Priorlightby Reddling RainChaptersFlightMotion and MirrorsReddling changed the world.The TraitorIntroductionsFlight"You cannot doubt yourself in this line of work." Again. Riding Rain stood in the center of his home. Around him trees seemed to move very fast, and a dark pool of water reflected the sun and the moon above, both of which would not shine their light upon this place. Silver grass gently rustled without noise around him. Riding could see this with his eyes closed, however, he chose to see as he stepped forward, moving right out of where he was and watching as the landscape arced with him and he moved between the dreams. He could see several other orbs near him, important events or nightmares or wonderful rewards. Here and there he side trotted some intrusive onlookers, trying to locate one specific dream and finding that he could not seem to locate one that fit what he was looking for, much to his irritation. Dreams were no small part of being a bat pony, and Riding Rain had managed to become a little more aware each and every time he dreamed. Dream magic, and magic of the soul, were kept away from normal ponies, and with good reason. Riding had recalled somewhat how Cobalt Flare had done dreamwalking when he had needed to enter a pony's dream before, however, he was not quite looking to do this. I admit, I am not even sure if I can safely enter a dream. Unless I stay in very far flung corners or make sure that I stay very undercover, it seems as though I end up being attacked or find myself in terrible nightmares. I am not about to go ask for help stopping that, either. Riding continued to push through the dreamscapes, but he found that he could not find any dream that had the pony he was looking for in them. Teardrops, somehow, either did not dream- which Riding had already ruled out, because every pony dreams even if they do not always remember their dream- or was naturally capable of guarding their dreams from intrusion. Riding was sure that he could think of several other eventualities, but his mind was caught, snagged into the second idea. Somehow, this pony was concealing themselves from him, something that very few ponies could do. Even skilled dreamwalkers who could shield their dreams, Riding knew exactly how to get through their defenses. He looked down at his blue coat and his kukri. It was a simple matter for him to enter a dream, and if needed, he could do so by force, although he was careful to refrain as this attracted a lot of attention. Riding found it more useful to view other's dreams, to see what they saw, or what they were going to see later, and then use this to his advantage. In the Night Guard, use of such things was by order of Princess Luna, totally forbidden. To violate the sanctity of a pony's mind could have such consequences that the dark and stormy Princess Luna made Riding not even want to question what would be done to a trained dreamwalker that broke such commands. Good thing I am not a trained dreamwalker. But why can I not find this pony? Maybe I need to... look for somepony that knows them? No, they said they were made fun of and did not have a family. There's no way anypony in the day world is dreaming about them. Ponies that put other ponies down do not dream of their victims, unless it's a Nightmare. Even then, I do not know where to look because I do not know where they are from- Riding Rain closed his eyes and felt the dream landscape arc with him towards Silverfield's area of dreams. He opened them again and looked across the Silverfield dreamscape. Lots of dreams here, But a lot less dreams than even a large city in Equestria, and none of them were good dreams. Riding kept a little distance from Silverfield, not wanting to get too close, and still failing to see any pony that looked like Teardrops. Riding sighed and shook his head, feeling himself tugged back to his area and then opening his eyes in his cabin. "Futile." Riding said, and as a mental reminder to myself, I need to be very careful about saying anything in my sleep from now on. Those ponies will be listening for sure and they might hear me from the tiny crack under the door. I do not want to explain the screaming at night. Riding glanced over at his nightstand and grabbed a letter that was sealed there, tucking it into his coat for later. His efforts in the dream world had been as futile as trying to find somepony to send some fruit juice to Teardrops the night before. Luckily, they had been more willing to eat after some pre-training. Riding Rain sat up in the waking world now, reaching for the wine bottle and looking around very quick before he took a large swig out of the bottle and then stowed it back under his bed. Belting on his cloth, then his belts, and then his armor, Riding slung his weapons on and then pulled his coat over himself, finally adjusting a pair of sunglasses before stepping out into the false dusk and looking at the horizon. The final rays of light vanished, the signal for another night. Riding slipped out into the yard and stepped forward, not even missing a step when he saw what he knew was going to be happening. It does not take a genius nor an oracle to figure out that this was what would happen the next night. The night before he had taught every single stretch he knew and showed all the basics of bat pony gliding to Teardrops, but there had only been a little time to glide, no full on flight, and no air currents. Teardrops was already in the resting position outside, full Night Guard armor on and their helmet covering their entire face, keeping their eyes and face unreadable. Their parade armor offered practically no cover from the light, although it at least looked pretty. Riding trotted a little faster and took a jump, flapping his wings and catching a very low air current to glide himself across the yard to stand right in front of Teardrops, closing his wings and letting an acrobatic flourish aid his sudden landing, his coat draping around him. "Of course, we are learning flying tonight." Riding Rain said. "That's so cool. I've only seen a few pegasi move like that." Teardrops helmet was facing forward. "I would rather not be compared to any single pegasi you have met." Riding commented. "For tonight, let's focus on being bat ponies. For the rest of your life, really." "Do bat ponies live any longer or shorter than other ponies?" Teardrops asked. Riding Rain turned away, trotting towards the mess hall and declining to answer. He stopped when Teardrops did not follow, and waved a hoof for them to follow. "Won't eating before we fly make it more difficult?" Teardrops asked. Riding gave a shrug without putting his hooves up. "Then learn to drink your fruit and not eat it. Trust me, it's very easy once you get used to it." Teardrops gave a nod, and then took a bit of a gallop to arrive at Riding's side fully as they went into the mess hall. Today there was food out proper, Equestria's famous hay fries, done breakfast style, and lots of fruits with light creamed porridge. Riding stopped at the counter with Teardrops, noting that there were four other ponies already present who had all fallen silent when he had entered with Teardrops. "You can take your helmet off." Riding said to Teardrops. "Oh, Right! Military stuff, sorry-" Teardrops nearly dropped the helmet and stumbled to grab it as Riding balanced it against the serving counter with them. "No, you do not need it at night, is what I mean. However, yes, also military stuff." Riding Rain added. I always followed my own rules in the day guard, and the night guard. I'll be cursed if I start telling somepony to obscenely follow every single rule. Serving others rules has never, ever, served me well. Teardrops nodded as Riding silently thought to himself, taking the helmet and putting it at the far end of the table, away from the other four ponies. Riding's eyes moved with Teardrops, a refrain inside him preventing him from saying anything, and yet, He found himself foiled by this new bat pony. The way in which they moved and the actions they took had jogged very old memories with Riding, and while they were bittersweet