A Silent Dawn

by Lord Sylus of Night

First published 29th of November, 2014

An epilogue to Children of the Night. A mysterious telling of the future of Equestria, and the roles its princesses have.

Nearly six days after Dragomir's awakening, Princess Celestia demands the attention of Golden Flash and Dragomir at once. Claiming that the subject is urgent.

Equestria will never be the same. A country once built on blood and steel will return for the vendetta it lost a long time ago. But, a princess sits on the throne no longer. Pride and anger envelope the sun, letting its light fall on only a specific few. Bringing forth a silent dawn.

Author's Note: This is an epilogue to Children of the Night. To avoid any and all spoilers of this AND to those who have no idea what the hell is going on, read Children of the Night

But if you have read it, please enjoy!

Part 1 - Wicked Eyes & Wicked Hearts

The steady beating of rain against a linen cloak became very loud as Golden Flash progressed through the heavy rain. He had become quite accustomed to walking on two hooves as of recently. His armour clanked and clattered as he steadily walked through the streets of Canterlot. It was light and the reflective golden surface glistened as he walked through the torchlit streets. Strapped to his side was his most prized possession, an Avian Longsword belonging to his grandfather and the sword's name being Skyslash. His grandfather stole it from the body of a sergeant in the first Griffon War one hundred and fifty years ago, slaying an entire battlion of Skychargers single hoofedly. Returning a war hero of Equestria. Slayer of the Skywatchers he was named. A high title he had to live up to.

He slowly shook his head as he briskly continued through the darkened streets. His piercing bright green eyes stared long at the ruins of Canterlot. Stone masons worked hard and fast to rebuild what had been lost during the Dark Crusade. The elite stood in the streets either in grief of their fallen loved ones or in terror of the wreckage of their homes with their spirits low and their hearts heavy. Flash had no idea how the Sisters were going to pay for all of this, they were at the brink of an economic crisis as it was already. The entirty of Canterlot has yet to arrive, not even half filled the streets. They would need a miracle to get past this one.

Golden had his hood pulled up, shadows dancing across his aged rugged face. He was very young in actuality, the stress of the job became clear to him fifteen years ago when he became Field-Comander in the Second Griffon War. He earned lots of respect from leading many battles to victory, but had he truly earned them? Most of them were won by shere luck or reinforcements arriving later than expected. The young soldier held his grandfather at a special place in his heart. His grandfather being Fleethoof, a private of 3rd Company until the Assault on Skykeepe. He had always been told that he was almost exactly like his grandfather, the same walk, the same way he talked, the same nearly in every way. The only difference between them were physical characteristics. Fleethoof was a pegasus and Golden Flash is a unicorn.

The cold mid afternoon air did nothing to quell the feelings of emptiness he felt. He looked down and he still saw the blood stains of that dreadful night. They lied stained on the cold wet stone streets, the water draining away and causing small puddles and rivers of blood. Briefly flashing in his mind were some of the scenes he was made to endure,

Gather the wounded! We make haste for the castle, it is our only chance! Everypony move!

We can't take everypony. This one is too far gone. I am truly sorry.

Defend the citizens with your lives. We fight to defend Equestria, or we die trying!

Golden Flash opened his eyes and the scene before him briefly changed to that night. The town set ablaze, ponies being slaughtered in the streets, and what hurt the most was the river of blood that ran through the streets of Canterlot. Golden Flash had never felt like this before, he had heard cases of PTSD but he never lived through it himself. He briefly shook his head once more and continued on his way.

He rounded a corner and came across Steelhoof's Armoury. If you wanted a suit of the best armor, you came to Steelhoof. There was no smithy that did their job like Steelhoof. Golden Flash stopped with a loud crash of thunder. There were legends in place that the master blacksmith had an ability where he could impart his emotions into the metal he shaped. The hammerfalls of his close friend were hard and filled with wrath. Slowly the hammer was brought down, crashing against the thunder. Coming down again and again. Golden Flash felt the emotion he was radiating, pouring all he had left into shaping the metal. It came to Golden Flash's understanding that Steelhoof lost his wife and his daughter in the siege of Canterlot. Flash felt for his life long friend and wished he had time to stop and grieve with him. But the princess requested an audience with him and he knew better than to be late when the royal family requests his attention. He shifted the weight in his shoulders and continued on, on his journey to the castle.

As he passed Steelhoof's the streets became more densely populated. Before he passed maybe a hoofful of ponies, but now he was passing twenty or thirty ponies at a time. It seemed the Solar District got hit the worst of all the districts. The more he continued onward, the more he saw ponies with barely a bit to their name. The activity of the stone masons were critical in the Solar District and there seemed to be more in there than anywhere else. Flash had seen way too many cities in ruins in his time on Equestria. Thirty years old and he had already seen more action than his father. He was anything but proud of that, he had seen too many of his comrades fall and too many innocents killed in cold blood. It was in that moment that Golden Flash realized something. Equestria was a land of peace and opportunity, this was not an invasion or devastation. This, this was realization. This was an eye opener to those who did not know the cruelty of this world.

This was liberation...remorse filled Golden's heart but he did not stand on ceremony and trudged through the crowds. Amidst the chaos he overheard many different pleas,

"Please. Just one bit..."

"I used to be somepony...now look at me...I'm nothing more than a worthless vagabond..."

"I...I can't believe it...I can't believe they're gone..."

These were echoed by so many other pleas and cries. It was disconcerting and Golden Flash did not like it. He ignored his morals for one more afternoon as he pushed through the chaos filled streets. He saw the returning city guard trying to keep the ponies in check. Many of them he recognized considering Celestia broke the law that they all had to look the same. Many of their faces were as solid as stone and their gaze solemn. Golden Flash drew his attention back forward and stopped as he realized where he was.

He stood a good five feet away from the main gate leading into Canterlot Castle. It mostly stayed intact and not the crumbling ruin he expected to see. There were a few damages here and there but overall it was very well intact. The golden accents and the pure white stone, a dull sight with the rain however. Normally he would have felt happier had he seen the castle in the light of day. Golden Flash noticed a pony walked up to him and gathered his attention. Golden Flash focused on the pony getting his attention. The grey stallion said sternly in a high tenor voice, "State your name and your business here."

Golden Flash lifted his hooves and pulled his hood down. His pristine silver mane glistened slightly in the torchlight at the gate. He blankly stared at the pony in front of him and in a low tenor voice he replied, "I am Commander Golden Flash and Princess Celestia has requested my audience."

The pony's eyes went wide when he said his name and the pony stepped aside shakily and said, "R...right....right this way commander."

He followed the pony and they walked over the large ravine on one of the strongest bridges in all of Equestria. Golden Flash walked alongside the nervous pony, he glanced briefly at the pony and said, "How goes the repairs at Canterlot Castle?"

The nervous ppny looked over at Golden Flash and lowered his head as he replied, "In all honesty it is going slower than we realized. It appears that Princess Celestia has other matters to attend to than repairing the castle."

