My son, the day you were born the very forests of Equestria whispered the name. Shadow .
My child, I watched with pride as you grew into a weapon, of darkness.
We both have stared into the Abyss itself, and lived to tell the tale.
And I know when we meet on the field of battle that you will show no restraint when exercising your great power.
But the truest victory my son. Is stirring the hearts of your comrades.
I tell you this, for when my days have come to an end.
You shall be the Lord of Shadows.
This is not the Equestria you know. This is not one where friends and happiness filled the land with no sense of darkness. No sense of true dread and terror. For their must always be a darkness to face. Though there are great similarities, they are not the same.
This is an Equestria where it is engulfed in fantasy and magic. And that some legends are not always embodiments of good. In this book there lives two societies, the Children of the Day that would live peacefully and happily. But there lives deep within the Everfree Forest the secretive Children of the Night, ponies of darkness and mystery. This is a tale of shadows, tragedy and blood. Bonds will be broken and friendships will be tested. In the end one will stand tall...
Song "Children Of The Night Owned By Duo Cartoonist
A Shadow Of A Nightmare Production
A ProjectSonicX9 Release
Enjoy...
It was midnight, and Twilight all but slept peacefully and quietly in her bed. It had been heavily raining during the night, drawing forth dark emotions none should bear on themselves. Twilight dreamt of horrid things, dark beings of pure shadow with blood dripping down their gaping muzzles. Creations not meant for the pony psyche, let alone the dreamscape of one such as herself.
Twilight tossed and turned, trying with all her might to banish the evil creatures from her mind. They had uttered no sound and made no breaths. As if to add insult to injury there was a soft voice repeating the lines of a dark poem in her mind. Finally her fidgeting and rustling came to a stop as she shot up with a sharp gasp. She looked around her room and saw nothing but darkness and the shadows that were cast from the droplets slowly falling down her window. She controlled her breathing as she got out of her bed. She stared up at the shining and beautiful full moon that covered the sky. Staring long into the moon, she could remember Luna silently singing in her dream.
Follow sweet children I'll show thee the way. Through all the pain and the sorrows
Twilight hoped to find some hidden answer behind the lines that repeated in her mind but came up with nothing. Why had she received this dream? What did it mean?. She elicited a sigh of disappointment as she turned her head away from the moon, and looked towards Spike who was sound asleep in his little bed on the floor. A brief smile spread across Twilight's face as she watched the purple dragon sleep.
She drew in a deep breath as she lit a candle with her magic. As the small flame came to life she hovered it close to herself, hoping to expel any unseen shadows that would dare harm her. She quietly found her way downstairs, the only sound to be heard was the quiet clopping of her hooves. She carefully placed the candle on the top of the bookshelf. She glanced over the titles of many books. 'High Seas: Reference Guide to the Waters of Equestria', 'Myths and Legends of Equestria', 'The Arcanic Shift: What is it?'. Twilight found many more titles like those, many far fetched titles that Twilight would not catch herself reading at all. She enjoyed books that were written about something practical, however she did always enjoy a good book by Rick Riordan. That pony could write a good book. She slowly shook her head and focused back on finding what she needed for answers.
Finally she had found the book she was looking for and all it said about children of the night was a poem that read,
Come little children I'll take thee away,
Into a land of enchantment,
Come little children the time's come to play,
Here in my garden of shadows.
Follow sweet children I'll show thee the way,
Through all the pain and the sorrows,
Weep not poor children for life is this way,
Murdering beauty and passions.
Hush now dear children it must be this way,
To weary of life and deceptions.
Rest now my children for soon we'll away,
Into the calm and the quiet.
Come little children I'll take thee away,
Into a land of enchantment,
Come little children the time's come to play,
Here in my garden of shadows.
Reading the dark words on the page sent a shiver through her spine. But as she read on Twilight found out that the Children of the Night apparently were ponies that instead of worshiping Celestia, Goddess of the Sun. Worshiped Luna, Goddess of Moon. That was all that was written in the book, the poem and then that. Nothing more.
