A few months after the Battle of Horseshoe End

Nocturnal watched Kallaxia train. She was an exceptional swordsmare, and so were the four volunteers who wanted to learn sword fighting.
He was only slowly healing from his injuries, but thanks to medical advances, no scars would remain this time. this time he had also put up with this hideous flashlight.

He had also practiced the new dialect with Kallaxa. Here and there he slipped back into his old language habits, but it worked now

"Very good work from all of thee. Thou are very strong swordscolts."

He smiled when he saw how everyone was happy about the praise. Especially the smile of Kallaxias meant a lot to him. It was a little strange with her now that he had confessed his love to her, but ...
it was worth it. Every minute with her was a minute that he would hold in his heart forever.
It was clear to him that even if a spell weighed on him, he could really love her, now that he knew her like no one else. And he had confided in her like no one else.
Nocturnal closed his eye and sighed

"Are you all right? Are you in pain again? Should I get the doctor?"

Kallaxia was a little over-cautious, but Nocturnal didn't mind. On the contrary, he enjoyed being so cared for.
It was refreshing and made him feel good.

"Nay thanks. I feel good. Better than good actually. I think we can move on soon."

"Oh, I'm looking forward to that. This village is beautiful ... but I really miss traveling around."

"Aye me too. We've both been in one place too long. But I have a question for thee.

He looked at the other four ponies and pointed at them unobtrusively

"Do thee think these four would be something for our order? They could set up a kind of headquarters here, from where we receive our orders."

"That sounds like a very good idea as long as we can both go hiking again."

"We can do that, my love."

Kallaxia beamed and put her forehead against his, and they both enjoyed the togetherness a little.

the evening before departure

There was a feast.
A festival of the entire village dedicated to the six heroes who survived the battle, as well as the fallen. Everyone was sitting in the market square and there was food and drink in abundance.
Nocturnal was extremely surprised. there was less of that back then. A mercenary came, did his job, took his reward, and left.
It was a nice change.
He and Kallaxia stood slightly in the shade, their traditional red robes on.
ready to go.
Nocturnal leaned against the wall of a house and beamed a little as he watched the four newest members of the Order of the Wandering Blades celebrate.
It was a beautiful sight.

Until a hoof came to rest on his shoulder that wasn't Kallaxia's.
When he turned around, he saw a hooded figure holding an envelope towards him.

"Warm regards from Princess Luna and Princess Celestia"

That was all the figure said and it disappeared into the shadows as it withdrew.
It all happened faster than either could react. The content of the letter was interesting.

To Nocturnal Wanderer

After some searching in the archives and a few blows on the back of my sister's head, we can give thee a map of the last known battle in which Wandering Blades were involved.
Tia simply forgot that day!
There were border disputes with the yaks.
Apparently there are still remnants of the battle there.
maybe thee can find out about the last days of thy order there.

Greetings Luna

Another card came out of the envelope.
It was marked with an X where to go.

"Excellent. In addition to our desire to set off, there is now a destination where! What do thee say, Night, shall we leave?"

"Oh yes that sounds exciting! I would like to know more about our order!"

Our Order ...
these words sounded so beautiful from her mouth.
He began to beam and looked at the compass, adjusted the map.
Then he looked back at the festival that was going on. The four would need instructions. and leadership. Something that Nocturnal had always left to others.
But when he thought about it ...
he was now the head of the order.
Something in which he had no experience.
On the other hand, Kallaxia had once been a military leader. She would certainly do a great job. or at least be able to advise him well.

"Hey ... um ... I have no idea how to manage the Order. I have no experience with it ... Can thee help me with that?"

"But of course I'll help you with that. With the greatest of pleasure."

She smiled at him again, kissed his lips gently. Then she went to the party and gave each of the new friars a role.
She was really good at what she was doing and Nocturnal was happy to have her.

