At noon, the sun burns down from the sky

Nocturnal actually helped with the wall. He had a pick in his teeth and hit a rock to make a second tunnel from which they could hollow the stones for a wall. The plan was a one meter high wall. That would help a lot, but it would take a lot of work to get it done in a week.
At least everyone helped.
Meanwhile, Kallaxia had taken on the task of looking for the hostages.
It was best for this, even if the villagers didn't know exactly why. To them she was just a bat pony mare. But hardly in the forest could she transform into anything and move undetected.
Nocturnal grinned at the thought.
These diamond dogs had no idea what to expect.
And if everything went well, they wouldn't realize it until very late.

Still, Nocturnal hoped that Kallaxia would be successful and find the camp quickly. The sooner the captured ponies could be freed, the better. And he hoped they could get reinforcements from the Royal Guard. Otherwise it would be a long and bloody fight with many losses on the side of the ponies.
He had no doubt that the villagers would defend their homes and lives wherever they could, but that didn't mean they would be successful if it did.
Kallaxia had agreed to his plan to be the breakwater for the attacking enemy.
It was going to be an uphill battle.
That she had agreed to fight by his side had filled his heart with much pride.
The pick hit the stone with all the force that Nocturnal could muster.
This was a very good training session and it would certainly help him build up his stamina.
When he left the pick stuck in the stone to treat himself to some water, he noticed the ponies around him.
The morale seemed very low. Some hung their heads, others talked about fleeing the village.
He couldn't blame them.
In their place, he would probably want to do it that way and leave quickly.
But he was a nocturnal wanderer, swordscolt of the wandering blades.
He wasn't going to back down.

His way of thinking seemed very out of date.
He already realized that, but what should he do? For him, a thousand years was just five days ago.
He closed his eye and raised his snout at the sky.
Destiny, what have you planned with him? He wasn't sure.
But when could you be that?

"Broth'rs and sist'rs, directeth mine own blade. Alloweth me doth the right thing and rest're our 'rd'r to a new reputation. Leadeth mine own blade in the battles to cometh"

Nothing happened. The wind neither increased nor did the sun shine brighter. He was the last of his order. And he couldn't ask anyone. There was no one to guide him. nobody he could ask for advice.

Or is it?

He had Kallaxia. And although she had been his enemy, he would now trust her with everything, including his heart.
A strange feeling.
And how proud she had worn his colors.
No.
He was NOT alone.
He was NOT the last of his order.
He had Kallaxia, Swordsmare of the wandering blades.
Maybe she was even worth the black of the Dancing Blade. That would be shown later, but he was good things.
When thinking about it, this hard work was much easier to cope with.

the evening falls

Nocturnal stood on the edge of the village. All the stones had been laid on a new dump near the village and would only be piled up to a wall a day or two beforehand. The trench that was dug was camouflaged as a construction site for a road for which the stones were to be used.
A blacksmith who worked in the village had started making spears.
These diamond dogs would get a nasty surprise.

"Hey, Handsome, mind if I sit down with you?"

It was Kallaxia. He didn't have to look to know and just nodded.

"I found the hostages. They are being held in a trailer. Two of the hostages always have to move the other around."

Nocturnal remained silent, closed his right eye and rubbed the patch on his left.

"Are you all right? Are you not okay? Can you help you somehow?"

"it is nothing. Ev'rything is fine. I am just not restful"

Kallaxia smiled and pulled him into a hug, allowing Nocturnal to rest his head on her shoulder. Nocturnal closed his eye and enjoyed their closeness.
Her fur felt so real. So soft.
He didn't even notice how he fell asleep.

Kallaxia sighed when she noticed how Nocturnal slipped into the realm of dreams and slept leaning against her. She could feel his love all the time. And she had changed.
Perhaps it was the influence of Princess Mi Amora Cadenza's magic at the beginning, but now this magic subsided, but love remained. He had got to know her and had really fallen in love.
And when she was honest with herself she felt the same way. That was probably the reason why she helped him defend these ponies. On the other hand, she would never do that.
But the fight promised to be a challenge. Something she longed for as much as he did.
Until the attack on Canterlot, life in the hive had been boring. And there she met him.
She had been fascinated by his attitude.
Also that he was not afraid of blood and death.
Gently she put her false wing around him.
And now he had accepted her into his order.
Somehow she liked the idea very much.

