Bad Blood

Captain Night Sky 0600 hours Status: Fatigued, Hungover

Today was a bad day to be hung over. You clenched your teeth as you sat in line with the other ranking Nightguard, cursing your luck. Of course today was a commemoration for a new ranking officer. OF COURSE.

Sun-damned, ceremony happened in the middle of the day too, right when you’d been planning to get your beauty sleep. That reminded you, it was chest routine later. You’d doubled down to enhance your tuft because maybe you were feeling a bit lacking there, unlike Moon Dusk.

Your eyes slid over to her. She nodded off every so often, painfully ready to head back to bed. Her chest moved up and down as she breathed, tuft all fluffy and nice, without even sticking it out hardly. Perfect for nuzzling on cold winter nights.

You blinked. Were you just thinking about nuzzling another mares tuft? A low grumble to your other side broke you from your thoughts and you smacked the pony across the back of the head.

“Nng! The fuck was that for Sky?” Blue Shade whispered at you.

“Nobody needs to hear your belly aching,” you said, keeping your voice low as Celestia continued her speech. “We’re all tired and as hung over as Bacchus only knows, so don’t make any noise or the Princess might send us to PT or something. Then you’ll really have something to grumble about.”

She gave you a dirty look as she massaged her head, but straightened up and looked forward. “So where’s Umbra? She’ll get put through tartarus for not showing up today.”

You shrugged. “I did what paperwork tricks I could on my end. This may come to bite her in the ass later, but hey, we did everything we could for her so she shouldn’t complain.”

The honey colored mare being promoted stepped up to the pedestal as Celestia continued the slightly altered speech you’d heard a million times now. Another day pony by the looks of it, you thought with a yawn. They’d choose the Celestial guard like usual. Nightguard being present was just formality. Across the room, Scarlet Blaze stood at attention with an expression of motherly pride. She looked over, apparently sensing your stare and frowned at you.

Her voice echoed in your head, almost on reaction. ”Do hellspawn have no pride? Stand up straight. You have no discipline. Why your kind are even allowed to serve is beyond me.” Blah blah blah. You crossed your eyes and stuck out your tongue, getting a rewarding, frustrated pout of her. That’s right, Scarlet, you sun-damned zealot cunt. You do what you want.

Blue hummed to herself.

“Blue, what’d I just say?”

“Shut up, I’m just thinking. Something’s odd about this mare.”

You turned your tired eyes to the dais. A rather not so curvy mare stood tall and proud in their polished armor, their short and spiky sky white mane gleamed in the sunrise, looking like it had been recently treated to look a bit glossier for the occasion. Kinda looked like a stallion. Heh, she was probably a dyke.

“And so,” Celestia said, “In light of your achievement, you may now choose your new regiment, First Lieutenant Vigilant Watch.

The pony spoke, a deep baritone echoing across the chamber. Your eyes widened. No way…

“My liege, I formally request to join the Nightguard.”

“A colt?!” you said, balking at him.

The room fell completely silent and all eyes pivoted toward you. Oh… well shit, you hadn’t meant to say that out loud.

”Is there some sort of issue, Captain Night Sky?” Celestia said. “May I remind you that we accept all kinds into our ranks, and First Lieutenant Watch has passed all aptitude exams required.”

You felt the blood drain from your face, despite Luna giving you a sympathetic smile. Tartarus yes, there was an issue! You weren’t going to babysit some milk drinking day pony, not to mention a colt. But you knew what Celestia had been trying to make things more diplomatic, and more equality focused this last decade. Stallionist influenced sun-damned… ughhhh.

Equality your flank, this was bullshit!

“No, my princess,” you said with a bow. “I was merely surprised.”

Lords of shadow, Luna please say something. There was pause, as Celestia seemed to scan the room, looking for any others who might have something to say about this. Luna stayed silent, much to your horror.

”Well then, Lieutenant, enjoy your regiment orientation. I’ll be sure to follow up to make sure everything is going smoothly,” she said, looking toward you at the last part.

The ceremony ended with nothing more than that, and the other offiers, day and night guard, as well as nobles with their honor guards, began filtering out, murmuring about the stallion’s odd choice in regiment.

You grumbled under your breath. Blue Shade smirked and slapped you on the back of the head.

Umbral Dream 0600 hours Status report: Snug

You blinked awake, the world still blurry around you as your mind eased out of slumberland. A hiss escaped your throat as a splitting headache hit. You opted to lay down and close your eyes with a moan.

As your brain throbbed in your skull, you couldn’t help but wonder what happened last night. You had met up with Night Sky, Moon Dusk, and Blue Shade to… do something. And then you got really excited yet really nervous for some reason.

But now you’re home, and you had a dream about your dad carrying you there? And your dad, for some reason, put you in his bed and slept on the couch, so you had just wandered out in the middle of the night and curled up with him in the living room.

