Reddling was extremely disappointed when his high ended. He had already landed by the time it was almost gone, and although he had teetered around with Web for a bit, it felt as though he was just going through the motions of a simple life. Run a little errand here, let Web go back to work without him there- these were all things he had to do and live with, but that didn't make it any easier to bid his fun night-morning goodbye.

Midnight was in the barracks, laying on his side and resting peacefully. Reddling couldn't imagine that he'd done much moving at all over the last few days, but that wasn't really what was on either of their minds. The image of Cadance and her drone wallowing in the dark caves was still burned at the forefront of their minds. To make matters worse, Reddling was also unsure of how long it would be before somepony other than Web found the corpses and decided to begin poking around in the caves and tunnels.

"Midnight, wake up." Reddling said, tapping his shoulder repeatedly.

"Ug- Reddling- what time is it?" Midnight asked, blinking his eye sleepily. His other eye had a dark eyepatch over it now, covering the hole in his head. Reddling backed up, licking his lips and making sure he got all the remaining blood off them.

"It's dark o'clock." Reddling said. "Web needs to see you, your wings still need patching."

"Guh, Web..." Midnight said distastefully. "I suppose I do still need aid."

Reddling frowned at his half asleep comment on Web, but made no visual responses to show he had heard. "C'mon, you can't sleep all night anyway. You won't heal if your muscles do nothing."

"Yes, of course," Midnight pulled himself out of bed, rubbing his eyes slowly. "Where might I find Web?"

"I'll take you to her quarters, we'll take a..." Reddling paused, looking for the word he wanted. "A roundabout path for a bit though, if you don't mind? The uhm, streets reek of death still."

"Of course." Midnight said. Both of them trotted outside into the darkness of a new moon. In the streets unicorns kept their horns lit up, and the pegasi and earth ponies hung under street lamps. Reddling breathed in a breath of fresh air- which as full of the faint hints of death it was- reminded him once again that he was happy to be a soldier for the night.

"Lead on." Midnight said, patting Reddling on the back while the latter licked at his fangs, making sure to get any specks of blood off. The two of them wandered into the deader parts of Canterlot, passing by buildings that were full of only broken windows or some weird type of goo. Almost all of the corpses had been dealt with by now, although that didn't stop the city from showing how broken it was right now.

"I visited Web yesterday, and I learned some things, things I need to get off my chest." Reddling looked down at the broken cobblestones under him. "Do you mind listening while we trot?"

"Of course, speak." Midnight said plaintively.

"She was developing poisons that would hurt the changelings. They're quite potent, able to kill them with only a little fluid." Reddling whispered.

"Give them a taste of their own medicine." Midnight said proudly, nodding his head in determination. Grabbing his friend, Reddling turned Midnight to face him.

"Midnight, she was doing it to drones that were alive. They were prisoners of war. Unarmed, helpless prisoners!" Reddling growled. Midnight gave a little bit of a start, but quickly regained his composure with a deep breath.

"I am sure she had her reasons..." Midnight offered.

"She let me kill the last three. They didn't suffer much, I think. But, two of them..." Reddling stopped, taking a deep breath and categorizing his thoughts. "There wasn't even any need to kill them, they just were there to die. Midnight, I thought they were mindless drones." Midnight nodded back to Reddling as he stopped for breath. A couple silent seconds slipped by before Reddling drew another breath, "I spared one though, and I took it to Cadance."

"You spared it? Why!?" Midnight asked, both amazed and perhaps slightly angered.

Reddling looked down now, unable to meet Midnight's face. Between his legs a group of ants were carrying off looted treasures from a store. But these drones aren't like these ants, they had personality.

"Reddling?" Midnight asked.

"The way they looked at me. I took it to her and it was affectionate and thinking. It had opinions and thoughts, I know it." Reddling said. Midnight put a hoof on his chin and lifted Reddling's face up so they were looking at each other's eyes. Instinctively grabbing Midnight's hoof, Reddling put it on his friend's chest as they exchanged glares.

"That matters not! They are inequine monsters who have shown no desire but to cause us harm! Invade our cities and kill our citizens! Look at what they did to Cadance! How many others have met that fate?" Midnight cried, pushing Reddling back so that he was between a wall and Midnight.

"Don't touch me." Reddling said, pushing Midnight back. "Each of them has a mind and heart of their own. Vile as they may be, horrible as they may be... They are no less endowed with a mind and soul than we are. If Luna ordered you to strike down a civilian, would you kill them?"

"In an instant." Midnight said automatically. "I trust Princess Luna would have her reasons, and that it was for the greater good."

"Every drone and soldier we killed is exactly the same as you or I." Reddling said. Both bats stared at each other for a few seconds before Reddling continued, "The vileness is not from them, but from their leaders. From the blue one we killed, and the green one we did battle with." And ... very likely a third. Just based on the eye colours.

"Does that excuse them of their actions?" Midnight's tone painted the question rhetorically as he continued without waiting for a response his voice hardening, "Their leaders may have ordered these atrocities, but they are guilty of performing them, and should be held accountable. Where is the changeling now?"

So if I kill the princesses you'll hold me accountable, not Silverfield? Good to know. If I kill them... I wish that question wouldn't get further and further from my mission every time I ask it. "They may already be dead. I left that decision to Princess Cadance. She is all alone, surely she can use a servant." Reddling looked at his friend more seriously now. "Better to let it pay back the debt alive than take up space as a corpse, eh? Everyone deserves a second chance."

Luna knows, I needed one...

Midnight looked around the alleys, ensuring both of them were alone before leaning in closer. "What of Cadance then?"

"She's still Cadance, but it's not like I knew her. She could easily be deceiving us- however, we need to decide what to do with her, as she cannot remain in those caves until she is found or does something vicious." Reddling said, drawing close to his friend as well.

"If she is deceiving us..." Midnight began.

"We're putting the whole city in danger." Reddling finished.

