It was just evening.

The leader of the unicorns stood at the barrier with Kallaxia and nocturnal. Nocturnal looked at kalalxia. She would go out and "hunt" first. Nocturnal was to be left as a deposit.
At first it was planned the other way around, but Nocturnal had convinced kallaxia that it was better this way around.

"See you later."

"I will wait here for thee. I Promise"

Kallaxia smiled and then slipped through a small hole that the guard made for her. With a flap of her leathery wings she took off and was in the air in no time, flew like a gruesome shadow in front of the rising moon.

"Let's hope she comes back for you."

"I am sure she will. I entrust my life to Midnight."

"Yes you do."

With these words the unicorns went back again.
Nocturnal paused at the barrier for a moment before he started up again.
His destination was the small inn that now belonged to him and Kallaxia.
Inside the earth pony mare was waiting for him and was nervous about keeping the cover upright.
A few unicorns were there, and Nocturnal could guess that these weren't regular guests.
These unicorns were watchdogs.
He didn't care.
when he was in the middle of the room, he spoke loud and clear and without turning around.

"Mare, come with me. I need relaxation while I wait for my beloved."

The earth pony mare whimpered briefly, then put the glass away and followed him upstairs to the upper floor that they had now moved into.
In the bedroom, Nocturnal sat down at a table. It was the only room that was equipped in such a way that it was almost soundproof. As soon as the door was closed, it became quiet.
Nocturnal let out a low sigh and sank back into his seat.
Only then did he notice that the mare was a bit insecure, and obviously a little ashamed

"What is the matter?"

"I was often in here with my old master to ... to ..."

Nocturnal raised his hoof.
He really didn't have to hear that now.

"I am sorry to have to hide thou in here. But this is the safest place. What is thee name actually?"

"My name is Orchid Charm... and it's been a long time since someone asked me for my real name."

Nocturnal began to smile, a gentle smile as he looked at her.

"I promise you that I will keep thou as much sorry as possible as long as thou are under my protection"

Orchid started to smile but was still unsure of what it seemed.
She probably just didn't know what to do.
Nocturnal definitely knew.
he closed his good eye and sighed again, before he started to doze.
It was hard to relax with a nervous mare in the room who really didn't know what to do.
But Nocturnal needed that sleep.
As much as he missed the nights, he had to adapt to this sleep rhythm or he would have to find a way to protect his wings from the biting cold.
And Kallaia had a harder time. He wondered how she would keep warm now that it was slowly getting dark outside.
And colder.
He was worried now.

outside

Chrysalis, it was cold here
Ponies didn't even know how nice they were with their fur.
It was better she found a cave and would warm up briefly.
to her regret, she found a cave and in it was a young stallion, about to freeze to death.
He had piled up firewood, but the evidence showed that he had not been able to light it.
She would use her magic to make a fire, but she didn't risk giving herself away.
So she used her sword and a flint.
The young stallion hardly noticed it and was trembling violently, but when the fire was on, he opened his eyes.
He saw Kallaxia and tried to slide away, but there was only the rock wall behind him.

"Take it easy. If I had wanted to do something to you, I would just have had to wait a little longer. I'm Midnight."

"Lost Track ... thanks ... for the fire ... but .. aren't you a vampony?"

Midnight laughed heartily at the statement and wiped a tear away.

"Only sometimes. And even if I wouldn't drink anything that's as cold as you are. It's bad for your teeth."

Her laugh made the stallion a little calmer.
He quickly realized that she was just kidding.

"Do you know anything about a village nearby?"

The question came unexpectedly for Lost Track.
He had to think about it first.

"Just stories about a village under a dome."

Midnight nodded.
After all, it was known that there was a village there.

"I have an inn there. Would you like to come with me?"

She knew what she was doing and it felt wrong.
But she had to maintain cover.

"That sounds good! What does the night cost?"

"Not much. Come on, I'll give you one room."

The two trotted off together.

In the little inn

Nocturnal awoke from his sleep when he noticed something.
A body lay cuddled to his right that had nothing in common with Kallaxia or Midnight in.
This body was much stronger, was much heavier and also a little ... warmer?
When he turned his head he saw Orchid leaning against him.
She was sound asleep and seemed safe.
Nocturnal sighed, he couldn't blame her. She had been enslaved.
She sought protection.
and she found protection with him.
He let her snuggled up against him.
Those cursed unicorns ...
One swipe and he could wipe out so much evil at once. he just had to hit the throat and let them bleed out slowly, watching them squirm on the floor.
He could literally taste the blood on his blade and the whole area could be colored red with blood as if the snow outside was lava!
Calm down!
Calmdowncalmdowncalmdown.
He took a few deep breaths.
His field of view had turned dangerously red for a moment.
He rubbed his left eye with his free hoof.
Nocturnal could feel how it was getting harder to control each time.
How long could that go on?
A new fear seized him. what if he lost himself?
That made him shudder.

"Is everything okay with you? I'm ... sorry that I threw myself so against you."

"Ah is okay. I have not noticed until just now. I just hope my mare does not see it or she will pull my ears out longer."

He then laughed softly, and Orchidee began to laugh too.

"Is that why bats have ears for so long?"

"Among other things. In addition, our mothers pull us by the ears when we do not want to fly."

Another laugh.
And a third voice joined in.
Both looked at the door where Midnight was written.
Orchid jumped up in a panic and landed hard on all four hooves.

"Oh shush little one, I trust my bat far enough. Nothing happened ..."