memories, now they were starting to border on horror. Who the hell are you? Teardrops stood next to Riding and waited at the counter, practically bobbing in place with eagerness to get back to flying training. Riding wondered if he would be able to keep track of this pony unless he followed their every move once they could fly. A bitter feeling stirred right above Riding's stomach at that. Just like Web did with me. "Where the hell is the cook." Riding finally said. There was no reply from the kitchen. Riding grumbled and took a few fruits, heading to go sit down nearer the other four ponies. This, he thought, would put some distance between him and Teardrops, but once they had their food- a few fruits, There teardrops was, silent and watching everypony as Riding looked at the five ponies in front of him. There is that chilly feeling again. "Greetings." Riding Rain said to the group of ponies. Several of them exchanged glances for a moment. "So, what are your names?" Riding looked at the ponies as they exchanged glances, a couple side eyeing Teardrops. "Please do not make me start hoofing out names again." Riding said. "I admit I am terrible at names." "Uh." One of the blue ponies started, but then stopped. Oh it's going to be like this all night, why is this being done to me? Who did I hurt specifically that made me have to go through this? Riding slumped a bit into his fruit, dragging his fangs into a mango and beginning to suck the juice out. The obvious unnerved looks from the other four got a light attempt at a chuckle from Teardrops. Riding hoped it was a chuckle of approval, because the other bat ponies would look at them very odd like if they did not get used to drinking their fruit. When Riding finished the mango he put the shriveled fruit down, looking back to the ponies. "Let's not all speak at once now." Riding tried to make his comment as dry as the look in his eyes at the situation. He sucked down the other fruits, and then stood up, tossing away the shriveled fruits into a bag and heading outside. "Ugh." Riding said, slumping into a sitting position by the bleachers. "I wonder if this is right above the spot where I vomited the first night." Riding stopped, looking at the bleachers, then back at the mess hall. Teardrops was heading outside now, a fast consumer of the fruit, and headed towards the practice yard as Riding stood up and looked himself over. "You are the legendary assassin Reddling Rain. That is what they call you, Reddling. The bat pony from Silverfield." ...Oh they all know who I am already. They do not see Riding Rain. They do not see me. They see... Riding stopped his internal, vocal, thoughts, looking down for a brief moment at the ground. He pushed his hoof at the bleachers a bit as he descended them, trotting behind them and then behind the mess hall. Riding hoofed at the ground idly for a moment, closing his eyes. Riding flapped his wings and then took off into the sky, gliding a bit higher and looking down at the training yard. Everybat was now in a line, two more having left their quarters and making a total of seven including Teardrops, waiting, and Riding took a moment to ponder how he should appear. Shadowstep? Land like earlier? Maybe he should trot up behind them? Or should he just let them stand there for a few moments? This is actually a very difficult decision to make. I made a first impression already, so my second impression should be... Riding took a deep breath, and then flew over towards the practice yard. He could feel at least a few sets of eyes on him, and he then shielded himself with his wings, covering his face and allowing himself to freefall towards the ground. One of the ponies gasped but Riding did not see who as he let his body twirl and then did a very fast and very sudden upheaval and reversal, flapping his wings to their full span once and breaking his fall before bringing them back around his face. he used this moment to put on his sunglasses very quickly from inside his coat, pulling his wings back and folding them without fanfare. The wind blew around them, and a night predator let out a caw in the night. Teardrops' eyes were huge, almost glowing, although the blue pony next to them looked like he was going to faint. "Unlock your hooves, you'll pass out otherwise." Riding said to the faint looking blue pony, who rested a bit. Riding scanned the rest of the ponies. "You know who I am." Riding watched all the ponies nod to his comment, some with hesitation, some without. Teardrops seemed to be very happy to nod, however, at the very end of the line from the other six. "Well then. It is my job to acclimate all of you to being bat ponies." Riding Rain stopped, looking at the other ponies. "Tonight, I would like to begin flying training. How many old pegasus ponies are here?" Riding saw four of them raise their hooves, including Teardrops. Riding gave a nod. "I want each of you to pair up with an earth pony or former unicorn. Take your time, we are not here to race, and I do not want to have to call the medic to patch anypony up just trying to fly a little ways. Right now, what is most important is that you take time to get adjusted here. Stretch your new wings, and remember that bat pony wings work different from Pegasus wings. And Teardrops, of course, you will be learning with me." Riding thought he saw Teardrops vibrate a little in their armor as the other six paired up into groups, speaking amonst themselves as Riding Rain approached teardrops, motioning towards a far end of the yard. Riding hit his wings out and took a running jump, beating his wings to catch a low air current before hovering, looking down at Teardrops. "Ready to fly?" Riding Rain knew he did not need to even ask this, he just was trying to be honest with politeness. Teardrops shook their head yes many times, and Riding nodded back down. "Do I need to run really fast first?" Teardrops asked, "Like as fast as I can run?" "Not too fast. You need a little bit of space for takeoff. After that tilt your wings with the bones facing upwards and then slowly tilt them forward as you give wing flaps. Your goal is to get to the air currents, not to fight the air itself." Riding watched as Teardrops took a running start and hit the lower air current, but then sort of did a half horseshoe circle, not getting very high into the air. Riding went down to the ground and paused, staying on the lowest air current. "Don't fight the air current once you get up. You have to let the air current allow you to glide. You only want to beat your wings when you hover, like I am now. Just use wing beats to speed up or slow down. Angle the bat pony claws on your wings forward to slow down, and backwards to speed up. Backwards will get you altitude and speed, forwards will take you down." Riding instructed, watching Teardrops make a second, and then a third try. It was the third try where there was a loud bat pony screech, and Riding watched as Teardrops got above the first air current, gliding around the field ever so slightly before landing, able to control and foot their landing without needing to trot a small ways when they hit the ground. Riding glided closer, landing next to Teardrops and nodding to them as they beamed happily. "It's very basic stuff to get into the low currents, there's a bit more you need to know to fly any higher than just low level flight though. I'll teach all of you that together. Don't go above the tree line until then. Do you remember the bat pony wing stretches I taught you?" Teardrops gave a nod, little sounds of bat pony eee escaping them as they took off and flew again. "Make sure to stretch or you will regret it!" Riding called after them, turning to face the other six bat ponies. Riding trotted among them, observing the pegasi taking in differences of their wings, the criss cross of veins, the fur, the differences in structure, alongside their flying partner to be. Riding breathed a sigh out. He knew this was the fun part of being a bat pony. Later would come the more troubling parts. Including a part that he knew how to interact with now. Riding left the ponies behind in