//------------------------------//
// The Quest Begins (Twilight) 
// Story: Shadowland 
// by mocandragon5 
//------------------------------//

It begun, many years ago. Ponyville was the first to fall, creatures of darkness flooded out of the Everfree forest. We barely got out. Sadly, Fluttershy was taken by surprise, living so close to the forest she wasn't expecting it. She is still alive, yes, but life might not be a good description of it. She shows what can happen to us if we let down our guard, and I hope I never have to see her again.

We were driven back into major cities: Canterlot, Manehattan, et cetera. These cities were large enough to afford a guard force. Even now we are attacked weekly by a group of vampires, equuswolves, spirits or demonic creatures we have never seen before. Each attack, our force dwindles. Some become undead forces, or they just lose their life.

Now, we must return our blows, show our determination. We will not lose now. We will not stand down. We will reclaim our land from these creatures.

I remember the night we had decided upon our course of action. It was a night of the full moon, we were fighting off the newest assault of equuswolves. I was sitting in one of the many rooms of the castle, a group of older soldiers with me as we decided upon a course of action. Manehattan was falling, but we'd have to send help, through the deadly plains and woods; ravaged towns and fallen strongholds.

I volunteered myself to lead the support group, my magic probably being able to fend off the majority of beasts. My remaining friends volunteered themselves as well, which I was glad about for a few mere moments before I thought of the multitude of possible occurrences which could negatively affect them. They were resolute, however. I gave in and we prepared to leave.

I had packed various weapons to fight off the abominations: an iron cross, a bow with silver-tipped arrows to be given to Rainbow Dash and swords for various soldiers. I also packed many scrolls for recording discoveries and sending them back.

We met up near the entrance: Myself, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie and Rarity. We then headed to join the battle against the encroaching wolves.

Their number seemed to keep increasing, small groups joining in on the assault. Sadly, I had to bare witness to one guard being struck down and convulsions overtake his body as his form began to change. I ran up to him and knocked him to the ground with a heavy hit from a sword. Rainbow Dash turned to the wolf who had infected him, letting an arrow loose. It struck home. The wolf fell with a thud as its form changed to that of a white unicorn stallion with a blue mane. The gash was where she left it, but instead of normal scarlet ichor, it had a darker, more sinister tint.

Rending my eyes from the shape, I barely managed to dodge a strike from another wolf, aided by a guard who thrust his sword out to block the strike. He then called another guard to strike the wolf down.

Their numbers by now had stopped increasing, though I couldn't count how many wolves there were. The idea of sneaking out in the chaos crossed my mind, but no. Manehattan was about to fall and I couldn't let Canterlot go the same way. I delved deep inside me for powerful magicks to strike the horde down, despite being magical creatures they still felt the effects of magic but at a lesser level.

I knocked down a few wolves, harming them but not killing them. Some guards swarmed upon the fallen wolves as my friends continued to work at getting rid of the beasts. Pinkie, even in this gloomy time, still used party cannons to fight her battles, the art of distraction being a useful one. Rarity following the distraction idea, using gems to distract the wolves. Rainbow was shooting wolves with her silver arrows and retrieving them from the corpses, their silver tips dripping in paranormal ichor.

This carried on for a couple of hours, the sheer number of them making it a challenge. After the battle was done, I gathered up some of the soldiers, telling them of our mission. Within the hour, we left. The old train station was located just outside the new walls of the city, due to the creatures using it during the early days, before it was destroyed. We decided to look inside the old building, seeing if we could find any resources. We found discarded walking sticks on the ground, coats hung up, torn and broken glasses and other vision-aiding devices shattered, littered on the floor. We explored the ruined building for slightly longer, though we left quite quickly; worrying should one of the many corrupted creatures had made their home here.

We followed the tracks, spotting some run down trains on our path. Sadly, it seemed we had forgotten our way in these lands, as we managed to find our way into Ponyville. We didn't realise it at the time, however. We did notice when we were all knocked down from behind, not noticing our new attackers. I was the last one awake, barely managing to sneak away, hiding in a bush near the track.

My breath got caught in my throat as I examined our attackers. Their darker, paler coats. Their ragged wings sprouting from their backs. The crimson eyes which pierced through the dark and could cause fear in many the bravest knight. Those long curved fangs. It was at this point I realized we had stumbled our way to Ponyville, the vampire capital of Equestria, and all my allies were about to join their ranks.

I almost collapsed with shock and fear. My friends; my remaining friends; were going to become my enemies if I didn't act quickly. In fact, I realised they hadn't been feasted on then and there. What would these vampires want with my friends, if not for food and fighters?

It was this thought that kept me resolute; my friends were safe for now, and if I could find them quick enough then I could possibly save them from their fate. I would have to face Fluttershy again, but that was a sacrifice I had to make.

I gripped on to my cross tighter. If any god did exist, or if Celestia is as divine as some think, I may be able to do this yet.

Tonight, I risk my life for my friends.