"Absolutely nothing, except that she snuggled up to me while I was sleeping."

"Understandable. You are so fluffy and absolutely cuddly. And after a cold night outside I will take away all the body heat that you have."

Midnight snuggled up against him and he could feel the cold on her fur. and when she kissed him she took some of his love to strengthen herself. He gladly let it happen.
She needed it and he had it.

somewhere far away

A letter arrived for Twilight Sparkle, asking for it to be forwarded to the princess.
It was a letter from Kallaxia

Twilight,

I am writing this to you in the darkest hour.
Nocturnal and I are in a village that shields itself from the outside world. Unicorns rule there and everypony else is enslaved.
We need help to free them.
The princesses should please send some troops so that we can act better from here.

I know this is an unusual request but we have to act.

Kallaxia

"Spike! A letter to Princess Celestia. It's urgent!"

A few days later

Nocturnal was out looking for a hiding place in the woods.
It was incredibly cold.
He had hidden his wings under a coat so that he could not use them,
he wore snow goggles to protect his eyes.
Still, the cold seemed to find its way up to his skin.
and that was a good thing. That meant there would be no one else out here.
Nevertheless, he moved cautiously through the woods. not that he attracted any monsters and animals to himself.
The last thing he needed now was an angry bear, awakened from its hibernation.
luckily everything stayed calm.
Only on his way back did he notice something following him.
It always kept a precise distance and tried to be quieter than the surrounding area.
Nocturnal turned behind a rock that was there and waited for whatever might come there.
He wasn't disappointed.
A white-clad figure stepped around the corner and looked nocturnal in astonishment as he leaned against the stone and looked at it.

"I could not help but notice that I was being followed. Thou are too quiet. A bat like me will notice what is so quiet."
The pony in front of him turned out to be the Pegasus of the Royal Scout Division.
The mare, biologically older than Nocturnal, posed as Swift Shadow, and it matched her dark coat and mane.
He told her everything she needed to know for the rest of the troops.
She saluted him and confirmed that the first troops would arrive tomorrow evening, and the rest of them towards evening.
So from now on we had to wait for reinforcements.
Let's see how much they could do on their own from the inside out.

Back at the inn, he was greeted by something he hadn't expected.
A group of unicorns sat at a table with Midnight. They appeared to be playing a card game.
When Nocturnal approached and looked over her shoulder, he was surprised.
The game looked familiar to him.

"That's Poker"

The explanation didn't really help Nocturnal, but he knew the rules that were explained to him afterwards.

"I knew a similar game back in my time. was never a big fan. What are you playing about?"

"These gentelcolts here each set one of their slaves ... and I set you."

"THOU DID WHAT?"

Kallaxia smiled, patted his side a little.

"Very well, without falling back into your old language."

"Midnight, if that is supposed to be a joke, it is not really funny."

She just smiled and put cards in front of her. from the reaction of the others one could guess that they hadn't expected it and had lost all of them.
Nocturnal breathed a sigh of relief.
Then he gave her a little pat on the back of the head with his wing.
Kallaxia just laughed and rubbed the back of her head, then picked up the cards and started shuffling them with the wings.

"another round, gentlecolts? double or nothing."

The others refused and left.
But true to their word, three freed slaves came in through the door.
Two Pegasus and another earth pony.
The plan was also quickly explained to them and they were given accommodation.
A little later, Kallaxia and Nocturnal were alone in their room. Not the great pomposity, but under the roof, where they slept since day one.
It offered the best view.
and smelled less like a brothel.

"Oh, by the way. I met a soldier from the Royal Guard in the forest. We do not have to hold out much longer. And we should come up with a plan of what we are going to do."

"Well finally."

They began to put their heads together and come up with a plan. it was best to wait until the soldiers attacked and then take out the unicorns that were responsible for the barrier.
nocturnal would prefer to kill.
He didn't say it, however.
It was deep inside. he felt the pull and the urge.
The fight was approaching.
The blood would flow
The cold, clear air would soon be rich in the smell of freshly shed blood, filled with screams of wounded and dying ...
His blade would drink its fill, and so he could.
NO
Not again!
These thoughts became more and more subtle and therefore more dangerous. He had hardly noticed her this time.
He shook his head violently to get it clear again.
It couldn't go on like this.
Did he have to break off the mission he had set on himself and first seek a cure for his curse?
Was there such a thing at all?
probably not. Nocturnal had to do it alone.
or not.
A wing on his back let him know that he wasn't alone.
Kallaxia's worried face also proved that he was far from alone.
He had found something that he had never thought possible.
It was not hate that should drive him, but his love for kallaxia.
He nodded weakly to her.

"I don't know if I can keep myself under control in the coming battle. Please keep an eye on me"

Kallaxia smiled openly and warmly at him.
Neither Celestia's sun nor Luna's moon could hold a candle to her at that moment.

"I am always with you, my beloved. And I will always take care of you. The moment I see you losing control I will carry you out of the battle."

Nocturnal smiled at the words and lowered his forehead against her chest

"thank thee my beloved."

He would not fall to darkness. He would always be guided by Lunas Moon, and Kallaxias Smile.
At least that was his hope

Author's Note

Oops, I was a little too lazy to write and I'm already one day later than usual.
Unfortunately no picture of AlexDTI again, but today is his birthday. Three cheers to him, and to that he stays healthy!

Also: I'll try something else again in this chapter. I still haven't found my writing style