the yard and stood at the top of the bleachers, looking out over the trees and at the foot of a larger mountain. Riding knew what was out there in this forest, and in the caves. Riding heard the sound of wingflight behind him, and turned, seeing Teardrops stumble a bit as they landed on the bleachers at an awkward angle, tortting up to Riding and beaming with happiness. Happiness that Riding was not aware you could join the Night Guard with. "You seem happy." Riding remarked. "Yes!" Teardrops' voice was loud, a little too loud for Riding, but he allowed it. It was clear to him this was a very special moment for Teardrops. Riding looked out at the forest again. It was his deep desire that he prevent these bat ponies from ever going into the forest, yet, he was not sure how he was going to do that yet. The Nightmare was a place of horrors. However, I have options. I could say none of these ponies have the aptitude for magic. I could train them to overcome the Nightmare, like I did. "What are you looking at? Is there something out there?" Teardrops asked. Riding shook his head, looking away. "We speak on that later." Teardrops flattened their ears a bit, and Riding sat down in the bleachers, observing for the most part while Teardrops beat their wings, working on hovering in place and then flying around the bleachers a bit before landing, giving a huge huff of air. "Tired?" Riding asked. "It's more difficult than it looks." Teardrops told Riding, who nodded. Both of them sat together in the bleachers for a moment of silence, Riding's preferred way to spend his time, typically. "May I ask, why did you join the Night Guard? You are unlike anypony I have ever encountered here." Riding Rain said, looking down at Teardrops. It was a very slight downward look, as they stood at near the same height. "By request, actually. Of me." Teardrops said. "Of course, all of us have to request to join and prove ourselves." Riding said, stopping as Teardrops continued, "No, I mean it was requested that I join. By Éther and Princess- uh, I mean, Princess Luna, and also Éther." Teardrops corrected themself. Riding Rain raised a hoof, silencing Teardrops with it. He did not think he was using any magic, but he may as well have been. "Do not doubt yourself. Éther does everything with express intent. You are here because of Éther, and how she acts with Princess Luna." Riding Rain said, putting his hoof down. Teardrops was silent for a moment, brushing their hoof along the ground, looking at the moon, then back at where Éther had disappeared the night before. it took a little while, but then Teardrops spoke, "You are saying Éther wanted me here? Princess Luna agreed?" You cannot doubt yourself in this line of work. "You can fly now. Cast away your self doubt. You are not like the other ponies anymore. And within the Night Guard, we are not all the same. Manipulating a Princess is petty work to some of us. If Éther expressed will that you join, Princess Luna would agree." Riding said. Teardrops was silent, then looked up, "Who is she? Éther, I mean." Riding said nothing, drawing his hoof in a little shape along the ground and not meeting Teardrops eyes. "I cannot tell you. But I can show you, if you have the aptitude for it." Riding said after a pause. "Show me?" Teardrops asked. "It is very invasive, and it is very deep and personal. It will be uncomfortable in the extreme, and there is absolutely no assurance you have the capacity for what I can teach. Normally, this is conducted with all of the recruits together so, you will need to wait-" "No!" Teardrops said, causing Riding to back away. When the pony said no, it almost stung him, as if something was just barely holding back a very sharp object, like a warning. Teardrops looked up at him, pausing, "I mean, I want to learn everything about being a bat pony!" "Do not rush this-" "Please?" Teardrops cut Riding Rain off. Riding took a deep breath, looking over his shoulder and then back at the cadets. Riding Rain paused, looking down between the bleachers with sadness. "I worry that you won't be so happy once you get to that part of being a bat pony. I would like for you to hold off on that and not rush this, just for the moment, so I may prepare. Please." There was an obvious huff of sadness from Teardrops, but Riding felt them nod as they took off and headed for the sky. Riding still wanted to teach much more about being a bat pony to these trainees before he had to get to the darker parts of why bat ponies exist, and what some of their purpose is. As midnight approached the moon began changing from it's fullness to waning, marking the halfway point of another month. Riding decided that it might be better if he refrained from causing discomfort, and instead waiting until Teardrops had their back turned while flying to vanish into the shadows. If he could not get the cadets to speak to him openly, then he would have them speak among themselves and listen from the shadows. Stepping in the back way, Riding Rain still could not find the cook, although somehow, all the food had been prepared and cooking dishes cleaned. The speed and silence with which the cook was able to appear, cook food, and then disappear was disturbing to Riding, and although he inspected the cooking area for any signs of poison, he had yet to find anything odd about this other than the apparent lack of a cook. Probably for the better, last time we had a cook he was a surly jerk, and that didn't ever end well for any of us, including him, the bastard. Riding ducked near the countertops and stayed right behind them after he heard every set of hooves pass and go settle down, using his bat pony hearing to hear over the countertop as he used his wing to snag a mango idly and suck on it behind the counter. He had not truly taken time to imagine how talking to the new cadets would go, but he had not expected them to be so distant. Perhaps they needed time to warm up to the Night Guard? Yes, that must be it. Then again, Night Guard were not always known for their comradery, and perhaps these ponies were just as damaged? Just as in need of learning that friends count, even in the Night Guard. Riding pushed the intrusive thoughts away as he listened in on the conversation from afar. "Did you bring the books, no name?" A bat pony, with a gruff voice, asked. "It's Teardrops." There was a faint tinge of snark in Teardrops voice, one that Riding hadn't seen today. It was not disdainful, however her words clarified, "Of course I brought the books. Here, they're under the table." Riding heard a shuffling of hooves, trays, and then paper as several thuds slapped down on the table. "This is so weird, isn't it? The wings, the hearing, the sight. All of it. It's just like those books we found said." A different bat pony remarked, further away from the others. "Not as weird as our teacher casually sitting next to us on the first breakfast." The first bat pony with the gruff voice remarked. "Starshadows, I do not think he is a teacher." Teardrops voice moved, as if leaning over something, "Nightwing and Moonbeam were totally correct when they saw him, I told you. The first night I asked him who he was and he confirmed it. He's just here to help us get used to being bat ponies." "No name- I mean, Teardrops, If these books are correct we should be just as concerned about him as most of these other Night Guard. It says they killed a lot of ponies, a lot of royal guard! You feel safe knowing that ponies like that are training us? I thought they were just stories, you know, made up to scare little ponies at night." A voice that Riding now associated with Starshadows said. "I wonder how many of these other stories are real..." A louder toned, however distinct in it's femininity, bat pony said. "I am not too sure. Dreamwalking by bat ponies? The ability to step into the shadows and appear wherever you want? Manipulate light and darkness? Command ponies? ...Riding Rain, he seems harmless enough, despite all the knives, we could just ask!" Teardrops rattled off a list, although the final comment made Riding Rain suppress a cough from his hidden