Alright everyone! Here we go! Popular demand asked for another chapter of “After the Fact” so I’m going to add on to it as an end series x3 Who know? Maybe another story will occur with the After the Fact ;) Remember! This is if Xeron / Night Claw existed within this world.

Hero Part 1

Both Night Claw and Twilight were flying through the skies of Ponyville, the two of them without a care in the world. Despite her being an alicorn for some time, Twilight still had a bit of trouble flying but, luckily, she had Night Claw flying with her. The two landed on a nearby cloud, with smiles on their faces. “Well then, I have some things that need to be done, Night… What are you going to do while I’m busy?” Twilight asked, nuzzling the large batpony.

Night Claw chuckled a bit. “Well, I have been fighting for over three centuries, nonstop and constantly on edge. Now? I don’t have to anymore…” He said, returning the nuzzle. “I’m going to take this opportunity to rest and relax.”

Twilight giggled a bit, and nodded. “Sounds like you have a plan… Just, make sure nopony catches you sleeping upside down in a tree, or in your Night Lord form.” She suggested, poking him in the side with a hoof.

“Hey… That was one time, I slept upside down, on a branch… The temptation was too much, I am still a Night Raptor, after all.” He playfully rolled his eyes, before the two shared a laugh and nodded to one another.

“Oh! Before I go, I was wondering… Why didn’t I see you at the Crusader’s party, for getting their cutie marks?” Twilight asked, tilting her head. “Figured you’d like to see one, for once, and I hear they’re big fans.”

Night Claw shrugged. “To be honest, I didn’t know it happened. I was scouting out the Everfree Forest’s boarders, after there were reports of ponies being drained near it… Though, I’m sure they’re very happy about it all.” He said, poking her shoulder. “Shouldn’t you be going?”

Twilight giggled, starting to float up. “Alright, alright, I’m going… Don’t be out too late, alright, Night?”

“Promise.” He said, with a smile, as she flew off towards the Friendship Castle. Night Claw let out a sigh, before spreading his wings. “Time for a much deserved nap!” The batpony quickly flew off the cloud, and headed straight for the Ponyville Park. There was a certain lone tree calling his name, and he didn’t want to keep that comfortable patch of grass waiting.

Once he reached the tree, Night Claw slowly lowered himself down laid on to the grass, within the tree’s shadow. He tucked all four hooves under his body. Laying his head down on to the grass, he let out a content sigh before closing both eyes. Surprisingly, there was a wide smile on his face at such a minor thing, such as laying in the shade of a tree.

“This is the life. Can’t believe I spent so long, missing out on something so relaxing.” Night Claw thought, as he slowly started to drift into a limited nap…. However, the sounds of somepony sniffling caught his ear’s attention, the midnight blue ears shooting straight up. “Hm? Somepony is crying?” Night Claw slowly stood up on to his flank, and looked around until his ears caught where the crying was coming from.

Night Claw looked around the tree, with a raised brow, until his gaze was met with the orange coat of a particular pegasus filly! It was Scootaloo, the little scooter riding Cutie Mark Crusader… She was crying about something, which made the stallion tilt his head. His gaze then caught a glimpse of the magenta looking shield with a familiar lightning bolt at its center. He knew she loved to move so fast on that scooter of hers, and also knew how much she idolized Rainbow Dash. A smile found itself upon his muzzle, before he brought himself back to the situation at hand and shook his head.

Night Claw slowly moved around the tree, and lowered his head down to the crying filly. “Now, what’s this then? Scootaloo, the speed demon Crusader, crying?” He asked, making the filly jump and face him quickly before her tearing face was filled with awe. “What brought this on? I thought you’d be ecstatic after gaining your cutie mark.”

The filly couldn’t believe who she was looking at, or who had appeared out of nowhere on her! The Terror Guard himself, and protector of Princess Twilight Sparkle, Night Claw! “S-Sir… N-Night Claw!” Scootaloo stuttered, her jaw slack. Realizing that the Elite Guard had caught her crying, the filly quickly started to rub her eyes and wipe the tears away. “W-What are you doing here?”

