The flight back to camp was uneventful, and even worse, when Reddling arrived only the ever cynical face of the earth pony and the lone figure of Nightshade greeted him. Reddling approached the counter and submitted his order for some mango and apples tiredly.

“The hell happened to you?” the earth pony asked, staring wide eyed at the gore spattered bat in front of him.

“What are you talking about?” Reddling snarled back.

“Know what? I don’t even want to know. Here.” The earth pony slid out a plate of fruits before turning away and sneezing. Reddling took the plate and sat across from Nightshade, beginning to rip at the flesh of the fruit with venom. Nightshade lifted her head briefly, but then looked back down at her food. after devouring a mango and a few apples, Reddling stood up wordlessly to leave.

“You’re covered in blood.” Nightshade pointed out right as he turned his back. Reddling tilted his head and simply nodded to her. He himself could smell the blood more than see it, and couldn't wait for a pre-sleep shower.

“Why did you help me last night?” Nightshade asked plainly.

“I’m not in the business of leaving ponies behind, and if you ever go down in a secret operation, you’re just evidence that will compromise us. I can’t allow that.” Reddling turned to leave again, but Nightshade continued to speak.

“You had no problem leaving me behind when you saw I was beating you.” Nightshade said. Reddling shook his head- No, he had known that she was beating him, but still helped her before she decided to go psychotic on him and use those shadow tricks. Somehow, he was sure that she had cheated. Reddling gave her no response as he trotted off to the shower.

---

The next morning Reddling found himself sitting with Midnight Tales at breakfast, telling the story of his day off to the pony that had unfortunately lacked any leisure. Midnight at first was surprised that there had even been a date, commenting on how “Unorthodox” and “strange” Web was. His expression changed to a much more serious one as Reddling brought up the diamond dogs and their tunneling work. Unsettled but not shaken, Midnight agreed that it was an odd action, especially right underneath Canterlot, but something that was surely going to be looked into and handled before any real issues appeared.

After getting up to leave, Reddling stooped the window in order to listen in on his bat buddies, hearing them all slide closer together. The hushed whispers were hard to make out, but Bruiser was quick and loud to drop his opinion about how much Web creeped him out. Midnight replied that they all ought to respect Web before Tops pointed out that it wasn’t polite to talk about ponies behind their back at all. Nightshade said nothing the whole time, but Reddling knew she was listening to every word.
When the recruits found their way to the practice field Web joined them, looking batty as ever as she observed the various large shields that had been laid out for today’s work.

“WEB!” Lunar said poisonously, stepping out from some unlikely shadows to stand next to her. “Luna wishes to speak with you. Your antics are not unappreciated.” Web grimaced before flying off, away from the practice field.

Time passed slowly over the next week, with the rough combat training of being forced too use shields that were far too big for practical purposes. Reddling found Tops to be his constant sparring partner, as Midnight Tales and Bruiser were far too big for any reasonable training. When he was not practicing with Tops, Nightshade would use a padded broadsword to fight him. Lunar made sure to take turns with each of them every night, checking how they were progressing. Time after time, Reddling found himself beating his allies. Although he was breaking a sweat against them, they were using lances and swords, while he was beating them back with a padded knife. Even as Tops began to use claws and Nightshade swords of various lengths, Reddling could see they were becoming increasingly frustrated with always being outpaced by a knifefighter. On Thursday Nightshade finally had enough and demanded that Midnight or Bruiser go a round with Reddling. Although Reddling was able to merely sidestep Bruiser’s bulky hammer swings, Midnight proved to be far more of a challenge. Every time Reddling would try to attack, he found his weapon parried away by Midnight’s padded blade. Both of them moved with lighting fury, striking out and drawing back to find an opening.

After nearly an hour of observation, there was a sharp intake of breath as Reddling’s world spun. Midnight had rushed forward, bashing him not with his sword, but with his shield straight to the face. Reddling landed a few feet away next to Tops, who simply stepped over him and continued his halfminded dueling with Nightshade. Reddling could feel all eyes staring at him and Midnight as he stood up wiping a trickle of blood away from his lip as he and Midnight prepared to go another round.

On Friday, Lunar looked at each of them before tossing a pile of wooden staves on the ground. “You will be training with these today, instead of your ordinary arms. It is important to know how to use a wide variety of weapons, as you never know what you may have to work with. One of you will wear a shield and defend while the other attacks with a staff. Over the last few days somepony has accidentally nicked a few of their fellows on their weapons. I do hope that you somehow do not manage to slice any skin open or fracture any bones with these. The Night Guard takes care of your medical bills, but that doesn’t make them any cheaper. Whoever does not have a partner, come to me so that we may appraise your combat effectiveness and select an alternative weapon for you to train with.”

Reddling found himself up against Nightshade, deftly balancing the Quarterstaff with one hoof over his shoulder, careful to make sure his wings did not knock it to the ground as Nightshade raised her shield. At no time had Reddling wasted any time in making sure to enjoy the cruelty that he could inflict by bashing into his fellows. He had quickly gained a reputation as the most ruthless fighter- a pony that would do anything to win, even when it had landed him in situations where his chest should have been crushed by Bruiser’s hammer.

After about fifteen minutes of getting a nice beating in on Nightshade, they exchanged positions, Nightshade holding the Quarterstaff with both hooves as she stared at Reddling.

Reddling felt every sharp smack of the wood against him as he failed to deflect blows with the shield. Over the last week, he had simply considered it to be a hindrance, something for him to work around while using his agility to gain an advantage on his opponents. Each blow made the world get more and more Dizzy as the angry Nightshade honed in on him like a wasp.

There was another final loud smack on his head as Reddling toppled backwards, Nightshade still advancing and preparing to strike again. Reddling found his hooves moving on instinct as he moved forward. Throwing himself off the ground, he bashed into Nightshade with his shield. Caught off balance, Nightshade stumbled backwards, flying into the sky with a hateful look in her eye.

“You’re defending, stop screwing around.” She said, preparing her quarterstaff again as Reddling smiled and moved upward for another quick shield bash.

“The best defense is a good offense!” he cried as his shield connected with Nightshade’s ribs. Despite her attempts to regain control, Reddling continued bashing into her again, almost knocking her out of the sky. Nightshade threw the quarterstaff down in disgust as Reddling prepared to attack again, but before she could turn away Reddling connected a sharp kick with her side, sending her plummeting into the ground at Tops’ hooves.

“Nightshade, I’ll take your spot.” Tops said. “Lunar wants you next anyway.” Tops looked up at Reddling before picking up a spare staff and unbuckling his shield. Reddling landed and grinned, shouldering Nightshade’s quarterstaff as they both prepared to duel. Tops shifted the quarterstaff to his mouth, and Reddling mirrored him as they started to circle each other.

“Ready?” Reddling asked. Tops returned a muffled sound of teeth chewing on wood as they ran at each other, swapping blows. Reddling could not put his hoof on it, but Tops seemed to have improved so much from the night before. At times, he seemed to be in two places at once, landing a blow against Reddling even as he swung his stick at what was surely a fully solid Tops in front of him. the blows left Reddling's head ringing by the time he finally caught Tops, laying a savage blow into Tops’ head. The green pony went into the air as he held the side of his head, only for Reddling to join him quickly, already using his hooves to swing the quarterstaff.

“Ah, hang o-“ Tops began, but his words were cut off as Reddling’s blow slammed into his snout. Reddling’s mind seethed with Silverfieldian propaganda about how to beat Equestrians to death and enjoy it. Any hesitation was gone, and any feelings for his companion were blocked out.

Tops crumpled, falling out of the air and landing on his back as he put a hoof on his bleeding nostrils. Unable to swing easily at his head or chest, Reddling simply flew out of the air, cracking the quarterstaff as hard as he could on one Tops’ back legs.

Everypony froze and turned to the scene as the quarterstaff splintered and broke, smashing itself loudly on bone. The noise was closely followed by Tops letting out a scream, his leg bending quite unnaturally. Reddling simply blinked at his work, smiling masterfully before the situation fully sunk in and his face changed to one of complete horror.