location. "No!" Several other bat ponies squeaked back at Teardrops, and Riding heard Teardrops audibly reel back into their chair. There was some silence, and Riding could hear several pages being flipped here and there. then the sound of something being pulled out of a folder. "What about this?" Starshadows said, his hoof moving off the table and holding something. "Honestly, I do not even want to talk about that unless we know we aren't being spied upon." the feminine voice stated. Riding heard the ponies look around, and then heard whatever was in the pony's hoof disappear. I will not be the one blamed for the Night Guard going soft. This is not foalschool, mysterious note passing will not be allowed. Riding was about to try and guess who had hidden the note away, when his question was answered. "Let's meet at the bar then. Right at sunrise in our helmets. I heard bat ponies do not go out during the day and so even if it's uncomfortable, we will not be spied on. We could crack the door open so they cannot "shadowstep" in there, or whatever." Starshadows said, adding "I'll bring the note with me." Riding heard some nods of agreement and "mhm's" and "yes" from other bat ponies as they continued eating. Riding had long since finished his mango, and ducked out back to the kitchen, leaving the shrivled fruit on the counter and stepping into the back area, behind the mess hall. There was a fence in the distance, although whatever purpose it served, Riding was not sure now, it seemed a little overgrown with weeds and small trees. I have a terrible feeling about this. Mysterious notes and Éther being potentially not being involved in that aspect of it has way too many red flags. Maybe Teardrops would tell me what is in the note? I'll have to find out after practice. Riding Rain trotted around the mess hall towards the far side of the bleachers, and then took a bit of a running leap and jumped towards the sky, flapping his wings and gaining altitude towards the higher wind currents. In the mountains, the pegasi did not manage the air currents as well, just enough to allow for safe travel. Riding was glad that night flying was not an activity most pegasi enjoyed, because in a few moments none of them would be flying unless prepared. Smacking the air, Riding pulled himself just short of the cloud layer, looking at the black clouds that seemed to move way too fast next to puffy white ones. This just so happened to be a perfect night for this, and why would it not be? Equestria always had the perfect weather arranged for it, except for the notable times when an individual would specifically choose to not have it so. Riding flapped his wings and gave them several beats, closing his eyes and feeling the currents around him grow wilder, fall out of proper circulation, and become confused. He was not a weather pony, and never had any intention to become one, however he had enough time training with day guards and other night guard to learn how to disrupt air currents. When airborne, it was equally important to have combat superiority as it was to have control of flight. Any circumstance to rob your training partner or worse, a foe, could prove to end any conflict without further violence and potentially, without weapons. These thoughts swirled with Riding as he descended back down, satisfied with how wild the air was now. It was like home, like Silverfield. As if no pegasi had ever managed those air currents. Riding had his eyes closed when he heard incredibly soft hoofsteps approaching, and opened his eyes. He was sitting in the bleachers, waiting for the lunch break to be over, and looked next to him to see Éther standing there with another bat pony that was familiar to him. Her body was covered with cloth, hiding all of her features like a mourner, with darkened armor that reflected light back at any sources that would try to reveal her, and thus blinding others. "Hello Éther... and, it's been a long time, Nightshade." Riding Rain said to both of them, addressing the gloomy bat pony with the second name. Nightshade might have let out a snort, but Riding was not sure if it was simply not her just breathing heavily. She shrugged and produced a box, some sort of large case, and set it down on some lower bleachers. "What the hell is this?" Riding asked, looking the box over before looking back at Éther. Only Éther was no longer there, only Nightshade. "New training weapons. Traditional wooden ones are already in a box at your cabin for them. Luna wants the new cadets trained in these, as well." Nightshade opened the case with some loose unicorn magic, which she retained a little control over even in her bat pony form, flicking the case open. Riding pulled back a blanket that was over the top and looked at a set of objects designed to be attached to a hoof. Some were shorter, barely larger than a hoofshoe, others were longer and seemed to be disassembled, almost as long as a pony. "Nightshade..." Riding's voice gave warning and edge, but Nightshade cut him off. "Luna's orders. Do not make a fool of yourself." Nightshade said. "Wait, can we-" Riding felt his voice die. He had stood up and raised a hoof out, but Nightshade had already turned away. She did stop for a brief moment, but did not look back. Then she was gone, stepping into shadows that enveloped her and then left no trace. Dammit. Riding looked down at the box, kicking at the bleachers. As much as he felt he aught to think about his feelings over this right now, he realized there was not much time- the new cadets were trickling back out, and Riding felt around in the box, looking for a note. Sure enough, there was one of Éther's trademark notes. Riding, Ensure that when you teach the new cadets how to blind fight, you issue each of them one of these. Keep the packs in the bottom hidden, help them get target practice. Signed Ether Riding was already disdainfully looking at the box and considering burying the entire thing, but he knew since both Nightshade and Éther had seen him get the box, he could not get away with that. He did not trust these new weapons, and he couldn't foresee any reason why Equestria would have need for them. This said, he had seen a disturbing trend of them being issued to far, far too many guards, even to local constabulary had been issued more of these than they had ponies. Riding closed the box for the moment, jumping and gliding down to meet the new cadets. Given the choices of where to take their training next, he was not going to issue them these new weapons until he absolutely had no choice. Riding Rain fell downwards, breaking his fall and landing, looking at the cadets as they lined up. Riding looks down the line, thinking about what to say, then back at the bleachers, then back to the cadets. The wind blew a little colder now due to the disrupted air currents, but otherwise, everything seemed at peace on the surface. Riding Rain looked upwards, then back down at the cadets. "I would like all of you to continue practicing flying for tonight. I am going to be giving you special training that I was not specifically asked to do, however, I hope you will be thankful for it one day in the future if you need it." Riding paused, and then gestured a hoof upwards, towards the clouds. "Please do not fly above the treeline, I have disrupted the air currents there to make them like my homeland. As you all know who I am and the stories, I am indeed from Silverfield. In Silverfield, the air currents are wild and untamed. If you are ever sent beyond Equestria, you can expect to potentially encounter weather that is not as tame or worse, wild. Those of you familiar with the Everfree Forest can infer enough about what I mean." One of the ponies in the line raised a hoof, and Riding pointed to the grey bat pony, near Teardrops. They took a step forward, and then coughed, saying, "Is it safe? To fly in those conditions?" "No." Riding Rain was short with his reply, watching the grey bat step back into line. "However, short of the end of all Equestria, if you can learn to fly in those wind currents and avoid any inclement weather, you will be able to fly