“I came to take a nap at my favorite spot in town…” Night Claw lifted a hoof up, and placed it on to the filly’s left shoulder. “More importantly, what is the matter, little one? What has gotten you so upset, after a joyous occasion?”

Scootaloo began to blush, and look down. She couldn’t look the batpony in the eyes. “I-It’s nothing…” She muttered, the stallion giving her a deadpanned look.

“Now listen here, little one… It is one thing to lie about a mistake you’ve made, it is completely another when you’re troubled.” He lowered his head down, to where she was eye to eye with him. “Tell me the truth.”

“I-It’s stupid…” She said, trying to keep from looking him in the eye, the batpony trying to prevent her from doing such by following her gaze.

“It isn’t stupid, if it has you upset.” Night Claw said, the filly suddenly looking at him, he simply flashed her a fanged grin. “I have time to kill, I won’t be needed anywhere for quite some time.” He suddenly plopped down in front of Scootaloo and crossed both forehooves. “So, spill.”

“W-Well….” Scootaloo started, she couldn’t believe that one of the biggest heroes in Equestria was actually taking time out of his day for her. Just to listen to her, and something about his presence relaxed her a bit. “I-I am happy, that I finally have my cutie mark, and all. But…” She opened her small wings, looking back at them. “All the other pegasi foals are able to fly now, but I’m still unable to do so. Sweetie Belle is able to use magic, Princess Twilight helping her some. Applebloom is able to buck the apple trees, and knock down quite a few, while me…” A tear found its way in her right eye again, while Night Claw just listened to her explain. “I still can’t fly; I can barely hover off the ground before straining myself.”

Night Claw eyed her underdeveloped wings, closely. He could tell what she meant, the filly probably does have trouble flying with those particular wings. The stallion could also understand how it could be difficult for her to watch all the other foals playing, and able to do what their kind was born to do by now… While she still is unable to fly.

“So? I’ve flown over many times, and seen how good you are with that scooter. That, alone, makes up for such things.” Night Claw said, Scootaloo looking up at him, while trying to wipe the tear away. “Plus, I’m sure your wings will be able to take you off the ground, some day. These things take time, and should never be rushed or else you’ll only hurt yourself.”

“But it just isn’t fair!” Scootaloo blurted out, looking down at the ground, blushing. “Why does everypony else have no problems with this, and yet I am made to suffer so much.”

Night Claw raised an eyebrow. “Suffer so much?” He asked himself, the statement not really making much sense to him. The stallion could see how the whole concept has the filly upset, a thought about it for a moment…. Then, the memory of a particularly yellow pegasus, with a fiery mane and tail, came back to his mind. The situation seemed so familiar to him, it almost made him laugh. Night Claw gave a silent nod, before smiling at the filly. “Alright then, if you fill so troubled about it…. Then how about I teach you how to fly, hm? Help you strengthen those wings, without hurting them.”

The proposal actually made Scootaloo blink, confused. “Y-You’d do that f-for somepony you don’t know?” She asked him, tiling her head with a raised brow.

Night Claw let out a soft chuckle. “I wouldn’t say I didn’t know you, Scootaloo… In fact, I know many of your adventures, thanks to Twilight. However…” He gave sigh, smiling at her again. “The situation reminds me of a filly I helped, several years back. Guess I can’t escape seeing someone in the same condition I was in, when I was a colt…. After all, I wasn’t always so big and powerful. I was actually a runt!” He lied, but knew saying such information would help the filly.

Oh, how right he was…. Scootaloo was bouncing up and down, the widest smile she’s ever had plastered on to her face. “Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you; Sir Night Claw!” She repeated, before the stallion held his hoof up.

“Now, hold up… If I’m going to teach you, best you stop all this ‘Sir Night Claw’ business… From now on, it is either Night Claw, or just Night…. Using my title will only get in the way.” He explained, the filly giving a nod. “Good, now… Tomorrow isn’t a school day, so meet me here after lunch. We’ll begin our lessons then.”

Scootaloo nodded, suddenly hugging the stallion’s neck. “You won’t regret it, Night Claw! I’ll be here super early!” With that, the filly shot off towards her scooter…. Leaving the batpony to rub his neck, casually.