Twilight felt wrong to read this and uncomfortable to think about it. The words of the poem repeated in her head. Over and over again. All of a sudden she heard the hoof steps in a hallway nearby.
Twilight's heart raced as she called out into the night, "Who...who goes there?"
As if expecting an answer she stood waiting for a reply. Nothing but the sound of rain against wood. But Twilight walked in the direction of the hoof steps. Holding onto the candle with her magic she crept through the shadows. Moving past the stairs and to a hallway that extended straight into the kitchen and two adjoining rooms. Twilight looked around the corner and saw nothing beyond the field of vision that was given to her by the candle.
Twilight heard the hoof steps again but it was much louder. It sounded like it came from one of the rooms in the hallway. She looked into the room and saw nothing but a single mirror. A mirror that was not there before. She walked over to it and looked at her reflection. A purple mare unicorn with a messy mane and tired eyes. Her coat was rough and course.
After minutes of staring at herself she was about to walk away when her shape in the mirror changed. It swirled into the form of Princess Luna. She wanted to scream but she could not because fear had gripped her vocal chords and she could not move or make a sound. The Princess stared into her soul and said in her mind,
"Twilight Sparkle, you must remember the poem. My Children will arise soon and with it a dark shadow to be cast upon this land. You must resist. But none can resist the lure of the dark."
The Princess' face smirked and dark mist began to envelop Twilight and she could not move or speak. The mist fully engulfed her and her vision blackened and she heard Luna say, "Here in my garden of shadows."
"Geez Twilight if you didn't like my stories you should have said so." Rarity said as she worked in her boutique. Twilight awoke and she was panting again. She thought to herself.
Okay this has to be reality now
Rarity stopped to look over at Twilight and lowered her head to look past her glasses. Her face said it all, she was troubled by something. Rarity said, "Do you have something on your mind darling? While you slept you mumbled to yourself and shifted most often."
Twilight thought for a moment, she thought to herself if Rarity deserved to know. Well, she was a unicorn and its because of that, that she somewhat deserves to know. She hasn't seen Pinkie, Fluttershy, or Applejack in a while so she might be the only one to tell. Well, Rainbow Dash was around but she can be a little judgmental. So, Rarity might be the only one who understands.
Twilight sighed heavily and explained, "For the past week and a half I have been receiving vicious nightmares that has plagued me for all hours during the day…"
"You too?" Rarity said stopping what she was doing and looked at Twilight wide eyed.
Twilight returned the expression and said, "You mean...you have heard this, Weep not poor children for life is this way, To weary of life and deceptions?"
Rarity's eyes got even wider and Twilight continued, "Well then, did you have one last night? One where you saw yourself get out of bed walk downstairs and stare into a mirror. Only to see Luna stare back at you and envelop you in black smoke hearing her say Here in my garden of shadows."
Rarity walked over and sat next to Twilight, and tried not look at her in the eyes. Rarity said warily, "I've barely had time to finish some of my latest designs because of these nightmares. And yes, I had one last night exactly like that...What does this mean?"
She finally looked over at Twilight but seeing her downcast face was answer enough for her. All Twilight said was, "I don't know Rarity. But we have to figure this out, one way or another."
Rarity looks back down for a second then looks back up, like she took the time to think. Rarity finally says, "Maybe there is a book at the library that can help us here."
"I don't know Rarity…"
"Darling, it's the only lead we have so far." Rarity said putting her white hoof on Twilight's shoulder. Twilight thought for a moment and then nodded her head and Rarity responded in an equable tone, "Don't worry Twilight we'll figure this out."
Then they both heard the sound of hooves galloping past the boutique. Rarity walks to the door and opens it. Twilight says to Rarity, "What is it Rarity?"
"I don't know," Replied the white unicorn, "But there's only one way to find out. Come on."