anywhere... Which, reminds me." Riding Rain closed his eyes behind his sunglasses, thinking back to his own lessons here. "You do not have to stand in a line with me here. I am not the Captain. You may all relax if you wish. Sit down, rest yourselves." Riding watched and saw Teardrops take a seat, and after a few moments, the other cadets seemed to relax as well, although they did not quite make themselves comfortable. "The Night Guard here, is a place of opportunity. I noticed some of your new names already, so you have that figured out. They do not normally tell you about this unless you ask- however, I think it best to be straightforward." Riding turned to face the cadets. "There is nothing that can prevent you from being the pony you wish to be other than your orders, yourself, and the other Night Guard. We are more than just a guard, we all find our places. We do what no pony else can do, because no pony else can." "More than just fly like bats and see in the dark, then?" The feminine voice, who Riding identified as the lavender pony, said. "Your name?" Riding asked. "Moonbeam, sir." Moonbeam replied. Riding gave a nod, then turned towards them directly. "Yes. Until such time as the Captain of the Night Guard arrives to teach you combat training, or unless any of the other senior bat ponies make themselves known, I will be responsible for teaching all of you about such topics. I do not know most of the answers about the Night Guard, but I can find you the pony that does if I do not." "And what topics can you teach us about?" Moonbeam pushed further. Riding glared behind his sunglasses. "I can teach you to stay alive and keep other ponies alive." Moonbeam glanced hesitantly at the other bat ponies, and seemed to choose it was unwise to push the topic further. Riding beckoned to the group, pointing towards the yard. "Remember, not above the treeline, I do not wish to spend my evening untangling you from trees, although it would not be the first time I dug a bat pony out of tree limbs." Riding Rain stopped speaking under his breath, unsure if the cadets had attuned their hearing quite enough to hear him yet, "Actually, I bet I could still find that same tree Midnight crashed into..." Riding coughed, looking back up at the cadets. "In any case! Practice your flying. If you have specific interests, then I want your name before I teach you or request a bat pony to help teach you. Once you all have basic gliding down, we will work on trying the higher air currents tomorrow night." Riding turned, looking at the bleachers and closing his eyes as he felt the space around him compress, squeezing the air out of his lungs as he took a sharp breathe in on the other side, finding himself standing in the bleachers. he heard a couple gasps from the other bat ponies, with exception of Teardrops. Riding closed the box in the bleachers and hoisted it onto his back before taking another breath, and feeling air compress around him once more as he found himself outside the rear of the bar. Riding set down the box taking a few heavy breathes, rattling the door and pushing it open before dragging the handle of the box in with his mouth. Darn, this thing is heavy. Riding kept moving until he found himself behind the bar, pulling the box into the storeroom with many bottles of distilled liquids and other bottles. Closing the door with a wingclaw, Riding looked out at the bar. He was not used to seeing this room from behind the counter, and noted that the cook who usually served as the bartender still was not present. Stepping back into the night air, Riding went to go check his cabin, confirming the second box's location, and then flying back towards the bleachers. Riding Rain landed on the bleachers and looked out at the field, counting the cadets, but finding himself short one pony. Short, exactly, the shortest of the new cadets. Riding turned his head to look at the other end of the bleachers, seeing the purple hued iris in both of Teardrops eyes looking his way. "Can you teach me to do that?" Teardrops asked quietly, the excitement in their voice obvious. "Do you just fly really really really fast? Or is that like, bat pony magic?" Riding Rain looked down, declining to answer. Telling the truth is not right here. To be honest, I do not know what it is I do when I do this. It's not shadowstepping, but it is something else. "Oh, alright." Teardrops said, looking down, before looking back up, towards right above the treeline. "Can you take me up there? Teach me?" Riding looked above the treeline, then over at Teardrops. At first it had been endearing, and he understood what it was like to have a pony with the mindset of Teardrops, but now he felt irked in the slightest. Maybe he could make some sort of bargain here? Yes, that's it. "I will make you a promise Teardrops." Riding stopped, looking up at the sky. "Tell me what you really want, why are you really here. What is it that you thought you would find in the Night Guard? Do not tell me flying, I know you are here to fly. But there is something more in your eyes, they betray you." Teardrops moved closer, sitting across a break in the bleachers and looking over still. "What do you mean?" "I'm just curious what you intend to do after you are done learning to fly. What are you really looking for in the Night Guard? You can be anypony that you want to be here, you have freedom. If you tell me that, I'll help you get there." Riding paused, looking over, but not direct into Teardrops eyes. "When I joined the Night Guard my eyes were painful like yours. I do not want to see another pony have that kind of pain, I can see your suffering, and you do not have to explain it." "That seems like a lot of extra care." Teardrops said, "You don't treat the others that way." Riding looked down at the ground below the bleachers. "Consider it part of me saying sorry to the Night Guard and Princess Luna, for my past. You, Starshadows, Moonbeam, and Nightwing all seem to have plenty of plenty of your own ideas." Teardrops tapped their hoof, looking around a bit, then finally speaking after the moon had moved a bit in the sky. "You saved the Night Guard though. No matter what you did, isn't that enough of a sorry? You did what you had to do." "I'm not that pony anymore." Riding replied. "That was my story, I want to make sure a pony that has pain in their eyes can make their own story the way I never had a chance to." "You did make your own story, though." Teardrops countered. "I want that. I want my own story. I want to be... somepony." "No more specifics?" Riding asked. "Well. I want to be a fast flier. Like the legendary Rainbow Dash, and- I want to be cool. and you know, do things that matter?" Teardrops answered. "Fame may not come in the way you want in the Night Guard." Riding looked over at Teardrops, who shook their head. "Not fame. I mean if it happens alright." Teardrops said. "I am not very good at this kind of thing- uh," Teardrops stopped suddenly, a fleeting sign of pain flashing in those eyes. Riding caught it, but he was not quite sure what it was. "Not one for romance and emotion? Do not talk to Éther much then, she puts emotion into every single word she has ever spoken." Riding commented. Teardrops rolled her eyes, "Yeah, she called it love language. Bleh. more like the sap language." Riding Rain suppressed a laugh, passing it off as a chuckle and a cough together. "She probably knows how you feel before you do. She has the best spies." "What's her job, anyway? Do you know?" Teardrops asked. Riding shrugged. "Officially, she is a lawyer. The Canterlot Intelligence Agency handles most of the spying that isn't done by the Night Guard. Yet, Éther always seems to know everything they know, sometimes before they know it. Assume anything you say or think, Éther knows before you know it sometimes. That's just how she is." "Spooky." Teardrops commented, kicking their hooves. "Alright, well I can tell you I do not want that. Can you teach me how to not be spied on by her and the... what did you call it?" "The Canterlot Intelligence Agency." Riding reminded. "Yes, them. can you teach me how to avoid