Heaven & Hellby Lord Sylus of NightChaptersChapter IChapter IIChapter IIIChapter IVChapter IChapter I "What you ask of is pure madness! I have heard nothing more absurd in all of my life!" These were the words that echoed through the halls of St. Celestia's Hospital. It was there in that hospital in Trottingham, Equestria that the lords and ladies of the Brotherhood of Light conversed in secret. They were silent protectors of the land, holding ideals that Henry held personally. But the implications that he gave were what questioned those such ideals and suggested ideals that most seemed to fear. The hour was dark and the calm and unsettling feelings that were given off from the environment around him, as well as the ponies that gathered around him. They conversed in Father Angelus Sarrius, whom was in audience. The voice that spoke out was Highlord Alanus Belmont, a tall unicorn with a snow white coat and long dark red mane and tail. Scruffy and intimidating. Next to him was Henry's brother Jackpot Pie, a lawyer. His coat was a dark grey color and his silver colored mane was combed straight and had almost no volume, he wore a dark colored suit and contrasted well with the colors of his mane and coat. Henry glanced over as well at Lucy Apple, his beautiful fiance who was with her father Sir Bismark Apple. Sir Bismark wore a dark brown colored suit that contrasted rather well with his light brown coat and his dark yellow mane and tail. His blue eyes were downcast and the others had their eyes on the tan coated and jet black haired Henry Pie. Henry said, "Please if you will only let me explain." Angelus and Alanus tightened their disapproving gaze and Henry continued, "The monsters we hunt are made from evil and all its powers. But we all must know that you cannot have evil without good and vice verses. What I am saying is we have the technology to isolate and separate the evil and good personalities that reside inside of them. All I need is your permission to move my experiments on the captive." Angelus grunted and said, "You play with powers you cannot even comprehend. Temping Celestia herself. You would have us stop our OWN experiments on something that may or may not work?" "No it has had positive results in animal subjects. I ask to move to a pony subject-" "But to use medical science against the immortal powers of the Alicorn Sisters?" Alanus said in a deep and charismatic voice, "Do you even understand the powers you wish to oppose? This is tampering with something that should never be touched." "Oppose! You're implying that I..." "Not only is this blasphemous to the sisters." Angelus interrupted, "But it is as well unethical..." "And having him as a font for MAGIC is ETHICAL!" Henry snapped closing his journal briskly. There was an eerie silence in between his next spoken words, "He is more of an inmate of a prison." Alanus stomped his hoof on the ground and said with a growl ,"We are simply returning the favor! For decades he has been a blight upon our lands and he is supposed to go unpunished? No, I do not approve of your experiments Doctor Henry." "Highlord please..." "Be thankful I do not revoke your license Doctor Henry, good night." Alanus and Angelus leave the room and slam the door behind them. Jackpot rubbed his muzzle with his hoof, while leaning up against the desk in the room and said in a soft tenor voice, "Lucy and Sir Bismark, if you will allow me a few minutes with my brother that would be great. We will see you at the engagement party." Bismark nods and says, "Of course. Come along Lucy, we shall await you there. Come along Lucy." With no more spoken words they leave the room as well. It was rather small and worked as an office. Books stacked tightly along shelves, filing cabinets, and chairs. Henry looked over at Jackpot and saw the look on his face, he gave the look of worry. Henry stated flatly, "Jack. Please tell me you are with me on this one." Jack sighed heavily and said continuing to lean against the desk and crossing his forehooves over his chest, "You know that I would be there with you until the bitter end..." "Then tell me that what I am doing is not wrong and I am doing the right thing!" Henry shouted. Jack did not move from his pose and replied with a tone of concern, "Look, as your lawyer, as your friend....as...as your brother. You are starting to become obsessed with this work of yours. You are worrying me; You are worrying Lucy. If this is about that promise you made to father..." "Of course it's about that promise!" Henry snapped again but regained his composure. "What more do I have to strive to do?" Henry sighed heavily and a silence fell again. Jack said in a low tone, "And now you have convinced the Highlord himself that you are a madpony." "They set themselves up for this Jack." Henry said in an angry tone. "If it wasn't me it would be some pony else. They call themselves the light in the darkness, when they themselves have become the shadow they swore to destroy. They are hypocrites!" "Yes." Jack rested a hoof gingerly on Henry's shoulder and said, "But they are very powerful ones. Look, you know I enjoy all of your work and would see to it that you would succeed, like father. All I'm saying is to exercise caution." Henry rested his own hoof on Jack's and said in a low tone, "We have crossed that point Jack. We can no longer use caution to our advantage." "Jack..." "Let me finish," Henry said looking over at Jack. "I can save him. Nopony is beyond the path of redemption, that is what father taught me. And if it can help him then it can help us, they have only proven my point." He paused in the next words he said after a long sigh, "I'm not even sure if the normal serum works on a pony; let alone an undead one." Jack turned to face Henry and said looking deep into his eyes, "Then you find a subject. Somepony who has nothing to lose. A volunteer." Jack grabbed his shoulders and said, "You've come far in five years and if you believe that what you are doing is right then you have to see this through. Please, do be careful little brother. I love you." Henry pulled him into a hug and said, "I started this alone and that is how it will be finished. I love you too, brother." Jack pulled him back and said looking into Henry's dark blue eyes, "The battle is over now and the time for being weary is over. Now. You have an engagement party to go to." Henry straightened up and said, "Yeah...yes I do." Jack scratched the top of Henry's head and said, "And you should consider yourself the luckiest stallion alive that you are marrying one of the most beautiful mares in all of Trottingham." They both laughed and left the room to their mansion for the long expected engagement party. But all through the night Henry could not let a thought go about that meeting. He would see his work through no matter what. 'Even if I have to push somepony down I want to see this to the end. I'm not letting it stop here.' Chapter IIChapter II The night air was cold and it was too unsettling for Lucy. She shivered as she walked through the quiet streets of Trottingham. They walked past many construction sights, the Highlord started a new building project to make more buildings to make Trottingham more appealing and more excitable to visit. As opposed to its dark undertone that the buildings suggested at night. The shadows the buildings cast sent a small amount of dread through her spine as she looked past the shadows. Though she ignored the feelings, she could not ignore it completely. Lucy concentrated back at the discussion that had just happened. Henry rejected by the Highlord himself and Father Angelus, nothing could be more embarrassing. She pushed her thoughts aside when she heard the familiar voice of her dear friend Amethyst Rose, "So. If it isn't the mare of the hour. Where is your dearest husband to be? Late again?" Lucy sighed heavily, she found some joy in her overdramatic personality and her greatly perfectionist ways, as well as her voice was so serene and silky. She said, "Yes. He has important work to finish." Amethyst huffed, "That's not what I heard. I heard he was rejected by the Highlord himself. Do be careful dear, he just might marry his work rather than you." Lucy rolled her eyes and said, "I'll keep that in mind, thank you for the heads up." "What are friends for." Amethyst said with a slight smile. Bismark said interrupting, "I hate to interrupt your lovely discussion but we have arrived." Lucy looked up and saw that the mansion was the same that she has come to be familiar with. It was large and extensive but easily accessible and easy to remember its various hallways. The feelings the mansion itself gave off a neutral feeling, rather than the dread she felt with the other buildings. They approached the doors entering the foyer and was greeted by another member of the Pie family, Peppermint. She was a mint green colored mare with bright golden mane stylized and braided. Her serene eyes met warmly with those just arriving, she bowed graciously saying, "Lady Lucy. Sir Bismarck. Just in time the guests are to be arriving soon. Lady Amethyst, good to see you." Amethyst bowed and said, "And you as well." Hours pass and guests move into the mansion and a large group move into the mansion and Lucy identified them immediately. Angelus entered with two other stallions who were General Crimson Vision and Lord Arctic Breeze. Crimson