Crimson Night

“Ugh...Luna? Celestia? What's going on?” Twilight asked. She felt weird, like a great power was dripping into her. She looked at her IV that would normally have the bright scarlet of Celestia's blood, but it had the odd colored mix.

“Who's blood is this?” she asked.

“It is of all the delegates.” Celestia started and explained the discussion. When she finished Twilight looked like she was going to start yelling. She took a large shaky breath and calmed herself by repeating it many times.

“Twilight I'm so sorry...but you would have outright refused.” Celestia said.

“No...no...what's done is done...* sigh * I'll just deal with it...I should have known some of the others would want me stronger...if you would have explained everything to me and given me time I would have done it though...but I suppose that's time we don't have...” Twilight said tiredly.

“Twilight...I beg your forgiveness for my betrayal of your trust...” Celestia said.

“I'll withhold my forgiveness until after all is done, but you could never shatter my trust.” Twilight said. Celestia sighed in relief, but Twilight started to cringe as her entire body pained her. She grunted as her wing extended out of her back of their own volition. Her mind pounded as it tried to adapt to her senses gaining strength suddenly as her body changed ever so slightly. She could feel her skin crawling as her bones shifted and warped and grew.

Suddenly all the pain and odd sensations stopped and her head settled. She could see just as well as Vayne could now. She could hear the creaking of the tree around her and the chirping of the birds. The odd thing was that she could understand what they were saying, it was something about gathering the delicious new food. She felt incredibly light and something soft rested against her back. She looked and found her wings, but they were different. Much different. They were feathered, but not like they were before and not like Celestia's or Luna. They were Angelic and a sleek jet black.

“Might as well test out things associated with the others...” Twilight mumbled as she got to her feet. She thought of Chrysalis and the Changelings first. She thought of Celestia and delved into the power she had minorly discovered before, and she was suddenly white with a flowing mane.

“Well that's Changeling powers...” Celestia said. Twilight turned back and thought of the Phantoms.

“What are the Phantoms best at?” Twilight asked.

“Lord Night is one of the best Necromancers in all the lands. I imagine your skill with it will improve, and the same for anything gem or fire related will be better due to Drake's blood.” Luna rationalized. Twilight sighed and summoned Moon and her Armor. It was effortless. She realized they were small. She took another look at the two Alicorns before her and noticed something shocking. She was taller than Luna and was shoulder to shoulder with Celestia.

“I-I'm an Alicorn now?” Twilight asked.

“Maybe...an Alicorn is a Pony with a horn and wings and commands amazing powers and controls something very important to Equestria. Give me a moment and I can prepare a massive scanning spell to see if I can determine your new abilities.” Celestia proposed. Twilight nodded and Celestia gathered her magic.

“Your Connection to Nature is now on par with the Dryads...your Necromancy rivals that of any other Vampony now...your magic is on par, if not surpasses, with our own...I detect a new primal instinct to fight I normally see in Griffons, I sense a strange connection to crystals and gems. Your new height, and with it speed, may be attributed to the Timber Wolves tall and slim frame...the wings though, I have no explanation for them. All in all, you are more than fit to take on your role as General.” Celestia said.

“I see...I'll have to test everything out and train more...I'll also have to remake the armor, but one of the others must have had a lot of knowledge when it comes to that because I know what to do somehow...I'll be in the caverns if I am needed, but I'd like to be alone for a while...” Twilight said.

“Of course. Take all the time you need.” Celestia said.

“I'm sorry Twilight...I will come down soon so you are not alone whether you like it or now, but I will give you time alone.” Luna said, stepping up to her.

“I know...thanks...Celestia, I'm not particularly mad at you and I completely understand your motives so I forgive you...I'm just a little resentful...I hope it goes away because I hate feeling like this towards you.” Twilight said, kissing Luna and hugging Celestia.

“Thank you Twilight...” Celestia said. Twilight took off out of the balcony, arcing downwards.

“It is done, it worked...but I feel terrible doing it like that. She's taking time to herself to train and think.” Celestia said with a bit of resentment to the others.

“It was the best we can do...while you were up there we decided who of our race will join her in her new extended team.” Chrysalis said. There was a black dragon, slim with red stripes, next to Drake. There was a Dryad that looked remarkably like her Queen next to Rellia. Nocturne was next to Night. Silent Howl and Chrysalis stood alone. A Griffon that looked like Gilda, but with black tips on her feathers with a scar on her cheek, stood next to Wing.