"I... I Love You..."

She couldn't believe she said that.
She actually said it out loud!
What was the matter with her?
Just good that he slept and hadn't heard that

about an hour later

Nocturnal woke up again and found himself asleep leaning against Kallaxia.
He straightened up, stretched like a cat once, and smacked his lips a few times.
Then he let his head rotate as far as it could and you could hear a little creaking as that rearranged the bones.

"I bethink i haven't did sleep yond well in a longeth timeth. Grant you mercy. "

"Oh no problem. You don't have to say thank you for it."

They both smiled at each other, and without saying another word, both rose into the air to fly over the area and keep watch.

The week flies by

The Diamond Dogs ultimatum would expire tomorrow. That week, kallaxia and Nocturnal had learned that the Diamond Dogs had appeared shortly after the attack on Canterlot because the Royal Guard had withdrawn into their bases.
And now Nocturnal and Kallaxia would free the hostages.
During the night they both sneaked to the camp that kallaxia had tracked down. Most of the car was unguarded, and all of the hostages were locked in it.
The two guards that were there were quickly disposed of by Kallaxia and Nocturnal.
Both looked in the trailer and then quietly freed the hostages.

"Followeth me i shall leadeth thee. Night doth take the rear guardeth"

"and be quiet!"

Nocturnal led the group through the Forest. first away from the village, as guards in this direction were more likely. They made a bow around the place where the diamond dogs had camped.
In the middle of the night the hostages arrived back in the village, which had started to pile up the wall during the night and to equip the front with traps and spikes.
This village had become a fortified fortress overnight.
Well, as defensive as a settlement with miners and farmers could be.

"Excellent w'rk. anon we just has't to waiteth until tom'rrow. I desire the couri'rs can finally convince the royal guardeth"

Everyone was worried because the couriers hadn't returned yet. There was no news from the outposts of the Royal Guad and it was uncertain when and whether reinforcements would come.
Nocturnal had already discussed back up plans with Kallaxia, including the plan to abandon the village and run away. A village could be rebuilt again and again, dead ponies were lost.

"How do you think our chances are? These diamond dogs will notice that they have no more hostages. And then they will attack in large numbers."

"With both of us in the main defense? our chances art valorous if 't be true thou art nay m're than twenty"

"What if more come?"

"Then we will fight and fight and keep fight until they give up or are dead, or until our swords break or we die."

"You said that beautifully"

Both looked at each other smiling. Let's see how long that would go well.

The time is up, the sun is rising

Thanks to unicorn magic and the power of the earth ponies, the wall was built. It was only a meter high, but the trench in front of it made it higher.
The residents of the village were all on their feet, had their belongings loaded onto two wagons and the strongest and fastest earth ponies hitched up in front of them. Everything else would have to be left behind in the worst-case scenario.
And this serious case was about to occur.
Instead of the expected twenty diamond dogs there were at least sixty. and some wore crossbows.

"This is... unexpect'd"

Nocturnal saw the villagers fearfully face the demf and. That wouldn't do morality any good.
He took a deep breath, then read it out slowly, then got in touch with the mayor.

"Yond's m're than did expect. If 't be true those gents receiveth clos'r than fifty hath met'rs i wanteth ev'ryone to runneth. the foals and fillys shouldst already beest load'd onto the wagon. We shouldn't taketh a risik"

"Risk? you don't want to face them, do you? There are only two of you! That's more diamond dogs than we've ever seen!"

Kallaxia stepped by Nocturnal's side and spread her wings

"We can fly away in an emergency. You can't. We have to buy you time."

Nocturnal nodded in confirmation and turned back to face the enemy. Without saying anything further, he slipped over the wall and the ditch and ran towards the army.
Kallaxia did the same and landed next to him. She was a little unsure but she tried not to take note of anything.
Both of their red cloaks lay over their backs and made them very noticeable.
Nocturnal took a quick breath, closed his eyes and about a hundred meters from the village and one hundred meters to the enemy army, if he stopped, he rammed his sword into the ground.