Vision walked with the stance of a soldier and wore the uniform of one, very elaborate and decorative. Arctic Breeze was a bright blue stallion with dark blue mane and tail. As all three entered Arctic said, "Experimenting on Dracula? How absurd! Just who does he think he is?" "He thinks he controls the power to dethrone the sisters." Crimson responded as they stopped in the foyer. "Such accusations are borderline treason. If I had trained him in the Brotherhood he would have been sent to the whipping post." "So your answer to bold and unique vision is whipping?" Lucy turned to see the speaker. Jack stepped into the foyer, who arrived merely seconds after them. Angelus turned to face Jack and said, "He is tampering with great immortal powers. I don't like it, he should consider himself lucky we live in a modern Equestria, such acts and their punishments are not as they used to be." "And I am certain we have you to thank for keeping us in the modern times father." Jack said with a sly smile. Angelus gave and an agitated glare and said in reply,"Do watch your tongue boy, you never know who you might stick it out to." "Thoroughly noted." Jack returned with a sarcastic smile. Angelus simply walked on and Lucy was very thankful that it ended. Jack can lose his temper rather fast and it does not become pretty. Arctic Breeze continued. "He wishes to save this Lord of Darkness when he should know that there is no saving him. He is beyond the help of anypony and I don't know why he is interested in such activities where his expertise is needed elsewhere. I have lived in the Order for sixty years and I have yet to see this prisoner's face." Lucy rolls her eyes and says, "At least he has a goal and something to strive for. More so than many of us here, to call him mad would be to call Jack sensible." Jack smiled and said, "Hey. I heard that." She looked over at Jack and gave a warm smile. Her father stepped in at the right time and said, "I assure you all he keeps his work life and his social life on two separate worlds entirely. Lucy assures me that the doctor is excellent husband material." He stood next to Lucy and she felt safe and secure underneath his warm and inviting aura that seemed to follow him everywhere he went. Arctic Breeze said slyly, "Yet he finds himself excellent at making him late to his own engagement party. Shows a remarkable lack of style." Jack snorted to himself and said, "Comments of style should never be made by ponies who have none." Arctic gritted his teeth and said suppressing his anger, "I will find my way to the beverages. I am feeling rather parched." "And I as well." Crimson stated and followed Arctic Breeze. They walked past Jack who gave them a sarcastic smile and after they had left Jack looked at Lucy laughed and said, "Jack." Jack nodded his head and said walking closer to her,"Lucy. Lovely to see you again. I'm sure Henry will be along shortly." A few more introductions of ponies that Lucy failed to remember their names, until finally he arrived. Doctor Henry Pie. His long black mane tied back and combed finely. His square features of a pure earth pony heritage. He wore his usual evening suit along with a long dark red trench coat, of which he took off and hung on the coat rack near the door. Lucy ignored all outside noises and focused only on Henry. Not even the extravagantly decorated interior, the polite guests, and the riveting music could make her lose her focus on the most handsome stallion in all of Trottingham. Her gaze was met with his and they found themselves locked in an endless stare. Henry slowly stepped forward and mere inches away her father Bismark said, "Ah the late Doctor Henry." Henry said and nodded, "Yes. My apologies Sir Bismark." "Oh no need for forgiveness." Bismark said returning the respectful nod. "I know you are a busy man. You were taking so long I started anticipating and betting on when you would arrive and it appears I owe sompony three bits." Henry laughed and said, "Even at a fancy party you find time to gamble. You simply must see somepony for help, I am a doctor after all." They both exchanged laughs. Bismark retorted. "I'll make sure to invite the wedding guests the day after the wedding day just to make sure the groom is in attendance." Henry smiled and said, "Have no fear sir, I will be there." The lighthearted atmosphere around them was always something to relish and enjoy. It almost seemed as if they were the same pony. The only thing to lighten it up a bit more though... "My my my. There he is, oh Peppermint and I have been waiting all night for you brother." Lucy turned and saw Jack approaching with Peppermint close next to him. henry said keeping the smile. "How has is come to pass that we left at the same time and I still arrive later than you?" After a warm hug Jack said, "Perhaps its the reason that father never taught you the proper way to gallop." He then looked to Peppermint and said, "Oh so good to see you sister." Peppermint pulled him into a hug and said, "I would say the same brother. Might I ask what kept you so long?" Henry straightened his suit and said, "It had crossed my mind that I should not jump to conclusions and work on the main patient first. I don't even know if it works on ponies. I was pondering who would volunteer..." "Volunteer?" Amethyst stepped in and said, "Who in their right mind would want to volunteer for such a thing?" Lucy could see the irritation on Henry's face as he turned to meet Amethyst. He bowed his head and said, "Lady Amethyst, so good to see you again, I didn't know they invited fillyfoolers to engagement parties." "And I didn't know it was customary for the groom to show up late to his own engagement party." Amethyst replied with a glare. They glared at each other for what seemed to be hours upon hours. Peppermint rubbed her forehead with her hoof and said, "Can you two not be at each others throats for one night?" "So long as Henry does not continue rambling like a madpony," Amethyst sneered. Henry's look could cut stone if looks could do so. He said in an aggravated tone,"I must take every opportunity I have to state my beliefs. I would not expect the same from one such as you, Lady Amethyst." Amethyst's glare tightened and she said, "Beliefs and work are two separate things, Dr. Henry. Do make sure it remains that way." Jack smiled and stepped between them and said, "Please. Let us not continue this discussion before one of you might say something you might regret." "Mares and gentlecolts. The fire works." A nearby servant spoke aloud and Jack said addressing Henry and Amethyst, "Almost as if they anticipated this conversation. Lady Amethyst, would you like to accompany me to the fire works?" "I would be honored Jackpot." Amethyst walked next to Jack and Henry said as they were still in ear shot, "I am not the monster you perceive me to be, Amethyst. Just a stallion with goals and a promise." The foyer quickly emptied until Lucy and Henry were all that was left. Henry said with a smile turning directly towards her, "Miss Apple." Lucy returned the warm smile and said,"Doctor Henry." "Are you angry with me as well?"Henry said. Lucy stepped closer and she said,"No, I am just glad you arrived." Henry made the gap between them smaller and said looking into her eyes,"Lucy. You must understand, you are setting yourself up with a life time filled with aggravations such as these." "If you are referring to your earlier discussion with Amethyst." Lucy said in a soft tone, "Then you should not mind her, she simply follows the crowd." Henry smirked and said, "So does Jack these days." They shared a warm laugh and Henry said looking Lucy up and down, "You look gorgeous tonight." Lucy smiled and said, "Henry you certainly know how to flatter a mare." Henry smiled and stepped closer to Lucy and said, "No. Just you." Lucy felt her heart skip a beat. She always loved his turn of phrase and the way he carries himself. He looks as though he carries nothing on his shoulders, but deep down Lucy knows there must be something that weighs down on him. Lucy dropped her smile and said, "I love you too much Henry, to see you like this. You will surely face criticism everywhere you go, what is this promise you made with your father?" Henry pulled her in close, she could feel the warmth that radiated off of him. She could feel his steady heart beat in his chest and he said in a low tone, "He asked me to promise him never to lose sight of what I believe in. And to never fear the future. On his last breath of life he said to me the only thing that's constant is change." Lucy could tell that by the way he spoke he spoke with a heavy heart. Lucy says softly, "So you do this for your father?" "Mother always told me I was exactly like him in every way." Henry responded with a smile, "My laugh, my humor, my walk and even my demeanor. Everything that I am is as well him, I always feel his eyes watching me and I can feel him silently guiding me to where I wish to go. And I feel he wants me to see this through." Lucy rested her head on Henry's chest and she said, "Then know that I am here with you until the very end, Henry. I love you so much." Lucy looked into his eyes and he leaned down for a kiss until a two stallions entered the room. Bismark and Jack. "Lucy you are being asked for." Bismark said. Jack stated, "And you Henry. Though I have no idea why." Chapter IIIChapter III "Impeccable timing as always brother." Henry said with a sly smile. Bismark stepped towards them and said, "I find it oddly curious that the two main reasons for this party are hiding from it." "Hiding is too weak a word to use Lord Bismark." Jack stated. "Secluded is more like it. Come along Henry lets show these guests just what happens when you have the two of Pie brothers under one roof." Henry smiled as he walked over to Jack and said as they were exiting the room, "They will be in for a surprise of their own." Their laughs could be heard as they walked away. The soft glow of torchlight filled the room and cascaded across the stone floor. Bringing forth the same dread filled feelings she originally felt before she arrived there. Bismark focused on his daughter, who wore a beautiful dark green gown. The gown accented very well with her illustrious dark red coat and long jet black hair. Her bright green eyes met Bismark's dark grey eyes. Bismark stated, "I do hope that you did not scold him too much." "Do not worry father." Lucy replied, "There was no scolding involved. Unlike mother I knew when to keep my mouth shut." Bismark chuckled slightly and said looking at the doors that Jack and Henry left to, "I truly hope that those two know what they are doing. I mean the best when I say this, they are truly fighting against all that society find is the norm. They wield a lesser power that Equestria is not ready for." The look Bismark gave was one of sincerity and hope. She never heard such seriousness in his voice before, she quickly realized that he was not talking about Henry when he said those words. Lucy stepped closer to Bismark and said, "You have nothing to worry for father, I knew what I was getting into when I started this. If no one else besides Jack supports him then he needs all the help he can get." "And it seems he would take this to his grave." Bismark looked downcast at the floor in a low tone and quickly returned his gaze back to his daughter's, "I worry for you is all. I'm only trying to protect you." He paused and gave a slight grin and said, "What more would you expect from your father?" Emotion began to fester and boil around his rock solid heart. Nothing made him this misty, Lucy knew the hardest thing for a parent was watching their foal grow up and leave them. But she never knew it would be this severe; let alone to one such as her father Sir Bismark. Bismark returned his warm and heart felt gaze to Lucy's eyes and said, "I think I would die if any harm would come to you..." "Father I understand," Lucy interrupted with a small smile, "I don't think you would lose me if you tried. I'm your only daughter. I love more than you could ever imagine." Bismark smiled and ran his hoof down her cheek and said, "I know. I guess I have to learn to accept the fact that you are not the same filly any more. You are a proper mare. I trust that you have made the right decision, all I want for you is the best. You must know this." Lucy smiled and pulled him into a hug. She said muffled in his waist coat, "I love you father." Bismark smiled and replied, "I love you too. Come on, you have an engagement party to get back too." Bismark lead Lucy out into the back porch of the manor and exploding in the sky were fireworks. It was not the first time she had seen pyrotechnics and she knew it wasn't the last, but every time she saw them she was filled with unending joy and eternal happiness. Exploding reds, mystical blues, and bursting greens. All of them sending endless wonder through every pour of her body. This night was truly one she would never forget. With hours past and a relatively clean back porch Jack saw the last of the guests out and shut the door with a loud slam. He turned back around to see his two siblings staring at him, both with looks of disapproval. Jack shrugged and said innocently, "Why are you two looking at me like that?" Peppermint and Henry looked at each other and Henry said, "Amethyst? Really? Of all the mares you had to..." "Oh don't lecture me Professor Henry," Jack said sarcastically walking past them, "There are precious things that we must cherish in this world, Amethyst is really the only one that connects with me." "That's not the only thing..." Peppermint said under her breath. Jack laughed out loud and as he walked up the stairs to his room he said, "Good night you two. And Peppermint, please do make sure dear brother does not stay up too late." Henry smiled and as did Peppermint. Peppermint looked over at Henry and said, "And don't you forget it, or I'll punish you like father." Henry had the ghost of a smile and said, "I promise. Good night Mint." Peppermint walked up the stairs as well and Henry heard the distant sound of a door slamming. He was now alone in a quiet manor. All to himself for the moment, he kept in the back of his mind that there could be unspeakable evils hiding in the shadows waiting to pounce and strike. His hoofsteps echoed as he walked to the door leading down into the basement of the house. Slowly as he descended down into further darkness the temperature dropped and reaching the bottom his hooves stepped on solid stone. He moved over to some candles and lit one illuminating the room. Around him was a wide open room with various aged wooden cupboards, bubbling liquids in clear glass flasks, and many bookshelves lined the stone walls. The smell of aged wood and sulfur filled his nostrils with the smell he had grown up with when his father first showed him this. This was his apothecary, where he made alchemical substances that cured nearly any disease. Henry sighed heavily as he remembered those happy memories filling him with a sense of woe. He took off his over coat and slung it over the lounge chair on the left side of the room, revealing his dark red scarlet vest and his flower patterned cravat which accented very well with his bright white dress shirt. He looked at the makeshift desk with the journal he had kept ever since five years ago. Each page containing every thought he had about his project. No...not project, crusade. He walked over to his journal and sat in his chair opening to a new page in the aged leather journal. He grabbed his quill and spoke as he wrote on the page, "October 6, 3:35 A.M 1500 AAE, "After rejection from the Highlord, delays must be made to my work. Doubts, endlessly ravaging my inner thoughts ripping and tearing against what I hold near and dear to my heart. I begin to wonder if they are right, if this is a fools errand...but I remember the wise words of my father."The only thing that's constant, is change." "I have to see this through, for him. For my father. But How can I continue if my work is disapproved by everypony? Now I must find a willing subject for experiments on a normal pony. But who? Who would volunteer for such a thing?" "That is something we all must ask ourselves. Dr. Henry" Henry jumped and dropped his quill in fear. The voice echoed across the stone walls and sent unimaginable dread through his spine and hairs on the back of his neck. He closed the journal and looked through the dimly lit room. There were many shadows around the room for ponies to hide in. The voice was that of a stallion in a deep voice that sent fear through every fiber of his being. Henry stepped up from his chair and said in the darkness in a shaky tone, "Who...who...who are you? Where are you?" The maniacal laughter of the pony echoed across the room and rang loudly in his ears. The stallion said, "I think you should recognize your number one fan of your work when you see him. Are you so new to rising fame as a great scientist?" The voice shifted to the shadows near him and he heard the soft rhythmic sound of a pony breathing next to him. He slowly turned his head to the shadows and standing half way in the shadows and half in the light was a pale grey colored stallion with a mane of jet black shadows and his eyes shot open revealing dark crimson orbs that stared right into his very soul. A devilish smile crossed his lips and revealed two sharp fangs. He said, "I am the one you wish to experiment on." Henry stood in utter fear and could not move a single muscle. With ever fiber of his being he wanted to gallop for the door and get the authorities. But he could not stop staring into those bright red eyes. He gave a look of not a normal pony, he gave the look of the predator finding its prey, ready to pounce on its prey. He said in a shaky tone, "Dra...Drac...Dracula..." He bowed his head and said, "Indeed. While I find it amusing that you sputter and choke on your words, I feel it is utterly unnecessary. Please do try and relax, Henry." As if a veil of dread lifted from him he could feel his muscles return under his control. His strength returned to him and he gasped for air as if the air from his lungs was being sucked out from him. He straightened his posture and said, "How...how are you here?" Henry watched as his demeanor shifted from a predator to an enraged one. His gaze tightened and he said, "While I wish I was free from my bonds, I am sad to say that I remain within the cold grasp of imprisonment. I am here and I am not, a hard concept to grasp I understand but you must realize that while they tied me down physically they did not do so mentally. "I am merely a shadow, Henry" Dracula stepped out of the shadows and visible on the other side of his body were scars and gashes