them so I can live my own life and be somepony?" Teardrops asked. "Yes." Riding said, glancing away. Teardrops blinked, stopping the kicking of their hooves and looking over. "Wait, really?" Riding smirked to himself. This is one thing I can teach you, little Teardrops. It also will give me access to your dreams! "What do you dream about at night?" Riding Rain asked. Teardrops blinked again, "That's a pretty personal question for a teacher to ask their student, isn't it?" "Not for us." Riding Rain replied. "Bat ponies have the ability to communicate with one another through dreams, we never, truly, sleep. We may rest, we may choose to be unconscious, but I have learned that it is impossible for us to actually stop. We continue to exist in the waking moments whether we move our body or not. They do not tell you about that when you sign up." "And, it is possible for me to learn these skills? Can any bat learn them?" Teardrops leaned forward with eagerness in their eyes. Riding chuckled again. "Not from the others here. Come on, let's go for a fly before we talk more." "That is such a suspicious thing to say." Teardrops replied, flapping their wings as Riding did the same and they took off, gliding. However, Riding glided them upwards towards the treeline, taking a sharp turn upwards as Teardrops hovered, hesitating for a second. "You want to learn how to fly in the upper air currents? To have the ability to fly anywhere?" Riding asked Teardrops, pausing and looking down at the orange bat. Teardrops looked down at the ground, then up at the sky and pushed forward, beating their bat wings so hard Riding was given a little pause as they broke into the upper air currents. Riding was right behind Teardrops, feeling the wild wind buffet him as he watched Teardrops struggle to regain balance. Teardrops nearly fell straight down as their wings failed them. Riding hit a little wind their way and flew up behind them, gesturing his head to the side. "React to the wind, do not let it control you, but do not fight it." Riding Rain said. "Further up, they cannot hear us over the wind!" Motion and Mirrors"Why won't you just tell me?" Riding Rain stepped forward into the middle of the practice field just before lunch, having relocated the box from the bar while the others were practicing flight. With a wave of his hoof, he called the cadets to draw in towards him, motioning for the mess hall. "This will be a bit of a long lunch, I have something to teach all of you about. Two things, if we have time tonight, however, the second is an all day event, so let's get this out of the way first." Riding said, heading first towards the mess hall. The other cadets fell in alongside Teardrops as they shuffled in, fetching lunch that seemed to be almost prepared with magic by the speed and efficiency with which it appeared. Riding had specifically been watching the mess hall this day to see if he could figure out who was cooking the food or delivering it. Yet, when he had gone to move the box from the bar he found all the food already prepared. Riding piled on a helping of hay fries with some bananas and a mango, going to sit down at the far end of the table. he watched as the other cadets filled their trays and sat at the other end of the table, although Teardrops sat a little further away, giving them access to speak to both Riding and the other cadets. "You should talk to your friends." Riding advised, munching on a couple hay fries while eyeing Teardrops. Teardrops looked at them, then looked at Riding, and nodded, pausing before scooting further towards their friends. Riding hurried through his meal as best he could, and then stood up, moving behind the counter of food and fetching the box, which he slowly moved in front of the cadets, right below the table they were eating on. "I hate these weapons," Riding Rain said, putting a hoof on the box and looking down at the cadets. "It is my express desire that you never use them, however, I am issuing each of you one. After that, I am going to teach all of you a different trick, and then we will combine both of them." Riding opened the box, placing down a wrist mounted weapon by every one of the cadets, and then placing disassembled halves of the longer ones by each of the cadets. "Why do you hate guns?" Moonbeam asked. Secret Sound nodded, "Sir, we have all shot guns before in the Equestrian military- uh, except for Teardrops, I guess." Riding Rain looked at Teardrops, then at the others, and shook his head. "Incorrect," he paused, then looked down at the weapons, "These are not guns." Riding took one of the wrist mounted 'pistols' that was beside Teardrops, and reached into the box, pulling out a small pack, and then a tiny pack that looked like a set of slides. "Hold your hoof out." Riding commanded, and teardrops put their hoof forward. Riding went slow as he attached the wristmount onto Teardrops wrist, then ran the wire through their armor and up to their head, positioning it next to their mouth, just under where the helmet could be fixed into normal armor. Riding adjusted the dial less than a quarter of the way, and pointed Teardrops hoof far away from the other cadets and himself. "Stay still." Riding chided, noting Teardrops hoof shaking as he put in the first pack of light, locking it in and letting the light flash before there was darkness. After this he put in the slide, which had twelve small particle areas, although they were much smaller than the ones Riding's hoofweapon had. Riding specifically made sure to keep his hooves on Teardrops hoof, pointing it directly at the fruit that had remained uneaten, over by the counter a few paces away. Teardrops looked to Riding, who gestured down at the weapon. "There is a command word inscribed on the side of this. Only the one who wears these weapons can see it, so it will not be used against you. You may speak it when you are ready to fire." "Right..." Teardrops said, looking at the fruit and then muttering a word that Riding made sure to omit from his memory. Teardrops looked at the fruit basket and took a breath, and then the entire basket was gone, fruit tumbling every single way off the countertop. there was a bright flash of purple lightning, and the sound of hellfire and screams filled the air for only a second. Nothing of the basket remained. Although a few of the cadets had cried out in pain from the sharp noise on their new bat pony ears, all of them were entranced, staring at the scene. Riding adjusted the dial back to it's lowest setting, locking it in place. "This, is no gun." Riding Rain said, pulling back his own hoof and letting go of Teardrops. "What in Luna's name are they?" Nightwing voiced for the others. Riding brushed his mane back, closing the box as he went to reseat himself. "The last weapon you ever need to use. She can explain, though." Riding jerked his head over his shoulder, sensing a tickling of mane along his longcoat. A suited pony stepped past Riding, pulling up the sleeves of her suit and showing two wristmounts that were ever so much different. They glistened with platinum and silver, with grand engravings and no dials that would make a princess blush to even behold them, much less wear them. Éther sat on the counter, holding them up and showing they were locked in at the lowest setting. Éther spoke up in her fancy prance language, Riding translating for her to the cadets after each sentence. "In our language, we call it compressed time. Riding is correct, these are no guns. These are explosives. Long ago, terrible things occurred across all realities. Somepony..." Éther stopped here for a moment, looking at the group, then continued, "Found the fourth Anti..." "Antimatter." Riding interjected. "Ending of existence bomb." Éther continued. "They called it the victory four missile. This is a smaller, emulated, version of it. It erases whatever is shot from history. Past, present, and future." The cadets broke into murmurs for only a single second before they all fell silent, the warning glare from Riding and the cold stare of Éther keeping them all in their place as they dared not make the same mistake