"No...they can't...they'd never..." Dracula heard those words uttered from Slyph, instantly as the first words hit Dracula's eardrums he dove to Spectra and tackled her to cover, in an alleyway. With break neck speed as he felt the wave of energy erupt.
The dark energy was just beyond reach of Dracula and his former apprentice. They rolled and braced each other against the wall, nestled in a shadowed corner in between the wall of a building and a small group of barrels and crates. Dracula kept Spectra held tight in his hooves and he shouted, "Do not look at it yet or even move until I say so!"
Dracula held his eyes shut tight. Spectra embraced Dracula as another wave shot out that threatened to burst past the barrels and crates, letting the wave graze over top of them. Dracula knew the enemy well enough. Dracula had faced the Windigos when Sombra returned. With the return of Sombra had brought the return of two of the Windigos. Hyrus and Ira. Both powerful and ancient. Dracula knew their weaknesses and their strengths. First of all, Windigos are weak in their original ethereal form. They need a host to use the full extent of their powers, to summon Shadow Ponies and Obsidian Ponies. They as well were vulnerable to arcane spells, which made it easier for Dracula. Considering it was the element he was mastering first, Dracula learned a long time ago that if a unicorn masters arcane spells first then the rest will come with ease. Although, arcane was the hardest to master and to form.
Dracula felt no more waves, Dracula opened his eyes and saw that a bright violet light illuminated the area behind him and the wall of crates and barrels. Dracula loosened his grip on the mare in his hooves and he said, "You can look now. Get to a place of safety, I fear that you are not yet ready for a fight such as this."
Spectra looked at him with anger and almost said in protest. Dracula raised a hoof interrupting her and retorted, "Do not protest. Hryus is clever, he will use any and every weapon he can to break you. I have fought him before. Go to the others and set out for Moon's Rest. I will meet you there, if I do not arrive in three days then I am dead. Now go."
Spectra moved her gaze away and said, "But Dra-"
"That was an order!" Dracula growled in between gritted teeth, "As your prince I order you to leave without me! GO!"
Dracula released her from his hooves and she jogged off towards the others. Dracula controlled his breathing and closed his eyes, leaning his head against one of the crates. He slowed his breathing and let calm wash over his mind. He needed a clear head to take on this enemy. He could not think of anything. Hyrus was a manipulator and above all a deceiver. Dracula hefted Kal'Drae close and readied himself. He can only rely on his vampiric abilities and no others, otherwise he would suffer from the mark. Dracula brings Kal'Drae closer to his face and whispers to the soft metallic surface, "Kal'Drae. Sumpta ex vita praeterita clamávero ferreum tactus. Educ eos hostes possent percutere."
The blade slowly hummed to life as it recalled the spirits of its past victims to torment Dracula's current enemies. Black shadows appeared over the blade and masked its silvery shine with the hushed cries of the millions of victims taken away from this world by this blade. The shadows forming and swirling around the blade. Dracula then stood up with his armor sounding his approach. He turned and saw Slyph hovering in the air. She had her hooves wide open and her eyes glowed a dark blue. Blue-black mist billowed out of the lifeless eyes of one of his ponies. The same colored energy slowly came out of her mouth and was travelling like wind in the sky. Dracula growled as he felt her lifeforce slowly being taken away from her along with her despair.
And there, standing in the vortex of blue-black magical energy, was a tall jet black unicorn stallion. His form was thin, uncharacteristically thin for a stallion. His face hidden behind a hood of pure shadows. A stream of blue-black energy separated from Slyph and was being absorbed into Hyrus. Dracula growled. He felt anger and hunger overtake his mind and body. His eyes burned bright red with fury, his fangs lengthened, and he raged like a beast as he felt the hunger take control.
Dracula vaulted over the crates and charged towards Hyrus. His vision focused solely on Hyrus and quickened his pace. As if he teleported he found himself at Hryus's side, before he stopped he used the full force of his undead strength and bashed Hyrus away. Hyrus fell five feet away and Dracula heard a few bones break. Hyrus shook his head violently and stood back up looking at the source of his disarray. Hyrus let a cough escape him and he said, "Ah. The Prince of Shadows finds his way to me once again. How quaint. And I see you do not have the same amount of power as before. A shame, I was hoping to face somepony who actually posed as a threat."
Dracula hissed like a snake and revealed his pearly white dagger fangs. Hyrus rose his hooves and materializing from the shadows looked to be ponies. They stood on their hindlegs but instead of hooves they had three claw like fingers, its features nearly clear shadows. They had the same glowing red eyes as Dracula. He knew these ponies. These were Aberrations, Despair Aberrations to be more exact. They stared at him with lifeless hunger for despair. They stood slouched and hunched, growling with a high pitched shriek of hunger. Dracula steeled back and released a animalistic howl that vibrated the cold air in front of him. It was loud and gave promise of death and caused the aberrations to sulk in fear.
Dracula enounced with great passion, not letting his fangs shrink in length, "Power is not just in magic, Hyrus. It is in your presence and the fear you can empart on your enemies. Perhaps you should rethink the company you walk with."
He reared back up and roared once again advancing towards the aberrations. He felt their cold shadow hearts break and their caged spirits be torn away from them. They seemed to give an effect on Hyrus, his form briefly flickered. Unmoving Hyrus said, "Yes but can you survive long without your immortal powers? That is the real question."
Hyrus pointed his hoof and the aberrations hesitantly advanced. Dracula said to himself readying his shadow filled blade, "So be it."
Dracula sprinted towards them with unnatural speed and with a deep slash and an animalistic roar he cut one in two. The aberration evaporating into shadows and being absorbed into Kal'Drae. Dracula charged once more and fell another under his blade. He needed to keep this battle on his side, so far he had the upper hoof. Hyrus levitated off the ground and lifting his hooves they enveloped in a dark blue flame. With the speed and fury of a madpony, he relentlessly unleashed a hale of fire balls at Dracula. Dracula dodged out of the way of the fire balls and allowed none to touch him. Dracula thought carefully.
He was going up against a powerful caster of magic, and he had limited magic. He drew power from blood and he had very little of it. If he was to turn the tides of battle he needed a better plan. He could use illusion magic, it was very inexpensive to Dracula and he knew a few. He had no idea why his mark was acting up and not letting him use very much magic. Normally it lied dormant on his shoulder, now he felt it slowly feed off of his magical connection. He used the ruin and fury that cut deep inside of him to guide him now. His beastial ferocity now springing forth from his eyes and from his menacing gaze.
If he took down Hyrus, the rest would fall with him. Much like a Lich and the undead he raises. Or ghouls to Vampires. Though Dracula forbade ghouls or undead minions of any kind. They were no longer the Vampire Horde. They were to never be degenerated to that ever again. The Aberrations roared and charged towards him at the sight of their fallen brothers. One came into range and Dracula coursed forwards and deep at the heart of the vice in his heart he struck out. Slashing Kal'Drae deep within the horrors of Despair, the aberration instantly fell and black blood seeped from the now cut in half aberration. Wrath filled Dracula's mind, he felt Slyph's soul wane and cower inside of her. Using the full force of his undead strength he bashes into another aberration and rended Kal'Drae deep within the aberration. Cutting through more than flesh and stabbed deep into the captured soul within.
In a deep voice Dracula whispered on the wind, "Rest now. Your soul is free from the tyranny of despair."
Thin wisps of red energy came out from his mouth as he blew a gentle gale from his mouth. It connected to the various aberrations. They reeled back in horror as across their mind they saw true scenes of horror and despair. Nothing in comparison to the ones Hyrus offered. Hyrus chuckled and said in replience, "Your parlor tricks will do nothing. While my aberrations are weak in the mind, I am not."
Hyrus levitated down from a building and the blizzard seemed to pick up. Dracula got another good look at the Windigo. He was bright blue and had a translucence about him. His eyes a deep sea blue. His mane billowed in the wind as he pulled the hood down on his long black robe. Hyrus spoke with a deep and raspy voice, "For you face now the true might and powers of a master of the undead."
Dracula smirked and reversed his sword and readied it in front of him as he said coyly, "You are a mere whelp in comparison to my powers over the dead."
Dracula nocked his head to the side and his eyes flashed bright red as the ground beneath them shook and unearthing from the dirt beneath them were the many bones of the lost from times before. Dracula said with madness in his eyes, "What do you hope to accomplish with your foothold here? Do you think that I would not have noticed, let alone, not have sensed you come here?"
The aged bones glowed dark crimson and they shook, Dracula's horn and eyes billowed violently as he summoned all the vampiric magic he could. Not using his blood, nor the connection to the Arcanic Shift. He was using the blood that he consumed. They raged violently as he continued, "You face the Son of the Dragon, it shall be YOU who will fall this night. I will last one as the night's eternal guardian!"
The crimson bones dissolved and slowly whisked their way towards the pony that was leeching their power. Dracula felt the screams of vengeance as the many souls left behind called out to kill the windigo. The energy absorbed onto his skin and it turned into blood. Dracula laughed with risen insanity as the blood showered over him as he levitated in the air. He began weaving his magic together with his blood and he called forth all the power he could. He was splicing.