along it and along his left eye was a long single scar. As he revealed his scar filled body Henry said under his breath, "Sweet Celestia..." Dracula smiled and interrupted, "Yes I am afraid I am not in the most appealing garb, but that is how I am at the moment." He moved his gaze around the room and started moving around, his hooves making no sound. Like he was made of shadows themselves. He said as he went around his long work table, "You should know that I have been a great devotee of your work. Simply amazing. But your colleagues do not share your same enthusiasm or your conviction. Do they?" He stopped grazing his hoof along the surface of the table. No sound emanated from his hoof and this brought a small amount of fear in Henry's stomach. He simply shook his head and Dracula continued, "No of course not. They do not see the same vision we see..." "We?" Henry said interrupting. Dracula shot his head towards Henry faster than a blink of an eye and he said, "Yes...we...I have seen your progress since those first hours five years ago. I must say I am impressed." He focused his gaze on Henry and he said, "You wish to counter act the magic of Princess Luna. Break the supposed darkness in my soul. Separate the good and evil. Again, I am impressed. But you are approaching the entire situation wrong my friend." He moved closer to Henry and he lowered his voice, mere inches away from his face, "We are the same if you look at the situation the right way. I am feared because of what I am capable of, as are you. We can work together you and I. I can give you what you need, and in return you may help me escape my prison." Henry felt cold shivers rush through his spine. He broke the fear and said in a fierce voice, "Why should I help you? You're a monster." Dracula stared long into his eyes. Dracula smiled and shot his hoof towards Henry's throat and he felt something slowly grip and constrict his throat. He choked and gasped for air as he was lowered to the ground. Henry saw his eyes flash a dark red color. He said in a threatening voice, "Why must everypony say that word, when they themselves cannot comprehend the word themselves!" Dracula released his throat and Henry gasped for air and coughed, but he listened to Dracula's next words, "They say I am evil. When they cannot even begin to understand the meaning of the word." He scanned his hoof and said in a distant tone, "They claim I have killed out of selfish sadistic feelings. All I want is to exist amongst you as another one of you. But its seems that can never happen." His gaze returned to Henry and he helped him up to his hooves. Dracula stared deep into his dark blue eyes. Henry could see past the wall of intimidation and saw that in his eyes was the honest look that a father gave to their foal. He said in a tone of seriousness his cold breath brushing against Henry, "You wish to find a volunteer for your experiments, to find out whether or not it works on a normal pony; let alone one such as me." Henry raised an eyebrow, "Who are you suggesting? You've been locked away for five hundred years. Who could you possibly mean?" Dracula gave the same devilish smile and said planting his hoof on Henry's chest, "You." Chapter IVChapter IV "Me? But..." Henry was interrupted by Dracula who said, "Yes you Henry. Who better suited for the job but the maker himself?" Dracula's form disappeared and reformed behind him and said, "You started this alone...shouldn't it end as so?" Henry turned and saw the form of Dracula slowly meld into the shadows and he said, Contemplate my offer Dr. Henry. You know in your heart what you want and what must be done. The only thing constant is change. With that, Dracula's form disappeared and once again Henry was left alone. His last words buzzed in his mind endlessly, tempting him to do so. But something made himself hesitate, he could not pin point exactly what it was. He needed more answers, and while that night was an eye opener, it could not answer all of his questions. For now he would have to retire to his bed and sleep over his next course of action. He ascended the basement stairs and muttered himself as he made it to the ground floor, "I must tread lightly and carefully. My next action must be faced with caution, or risk my work to be destroyed by my own volition." "Where did you go off to snake!?" Exclaimed High Inquisitor Damon Van Helsing. Dracula's weak and bruised eyes opened with much hurt as he narrowed his gaze on the inquisitor before him. He smiled weakly as he said, "To what do I owe the honor of your presence Inquisitor Damon?" Damon struck the side of Dracula's head with a metal rod, breaking through skin and causing a gash along his upper jaw and cheek; letting a teady flow of blood to drip down. Dracula winced at the pain briefly, it was nothing new over the course of the last five hundred years. Suppressed within his very soul and aching to escape was his wrath and revenge that always tried to scratch its way out and into the world, Lucious Void was his name. His vision unblurred and saw the inquisitor's disapproving gaze. The sight of the pony in front of him was sore and Dracula slightly growled at the fact that Damon was the only one that could torture him effectively. Damon wore the usual garb of the Brotherhood of Light, a bleached white tabard with red scarlet markings around the border and a golden sun shining in the middle. He wore mail armor under his tabard but as well had a long scarlet and white tunic. He wore his red and white hood down slightly cascading over his small red and white shoulderguards. He was a tall slender stallion but was strong in his own right, by title and nothing more. His mane was a silvery grey type color matching well with his crimson colored coat. The only thing that put him off was his dark sea green eyes, bluer than the Western Sea. Damon kept his stone like look and said firmly, "Do not play games with me devil. I know that you shadowmelded somewhere, where did you go. I will not ask another time." Dracula sarcastically smiled and said in a raspy voice, "You get me all tingly when you get so controlling like that." Damon's look morphed into anger and struck Dracula against the same spot, flashing with great pain. Then struck him on the other side and then alternated again. Dracula felt on the brink of passing out when stern voice called out, "That is enough brother Damon." Damon stopped and looked to see who it was. Standing tall and stern was Justicar Cedric Lightborn. The armor he wore was similar to Damon's but instead of mail armor he wore thick steel plates. Armored from head to hoof in armor besides his head, it was customary to not wear your head piece while in the presence of your brothers. A rediculous rule in Dracula's mind, Cedric looked firmly at Damon. His heavy golden eyed stare broke through Damon's wall of toughness, revealing the weakling that hid underneath. Cedric had a smooth angular face with youthful features and his light grey coat accented well with his long brown mane tied back in a ponytail. He breathed in a long breath and said, "You were ordered to break him not allow him to fall unconscious. Follow those orders and you will not find yourself at the whipping post. Do I make myself clear?" "Crystal brother." Damon said quickly, fearful of Cedric's words. Dracula briefly absorbed his fear and slightly healed his wounds. Just those on his face. Dracula's vision opened wider and took in the familiar sight of the torture chamber. The stone walls were illuminated a dark red color from the torches from all across the room. The roof was supported by four stone columns and the outer walls that hugged the room. It was not a spacious room, made to only fit a few ponies at a time. Making that number smaller because of the torture tables along the outer walls. Dracula was chained to two of the stone pillars which had equipment stabbed into his fore hooves, this let his magical energies be taken from him and into every member of the Brotherhood. Cedric stepped closer to Dracula with a narrowed gaze, studying him and judging every breath and move he made. Dracula returned with a hardened gaze of his own. Cedric continued to stare at Dracula and but addressed Damon, "Your services are no longer needed here brother. I will take care of our prisoner." Damon bowed low and exited the room. Cedric looked at Dracula very hoarse and stern a he said, "You have some nerve Dracula. If you think you were able to use your magic and not have us notice." Dracula lifted his head and smiled deviously and said, "I expected no less from my dear brother's noble order. Afterall..." Dracula smiled and revealed his sharp fangs and said, "Blood is life is it not?" Cedric just stood in silence and studied Dracula carefully and drew his hoof to his sword once Dracula leaned in closer and whispered, "Tell me Sir Cedric. Have you ever danced with the devil in the pale moon light?" Cedric drew his sword and brought it to Dracula's throat and said angerly, "Are you implying you wish to challenge me? Because with all of your weakness you would not stand a chance!" His smile never ceased. A low chuckle emanated from deep within his throat and Dracula whispered once more, "Have you ever heard of the pony who cornered an injured vampire?" Cedric thought for a moment and said, "...No." Dracula's smile deepened and his voice altered and shifted into a low baritone voice, "Neither have I."