“Tops? T-Tops!?” Reddling cried, throwing his broken weapon aside and falling down at Tops’ side, his wickedness quickly turning to horror at what he had done.

“Nightshade, hold.” Lunar said, his hoofsteps moving over to the scene. He observed the situation with a dry look quickly before looking at Reddling. “Do you know how to splint a break, Reddling?”

Had to do that a few times growing up. “Yes, I know how.” Reddling said.

“Do it. Tops, you are dismissed, Web will attend to you when she returns later tonight. Reddling, you will practice by yourself for the rest of the night. Learn a little restraint. We are learning shield use, not staff sparring.” Lunar turned back to Nightshade. As Reddling helped Tops to his three good legs.

“C’mon, let’s go find you a splint, and then we’ll get you someplace comfortable.” Reddling said, leading Tops on.

“Damn Reddling, you’re vicious... You got me down , fair and square. I should have done better.” Reddling was kicking himself internally, totally appalled at his actions, and Tops trying to justify the incident was not helping at all. Tops was his friend, the first pony who had approached him after Web, and actually bothered to become close to him, or at least as close as Reddling allowed anypony to be. Over the last two weeks Reddling had come to count Web and Tops as his only true friends that he had made in Equestria since arriving. Sure, Bruiser and Midnight were nice, but there was something that Tops and Reddling could connect on, something neither could place, yet was afraid to ask the other before they were prepared to reveal it.

Reddling eventually pushed into the Staff Quarters, finding the earth pony lounging on a couch. He looked up from a nap and groaned at them. “What do YOU want? You’re not supposed to even be in here.”

“Sod off, Tops is hurt, I need a medical splint.” Reddling said angrily. The earth pony didn’t flinch, his gaze at the ceiling unwavering.

“Web keeps that stuff, go bug her.” the earth pony said lazily.

“Web hasn’t been around all week, and you know that.” Reddling said, somewhat worriedly. It was true that Web hadn’t been heard from for a few days, however Lunar had assured all of them that she was fine.

“Then go steal one out of her room and do it your damn self, just leave me alone.” The earth pony closed his eyes again and began to make loud fake snores. Reddling led Tops back outside and looked around at the various vines and sticks laying around before he began to start fashioning a splint. While it would have been a lot quicker to go into Web’s home, Reddling was not sure it was the best idea to disturb her privacy, especially when it was known that she was not home. When Tops was held over with an amateur splint, Reddling stood up. “I’m going to see if I can’t find you some more help, can you get back to your quarters from here?”

“Yeah, I can.” Tops said quietly, struggling to his hooves and nursing his injured limb. Running back to the practice field, Lunar’s voice boomed.

“REDDLING. Return to practice now.” Lunar’s expression was as cold as ever, but Reddling saluted him, standing at attention as he addressed the commander.

“Sir, I need to find Tops some better medical attention.” Reddling stated blankly. Lunar just blinked at him once.

“You are a soldier, not an errand colt.” Lunar said. Reddling did not need to be told again.

“Sir, yes sir.” Reddling trotted into the practice field, but before he could reach his quarterstaff, Lunar blocked his way.

“Over here, Reddling.” Lunar turned, approaching a large weapon’s rack that had dozens of different sized weapons hanging on it. Reddling stopped in front of it, studying the Equestrian weapons. Most of them were swords of decent craftsmanship, but no matter what he looked at- be it a lance, an axe, or any type of sword they had, he knew that with enough force from a blow they would shatter on his knife. “What is your preferred weapon?”

“I’m a knife fighter, sir.” Reddling said, showing his cutie mark and impressive knife hanging at his side.

“Knives; fast, quick, dangerous. That will suit you well for surprise attacks, but in hoof-to-hoof combat, you’ll find yourself outclassed and out ranged. You’re unlikely to deal damage against a pony using swords or lances without being hurt yourself. Still, your wings will give you an advantage against grounded opponents. What is your combat experience?" Lunar was cold, his helmet hiding his face in darkness even at close quarters.

I’ve spent my whole life with this knife, in fact, I can’t even remember a single time in my life where it wasn’t at my side. “Past knife fighting and unarmed combat, extremely limited. With my hooves and knifefighting however, I’ve trained for as long as I can remember.”

“Show me what you can do then.” Lunar pulled a shortsword off the weapons rack and pushed it into his helmet, running at Reddling and taking a swing. There was a clang as Reddling slipped his knife out fast enough to cut air. Lunar backed away and took a defensive stance as Reddling noted a nick in the shortsword from where it had met the edge of his knife. The two danced back and forth for a few moments, Lunar simply blocking and parrying a wide array of slashes and stabs from Reddling. Finally, Lunar grabbed Reddling with a hoof, slamming him into the ground hard before stepping back.

“You’re a reckless attacker, but driven and unafraid. Put away your knife Reddling, I want to see your unarmed ability.” Both of them dropped their blades as Reddling flew at Lunar. The guard barely had enough time to blink before a head numbing punch connected with his skull. Reddling grabbed his hoof painfully, then panicked as Lunar wrapped him in a grapple, throwing both of them to the ground. They exchanged a few blows, most of them hurting Reddling’ hoof more than they did Lunar’s armor. After a few good hits, Reddling found an opening to smack Lunar in the face again. His hoof got inside the helmet and connected with fur before Lunar let go of him and leapt away, landing a few feet from the grappling spot.

“You’re clearly a practiced grappler, although your style is somewhat wild and aggressive.” Reddling paid his words no heed as he leapt at the bat, growling wildly. Like lighting, Lunar pivoted on his hooves, pulling them in and letting a kick loose like a spring, the full weight of his body shifting to his back hooves as his kick connected with Reddling’s midsection. The next thing that Reddling could make out was the grass as he crashed into the world, looking at the various pretty constellations popping in front of his vision.

“For the remainder of your training, I would suggest you cease your attacks if a pony is no longer attacking you. I would rather not need to intervene to prevent any more accidents like we’ve seen tonight with Tops. “ Reddling could barely make out the words Lunar was saying as the pony picked up the shortsword once more, moving towards the weapon rack. All Reddling saw was the weapon flash as his instincts from Silverfield took over. Leaping spectacularly for his knife, Reddling grabbed it and then darted into Lunar's side. The blade cut the metal with a loud shredding noise, rending the armor and embedding in Lunar's side.

Lunar snapped his head around, turning and tearing the knife from Reddling’s grasp as he dropped his weapon and pulled the knife out of his side, throwing the blood soaked weapon the ground. Lunar roared angrily as he reared onto his back hooves, slamming his front end down in the ground as long, dangerous looking claws unsheathed.

“Return to practice Reddling. We’re finished. Send Bruiser over.” Reddling grabbed his knife and turned without another word to Lunar.

Towards the end of the night, Tops returned to the practice field, his leg now properly splinted and wrapped in an odd gauze as Midnight’s had been before. Reddling could not meet Tops' gaze as Lunar called the group to attention, Tops simply watching from the stands Reddling had puked behind on the first night.

“Keep your shields with you, you will be using them tomorrow.” Lunar flew up to Tops for a moment, whispering some words to him as they both nodded and shook their heads. The rest of the group began to somberly make their way to the mess wall, Reddling hanging in the back wrestling with his own mind.

I don’t understand why I feel bad. He’s just a pony, and an Equestrian at that. Reddling struggled with his mind as something clawed at the inside of his chest. It was something akin to a sick marshmallow, like the kind that you left out all day in the sun but it somehow had not managed to liquefy. It pressed uncomfortably on his chest as he tried to organize his mind, the feeling choking him as his organs spasmed. The mess hall was a blur to him as he found his seat, sitting directly across from Nightshade, who instantly looked up at him. There was no mistaking the pure and utter disgust in her voice as she glared at him.

“I guess ‘we’re a team, we help each other’ ends as soon as it’s a competition, Reddling.” Nighthade started.

“Nightshade, please.” Midnight pleaded, but Reddling cut him off.

“No, she’s right. Fighting is life or death, and as soon as it comes to life and death, no matter the fight, no matter the situation, you fight to survive.” Reddling moved his head down mechanically and took a bite of hay.