"Captain Shining Armor and Twilight seemed convinced she was genuine... I do not know. That is a troubling thought." Midnight looked down worriedly, tracing his hoof over some broken cobblestones.

"Shining Armor seemed convinced right up until their queen blasted up everyone in the wedding, I saw it." Reddling reminded Midnight. The latter turned, shaking his head now.

"This is above us. Princess Luna should know of this." Midnight said.

"Both she and her sister deserve to know. Should we inform them?" Reddling asked.

"I believe we should." Midnight replied.

"...We will be breaking our word to Miss Twilight." Reddling said.

"Though she has proven her magical prowess, how can we know she is able to tell Cadance from an imposter? Especially if Shining Armor was so easily fooled!" Midnight demanded.

"Because it was she who broke into the wedding to declare that the one marrying her brother was an imposter. Nightshade, Tops, and myself fell in right behind her as support right as all hell broke loose." Reddling and Midnight locked eyes, and then the blue pony bowed.

"Very well. I defer to you." Midnight said grudgingly.

"...I think that we should look at moving Cadance out of the city, at the very least. Even if we do not know what to do yet, the least we should do is not endanger Canterlot." Reddling looked up as they began to trot again, heading for the palace again. "Anyway, Let us take you to Web, and not a word of this to her, or any other pony?"

"As you wish." Midnight said.

As they neared the palace, Reddling sighed, and leaned in to whisper what he hoped would be another one of his brilliant, foolhardy, and most likely disastrous plans.

---

"Come in, come in!" Web said happily at Reddling's knock. Reddling just gave her a smile as he shoved Midnight inside the door and quickly shut it, turning and heading back into the palace. As per usual, there were two tired looking guards outside of Celestia's quarters, one with a clipboard going over appointments for the next shift to handle.

"Late night?" Reddling asked both of them. Without waiting for an answer, he continued, "I wish to see Princess Celestia. If she has any time for audiences before the sun is risen and burning preferably."

"The Princess is sleeping, and does not wish to be disturbed." The guard said rudely, wrinkling his nose at the bat in front of him.

"Tell her it's about Princess Cadance. Circumstances have changed." Reddling looked determinately back at the guard. The guard blinked and gave Reddling a confused look, but nodded.

"Very well. You will have to return when she is available."

"Very well. Is there a time I can sign on for?" Reddling half jeered at the guard, who frowned.

"I will ask when she is available. Come ba-" Reddling waved a hoof in front of the guard's face, cutting him off.

"No, I shall return later in the day." Reddling said, turning now and heading down into the caves once more. He didn't pass many other ponies as he went deeper into the caves, but finally crystal veins began to appear. The lengthy trot blew by in a flash as he made his way deeper into Canterlot, finding himself once more in the close company of Princess Cadance.

"Princess." Reddling said simply. Both she and her drone appeared to be asleep, both of them curled up together. The drone was laying over her back, while she herself was curled up in a ball. After a few seconds, her eyes opened, slitted pink pupils staring forward. The drone also opened it's eyes, revealing paler red eyes now.

"Ah... hello again." Cadance said happily, looking around for a moment. She looked over each of her hooves, and then sighed heavily, her voice taking on it's strained state from previous conversations. "Each day I wake up hoping it was nothing but a bad dream, and it never is."

Everyday I wake up, hoping it was just a bad dream, and I still have my feathery wings, but it's never a- Reddling turned his head to his side, gazing at the leathery wing hanging onto his coat. Those wings were more than a symbol of being in the Night Guard than they were a symbol of freedom. And yet, they had become another symbol of freeness to choose, a symbol of hope.

"Thank you for visiting again." Cadance said, rising to her hooves. Reddling stood up straighter, puffing up his chest and staring up at Princess Cadance. Shutting his eyes briefly, Reddling prepared to find strength that didn't seem to be his own. Meanwhile, the drone moved between Reddling and Cadance, standing between the two of them and facing the former.

"If I was going to do anything to her, I would have made my move already." Reddling smiled at the drone, who blinked. "Princess Cadance, I'm sure that you believe it might be in your best interests to be moved from Canterlot."

The drone frowned, letting pointed fangs hang from it's mouth as it glared at Reddling.

"Yes, that seems prudent. I am sure ponies would- would not take kindly to me..." Cadance frowned, her face tightening in resolve. "I've had enough of this hopeless moping."

"Then you should face Princess Celestia and Luna." Reddling said, stepping forward. "If you flee, you will only seem guilty, guilty of simply living. You can't run away from the cards life deals you, only play them."

Cadance turned, mumbling something about being unsure. Reddling shook his head, and stomped a hoof. "Princess, I- am... I am speaking from personal experience."

"Face them?" Cadance asked, nodding to Reddling.

"An audience, yes." Reddling nodded back.

"Perhaps... perhaps they can help me." Cadance said, some hope in her voice.

"Understand, there is an equal chance that you're living on borrowed time and I will be instructed to cut you down where you stand." Reddling looked at the drone, and held out a hoof for a hoofshake. "But that end is still better than being hunted down like rats and killed in a hole, you deserve better."

"..Okay, but on the assurance that your friend, and Shining Armor, will vouch for me." Princess Cadance said. The drone simply blinked at Reddling, still frowning and not returning the hoofshake.

"Midnight Tales has deferred to my judgement on this issue. I believe that both Twilight and your fiancee will vouch." Reddling said determinedly.

"Then come back with them, and we will seek out an audience with the other princesses together." Cadance said. "This drone has been instructing me on changing my shape."

"I believe that you should alter your looks until we arrive then." Reddling said.

"I will look appropriate for this meeting." Cadance said determinedly. Even in those slits, changeling slits, Reddling could see a fire reborn inside them.

"If you believe that you can maintain this, perhaps there is no need to tell them of your condition at all!" Reddling said. Maybe, my friends will never have to know about my past!

Cadance turned slowly to him, and the entire cave went icy cold as the world seemed to slow down. "No, I will not live a lie." Cadance said. Reddling felt his body stagger backwards as he gripped for some excuse to save himself. Any lifeline to prevent him from this fate.

