonmanes and the Crystal Ponies."

Dracula paused and stood up to leave. He said to Spectra, "We are leaving for Ponyville. We are going to see Twilight and the others, you go ahead of me. I am going to meet with our ponies before I leave."

Spectra nodded her head respectfully and in a flash of bright blue she disappeared. Dracula said to the others at the threshold of the oaken doors, "Await for my return, when I come back it will either be as your everyday leader or as a player in Equestria's next great civil war."

Author's Notes:
The poem does not belong to me. It is actually a song believe it or not. All the Shinedown fans out there recognize it as the creepiest fing song by Shinedown. I thought that we should start things off on a creepy note. So, here you go! Finally out! Woo hoo!!!
Anyways,
See you guys next chapter
~Sylus~

Chapter I - Upon The Witching Hour

Twilight had many different ways of seeing things. One of them being her analytical mind, taking in all the details noticing anything that stood out and anything that did not. It was very helpful when reading body language, she was the Princess of Friendship so she needed to know a pony's true intentions just by looking at them. Another way she viewed things was from the eyes of her subjects and not her fellow ponies. She made no laws until she brought it up with the ponies she now ruled over. Twilight was thankful that she was only made Sovereign of Ponyville, she was never really comfortable in thinking that she was now more important than anyother pony. And finally the last way she viewed things was, through the eyes of knowledge. She kept a great mind that was filled with all sorts of knowledge. She knew just about everything. Almost nothing ever slipped from her without reading about it first.

However she did not count on being thrust through a series of visions. It must be a Alicorn thing because she does not remember getting these as a unicorn. Something she'd have to look into. The first vision, she was standing amidst Ponyville but it was a raging inferno. Ponies dying on the streets, being burned to death by the fire. Twilight was filled with horror and despair, she had never seen a sight so horrible. She looked at the flowers of flames that rose in the air, these were not normal fires. Normal fires crackled and sucked the oxygen from the air. Twilight cast a spell and detected the oxygen levels. It was at a normal level. So this was magically cast fire. She studied the flames and came to one conclusion, but she did not like it. Then she heard deep bellowing laughter, she turned and saw Celestia or at least she thought it was Celestia.

It was like looking at Nightmare Moon but bright bleach white instead of dark obsidian. Her eyes were similar to Nightmare's but were a light violet shade. Her armor was sterling gold and was very ornate but looked to protect the pony who wore it, etched in designs and it covered most of her body. The only things that were exposed was her neck, arms, legs, and flank. Her hooves were well protected and even the helmet looked as such. She held a maddening gaze over all of Ponyville, she was the cause from all those fires. Twilight's heart sank, her teacher...why would she do something like this.

Then the scene changed and Twilight quickly found herself in Canterlot Castle. The catacombs at least. The damp wetness was unfriendly to her and made her feel as if she was unwelcome. She then saw the back of a pony. The pony wore a long burlap cloak, the same one she had. The hood was pulled up and the only thing that could be shown was the bright light illuminating the top of the pony's horn. Twilight followed close behind the pony and noticed that they both placed their hooves at the exact same moments. This had to be her, it just had to be.

And her third and final vision came from the darkest recesses of her mind. The edges of her vision was foggy, she saw Dracula taking on an entire horde of dark filled creatures. An ancient power that she had never felt before. His animalistic cries resounded through her mind and his roars of combat echoed across the walls of her subconscious. Their was fury in his eyes, the wild fury of a lone wolf taking down his fellow pack members. She saw a dark version of Dracula, one she never wished to see. She then heard a dark and trembling voice echo as a blow from Dracula's sword connected to another dark figure,
When one pony sifts through the dying ashes, that pony will find and face a whole new inferno.

Twilight shot her head up. Ready and alert for danger, immediately casting a spell to sense any threats near her and make quick work of them. Her breaths were short and uncontrolled as she felt a rising vengeful tide inside of her, the fury she used on Living Shadow. She sensed no dangers. She calmed her breathing and dragged a hoof over her cheek. She was drenched in cold sweat. She slowly gained control of her breathing and beat down the vengeful fire inside of herself.

It was well into the night and many sconces of dying flames filled Twilight's vision. The crystal walls of her new tree home shone in the light of the dying embers. She was sitting in her library with stacks of books just out of reach from her hooves. She carefully thought back on what she had been studying. She was studying a new discovery of magic. Runes. But not normal runes, these runes were drawn on the coat of the pony letting them draw from excess arcanic reserves. Acting as a walking weyline of arcanic energy, letting unicorns and alicorns draw off of them for magic. Known as Shiftwalkers. Twilight had studied all she could on this theory, and in practice it seems as if it would work. But sadly she found no way to solidify this theory into a fact and a way of inscribing it as a new way of invocation. Many unicorns struggled with connecting themselves to weylines, especially in other countries where there were little to no weylines. Twilight looked at the book that was halfway read in front of her. It was 'Moratorium of Arcanic Theories and Beliefs' she must have fallen asleep reading it. It was the first tome she actually found herself dozing off to. The words neatly scrawled on the pages were soft to recite in her mind and caused her to sleep. She read back on the sentence she had fallen asleep to, 'To bear the powerful runes is to sacrafice a great deal of oneself. It is not easy to bear the weight of a weyline. Shiftwalkers because of the power that they have inscribed on their bodies, live short lives. As they feed off of the energies, the runes feed off of the pony.'

These were careful words to consider. Runes hold more power the bigger they are. A half an inch one is less powerful as to one that is an inch thick. Twilight stopped reading and looked up. The library was large and had many bookcases. Twilight lost a considerable amount of books after her tree home was destroyed by Tirek. She recovered what she could, most of her free time was rewriting all the books that were lost. She had memorized every single book in the library, and wrote down every word of every sentence of every book. All she needed was to recall the title and the rest came flooding back to her. She was half way done with the books that were lost, she as well had shipments from the Royal Canterlot Historical Society to allow her to have some of the original copies and as compensation for destroying Tirek. Her other free time was filled with Dracula.

She looked downcast and lifted her hoof to stare at the North Star amulet. She stared long at that necklace. She had never used, she never needed to. She saw Dracula almost all the time. She thought that because they both had new duties that they would see less of each other. Especially since she ascended into an alicorn. Five alicorns of the royal family, even though only two of them weren't related. Twilight looked over at a flower pot on one of the window sills. It had Equestrian Lilacs, a bright purple flower that was believed to be immortal because it lasts through winter and autumn. It was a gift from Dracula, a token of their love. She had been given so much over the course of these three years. Yet she felt as though they had plateued. Things rarely changed from all the encounters they had together. She would have to talk to Dracula about this, if they wanted their love to grow they need to solidify each other.

Twilight jolted back from her thoughts as she felt a gentle hoof on her shoulder. Twilight looked and saw a light grey hoof on her shoulder. A soft feminine voice asked her, "Is everything alright Twilight?"

She knew who owned the hoof, it was the hoof belonging to Ditzy Do. Ditzy decided to join the castle staff because she was being mistreated as a mailmare. Twilight disbanded the mail team and took Ditzy in to protect her from further cruelty from the other ponies. Twilight pressed a hoof to the bridge of her nose and let out a sigh, Twilight mused, "I'm sorry if I awoke you Ditzy, it's just...I had a rather stressful night."

Ditzy asked in a friendly tone, "Would you like some company?"

Twilight smirked and replied, "I appreciate the offer but I think I can handle myself for now."

Ditzy returned with a warm smile and said, "Okay. I'll just head back to bed then. Good night Twilight."

With that Ditzy turned and went to leave when she bumped right into a pony. Ditzy nearly fell off of her hooves but somepony had caught her. Ditzy let the haze of confusion lift from her and she felt soft hooves hold her and a gentle feminine voice that said, "Sorry about that darling, I was not looking where I was going."

Ditzy stared up long into those bright blue eyes. She knew whose face it was and it was the most beautiful mare Ditzy had ever seen. Pristine white coat with dark blue mane. She was absolutely gorgeous, Ditzy felt stunned with nothing to say. Twilight chuckled as she knew exactly what was going on, the same thing had happened to her a few times before she met Dracula. Ditzy said with a blush on her face, "I...I'm the one that should have been looking where I was going...I'm so sorry Lady Rarity."

Rarity brought her back to her standing position and said dusting off of Ditzy's shoulders, "Please darling I was the one who was not paying attention. And please call me Rarity, we are way past formalities Ditzy."

Ditzy twirled her mane and kept a sheepish gaze and said, "Okay...Rarity."

Ditzy then left the room rather quickly. Twilight kept a smile on her face as she saw the entire scene. Rarity saw Twilight's face and asked with a shrug of her shoulders, "What?"

Twilight waved her hoof and replied, "Oh nothing. I was just wondering if you have noticed Ditzy has been acting very strange around you lately."

Rarity responded, "If you are implying what I think you are implying, that is not the case. We are merely friends. Besides, I am getting letters in the mail from somepony."

Twilight bit her tongue as she knew something that Rarity did not. She decided that it was not her purpose to reveal something like that. To just openly betray a friend's trust like that. Twilight heard Rarity mutter to herself, "Although I would like to know the face of my admirer."

"Some things are better left to the imagination Rarity." Twilight looked over and saw Sweetie Belle enter the room and lean up against one of the pillars of crystals with crossed hooves. A slight smile was spread across her face as she looked over at her sister.

Rarity rolled her eyes and said, "Some people have a rather broad imagination Sweetie Belle. At least I am being admired and not ignored such as yourself."

Sweetie Belle kept her sly smile and retorted, "That might actually be a sting if I even cared. Perhaps I could talk to your admirer about it."

Rarity gave an annoyed glare and said, "I am the one to be vexed because I am the one who is barely even trying with my beauty. Truly, you could do a lot more Sweetie Belle. Comb your mane at least once."

Sweetie Belle giggled, "That might work on Applejack but not me. You really need to come up with better comebacks than that. That, and I find it funny that you think I actually care. I am not in need of another's company."

Twilight interjected, "Don't you girls have something better to do than argue in my library? Like royal duties to attend to?"

The two sisters looked at Twilight and shrugged their shoulders. Twilight rolled her eyes in response to the gesture. She dismissed the thought. She knew what Rarity went through recently, it would make sense for her to take some time off from her duties. Then she began to think about this newcomer, Aureate Whitevalor. Aureate was a very hard mare to read and one even harder to ask friendship, Twilight never saw a more stubborn pony. She seemed to remain content with only knowing herself. Aureate lived within the borders of the Everfree Forest. She was such a quiet mare, no doubt still mulling over her past. It is understandable to remain in the Everfree Forest, modern society can be a bit overwhelming and especially when you are Aureate Whitevalor.

Twilight came out of her thoughts when Rarity leaned on Twilight's desk. Twilight looked at her friend and the light hearted mood she was in was devoid in her eyes. She said in a low tone, "That is actually why I am here Twilight...you see darling...Celestia has made another decree involving the Ebonmanes. Where she practically said that she controlled what we say and where we are able to go. Luna and Dracula are going to confront her about this and they hope that things will go well."

Rarity's voice trailed off as she looked past Twilight and Twilight responded, "And if it goes bad?"

The next part struck Twilight hard, like a hammer blow to the face as her friend sullenly answered, "Then we enter another civil war."

Twilight could barely breath. Only recently had she got things under control. Public order was kept and the city guard was established as well as a few local militias to keep out foreign invaders. Local crimes have went down and only recently had she gotten rid of the Stardust. Now she was going to be thrusted into a civil war right smack dab in the middle. Ponyville was half way from Sanguinaria and Canterlot, which meant she would have to pick a side. Her head spun and she rested her hoof on her head and muttered to herself, "Oh Celestia...not now...things have been going so well."

Rarity was about to say something when a pony burst through the door. Twilight looked up and saw who it was. Standing tall and in thick heavy plate armor was Starlight Comet, Captain of the Watch in Ponyville. Sheathed on his back was a shield bearing Ponyville's crest, and resting at his side was his iron longsword. His starry mane rested calmly on the left side of his face and his dark blue coat dull and not eye catching in the light. His dark green eyes pressing an issue, like he had seen the devil himself. He bowed and in a low commanding voice said, "Your majesty. Somepony to see you outside."

Twilight knit an eyebrow and asked, "What did he look like?"

Starlight shuddered as he remembered something menacing, like he was reliving a nightmare. Twilight gave a crooked smile and bookmarked her page in her book. She stood up and as she passed Starlight as she did she said, "That's all I needed Captain Starlight."

Twilight stepped into the cold autumn night air and a gentle breeze danced around her. The calming wind soothing her restless muscles. She loved the weather at night, it made her feel warm and accepted. A luxury she wished she had when she was younger, which seemed like another life time ago. She remembered the countless hours staying up all night and reading the various tomes in Canterlot Library she had checked out when she was about the same age as Sweetie Belle. Sweetie Belle before her...accident. Then when she was well into her teen years she was well respected and recognized as the Princess' faithful student, reading the secret tomes unbeknownst to the public.

She felt giddy as she remembered reading forbidden spells that other ponies could not know. That happy feeling remained when she saw who it was that wanted to see her. Outside and standing in the pale moonlight was none other than Dracula. He wore his new dark scaled armor but over that he had his long black leather trench coat he adored so much. His bright red eyes focused on her and his hooves in the pockets of his coat. Twilight smiled as she walked down the steps of the outside porch. When she hit the bottom of the steps she glided across the ground and fell into his arms.

She embraced him warmly in the moonlight and felt the heat rise. She loved the pony she held in her hooves. Twilight had a gentle smile on her face as she sunk into Dracula's firm and muscular chest. The warmth reminded her of home and the warm hearth that glowed brightly and heated the house. The air light and her mind even more so, she felt like pudding ready to be poured into a bowl for simple enjoyment. She lifted her head and looked up at Dracula and she kept her inviting smile as she said, "Good evening Silver."

Her voice came out like silk and Dracula replied with a smile of his own, "Good evening my love. I trust that you slept well?"

The smile remained as she added playfully, "Not exactly...you weren't there."

Dracula moved his hoof to her neck and she gasped as it glided from her side to the back of her neck. It rested warmly on the nape of her neck and he finished mere inches away from her, "I am sorry, I had matters I needed to attend to. Allow me to make up for it."

Twilight continued to smile as Dracula pressed his lips against hers. His lips warm and firm against that of her own. Twilight pulled Dracula in closer and held her hooves at his lower back and melted under the passionate kiss. After a few long seconds Twilight pulled away and gave out a breath of freshness. A cooling feeling spreading through out her veins, her nerves from a few minutes ago just melting away. She opened her eyes and saw that of her partner's filled with longing and forlorn. Twilight asked, "What's wrong? Is it your future meeting with Celestia."

Dracula let out a sigh and responded, "I have tried for so long to keep relations between me and her at a stable point. I have no idea why she is unloading all of her anger on me now. I would have preferred to talk out our differences."

Twilight lifted her hoof to his cheek and she said in a confident tone, "I have complete faith you Silver. If there is anyone on Ketos that can prevent an all out civil war it is you."

Dracula smiled under her touch and said, "Thank you Twilight. I only wish that it will go easily-"

"What in the name of Equestria are you doing with my daughter?!"

Twilight jumped as she heard the familiar sharp yell of her father, Night Light. Twilight pulled herself away from Dracula and found her father standing threateningly a few feet away from her and Dracula. Next to Night Light was Twilight's mother, Twilight Velvet. Night Light stared daggers at Dracula meanwhile Twilight's mother held a hoof over her mouth in shock. Twilight held a sheepish gaze and felt foolish that she did not tell her parents about Dracula sooner.

Twilight said, "Mom. Dad. What are you doing here?"

Night Light stepped threateningly closer to Dracula and explained in an angered tone, "Me and your mother were going to visit you while our house is being repaired. But a better question is, what did you think you were doing with him?!"

Twilight let the initial fear for herself wash away and a new fear for her parents rise. Dracula stood in a battle stance ready to defend Twilight. Twilight raised her hooves and said, "Dad I can explain..."

"You're damned right you're going to explain?!" Night Light screamed moving his dagger like gaze from Dracula and to Twilight, "I thought me and your mother raised you right! I thought you would find that special somepony!-"

"Dad please just let me-"

"We thought that you would never find some pony special enough! Dear Celestia, it only took Shining Armor so long to find Cadance!-"

"Dad pl-"

"Yet the first time we visit we find you with some low life!"

Twilight cringed and could feel the iron like gaze shift to Night Light. Twilight's eyes grew wider and felt as though the reached maximum opacity. Dracula narrowed his gaze on Night Light and in a dark tone asked, "Excuse me?"

Night Light had no fear to Dracula's gaze, which is what scared Twilight the most. As if they both had the same instinct Twilight and her mother said, "Sweetie please."

"Silver don't."

But they remained dead set on who could be feared the most. Night Light got really close to Dracula, and even though he was a half a head shorter than Dracula he looked to have no fear what so ever. Night Light returned, "You heard me."

Like two rival lions fighting over the pride, they stared at each other seeing who would make the first move. Twilight saw something she never thought she would see. Dracula's eyes were the same dark red color but the rim of his cornea grew bright yellow and his fangs extended out of his mouth. Twilight gasped and stepped in between Night Light and Dracula. Twilight had her back to her dad and she stared at Dracula. He kept a gaze on Night Light, one where it was a predatorial look. Sizing up Night Light. Twilight said looking into those maddening eyes, "Silver...stop."

Dracula looked at Twilight and saw the terrified look on her face. Dracula's breathing returned to normal and his eyes became fully red and his fangs retracting back into his jaw. Twilight let out a sigh of relief and turned to her father and said, "Dad. Please. I was going to say that he is my special somepony. We met three years ago. I had every intention of telling both of you but it slipped my mind, I had a great many things on my mind."

Twilight Velvet intervened as well and said to Night Light, "Enough honey."

Night Light's anger seemed to sub side. He controlled his ragged breathing and focused back, relaxing his muscles. He said, "I'm sorry. I just wish I knew. I thought that you..."

"Sweet Celestia no." Twilight said, "I would never do that to anypony but my special somepony."

Twilight Velvet looked giddy with a large smile, "Well dear aren't you going to introduce us?"