They both walked out into the town square and a crowd had gathered around something. Rarity and Twilight found a spot open and they were in the front where they could see what was going on. What everypony gathered around was a dark grey stallion. A unicorn to be more specific. His eyes were bright red and Rarity nudged Twilight and said, "Do you know who this is?"
"No, who is it?" Twilight said.
Rarity looks at her with an astonishing look and said, "Sweetie, you really need to get out more. But that, is VanNatta. The greatest traveling one stallion actor ever born. Hush he's starting."
Twilight looked back at this VanNatta. He stopped for a moment and finally he said in a deep baritone voice, "Today, what you will see before you will not be a usual act I do. But today I will recite an old poem. All the way back to the founding of Equestria itself."
He paused for another moment. Twilight never was a fan for this kind of thing. But the way that he said his words and how he carried himself around that just made her, enticed. She paid close attention to every move and every breath he made.
Finally continuing to recite in that deep voice,
"Come little children
I'll take thee away, into a land
of Enchantment. Come little children
the time's come to play
here in my garden
of Shadows. Follow sweet children
I'll show thee the way
through all the pain and
the Sorrows. Weep not poor children
for life is this way
murdering beauty and
Passions. Hush now dear children
it must be this way
to weary of life and
Deceptions. Rest now my children
for soon we'll away
into the calm and
the Quiet. Come little children
I'll take thee away, into a land
of Enchantment. Come little children
the time's come to play
here in my garden
of Shadows."
As VanNatta said these words mist began to form around them. As if he was summoning them at will. When he said the final words he held open his hooves and they all saw the shade of a crescent moon. When the mist cleared he had his head bowed. Everypony stomped, everypony except Twilight and Rarity.
Hearing the dark words come from him, he made it sound personal. Like, he knew exactly what he was saying with all of his heart. This was no mere coincidence that VanNatta came to say the poem that day. VanNatta slowly walked away and the crowd dispersed. Twilight and Rarity looked at each other and followed VanNatta. The mist was so thick that they could barely look in front of them.
Chasing VanNatta in the town square they lost him. The mist thickened so much that they could no longer see around them. Then they heard VanNatta howling through wind,
"For I know what you two seek Twilight Sparkle and Rarity."
Twilight tries to look around her but the mist was too thick she called out, "Rarity where are you?"
"I'm fine Twilight don't worry about me. Where are you VanNatta?"
The mist parted and revealed VanNatta. His dark red scarlet eyes stared longingly into the very souls of Rarity and Twilight. He did not move, it didn't even look like he was breathing. VanNatta said, "You wish to know more of the Children of the Night. And of your recurring nightmares."
"How do you know such things?" Rarity says stepping closer.
VanNatta chuckled and replied, "The minds of the Children of the Day are weak. Easy to read, and to manipulate."
Twilight stared long into his red eyes and finally said, "What are you?"
VanNatta smirked and answered, " I am the answers to your prayers. Both of you. I came because my dear sweet Mother told me of your plight. It is sad really, nothing like this has happened in over a thousand years."
Twilight was fear struck. She had a feeling that behind his soothing voice was the voice of treason and deception. Twilight was the only one to answer, "How do we know we can trust you?"
VanNatta's devilish grin slowly dissipated and he said in a neutral tone, "Allow me to answer your question with another question, if you did not trust me then why did you seek me out in the first place?"
There was a long pause between the next spoken words and Twilight thought of VanNatta's words. He had a point, if she didn't believe what he was saying she wouldn't have come talk to him.
Rarity said, "You didn't answer our question though."
VanNatta said in response, "Allow me to explain everything to you. Long ago when Celestia and Luna ruled Equestria and its inhabitants, there lived long everlasting peace. All seemed fine and no evil to speak of. Luna, Goddess of the Moon, knew that evil must always exist in Equestria. So, she decided that she will have her own worshippers. These would become known as the Children of the Night. But once she talked to Celestia about the idea she cast it aside and dropped the matter for all eternity. Broken by her sister's words she defied her sister and made the Children of the Night.
