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~