"H're i standeth, h're i stayeth"

Kalalxia looked over at him and smiled. The belligerence seemed to awaken in her and she loosened up, stretched a little and seemed to be ready.
Then she also drew her sword and stuck it in the ground

"Here i stand, here i stay."

Neither of them had to wait long for the fight. The diamond dogs rushed towards you two batponies.
To their surprise, a few of the villagers joined them.
It was only twenty, but it was more than before. And they could hold spears.
any weapon would help.
The diamond dogs drew closer and Nocturnal bit the hilt of his sword again. His heart was beating violently with excitement and a little fear, but he knew that if he failed, the ponies behind him would pay the price
That was something he couldn't allow.
He stormed towards the diamond dogs and his sword Thundering hooves immediately found his first victim, knocking down one of the opponents.
After that, everything was instinctive. He moved his wings to keep his balance, to change direction in flight, for kicks or for blows, slashed with the sword and he tasted the blood of the enemy running through his teeth.
That would be a fight that many of his brothers and sisters in the order would love. He hoped for them that they could prove themselves in a good fight and found their end there.
This could well mean the end.
Only Nocturnal didn't want to make it so easy for the enemy.
He always knew where Kallaxia was. it was to the left of him, where his blind eye was and he had a large blind spot.
He could trust her.
To his horror he saw one of the supporting ponies go to the ground next to him, all light had disappeared from his eyes.
Dead.
Dead and gone.
Nocturnal tossed his sword and instantly avenged this fighter.
He couldn't prevent any loss.
Fate would decide who lives and who dies.

They approached the village with the fight.
Just a few more meters and they would come close enough that the villagers would have to retreat.
Still, nocturnal fought doggedly on. His sword was deadly to anyone before him, but he had to take it too. A club in the side took his breath away and his leg was caught by a flail.
They crossed the line.
Nocturnal saw the villagers lay everything down and run away.
The defenders were now only half as strong as before and the remaining fighters were morally exhausted.

"Fight! Every minute you win here gives your families time to escape! Make these dogs bleed!"

Kallaxia's exclamation hit Nocturnal unexpectedly, but he also noticed how his courage to fight increased a little. both others did the same.
They didn't fight to win.
They fought that others did NOT die.
He needed a short respite.
When Nocturnal clamped his sword between his two hooves and flew upwards, he was able to enjoy the greatest sight far behind him that he had ever seen.
The villagers he had sworn to protect were already on the horizon.
They slipped away from the onslaught!
The diamond dogs would never again catch these villagers.
That made every death worth the price
Spurred by the Lives tat they had saved, he let out a cry.
Not one ounce of regret could be heard, Nocturnal was overhelmed with Pride.
The diamond dogs stopped their attack briefly to look at the mand batpony that was flying overhead. the remaining defenders joined in this shout, even if there were only nine left.

"they can taketh our liveth, but we has't wonneth this vict'ry! those gents can nay longeth'r dispute t!"

With these words, Nocturnal literally rushed back into battle.
Now his zeal was like fire and his enemies were like matches. every enemy he saw kindled the fire again.
Until a crossbow bolt flew past Nocturnal.
It wasn't aimed at him ... but who then?
Kallaxia was lying on the floor with the bolt in her back.
Nocturnal's eye widened.
no ... no that can't be ...
Not her.
Not... her...
Nocturnal couldn't help but start screaming. His scream began as a cry of pain, but was quickly overlaid with hatred and rage. When one Diamond Dog wanted to grab him, Nocturnal turned around to and jumped at him, completely insane, and bit the Diamond Dog in the throat, tore it to pieces with his fangs, then he ran around and attacked more like a wild animal than a warrior the enemy, bit, kicked and trampled anyone who came before him.

Kallaxias perspective

The bolt had hit hard, but it was only tucked into a belt buckle for her sword scabbard. The rest had been absorbed by her natural citin armor. Except for a light wound and a violent blow that knocked her out briefly, she had nothing.
But nocturnal did not seem to see that.
He was absolutely mad.