"And for years the Children of the Night lived in harmony with the Children of the Day. Non existent, but in harmony none the less. But not long after that a darkness swept over the land and fought its inhabitants. For years the Children of the Night kept the darkness at bay, but were ultimately defeated. The darkness did not want to wipe out the Children of the Night but merely twist them into something they weren't. All of the creatures of the night Werewolves, Vampires, Phantoms and so on are these corrupted ponies. They did not want to be pure evil, that the darkness made them. When Princess Luna heard of this she was outraged, so much so that she blamed the Children of the Day and Princess Celestia for her children's corruption.
"Thus Nightmare Moon was born and I'm pretty sure you know the rest. And now she flies through the night trying desperately to call her children with the poem, but every night it is no use."
Twilight and Rarity couldn't believe what they had heard. They thought Luna turned into Nightmare Moon on purpose out of spite for her sister. They couldn't help but feel sorry for Luna, all she wanted were loyal ponies to follow her. But this still doesn't explain the nightmares. Rarity said letting go of fear, "But how does this explain the nightmares?"
VanNatta walked closer to them and motioned for them to stand in front of the statue of Celestia. He said lowering his head, "For Luna made a prophecy that one day two unicorns of the Children of the Day will receive nightmares and this will tell all the Children of the Night that they were to be trusted in helping rescue their land."
Twilight rubs her chin with her hoof and says, "So, are you one of the Children of the Night?"
VanNatta nodded his head and lowered it back down. He explained in a depressed tone, "I am the only Child of the Night that left at the first sign of an invasion. I tried to warn my people but they were determined that they could stop the invasion. I am the only uncorrupted Child of the Night. Luna does not know of my existence. I changed my name and travelled through Equestria for over one thousand years looking for the two unicorns."
Rarity being the element of generosity comforted VanNatta. She rested her hoof on his shoulders and said, "I am so sorry. I can't even begin to think about how hard it must be for you."
VanNatta rubbed his hoof off and said, "I didn't come here for your sympathy. I came here to gather you two to help me retake my home."
Twilight was ready to help a pony in need but she needed to know something first. She said,"Now hold on. We don't even know where to start looking."
VanNatta looked as if he knew the answer to that question. He stood up and pointed his hoof towards the Everfree forest and said, "We start at the castle where Luna and Celestia first lived. I will give you two until tomorrow night to get ready."
VanNatta then enveloped himself in black mist and floated away on the wind taking the other mist with him, revealing the bright and sunny day they had forgotten about. Twilight looked over at Rarity and said, "Rarity, come with me to the library."
Rarity said nothing but she followed Twilight back to the library. On their way there they did not say a word, not to raise any suspicion. Finally Rarity walked inside and Twilight behind her. Before Twilight closed the door she looked left and right, no pony paid any attention to them. She went inside and closed the door.
Twilight found Rarity staring at her when she turned around. Her eyes were wide and she said, "We have to help VanNatta."
The words hung awkwardly in the air for a moment and finally Twilight said," I don't know Rarity, I don't think I entirely trust VanNatta."
"Even after all he had to say, "Rarity said defensively, "After all his explaining, you don't believe him?"
Rarity still looked at Twilight with her big dark blue eyes. Twilight couldn't explain it but she didn't trust him. Twilight says breathing out a heavy sigh, "It's not that I don't believe him, he seemed genuine...I just...I don't think he's telling us everything."
Rarity as well sighed heavily and said, "I'm pretty sure there was a lot he isn't telling us, darling. But sometimes you just have to have a little faith. Plus, this could be a chance to convince Celestia that the Children of the Night are a good thing."
Twilight turned away from Rarity and thought for a long while. Rarity was right however, he seemed distraught and lost. Over a thousand years he wandered Equestria finding the two ponies to help him find and save his family. Plus, she had unanswered questions needing an answer. She turned back towards Rarity and said, "Alright, I'm in."