Just a couple of hours later

Nocturnal had a slight bounce in his walk and he enjoyed being on tour again. It was way too long ago that he had felt so good.
And how could he not feel good?
he had Kallaxia, who had taken on her true form again, at his side, the weather was perfect, the way ahead of them was clear.
What could go wrong?

"Nocturnal ... you know the source magic that brought us together is gone, right?"

happy too early it seems

"Yes why?"

"Because I'm not a real pony after all. I'm still a changeling. A love-stealing parasite."

"That's what thou are. But not WHO thou are."

She looked at him incomprehensibly.
Nocturnal was always fascinated by how insecure she was at times, but on the battlefield she was like no other.
He smiled at her, stopped, sat down and put his hooves on her shoulders so that she had to look at him.

"listen to me carefully, mine own belov'd.. Thou are a strong personality, a reliable partner, always there when I needed thee and thee did not let anything or anypony stop thee from following me to death when it looked like it. To me one thee even took on the coat and joined my long-extinct order and helped me to revive it. And all thee wanted for it was something love. And I would givethee more love at any time. Because all love I feel is through thee and for thee"

She looked at him with big eyes, blushed a little and then looked silently away.
something was absolutely wrong.
Nocturnal could feel it in his bowels.

"I'm a traitor. I betrayed my Hive, betrayed my queen and I betrayed my comrades. I am on the run from them because I ran after you, because I felt the love that was triggered by the magical pressure wave in us. and now? now I feel that this love is sincere. I love you more than anything Nocturnal. That's why I'll have to leave you. To protect you. From my kin. I can't let anyth..."

Nocturnal had interrupted her by pulling her close for a deep kiss, and he held her close until she melted in his embrace and snuggled into him.
Only then did he break the kiss

"Never think of that again, my beloved. When it comes to that, I'll protect thee from your hive. if it comes to that I'll die for thee. And when it comes to that, I'll live for thee too. Life is hard, dying is easy. And I want to dedicate this new life that I got to thee"

before she could answer he kissed her again, this time full of love and affection.
How could she think he minded?
Did she think that he would now think she would betray him too?
Should it come to that, so be it.
He just wanted to taste this wonderful feeling for so long that it triggered in him.

somewhere above the two

two drones watched the two on the ground.
it was so heartbreaking.
so emotional.
disgusting.
The love that this Batpony exuded, however ...
In any case, they would pass on a report to their leader. Both made their way back as inconspicuously as possible.

a little later at morning in the next village

"Under no circumstances do I get into such a thing!"

"But Nocturnal, we would be at our destination in no time!"

Kallaxia, now again as Midnight, just didn't understand why Nocturnal didn't want to get on the train. He had come into the village with her, all the way to the train station, and now he was standing on the footbridge in front of the open door and didn't want to put a hoof on the train.

"Are all the ponies crazy that they ride in something like that? they even pay for it? Can't we just go on it's so nice to be out and too hoov!"

"What the...? is the big bad monster hunter afraid of a little safe train journey?"

She couldn't help but tease him a little.
Nocturnal probably just didn't know it and wasn't used to it.
It was not different for her in the beginning.
But he didn't have to know.
She smiled, mended her tail around his nose and walked ahead, away from the train

"Okay, big stallion, got it your way. But don't complain if it takes too long."

Both went further in the direction that they had to take according to the map.
Nocturnal was just glad not to have to sit on a train again.
All that shaking, this speed.
It wasn't for him.
In addition, maybe there was also the opportunity for a little togetherness on the way?
sit a little in the moonlight in a beautiful place?
or more than just sitting?
No, they didn't have time for that ... yet.
Maybe when the two of them had spent a little more time together.
Or was that his thousand year old thinking?

later morning, earlier noon

Both had set up their camp on a small clearing, the grass was beautifully green, there was a small lake nearby that was clear and pure, if a little cold.
Nocturnal didn’t mind. he washed in it and enjoyed the water.

"are thee coming too, Kallax? the water is very refreshing."

No Answer

"Kallaxia?"

