//------------------------------//
// Chapter 5 Bad News 
// Story: Heart Of Darkness 
// by Fanskapet 
//------------------------------//


It had been a very slow hour going by just sitting in the room, going by the old grandfather clock chiming at one of the walls, not daring to go outside the room, risking upsetting the guards anymore than she already had, sighing as she stared up in the ceiling, with her leathery wings spread out under her, having already looked and inspected every centimetre of her wings about 20 minutes ago.

*knirrr*

"Apologies, that took way longer than I thought it would." Scourge said as he walked inside, turning his mask clad face towards her, shutting the door behind and walking towards her stopping next to the bed.
"But atleast it seems you are feeling better and I heard Snaggletooth came by."

"Yes,I ... asked for some more eh blood." Scratching her neck as she sat up carefully folding her big leathery wings behind her.

"Still uncomfortable about it? don't worry my dear *cough* you will get the feel for it soon enough." he said stroking her shoulder with a hoof, tracing it downward to put it against her chest.

"Seems he also took care of *cough* your chest, hope he didn't do it to roughly, he has always had a bit of a violent streak."

"Oh it wasn't to bad, it was just ehm surprising to be forced down on my back." She answered feeling a bit uncomfortable under his touch.

"I will take it up with him when I see him, but for now it seems we have to speed this up, seems Equestria is brewing and ready to erupt any day now." He said letting his hoof fall to the floor again.

"Erupting? what do you mean?" Tilting her head in question.

"Well I will be brief with you, 29 days ago a princess of Equestria was assassinated in her castle, ever since it happened the unicorns of Canterlot has blamed the earth ponies in Ponyville for letting her die."

"But what could they have done if it was an assassin?"

"Nothing of course, but sadness and fear will push logic away."

"But that is not all, even the pegasi of Cloudsdale has begun to fume, blaming both earth ponies and unicorns of not being good enough guards for Equestria and has begun to consider reforming the old brigades to keep Equestria safe."

"Oh .....that is terrible! but what does all this have to do with me?"

"Well, I will need you to help with a few plans to ensure stability, it is true me and my associates will be able to act more safely when the tribes all blame each other, but it is not only the higher ups of the tribes that uses this instability to get what they want, I expect gryphons and changelings will begin to encroach on Equestrian territories." He said in one go, causing him to break down into a series of violent coughs again.

"Oh uh there there." Twilight winced as she patted him on the back.

"Hrm thanks, I will not lie I am seeking to gain some ... things for myself and I do apologise but I am desperate and you are one of my last hopes."

"W-what do you mean?"

"I will have you trained and ready to use your body once more." he said causing her to blush slightly and give him an uncomfortable look.

"Not in that way!" he barked.

"Oh but eh what about the princesses uh Celes? Luntar? I-i can't really remember."

"Close, it is princess Luna and princess Celestia, but the admiration and respect for them have dwindled since Tirek almost took over Equestria, that and that they were not present during Discords return are factors in this... conflict, but I think they are doing their best to try and keep Equestria from erupting into a civilwar."

"Wait I remember those names, something about a long dragonlike creature and a... centaur?"

"That is correct and its draconequi." He nodded clearing his throat as he saw her scrunching up her face trying her hardest to remember.

"But it is unimportant who is what, come follow me I have someone you should meet, she will teach you and make you understand your vampirism......again." He said, as he held out his hoof helping Twilight down from the bed.