Twilight moved her hoof around Dracula's waist and said looking at Dracula and then to her parents, "Dracula, this is my mom and dad. Mom and dad, this is my special somepony Dracula Belmont."

Dracula extended his hoof to Night Light and Night Light accepted the shake and Dracula said, "It is nice to finally meet you sir. I apologize for scarring you there."

Night Light chuckled and said, "Likewise. And I am the one who should apologize, I shouldn't have jumped to conclusions like that."

Twilight eyed her dad. If there was anypony who would have lost that fight it would have been her dad. Not that she did not have faith in her dad it's just that he was picking a fight with a Vampire Lord. Something that she would have to explain to them later. Dracula took Twilight Velvet's hoof and kissed it. Dracula said, "I can see where Twilight gets her stunning beauty from."

Twilight Velvet blushed and said, "Why thank you...Dracula was it?"

Dracula nodded and wrapped his hoof around Twilight's shoulder. After a few moments of silence Twilight looked over her parent's shoulders and said, "Let me help you bring your things inside."

Dracula stepped first and said, "Please Twilight, allow me."

Dracula stepped past Twilight's parents and began piling the luggage in his hooves. Twilight watched him lift all those bags and walk to the crystal castle. Twilight looked back at her parents and when they were side by side Twilight's mother leaned in and whispered to her daughter, "Charming, chivalrous, AND handsome. He's a keeper."

Twilight rolled her eyes at her mother's comment. She said in her mind, 'This is going to be a long visit.'

Author's Notes:
Yes! Chapter One done! I've never noticed a lot of fics with Twilight's parents, so why not include them. I hope you guys enjoyed that little fight that almost happened between Dracula and Night Light. I thought it went perfectly. I was going to include Twilight's parents in the fic somehow, so...there you go. Expect more updates soon!
See you next chapter!
~Sylus~

Chapter II - The Calm Before the Storm

Dracula set down the luggage he volunteered to carry inside. He set them down at the door and looked around. He dreaded to imagine the fated civil war to overtake Ponyville. With it being the trade center of all of Equestria he doubted that the war would not swallow Ponyville. The foyer was dead silent, like a visage he turned and went to leave when a voice called to him, “Leaving so soon?”

Dracula turned and saw a new face, the face of Twilight Velvet. Her white coat shimmering in the torchlight of the chandelier over head. Her light purple and white mane casually hanging on the right side of her head. She crossed her hooves over her chest and leaned against the railing of the stairs. Dracula saw a lot of similarities between Twilight and her mother. Beauty among them, but they way that they walked and the way they carried their words.

Dracula answered, “I have matters to attend to that could decide the fate of Equestria.”

“So much so that you aren’t even going to stay for idle introductions?” Twilight Velvet shrugged. Dracula knew the same tone, it reminded him of her daughter. It caused a smile to cross Dracula’s face. He had wanted to meet Twilight’s parents eventually. He would have to in what he was going to ask Twilight.

Dracula responded, “I suppose I have enough time to talk.”

“Good,” Twilight Velvet said, sauntering down the stairs and continued, “Twilight and my husband will join us soon. They have some catching up to do.”

Dracula nodded and lifted his hoof to the living room ushering her in and said, “Will you?”

Twilight Velvet walked into the living room area and said, “You never cease to amaze Sir Belmont.”

Dracula followed after her and they sat next to one another on the couch. The satin cushions collapsing in under Dracula and Twilight Velvet. Dracula thought carefully of what to say. He really did not have anything to talk about. While he was filled with stories, most of them had no happy endings. Twilight Velvet knit an eyebrow and asked, “I have been curious of this ever since I saw you, are you part of the royal family?”

“I don’t follow? Wait, do you mean the wings and horn,” Dracula asked, answered with a nod of her head. Dracula responded relaxing his muscles, “The initial answer is yes. I am the first born son of Princess Luna. But I’d rather not revisit any of those memories...they are...painful to say the least.”

Twilight Velvet offered a motherly hoof on his as it rested on his lap. Dracula focused on her and her bright blue eyes as she said, “It’s okay. Talking about it will help.”

Dracula drew out a hesitant breath, even though he had just met Twilight Velvet he felt as though he could trust her with anything. Another similarity between her and Twilight. The fact that they are both so friendly and willing to accept anypony as a friend. But he also doubted himself. He had a dark past, one that he dreaded to rethink about even in his own mind. After some strife he replied, “I...I can’t put a burden as large as mine on your shoulders Twilight Velvet. I have only just met you.”

Twilight Velvet seemed intrigued to say the least, she prodded, “But I am your marefriend’s mother. I am here for more than just crying in the background as I see my little filly all grown up.”

Dracula smiled once more and added, “I suppose you are right Twilight Velvet…(sigh)...To understand what my story is you have to imagine a life filled with deceit. Lies. Hate. And blood. Both figuratively and metaphorically. My memories of the time of my colthood is nearly void at this point. I think upon it and it slips through my hooves closer to the abyss. You must also understand that I am not a champion of one side alone. I am a champion of light and darkness. Champion of the grey.

“For I have served both sides, and I am now before you today a follower of my own path. I was broken and remade again with new abilities. I have mastered half of harmony and now I wish to master the other spectrum. Most of what I say might not make sense to you but I am not your average stallion.”

Twilight’s face grew neutral as he explained a short version of his life. Dracula looked over to her for nirvana, for creedence or forgiveness of his sins. But she just gave him a look that told him there was no solace for him now. He hung his head and Twilight Velvet answered, “Then what are you?”

Dracula’s head rose and his eyes fierce with protection and with bold determination. He answered, “I am a Vampire Lord.”

“He’s a what?” Night Light asked with a shocked look on his face. Twilight should have expected a reaction like that from her father. They spoke within her bed chambers, she was not really thinking about her location when she wanted to explain what Dracula was.

Twilight explained again, “Dracula is a Vampire Lord. Prince of Shadows and Sovereign of Sanguinaria.”

Night Light looked light headed and leaned against the wall and said, “Oh gods...I picked a fight with a Vampire? Why did you not tell me that before?”

Twilight twirled her hooves together and responded, “I...I was occupied otherwise. I wanted to tell you, I really did, it’s just...I had been getting stressed from my most recent promotion into a princess and leading Ponyville.”

Night Light sighed and looked out the window. Twilight saw the distant look in his eyes, he was contemplating something. Twilight ached to know what it was that had him so focused and so thoughtful. Night Light calmed his irritated mind and said, “I am not angry or displeased in you, I just wish you would have told me sooner. These past years have been...an eye opener to say the least.”

Twilight knew that he was talking about Shining Armor and his dead. Twilight did tell them about that immediately. Her heart filled with grief as she remembered the dreaded day he had died. Her soul drowning in the sorrow she thought she had been rid of. Before she allowed it complete control over herself she looked back at her father as he said, “I never wanted you to be subjected to this...I am sorry.”

He muttered something under his breath that Twilight could not comprehend. She was about to ask what he said when Spectra came barrelling in the room, she held a hoof on the door frame and her face was laden with hysteria. Spectra stuttered, “S-something is wrong with Spike!”

Twilight uncrossed her hooves her face covered with more shock as she asked, “What? With what? Where is he?!”

Spectra added, “He’s this way.”

They both rushed out of the room and barrelled through the halls. She hoped that he was alright, she shivered at the thought of losing Spike too. Then she would really only have her parents and Dracula. Time seemed to slow, like she was rushing through a layer of thick caramel. It was agonizing. Her heart beat anxiously as she tried not to think about Spike’s ailment. Was it a disease? Was he injured? Questions flooded the edges of her mind.

Finally they opened the door and before they rushed inside she heard the desperate cry and wail of Spike, like he was being torn limb from limb. Twilight rushed through and saw Spike lying on a bed. Her eyes grew as wide as plates and she nelt at his side. They intertwined hoof and claw, Spike lazily looked over at Twilight and a small smile spread across his lips as he said, “Hey Twi...glad to see you-AGH!”

As Spike cried in pain once again, sharp pang struck Twilight’s heart. She could not handle Spike slipping away from her. He was drenched in sweat, normally she would be convulsed at the stench of sweat but what mattered more was to be by Spike’s side. Twilight said with hurt in her voice, running a hoof down Spike’s cheek, “D-don’t worry...S-spike...It’ll-it’ll be okay...I-I...I’m going to-to help you.”

His scales were unnatural. They were more of a pale color, no longer its usual bright purple color. Now almost a pale lavender color. Twilight’s heart sank as she kept her gaze on the sickened form of her little brother. Her little assistant. A tear shed from her eye as she remembered the good times that they had. The time he had grown greedy and turned into a dragon. The time that he had saved an entire nation, the Crystal Empire. The day that she had gone bonkers and nearly caused everypony to kill each other, Spike asked the Princess to come and help her. Because he knew that something was wrong.

She clenched her hoof harder in Spike’s claw. Another claw rested on her hoof. She gasped and looked up. His almost lifeless gaze filling her with even more sorrow. The edges of his eyes were bright red and the whites of his eyes were a dark yellow. Spike said, “Don’t...worry about me Twilight...I’ll be fine...I’ll...survive...this…”

His voice trailed away as his eyes drifted closed. Her heart stopped, she rushed a hoof to his neck to check for a pulse. She breathed a long breath of relief as she felt the steady monotonous thump thump of Spike’s heart. Her mind swelled with a burning numb feeling, her muscles calmed and in her control once more. She lowered her horn to Spike’s head and cast a spell to try and make sense of what ailed her number one assistant.

A warm glow came forth from her horn and the light spilled over Spike. As the light resonated on Spike’s pale form. Twilight sensed nearly nothing -nearly- something was wrong...but she did not know what it was. As the spell spread throughout Spike’s body she could not sense anything wrong. But something scratched at her mind, something told her that there was something wrong with him. She increased the intensity and arcane energies into the spell and clenched her teeth together as she dug deep within herself to know what was wrong. She claimed through gritted teeth, “Come on...what is wrong!?”

She felt a hoof on her shoulder and a soft and gentle voice that said to her, “Twilight...let him rest. We need to find someone who knows more about this than us. I tried the same thing and found nothing.”

Twilight slammed her hoof on a nightstand and yelled, letting her voice resonate with arcanic power, “I HAVE TO TRY!”

Her fury subsiding and her mind returning to it’s regular somber state. She said after a laborious breath, “I’m sorry Rarity...I...I don’t know what came over me...you’re right. We won’t find answers here waiting for him to awaken.”

The princess looked to her best friend for comfort and sympathy and it was spread across her face. Twilight looked back at Spike and muttered as she stood up, “I will find a way to save you. I promise you this.”

Twilight Velvet offered a generous hoof as Dracula dumped all of his emotional stress on her. A dark god as a father, born from the thoughts of another. Being born dead. Living through a thousand years with no one and with limited power, resorting to the old vampiric ways. Becoming a shadow. It was almost more than Twilight Velvet could handle, but she had to if she was going to let this stallion be her son-in-law.

She caressed his shoulder as he kept his head hung low. Not in shame, but in despair. Despair beyond imagining. Of all the deeds that he had done, he appeared to be more than a pony. But a god. Yet, the stallion in front of her right now was nothing more than a regular pony like her own. She expected immortals to not have any feelings. No emotions. Which is why she was so confused at first sight of him and her Twilight. But it was clear now.

He said in hoarse tone, “I claim to be more than a shadow, yet I am better than my father. I’m no hero.”

Twilight Velvet said offering her sympathy, “No. You have to know that even the brightest of heroes are born from dark pasts. The important thing to remember is that you moved on from it, and you are made stronger because of those experiences. Listen dear-”

He looked at her with hopeful eyes and she continued staring into his bright red eyes, “-You are the greatest hero I have yet to know about. You have faced pure darkness and you are standing before everypony here today. You banished the greatest evil of this world, you are a hero. A grey hero. You follow your own path, not the opinions or paths of others but that of your own.”

Dracula smiled and his distant look faded and he said, “You sound just like Twilight.”

Twilight Velvet returned the smile and responded, “Who do you think taught her everything she knows?”

They both shared a small round of laughter. Twilight Velvet felt the air lighten and prompted her to ask a question, “So, have you asked her yet?”

“Asked her what?” Dracula asked loosening his stiff muscles.

Twilight Velvet nudged him playfully and said sheepishly, “You know...have you popped the question?”

Dracula smiled and rubbed the back of his neck as he replied, “Oh...that...no I have not asked her yet. But I have plans to ask her soon.”

Twilight beamed with jubilation and said, “Oh this is so exciting! I’m so happy! Now both of my children will be married. And don’t worry deary, your secret is safe with me-”

She stopped short from the front door opening. Both of their gazes moved to the door being opened. Stepping into the castle was Princess Luna with two elite guards -at least from what Twilight Velvet could tell. But she wore bright white armor with a sword sheathed at her side, her armor looked to be made of light white scales. Pristinely made. Her serious gaze fell to Dracula.

Twilight Velvet kept her gaze on the two guards on both sides of the Princess. They were dark black and blue armor with their visible coat having thin wisps of energy coming off of it. But what set Twilight Velvet off the most was their eyes. They were grim and lifeless, no pupils or corneas they were just glowing bright yellow sockets. Their tight fitting plate armor rested ominously on the ponies forms, weapons held tight in their hooves.

Luna said to Dracula, “I hate to interrupt but...I am afraid that it is time for us to meet with my dear sister.”

Twilight Velvet looked to Dracula who dropped his light hearted look and grew a stern and serious air around him. He stood up and said to Twilight Velvet, ushering her attention, “It was a pleasure to meet you and to talk to you. But I am afraid that I must take my leave, I will either return with good news or with grim news.”

Her eyes were filled with long lost anger and ferocity, whatever was going on between him and Princess Celestia it was nothing healthy. Twilight got a full view of Dracula’s frame. he was tall and very lithe, and yet he was very muscularly toned and that was apparent even under his armor, his scarlet and jet black scale mail armor. Dracula removed his trench coat and left it on the couch.

Dracula uttered no words in replience. He simply followed after Princess Luna. And with that, the tumulty of the room left. Silence overtook the castle, loud and filling her with woe. Twilight Velvet closed her eyes and in a flash of magic she summoned a journal and her favorite quill and ink. She opened the leather bound journal and lighted some candles near her to illuminate the pages.

The golden sheen of the pages shined in the light and with quick flicks of her cerise magic words formed upon the pages and she read as she wrote,

“...silence left with no trace. With no utterance of words or of breaths, gone with the silent and still winds of the earth. No lights as a source of comfort, as a shining beacon of faith and hope for brighter times. Nothing. No creedence for the shadows that seemingly jumped out at her. For what had she done to be fallen on such dark days? Why was she chosen to be ridden of all feelings with less and less of her sanity. Slowly slipping into the darkness that threatened to swallow everything that she knew…”

Author's Notes:
Sorry about the short chapter. I needed to establish a few things with Night Light and Twilight Velvet. Yeah, that thing at the end was something I thought I could do at the end of any other chapters with Twilight Velvet as the "narrator". From what I gathered from the internet. Twilight Velvet and Night Light are writers, considering they own a book store. I think...I don't know if that is canon or not...but I do know that Twilight Velvet is a writer.
So yeah, next chapter I promise that it gets juicy
See you guys next chapter!
~Sylus~

Chapter III - A Storm of Suns and Moons

“Today marks the beginning of a new era, my friends and allies. Today marks the beginning of stomping out the very threat at our doorstep. The same threat that arose three years ago, we have let them grow from their places like parasites. But now, now we have the means and tools to weed out these monsters. I dedicate this toast to the beginning of a new era. The dawn of the True Equestria.”

Celestia lifted a glass of white wine in the air and her guests did the same. All except Dragomir who simply observed from the left side of the throne. He leaned against the gold throne and thought a long while. He had been there for hours and each passing hour he could see the madness that encircles around Princess Celestia. The new world of her own insanity. He leaned against the throne with a neutral face, his eyes scanning the room filled with ponies who share the same lucid vision as their dear and sweet Celestia.

He truly had sympathy for everypony in the room. One can never trust the word of a madpony, rambling and raving of a new time that will never come.

His eyes falling on the many guests. Many were Silverblade Knights or new members of the Paladins of the Sun. Wearing suits of large plate armor with various weapons, their coats all the same golden color and same bright golden blonde mane and tail. Each and every single one of them having the same sustained look of madness and insanity. The Silverblades were much more different. They carried honor on their shoulders, believing that their cause was justice and their crusade was backed by the princess. Then there was those that shared the same look as Dragomir. The Mage Knights and the Canterlot Magi.

Dragomir had talked with the Knight-Magister and the Archmage. They still follow Celestia after Dragomir offered his word of warning. He hoped that Luna and Dracula will come soon, this madness had to end.

But he had to keep up the ruse of being an unwitting follower of the tyrant that was his princess. He heard a pony step behind him, a sharp voice called out to him, “Why are you not celebrating like the rest of us?”

Dragomir turned and saw the only pony suspicious enough to question his every move, Stalwart Goldenshield. Once the commander of the Royal Guard. Now a degenerate of Celestia’s mad world. Dragomir turned his back to Stalwart and replied, “We all have our own ways of celebrating.”

Stalwart pointed his hoof blamingly and said, “Or are you not a follower of the True Equestria? Are you still following the weak ways?”

Dragomir turned to Stalwart with a stern look, trying with every fibre of his being to put up the facade of loyalty, and he said, “Don’t be ridiculous. They are nothing compared to the power of our princess. They will know their place soon enough. Along with the Ebonmanes.”

A third voice joined their conversation and it was feminine and held a maddening tone behind every word, “Please, do not argue my subjects. Dragomir is loyal to me I assure you Stalwart. I would not have chosen him otherwise. And Stalwart is only following what I ordered him to do.”

Dragomir met Celestia’s gaze that was narrowed and zeroed in on Dragomir. At first he thought his cover was blown as he asked, “And what was that?”

A creepy smile spread across Celestia’s face as she took a pull from her wine and said, “To have fun my apprentice.”

Dragomir breathed a breath of relief in his mind and bowed low and responded, “Yes. Of course your majesty.”

