"No, No, No, -NO! No Please, no!" Reddling rolled around under his covers, finally stopping as a hoof touched his face, forcing his eyes open so he would stare up at his bedside visitor.

"Goodness, not taking your medicine, I see." Web said, idly playing with her knife and watching Reddling as he rolled out of bed. After quickly strapping his knife on, Reddling waved a hoof at her comment.

"Web! Uh, good evening I think." Reddling said, watching her play with the knife. She didn't meet his gaze as she continued to idle. Reddling had grown used to the fact that Web was surely watching him sleep every single night, and as much as he liked her it was hard to deny that this was the epitome of creepy activity.

"You're STILL talking in your sleep, sillyhead." Web said, putting her knife away.

"I don't do it on purpose." Reddling replied.

"Of course, of course," Web dismissed, smiling at him. "I saw what you did to that changeling."

"It got thirsty." Reddling smiled back at her, leaning on the bed and moving closer to her side. How can I call something an It when it feels more emotions than Web or myself? It has a better concept on life, who is the IT here?

"Oh- haha!" Web cried, "You're such a kind and generous soul to have given it something to drink! Eeeehehee!"

"Did you find the other bodies?" Reddling asked, leaning closer to Web as she giggled. Despite the red flags about how creepy that giggle was, it was undeniably alluring. Each time she would giggle, Reddling could feel something lost in his chest tingle to life briefly.

"No, I'm sure you had your fun with them though." Web said.

"I'll need to clean them up later, make sure they don't start to stink..." Reddling snorted, rolling over on his covers and asking the burning question on his mind. "Were you watching me sleep again?"

"Hmmm," Web offered. "Celestia wants to talk to you." There was something distasteful in her words, a clear disdain expressed for the sun raiser.

"Princess... Celestia?" Reddling asked curiously, sitting up.

"Yeah, her." Web said again, keeping the same distasteful spirit to her words.

"Right, Well I better not keep a Princess waiting..." Reddling went to pull on his jacket, but remembered that he no longer had his coat. he only frowned as he slipped into his dress armor.

"And Reddling?" Web said, turning to him and leaning on the back of her chair.

"Yes, Web?" Reddling responded instantly, turning to her.

"I was thinking..." Web continued, "With all the chaos going on in the city... Nopony's going to bat an eye if somepony has a "bad dream" about being bitten by a bat in the middle of the night. How do you feel about a second date sometime soon?"

Reddling suddenly felt much perkier as he stood up straight. "I- agree yes. Just say the word and I'll be there."

Web let out a giggle again, getting off her chair and whipping her short tail at him. "Well alright then, I'll pick you up later."

Reddling nodded viciously as he finished putting on the rest of his armor and stepped out of the barracks, heading up to Celestia's throne room.

When Reddling arrived, Luna was not there. The room was instead filled with half a dozen sleepy looking guards that seemed as though they hadn't been near a bed in weeks. Leaving the door ajar as he strode forward, Reddling threw a salute to Princess Celestia.

"Good evening... Reddling, is it?" Celestia asked.

"Princess Celestia, you requested my presence." Reddling remarked coldly. He was quite sure he knew what this was about. Why would a member of the Night Guard poison the Princess of the Sun? Treason? An Assassin? You are old and wise, I trust you have at least figured out my game by now.

"Yes, I wished to have a first-hoof account of the events of the wedding." Celestia said.

"Ah, of course. Where should I start Princess?" Reddling replied, breathing an internal sigh of relief. Maybe she had forgotten all about it, or written it off as a bad dream.

"From wherever you feel the beginning is." Princess Celestia answered. Reddling nodded and began to tell about everything that he had experienced since his first encounter with Balefly. He covered every detail about how he discovered failures in the security, as well as how Tops, Nightshade, and himself had been able to infiltrate the castle and remain concealed for several hours. next he discussed how he had sedated Celestia- which he reasoned to her was a stalling method, hoping to buy Twilight and the other guards enough time to reach the elements. Finally, he ended his explanation with how Balefly was slain, as well as how he returned to find his knife without finding the body it was stuck in.

"The rest is history, Your Highness." Reddling said, puffing his chest out.

"Indeed it is," Celestia smiled. "Tell me, have you seen anything suspicious since after the wedding?"

"Pardon my lack of manners Princess, but I'm afraid I must defer that question to your subject Miss Twilight. She can explain where I cannot." Reddling said.

"Ah, yes. We have spoken, and she has told me that everything seems normal- as normal as things can be after a tragedy such as this." Celestia said.

"There is one thing of note that I learned after the battle in Canterlot, Princess." Reddling said, stepping forward. "These Creatures, Changelings... They are not so different from us. If it were not for their biology and leaders forcing them to attack us, I believe they're docile.

"Is that so..." Celestia said, a strange expression twisting her face.

"I'm not saying they aren't a threat, but... I don't think they want to hurt anypony, they just can't help it." Reddling continued. As he drew breath for another sentence however, Celestia cut him off.

"What is your opinion of my sister?" Celestia asked.

