The next few hours were uneventful. Tops and Nightshade continued their regular... private times together when they thought nopony was looking, leaving Reddling to cover most of their watch shift. Perhaps to them there was no time like the present to show affection, as they might not have tomorrow to do it.

For Reddling it was just an angry reminder of the souring relationship that he had with the rest of the Night Guard. Almost none of his friends talked to him anymore, and those who did rarely showed him any respect. Despite Luna's order, the Night Guard simply seemed to not care. One among them was nothing more than a dirty spy, a mole who had wormed his way to Luna's side and stopped just short of killing her. Several times ponies had asked if he was okay, and Reddling had just simply nodded them away. It was less that they actually cared about how he was doing because they cared about him, and more about wondering if he was okay to do his watch shift. Their constant actions of giving him the cold shoulder or dismissing his presence were just more conformation of the loathing they were feeling.

The click of hooves knocked Reddling out of his self-pity, bringing him back to the world around him. The sun was nearly set, and Tops and Nightshade were standing side by side, looking down at him.

"What?" Reddling asked, rolling over and standing up.

"Web says that it's time for us to get going. We're flying straight to Canterlot." Nightshade said.

"What about Twilight and her friends?" Reddling asked. Both Tops and Nightshade shrugged.

"I think Web wants to get this done without them. She doesn't seem very keen on interacting with "day ponies."" Tops said, letting out a little sigh.

"Did somepony tell her that's not good enough? We can't all walk through shadows like her or you two." Reddling said heatedly.

"Other than Bruiser, you're the only other one in the group that can't do it." Nightshade snarked. "Maybe you're just not good enough." For a few moments, Reddling considered smacking Nightshade across the face. Seeing her face change to surprise and shock instead of cool indifference for a few moments would probably be worth most consequences.

"Nightshade!" Tops said, giving her a nudge. "Cut it out!"

Nightshade only replied with a little snort, turning around and beginning to walk away from the two of them, calling back over her shoulder. "Just make sure you're ready to go in half an hour."

"She's a bleeding cunt." Reddling hissed at Tops.

"She's alright when you get to know her." Tops replied, trying to smile a bit.

"Yeah, yeah sure. Web's the same way." Reddling mumbled, sitting back down and looking out at the Everfree Forest. At least the dark and foreboding trees had a certain comfort to them- one that conversation with friends had lacked lately.

"What's wrong? You won't talk to anybody." Tops said. "You won't even hold a conversation with most of us."

Reddling let out a sigh, leaning over the broken battlements of the castle. It was true, he didn't hold a conversation with anypony, but usually nopony was worth holding a conversation with.

"Forget it, Tops. Let's just get ready to go. When is my-"

Reddling and Tops both stopped as the heavy patter of hooves smacked the ground. There was a certain wet noise to the clops on the stone, making it echo not unlike when a boot smacks mud. Coming up from the courtyard, a changeling head with pink eyes poked it's head up, looking over at Tops and Reddling.

Oh great. This can't be good. Star Shine had kept almost totally to himself, sulking around and avoiding even Reddling's advances for companionship.

"You are- going to be leaving for Canterlot?" Star Shine said. Reddling and Tops both nodded before the Changeling continued quickly, "Um, Is there a small favor you could do while you are there, Reddling?"

Reddling and Tops both glanced at each other. It wasn't just odd that Star Shine had asked so nicely for some sort of favor, but also odd that he knew they were headed for Canterlot. Nopony they knew was keeping the drone privy to the plans.

"Yes, we are- Star Shine, what's wrong?" Reddling asked, standing up. Star Shine pulled himself into full view, exposing his legs. Some sort of rotting rags had been tied around his hooves. They were soaked through with green blood, some of it dried and some of it fresh. Reddling took a step back, looking the Changeling over again. The drone's eyes were much paler- almost, sadder- than they should be, and from the look of his hooves something had been gnawing furiously at the chitin that normally protected him.

"What- Star Shine- who did this to you?" Reddling said, hurrying forward past Tops and approaching the Changeling's side.

"This nothing." Star Shine said, looking down. "Is it okay to talk privately?" The drone looked up with it's dim, sad eyes.