Chapter IChapter I "What you ask of is pure madness! I have heard nothing more absurd in all of my life!" These were the words that echoed through the halls of St. Celestia's Hospital. It was there in that hospital in Trottingham, Equestria that the lords and ladies of the Brotherhood of Light conversed in secret. They were silent protectors of the land, holding ideals that Henry held personally. But the implications that he gave were what questioned those such ideals and suggested ideals that most seemed to fear. The hour was dark and the calm and unsettling feelings that were given off from the environment around him, as well as the ponies that gathered around him. They conversed in Father Angelus Sarrius, whom was in audience. The voice that spoke out was Highlord Alanus Belmont, a tall unicorn with a snow white coat and long dark red mane and tail. Scruffy and intimidating. Next to him was Henry's brother Jackpot Pie, a lawyer. His coat was a dark grey color and his silver colored mane was combed straight and had almost no volume, he wore a dark colored suit and contrasted well with the colors of his mane and coat. Henry glanced over as well at Lucy Apple, his beautiful fiance who was with her father Sir Bismark Apple. Sir Bismark wore a dark brown colored suit that contrasted rather well with his light brown coat and his dark yellow mane and tail. His blue eyes were downcast and the others had their eyes on the tan coated and jet black haired Henry Pie. Henry said, "Please if you will only let me explain." Angelus and Alanus tightened their disapproving gaze and Henry continued, "The monsters we hunt are made from evil and all its powers. But we all must know that you cannot have evil without good and vice verses. What I am saying is we have the technology to isolate and separate the evil and good personalities that reside inside of them. All I need is your permission to move my experiments on the captive." Angelus grunted and said, "You play with powers you cannot even comprehend. Temping Celestia herself. You would have us stop our OWN experiments on something that may or may not work?" "No it has had positive results in animal subjects. I ask to move to a pony subject-" "But to use medical science against the immortal powers of the Alicorn Sisters?" Alanus said in a deep and charismatic voice, "Do you even understand the powers you wish to oppose? This is tampering with something that should never be touched." "Oppose! You're implying that I..." "Not only is this blasphemous to the sisters." Angelus interrupted, "But it is as well unethical..." "And having him as a font for MAGIC is ETHICAL!" Henry snapped closing his journal briskly. There was an eerie silence in between his next spoken words, "He is more of an inmate of a prison." Alanus stomped his hoof on the ground and said with a growl ,"We are simply returning the favor! For decades he has been a blight upon our lands and he is supposed to go unpunished? No, I do not approve of your experiments Doctor Henry." "Highlord please..." "Be thankful I do not revoke your license Doctor Henry, good night." Alanus and Angelus leave the room and slam the door behind them. Jackpot rubbed his muzzle with his hoof, while leaning up against the desk in the room and said in a soft tenor voice, "Lucy and Sir Bismark, if you will allow me a few minutes with my brother that would be great. We will see you at the engagement party." Bismark nods and says, "Of course. Come along Lucy, we shall await you there. Come along Lucy." With no more spoken words they leave the room as well. It was rather small and worked as an office. Books stacked tightly along shelves, filing cabinets, and chairs. Henry looked over at Jackpot and saw the look on his face, he gave the look of worry. Henry stated flatly, "Jack. Please tell me you are with me on this one." Jack sighed heavily and said continuing to lean against the desk and crossing his forehooves over his chest, "You know that I would be there with you until the bitter end..." "Then tell me that what I am doing is not wrong and I am doing the right thing!" Henry shouted. Jack did not move from his pose and replied with a tone of concern, "Look, as your lawyer, as your friend....as...as your brother. You are starting to become obsessed with this work of yours. You are worrying me; You are worrying Lucy. If this is about that promise you made to father..." "Of course it's about that promise!" Henry snapped again but regained his composure. "What more do I have to strive to do?" Henry sighed heavily and a silence fell again. Jack said in a low tone, "And now you have convinced the Highlord himself that you are a madpony." "They set themselves up for this Jack." Henry said in an angry tone. "If it wasn't me it would be some pony else. They call themselves the light in the darkness, when they themselves have become the shadow they swore to destroy. They are hypocrites!" "Yes." Jack rested a hoof gingerly on Henry's shoulder and said, "But they are very powerful ones. Look, you know I enjoy all of your work and would see to it that you would succeed, like father. All I'm saying is to exercise caution." Henry rested his own hoof on Jack's and said in a low tone, "We have crossed that point Jack. We can no longer use caution to our advantage." "Jack..." "Let me finish," Henry said looking over at Jack. "I can save him. Nopony is beyond the path of redemption, that is what father taught me. And if it can help him then it can help us, they have only proven my point." He paused in the next words he said after a long sigh, "I'm not even sure if the normal serum works on a pony; let alone an undead one." Jack turned to face Henry and said looking deep into his eyes, "Then you find a subject. Somepony who has nothing to lose. A volunteer." Jack grabbed his shoulders and said, "You've come far in five years and if you believe that what you are doing is right then you have to see this through. Please, do be careful little brother. I love you." Henry pulled him into a hug and said, "I started this alone and that is how it will be finished. I love you too, brother." Jack pulled him back and said looking into Henry's dark blue eyes, "The battle is over now and the time for being weary is over. Now. You have an engagement party to go to." Henry straightened up and said, "Yeah...yes I do." Jack scratched the top of Henry's head and said, "And you should consider yourself the luckiest stallion alive that you are marrying one of the most beautiful mares in all of Trottingham." They both laughed and left the room to their mansion for the long expected engagement party. But all through the night Henry could not let a thought go about that meeting. He would see his work through no matter what. 'Even if I have to push somepony down I want to see this to the end. I'm not letting it stop here.'
Chapter IIChapter II The night air was cold and it was too unsettling for Lucy. She shivered as she walked through the quiet streets of Trottingham. They walked past many construction sights, the Highlord started a new building project to make more buildings to make Trottingham more appealing and more excitable to visit. As opposed to its dark undertone that the buildings suggested at night. The shadows the buildings cast sent a small amount of dread through her spine as she looked past the shadows. Though she ignored the feelings, she could not ignore it completely. Lucy concentrated back at the discussion that had just happened. Henry rejected by the Highlord himself and Father Angelus, nothing could be more embarrassing. She pushed her thoughts aside when she heard the familiar voice of her dear friend Amethyst Rose, "So. If it isn't the mare of the hour. Where is your dearest husband to be? Late again?" Lucy sighed heavily, she found some joy in her overdramatic personality and her greatly perfectionist ways, as well as her voice was so serene and silky. She said, "Yes. He has important work to finish." Amethyst huffed, "That's not what I heard. I heard he was rejected by the Highlord himself. Do be careful dear, he just might marry his work rather than you." Lucy rolled her eyes and said, "I'll keep that in mind, thank you for the heads up." "What are friends for." Amethyst said with a slight smile. Bismark said interrupting, "I hate to interrupt your lovely discussion but we have arrived." Lucy looked up and saw that the mansion was the same that she has come to be familiar with. It was large and extensive but easily accessible and easy to remember its various hallways. The feelings the mansion itself gave off a neutral feeling, rather than the dread she felt with the other buildings. They approached the doors entering the foyer and was greeted by another member of the Pie family, Peppermint. She was a mint green colored mare with bright golden mane stylized and braided. Her serene eyes met warmly with those just arriving, she bowed graciously saying, "Lady Lucy. Sir Bismarck. Just in time the guests are to be arriving soon. Lady Amethyst, good to see you." Amethyst bowed and said, "And you as well." Hours pass and guests move into the mansion and a large group move into the mansion and Lucy identified them immediately. Angelus entered with two other stallions who were General Crimson Vision and Lord Arctic Breeze. Crimson Vision walked with the stance of a soldier