You flicked an ear and grimaced. It was too early to think about this. You groaned to yourself and moved to get up when you noticed the faint sound of breathing behind you. Your eyes widened as you turned.

There, just behind you, Anons chest rose and fell in a steady rhythm, his arm wrapped around your barrel, hugging you tight to his torso. Your cheeks warmed as you realized with some embarrassment that you were his little spoon.

That wasn’t a dream and that wasn’t your dad! Luna, you were actually cuddling with Anon right now. You didn’t do it did you? That would be really bad…

You moved to get up, but paused. This position felt… surprisingly nice. Cozy really, rather than confining. It was hard to explain but his size and how he held you close made you feel safe, cared for even. His warmth and scent felt so close, so intimate. You bit your lip.

Perhaps you could just… stay like this for a little while longer? You wiggled your flank back to snuggle up again before you had time to question yourself. Anon inhaled sharply through his nose and stirred. A mix between a squeak and a screech came out of you as you twisted in his grip.

You floundered to the side of the couch, hooves flailing, then toppled off and onto the floor. You landed on your head with a thump, rump lying against the couch above you.

“Ow…”

“Umbra…?” Anon peeked over the side at you, eyes squinting, hair in an adorable tumble.

You stared back, your own eyes wide now, mouth a thin straight line. If only your tail were longer and came past your chest, you could maybe smother yourself with it.

”H-Hi, Anon. Um… come here oft—”

The rest of your sentence died in your throat as a smile formed on his lips while he looked down. Your heart pumped like mad in your chest and your stomach felt like it was doing flips. No! That’s not fair!

He reached a hand down and ruffled your bed mane. “You keep acting that cute and you’re going to give me a heart attack.”

C-Cute?!

“You drink coffee? I can also whip us up something to eat if you want. You might be feeling under the weather for a bit after last night so I figure the least I could do is make you something greasy.”

The pain seems to come back front and center, reminding you in your humiliated daze that you drank way too much last night. It mixed with the heat flooding through your face and chest, reminding you of spring fevers as a foal, staying home with your dad.

A flicker of homesickness hit you as you remember your father’s cooking. You frown and shake away the thought.

Was this really okay though? Anon shouldn’t have to cook for you. If anything, you should have to do something for him after he let you stay with him. Your stomach grumbled, clear in the silence.

Anon smiled and stepped around you. “I’ll take that as a yes then. But I do have one condition.”

You tilted your head up at him, mouth slightly open.

“I’d like some conversation, if that’s alright.”

You blinked. “That’s all? Why?”

He shrugged and turned toward the kitchen. “I just like you.”

Night Sky 0700 Status: Headache, cranky, and up past her bedtime

You found yourself in the hall of bloodlines, feeling twice as hung over as before. Moon Dusk had headed to bed after all the commotion this morning, but Blue Shade had decided to tag along.

In front of you stood Vigilant Watch, his mouth pressed into a line, eyes straight ahead as he held at attention. You sighed. Might as well get the formalities over with. You could go to sleep and sulk later.

“Okay, Lieutenant, today we’re going to skim through some of the history of the Nightguard. This isn’t like the regular guard regiment where they only tell you how to look pretty for the public, alright? We actually have a job to do, and it’s not easy. You up for the task?”

“Yes, Ma'am.”

“Be at ease. I don’t like the military stick-up-the-butt stuff. Also no Ma'am, it makes me feel like your mom. Captain Sky works fine.”

The colt relaxed, letting his shoulders sag a bit more and a brief smile cross his lips.

“So then,” you said, turning and walking down the hall of paintings and glass windows. You let your mind settle into the routine you’d done several times before. “Lineage?”

”Like my… parents’ names?”

You stopped walking and blinked owlishly. “Oh that’s right. You’re not a bat mare. Maybe I shouldn’t have said anything about that.”

“He’s part of our regiment now,” Blue Shade said. “He’ll find out eventually, so might as well get it over with.”

You hmm’ed and scrunched your muzzle. It didn’t feel right to talk about this with an outsider, but if he was going to be serving with the Nightguard, he had a right to know. He needed to be able to trust you.

”Ehh… listen, colt. This might sound a little sketchy, mostly because the public doesn’t know a lot about it but—”

”They’re fiend blooded delinquents who have no place in the royal castle.”

A grumble rose in your throat and you rolled your eyes at the newcomer. Her flashy crimson mane and yellow-gold coat were unmistakable even in the incandescent morning light, which made her almost seem to glow.

“Scarlet,” you said, “what might I owe this unwanted visit? If you’re looking for something to do, I’m sure there’s some stallion who needs help holding his shopping bags down at the market. Maybe after he’ll tell you you’ve been a good girl and give you a pat on the head, then you could go rub one out to the memory.”