"What of Princess Luna?"

"Princess Luna?" The shaken pony answered furrowing his eyebrow, "Nopony at Canterlot has seen her for the past month and a half. I am surprised ponies actually care about her."

Golden Flash did not take kindly to those words and he turned to the shaken pony briefly stopping him and threatened, "You will not speak of your princess in such a manner. She has fought hard to protect us and her Children of the Night. Show some respect, or I'll have to take it from you."

The shaken pony shrunk down as Golden Flash loomed over him with a furious look in his eyes. Golden Flash did not take kindly to those who insulted the princesses. It was his job to protect and defend Equestria, and above all, protect the family that rules over it. The pony was now visibly scared and he replied shakily, "Ma...ma...my apologies...uh...commander...it...it won't happen again..."

Golden Flash leaned in closer growling, "I'll make sure of it."

And with that they continued onward toward the entrance to the castle. They approached the large ivory door, there were etchings and designs all over the large doors. They were about three ponies tall and were thick. The two pony guards pushed them open and revealed the foyer in front of him. But it was under construction as some of the railing from the grand staircase was destroyed. There were craters in the ground. Some of the tapestries were lying in a heap on the ground. Golden Flash pulled off his cloak and threw it at the frightened servant who escorted him here, Golden Flash turned to him and he said threateningly, "You are dismissed."

And with a nod the shaken pony left his sight. 'Good riddance,' Golden Flash thought. The princesses deserved better than him as a servant. Golden Flash refocused and began his ascension up the grand staircase. His boots echoed across the walls of the foyer. A deep steady beat as he walked up. Finally he found himself at the top and two doors lined on his left and on his right. To the left lead to the throne room and the main hall. And to the right lead to the servants quarters and the war room. He heard talking to the door on the right and suggested that, that was the way he should be headed. He turned right and passed under the large opening and went on his way to the war room.

He did not stop to look at the complete grandeur of the entire castle, as it was under construction and most of it he had seen it before. The extravogent decor to the red carpet that was all across the floor. Leading to other places in the castle. It did not give him the same feelings as before. Before when he walked the halls of Canterlot Castle he felt invited and light hearted. But the shadows being cast with the limited amount of natural lighting, it gave an eerie feeling and Golden Flash did not like it.

He found himself at the familiar dark oaken door. He gingerly opened it and stepped inside. He passed the threshold and the room was wide. Columns made a circle in the center of the room, outside of the columns were rows and rows of shelves. Filled with past treaties, letters, and espionage notes. He focused on the large circle of columns in the middle. It was about thirty feet in diameter and the ceiling was about thirty feet high. Golden Flash stepped in the gap of two columns and saw four ponies on a lowered deas. Ten steps in a wide circle going down, at the bottom was four ponies standing around a large rectangular table filled with maps of Equestria and beyond.

Three of the ponies he did not recognize. But there was one pony he did recognise. Princess Celestia. She wore bright golden armor on her chest, hooves, neck, back and stomach, and flank. It glistened in the soft light from the window above them. Golden Flash noticed some physical differences though. Her mane and tail looked more like orange flames than the spectrum of colors. It still had the spectrum but the many colors were over taken by a dark orange color. Her eyes as well were a dark orange. She seemed much more imposing and taller. She noticed Golden Flash's arrival and gave him a look that told him to wait for her. Golden Flash replied with a nod and leaned up against a column listening in on the conversation.

"We cannot allow ourselves room to breath if we cannot defend our borders ourselves." Said a mare. Who wore dark grey silver armor over a cloth robe with the insignia of a snake wrapping around a sword on the crest of the breastplate. A greatsword sheathed on her back, and she had her hooves crossed over her chest. Celestia knew her name as Velrin Manashade, Knight-Magister of the newly formed Mage Knights. Her features were youthful and her gaze hardened. Her mane and tail were a dark ebony color and short, her mane not making it past her jawline. Her coat color was a dark blue and her eyes were a dark green. She was a unicorn and she was tall and lithe.

Finally somepony commented on her remark. Celestia turned towards the one that made the comment, "Yes but we lack the correct number of forces to quickly and effectively defend if our neighbors truly wanted to invade."

His voice was low and neutrally toned. The one that spoke was a Talin, an inhabitant of the Ashlands. The Talin are similar to ponies in the fact that they were once quadrapedaled. But the similarities stop there, the Talin are tall and lithe figures. Their coats are only in a dark grey color and they are considered masters of the arcane. Their origins are rather unknown to Celestia and she wanted to know their origins. There were a lot of races that were created before the Alicorn Empire and many of them were created by the Alicorns.

The one that commented was named Arak the Silent. An elite caster of his people, and a powerful ally. Leader of the Barazak. He wore scale mail armor with plates of thin metal on his shoulders and on his hooves. On top of the metal plates were aged bones of dragonlings, the brood of dragons. But what made him the most imposing was his ceramic bone mask he wore over his face, the only feature one could see of him was his bright blue eyes. Celestia knows only that they wear those masks to respect the founder of their race, Rashak the Conqueror who had slain his dragon master and wore his bones as a testament of his power. The monarchial leaders are considered gods amongst their people. Celestia found them very interesting and also found powerful allies in them.

Celestia glanced over both Arak and Velrin and stated, "Which is precisely why I am forming this organization. We have fallen from peaceful times."

Celestia lowered her head at that final thought. The peace that she had loved was over and that was the cold truth. She knew it would not last forever but she at least hoped that there would be fifty more years of it. She was wrong. It was Luna and her dreaded Children of the Night that allowed them to be viewed as defenseless. Another voice spoke to her and it belonged to Tarius Serpentblaze, "My dear, do not look so sad. You did all you could to keep Equestria from falling into war and that alone was a feat."

Celestia slightly smiled at his words. His voice was aged and filled with wisdom. Tarius was a unicorn stallion with a light chestnut brown coat with a long silver mane and tail. He stood up with a slight hunch in his back and leaning on his mage staff. The staff was made from the bark of a treant, holding magic properties. It was around four feet long and at the top was a large Barkonite crystal. A magenta colored crystal that amplified the connection to the Arcanic Shift. A long string of beads hung down from it as well. The string of beads symbolized the many mana infused creatures he had taken down in his lifetime. 23. Celestia always loved being around Tarius, he was both her former mentor and a close friend.

Velrin remained in the same position and said proudly, "I just hope this goes better than when my grandfather took up this title."

Celestia stated sternly leaning on the table in front of her, "Equestria is the strongest source of Arcane on Ketos, we can use this to defend us."

Arak nodded and quickly retorted, "Yes. That is something that we can exploit. The arcane pylons of my people will be able to be used as fonts of power to increase the arcanic strenth of your Mage Knights and your Mages."

Celestia nodded and replied, "Then you agree that we get your arcane pylons if we in return offer to protect your lands from any future invasions."

Arak nodded and said, "The Talin are by your side princess. Although, I am curious as to where your sister is? She is the co-ruler of Equestria is she not? Where is she?"