“You’re full of utter crap Reddling. Pretending like you’re a good guy when you think somepony’s weaker than you, then turning around and acting like a damned psychopath.” Nightshade spat.

Midnight stood up now, waving a hoof between them. “Nightshade, enough. There is no need for this.”

Reddling laughed bitterly inside his head at the title. Am I a psychopath? “If you have a problem, then let’s take it up with Web, or the Commander, or the Princess.” Reddling looked up at the ponies before him. Bruiser was sitting to the side, looking very uncomfortable. Midnight had a pained look on his face, wanting everypony to just get along. Nightshade stood up, glaring vicious daggers Reddling as she grabbed a piece of fruit.

“You’re a disgrace.” Nightshade turned and stormed out of the mess hall. Reddling stood up angrily as well as soon as she had vanished and stormed out, leaving his dinner uneaten as he marched into the cold darkness of a false dawn. It had been a long time since he felt this bad, and he was in no mood to subject others to his dark mood.

They took me in like one of their own, when I wasn’t, and I never can be, and I treat them like enemies. How can I do this to my- no, they will never see me as kin. Things don’t work like that in Equestria.

“Well! Seems like YOU had an interesting night!” Web said from behind him as she bounced forward on the tips of her hooves. Reddling nearly tripped as he turned around, staring at the ground instead of her. “Tops piss in your oats this morning or something?”

Reddling just stared at the ground bitterly, letting his mane obscure his face. “I got carried away, that’s all.”

Web let out a bubbly sound. “I heard you STABBED Lunar. Lunar! Reddling, you’ve got bloodlust!” Web let out a fit of giggles that turned into near hysterical laughs.

How is this funny? “Bloodlust?” Reddling asked, still not looking at her.

“Bloodlust! Once you start, you just don’t want to stop. It boils over and makes you want to do bad things. Terrible, awful things. Such, horrible things…” Web pulled Reddling’s face up with a hoof, grinning fangily. “Maybe, if Lunar doesn’t find a reason to kick you out, he’ll let me train you a little…"

“Web? What’s… What did I do? What’s going on? I didn’t, things just went, far…” Reddling pleaded with her.

“Reddling! Mistakes happen!” Web cooed. “You can’t bake a cake without breaking a few eggs. I fixed him up, good and special. He’ll be back on his hooves like nothing happened in about a week.

Reddling breathed a bit easier at this, straightening up. “What about you? Was Princess Luna mad?"

“Oh, it happens all the time. She understands,” Web lowered her voice, leaning forward to whisper in his ear, “But let’s just say our second date will have to wait a few weeks.” Web pulled her head back and mimed gnashing and drinking.

“You know Web, there is a way to do that much closer to home.” Reddling half smiled to himself at the vulgar thoughts touching his mind. Those books had been utterly taboo in Silverfield, but he had somehow failed to burn them...

“Awwh, but there’s no thrill of the hunt like that…” Web’s voice was whinny as she let go of his chin.

“If you’d prefer we duke it out first, I’m fine with that, plus we don’t even have to wait for a Sunday.”

“Frankly I’d rather not- You really need to have the authentic experience to enjoy it.” Web nodded knowledgeably. “Until then though, you’ll just have to wait in suspense.”

“Pleasant Dreams!” Web called as she turned with a wave. Reddling cringed, then nodded.

“You too, Web. You too.”

---

Returning to his bed after what felt like forever, Reddling just bitterly relived the day in his head. The self hatred eventually paved way to a dream as he fell asleep in his pillow, trotting away from the vivid world.

The cobblestone hallways of Castle Celes were welcoming, dreary and run down as they were.Reddling gazed at the various historical pictures, sighing. On his back sat a small blue unicorn colt, who was looking at each picture with wide eyes while hanging onto Reddling’s neck.

“Oh, the last fight with the pegasi?” Rainy asked, pointing at a picture that showed a terrible aerial battle with ponies falling from the sky onto the battlement of Castle Celes. Reddling looked up at the picture with a pang, but swallowed and kept his voice happy.

“That’s right! All of our pegasi died in that fight, and since then, there have been no pegasi in Silverfield. We fought long and hard against the Equestrians, but they were too many in number, and defeated us. Silverfield entered a dark time of slavery and torture. When we were all but used up, they left us here to graze and die in the silver fields!” Reddling drew in a breath as Rainy beamed at the next picture.

“We survived the dark time, and rose again to prominence, and one day, we’ll overpower Equestria, and throw down the racists! We’ll finally be free of the past, and there will be all ponies of all races and kinds playing together!” Reddling turned from the picture trotting down the hallway towards the last painting in this hallway.

“Doesn’t that sound great, Rainy? A world without racist Equestrians?” Rainy never gave Reddling an answer to his question as Reddling felt the world fade away, the ceiling of his dark room greeting him as he shifted uncomfortably off of one of his wings. The dream had gone as quickly as it had come, and Reddling could no longer even recall what it had been about.

---

“Sorry, no mangoes today.” The earth pony said, pushing out trays of apples and hay. Reddling glared over the sneeze guard at the earth pony as he took his tray, turning around to scan the room. Nightshade and Midnight were seated at opposite ends of the room. Not wanting to find another fight on his hooves, Reddling sat across from Midnight, who instantly seemed a little nervous.

“So…” Midnight started, not meeting Reddling’s eyes. Here and there bruises could be made out rising from under Midnight’s coat.

“Are you going to call me a monster too? At least look at me if you are.” Reddling said snappily, eyeing Nightshade at the other end of the table.

“N-No…” Midnight said, backing up a bit.

Reddling glared at him for a few heated seconds, then sighed. “Sorry… I just, I didn’t mean to snap at you.”

“No, I understand,” Midnight breathed, leaning forward so Nightshade would not hear. “You feel guilty for what has happened.” At that moment, the door behind them swung open, and Tops entered, limping on his broken leg, which was still in a splint. Reddling wasn’t quite sure how it was helping him, but somehow Tops had found a way to use his wings to push himself along the ground, allowing for the equivalent motor function he’d have with all four of his legs.

Tops put his plate down, sitting next to Reddling. “Good evening, Midnight, Reddling.” Tops said, picking up an apple and taking a bite out of it.

“And yourself as well, Tops. I trust you are faring better?” Midnight asked, looking up from his hay.

Tops nodded, “I don’t know what the hell Web used, but I feel much better. She said it would be about a week before I’m completely back- But still, a week to heal a broken leg?”

“I can attest, her remedies are quite potent.” Midnight returned Tops’ nod. Reddling said nothing until Tops turned to him sheepishly.

“I- I hope you don’t mind me asking… what happened yesterday? The way you fought was… terrifying, really.” Tops seemed like he wasn’t sure he wanted to know the answer to his question, but Reddling felt compelled to give him some sort of excuse that would at least make sense.

“Web titled it bloodlust, I just got lost in the moment. Guess I didn’t even know I was still fighting you- in Silverfield, that’s how all of us fight.” Reddling sighed at an apple. The skin fogged up slightly from his breath as he wiped it clean before taking a bite and watching the juice run down the skin, dripping onto the floor.

“Well, I guess I’ll just have to be more careful when we spar in the future. I’m just glad we’re on the same side, hah!” Tops gave a somewhat weak laugh.

“I’m uncertain I’ll be allowed to spar with you guys again. I sliced the commander’s leg open.” Reddling took another mouthful of apple, munching quietly on it.

“Damn! You cut Lunar? He handled me like I was a colt…” Tops sounded more stunned that Reddling had managed to land a blow on the Captain of the Night Guard than he was at the fact the commander had not simply decided to rip him in half for such an offense.

Reddling looked down at his knife for a moment, then moved down to draw it, placing the blade on the table. “I just hope I didn’t break his armor, I don’t want to pay for him to get a new set.” Reddling said carefully as the knife shined from the weak light the moon offered the room through a few windows. There was a soft “ooh” of admiration from both Tops and Midnight as they studied the weapon from hilt to tip.

