“Come on, kid,” Chase said to me, “Out of the wagon.” She jerked her head towards the rear. Behind her, I could see a pegasus that had helped fly the wagon shaking off his straps.

I hopped off lightly and trotted alongside her. “Where are we?” I asked as I looked up at the great big castle.

“Castle Blackrock,” Chase said, and she sounded to me like mum did when talking about her old house in Canterlot. “Your new home.”

I didn’t think it looked much like a castle. In the stories castles were all pretty and elegant and had princesses in them and stuff. This one didn’t look like any of the ones in the books. This castle just made me think of daddy’s anvil. It was all big, black and blocky. Like some giant version of Daddy had made a big cube of dark iron and just forgot where he left it.

We were in the middle of a forest, and I didn’t know which forest it was -I’ve never even left Hoofens before!-, but we’d only been flying for the rest of the night, so I was pretty sure we weren’t that far from Hoofens. Surrounding the fortress on all sides was a field of stumps that stretched a few hundred yards to where the forest started. It took me a moment to realise that they had cut down all the trees to make room for the fortress.

I frowned. “What happened to my old home?”

“Nothing.” Chase looked back at me. “You’ll just be living here now.”

“Really?” I smiled up at the huge structure. “It’s so much bigger than dad’s forge!” I looked across at her. “How big is it?”

“I dunno,” she answered with a shrug. “But yeah, it’s probably a bit bigger than where you used to live.”

“Can I go exploring?” I looked over at her. “Please, please please?”

Chase shook her head and smiled. “Not yet. First they’re gonna settle in all these cry-babies, then I’ll show you around if you like.”

I looked around at the other foals, most of which were crying and wailing for their parents. Some of them were screaming and trying to run back to the carriages so nightkin were dragging them along. Most of the nightkin were being gentle, but one foal kicked hers in the face, and he growled and cuffed her over the ear pretty hard. Other than that one though, most of the nightkin were pushing their foals along with their hooves and wings. That didn’t stop most of them from screaming like little fillies though.

I wasn’t sad. I was feeling excited! This was all so new and amazing, and I got to hang out with bat ponies, and I saw Princess Luna! This was like, the greatest night ever!

“Why are they all crying?” I asked her.

“Eh. All the initiates are like that when they arrive.” She shrugged. “They get over it in like a month.”

“Well they’re all being cry-babies.” I snorted and walked a few steps ahead of her.

Chase laughed. “Heh. You’re alright kid. Show no fear, that’s how you make it in Castle Blackrock.”

“Corporal Chased!” The leader of the bat ponies, his voice booming loudly from up ahead.

“I’ll be back kid,” Chase patted my head. “Just keep going with the other foals.” She gave me a glare. “And don’t try to run away, kay?”

I nodded and smiled. “Okay!”

She gave a nod and a smirk before running back to her commander. “Yes, sir.” She saluted with her wings as she did so.

I watched her walk away before I went back to happily trotting inside. This place was so big! I couldn’t wait to see all of it.

The large gates closed behind us, and we were all now inside a big courtyard, with reddy brown dirt and only one actual entrance into the castle itself with. The big gate was made of dark wood and had lots of spider webs of carved black iron all over it, giving it a really big and intimidating look. The door into the fortress was closed, and there were more nightkin on the walls watching us. Without wings I couldn’t think of how I’d get up to the walls, so I guessed that the way would have to be inside. Or maybe all the nightkin could fly, so they didn’t need stairs. I counted fourteen on the ground with us, and that was after Chase and the bossy bat pony came back.

“Gather up the foals,” he ordered. “Let’s get them calmed and settled in.”

Chase waved me over, and I happily trotted to stand next to her. I fidgeted, bored, while some of the other foals were slowly coaxed and dragged into position. Most of them were screaming and crying, but a few were like me, just looking around at what was happening. As they came to a standstill, we all quieted, but a few of the bigger cry-babies were still sobbing and sniffling.

“What a bunch of little fillies,” I muttered.

“Shhh.” Chase nudged me. “Listen, this is important.”

The bossy bat pony cleared his throat, and I noticed he was standing on a slightly elevated stage.

“Greetings.” He said loudly. His voice was really deep coming from a pony that was actually a lot shorter than most of the other nightkin. “I am Captain Stygus.”

I blinked in surprise and looked at him more closely. I’d heard that name before... I think Mummy mentioned it once. Some story about... a battle that Luna won? I think? Now that I was up close, I could see that Stygus was a lot smaller than most of the other nightkin. He was average sized for a mare, but really small for a stallion. Not that he looked much like a filly, I could see the scars on him, and his face was definitely hard and square like a stallion’s. He had the same little smile that tugged at the corner of his mouth that Daddy did. Even though he wasn’t telling a joke, I bet he could tell a really funny one if he wanted to.

“These are the nightkin.” He pointed a hoof at a few different ponies. “Shade Eyed, Heavenly Mantle, Chased Redemption... you will get to know the rest of their names on your own. You are all here because you have been blessed by Luna and selected to be raised into the ranks of the Nightkin.”

I blinked in surprise. “Really?!” I squealed with delight, and blushed when everyone stared at me.

A small smile touched the corner of his mouth. “Yes, really.” He glanced at the other foals. “Though not all share your enthusiasm.”

I wanted to talk again, but Chase nudged me and I stayed quiet.

“Welcome to Castle Blackrock, the home of the nightkin, and now yours too. The ponies next to you are your mentors. For the first month you’re staying here you’ll be bunking with them. After that you’ll move into the barracks, and the thirteen of you will share a room. Your mentors will be with you until you're twelve, and ready to stand on your own hooves. Twelve years is where you meet the final bar between you and adulthood.”

I smiled back at Chase, and she winked before nudging me and turning my attention back to the front.

“They’re here to make the transition from normal life to Luna’s blessed path easier. Feel free to talk to them about any questions and concerns you might have. And please, remember, as nightkin we are all Luna’s children; even though someone outranks you, we are a family, and you’re free to talk to anyone here. As commander of the Nightkin, I am often away on missions and other duties for our Lady Grace, but whenever I’m here, feel free to seek me out.” He smiled at us. “I’m always happy to guide the young ones along the path.”