Scarlet blushed bright red and glared at you. “Always count on a night-kin to keep their mind in the gutter and decry chivalry. There’s not a one of you in the Nightguard that as a shred of decorum and hono— STOP MOVING YOUR HOOF LIKE THAT’S ME TALKING WHILE MAKING THAT FACE!” she said with a stomp.

You chuckled. Vigilant Watch cleared his throat and Scarlet Blaze flinched, looking like someone had thrown a bucket of cold water on her.

“Ah, um, Vigilant. I came to try to persuade you to reconsider your regiment choice. I can keep you safe and give you a much more fitting position with the male honor guard, o-or you could even work for me directly.”

She trailed off, eyes sliding toward the floor and kicking a hoof out. Scarlet cleared her throat.

“Ah, but in any case, these devil-bloods are no company for a fine stallion like yourself.”

Vigilant quirked an eyebrow at her and pursed his lips. “You keep calling them that—devil-bloods. I’ve heard some people sling ‘vampire spawn’ at bat ponies before, but not that. What is that about?”

Scarlet schooled her features and gave a nod. “I had hoped I could come here before they regaled you with their vile tales, but if I must, I’ll tell you the origins of what we call the bat pony. It all began in the age before the unification, where primordial magic rolled through the land. An age in which monsters and creatures of the night roamed, and dark magic’s taint was still strong—”

“Demons raped some ponies a long time ago. The end.”

Scarlet’s mouth dropped. She narrowed her eyes and worked to form words, only coming out with sounds of uppity outrage. That’s right little sunbutt. You ruined it. This was your orientation, and you’d do it however you pleased. Luna, you loved making her mad.

”L-Leave it to a bat pony to be so unbelievably crass and short-witted about their own history. It’s not right to go over such a topic with the fairer sex using such bluntness.”

You belched and gave a shrug.

Scarlet recoiled. ”Ugh. Vigilant, please reconsider your choice. I want you by my side. You deserve to be safe and well, don’t you see that? I can’t stand you being in the hooves of these creatures.”

Vigilant paused, then took a moment to glance around at all paintings and stained glass in the halls, looking at the depictions with a new perspective. You always imagined the actual events must have been a bit more… kinky. But since these were made for the castle, albeit a secluded wing, the royals took a few liberties in making the art more vague and interpretive.

Honestly you would have gone for full color, graphic illustrations of mares and stallions all in the throws of passion with tentacled hellspawn, but jagged symbolism seemed to be all the rage nowadays.

Still cloppable.

”What does it matter?” Vigilant said. “They bear a few genetic remnants but they’re still essentially ponies like us.”

Scarlet’s expression morphed from pleading to triumphant. She puffed out her chest and gestured to you and Blue.

”Oh? Why doesn’t the Captain elaborate on that, mm?”

Annoying little…

“Actually…” you said, “we do have quite a few differences in biology and, some think, personality. It all depends on our lineage, what we call bloodlines. Most of the ranking guard have higher percentages of fiend blood. And what type of quirk we have is determined by what our ancestors were screwed by or made pacts with.”

”So… what kind of quirks do you have to deal with exactly?” he said, looking between you and Bluey.

You hesitated, hoping Blue might go first. The painting of the inquisition age loomed over your right shoulder, down the hall not more than a few paces—out of sight but not out of mind.

You closed your eyes, focusing on your breathing. It had been a long time since then, but your mind never really forgot how you felt as a filly, on the run with your parents against hunters.

Scarlet could bluster all she wanted and day ponies could give as many dirty looks as they pleased. But those memories always made you nervous. Telling someone what you were was telling them how to hurt you.

It also changed how they looked at you. They’d start with the sparkle of wonder and curiosity, and would tell you it wouldn’t change how they felt about you, but you could see how they changed their stance, how they didn’t turn their back to you anymore… or in the way they hesitated around you, as if afraid something could set you off.

Scarlet’s vermillion eyes almost seemed to burn through you. She already knew. Vigil deserved to know.

You opened your mouth and thought about blood. The smell... the pumping of hearts you knew you could hear, but trained yourself not to. Your canines and lower cuspids grew, from pointed teeth to sharp fangs, just big enough to let you close your mouth without issue, but still intimidating to most.

Vigil stepped back and you felt a twinge in your chest. No, that was fine, you thought. You don’t blame him.

You let out a breath and spoke. "I have five percent nosferatu bloodline. Every so many days, I and the other mares who have the same bloodline are handed synthesized blood substitutes. We also get a donation from blood banks during Hearth's Warming and other holidays. We can eat food and go out in the sun, but depending on our bloodline percent, it can make us feel uncomfortable or ill. At night we feel more energized and drinking real blood makes some of us stronger and clearer minded. We also live a bit longer.”

He stared at you, eyes widened, while Scarlet gave a satisfied nod. You flattened your ears back and let your teeth go back to normal.

