Afterdark
Chapter 25: Preparations
Previous Chapter Next ChapterOne day earlier
Canterlot truly looked a mess after the recent invasion. Although much had been fixed, many stores that had been damaged in battle had not yet been fixed. One such store was a simple shop called "Perfect Suits, Perfect Silhouettes."
Reddling Rain shook his bangs away from his eyes, gazing in dismay at the damage out front. The normally lively, if somewhat underpatronized, store lacked any good visual signs about it. The storefront window had been smashed, and on the inside litter and debris was scattered in the showarea. Pushing the door open, Reddling peered around in the early evening light from under his helmet.
"Hello?" Reddling asked, looking around for the shop owner. Sure enough, there was the same mare from before, although her chipper mood had all but died. She was sitting on a set of stairs that lead upwards into what was likely a loft, staring out at her damaged store. Other than still looking a little shaken though, the mare seemed to be healthy.
"Do you remember me? Reddling asked, waving a hoof at her as he removed his helmet.
"Ah! Yes! Welcome- welcome back..." The pony said, choking up a bit at the end. Reddling shook his head a bit, setting his helmet down and moving over to a comfy looking armchair that had somehow remained undamaged. "You'll have to- to excuse the mess."
"The rest of the city looks no better." Reddling assured her. "I was at the palace when it was attacked, and my coat was destroyed during the fight. I was wondering if you had another coat in stock that could be prepared for me?"
"I- well- ye, of course! Although, it will take several days while I finish cleaning up." The mare replied.
"I understand," Reddling replied, biting his lip. "The problem is, I'm going to be leaving tomorrow night, so perhaps it could be prepared when I return?"
"Leaving?" The mare asked curiously.
"Guard work, classified." Reddling said, pulling out his coin purse.
"...alright. I'll do what I can to have it ready for you tomorrow." the mare replied, moving over to her counter.
"I understand if it cannot be done." Reddling said as he counted out the bits for a second coat.
"I still have your measurements, so there's no need for that. T-thanks. Having some work will help take my mind off..." She stopped for a moment, looking around at her store, "This."
"Thank you. If we continue having to fight these Changelings for an extended length of time, you may want to hang onto those measurements." Reddling said, putting his helmet back on.
"Of course. Have a nice day." The mare called to Reddling as he made for the door.
"Have a nice night." Reddling said over his shoulder.
"Hey Reddling." Tops said the next evening.
"Hey, Tops." Reddling replied, sitting down across from Tops in the mess hall. Nightshade and Tops had arrived already nicked most of the light fruits sat out for dinner. "You two look terrible."
Nightshade glared up at Reddling with a grumpy tired face before lowering her head back down to her breakfast. Tops let out a sigh and looked at Nightshade for a moment before turning back to Reddling.
"Cleaning up the city, dealing with the dead and wounded and... the others, its been hard." Tops mumbled. "You vanished yesterday and I know we haven't really- well, sat down to talk since the wedding. Are you doing okay?"
Reddling was silent, picking up an apple and ripping a bite out of it. The truth was he wasn't alright at all. His mind was still very conflicted over what it had been forced to process over the last few days. It was difficult for Reddling to figure out who his friends and enemies were. Were Changelings just misunderstood and some race he could save? Would he be able to set aside his past life and be able to live this new lovely life? Was Silverfield hostile to him now as a bat? What would Rainy think?
"Reddling, you're doing that thing again." Nightshade said from across the table.
"Huh?" Reddling asked, giving his head a shake.
"You're brooding over thoughts again. Just spit it out." Nightshade chided.
"Fine." Reddling waved his hoof at her. "We're going for a ride soon. Are you two ready to leave tomorrow?"
"We weren't told anything about that." Nightshade said.
"What's going on?" Tops asked.
"Luna has given us orders to undertake scouting to locate the a Changeling, hive." Reddling said, pausing for a moment to clear his throat. "We have a secondary goal as well. We are going to try to engage in diplomacy with them."
"That's insane." Nightshade interrupted.
"Luna does not believe it is totally impossible. I've been told that whatever supplies we need from the Night Guard will be supplied to us."