"If you're changing your shape to meet them, then you're already living a lie." Reddling said.

"I am doing what I must to overcome this." Cadance said. Something horrible seized in Reddling's chest as he felt slight tears develop in his eyes. Turning away from her, Cadance continued to speak, "There is a difference between wearing a mask to protect yourself, and trying to take a mask and turn it into your true self."

"...Yes." Reddling managed, wandering away blurry. A gnarled hoof rested on his shoulder, turning him around. Princess Cadance was now smiling- or at least, smiling as best a changeling could.

"Do you need any help?" She asked. Reddling blinked, and nodded.

"Where can I locate Shining Armor and Twilight Sparkle?" He asked blankly, trying to hastily deconstruct the invisible veil between him the world around him.

"Twilight will probably be in the library, and Shining Armor in his quarters." Reddling nodded to Cadance and pushed away, but she stopped him again with another hoof on the shoulder.

"Just one moment, actually." Cadance said. Reddling turned again, and she was still smiling.

"I don't believe I was ever told your name." Cadance said.

Reddling blinked, then nodded, and began his name, then stopped. Instead of saying it in Equestrian, he gave it to her in Silverfeldian.

""Reddling," Riding Rain." She said in her musical changeling voice. "Farewell, Riding, and thank you."

Reddling blinked at the usage of his name correctly. It had been so long since he had heard it used correctly that he could no longer recall it as his name. Indeed, he could no longer recall many things of Silverfield.

"I'm sorry about your comrades. I did not understand." Reddling said to the drone. Without waiting for a response, Reddling turned and left.

---

"Come in, Come in!" Web said happily for the second time that day as Reddlng knocked.

"Midnight where are you, I could really use you right about now..." Reddling froze as he trotted into the room. Midnight was laying on his belly across the table that Reddling knew all too well must have been used to kill dozens of changelings. Midnight's wings were spread wide and relaxed, hanging limply at his sides in their bandages and stitches. He had his eyes closed in a dreamy expression as Web stood behind him on her forelegs, kneading his back.

"Uh, situation." Reddling said blankly, some happy feeling in him feeling dashed. But the feeling even stronger than that was jealousy. Envy burned in Reddling as he saw himself on that table, with Web massaging him.

"Am I interrupting anything?" Reddling asked, shaking his head.

"AH!" Midnight said, falling off the table and scrambling to his hooves. Reddling kept a dirty glare at him as Midnight kited around the room to the door. "No- no- Not at all."

"Right... ..." Reddling waited for Midnight to get out of the room and out of earshot of Web before whispering quickly to him. "Go find Shining Armor, and when morning is here we're taking Cadance to Princess Celestia and Luna. I'll pick up Twilight at the library in an hour or so. Get ready to take on any dumb dayguards that get in our way."

"Very well. This is your plan you decided on then?" Midnight hissed.

"Indeed. This probably will get messy, Midnight." Reddling said hastily, watching Web clean up some medical supplies from through the open door.

"I shall fetch my armor then." Midnight said. "Why do we need Twilight Sparkle's aid? Have you found some spell to restore the Princess?"

"Maybe." Reddling hissed back.

"There is no need to be so cryptic..." Midnight said.

"Just trust-" Reddling started.

"Reddling." Web said. "Come here please, I wanted to talk to you." Reddling swallowed as Midnight patted him on the shoulder, turning and galloping off, muttering something about damned changelings shredding his wings.

Reddling turned to Web, closing the door behind him with a claw and looking at her. She had finished putting away her things and now trotted over to the bed. Reddling took a seat beside her, looking over at her almost sadly.

"What was that with Midnight?" Reddling asked. Web put a hoof on his mouth, and shook her head.

"He's hurt, that's all." She giggled. "No need to get all offended. Here, lay down." Looking over his shoulder, Reddling kept an eye on Web as she rubbed her hooves together, smiling down at him.

"What's wrong Reddling, don't you trust me?" Web smiled at him.

"Not really." Reddling said to her, turning his head around and burying it in a pillow.

"And that's why I like you better than Midnight..." Web said coyly. Reddling let out a soft gasp in the pillow as Web climbed on top of him, resting her forehooves on his upper back and beginning to rub her hooves in long gentle strokes down his tightened muscles. The usual strong urge to throw her off him was there, but something about her charms and the feeling of her hooves rubbing at the knots in his back was undeniably relaxing.

"Web, I- Ow... Okay, that hurt." Reddling turned his head to the side so he could look up at Web, who was smiling as she continued to massage his back. All on their own, Reddling's wings unfolded at his sides, hanging limply on the bed while she worked.

"It wouldn't hurt if you got massages more often. When was the last time you had a massage?" Web giggled at each little ow from Reddling's mouth as he winced.

"N-Never, I don't like being touched." Reddling mumbled.

"Do you want me to stop?" Web asked.

"No!" Reddling said loudly, shoving his head back into the pillow. "No, don't stop..."

---

"Let me pass, I bare a message for the Captain." Reddling said. It was several hours later that he found himself standing with Midnight outside of Shining Armor's quarters, where a stubborn looking guard was refusing to let anypony past. He had not meant to be occupied for so long, but Web had kept him distracted.

"What is your business with him?" The guard asked Reddling, eying Midnight distastefully.

"A message from Miss Twilight, and it involves funeral arrangements if you must know." Reddling lied, "Do you really need to make their lives any harder by intercepting their mail?"

Standing down, the guard backed up with his mouth hanging slightly open. "Ah, you- give me a moment." The guard said. Turning around, the soldier trotted in, and Reddling went in right behind him.

"Shining Armor sir- th- Hey! Wait outside!" The guard said, turning around.

"Right." Reddling said, looking past him and gazing at Shining Armor, who was laying on his bed. The room in here was a mess, and clearly the Captain had not bothered to clean up anything in some time. His face was a mask of blankness streaked here and there with pain, confusion, and dark thoughts. "Sir! You're requested in the caves if you are able!"

