You know, her hair kind of smells like blueberries.

Reddling took a sip of his tea, looking across a small table at the still recovering Princess Luna. He had been unable to locate Midnight before his presence had been requested by Luna. Although he had been expecting this talk, he had not been expecting to be having it over tea with his weapons and armor still on. Truly, Luna was one for believing that ponies could turn over a new leaf, and he was very thankful for this.

"You're drinking the tea." Luna mused, idly playing with a small fire under an ancient tea kettle. This did not appear to be a good or often used set of teacups and cookware, but if it was good enough for a Princess, then it was good enough for a guardpony. Reddling said nothing and only shook his head to acknowledge that he had heard Luna. Luna stopped playing with the fire, looking up quizzically. She had this ability to always look like she was judging the pony in front of her even when she was totally at ease. Seconds ticked by, neither of them breaking the ice.

"How can I be of service?" Reddling asked. A half minute of silence had fallen between himself and Princess Luna, and albeit that he loathed to break the quiet, he knew he would never escape her if somepony didn't.

"I wanted to speak with you personally about our next steps. While I am aware that you have useful skills, I wish for you to refrain from using them." Luna said quietly, swirling her own tea with a small wooden spoon.

"...I see." Reddling said somewhat bitterly. It always seemed to be the case that ponies wanted to hold him back, never understanding that so many problems could be solved if they just cut to the chase.

"You are to accompany Web on a mission to Canterlot. Twilight Sparkle will not be privy to what has happened and I am concerned that she may be captured and harmed." Reddling looked up at Luna's words. Miss Twilight had almost slipped his mind with all of the recent excitement.

"If Miss Twilight has been captured, we are probably already too late to save her." Reddling whispered, sipping his tea again.

"Even so, she will have the regents we need to help Princess Cadance, and those must be recovered. I'd like you personally to recover these. If the Changelings know what they are, then they will likely have hidden them somewhere hard to reach." Luna continued to play with her tea as she spoke.

"Web has Nightmare powers I don't, she could get them easily. If the Changelings do know what these regents are, then how do you know they won't have destroyed them?" Reddling asked.

"I do not think they would risk touching them unless they had too, much less trying to destroy them in any way. As for Web, while she is good, she tends to leave a bloody path in her wake. Now is not the time for that." Luna sipped her tea, keeping her eyes locked on Reddling's eyes.

So is there a time for it then? These are your own countryponies, your subjects... "I'll retrieve the regents discreetly, and I'll get Miss Twilight out."

"Web will be in charge of the operation, although you may act as you see fit." Luna said, her voice barely more than a whisper.

"That's an odd order to give a guard, Princess Luna. Soldiers follow orders, not their feelings." Reddling stood up, preparing to leave.

"Then we won't have anything to worry about." Luna said firmly. Reddling got the jab, but decided to not humor the Princess this time.

"I would like to contact Miss Twilight's friends. They might be helpful in getting her out of Canterlot and may know if she somehow escaped Canterlot on her own already." Reddling nodded to himself- that seemed like a good idea. After all, one of them had saved his life with a quick needle, and surely somepony like Twilight Sparkle surrounded herself with powerful and capable friends. At worst, they were non-Night Guard ponies, which meant that they wouldn't see him in a harsh light. Actually if it's nighttime I guess they just won't see me at all.

"That would be prudent. Look for a dressmaker's shop in town, a large white building. If anypony were to remember something and be brave enough to tell it, then that pony would be her." Luna sighed. Reddling turned, trotting for the door and not looking back.

Luna is planning something that I'm not going to like. We should be running, not spending our time saving bookworms, curing Cadance, or having different bat couples... enjoy each other in this husk of a fortress.

---

It was well into the night before Reddling actually began to move towards Ponyville. He had made a plan to ask Tops to come along with him, as he seemed to be the only pony not giving the cold shoulder. Web had been painfully distant, and Nightshade or Bruiser had done little to offer conversation.