"Ah- uh, of course..." Reddling said. Star Shine turned around, beckoning with a hoof for Reddling to follow. Reddling trotted along, looking over his shoulder and using a wing to beckon at Tops. Tops gave a quick nod, beginning to follow along at a distance.

Star Shine weaved his way through the castle battlements and towers, eventually gliding downwards to a secluded clearing just outside the castle grounds. here they both stopped, Star Shine pivoting on a damaged hoof to face Reddling.

"There are Changelings in Canterlot." Star Shine stated. Reddling nodded.

"These Changelings- they will have food, right? Could you get some of the food and bring it back?" Star Shine asked. Reddling nodded, thinking about that for a second.

"Don't you already have all the food you need if you feed off ponies?" Reddling asked. Star Shine shook his head.

"No- not love- this food is different. It is green- very sticky." Star Shine mumbled.

Green, sticky- gah! Wait! Reddling took a step back, thinking back to the wedding room and all of the green slime that had coated the walls. "You eat that stuff!?"

Star Shine gave a little nod. "It's part of- what we need. The other part is-" Star Shine advanced, brushing against Reddling's side. "It involves replacing ponies- and feeding off love."

"You wouldn't want to replace me, I haven't gotten any love from anypony lately." Reddling mumbled. The hard chitin of Star Shine's body was cool and refreshing, like laying your arm against a cold concrete wall and allowing the chill to permeate your skin. Despite the momentary discomfort, this feeling soon passes and allows you to sink your flesh back underneath the covers, feeling it grow warm almost instantly again.

Touching a Changeling didn't have the last part, but it did allow Reddling enough mental wiggle room that he could fill in the holes with his imagination. A felt a hard lump rise in his chest as he slowly laid down in the grass, Star Shine laying by his side.

"I'm trying my best Star Shine, why don't they like me? You can understand- I feel like I'm just a Changeling to them. I can't go back to regular pony society, but I don't seem to belong in the Night Guard. I just want them to like me and... I just want to-" Reddling blinked, putting a hoof on his head. "Uh- I'm feeling a little lightheaded..."

"It's just because you're tired?" Star Shine offered.

"Yeah- it... must be that." Reddling said, slumping his head onto the ground. "I've still got a full night's work though- I don't have time to be tired."

"Relax uh, pony." Star Shine said. "Just relax."

Reddling blinked, staring at the blades of grass in front of him. The green stalks began to turn for a few stalks to many stalks, and before long a small patch of grass barely managing to survive had become an entire ocean of neon green lighting. Reddling tried to open his mouth to say something, but his jaw just hung open limply, not allowing for any words to escape.

Reddling wasn't sure how long he spent in this state, but it was not altogether terrible. Most of it felt like he was almost in a dreamlike trance, floating above the neon green ocean. Everything felt so soft and numb, like the safety of his old bed back in Silverfield. This place was- normal- and cold. It was just like Silverfield- typical, average, and devoid any good emotions. One by one, each good feeling seemed to be getting sucked away into the lineless green ocean.

For a few seconds Reddling wavered, and then he felt his head smack into the green ocean, and darkness following.

"Whoa! Hey!" Top's voice echoed across the green ocean, making little echos that turned into loud waves. Star Shine's voice came out in a sharp hiss and the noise of animals fighting filled the air. Reddling couldn't make sense of any of it, but it was sure entertaining to see the world spinning in and out of focus, different shades of black smacking against the green ocean he had sunk into.

Tops' hoof smacked into the side of Star Shine's face. He had not taken out his claws yet, but only because he considered himself to be a pony of better persuasion than that. Were it any other Changeling, he'd have ripped into their chitin by now.

"What'd you do to him!?" Tops said angrily, stomping his forehooves into the ground and extending his claws.

"Ssss-" Star Shine backed away, twitching his wings angrily and showing his fangs. Tops returned the look, baring his own fangs and advancing on the bug. Making his move, Tops ran at Star Shine, raising a hoof to swing at it's face.

Unfortunately Reddling chose this moment to once again prove his horrible timing. Tops felt one of his hind hooves push Reddling over onto his side. Moments later, Tops' face met with the dirty ground, his frame sliding a couple inches in the loose dirt.