“Now, for a test.” With his mouth he pulled a cloth off a table behind him. “This is your dinner.” He said with a smile. On the table I spotted several pieces of bread. “You’ll note there are only five pieces of bread, and yet there are thirteen of you.” He turned around and smiled again. “It may seem sad now, but in time you will come to love your place here. Soon you will realise this has always been your home. Remember, there are many paths through the dark.” He nodded his head at us, before he flapped his wings and flew away.

All the foals sat there in confusion for a while, and I looked across at Chase. “I don’t get it. How are we all supposed to eat?”

She smiled at me. “You tell me. There’s five pieces of bread, and thirteen of you.”

I looked to the ground, feeling confused. “I’m no good at maths.”

She chuckled. “Well division’s one solution, but like Styggie said, there are many paths through the dark.” Chase tilted her head towards the stage. “I’m not supposed to tell you how to do this. If you want bread, then you better go get it.”

I glanced between her and the stage, before I stepped away from the group of foals and made my way onto the platform. I looked back at Chase, but she shooed me on with her hoof. I slowly approached the table, and hesitantly took one piece. I looked over my shoulder again at the other foals, who were watching me, before I fell on my haunches and started to eat.

The other foals watched for a second, before some of them began to make their way on stage. Three stayed behind, sitting in the dirt and crying, but before long all the bread on the plates were in the hooves of some of the foals, and the others that didn’t have any looked on hungrily.

A second later one of the five hungry ones rushed forward and snatched the bread from another foal. He pushed him over and began to eat it on his own. The pony he shoved fell onto his backside and started to cry.

I sat there eating my bread, until a grey pegasus with a white mane trotted up and snatched it from my hooves.

“That’s mine!” I shouted and looked across the courtyard. “Chase! He just took my bread!”

She looked at me and just shrugged. “Well? Get it back.”

The pegasus was backing away, the bread in his mouth and watching me carefully. I frowned at him.

“Give it back!” I ordered and walked towards him.

He shook his head and mumbled something I couldn’t hear through his mouthful of food.

I took a step closer, and noticed he was standing near the edge of the stage. After a moment's pause I headbutted him, and he slipped off the stage with a startled yelp. He landed on his side, and after a second began to cry.

I frowned down at him, before I hopped down and picked up my now slightly muddy food. I frowned at it. I didn’t want muddy bread. I jumped back up on stage, and found a pink earth pony filly with a red mane who was slowly chewing her own clean piece.

I dropped my bread in front of her and snatched the clean piece from her mouth. I turned to trot away when she shouted at me. “That’s not fair!”

I looked back at her, before I shrugged and sat down to eat my bread.

She just stared at me with an unhappy look on her face before she fell onto her haunches and started crying. “Muuuuhhhhhuuummy!”

I didn’t listen to her as I finished my bread. Once I was done I turned around and made my way over to Chase.

She was smirking at me as she ruffled my mane. “Well that’s one way to do it.”

“Did I pass the test?” I asked up at her, and my ears perked forward in excitement.

“Well you got the bread didn’t you?” She nudged me back towards the stage. “Remember kid, there’s more than one way to do this. See those two?” She pointed a hoof towards two unicorns who were each eating half a piece. “Strength in numbers. Sure they only get half each, but that’s better than nothing right?” She jerked her head towards the foals who hadn’t moved, and were still sitting there crying. “They’re the only ones who failed this one. They didn’t do anything to get what they wanted.”

I turned to her and smiled. “Oh! Well then I won didn’t I? I got the most bread and I got it first.”

Chase shrugged. “That’s one way of looking at it, but see those two?” She pointed a hoof towards the pegasus I’d shoved over, and the filly that I’d snatched the clean bread from. “They’re gonna hate you now. What happens if tomorrow they decide to team up and take your bread?”

I frowned. “I hadn’t thought of that.”

Chase nodded. “Exactly. If they think of that, and tomorrow they get your bread, then did you pass the test?”

“...No.”

“Gotta remember kid, yeah, the goal’s the bread, but there are a lot of paths through the dark. We all serve Luna in the end, but how we do that can be important too.”

I nodded at her. “I understand.”

Chase rolled her eyes and ruffled my mane. “I doubt that. Took me ages to get it.” She turned away. “Come on.” She jerked her head to the door leading into the fortress. “I’ll show you around.”

I grinned and happily trotted in front of her. “Okay!”

After the greatest day ever, I was in my new bed with Chase lying nearby in another. She was reading a book and yawning as she rubbed her eyes. I didn’t feel very sleepy at all, so even though they were telling me to go to sleep, I was just lying in bed and fidgeting boredly.

The room I was sleeping in was way bigger than my old one, and Chase told me it was ours for the next month until I’d ‘settled in’. I wasn’t sure what that really meant, but I know that when it happened I’d be moving into a bigger room with all the other foals. Chase told me this was her room, so I guess that means all the stuff she had lying around was hers. There were two beds in the room, a little one for me and a bigger one by the window for her. There was a little nightstand next to her bed with a pile of books on it and a jewelry box. I tried opening the box, but she took it away from me before I had the chance. She said something about how I’d probably lose all her stuff if I played with it.

As I was shown around, Chase showed me some of the things I’d be doing. There were ponies from each age group all the way up to eighteen. She said the kids that were sixteen or older were kept in a separate part of the castle. I didn’t get to see everything, but I could easily just sneak away if I wanted, and see it when no one was looking. As nice as Chase was, I couldn’t wait for the month to end so I could get around on my own a bit more.

“Chase?”

“Yeah, Song, what’s up?” She looked across at me. This was the first time I’d seen Chase without her armour. She wasn’t an earth pony, so she was a bit thinner than Mummy, but she had a lot more muscles. Now that she wasn’t wearing her helmet I could see her mane was a pretty blue that was the same colour as Princess Luna’s near the edges, but got darker in the middle. She had three silver earrings in one ear, but none in the other. And she smirked a lot. It wasn’t a mean smirk, just a confident one. Like she always knew what she was doing and enjoyed doing it.

“Am I gonna have to fight for food tomorrow too, or will they just give it to us?” I asked her.

Chase nodded. “Probably. The bread thing’s only to get all the foals to realise they have to fight to get by. It’ll last a week or two depending on how Styggie thinks you’re all doing.” I nodded at her and she went back to reading.