Reddling blinked. "Princess Luna?"

"Yes." Princess Celestia said dryly.

"As aloof and sudden as she is compassionate and caring." Reddling said. Although it took a bit of work, he finally managed a smile. "She may not be a paragon of every desirable trait, but she is a standard of manners and behaviour to strive for."

"Do you enjoy serving her?" Celestia asked.

"That question is two parted." Reddling said, thinking for a moment. "I enjoy serving under Princess Luna, it has been the highlight of my life- although I do loathe the way bat ponies are seen publicly. We are "that bat pony" or "creepy bat" to other ponies."

Celestia put a hoof on her chin, thinking for a bit. "That is all. Thank you for your time, Reddling."

Giving her a quick salute, Reddling turned away with a quiet "Thank you," before entering the hallway. Outside the hall, Reddling couldn't keep his mind off the odd conversation that had just occurred. Does she take time to interrogate all of her sister's guards, or just me? She didn't seem to suspect that I am a killer laying in wait, an enemy agent waiting for the moment to strike... But I don't know if I want to strike.

With each click of his hoofsteps, Reddling noticed that they sounded odd. Stopping and lifting up a hoof, he studied the armor on it to see why it would be making an odd noise. Behind him, an extra hoofstep fell onto the hard floor. It took less than a second for Reddling to react. Drawing his knife and flipping himself around, Reddling pushed wings out to their full span as he tried to look intimidating to whoever was stalking him.

"Eeehehee!" Web giggled. Reddling blinked and then put his weapon away, closing his wings up and landing.

"Does Celestia do that with all her guards?" Reddling asked.

"Do what?" Web asked innocently.

"Want to know if we like serving under Princess Luna, whether or not we're happy? What we think of her sister?" Reddling queried.

"That is strange." Web mused quietly.

"Strange comes with the job, I think." Reddling said.

"I'll keep my eye on her." Web said. She was serious now, with her playful demeanor all but evaporated. "Somepony might need to be reminded why you should be afraid of the dark."

"Because it's where we lurk, the least of their worries?" Reddling asked hopefully.

"On that note." Web said, suddenly becoming bubbly again, "Are you ready to give somepony a bad dream tonight?"

Reddling rubbed his eyes and then nodded to Web. "Yes, let's go for a drink. I could use one after all the hell recently." Web shot him a wicked grin before taking off, leading him out of the castle and into the night sky. In almost no time at all Web had soared into the poorer parts of town and landed silently on the balcony of a pony's house in a poorer neighborhood. It took Reddling a few moments to realize that it was a pegasus's takeoff perch, with double doors that lead inside.

Landing next to Web, Reddling heard a little click from the lock as Web backed away, pushing open the doors. They both slid in together, looking around the plain room inside. Some simple furniture lined the walls, but nothing remarkable stood out on the dresser or other surfaces. Asleep in a large bed was a purple pegasus mare, snoring gently into her pillow.

Reddling couldn't help but lick his lips as a giddiness soared in his chest. Finally, at last, he was going to be taking a step forward and removing the stagnation of the past. With Web at his side, he had grown to become so much more in such a short time. Now it was time to repay Web with this mare ad show how thankful he was for all that she had helped him embrace.

"Don't let her scream, don't spill any on the bed, and don't kill her." Web whispered, "When you're finished, I'll knock her out and patch her up, and it'll be like nothing happened."

Reddling did not even waste a moment to nod as he slowly slid forward, positioning himself like a cat when it wished to remain unseen despite being in plain view. The pegasus mare was laying on her belly, and Reddling could just barely make out the shapes that were her wings under the blankets. Crawling onto the bed, Reddling spread himself over the mare, almost laying down on top of her as he sunk his head lower to her neck.

This is it. I can feel it, I can feel your life. It was there, right under her skin. The redness under was crying out to burst free. Sliding a forehoof between the pillow and the mare's mouth, Reddling lunged his head forward, landing a sharp bite into her neck. The first feeling was an odd heat on his teeth, soaking up from the tips of his fangs and warming his gums. Unlike the coldness of mangoes or other fruit, this warm feeling drew him in rather than pushed him away. The texture of the pony's flesh was not an issue like one might find with an apple either, as his fangs slipped gently through her muscle to draw forth blood.

Blood, that was the next thing that Reddling could feel. Little droplets at first, then a steady stream delivering a palette of tastes. The gentleness of the pegasus's skin and the cottonlike taste of her fur were soon lost as red sweetness welled up in his mouth. The blood had a strong tint of iron too it, forcing Reddling to blink as it ran against his tongue. He had expected it to be entirely sweet, like some sort of rich candy. Instead it tasted more like he had been given an intimate kiss and accidentally bitten his other. Indeed, biting the mare below him felt more intimate than any kisses he had felt from Web.

The mare was starting to awake now, letting out muffled cries into her pillow as Reddling readjusted his head, lapping at her blood. Forcing his body on top of her, Reddling managed to restrain the mare as the mare tried hopelessly to save herself.