Celestia walked on and returned to her throne and sat, keeping a studious gaze on the contents of the great hall of Canterlot Castle. Filled with guests and celebrants. But to Dragomir it looked like a war meeting. Knights waiting the careful arrival of their Vassal. Of which the new leader of the Brotherhood was a stallion by the name of Conradin Belmont, brother of Mathias Belmont. Dragomir did not know what happened to Mathias but he dreaded to think of such a thing. He hoped that he was not the only sane one there. He did not want to make it awkward for everypony else when the guests of honor arrive.

A servant pony came around and Dragomir grabbed a wine and brought the glass to his lips and before they met the glass he said, “I don’t know how much more I can keep the suspense.”

He downed the drink in one swallow and kept his eyes on the front doors. Waiting for Luna and Dracula.

Luna stood at the threshold of Canterlot castle. It was midnight and the night was filled with betrayal. She could tell that beyond the doors lied her allies and her loyal subjects. She felt sorry however. She allowed her sister to be consumed by her own pride, she should have felt no sympathy. ‘Bout damn time it was not only her that went dark. But she felt sorrow for having to do this to her sister. She muttered to herself, “I’m sorry Tia...I’m sorry that I was not fast enough.”

It was her shame and sorrow that her sister is now beyond the breaking point of madness. It was her fault that a new civil war would start. She looked to her son for sympathy or for reassurance. Her expression went stern and she dictated, “Do not come in with me initially. I fear she would not react well to your presence, I at least want to talk her out of this before we jump to civil war.”

With a look of understanding Dracula nodded and replied, “I understand. I will interfere only if I hear it getting heated in there.”

And with that Luna nodded and burst the oak doors open, nearly blasting them off their hinges. Her and her new soldiers of the night, their hoof steps echoing across the granite floor. The lighting was bright but not as the sun. The room was filled with loyalists of Celestia and with her pawns of manipulation. A respectful pang struck her diaphragm, these were once her subjects as well but they did not look at her as such. They looked at her like a noble pony would look at a beggar. The look a healthy stallion would give to a sickened pony. But she did not care, if they followed the maddened words of her sister then they were no longer her subjects to worry about.

Her gaze dead set on Celestia who smugly sat on her throne of gold and wore bright golden plated armor, light but looked defensible. Celestia had a smile tug at her lips. Once Luna came within range Celestia pushed herself off her throne and threw up her hooves and said, “Welcome dear sister. It has been so long since we have seen one another. You have arrived just in time to see the dawn of our new Equestria. I have made -sure- that the most prestigious of guests has yet to arrive. But please, grab a drink and rejoice.”

She flung her half drunk glass to her sister. Her words were condescending and harsh but was well hidden behind a wall of ‘benevolence’ and ‘kindness’. Luna had a look that could melt iron if given the opportunity and scorned, “So long? It has been two years since we once talked again and all you can say is ‘Welcome back’?”

With more hidden fury Celestia replied, “I assure you that I spent most of my days trying to find you.”

Luna looked at the wine glass and her scornful look fell back on her elder sister and she threw her glass to the floor and spat, “I will not celebrate with the likes of you.”

Celestia knit an eyebrow and said, “Oh? Aren’t you now? Well then, why have you interrupted our celebration?”

Luna knew that his was not her sister. She knew Celestia, this was the manipulation of Saris. It glowed off of her like a star in the night sky. She had to do this, for her sister. Luna stepped forward threateningly, “I have come here as fellow ruler of Equestria and I ask that you reject your new decree.”

Celestia’s once supposed welcoming look, faded away into an irritated look. Celestia replied as she sat back down, “And why would you care what happens to those ponies? They are not ponies anymore Luna. They are parasites waiting to be stepped on. They are monsters ready to be slain. They are unclean. Yet, you follow behind them like a shepherd to a herd.”

“Unclean? They fleetingly try to impress you. They attempted peace between us and them. They kept order where chaos brewed. Have you forgotten what happened at the Blood Peaks? They helped you stomp out the massing ogre tribes. They tried to be your ally, but instead you follow behind your own vendetta and allowed your hatred to cloud your judgement.” Luna snapped. She felt furious. She threatened the lives of once her children. She embodied a saying at that moment. Hell hath no fury like a mother scorned.

Celestia gave a cruel smile and said, “And what exactly are you going to do about it? I have endured you in my throne room for long enough. You hold onto ideals that no longer exist, sister. A new Equestria has no room for monsters who feed off of chaos and strife. I am fulfilling what has been given to us. Justice, justice for all. With faithful ponies who would lay down their lives to protect us. You have abandoned that ideal Luna.”

Luna felt her anger rise to a new height as she retorted, “Abandoned?! I saved the lives of ponies YOU left behind! I kept order in a kingdom that had none. I alone saved our people. You sat on your throne and watched as the whole of Equestria burned at your hooves, it was only until you saw the fault in your ways that you decided to fix what you brought upon yourself-”

“Watch your clever mouth BITCH!” Celestia interrupted with hate and the fury of the sun itself rising in her veins, “I never lost sight of my true mission. To protect the innocent. To show mercy where there is mercy to be given. But these ponies...these ponies kill. They murder. And you let them free? How can you not repulse at the sight of them? How can you call yourself “Equestria’s Savior” when you yourself promised destruction upon it.

“You speak with traitorous words and with treason in your heart and as such, I hereby renounce you of your role as leader of Equestria. You are its protector no longer. Now slink away with your children while we celebrate a new dawn.”

Luna could not believe her ears. They had exchanged hateful words before but never did they swear at each other. Her words were filled with lies, but why did she believe them? Why did she feel so sorrowful? She narrowed her gaze on her sister...no...on her enemy. She was her sister no longer. Luna scorned, “So the truth comes out. You finally come out to say your agenda. Your vaunted justice is revealed, when in reality it is just another rambling of a madpony.”

Celestia snarled and responded in a cold tone, “If you know what is good for you. You. Will. Leave.”

Everypony in the room reached for their weapons but stopped short when the door burst open once more. Entering was the stallion of the hour. Dracula ushered a thick layer of silence that could be cut with a knife. All of the hateful eyes were on him. The stillness and sustained hatred in their eyes as they stared long at the most hated pony amongst the loyalists of Celestia. Luna watched as he stood by Luna, staring stoically at Luna’s tyrannical sister.

The silence that overtook the throne room was almost too much. Luna set her gaze back on Celestia. Celestia’s gaze tightened on Dracula as she cursed, “So the pariah finally shows his face. Tell me, Dracula, how does it feel? Having all the powers of darkness at your hooves? Knowing that you could turn on everypony in this room and possibly kill them single hoofedly?”

Dracula remained unflinched as he replied, “You make your opinion of me off of possibilities and ones that I would never allow to happen. You brand me a tyrant. You claim me an agent of chaos. When in reality the only one in fault is you. You are attempting to start a war that you will not win.”

Celestia laughed maniacally and evilly. She took a short breath after her laugh and began to step down the steps of the throne and responded, “So I would be the one to lose a war with you? I would find myself at your hooves? Such arrogance. You forget that you are standing on my land. You are in my country.”

Celestia stepped close to Dracula, who kept his tight gaze and readied for the possibility of a fight. She crossed her hooves behind her back and growled, “You are out of your depth, vampire. You face a god. The mindless spawn of a senseless mare.”

Luna was set off. She ripped from her throat a loud and blood curdling cry as she slammed into her former sister. She gathered forth the powers of the night and the moon, filling her veins with immortal powers. She propelled her wings forward as she tightly grasped her sister. They sailed through the air and they bashed through the stone wall. Breaking into a wide open room filled with columns and pitched black darkness. As they fell to the ground Celestia fell out of Luna’s arms and they lied battered on the floor.

Luna coughed up dust as she looked at herself, no visible injuries. She leaned on her hoof to ease the pain from her sides. She released a pulse from her horn that moved over her injured form. She wiped a corner of her mouth and spat a collection of mucus in her throat. She began to stand up and so did her former sister. Celestia had her back to Luna and Luna said, “Oh you have no idea how long I have wanted to do that.”

Celestia was stronger than Luna had anticipated. She stood up with barely any resistance and wiped her face clean from blood that dripped down from a cut along her forehead just below her horn. Celestia growled her form nearly hidden from sight in the darkness, “You have no idea what you have just started sister. You have started a war that will engulf the entirety of Equestria. Leaving nothing but death and destruction in its wake. Salted earth and burnt bodies, all because you decided to defend ponies that aren’t worth SAVING!”

Celestia turned and jumped through the air. Her hoof glowing bright gold and slammed against Luna’s face. Luna felt the full immortal strength of her sister, Luna flew back a few feet and skidded across the floor slamming into a column. Causing the room to shake under the force. A normally pony would have died from such force but Luna was no mortal. She stood back up and as she did Celestia said, “You have brought shame upon our house Luna. And I am going to be the one to fix your mistakes again!”

Celestia charged Luna and went to slam her hooves into Luna but she caught them in mid air. they stood straining against each other. Who would falter first. Luna pushed against her sister and said in a harsh breath, “I can’t let you kill innocents Celestia.”

Celestia looked enraged as she screamed, “Innocents! They are hardly innocents Luna, each one has killed more than a few ponies. How is that innocent? They are parasites-”

“They are trying to survive!” Luna cried back pulling the odds in her favor for the stalemate they were caught in, “They simply want to live to exist! You are denying them their will to live! And for that I have to stop you!”

“You can try.” Determination pushed over Celestia’s face. Celestia lowered her horn and a concentrated beam of solar energy shot forth and struck hard against Luna. Sending her against another stone column. Luna gathered herself before she hit the column and hovered, flying off the ground. Luna unsheathed her sword and rocketed forward, lifting her sword to connect to Celestia. Light gathered at Celestia’s hoof and materializing from the light was Ashbringer.

Celestia readied her sword and counter charged her sister. Luna pointed Chillrend. With a resounding clash their blades collided, willing forth and starting the greatest civil war to be seen in Equestria.

Chapter IV - Shadows Rise

Dracula wrenched his head back and stabbed his fangs deep inside of one of the Silverblades. Dracula tasted the blood on his tongue. It was not as sweet as it usually was, it had more of an iron like taste to it. He felt his strength increase.

All around him he heard the sound of battle. Cries of fury. Clashing steel. Dying screams. Crackling flames. The sounds that he has come to memorize and know by heart. Like the lines of a symphony-he knew them well. The pitch of cries. Swords falling to the ground. Strikes of vengeance and of survival. All parts of the symphony of battle. With Dracula as the composer.

He sucked the pony dry until he was nothing but a lifeless sack of dried meat. Dracula tossed him aside and stood in the flurry of tumultuous sounds filling his eardrums. But a sound brought forth his attention, breaking the walls of battle around him. A voice called out to him and it said, “Dracula!”

Dracula turned and saw the tall stoic form of his brother Dragomir. Dragomir had made quite a name for himself amongst the Equine Empire. Dragomir personally stomped out an invasion of ogre tribes to the west, leading decisive victories each and every battle. Dracula had seen his brother on the field. It was almost inspirational to see him like that.

Dracula said turning towards his brother, “Have you abandoned all sanity to follow Celestia as well?”

Dragomir stepped down and replied lowering his sword, “No. But I am not exactly joining your side of this war either.”

Dracula knit an eyebrow and said, “Then you are my enemy?”

Dragomir sheathed his sword and responded, “Not exactly.”

Dragomir flashed his magic and in a bright light Dracula closed his eyes and when he opened them he was standing atop a tower overlooking Canterlot. The injured wound of Equestria and the capital being the weakest city within the Equestrian Empire. It was saddening, knowing that the capital city of the Equestrian Empire has still not repaired itself. It did however make sense, Celestia had spent most of the taxes on building forts strategically placed around Equestria, creating requisitions for the new army, and trying to improve relations with foreign nations.

Dracula analyzed where he was. He stood atop one of the towers in Canterlot. It looked like a makeshift war room. Maps and papers strewn around the room in disarray and chaos. Plastered either on wooden boards standing upright or on a large table in the center. Standing there was Rainbow Dash and Dragomir. Dracula stepped in and wiped the blood from Kal’Drae, he asked, “What is this place?”

Dragomir looked up and said, “This is the war room of the Equestrian Rebellion. I have put up wards to protect this tower and keep it nearly invisible to Celestia’s blind eye. We can meet here when I have something to report that’s big.”

Dracula looked over the papers and skimmed over the scrawls. He shuffled through and asked keeping his attention to the pages, “Are these the tactics of the new Equestrian Military?”

Rainbow Dash leaned on the table and responded, “She is starting to call it the Solar Empire. And yes, we have been forging copies of them for the past year now.”

Dracula’s voice was filled with a sense of longing as he inquired further, “Why did you not come back? You could have returned.”

Rainbow Dash looked downcast as she responded, “I-I didn’t want to hurt anypony. I had no idea that the Orb of Darkness would do that to me. It saved you didn’t it?”

Dracula mulled over the event. He mused, “While at the time it was handy to jump in with the Orb of Darkness, I did not want you facing the side effects. You could have been killed, you are my responsibility now. As your friend and as your ruler.”

There was silence in between the next words spoken, a numb silence of mixed feelings. Of worry and of newfound respect. Dracula continued to lean against the war table. He observed some of the plans that lied on the table. They were papers that had the different positions and tactics of the new Solar Empire.

It had finally set in that this war would tear apart Equestria. Eastern and Southern Equestria are already at Luna’s back. Brothers would fight brothers. Sons would fight fathers. Families torn. It finally set in on the gravity of the entire situation. Celestia was more mobilized than any other country, so she would make her first move soon. Dracula heard the dying sound of the battle slowly evening out and a silence fell on Canterlot.

Dragomir asked crossing his hooves over his chest, “So. What will you do now, Prince?”

The Vampire Lord thought carefully and responded quickly, “I will have to meet with the Originals to discuss if we are even joining the civil war or not. Then we will see if the Crystal Empire will join. I would suspect not considering the amount of damage they suffered from recent attacks. My apprentices should return soon. For now...see what you can find about anything Celestia might be hiding up her sleeve.”

Dracula saw the look on his brother’s face. He showed great strife, something that Dracula had not seen in a long time. Dracula focused back on his task at hoof. He had to escape Canterlot. If any of the Solar Loyalists even see him they will try to kill him. With his recent change of abilities he is more susceptible to both fire and solar attacks. He would be the shadow now.

Dracula clutched the hilt of Kal’Drae, he could feel the primal energy itching to harvest souls to become stronger. He felt the same craving but for blood. If there was one thing that was certain. It was that Vampires are perfect for warfare. They feed off of blood and become stronger from it. If there was any army that strives from conflict, it was his.

Dracula said to Rainbow and Dragomir without turning his head, “Tread carefully, brother and sister. For the paths of the enemy lay before. Be careful you do not terry from your path.”

Dracula spread his wings and lifted off into the sky. His eyes bright red and primal with hunger. He scanned the city and looked for a capable meal. A well known noble. A degenerate, nopony would miss her. Or perhaps a royal guard. Decisions. Decisions.

Dracula set his eyes on the mare that spoke loudly in his ears. He listened carefully and heard her say, “I don’t care what the costs are, I need this home rebuilt.”

Dracula landed silently on the top of a building looking down covered in shadows to hide his form. He gazed down with the eyes of a dragon. He saw a tall standing mare, her coat as red as blood. Her mane as white as the clouds. And her eyes a bright orange of the morning rays of dawn. Dracula studied her for a long time. She had the build of a lady but also had a hidden warrior gait about her, hidden beneath her facade of snoodiness and blueblood.

Dracula had a cruel smile cross across his lips and he said, “Perfect.”

He listened closely as she talked to what looked like the foreman of a construction site. The foreman said, “I’m sorry mam, but we have too much to build already. The Princess has been pushing these artillery towers like it was nothing. If you wait a month or two then-”

The scarlet mare toughened her skin and growled at him, “That’s not good enough! I don’t have a place to live until then! Where am I going to go?”

The foreman bared threateningly down upon her and said, “Figure something out. I have a job to do.”

The foreman walked on back to the construction zone. Dracula watched with anxiousness welling up inside of him. Canterlot was filled with ponies just like her, but her. There was something about her that seemed so familiar. It seemed like he had seen before. She had a certain warrior walk about her, hidden as she walked through the streets. The cold wind piercing and her thin satin dress doing nothing to hold back the chilling temperatures. Dracula had an opportunity. Dracula’s fangs unsheathed and he said, “A meal and an ally. Two for one. Now that is a deal that I can’t refuse.”

She rounded a corner and turned down a darker part of Canterlot, the place hit the most by the raid three years ago. Dracula changed his solid form into a mistform and travelled quickly over the rooftops and down into an alley a few feet ahead of the mare. Now he would do everything to try and convince this mare to join him as a fellow child of the night.

Scarlet held her hooves close to her. To try and keep the chilling winds from fully engulfing her and to try and bring comfort to her for the situation she is in. Not able to fix her home. She thought that maybe there was even a shred of a chance that she could get what she wanted she could have it. But she was proven wrong. Like so many times before.

She walked on. Into the black abyss of nothingness. The Onyx Oblivion, the section of Canterlot that got hit the most in the raid that took place three years ago. It was more than a strike at her heart with her home gone. But also a strike at her very soul. Her home was destroyed and she felt powerless to save it. She was herded away to a place she had never seen or heard of before. And for a month she was faced with sitting there in a damp and dark cellar to wait for it to be clear for her to return to Canterlot.

And to make matters worse she had a terrible mark burned onto her shoulder two years ago. She felt like she was on the verge of death. And she went through it by herself because she had no idea who her family was. All she knew was that Luna would come by sometimes to keep her company. To help her through her times as a dressmaker in Canterlot. The levels of stress and the levels of tension that carried with it. But it progressed and as their friendship grew, so did something else.

Scarlet grew to love the Princess of the Night. And she grew to love Scarlet. She was told that Luna knew very well Scarlet’s father, she had been with him at one point. But that did not matter to Scarlet. What mattered to her was Luna. It had always been Luna. She would throw herself out of her way to treat Luna with the utmost respect and love. And she received the same in return. She knew about her former husband, Midnight, had left a few months from that night and she did not take it very well. Scarlet heaved out a heavy sigh, she had gone through so much pain in so little time. She could barely fathom the feeling.