“May I?” Midnight asked, offering a hoof to the knife. Reddling nodded as Midnight carefully picked the weapon up, balancing it in his hooves. The blade was much longer than a regular knife, but it was not quite long enough to be a shortsword like Lunar used. The base of the knife had four runes carved above an ornate handle decorated with rubies that had been inlaid in the steel. Midnight blinked at the blade slightly, almost as if there was an illusion in front of him. Light in the room seemed to bend around the blade, giving it a shine all of its own. Tops took the blade next, carefully turning it over in his hooves before returning it to Reddling.

As Ausfall was sheathed, Bruiser entered the room. He grabbed an apple without even looking at the earth pony and wolfed it down, speaking with his mouth full at the others. “Overlept. Almost time for practice!” Reddling looked around the room. Nightshade had slinked out when nopony was looking, and Tops was now rising too.

“Lunar said he had some things for me to do while I’m lame, so I’ll see you at practice, hopefully.” Tops began limping out as both Midnight and Reddling looked at each other, shrugging and quickly finishing their meal before heading out to join their companions.

---

The air outside was extra cold tonight, blowing around them in the practice field. Neither Lunar nor Web were anywhere to be seen, and the others looked slightly confused.

Before Reddling or Midnight could raise a question however, there was a blinding flash of blue light followed by a bang. A bit of grass was smoldering next to Lunar, who was in the company of a cold looking unicorn who had on standard Night Guard armor, minus accommodations for bat wings.

“Recruits! This is Cobalt Flare!” Lunar boomed. Reddling batted his eyes at the obviously fake name, but said nothing as the unicorn eyed him coldly. Her eyes reminded him of Web, except instead of a warm brightness, there was some violating, cold feeling he could not place. Reddling felt like her eyes had instantly drawn to him, and they had an uncomfortable icy blue tint that sent a shiver down his spine.

“She was going to be in charge of your training today, However, it was a group exercise, and cannot proceed with four.” Lunar stared down the line at Reddling as he said the first bit before shifting his gaze to the other end of the line. “So instead, she will be taking Tops and Nightshade aside, and beginning their magical training. The rest of you will continue drills from yesterday.

The world stopped as Reddling gazed first to Lunar, and then to Cobalt. The world twisted as he grappled with the thought of Tops and Nightshade being chosen for magical training. If he had to confront a princess directly, he'd most certainly be killed, but having his own magic changed the game. Reddling felt his face strain and betray anger at being left out of the group. What makes Tops and Nightshade so special?

“The three of you will practice as a group, as you did yesterday, if your partner falls, you may hit them once, I want no more accidents like yesterday. Is that understood?- Cobalt, take your students someplace private.” Lunar commanded. Reddling nodded with Bruiser and Midnight as Tops and Nightshade stepped forward, walking to Cobalt’s side. Nightshade did not meet Reddling’s eyes, but Tops gave him a soft smile before they turned away, flying above Nightshade and Cobalt towards a small forest path leading away from the camp.

“I will take each of you aside and address weaknesses I feel you demonstrated last night. Otherwise, the night is yours.” Lunar said, turning his attention away from the line. Reddling did a double take as he watched Cobalt leave with Tops and Nightshade. It was the unicorn’s shadows- Light was not correct around her, it seemed too… dark. Her shadow did not match her hoofsteps at all, and seemed to be moving all of it's own accord. Once more, Reddling felt a dark shiver go down his spine, recalling a fearful emotion that seemed a lifetime ago, when web had revealed the darkness of dreams.

Reddling paired up with Midnight while Bruiser approached Lunar. His mind was not on sparring however, and he looked frantically at Midnight, hissing, “Midnight, while we spar I wish to speak with you- uh, quietly and privately.” Midnight raised a quarterstaff, tucking it under his hoofpit while putting a shield on his other hoof. In but a few seconds both Reddling and Midnight were in the air, flapping their wings and looking for an opening.

“As you wish, but don’t expect me to hold back just because you wish to speak.” Midnight swung at Reddling with his staff, but Reddling was quick to deflect it as his mind turned back towards what he had just seen.

“Did you see anything weird with Cobalt?” Reddling asked, aiming to dodge another blow from Midnight. The staff swung through the air, an although Reddling dodged the wood, soon a shield had plowed him into the dirt, leaving him lying there disjointedly as Midnight leapt back and raised his weapon once more. Reddling rolled to the side, dodging the staff's crack before throwing himself up and circling with Midnight.

“I cannot say I did.” Midnight’s voice was uneventful, almost as though he was bored.

“Keep an eye on her, something isn’t right- It had the same vibe as that cave.” Reddling looked dryly at Midnight, who gave a shiver at the mention of the cave, but nodded. The two of them traded blows for a time before Bruiser trotted over, nodding his head at Midnight. Swapping off staves, Reddling found himself horribly outpacing Bruiser’s speed as he tried to swat at him. Time seemed to fly by far too quickly as Midnight trotted back over, looking at Reddling.

“Reddling, you’re up.” Bruiser said, standing back and panting slightly as Midnight held out a hoof for the quarterstaff. Passing the weapon away, Reddling trotted quickly over to Lunar, throwing him a salute before standing stock still.

“Reddling.” Lunar said, looking over some various weapons on the same rack from the previous day. His voice was like that of somepony who was at a tea tasting- a connoisseur who was looking to isolate everything wrong with the subject in front of him.

“You cannot depend solely on your knife. It’s a fine weapon, but not the right thing for too many situations. Pick a longer reaching weapon. I will instruct you how to use it properly.

“Magic.” Reddling said solidly, averting his eyes from the various weapons lining the rack and staring straight into the forest, almost feeling his hooves move him towards it.

“You did not pass the trial at the cave. In the future, another opportunity may present itself for you to pass, and learn to use magic. However, until then, pick a more corporeal weapon,” Lunar’s voice was cold as he motioned to the weapons rack. “Also… if you did not pass it once… I would not get your hopes up about passing it a second time. It does not get any easier.”

Reddling turned to glared at Lunar, feeling a horrible pain well up in his chest. It was like a cold fire, ripping at his insides, something so horrible it felt like it might burst from his torso and rip the batpony in front of him asunder. “Trust me…” Lunar said, meeting his gaze and lowering his hoof statically.

“I’m willing to do whatever I have to do sir…” Reddling moved his eyes to the weapon rack. “What weapons can you train me in, Commander?”

“Almost anything. There are a few exotic weapons I am unfamiliar with, but most conventional weapons I can teach you about. A lance or a spear would fill the gaps of knife fighting.”

“I have no desire to use a lance or spear. What kind of swords are there?” Reddling looked over at the weapons lining the rack, each of them glinting faintly in the moonlight.

Lunar appraised a few of the weapons, pulling out a sword here, a sword there. “A longsword or a bastard would work well. They are heavy and have a long reach.”

Reddling looked at the foreign weapons. He had quickly grown tired of seeing every single Equestrian tote a longsword at their side and shrugged. “A bastard sword then. Hoof and a half blades?”

Lunar nodded, pulling out a suitable blade. The weapon was straight for several feet, although at the end it tapered down to a point. Lunar put the sword in a sheathe and offered it to Reddling, who grabbed it in his mouth and then slun it over his shoulder, belting it on. The sword hung on the opposite side of his knife so that either could be easily drawn.

Normally, I would not be permitted to carry such a weapon in Silverfield. Swords are for Unicorns Reddling thought as Lunar drew out another bastard sword, appraising Reddling from inside his helmet.

“For a pony of your size, this sword may be more similar to a greatsword, due to your relatively small frame. However, I trust that soon you’ll be very comfortable with it.” Lunar's sharp teeth grinned inside his helmet as Reddling frowned at the joke. Wiping the look off his face, Reddling straightened up as Lunar continued to speak.

“Despite the long blade, most of its’ killing power is in the thrust. Use the weight of the sword to drive forward, but be cautious not to overextend. Keep your opponent at bay with swings and slashes, and once an opening presents itself, impale them. However, I trust you will resist the urge to do so during practice.” Every word had a matter of fact tone to it, but the last sentence bore a cold edge on it as Lunar met Reddling’s eyes again.