"So we've got tonight and tomorrow to prepare, and we should probably try to attend the service as well." Nightshade said slowly.
"I can take care of what supplies you need if you tell me what to get, I won't be at the service." Reddling offered.
"If you can get rations and whatnot, that would be great." said Tops, "I'll ask around and figure out what exactly we're going to need to do, I'm sure Lunar will know..."
"We have no idea what to expect, so just be prepared for everything. I'm going to buy some syringes to use for injecting some homemade poison Web created to instantly kill Changelings, should the need arise." Reddling said, ending his sentence with a bite into the apple.
"That might have come in handy before..." Nightshade said grudgingly.
"It wasn't developed until after she had test subjects..." Reddling said bitterly. "Make sure you're both ready. We'll meet up in the barracks tomorrow night at moonrise."
"Sounds like a plan." Tops said.
Reddling nodded, standing up and leaving the mess hall as Tops opened his mouth, a thoughtful expression on his face. He didn't need any questions from the green pony about why he'd missing tomorrow right now.
Turning down the twists and turns of the halls of Canterlot Castle, Reddling made his way into the bat pony coven underneath. The way to the armory was not completely familiar to him, although he was able to remember his way without too much trouble. A gruff middle aged bat turned to him as he entered, finishing the shine on a blue battle axe.
"Uh, hello. Do you remember me?" Reddling asked, leaning forward and looking around hesitantly.
"Hm, red bat pony. Face is familiar, don't know your name. What'cha need?" the gruff pony asked, turning and putting the axe aside.
"I was at the wedding when it was attacked and some of my equipment was not recoverable. I'm looking for a set of throwing knives as well as a regular combat knife. Princess Luna told me that my scouting group could be outfitted for going into the field." Reddling said.
"Ah, going out on a trip too?" Without waiting for an answer, the bat continued, "Yeah we got some more knives. Have a bunch of throwing knives, just don't hog'em all. Getting a bit low on regular knives though. They're popular."
"Excellent. My group might need to engage in some quiet work... the kind where it would be best if nopony knew we were involved. I was wondering if the Night Guard possessed any small weapons that could be easily poisoned and concealed?" Reddling asked, looking around the walls at the various weapons as he approached a set of throwing knives. Even though it was dark in here, Reddling could see a special shine on the Night Guard weapons.
"We can probably do something for you, yeah. What do you have in mind?" The armorer asked.
"Hidden blades, mini-crossbows, medical syringes for holding poison." Reddling listed off, beginning to pick out knives for himself.
"Hidden blades would need a rework of your armors, no time for that. Crossbows... I got one or two of those. Not easy to use with hooves though, you know? Mostly you just see unicorns using that kind of stuff, with bows."
"Then the other two in my group will be able to make use of them just fine then." Reddling said, frowning as he held up a fine lunar knife. He had still been unable to get the idea of the Nightmare out of his head. The dreams hadn't stopped, but he was able to put it a the back of his mind long enough to focus on getting through his night and working with his friends.
"That'll work then." The armorer said, rummaging through some cabinets. After a few moments he pulled out a small crossbow with collapsible parts. A birch wood base with a metal bow was attached to a simple metal loading and trigger mechanism. Although it could be loaded and fired with hooves, it would be difficult and impractical to reload.
Do they normally keep great assassin weapons laying around under the table? "That'll do, thanks. Would love to stay and chat, but I need to go see Web." Reddling said quietly, collecting the bow and attaching it to his side. The bowgun hung quite obviously on his side, but hopefully would be hidden well under his coat.
"Don't die." The bat pony said, lowering their ears at the mention of Web. Reddling just gave a little shrug.
"She's right down the hallway, she won't kill me." Reddling mused, turning and trotting away towards Web's cavern.
"...Good luck." The bat said, closing the armory door behind Reddling.
"ek!"
Reddling flinched at the quiet exclamation from inside Web's room as he knocked on her door. There was a loud thunk on the door as something connected a foot above the handle. A few moments passed as Reddling dared not open the door. She's just as nervous as I am. I wonder why she's on edge?