She nearly jumped out of her coat when she heard the sound of a can scraping against the stone ground. Scarlet turned to the alley it came from. The shadowed hallway not easing on its stinging darkness. Scarlet’s heart beat increased in tempo as she stared down the tube of shadows. She felt fear and dread fill her but she as well felt slightly intrigued. Like something was pulling her in and telling her to check out what that sound was. The source of the feeling was devoid and almost completely invisible to her. But she walked down the tube with intrigue and curiosity filling her troubled mind.

Her hoof falls echoing off of the pavement and vibrating loudly off of the walls. She gulped down a large lump in her throat. Her actions and her mind were uncertain from that moment on. Silence almost ripping her apart. She moved her gaze left and right, her silken dress slightly billowing in the breeze. She found nothing in the shadows, other than discarded trash. She was at the back and she looked up. A streetlamp lit a small radius around her, not large but large enough for her to stand there and think for a moment. Streetlamps were something new that Princess Celestia enforced.

Scarlet did not mind the new regulations that the solar sister had in mind, as long as things got done. Scarlet stood there looking around for what seemed like an eternity. Looking at familiar shadows, she felt her skin jump as she looked around. The buildings rose higher in the sky for her. The shadows twisted and turned. She could feel somepony else nearby. She froze when she heard a voice that cut through her like a knife, “Destitute. Broken. In need of help yet nopony is willing to help you. I must ask you where you expect to go?”

Scarlet briskly turned to the source of the voice. Standing tall was a cloaked figure, his front hidden behind the cloak curtain. An alicorn it looked like, he stood a head taller than Scarlet and his head was lifted up, bright red eyes set with a hunter’s gaze. She froze looking into his eyes. She responded shakily, “I-I w-was going-”

“To the castle? No doubt you seek the comfort of your secret lover, Princess Luna, I will have you know that she is no longer allowed to set a hoof in that castle without being attacked.”

The figure advanced to Scarlet, each stride Scarlet stepped back. As he advanced towards her he asked, “There is no doubt that you wish to help your lover. Yes?”

Scarlet braced against the wall and said her voice rising in fear, “W-what are you g-going to do to me?”

The figure leaned in and as he did the light above them blew out, a cruel smile curled on his lips and he said revealing long fangs, “I’m here to offer you a gift. You abandon this life, in exchange for another. I have looked at your heart and I see power, beyond imagining. I am here to offer you this power.”

Fear somewhat lifted from her as she asked trembling, “What kind of power?”

The figure seized her in his hooves and lifted his head to the sky, his fangs extending and he said, “A Vampire Lord.”

Faster than the bite of a snake his head fell and his fangs stabbed inside her neck, thrust deep within her jugular. She groaned and moaned as her lifeforce was leaking out of her and sucked into this Vampire. Her life felt as if it was at the edge. Before her eyes closed getting ready to sleep she whispered in the vampire’s ears, “Dracula…”

“Hmm…” Scarlet felt her voice awaken before she could. Her muscles ached under her skin and her eyelids like bags of stone. She felt lighter than before, she felt airy and like she could ride the wind. She rose a hoof to her head and felt a splitting pain run through her mind. She groaned as she attempted to awaken, that was an experience she did not want to go through again. Scarlet went to sit up but was stopped by a hoof. She heard an aged voice and it casually said, “Easy, young mistress. You must take it easier.”

Scarlet opened her eyes and saw she was laying on some sort of stone deus. Standing over her was a well dressed earth pony, he looked old but very well aged. She looked past him and saw the large chamber of stone she was in. Filled around her were various bodies and disregarded bones. Normally she would be repulsed at the sight but she felt okay with the macabre scene she laid in. Scarlet looked all around, the colors intensified and were brighter than she could normally handle and it flared. She hissed with an animalistic cry and the earth pony consuled, “Easy young mistress. You must ease into your vampiric ab-”

Scarlet felt a animalistic feeling rise within herself. She seized the earth pony in her hooves, much like Dracula did, and opened her mouth wide. Revealing fangs of white daggers ready to pierce through mortal flesh. She hissed as her bite connected. She expected it to have some sort of taste but she just felt acid fill her mouth. Her tongue and mouth boiled and stung as she tried to draw the lifeforce from this earth pony. She hissed once more and knocked the earth pony to the ground. She was about to pounce on him and finish the kill when she stopped as she heard a piercing and commanding voice that echoed off of the walls, “Scarlet! That is enough!”

Scarlet felt her move away from the earth pony and she looked at her hooves and said to the earth pony with ragged breaths, “I...I am so sorry.”

The pony stood back up and dusted himself off and replied with a nasally and accented voice that she knew well about, “That’s quite alright young mistress. I have to become used to such actions. I do serve my Lord faithfully.”

Scarlet collected herself. Her animalistic thoughts escaping her, returning her other memories and civilised thoughts. She looked down at herself and saw she was wearing torn rags stained with blood. She looked back at the earth pony and said, “So you are his servant?”

The earth pony straightened his form and replied with a Trottingham accent, “Well, I’d hardly call myself a servant. More of a faithful follower and advisor. I am Eusef, faithful advisor of my lord Dracula Belmont. I serve him to fetch his meals, protect the castle, give him messages, and on occasions I watch the Fallen Masses.”

“Fallen Masses?” Scarlet knit an eyebrow, Eusef bowed and stood back up tall.

Eusef added, “The chambers that we are now standing in. The Fallen Masses they are called. Potential vampires or death knights. Their souls are judged here and reborn. There are many ghouls like myself that must take care of the bodies. Those that are not worthy...well...let’s just say that I get my lunch early.”

A smile curled on his lips. Scarlet looked at Eusef and said, “So you are a ghoul? How come you aren’t-”

“Rotting and frothing with disease?” Eusef answered, Scarlet looking away briefly ashamed of herself asking, “Well, I will have you know that we ghouls are very functional. We can’t have the masses returning with our rituals and techniques.”

“He is still a pony,” Dracula said stepping next to Scarlet. He wore long flowing black silk clothing, his shirt a large V shape revealing a bit of his pale white and jet black coat. His hooves folded behind his back. His voice stern and of a deep reverberation. He had a commanding presence that could inflict fear, but she did not feel such fear. She felt groveling at his hooves. He was so beautiful. All the features about him are just filled with youth and rugged handsomeness. She felt unworthy to be near him. Dracula moved his gaze to her, his long flowing cloak wisping like smoky shadows, and explained, “Ghouls are very much their pony counterparts. Ghouls are just very rare born ponies that have a craving for meat. They serve us so that they do not go grave robbing or capturing ponies in the night. They serve as our watchers and as our guardians during the day, so that we may rest peacefully and with no worries that the castle will be robbed.”

Scarlet felt his gaze on her and she shrunk under it. She bowed low and said, “I understand, my lord.”

Dracula turned towards Scarlet and said, “You are a vampire. You do not serve on your knees. You serve to protect and defend the ideals of the Ebonmanes. What do you know about us?”

Dracula shifted his stance, spreading his hooves shoulder width apart and his hooves still folded behind his back. Scarlet stood back up and thought for a moment and replied, “Um...you are a recent addition to the Equine Empire right? Three years ago? Luna did not tell me much about you.”

Dracula moved his gaze down and said, “No doubt because she was still grieving after the loss of her eldest son. Me.”

Dracula looked to Eusef and said, “That will be all Eusef. I will come for you when I need something else.”

Eusef bowed low and said, “Yes my master.”

Eusef walked past Scarlet and his hoof steps echoed as he descended from the raised platform. They were eight or ten feet off the ground. A stone deus with various scratches and marks over the altar in the center. A sea of bodies filled her vision, but she was mystified to find out what lied on the back wall. On the large back wall lied a large stone face. A gargoyle face carved from stone, a hunger in its lifeless eyes. His mouth was agape and spilling out endlessly was bright red liquid. It poured into a large pool. Scarlet felt oddly hypnotized by the sight of it and asked, “What is that?”

Dracula looked and said, “That is the Falls of Del’Lathras. The Vampire Lord. Before me there was only one other vampire lord, Del’Lathras. The origins of nightmares and dark magic itself. When I became a vampire student I studied all I could. Del’Lathras lead armies of undead minions against the two brothers. Cerberus, Father of the Night, created Del’Lathras to serve as a humble protector of the night. But Del’Lathras craved power and drew in more than he could imagine. But he wanted more, so he asked Prince Horrus to grant him powers over the damned and the shadows. Horrus would grant him this one blessing in exchange for something else.

“Horrus told him that he would never be satisfied.His hunger never satiated, until he was swimming in a pool of blood from his most hated enemy. Once he would find and drink the blood of this pony then would his hunger be satiated. Del’Lathras hungered power but not forever more power. So he scoured all of Acros finding his one true enemy. He butchered and killed millions to find his enemy. But with an agenda such as his he needed to be stopped. The two brothers, Cerberus and Faximas sent out and hunted down Del’Lathras. Del’Lathras even delved into Cervidia for a time, becoming their scourge. The Archdruid Kal’Rodan, imprisoned Del’Lathras in the earth. Forced to remain there for all eternity. Del’Lathras could not face an eternity of being imprisoned in the earth so he took his own life.

“It was in that moment that he realized he was his own enemy and for once he felt anger rise through him and he lashed out at the earth around him. So he created these falls, to one day pass on his curse to another so that he might find eternal rest.”

Scarlet looked at the large face and asked, “So, he is not dead?”

Dracula nodded and responded, “Vampires are never truly dead. There is only one weapon on Ketos that can be rid of Vampires forever and that is the Whiteash. But that is a story for another time. For now you must have many questions. I am here to answer.”

Scarlet kept her gaze on all that she saw. She felt an insatiable hunger and a fury rising in her veins. She wanted to tear the throat out of ponies and drink their blood, shouting in the satisfaction. The lights intensified and she said, “Why...me?”

Dracula looked out and leaned his hooves on the altar she once laid on and replied, “I do not often change other ponies unless I see a certain spark with them. I have a knack for finding the right ponies to be my apprentice.”

“Apprentice?”

“Yes,” Dracula said running his hoof over a blood stain, “For we have entered a war that I think we will need every capable vampire to hold a blade. A war of family against family. Luna versus Celestia. And Sanguinaria caught in the middle. I do not know if word has reached the Crystal Empire but I fear they are not prepared for such a war. I chose you because I believe that you will be my temporary heir to the Onyx Throne. Until I give birth to a son or daughter. I have faith that with the right training you will become an unstoppable force of the night.”

Dracula turned towards Scarlet and he asked, “Are you ready to be a faithful servant of the night? A student of blood?”

Scarlet looked down and thought. She knew that if she refused she would be eaten by the ghouls or worse. But what would have been worse was not living in a home. Celestia abandoned her old ideals with raving and warmongering ideals. The peaceful Equestria Scarlet once knew was gone. With these new powers she could do some good, perhaps make it the Equestria she once knew. Then she thought about getting directly involved and fighting alongside Luna. Scarlet looked up at Dracula who waited patiently.

Scarlet bowed low and said, “When do I start master?”

Author's Notes:
Yes another update for Rondo. A little bit of explanation before we go into Mobilization of Nations. the next chapter name. Let me know what you think of it so far, so far I have been very proud of it. Now that Dracula is a real vampire it spans my horizons as a writer of where he needs to be as a leader and as a character.
See you all next chapter!
~Sylus~

Chapter V - Mobilization of Nations Part I

Six days. Six days had past since the fated battle at Canterlot. The first battle of the Ninth Equestrian Revolution. The rise of the Solar Empire and the Lunar Republic. The perspective alliances splitting off, east and southern Equestria was now the capital of the Lunar Republic and western and northern Equestria were now the Solar Empire. The die has been cast, swords have been drawn. And now will begin the war to end all wars. The calls have been sent out and conscription for the two nations has begun.

Spectra recalled the night that Luna had seceded from Equestria, forming the Lunar Republic. Luna had been prepared for something like this, she had an army already ready, but to win wars one needed more than just soldiers. Followers to back up her beliefs were needed. The posters and propaganda were set up and conscription began for the two new nations. Families splitting, brothers to face on the field of battle, fathers to bury their sons. A daunting task set upon the shoulders of the leaders of each of the nations. Generals raised to lead armies they knew nothing about.

Spectra looked up at the sky and saw the two celestial bodies sustained in the sky. They both stood and stared at each other ominously, waiting for the other to make a move. The two sisters agreed to keep them both raised. Neither have an upper hoof to the other, for now. Spectra knew that they each had something hidden up their sleeve. Spectra herself had seen to the new recruitment of the Knights of the Moon. Spectra and Rainbow Dash had offered their position to Midnight, but he had refused and allowed them to keep their spots as Knights of the Moon. She could hear the sound of metal clashing and spells being cast, arcane blasts and howls of cold and shards of crystal clashing with metal or with arcanic shields.

Spectra had grown used to the sounds of war, she would need to. She had an army to lead. Dracula had assigned them the role of Secret Operations. They were to be the ones to infiltrate the forts and take advantage of any resources be them mines or lumber camps as well as keep an eye out for any time lost artifacts to use against the Solar Empire. They had gotten some Archaeologists from the Sanguinarian Historical Society, or the SHS for short. They were there to help along with finding any artifacts to use in their favor. Their main mission however was to keep Ponyville neutral in this civil war. Dracula did not want Twilight involved in this, he could not risk his dearly beloved.

Spectra looked below at the training grounds that lied in the center of the well built stone fortress, built in the side of a mountain. The open courtyard spacious and held most of the 1200 strong order of knights. The architecture of the fortress was very Pransylvanian esk, in the fact that the roofing of the buildings were a dark black and the various buildings made from greystone. She stood on the parapet of the keep overlooking the courtyard. Off on either sides would lead to either side of the walls that outlaid the fortress. Fort Blackwatch it was called. Spectra hefted her violet wooden and pink crystalled staff close to her. The crystal humming with power and the other crystals dotting her armor as well glowed and hummed with the same power. She breathed in heavily, her chainmail chest rising and falling with the faint clattering of chains. Spectra adjusted her spaulders slightly with her magic as she looked out at the large gathering of knights in the courtyard. Their practicing could be heard from about a mile out of Blackwatch.

Spectra kept her eye on the new Quartermaster, Mistress Slyph. Spectra had seen her rise up through the ranks since her initial arrival at Blackwatch. Spectra had grown to appreciate the respect she had gotten from the other knights, Spectra even found pride in the young vampire. She was now a Master Vampire. She had a name in Sanguinaria now and stories to back up any claims. Spectra heard the shuffling of armor behind her and saw the well armored form of Rainbow Dash standing on the seal of the Knights of the Moon that lied on the stone floor of the parapet. Rainbow Dash stepped next to Spectra and enounced setting her gaze on the knights below, “So, how does the training go? Are they ready to set out on their first mission?”

The Warlock moved her gaze to her lifelong friend and replied in a soft and noble tone, “Training of the new arrivals have been according to plan. But I fear that they are not ready to mobilize just yet, they still must be separated into divisions. Another day, maybe two.”

“I apologize for my intrusion but you must march out for your first mission soon. We cannot delay this any longer, Dracula has already set up his forces and march for Rainbow Falls in a few hours.” Responded a new voice. One of knowledge and nobility and one that was sore on Spectra’s ears. It was the crippling voice of Lauden Warwick, Head of the Sanguinarian Historical Society. Headmaster of the University of Shadow Garden. And a Sire of the Ebonmanes. He was ranked well and was apart of the First Generation of vampires with Dracula and the Originals. Lauden was a pale grey pony with a hazel colored mane and bleach blue eyes. Lauden as well wore jet black and scarlet robes with various buckles and belts, carrying tomes of various volumes. His features chiseled and with a strong jawline. He looked around the same age as Spectra when she had turned. Lauden had his magic activated with various books and arcane marks floating about him in a large green aura.

His voice held no emotion behind it and he gave no emotions on his determined face. Spectra turned to Lauden and growled, “You will have to tell Lord Dracula that we simply require more time to mobilize. I realize that we are a small order of knights but we are elite beyond comprehension. Tell Dracula we will set out for our mission in a day or two.”

Lauden still did not set his gaze away from his books and scrolls as he responded, “I am sorry, but we simply must set out for this artifact at once. I do not think that you understand the gravitation-”

“I don’t want to hear another goddamn word come out of your mouth, Lauden.” Rainbow Dash barked at Lauden, her animalistic eyes flashing briefly. Lauden actually looked up from his scrolls and tomes and said studying Rainbow Dash, “Your body language suggest that you are threatening a physical engagement of minds and martial skills. I have already calculated seven different ways of countering your opening move.”

Before Rainbow could transform Spectra raised her hoof in front of Rainbow and said, “That is enough, commander. We do not need infighting while we have not even begun the war.”

Rainbow stood back up on her hind legs and spat on the ground. Spectra turned towards Lauden and replied, “If our prince commands us to march then we shall march.”

Lauden cocked his head to the side and responded, “Excellent. I shall inform Lord Dracula immediately.”

Lauden walked back into the keep and Spectra breathed out a heavy sigh and looked over at Rainbow Dash and said, “We will not be prepared for anything if we march now. But we cannot defy our leader.”

Rainbow Dash leaned against the stone railing and said, “I just hope that the old man knows what he’s doing.”

Spectra smiled at the nick name that Rainbow Dash assigned Dracula. Spectra replied looking over the knights once more, “I have faith in Dracula’s leadership. I trust that we will survive this war.”

Rainbow looked over at her friend and said, “I’m going to hold you to that.”

“Are the battle plans in order?” Dracula asked as he walked through the halls of Blacklight Hold, which was bustling with activity. Messengers sending notes to the various leaders, companies of vampires moving to their positions. Dracula saw each and everyone of their faces, many bore no expression. Emotionless statuesque figures moving to their proper locations. That was the upside of having undead soldiers, no fear to strike into their eyes. Dracula took pride in that.

He walked alongside Malik, the newest addition to the Originals. His large frame gave no shove or movement as he replied in a deep voice, “They are ready and awaiting your approval my lord.”