Just as moonlight began to trickle down into the upper hallways, Reddling brought his hooves to a halt. A figure in heavy Night Guard plates cast a long shadow between the cool night air and the dank underground. No sooner had Reddling stopped his hooves than the long shadow began to move forward, like some sort of crazed automaton suddenly given a life of its' own. A single misty and furious eye glared at the hallway, forcing even the shadows to shrink away, lest this pony's fury bite them.

"Midnight- How good to- Midnight, stop!" Reddling felt the last word come out as a squeak. Midnight had closed the distance between the two of them in what seemed to be record time.

"Midnight, halt!" Reddling cried in alarm, focusing his eyes on a snarl that rose from Midnight's nostrils.

"I do not take orders from you." Midnight growled. Reddling tried to take a step to the side to get out of Midnight's way, but the big bat pony only changed his course, arcing towards his prey.

"Then go get them from Luna, I have things to do today!" Reddling squeaked, puffing out his chest.

Reddling thought for a moment that something along the lines of "How dare you!" came from Midnight, but he couldn't be sure. It took little more than a second for Midnight to finish his trot and close the hoof-range distance. The taste of iron and salt filled Reddling's mouth as he felt something slam into the side of his jaw. An audible pop echoed around the hallway as Midnight wrapped his hooves around the front and collar of Reddling's jacket. A jolt swam from Reddling's spine to his ribcage as he felt all four of his hooves leave the ground. Midnight did not waste any of the advantage his size gave him, and in their current positions neither Reddling nor Midnight could reach for their weapons.

"All of it! Every word of encouragement, every friendly word you spoke to me! Naught but a lie!" Midnight's hot words were flecked with spittle as they slammed against red fur. Reddling managed a pathetic whimper as his eyes refocused on the nonexistent distance between himself and Midnight. Their muzzles were now touching, and Reddling could feel his body being crushed between Midnight's chest plate and the cold stone wall. "How could you, with your snakes tongue and murder's heart! How could you lie and cheat your way here and play us- play me, for fools!?"

Reddling scrunched himself against the wall, trying to kick Midnight away with his hind hooves. Midnight pushed himself further against Reddling, positioning himself between Reddling's hips so that such an attack was impossible.

It was not so much that the words did not ring true- it was simply that Reddling desired to not face this past. Tears began to fall onto Midnight's armor as Reddling let out a whimper, feeble requests for Midnight to release him and not touch him dying in the fear on Reddling's breath.

"-And even with all that, still she forgives you!" Midnight's voice was practically a scream at this point. "All your terrible lies! What have you done to gain her favor!?"

"I get results!" Reddling panted, a pair of tears dripping down his cheeks and landing on Midnight's hooves.

"You!" Midnight let out a terrible snarl, the fury almost radiating off his skin. "I saved your life, and you abandoned me to the Changelings in Canterlot! I lost this eye because of you!"

Midnight moved one hoof to his ruined eye, pointing at it. Taking his chance, Reddling threw his hooves at Midnight's face, trying to hit his good eye. Midnight let out another snarl and slammed his free hoof on Reddling's forehead, changing the world into blurry shapes and seamless lines.

"Tell me I am Useless! and know, that however useless you say I am, That were it not for me you would be naught but a corpse rotting in Canterlot Halls!" Midnight's voice was a full on scream, echoing up and down the hallways.

"It's ponies like you!" Reddling screamed, his voice cracking under the strain on his neck. "-Ponies like you are why I was there in the first place!"

A gasp escaped Midnight's mouth, but he quickly stole himself, leaning in and keeping up his snarl. "Then, it is good to know where we stand- Where we have always stood. That everything you have ever said or done for me has been naught but a lie."

"I- Midnight-" Reddling's plea was cut off as Midnight squeezed on his neck, silencing any outbursts.

"Web asked me to come with her to Canterlot, but when I learned you would be going as well, I declined. If Princess Luna herself ordered me to go, I would beg her to reconsider!" Midnight finally let go of Reddling's neck, moving both his hooves upwards and cupping the sides of Reddling's face. For a few moments, they both shared breaths- not the soft kind that a mare and stallion might while they lay together, but the rough, angry kind that often proceeded deathfights.