"Nocturnal!"

She could see how he was beaten and kicked, a few hit him with daggers, but he didn't seem to notice anything. Almost like her when she was so wasted with magic.
there were two other allies alive around them, but they were incapacitated. She herself was also surrounded.
It looked bad.

Until horns could be heard there.
Attack horns to be precise.
The fight was interrupted when a unit of gold armored earth ponies came galloping, spears ready.
The diamond dogs either ran away or surrendered when they were surrounded.
And the couriers flew all over the place.

"We came back as fast as we could, but we had to fly further than we thought. The outposts have been abandoned.

Kallaxia just nodded, then hurried to Nocturnal, who was in a ring of royal guard and growled at them like a dog gone mad.

"Nocturnal, it's all good! I'm fine! Please calm down!"

She put out her hoof towards him, and Nocturnal bit her.
He just bit her hoof!
His eyes were blank and she could barely feel any emotion from him.
Two Royal Guard unicorns then managed to put him to sleep with a sedative.

In the subconscious of the Thestrals

Nocturnal was curled up in the middle of the room, sniffing and crying when Luna found him.

"Nocturnal. Are thee okay? We can feel a lot of stress coming from thee. Big enough that it even reached us in our dream."

"Princess luna! i'm so s'rry... but.... but kallaxia... I bethink the lady's dead! i did see h'r kicketh the bucket because i did want a battleth! i hath led those folk to death instead of ev'ryone running hence!

"Sssssh everything is fine, Nocturnal. We don't think she's dead. Tell us what happened. "

And did Nocturnal.
He talked for quite a while and told her everything from her arrival to the preparations and the battle.
And until he saw her die.

"That's terrible! How did that happen? The Royal Guard is supposed to protect ponies from precisely such situations!"

She hugged Nocturnal with her hooves and wings. This slowly calmed down again, even if Luna noticed that it wasn't just her merit. Maybe a sedative.

"Good night, Nocturnal, and sweet dreams."

she lit her horn to give him a nice dream. At the same time, however, she also felt that this sleep would take a little longer than normal

a week after the battle

Nocturnal was slowly waking up.
he was lying in a bed.
That was a good sign.
But his hooves wouldn't move.
When he looked down at himself he could see that he was tied to bed.
and there was Kallaxia.
She slept half sitting and half lying next to him
Praise be to Luna, she was alive!

"Kallaxia? is yond very much thee not just a pipe dreameth?"

Kallaxia woke up and looked at him, then began to smile.

"Nocturnal? Are you back to normal? The doctors say that you fell into some kind of bloodrush during the fight. You attacked everything ... even me."

She raised her hoof to show the wound she had from him

"Didst i attacketh thee? i am v'ry s'rry, mine own loveth. This hast not hath happened to me in a v'ry longeth timeth"

"You knew about it?"

"aye"

"What exactly happened? And why were you like this?"

""i can't pray pardon me what and wherefore jump. I only knoweth yond mine own fusty teachest'r hath called t roteth'r rausch. r'd rush"

"What should be red rush?"

"A dang'rous state in which a warri'r f'rgets what maketh that gent special. That gent becomes an animal. Many claimeth yond this is wherefore the legends of vamponies cometh from. I did throw up aft'r i wast hath caught, right?"

Kallaxia just nodded and was shocked to hear all of this.

"Ah aye yond is because t happeneth yond the pony swallows the meat in the state yond t bites out of the foe. Only the corse cannot cope with t and wanteth to receiveth did rid of t"

"That's terrible!"

"Aye, t is. I'm s'rry thee hadst to seeth me liketh this. but i very much bethought thee hath fallen"

"All because you thought I was dead?"

"All because i loveth thee"

Kallaxia faltered.
Did he just tell her that he loved her? Just because?

"I wast afraid yond i could n't bid thee anym're"

Yes, he just said it like that!
Her cheeks turned pink and her heart grew warm.
damn changlinge were meant to steal love, not receive and feel it! This confused her very much and she had to sit down on a chair first

How could he love her?

Author's Note

Art by AlesDTI

This time a bit shorter, but i kinda love the fight, so... yeah... there is that... xD