In a room in a tavern

Kallaxia lay seductively on the bed, in her natural form, and hoped that Nocturnal would come back soon.
she was still hungry.
And besides, she hadn't teased him a little for a long time. She wanted to have a little fun.
When the door flew open she looked over her shoulder and spoke in the most seductive tone that her suppressed laughter allowed.

"Ah, I've been waiting for... you...."

She looked at Sudden and Sudden looked at her with wide eyes.
Then she wanted to scream.
Kallaxia only had to think for a moment, used her magic to draw Sudden into the room and used her sticky spit to seal her mouth, but made sure that nothing blocked her nose.

"Take it easy, I'm not here to harm you. Take it easy ... take it easy!"

Sudden didn't take it easy. She kicked Kallaxia's stomach with full force and freed herself, racing to the door as it opened.

Nocturnal only heard a thud and felt it in his hoof as the door was thrown against it.
When he looked in he could see Sudden lying on the floor, disgusted by the door, her snout stuck shut by Kallaxia.
This sat on the bed and covered her nose to keep the laugh inside that she just wanted to get rid of.

"What is the meaning of this here?"

Kallaxia waited until the door was closed and then laughed, pointing to Sudden, who was lying on her back and looking rather dazed.

"I can't help it, she just came in. And then she crashed into the door. Poor mare, but it looked so funny how she tried to stay in the air."

Nocturnal sighed and brought Sudden to bed, starting to cool her snout and removing the sticky stuff.
Kallaxia turned back to Midnight and was about to go to get some water when she ran into a unicorn stallion who was about twice her size.
Her ears reflexively folded flat against her skull.

"Did you see Sudden?"

Nocturnal nodded and pointed at the bed with his wing.

"We were just on our way to let thee know. Sudden flew in the door when I opened it. It is just an unfortunate coincidence that this happened."

The unicorn stallion shook his head and laughed softly, mumbled something about "Typical Sudden" and "always with his head through the wall." then he was gone again. Midnight took a deep breath and then went to fetch the water.
When she came back Sudden was waking up again.

"What happened?"

"I opened the door when thou wanted to get out. i am Sorry for that."

Sudden seemed to remember, pointed to Midnight and said quietly and tonelessly a word in Nocturnal's direction.

"Changeling!"

"Yes, I know. Kallaxia and I have known each other since the Canterlot invasion. I love her since we fought for the hospital."

"and I won't hurt you. I'm sorry how I reacted. I was scared."

Kallaxia's statement caught both of them cold and they looked at her, then at each other again.

"and how do I know that you are not a changeling?"

Nocturnal didn't think twice and cut his hoof with his sword, causing his blood to come out of the wound. Red blood like any other pony. Kallaxia did the same, showing that she had greenish blood even as Midnight.
Nocturnal grimaced.
The smell of fresh blood let the voice in his head grow louder again. he could feel that he was losing control again when a hoof hit him in the side.
It was Kallaxia's hoof and she just shoved the bleeding wound into his mouth afterwards.

"There, clean up nicely. I'll explain everything to Sudden in the meantime."

she turned to Sudden again.

"We fell in love with each other. Our thoughts were both pretty much the same, and we have a similar love for night, for hiking, and for sword fighting. The reason why he is drunk on my blood like a vampony is the red rage . She is stronger in him. I joined him because I want to be close to him and since then I only take love from him. It's like a five course meal if even a little comes from him."

Sudden didn't know what to say and just looked shocked at the two of them, then the book she had lent them both.

"I am a descendant of... could this red rage in me get just as bad that I long for blood?"

Kallaxia shrugged and looked at Nocturnal.
He looked reassured again and sat with closed eye on his hounches, thought about it.
Could it get that bad for her?
probably not, otherwise there would be more cases.
but Sombra had intensified the curse in him. what if that could happen to others too?
He hadn't thought about that yet.
An unsettling thought
Nonetheless, a question that Sudden had to ask to herself.

"I am not sure. What do you think Sudden? When thee saw our blood, what did thou feel? Be honest with theeself and with us."

Sudden closed his eyes and thought hard.
A good sign that she was serious.
And it was absolutely adorable when she stuck her tongue out to concentrate better.
But after a few minutes your answer came and it was sure to come if something was upset.

"I don't think it's bad. I was curious and also a little fascinated. Is that good or bad? I mean, isn't everyone fascinated by something?"

"I agree, this is normal. But are we sure that this is within limits? Or is this just the beginning of a blood rush? Is it the Rote Rage or is it something else?"

Nocturnal opened his good eye again and looked at her, looked into her eyes, then down at her and up at her, looked at the wings.
Everything about her reminded him of back then, of the sword master. Her fur was yellow in color and her mane was brown in color similar to that of Lightning Strike.
Somehow the way she moved reminded Nocturnal of him, too.
It made him smile.

"We are looking for a solution to my problem. A removal spell, if thou will. Would thou like to join us? Would thou like to step into your ancestor's hoovsteps and become a Wandering Blade too?"

Sudden's jaw dropped, followed closely by Kallaxias
Both looked at Nocturnal, and the reactions couldn't be more different. While joy was building up in Sudden and just waiting to be released, Kallaxia's mood was rather shock. She didn't want to share her time together with Nocturnal.
But before she could object, the young mare cheered.