Hyrus looked on in horror as the once weak vampire now levitated fifteen feet above him, gathering dark energy. Hyrus gathered back the blizzard and he quickly grew into his pure windigo form. Growing to the size of a small dragon but his lower half merely clouds and fog. Its upper body large and the same pony shape. Hyrus turned tail and went to flea so he might warn the others. Hyrus billowed forth but was caught by something.
Hyrus turned and saw Dracula holding out his hoof and it glowed violently the same color as his horn and eyes. Dracula said his voice changing from the deep tenor to a low reverberating bass, "Now where do you think you're going? You will not leave me again, I will finish the fight that I had started so long ago. With your death."
He gave a devilish smile and the blood sucked into him and exploded out. Dracula grew in height and still holding up his arm, Hyrus watched before his eyes as the impossible happened. Dracula took on the shape of a dragon.
His snout grew out and his rows of white teeth sharpened out like daggers. His skin darkening like coal, and hardening into scales. His wings grew large and leathery. His neck grew out and finally his hooves changed into talons. Hyrus saw in horror as large black dragon stood before him with bright red scales. He held out one of his hands and pulled Hyrus towards him. Hyrus pulled back in fear, true fear was encased in his bright blue orbs of eyes. He peered deep into the eyes of the Dragon and those large blood filled eyes promised only the most gruesome death. Dracula pulled Hyrus in closer and closer. Hyrus pleaded, "Please!...please have mercy...I...I was merely passing by! I meant no harm!"
Dracula growled and released an earth shattering roar, the roar carried across the valley and reached out to any within miles around to hear it. Dracula looked back with fury in his eyes. He looked at Hyrus and said with wrath and ruin in his voice,
I know what you planned to do. And now, you will never see it fulfilled. Now I banish you the deepest and darkest fiery pit of Tartarus.
Dracula pulled his head back and moved it forward with an open mouth. His teeth sank easily into Hyrus' neck, the blood tasting sweet on his lips. Hyrus felt his immortal necromantic powers being drained from him. Now Hyrus saw true despair. For he left this world with nothing. Nothing. He was once determined to leave behind a legacy. Either famous or infamous. But now he left with nothing. His eyes fluttered shut. He and Dracula shrunk in size as his powers slowly drained from him. Finally letting darkness settle in.
Dracula drank deep the sweet tasting blood of Hyrus. It was savory to his tongue, he groaned as he relished in the taste of his blood. It was like a rush. The first time he had fed not under the influence of Living Shadow or Lucious. For the times before, the blood tasted bitter or sour. Not like the treacly blood he drank now. His eyes shut in ecstasy as Hyrus' life drained away. He not only sucked out his blood, but also his immortality. Not many can do such a thing, only a Vampire Lord. It has been centuries since his last feeding and he was loving it. Taking in every moment of this.
Finally after the moment his body fell limp and pale Dracula tossed the pathetic sack of pony flesh aside. It landed on the ground with a thud, falling into the dust of an eternity of damnation. Dracula breathed deep as he calmed his furious and bestial gaze. He closed his eyes and lowered his head as he focused back on the moment. Dracula stood up straight and wiped his muzzle clean of the crimson blood. He casually opened his eyes and felt a weight lift off of him. His shoulder felt lighter and more of his own. He felt the final weight of his father release from him. Though the magic he had once mastered was now gone. He would need to master them once more. He lifted his hooves to the heavens kicking up a breeze as he did so and said after a deep breath, "And so after three lifetimes. He is finally gone."
"A refreshing feeling no doubt."
Dracula turned slowly to the voice of Cerberus. He turned and said to his former master of the dark arts, "Like I have been washed clean of my sins that I had when they inhabited my mind. Like I am now whole."
Cerberus nodded his head and tucked his hooves behind his back and stated casually walking over to Slyph with long and careful strides, "Yes. And now that you have activated your draconic blood, you may use the powers of a dragon sorcerer."
Cerberus knelt down to Slyph and gently ran his hoof over her cheek and she gasped and stirred back awake. Cerberus said to Dracula as he rested friendly hooves on the young vampire, "But you must remaster your powers. Now that you carry all of my powers beneath you, you must learn the ways of pure harmony. The old ways. By mastering these six elements and schools, you will fully grasp your new abilities."
Dracula strode over next to Cerberus and knelt down. He said looking into Slyph's dark red eyes laden with peace, "Tell me where to start and I will do this. If it means that I can protect my family once more."
Cerberus stood up leaning off of his knee and explained cryptically, "What you seek is immortality. The immortality you once carried with righteous hooves. But you will not reach the same level of immortality that you think you will reclaim."
Dracula brushed a hoof over her cheek and she stirred under his warm touch. A pulse of red energy came from his hoof and moved over Slyph's form. She closed her eyes as she entered a peaceful sleep. She curled up and fell under his lulling touch. His hoof remained on her soft cheek and he said, "But what other forms of immortality are there?"
"Immortality does not always imply eternal life," Cerberus said crossing his arms gazing longingly at the moon, "It as well does not always imply that you are invincible. You are still very much a mortal vampire. You just now carry more powerful abilities and spells. For you were taught in the ways of the Holy Knight when you were a Knight of the Brotherhood. A Silverblade, as you were called. To protect others when no one could. Now your dark powers tainted the holiness of those powers. They have been slowly returning to you. Now with your powers over the night and that of a Vampire Lord, you are nearly unstoppable."
Dracula stood up and casually walked up next to Cerberus. The moon laid dormant and stayed at the peak of the horizon. Luna was not going to raise the moon again, filling Dracula's heart with strife and pain. Dracula uttered after a mournful sigh, "But I still carry the weaknesses of my subjects."
"Yes. You are more vulnerable to silver. Stakes no longer affect you. The holy powers of the sun and of other sources no longer affect you, because of your previous knowledge of the powers. And holy water burns your skin like boiling oil laden with Griffon Fire."
Dracula released a sigh and said, "I only hope I live long enough to see more that this world has to offer."
Cerberus stared at the pale moon over the horizon in silence for what seemed like an eternity. Dracula looked and saw the longing in his eyes. Dracula saw the pain he had, the shame of some of this creations. Forlorn as he gazed at the pale eyes he had once gazed through. Dracula felt a flash of sympathy for the god that stood next to him. Truly of all the creations around him, he must be the one to repent more than any others. Then the immortal opined forlornly, "We all wish that we can leave a mark upon those that we have met. Our only hope is that we were successful in our venture. Whether mortal or immortal."
Dracula moved to the pale maiden on the horizon and closed his eyes. He filled his mind with a calm feeling, rendering his muscles light and almost weightless. He felt his magic weave invisibly in the air and reach out to the moon. Dracula felt the calming magic flow through his veins and rejuvenate his pained muscles. The moon leaving its healing magic upon Dracula. For so long he had been restless and unable to enjoy the simple feeling of bathing in the light of the moon or of any celestial body. Which is why it was so nourishing at that moment that he was filled with an ascended feeling of bliss. Dracula lifted himself into the sky and his wings gently beating, lifting him into the sky. As he rose, he felt the magical tether tug against him. He knew that as he rose in the sky so did the moon. Dracula remembered just then back to some of the comforting words of Twilight, her gentle voice echoing her soft voice in his mind,
I’m with you until the very end
Dracula lowered himself to the ground as her voice continued to echo in his mind. Dracula said, "For so long I believed that I was apart of something special. That I was apart of a group of ponies that were going to make this world a safe place to live. That we guard the night and its many splendors. But it was all a facade of lies, a ruse. I was living a life of a lie."
Dracula stared up at the moon. This was his quarry, it was his realm to protect. His source of power. Dracula stared long at the large pale orb of light and added longingly, "Luna wanted to remake the vampire. She wanted to make them into something better. But she made something completely different. True vampires feed, true vampires do not allow any strain of weakness. She made them weak with the Harvest Well. She made me weak. She took away our true nature, to feed off of the blood of the unjust and of criminals."
Dracula looked to Cerberus for comfort, hoping that what he said was sputterings of a madpony. But the former guardian of the moon closed his eyes and responded, "It would appear so. But now the wheel of fate has spun and has landed on you Dracula. What will you do? Will you follow in your mother's hooves and have them not feed? Or will you rebirth them as apart of the old ways?"
Dracula moved his gaze down to his hoof. He looked closely at the jet black and red hooflet. The black metal shining of the blood he had taken from Hyrus. He had done the impossible and killed an immortal with his hunger. He fed off of his very essence, and it was delicious. He felt power. But he knew to keep his hunger in check. But was his subjects willing to follow by his strict code and morals? Was his followers willing to do as he did?
Cerberus stepped closer to Dracula and said, "I can see the doubt in your eyes. You fear that your followers will not carry the same mantle as you. Take heart in knowing that when you were in that coma receiving that mark, everypony feared for your life. They threw themselves on their knees begging that you were okay. That sort of devotion is not short sighted, they respect and love you. They will follow you and what you stand for to the letter."
Dracula turned and answered with great conviction, "I will make my subjects better than what Luna could ever dream of."
Cerberus clapped his hoof on Dracula's shoulder and said as his form slowly dissolved, "Then you have work to do."
As the immortal faded out of sight Dracula turned back to Slyph. Dracula heaved in a sigh of content. He walked over to the resting vampire and he said to her as he knelt down, "There are times in this world where we are able to see ourselves for who we truly are. And it is in that rare moment where, we can change what we are and who we might become."