Celestia avoided Arak's gaze and said with slight scorn in her voice, "We...ah...lets just say we aren't on the greatest of terms."

Tarius sniggered and said, "I swear you two are the same fillies I taught nearly fifteen hundred years ago. When have you ever not been at each other's throats."

Celestia smiled and ignored him. He was not wrong, there was rarely a time when they were not bickering or arguing like little school fillies. And it was that fact that saddened Celestia, but it also activated an emotion she rarely felt. Anger. She tried so hard to protect her and keep the promise her mother had given her and what did she get in return. Nothing. She recieved no thanks from her dear sister, and no sympathies from her either. Truly she wished she could take her anger out on something but there was nothing to take her anger out on so it just boiled inside of her waiting for her to burst.

She focused back at the three Magisters of the Canterlot Mage Academy. Celestia stated, "Then let this be the day that the Canterlot Mage Academy offically opens. We need recruits immediately. Today as well marks another event, but I shall tell you that when I have finished other matters. You are dismissed."

Tarius, Arak, and Velrin all nod in unison and turn to leave the war room. Celestia watched as they all left and she felt the anger rise once again. Nightmare Moon spome in her mind,
Now that that is over we can get to the REAL fun part. Go ahead send him in.

Celestia did as she was asked and motioned for Golden Flash to step close to her. Golden Flash stepped down into the light on the deas and knelt before Celestia. His aged and battleworn platemail armour, made from reinforced Gold Steel. It had ornate designs odorning the face of the metal, ancient runes imparting special effects on the wearer. He as well wore a tabard bearing the insignia of Equestria, a half sun and a half moon conjoined and interlocking over a mistful sky. It was a design that was made many years ago. Celestia stepped closer to Golden Flash who still remained kneeling, she stared long at his bowed head with a studiful gaze. Nightmare Moon said,
Yes. He is ready.

Celestia said, "Rise."

Golden Flash rose to his hind legs and stood tall. He stared directly in front of him and Celestia said, "Commander Golden Flash. Effective immediately I am ordering you disbanded from the Canterlot Guard."

Golden Flash faltered in his gaze but quickly caught himself and remained the stone like sentinel he was before. He said, "I understand."

Celestia slightly smiled and contorted, "And I will be reinstating you in a position of higher power. Follow me."

Celestia turned and walked to the other side of the room. Golden Flash quickly followed and as they crossed the room Celestia spoke her words bouncing off the stone walls, "For many long years I have protected the heart of Equestria from ever falling into war. I did not want the descendants of those that founded this country to repeat the same mistakes their ancestors did. This country was founded on blood and steel, you must understand this. We were created to thrive and enjoy this planet, we could not do so if our neighbors wanted us dead. So we fought to defend what we were. Over the course of centuries however our vendetta became darker and longer. Our goal of protection became a goal of conquest.

"But not all ponies were like this. There was one organization that pledged their undying loyalty to their monarch and defended their lands to their last breath. These were the Paladins of the Sun. Warriors of the light to chastise and destroy the dark."

She paused and pulled a book back and the shelf heaved and moved to the side revealing a dark starcase descending downward. Leading into the darkness, Celestia lit up her horn with a pure yellow light and descended down. The dark walls emmitted a cold feeling of loneliness but she continued onward. She knew where she was going. Celestia briefly looked back at Golden Flash who asked, "Where are you taking me? And what about Dragomir?"

Celestia answered, "Dragomir will join us in time and to answer your first question you must know something. Canterlot Castle was built on the foundation of an ancient castle, where the Paladins of the Solar Court resided. Dawns Keep it was called. Deep within the ground are ancient temples where the Paladins drew forth their power to praying to the Atma, an ancient race of creatures made of pure light. They recieved power from prayers and were seasoned warriors as well. After Black Sun's fall, the Paladins thinned out and eventually returned to their old ways, becoming the back bone of the Vanguard Alicorns.

"However they were eventually killed off, many believing that they were delving into the dark arts of Black Sun. So, their temples were forgotten and left to rot under ground."

They crept their way steadily down. The shadows being cast away by Celestia's sunlike rays coming from her horn. The walls were caved in and cracked. Overgrowth had taken the place long ago, reinforcing it with their strong roots.

After about twenty minutes they were brought to the bottom. The temperature dropped as they continuously brought themselves downward. The stone halls they passed through widened and they continued on through the darkness. Golden Flash quickly trotted up next to Celestia and he asked, "Why did they pray to the Atma underground?"

Celestia continued onward at a steady pace and she explained as she walked, "The Paladins were very studious. They were even the first to offer science to society. The Atma were a race of pure light beings, light goes through plants and is absorbed into them right? The same can be said of the earth beneath our hooves. The Paladins gathered some of the solar energy the Atma emitted and empowered them. This was a crucial part of the initiation of becoming a Paladin. But yes, if they were running low on reserve power they drew forth solar energy from the plants."

Golden Flash rubbed his chin with his armored hoof and asked, "Could they not also draw energy from the sun itself?"

Celestia slowed her pace and replied, "Ah. That is where you are wrong. The sun in and of itself is a large star, it emits light of itself. The same can be said about the moon. But these were meant to be used as sources of power for only two, the god of the sun and god of the moon. The Ancient Edict states that only two beings are to control the sun and the moon and no others. So the Paladins of the Sun drew from the Atma and the Knights of the Moon gained their power from the Otma. The farther a Paladin went under ground, the more power it was able to draw from the Atma's purest rays. And the higher a Knight of the Moon went, the more power it was able to draw from the Otma."

Celestia stopped as she saw the large stone circular door. No door handle but she knew very well the way to open the door. On the door was the torso of a praying pony with their head bowed low. Celestia took in a deep breath and repeated ancient words spoken by the sun god before her,

"Umbrae spes fugit,
Aurora obstinata mente una die venient simul."

The earth beneath Celestia and Golden Flash rumbled and the halls around them shook. Celestia remained as still as the stone around her. She opened her eyes and the pony on the stone slowly raised its head and dust seeped from the cracks of the door and slowly the door moved aside. She smiled as she always enjoyed doing that. She remembered those words, they are words to a song she always loved singing and listening to. The Dawn Will Come it is called, Celestia's mother used to sing it to her before she had died.

Once the rumbling died down Celestia rose and she said with scorn in her words, "I must say I was hoping to share this with my once faithful student Twilight Sparkle. But she does not have the right mind set. She allowed it to be filled with the lies of my younger sister. My sun deserves nothing less than of the love of my most trusted pupil."

She kept that last line to herself. Celestia truly felt that way though. Why should others be forced away from her if they already worship her sun? The arrogance of her sister caused a fire to burn beneath her. She felt the furnace grow and her mind exploded with scenes of vengeance and purified flames of her sun. She will be loved and no one was going to stand in her way. Not even these Ebonmanes.