and wore the uniform of one, very elaborate and decorative. Arctic Breeze was a bright blue stallion with dark blue mane and tail. As all three entered Arctic said, "Experimenting on Dracula? How absurd! Just who does he think he is?" "He thinks he controls the power to dethrone the sisters." Crimson responded as they stopped in the foyer. "Such accusations are borderline treason. If I had trained him in the Brotherhood he would have been sent to the whipping post." "So your answer to bold and unique vision is whipping?" Lucy turned to see the speaker. Jack stepped into the foyer, who arrived merely seconds after them. Angelus turned to face Jack and said, "He is tampering with great immortal powers. I don't like it, he should consider himself lucky we live in a modern Equestria, such acts and their punishments are not as they used to be." "And I am certain we have you to thank for keeping us in the modern times father." Jack said with a sly smile. Angelus gave and an agitated glare and said in reply,"Do watch your tongue boy, you never know who you might stick it out to." "Thoroughly noted." Jack returned with a sarcastic smile. Angelus simply walked on and Lucy was very thankful that it ended. Jack can lose his temper rather fast and it does not become pretty. Arctic Breeze continued. "He wishes to save this Lord of Darkness when he should know that there is no saving him. He is beyond the help of anypony and I don't know why he is interested in such activities where his expertise is needed elsewhere. I have lived in the Order for sixty years and I have yet to see this prisoner's face." Lucy rolls her eyes and says, "At least he has a goal and something to strive for. More so than many of us here, to call him mad would be to call Jack sensible." Jack smiled and said, "Hey. I heard that." She looked over at Jack and gave a warm smile. Her father stepped in at the right time and said, "I assure you all he keeps his work life and his social life on two separate worlds entirely. Lucy assures me that the doctor is excellent husband material." He stood next to Lucy and she felt safe and secure underneath his warm and inviting aura that seemed to follow him everywhere he went. Arctic Breeze said slyly, "Yet he finds himself excellent at making him late to his own engagement party. Shows a remarkable lack of style." Jack snorted to himself and said, "Comments of style should never be made by ponies who have none." Arctic gritted his teeth and said suppressing his anger, "I will find my way to the beverages. I am feeling rather parched." "And I as well." Crimson stated and followed Arctic Breeze. They walked past Jack who gave them a sarcastic smile and after they had left Jack looked at Lucy laughed and said, "Jack." Jack nodded his head and said walking closer to her,"Lucy. Lovely to see you again. I'm sure Henry will be along shortly." A few more introductions of ponies that Lucy failed to remember their names, until finally he arrived. Doctor Henry Pie. His long black mane tied back and combed finely. His square features of a pure earth pony heritage. He wore his usual evening suit along with a long dark red trench coat, of which he took off and hung on the coat rack near the door. Lucy ignored all outside noises and focused only on Henry. Not even the extravagantly decorated interior, the polite guests, and the riveting music could make her lose her focus on the most handsome stallion in all of Trottingham. Her gaze was met with his and they found themselves locked in an endless stare. Henry slowly stepped forward and mere inches away her father Bismark said, "Ah the late Doctor Henry." Henry said and nodded, "Yes. My apologies Sir Bismark." "Oh no need for forgiveness." Bismark said returning the respectful nod. "I know you are a busy man. You were taking so long I started anticipating and betting on when you would arrive and it appears I owe sompony three bits." Henry laughed and said, "Even at a fancy party you find time to gamble. You simply must see somepony for help, I am a doctor after all." They both exchanged laughs. Bismark retorted. "I'll make sure to invite the wedding guests the day after the wedding day just to make sure the groom is in attendance." Henry smiled and said, "Have no fear sir, I will be there." The lighthearted atmosphere around them was always something to relish and enjoy. It almost seemed as if they were the same pony. The only thing to lighten it up a bit more though... "My my my. There he is, oh Peppermint and I have been waiting all night for you brother." Lucy turned and saw Jack approaching with Peppermint close next to him. henry said keeping the smile. "How has is come to pass that we left at the same time and I still arrive later than you?" After a warm hug Jack said, "Perhaps its the reason that father never taught you the proper way to gallop." He then looked to Peppermint and said, "Oh so good to see you sister." Peppermint pulled him into a hug and said, "I would say the same brother. Might I ask what kept you so long?" Henry straightened his suit and said, "It had crossed my mind that I should not jump to conclusions and work on the main patient first. I don't even know if it works on ponies. I was pondering who would volunteer..." "Volunteer?" Amethyst stepped in and said, "Who in their right mind would want to volunteer for such a thing?" Lucy could see the irritation on Henry's face as he turned to meet Amethyst. He bowed his head and said, "Lady Amethyst, so good to see you again, I didn't know they invited fillyfoolers to engagement parties." "And I didn't know it was customary for the groom to show up late to his own engagement party." Amethyst replied with a glare. They glared at each other for what seemed to be hours upon hours. Peppermint rubbed her forehead with her hoof and said, "Can you two not be at each others throats for one night?" "So long as Henry does not continue rambling like a madpony," Amethyst sneered. Henry's look could cut stone if looks could do so. He said in an aggravated tone,"I must take every opportunity I have to state my beliefs. I would not expect the same from one such as you, Lady Amethyst." Amethyst's glare tightened and she said, "Beliefs and work are two separate things, Dr. Henry. Do make sure it remains that way." Jack smiled and stepped between them and said, "Please. Let us not continue this discussion before one of you might say something you might regret." "Mares and gentlecolts. The fire works." A nearby servant spoke aloud and Jack said addressing Henry and Amethyst, "Almost as if they anticipated this conversation. Lady Amethyst, would you like to accompany me to the fire works?" "I would be honored Jackpot." Amethyst walked next to Jack and Henry said as they were still in ear shot, "I am not the monster you perceive me to be, Amethyst. Just a stallion with goals and a promise." The foyer quickly emptied until Lucy and Henry were all that was left. Henry said with a smile turning directly towards her, "Miss Apple." Lucy returned the warm smile and said,"Doctor Henry." "Are you angry with me as well?"Henry said. Lucy stepped closer and she said,"No, I am just glad you arrived." Henry made the gap between them smaller and said looking into her eyes,"Lucy. You must understand, you are setting yourself up with a life time filled with aggravations such as these." "If you are referring to your earlier discussion with Amethyst." Lucy said in a soft tone, "Then you should not mind her, she simply follows the crowd." Henry smirked and said, "So does Jack these days." They shared a warm laugh and Henry said looking Lucy up and down, "You look gorgeous tonight." Lucy smiled and said, "Henry you certainly know how to flatter a mare." Henry smiled and stepped closer to Lucy and said, "No. Just you." Lucy felt her heart skip a beat. She always loved his turn of phrase and the way he carries himself. He looks as though he carries nothing on his shoulders, but deep down Lucy knows there must be something that weighs down on him. Lucy dropped her smile and said, "I love you too much Henry, to see you like this. You will surely face criticism everywhere you go, what is this promise you made with your father?" Henry pulled her in close, she could feel the warmth that radiated off of him. She could feel his steady heart beat in his chest and he said in a low tone, "He asked me to promise him never to lose sight of what I believe in. And to never fear the future. On his last breath of life he said to me the only thing that's constant is change." Lucy could tell that by the way he spoke he spoke with a heavy heart. Lucy says softly, "So you do this for your father?" "Mother always told me I was exactly like him in every way." Henry responded with a smile, "My laugh, my humor, my walk and even my demeanor. Everything that I am is as well him, I always feel his eyes watching me and I can feel him silently guiding me to where I wish to go. And I feel he wants me to see this through." Lucy rested her head on Henry's chest and she said, "Then know that I am here with you until the very end, Henry. I love you so much." Lucy looked into his eyes and he leaned down for a kiss until a two stallions entered the room. Bismark and Jack. "Lucy you are being asked for." Bismark said. Jack stated, "And you Henry. Though I have no idea why."