Luna, colt, you gotta stare at me so hard? Just say you’re out of the night guard and leave if you want—nobody would blame you.

“Wow… that’s so cool.”

“Huh?” you and Scarlet said in unison.

Your cheeks tinted a light pink. “W-Whatever. It’s no big deal really,” you said, mostly to the floor.

”No, really. I had no idea that you guys were all so different. Captain Shade, what is your bloodline if you don’t mind me asking?”

Blueys mouth moved into a thin line and she gave you a questioning look.

“Um… Mine is Mörkö,” she said and paused, hoping to end it there, but Vigil waited eagerly.

”It’s… an ice spirit of sorts that long ago lived in the forests to the north. They were more rampant in the time of Wendigos. It manifests as an affinity for cold spells in unicorn batmares and pegasi seem to be great with managing snow and ice. I have only three percent, so I can resist cold better, but I tend to crave warmth, even if I don’t need it nearly as much. I can stand out in snow all night on watch, but I hate it for instance.”

”Oh, what about—”

“Look, there are an awful lot of bat mares. Generally just know that about all of us have some general devil or imp in them if not something specific. That’s what some think is partly responsible for most bat ponies’ reputation for, uh…”

”Raucous degeneracy and hedonism,” Scarlet said, taking a step forward.

“I would call it free spiritedness, but sure,” you said. “In any case, we’re still pretty much ponies when it comes down to it. We just have a few quirks to deal with. Hell, Umbra is pretty mild mannered, for one, despite her bloodline.”

Vigilant pursed his lips and cocked his head to the side. ”What bloodline does Captain Umbra have?”

Blue cleared her throat. You gave a forced smile and rubbed a forehoof. Poor Umbra wouldn’t be able to look this colt in the eye if he knew her lineage. Still…

“Vigil. Are you still sure about joining the Nightguard? I don’t want you to get the wrong idea. We’re not dangerous despite what some think.”

”Debatable,” Scarlet said with a snort.

You gave her a look and continued. “What I’m trying to say, is that I need to know if you’re set on this. If you’re going to serve here, you deserve to know who we are. We’ll be comrades, and that means a whole lot here. But trust goes both ways. Telling your bloodline is very personal and shows a lot of good faith. Can you assure me that you won’t use this to hurt any of our friends?”

Vigil watched you, mouth slightly open. He looked down, mulling it over for a moment.

”Yeah. I can see where you’re coming from I think,” he said. “But I want to serve here. My mark,” he said, pointing toward his depiction of a lantern, “tells me I’m to watch over and keep guard at night. I know I’m supposed to be here. And I know I want to help open up the Nightguard to not only non-bat ponies but also stallions. You can trust me, Captain.”

He saluted and brought his hooves in line, giving you the most earnest smile you ever saw. You suppressed a snicker.

He was a dork, but a cute dork. Looking into his eyes and listening to his heart for signs of abnormality, you find nothing amiss. You could trust him. Whether you’d enjoy babysitting him was another matter.

“She has twenty percent succubus.”

Vigil blinked. “Really?”

“Yep, ‘fraid so. She has a lot of challenges because of it. She has to be careful with getting, uh, fluids, near other ponies. Succubi used to be masters of seduction and pleasure, and putting ponies into heat was just one innate trick they learned. Umbra does this without meaning to, even with sweat, spit, or blood. You can get a resistance to it but it doesn’t take much to get some ponies going.”

”Huh… she probably sleeps around a lot, I imagine.”

Bluey snorted and you jabbed her in the side.

“The opposite actually. Umbra has been a bit afraid of her quirk ever since she was a filly. I don’t know why but, if I had one guess, I’d say it’s because she’s too kind. Umbra told me once that she hated the idea of forcing someone to do something so intimate.” You shrugged. “Her words, not mine. In any case, her bloodline has made her skittish around stallions, and she never learned how to talk to them properly. Don’t take offense if she seems put off-ish. It’s just how she is.”

”Alright, that’s enough obscene talk, thank you very much,” Scarlet said, and turned to Vigilant Watch. “Vigil, none of this particularly matters. I know it’s… interesting to you but I can tell you all about their kind after you come back to my post.”

He frowned and swished his tail. Oh now you made the colt upset, Scarlet. Ya didn’t listen filly, and now you’re in for it. Vigilant Watch puffed up his cheeks and started going on about not wanting to be treated like he couldn’t do things on his own and blah blah blah…

You turned on your heels and headed off down the bloodline hall, Blue following suit. Your bed was calling you, and you’d not ignore its sweet siren call any longer.

Part of you wonders about how much sleep Umbra got last night. You made sure to get her an enchanted condom and everything, so she had everything in her court. She just couldn’t kiss him or she’d make Anon’s day a bit warmer than usual. Your tail twitched.

Now that was a thought...