Slyph turned her head to Dracula and she weakly added, "I...I want to be more...I want to be more than what I am. Be apart of something greater than I could ever comprehend."
Dracula leaned in and said after unsheathing his sharp fangs, "Then I shall grant you this wish and make you into a true vampire. But, be warned, if you terry from the path I will set you upon then there will be no mercy left for you."
"I am not afraid."
Dracula leaned in close and said with a devilish tone, "Then you are stronger than I made you out to be."
With that Dracula reeled back his head and released an animal like hiss. After which he sunk his teeth deep inside Slyph's neck. He did not suck her blood, he let something come out of his fangs. It was a substance that allowed Dracula to make vampires like he knew they should be. He never used it on account that he thought he was all a vampire should be, but that was just another lie. Slyph did not react how Dracula had expected, he expected her to cry in pain. But she just laid there, as still as a rock. She was as calm as a gentle river. The liquid spread through her veins and surged through her heart and lungs. Dracula could feel her slowly transform from the abomination that Luna created, to the pure blooded vampire that Dracula created. She moaned slightly in ecstasy as her blood flow slowed and so did her heart beat. Dracula released his fangs and they sheathed back into his jaw. Dracula said looking into her eyes, "You are made anew. You have proven yourself worthy in my eyes as the first of a new vampiric generation. You will walk amongst your brothers and sisters and see who is worthy and who is not worthy. All those unworthy will be transfixed into our cattle, into our food. This is how it should be. How the Lords of Shadow meant us to be. Take my gift and you will be the night's secret guardian."
Dracula moved her chin so she faced his steel like gaze. He said looking into her eyes, "I expect nothing less than of pure devotion. Do not fail me. If you do, then there will be nowhere on hell or earth that will hide you. Are we understood?"
Slyph stared into those dark scarlet eyes and saw pure unbridled power. Power that she could never understand. A secret power that should be feared, and respected. Sylph felt compelled to do as he said, a secret voice silently hanging on her shoulder telling her that she will perish forever if she does not do as he said. Slyph nodded her head gently and answered, "Y...yes my prince."
"Good," Dracula stood up and started walking away, "Then let it be known today and henceforth, you are the first of the Blood Court. Come, our brothers and sisters await us in Moon's Rest. We must not keep them waiting."
"Come on now. No one fall behind, we need to remain strong. We are almost there." Spectra said encouragingly. The numbing cold bit hard against the surface of her skin and threatened to make her shiver under the blizzard like winds. Spectra felt nothing from the harsh winds that blew forth. These winds were not usual winds. These were winds filled with anger and vengeance. Spectra released a sigh and saw the crystallized air move through the sky.
The blizzard had started hours ago, when they began their march to Moon's Rest. Trudging through three feet of snow. While their vampiric fortitude was strong, the blizzard worked some sort of magic on the others. She prayed to Adena that Slyph and Dracula were okay and that they had slain Hyrus. Spectra hefted her staff close to her and used it to guide her through the seemingly endless sea of snow and ice. Her armor felt cold as it rested lightly on her, frozen from the numbing air. Rarity remained determined, these were settlements where they could have a strategic advantage for their empire. Moon's Rest and Deathfall were strategic located making it easier for supplies.
Spectra kept a hardened and readied gaze on all of the landscape ahead of them. She this caused her to think a lot. She began remembering the Dark Crusade and her rise to vampirichood. Her continued practiced power. The fight between Living Shadow, which had been more taxing than it should have been. Spectra rotated her shoulder remembering the scars and bruises. She still suffered heavily from his constant manipulative words. She knew that they were not real but when he had shapeshifted into Twilight, that was when it really hurt. She knew she could never have her, she could never have Twilight. Not even on accident, her destiny lies with Dracula and no other.
"And it would appear that mine lies with another as well." Spectra whispered to herself, her words that stung deep inside of her, letting the icy cold of them sinking in on her heart. She needed to move on. She needed to find another, somepony who would accept her for who she was. She would not dare have a suitor from the Ebonmanes. She wanted an innocent somepony. Somepony who was not tarnished by the war that now encompasses their lands.
Spectra released a sigh at that thought. She remembered the days where it was much simpler. When all she had to worry about was how many stitches a dress needed. Or how wide she needed to make the pant legs on stallion dress pants. Or what she would feed Sweetie Belle. Now, she had to keep an entire order under her hoof. She needed to lead them to glory and victory, a feat she would never be able to accomplish on her own. Sorrow set in and she said to herself once again closing her eyes as she did so, "Oh Rainbow Dash...where did you go?"
Nothing but the cold whispers of the blizzard filled her hyper sensed ears. For those few minutes she let all outside noise leave her. She knew in her heart that there were ponies marching behind her. But she pretended it was only her trudging through the snow. Alone. That she was the only one to face the horrors that lied ahead. She remembered the cocky words of her friend. They brought some semblance of solitude and solace, but above all it was just an empty feeling of forlorn. Spectra felt the sorrow surmount and she said choking back sobs, "Why did you have to leave?...why..."
Spectra stopped. Standing still in the chilling blizzard. Something hit her, right in her heart. She tried to find some memory to comfort her, but she found none. She fell on her knees in sadness and despair. She had no memories of her father or mother, her real ones anyway.
Did they even know that she and Sweetie Belle were alive? Were they even alive? These unanswered questions only made it hurt even more. Tears found their way into her eyes, she clamped them shut with hopes that it would hurt less. But it ultimately was for nothing. The sadness did not cease. The sorrow did not stop. She let out her soul. And her spirit. All the sadness that had accumulated over her years of life. She found no comfort in the blizzard that raged around her. Tears finally came from her eyes and she felt a hoof lift her head. She looked and saw the apparition of a dark blue alicorn with stark white mane and tail. He wore bright gold plated armor, his features stoic and noble but also soft and smooth. The stallion spoke with the soothing voice of a father and said, "Do not falter my child. All of your answers will come soon. I wish I could see what you and Sweetie Belle have become. I have no doubt that you are masters of your own destinies. I wish I could stay by your side, but alas I cannot..."
With his last words he began to fade out of existence. In those last minutes she cried out reaching to pull him in for a hug and she called out, "Wait! No don't leave!"
She grasped at the raging wind and felt no warmth of skin and fur, nothing. That was the form of her father, reaching out to her and she did not know it until the last second. She punched the ground with her hoof in anger and confusion. She heard a voice ask her, "Archmystic? Are you alright?"
Spectra sat hunched in the snow. Bold determination filled her mind, she would find a way to find her father. Spectra ordered in a confident tone, "Yes. Continue the march we are nearing Moon's Rest."
Spectra stood, letting all of her doubts fall from her shoulders. She rolled her shoulders and pulled her hood back up letting shadows hide her features. She began walking, letting her staff guide her careful steps.
The settlement came into view, over a vast white sprawling flat tundra was a large city of stark black buildings. Made from ebony wood and towers of jet black brick and stone. The city of spikes, it is called. It does not have the same grandeur as Shadow Garden or the Black City, but it was impressive none the less. Spectra's breath was controlled and focused, rolling through spells through her mind. She kept a watchful eye on the large black city nestled in the 750 mile wide gap in the mountains. The Gateway of Equestria it is often called as well. There were large swirling dark blue clouds hovering above the cityscape, a hurricane of cold winds and a hale of ice shards.
Spectra kept within pacing of her fellow servants of the moon. Her fellow brothers and sisters under the stars. Spectra looked back and saw the faces of her brothers and sisters. Some held neutral faces of indifference. Some holding faces of doubt as they walk to face the unknown, with burdens of their family on their shoulders. A weight they never thought that they would carry on their shoulders. She wanted to tell them that everything was going to be fine and every single one of them would return home, but she could not. Spectra wanted with all of her heart to do this alone and keep them back at their keep. But they needed experience, and with it came a price.
They drew closer to Moon's Rest and as they drew closer to the settlement she heard the distant sound of battle. Spectra suspected that Lucia had engaged the Windigo. From what she could hear, they were not in a winning fight. Roars of victory and cried of pain over a rising tide of clashing steel, mixed with the incessant wails of pure animals.
Spectra had a limited amount of ponies to form an official attack plan. She thought as her cloak billowed in the wind. If they were to succeed at being much needed reinforcements, they would need a good battle line. Hoping to catch the enemy by surprise and land the killing blow. After mulling over the details Spectra commanded her brothers and sisters, warranting their attention, "Alright. I want tight ranks. Mystics second line and Justicars frontline. Wide. Engage the enemy but if you see the Windigo do not engage it, it is too powerful for any of you. I know that you do not have any combat experience as far as battles and/or skirmishes go. But you have the powers of Dracula by your side, giving you the edge the instant you lock eyes with the enemy. Fight well and I will expect to see you at the victory dinner."
She looked at her small battalion, the humble ragtag group of ponies looked back at her and awaited for their next orders as they took their ranks. Justicars up front and Mystics in the back. Spectra held her staff in her hooves, her horn glowing a bright blue. She simply nodded in they continued onward in a faster paced march. Only a few miles out, they neared the settlement and would be there in about five or six minutes. Conviction spread over Spectra's face.
Your fight is useless, Whitevalor. You cannot last much longer.