“I’m not here to kill my training partners, Sir.” Reddling said. Lunar said nothing, and simply stared with a calculating look for a moment.

“I would spar with you once more, with your new weapon. I will give you additional instruction as you go.” Lunar raised his weapon, facing Reddling. Clumsily producing his own sword, Reddling turned to face Lunar with the hit gripped in his mouth.

Practice wore on with Lunar instructing all of them on new weapons. Bruiser spent his time properly learning to use a maul, while Midnight and Reddling crossed blades. Midnight now wore a plain kite shield on one leg instead of one of the oversized shields from before, gripping a longsword in either his mouth or hoof while they dueled. Throughout the night, each swing grew faster, each parry quicker, and every counter sharper.

The moon was finally ready to go down when they arrived at the mess hall. The earth pony looked tired as ever today when he slid out food to the three ponies before him.

“Nightshade and Tops already gone then?” Reddling said, chewing on some hay sadly. He’d been hoping to talk to Tops about Cobalt, he was sure that he’d have something to say about how odd the pony was.

The earth pony let out an angry snort as he began to work on closing shop. “Ain’t been here all day.” Reddling froze, spitting out the hay in his mouth and looking up.

“What do you mean, they haven’t been here all day?” Reddling said. Bruiser and Midnight also put down their food, looking over for an explanation.

“I mean they didn’t show up for “lunch” or “dinner”. Damn, it must be depressing to be both a blind and deaf bat.” The earth pony grumbled as he pulled the remaining hay with him into the back room. Reddling threw himselves to his hooves, staring determinedly around the room. He quickly scanned all of his equipment to make sure it was there before looking at Bruiser and Midnight.

“Something is wrong with that unicorn, I’m going after them.” Reddling said, turning for the door. Bruiser and Midnight quickly stood up as well, their towering figures moving to the door.

“Reddling, you’re just going to run off alone into the forest?” Midnight asked. Turning to face him, Reddling breathed his reply out.

“There is not a single thing right about her, and I’m going after Nightshade and Tops. If you want to come along, that just means I don’t have to pull them both back here myself.” Reddling narrowed his eyes at Midnight, who removed his helmet and sighed, shaking his head.

“I trust Lunar to not bring a pony who is untrustworthy to us. Though I do understand your reservations with Cobalt, I must decline.” Midnight sat back down, picking up an apple. “Please be careful, Reddling. I ask you try to avoid doing anything rash.”

“Rash, me?” Reddling said sarcastically, “I’d never!”

Midnight rolled his eyes, taking a quick bite of his apple. “Please excuse me, I sincerely do not wish to see you harmed, but you must also consider that you may interrupt their training in some way.”

“What the hell, let’s go Reddling.” Bruiser said, shrugging his maul onto his back. Reddling turned, beaming up at the muscular pony gratefully as they headed to the door, leaving Midnight behind to consult his apple for conversation.

“But listen though, if there’s some crazy magical crap happening, don’t expect me to hang around. Stuff gives me the creeps.” Bruiser trotted to the practice field with Reddling, where they looked out at the paths.

“Do you remember which one they took?” Reddling asked, and bruiser nodded, pointing out a path as they both began to gallop towards the woods. The forest yielded none of its’ secrets as both the bat ponies trod down the path, but it did begin to yield a feeling Reddling had felt once before, but he could not place it. The trees above grew darker, thickening up as they continued to go downhill. Eventually the night sky was blotted out, the stars and moon vanishing from view as perpetual darkness met them.

The darkness seemed to swirl unnaturally, like the kind of wind that grabbed ahold of you and blew you around.

“Alright Reddling, This is freaking me out now!” Bruiser said. Reddling didn’t even turn around as he continued to gallop deeper into the forest.

“That’s exactly why we need to keep going, they could be in real trouble. You’re freaked out near it? Imagine how they must feel!” Reddling felt his pulse quicken as the dirt under him was beaten to a pulp by his trampling hooves, little clouds of dust kicking up behind him as Bruiser panted to catch up.

“Don’t you dare leave me behind, damn it!” Bruiser cried. His voice seemed far away already though. Everything had gone quiet. Deadly quiet.

Why didn’t I ask Web to come with us? Why… didn’t I just ask her about Cobalt immediately? Reddling wrestled his misgivings to the back of his mind as he listened for a sound, any sound. He ground to a halt as he realized that he could no longer hear Bruiser’s hoofsteps, or even his own for that matter. There was only one sound, that of heavy, labored breathing.

“Bruiser, where are you?” Reddling called, looking over his shoulder.

“I’m here! I’m here!” Bruiser said. Even though his voice came from right behind Reddling’s shoulder, he couldn’t see even an inch of the muscular pony.

“Shh,” Reddling hushed him, “Do you hear that?” Both of them listened for the breathing, the pravelent sound that seemed to rule over this darkness. Every time Reddling thought he figured out where it was, the death rattle would move, being everywhere at once. Then Reddling could see it, a pair of yellow eyes opening in the darkness.

“Tops! Nightshade! Answer me!” Reddling cried. The yellow eyes simply blinked idly. an moved around in the darkness, circling and betraying no sign that either Tops or Nightshade were around to hear the cry.

“Reddling, what about us!” Bruiser’s voice came from behind. It was edged in fear, and despite his size and normal readiness to handle ponies, he was clearly unprepared for whatever supernatural powers were at work.

“Either stay right next to me, or take your chances with those eyes and that death rattle, Bruiser!” Reddling hissed under his breath. From the direction of the eyes came a horrible hiss. Reddling could hear the soft crunching of leaves as the eyes began to grow larger, the creature approaching steadily.

Think, think, what do you do when you can’t fight without your eyes? Squeak? I don’t know how to squeak! Reddling drew out his knife and felt his chin brush against a belt that hung under his armor attached to his bitpurse. Reddling blinked quickly before he ripped it open, using a hoof to pull out a large purple crystal and throwing it on the ground in front of him.

Reddling instantly regretted pulling the crystal out. Long rays of light glowed on the ground and revealed the horrible beast now standing in front of him. The curves of the beast were only just illuminated by the purple beams, giving only the vaguest of insinuation of form. At one time it night have been a pony, but no more. Skin hugged it’s bones, hanging like a loose sheet off a bed. The ends of its limbs were spurs of bone. Wings that protruded from its back were so damaged that it was impossible to tell if they had once been pegasi wings or bat wings, as all that remained was rotting shreds of skin that hung from the bone. The abomination began to amble forward, breathing horribly as it opened its’ mouth to reveal rows of needle-like sharp teeth.

“Right, Bruiser, weapons.” Reddling said, trembling inside at the sight of the monster.

“Bloody pegasusfeathers Reddling! What- Oh man.” Bruiser unslung a hammer from his side, which looked much more manageable than the maul Lunar had been having him train with. The creature lunged forward at both of them, lifting up hooves that seemed to be little more than bony claws. Bruiser sidestepped it as Reddling deftly dodged to the side, slashing at the creature’s back leg.

Again the creature turned to Reddling, catching him agilely with a claw hoof, which slipped and scratched at his armor. The monster was now directly over the purple crystal, and Reddling gaped at its front. From the top of its torso all the way to its jawbone, there was little more than some structure bones and hanging tendrons without muscle to work with them. The creature continued to amble forward, phased by the knife slice no less than it seemed to be over having its neck ripped from its body. Bladed weapons on… a moving corpse? No, remember the old storybooks.

Sheathing his knife, Reddling beat his wings and prepared to punch at the monster as Bruiser’s hammer slammed into its back with a loud crack. There was a cold, shrill screech that pierced the air as the creature lunged forward, away from the hammer. Reddling felt it push against his shoulders as they fell into a grapple on the ground. There was another scream from the creature, something akin to a thousand ravens before they pounced on a corpse.

Reddling felt blood splatter all over his shoulder and neck as a terrible coldness soaked his body from each one of the teeth now sunken into his flesh.. Feeling his anger rise, Reddling pulled one of his hooves free and slammed his hoof into the side of the creature’s head. There was a crack as the creature's jaw released him and staggered back. Momentarily freed, Reddling pushed the creature off just in time for Bruiser to connect it with a well-placed hammer blow. The swing connected with the creature right in the head, knocking it a good distance back as it glared at them, totally undeterred from the damage it had suffered.