Dracula was wearing his scale mail armor with a long silk black cloak, to his right was Malik. And to his left was his newest apprentice, Scarlet. She donned deep jet black robes, thin but very snug fitting for her. Her gaze was fierce and dead set. She had only been a vampire for six days and had shown little improvement over those six days. He saw power beneath her however. She held a sword sheathed at her side, almost identical to Dracula’s Kal’Drae only thinner and more suited for cavalry. She wielded it excellently however and Dracula made no moves to prevent her from using it. He found it much easier to train her combat skills with it than with Davirus. Of which he would have to introduce his other two apprentices to Scarlet.

Dracula trusted that his apprentices do not hold any jealousy over each other. Apprenticeship is an excellent time for rivalry, but Dracula made sure not to show favoritism. He as well made sure that their fields of study are far beyond one another. They turned and as they rounded the corner Scarlet asked, “When will our first march begin?”

Dracula answered not taking his eyes off of what was in front of him, “Have patience my young apprentice. Your first battle shall come. We must first await the mobilization of Princess Luna’s forces. She sent recruitment orders out yesterday and I have sent word to the Knights of the Moon to march ahead of us. We as well must find spots of weakness and take them or points of strength or needed resources.”

Dracula could sense the eagerness in his apprentice. Scarlet bowed her head and said with a level of seriousness, “I understand my master.”

He had taught her well, for soon he sensed that her loyalty will be challenged.

Dracula opened the doors to a large room and looked over the contents. Banners of a scarlet red hung from the bannisters and rafters of the high ebony stone ceiling. A circular room with a large stone table in the center with many chairs around it, all with the different vampiric leaders. Dracula did not convene with the Phantoms because they only had one and that was Riptide and Dracula already had council with him. Dracula as well told Marrok what he expected from the Werewolves. Alpha and Omega packs would defend Sanguinaria while Dracula was away. Zeta and Beta will go to the Whispering Woods and defend that area, it was new territory that Celestia would no doubt send troops after first.

Dracula felt bad for Celestia he really did. She had to fight a two front war. Luna to the east and south, and Dracula’s own forces to the north. She would have her forces spread thin. The room went silent as Dracula entered. They all stood up and saluted Dracula as he entered and took his seat at the throne in the back. Dracula had always enjoyed the old customs of the Alicorn Empire. Dracula did not rule with an iron hoof but with a benevolent heart. That did not mean that he would not lay the hoof down once in a while. There were several times that Dracula had to stamp out a rebellion or two, to show that the Ebonmanes were not a force to be trifled with.

He sat down in his throne with his apprentice next to him, crossing her hooves over her chest. Malik took his seat and Dracula moved his attention to the speaker who said, “Good tidings Lord Dracula. I see that you have a new pet, glad to know that you have expanded your horizons over stallions.”

The snake that spoke was none other than Lord Davorin, Sire of the Blackmanes. He was a great leader, but he never took Dracula’s leadership very well. Even though he was connected to Dracula he did not have the same devotion as the others. His long grey hair slicked back, revealing a large scar on his forehead. He was a pale white unicorn with a broken horn, but carried a lot of power beneath him. Dracula’s apprentice spoke out against Davorin, “The only pet that I see is you. I thought that our Lord did not allow dogs in Blacklight Hold?”

Dracula chuckled slightly at her comment. Davorin sneered at Scarlet and said, “Keep that apprentice of yours on a short leash my lord.”

“Heel,” Scarlet said with a cruel smile on her lips, “You don’t want me to get the squirt bottle now do you?”

“Why you-” Davorin said but was interrupted by another Sire, Lord Kirnon of the Silvermoons. His name had proceeded him as his coat was a pale silver and his mane and tail a frost white, stark dark blue eyes set back in his head and peach scars over his cheek and eye showing the various victories he had over the many years of battle before he was a Vampire. Kirnon was donned in bright white armor and a sword staff sheathed on his back. Lord Kirnon said, “That is enough Davorin! We are getting nowhere with your incessant bickering! Lord Dracula has every right to train as many apprentices as he wishes, he does not bide by the same tenets as us.”

Davorin slumped back in his chair and crossed his hooves. Kirnon nodded his head, Dracula had always liked the age old wisdom that Kirnon carried in his voice. Dracula had originally offered Kirnon the position as Original but Kirnon had refused him. Told Dracula that his place was on the battlefield with his battalions, not to be looked at as too important. Dracula could respect a stallion who knew his place in the hierarchy. Kirnon’s face aged with great wisdom and his grey goatee covering his chin and outer territory of his mouth. Kirnon looked to Dracula and said, “I apologize for Davorin’s rudeness my lord. It has been too long since Davorin has left our negotiations.”

Dracula held up a hoof and sat up tall, Dracula carrying his voice across the echoing chamber, “Think nothing of it Kirnon. My apprentice needed it, she deserves to have her wits tested. Even without me being involved. I thank Davorin for his silver tongue, for now.”

Dracula stared daggers at Davorin and worked a spell that raised Davorin’s fear as his gaze met his leader’s. Davorin shrunk under Dracula’s harsh and threatening gaze and Dracula growled, “Be sure that it does not happen again or I shall release the beast that you want to keep chained. And I will tell you it will not be pretty. I think I would rather enjoy the fresh blood stains upon the floor. So that others may learn by your example.”

The room fell silent at the cruelty that Dracula had shown. Dracula kept a stone like gaze set on Davorin, Dracula dared not give Davorin an inch. Dracula flashed his bright red eyes allowing the fear to grow within Davorin. Dracula worked a spell that temporarily cut Davorin’s vocal chords making him unable to speak. A slight punishment to an even greater one if he continued his rebellious ways. Davorin was frozen in fear and nopony dared to speak a word out of fear of what Dracula might do for sympathy of Davorin. Not out of fear no, out of respect. Like loyal sons to a father they remained as silent as a church after service.

Dracula looked to the other leaders and said, “Now. To begin our business. Let me first say, welcome to the first Council of Sanguinaria. The council and administration of war for Sanguinaria. Our tactics and invasion plans will be drawn between us and only us. If you decide to change the plans of invasion you will answer to either me, my apprentice Scarlet, Lord Malik of the Originals, or to General Kirnon. If there are no further questions then we shall begin this council.”

Silence encompassed the room and Dracula said, “Excellent. So, what will our first move against the Solar Empire be?”

A new voice answered owning to, Lilah Blackwhisper, “We have a few windows of opportunity my lord. They have two mining depots along the Silvermane Mountains that are ripe for the taking. She as well has a fort by the name of Fort Solis that lies near the mining depots. If we send our forces there we will be able to establish a foothold in the Solar Empire.”

Lilah was a master tactician and an excellent spell caster, she was a tall black mare with soft milky eyes. She was blind but she could sense the energies of those around her. So it was like she could see but only the silhouettes. The only one she could see as clear as day was Dracula himself, with the godlike powers that he radiated. She wore a long mage coat with various paddings for protection.

Dracula saw the plans laid out on the stone table. There were various figurines set up to represent the armies Dracula would be leading and the armies that his mother would be leading. Dracula looked at his apprentice who studied the board with curious eyes and she said, “Yes but that will leave a large gap between us and Sanguinaria. Likely her first target would be the Whispering Woods, keeping the Beta and Zeta packs there might not be enough. We have to keep in mind that she has the Brotherhood on her side, they have weapons that can do more harm than physical wounds.”

Lilah crossed her hooves and said, “Then what would you suggest young one?”

There was no rebellion in her tone just curiosity, which surprised Dracula considering that Lilah’s tactics almost matched that of Dracula’s own. Which was why Dracula had her on the council in the first place. Dracula tapped his chin reassuringly as his apprentice continued leaning her hooves on the table and using her telekinesis to move the figurines to different spots on the map of Equestria, “I suggest that we send a handful of battalions of Vampire Magisters to Whispering Woods as protection, sending the bulk of the army to Fort Solis and the outlying mining sources. As well as sending a few skirmish groups to Celestial Valley, scouting the areas for any more points of interest. Then joining Luna’s forces for Solheim. No doubt Luna’s first city for the taking.”

Dracula thought over that plan, being sure to go over every detail to the letter. Solheim was a recent city set up in the three years of peace. Solheim was a place of mass training and had very thick walls of the strongest stone. Celestia made sure to make the walls thick. If there was a way to take Solheim then Luna would take it. It would cause a huge wound to the Solar Empire as it has a major deposit of Arkonite Crystals. One of the only deposits in Equestria. If Celestia was being cut off from Solheim then weapons being made for her Pegasi and Earth Pony soldiers would be futile. A crippling blow indeed.

Dracula nodded at the battle plan and said, “I agree with my apprentice. Solheim is an area that Celestia cannot afford to lose. Fort Solis and Solheim will offer a large foothold in the Solar Empire and for a crippling blow to Celestia she would not be able to recover from. A city that Celestia could not afford to lose. Well done my apprentice.”

Dracula turned his attention to Scarlet and she bowed her head low and said, “Thank you my master.”

Dracula leaned forward in his throne and said, “Now what shall we do about Wraith and his Death Knights? His numbers continue to surmount with each passing hour.”

Kirnon answered and said, “While our focus is on Fort Solis and Solheim, we will need somepony to keep Celestia’s army on her toes. Wraith and his Death Knights will engage Celestia at almost every turn she has. Though it will not be easy, while Wraith might have superior numbers her soldiers will no doubt be equipped with weapons that will improve damage done to undead. Easily making one of her soldiers worth maybe twenty or thirty hoof soldiers of Wraith’s.”

Dracula rested his elbows on his knees and folded his hooves under his chin as he inspected the map. Finally after a few calculations Dracula said pointing his hoof and as he did so he moved the figurine representing Wraith to Heartmoor, a settlement within the southern border within the territory of the Lunar Republic, “Then when Wraith has little soldiers to spare he will retreat to Heartmoor and await further orders. Under my command and under my command only will he retreat. And Kirnon, I want you and your soldiers to accompany him with this task.”

Kirnon bowed and he said, “It will be done my lord.”

Dracula nodded and looked to the final two members of the Council. One being Malik and the other Lord Kane of the Bloodlords. His eyes as pale as his mane and tail, with his coat the color of blood. It came to Dracula’s understanding that Malik and Kane had a shared lineage. their manes wild and more of a lion’s mane than a pony’s. Kane had a large two hoofed sword sheathed at his side with his hooves crossed over his large chest. He was around the same height as his identical twin Malik. He wore thick layered plate armor made from the bones of a mountain troll, that he killed with his bare hooves. Dracula said to them, “Celestia has become allies with the Silverbloods and will no doubt ask them to join her tyrannical empire. I am trusting you two with the task of invading the Silvermane Highlands and stamping them out. And I am giving you permission to break Sanguine law when facing them. Annihilate them so that they will not rise against us again. Assimilate leadership if you have to. Make an example out of them, showing what happens to those who try to destroy freedom.”

Kane and Malik nodded and Kane answered in a gravelly deep voice, “As you wish my lord.”

Dracula held up his hoof and said looking towards Scarlet, “My apprentice, your mission is to go with Malik and Kane and learn everything you can from them. They are good teachers and excellent leaders, you can learn a lot from them. I do not want you to be by my side in battle out of fear that we both might perish and so to the Onyx bloodline. Stay safe and protected, I will contact you when we have finished our invasion of Solheim. Win or lose.”

Scarlet bowed low and said, “I understand my master.”

Dracula looked to the rest of the council and said, “Prepare your troops to march. For we march to war.”

Dracula stood up and said, “Vita est sanguis.”

The council and his apprentice responded, “Vita est sanguis.”

The leaders went about their way to mobilize their armies and send word to Wraith. The only ones that stayed was Dracula, Scarlet, and Davorin. Dracula thought for moment as he looked at the fearful vampire for a moment and stood up from his throne and walked over to him. With each step his dark presence ushered forth and sent waves of dread and fear up Davorin’s spine. Dracula loomed over Davorin and crossed his hooves behind his back and leaned in close and said to his apprentice that joined his side, “You know what my apprentice. I think I will have Davorin join Malik and Kane’s siege on the Silvermane Highlands.”

Dracula leaned in closer and said with utmost cruelty in his tone, “So he sees what happens to those who raise their voice against the Ebonmanes.”

Dracula stood back up and broke the spell on Davorin and turned to Scarlet with his hooves still behind his back, “You will join me on the field after all. Perhaps you shall meet my other apprentices once they return from their diplomatic mission from the Crystal Empire. Meet me in my chambers in an hour.”

Scarlet bowed low and said, “Yes my master.”

Scarlet ushered herself out of the room and left Dracula alone with Davorin. Dracula stood over Davorin threateningly. Dracula lifted his hoof, with barely even flinching a muscle Davorin was lifted into the air struggling and gasping for air as a tight red magic contstricted itself around his neck. Dracula drew Davorin in closer and his horn lit bright red, and the same colored energy came out of Davorin and was being absorbed into Dracula. Dracula said cruelly, “So that you do not get any ideas of trying to rebel against me Davorin. Consider this an act of mercy, and if I ever catch wind of you trying to raise a banner against me. I will personally rip you apart limb from limb and string your entrails above my chamber doors. Do I make myself abundantly clear?”

The only answer that Dracula could hear was, “My...neck…”

Dracula tightened his magical grip on his throat and said, “I am sorry, do you mean your neck? Do you not enjoy the short leash I have placed upon you? Perhaps you wish for me to tighten it.”

He was mere inches away from his chest and throat from totally collapsing. His face turned a pale white as his life slowly slipped away from him. Inches away from death he breathed out, “Crystal...clear…”

Dracula released his hold on Davorin and said as he fell to the ground coughing violently. Spitting up blood, “Now that is more like it. Remember your place Davorin, you do not have the authority to question my methods of teaching nor how many apprentices I allow myself to have. I expect you to be fit and ready for the Silvermane Highlands in an hour. If you are not prepared by then, then I will strip away even more of your powers. You are not the leader here, I am. And you will remember who is your Lord. You are dismissed.”

Davorin spat up another gout of blood and said as Dracula left the room, “Yes...my...lord.”

Dracula smiled at his handy work. A cruel smile curled on his lips as he thoroughly enjoyed showing his dominance to those that spoke against him. He gave respect and benevolence to those that deserve it, not ponies like Davorin. He kept Davorin in his position because Dracula wanted to keep a closer eye on him. Dracula’s smile deepened as he closed the stone doors behind him and said as he walked off to his chambers, “Your rebellion will come soon enough Davorin. But not today, and I will rejoice when I spill your blood.”

Author's Notes:
Yes I decided to split the chapter into two parts, that way it wasn't too long considering it is only five chapters in. I did not want a 8,000 word chapter this early on in the fic. So part 2 will be out soon. By the way, I do hope that you enjoyed a little bit of Dracula's dark side. I thought it was awesome how he did everything. A little bot of something that he inherited from his father. You will see this side of Dracula very often. As far as that goes I have nothing else to say about the fic thus far.
See you guys next chapter!

Chapter VI - Mobilization of Nations Part II

The sky turned blood red, the signs of destruction and of warfare to come. A promise of blood and iron. These that have been long over due for Equestria, at least in Celestia’s eyes. The time has come for the Equestrians to take their mantle as this world’s leaders. First Celestia would stomp out this civil war, then she would set her sights on the rest of the nations of Acros. Celestia clutched the edge of the railing as she stared up at the sky. The sun and moon sustained in the sky.

Her eyes never fleeting from that sight. Her mind and ears sharp for any coming threats. She would not allow any traitors in her midst. Not even among her loyalists, she sent out a conscription order to the corners of Equestria she could show her propaganda. South and Eastern Equestria was gone, they betrayed Celestia’s vision of the true Equestria. Her gaze tightened as she stared at the moon. Her hate blazing through her and exuding from the sun, making hateful rays to burst forth from the sun. Like the tongues from a forge.

Seething with hate and pride she pushed herself away from the moon and refocused back to everything that lied in front of her. Her chambers a storm of chaos. Papers strewn across the floor. Daggers stabbed into various places. Battle plans. Spy listings. Assassination notes. She went through everything to prepare for war. It is what she craved, and now she would show the true power of Equestria. She refocused as her chamber door opened and ushered in was Dawn Sparkle. The twin sister to her former student, Twilight Sparkle. Her bright white coat and her bright yellow mane hidden behind the armor worn by the Paladins of the Sun. White plates of heavy armor, a tabard bearing the Blazing Sun Insignia of the Solar Empire. And gold and red accents on the armor. She kneeled on the floor in front of Celestia and said in the same voice as Twilight, “My Empress, I bring...grave news.”

Celestia’s hardened expression deepened as she heard those words escape her new student. Celestia replied, “Explain yourself.”

Her tone stated to Dawn that she was now in no mood to talk, but she spoke anyways standing tall and firm in front of her Empress, “General Sundance has returned and said that the invasion of Rainbow Falls failed. But his troops told me that they failed because he did not believe in your Empire. He murdered the residents there, believing that they were corrupt by a totalitarian leader. You, my empress. He left none alive. Killed mares and fillies. He was captured and the Lunar Soldiers pushed back. His fate awaits you my Empress.”

Celestia offered no words, her anger was boiling to a point to where she could not control it. She needed to vent her anger. She pushed past Dawn and walked on to the throne room. No doubt where he waited, shackled in chains. She had too many ponies betraying her, she could not have word leak out into the public. This would be a sign of weakness that she would fix herself.

Her hoofsteps echoing her anger as she guided herself through the halls. Nothing fazed her as her only focus was to bring order back to her Empire. She burst open the doors leading into the throne room and just as she suspected there he lied. Knelt and shackled in irons with a Mage lock on his horn. Which did not allow him to use magic. Two Paladins held each of his hoof and readied for their Empress to arrive.

Once she came into view the Paladins said announcing her presence, “Empress Celestia.”

They spoke together in the same tone of voice. She nodded at them and then moved her gaze to the degenerate form of General Sundance. She stared coldly at the once trusted general. His eyes shaken and his body trembling, as he fearfully awaited judgment from his empress. Her cold gaze tightening as she said, “So. You are brought before me to face judgment. But I must ask you Sundance, what have you done?”