After another moment's silence I had another question. “Why did Captain Stygus change my name? Was there something wrong with my old one?”

“No, there was nothing wrong with it. It’s just, that was the name your parents gave you, right? Well you’re no longer their foal anymore. You’re Luna’s now. So you get a new name from your new mother.”

“Oh...” I paused in thought. “So I have two mommies now?”

“No, just one.”

I frowned at her for being silly. “No... if Luna’s my new mum, and I already have one, then that means I have two mommies. One and one is two, right?” I scrunched my muzzle in thought. “Yeah, that’s right.”

Chase glanced over at me but didn’t say anything.

After a moment’s thought I realised the truth. “Oh, right. You must be counting daddy too.” I mean, duh. It was so obvious.

Chase glanced at me with a confused and amused expression on her face. “I think you got your math a little wrong, Song.”

I glanced at her and shook my head. “No, there’s mum, and there’s Luna, so that’s two, but then there’s dad so that makes it one...” Tapping a hoof against my chin thoughtfully I added, “I think.”

With a snort, Chase went back to reading. “Well that’s one thing we’re gonna have to work on.”

I sat there in silence for a moment, till I asked the one question that had been bugging me all day. “So, if I’m living here now, when will I see mum and dad again?”

Chase scrunched her face up and sighed. The book she was holding closed and she looked away from me mumbling, “She was gonna ask sooner or later. Get it done, nice and quick.”

Frowning at her, I said, “Mum always told me not to talk to myself. She said only crazy ponies did that.”

Glancing back at me with a smile on her face, Chase just shook her head. “You’re alright, kid.”

I tilted my head to the side, as I asked my question again. “So when are mum and dad coming here?”

She scratched the back of her head as she fished about for answer. “Uh... they’re not.”

I blinked in surprise.

“In fact... you’re never going to see them again.” She gave an apologetic little smile. “Sorry, kid.”

After a few moment of silence I asked with tears in my eyes, “Never?”

“Yeah... uh, never.”

“B-b-but I didn’t do anything wrong!” I sobbed out. “I’ll be good, I just want to go home.”

“No, no. It’s nothing you did wrong, kid.” She stepped over and sat on the bottom of my bed. “It’s what you did right.”

“But I want to go home!” I shouted out and put my head in my hooves. “I want my muhummy!”

“Ah, crap... I mean...” Chase put a hoof around my shoulder and pulled me in for a hug. “Listen kid, it’s not that bad I mean-” She cut off with a shocked blink as my hoof hit her face.

I jumped out of her arms, and turned around shouting angrily. “No! Take me back to my mum! I wanna go home!” My hoof stomped as I made the demand.

She stared at me in shock for a moment before she started chuckling as she rubbed her face. “Yikes Song, you got a pretty mean right hook there.”

“Take me home!” was all the answer I gave her.

Shaking her head, she hopped off the bed and came to stand in front of me. “I’m sorry kid, but you’re gonna become a nightkin. Lady Luna blessed you with this chance, and you don’t spurn the goddess’s gift.”

“I. Want. My. Mum.”

The corners of her mouth turned up into a smile. “You’re parents never really knew how to say no to you, did they?”

I stood my ground and stared at her defiantly.

After a moment Chase sighed and walked back to her bed. “You’re not gonna see your parents again. I’m sorry, but that’s the way it is. Trust me, you’re better off anyway. Castle Blackrock is your home now.”

I turned around and walked to the door. After trying to push it open, I reared on my hind legs and tried to turn the door handle.

“It’s locked,” Chase told me.

I glared back at her, before I started hitting the door and pounding on it and shouting. “Somepony help! Let me out! I wanna go home!”

My hooves drummed against the wood, and I screamed and hollered and demanded and begged and no one answered. I kept expecting Mum or Dad to come in, to unlock the door and let me out, but no matter how much I called for them they didn’t come, and somehow, I knew they weren’t coming.

“Mummy!” I shouted desperately, my voice hoarse and cracking. “Mum.” I repeated and raised a throbbing hoof to hit the door again, but it hurt too much and I didn’t want to do it anymore. “Mummy...” I repeated and fell to my haunches sobbing.

They couldn’t be gone forever. They couldn’t... they were Mommy and Daddy. All little fillies were supposed to have mums and dads. I wasn’t naughty, was I? Was this because I didn’t listen to them?

“I’m sorry...” I whimpered as I fell to the floor in exhaustion. “Please, I’m sorry...”

Something warm draped over my back, and when I looked it was a black leathery wing. With tear-stained eyes I looked over at Chase, who was laying down next to me. There was a sad smile on her face, and she pulled me closer and wrapped me in a hug.

“It’s okay, Song,” she reassured me as she patted me on the back. “It’s all gonna be fine.”

Sobbing, I buried my face in her chest and whimpered into her coat. “I want to go home.”

There was a pause. “That was too muffled for me to hear, sorry.”

I looked up at her, staring into her pretty cat eyes. “I want to go home.”

She ruffled my mane, and hugged me against her chest again. “You already are home, with me. You just don’t know it yet.”

I sobbed and choked and whimpered as she picked me up and layed me down on the bed. I cried till I fell to sleep in her hold, as she rocked me and whispered in my ear, promising me everything was going to be fine in the end.

The courtyard was a lot quieter than it was yesterday. There wasn’t any screaming or moaning like yesterday, and I think it was because the other foals were out of tears by now. Not me though. I’d never cry, because that’d be silly. I was a big filly, and big fillies don’t cry.

“How’d yours do?” one of the other Nightkin asked Chase as we got closer. “Mine,” he nodded at the pegasus colt at his hooves, “lasted damn hours. Sleeping during the night is bad enough, without some kid making it worse.” He yawned and rubbed his eyes. “I don’t think I got any sleep.”

Chase just chuckled. “Look, it’s for the foals, right? They’re only four years old. I think making them sleep during the day is harder for them than us sleeping at night.” She punched him in the shoulder and smirked. “Or is baby all grumpy cause he didn’t get any sleep last night? And how did mine go? She didn’t cry at all.” I smiled up at her gratefully as she ruffled my mane. “Little trooper this one.” With a wink, she lined me up with the colt and stood behind me as we waited for Stygus.