Aureate spat blood out of her mouth as she hunched her shoulders, her dark navy blue mane scraggily and covering her eye. Her lip cut open and blood filling her mouth. With absolute calmness she stared at the pure dark ponies in front of her. She faced the other four Windigos. Odium, the one that talked to her. Ira, who stared at Aureate with anger and ferocity in her eyes. Vanto held a confident look. And Metus, trying to impart his fear inducing gaze upon her. But she kept her spirit in tact, their powers becoming weak to her.
Her longsword hefted tightly in her hoof. Her mind serene and cleared of all negative emotions, she knew from the beginning that it annoyed the Windigos. The fact their passive magic had no affect on her, and ironically, their strength. Using the back of her hoof, Aureate wiped her muzzle from the blood and she said to the advancing Windigos, "I have the light of Solis on my side. You have no power over me. Dabo mortem rapidum."
She kept her gaze narrowed and focused on them, specifically on Odium, since he was the weakest amongst them and was no doubt the one to go down first. Promising all of her fury on him. She readied her longsword and hefted it close to her. The pristine and glistening golden blade, the red leather grip firm in her grip. They started to encircle her and they used various forms of magic, all of which Aureate was prepared to face. Her face determined and her sword gripped hard she exclaimed through clenched teeth, "I swear by all that is holy I will not go down alone."
She called forth a prayer and charged her first foe, Odium. Odium stumbled towards her and bathed Odium in brilliant light that seared through him like fire. Her strike cutting across his hamstring, grounding him. She issued another prayer and a shroud of pure light encased around Odium. Causing him to be struck by rays of light if he tried moving.
Aureate moved on to another and teleported next to Ira. Ira tried to strike Aureate with her hoof in a wide horizontal arc, Aureate ducking away. Her calm state of mind deadly and focusing her strikes now upon Ira. Her sword glowing a brilliant gold her strike connected in Ira's side. Aureate wrenched it out of Ira, Ira screeched and held up her hoof pushing Aureate back with a telekinetic push. Almost stumbling off of her hooves she rebalanced her self after she hit the side of one of the buildings.
Her back ached from the impact but otherwise remained unfazed from the attack. Aureate focused and reanalyzed the battle. So far she had injured two of the four Windigos. But she knew that those wounds would not last very long. Aureate knew that this was a hopeless fight but fought on despite the impossible odds, on the off chance that maybe she can gravely injure the Windigos. To make it easier for any others who might fight them. She gripped her blade with a tighter grip and charged forward once more, her blade peeling and crackling with sparks of lightning. With a cry of battle she let her sword fall upon Ira once more.
A crack of thunder erupted and Ira's form tensed and convulsed under the connected strike. Aureate took out her sword and felt a stinging pain rise in her side. Aureate looked and saw a hale of icicles being blown at her by one of the other Windigos. Three found its mark and cut deep inside Aureate. She took her sword and cut the icicles, leaving three slivers still in her side. She raised her sword to the sky and shouted out another prayer, lightning crackled above them and struck hard against her sword. Energy travelled through her, her strength increasing.
The hale of icicles stopped and he readied his hooves for another attack. Moving them together, Vanto shot his hooves out and a large spear of pure ice ripped through the air and travelled to impale her.
Aureate charged towards the spear trusting in her Atma that she would survive this. She jumped up as the spear was centimeters away from impaling her, she stretched out her hooves and flipped as she jumped over the icy spear. The spear stabbed into the ground as Aureate landed on the ground kneeling with her hoof outstretched at her side holding her sword. She opened her eyes, blazing with fire promising vengeance and justice for the murderous actions committed by him. Her blade now dancing with tongues of fire as she charges forward and slashes against the Windigo. Vanto cried in pain and turned to her seething with anger, he grabbed her throat and lifted her above the ground. His eyes blazing with dark fury as he said, "Now you shall deal with me, oh paladin. And all the powers of HELL!"
Vanto threw Aureate away and as she sailed to the ground an iron spike erupted from the ground and impaled her in the right side of her chest. Blood splattering all around and a cry of pain coming forth from Aureate. Vanto raised his hooves to the sky and willed forth a blizzard. Clouds ripping across the sky and raining from the sky harsh winds and small needles of ice. Aureate uttered a prayer in between breaths and the icicles avoided her path. Her breathing ragged, she pushed herself up and felt pain rise in her chest. She gasped in pain once more and opened her clenched face to see Vanto moving towards Aureate with a murderous look in his eyes. She knew in this moment that all would be lost. But as she thought so an eruption exploded the ground between them and sent Aureate colliding in the air with Vanto.
They slammed hard on the ground, Aureate on the bottom. Before Vanto had time to react she glanced and saw a small company of guardians all in armor. She grabbed the sides of Vanto's head and shouted above the wind with righteous fury in her eyes and voice. A brilliant shaft of light streaks down from above and fixes on Vanto. Vanto screamed in pain as he felt heat incinerate his very bones and evaporate him. He cried horrid cries as he faded from existence as ash that was soon carried away on the wind.
She heard a mare's voice call out, "Attack!"
The three Windigos saw a wave of ponies charge towards them. Some fled away at the sight of them, others attacked with magical attacks. Aureate silently prayed and rested a hand on her chest and the pain subsided, healing tissue and muscle as she felt light flow through her veins. She saw as many were cut down by the Windigos. Were once a large group, there now remained around a hoof full. The Windigos however were looking exhausted from expending so much magic. Her wound had fully healed as she saw a flash of red and two forms came into view. One an alicorn stallion and the other a young unicorn. Both with piercing bright red eyes. The stallion flew up in the sky and calmed the blizzard raging above them.
His eyes glowed bright red and his horn glowing violently the same color. His voice carried across the wind as he said, "When death comes
I’ll need not love –
Consumed,
No wreath or dove
Could offer me salvation,
Not when I’m no more.
A weathered stone will bear my name –
Identity of once a being
Living out existence in
A world of risk, and never seeing
Sense of why we’re here.
My genes will die away thro’ child –
Hue of eyes and hair, the way of thought,
Will quickly dim with generation –
Bow to future dominance –
Memories of provenance
Resigned to curious few.
When death comes
I’ll need not grace
Below; no grieving face
Will call my resurrection,
Not when I’m at ground –
Death and I so bound."
Red energy flowed out of the Windigos and travelled as the large alicorn stallion devoured their living essence. Their forms crumbling into a pile of bones and the sky briefly filled with the same color as the stallion's magic. As he lowered himself to the ground he stumbled. Aureate felt that he had expended a lot of magical energy to do that. The mare helped him to his hooves.
The small group of ponies were only five feet away. They stepped closer to her and she jumped to her hooves raising her sword towards them. They raised their weapons in response. Aureate said, "Who are you?"
One stepped into view and Aureate could not believe her eyes. Standing before her looked almost like a mirror image of her brother's wife, her brother being Uther Crystalline. The same white coat and dark blue mane and tail. The same slender figure. It was amazing. Aureate was in awe. She even had the same voice as she said to the others that raised their weapons, "Lower your weapons."
They obeyed her and she met Aureate's stare. She still could not believe her eyes. Aureate stepped forward and then everything clicked into place and pulled her in for a hug. Aureate said into her shoulder, "You are related to Uther Crystalline? Aren't you?"
After a few seconds she pulled herself back and left her hooves on the mare's shoulders. She answered awkwardly, "uh...yes...he was my father."
Aureate's eyes grew as wide as plates and she beamed with joy. She said, "How long have I been away?"
Confusion overtook the filly and Aureate saw the look and explained, "I am Aureate Whitevalor, your aunt. Oh this is great news. Where is my brother? Has he come with you?"
"I am afraid...agh...not young Whitevalor." The stallion limped over to Aureate. She gave him a confused look and the stallion finished, "He is dead."
Her joy died away and released the mare in her hooves. Her expression growing as neutral as before. The stallion continued, "I am Dracula. Your niece's name is Spectra. You are...standing on...my land miss. This settlement was long since abandoned and we came to retake them, knowing that an unseen enemy took them as a fortification. Have you seen another ground come into here?"
Aureate refocused to Dracula and answered, "You must mean that group of werewolves that came by. I am sorry...they did not last long against the Windigos. Their leader ordered a charge on them and they became lambs to the slaughter."
Dracula cursed, "Damn it Lucia. I told you not to engage. You tartarus damned fool..."
Silence awoken between them. Aureate looked to the sky as it began to gently snow. A certain peace came about Aureate as a few of the snow flakes landed on her. She said looking back at Dracula, "How long was I gone?"
Dracula answered after a sharp gasped, "...nearly five thousand years."
Five thousand? She hoped at least maybe fifty or a hundred, those were numbers she could live with. But five thousand. Almost un heard of. She eyes Spectra once more and said to Dracula, "If it is all the same to you. I would like to reside in your lands. I do not wish to face the outside world just yet. I would like some time to think alone."
Dracula nodded. Aureate stepped with no emotion in her strides. She walked past Dracula and heard Spectra call out to her, "Wait!"
"Wait!" Spectra called out.
Aureate kept on walking. Spectra went to chase after her but a hoof blocked her path. She looked and saw it was the wounded hoof of Dracula. He looked at her and said, "Leave her be Spectra. She needs time to think on her own. It is not an easy thing to wake up from a five thousand year old sleep and accept that you have been sleeping for that long. Give her time to recover."