"I'll pack my things right away! Oh that's like when my dream comes true! I'll be a Wandering Blade!"

She stormed out of the room and was gone long before Kallaxia recovered.
Then she just looked at Nocturnal questioningly.

"Several reasons. One reason is that she reminds me of my old sword master. Another reason that I hope to lift the curse from me with her help."

Kallaxia, not satisfied but understanding, just nodded, snuggled up against him.
She didn't want to share her bat, that was clear to her now.
Was that jealousy?
Quite possible. But he only loved her and she only loved him.
It ... would be fine ...
He put his two wings around her and pressed her gently to me so that she was largely enveloped by him.

The evening on the same day

Sudden said goodbye to everyone and hugged everyone before she went to the two red-cloaked bats. They looked at her smiling and Nocturnal liked the blue cloak she had chosen.
It was reminiscent of a wrongly colored version of his cloak.

"Where are we going?"

"To where our Order fell. To the battlefield of the last stand. We pay their respects and see if we find any clues to cure the red rage. Then ... we go where these clues lead, if we find any, or we go where we like. "

He got a downright dancing routine, which astonished Kallaxia for a moment.
Sudden also looked puzzled
Only when Nocturnal turned around and saw the two of them did he say with a big grin and with his gaze directed towards the sky.

"I have not been part of a group for a long time. A small team, yes, but three of us? Not for a long time. My habits have ensured that many prefer to move around with others than with me."

"What kind of habits?"

"Travel at night, sleep in the morning, wake up around noon."

"Oh ... yes that's unusual. But I think I can live with that."

"Well then, welcome to the life of a bat. I hope thee like it."

All three laughed until they were out of reach of the village. Kallaxia, still as Midnight, looked uncertainly at Sudden.
suddenly she was ashamed of what she was.
She didn't notice it but kept walking, her eyes fixed on the night sky.

"Luna has outdone herself again, has she not?"

"Yes, she has. An unbelievably beautiful night."

Nocturnal smiled and walked on, then saw that Kallaxia was behaving a little differently.
At first he didn't realize the problem, but then he realized it.

"Sudden, would thee be okay if Kallaxia walks with us in her natural form? I do not think she wants to scare thee."

"Oh of course I'm sorry. I didn't mean to disturb your routine."

Kallaxia smiled and transformed into her natural form.
Sudden was immediately next to her and looked at her closely, looked at everything.

"I've never seen a changeling up close. You actually see quite ..."

"... awful? Horrible?"

"Beautiful, I wanted to say. The black of your armor, those wings that shimmer so beautifully. But the scars are not normal, right?"

Kallaxia was visibly surprised, then smiled and before Nocturnal knew it, the two talked about fur, mane, tail and other things.
He just smiled. The two would become good friends.
Something that couldn't be outweighed by any gold in the world.
Unnoticed by either of them, his trot took a light dancing step in itself and he moved slightly in front of the other two.

"You should be careful what you do. Now you have two who might die because of you ..."

That voice again ... and she was right. One wrong decision could cost two mares their lives.
And it really would be his fault!
He got serious again.
No, he wouldn't let that happen.

around midnight

Sudden yawned heartily and her eyes got heavy. Despite the fresh air, she was tired.
Nocturnal and Kallaxia were both still fit, so she tried not to show anything, so she tried to stay awake.
But walking was so exhausting.
And she also lacked the strength to fly.
In addition, her eyes constantly feel closed.
Kallaxia finally noticed half an hour later.

"We should rest. Sudden has not yet adjusted to our schedule."

Nocturnal looked over his shoulder, nodded, and slid up a tree to survey.
Nothing to see but a small clearing.

"We can camp up there."

He pointed to it and Kallaxia positioned herself under Sudden's wing, who liked to lean against her and was already half asleep at this point.
Nocturnal feared that it would be a longer rest and began to light a fire.
The clearing was big. So you don't have to be afraid that you would accidentally burn down the forest. and they would see everyone who approached them.
Sudden fell asleep leaning against Kallaxia as her torso rested on the floor. Kallaxia sighed but let it.
Nocturnal grinned at the sight and sat across from them.
Both were still talking muffled, but Nocturnal kept hearing this voice, as if it were whispering in his ear.
Why hadn't he heard her in town?
Why out here again?
Ask for a later date. Kallaxia had also fallen asleep and so he had to take over the watch.
Which gave him more time to think.
But all of his thoughts only led back to Red Rage. and to Lightning Strike.
and the book ...
to Kallaxia ...
Back to the book ...
to Sudden Strike ...
To Kallaxia ...
To Hellria ...
and finally to sky above them.
It was an incredibly beautiful, starry night.
Moment...
why to Hellria?
Why did he remember this terrible event right now? Months later?
Just as he was about to open his mouth he thought he could see her emerging from behind Kallaxia and leaning over her.
But when he jumped up and drove her away, and drew his sword, she disappeared in green smoke.
What kind of weird designs were they?
Were you just imagination?
He hoped so much

Author's Note

I'll take a little break after this chapter for two reasons.
-first of all, it gets stressful

-secondly, i got the offer that Wingnut reads once editorial about the chapter about it.

-third, I want to read about it again