twice. "What kind of pony would create such a weapon? You mean if somepony is shot with this, they...?" Nightwing trailed off, losing his bravery to go further. "The lowest setting will simply remove them from time for a short period. Higher settings, gone." Riding commented. Éther stood up, trotting towards the exit to the mess hall, adding, "You will be told when you may unlock the setting." Riding had barely finished translating before Ether's hoofsteps stopped as she turned the corner, vanishing once more. She left not a single trace, her tail tip vanishing into thin air. "Who is that?" Starshadows asked, adding, "She wasn't in the books, was she?" Moonbeam shook her head, and then when Secret Sound added nothing, Nightwing commented, "Creepy. and in a suit, too." "She is..." Rust Shade bit his tongue back. "She is your lawyer." Teardrops and Nightwing spoke at the same time, the other cadets turning to her. Riding was still watching the space where Éther had vanished, but finally turned his gaze to the cadets. "Please take these to your cabins." Riding Rain said. Everypony was quiet for a small amount of time, and then Riding heaved up the much lighter chest, dragging it towards the kitchen with his mouth. Once he had the box stowed away, Riding returned to the mess hall to head out the front door, and found Teardrops waiting to trot beside him. "Why did you only load and lock mine?" Teardrops asked, waving their wrist in a gesture. Riding Rain said nothing and exited the mess hall. Riding allowed the evening for more flying practice, offering Nightwings a blinder for additional training when he asked for more challenge. The bats seemed to be getting used to wearing one hoof heavier than the other, and by false dawn, Riding was satisfied with their flying. "Tomorrow you will go in blind as far as flying. Please wear those weapons so you can get used to the weight of them. I will be instructing you with traditional weaponry, for reasons that will be obvious tomorrow." Without any ceremony, Riding turned and headed straight for the bar. Teardrops, this time, tagged along, walking close behind him as he entered the bar and fetched a bottle, keeping it in his mouth and not entirely noticing Teardrops until they were face to face with him. ... She is quiet, and fast. Riding looked with eyes wide enough they peaked over his sunglasses. "What's that for?" Teardrops tilted their head to the side. Riding motioned to be let aside, going past and heading for the mess hall. He stopped to balance a glass on the top of the bottle as he went out. The other cadets were already inside, and Riding watched Teardrops continue to follow him as he sat down a little closer, but still away, from the cadets. Teardrops sat right across from Riding, staring at him and putting a small mango into her mouth, biting down with only fangs. "Now you are acting like a real bat pony." Riding commented, piecing some fruit and sucking on it while Teardrops gulped downed the juice of their mango, a little spilling which a long, slightly tipped tongue at the end licked up back into their mouth as they both finished their respective fruit juice. Riding produced the glass from earlier and put it down, uncorking the bottle with a claw on his wing and then pouring out a double helping and downing it with a bit of the meal. "You missed out on the bar last night." Riding commented as Teardrops looked up from their second mango. Riding passed the bottle towards the other cadets, nodding to some less drinking suited but otherwise functional bowl shaped glasses. He then turned back to Teardrops, continuing, "Would you like to join me for a few drinks?" "Uh, a few drinks?" Teardrops said, hiding behind the now shriveled mango. "Yes, that's right." Riding Rain said, "You know, maybe talk a little bit too, unless you and your friends have something planned?" Teardrops looked over at the others, and Riding stood up, nodding down and heading for his room. "Helmet, just after sunrise. the bar, you followed me there. See you there." Riding stepped backwards into shadows and then took a deep breath, finding himself in his room and in the utter darkness it allowed. taking a sigh, Riding changed into his other gear, ready to go outside and never be seen by the sun. Once he was comfortable with his adjustments, Riding laid down in his bed, tossing and turning. No rest came to him, and only this feeling of uneasiness hung over him. I did not feel uneasy before I came out here, but each night is only making me more and more restless. Teardrops, who are you really? I felt it, just a little bit, when we were in the other place. I should really think of a better name for to call that realm. Some place that exists after darkness. Complete Darkness. Even the Nightmare looks for light in that place... Riding sat with his fretful thoughts, waiting until he saw a crack of light before he got up to head for the bar. He was now just as eager to get answers as Teardrops was. Although, still, something inside said he was not going to desire to accept the answer. Riding was already at the bar when Teardrops arrived, shutting the door with a wingclaw and heading for the countertop as Riding uncorked a bottle with his bat wing, unable to suppress a happy smirk. Teardrops sat down and removed their helmet as Riding took his sunglasses off. Teardrops turned their head to the side, inspecting Riding closer. "What are you smirking about?" Teardrops asked. "You really took well to this bat pony life. The wingclaw." Riding Rain commented. "Oh," Teardrops sounded a bit sheepish, and a slight blush confirmed this as they said, "Uh, I saw you doing that and so- you know." Riding poured himself a glass, offering a glass towards Teardrops and pouring a glass for them as well. Teardrops hesitated for a second, then picked up the glass, taking a slow drink with Riding as they tasted their wine together. This bottle was more than pleasing, it was fruity and fragrant. Riding had felt drawn to this bottle, as if it was placed there. It had the strength of a strong spirit, yet it was sweet like mango and honey, and not unbalanced in the slightest. "...This is, really good," Teardrops remarked. "This is not normal stuff." "Hard to find that, you know. I've only had it one other time, in fact." Riding commented. Why do I know that? "Huh." Teardrops looked down at the glass, and for a moment Riding thought he could see tears ready to spill forth and mix with the drink. Riding refilled both glasses so he could look elsewhere and not imagine this. "So, do we need to, you know." Teardrops asked, offering out a hoof. Riding stood up, checking the rear exit and then going to the front exit and locking it, making sure they were alone. Riding tossed his coat down on the floor, gently covering the crack at the bottom of the door so no light shined except that of Teardrops purple eyes and the diamond lights of Riding's eyes. Riding Rain returned to his stool, and as he did so, he saw teardrops let out a gasp as here and there shadows jumped, tendrils flicked. Partial landscapes, and aspects of faces and limbs of all sorts of creatures, stretched together filled the shadows. Many of these danced around Riding, who now had black wings and a black mane overlayed on his shadowy form. "No." Riding said. "We're hidden. We only need to go to that place if we are not in the same physical location." "Alright. I definitely want to know why all the interest- but first, I want my answers from earlier." Teardrops said, "Where I am from. Who my parents are." "It's a very different place." Riding commented, "Did you ever have a last name, before you were called Teardrops?" "No." Teardrops said. "Did you ever wonder why?" Riding Rain asked. "Of course I wondered why!" Teardrops replied. the shadows writhed as Riding pulled back. "Do you think I sat around my whole life just thinking, 'oh it's totally normal that every pony else has a loving family and I live all alone in this room without a pony in the world to care about me! my heroes will not even notice me!' it took me years to finally have a few friends, and once I got to know them, I had to leave them behind to be here! No, I totally never wondered about it at all, that's totally not why I am sitting here playing along so you will tell me what I want to know!" Teardrops heaved a bit on the table, looking down at their glass, then pouring another glass. Riding stowed the bottle on the other side of the counter when Teardrops had another share, finishing his own glass while they caught their breath. "I am very sorry about this." Riding Rain said. Teardrops looked up, but the entire room was already black. 