"mmmf..." Tops mumbled, pulling himself up. Star Shine was already long gone, having flown up to the battlements and hurried along to only Luna could guess where. Tops sighed and turned around, looking down at his friend. The normally angry and aloof punk now held a very relaxed and peaceful look on his face, almost as though he was asleep. His grey-silver eyes were still blinking every now and then, but he didn't seem to understand what was going on around him.

Man, you can't trust any of these Changelings. Just when you think they're alright, they turn psychotic on you. Tops rolled Reddling onto his side, shoving his snout under the small pony and hoisting him onto his back. Reddling offered Tops no resistance and simply hung there dreamily, his limbs twitching every now and then. Tops took off, flying back inside the fort and heading for the courtyard. Obviously Reddling wasn't in any position to come along now- but perhaps Web could fix him up.

Sure enough, in the courtyard was Web in her shiny Night Guard armor. The officers of the Night Guard had more showy, custom made armor that signified them as the leaders. Tops suspected that Web's suit of armor had some sort of shadow manipulation properties or else something that assisted in distorting her figure by other means to them, as shiny armor hardly befit an assassin.

Then again, you never know what an assassin will be wearing... Tops landed smartly in front of Web, letting Reddling slide onto the ground in a pile. A couple of the ponies blinked, looking at each other. Nightshade rushed forward, looking from Tops the Reddling in confusion.

"Web, Reddling got- attacked by Star Shine- the drone- he needs some-" Tops started, but Web cut him off.

"No time. We need to get going. Just leave him there, he'll catch up on his own." Web said, moving past the trio and heading for the gate.

"Web, he can't move. He needs something to pick him up." Tops turned, keeping his eyes locked on Web. Web slowly turned around, her brow furrowed.

"Move out. Don't make me repeat myself." Web growled. Not giving anypony a chance to stop her, she ran forward, taking off into the sky and heading in the direction of Canterlot. The other ponies stood around for a bit, but one by one the Night Guard took off. Bruiser gave Reddling an apologetic look before joining the others.

"We can't just leave him here." Tops said, putting a hoof on Reddling's shoulder. Nightshade gave a little shrug.

"I don't think we should be breaking any more rules for him." Nightshade mumbled. They both sighed, Nightshade shaking her head and continuing, "Tops, if he stayed like that all the time, I think there would be a lot fewer problems."

"-and we also wouldn't be alive." Tops mumbled.

"Yeah, he got lucky. But we do the work. We bleed and damn near die for him. He's good at planning things out, but Reddling can't execute to save his life."

"We still owe him our lives..." Tops mumbled.

"What!" Nightshade huffed, stomping her hoof. "Tops, we don't owe him anything! Don't forget that, he still owes us. Princess Luna should have had him executed. Don't you get it? Web, Luna, maybe not Lunar- they knew about Reddling from night one. I didn't want to believe it but I always thought-"

"Thought it would be okay to leave him laying around like this, yeah." Tops said meekly. "Nightshade, that's enough. Hate him or not, we can't just leave him laying out here... he's one of us."

"He'd leave us behind. He left Midnight behind, and if you keep going along with him, he's going to leave you behind, Tops- something bad will happen to us if we keep him around. Just leave him there-"

Tops raised a hoof, stopping Nightshade. "We're not leaving anyone behind. Go join Web, I'm going to be the bigger pony and not stoop to Reddling's level." The two of them stood there for a few seconds, exchanging looks. Nightshade finally sighed, reaching over the unconscious pony and giving Tops a hug. When they broke their hug, a soft snore rose from Reddling.

"I'm going to stop by Ponyville for Twilight Sparkle's friends. Reddling and Luna both think that they're going to be helpful, and I know Web won't give them the time of day- she won't give us the time the day." Tops whispered. Nightshade gave a solemn nod, turning and flying off to join the now distant bat ponies.

Reddling lulled his head forward, feeling a woolen blanket brush across his face and push his sunglasses up his snout. The soft lull of a train bumping along tracks was faint, distant sound. A chorus of different voices accompanied the slow bumps, but Reddling couldn't quite make them out yet. They were light, cheerful tones- the kind that he would have expected from homely mares, or at least, one that didn't live in his world. The world hadn't always been this crazy.

Reddling brushed his head gently against the blanket, nuzzling his face into the wool. His mind was telling him that he really needed to open his eyes and figure out what was going on around him, but right now he was warm and safe.