Chapter IIIChapter III "Impeccable timing as always brother." Henry said with a sly smile. Bismark stepped towards them and said, "I find it oddly curious that the two main reasons for this party are hiding from it." "Hiding is too weak a word to use Lord Bismark." Jack stated. "Secluded is more like it. Come along Henry lets show these guests just what happens when you have the two of Pie brothers under one roof." Henry smiled as he walked over to Jack and said as they were exiting the room, "They will be in for a surprise of their own." Their laughs could be heard as they walked away. The soft glow of torchlight filled the room and cascaded across the stone floor. Bringing forth the same dread filled feelings she originally felt before she arrived there. Bismark focused on his daughter, who wore a beautiful dark green gown. The gown accented very well with her illustrious dark red coat and long jet black hair. Her bright green eyes met Bismark's dark grey eyes. Bismark stated, "I do hope that you did not scold him too much." "Do not worry father." Lucy replied, "There was no scolding involved. Unlike mother I knew when to keep my mouth shut." Bismark chuckled slightly and said looking at the doors that Jack and Henry left to, "I truly hope that those two know what they are doing. I mean the best when I say this, they are truly fighting against all that society find is the norm. They wield a lesser power that Equestria is not ready for." The look Bismark gave was one of sincerity and hope. She never heard such seriousness in his voice before, she quickly realized that he was not talking about Henry when he said those words. Lucy stepped closer to Bismark and said, "You have nothing to worry for father, I knew what I was getting into when I started this. If no one else besides Jack supports him then he needs all the help he can get." "And it seems he would take this to his grave." Bismark looked downcast at the floor in a low tone and quickly returned his gaze back to his daughter's, "I worry for you is all. I'm only trying to protect you." He paused and gave a slight grin and said, "What more would you expect from your father?" Emotion began to fester and boil around his rock solid heart. Nothing made him this misty, Lucy knew the hardest thing for a parent was watching their foal grow up and leave them. But she never knew it would be this severe; let alone to one such as her father Sir Bismark. Bismark returned his warm and heart felt gaze to Lucy's eyes and said, "I think I would die if any harm would come to you..." "Father I understand," Lucy interrupted with a small smile, "I don't think you would lose me if you tried. I'm your only daughter. I love more than you could ever imagine." Bismark smiled and ran his hoof down her cheek and said, "I know. I guess I have to learn to accept the fact that you are not the same filly any more. You are a proper mare. I trust that you have made the right decision, all I want for you is the best. You must know this." Lucy smiled and pulled him into a hug. She said muffled in his waist coat, "I love you father." Bismark smiled and replied, "I love you too. Come on, you have an engagement party to get back too." Bismark lead Lucy out into the back porch of the manor and exploding in the sky were fireworks. It was not the first time she had seen pyrotechnics and she knew it wasn't the last, but every time she saw them she was filled with unending joy and eternal happiness. Exploding reds, mystical blues, and bursting greens. All of them sending endless wonder through every pour of her body. This night was truly one she would never forget. With hours past and a relatively clean back porch Jack saw the last of the guests out and shut the door with a loud slam. He turned back around to see his two siblings staring at him, both with looks of disapproval. Jack shrugged and said innocently, "Why are you two looking at me like that?" Peppermint and Henry looked at each other and Henry said, "Amethyst? Really? Of all the mares you had to..." "Oh don't lecture me Professor Henry," Jack said sarcastically walking past them, "There are precious things that we must cherish in this world, Amethyst is really the only one that connects with me." "That's not the only thing..." Peppermint said under her breath. Jack laughed out loud and as he walked up the stairs to his room he said, "Good night you two. And Peppermint, please do make sure dear brother does not stay up too late." Henry smiled and as did Peppermint. Peppermint looked over at Henry and said, "And don't you forget it, or I'll punish you like father." Henry had the ghost of a smile and said, "I promise. Good night Mint." Peppermint walked up the stairs as well and Henry heard the distant sound of a door slamming. He was now alone in a quiet manor. All to himself for the moment, he kept in the back of his mind that there could be unspeakable evils hiding in the shadows waiting to pounce and strike. His hoofsteps echoed as he walked to the door leading down into the basement of the house. Slowly as he descended down into further darkness the temperature dropped and reaching the bottom his hooves stepped on solid stone. He moved over to some candles and lit one illuminating the room. Around him was a wide open room with various aged wooden cupboards, bubbling liquids in clear glass flasks, and many bookshelves lined the stone walls. The smell of aged wood and sulfur filled his nostrils with the smell he had grown up with when his father first showed him this. This was his apothecary, where he made alchemical substances that cured nearly any disease. Henry sighed heavily as he remembered those happy memories filling him with a sense of woe. He took off his over coat and slung it over the lounge chair on the left side of the room, revealing his dark red scarlet vest and his flower patterned cravat which accented very well with his bright white dress shirt. He looked at the makeshift desk with the journal he had kept ever since five years ago. Each page containing every thought he had about his project. No...not project, crusade. He walked over to his journal and sat in his chair opening to a new page in the aged leather journal. He grabbed his quill and spoke as he wrote on the page, "October 6, 3:35 A.M 1500 AAE, "After rejection from the Highlord, delays must be made to my work. Doubts, endlessly ravaging my inner thoughts ripping and tearing against what I hold near and dear to my heart. I begin to wonder if they are right, if this is a fools errand...but I remember the wise words of my father."The only thing that's constant, is change." "I have to see this through, for him. For my father. But How can I continue if my work is disapproved by everypony? Now I must find a willing subject for experiments on a normal pony. But who? Who would volunteer for such a thing?" "That is something we all must ask ourselves. Dr. Henry" Henry jumped and dropped his quill in fear. The voice echoed across the stone walls and sent unimaginable dread through his spine and hairs on the back of his neck. He closed the journal and looked through the dimly lit room. There were many shadows around the room for ponies to hide in. The voice was that of a stallion in a deep voice that sent fear through every fiber of his being. Henry stepped up from his chair and said in the darkness in a shaky tone, "Who...who...who are you? Where are you?" The maniacal laughter of the pony echoed across the room and rang loudly in his ears. The stallion said, "I think you should recognize your number one fan of your work when you see him. Are you so new to rising fame as a great scientist?" The voice shifted to the shadows near him and he heard the soft rhythmic sound of a pony breathing next to him. He slowly turned his head to the shadows and standing half way in the shadows and half in the light was a pale grey colored stallion with a mane of jet black shadows and his eyes shot open revealing dark crimson orbs that stared right into his very soul. A devilish smile crossed his lips and revealed two sharp fangs. He said, "I am the one you wish to experiment on." Henry stood in utter fear and could not move a single muscle. With ever fiber of his being he wanted to gallop for the door and get the authorities. But he could not stop staring into those bright red eyes. He gave a look of not a normal pony, he gave the look of the predator finding its prey, ready to pounce on its prey. He said in a shaky tone, "Dra...Drac...Dracula..." He bowed his head and said, "Indeed. While I find it amusing that you sputter and choke on your words, I feel it is utterly unnecessary. Please do try and relax, Henry." As if a veil of dread lifted from him he could feel his muscles return under his control. His strength returned to him and he gasped for air as if the air from his lungs was being sucked out from him. He straightened his posture and said, "How...how are you here?" Henry watched as his demeanor shifted from a predator to an enraged one. His gaze tightened and he said, "While I wish I was free from my bonds, I am sad to say that I remain within the cold grasp of imprisonment. I am here and I am not, a hard concept to grasp I understand but you must realize that while they tied me down physically they did not do so mentally. "I am merely a shadow, Henry" Dracula stepped out of the shadows and visible on the other side of his body were scars and gashes along it and along his left eye was a long