“This is Night Claw, my twin sister.” Gilda introduced the Griffon. “She is a warrior and has been strengthened with the Vampirism stuff.” she continued.

“This is my Kin, Talon. He too has been strengthened with the Vampirism.” Drake introduced the black Dragon.

“I am Illia, Daughter of Rellia.” the Dryad started. “I have no need for the Dark Magics, my Nature Magic does the same duty.” she explained.

“I have taken the corrupted blood.” Howl said, his fangs did look a bit longer.

“As have I.” Chrysalis said.

“Be sure to forget that spell after this war, and we will remove the Vampirism when it is no longer needed from your peoples.” Luna said.

“Why do you get to keep it?” Night asked.

“Because it's not meant for war. It's meant to protect and to save loved ones.” Luna said.

“...I see.” Night replied and dropped it.

“So...all of the teams must be reorganized...We shall call this one Team One. It now consists of Twilight, Vayne, Vlad, Galio, Hecarim, Nocturne, Illia, Talon, Claw, Chrysalis and Howl. What to do with the remainder of Nocturne's team?” Luna asked.

“If it is fine by you, I wish to stay here. Battle was never my skill, I am a healer. I will return to my hut and make it a hospital for any of the injured races.” Zecora said.

“We work well with our team mate, Perhaps joining the teams would be wise?” Varus suggested.

“No...that would create a fourteen man team...it is too large.” Celestia said.

“I have an Idea. This place will soon be known as the Alliance capitol...it will need defenders.” Luna suggested.

“That is true.” Celestia said.

“It is...and we will gladly take it.” Varus said for Mordekaiser and Cassiopia after speaking to them.

“Then it is settled. I will go check on our General. You may all do as you please in Ponyville, the Alliance no longer needs to make decisions.” Luna said. They dispersed as Luna stepped out of the room and down into the caverns. After a few minutes of traversing the maze-like caverns she found something interesting. Large buckets, seemingly made from the roots, were filled with gems and crystals. It looked as if an earthquake had come through and neatly tidied up.

She kept going and saw something amazing. Twilight had black crystal and was using them like armor. Moon too was looking like the black crystals.

“That Gem thing...it's pretty cool.” Twilight said, Luna startled at being known. “I found the strongest Diamonds I could find and then used the shadow steel spell inside of them to harden them...I haven't been able to even crack it yet. I figured out the makeup of the new material and was able to duplicate and shape it like the Steel...Called it Shadow Crystal...” she explained. The helmet was changed, it no longer had a face. It looked like a smooth, ridged wedge which spiked out in a sort of frill. The horn was encased as well.

The Shoulders had the same frill-like pattern of spiked crystal and they arced backwards, as if being blown backwards in a breeze. The body armor had a similar layout as the helmet, but smoothed out gradually as it got closer to her flank.

Moon had gained some length and the blade had elongated. The stave head part of the thing now house a carving of her cutie mark in the circle.

Twilight turned to Luna, setting Moon down from where she was previously training as the crystals that created the wedge in front of her face slid back with a slight 'shink'.

“Whoa...can you control them without magic? I did not see your horn glow.” Luna asked.

“There's a reason the Crystals are black. If you look you can see it moving. It takes power from my Necromancy and Magic combined, which together is nearly unlimited now...” Twilight said. Luna looked closely at the crystals. They looked like clear diamond with murky black shadows coiling around inside. It was very cool.

“I am impressed...how are you taking all of this?” Luna asked.

“Fine I guess...though I still have to get used to this.” Twilight said as her armor almost literally melted into her body.

“That's...interesting...” Luna commented.

“Yeah...I just figured that out actually...I've been testing myself as much as I can and I think I'm actually ok with this...I'm sick of always getting hurt and coming a step away from death every battle...I want to be the one to protect you and Everypony else...not you being my nurse while I recover from fatal injuries...” Twilight said.

“Well we've decided your team...one of each race has been added and what's left of Team One will stay here and guard Ponyville.” Luna explained.

“Remainder?” Twilight asked.

“You'll see.” Luna said and led Twilight back to the Library.