"The caves?" The guard asked curiously. Shining Armor turned his head slowly, looking over at Reddling as he rolled to his hooves and stood up.

"I'm just the messenger." Reddling said.

"Ah- the caves?" Shining asked.

"Yes, you and Miss Twilight have both been requested. Also, if an audience with Princesses Celestia and Luna can be arranged, all will be even better!" Reddling blurbed, pushing Shining's guard aside and approaching the white unicorn.

"Princess Celestia and Luna..." Shining said, turning to his guard. "Very well. Inform the Princesses that I must speak to them within the hour. You are dismissed."

Shining's voice lacked the snap and command that it had once held so long ago on the training fields, when he had stood next to Lunar half a lifetime ago. When the guard had turned and left, Midnight trotted into the mess of a room, standing at Reddling's side.

"Sir, do you know where I could find Miss Twilight exactly? Her Highness requests both of you." Reddling said.

"She has been in the royal library." Shining said with a short huff.

"Understood. Midnight, can you take Shining with you? I will meet you two later." Reddling asked, turning to his friend.

"Very well." Midnight said, "I shall go with Shining Armor to ensure he arrives safely." Reddling nodded back to his friend before turning, rushing off to the Royal Library, which had it's own wing of the palace. Massive multistory bookshelves spanned for several floors, each one laden with ladders climbing up from the floor to the upper reaches. An entire maze had been created in this area, filled with books and more books. After nearly losing himself in the maze, Reddling finally spied a purple unicorn in an obscure corner of the library.

Twilight was laying face first in an open book, snoring softly as a page was drawn to her mouth before being pushed away. Many different tombs had been spread out across the table with various notes laying crumpled up here or there. Sighing, Reddling looked around for a heavy book that he could drop. A thick leather book caught his eye, and he noted how dusty it was and almost sneezed but he didn't. Reddling could barely make out the title of the book, but he was fairly certain it read Spiderses, by Argembarger

The book landed with a slam, causing Twilight to jerk up with a start. Her mane was oddly spikey today, and she looked almost crazy from the lack of sleep. "Ah! I- didn't-"

"Good morning." Reddling said to her.

"Bwh- Ah." Twilight rubbed her eyes. "What time is it?"

"Late for me, early for you." Reddling replied. "I was wondering if you would join me for a trot into the caves. Captain Shining Armor is already headed there with Midnight Tales."

"I- I haven't found anything!" Twilight said, the stress bleeding out of her voice. "I've gone through the entire encyclopedia of magical ailments!"

"Perhaps the solution can be found with a more hooves on approach?" Reddling asked.

"Biology and medicine has nothing!" Twilight ignored Reddling. "I can barely even find references to those creatures!"

"I can't say Silverf- ah, I mean I know nothing either." Reddling mumbled.

"Sandstorm the Wanderer talks in short about some sort of shapeshifting creature but there's no detail anywhere, and not a single reference to any sort of- of what happened to Cadance!" Twilight ranted.

"Miss Twilight!" Reddling hissed.

"-And none of the transformation magic I've- What?" Twilight blinked.

"Ponies are waiting on us." Reddling said, nodding in a random direction that was hopefully the same way as the exit. "Captain Shining Armor, Her Highness, and Midnight Tales are waiting for us in the caves. We are going to see Princess Luna and Celestia."

"Oh." Twilight said blankly, nodding for a bit before realization dawned on her face. "The Princesses?! But Cadance- she said keep it secret!"

It was Reddling's turn to ignore Twilight now. "Please hurry, it would not due to keep them waiting."

"She can't see the Princesses! They'll- I don't even know!" Twilight said frantically.

"Kill her?" Reddling said angrily. "Would you rather she starve and die in a cave?" Twilight flinched backwards at that, trying to regain some composure.

"K-kill or banish her forever and-" Twilight's eyes were tearing up now.

"A kinder fate than slowly dying in a pit of despair." Reddling replied.

"Let's go then." Twilight said after a few moments. Throwing a few notes into a saddlebag, both of them trotted away from the library with Twilight leading the way out. There was a tense air between them as they weaved through the castle, dodging guards here and there.

"Do you and Princess Cadance go very far back?" Reddling asked, trying to break the ice.

"I knew her when we were both younger." Twilight said. "She was my foalsitter." Twilight sighed, giving a slight smile. "It's complicated."

"A foalsitter?" Reddling said.

"Yeah." Twilight replied.

"What's that?" Reddling asked.

Twilight stopped, blinking at Reddling. Both of them halted and looked at each other. Reddling was quite honestly interested, but Twilight seemed very confused.

"She took care of me when my parents were away." Twilight said. Reddling just blinked at her, so she continued, "Like when they were working, so that I wasn't alone in the house?"

"Uh, sorry to ask such silly things, let's just go." Reddling motioned for Twilight to follow him, turning away before she could ask him any questions. He'd just have to make a mental note to look up this equestrian oddity later.

---

As Reddling and Twilight descended further into the caves, the sounds of arguing could be heard faintly making their way towards them. Reddling heard the fight first, although at first it was hard to make everything out.

"Cannot keep it." Shining Armor's voice said.

"...Take care of..." Cadance replied. Reddling started to gallop forward, a sinking feeling in his heart.

"...pony, not a changeling!" Shining retorted.

"Reddling, what is going on?" Twilight said, still unable to hear the argument. Reddling shook his head, cursing himself as they rounded a few more corners and the argument became more audible. Cadance and Shining Armor were in the middle of a standoff with Midnight standing between them uncomfortably. The drone from before was currently hiding behind Cadance, glaring at Shining Armor.

"Reddling what is the meaning of- of this!" Shining Armor said heatedly, gesturing to the drone.

"So many things happen in the darkness," Reddling's voice was edged with venom, "and the darkness keeps it's secrets. That drone is a prisoner of war. Those who surrender should not be harmed."