Nocturnal turned and ran back to camp. Everything was as it should.
He checked the tent.
Kallaxia was sound asleep.
A little reassured again, Nocturnal withdrew quietly, then thought better of it and crawled into the tent, lay down next to her. Immediately he had her head on his shoulder and her front hooves wrapped around him.
Careful not to wake her up, Nocturnal wrote in his journal.
In addition, someone had to keep watch, after all, they were out in the wild again.

towards evening

When Nocturnal woke up, kallaxia was doing some exercises in front of the tent. Her shape was excellent, and although she could wield the sword with magic, she did as Nocturnal had shown her. She actually used her magic to create a shield that covered her side well. According to her, this is easier than placing a bubble over her whole body.

"good morning nocturnal!"

as soon as she had seen him she literally jumped at him and sucked on his lips. The kiss surprised nocturnal very much, but he was not averse.

"Excuse me, but I'm starving! Can I have a little of your love?"

"Always my beloved"

He read that she sucked some of the love he felt for her. she never took more than necessary.
But now he too was hungry.
To his astonishment and delight, a breakfast had already been prepared.
He ate with relish the fruits that they had bought at the last market. Everything was nicely draped.

"Thee are so good to me"

Kallaxia giggled and sat down with him.
Something was ... strange.
again ...
he just looked at her questioningly, and she looked brightly at the sky.
It took a while before she noticed that he was looking at her.
and a little longer until she understood.

"I'm in an extremely good mood today. I woke up with my special somepony, the day has been great so far, my training is finished too.
Oh and I had a visit from Princess Luna. She helped me get rid of a nightmare and talked to me about feelings and the same. "

"Ah that's good, but what was the nightmare about?"

"I dreamed that I would lose you, or worse, that you would leave me."

"I would never leave thee willingly. But thee know that, yes? "

"Yes i know."

"Very well then. i sharp my sword, than we can go on."

He started sharpening the sword. But this time he had it with the handle on his wing, while the sword itself went down towards the ground.
Kallaxia said goodbye to look for something to eat in the forest again for Nocturnal. She had taken care of it.
He began to take care of the blade with the whetstone, but after sharpening it twice he felt a stabbing pain in his hoof.
The sword had blood on its blade.
It asked for his blood!
That wasn't a good omen for a swordscolt like him.
Still in disbelief, he looked at his hoof, then the sword.
How could it even be so hot?
Nocturnal hadn't used it in a while but ...
That was the problem, wasn't it?
Thundering Hooves came into possession during an invasion. He killed many opponents with it. After that, he had led it into another fight.
It made sense that the sword was thirsty for blood.
After all, that's how it was for Nocturnel.
He felt the need for more blood, for more dead, for more devastation.
but he would fight it back.

"What happened?"

Kallaxia looked at the sword in amazement, then Nocturnal, then the sword again.
How was it that he hadn't noticed that she was back again?

"Just cut me. I overdone it with the sharpening."

he laughed a little like it was funny, but it wasn't. and Kallaxia didn't laugh either. She just looked alienated.
Then she came closer and took a closer look at the wound, took a hoof in her hooves.
He allowed it and held out his leg to her.
she examined it, then spat on it.

"What in...?"

was all that nocturnal could bring out, a hoof hit him in the face, then his two front hooves stuck together with the spit.
Still surprised, nocturnal wanted to jump up, but that only ensured that his back legs were also glued together to the front legs.
Then he felt a hoof around his neck and how it was slowly being squeezed shut.
He couldn't breathe anymore!
nocturnal slowly lost consciousness

Kallaxia comes back about an hour later

Everything was normal in the camp. at least at first glance.
In fact, Kallaxia disliked several things that were strange.
Nocturnal's things weren't packed yet, even though he was about to leave. His journal was lying around openly and he himself seemed to be dozing.
That was very strange.

she walked up to Nocturnal, took a closer look at him. His coat was upside down. his saddle pocket closed untidily, and the sword not properly in its scabbard either

"You don't need to pretend to be him, Changeling. I saw through you."