Celestia collected herself and said, "What I plan to do from here on out is protect those that I had promised to protect centuries ago. I will tolerate no one who will stand in my way, I have given it much thought and have decided on a course of action. I am reforming the Equestrian military and forming a new army. The Elite of the Sun. Warriors trained to protect the innocent and those who cannot defend themselves. The peaceful lands of Equestria will be no more, we will take up the banner of those that came bfore us. On this day, I officially reform the Paladins of the Sun. But instead of worshipping dead spirits, you shall worship me."

Celestia's tone of voice was deeper and a second voiced echoed after she spoke every word. She continued down a flight of stairs and stepped onto the cold stone floor. Celestia knelt down and swiped her hoof over the surface of the stone Celestia concentrated and she said, "I will make Equestria into the superpower it once was. And nopony will stand in my way. Now that you know my plans I must ask you, will you willingly give up your title and your power to unwittingly worship me and no other?"

Golden Flash stood in astonishment. The princess he once knew was gone, he did not know who stood before him now but he knew it was no longer the caring mother figure he once knew. Celestia was replaced by something else, he could feel pride and unbridled anger fill the air around her. And Golden Flash was stunned to hear what she had to say. She was truly mad now and Golden Flash wanted no part in this. Golden Flash sighed heavily and said pushing away the doubt, "No. I cannot. You ask too much my lady. I am to protect BOTH of the princesses not just you, I'm sorry but I must decline your offer."

Golden Flash noticed her mane and tail turn into pure flames and she stood up right on both of her hind legs. She said with the fury and anger of a thousand suns, "Ah. So you hold the same rebellion as my sister. You hold the same feelings as the Ebonmanes. You have served well under the Equestrian flag, but you follow to the ideals of an empire that had only been formed after two weeks!"

"Princess I..."

"Have you stopped to remember what I did to save all of your weak hides!? Have you so carelessly forgotten that I am your goddess and your ruler!?"

"But Princess I...AGH!!!" Golden Flash tried reasoning with Celestia but she was too far gone. Celestia lifted her hoof and Golden Flash reeled back in pain. His mind felt like it was being burnt to a crisp, the heat of the sun filled his very mind. Celestia kept casting her spell and stood over top of Golden Flash who was now writhing on the floor in pain, she stopped right over top of him and increased the intensity of the spell as she growled, "Your mind has been poisoned by the weakness that is my sister. She hopes to take the love of my subjects away. She has never been so weak minded in her life."

Golden Flash cried in horrible pain and felt sweat run down all around him in the intense heat in his mind. He felt as if he was burning under the sun itself. Celestia put scorn and fury in her next words, "I will make you strong. I CAN GRANT YOU THE POWER OF GODS! YOU WILL NOT BE CORRUPTED BY MY SISTER! YOU WILL FOLLOW ME AS A TRUE EQUESTRIAN!!!"

Celestia twisted her hoof manipulating his conscience. She pulled her glowing orange hoof back and pulling every memory of her sister she could find. She as well implanted memories of unwitting loyalty to herself. She increased the spell one more time and shot through him a final barrier, so no one but her could take his will away from her. Celestia lowered her hoof and deactivated her magic. Slowly he stopped writhing on the floor and he controlled his breathing once again. His face stopped sweating and his eyes were a bright yellow with an inner circle of red around the pupil. Golden Flash looked up at Celestia and immediately went to a kneeling position and stated, "My lady. I apologize for my imputenance. It will not happen again. How may I serve you?"

Celestia smirked briefly and cruelly and said, "Now that is more like it. You are to serve as a True Equestrian. That means you show no mercy to those who threaten my new Equestria. You will be an instrument of my power. An extension of my power."

Golden Flash's mind felt clean, wiped away and only one thought went through his head. Protect the one true leader of Equestria, and kill all those who shall stand in his way. Golden Flash stood up and said, "I will serve you well."

Celestia turned away from Golden Flash and said, "I have no doubt in my mind that you will. From this day forth you shall be known as Stalwart Goldenshield, the Left Hoof of Celestia. Honor that title and my name, and you shall never falter."

Celestia held up her hoof and materializing in her hoof was a syringe filled with a dark golden liquid. Celestia inspected it closer and said to Stalwart, "The Paladins were admiral in their ways of fighting. But they never had the strongest race of ponies amongst them. They never had Alicorns in their ranks. But what they did not realize is the Alicorn makes the perfect Paladin of the Sun. Only the strong will survive amongst the Paladins, there will be no room for weakness. And it is in this, Virus X, that I will have my perfect guardians of Equestria."

Stalwart lowered his head and stated, "I am ready to serve thee."

Celestia walked up closer to Stalwart and said, "Then we shall begin."

She thrust the serum deep into his neck and the liquid flowed through him quickly. Stalwart did not flinch but grunted against the pain. Celestia stepped back and she explained, "I have connections within Canterlot that allow me to do a great many things. Like Virus X here. The notes that I took from Victor Frankenstein were outstanding but I had no way to make the serum. So I ran across a familiar pony, and one by the name of Atom Moon. An owner of Atomic Moon pub, a very famous pub in Manehattan. Well, he was making a drug that could alter a pony and become the ultimate Alicorn slaying machine called Snake Bite. So he combined the two and came with this. It transforms the subject into a living weapon, breaking the laws of everything and making a perfect Alicorn without requiring the right amount of power. This is what you will become."

Stalwart felt pain rush through him and he fell to his knees once again. His chest wracked in most of the pain and he felt his mind break open once again. His bones shifted and conjoined tougher than before. His muscles enlarged and he felt stronger. His horn grew out a little bit longer. He had Earth pony strength, and heightened unicorn abilities. Now he needed the pegasus wings. He cried in pain as the muscles and bones along his back broke open and shifted once again. Forming from almost nothing were his wings, they snapped into place just below his shoulders and slowly flesh formed over the bone wings. Stalwart felt every painful second of it, but it was all worth it if he protected his ruler.

The skin finished forming and he sprouted feathers. Finally the pain subsided and he controlled his breathing once more. His coat turned a light gold color. He looked down and ripped off his tabard. Stalwart looks to Celestia and said, "But who is your right hoof? Dragomir?"

Celestia smirked and slowly stepped back as she did so she said, "Stalwart. I told you of my once prized pupil yes?" Stalwart nodded in agreement, "Then you must know that she has become too weak to save. But that did not mean I still did not want her as my Right Hoof. So, I dove into her family records and I found something crucial."

She stepped up onto the altar and she motioned to something standing in the shadows. Stepping into the light was a thin mare in a long white hooded cloak blocking her features behind a veil of darkness. Celestia motioned for her to pull down her hood and she did as such. Revealing in front of him was almost a mirror image of Twilight Sparkle but her coat was a silver color and her mane and tail a dark grey color. Her eyes were the purest of yellow and the same duel streak went through her mane and tail but it was different shades of yellow. She looked right at Stalwart and Celestia said proudly with a cruel smile, "Stalwart Goldenshield, meet Dawn. Twilight's twin sister."

Author's Notes:

Ah yes. You read what I have in store for the ponies of Equestria.