“What is with me, and those who have a hard time with their skills?” He muttered, before looking pat the skies, and shrugged. “Well, might as well head to the castle. Won’t be able to sleep after that.” Night Claw slowly stood up, and opened his wings. Within seconds, the batpony shot up into the sky, and headed straight for Twilight’s castle.

-The Next Day-

Twilight walked next to Night Claw, as they headed through Ponyville. “So, you’re going to teach Scootaloo how to fly, am I correct?” She asked, looking up at him.

“That is correct.” Night Claw confirmed, smirking down at her. “Hey, helped teach you, didn’t I?” He slightly laughed, Twilight giving him an annoyed look.

“That’s different, Night! This is a filly we’re talking about! One with underdeveloped wings, at that!” Twilight argued, worried about what the ancient warrior will teach the filly.

“If it helps you any, you can stick around, and watch.” He suggested, Twilight actually thinking it over.

“Well… I don’t really have anything else planned, for now. So, I guess it couldn’t hurt.” She said, smiling a bit before Night Claw pecked the top of her head.

“Good. You might learn something, while we’re at it, too.” He joked, earning a stiff jab from the princess. “I was joking! I was joking!” He laughed, before spotting a particular filly happily bouncing at the tree within the Ponyville Park. The two adult ponies made their way over, as the filly noticed them right away. “You weren’t kidding, when you said that you’ll be here early.”

The filly shot up to him, at a speed that shocked the two adult ponies, and saluted the elite guard. “Scootaloo reporting for training, Night Claw, sir!” The filly trying to be militaristic actually made the stallion laugh, while the princess giggled.

“At ease, soldier.” Night Claw said, nodding to her. “Alright, now… What is with the military attitude? This is a casual type thing.” He tilted his head, Scootaloo not losing that wide grin of hers.

“I-It’s just that… I’m being taught by Sir Night Claw, the pony who beat King Sombra, with hoof and wing!” Scootaloo said, making the two adult ponies somewhat uncomfortable about it… Celestia made it seem like Night Claw defeated the dark unicorn instead of mentioning the Night Haunter. She also avoided mentioning the stallion’s real form, the Royal Guards all swearing to secrecy. “One of the living Heroes of Equestria! Teaching me how to actually fly!”

Night Claw gave an uncomfortable laugh at her statement. Granted, Twilight called him a hero many times in the past, but that was different. He knew her since she was just a newborn foal. Hearing a filly call him that, and knowing many others thinking the same thing… Made the stallion feel strange, after all. He was still a Night Lord at heart. Quickly shaking his head, Night Claw snapped out of his thoughts on the matter. “Well then, I best not disappoint you.” He gave a nod.

“What will be our first flight lesson, Night Claw? How to do proper barrel rolls? Gain speed? Altitude?” Scootaloo kept naming off different things that involved flight, surprising Twilight that she knew such things.

“Nope. We’ll be exercising your wings first. After all, before you can fly, you must have the wing strength to do it.” Night Claw pointed back at her wings. The filly gave him a confused look before the stallion opened his large bat wings. He started to flap them up and down, slowly. “Work on using them, start off slowly. Keep them in sync with one another, focus on that. The more you do it, the more second nature it’ll become.”

“But… I already know how to do that-!” The moment Scootaloo tried, her wings started to buzz too fast and she went out of control, the stallion quickly grabbing her by the back of her neck with his mouth.

Once she stopped buzzing her wings, Night Claw gently placed her back on to the ground. “There’s why you must do it slowly… You’re also learning control with it. Your wings are underdeveloped, and so will try to overcompensate for that.” He noted, using his wings to demonstrate again. “Now, try it with me this time.” Scootaloo nodded and started to flap her smaller wings with his larger ones.

Before long, the filly was actually starting to sweat! “T-This is harder than it looks… I’m having to concentrate even more, and it feels like I’m using my wings more than usual!” Scootaloo said, looking up at the large stallion.