"Who's there?" Web asked from the other side of the door.
Why does it always seem like something is up? "It's me, Web."
"Oh! Reddling! ehehe, come in!" Web's voice replied.
"I heard a thunk, what happened?" Reddling asked, stepping inside. Web was standing by her bed and having a little giggle.
"You woke me up and startled me." Web said, pointing at the door. Reddling turned his head, staring right into the hilt of Web's knife embedded deep into the wood.
I like you, I think, Web... but you scare the literal ponyfeathers out of me. "Ah, uh, Sorry. I didn't mean to wake you, I wanted to come by today because tomorrow I'm leaving. Got a mission!"
"I heard... going to visit some changelings, are you?" Web asked.
" Reason with them." Reddling corrected.
"Oh yes." Web agreed, sitting down on her bed.
"Something doesn't add up Web, even if they had managed to take Canterlot, they never could have held Equestria, even with their army. The attack doesn't make sense." Reddling also sat on the bed, putting a hoof up to his chin. The more he thought about the possible motivations for things going on, the more he was unsure he had the whole picture. Everypony seemed to be acting in ways that seemed to imply a piece of the puzzle that was hiding right in front of him.
"Stupid little bugs." Web replied simply.
"Princess Cadance is a stupid little bug right now." Reddling reminded her.
"And she'll die like the rest if she slips up." Web said, her voice changing from threatening to whining. "But Luna thinks she's fine, so I'm not allowed to touch."
"Hmm. Is Celestia always so mean?" Reddling asked, his mind traveling back to his recent hooffight alongside Midnight against Celestia's royal guards.
"I don't deal with her much." Web said. "As far as I know, not really- but as far as I know, she's never had her flank kicked in like that before either, so who knows."
"Her royal guards couldn't even beat a hurt Midnight and myself, it was just sad." Reddling dismissed the conversation string. A few silent moments passed, the two of them sitting together. Despite how scary Reddling knew Web could be, there was something that he could not surrender about this feeling. Web was moody and creepy, the kind of unstable pony you would not want to spend extended periods of time around. Even with her insanity, Reddling could not think of any place he'd rather be before a long trip than by her side, simply enjoying the darkness and breathing together.
"...Do you happen to have some of that... what did you call it? The Changeling poison." Reddling asked quietly.
"I was wondering when you'd ask." Web giggled. "About to go on a dangerous mission, you're not here to shoot the breeze."
Reddling sighed. "You don't think I stopped by to just see you?"
Web produced a small vial of white liquid that really looked a lot like something Reddling didn't want to imagine, especially in the company of Web. "Don't have too much left. Might not be enough to kill one of the big ones, but it'll sure hurt them."
"Not enough to kill them...!" Reddling took the vial, looking down at it before sitting up with a bit of a start. Web had continued moving his way, brushing shoulders with him and drawing him in close.
"Give one a Widow's Kiss for me, Reddling. Let me know the look on its face when it burns." Web whispered gayly, her voice alight with pleasure at the idea of what she had made.
A Widow's Kiss? Reddling looked at the liquid confusedly. Reading his expression, Web put a hoof on his chin and raised it so that he was looking into her fangy smile.
"That's what I'm calling this stuff. I make it, I get to name it." Web said promptly.
"Ah- well of course. Right, a Widow's Kiss." Reddling said, looking back down at the liquid as web giggled again.
"Anything else, nightlight?" Web asked.
"Well, unless you want something of me- you're probably just tired. I should let you rest?" Reddling offered.
"Ah, such a gentlecolt!" Web said, giving him a pat on the shoulder and standing up. "Oh, I'm so jealous of you. I wish I could go out and hunt those things. But no, I'm stuck in here, mixing up potions for Cadance.
Reddling stayed silent for a few moments. I wonder if she knows I'm the reason she's stuck here? If I hadn't taken action... "I'm sorry, I wish you could come with us." Reddling sighed, "I'm hoping we can stop by Silverfield on the scouting for a night."
"Nothing stopping you, I guess." Web shrugged.