Ever since I first became a brony I loved the story of the New Lunar Republic vs. The Solar Empire. I had written drafts of this fic before I even thought of Children of the Night. So now you see what the fate of Equestria will be. Sister versus sister.

And for all of those who care about tyrant Celestia, I decided to mold her after one of the famous amongst fictional tyrants. Garrosh Hellscream. Oh yes, Solar Flare will be in essence what Garrosh Hellscream became towards the end of his life.

I apologize for doing that, but I recently got back into World of Warcraft and I felt Garrosh deserved a bit of love. He was a good villain while he lasted. I mean he was no Lich King but you know...whatever.

Anyways, the next part will be very interesting and yes Twilight has a twin sister named Dawn. I hope that I am the first to think of that, probably not though.

Part 2 - We Soldiers of the Night...

How many times must she try? How many times does she have to lose everything? How many ponies have to die around her? Her son, Dracula, disowned her. Her husband, Midnight, is leaving. And worst of all, her own sister is refusing anything short of advice. Why must it always be her? Why does she have to go through this pain? This is what she deserves however, she brought this all on her own. She lied to them. She broke them. Made them what they are today. Leaving her to cry and wallow in despair.

Princess Luna sat huddled on a cloud looking over Equestria, her supposed sovereign nation. Yet, her sister holds the reigns of the entire country. She has never felt this level of despair before, not since she thought she lost Midnight. Or the night she lost her son. Twice. She laid on the cloud, her head resting on her hooves and her face freshly stained with tears. The moon gave no comfort to her as it usually did, it gave her no solace. The cold wind gently dancing over her dark blue coat, attempting to sooth the moon princess's dreary mind. Her eyes remained half open as she stared at the lights of the sleeping town below. She focused and she could see the dreams of the many subjects she ruled over. Their dreams being her realm, her solitude from reality. Letting her escape her feelings of self loathing and pity.

Everypony seemed to rest calmly. No nightmares in Ponyville for now. Which was good, but only proved that she was not needed, only letting her despair grow larger. Her son had taken power and he was an expert at what he does. A true master of the night, he did what he did best and then some. He had became everything she hoped he would become. Yet, her heart felt ten pounds heavier every time she thought of him. She did not hold jealousy or hatred in her heart. But she did feel pride, pride that her son now ruled over an entire new society. She took pride in knowing that he would make an excellent ruler.

Oh how times have changed for Luna. As she gazed upon the silent streets of Ponyville, gazing from her hooves, she remembered her days when she was on the moon. Those dark and lonely eternal nights. One would not expect it to be a punishment. Just eye soaring, but not being able to see anything else other than pure darkness and the glistening and judgmental stars gazing back at you. It was agonizing. Nopony to share your time. Nopony to talk to. It was torturous.

Ponies think that she remained Nightmare Moon for the entire time she was on the moon. That she remained her symbiote self. But no. The nightmare forces that she wielded abandoned her the first minute on the moon, leaving her dazed and confused. Leaving Luna to wallow in her failure. An awful feeling that she never wanted to revisit.

Just as she was remembering those hateful moments she heard an all too familiar and deceptive voice, promising with every word a sharp stab of a knife,
Is this what you are reduced to Moon Princess?

Luna's hurtful look changed into a face ridden with vengeance and hate. Her eyes filled with fury and her eyebrows knit, becoming bright white. She stood with renewed strength and turned to the source of the voice. A tall standing pony, much like Living Shadow but much thinner and more lithe. His entire form made from mystified shadows and his eyes glowing a bright green with mist bellowing out of the corners. No pupils.

His empty glare sustained, his upper torso was visible but the lower part of his body was nothing but a tail of black shadows. This was his manifested form. Nightmare forces very commonly use this as their form, similar to Shadow Ponies but much stronger and smarter allowing there to be confusion between the two. This however was the leader of the Nightmare Forces, Elmashul, Nightmare of the Unknown.

Luna grit her teeth showing anger and with a cold bite in her words she barked, "What do you want Elmashul?"

The shadow moved closer to Luna and Luna got in a combat stance ready to throw a spell at him. Elmashul responded with raising his hooves apprehensively and replied with his choir of voices,
Easy, young goddess. I have not come here to entice revenge.

Luna hunched her back and readied a spell as she growled, "Then why have you come? And I won't ask again."

I have come to make amends. But it is not one of my strong suits as you already know. I have watched these events unfold and I have come to offer my assistance.

Luna stared coldly at the shade, unflinching. She narrowed her gaze. She studied the ghostly form in front of her to try and sense his motive. She got nothing from his empty gaze. A little hard considering he had no mouth, no nose, and no pupils. All things that you could tell if somepony lies. Their nostrils flare. Their pupils dilate. Or their mouth quivers. Possibly even a shifty gaze. Nothing from Elmashul. Tone of voice could even be used, but he spoke with so many voices that it was nearly impossible to tell if his voice quavered.

Luna loosened her tight gaze by a centimeter and asked, "What is your game, Elmashul?"

Elmashul stepped closer, slowly and hesitantly. Luna let him step closer. He circled her and responded as he rounded her,
I will not lie. I am offering my assistance because I have lost control of one of my nightmares, something that does not happen often. But I fear that I alone cannot take her. She has severed herself from me.

Luna relaxed her shoulders and asked, "Is it Selene?"

Selene was the true name of Nightmare Moon. She was originally created as a manipulator in the Alicorn Court, making the decisions in favor of them. The Nightmare Forces have been trying to take over Equestria for generations. They however stopped once a certain hero destroyed their home and imprisoned their great powers. That hero being Luna's father, King Lunar or as he is commonly referred to by the Nightmare Forces as Nox. Since then they have silently been causing disorder here and there, however a huge power play came with Selene taking over Luna. But after Luna and Selene were banished to the moon for that failure Elmashul took Selene and tortured her for those thousand years. Leaving behind Luna.

Elmashul shook his head and responded stopping on her left,
No. But another one of my daughters. Saris, Nightmare of Pride. One of the strongest amongst my brood. She escaped and declared her independence. As you know that I had nightmares created as you and your sister's polar opposites. Saris is the anti Celesia. And I fear that she has taken her roots in Celestia. And I fear that Selene helped her in some way.

Luna was astonished and her gaze fell limply to the cloud she stood on. This was terrible news. She had heard legends of these two nightmares. Saris and Selene. Alone they are a force to be reckoned with. But together, they could bring Ketos to its knees. The shock left Luna and she finally replied, "What can be done?"

Elmashul folded his hooves behind his back and replied gazing up at the moon,
For me to answer that question I have to explain her story for you. I did not create Saris from darkness like I did with Selene and the rest, I used two mediums to make her. I used a dead alicorn and the flares of our sun. I rebirthed her on the surface of the sun. Her mind is filled with ruin and fire. This Alicorn was put down by Dracula in the times he was a Silverblade Knight, he struck her down in the Frozen North. She holds revenge and pride in her heart that she will be the one to kill Dracula. She is not like Selene in the sense that she took over your consciousness, Saris prefers the opposite. She prefers to spur and manipulate the pony she is inside of. Only using a small amount of influence.