With starry eyes she looked at the disappearing form of Aureate in the haze of winter. When she disappeared in the city scape Spectra lowered her gaze down cast and said to herself, "Auntie..."
These Mortal Bonds (Part 1)
"We need to strike back! We can't let this invisible threat allow us to show any weakness!" Lucia screamed across the war table that had been set up in the throne room. Dracula sat on the obsidian stone throne and rested his head in his hoof. News spread quickly throught the Ebonmane empire. He remained adorned in his scarlet and black steel plate armor. It was a very light very thin but strong metal. It was not too large and not too flashy. Dracula was not to be worshipped as some sort of god, although he was by some of his subjects.
The throne room was large and repaired to its original grandeur. The columns fixed and the dark granite stone polished. The tapestries fully repaired and the aesthetics as well were fixed. Dracula focused back at the discussion at hoof. Many scouting groups towards the northern border of the Everfree have been attacked. Only three or four remained of the twenty that were sent out. Dracula met with the survivors and he had never seen such dread filled ponies before. He had seen the effects of battle and what it did to their minds, but this was no regular dread.
Dracula watched as Lucia and Spectra argued. They had been doing so for hours, at least it felt like hours. Lucia was the temporary co-leader of the Knights of the Moon and temporary leader of the Omega pack, only long enough until Rainbow Dash came back. She was a dark brown mare with icy blue eyes and a long silver mane. She wore thin lamellar armor and a sword and shield sheathed on her back.
Spectra stated on the other end of the war table, "No. We should wait, we cannot kill an unseen enemy. We need to wait it out, until this sabetour shows its face."
"So you want us to wait while our brothers and sisters die?" Lucia returned in an agitated tone, "Immediate action should be used. You are being overly dramatic sister, you are making this enemy larger than they should be."
Spectra crossed her hooves over her chest and narrowed her already tight gaze on the werewolf. Spectra mused with a slight sting in her words, "We only make our enemies bigger than what they are if we let ignorance rule our sight. I am making careful measures for the Ebonmanes. A skill that seems to be lacking in one of the ponies in this room."
Lucia gripped the hilt of her sword and growled, "Why you-"
"ENOUGH!" Dracula shouted at the top of his lungs. Dracula had enough of this petty argument, they were making no progress. Dracula stood up from his throne and stated in a commanding voice, "I have heard enough out of both of you. Lucia, remember your place, even though Spectra is your collegue you must still treat her as you would a master."
Lucia responded nonchalantly, "Yes. My lord."
Dracula looked to Spectra and commanded in an even tone, "This is why I refuse for you to have an apprentice. You do not take rebellion the right way. Insults and putting them down will only cause them to lash out at you. Mistakes are to be repaired and improved, not burned away."
Spectra saluted Dracula respectfully crossing her hoof across her chest and bowing low and returned in a gracious tone, "It won't happen again my prince."
Dracula stepped down from his throne and leaned on the table. There was a map laid out carefully with markers on it. It showed a map of the Everfree, Equestria, and the Crystal Empire. Various reports as well were scattered around the map. Dracula asked contemplatively, "Now. Where were the scouts sent?"
Spectra leaned in and responded moving her hoof over the various settlements, "They were sent to Deathfall and Moon's Rest. They are empty settlements, their mission was to scout the land around the settlement and report back. If it was clear they were to return and give the all clear to settle there. If it wasn't then they were to report to Wraith in Liches Rest."
Dracula rubbed his chin with his hoof and moved an educated gaze over the map. He stared at the northern border with an inquisitive gaze. The settlements of the north were long abandoned, because of Liches Rest. He doubted that these attacks were from Wilds, they were too clean and precise for Wilds. These were from another enemy. Dracula asked keeping his eyes on Deathfall and Moon's Rest, "What of the Death Knights? Have they reported anything?"
Lucia interjected with her callous and even voice, "Not lately. They have been rather quiet. We'll know once our messenger returns."
Dracula carefully mulled over different ways he could approach this problem. Dracula crossed his forehooves and raised one in front of his muzzle. He continued to stare at the map. He had to approach the situation carefully, any room for error and this could crumble beneath him. Dracula looked to Lucia as she asked, "My Prince. Your orders?"
Dracula kept his pose and commanded, "We cannot spare the ponypower to retake these settlements, most of our heavy hitters are at the Black City clearing it out. We need to be careful if we are to be rid of these attackers quickly and efficiently."
Dracula continued after a pause to think, "There will be two teams. Lucia you will lead a group of Omega wolves and try and know the face of these enemies. Spectra, you will accompany me as we will be reinforcements in case anything goes wrong. I won't let these invisible enemies destroy the kingdom I have made from ashes."
Spectra and Lucia bowed with great respect and left without repeating any words. With their leave a Vampire entered the throne room. Dracula returned to his throne and sat with earnest. The vampire knelt and kept his gaze away from Dracula as he nervously stated, "Fledgling Marcus at your service my lord."
Dracula waved his hoof and responded, "Speak quickly. I have matters to attend to Fledgling Marcus."
Macus stood up and pulled out a scroll from a brown leather satchel. He wore rich fabrics and was well decorated. Clearly a ward of a noble in Shadow Garden. His slick black mane was short and his bright yellow eyes were filled with anxiety and nervousness as he approached the Black Throne. Dracula noticed the missive in his light red aura, it bore the Seal of the North, indicating a letter from Princess Cadance. Dracula had only met the Princess of Love once, and it was not on the healthiest of terms. They were apprentices of each Princess at the time. They were to help intervene in the Second Griffon War, which eventually led to a rebellion in Aviana. Dracula had some semblence of respect for Cadance, she was capable of doing whatever it took to protect the ponies she loved.
Dracula knit an eyebrow and asked, "What is a fledgling vampire doing with a missive from Princess Cadance?"
Marcus shuffled his hooves and responded,"I....my Sire ordered me to give you this. He said that it was important."
"Who is your Sire?"
"Lord Draven Bloodmantle," Marcus replied quickly, "My lord."
Dracula snatched the missive and broke the seal letting the missive unfurl. Dracula read over the neat handwriting of Princess Cadance,
Dear Prince Dracula Belmont of the Ebonmanes,
It has been three months since your Dark Crusade. Congratulations on your victory by the way, it comes to my attention that you have rid this world of a great evil. I must also thank you for returning my emissary safely and soundly. As such, I am doing two things.
The first being that I request a Concordance of Friendship and Allies. And the second being, if you accept the first, is to offer some semblence of protection. Strange occurances have been spotted around my empire. I would use my own soldiers but they are still inexperienced, I fear that it would be a slaughter if they tried to investigate these strange occurances. Please, if you have ponies to spare we could use the extra protction until our guards gain enough experience to do so. I would ask the Celestial Empire but they have too much to handle right now.
Resond as soon as you are able.
With respect,
Princess Cadance
After Dracula read the letter he carefully thought. He wanted to accept the Concordance of Friendship but he needed to conveine with the Originals first. Dracula breathed out a heavy sigh and said, "When did your Sire receive this letter?"
Marcus seemed to let a weight lift from his shoulders and he responded with more pride, "A few hours ago."
Dracula rubbed his chin with his forehoof and said turning to face the throne, "I need you to return to your Sire and tell him I want to summon the Originals. Tomorrow is when we shall meet. Be quick about it."
"Yes my lord." Marcus bowed respectfully and stepped back and then turned to leave. Marcus walked past Riptide as he entered. Riptide called out, "You worry too much brother. These missing parties are nothing to fret about."
Dracula turned and responded dryly to his comment, "If I would to ignore this menace it would show that I am reckless and lazy, painting a target on my back."
Dracula kept a hardened gaze on his obsidian throne. It was there that he sat day in and day out, waiting to pass judgment on some poor waste of a pony. It was there that he controlled an entire nation. It was there that he had spilled the blood of his brother. Sombra, though he had returned, Dracula always saw that scene inside of his head. Dracula moved his ears as he heard Riptide ask, "You seem distraught brother."
Dracula half turned his head and heaved out a heavy sigh. He rested a calm hoof on the hilt of Kal'Drae, resonating with his touch. Dracula remembered the scene of only a month ago of when he refused his father and mother. It was not easy for him, though they each did not play pivotal roles in his life it still caused his heart to remain restless. Chaos churned within his mortal beating heart. He knew he was mortal, his subjects do not. Regular emotions never clashed with what he was, he felt sad when it was meant to be sad. He was angry when it required him to be. And he loved when it was meant to be. Dracula sighed once again and raised his other hoof and inspected it with a careful eye. Dracula asked Riptide not moving his gaze from his armored hoof, "If your parents had kept a secret from you for hundreds of years, could you ever find it within yourself to forgive them?"
Silence. Carefully met silence filled the air of the throne room. Dracula expected no answer and appeared to receive none. Dracula breathed out a heavy breath and lowered his hoof in defeat. He then felt a tender hoof gently place on his shoulder. Riptide answered in a wise voice, "Forgiveness is not something we can openly hand out. Forgiveness is earned. Hatred as well is given out in such a way, but to hate with immortals is too long. Forever is too long to hate. We are all different facing these problems for ourselves. It's not in my place to guide where you go, I am only here to offer advice along the way."