Her vocie was harsh and unforgiving, raised in volume. She nodded her head to the Paladins and they dropped Sundance. They left the room with a salute and Sundance coughed as his lungs took in normal air. Sundance looked fearfully up at Celestia. His dirt ridden face covered in scars and his armor dented from the recent battle. Sundance answered his voice quavering, “Empress Celestia...I...I was simply carrying out your command-”

“My command!” Celestia shouted at a high and harsh volume. She leaned in close and gripped the cuff of his armor, he whimpered as she drew him in closer. She continued with a harsh tone, “Was my command to turn on MY soldiers!? Was my command to murder innocent ponies of the Solar Empire!? Do I look like I am amused by this? Clearly you must think this a joke if you truly want yourself here.”

Sundance whimpered as she stared daggers at him. She asked, “Do I look like a murderer, Sundance?”

He managed to choke out, “No, Empress Celestia-”

“Then I implore you to answer my original question: WHAT HAVE YOU DONE!” Celestia yelled piercing through Sundance and causing tears to form at the corners of his eyes. He shut his eyes as she pulled him in closer, “I sent you to Rainbow Falls with an army, to protect and defend that city for the Solar Empire. Instead you decided to SPIT IN MY FACE! You decided that it would be better for you to follow my insolent sister. Murdering innocents-”

Her tone grew cold and she leaned him in and whispered in his ear, growling like a wolf, “-fillies even.”

Sundance continued sputtering and crying like a filly and Celestia continued, “I have lived for over two thousand years, Sundance. And if there is one thing that I have learned from this existence it is that: Unity and Duty are to be cherished. And our responsibilities are to our people. To our brother and sisters under the sun. To protect those who cannot protect themselves.”

Celestia threw him aside and he slammed hard against the ground, with the force of a god behind the throw. Sundance winced and lost his breath as he made contact with the floor. Celestia stepped above him and said pressing her armored hoof against his neck, “You have brought shame to the True Equestria. Disgraced my ideals for our future.”

She unsheathed her sword and pressed the tip against his cheek, “And it is for this reason that by my right as Empress, I hereby relieve you of your duties.”

Sundance cried in mercy, “Empress no!”

Celestia hefted her sword in her hands and pulled it up and then thrust it down. The blade piercing through the soft skin of his neck and stabbing into the ground, a rising tide of blood splashing against her. Staining her armor and her blade with the warm blood of the one who betrayed her. Celestia moved her hoof from the dead pony and looked to the Paladins and dictated, “Clean this mess up. And let this be a lesson, those that betray the Empire shall die by my hoof personally.”

Celestia took out a hooferchief and wiped down her blade and her armor. Not wanting her to be in unpresentable condition for going to her Paladins and seeing to it that in her absence she chose a wise leader. She had in mind who she would use. Somepony who shared her same leadership abilities and cruelty. Somepony like Dawn. She saw the mare walk in and she noticed the dead body and said, “I see that the traitor has been dealt with my empress.”

Celestia cracked a smile and responded, “Indeed.”

Celestia drew in close to Dawn and she looked into her eyes and saw her student standing there, briefly. She knew it was not her and shook it quickly away. Celestia said, “Dawn. I am putting you in charge of looking after the capital while I am away. I must personally see to it that my sister is brought down for this.”

Dawn said in protest, “But-”

Celestia pressed her hooves on her shoulders and replied in a voice like a soothing mother, “That, is an order. I have complete faith that you will rule fine while I am gone. Make sure you pass proper judgment. Do not randomly throw away lives, that is a waste of resources. Remember what I taught you and you will be fine.”

Dawn answered with a bow of her head, “I understand Empress.”

Celestia’s smile briefly returned, “Excellent. I will be back once this rebellion is put down.”

“Round up all new recruits, we march for Dawnfield in a day.” Luna said to Specter. Specter nodded and turned away from Princess Luna. Dawnfield was a town just outside of Solheim, her original destination. But she could not march on Solheim alone. She did not have the siege weaponry to do so and she did not have the manpower to proceed with it. So she would have to take Dawnfield and wait for her allies to arrive into the war.

She sighed as she turned back and stood out onto a balcony of the terrace of a castle. The Lunar Republic city of Moonhaven. The darktown almost glowing in the discolored sky. Moonhaven was a city of southern Equestria that was perfect for the capital. It lied nestled in the valley of a mountain range. A river outlining it like a moat. And an empty sprawling desert tp cross into the valley. A secluded location perfect for protection. She listened carefully to the buzz of the city that was below her. Ponies moving in preparation for war. A sound she never wanted to hear one of her cities do.

But she knew it was needed and that it would come sooner or later. For they live in a world that strives from conflict. Whether fought inside or outside, it did not matter. But what kept her thinking was how many she would have to kill. How many lives were to be senselessly thrown away towards an ideal she barely held together. She however remembered back to a memory she shared with Scarlet,

It was during the afterglow that there are moments where lovers share words. Whether warm and inviting or broken promises. It was during that time that Luna had thoughts on her life up to this point. She held Scarlet close in her hooves, their warmth sharing with each other. Luna had one of her legs crossed over Scarlet’s. Luna gently nuzzled Scarlet awake and she woke with a hum, “Hmm...what?”

She turned her head slightly to see Luna’s face. Her gentle and somber eyes bringing Luna down with Scarlet, her mind not wanting to wander. Luna cracked a smile and said, “I...thank you...I needed that.”

Scarlet gave a smile of her own and said, “Anything for you Luna.”

“Princess Luna?” Asked a voice that caused her to be ripped from her memory, “Is everything alright Princess?”

Luna pressed a hoof to her forehead and grunted under a sudden pain. She felt tender hooves that she had mistakened for Scarlet until she realized it was somepony else. Luna opened her eyes and saw the light blue coat and silver mane of Trixie Lulamoon. Luna said waving a hoof, “I’m fine...I’ll be fine.”

Trixie nodded her head softly and said, “Okay...well, the conscription orders have been returned.”

“How many?”

“About twelve hundred,” Trixie said regaining her former composure, “And many more. It seems that so many want to keep the old ways of Equestria.”

Luna leaned her hooves on the railing and let out with a sigh, “If we continue to have more numbers like this then we will not have enough supplies to keep them here. We are a new country and still need to establish trade routes. What of the battle reports?”

Luna looked over at her advisor and she did not look like she wanted to say whatever it was. But she said, “Well...the siege on Rainbow Falls failed. But General Sundance gave us valuable information before he was captured by the Solar Empire.”

“And that was?”

“...Celestia is trying to make an unbeatable army,” Trixie explained cocking her hip to the side, “She has been working with Virus X and mutated it. Turning the subject into an Alicorn...a perfect alicorn. They as well have reduced brain cell levels so that she can personally control their movements. Trying to emulate a hive mind mentality. She is calling them the Paladins of the Sun. Very powerful and very dangerous.”

“And Rainbow Falls was the test field,” Luna said with irritation in her voice, “(sigh)...I’m glad you brought this to my attention. If what you are saying is true then my former children will have quite the hoof full to handle. But I have faith in my son.”

Trixie offered a friendly hoof on Luna’s shoulder as she finished, “I just pray to the gods that he does not do anything stupid like his father...what of Ponyville? Where do they stand?”

Trixie shrugged her shoulders, “I have not received any reports from Ponyville. I can only assume that they have remained neutral through this.”

Luna looked out at the country side and said longingly, “Night hopes that they stay that way. I fear what might happen if disorder ran through Twilight’s Kingdom.”

Chapter VII - Behind the Scenes

With the eyes of dawn creeping through the stained glass windows of the throne room of Canterlot, lighting across the floor the many scenes of the success of Equestria. The banishment of Nightmare Moon. The Second Griffon War being brought down. The Return of Harmony and Princess Luna. The Return of Discord. The Canterlot Wedding. The Dark Crusade. The Fourth Princess.

All these scenes dancing across the floor of the throne room. The rays of morning doing nothing to hide Dawn’s hatred. She sat on the throne and watched the Fourth Princess stained glass window, almost as if she knew something. She dug deep inside her mind to try and find out who that was. She would have mistakened herself but she was not lavender. It seemed strange.

She refocused as she noticed that the advisor of hers that was left behind was Solar Comet. A stallion who was slender like a mare but held a certain power beneath him, his bright white coat standing out of his bright gold armor. His nearly glowing blonde mane spiked and slicked back. Solar Comet was an Earth Pony but his talent was controlling magic, absorbing it into him and reusing it for his own purposes. The Mage Hunter, he is calling himself. He crossed his hooves over his chest and he asked in a voice like knives, “What troubles you young hunter?”

Dawn looked back at the panes and replied, “I don’t know...something about that Fourth Princess one...it’s strange....It looks like me but I know that it is not.”

Solar Comet stepped next to the throne and said, “I prefer not to ask if not told. She’ll tell you when she returns. Anyways...I bear news.”

Dawn looked over at her friend and said, “And that is?”

“The Talvani have refused to offer their arcane crystals,” Solar said coldly, “They claim that they do not wish to get involved with Equine Empire affairs.”

Dawn clenched her hoof and gritted her teeth as she added, “We are the Equine Empire no longer.”

Solar nodded and said, “That’s what I said, but they want to remain neutral in the civil war. And that they must keep to themselves.”

Dawn gawked and said, “Cowards. The first sign of danger and they are sent running back to their caves. They have not even seen a war before. It would do them good to have a war under their new nation. They cannot remain neutral forever.”

Solar raised his hooves, “If you are suggesting what I think you are suggesting then I would advise against it. They are beyond our borders and is too far to be reached within precise time. A week maybe two there and back.”

Dawn pushed herself off the throne and said, “Yes but they made an agreement to the Solar Empire. They have Talin in our borders, while their locations are unknown they will surely perish before they make it back to their nation. They cannot abandon us now...we are close to making them.”

Solar Comet pressed his hoof against the bridge of his nose and stressed, “But we have little troops to work with, and even if we did we would set off a lot of hate from some of the other nations. While they are not particularly strong militarily, we would still expend more resources than what is acceptable.”

Dawn said, “Then perhaps we send a hoof full and stage a coup.”

Solar’s eyes grew wider and asked, “I’m sorry can you repeat that? Did I just hear that you wanted to stage a coup against the Talvani?”

Dawn added, “Hardly costly and we only send a battalion. That is all we will need. Then once we have set up the leaders, we purge the Talvani.”

Solar was about to say something in replience but was stopped as Dawn said sternly, “That is an order as acting leader.”

Solar rolled his eyes and bowed, “Yes, of course.”

Solar turned on his hooves to the exit and slowly walked out. Leaving Dawn to think and rest. Dawn sat back in the throne and as she stared back at the windows her vision faltered on her and her eyes began to drift shut.

“And what am I supposed to do? Sit here and wait while Dracula throws his life away?” Twilight said exasperatedly. Throwing her hooves up in the air, had she not proven that she can handle herself in a fight? Had she not proven her worth? Discord pressed his griffon talon against the bridge of his nose and his other arm crossed over his chest.

Discord replied equabled, “It is not that he does not trust or doubt you. He just does not know if you would let your feelings get in the way. You would be going against your former teacher. While I would highly suggest that you do this I must respectfully decline it being your advisor. You do not have the time nor the resources to join a civil war.”

Twilight rested her hooves on her desk as they stood in the library once more, the combined rays being curtained behind a layer of clouds. Twilight affirmed her calmed mood, “I suppose that you are right Discord...I just wish I was able to do something other than just sit here and wait for an end to a war.”

Discord clapped his claw on her slightly armored shoulder, “Sometimes all we can do is wait.”

Twilight looked distantly at the wall. She had so much on her plate. Her parents were staying with her. Spike had fallen ill. And her country was in jeopardy of falling apart. She needed Dracula the most now and he was away fighting a war that she hoped would be taken care of soon. But she could not dismiss the sneaking suspicion that crawled up the bowels of her stomach that she would be forced into the war. Like it or not.

The oaken door to the library opened and in came Fluttershy, who was staying at the castle as well as Pinkie, as they were trying to find the source of Spike’s illness. Fluttershy seemed troubled, as she always looked knowing that Spike was fallen ill.

Twilight dared not ask anything other than, “How is he?”

Fluttershy let out a sigh and responded, “He is doing fine. His condition has not worsened or improved. He seems sustained in a coma. I tried everything I could Twilight I’m so-”

“It’s fine,” Twilight interrupted, “At least we know that he is still living. I just… I wish I could do something…”

Twilight Velvet stepped into the room and Twilight tried not to notice her ushering in. Twilight focused on her not trying to cry in front of her friends. She kept her back to the door and closed her eyes and felt lost with her thoughts. She felt tender hooves rest on her shoulders. She wanted them to be Dracula’s but she knew they weren’t. Everything was going great, everything was going so well. Then this war had to start and she could not even support him. She heard her mother’s voice soothe her, “It will be okay.”

Twilight grabbed her mother’s hooves and choking back her tears she said, “I just hope that he’ll be okay...both of them…”

Twilight turned and pulled her mother in for a hug and Twilight felt warmth she had not felt in years. The warm embrace of her mother, lulling her and telling her that everything was going to be fine. Twilight chuckled to herself letting a few tears fall as she said, “I must be pathetic right now...A princess crying…”

Her mother moved her chin up and she looked into her eyes and her mother said, “It just means that you are a pony. That you still have a heart, and I know for certain that you always will have one.”

For what felt like an eternity she held her mother. Just letting out her emotions, and after a few minutes Twilight pushed herself away and wiped her eyes and nodded at her mother with a smile. Twilight looked at Fluttershy and said, “Keep tabs on Spike. Let me know if anything changes.”

“Okay Twilight.”

Fluttershy let herself out and hung a right. Twilight looked back to her mother and said, “Thanks mom. I needed that.”

Twilight Velvet smiled and replied, “Anytime sweetheart. I think I go make dinner, I will call you when it is ready.”

She left the room and Twilight looked back over at Discord who released a fake sarcastic tear and said, “That was so sweet…”

Twilight chuckled and said to his jest, “Shut up Discord.”

They shared a round of laughter and Discord coughed and said, “Yes...well. I do believe that we have reports to read. The nightwatch claims that we will have conscriptors from the Solar Empire in a few days.”

Twilight regained her former noble and strong compsure and said, “I will let the Ebonmanes stationed here to take care of that. Next.”

“The new watchmen have been recruited and are now awaiting training,” Discord lifted a paper, “We as well have come up with a scouting team that is willing to watch the outer perimeter of Ponyville. Shall I send the order for them to begin scouting?”

Twilight sat back down at her desk and mused tapping her chin with her hoof, “Yes. Spit it into shifts. One group makes their rounds once and then exchange with the second group.”

Discord replied, “Excellent. I will issue the order immediately. And...we as well have some suggestions for new laws and some modifications to others.”

Twilight nestled herself comfortably in her seat. She knew that it was going to be a while, with the amount of democratic power that Ponyville has. She felt her soul cleansed and her mind cleared getting that off of her chest. If she was to sit there and wait for a victor then she would improve provisions there and a chance to improve the martial skill of the guards under her control. She was not about to let this impede on her skills of ruling over ponies.

But what was kept fresh in her mind was that grueling vision of Ponyville set ablaze. Twilight activated her magic and summoned a piece of paper and a quill and said with the powerful lavender aura enveloping the quill, “Let’s get this done.”

Author's Notes:
Sorry about the short chapter. I needed to clear up a few things before I segwayed into the armies marching! Don't worry, there will be some hard core blood spilling for the next few chapters.
See you guys next chapter!
~Sylus~

Chapter VIII - When the Dead Walk

News spread quickly, even throughout the torn lands of Equestria. The instability of the governments became clear now, nopony safe from the fighting or cleared of the blood. The riptide of blood will rise soon, and the world knew that the Ebonmanes would be there to feast. Dracula had faith that his servants and soldiers, faith that he could end any adversaries quickly. The Solar Empire has done only a few changes with the economy but she seems to be working well with it. But Princess Luna and the Lunar Republic was not going too well. The economy, even though only first established, was not working too well. The citizens grew nervous now to accept the republican government. Many now trying to go to their old ways of a dual monarchy.

Princess Luna and Celestia have made speeches concerning how the result of the war will go. If they were to face each other on the field again, they would end each other’s lives. No mercy for them. The line had been drawn long ago, Princess Luna had said, we just need to decide when we are willing to accept that. They were not wrong, but there was another way to solve this other than throwing away lives of their citizens. Why was Celestia acting like this? She had plenty of opportunities to call him out and denounce him. Yet, she remained silent until now.

Dracula’s face covered in a scarf as he and ten thousand others marched through the Bleak Wind Desert. The western desert leading to the Badlands. Sharp boulders jutting into the sky, aching to impale the suspended eclipse sky. The wind blew hard and fierce against Dracula but he did not budge. They had been marching for hours and not a drop of sweat had fallen, not a single breath of complaint. Dracula was overjoyed, faithful followers that would stop at nothing to please his every whim or his command. He was their absolute, their one and only Lord of the Night.

They broke into battalions of fifty strong each, spread out over the dusty plains, the thin coarse sand soft under the crunch of his armored hooves. A cloth shawl over his shoulders and mouth to keep out the sand and dust. Dracula looked to the ones he marched with, to his right marched his apprentice Scarlet. And to his left was Lilah Blackwhisper, her thick mage coat fitted tight and a shawl wrapped around her shoulders. A death gaze set on the land in front of them. Her staff resting coldly on her back, itching to pull it out and begin invocations. Dracula turned his gaze back on the land in front of him.

They had past a few stony ruins that were decaying away and eroded away by the air around them. Dunes like mountains of sand and broken glass, his gaze was wide and Dracula opened his ears. Listening for miles around. Ignoring the marching of his troops he listened carefully. He heard distant marching, they were planted perfectly and were hard against the sand. Dracula smiled, it was a small force of Silver Blade Knights. About fifteen hundred strong, all well equipped with the standard uniform and weapons of Silver Blades. A silver blade blessed by the sun itself to injure any undead foe they come across, no doubt more powerful now with the Goddess of the Sun to bless them personally. A set of silver steel plate armor, long capes of jet black, and insignias of power and filling the wearer with protective magic making it nearly impossible to cast an efficient spell on them. From a vampire maybe, but not from the Lord of Vampires.