The changeling in front of her said nothing, and green flames broke out of him and he turned back to his true form.

"We borrowed your coltfriend. After all, you are well fed and can certainly do without him a bit, right?"

"Bolt words for somepony in Swordrange"

"You won't hurt me After all, you want to see HIM again, am I not right?"

Kallaxia bit her lip.
That was indeed a good leverage against her.
she swallowed hard

"What do I have to do to get him back?"

"Fight your sister. She has Nocturnal now."

"Oh no. Please tell me it's not Hellira."

"But it's hellira. She has your beloved nocturnal"

Kallaxia looked at him in disbelief, then screamed, turned and struck a tree with her sword.
This one had no chance and fell like a match.
Of all her sisters, it had to be Hellria right now.
Her anger knew no bounds, and it was only because he had the information she needed that the Changling stayed alive.

"Take me to Hellria right now!"

The changeling bowed to her and started walking.

unknown time later

Nocturnal woke up again. everything was upside down. His hooves were glued to the ceiling of a cave.
And before him was Callaxia.
He turned his head a little.
No. It wasn't Kallaxia. she just looked like her.

"Why is my sister so attached to you? Why did she betray the hive? Why did she betray me? What did you do to her?"

"I do not know exactly. But thee should let me go. Otherwise, Kallaxia will put thee in your place. and siblings shouldn't fight."

The changeling in front of him came closer, and sniffed at him.
Then she just licked his mouth and lips.
It was bizarre.
Then the Changeling opened her mouth and did something that nocturnal had seen many times at Kallaxia.
Only this time he didn't give up the love in himself so easily. She would have to fight for it.
But not difficult or long. Nocturnal felt the strength and the warmth leave him.
Kallaxia had never sucked out of him as much as this changeling.
his wings were limp, and so was his head.

"Stop please ..."

The changeling continued to look at him with wide, curious eyes.
walked around him and looked at his cutiemark.

"My name is Hellria. i'm the sister of Kallaxia, leader of the first attack squad. I think I saw you fight in Canterlot months ago. hoped you'd kill Kallaxia."

Nocturnal gave her a weak look but couldn't answer.
He was so cold and his throat felt so dry.

"Tell me ... why did you spare her while killing so many other of my subordinates? And their subordinates too. Why is Kallaxia still breathing?"

Nocturnal articulated with his mouth that he needed water .. He was so incredibly thirsty.
And he was so cold.
Hellria still had the curious and inquiring look on it when she let water float towards him and gently gave him a drink.
Then she repeated her question, still calm, still inquiring.

"I don't know. We fought, but she was good. It was fun fighting her. Then this explosion came, it came to me, bit my lip, tasted a little of my blood, I of hers , then she was carried away by the energy wave"

That stare again.
as if she didn't want to miss anything.
She came slowly closer and stared into his eye, moving her head a little as if she wanted to look at herself in a mirror.

"I don't know how, but I think you put my sister under a spell. That's why she's on the road with you, and not at home. I'll prove that, and then I don't have to kill her anymore. No matter what mother says."

"mother?"

"Queen chrysalis of course. We are special. Bred to be stronger and smarter than normal drones. We are, if you will, princesses. all of my sisters ... except for Kallaxia. she was stripped of her title when she was banished."

Nocturnal had to process this information first. Apparently there would be more problems than expected if he traveled with kallaxia.
Too bad she hadn't told him that she was such an important pony in the hive.
He couldn’t believe it. Why? Why?
He hung his head again, and darkness enveloped him.
Darkness and cold

Author's Note

art by AlexDTI

Trainride, a few chapters ago
Colorized

()

a big thank you to all readers here. I've rarely been so motivated ^^
and again special thanks to AlexDTI for the artwork.

Here is the link to his Devianart
https://www.deviantart.com/alexdti