Dracula turned to the owner of the hoof. Riptide's dark blue mane and jet black coat was almost unable to be misplaced. Riptide was the only one, the only Original left that he knew since the beginning. Riptide had been there to help him along the way, no matter how long or how wide the journey. He was somepony you could rely on. Dracula smirked at the scalemailed pony and mused, "Look at me. I'm so distraught I'm asking advice from Riptide."
The all too familiar sly smile of Riptide's returned and he added coyly, "Yeah don't get used to it. Advice is usually not something I like to do."
Dracula placed a hoof on Riptide's armored shoulder and shared a hearty laugh with his brother. Riptide added, "But what I do like to do is help my family, whether it is making them smile or giving friendly advice."
Dracula kept his smile. It had been a long time since he shared such light hearted feelings, his heart felt lighter and his mind refreshed. Riptide clapped his shoulder and said, "Alright lets role the credits on this mare flick, you got a nation to run and some ponies to save. And I have settlements to look after."
Riptide left and Dracula turned to the open hole at the top of the ceiling. Dracula saw the first rays of sunlight dance across the dark granite stone. Dracula took in a calmed breath and he remembered the wise words Cerberus had told him recently,
To master something takes time. A careful mind and an even more careful heart. We were all meant to master certain things. Some to master others and rule above them. Others were made to live amongst his subjects and rule with a kind heart. It is our choice to know which one we are. A tyrant. Or a friend.
That day was the first that Dracula felt the elements of Ketos accept him as their wielder. They knew he was now ready to learn from them.
The sun did not lighten up on its harsh dark red and orange morning glow. Dusk. The time where one world made way for another, as Dracula had constantly told Spectra. He was very cryptic sometimes with the way he talked lately. That mark did something to him, it was like he had awakened from a long sleep. Spectra knew his many sides, she had seen him as something he was not. A monster. And here she was, walking beside him like nothing had happened.
Her hoofsteps were lightly placed, making almost no sound. Her breaths were long and controlled. She used her staff as a balance and as a guide towards open patches of grass not overtaken by vines. Spectra found a bit of peace in this dark forest. The silence that it gave was one that could calm your soul and ease your mind. She once repulsed at the sight or mention of its name, but now that she saw the hidden beauty of the dark Everfree forest. She grew to accept it as her home....beauty.
There had been only one other mare that could bring her to this state of peacefulness. Twilight Sparkle. She was such a natural beauty, her name gave true credence to what she really is. Her name is perfect for her. The beautiful time of day where day breaks into night, casting bright reds and dark purples. Remembering the lavender coat and the dark violet flow of her mane. Pure glistening beauty. Spectra closed her eyes seeing a fresh image of her in her mind. Allowing her to stay, in that moment, the peace she had long sought to find.
But, Twilight was the forbidden fruit she could never pluck. For she was promised to another, Dracula Belmont, arguably one of the most powerful and strong stallions Spectra has ever known. She could not will or bring herself to destroying their carefully built relationship. They were perfect for each other. Twilight was more calm and focused better, now that she knew she had a stallion to look after her. And Dracula was more determined and noble, always knowing he had to protect her.
Spectra turned her head to look at the stallion in question. His coat sharpened and glowed in the bright rays of the sun, the white standing out and glowing against the silhouetted jet black. His dark red eyes focused and ever thinking of what lied ahead of him. His black and crimson plate armor rested lightly on his tall muscular form, scales and plates mixed forming sort of like an armored drake. His jet black mane billowed slightly in the wind the long white strand flowing as well. The crest of the breastplate had a screeching dragon, bellowing at Dracula. He walked with a powerful and commanding stance, a stark difference from the lonely vagabond she had met so many months ago. Spectra sidled closer to her ruler and asked in a casual tone, "You look as though you might have something on your mind. What troubles you my prince?"
Dracula appeared to loosen his commanding walk and let his strides have less seriousness in them. Dracula looked to Spectra and he responded in a calm and even voice, "Family. Friends. Thinking on how much I have failed them or have made them proud."
"Failed?" Spectra knit an eyebrow at the stab Dracula took at himself, "Who have you failed?"
Dracula replied with a heavy heart, "Recently I discovered that I was Luna's dead son. She knew who I was and I lashed out at her....I now question whether or not if I made the right decision. I fear I might have broken her, she has gone missing."
"Missing? How can an immortal goddess of the night just go missing? Surely somepony must have known where she went." Spectra added in a lowered and darkened tone. She bode no such seriousness before, but to have an immortal alicorn to disappear. It was almost unheard of. Considering there are only four immortal alicorns left.
Spectra kept on her way not breaking her gaze from Dracula, who responded, "The only other pony who might know where she is might be Midnight, my birth father, but even then he might not know where she is. And I'm not about to get up and go looking for her, she has to recompense for what she did...and so do I...please lets move on to a different topic."
Spectra moved her gaze away for a second. Luna had always been sensitive, that was just a fact. Anypony who wanted to know about the royal family knew that Luna was more sensitive with her feelings than Celestia. Luna wore her emotions on her sleeves, giving her an edge and a weakness. While Celesita masked her true emotions from the public, not wanting to show how mortal she truly is. When she believed she lost her family before she turned into Nightmare Moon. Now she was nearly losing everypony. Her son. Her sister. She almost no one in her family left to comfort her.
Son....Spectra could still never fully wrap around her brain that Dracula was Luna's son. But then that would mean that Dragomir was her son as well, and so Sunset Shimmer. Spectra decided she did not want to think about it anymore, her brain was starting to hurt from all the questions she was making.Spectra asked after the long silence, "How has things been going between you and Twilight?"
The mention of her name warranted a smile across his face and he responded warmly, "Things could not be better. I visit her when I have no other duties to attend to and she does the same. I hate to sound too emotional, but, we could not be anymore happier. We thought that given our new positions, me as Prince of the Ebonmanes and her as Magistrate, we thought we would see even less of each other but the opposite appeared true."
Spectra gave a friendly smile and added, "I'm glad that you two are happy. You both deserve it."
"And what of you Ms. Crystalline?" Dracula asked in response, getting a knit eyebrow as a response, "...I mean have you found that special stallion?"
Spectra blushed slightly and responded sheepishly, "Well....a lady should never really give away whom she is dating....but....if we are being honest with each other I have not found that special stallion or mare."
"I did not know you were that type." Dracula added coyly and playfully, "You seemed like a mare with much more....exquisite tastes."
Spectra detected the hint of joyful play in his voice and stifled a giggle in response before a playful gasp, "Prince Dracula are you profiling? I thought you were better than that...and proved you wrong. I enjoy the company of a mare a little bit more than a stallion. More soft so to speak."
Dracula laughed heartily. Spectra had not seen him like this in a long time, it must have something to do with the mark. Dracula smiled and added, "I had no idea you were so open Spectra. It seems I am finding out more about you each and every minute I spend with you."
Spectra giggled and added in joyfully, "Be careful Dracula, I very much might steal you away from Twilight."
Dracula goffed and said, "When Tartarus freezes over my friend."
They both shared another round of laughter, only solidfying their relationship as friends. Spectra liked having somepony like Dracula to talk to, it was like having the older brother she never had. They continued on with their company of Knights of the Moon. Spectra had completely forgot about them in Dracula's and her friendly conversation. Their hoofsteps sounding proud behind her, fifteen in total. Seven Mystics and eight Justicars. Justicars are the Knights of the Moon who are more melee oriented and more attune to their battle instincts. Mystics are more connected to weylines and a more direct connection to Dracula, making them formidable casters of magic.
A Mystic walked up to Spectra and asked warranting her and Dracula's attention, "Archmystic. My lord. I apologize for the intrusion but what exactly are we hunting? The others think that it is just another Wilden attack. I just wanted to know what we were facing."
Spectra knit an eyebrow. She was a mare and her coat was a bright shade of yellow and her mane an ethereal bright gold, and her eyes a bright stark crimson red, wearing a thin mage coat with three layers and some pieces of gold leather armor. The usual uniform for Mystics, their uniforms standing out amongst their dark colored manes and coats, an idea Spectra came up with all on her own. Usually Mystics wore light golds and bright silver, to represent the moon and the stars. Spectra tapped her chin, she tried to recall where she heard that innocent and high pitched voice before. Spectra asked, "Have we met before? I...must have seen you somewhere....your voice sounds very...familiar."
The bright colored Mystic bowed while walking and responded, "My name is Mystic Slyph, Archmystic."
Spectra interrupted, "Ah yes...Miss Slyph....a beautiful name by the way...weren't you the one on training day that fought Archknight Rainbow Dash and won?"
Slyph rubbed her hoof and replied sheepishly, "Well...I hardly would call it winning...I believe I put up a very good fight."
Spectra stifled a nicker and said, "Ha...you beat her handily darling. I saw the whole thing, you quite the enemy...well done. And an answer to your earlier question. No, I do not know what we face. All we know is that this threat stands in the way of us and our growth as a people. I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad news young mystic."
Slyph nodded apologetically and said, "Oh no...Archmystic, I did not mean for you to bring bad news I simply wanted to know what we were facing. Known or unknown, I won't let this threat harm my brothers and sisters."
