//------------------------------//
// Chapter 0 - Now She Is Become Death 
// Story: The Nightguard - Sunset 
// by Dark Vessel 
//------------------------------//

Long ago, centuries before the great winter that befell the 3 pony kingdoms, the small hamlet of New Dawn rested on the outskirts of unicorn territory. A peaceful village, mainly focused on extraction of magically-reactive gemstones from the nearby caves, this unassuming town was soon to be the birthplace of the most ancient battle known to ponykind.

Darkness coated the land as the jeweled sky of night shone overhead, as a group of 3 mares were gathered at a door. The mare within sighed, rubbing her eyes. "Sorry girls, i'd join you, but... I haven't slept well the last few days... I just want to get some sleep at this point" Amber stated with a grimace and yawn, glancing in a nearby candle-lit mirror to view her eyes - heavy bags beneath them. One of her visitors frowned, stating "That's a shame... You've been like this for the last few weeks. Maybe you're coming down with something?"

Amber frowned, stating "No, I don't think it's that... Just some recurring dreams that have been interrupting my sleep for the last few weeks." softly, before smiling and stating "...Don't let my tiredness stop you from having fun, though. I'll join you again in a week, promise." 

Her friends gave soft smiles at that, nodding as one stated "I'll save some salt for you!", flashing her a grin before turning to leave. The mare sighed, finally closing the door as she stepped into her house, muttering "...Damned nightmares... Oh well...", starting to walk back to her bedroom as she glanced through her house. Everything was where it should be, at least. Maps. Her latest news-report on international politics. Her mirror with a--

She blinked and paled, yelping out and immediately focusing on the mirror. Within, she saw a being that had haunted her dreams for the past few weeks. A shapeless, amorphous mass of shadows, it hovered behind her soundlessly as it spoke in a whisper "How long do you intend to tolerate these nuisances? Feeling entitled to your time...". Amber tensed, before relaxing as a purple mist began to pour from behind her eyes - the physical signs of a dark-magic takeover the beast had been orchestrating in her sleep for weeks

"I... You know what? You're right. They should know better!" she exclaimed, the being hissing "Yes... Their friendship for you has been a lie all along. You've had to rely on these 'friendships' for too long, Amber..." The being chuckled as her eyes began to glow green next, her irises turning a deep red - she had already fallen to it now, it only had to go through the motions. "...You're right..." she replied with a shiver, looking down before the creature's form suddenly expanded, as it hissed "I can give you the strength to abandon them... To make them pay... Just let it happen, and we will become one."

At that moment, the creature gave a screech, surging into the mare's horn and immediately flowing down the ducts within. She gasped, widening her eyes and straightening, yet did not fight it, as her eyes quickly turned completely black. If one could see into her mind, they could see the innate magical ability and skill she possessed fighting a losing battle on pure instinct against the invader, rapidly failing as another personality overtook her. Quickly, she gained a grin, starting to laugh maniacally as a black liquid seemed to coalesce around her, forming into the shape of a massive alicorn mare moments later, her horn bent back as her irises shone a bright white.

"AT LAST... AT LONG, LONG LAST! A HOST! A VESSEL FOR MY POWER!" she screamed, her horn flashing as a tremendous explosion destroyed the house she was within, ponies turning to look in shock and horror as she lit up her horn again "THE AGE OF LIGHT HAS ENDED! THE AGE OF LIFE, HAS ENDED! NOW, DARKNESS WILL REIGN!" she screeched before giving another maniacal laugh, her horn flashing brightly.



Dream Weaver finally blinked, gasping as he turned off the spell he had been using to peer into the realm of the Spirit of Knowledge. She had invited him to peer into her knowledge of the near future for reasons unknown - at least, until now. He panted heavily, resting his hooves upon the central stone of his rune-matrix as he trembled in shock and fear, exclaiming "...What!? But... How... What am I supposed to do!?"

No reply came, the wind whistling through the grass that surrounded his custom-built rune array