"And has it surrendered?" Shining asked, "Or is it just waiting to stab us in the back again!?"

"This argument is pointless and over." Reddling said, not caring if Shining Armor felt he was getting the proper respect right now or not. Twilight and Midnight were standing together now, staring between the different sides of the argument as each spoke.

"It is wrong to murder anything that is defenseless," Reddling continued, "Any of us could cut that thing down without a weapon. It's starved, dying, and without Cadance would not be hanging onto life. That said," Reddling turned now to the drone, "It is best you wait here and do not come with us. Ponies do not take well to your ilk, as you've seen.

"No." The drone said. "Princess Took care of me. I won't let bad ponies hurt her."

Reddling blinked, "It's your life to risk." Bad ponies? I am not a bad pony.

"I believe we are keeping Princess Luna waiting." Midnight said to the group. Everypony turned to look at him before exchanging some curt nods between each other.

"Shining Armor, If they can help me, then we can be together again. Please, just trust me." Cadance said. For a moment Shining hesitated, looking from the Changeling to Cadance before an ashamed look passed over his face and he lowered his head.

"You're right, Cadance. I'm sorry." Shining Armor said. Reddling rolled his eyes and went to stand by Midnight, waiting for the group to move out. There was a flash as Cadance closed her eyes, and pink fire overtook her body. Standing there now was a pink pegasus with a red heart for it's cutie mark. The Drone shimmered and with a quick burst of flames changed into an unremarkable grey and white unicorn. Shining, Midnight, and Twilight all moved around uncomfortably about this, staring at the changelings in disguise.

"Hey, don't worry about this!" Reddling said, trotting to the middle of the group and giving them a pained grin. "Me and two others talked our way past guards at the wedding wearing trench coats, hats and sunglasses. This will work, right?" Reddling looked over at Midnight for verification.

"Frankly, I do not see anypony stopping to question our group, given who composes it." Midnight said.

"Good, then we're all set." Reddlng said, looking at his companions.

"Shining, Please, I'm still me, no matter what happens- I promise." Cadance said, trotting to her lover's side with the drone close behind her.

You're a bug. Reddling thought. I may have to end up squashing you one way or another. We'll just have to see what the future holds. Reddling kept his thoughts to himself as he trotted next to Midnight. Twilight was next to her brother, standing a bit behind the bat ponies in the group, while the drone had asserted itself to Cadance's side, keeping itself as a wall between other ponies and Cadance.

No guards stopped the parade as they reached the throne room, Shining and Twilight pushing open the doors with magic and looking around the room. The logistics of repairing the city had been planned here, and various leftover papers and other similar equipment was still pushed to the sides. Four guards stood aside for the group to approach, watching curiously as Shining Armor and Cadance eyed each other a little less than bravely.

Aside from the procession in the middle of the room, the throne room was still abuzz with activity. Near a dozen guards were in the room passing messages between pages and giving orders for various tasks to be carried out. Princess Celestia and Luna were both sitting together at the end of a table, looking over various documents. Luna looked awful and tired as ever, although not as tired as she had before. Celestia herself however looked quite well rested and seemed to be doing fine.

"Are you ready?" Reddling asked Cadance. Cadance nodded as Twilight stood in front of the group, clearing her throat.

"Your majesties!" Twilight cried, her body shaking in front of the group.

"Yes, Twilight Sparkle?" Celestia asked. Reddling nodded to himself. Twilight Sparkle- personal with the princesses, foalsat by a princess, and Shining Armor's brother. I'll be keeping my eye on you.

"When I told you about what happened at the wedding, I said how that creature teleported me into the catacombs, and how I found evidence of Cadance's... death." Twilight breathed deeply, steeling herself, "I'm ashamed to say that wasn't completely true. I did find a terrible tragedy, and I promised I would never share it. But- But things have changed, and you should know the truth." Celestia looked very nervous now, shifting around uncomfortably in her chair. Meanwhile, Luna was leaning forward, curious.

"What has thou found, Twilight Sparkle?" Luna asked.

"Cadance isn't dead. She was- Your Highnesses, this is Princess Cadance." Twilight said, motioning to the disguised pegasus.

"Yes, this is the truth!" Shining Armor said strongly, puffing out his chest as the snap of his command voice returned.

"And I too can reaffirm this!" Midnight said, speaking more to Luna than anypony else.

"For what remains of her that is, I vouch as well." Reddling said.

"What is the meaning of this?" Celestia demanded, standing up from her seat.

"Celestia, Luna, Please do not be alarmed." Cadance said miserably, stepping forward. "The changelings caught me unawares one night. They poisoned me and hid me away. Where I would be now if Twilight had not found me, I would not know. But when she woke me up, she found me..." Cadance stopped, gulping. There was a flash of pink flame, and once more she stood before them as a Changeling, her head held high and unafraid. Guards in the room gasped from the left and right, and several others scampered backwards in fear, taking cover behind tables or chairs.

But even if you ordered me to strike her down, I cannot help but pity this poor creature.

"A Changeling!" Celestia cried, pointing a hoof. "Guards! Seize her!"

A fate truly worse than death- hasn't there been enough suffering!? "Midnight!" Reddling cried, throwing himself at the nearest guard, who had moved forward to grab Cadance. Reddling plunged his hoof right into the face of the guard, a loud crack as the pony's jaw snapped sounding across the room. Most of the guards fell back at this, looks of shock on their face. A few tired looking guards still made their way forward however, trying to grab at Cadance.

A sort of organized chaos descended on the room as Celestia's guards clashed with Shining Armor, Reddling, and Midnight. No weapons were drawn, but the hooffighting was still getting fierce. As the tired guards fell to the wayside from various kicks or magical throws from Shining, more guards found their bravery and charged. Twilight and the drone now joined the battle, throwing magic back at the guards and slamming them into tables or chairs. Hundreds of papers flew into the air as the room became a storm of small paper booklets, parts of armor, and various ponies.