single scar. As he revealed his scar filled body Henry said under his breath, "Sweet Celestia..." Dracula smiled and interrupted, "Yes I am afraid I am not in the most appealing garb, but that is how I am at the moment." He moved his gaze around the room and started moving around, his hooves making no sound. Like he was made of shadows themselves. He said as he went around his long work table, "You should know that I have been a great devotee of your work. Simply amazing. But your colleagues do not share your same enthusiasm or your conviction. Do they?" He stopped grazing his hoof along the surface of the table. No sound emanated from his hoof and this brought a small amount of fear in Henry's stomach. He simply shook his head and Dracula continued, "No of course not. They do not see the same vision we see..." "We?" Henry said interrupting. Dracula shot his head towards Henry faster than a blink of an eye and he said, "Yes...we...I have seen your progress since those first hours five years ago. I must say I am impressed." He focused his gaze on Henry and he said, "You wish to counter act the magic of Princess Luna. Break the supposed darkness in my soul. Separate the good and evil. Again, I am impressed. But you are approaching the entire situation wrong my friend." He moved closer to Henry and he lowered his voice, mere inches away from his face, "We are the same if you look at the situation the right way. I am feared because of what I am capable of, as are you. We can work together you and I. I can give you what you need, and in return you may help me escape my prison." Henry felt cold shivers rush through his spine. He broke the fear and said in a fierce voice, "Why should I help you? You're a monster." Dracula stared long into his eyes. Dracula smiled and shot his hoof towards Henry's throat and he felt something slowly grip and constrict his throat. He choked and gasped for air as he was lowered to the ground. Henry saw his eyes flash a dark red color. He said in a threatening voice, "Why must everypony say that word, when they themselves cannot comprehend the word themselves!" Dracula released his throat and Henry gasped for air and coughed, but he listened to Dracula's next words, "They say I am evil. When they cannot even begin to understand the meaning of the word." He scanned his hoof and said in a distant tone, "They claim I have killed out of selfish sadistic feelings. All I want is to exist amongst you as another one of you. But its seems that can never happen." His gaze returned to Henry and he helped him up to his hooves. Dracula stared deep into his dark blue eyes. Henry could see past the wall of intimidation and saw that in his eyes was the honest look that a father gave to their foal. He said in a tone of seriousness his cold breath brushing against Henry, "You wish to find a volunteer for your experiments, to find out whether or not it works on a normal pony; let alone one such as me." Henry raised an eyebrow, "Who are you suggesting? You've been locked away for five hundred years. Who could you possibly mean?" Dracula gave the same devilish smile and said planting his hoof on Henry's chest, "You."
Chapter IVChapter IV "Me? But..." Henry was interrupted by Dracula who said, "Yes you Henry. Who better suited for the job but the maker himself?" Dracula's form disappeared and reformed behind him and said, "You started this alone...shouldn't it end as so?" Henry turned and saw the form of Dracula slowly meld into the shadows and he said, Contemplate my offer Dr. Henry. You know in your heart what you want and what must be done. The only thing constant is change. With that, Dracula's form disappeared and once again Henry was left alone. His last words buzzed in his mind endlessly, tempting him to do so. But something made himself hesitate, he could not pin point exactly what it was. He needed more answers, and while that night was an eye opener, it could not answer all of his questions. For now he would have to retire to his bed and sleep over his next course of action. He ascended the basement stairs and muttered himself as he made it to the ground floor, "I must tread lightly and carefully. My next action must be faced with caution, or risk my work to be destroyed by my own volition." "Where did you go off to snake!?" Exclaimed High Inquisitor Damon Van Helsing. Dracula's weak and bruised eyes opened with much hurt as he narrowed his gaze on the inquisitor before him. He smiled weakly as he said, "To what do I owe the honor of your presence Inquisitor Damon?" Damon struck the side of Dracula's head with a metal rod, breaking through skin and causing a gash along his upper jaw and cheek; letting a teady flow of blood to drip down. Dracula winced at the pain briefly, it was nothing new over the course of the last five hundred years. Suppressed within his very soul and aching to escape was his wrath and revenge that always tried to scratch its way out and into the world, Lucious Void was his name. His vision unblurred and saw the inquisitor's disapproving gaze. The sight of the pony in front of him was sore and Dracula slightly growled at the fact that Damon was the only one that could torture him effectively. Damon wore the usual garb of the Brotherhood of Light, a bleached white tabard with red scarlet markings around the border and a golden sun shining in the middle. He wore mail armor under his tabard but as well had a long scarlet and white tunic. He wore his red and white hood down slightly cascading over his small red and white shoulderguards. He was a tall slender stallion but was strong in his own right, by title and nothing more. His mane was a silvery grey type color matching well with his crimson colored coat. The only thing that put him off was his dark sea green eyes, bluer than the Western Sea. Damon kept his stone like look and said firmly, "Do not play games with me devil. I know that you shadowmelded somewhere, where did you go. I will not ask another time." Dracula sarcastically smiled and said in a raspy voice, "You get me all tingly when you get so controlling like that." Damon's look morphed into anger and struck Dracula against the same spot, flashing with great pain. Then struck him on the other side and then alternated again. Dracula felt on the brink of passing out when stern voice called out, "That is enough brother Damon." Damon stopped and looked to see who it was. Standing tall and stern was Justicar Cedric Lightborn. The armor he wore was similar to Damon's but instead of mail armor he wore thick steel plates. Armored from head to hoof in armor besides his head, it was customary to not wear your head piece while in the presence of your brothers. A rediculous rule in Dracula's mind, Cedric looked firmly at Damon. His heavy golden eyed stare broke through Damon's wall of toughness, revealing the weakling that hid underneath. Cedric had a smooth angular face with youthful features and his light grey coat accented well with his long brown mane tied back in a ponytail. He breathed in a long breath and said, "You were ordered to break him not allow him to fall unconscious. Follow those orders and you will not find yourself at the whipping post. Do I make myself clear?" "Crystal brother." Damon said quickly, fearful of Cedric's words. Dracula briefly absorbed his fear and slightly healed his wounds. Just those on his face. Dracula's vision opened wider and took in the familiar sight of the torture chamber. The stone walls were illuminated a dark red color from the torches from all across the room. The roof was supported by four stone columns and the outer walls that hugged the room. It was not a spacious room, made to only fit a few ponies at a time. Making that number smaller because of the torture tables along the outer walls. Dracula was chained to two of the stone pillars which had equipment stabbed into his fore hooves, this let his magical energies be taken from him and into every member of the Brotherhood. Cedric stepped closer to Dracula with a narrowed gaze, studying him and judging every breath and move he made. Dracula returned with a hardened gaze of his own. Cedric continued to stare at Dracula and but addressed Damon, "Your services are no longer needed here brother. I will take care of our prisoner." Damon bowed low and exited the room. Cedric looked at Dracula very hoarse and stern a he said, "You have some nerve Dracula. If you think you were able to use your magic and not have us notice." Dracula lifted his head and smiled deviously and said, "I expected no less from my dear brother's noble order. Afterall..." Dracula smiled and revealed his sharp fangs and said, "Blood is life is it not?" Cedric just stood in silence and studied Dracula carefully and drew his hoof to his sword once Dracula leaned in closer and whispered, "Tell me Sir Cedric. Have you ever danced with the devil in the pale moon light?" Cedric drew his sword and brought it to Dracula's throat and said angerly, "Are you implying you wish to challenge me? Because with all of your weakness you would not stand a chance!" His smile never ceased. A low chuckle emanated from deep within his throat and Dracula whispered once more, "Have you ever heard of the pony who cornered an injured vampire?" Cedric thought for a moment and said, "...No." Dracula's smile deepened and his voice altered and shifted into a low baritone voice, "Neither have I."