Reddling quickly checked his wound to ensure that it wasn’t going to bleed out greatly. The wound was not terribly gruesome, despite the blood dripping from a dozen or so punctures. “Bruiser! We gotta find Tops and Nighthade now!”

Bruiser paid the comment no heed as he ran at the creature. The creature shrieked again as it leapt to the side, striking out like lighting as it caught Bruiser, hurling him onto the ground as its neck snapped downward, ripping into, and then quite quickly out of, Bruiser’s shoulder. Reddling saw the chunk of flesh fly in the air as Bruiser let out a terrified scream.

“GET IT THE HELL OFF!” Bruiser’s scream was high pitched, something like that of a small filly that had seen a more terrifying ghost. Reddling turned, pivoting his hooves and mimicking the attack that Lunar had used, aiming to connect the blunter parts of his hoof armor with the creature’s head. There was a brittle snap, and the creature collapsed on Bruiser, its head and most of the spine rolling away into the blackness that continued to twist around them.

Bruiser pulled himself up, shoving the creature off and holding his shoulder. A large chunk of flesh was missing from the roundness on his shoulder.

“Tops! Nightshade!” Reddling screamed at the darkness again. His voice seemed to already be dead before it hit the darkness, not even giving a faint echo.

“Let’s get the hell out of here.” Bruiser said lividly, folding a wing over his wound to keep pressure on it.

“Dammit, Bruiser, you go get Web, I’m finding the others. Grab Midnight if you see him too.” Reddling grabbed the crystal off the ground and held it in his mouth as he galloped into the blackness, heading away from the battleground

“Gah, fine! Don’t you dare get yourself killed!” Bruiser’s voice was already distant by the time it reached Reddling, like somepony was trying to talk to him from underwater. Looking behind him, Reddling saw Bruiser claw his way through what he guessed was foliage as the creature on the ground twitched, lifting a hoof and beginning to straighten itself up
.

Reddling’s mouth dropped in shock, letting the crystal topple to the ground as he bolted into the darkness, fleeing from the skin covered pile of bones. He was utterly alone now, and all around him the darkness fell like a blanket, somehow thickening itself until Reddling could not even see his own body moving. Despite cries for Tops and Nightshade, but his voice was drowned as the darkness swaddled him like a cloth around a baby.

---

Every hoofstep gave a crunching sound as Reddling panicked, staring at the nothingness with wild eyes. It took him a moment to realize that he was no longer crushing dirt and leaves under his hooves, but instead grass, an oddly familiar grass. Reddling looked down, and the darkness gave way. He was standing on a patch of silver grass, but that was all. He could see a few a few feet to any side, but everything else in the world was covered in a deep, endless black fog.

The voice that had haunted him once entered his mind again, tickling his senses with its shrouded and echoed voice.

“What would you give, Reddling, for what you desire? Would you sell yourself to the Nightmare?” The fog rolled away, showing the main street of Silverfield.

“I don’t think you understand how this works.” Reddling’s words came out with heavy breaths as he fought to calm his heart. “I need your power, and you’re going to give it to me.”

The main street lined with ponies, all of them citizens of Silverfield, just standing there, staring blankly forward. At the end of the two lines was a tall figure clad again in its jade black armor. It strode forward with a chin held high, eyes looking down at Reddling. The Nightmare seemed to be taller, prouder, its silted bat eyes ablaze as it reflected the suffocating darkness that still clung to the world around it. A sinister aura hung to each hoof as it glided forward.

“I need your power, but I am not a monster. I’m a hero to these ponies.” Reddling said defiantly, staring up at the Nightmare. He locked eyes with the blazing rubies that seemed to stare on forever as a cheer went up. Each townspony cried “Reddling!” once or twice before the cheer rose together, in full unison with the other voices.

Reddling smiled, but quickly backed up as the Nightmare shifted its shoulders, revealing a spire that grew from one of its pauldrons. On the spire rested a single head, staring deadly forward.

Princess Luna’s eyes no longer shown, and her horn was shattered at the tip so that a long chain could protrude from it, leading into the darkness. The Nightmare continued to advance, dragging behind it head after head; first came Bruiser, then Midnight, Nightshade, Lunar, Tops, and lastly, Web. Reddling’s breath grew heavier with each head that came forward, but stood his ground, averting his eyes from Web’s dead stare.

I cannot forget my purpose… it’s the chain that binds, Nightmare. Reddling stood his ground, looking up at his phantom self. “I’m a slave to it, as you know it seems.”

“Yes, a slave to your purpose, a slave to your past. A slave to your future.” The scene shifted around him, the only constant being the Nightmare Reddling standing it’s ground. His head was still held as high as it had been when he’d strode into the town. But now there was something different about the nightmare- something cruel was growing over his face, tarnishing his proud expression.

Pulling itself from the darkness, a small neon blue pony now kneeled before the Nightmare. Reddling smiled at the sight of his nephew, but he was much older now, and almost as big as Reddling normally was without the Nightmarish armor. Beside Rainy was a white pony with bubblegum hair, although Reddling didn’t regonize her at all. Their faces were averted from him, Reddling could tell she was crying as Rainy offered up something wrapped up in various soft looking cloths. Leaning forward, Reddling saw a pretty little red foal, sleeping peacefully with feathery wings folded on its back.

Reddling’s eyes snapped up as the Nightmare wordlessly drew a hooked blade. Lighting up his horn, Rainy extended the foals' wing. Reddling felt suddenly sick at the nightmare in front of him. They had the same batty eyes, the tufted ears, even the dead grey red coat instead of the fiery red it had once been. The Nightmare however, had no batty wings on it's side. No matter what, they were grounded, held back.

“I’d have hoped you would know better Rainy and…” Reddling looked at the white pony. “Uh, mare. First the foal will lose its wings. Then you’ll both lose your lives.” Reddling moved his hoof to his knife, pulling the knife out just far enough to read the runes before sliding it back into its sheathe.

There was a flash, then crimson splattered everything. Blood ran down everypony’s face as the child awoke with a scream, beginning to cry helplessly. Reddling just stared forward deadly at it, his entire body slowly growing colder with every passing moment.

“There is nothing I can do to help you.” Reddling said at the foal, not removing his eyes from the Nightmare, who had blood running down the front of its armor now. Shuddering horribly, Rainy used his magic to spread the foal’s other wing. Reddling tried to tear himself from the scene, but something kept him transfixed on every moment of it, watching a fresh scream erupt from the foal once more.

“Whole once more. Clean. Wingless.” The Nightmare’s voice taunted Reddling inside his head, both spoken and unspoken in the same note. “Could you do it Reddling?”

...To what end?!

The Nightmare the sickle, and leapt upon the mare. She let out a high pitched scream as Rainy shook violently, sobbing as he clutched the screaming foal to his chest. Reddling felt a tear leak from his eye as the mare’s screaming ended with more gore splattering across the darkness.

“Embrace it, your darkest nightmare. This is the price you pay for what you seek.”

“Watch it. Live it.”

Reddling suddenly felt cold steel in his mouth. His view shifted to the front of Rainy, who stood up, shaking and drawing his sword angrily. From the darkness chains rose up, grabbing at every limb and wrapping around his body, forcing the sword Rainy, choking the unicorn's head and revealing his soft neck. There were no other ponies now. Just Rainy, and Reddling.

I… will do this. I can end you, and take all the power I need! The price for a perfect world is but the price of one foal! Reddling gulped. “Any last words, Rainy?”

“P-Please…” Rainy choked out weakly.

“Please what? B-beg… I want to hear you beg.” Reddling could hardly believe the words he was uttering were his, but he knew they came from somewhere dark in his heart as he gazed at the helpless pony before him.

“R-Reddling please- please, no!” Rainy’s eyes were full of tears as they gazed at him. Reddling put the steel to his nephews neck, but did not cut. “I’m sorry- Reddling…”

“What are you sorry for? This is simply our custom, is it not?” Reddling waited for Rainy to muster up the courage to continue.