Dracula wiped the surface of his teeth with his tongue, he ached for a drop of blood. An insatiable lust that he can control for now. But he felt the twinge of hunger spike when he learned of their affiliation. Dracula said aloud to his apprentice, “Scarlet. Continue to march. I will meet you all at the rendezvous.”

Scarlet turned to face her master and asked, “Why? What is wrong?”

Dracula smiled and said, “We have reinforcements for the mining depots. Silver Blade Knights.”

Dracula turned his head to where the Silver Blade Knights were marching. Dracula unsheathed Kal’Drae and said, “Stay with them. I will return soon. Do not wait for me.”

Dracula spread out his wings, shadows leaping out and a hail of bats of shadow spreading out. Leaching and gripping along the ground. They leaped and screeched for freedom, the souls of broken ponies dying to escape. Their wails not given any attention. Dracula beat his wings hard and shot into the sky. Dracula felt the wind bash against him and his shadow of death, but he did not pay any attention. Dracula lifted up his hooves and an animalistic hiss escaping his throat. The storm of dust and sand answered to his cry, the wind falling still. Dracula lifted the shadow of death and infected the still air around him. Shadows living and aching to avenge their broken souls. Dracula lifted his hooves up and the wind picked up again, the shadow filled wind awaiting to sink their bite into an enemy.

Dracula controlled the winds with his magic, his horn a torrent of magic and a beacon of red light. Dracula’s eyes glowed the same color, his form changing into his Cthonian form. Dracula growled and shot forward, ripping through the air like a bullet. Lifting Kal’Drae, the torrent and storm of shadows following his form. Dracula propelled forward and cleared his mind ready to kill every last one of those knights. They were his comrades once, but they were not as righteous as they were lead to believe. Fury filled his veins, they used him as a font of power for five hundred years.

Dracula saw as the torrent of shadow increased in radius and he saw the knights come into view. Dracula stopped beating his wings and lifted his hind legs up and shot through the air ready to slam into the ground. Dracula impacted the ground, a crater coming in his wake. Sand bursting up, knights joining the sand. Landing right in front of where they were marching. Dracula kneeling in the cloud and storm of shadows. Dracula lifted his head and saw as so many were being torn into pieces by the shadows. Dracula watched as they charged him. Dracula sprinted forth and raised Kal’Drae which was now humming with power and aching to pierce through flesh. Dracula deflected a blow and stabbed Kal’Drae into his chest, his soul being ripped from his body and absorbed into Dracula. Another blow came and was deflected away, quickly dispatching another Silver Blade Knight. Wrenching in Kal’Drae deep into his chest. Collecting yet another soul.

One after another came and tried to down the Vampire Lord, each one failing to stay alive. After Dracula gathered enough power within Kal’Drae he shoved it into the ground and an eruption of corruptive magic shot out and ate away at the Silver Blade Knights. Magic lingered on the air, the storm of shadows stilling raging around the small battlefield. Dracula lifted his head and saw three charging towards him with their swords raised. Dracula stood back up and readied Kal’Drae. Two charged fast the other was slower, just in case Dracula tried to pull anything that was unpredictable.

Dracula gave a cruel smile and said to them, “You face the power of a God, yet you throw away your lives senselessly to me. You serve Princess Celestia, do you honestly think that she will do as you ask? Just more puppets underneath her strings, this is an act of mercy for you all.”

Dracula dodged one and parried the other as they collided blades with Dracula. Dracula moved the blade away from him and stepped aside, pushing his hooves into the ground he smashed his shoulder against the Silver Blade and knocked him to the ground with the full force of an immortal. Dracula parried two more strikes from the other Silver Blade and Kal’Drae hummed with even more power and slashed diagonally, cutting off his chest plate. Some of the magic leaching to his skin and he fell to the ground. Dracula watched as he cried in fear. He turned to the third and lifted him to the sky, his hoof glowing bright red and his eyes filled with hunger. Dracula moved his hoof to him and the helpless pony in his telekinetic grip moved to him.

Once he was within distance, Dracula pulled his head back and unsheathed his fangs. Stabbing them deep into the pony’s neck. He drank deep the sweet taste of blood running down his gullet. His blood flowed out of him like a river of crimson, some of it spilling out into the sand. The blood that spilled sank deep into the sand. In Dracula’s mind he cast a spell and called out to the dead of the seas of sand. Dracula awaited the answer, and they said they would serve. Once Dracula devoured all the blood within the Silver Blade he tossed the body away and looked as more Silver Blades gathered around him. They made no movement to charge at him, he looked at each of their faces, they pointed and readied their swords.

They were trying to trap him, Dracula decided to go with it. Let them have the false sense of protection and hope. A gap opened, gathering Dracula’s attention. The pony that stepped into the circle of Silver Blades, Dracula listened to the whisperings of the dead that were going to rise. They neared awakening. He inspected the foe in front of him.

He was a Belmont, judging by the garb he wore and the weapon upon his waist. He wore cloth and metal plates, to protect and give him agility. His large cloth white tunic was split in the front, showing his armored legs and his armored chest with small spaulders on his shoulders. Silver steel and bleach white cloth with the emblem of the Silver Blades on his necklace. He knew he was a Belmont because he sensed his blood. The Dhampir blood that flowed through his veins. Dracula gave a smile to the chestnut coated stallion, “So. The Belmont’s vaunted justice finally catches up with me. Tell me, how does it feel being a slave to Princess Celestia?”

The Belmont growled and released his weapon, a combat chain that slung forth and tried to come down. The chain glowing a bright blue energy. Dracula stepped aside, surprised at the speed. Dracula turned to the Belmont and the Belmont said, “Silence snake. I will not hear another corruptive word to escape from your silver tongue!”

Dracula kept a cruel smile and said, “So. A warmonger, rage that is uncontrollable within this Belmont...hmm...Anselmus Belmont...your parents were killed recently.”

Anselmus growled, “How do you know of that!?”

Dracula stepped closer, Anselmus stepping back and keeping a steely gaze on Dracula. He stared into his narrowed and dark blue eyes. Dracula said, “I can sense their death on you. You killed your parents because of your rage. So you joined the Brotherhood like your family members, after you refused before, to repent for your sins. But you know inside that you cannot abandon your rage, it is a part of you my most recent brother.”

Anselmus caught Dracula off guard and wrapped a chain around Dracula’s hoof. Dracula looked to his left hoof and saw as the chain burned his skin, no pain rising through him. But it was smelting to his flesh. It gripped his flesh, Dracula lifted his gaze back to Anselmus who had a maddening smile and said, “You are not apart of my family.”

Anselmus stepped away and threw Dracula out of his chain and Dracula went flying into a dune. Slamming hard into the hill of sand, Dracula felt his muscles ache briefly before his injuries healed, besides the burn on his arm. It burned through the armor and brandished his skin. Dracula stood up in the ruined sand hill. Wiping off his hooves. Dracula opened his hooves and Kal’Drae and Whiteash appeared in his grips. They hummed to life and he sensed when his army of dead would rise. They were awakened.

Rising from the earth with a shake of the world itself, the skeletons rose. Dracula hovered into the air and chanted his voice projecting across the four winds, “Yes. Rise. Rise and hear your master’s cull. For your day of vengeance has come, Legion of Forgotten Blades. Centuries ago you were forgotten, and you have not forgiven the living for that. Now you may repay for their sins. Kill them.”

A chorus of dead screams rose, all saying, “Yes my lord.”

The Legion of Forgotten Blades were glowing bright red, Dracula’s magic radiating off of them. They raised shields and spears to the remaining Silver Blade Knights. Dracula hovered above the sea of undead. Dracula walked on the air and saw the fear that rose in their eyes. Dracula tasted that fear and felt his cause rise above all others. He was not doing this to be cruel or just because he could. He was protecting his people. His ponies. They endangered his family, and it was for that they must pay.

Dracula listened to the hisses and growls coming from his army behind him. Dracula’s stance was firm and commanding, he warned, “I will give you one more chance to leave. To return to your tyrant of a princess. Or you face death itself.”

Anselmus had two combat chains in his hooves and shouted back, “We do not fear death.”

Dracula’s eyes glowed bright red as he said in a dark tone, “How do you know? You never tried it.”

Dracula released an animalistic roar as he pointed Whiteash at them and the horde of skeletons responded shooting forth, itching to rend flesh and bone. Dracula charged with them. He looked to his side and saw one undead that did not quite fit. He still had some meat on him and his eyes glowed bright blue. He wore splinted plate mail, strong and heavy offering much protection. Dracula said to him in his mind,
What is your name dead one?

His mane was jet black and long. The color of his coat was long forgotten from how pale it was. He held a scythe and replied,
I am Azriel. Champion of this Legion.

Dracula smiled and said to him, “Prove to me.”

Azriel sprinted forth and began slaying any Silver Blade that came within his immediate
radius. His scythe of pure obsidian metal being stained red with the many gallons of blood being spilled by him. He allowed shadows to fill his blade and wrenched it in a wide arc, slashing open three knights. Normally the blow would have been absorbed, but Azriel’s blade was encased in Nether energy. He invoked a small amount of Nether energy, Dracula could feel the tainted element deep inside of him. Dracula found this interesting, he would inquire about this later. For now there was a battle he needed to win.

Dracula slashed forward and cut a knight down. Fifteen swarmed and circled around him, it was amusing thinking that they could outnumber him. Dracula smirked and charged forth at breakneck speed, bashing his shoulder into one. Knocking him off his hooves and thrusting his sword deep within his stomach. Time seemed to slow as he continued on. Two attacked him at the same time, slashing down in a wide and powerful arc. Dracula dodged both attacks and spun down on his hooves. Slashing against their waists, Kal’Drae finding weak points in their armor. Dracula lifted a free hoof and it began to glow bright red energy. The same energy mirrored around the two victims and they screamed as they rapidly aged. Red energy drew forth from their forms and absorbed inside of him. He tasted their lifeforce, his talent. And relished in the renewed strength.

Dracula tucked out of the reach of another knight and spun to face him. He was large and armored from head to hoof in thick armor. He carried two large scimitars of pure silver, etched with runes of strength and solar energy. He pointed one of his scimitars and declared, “You shall be cleansed from this place! Monster! For you are the hunter no longer!”

Dracula smiled as he crouched in the ground. He responded, “I’d be careful hunting monsters, holy one. Lest you fear becoming a monster yourself.”

The knight roared for combat and raised his swords ready to connect to Dracula. Dracula let Kal’Drae disappear into shadows and he lowered both front hooves to the ground, reverting back to his normal form. Dracula activated his magic and energy gathered and swirled in a torrent of magic. Once it gathered enough it travelled through his veins and a small eruption shot out and found a few targets. Four, including the mighty one. Dracula stood up and saw them freeze in utter fear, the red auras around them turned dark as they stared at Dracula. Dracula smiled as he stood up and raised both hooves, glowing with red magic.

He lifted them all into the air and the two weaker ones hovered closer to Dracula. They strained as the fear rose in their veins. Dracula awaited until it surmounted. Dracula kept his hooves raised and in two quick motions twisted his hooves and snapped the necks of both of them. The force behind the attacks was so hard that the heads nearly fell from their bodies, letting their stumps drown in blood. Dracula released his magic on the two limp bodies, their limp forms making a thud as they fell to the ground.

Dracula set his gaze on the large one and he said, “You are strong. But your heart is weak, one such as yourself deserves a strong heart. And not one to allow you to fool heartedly walk into your death. I am sorry.”

Dracula sprinted forth, letting his vampiric muscles surge him forward. Moving faster than the wind itself. Dracula pulled his hoof back and punctured it deep into the pony’s chest. Grabbing his heart with his hoof, ushering a gasp of pain and surprise from the pony. Dracula looked into the pony’s eyes and he said, “You fought for a shadow, not a sun.”

Dracula crushed the heart and fed off of the pony, wrenching back and thrusting his fangs deep into his neck. Sucking away whatever life he had remaining, his hunger dying down. He felt more of himself, his mind drew clear and his anger subsided. He however listened closely to the battle around him and assumed it was not going so well. He wiped his mouth clear of the blood and raised his hooves collecting his breath and closing his eyes. His horn rising in magic once more.

Shadows rose at Dracula's hooves, fear rising within all those that looked upon him. The shadows sank into the earth, rooting deep into the sands. It spread like ebony vines, testing and churning under the gentle waves of the sands. Dracula glowed a bright red aura, hovering above the ground. Dracula smiled as he looked on to the spectacle of his minions laying waste to the ones that betrayed him. He proclaimed, "The mice fall to the claws of the feline. And are thrown into their awaiting jaws."

The vines of shadow erupted up and lashed out tightly gripped the remaining Silver Blades. They screamed and lashed out to try and escape the vines of shadow. Dracula watched as Ariel and the Legion of the dead looked to him. Dracula was brought back to reality as he saw the Belmont about to be trampled and killed by the Legion. Dracula lifted his hoof and the dead blood red soldiers stopped their trample. The Belmont waved his hooves carrying his chains and growled, "Come on! Face me!"

Dracula said to his legion, "Do not engage the Belmont. He is mine."

Anselmus looked over at Dracula and said, "Then I will take great enjoyment in killing you."

Dracula released a maddening laugh. Each second he kept it he felt Anselmus gaze at him with quizzical eyes. Dracula breathed in hard and said, "You really are a Belmont. Even though the odds are stacked against you, you throw your life senselessly away."

Dracula sheathed his weapons and levitated himself into the air, as he did wind picked up and black storm clouds gathered overhead. His eyes and horn glowed and erupted in torrents of storm. Dracula said, “You deserve better than this Anselmus. You should be forgiven for your sins. But you fail to realize that you are no greater a pony than I. And now, I will offer no forgiveness.”

Anselmus watched as he gathered the nether energy inside of him, the magical energy swirling around him as he absorbed the death energy. Anselmus cracked a smile, "I was counting on that."

Anselmus dropped his chain and energy gathered and collected in his hoof. The energy was bright white and gold as if he was gathering light. Before Dracula had time to react he whipped his hoof at Dracula and a bolt of energy struck him hard in the chest. His chest tightened and burned. His flesh ripped and burned, his armor unable to absorb the hit. He crashed into a sand dune, blasting apart the large mound of sand. Dracula leaned in his side and grunted at the pain that stung his chest. His chest burned and a large hole formed in his chest, exposing his chest cavity. Dracula felt as the wound slowly repaired itself. As it healed he reassessed the situation.

He controlled powers of the sun itself, which was why he could cast that spell. But his talent was rage, Dracula knew that. He could sense it on him. So there had to be another explanation for his sudden powers. The only thing that came to him that could wield powers so close to Celestia's own was the Paladins of the Sun. If his theory was correct, then she figured out a way to bring them back.

He needed to play this fight safe. Control the battle or else all is lost. Light peeled away the skin and armor of Anselmus, slowly advancing towards Dracula. Anselmus' eyes began to glow the same bright white color as he said, "You have killed the father of darkness, your own father. And you say that you are not your father's son. Yet look at the bodies around you."

With large gulps of air he stood up and looked around, undead soldiers murdering the knights. Blood rising in the air and finally falling to the ground in large splashes. Azriel wrenched his scythe out of a knight and killed another. Dracula said standing up with a grunt, “No. I never claimed that I was a hero. I will never be a hero. I am just a champion of the grey. I do what is right for my people and the good ponies of Equestria. A burden that Princess Celestia is unfit to carry.”

Anselmus growled, “Then die as a villain of the True Equestria.”

Anselmus rushed forward and tackled Dracula to the ground. Dracula used his back legs and bucked hard against his jaw as they crashed to the ground. Dracula slid against the ground and stood up straight. He watched as Anselmus’ snapped neck realigned and snapped back into place. Anselmus stood back up and said, “You have made a powerful enemy on this day Dracula.”

Dracula opened his hoof and shadows gathered and with a loud shink Kal’Drae appeared and Dracula responded gravely, “I have always been her enemy.”

Dracula raised Kal’Drae and slashed along Anselmus’ blade, the blades collided at the same speed. Anselmus wielded a sword of pure white light. It glowed like a bright beacon in the near eclipsed sky. Anselmus shoved Dracula away and went on the assault, his martial skills almost mated by Dracula’s own. Dracula parried every precise strike and dodged away from others.

Anselmus slashed horizontally and dodged behind him and slashed up his back. Dracula stabbed Kal’Drae deep in his back. An enemy not quickly dispatched. Anselmus snapped his head back and bashed against Dracula’s. Dracula fell back and gathered himself. Anselmus gripped the blade and was pulling it from his back through his chest. His hooves were burning, as Kal’Drae can only be wielded by one of Arkon Shadow’s bloodline. Not eliciting a single cry of pain. He threw the sword away and said in a neutrally toned voice, devoid of all emotion, “A good try, but not what is needed. Celestia has tried so hard to make an Equestria that would rule Acros with an ironhoof. Unity, unity of us and foreign nations. Duty, duty to our glorious country. And Destiny, for it is our destiny to uphold order in a world of chaos. For we are the Paladins of the Sun. And you Dracula Belmont, must die.”

Anselmus turned and stabbed his sword deep into Dracula’s chest. Anselmus raised him into the air and he dangled near unconsciousness. Anselmus had great enjoyment sprayed across his face. The shadow of his family was gone. But he felt a cold rising feeling in his chest. Anselmus looked down and found a pure white blade stabbed deep into his chest. Anselmus looked at Dracula who stabbed his own blade into Anselmus before he even struck.

A corner of Anselmus’ mouth curled and he said with a dying breath, his skin growing pale, “It would appear that I misjudged your speed Dracula.”

Dracula landed on his hooves and nearly toppled over. Dracula watched as the sword disappeared and he could begin to breath again. He said with ragged breaths as his healing started, “You will be remembered as a worthy opponent. As all Belmonts deserve.”

Dracula released Whiteash and it disappeared into thin air. Dracula felt the exhaustion rise in his veins, crashing over him like a wave. Dracula noticed in that moment that the fighting had stopped a while ago. Dracula fought against the exhaustion and used his reserve magic abilities with his tainted dragon blood and replenished his magic. Dracula opened his eyes with calmed breaths and looked at the remnants of the first battle of the civil war.