Spectra clapped her hoof on Slyph's shoulder gently and added with the voice of a leader, "That's good Slyph. Fuel that determination and you will not fail. Now go, return with your brothers and sisters. We are nearing the first town."
"Yes Archmystic."
With a respectful bow she trotted her way back to the others. Spectra turned back and saw the other golden and silver armored cloth Mystics marching with the eight other Justicars. The Justicars wore dark blue plated and black mail armor to represent the night sky. The colors are to represent the unity of the night and the protection it offers. The Order was hardly the backbone of the Ebonmane army, but they played a major role. The Knights are capable of helping all the lost Children of the Night master their skills and allow them to use it as protection for their brothers and sisters under the night sky. Spectra finally looked back ahead of her and they entered what was now known as the Pass of Lost Souls.
The Pass of Lost Souls was a large gaping pass in between two mountain ranges, the Glacial Spires and the Silvermane Peaks. Both used as sort of a wall in the northern part of Equestria. It was hard to settle there though, no food could grow and no game was near for miles. But Ebonmanes do not need to rely on mortal bindings such as food or water. Which is why they had two settlements nestled in the great pass. Moon's Rest and Deathfall. But they were long since abandoned because of Liches Rest bejng too close by, letting the old Necromancers ponies to the slaughter. They were little more than ghost towns.
The environment around Spectra changed, the calm visual forest was now lost behind her. She was now walking on frozen dead ground. A tundra scape loomed out in front of her. Around fifty miles away she saw the Glacial Spires on her left and the Silvermane Peaks to her right and one hundred miles ahead the mountain ranges did not connect and in that pass sat a darkened settlement belonging to the Ebonmane Empire. Spectra looked over and took notice that the large mountains were as if they were teeth, a gaping maw waiting to take a large bite out of the sky. It was grand and the skies remained clear. Giving the sprawling tundra plain in front of Spectra a dark blue look. It was truly magnificent but rather bare aside from the settlement in the pass.
Spectra turned over to Dracula and asked her breath turning into chilled vapor as it came out, "Where is our first stop?"
Dracula made everypony stop. He lifted his hoof and he lowered it. He stared off and looked at the sun that was now beginning to peak out over the glorious mountains. Which suggested it was nearly mid day. They have been trekking for almost twelve hours and Spectra felt no exhausion. Dracula contemplated and finally responded after about a minute, "We will be heading to Deathfall first. It is closer and had the most amount of Phantoms missing from the scouting parties. We will rest there for a few hours until night, in which case we will march to Moon's Rest."
With no other words to say Spectra nodded and so did the rest of their company. They walked on through the tundra plain, feeling the unharsh and numb gale from the mighty north breeze. For they had entered the chilled domain of the north now.
Ice covered rocks and boulders filled Dracula's sight as he led his company through the snow and ice of the north. The sun gave no comfort to the biting cold wind. For he felt the true harshness of winter but he lived through the harsh winters of the north, a familiar feeling he has grown to ignore. His mortal gaze set upon the horizon, bound to not being able to look farther than his crippled mortal eyes can see. It was an odd feeling, unable to see what lies ahead. Like a prophet whom can no longer read the future.
His hoof loosely gripped the hilt of Kal'Drae as he trudged through the icy gales and the bitter snow. He as well did not have his heightened vampire hearing. He was a regular stallion alicorn. He still had many of the powers of vampires but he did not have what made them immortal or apex predators of the night. He had the mortal feelings of ponies and the great ferocity of the primal vampire.
It was not only bitter coldness that Dracula felt however, he as well felt powerful weylines in the north. Arcane flowed abundantly and freely. But it was in a wild state, if one was to use magic in the north...it would turn them mad. Dracula ordered to Spectra and the Mystics that marched behind him, "Be careful when you cast magic in this place. I fear if you cast too much then the Arcane energies will drive you mad. Be wary."
Spectra responded getting Dracula's attention, "So you felt it too?"
Dracula nodded as they continued their trek to Deathfall. He responded nobly, "I feel most arcane energies now."
Dracula motioned for Spectra to come closer and he whispered, "I am weaker now that I have this mark. I am no longer immortal. I can feel everything a mortal feels. I still have some of my powers but not all of them. I bear the elements of harmony now, the magic at least that created them. In order for me to regain my immortality I must master the six arcane elements. Fire, Earth, Wind, Arcane, Water, and Nature. I am mastering Arcane right now."
Spectra looked back ahead of her and said, "What about Nether?"
Dracula corrected, "I am using Nether energy when I am mastering that particular element. Using it as a base. I cannot purely use Nether. I must regain that ability."
Silence ensued after Dracula spoke. They trudged on in utter silence, letting nothing hang in the air. Their breaths were still long and collected as they approached an opening in the Glacial Spires. The light of day escaped behind the large maw of earthen stone and rock. Dracula closed his eyes and focused his mind on the energy that flowed through his veins. Dracula then shot his eyes open and they glowed dark red and darkness no longer filled his mortal vision. Everything had a red hue as he used the tainted vision of his dragon ancestor.
Dracula tightened the grip of his sword and ordered calmly, "Be mindful. The enemy might be roaming around. Ardentfell positions."
Four Justicars marched up on Dracula's left side and the other four marched up to his right with their various weapons at the ready. The Mystics formed a half circle in the rear and Spectra marched right at Dracula's side with her staff at the ready, he heard the resounding hum of magical energy being activated as the Mystics and Spectra formed their magical shields. Dracula kept a hardened gaze on the pass ahead of him. He advanced with his hoofsteps being echoed by his company.
The air was dry and cold, filled with the feelings of forlorn and mystery. Dracula did not like facing something he did not know but he needed to do things he was not comfortable with. It kept him focused and ready for anything. Dracula's eyes had red smoke coming out of the corners as he peered on with the eyes of Rulth the Corrupted. His ancient dragon ancestor. He just had remembered the time at his birth, when they bathed him in the tainted blood. Dracula then skipped to a few centuries later and he remembered the time he had slaughtered every member of the Brotherhood. He heard the faintest sound of their screams. He held his eyes closed and felt a hoof on his and he saw Spectra and she asked, "Everything alright Dracula?"
Dracula moved his hoof away and responded coldly, "I'm fine. Don't worry about me."
Spectra nodded and they continued their focused march. Letting only the sound of the wind to fill their ears. Nothing else pierced the dark silence. It was like the silent wails of a lost soul, the forlorn of a wanderer. Dracula knew that feeling all too well.
For five minutes they carefully marched through the icy dead pass in the Glacial Peaks. As they were getting closer to Deathfall Dracula could sense something. Like an object out in the corner of your vision. He knew something awaited them but he did not know what. As they continued on the large stone walls narrowed and the air grew colder. The natural lighting almost completely disappeared, a deep blue tint on everything in Dracula's field of vision. A Justicar asked aloud with nervousness in his voice, "Does anyone else feel that?"
Another Justicar answered, "What?"
The first had his long spear waver and he added anxiously, "That....that feeling. Like a weight pushing on your chest."
Finally they came into view of Deatfall. It had the same architectural buildings as Gemini and Shadow Garden. Dark mahogany wood buildings, with slanted roofs and a large clocktower in the center of the settlement. Deathfall was the average size of a city and it fit perfectly in the valley it nestled in. Natural stone walls all around them, and a plentiful mine filled with rich metallic elements. Dark archaic buildings, these are what scared the Children of the Day, but to an Ebonmane it was home. Dracula glanced over the town and saw various mansions and shoppes, with a few taverns and inns. But what set everything off was the large blizzard that raged overhead. Crashing winds against he buildings, testing the structure's foundation.
They stood on a slope that overlooked the old town. A large wooden wall of metal and Everfree Birch lined the entrance of the town, with various larges hooks and chains. To intimidate any outsiders. But was set Dracula off was the fact that fresh blood stained the hooms and spikes. Other than that, the town was cloaked in a storm of hazy icicles and spikes. Dracula felt an ominous feeling coming from the town, Slyph said aloud, "That is no natural blizzard."
Spectra responded, "I can sense it too Slyph."
Dracula agreed with them, that was no natural storm. It held a dark power. More ancient power than what Dracula wielded. The Vampire Lord closed his eyes and focused, he sensed the energies of his subjects. He felt the paths that have walked here. They echoed to him like distant memories. Dracula thought for a moment and said opening his eyes, "Lucia and her pack have already been here, their tracks were left here. But they are no longer here."
"Did any of them perish?" Spectra asked pulling down her hood, "Have any of them fallen?"
Dracula shook his head and responded, "No. I would have felt their energies leave. They have just set out for Moon's Rest. Some remain here."
Dracula then thought for a moment. They did not meet any dangers on their journey to Deathfall. He expected an ambush or guards at the entrance. But this...this was odd. Dracula mused, "Set up a camp here. Spectra, Slyph and I will scout out the city. Make sure everything is clear."
A chorus of voices answered, "Yes my lord."
Slyph had sensed the dark energies from afar, but to walk amongst it she felt...like a fish out of water. She felt awkward. Her movements sluggish and slow. Her vision blurred by the blizzard overhead. She stood on the left of Dracula, looking over the place. The streets and roofs covered by a thin blanket of snow, frost covering the walls and doors of the buildings. The city square was left empty, leaving a broken sorrowful feeling. Anything ut comfort to the young mystic.