“Sorry that we … had a pegasus-

“PEGASUS”

A monster-

“A MONSTER"

“Now we- we are paying the price for having a foal at all.” Rainy ended his statement with a tear dripping onto the cold blade at his neck.

“Pay the price, Reddling. Embrace it. Become it. Your inner monster. Your darkest Nightmare.”

“No!” Reddling screamed, tearing himself away from Rainy and throwing the knife aside. Reddling pushed himself away from Rainy on the ground in horror, staring at the restricted pon in pity and remorse. “There must be another way! I won’t become what I’m fighting against just to destroy it!” Reddling felt his hooves claw at the darkness as he searched for the Nightmare. “Somepony has to say no, to say stop, and I’m going to stop it all with me, show yourself!”

Rainy collapsed to the floor, sobbing as the darkness rushed in on the scene, blackening everything, drowning everything until it was all gone.

Once more.

The thought was not Reddling’s, but his mind still echoed it as he closed his eyes, his heart racing as it bat against his chest, trying to attack it's prison and escape the horrible pain of this world.

---

The world stopped spinning as Reddling found himself clawing into a clearing. Tops and Nightshade were asleep next to each other on the grass while Cobalt Flare sat on a stump, flipping a page of her book. Overhead the sun was poking through the foliage, spearing the ground with bright rays. Reddling felt his anger grow once more as he strode towards Cobalt, stopping just sort of being within swinging distance with his sword as he put a hoof on his knife.

“What unholy thing are you, and what pit do you call home?” Reddling demanded of Cobalt. She looked up at him, setting her book down and blinking.

“I am a unicorn.” She said simply.

“No, I saw your shadow when you left with these two. You cannot deceive me, what deals does the darkness know that you won’t share?” Reddling’s fury was growing with the unicorns maddening calmness.

“I gave myself to the Nightmares, just like these two. Nothing more.”

“You gave away your soul for a simple weapon?” Reddling said incredulously. “How could you do such a thing?”

“We are all offered a choice. For some it is easy. For others it is hard. Clearly, for you, it was hard.” Her voice remained calm as she lifted her book idly, turning a page.

“You’re way off base, unicorn. How could you let this happen to anypony?” Reddling looked over at Tops and Nightshade, who were not stiring, but instead seemed to be sleeping peacefully.

“Because if we do not let it happen, it will happen on its own. It is the nature of the gift you were given. It will happen to all of the Children of the Night- and if it is not controlled and tempered with sanity and discipline, it will grow into something dark, dark and terrible. The last time a pony completely succumbed to the Nightmare was a thousand years ago. I’m sure you know what happened.” Cobalt's voice was bittersweet, yet soft and even symphony. Her song was at once an internal scream of pain and an echo of a higher calling that expressed a truth too insane to debate.

Nightmare Moon.Yes, that’s a page in Equestrian History every Silverfieldian know well. They almost all fell into darkness with Equestria. “So Bruiser, Midnight, and myself, we'll become like these two, one way or another?”

“No, you can deny it, and you did, else you would be training here with these two.” Cobalt bit her lip, as if she wanted to amend this, but only looked over at the two ponies sleeping in the clearing.

“This does not explain your shadow, nor how you even have these powers as a unicorn.” Reddling said, still keeping an untrusting edge on his voice.

Cobalt let out a sigh, looking sad for the first time. “That’s a long story. Through a series of terrible mistakes and unfortunate accidents, the choice was offered to me, and I took it. Now, why have you come here? It’s far too late in the day for you to be out and about.

“They did not return, so myself and a companion went to search for them.” Reddling jerked his hoof over his shoulder. “I’m taking them back to camp with me.”

Cobalt just shook her head. “There are two problems with that. First, they need this training, Otherwise, they would pose a danger to themselves, and everypony around them, and everything they hold dear. Second, how exactly are you planning on taking them back?”

“They’re not going to pose half the threat I do if you try and stop me, and I’ll carry them if I have to. If you want, you can help me take them back.” Reddling turned to Nightshade and Tops, beginning to approach them. “Tops, Nightshade, wake up, I can’t carry both of you.”

“Reddling, please let them sleep…” Cobalt’s voice was not a command, but rather somewhat of a plea. Reddling flipped around, glowering at her.

“Then why don’t you help me trot them on back nicely to a bed, and we’ll let them sleep!” Reddling could feel his heart hammering again as he stared at the unicorn. Whatever she was, she was something that he knew there was no chance he could defeat if she decided to actually attack him, but that wasn’t going to prevent him from trying.

“Reddling, please.” Cobalt’s voice had lost its pleading tone and was now dead serious. Her shadow stood up, all on its own and approaching Reddling before the unicorn stood up as well, getting off the stump and approaching seperate of her shadow.

“Get your shadow back, or it’s getting a vivisection.” Reddling yelled. He wasn’t actually sure if he could harm the shadow or not, but it was certainly going to be interesting if he could.

“If you wish, I will take you back to camp. Rest assured, your friends are in good hooves, even if you do not trust me.” Cobalt, despite her seriousness, was still trying to be comforting. She had retained this calmness that neither Web nor Lunar seemed to have. It was unsettling, angry as she probably was right now and quite possibly, as prepared to court martial any recruit as she had ever been, her voice stayed in the dreary calmness that made her seem bored by everything going on around her.

“It’s impossible for me to trust a pony who’s own shadow is a living entity.” Reddling said pointedly.

“I understand.” Cobalt replied simply.

“We’re at an impasse then.” Reddling shifted himself so he could look back at Tops and Nightshade, both of whom appeared to be sleeping peacefully.

“…I suppose so.” Cobalt mused, looking bored again.

“Are you going to stop me if I try to move them?” Reddling asked.

“It would be a disservice to them to interrupt this. I’d ask you not to.” Cobalt relaxed back, clearly unafraid and unconcerned with anything that Reddling might try to do. Reddling gave one more look over his shoulder at Tops and Nightshade before his hooves turned him wordlessly, stalking away from the scene. He wasn’t sure why he turned away, or even where his hooves were taking him, but the sunlight slowly died back as he found himself in front of the cave where Tops and Nightshade had passed their test.

The walk seemed much shorter this time, but then, time did not seem to really matter here. Ever since Reddling had arrived here, time seemed to have little value. Frequently he had found himself losing track of what day it was, and during the Nighttime it was still very disconcerting to use the moon instead of the sun as a way to measure time.

Taking off his armor and sword, Reddling laid them neatly in a pile before approaching the cave, trotting softly to the darkness that ended very shortly in a wall. He had been unable to kill Rainy, but he was certain that Cobalt had someone tricked him into leaving the clearing. Now he was alone with the cave, a link to the Nightmare. Twice he had failed, but now that he knew what to expect, Reddling was sure he could betray himself for a few seconds to pass the test. This time, the third time, he would pass.

“Nopony else can know, but I need your powers. I don’t care what you want from me anymore, Nightmare Moon was unstoppable, and only the most powerful weapons in the world kept her at bay, and even they could not bind her forever. I need that, now cave, give me your power!” Reddling yelled the last line, shutting his eyes and thrusting himself into the cave. Reddling exited the cave sheepishly when nothing happened and tried shaking a hoof at it, as if he was trying to get something to rise from the ground.

Despite all of his bitter attempts to create a Nightmare like darkness, the darkness refused to change. Birds began to sing as Reddling took medium sized rocks and started to pelt the cave wall with them, trying to get some sort of supernatural response. Infuriatingly, nothing would change as he let out a cry of frustration, kicking the ground in with his hooves repeatedly. Not only was he failing himself and his country now, but he was also unable to infect himself with this poison that would allow him to be at Tops and Nightshade’s side to help protect them from Cobalt. Reddling continued to throw rocks at the cave, the loud thunks slowly dying away as his breath slowed. Everything faded away as he felt himself falling into the ground, and then under it as the world blacked out.

“Do you want to find it?”

I need it!