Those voices. The bumps of a train... Since I am not in chains we either won the day and are going to a feast in Canterlot, or else I've somehow ended up on board a train with Miss Twilight's friends. I doubt if there are other alternatives that would have given me such a nice blanket. Reddling yawned, pushing the blanket back and blinking slowly around him. The sun had already set in the distance, and only the rays of the moon were challenging the cheap lighting of the train cabin. It wasn't a train cabin that was different from any other one, but the inhabitants were somewhat unexpected. Different colourful mares were still going about their chatting, talking about Twilight and how worried they were about Canterlot. A yellow mare seemed almost panicked about the entire thing- as she should be- while a pink one next to her seemed to be more enthralled with the train moving along than any serious conversation.

Miss Rarity opened her mouth to say something, but Reddling cut her off before she started speaking. "How close are we to Canterlot?"

"Oh- like- five minutes dear. You really don't look well, maybe you should-" Rarity did not get to finish her sentence. Reddling pushed the rest of the blanket off and stumbled to his hooves tiredly, starting to leave the room.

"Hey, she was talking to you!" A blue pony said tersely.

"You better not go out there, there's guards patrollin' the train." An orange one said, talking over the blue one. Reddling folded his ears down, pushing his sunglasses up his face.

"Did you get orders from the other bat ponies? Where are we meeting up? Where are my friends?" Reddling asked.

"They're flying in- we're all meeting up at the- The Basil Leaf Cafe but-" Rarity started. Reddling cut her off again before she could finish.

"Great. I'll see you there." Putting a hoof on the door slider, Reddling opened the cabin door and stepped into the shaky hallway. The train was rattling along, sending rattling vibrations up each of his hooves. This wasn't the first time he'd been on a train, but he didn't understand how ponies moved around during this. The movement always gave his stomach uncomfortable clenches.

Trotting for the back of the train, Reddling silently glided past each door, passing to the back train cart as quietly as possible. A lone, tired guard stood by the back door, looking like he'd rather be anywhere else at the moment. Pushing up his sunglasses, Reddling glared at the guard from behind his shades.

"Sir, there's something you need to go look at in the next cart over." Reddling said, trying to sound urgent.

"...Get another guard to go do it, I have to watch the back of this train. There's plenty of us patrolling the place, keeping the riff raff out." The guard whined, sitting down and leaning against the train wall.

"By the riff raff, do you mean bat ponies? Because there's one in the next cart over." Reddling hissed. The guard's face drained of colour, and he looked up, looking closely at Reddling.

"Are you- Celestia deliver me-" The guard stopped, his eyes locking onto Reddling's features. Both reacted, the guard standing up and Reddling rearing onto his back legs. Bringing his hooves down, Reddling slammed a hoof into the face of the guard, causing him to let out a yell before they both tumbled to the floor, grappling with each other as the train rolled along. Licking his fangs, Reddling bit at an exposed place in the guard's armor. Reddling felt blood leak into his mouth as he grabbed for the guard's inner arm, twisting at the soft flesh.

The guard let out a cry of pain, leaning back and pulling the bat fangs free of his arm. Grabbing at Reddling with the undamaged forehoof, the guard pulled out a knife and stabbed at Reddling's shoulder.

"Ah ha!" The guard yelled. An expression of triumph on his face quickly changed to terror as the cut revealed Reddling's armor underneath. Now it was Reddling's turn to strike, and he quickly pulled his knife out with his mouth, bringing the blade in a sweeping motion at the guard's throat.

After being cleaned of blood quickly, Ausfall returned to it's sheathe. Reddling pulled away from the guard, kicking open the back door. Despite the red mess on the floor and the dying guard, he had miraculously managed to keep any blood off him save for his mouth. Not giving himself time to have a second thought, Reddling rolled the body out the back of the train, watching it fall from the tracks and roll into the darkness.

Stepping out into the night and unfurling his wings, Reddling softly glided down from the train and beat his wings, pulling up before he could touch the tracks and heading for Canterlot's walls.

Ugh this chapter... it skips around a lot, it's weak in every department, and I feel like there is almost... gah, nothing here. I've re-written this chapter at least 3 different ways more times than I can count, and none of them have made me happy.