"If I were going to hide sleeper agents, I'd put them where Equestria would never look. It won't take long to scan the population for somepony out of place." Reddling said. Web had her back turned to him now. It was a good thing she was now working her knife out of wooden door, because for just one moment, Reddling felt his mask slip. The very words he was speaking was making his heart race. I wonder if anypony knows, and just... can't prove it?
"eHehe, should we start pulling random ponies off the street to see if they're changelings?" Web asked over her shoulder, pondering her own question. "Hmm... I wonder, Luna won't mind... ehehe."
"The darkness does keep many secrets." Reddling tried to sound cool, standing up and moving over to the door to stand nearer to Web.
"Oh, yes it does." Web agreed, letting out a tired sigh as she freed her knife and sheathed it. "Well, I am tired. I'm going to go back to sleep. Hehe, sleeping during the night like a dirty sunpony."
"Oh, we're all tired from these events." Reddling said, holding out a hoof and biting his lip lightly with a fang.
"Dark nights and pleasant dreams, Reddling." Web said, leaning in and accepting his half hug as she planted a kiss on his cheek. Reddling barely managed to articulate what he prayed was a goodbye before he found himself trotting from her room, looking back inside at her before he closed the door. Web had perched onto and outcropping, her legs hooked around it so she could hang upside down. She had covered her body with her wings, allowing her to look very much like a bat. Her mane and short tail were hanging somewhat freely, dropping towards the floor.
"Okay, that's so cool." Reddling whispered to himself, blinking. "Sweet dreams, Web."
The ponies of Canterlot had been surprisingly helpful in presenting Reddling with what he needed. At the mention of the Night Guard "actually getting work done," the nurses, quartermaster, and even the cook had all been more than willing to help Reddling gather anything he asked for. Medical supplies, tasty food, and even the comfy chair in the barracks commons had been presented to him. Sad as it was, Reddling was most enthused about the comfy chair, as he quickly surmised it was the best chair he had ever sat in.
However, this was not something that Reddling could stay content with. He needed to move around and see some sights, do something to keep himself from stressing out. Before too long, he had made his way into the castle courtyards and gardens. Different stone statues adorned the area, each one of them stranger than the last; A draconequus in a terrified pose stared at Reddling from one corner, A little filly in a dress with twigy wings with multi-colored crystals hung from another, apparently laughing about something, and not far from her was another odd bat pony filly who also had on a similar almost maid-like outfit.
Reddling wandered through the different statues until he reached the palace's library. Gazing at different depictions of various Equestrian heroes and legends, Reddling paused briefly as he spyed a lavander unicorn laying face down in her book. Carefully sneaking around her, Reddling came up behind Twilight and cleared his throat.
"Miss Sparkle." Reddling said pointedly.
"Ah!" Twilight said, giving a start and turning around. "Oh! it's you again- goodness, what times is it?"
"Early. Late." Reddling said blearily. "Unsure how to time it. It's nighttime."
"Well- good night, I suppose. Is that what bat ponies say?" Twilight asked.
"I try not to think about it." Reddling waved a hoof, taking possession of a seat that was somehow not filled with books. "Pleasant Dreams, Good Night, Ave in the name of the Night Mother- No, just hello and g'day works."
Twilight leaned forward over her book. There was an avid curiosity in those bright, lively purple eyes. "I've never met a bat pony before. Princess Luna visited Ponyville a few weeks ago and brough some with her, though I never had a chance to speak with them. I've read you have fantastic vision and hearing." Twilight said knowledgeably.
"When the sun isn't burning your eyes out, yeah. Hearing, well, we heard you gallop into the wedding from a mile away, so I guess you're right." Reddling agreed.
"The Wedding..." Twilight said sadly. "Well, I'm thankful that we can do something for Princess Cadance. Was it you or your friend who convinced her to see the Princesses?"
"If by convinced you mean I told her she was going to die slowly in a dark pit, that was me." Reddling said coldly. Twilight's face betrayed some discomfort as she backed up slightly.
"Well- you helped her, and that's what important." Twilight said.
Reddling put a hoof on his chin, thinking for a moment. "Have you ever heard, 'Rose colored petals, Jade coloured roots?'"