Celestia shares the same hatred for Dracula and therefore there is little to no manipulation needed. Saris has dreamt of a moment like this for years. Now to answer your question. There are a few options that we can do to separate Saris and Celestia. The first is to kill Celestia. The second being I can possibly try and force Saris out of Celestia's body, gravely injuring her. And the third is performing an exorcism on her that has a fifty fifty chance of her dying or living.

These options were few and far between. A far cry of mercy and sympathy. Luna thought carefully. Celestia had always ruled with a kind heart and an open mind, if she was letting herself become a shadow of her former self then Luna needed to do something. Much like when Nightmare Moon tried to take over Equestria, but now the roles were reversed. But she has no doubt already started gathering loyalists for her invasion on the Everfree Forest. If this happened then there would be all out war anyways, there was no avoiding this. Civil war within the Equine Empire.

There was no avoiding this and Celestia would no doubt not trust her anymore, as even Luna was driven away from Celestia. They had gotten into a fight before Luna sat on that cloud to mourn. There was no choice.

Luna sullenly looked at Elmashul and said, "There is no avoiding this civil war is there?"

Elmashul sighed and responded,
...No...there is not Moon Princess.

Luna's face grew with determination and turned to Elmashul with confidence in her hoof steps. She said in a soft yet commanding voice, "I am willing to put aside my differences to stop Saris."

Elmashul nodded and Luna replied with one of her own. Luna asked, "What will our first move be?"

Elmashul grew into a thin layer of mist and blew himself into Luna. She reeled back in fear and suspected that he was going to take over her mind. But no, it felt only like he was residing in her mind. Luna felt him impart some of his strength into her and she felt her mind refocus and grow stronger with more selection of spells.

Elmashul spoke in her mind,
First we will need soldiers to fight with us. Do you remember the Lost Battalion?

The Lost Battalion was a battalion of Celestial Soldiers that went to fight a group of liches in the heart of Equestria. Most were unicorns and they soon found out that the liches were too strong. They created an arcanic bomb that once it erupted would devour all magic in a small area. They let the bomb explode and the thousand that went there died with the liches. Luna knew the fable well, but she failed to see what this had to do with them? Elmashul answered,
We are going to resurrect both the Liches and the Lost Battalion. Becoming our Soldiers of the Night, our troops and the guardians of the New Lunar Republic.

Dragomir purveyed the land he saw in the shadow of the pale moon. Residing in a small open grove in the Whitetail Woods was a small group of mountain ogres. Not many migrate this far south from the Silvermane Highlands, their home. But those that do, do not last long because of the amount of magic in the soil. Mountain Ogres are supremely vulnerable to magic, nearly immune to physical attacks and weapons. One unicorn mage is worth fifty to one hundred mountain ogres. Dragomir worth five hundred.

Dragomir's stark blue eyes set upon the monstrous ogres. His quarry silently sat at a bonfire, all five of them eating what looked to be mountain goat. Their barbaric eating habits could be heard and seen for miles. Tracking these did not take too much time. Especially since combining with his dear friend Pyre.

Underneath his hood he closed his eyes and rested a hoof over his heart as he remembered his fateful friend. As he knelt on a small cliff his soul calm and his mind only filled with the pictures of his phoenix. The gentle midnight breeze cascading over Dragomir's restful form, the cloth of his armor moving upon the wind. The cloth pieces a cape over his waist, open at the front and a small tattered cape upon his left shoulder tightly sewn into his shoulderplate. His glistening golden armor shined in the soft light of the moon. The white cloth now stained slightly with the many battles it has been through. The armor fitting snuggly on his battle hardened form.

He opened his eyes with a fierce look on them as he continued his stare at the ogres. He concentrated his magic and a soft orange glow erupted around his horn and he felt his form become lighter and felt a breeze carry himself down wind in the borders of trees around the grove. Dragomir planted himself silently on the grassy knoll in the woods. His form nearly invisible in the shadows of the forest.

Dragomir braced himself against a tree and listened in on their conversation.

"Eh. What do ya mean dat you get more goat meat?" One said in a heavy and deep voice that could shake the foundation of the earth itself. It came to Dragomir's understanding that there were two different types of ogres. Those like the one that just spoke, whom are not very bright. But then there are the rare ones like the second about to talk.

He responded with a loud resounding slap across the others face and his heavily accented voice, "Don't be so daft, Gutrig. I brought the meat back, which means I get more. And keep your voice down. We don't need the thunderhooves to know we are here."

Dragomir knew ogres well enough that they referred to the ponies of Equestria. Ogres and Equestrians have a long history together. In the times of the Alicorn Empire the Ogres had a vast and sprawling empire in the eastern Badlands, right on the border of Equestria. The Ogres Tribes. They were very intellectual and smart at that point in time. However, they attempted to invade Equestria. Their invasion was very quickly stomped out and they were left sulking back to their tribes. But the Alicorns were anything but forgiving towards the invasion. with their superior weapons and tactics they retaliated against the Ogre Tribes and took their lands. They removed what remained of the ogres, stripped them of their intellects, and made them supremely vulnerable to the Weylines of the Arcanic Shift and the wielders of their magic. Creating boiling hatreds and grudges against the two races.

After a few moments of contemplation Dragomir returned his gaze to the ogres. Most of them had dark skin, filled with blemishes and boils from the blistering hot temperatures of the day in the Badlands and the below freezing winds at night. Their skin hardened from even the distance between them and Dragomir. They wore tattered rags over their chests and on their stumpy but muscular legs. Their muscles toned and heavy set. While they were tall, standing nearly 15 feet tall at the least, they did not near in size compared to the Ettins of the Glacial Peaks.

Their coal stained armor upon their wrists, shoulders, and legs looked not well crafted and barely capable of holding back a blow from a powerful weapon. But Dragomir knew well enough that they did not need to rely in their armor, their skin tough enough to with stand burning temperatures and can break swords in half. Dragomir did not worry, he had killed enough Ogres when he was in the Silvermane Highlands to be given the name of "Ogre Slayer" a rare title given that most Stonebloods are Pegasi and Earth Ponies. He was even well known amongst the ogres as the Fireslayer. Dragomir was okay with that, he hated ogres. Confidence filled Dragomir as he continued to inspect the ogres in front of him. Magic was on his side. Their stone weapons sheathed in their cords over their waist. Monstrous weapons that could cleave a pony in half given the opportunity.

Dragomir stared into the flame at their center and he concentrated his magic. Holding out his hoof, his open hoof facing the sky. He drew his muzzle closer to his hoof pursing his lips. Like blowing ashes or dust over the wind, he blew a gentle breath out and the light that the fire once had died out. Dragomir opened his eyes to the various hysterical and frightened screams of the ogres. Dragomir drew his sword and held it firm in his hoof. He whispered to himself, "Let the blood flow like the morning tide. And let my strikes land true."