It was boring, so pretty soon I was looking around at everything. It took me a moment, but soon I realised that the colt standing next to me was the white and grey one from yesterday. The one that I’d pushed off the stage. He kept glaring at me, but I just rolled my eyes at him. He could be stupid if he wanted, but I didn’t care.

After a moment, Stygus entered the courtyard followed by-

“Princess Luna...” I whispered, awed as the most beautiful pony in the world walked just behind Stygus.

“The newest recruits, your Grace,” he said to her and bowed low as he waved towards us.

Luna cast a critical eye over us as she circled before commenting, “Last year’s batch was far superior.” Then a smirk appeared and her eyes darted over at us. Was the smile for me? The thought made me giddy. “But there are reasons we never judge something by appearances. Perhaps you shall have to prove to me why you’re my favourite, Stygus.”

He hesitated, before he answered with another bow. “Your Grace, these are the foals you chose. If they’re unsatisfactory then the ceremony can be conducted again.”

Luna glanced over at Stygus and began walking forward with a smile on her face. “Stygus, you may be my favourite for now, but I am immortal. There will be others you realise.”

Could it be me? I’d give anything to be her favourite.

Stygus paused for a moment, before he replied, “Lady Luna, I will service you till I’m unable, but at the moment I am strong. None of these foals have yet hardened into real warriors.” He glanced across at us with a half-smile and behind me I heard Chase snicker. “You’ll pardon me if I don’t feel threatened in my position just yet.”

“Who here is willing to take Stygus on?” Luna suddenly asked us.

I went to take a step forward, but Chase put her hoof on my tail. “Don’t be stupid, kid,” she hissed at me.

None of the other foals or nightkin took up her offer, and apparently I was the only one that wasn’t staring at the ground in fear.

I opened my mouth to speak, but Chase cuffed me over the ear. “No,” she repeated firmly.

“Disappointing. Perhaps those you brought before me were inadequate after all.” Luna turned a critical eye to Stygus. “Report to me after you’re done here. This is rather disappointing.”

For some reason Stygus smiled. He met her eyes as he replied. “My Lady, I will submit myself to any act you deem fit, and trust your judgement. After all, it was your wise judgement that chose these foals.”

Chase snickered behind me, but I didn’t get why. I opened my mouth to ask what was funny, but she hushed me with a look. Pouting, I looked across at Nightmare and Stygus. Why was he her favourite? Apparently she needed to punish him. Why had Chase stopped me? I wanted to try! My hoof stomped against the ground in frustration.

“Carry on.” Luna sat down in the shade and gazed at us. “I shall be evaluating your performance today; do not disappoint.”

“Hear that, Song?” Chase muttered at me. “Today’s the day to kick ass and take names.” I looked across and saw all the other foals getting similar advice from their nightkin. “Remember what I told you yesterday: there’s more than one way to do this.”

With that she pushed me ahead, and I found myself faced with the same puzzle as yesterday. Five meals, thirteen foals. After a moment’s hesitation, I decided to move quick, but the stupid cheating pegasi all beat me to the stage. There were only four of them, so that left one last chunk of bread for me, but it was taken by a stupid earth pony colt that got to it before me.

I stomped my hoof in frustration as all the bread was taken before I could get there. Quickly, I spotted the pegasi from yesterday that tried to take my bread, so I walked up to him and snatched it from his mouth. That was fair, right? He tried to take mine so I get to take his.

“Hey!” he complained, but I ignored him. For a moment he looked like he was about to try and take it back from me, but I growled at him through the food and he backed down. Then the earth pony filly I’d pushed yesterday stepped onto the stage. The colt glanced between me and her, before his eyes brightened with realisation and walked towards her. Fearfully, I watched as they spoke together, before both of them turned towards me again.

After a moment the pegasus stepped forwards. “Give it to us.”

Glancing between them, I shook my head no. I wasn’t scared! Even though... there were... two of them. I gulped nervously.

The earth pony stepped forward and stomped her hoof. “Give it!”

I immediately began chewing the bread as fast as I could.

With a growl they both charged at me, and I dropped the bread as they tackled me. With a grunt he started hitting me in the chest, but it didn’t hurt much. The earth pony though, she kicked me in the mouth and tears formed in my eyes. I curled up into a ball, and after a moment they both left me alone as I sobbed to myself.

They grabbed the bread I’d dropped and tore it in half.

“Hey, your half’s bigger than mine!” the filly complained.

“It was my idea,” he answered smugly. “I get more.”

“That’s not fair!” she argued back.

With tears in my eyes, I looked across at Chase. She was watching me and shaking her head sadly. I was disappointing her. That just made me sadder as I looked away from her, my sobbing louder. Not that I was sobbing! The two were still arguing as I lay there, until Princess Luna caught my eye. I blinked as I realised she was watching me, and I couldn’t tell what she was feeling. She was judging me... and I was failing.

I sniffed and wiped the tears from my eye. Standing up, I walk towards the two of them. They were still arguing about their share, and after a moment I growled and tackled the pegasus.

His hind legs accidently opened as he fell, and I kicked him in his colt parts. He shouted out in pain, and after another moment I kicked him there again. He didn’t get up as I turned around to look at the filly who was staring at me in shock. She hesitated for a second, before she charged at me with a shout, but I punched her in the face and she drew to halt. Holding a hoof to her face, and staring at me in shock, I reared up on my hind legs and hit her in the face again. She fell to the ground, and I starting kicking her in the face. She tried to protect her head, so I stomped on her stomach and when she tried to protect that, I kicked her in the face again. I kept doing that till she was crying and curled up into a ball.

Both of them were crying and not getting up again. Good. They were stupid bullies.

With one last kick, I turned around and picked up both pieces of bread. I hopped off the stage and trotted back to Chase where I began eating my bread.

“Damn kid,” she glanced between me and the stage. “Wasn’t what I had in mind, but you got it done.”

I grunted at her through a mouthful as I kept eating.

Chase chuckled to herself and nudged the nightkin who was partnered with the pegasus I’d kicked. “My kid kicks your kid’s ass.”

He gave her and me an annoyed glare, before he just rolled his eyes and trotted away.

Shaking her head and laughing, Chase looked back down to me. “You did good out there kid. I wonder if Luna noticed.”