"What?" Twilight asked, looking confused.
"Rose colored petals, Jade coloured roots, Even a sick tree, can still bear its fruits." Reddling sang, half to her and half to himself. "It's part of an old poem from my homeland. It means that even the worst of actions can lead to the best results."
"I suppose that's true." Twilight thought, leaning back. "So, are you really going to try and reason with the Changelings?"
"Yes, I plan to." Reddling nodded his head.
"Hopefully that works out for the best." Twilight encouraged.
"I don't have high hopes." Reddling said, leaning forward with a sigh. "I don't have any reservations about wiping them out, but I'm not going to pick a fight if we can avoid it."
"That seems for the best. The only question is if we can trust them to hold their end of a bargain." Twilight said.
"Have you learned anything from your study we could use against them?" Reddling asked. "I doubt any skirmishes will end well for either side until we set up a meeting, and it'd be nice to know how to beat them."
"There's not much." Twilight said, pulling up a book and sending four others showering onto the ground. "I've found some isolated cases of similar creatures being found amongst ponykind, but nothing like this. No direct attack led by organized leaders. They generally show up as wanderers in towns, spend a night or two, then vanish. If they get found out for what they are, their first response is to run. All the cases I've found have been small towns, and their appearance doesn't seem to percipitate any huge disasters or invasions or anything like that.
"Interesting- but it sounds like all these cases are recording scouts. If all that they ever sent out till now was scouts though, what were they scouting for?" Reddling pondered the question quietly, interrupting Twilight's monolouge.
"That's really strange!" Twilight agreed.
"Strange..." Reddling said to himself. Strange that I never heard anything about them in Silverfield. Based on this pony's perception of what a small town would be, every single village to the cities of Silverfield could be counted as a "small town." Checking out Silverfield might be a better idea than I first thought. I can just stop by the old keep and sleep among the-
"Miss Sparkle! Do you like books?" Reddling asked, a lightbulb turning on in his head as he looked at all the books surrounding him.
"I do!" Twilight said, brightening up. "I consider myself very well read."
"I want to purpose a uh- a book exchange, a trade, if you will." Reddling and Twilight both leaned closer together. "I want you to research some information for me, and I'll fetch you some possibly rare books that I have access too."
"What do you have in mind?" Twilight asked.
Do I really wanna know? I have to know before I get any closer to a lunatic pony. I want to put aside my misgivings about Web. "I want you to research about a character that might be an assassin, bounty hunter, or spy, or even a- a criminal. Web was a pony that joined us in the fight against the blue changeling queen. However, that same Changeling queen attacked us some time before the Canterlot attack and called Web by a different name- Black Widow. I want you to find out if that name has any connection to an earth pony that used poisons.
"Alright, I'll see what I can do. I'm sure Princess Luna will have us busy though, so no promises!" Twilight said.
"No assurances that I won't perish in this mission." Reddling said.
"What would you have in exchange? You said- you had some rare books?" Twilight asked, leaning closer in excitement.
"Yes, Books that you would normally not be permitted to have access too." Reddling said. Twilight nodded her head, seemingly excited by the secrecy around the books. "What kind of book would you like? Spells? History? Theology?"
"It doesn't really matter. I'd like to think I'm pretty well set on magical spells. Whatever you'd think is most interesting, I'd say!" Twilight replied.
"A lesson in Silverfieldian history then. We've got a thousand of those." Reddling rolled his eyes at the thought of an entire corner of a throne room consumed with history books.
"Silverfield history! Truth be told, I'm not well studied on Silverfield. That's the region to the south of Equestria?" Twilight asked.
"What wasn't annexed by Equestria, yes." Reddling said.
"Well, it's a deal then! I'll let you know what I find." Twilight watched as Reddling stood up to stretch.
Why am i not surprised? I wouldn't expect anything less from who seems to be Equestria's biggest bookworm. "Pleasant Dreams, Miss Sparkle." Reddling bid her goodnight as he turned to trot away, hoping beyond hope that tonight would grant him a dreamless sleep.
"Pleasant Dreams, Night Guard!" Twilight called after him.