A thousand bright crimson armored skeleton ponies stared at him with lifeless but hopeful eyes. Lying dead in the sand was the great Silver Blades that were sent as reinforcements to the mining depots. The Battle of Red Sands, is what this battle will be called. The first victory of the rebellion. Their blood staining the sands, Dracula raised his gaze and he watched as the Dead Legion knelt before him. Dracula noticed in that moment what day it was, it was the day of the dead. Known as Dead Flight. The one day where the dead may find eternal rest. Dracula lowered his gaze and closed his eyes chanting sacred words, “Amissis omnibus requiem animabus omnipotentes iudicari a est. Vita est sanguis.”

The Dead Legion rose in a chorus of dead voices, “Vita est sanguis.”

Dracula opened his eyes and set his gaze on the knelt soldiers. He moved his gaze to Azriel, stained with blood and had his scythe standing. Dracula shouted to them, “Centuries ago you served Equestria in the First Griffon War. You all alone stood against wave after wave of Griffon Centurions. The blood of griffons on your hooves. You all died to the last pony but you died as brothers and sisters of a similar cause. Defend your homeland. You lasted until your reinforcements came. But you were not rewarded with the honor you gave to Equestria. Your reward, is you will serve that same cause again. With pride in your hearts, and swords in your hooves.

“I am giving you a chance to serve Equestria once more. To be the immortal Dead Legion. For blood is life, what is life without family?”

“Why it is not life at all, if I might have permission to speak my lord.” Azriel said glancing at Dracula and then back down. Dracula looked to Azriel and sensed the same Nether energy deep beneath him.

Dracula stepped closer to Azriel and said, “You may rise.”

Azriel and the rest of Dead Legion stood up. Dracula studied Azriel carefully and Dracula asked, “You hold ancient powers far beyond that of any normal pony. How?”

Azriel nodded his head and answered in a deep raspy voice, “My talent is death, my lord. I became known as the Soul Reaver for my skills at dealing with death. I picked up some magic while we were stationed in Aviana.”

Dracula nodded, “So you offered a piece of your soul to the Nether? And in exchange you are a force to be reckoned with on the battlefield. Wielding the powers of death itself.”

“Yes my liege.”

“You will serve to be a valuable ally Azriel. There is a spot with you in the Ebonmanes.” Dracula said at the dead soldier standing at attention.

Azriel nodded and said, “It would be our honor my lord.”

Dracula stood next to Azriel and said, “You are loyal to your superiors, a good trait. Now that we got that out of the way, tell me what you know about these mining depots near the edge of the Bleak Wind Desert. My vampires cannot track the mineral deposits and our werewolves cannot smell the ones that guard the place. You listened in the sands, where are these mining depots?”

Azriel pointed east towards a box canyon large in size and responded, “There. Red Gorge, the canyon of death. Beyond that are the depots. Well fortified and each pony armed to the teeth.”

Dracula stared at the canyon and narrowed his gaze. Something seemed familiar about the canyon and Dracula asked, “Do you know why they placed depots there?”

“Officially,” Azriel added, “As more sources of precious metals. But secretly Celestia’s soldiers seem to think that there is a sleeping warrior in the canyon-”

“Zobek,” Dracula interrupted.

Azriel looked to Dracula and said, “Is there a problem my lord?”

Dracula waved a hoof and said, “No it’s just...Zobek was my former master in the Silver Blades. Why he would haunt a canyon I do not know, he lived a simple life. I was the closest thing he had to a son.”

Azriel raised an eyebrow and said, “So are we to go around my lord?”

His tone respective and honorable, Dracula answered, “No. We march through. But before we march for the canyon I must send word to my apprentice that we will take longer than expected.”

Dracula turned to Azriel nodded his head and said, “Thank you my lord. I will inform my men to wait your orders.”

Dracula focused back at the canyon and as a gentle breeze rustled against him he said to himself as Azriel walked away, “What are you up to Zobek?”

“Rubber ducky, you’re the one. You make bath time tons of fun.” Ditzy casually sang along as she walked down the street to the town well. It was one of her favorite songs and a song she kept in a special place in her heart. The air was cold and Ponyville was cast in sustained darkness because of the suspended celestial bodies. Ditzy found it rather odd that the sun or the moon did not set beyond the horizon.

Her light hearted mood quickly changed as she began to think about the situation Ponyville was thrust into. She overheard Twilight talking with Discord. Why couldn’t she be included in the discussion? Why did Twilight not call her in? She found it very strange. Yet her heart was heavy. She knew who would get involved and she knew that blood would be spilled. Then she started to think about Rarity. She stopped dead in her tracks as she imagined that beautiful mare. Her mane and tail curled and groomed to perfection, her coat soft to the touch, Her gait powerful and noble. Her soft features were beyond comprehension.

She was so nice and her heart was always in the right place. She only hoped that she would discover soon who her secret admirer was. Ditzy took a long time to write those poems, many of them were in Tanka format some others in general format.

The moon laid low and Ditzy looked as the pale moon shed its bright light all around her. Filling her with its warm and accepting embrace. Letting her know that everything was going to be okay and that Rarity would return. Her mind began to wander to places she never thought she would wander. She bit her bottom lip and rubbed her arms as she could see the naked form of Rarity, lying in wait for her. Her generous and kind tone asking her, “Come darling, the bed is a little cold. Perhaps we should warm it up.”

She quickly came out of her fantasy as she heard a rustle of a can. Ditzy turned around quickly and distraughtly said, “Who-who’s there?”

Her voice choked and stayed in her throat as fear gripped her. She calmly turned back around to return why she was out there in the first place. She lowered the pail and it sank down into the darkness. Ditzy watched as it disappeared. Once it got out of sight she heard another startling sound. She said fearfully, “If this is a joke then you can come out now. It’s not funny anymore.”

She braced herself in front of the well and tried to find the source of those fearful sounds. Her heart rose in her throat, signalling her that she can no longer talk. Dread filling in around her like a cloud. She hesitantly began to creep away with the full pail of water. As she turned her back on the well and began heading back to the castle she stopped as she heard a bloodcurdling scream. She listened to the desperate screams, “Daisy! Lily! What are you do-AGHHHHHHH!!!!!”

Ditzy dropped the pail and rushed to the source of the screams. Dashing through the various streets of Ponyville. She rounded a corner and stopped dead in her tracks, her eyes growing wide at the sight she was watching. Daisy and Lily were hunched over Roseluck who was helplessly restrained on the ground and was being torn apart by Daisy and Lily. Chunks of flesh were being pulled off of her and they were eating it. Blood all around them, staining their coats, the ground, and the helpless mare that was being eaten. Ditzy had never laid witness to acts to vulgar and so evil before. She had heard of cannibalism but she never thought she would witness it herself. Their strong jaws biting hard into the red and pink flesh. Devouring even the fur. Blood running down their chins and mouths full of meat. Animalistic hunger filling their eyes.

Ditzy raised a hoof to her mouth in shock and tried to keep a scream in her throat. She saw the animalistic scene before her. But what really got to her was the amount of blood that was coming out of Rose. It was like a large pool of crimson fluid. Daisy growled and stuck her hooves on a bite that was on Rose’s stomach and began pulling apart the meat and opening her chest cavity and pulling in to grab the first organ she saw and bit into it ripping it and tearing it. The gut wrenching sound that released became too much for Ditzy, she pulled back behind the corner and wrenched her head down as she puked up her dinner. Spilling forth out of her mouth.

She had never seen something so vile and so disgusting in all of her life. She began to shake and shudder in the fear. How could something like this happen? She knew that darkness came into Equestria with the Ebonmanes, but this was its own level of darkness. This was evil. Dark villainous acts. She heard a loud moan rise next to her. She stopped breathing for a moment as she turned her head. She looked and saw a pony standing there. It’s eyes were bright yellow and filled with a certain level of hunger.

Ditzy choked back her heart and said, “H-hello kind...kind sir...wha-what brings you out here?”

He was breathing out of his mouth and the hunger in his eyes did not stop. It did not falter or move its hungered filled gaze. Ditzy backed up and braced herself against the wall, she shakily pleaded, “Please-please do not-hurt-hurt me.”

The stallion opened its rotting maw and went to rush to Ditzy. Ditzy closed her eyes hard as she accepted her death. When it did not come and she heard the dying breaths of a pony she opened her eyes. She saw the pony lying dead on the ground, a bolt sticking out of it’s head, black blood seeping and leaking out of the wound. A jubilicious voice uproared, “Excellent shot Applebloom!”

Ditzy looked up and saw Applebloom and Pinkie Pie standing there. Pinkie wearing a long trench coat made of leather. Applebloom wearing tight fitting cloth with various belts and straps with pouches and vials of different liquids. Applebloom had swiped her hoof on her wide brimmed hat and said, “Thank you.”

Ditzy lightened up and said rushing to them, “Applebloom! Pinkie! Oh I’m so glad that you two are here! It’s Daisy and Lily they’re-”

“They are eating other ponies. We know. We just learned about that when our ward tried to attack us.” Pinkie interrupted.

Ditzy raised a hoof and said, “What is going on?”

Pinkie nodded to Applebloom and she walked towards the dead body, hefting a mysterious liquid in her hoof. Pinkie replied, “A zombie invasion. It started a day or two ago. The source of the infection is unknown but we need to find it soon if we want a shot at stopping it. The entire town is falling into disarray. We need to get to safety quickly.”

Ditzy said quickly, “We can go to the castle. We should be safe there.”

Pinkie nodded and said to Applebloom and Ditzy, “We need to leave quickly, unless we want to be swarmed by more zombies. They more than likely smell that blood.”

Pinkie pointed at the evil scene and Ditzy dared not look at that scene again, if it was the last thing she could do. Pinkie handed her a contraption, Ditzy raised an eyebrow at what she was handed. It looked like a flintlock pistol but she looked closer and saw a small cartridge with crackling lightning inside of it. The chamber connected to a bracer, no trigger in sight and no ironsight. Pinkie explained offering Ditzy’s attention, “This is a Thundershock SP-31. It shoots concentrated bolts of electricity, you can change the voltage of the shots with a turn of this switch, ranging from 5,000-10,000 volts. It as well can fold up and hide away. It is a personal invention of mine, just keep in mind that it has not yet had field testing so...please be careful.”

Ditzy strapped the shock pistol to her hoof and inspected the weapon with a weird look. Pinkie said, “It will feel a little bit awkward but you should get used to it. Just flex and flick your hoof and it comes out, flex your hoof and it retracts.”

Ditzy flexed her hoof and heard the many clicks and sounds as the chamber retreated down and hid away making a metallic bracer. Ditzy prayed to the gods that she would not have to use it. Their attention was pulled away as they saw a rushing horde of zombies. Pinkie slapped Ditzy’s shoulder and said, “We have to go now. Applebloom! Let’s go!”

“You got it Pinkie!” Applebloom shouted back with confidence filling her tone. Ditzy looked and saw the body bubbling and melting. Ditzy watched and kept up with the two hunters. The horde walked past the corpse and it exploded in a hale of vile meat and bone. Causing the rushing zombies to be blown away. Buying time for their escape.

Ditzy focused back as she ran with Pinkie and Applebloom. Ditzy looked to the young mare and said, “What was that?”

Applebloom smiled devilishly and replied, “Lytherum-31. It is usually used for embalming fluid but with the right compounds it can turn into a slow acting explosive agent. I like to call it Corpse Explosion.”

Ditzy took in that unneeded piece of information as they rushed through the streets of Ponyville. Ditzy looked and saw the chaos that was filling the streets of Ponyville. The streets filling with dying screams and the hungered roars of zombies. Ponyville, once the capital of peace is now the site of a zombie outbreak. Ditzy expected the skies to be filled with flying zombie pegasi but none were in sight. Ditzy asked, “Where are the zombie pegasi?”

Pinkie answered, “Expecting them to fly? Don’t hold your breath Ditzy, they are not flying. They can’t their flesh and feathers decayed.”

Ditzy took that as a small victory. The last thing she wanted was a flying zombie swooping down and picking her up for its lunch. They rushed through the streets and bolted for the castle. It came into view. Where normally Ditzy would find it a sight of hope and warm heartedness. It was now just a dull beacon.

They found themselves at the main gate and found the large crystal doors shut tight. Pinkie slammed a hoof against the door and growled, “Damn it!”

Applebloom asked, “How are we supposed to get inside now?”

“Let me think!”

Ditzy’s eyes grew wide and looked as she saw an onrushing horde of zombies. Ditzy said, “Can you think faster because we have company!”

Pinkie looked at the horde and thought. She seemed injured by her thought. Pinkie asked Ditzy, “There is a second door right?”

Ditzy nodded and said, “Yes I have a key.”

Pinkie looked to Applebloom and asked, “Do you have anymore Nitroglycerin-48?”

“Two vials, why?”

“Let’s just say I have some birthday candles to light up.” Pinkie took the vial of strange colored liquid and uncorked the bottle. She slung the liquid all over the large doors. Almost instantly they erupted in a loud crash of explosives. Ditzy fell as the earth itself shook. Pinkie shouted, “Quickly! Come on lets go!”

Ditzy shook her head and rushed onwards towards the castle. Ditzy pushed past Applebloom and Pinkie and took out her key. She passed the fallen rubble of what used to be the main gate. Chunks of crystal lying on the ground. Ditzy found herself at the small door inside the inner walls of the castle and shuffled through her keys and finally brought out the only crystal key she had. She took it and shoved it deep inside the door’s lock.

The keep door clicked and Ditzy opened the door and let Pinkie and Applebloom in first, then letting herself fall into the keep. The dimly lit main halls brought a certain solace to Ditzy. Her new home for what seemed like an eternity. Her old home never made her feel like this. The crystal floors and walls glistened slightly at the light. Pillars of pure crystal suspending the ceiling high above them. Ditzy looked up and saw the large chamber where Twilight’s throne lied. It stood on a perch above the council table where the officials of Ponyville met.

Ditzy looked back as they pushed a cabinet in front of the door. Barricading themselves in. Ditzy offered her attention elsewhere as she heard the angered tone of Twilight Sparkle, “What the hell is going on!?”

Ditzy looked up and saw Twilight, Fluttershy, Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, Night Light, Twilight Velvet, and Discord. Ditzy looked back at Pinkie and Applebloom as they pushed more furniture in front of the door. As they propped down another piece a crack in the door opened and a zombie attempted to squeeze its way in. Reacting quickly Ditzy flicked her wrist and pointed towards the zombie and shot with a small crack of thunder. Ditzy looked and saw the zombie fall limp as the bolt hit the zombie’s head. Making its head explode.

Ditzy looked to them and said, “We are being invaded by zombies.”

Twilight seemed shocked and said her voice rising in volume, “I’m sorry, can you repeat that?”

“We are being invaded by zombies. On or two nights ago an infection started and began turning ponies into these...nightmares.”

Ditzy’s gaze faltered. She heard Twilight Velvet say, “By all that is holy.”

Twilight pressed a hoof to her forehead and said, “So, what your telling me is there is walking dead looking to find brains and flesh. This is what you are telling me?”

“She speaks the truth,” Discord said as he opened his claw and glowed orange magic, “I sense chaos erupting outside.”

Twilight looked more shocked than irritated and said, “By Celestia, how do we stop this?”

Pinkie said as she dropped the last piece of furniture and answered, “We need to find the source of the outbreak and stop it. The first zombie or the compound that started this. Perhaps even both.”

Fluttershy asked, “I think we should stay in here where it is safe and wait for this to go away.”

She seemed shaken and fearful. She leaned in closer to Discord who offered a friendly pat. Twilight looked to Fluttershy and said, “That can’t be an option Fluttershy. We are in the middle of a civil war. We are isolated from the other cities, if we are to face this we have to do this ourselves.”

Scootaloo crossed her hooves and said sternly, “I think we should kill every last one of those bastards.”

Sweetie Belle killed her idea, “Are you daft? That would only result in our deaths. How many foes can you kill before you are overtaken by them? A dozen? A hundred? There is an entire horde waiting for us outside.”

Scootaloo growled, “It’s a better idea than just staying here and wait for them to barge through those doors and eat us.”

Twilight Velvet raised her hooves to calm everypony, “Everypony calm down. I think we should leave the decisions up to my daughter. She is sovereign of this city and she makes the decisions.”

Everypony stopped their discussion and offered their gazes to Twilight who said, “Okay...we need to find the city watch. They can keep these zombies in check while we look for the source of this outbreak.”

Her tone was even and offered knowledge. But it was slightly on edge from their situation. Twilight directed her attention to Discord and asked, “Can you take the Crusaders and find the city watch? We’ll try and hold back the zombies here.”

Discord nodded and said, “Sure thing.”

Twilight then turned to her parents and said, “Can you two keep Spike company while he is sick and let me know if anything happens?”

Night Light nodded and responded, “Anything you need sweetie.”

Ditzy watched as Twilight shared a group hug with her parents. Ditzy looked away as she thought about her parents. They were so nice and so peaceful. Willing to help anypony who needed it, treated their daughter with kindness beyond that of what she could imagine. Parents that one could only imagine. But they were taken before it was their time. Ditzy looked away and wiped a tear from her eye that she did not notice came out.

Fluttershy offered a helping hoof and said, “Ditzy are you okay?”

Ditzy shrugged her hoof away and said, “Yeah...I’m fine.”

Ditzy marched off and went to the castle gardens. Fluttershy went to offer her hoof when she got out of reach. Fluttershy looked to the others and said, “I’ll go talk to her.”

Rondo of Blood

by Lord Sylus of Night

Prologue - The Dream

Author's Notes:

Chapter I - Upon The Witching Hour

Author's Notes:

Chapter II - The Calm Before the Storm

Author's Notes:

Chapter III - A Storm of Suns and Moons

Chapter IV - Shadows Rise

Author's Notes:

Chapter V - Mobilization of Nations Part I

Author's Notes:

Chapter VI - Mobilization of Nations Part II

Chapter VII - Behind the Scenes

Author's Notes:

Chapter VIII - When the Dead Walk

Other Titles in this Series:

Children of the Night

Rondo of Blood

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