"Blast you, Midnight..." Reddling panted, taking in a deep breath and coughing. "You- You who are so devout to Luna, but cannot follow a simple order? I-" Reddling coughed, Midnight's hooves tightening on his red ears and squeezing the side of his head. "I gave up everything for nothing- just- just so I could join your cause, and this is your idea of good faith and open arms?" Reddling could feel the pressure building on the sides of his head, but nonetheless he drew his tongue back, spitting into Midnight's face.

Midnight's fury did not waver. "Yes, I am a poor servant next to you." Reddling felt their foreheads touch. Midnight was now close enough to kiss if they so chose to. Each word was painfully punctuated as Midnight breathed every word directly into Reddling's nostrils. "I want my book back. You don't deserve to have it. You never deserved to have it."

"Stop- get the hell off me! I'll get your book back!" Reddling felt something inside his head snap into place. The world shook again, and Midnight drew his head back. Reddling pulled one of his forehooves free, aiming a rude kick at Midnight's good eye.

Before Reddling could feel Midnight's skull, stagnant air and the hard stone floor greeted him. Reddling skidded along the floor as Midnight dropped back down to a resting position on all four of his hooves. Reddling heard hoofsteps more than he saw them. Midnight's figure approached, and then passed, leaving Reddling alone in the basement. His throat still felt constricted with the feeling of a large cottonball being stuck just below where his hoof could reach in and pull it out.

Above the ruined fortress, the moon passed the midpoint in the sky and began to set.

---

It was early morning before Reddling was finally on his way towards Ponyville. He had stopped briefly to speak to Nightshade and Tops, but gained not even a glance of acknowledgement from the former. At first ponies in the Night Guard had simply given Reddling stares, but now it had gotten worse. Most of the guard refused to have anything to do with him, or worse, they were like Nightshade and simply pretended that he did not exist. Tops and Bruiser had proven the kind exceptions.

"So, do you mind if we talk?" Tops asked, not looking Reddling in the eye.

Reddling gave a little sigh. "Sure Tops, anything."

"You know- word spreads fast in the Guard- I just was wondering something about how you react to... ponies." Tops still did not meet Reddling's eye.

"Out with it already. We need to be silent once we get further into town." Reddling said. Tops bit his tongue, and shook his head, refusing to say anything. For a few moments they simply flew in silence, neither of them willing to break the ice.

"You really hate when anypony touches you." Tops said finally.

"We're not having this conversation." Reddling pointedly said.

"No, we are." Tops let out a firm sigh, a strange sound of determination and exasperation. "We're all supposed to be on the same page now. If you continue to keep secrets, then you're just going to drive everypony away and they won't be able to help you when you need them."

Damn near driven you all away as it is. Miss Twilight will probably be one of the first smiles I get in days. "Just because we're on the same page doesn't mean you can ask me any personal question you want. I'll tell you- after this whole mess is over with. There's more pressing things to worry about."

Both of the bats fell silent as they circled around Ponyville. Sure enough, Luna had been right about the dressmaker's shop. It stuck out like as the gem of an empty town, the moonlight faintly illuminating it's glorious white walls. Reddling gave himself a little smile as he swooped down towards the building. Ponyville reminded him a lot of Silverfield with the eeriness that a night could hold. Midnight meetings of foals getting together to discuss a practical joke or tales of some horrible monster that only prowled the streets late at night had filled those... simpler times. Now real monsters were ready to prowl the streets at any moment, and there was no time for jokes or humor.

Reddling parked himself in front of a bedroom window. Leaning forward and looking into the room, Reddling scanned around. Different needles, threads, and colors of fabric hung here and there. Dresses, suits, and fine coats were seemingly stiched onto pony sized manniquins on one far end of the room. Reddling turned his head and finally spotted a bed, which had a white unicorn asleep with one of those patchwork things on her eyes. Reddling didn't know the name for those, just that fancy ponies wore them to help them sleep at night.