He opened his eyes and they began having thin gouts of flame envelope them and billow off into the midnight sky. He lowered himself down, ready to jump into the air. As he left the ground he cast a spell and sprouting out from his sides were wings of pure blazing fury. He leapt through the sky and hovered briefly in the sky, long beats of his wings keeping him sustained in air.

He focused his gaze upon the group of ogres and dive bombed towards them. Pointing his sword out it burst in bright white flames. A cry of fury and battle came from Dragomir's throat as he soared towards the ogres. His stab into one of the ogres landed, and with great force knocked him off his feet. Blood spurted forth from his mouth as the fiery blade sank into the ogre's chest. With a loud thud the ogre fell limp from the powerful blow.

Dragomir stood up still having his wings spread to inspire fear into their eyes. He turned and charged another one, a swift cut across the ogre's throat and the wound erupted in red hot flames. Exploding his inner arteries and the combustive blast severing his spinal chord. A trick he had developed in his last years with the Stonebloods. Two down, three more to go.

They still held fear in their eyes as they looked upon a blazing equine. Dragomir stood tall and turned to face the ogres. Two had maces made from pure stone and the other had a battle axe. They unwittingly charged towards Dragomir, raising their weapons to strike Dragomir. Dragomir unsummoned his wings and with a resounding clatter of his armor he stood tall and firm. As the ogres neared Dragomir dodged their attacks as the two hammers came down erupting earth under its strong force. Dragomir heft his bastard sword and with a mighty swing of his blade, the dancing tongues of flame leech onto the ogre and spread down and latch onto the other two ogres. Spreading up from their feet. Dragomir's sword wrenched in the ogre's side, a tide of blood washing over Dragomir as he cleaved the ogre in half. Splashing over his torso.

The crackling flames and the sound of searing flesh echoed in Dragomir's ears, a sound he was familiar with. Dragomir focuses on the remaining two. Dragomir hear their screams as they shout out Fireslayer. They turn towards him with fear in their eyes. They both fall to their knees pleading for mercy. Dragomir advances towards them. He outstretched his open left hoof and summons forth more magic, the flames around one begin to swell and increase in heat. Not only burning flesh, but incinerating bones. The cries die down as nothing is left but ashes. The last remaining ogre watched as his comrade turned into ashes and flew on the wind. Fear and dread encompassed his vision as Dragomir continued his advance. Dragomir paid no mind to the blood that now stained the entire left half of his face and his torso. It only increased the fear in the ogre's eyes. Dragomir felt the fires on his eyes grow brighter.

The ogre dared not move and not even breath as the nightmare of his people stood before him, tears tried to form in his clenched eyes as he looked away. Dragomir caused the flames on his weapon to die and pressed the silver blade up to the ogre's neck. Flesh slightly seared under the steaming metal, causing the ogre to shiver in fear. Dragomir's voice peeled every piece of ferocity from the ogre and left nothing but a quivering baby as he said, "Now what business does a company of ogres such as yourself doing in my lands."

The ogre spat and sputtered as fear gripped his heart and soul. Dragomir released pressure from his sword and grabbed the ogre's thick neck with his hoof and began using telekinesis to choke the ogre. His windpipes easily formed to Dragomir's tight grip. Dragomir's fierce eyes he pulled the ogre's face inches away from Dragomir's own and his ferocious breaths beating onto the ogre's blemished skin. Dragomir growled with the fury of a thousand suns, "I have low patience with your kind. I will not ask again. Why. Are. You. Here!?"

The ogre's voice quavered as he asnwered, "We...we...we came here as a...as...as...a...as a scouting squad...we...we were to report back to...um...our chieftain...please...please that's all I know..."

Dragomir let go of the ogre and the ogre went into a coughing fit. Quicker than lightning Dragomir struck hard through the ogre's neck and with meat splitting apart, echoing over the wind, his head fell limply down and his body soon joining the decapitated head. As the blow connected a battle cry erupted from Dragomir and his breathing became heavy. He exerted much of his strength, it used to be a mystery as to where he got his strength from but that was answered as he found out that he was a son of Princess Luna. Brother to Dracula and Sunset Shimmer, his twin.

Dragomir looked up sullenly at the moon as he controlled his breathing and sheathed his sword in his back. The moon offering no peace of mind for the young unicorn warrior, not even clarity. The large pale maiden looking down upon him with an empty stare. He reached into one of his leather pockets on his belt and pulled out a cloth and wiped his face from the blood, revealing back his bright yellow and red coat. He breathing returned to normal as he put the cloth away. He pulled down his hood and cleared his mind, flooding with images of what has come to pass.

When he had awoken he had a mark on his left arm and his scars stung with an unbearable pain. A pain undefinable by any means, no words to describe the searing agony. The Mark of Shadows. Dragomir rested a hoof on the scar where the mark used to be. It pained him for weeks until Pyre told him of a solution he had in mind. He would offer his soul to heal the wound, the soul of a phoenix is capable of healing everything. Much like its feathers, but with much more potency. The immortal soul of a phoenix was said to be able only absorbed by those that are immortal themselves or share a special bond with a phoenix, of which Dragomir and Pyre had. Dragomir refused initially, he could not bear losing his closest friend. He can never forget Pyre's answer.

You don't need to live with this Drago. We had a good run together, but I can't see you like this. I am going to help you. Besides, don't think of it as me dying. Think of it as me always being with you. There's not a thing on this planet that I would not do for you. All I can say is thank you for all those years of friendship. Thank you.

Before Dragomir remembered anything else he heard the stirring of a pony waking up. Dragomir jumped at the sound, he quickly spun on his hooves and saw in a cage that Dragomir did not see before. Inside was the waking form of Rainbow Dash, that cyan coat and rainbow mane almost unmistakable. Dragomir quickly jogged over to the cage and knelt down getting on her eye level. He said, "Rainbow Dash?"

The mare looked at him and her eyes beamed as they laid on him. She resounded, "Dragomir! What are you doing here?"

Dragomir spoke the truth, "I was looking for you. We were all worried about you."

Dragomir broke the lock and opened the door. As soon as it opened Rainbow Dash pushed herself into his hooves and embraced him warmly. Dragomir was stunned, the once pure tomboyish and cocky stance of Rainbow Dash he knew before was gone. Replaced by one like Twilight or Rarity. But Dragomir eventually returned the friendly hug. Rainbow Dash was warm and her head nestled gently on Dragomir's shoulder. He felt accepted. He felt loved. He felt...no he barely knows this mare, those feelings could not be true.

Rainbow Dash pulled her self away slowly and said, "Wait. Where is everypony else?"

Dragomir replied in a more lively tone, "They are back in their respective kingdoms. I am sorry that they could not help find you, there has been tension rising between the two princesses and Luna has not been seen since her talk with Dracula."

Rainbow Dash listened and added in at the appropriate time, "What happened?"

Dragomir answered after a sigh, "Dracula is Luna's eldest son. And lets just say that words were exchanged between them that caused Luna to fly off. I do not know all of the details but...I do not wish to find out."