"Celestia! This is the real Cadance, stop this!" Twilight cried as a somewhat familiar looking bucktooth private flew past her head, smashing into a table. Another, somewhat less sad looking, guard quickly helped him back to his hooves, but a simple growl from Reddling was enough to send the two of them fleeing from the throne room.

"I will not suffer another imposter in our palace!" Celestia decreed. There was a thunder of hooves as more guards stormed the room, heading for Midnight and Shining Armor, who were both fighting as if they had trained side by side since boot camp.

"Are you mad?" Reddling yelled at Celestia as he smashed a hind hoof into the helmet of a guard, leaving him to fall to the ground holding his skull. "She wears no guise to fool you!"

"Guards, stand down!" Luna cried at the royal guard. However, the royal guard did not heed her words, and if anything seemed to redouble their efforts against the group. Despite the pile of at least two dozen Royal guard ponies that had either been knocked out or had limbs broken laying on the ground, this did nothing to break the moral of the reinforcements. Reddling landed a hoof solidly in the muzzle of a nearby guard, leaving him to back up holding bleeding nostrils as the drone slammed a hind hoof into the guard's midsection, sending him down for the count. Reddling turned and grabbed the next Equestrian he could find, slamming them into a table with all his strength before falling on top of them, holding the pony down as he smashed his hoof repeatedly into the guard's face.

That is ENOUGH! Luna's voice boomed across the room. A few papers flew away as her voiced arced around the room. Everypony had stopped fighting and was now staring at Luna, who stood darkly next to her sister, gazing down at the carnage. Even Cadance's drone had stopped fighting the guards and was fearfully looking up at the Princess of the Night. Reddling gave the guard that he was on one last shove into the ground before he rose up, dusting himself off and licking some blood from his nostril.

Princess Luna walked around from her table, approaching Cadance. Midnight and Reddling both bowed as she passed, all the other guards scurrying out of Luna's way as she approached. Shining Armor, Cadance, and the drone still in their unremarkable disguise stood in front of Luna.

"Cadance, is this truly you?" Luna asked.

"Yes, it is- I am still myself, I still have my own mind." Cadance gasped. "Otherwise I would not have come here, like this. Please, you must believe me."

"We believe you, and we trust our sister will as well." Luna decreed. Cadance let out a sigh of relief, thanking Luna repeatedly.

I can't tell which is more crazy, the one believing us or the one that isn't. Reddling thought, looking over at a most unhappy looking Celestia, who had now fallen silent.

"I came to you in hopes that you might know some way to- to reverse this, please. You have to do something!" Cadance pleaded.

"I am so sorry, there is-" Celestia began, but Luna cut her off.

"Nay, sister. There may be a way." Luna said.

Twitching his ear, Reddling glared at Celestia. Celetia, so quick to pass judgement on others, not like Luna or Cadance. I wonder how you judge me- do you see me as Luna's pet? What about Midnight? Beware this, if we're her lapdogs, you'd best remember the puppies have teeth.

The room was full of shocked faces from everypony. Celestia, the guards, Cadance, Shining Armor, and Twilight all looked surprised. Midnight did not have a look of surprise on his face, but rather a smug smile, as if he had been sure the entire time that Luna would pull through in the end. The drone was noticeably shocked and unhappy, but remained silently by Cadance's side.

"Sister, with your leave, I would find some resolution to this. I believe I may have a solution." Luna said, turning to her sister.

"...Very well." Celestia growled.

"Cadance, Shining Armor, Twilight Sparkle, Midnight Tales, Reddling Rain and- We are sorry, we do not know your name?" Luna turned to the drone, who looked surprised. He blinked over at Reddling, who approached his side.

"Star Shine, your majesty. I had decided to hide in the caves when the fighting started, and stumbled upon Cadance. We've been helping one another through this ever since." The drone said rather convincingly considering he had not known his own name a few seconds ago.

"Star Shine." Luna repeated. "All of you, come with us to our quarters." Leading the way, Luna led the group out of the throne room. Cadance resumed her disguise as she went, which startled the remaining guards that were still conscious. Reddling turned and smirked back at the royal guard as he and Midnight left them. Despite the fact that they were Celestia's personal guard, Reddling and Midnight had fought with the strength of eight royal guard with their injuries. Of course Reddling knew dayponies were inferior, but he had not expected them to be this incompetent. It all seemed rather odd in a way he couldn't quite put his hoof on. Turning away from them, Reddling trotted to the drone's side quickly.

"Star Shine!?" Reddling hissed at the drone quietly when they were out in the hall. "That sounds almost as real as Cobalt Flare."

"You're being ridiculous. It is completely real." The drone said reassuringly. However, their eyes darted around subtly, looking to see if any other ponies might have overheard this, Luna in particular.

"Oh you," Reddling said, making no attempt to whisper. "You'll think of a better name later, maybe." The drone made no response, but instead picked up their pace to stand closer to Cadance and further away from the other ponies.

"Ungrateful little punk." Reddling hissed, trotting to Twilight Sparkle's side. Her face was now one of hope as she beamed at the back of Luna's head.

We should get a drink sometime Miss Twilight. You're literally a walking encyclopedia. Maybe you can fill me in with better knowledge about the Princesses- Or maybe, Silverfield even. You seem to be quite the bookworm.

Midnight looked like he was going to explode when they reached Princess Luna's bedroom. He was absolutely ecstatic and looked as though he should be having a nosebleed running all down his front.

He really likes his princess Reddling thought.

"The Night Guard has a dark and storied past. There are many legends, rumors, and falsehoods surrounding it." Luna said, keeping her back turned to her guests. "But one truth is that those who join it from the outside take on the visage of a Child of the Night, a bat pony. Reddling Rain and Midnight Tales are living proof of this,"

"What many do not know," Luna continued turning to face them all, "is that those who find cause to leave the Night Guard may, and their old selves can be restored to them. I believe this may be done to save Princess Cadance." Mixed emotions flew around the room at Luna's words, Reddling wrapped his wings around his body instantly, hugging himself tightly at the thought of being flightless again, at the thought of being nothing again. Shining Armor, Cadance, and Twilight all looked amazed and happy, grinning at each other. Midnight had a hopeful look on his face, but really seemed to be more busy studying every feature of Luna he could gaze at. The drone in the room was forcing a smile, hiding whatever emotion it was actually feeling.