I wonder if a bat pony could use that to help them sleep during the day. Reddling tapped on the glass loudly, watching his breath form fog on the window.

"Sweetie Belle- go back to bed..." Rarity mumbled, turning over in her bed. Reddling tapped again on the glass, louder this time. There was a bit of a start as Rarity sat up, looking around with her blindfold still on.

"Hey, over here! The window!" Reddling hissed. Still in the fog of sleep, Rarity stumbled over to the window, taking off her blindfold.

"Hey- Princess Luna sent us!" Reddling said, motioning to himself and Tops.

"Oh- Oh my-" She took a step back, staring at both of them. It took a few moments, but suddenly something clicked in the unicorn's head. She stumbled forward, opening the window.

"Oh- I- I remember you two! You were in Canterlot- and at the wedding! You helped keep us safe from those beasts!" Rarity exclaimed. "...You know you could have used the front door, right?"

"We just like flying." Reddling said, letting himself in. Rarity stood back, giving both of them rather stern stares now.

"Well, I must assume that Princess Luna has a good reason for disturbing my beauty sleep! She must know how important it is to get a good nights' rest." Rarity's lips grew terse as she waited for an explanation.

"Perhaps you should take us to your living room and sit down. Nothing bad..." Reddling stopped. "Nothing irreversibly bad has happened yet. However, your help is imperative to our success in an upcoming mission. Would you be willing to help the Night Guard?"

"You don't need to be so formal dear." Rarity said. "Of course I will help the guard, just please, go take a seat in the living room- I will go pour us some tea!"

Reddling and Tops went down a set of stairs, seating themselves in the living room. When Rarity had joined them with tea- which only she partook in- Reddling began to explain the situation in Canterlot. Everything from how they had been tricked by Mantidae, how Chrysalis surely now held Canterlot as her own.

"I am- wondering. Twilight Sparkle- is she here in town, or did she leave for Canterlot? She must keep a home here." Reddling said lowly.

"Oh it can't be so! Twilight! Poor, poor Twilight!" Rarity sobbed. She had fallen into her couch, covering her face and crying at the different descriptions of each and every scene burned into her skull. Reddling and Tops stared at each other, taken aback by the sudden outburst. They had not even had a chance to lay out the worst of their fears for Twilight yet.

"Miss Rarity? Are you alright?" Reddling asked, setting down his tea.

"Oh- She left a day and a half ago!" Rarity sobbed into her pillow, the fabric muffling her voice.

Probably dead then, or something worse... Reddling gave Tops a solemn nod. "Probably dead. We should inform Luna."

"NO!" Rarity said, pulling herself up from the couch with amazing agility. Tops spilled a bit of his tea as he pulled backwards into his chair. Rarity had a crazy look in her eyes that was only partially shielded by a lock of hair that refused to stay contained in the rest of her unkempt nightmane. "Twilight wouldn't let herself be- be!"

Twilight is smart, but I have to assume the worst and let Luna know. "Miss Rarity, did Twilight mention anything she collected? Perhaps things that she would have set aside for an extra special purpose?"

"N-No..." Rarity said, her voice fading as she sank back onto her couch. "She didn't seem to even leave her house until she was headed back to Canterlot..."

"Damn." Tops said under his breath, biting his lip. Reddling stood up and began pacing the room, waiting for one of the other two to speak. Trauma needs it's time to simmer and rest before more is added- but Reddling knew they didn't have that time.

"Miss Twilight has friends here- friends that will do anything to save her. I need you to gather them and meet me at the Train Station here in town tomorrow evening." Reddling turned towards Rarity, giving her an encouraging nod.

"Of course! -although- we may not be as much help as you think we will be- we will do anything we can to save Twilight! Oh- you two must excuse me, I must prepare for this!" Rarity quickly gathered herself up, hurrying up the stairs. "I will meet you at the Train Station- oh dear, there is so much to do!"

"Ponies are very strange these days." Tops remarked, staring at the stairs as Rarity disappeared into the upper hallway.

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