“If those are the tactics we teach, then the Luna Guard shall become a joke,” said Luna to Stygus.

He smiled at her. “My Lady, this is only their second day. They’re not to begin combat training until they’ve matured, as you ordered.”

“Don’t worry, kid.” Chase whispered in my ear. “You did great. In front of Luna too.”

“Points are still being deducted. Lose any more and I may need to take drastic actions,” replied Luna.

“Well, your Grace, I guess I’ll have to make them back later.” He smirked up at her. “At the very least I doubt these foals will be able to service you the way I can.”

“Perhaps.” I think he expected something from Luna, but she didn’t say anything.

After a while, all the bread was eaten, the foals were lined up in front of their nightkin, and I was happy that the colt I’d kicked was still crying. After a moment Luna left the shade, and to Stygus’s surprise started to walk along the line of foals, examining them each one by one.

“My lady?” He asked, sounding a little confused. “Is everything, alright?”

She stopped at the end of the line that was closest to me. To my right was the pegasus colt, and further to my right was the earth pony filly.

Luna crouched down and tilted the filly’s head up, examining the wounds I had given her. “Might I offer some advice? Hold off on changing to a modelling career.”

Chase held back a laugh and after I understood the joke, I smiled at the filly. See? Even Princess Luna thought she was dumb and ugly!

A moment later, Luna had moved on and now she was in front of the pegasus colt, who still had his hind legs a little bit crossed. “Definitely not suitable to be my favoured guard.”

His ears folded down, and he just kept staring at the ground. Behind me Chase sucked air in through her teeth. “Ooh, burn,” she whispered, and I noticed Stygus smirking at the colt from the background.

His nightkin nudged him, and whispered something in his ear. The colt seemed a little less sad after that.

Then Luna was in front of me, and I was staring up into her beautiful eyes. Her mane billowed in front of me, and I wanted to touch it. Those blue cat eyes looked at me, and despite being really happy about it, I felt a little butterfly in my tummy. Was she going to be mean to me too? Or was Chase right, did I do good?

“Crude and unrefined.” Luna tilted my head up. “Passable. Just.”

I blinked at that, and felt a little disappointment at her not saying I did well. But didn’t Chase say I did good?

Behind me, Chase said something that made me blink in surprise. “Unrefined?” She chuckled. “Lady Luna, no foal was ever refined. She did better than Stygus did; if the stories I’m told are true, he went hungry on his second day.” Stygus raised an eyebrow at her.

“True.” Luna peered down at me. “Very well, Corporal. You have obviously chosen well, meet me in my office afterwards for your reward. Do not disappoint me with this one. She’s rough. Polishing her is your task. Do not fail me.”

“Yes, My Grace.” She answered, and I practically felt how happy she was. “We won’t disappoint.”

Stygus seemed a little shocked by that, and he stepped closer to Luna. “My Grace, is examining the foals individually truly necessary? Perhaps I should have their instructors set them to training early?” He gave Chase an irritated look.

“Unpredictability is key in war,” said Luna.

After a moment, Stygus nodded and bowed. “My Grace.” He turned around. “Nightkin! Take your foals to the practise yard, and await Astral Victory.”

All the nightkin shouted, “Yes, sir!” and I flattened my ears at the loud noise.

As we all walked away, Chase ruffled my mane with her hoof. “Great work today, Song. Keep it up.” She was grinning at me widely, and her fanged teeth gleamed. “Did you see the look on Stygus’s face? Priceless.”

I frowned up at her. “Does that mean you’re Luna’s favourite now?”

Chase shook her head. “No, Stygus has been top of the heap for a while now. But I think I just moved up a little bit.” She smiled over her shoulder at Luna and Stygus, before she ruffled my mane again. “I knew you were a winner when I saw you.”

We walked through the castle for a while, until we came to a place just inside the outer wall. A few of the nightkin had stepped over to congratulate Chase and wish her luck. Whatever that meant. And for some reason they were winking a lot.

When I asked her about that she said, “Don’t worry about it. You’ll know when you’re older.”

Great. Even here adults were telling me to wait until I was older.

“Fillies! Fall in!” A loud voice roared across the courtyard, and everypony jumped.

After a moment Chase chuckled. “Damn it, six years and that voice still has me jumping. Better get going. Vicky doesn’t like to be kept waiting. Go on, line up with the other foals.”

Soon I was lined up with the other fillies, and watching a large greying nightkin as he paced along in front of us. When he reached the end of the line, he turned around and walked back to the start.

“I am Arms Master Astral Victory, and if any of you even think of calling me anything other than ‘Arms Master’ or ‘Sir’, I’ll have you so deep in shit you’ll be crapping out your mouth! I’m not joking, someone needs to handle the castle’s lavatories, and the guy in charge of that owes me a favour!”

Swallowing nervously, I decided not to call him Vicky. Though I giggled to myself as I thought of the gruff stallion with a filly’s name. It was pretty funny.

“I’m the oldest living nightkin, and the first of our Lady Luna’s new order.” He bowed at the goddess, and she didn’t respond. “Now when I was told five minutes ago that I was gonna start the lot of you training early, my first thought was, ‘Holy shit! This has to be the meanest group of foals ever spat out of that city to make young Styggie break schedule.’ But now that I see you, this has to be the most lacklustre bunch of cross-eyed inbreds I ever laid eyes on!”

I blinked in surprise. I didn’t even know what that meant, but it sounded bad.

“Yeah, he’s right. We better start training all of you early, because the lot of you are gonna need it!” He barked out at us. “I can see right now it’s gonna take a lot of work to whip you lot into real nightkin.”

All the other fillies and colts were scared, but not me. I was not scared at all. Yeah he was big and loud and shouty and scarey and... really mean... and staring at me... and... walking towards me... and... I... wasn’t... scared... much.

“What are you looking at?!” He roared in my face.

Show no fear, show no fear. That’s what Chase told me. Show no fear.

With a shaking hoof, I gave a salute. “N-n-nothing sir. I wasn’t staring.”

“Better not have been!” He shouted, and against my will my ears flattened. Stupid ears, why wouldn’t they listen to me?

I gulp nervously, and nodded. “Sir, I wasn’t.”