In the few months she had joined she had surprised both herself and that of her peers and masters. Before she was a mere Fledgling vampire. A weak link that most of the Ebonmanes ignored. A stark difference from her sister, Night Dancer one of the Originals. She was treated fairly but not justfully. But when the time had come when her sister died and the Knights of the Moon arose, Slyph did all she could to join. She was not the strongest when it came to strength, not a lot of vampires are weak physically. While yes she had more strength than the average pony but she was not on the same level of strength as her brothers and sisters. So she joined and hoped that she did better than anything else in her life. Ever since she could remember she did not have a very strong self esteem, although she improved at it she was still weak in that sense. So, she joined and found out that she excelled atwhat she did. Her teachers had told her that she was a prodigy. She was an excellent spell caster and a natural at the arcane arts. She was especially good at Witchcraft, a powerful dark art that she wielded very well and the very powers she used to defeat Archknight Rainbow Dash. And that, she had gained quite the reputation at the academy.
Slyph came out of her thoughts and focused on he barren settlement in front of her. Her astral mane billowed in the numb wind. She looked to Prince Dracula and asked, "My lord, why did only us three advance into Deathfall and leave the others."
The vampire lord drew out a heavy sigh. He was tall and stood one and a half more heads taller than Slyph. Dracula focused on nothing as he answered ominously, "Because they would not survive these conditions."
Slyph knit an eyebrow and asked further, "What conditions? I do not feel any conditions?"
Dracula turned to Slyph looking at her with wise and noble red eyes as he responded, "Because of the power hat you hold. There are many arcanic energies you cannot feel but are resistant to it. The dark power that hangs in the air is old and ancient. The powers of a powerful long dead Lunar Court Mage. You would know him as a Windigo. More specifically Hyrus, Windigo of Despair."
Slyph grew wide eyed as she recalled the story of the founding of Equestria. She stated hysterically, "Windigo!? As in feed off of your strife and a major player in the founding of Equestria Windigo!?"
Dracula answered calmly, "No. The Windigos had nothing to do with the founding of Equestria, that was just a bad snowstorm that came from the north. The Windigos were once apprentices to Starswirl himself. Five to be exact. They were powerful Lunar Court Mages, every battle they fought they did so together and there was no threat that they faced that they could not destroy. One among them, Vanto, decided that they deserved to know more power. Starswirl saw darkness in his heart and refused him. Vanto was outraged and told his fellow students to come with him. He discovered the Dark Arts. They created the first invocations of shadows and diseases. Starswirl caught wind of this and was outraged. The Dark Arts call to use emotions instead of the Arcanic Rift as fuel for their powers. As punishment for tinkering with powers they could not control, Starswirl made them avatars of their appropriate negative emotion. Pride. Anger. Fear. Despair. And Hatred. He cursed them to only be able to feed off of that emotion if they wish to survive. Thus creating the Windigos. They became obsessed with the power, they began a murderous and tormentful campaign to destroy Equestria. But a noble Paladin took it upon herself to imprision the Windigos. This Paladin was without fear, without despair, without anger, without hatred, and without pride. Her name was Aureate Whitevalor. She sacraficed herself to imprison these horrors. I fear that Sombra had released them, as he used them to take over the Crystal Empire."
Dracula gave a soft look to Slyph, the look a friend would give to another as he finished, "I chose you two because you two are without despair. And are amongst the most powerful in the Ebonmanes."
Slyph could tell she blushed briefly as she responded, "Thank you my lord."
Dracula's gaze went back to a calleous stare at the blizzard that raged above them. Slyph took a long look at her leader. Dracula's black and scarlet red plate armor was dull and had no shine, it fit quite well and hugged around his various appendages. It did not look like armor that threatened movement, it seemed to offer more. Slyph had never before seen plate and scalemail armor do that before. Her gaze then fell upon his sword. The sword was sheathed in a black aged leather scabbard, the crossguard took the form of a dragon's head making it seem as though the dragon was breathing out the blade. Other than that there was no counterweight for the blade. No weight to hold back from cleaving a creature in half. Slyph felt the deep power that came from the blade, it emparted on Slyph dark feelings and images. Blood. Death. Murder. It gave her all these feelings, allowing a cold shiver to race up her spine.
She chose to ignore it and looked on. Her dark crimson eyes scanning the streets ahead of her. If there had been any survivors of the Omega Pack, they would have been greeted by now. Slyph turned to Dracula once more and he said kneeling down in the thin blanket of snow on the ground, "This land land is not as it used to be. It feels...sick."
His eyes narrowed on the bare settlement that stood before him. Slyph wondered what he thought of. Most likely he was thinking of a course of action. Slyph took this time to drink in all she had heard of the feared and beloved Vampire Lord.
Slyph had heard many stories about Dracula. She had heard a tale that he had faced an entire horde of Changelings and won, killing every last one of them. She had heard that he defyed death three times. She had heard that he took down two Changeling Hulks, all on his own. She had heard that he rebirthed himself in dark energies in order to kill his father, Arkon Shadow. Not even a year had passed and already he was treated as a legend. Slyph hoped that those stories were true, she wanted to ask him himself but she was a Risen Vampire; she was not to speak unless spoken to. So she kept herself silent and continued her admiration of the Vampire Lord.
Not only was he a legend, but he is much more handsome in person than in the stories. She had heard that he was absolutely stunning, but she did not know if it was true or not. His features were rugged and handsome, but very smooth at the same time. His jawline very powerful and defined. Slyph found her eyes wandering over the smooth muscular form of Dracula Belmont. His muscles no doubt well toned and defined, but he remained thin at the waist. Very muscular but also very lithe. A well balance between the two. Enough for a mare to turn her head to steal a glance. But Slyph let it go to her head, she shook her head and told herself that it was foolish. He was promised to another and she very much knew that. Besides, she was much younger than Dracula anyway.
Finally Dracula spoke and he said, "Okay. Before anything else we need to look for survivors. I sense some nearby but I just want to be sure. Our second priority is to find the source of this blizzard and destory it."
Dracula turned to Slyph and she nodded her head. Dracula turned to the Archmystic and she nodded as well. Slyph cleared her mind and steadied her breathing, just in case of danger. She had no staff or implement of any kind, all she had was her hooves and her magic and nothing else. Slyph waited for an order and Dracula said, "We will search the Market District first."
Dracula stood up promptly and drew his menacing sword. The silver blade shimmered even in the haze of the blizzard, he held it in one hoof and in the other a pale blade materialized out of nowhere. When both swords were drawn he used his magic to pull up his hood, the hood had a red aura over it; as was his horn. Before his face was hidden behind a veil of dark shadows she saw the menacing black scar over his right eye.
Dracula commanded, "Stay close and don't let your mind wander. Hyrus is near."
They advanced through the empty streets and the cold air did nothing to alleviate the bleakness and the ominous feelings it gave off. Every shadow hidden behind the haze of ice and snow. Their hoofsteps resounded in Slyph's hypersensitive predatorial ears. The creaking of oak as the signs ominously swayed back and forth in the chilling breeze. Slyph had never once felt the bone chilling cold that a mortal felt, she was born a Vampire. She started to remember when she was being raised by her mother, Blissful Dawn. She was originally the Vampire Original but she had gotten into an accident that caused her horn to break. She could still cast weaker spells, but she did not have enough power to keep her position as Original. She had twins and Nightdancer got to take the title of Original considering she showed better control of magic. But then she remembered her sister's death. The scene fresh in her eyes. She remembered how powerless she felt and how she had just fallen under that monster, Marrok.
Yes
She felt cold sorrow grip her heart and despair set in on her soul. Slyph looked around hysterically, frantically trying to find the others. They were gone. Why would they abandon her?
They abandoned you because they think you are weak. Think of you as insignificant.
Slyph moved her head quickly trying to find the scource of the voice. Her vision filled with dark ebony shadows. Her ears echoing with that deep reverberating voice. It shook the foundation of her soul with every word spoken. She saw the silhouette of a pony, standing tall and firm in a cloud of leeching shadows, obscuring any definitive features. She felt herself shrink underneath his gaze, she proclaimed angerly to the shade, "They have not abandoned me, they would never do such a thing!"
The shadow lifted an empty hoof and a large ethereal orb appeared and showed a scene of Dracula and Spectra moving through the settlement without her, not even a stroke of sympathy upon their faces. Slyph had let despair encase her, it constricted her and she fell to her knees and listened as the shade slowly advanced to her,
Because you know them so well? If you are as powerful as they say you are, then why haven't you received a promotion? You are kept back because they think you are weak.
Her voice faltered as despair constricted her voice, "No...they...they wouldn't...they...I...I'm needed..."
The shade stood tall in front of her and he was still cloaked in shadows. He brought the picture closer to her and he stated,
Are you?
She felt all her strength leave her, she felt so insignificant that nothing could save her. She felt broken down and tossed away. Almost an entire year of work, gone. She felt her essence being drained away. Her vision grew darker and she collapsed to her knees as her strength receded. Her eyes struggled to stay open she muttered to herself as she felt her life essence being drained out of her, "No....they....I...love....them..."
Her conscience slipped away and the last thing she heard was the voice that said,
Yes. Let despair over come you. Forfeit your mind to my powers, for I have craved it for so long. She cannot stop me this time.