Rainbow Dash stared into Dragomir's eyes and her dark violet eyes were starry and filled with passion. She closed her eyes and slowly leaned in and gently planted her lips on Dragomir's. Dragomir was surprised but he did not show any resistance as he melted under the kiss. Dragomir lifted one of his hooves into her mane and after a few seconds Rainbow Dash pushed herself back and said, "I'm sorry but...I wanted to do that the first moment I saw you. I went too fast didn't I? I always..."

Before she could continue on her rambling Dragomir pulled her in for another kiss. She succumbed to the kiss and this one lasted much longer than the last. And after that Dragomir pushed himself back and said, "I had the same feelings. I am willing to give it a try Miss Dash. As long as you are."

Rainbow Dash smiled sheepishly, her usual confident demeanor dying away to a mare that lied underneath that rock hard exterior. Dragomir delighted himself at being the only one to see this side of her, it was refreshing knowing that there was the down to earth sort of mare.

Dragomir offered his hoof to her and they stood up together. Dragomir could not stop looking at her. His eyes fixated on her for what seemed like a lifetime. But he stopped once he noticed Rainbow Dash stand firm and tall, alert almost as if there was danger nearby. Dragomir asked as she moved her head in all directions, trying to find the source of danger, "What is it? What's wrong?"

Rainbow Dash answered her eyes still searching, "I think...I think there is somepony that is resurrecting bodies nearby."

"Is that good or bad?" Dragomir asked as well.

Rainbow Dash finished his last question, "Depends on who it is."

After what felt like hours of searching, they finally found what Rainbow Dash suspected was where the pony raised the dead corpses. Dragomir looked around the night filled grove and saw various open craters varying in size and shape. Some meant to hold one pony and others looked to hold piles. The soil crunched under Dragomir's hoofsteps, indicating that the soil was dead. Like the bodies that once resided there somehow killed the liveliness in the soil. The pale moonlight shined on the ground around them showing the dreaded empty graves.

Dragomir tried to sense if there was any magic nearby but it all felt ancient and old. But there was an air of freshness and renewed magic. It was an odd feeling that he had never felt before. It was not like the air around Living Shadow but similar to the air that Luna and Celestia carried. Aged with confidence. Yet, the air he was in at that moment was much older and held a weight behind it. Weighing heavily on Dragomir's lungs.

Dragomir looked to his companion, Rainbow Dash, she had her muzzle lifted slightly and was sniffing the air. Like she was a bloodhound finding its quarry, smelling the evening air to find its prey. Dragomir left her to find something as Dragomir looked around once more. The grove was dead and the trees split and dying. The Dead Woods. A section of the Whitetail Woods that was forgotten and rotted away. The spot where the Lost Battalion made their final stand.

The eerie feelings of that place sunk into Dragomir's skin and the usual peace that a battlefield was supposed to have, it was not there. He felt restless, shifty even. Like there was somepony watching him, all eyes on him. It was a creepy feeling. There was rarely a time that Dragomir would feel like this, his battle hardened mind usually did not allow such feelings to enter his mind.

Finally Rainbow Dash said to him, "I can't pick up a scent. Whoever was here made out like bandits."

"And raised some of the most powerful soldiers ever to be trained by the Equestrian military." Dragomir responded. His eyes shifting over the dead grove. Unease set in on him and just as he thought that nothing bad was going to happen he felt a cold whisper behind him.

The voice freezing every bone in his body, "You are trying to find bodies in empty graves. Why are you following us?"

Dragomir looked through the corner of his eye and saw a midnight blue pony with black ebony plate armor on. But his coat was not like a usual pony, it had a sheen to it and had blue mist coming off of the surface. He turned and quicker than lightning he drew his sword and pointed the tip at the strange pony's neck. The strange pony did the same to Dragomir. They held their swords close to each others necks. Dragomir however noticed many others like the strange pony come out of the shadows of the forest. All bearing different forms of weaponry.
Spears, swords, bladed bracers, and crossbows.

Dragomir heard Rainbow Dash approach them and he moved his gaze briefly to see her in her werewolf form. She was on all fours and had claws ready to strike barring her fangs. She threatened, "You harm him and you will have to face the full strength of the night."

Dragomir focused back at his opponent and the air felt heavy, who would make the first move. Dragomir felt every fibre of his being keeping himself at bay but he was soon going to start the fight. Before he could act upon his hardened senses he heard a soft and serene voice call out, "That is enough!"

Dragomir looked and saw Luna hovering down. With gentle flaps of her wings she landed and planted her hooves firmly on the ground. She stood in pure white scale plate armor, loosely fitted and looked to be snug as she wore it well. Her broadsword resting calmly in its sheath. Her eyes set upon the strange pony and said, "Lower your blade Dark Specter, there is no danger with this one."

Dark Specter lowered his sword but kept a hesitant gaze on Dragomir and said as the sword went in its sheath, "Yes my lady."

Dark Specter turned to Luna and bowed his head respectfully and walked off to the others like him and left Dragomir, Rainbow Dash, and Luna alone. Dragomir sheathed his bastard sword and looked at his apparent mother, emotions that he never felt before kindled inside of him. Luna let out a thoughtful breath and said shakily, "So...have you come to disown your mother too?"

Dragomir lifted his gaze and saw her hurtful eyes. Dragomir knew that there were no ways that could get him out of this trap. He stared at her bright aquamarine eyes and thrust her into a loving hug. Dragomir said to her, "I would never do such a thing to you mother. Dracula's life is filled with darkness and deceit, mine is not. I am overjoyed that I finally have a mother."

Luna warmingly accepted the embrace and replied with a hug of her own. She said with a warm tone, "I should have expected differently with you Dragomir. I should not have thought that you would feel the same as Dracula."

Dragomir pulled himself back and looked at her eyes and said, "Dracula will come around. While he is hurt he has a good heart. Don't worry."

Luna smiled and let go of her son. Dragomir let go as well and felt warmer. He knew who his mother was and is overjoyed by that fact. He lived so long not knowing who his real parents were. It was a strange but welcoming feeling. He stepped back and said, "What are you doing?"

Luna looked to the armored specters and said, "That is a simple question with a complicated question. It is a long explanation that I do not wish to share with you for now. For now, enjoy your company with your new found love. Just know that when the drums of war beat. Know which side you are on."

With that Luna turned and left. Dragomir made no movement to stop her. While his questions remained unanswered, he knew in his heart that they would be answered in time. She left with no trace and Dragomir turned to Rainbow Dash and said, "Alright. Are you ready to head back home?"

He lifted his hoof and Rainbow Dash took it in her own and said with a smile, "Like you can't even imagine."

Author's Notes:

The final update on Silent Dawn! Your welcome!

Anyways, epilogue done and now I can finish the other one offs and let the sequel come out. Yes soon the wave of hype will die and you can finally enjoy the sequel that I have promised you guys.

See you guys in the next story!
~Sylus~