“Good!” He shouted and turned away. “Today, we’re just gonna be doing exercises, to help build up muscle structure and strength in preparation for when you start your actual training. Because I wasn’t given any warning that I’d be training you today,” He gave Stygus a pointed glare, “I don’t have anything particularly special planned. But don’t think that means I’ll be going easy on you, though.” He paused and smiled out at us sadistically. “It’s the first day, and I like to break the new foals in.”

Sweat rolled into my eye, and I barely had the energy to rub it away. My knees were trembling, I was breathing that weird hard way you do when you’re tired, and if anypony pushed me I’d fall over and not get back up. I would have looked over my shoulder to see if Chase was happy with me, or if Luna was watching, but the thought of moving my neck was too much.

“Just you three left?” Victory said as he paced in front of us.

The unicorns didn’t stand a chance. I was only just starting to feel tired when the first of them dropped out. That made me smile. They certainly wouldn’t get to be Luna’s favourite. It wasn’t long after that the rest of the unicorns were done, and there was just three pegasi and four earth ponies left. Then the pegasi started to drop out. Three of them went all at once, and there was just one last determined pegasus colt left. Not the one that I’d kicked, that dummy was one of the first pegasus to collapse.

Then an earth pony collapsed, and for the last two minutes it was just me and two colts. One pegasus, one earth pony, and me.

“Five made it past the second hour last year,” Astral Victory grumbled.

Two hours? Only two hours? I blinked back tears. It couldn’t have only been two hours, could it? Everything hurt so much.

“Well, if you three are up for it, there’s just one last thing before you fillies are done for the day.”

I gulped, and raised my eyes to watch as he walked over to three ropes hanging down.

“This one’s simple, climb up the rope as far as you can. Your nightkin will catch any pony that falls.”

That rope was really long, like... really really long. With trembling knees I looked up slowly until I saw the rope climb all the way to the top of the castle walls. They wanted us to climb that? That wasn’t fair; no way the pegasus wasn’t going to win that.

“Well, come on then!” Astral Victory snapped, and the three of us slowly made our way to him despite being tired enough to sleep without dinner.

On the way there, the pegasus colt collapsed, and Victory rolled his eyes. “Starlit Path, your colt’s tapped out already.”

His nightkin collected him, and it was just me and the earth pony left. With hooves trembling from punching and kicking wooden dummies all day, I grabbed the rope and braced my rear legs against the wall. The other foal copied my position, and after glancing at each other nervously we started climbing.

The moment I started, I knew I couldn’t make it to the top. I was too tired, and my arms were about to give out any second now. But with the way I was climbing, my hind legs were taking a lot of the weight too. Slowly and grunting in pain with every step I took, I kept climbing.

We had to have climbed forever. There was no way that when I looked down I’d barely moved up higher than my daddy was tall. Thinking of daddy made my chest hurt, and I barely held in a sob of exhaustion and sadness. The colt on the rope next to me wasn’t doing much better; he only just made it a little higher than I did.

Then his hind hooves started shaking and gave way, and his nightkin instructor caught him. Looking around, I noticed Chase standing below me and watching. She didn’t say anything, her wings just fluttering nervously. I looked up again, and saw the castle wall so far up. So... far... away...

Trembling, I looked straight ahead and started to climb again. I think some mean pony had decided to set my legs on fire. Or maybe the rope, because it was starting to hurt in my grip. With another choking sob, I dragged myself up a step. And another. And just one more after that. Then... I needed to take another... so I did. And then... one of my arms stopped working. It wasn’t listening to me, no matter how much I told it to move, so I was holding on with one arm and my two hind hooves. I hung like that for as long as I could before my hind legs gave away and I fell, only to land safely into Chase’s hooves.

“What a trooper,” she whispered in my ear. With a slow flutter, we came to land where all the other foals had collapsed on the ground with their nightkin watching over them like big brothers and sisters. Chase passed me a water skin, and I sucked down as much as I could. And kept sucking down more after that until Chase pulled it from my hooves. “Don’t drown yourself, Song,” she warned me.

After that I fell to my back panting, and I strained to hear what the Astral Victory was saying to Stygus.

“Not a bad lot, though I was thinking that colt’d beat the filly at the end.” He glanced over at me before looking back at Stygus. “Well, that’s it for the day. If I push ‘em anymore we’re gonna start to damage ‘em. As it is, I think you’ll have to go easy on ‘em tomorrow. Start ‘em on tactics or something in the morning, and I’ll take them for a short spin in the afternoon.”

Stygus nodded and turned to Luna. “My Lady, are they done for today? Or should I find some other activity for them?”

I stared at the beautiful goddess as I panted. I silently prayed she’d say no and that was it for today. I was more tired than I’d ever been before, and I wasn’t even sure if I could stand up again. Staring at Luna, I wondered if I’d done well. If she was pleased or had even noticed me.

“Pitiful. This lot is probably the worst I have ever seen and I have seen many.” Luna looked at Stygus. “If you can whip them into shape you shall be rewarded. Fail and...”

I felt a little sad as Stygus answered, “Of course your Grace, those were your instructions last year and the year before. I’m yet to fail. Indeed, those were the same words as the year before. If I may say so, your Grace, going by your own judgement it would appear your selection is getting consistently worse.”

“Class?” A sword appeared before Luna and she pointed it at Stygus. “You are about to witness a duel. Stygus, get up here.”

With another bow, Stygus said rather flatly, “Your Grace.” But I thought I could hear a certain amount of surprise in his voice.

Chase watched on as confused as I was. “Normally she lets him get away with a little cheek,” she murmured. “Keep your head down kid, and do exactly what she says if she says anything.”

With that, all the foals that could stand were lined up around the platform they were on. I was leaning against Chase, and having trouble standing on my own.

Stygus bowed to Luna, as he strapped a weird... thing... to his right hoof. “I’m permitted to use the ghost blade?” he asked her while he kept his eyes down.

“As if that will make any difference.”

He nodded again. “You once told me it could pierce the flesh of the divine.” After rising, he turned around and faced her from the other end of the ring. “I doubt it will happen, but I was taught by you to favour caution.”

“Sergeant Redemption, you shall be the judge. Swords only, no magic, no flight. Understood?” With a flick of her hoof, the sword shimmered and became longer and thinner. “Round ends when the other yields or is disabled.”