"Twilight, Shining Armor, and Midnight Tales, the ritual to perform this act requires many reagents, many of which are difficult to acquire. We would ask you to gather them for us." Luna said.

Wait, what? Reddling thought, more upset at this than he thought he would have been. Why am I not being chosen for this?

"Reddling Rain, Celestia has posed this task to us, and we agree with her wisdom; The changelings who attacked us must be destroyed." Luna said. Reddling had a retort ready, but held his tongue as Luna continued,

"To do this, wherever they have fled to must be found. We have sent several of our guards to complete this task, but we would have you and your other companions assist in this task. We would invite Bruiser and Midnight Tales on this mission, but their weighty armor would slow them down beyond what is practical. You are to find where they have fled so the Equestrian army may eliminate them."

"All of them?" Reddling asked.

"If that is what is required to ensure that they are never able to harm another as they have done to us, to ensure nopony else must ever suffer Princess Cadance's fate, then yes." Luna said, her face hardening.

"So this is how Equestria deals with all of it's problems, isn't it?" Reddling stepped forward, gazing up at Luna heatedly. "When diplomacy fails, you move on to genocide! Many of those creatures are no less indued with a soul than Princess Cadance or Star Shine."

Luna frowned, obviously displeased. "Those creatures attacked us, unprovoked, in our own home, killing and reducing ponies to empty husks, and taking our own Princess Cadance from us- And you would have us stand idly by in the face of this?"

Luna's voice rose as she stepped forward, towering over Reddling."What would you have us do then, Reddling Rain of Silverfield, in the wake of this horrifying tragedy? What other resolution do you see to this act of WAR but swift retribution?"

"Look at this pony." Reddling said, grabbing Star Shine and pulling him forward, "He's not a pony, he's a changeling, but you'd never know that."

"What would you do when they come again? When-" Luna had begun again without fully listening to Reddling before his words sank in. She gave a start, backing up.

"Go on, change. Let's see if she recognizes you."

"Ready?"

Ready for what?

The Changeling's eyes went wide in panic as it turned, suddenly lashing out and slamming it's hoof into the side of Reddling's head before bolting for the door. Reddling didn't bother to dodge, but simply rolled with the punch, letting it knock him off his hooves. As the drone fumbled with the door and made it outside, but two seasoned looking guards in medium armor tackled him to the ground. Both of them hauled the drone back in, tossing him on the ground in front of Luna.

"Fully capable of irrational thought, and emotion. Emotions like hate and love, fear and anger, just ask Princess Cadance." Reddling said, holding his jaw with a hoof. The drone was certainly doing a good job of showing emotion right now, hissing and sputtering in a quite un-equine fashion as a mixture of fear and panic overtook the creature.

"Stop it! All of you!" Cadance shouted, going forward to the drone and holding it. The guards held the drone down, but made sure that their grips were not uncomfortable.

"Let us kill no more innocents in the name of peace." Reddling said quietly.

"Luna, please. He may be a changeling, but he has helped me through this. I know it may seem strange, but he has helped me come to terms and rise above the despair." Cadance offered to Luna.

"Does that excuse them then, Reddling?" Luna asked, ignoring Cadance.

"No more than it excuses Web's actions or my own actions." Reddling said, standing his ground and looking up at Luna, "But at some point, somepony has to say no. if even one changeling survives from your purge, they will hate you for it. Wrath is a sin, Princess, but if genocide is your order, it will be carried out."

"Changeling, if Equestria's forces were to attack your home in retaliation for your acts during the wedding, with the sole intent of disarming your forces and preventing another such atrocity in the future, would your kind fight to the last, to the death? Or accept surrender in the face of a hopeless defeat?" Luna asked. The drone looked up at her, stony faced and not saying anything.

"Reddling, we attempted to question these creatures, to determine their motivations, and not a single one would speak. None of them would reveal anything." Luna said, turning to face Reddling now. "Not a single one of their soldiers were captured alive. Each and every one fought to the death."

"You don't know what it's like to be so cold." Reddling said, trotting to the side and watching Luna with one eye. "To be so cold, and just need something to hug to stay alive. That's what I learned from a changeling after Web ordered me to handle the remaining prisoners. It told me that right before I killed it..."

"Whether they must die or not, they are pitiful creatures." Reddling said, bending down and putting a hoof on the drone's head, petting him gently. "We will hunt them, and when we find them, we will report back."

Luna's face looked like she was about to be sick as she gazed down at Reddling. "I instructed Web to do what she had to. She tried to learn what she could, and not one of them said a word. We have no way of negotiating with them, knowing what they want! Do not think for a moment that I have chosen this path willingly!"

"I don't disagree with your choice, it was...effective, if inhumane." Reddling said. "I wonder though, What will they do with any of our prisoners, knowing how we treat theirs?"

"Drone, answer Princess Luna's question," Cadance said, "about the hive."

"If the hive was threatened, every single one of us would fight to the end." Luna gave a start at the drone's response.

"And Reddling's question, answer that too." Cadance whispered.

"We would feed on them until they were empty." The drone said coolly.

"And why did you attack the city?" Luna asked.

"The queen willed it." The drone replied. Luna blinked and began raining more questions down on the drone, trying to determine anything from it. Almost every question ended with Star Shine deferring to his queen or stating that he would never endanger his hive.

"Then we won't endanger them, we'll meet with them." Reddling said to Star Shine, still petting his mane.

"We have a saying among Changelings." Star Shine hissed, "Words are used for lies. I've seen you act."