At that moment they both heard a loud yawn and saw Spike come down the stairs slowly saying, "Twilight, sorry I took a nap but I just needed it and...Wait, why didn't YOU TELL ME RARITY WAS HERE!"
He rushed back upstairs, probably to spruce himself up. He always did that when Rarity was around. Twilight shook her head and looked over at Rarity. Rarity just looked over at Twilight and shrugged.
Twilight shouted up the stairs and said, "SPIKE! We're going away for a while. Rarity needs help delivering some of her dresses to Canterlot. We'll probably be back in a few nights."
They received no answer but the sound of shuffling through a dresser drawer. Twilight looks over at Rarity and says trying not to get Spike's attention, "Get your things ready. We will leave tomorrow night."
Rarity nods her head and begins to leave when Rainbow Dash comes crashing in from the ceiling. Twilight looks at the hole in the ceiling and says, "Rainbow Dash, why can't you just use the door like everyone else."
Rainbow smiled and said, "Yeah, but where's the fun in that. So, what's going on?"
Rarity and Twilight looked at each other and they didn't say a word. Whether it was from fear or shock, they did not know. Twilight finally said after a moment of awkward silence.
"Rarity needs help delivering some dresses to a client in Canterlot."
"Well, I could always come with…"Rainbow explained until Rarity interrupted and said,"No, that won't be necessary. I already asked Twilight and it is only a two mare job."
The way she explained it, raised suspicion. Rainbow Dash was never a fool and not one to lie to. Lying to Rainbow Dash was like a death sentence. Twilight shot a look at Rarity telling her that she answered too suddenly. Rainbow looked at both Rarity and Twilight who put on grins as Rainbow looked at them.
Rainbow Dash stared long into their eyes, as if she saw something was up. For that moment Rarity and Twilight thought that they were going to have to explain everything. But she slowly removed her gaze saying, "Alright, if you need anything. You know where to find me."
Rainbow flapped her wings and lifted off shattering yet another hole in the roof. When she was out of sight Twilight and Rarity blew out a sigh of relief.
VanNatta has seen many nights like this, with his long existence on this world. Dark and foreboding but there was nothing that traversed Equestria that VanNatta has not seen face to face. VanNatta stood on a cliff overlooking Ponyville. Like a shadow on the moon, he starred long with his red eyes that nearly glowed from the darkness that his hood had given him.
Long had he stared at Ponyville and all throughout that time he remembered the conversation he had with Rarity and Twilight. He thought perhaps he had given them more time than they needed or he might not have found the right two mentioned in the prophecy,
No, that's impossible. They received the nightmares. They had to be the ones to bring back the Children of the Night.
VanNatta slowly pulled away his gaze from Ponyville and looked up at Canterlot. For so long he had thought of approaching his dear Mother, but he couldn't risk Princess Celestia finding out that he was still alive. He loved his Mother too much to do something so selfish like that.
But from all of this remembering and his continuing gaze upon Canterlot he could remember when his Mother had found him. On a similar night,
I was within a deep sleep. One of which could not be disturbed from mere outside noises. A sleep where great peace assailed anyone who was within it. But something had woken me up. At first I had thought it was some mare singing in the streets. But as I listened closely to the words, it was no regular mare. It was the enchanting voice of the dear Princess Luna.
I opened the window in my room and saw a bright shining light beckoning me to fly away. I saw her fly above the buildings of Canterlot and dance along the streets like a shadow. She set her gaze upon me and all I can remember after that were the words she said,"Follow sweet children I'll show thee the way, through all the pain and sorrows."
I remember waking in a strange and dark place. I looked around and saw I was the only one with consciousness, the only one out of at least twelve others. I walked outside and it was night but it had felt different. Like the shadows had shown me something no pony could merely teach. I found a small pool of water and splashed my face with the cold liquid that was as dark as night. I stared at my reflection and saw a different pony. I was no longer Silverdawn. No, my mane was now jet black complimenting the dark grey coat.