Chase seemed too surprised to respond for a moment, before she bowed. “As you command Your Grace, but... I’m a corporal.” She stepped away from me, and I had to stand on my own as Chase gave me an apologetic look.

“Consider yourself promoted.”

Chase blinked in surprise, before she grinned and landed on the stage between the two fighters. “As you command, Your Grace.” She raised both her wings, and stayed like that for a moment before she flashed them down and shouted, “Begin!”

Princess Luna moved first, and I didn’t even see her blade it moved so quick. Stygus blocked it with a ghostly blue sword that emerged from the thing on his wrist. That was one of the few blocks he made, because Luna’s sword flashed around and slashed his face. It wasn’t even a fight. It was just Stygus being kicked and slashed a lot. He could barely keep up, and every time he did block her attack, it was followed by another hit. From one end of the podium to the other he was beaten badly, and I think I heard something crack when her forehoof smashed into his chest. It was pretty gross.

Despite the beating though, Stygus was still standing and moving and fighting like he wasn’t hurt at all. He was steady on his hooves despite everything, and Luna never got the chance to force him to yield like the bullies in my old playground did to some of the weaker foals.

“She’s toying with him,” whispered one of nightkin to his own foal. “The last time Luna duelled someone, it took a blink of an eye and he was down.”

It wasn’t long though, till Stygus was too hurt to fight well anymore, and only managed to keep climbing to unsteady hooves after being knocked down again and again. Every time he got kicked, I cringed at the yucky fleshy thunk sound, and I wanted to throw up after Stygus lost his lunch to a particularly bad hit on the stomach. After that, he climbed to his hooves one last time, only for Luna to knock him over again, and press her sword to his neck.

“Yield?” she asked.

Through bloody teeth, he smiled up at her. “As you command My Grace,” and the blue sword on his wrist disappeared.

“Victory to Luna.” Chase said. “And new best speed for anypony to top Stygus, but I don’t think that really counts.” She bowed to Luna.

After a brief silence, Luna spoke up, “That is not what I asked.” Stygus cried out in pain as she stabbed her sword into his shoulder. “I ask for obedience, not blind following. I ask for love, not mockery. I allow some cheek, but I am still above you, and I am still your princess. Remember that.”

Without a backward glance, Luna turned around and began walking away. “Someone take him to the infirmary before he bleeds out. Also, Chase? My chambers. Now.”

“Uh... Your Grace,” she bowed. “Astral Victory, take Stygus.” She glanced across at me. “And Starlit Path, take Song of Night to my room. Make sure she gets a full meal and water.” With that, and a wink at me, she turned around and ran after Luna.

“Come along, Song.” Starlit Path told me, and draped over his back was the pegasus colt who’d fainted from exhaustion. “If you cannot walk, I will carry you. You shall dine with us.”

Slowly, and with aching hooves, I walked after him, but he thought I was going too slow, so I got to ride on his back. All the other nightkin went inside, and we followed them to a large mess hall. Starlit sat us both down at a table, before he left for a moment and came back with a clay jug of water and two cups. We both started drinking, and even though I knew it’d make me really need to go potty, I wasn’t done until I’d had five glasses.

Then he returned with two bowls of... something.

“Eat it,” he ordered as he set them down in front of us. “You’ll need to keep your strength up.”

I poked the grey... soupy... stuff with my spoon. It reminded me of... “Is this boogers?” I looked up at the nightkin.

He blinked at me in surprise before he laughed. “No, it is not, I assure you.”

I didn’t really believe him. “Is it food?”

“Yes,” He replied and nudged the bowl closer to me with his muzzle. “This here is the healthiest most energy packed food you’ll eat until you’re full nightkin.” He grinned at me, baring his fangs. “Eat it, and eat a lot of it, because after a day like today you’re gonna need all the energy you can get. Drink lots of water too.”

Both me and the colt glanced at each other, before I hesitantly took a mouthful. It tasted like... ew. “Can I have some salad please?” I asked as I pushed it away.

He snorted. “Yeah, you could. But Chase told me to get you well fed, and I know this is what she’d be feeding you.” He nudged it closer to me. “So, eat up, kid.”

I glanced down at the bowl, before I looked back up at him while making my eyes slightly watery and widening them. My lower lip trembled in a tiny pout and I deliberately crossed my forehooves. “Pweeease?” I asked again. Not even mother could resist that look... sometimes.

After a moment, he shook his head. “No, and stop looking at me like that.”

I pouted for real this time. “Can I go to bed?” I whimpered as I stared at the gunk.

“Look, kids.” He sighed and ruffled his wings in annoyance. “Eat it, or I’ll make you eat it.”

Me and the colt glanced at each other, before we reluctantly started eating. It was icky...

“It tastes like mud!” The colt whined.

“Well, Stern,” Starlit path patted him on the back, “It’s good for you, and you’ll never enjoy anything that is.”

By the time I was done, I wasn’t even tasting it anymore, just swallowing it as quickly as I could. I was dreaming of some of mum’s soup, or just a taste of her salad. Thinking of home made me sad, and I looked away as tears started to from in my eyes.

“So, Song... you’re pretty young to have a cutie mark.” He glanced at his colt, then back at me. “Stern Conviction and you are about the same age, right?”

I quickly rubbed my face and turned around smiling. I was happy to talk about my special talent. “I’m only four years old!” I turned so he could get a good look at my rump. My cutie mark, a gold hoof print with a blue swirl around it, was really cool if you asked me.

Apparently he thought so too, because he stared at it for a few moment before he looked back at me. “So what’s your special talent?”

“Dancing,” I replied happily.

“Huh,” he said flatly. “Not a lot of earth ponies have frivolous talents like dancing or the abstract. They’re usually craftsponies and the like.”

I blinked in surprise. Why didn’t he sound impressed? Slowly I turned my head and stared at my cutie mark. Wasn’t it special? Wasn’t it special that I got it so young? Wasn’t I special?

We finished the meal in silence, but both me and Stern Conviction were too tired to walk all the way, so we were carried to our rooms.

Starlit Path left me in Chase’s room, before he turned to walk away. “Get some rest,” he told me. “Not that that should be hard. Chase will be back in...” He shrugged. “Depends on Luna. Could be an hour, could be all day.”