Reddling found himself in a field of grass that stretched on forever. The grass lacked any colour, as did everything else around him. It was like being in one of the few photographs that he’d seen taken back home that were tucked in the few parts of archived files he’d been allowed access too in the church. Reddling began to trot, watching as his shadow traveled with him. Every now and then, he felt like he could see it looking up at him, but it was always just as it should be when he checked it.

Hours turned to days. Days turned to weeks as time lost meaning in this place. For all Reddling knew he had spent a lifetime in here, time did not seem to have an actual meaning. When he felt that his legs must surely give out, he took his last step forward, turning his head to watch his shadow stay put, not moving its hoof to mimic him. It took a few moments, but eventually the shadow pulled his hoof back, planting it gently on the ground once more.

“Show yourself for what you are. This is the third time I’ve been here, I’m taking your powers back with me this time.” Reddling demanded of his shadow, which stared back up at him with its featureless figure.

“You think you can bargain? Buy me like some cheap commodity?” The shadow spoke with Reddling’s own voice, but it maintained and ethereal edge to itself. While it could be surely felt in his mind, it did not actually belong here, nor did it belong anywhere.

Unless you have a better idea, yeah, that’s what I was planning on doing. Reddling thought back at it.

“This is all I am. A shadow. A nightmare. I have no power but the power you give me.”

“I saw what you did with Cobalt Flare. I can read her like a book. She’s twisted past what anypony in Equestria would recognize inside. It’s what you do to all of them. I’m willing to give you what you need, but you have to let me hold to my goal- and know this, I will accomplish my goals.” Reddling ended his ultimatum as the shadow nodded to itself.

“Then you will have to succumb to your worst Nightmare. Show that you are willing to become that which you hate, that which you fear, that which you most despise! Sincerely! Honestly! Not with a seed of hope in your mind that you can resist it and prevent it from coming to pass! Twice now you have been given the chance. Perhaps you will get a third, but it will not be on your terns, Reddling. You will show that you are willing to succumb, or you will be denied it.”

Reddling glared coldly at the shadow, feeling his heart sink right through the greyscale plants under him and down into the cold pits of the earth. “Fine, alright, Fine, I’ll give into your game, I’ll let you win, but I’m only doing it because it means that I will win my game. I’ll become a complete monster like Cobalt… like, Nightshade and Tops, I’ll do it.”

“You will have another chance then, but it won’t be tonight.”

Reddling tried to struggle to keep ahold of the nightmare, but it quickly came to pass, leaving his vision dark. Everything was dark here, but it was also oddly comfortable. Soft sheets pressed against his body, and he could feel something else brushing against his chest as soft breath touched his neck. Reddling closed his own eyes as he felt Web kiss his cheek gently, opening her bright eyes to stare at him.

It was an instinctual move on his part to wrap a hoof in her mane. Reddling thought he would enjoy being this close to Web, but something about the situation was greatly upsetting and disturbing him. It was an insufferable offense to be this close to a pony, and Web clearly had no respect for the meanings of such acts. The act of being close, knowing that you will lose your life for suffering pleasure at the hooves of one another, no, it was something Reddling refused to do. He tore himself away from the covers, flying into a rage as he slammed his free hoof into Web’s chest. He couldn’t hear any sounds she made as he pummeled her, beating her with every limb of his body that could connect. He tried to throw himself from the bed, but found himself tangled in the covers. Web’s body was pushed against his, and try as he might, he could not get away from her.

---

Reddling felt something brush against his face gently as soft rays of moonlight brushed his eyelids. Rubbing his eyes, Reddling opened them, sitting up and looking around. Leaning on the side of the cave was Web, bouncing another pebble in her hoof as she smirked at him.

“Good evening, Nightlight!” Web said alluringly. Reddling forced himself onto his hooves, still trying to wrap his head around the events of the past fourty eight hours.

“Nightlight? No, I’m Reddling.” Web let out a fit of giggles as Reddling blinked dumbly at her.

“Oh, Bruiser was freaking out when he came back to camp!” Web cried, subduing her giggles.

“He had part of his shoulder ripped out of him.” Reddling replied dryly.

“Oh! It was just awful!” Web was still giggling, but considerably less so. “And you! Out all alone, lost in the dark scary woods… Did you find what you were looking for?”

Did I find what I was looking for? Reddling questioned himself as he put a hoof on his head, trying to make sure all his features were still there. I think I found a lot more than I was looking for. “Yes. Did Tops and Nightshade report back?”

“Cobalt’s taking care of them, don’t you worry.” Web cooed, but Reddling approached her quickly, angrily.

“Yeah? Well I do worry.” He said, looking straight into Web’s eyes.

Web looked totally unphased as she simply giggled again. “Heck, if you had just asked, I’d have told you its normal.”

Reddling pivoted on his hooves, pointing at the cave. “No Web, it’s not normal, NOTHING That has happened for the last two WEEKS has been normal!” Reddling gave a snort of frustration, digging his hooves into the ground as he felt his sore muscles give twitches from sleeping on the ground all day.

“Not normal?” Web sounded almost hurt. “I thought you were starting to like this! The way you flew, how eager you are to go out and get a taste for something exotic. Your ferocity. I think you’re adjusting just fine… and next time you sleep outside, hook your legs around a tree, and sleep upside down. You’ll find it much nicer.”

Reddling winced at her statements, turning back to her shamefully. “Look, Web, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it like that. I’m, I feel like… I’ve just been out chasing phantoms is all.”

“If you’re worried about Tops or Nightshade, don’t be.” Web said. Reddling looked away at her statement, once more drowning in his own thoughts. It wasn’t them he was worried about, but rather what they were going to become. “Cobalt… well, she has great control over it.” Web ended with a giggle.

“I’m worried about what they are.” Reddling mumbled. Web gave another giggle, although it was more of her laughing at something ridiculous than something funny.

“What they are! Hah! They’re no different than you or I!” Web looked down at Reddling, who still could not meet her eyes.

They’re Nightmares, literally. No, they’re nothing like you or I. “What did you see when you took the test, Web? What did it want you to do?” Reddling met her eyes now, staring as deeply as he could muster into them. He had to know what they had tempted her with, what she had denied.

Web breathed slowly, shutting her eyes for a moment before opening them once more. “To become invisible- A shade, a shadow, a wraith. To go where nopony else can go, do what nopony else can do,”

“And I took it.”

Reddling felt like his chest had been flash frozen, leaving him teetering on his hooves. Wave after wave of biting, freezing pain stabbed into his chest, sending numb vibrations all over his body as he grabbed at the cave wall for support, slowly sinking down and leaning against it. He couldn’t see anything in front of him, the world wasn’t working correctly now.

“You didn’t know?! Eeeee, Reddling!” Web giggled at his limp form, breaking away from the leaning position she was in and bending down so they were both on eye level.

Whatever they are, you are, all of you… I fear you. “No, I suppose I didn’t.” Reddling whispered to her. “But that sounds a lot less horrible than what I saw.”

Web looked away, blinking her eyes for a moment. “When you didn’t come back, Bruiser was sooo worried. I patched him up and came out looking for you.”

Bruiser was worried about me? He didn’t seem that worried when he was screaming for his life and running away from the darkness… Still, I guess seeing that monster was pretty traumatic.

“I found you here, looking oh so peaceful. I thought it would be nice to let you rest for a bit.” Web’s fangs glinted as she smiled, but Reddling only saw it out of the corner of his eye. There had been nothing peaceful about his sleep, in fact, his nightmares had been constantly getting more and more intense since the change had been made to his body. “You better head back, Midnight Tales and Bruiser are both super worried in the mess hall.” Web hung a smirk on her face as Reddling stood up, beginning an agreement before breaking it off.

“Hey, what’s so funny? Why’re you smirking?” He asked, Web's fangy smile grew.

“You were mumbling. I heard my name… Have a nice night, sugarplum!” With that, she turned and spread her wings, leaping into the sky and flying off. Reddling just stood there stupidly by the cave as a small family of rabbits leapt out of some bushes, staring curiously at the statue of a bat.

Huh?

Next Chapter: Suspicions Estimated time remaining: 13 Hours, 20 Minutes