But what really stood out were my shimmering scarlet red eyes. I turned to see what my cutie mark was and it had changed to what looked like a lunar crescent stained with blood. I then broke my stare when a shadowy figure approached behind me. I nearly jumped and I used a spell I never known before, where shadows lashed out like a sharp blade but the figure turned into a shade and reformed when the blade of shadow dissipated.
I saw standing over me was dear Mother, Princess Luna. I did nothing but bow and she said,"Thou doesn't need to bow to his Mother."
Luna brought her hoof out and lifted my head and continued to say in her spellbinding and soothing voice, "You need not worry my child. Thou art in a better place. A place where thou are more than a shadow upon the wall. A place where thine are more than a regular unicorn."
She motioned for me to walk with her and so I did. Her coat made of a dark navy blue glistened in the moonlight. Her flowing mane of pure twilight glowed with unimaginable beauty. She explained as we walked through a deep forest, one of which I knew not."You are now so much more. Thou art a new breed, to fully enjoy the beauty of my nights."
"And what is that?"I asked with a new voice as well, it was deeper toned and I liked it, it expounded upon my new look and amplified the fear that followed after I spoke. The Princess was unfazed by the question, she continued to walk through the night and darkness and said in the same soothing and comforting voice,
"Thou art a Vampire. A new creation of mine, you feed off of the magic of other unicorns, the first of your kind. Thine powers include amplifying the ability to reshape darkness, meld with shadows, turn into mist, drain the magic from another unicorn, average unicorn spells, controlling light sources, and more as you must discover on your own, my child. But I shall show thee the way. For you shall be the first Child of the Night."
Luna had stopped as she looked at a castle of some kind. It had a dark atmosphere to it as well as shine through the night and outside the castle walls were homes. Houses where more Children of the Night would rest during the day. It was not quite heaven but it was beautiful all the same. A new place that I could call home.
I smiled and said, "What is this place?"
Luna looked down at me with her large blue eyes and said in her always soothing voice, "It shall not have an official name but thou can refer to it as the Shadow Garden…"
A noise broke VanNatta's remembrance, a dark howling wind. A voice was carried on it, "Come and meet your doom vampire."
VanNatta looked behind him and saw nothing but the beautiful night his Mother had given him. His horn glowed with red energy and as did his eyes, this allowed him to see more clearly in the dark and saw nothing but Ponyville, the shadow of Canterlot and farther away he could see the edge of the Everfree Forest. Besides that, nothing. No ponies or creatures that lurked in the shadows he was gifted in seeing through. He stopped the spell and his eyes returned to their normal red color. He stared at the edge of the forest and all he had to say for that night was,
"Truly Mother, guard me and help me against the darkness that I will face ahead. And protect Twilight and Rarity."
VanNatta went back to staring up at Canterlot and saw what he was waiting to see. He waited to see his Mother swoop from her balcony in the castle and fly through the night singing and looking for her children. It was so hard to resist the urge of wanting to return to his Mother, but he again could not. I has taken him years to master in resisting the call of his Mother.
VanNatta could not explain it but there was something to the way she sang the poem. VanNatta had sung it many times and it brought no one. He has even used magic to compel people to follow him, but alas did not have the same result. It brought no one. VanNatta could compel ponies to do his deeds but could not stay loyal to him. He has tried reading something about the poem but found nothing. It is a mystery how she can convince many people to follow her with unconditional love.
VanNatta then slowly broke his gaze from Canterlot to the horizon and saw that is was almost dawn. Normal vampire myths say that vampires burn in the sun. VanNatta doesn't, he was just forbidden to ever see it because he might want to worship Celestia instead of his Mother.
He then turned away from the rising sun and went into a dark cave in the side of a mountain. Soon nothing could be seen but the darkness that swallowed VanNatta.