Reddling frowned, "I guess we'll have to kill the rest of them then, it won't keep me up all day." Will it...?

Several tense moments passed. Twilight, her brother, and Midnight had gone deathly quiet in the back of the room, not willing to be near an angry Luna. For what seemed like many minutes, the only noise was that of hushed breaths between the occupants of the room.

"Reddling, your orders," Luna said slowly. "We would ask you to find their hive. We will provide you some means of contacting us when this is done. If you can find some way to speak to their Queen and reason with them, find their motivations, or otherwise gain some information on them, do so. Perhaps there is yet some way to resolve this bloodlessly, or less so, at the very least. Previously this has solely been a scouting measure, so ponies have been sent out in small bands whom we know are fast, elusive, and stealthy. Therefore, you shall act independently, however only your party has orders to engage in diplomatic measures." Luna stopped, her gaze still on Reddling. Wordlessly, he saluted her back in acknowledgement.

"You may request any resources from the Night Guard that you wish. In your mission you may act as you feel is appropriate." Luna said. Reddling's thoughts should have been on provisions or other necessities, but the first thought that flew to his mind was replenishing his supply of knives.

"Princess Cadance," Luna said, turning now to her, "Since you have vouched for them, we shall pardon this drone, However, from this point forward, he is your responsibility, and you must account for any actions he undertakes."

"How do you tell if it's a he or she?" Reddling asked, looking at the drone.

"Drone, are you a filly or a colt?" Cadance asked.

"It doesn't matter." Star Shine replied. There was a brief moment of silence between all of the ponies as everyone looked at the drone.

"Depressing..." Reddling commented, backing away from Star Shine now and looking up at Luna. "When shall we set out? Tonight?"

"Tomorrow there shall be a service for those who lost their lives. You may depart as soon as you are ready, although you may wish to stay for that." Luna said.

"We'll stay for tomorrow then, Princess Luna." Reddling said.

Luna nodded, turning back to the group as a whole now. "We must apologize for our sister's behavior. She has been most on edge since the wedding. The assault against her and the stress of recovering from this attack have taken their toll on her, on both of us. Reddling, you have your orders, you may leave. Cadance, you and- your drone- you may also go. I will instruct the others on what is necessary for your recovery.

"Farewell, Your Highness!" Reddling said, saluting her before turning to leave. Cadance and the drone also left the room with him. Star Shine wasted no time in getting in front of Reddling, looking most unhappy.

"Were you trying to get me killed?" Star Shine said angrily.

"They wouldn't have killed you," Reddling said, "In fact, now you're pardoned."

"If my Princess hadn't saved me they'd have given me back to the giggle-bat!" Star Shine hissed.

"My marefriend, yeah." Reddling said idly. "You wouldn't have made it that far, I would have cut you down on the spot."

Star Shine looked down, screwing up his face in pain for a few moments. "-And they're taking my Princess away."

"I feel your pain," Reddling said, wrapping his wings around himself. 'But these things happen. We simply must continue to live our lives."

"Don't pretend you can know how I feel!" hissed Star Shine, "You've never felt lo-"

"Stop it, Reddling has done what he's thought is for the best. Don't act so rude." Cadance said to her drone. Reddling felt the drone's words sting as Cadance looked to him. "Reddling, he is a very different creature from you. What you said to Luna was true, that he has his own feelings and emotions, but he is still very different, with different wants, needs, and values."

"You know where I am from now- Silverfield holds largely different values from Equestria, Princess." Reddling said, "In the end, I do not think we are all so different. Changelings, Equestria, the world- they're only words that we allow to separate us, right?" Reddling smiled, trying to convince himself once more that he was totally lying through his teeth. In all honesty though, can I even remember why anymore? Can I trust Equestria?

"I cannot say that I know Silverfield well, but now I have seen the world through two sets of eyes, I suppose we are not so different." Cadance said, also smiling.

I think it's best you never learn too much. "I hope we can find a reasonable solution to all of this... and, drone, I'm going to call you Star Shine- please listen to me." Reddling extended a hoof to the drone's shoulder, rubbing it gently. Star Shine was still disguised as a pony, and the fur and skin on his body felt vividly real.

"Nothing will ever excuse my actions," Reddling said, pausing and taking a deep breath before continuing, "-but I am deeply sorry for the actions I took against the other two. Had I known, I never would have..." Reddling trailed off, looking up at the drone. Star Shine made no hostile moves, but just watched as Reddling backed away. A real, raw emotion poured from Reddling now. Sorrow, regret, and remorse were mixing into deep grief that burned hollowly in his chest. It was the worst sickness he could think of; a sickness that nopony could know about. His friends could never know the sadness over how he had squandered the best days of his life with hatred over a fate he had not chosen.

Reddling turned away from Cadance and the drone, wandering out of the castle and flying high into the air. His body still hurt, but he was well enough to fly and travel. Even in training, He had never needed to fly above the cloud layer, but today was not yesterday. The cool moisture of the clouds ran over his mane and coat, slicking back his hair as he spiraled above a fluffy cloud, sending it dispersing in all directions. With a quick spin, Reddling backflipped onto another cloud, patting the cloud and staring down at the morning over Equestria. Once the sun had marked a day to train for murdering his gift, but no longer. The sun now marked a time of rest, giving way to a life that belonged once more to it's rightful owner.

For a time, I must put the Princesses aside, and focus on the Changelings- find some way to end this without abhorrent amounts of bloodshed.

I was certain that Luna and Celestia would have Cadance killed, but that plan didn't work. That may, perhaps, be for the better. Right now I need to make sure that Silverfield is safe from the Changelings. Equestria barely stood up against the attack, and I can't imagine some of the smaller villages would last five minutes... I'll find some way to satisfy the Changelings first, and then continue with my mission. Until then, I'll have to keep the Princesses safe and make sure history doesn't repeat itself.

I'll rise with the night...

Next Chapter: Traditions of the Trade Estimated time remaining: 8 Hours, 51 Minutes