Night Claw chuckled a bit, keeping the pace with his wings. “This is because you’re having to use the muscles in your wings much more than you would with quick flaps. Speed is a good thing; you’ll be able to move much faster. However, if you actually take the time and pace it at a certain speed?” He suddenly opened his wings wide, revealing how powerful the wings were. “They don’t just gain speed, but also power. This training style will actually help you control your wings more.”

The filly nodded, and started to try his routine even more. After seeing the display, Scootaloo couldn’t help but imagine her wings being like his! After all, he said it himself… Night Claw used to be a runt, which sort of made the two of them almost alike. The thought of sharing something in common with the Equestrian Hero made the filly focus even more, become determined to strengthen her wings. She wanted to be exactly like the stallion in front of her! “I can’t disappoint him! And man, I wonder how Rainbow Dash will react when I’m flying just like her, because of this!”

Twilight, on the other hand, laid down under the tree and watched the two of them. Seeing Night Claw with Scootaloo, teaching her like this, brought a smile on her face. She knew exactly what he was, and what he used to do… But, now, here he is with a filly and teaching her how to fly correctly. Teaching her how to strengthen her wings, along with how to handle certain situations. The scene brought out a parental feeling within Twilight, and thought he will probably never admit it, the mare was sure one was brought out with Night Claw.

She about jumped when Scootaloo’s wing suddenly caught against one another, Twilight about jumped out of her skin, because the filly was actually off the ground a good bit. However, she let out a relieved sigh, the moment Scootaloo fell on to Night Claw’s back, the two sharing a laugh together. “It is almost like Night Claw was meant to be a father, despite what he is…” Twilight thought, laying back down and watched the two of them go further into the training, Night Claw helping Scootaloo understand the wing movements a bit more. “Maybe, some day, he’ll have that chance.”

At one point, Twilight joined in the little training session, believing that Night Claw held quite the knowledge she could use too… The three trained, more like play while training, until Celestia started to lower the sun and Luna raised the moon. Night Claw smirked at the coming darkness, the primordial being within him relishing in the chance to stalk the night again… But knew it would be dangerous for the two girls and nodded. “Alright, that is enough for today.” He looked down at. “We’ll walk you home.”

Scootaloo instantly became pale, and started to stutter while waving her hooves. “N-No! That’s alright, Night, really. I can make it home, before it gets too dark, don’t worry!” She said, giving a nervous laugh. “Thanks for the lessons, I can definitely feel the difference in my wings now!” She said, eyeing the small wings for a moment, the feathery appendages feeling a bit stronger now. “Same time tomorrow?” She asked the two adults.

“If nothing comes up, it is alright with me.” Night Claw looked at Twilight, who nodded.

“Agreed. I actually enjoyed myself, if neither of us have anything planned tomorrow… You better bet to see us.” Twilight said, smiling at the filly.

“Awesome! I wonder if Rainbow Dash will even join us!” Scootaloo said, turning to get ready to leave before stopping, and turning around. “Which reminds me, Night Claw…” The stallion looked down at her, raising an eyebrow. “You should totally have a catch phrase! Like, something to yell when you’re fighting bad guys!” She added, before shooting off back to town.

“A catch phrase?” Night Claw asked, looking back at Twilight, raising an eyebrow.

“Think of it, like a war cry. Like how She-mare, this young unicorn princess, yells ‘By the power of Castle Grey Feather’ then she transforms into a powerful unicorn, and adds… ‘I have the power!’ She becomes one of her home’s greatest heroes. That is what Scootaloo meant.” Twilight explained, using one of her favorite story heroes.

Night Claw actually thought about it for a moment. “A catch phrase, huh?” He said, tapping his chin with his hoof. “I’ll have to give it some thought. The only war cries I know, are meant for Astartes Warfare.” Twilight nodded, the two of them taking to the skies, heading off towards Friendship Castle.

Not far off, a unicorn mare was watching the group. Something about her was completely off, namely how she had this strange, malevolent, look in her eyes. “My, my… That batpony seemed like the strong kind.” She thought, smirking at her thoughts. “I wonder if I can make him fall prey to my gaze…” The mare’s eyes suddenly glowed a sickly green, as she started to laugh.