Author's Notes:

This is set pretty much immediately after the last Vesper chapter.
Cloud technically hasn't beaten Gilda yet.

I followed Luna through the crystal maze, past a bald Pony with a leopard-print shirt and into a large room where all sorts of creatures were waiting. They bowed as Luna entered until she motioned for them to stand.

"Ms. Overcast," she began formally, "I introduce you to the Night's Knights."

"Night's Knights?" I asked. Such a shitty name... Luna sighed and rolled her eyes.

"I know, I know. They were named by the Royal Naming Committee. It was this or 'the Night's Knights of the Nighty Night Knights Night Knight Knight Night'." I raised an eyebrow as she sighed again. "I had them thrown in the dungeon and used the first part of it."

"Uh huh. So what's up with these lot?" I motioned to the crowd of ten. Luna smiled.

"Let me introduce you." Uh...

"We have like an hour at most, so..." She waved a hoof dismissively.

"Nonsense! Be introduced!" She shot a glare at the N's Ks and they quickly lined up across the room. The first of them, a tall Griffon with red and white feathers, stepped forward.

"I am Complete Success," he said with a slow, deep voice. "I specialise in close quarters arial combat. In my home country, I am ranked as Major."

"Hey," I greeted. Major Success stepped back into the line and the next creature, a Changeling , stepped forward. Her wings and eyes were lime coloured and her chitin seemed to have a slight blue tint in the light.

"I am known as Ms. Direction," she said in an accent I vaguely recognised. Somewhere Eastern I think... "I hail from Brussia, the homeland of the Diamond Dogs." Brussian! That's it! "I specialise in infiltration and information gathering."

"Hey as well." She stepped back, but the next two, an Earth Pony stallion and a Pegasus stallion, stepped forward together. They looked similar, black manes and red coats, but their expressions set them apart. The Earth Pony had a cocky grin while the Pegasus looked formal. I couldn't see their cutie marks from where I was standing.

"'Sup?" Asked the Earth Pony as the Pegasus rolled his eyes. His voice was cocky and annoying. "I'm Quick Scope, the best sniper in Equestria!" Reminds me of Raindick... The Pegasus sighed.

"I apologise for my brother's brashness," he said in a calm yet formal voice. "I am No Scope, and I am also a sniper. Though my brother boasts, his skill and experience with weaponry are subpar next to mine. As my name implies, I have no need to aim carefully with a crossbow as I can hit ninety percent of the time from my regular vision alone."

"Yeah, but I'm still better! I-!" I cast a muting spell on Quick before he could keep talking.

"Good to meet you two," I greeted as they stepped back (though Quick looked offended). The next to step forward was a Minotaur wearing what looked like three layers of platinum armour. His face was badly scarred and around his eyes was battle paint in a red as deep as blood. Jeez, this guy makes the Chaos Lieutenant look like a kitten...

"I," he said in the deepest voice I've ever heard, "am Total Badass. Until recently, my home was deep within the Badlands where I've slain countless monsters. I have no military experience, but I'm the strongest barbarian this side of the planet. I have never been defeated. I once ripped limbs off of an enemy of mine and used them as weapons to kill a dragon."

"I once tore out a Changeling's fang and rammed it into the flesh of the roof of their mouth like a dagger." Total raised his eyebrows. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Ms. Direction wince.

"Impressive. We should train together sometime."

"I'll keep it in mind." He stepped back and the next, an average looking Thestral, stepped forward.

"Night Sky," she said, shaking my hoof. "Infiltrator and strategist."

"Got much experience?"

"Plenty." Doesn't seem to talk much... She stepped back but the next N's K, a Changeling with deep blue eyes and wings wearing glasses, didn't step forward. They (I don't know how to tell a Changeling's gender from looks) were reading a book and not paying attention. Night nudged them and they looked up. They quickly realised it was their turn and they stepped forward.

"Book Worm, magic specialist," he said in an incredibly snobby voice. "Average spell strength, but highest casting speed in the world. I doubt your spells could even compare." Wow, I think this is the fastest I've hated someone. I extended a hoof which he looked at with what seemed to be disgust before shaking it.

"Overcast Vesper, daughter of the God Slayer," I said with fake politeness. Worm looked shocked for a second before I shoved him back into line. Next up was a Diamond Dog with blonde fur.

"I'm Diggin Dadurt," he greeted. "I'm more of an underground support guy slash trap layer."

"Nice."

"Thanks." Next was another Griffon with dark brown and black feathers.

"Tanya Featherquill," she said. "Unarmed combat specialist in air and on land." The final N's K was an averagely built Minotaur with lots of strange looking things strapped to ever part of his body. He seemed to have a somewhat manic look about him.

"Badda Boom," he said with a grin, "demolitions expert." I suddenly recognised the things strapped to him.

"Wait, are those-?" I asked before being cut off.

"Yep! Explosive launchers!" He laughed loudly while everyone else was awkwardly silent. I turned to Luna.

"Can I go fight demons now?" She rolled her eyes.

"Fine."

Author's Note 2:
Kind of a boring chapter with a lame ending, but things should pick up from here.

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Chapters should be back to normal rate from now (4 days or so).