He closed the door and I heard it lock from the outside. I wanted to explore! Maybe I could open the door if I pushed it hard enough or... the window! Hopping up onto Chase’s bed by the window, I peeked through it and outside. I pouted in disappointment when I saw that it was barred from the outside. And it wasn’t even high up too... if it wasn’t for those stupid bars I could get out.

With a disappointed sigh I sat down on Chase’s bed... it smelled like she did. The smell wasn’t as nice as my mum’s flowery smell or my dad’s irony metal smell, but it was kinda nice, like a summer night after some rain.

I snuggled into her blankets. I wasn’t sleepy or lonely or anything! But... it did feel nice to lie down, and curl up against her pillow. And... I really wanted to see my mum again... I wish she was here... or dad... or any of my old friends... not that I was really friends with them... or Chase. I wish I had anypony here.

I wasn’t crying! Because that’s stupid and only foals do that. I wasn’t a foal. I was an adult, I had my cutie mark, so I was a big filly now, and big fillies don’t cry. Even though I wasn’t crying, I might have gotten Chase’s pillow a little wet. I hope she doesn’t mind.

Slowly, even though I really wasn’t sleepy, I started to close my eyes.

When I woke up, I didn’t remember much of my dream. Only that it had my mother in it, and that Dad was there.

The sound of hooves made me realise why I’d woken up, and I looked up to see the door open and a nightkin standing there.

“Chase?” I asked as I rubbed my eyes.

“Hey, Song,” she answered as she walked over to the bed. She nudged me over with her muzzle, and gave an exhausted grin. “Who said you could sleep on my bed?”

“Oh, I’m sorry I-”

“Nah, it’s fine.” Chase waved it off with a hoof. “Seriously, after today you earned it.”

I looked her up and down. She seemed... messy. Her mane was mussed up, and her coat was sweaty and ruffled. She smelled sweaty, like Dad did after he returned from the forge.

“What happened?” I frowned at her. “Why do you smell all funny?”

She paused for a moment and chuckled sheepishly as she scratched the back of her neck. “Don’t worry about it.”

“How did it go with Luna?” I asked.

“Uh...” She grinned again. “Really well...” Another laugh. “Yeah, like, really damn well.”

“... did she mention me?” I asked hopefully.

“Um... no, but there wasn’t really a lot talking.” Chase ruffled my mane. “Don’t worry kid, you did great, and if you keep it up you could make the green. Heck, you could make blue!”

“Green? Blue?”

She rolled her eyes. “Too tired to explain right now, but trust me it’s a good thing.” After a moment she added, “Want to hop off my bed?”

I stood up, and was about to jump down, when she touched her pillow.

She frowned at it, before she glanced up at me. “Song, have you been crying?”

I stiffened. “No.”

She rolled her eyes and shook her head. “Song, you don’t have to hide that from me. I’m here to help, so tell me what’s up.”

I just kicked the blankets at the edge of her bed nervously.

“It’s about your parents right?” She lay down on her bed and patted the spot next to her. “Come on, talk to me about it.”

“I wasn’t crying!” because big fillies don’t cry... but... I did walk over and lay down next to her.

She wrapped her wing around me. “Of course you weren’t.” It felt good to hear her say that as she ruffled my mane. “Because you’re a little trooper, aren’t you? Tough as nails and as bad as they come.”

I sniffled and nodded.

She snorted. “Bull.” I blinked in surprise as I looked up at her. She was staring down at me, and for once she wasn’t smiling. “Kid, do you think I don’t know how hard it is? You’ve just been taken away from your family, and inducted into the nightkin.” Rolling her eyes, she looked away from me. “You think I didn’t cry?”

I thought this was one of those times when adults talk that you’re supposed to listen. Not actually say anything, just listen.

“I still remember my mother, you know?” Chase rubbed my mane, and I don’t think she even knew she was doing it. “My dad was in the army, so I never saw him, but I remember my mum and my big sister. I was only four, so I don’t remember a lot but... we had this brown tablecloth that I always spilt the vase of water and tulips onto.” She chuckled. “And the day I was chosen, my sister bet me that night’s dishes that I wouldn’t even get picked for the first line up, let alone chosen by Luna.” She snorted and shook her head, and when she looked down at me she had tears in her eyes. “See? It still gets me, all these years later.” Chase nudged me with her hoof. “So if you’re telling me that you’re over it after one day?” A wry smile touched her lips. “Then I’m not sure if you’re really a pony.”

My lower lip trembled as I stared up at her. My mum was pretty. Beautiful with her silver shiny mane, and my dad was so big and strong and black. Like the anvil in his forge. They always used to call me Goldie, not Song or Gold Smith. They called me Goldie because of my mane.

I wasn’t crying. I wasn’t crying. And I wasn’t sobbing either!

Sniffling, I said, “I wanna go home!” I buried my face in her coat and wailed. “I wanna see my mum and my dad!”

Chase wrapped her arm around my shoulder and pulled me in closer. “I know, kid. I know.” She nuzzled my neck. “Like I said, you’re already home, you just don’t know it yet.”

Author's Notes:

So, if it isn't abundantly clear by this point, I really don't have a very high opinion on the morality of children. Some of the seasonal work I had back when I was in high school had me working with kids as an assistant ski instructor, and a lot of this chapter is informed by what I learned back then.
Kids. Suck.
They really do. At that age they lack empathy, they constantly self justify, and I can't explain just how frustratingly rare it is to find a parent who's been disciplining their child properly. If you're surprised by the sudden turn in Song's character, ie 'She just jumped from a cute little foal to bratty little brute,' I posit that that's what all kids who lack proper parenting are like. It's not a change of her character, just more of it revealed. She's a brat, and she's now living in a place where that brattyness is going to be encouraged and developed.
If there is one real problem with Song's character at this stage, it's that she's showing a bit too much comprehension for a child her age, not to mention a rather dumb child of her age. Still, I think the majority of this is plausible, plus they're pony foals so the might develop fast than humans do, so it's no big deal. When she fought the two other foals it was more luck and surprise that won the day, for example accidentally kicking that colt in the nads.

Anyway, new chapter next Monday, or Sunday if you're an American. Feel free to leave a comment.