//------------------------------//
// Corruption 
// Story: Elements of Revival 
// by ChivalrythePegasus 
//------------------------------//

	I had hoped that it would not come down to this.  I had hoped that they would not see me for my flaws, that they would not see my weaknesses, my frailties.  Especially in a situation like this.  I never told them the truth, it would have torn us apart...
"Morning....rise.....Morning...rise... Morningrise!"  The blur of words finally became clear to Morningrise as his eyes began to open and he slowly became more aware of his surroundings.  He was in his chambers, and directly in front of him were Chivalry and Virtue.  Virtue was much closer, trying to get the attention of Morningrise.  
"Oh, Morningrise, thank Celestia you're okay!"  Virtue said, looking to the still dazed alicorn.
"Wha...What happened?"  Morningrise began to stand up, but was stopped by Chivalry.
"You still need to regain your strength, we thought we lost you.  Saving Hope must have taken your energy out of you."  Chivalry said, putting a firm hoof on Morningrise's haunch.  Morningrise looked to Chivalry, and nodded.
"Wait, Hope?"  Morningrise began, looking to Virtue this time for a response.  She nodded, looking to Morningrise with a thankful gaze.
"Yes, my sister. You saved her life.  She, no we, owe you our gratefulness."  She said, looking to the still resting alicorn.
"Well, it's just what I do, no need to thank me for what I have done, it is simply a matter of courtesy."  Morningrise responded wittingly.
"Well I am glad to see you've still got your sarcasm, Celestia knows that's the most important thing to us here." Chivalry responded, getting a laugh out of the other 2 ponies.  The laughter was interrupted by a knocking at the door.
"That's strange, I thought I specifically ordered no visitors until you were completely recuperated."  Chivalry said, trotting slowly over to the door.  Now that his helm was off, his hair was visible, glowing a reflective silver that would shine in the light.   Virtue's hair also was visible, showing a light blue color, significantly longer than Chivalry's.  Chivalry looked into the keyhole, then turned to Virtue.
"It's Hope, I'm here to check on Morningrise." The noise from the other side of the door sounded before Chivalry could tell Virtue.  The two looked at each other, then Virtue spoke.
"Go ahead and let her in."  She said, immediately receiving a nod from Chivalry.  He trotted back to the door, biting the handle and opening the door.  Immediately, Morningrise noticed the runed markings running up and down her body.  Hope walked in and bowed to Morningrise.  
"Hello, noble alicorn."  She said, keeping her head bowed purely out of respect.  Morningrise stood from the ground and lifted her head.
"There is no reason for such formalities, just call me Morningrise"  He said, the two sharing a good laugh before Hope turned to the others, who were as concerned about the rune markings as Hope was.  
"As you can see, Morningrise and I have a lot to figure out about this, so if you don't mind..."  Hope said, getting a nod from Chivalry and Virtue.
"We understand, you two try to get this figured out and let us know what's going on." Chivalry said, walking with Virtue out of the room.  The door shut, and Morningrise immediately turned to Hope, smirking.
"This isn't about the runes is it?"
Chivalry and Virtue entered the foyer, bringing the new survivor pegasi to the door.
"Now, we will show you the patrol routes, we need as much watch on this place as we can."  Chivalry began, dividing up the group into two smaller groups, and assigning one to himself and one to Virtue.  They took the groups around the patrol areas, passing the mountain ranges and chasms that surrounded Seclusion.  They brought the groups around, meeting at the middle.  Suddenly, Chivalry stopped, looking out into the distance.  The others did not notice and nearly shot by him.  They screeched to a stop, looking at the solemn Pegasus.
"Oh no....." 
Morningrise looked to Hope, who was standing right next to him.
"Was it really that obvious that the runes weren't what I needed from you?"  Hope said, looking to the alicorn.  He looked back at her, immediately realizing that she knew of his affliction.
"How do you know of my... my"  Morningrise began, Hope immediately interrupting.
"Demonic Possession... Textbook."  She slid a book out from her satchel.  "You know, you have quite a bit of reading time when you can't go past your city's walls."  Morningrise sighed, his haunches drooping and his ears dropping.  He looked back at her.
"It was years before all of this happened.  When I was a student under my teacher, I dabbled in nearly everything, and I saw a book.  A book very similar to the one sitting here."  He nudged the book back towards Hope.  "The book had an evil incantation."  Morningrise began, levitating the book and opening it.  A skull appeared in shadow in front of the book.  "I read a sentence, and before I knew what I had done, it was too late.  Since then, we have been too preoccupied with our survival and I have been too weary of telling others to get my affliction banished."  The book abruptly shut, the look of fear in Hope's face dissipating quickly.  She shook out of her shock, nodding.
"Well, now you have got me."  Hope said, nudging Morningrise on the haunch, managing to force a smile out of Morningrise.  Then, he turned to her, serious.
"You must promise to tell this to nopony, not even Virtue."  Morningrise immediately said, getting a nod out of Hope.
"I swear on the name of my father, Lightningstrike."  Hope said, getting a confident look out of Morningrise.  The two began to walk out of the door, stopped by Chivalry busting through the same door.
"Morningrise, we have a problem."
Outside, the sky was beginning to become dark again.  In the very distance, the fires of evil creatures could be seen.  Chivalry trotted to Morningrise, giving his report.
"They are quickly closing, we don't have much choices, we definitely don't have the capabilities to fight them yet."  Chivalry said, getting no response from Morningrise, who was still deep in thought.  Finally, after a few moments of silence, he spoke.
"I need all of the Unicorns on me now."  Morningrise said.  The group of unicorns huddled around Morningrise, as he spoke commandingly.
"I need you all to channel your energy into my spell, together we can drive them back."  Morningrise got a rallying cry from the unicorns, as he dropped his head.  The spell began, the other unicorns putting their all into the spell, but to no avail.  Morningrise pushed himself harder and harder, just not quite enough magic.... just not strong enough.  He began to think of his teacher, his friends, his life, then, a spurt of magic.  A massive bubble erupted from the source, making a shroud around Seclusion, concealing it completely.  The enemies stopped, the unicorns wavered, but kept their footing.  The enemies turned.
"They're leaving!"  Chivalry shouted, a cheer coming from the pegasi and everypony standing around.  But Morningrise simply stood there.  Unknown to anypony else, he had lost.  It had taken over.