So sweet, and red- and sweet. It's sweet, It's sweet! Reddling continued to chide his tongue as he forced himself to accept the taste. Lapping and sipping from the mare, Reddling could feel his own heart racing as adrenaline began to flood the mare's body. She was fully awake now and painfully aware of what was happening. Understanding her situation seemed to be difficult however, and with Reddling stealing blood that should reach her brain, the mare was making erratic moves that were useless in repelling him.

Fear and adrenaline were like drugs in the blood, forcing Reddling to draw more and more. He sunk his fangs more viciously into the mare's neck, suckling almost angrily on her neck at the nutrients. Reddling could not say that it was overly delicious; juice was sweeter, alcohol was stronger, but this sweetness had a deep savory edge to it. the call from the sweetness was reaching out to a primal, beastlike side that Reddling wasn't sure he knew existed until a few seconds ago. His entire body was shaking as he felt her warm sweetness filling his mouth and then sliding down his throat.

A tap on Reddling's back brought him halfway back to reality as he slid his pupils over to look at Web. He was not ready to abandon the sweetness that was tingling his insides. Every nerve in his body was shaking, urging him to drink more of her hormones and fear. Every cell in his body was screaming out it's victory, unable to find a way to comprehend the breath of fresh air that was hot sweetness from this mare. I don't want to stop! Web!

Web kept her hoof on Reddling's shoulder, and with great regret, he lifted his head away, staring down at the mare. The pony was still crying and struggling to be free, some blood leaking from her neck now. Web quickly darted to the pony's side, and with a flash, nicked her shoulder with her knife. Web tended to the pony as her kicks and cries reduced to twitches to whimper. small flecks of foam slowly grew on the edges of her mouth as the mare passed into some sort of apparent coma.

Reddling barely paid any heed to the mares in the room as he slumped back. The entire world seemed to be sharper and narrower, as if he was suffering from some mutation of tunnel vision. although Reddling knew his teeth were marred with a glowing, lively red, he did not care. It was so red, and so sweet on his lips that he couldn't be bothered to care about the world around him. the only thing that mattered now was sustaining this high by whatever means that must imply.

"That's all? But... I want more." Reddling growled to Web, stumbling back towards the bed. Standing made him feel like his body took up the entire room, and everything shook as if he was quite intoxicated.

"Exciting, isn't it? Always fun to get a kicker." Web said gleefully, smiling as she drew away from the mare. "In the morning, everything will just seem like a bad dream.

"...Delicious." Reddling said, willing himself towards the door as he sniffed the air. Web's poison was now in the veins of that mare, and with her blood tainted, Reddling could not feast on his prey anymore.

"Pleasant Dreams..." Web said with a giggle, leaning over the pony.

"How long does the high usually last?" Reddling announced to the ceiling, half falling over as he shut his eyes, focusing on the feeling of his whole body coursing with the life of another.

"Not long, thirty minutes or an hour." Web replied, trotting over to the door.

"But- it's so fresh and lively..." Reddling said to Web, a frown growing on his face.

"Don't get in the habit, Reddling." Web giggled, "Ponies will be upset if they catch you doing it- and don't get me started on what Luna will say!"

A maniacal giggle not so unlike Web's escaped Reddling's lips. It was stained with happiness from his blood soaked mouth, and echoed in a voice that wasn't his own up at the night sky.

"Well, there are plenty of ponies in Silverfield that Luna would never heard about!" Reddling decreed.

"Oh?" Web said, her ears perking up as she looked over curiously.

"They'll just blame it on demons, the filthy commoners... The church knows about bat ponies, but they won't do anything, hehe..." Anything to me, anyway Reddling giggled.

"Sounds like fun..." Web said absently, looking southward.

"I wonder if they taste different... hm, if I taste different." Reddling looked down at his hoof, half tempted to bite it open and learn what his own taste was.

Web closed the door behind them as they both situated themselves on the perch. "Well, that was fun!"

"It was... awakening." Reddling breathed.

"Hehe, oh yes. You're going to make a fantastic bat, Reddling. You remind me of myself, oh so long ago!" Web ruffled his mane, leaning on him.

I am the night! "This, haha! Let's go for a fly, Web!" Reddling pushed her away and leapt into the sky, beating his wings somewhat wildly as he soared towards the upper towers of Canterlot. Reddling still was not healed enough for the more daring aerial tricks, but he felt more than able to do things he normally wouldn't try. Web laughed as she chased him through loop-de loops and dives towards some late night workers in Canterlot.

Do you love Web? Do you feel warm and fuzzy, bubbly and happy? Do you feel how that changeling made you feel, without that terrible draining and void at the end? Reddling shut his eyes as he went in for one final dive, trying to decide if he understood this foreign feeling that had infected him well enough to dub it love. Ultimately, Reddling decide the word for it didn't matter, because he had Web at his side. So long as she was there, he had no need to be concerned with abstract concepts.

Next Chapter: Defiance Estimated time remaining: 9 Hours, 30 Minutes