'This place.' Teardrops thought, their thoughts echoing all around. 'Void.' Teardrops stood up, seeing the shattered remains of many homes. The buildings were strange, distant, and not like anything that Equestria had ever seen. They looked more like boxes held together with crude materials, and built without any love at all. The world was ethereal and cold as the darkness receded, leaving ethereal grass, and creeks and puddles of water running here and there. Teardrops could see they were on some sort of broken path made of many dull colours, complimented by equally dull grass and- "Ugh, ew! No!" Teardrops pulled away, getting right into the middle of the road. The ground, and the water even more so, seemed to be a colour like pitch and blood, with the water of creeks and puddles completely red, as if it had been created only from red rain coming down to fill it. "What is this place? Riding? Princess Luna? Somepony?" Teardrops called out. No answer came. teardrops felt themselves, and then lifted their hoof. They still had their weapon here, loaded too, as well as armor. 'Well at least if I run into anything nasty I can stun it and fly away now.' Teardrops looked around. Most of the buildings seemed uninhabited, but here and there, entities moved about. Some had series of lights within some dark, but not scary of unkind, frame. 'Normally, I would be terrified of things like that. But they sort of just seem to be here. I wonder if they can even see me? ...Might be better to just not find out.' After moving along the road, Teardrops found that their hooves seemed to just guide them to where they needed to be. There were whispers of conversation and past memories, but eventually, they all faded away. The streets wound in square shapes, harsh angles were here and there. Teardrops finally stopped outside of a large building that towered over the others. All the windows had been smashed, and the stone seemed like it was made of fire, although it gave no heat. Teardrops tested one of the steps and found it safe, and trotted forward. The inside was covered with destroyed wooden furniture, and it looked like large amounts of wine had been spilt here and there. facing away from Teardrops at the end of the hall was a figure. "You." Teardrops made a simple remark. The figure nodded, looking away. "The Nightmare? Or, something else?" Teardrops asked. The figure tilted their head to the side, appraising the situation without looking fully over it's shoulder. "You're going to have to spell it out for me. I do not see how this is an answer. Are you Riding Rain? Do you know him? He keeps evading my real questions." Teardrops waited, but the figure did not reply. It did, however ,seem to shimmer, a brilliant light that was brighter than white moving with them as they adjusted their form, shifting about as formless shadows. Teardrops looked down at the ground, as if bidden to do so. "This is where I am from." Teardrops spoke not with their own will, but with an answer that had been given straight to them. Teardrops looked up at the darkness and the light that moved with it, however, they did not offer any more answers to the rest of the question. "Why though?" Teardrops asked, then a thought occurred to them, they rushed over to a window and looked out at the dull grass, the different buildings, and then rounded back on the shadows. "Wait wait, wait on the other question; this is Silverfield?" The dark figure moved across the ground, not seeming to make any sound as it proceeded out of the hall. Teardrops went after, pursuing them into the street. Teardrops stopped, seeing the dark figure standing before some other bright lights. These lights were different from the other figures, and seemed offensive to teardrops' eyes. Averting their gaze, Teardrops heard the lights yelling in strange tongues. 'They look like they're about to get in a fight. But, the darkness doesn't have any weapons, does it? How will it win that fight? ...Then again, how could it lose? It's just shadows and darkness. I cannot even tell if it has a body. Teardrops waved at the offensive lights, and when there was no response, Teardrops checked their wrist. They cannot see me. Interesting. Can we interact though? I do not think I want to find out. Everything stopped moving for a second, and Teardrops breathed, looking around as the world stopped moving and the shadows gave way to a pony shape, stepping out and towards Teardrops, however, still cloaked within the darkness and the shadow. "Hello, Teardrops. I told you, I needed to show you." Riding said. Teardrops nodded, then asked, "So this place? it is where I am from?" "That is not the entire story, however, in a manner of speaking, you are not incorrect." Riding remarked. "Then, my parents must be here too." Teardrops continued. "Can you take me too them?" "You passed by them earlier." Riding said, looking around at the landscape, and then pausing. "Come, we do not have a lot of time here. This world will be unmade in a short amount of time." "How come?" Teardrops asked, galloping to catch up with Riding as he trotted along the street, his long blue coat shifting between colours as he moved. At some moments it was all black, and other moments, it was all blue. "The beings that once inhabited this world chose a different answer over the antimatter victory four missiles." Riding commented, a tinge of disgust in his voice that Teardrops noted. Riding continued, "You will not be here to see that part, and I've seen enough times for my taste. "So, this is... Silverfield, right?" Teardrops reiterated. "Again, in a manner of speaking;" Riding said, "The difficulty is that while this place is not Silverfield, it is. And what Silverfield is, is not Silverfield. They are both the same place, and yet this is not the Silverfield of Equestria you know. This is the Silverfield of a place that has been destroyed by it's own inhabitants." "But it is my home." Teardrops remarked, hugging at the ground with caution. Riding Rain nodded, moving towards a river. "Look." Riding said. Teardrops eyes moved into the sky, and there was a loud gasp. Something blinding seemed to be racing along, yet, it was impossible to make out what it's purpose was for this far below. "What is it?" Teardrops asked. Riding just shook his head no. Teardrops looked around for a few moments, trotting along and looking at purple flowers, observing the river standing completely still, and looking at the stone buildings built by fire. "So, are my parents here? You said I went past them, and I saw beings moving around! I, wasn't sure if they could see me, though." Teardrops pressured, drawing back in close to Riding. Riding put his sunglasses on, trotting towards the river and heading down a path towards a large table. This had a shape that was familiar to Teardrops, a large horseshoe. "There is a little clause in all of this. I can tell you who your parents are. However, you have to tell me who they are first." Riding said simply, touching the horseshoe table and looking at it shimmer. "You may, of course, say this at any moment you so desire. If you are correct, and I am present, I can tell you. I admit, I was not sure where we would end up at, but now that we are here." "And what is here? I get the where is Silverfield, but..." Teardrops stopped as Riding glanced over. "The end of all things. " Riding motioned to the table. "Technically speaking, we are actually inside your memories, if that's comforting at all." "Oh." Teardrops said, stopping. "Wait, what?" Riding faded in and out of darkness, almost as if he was seeming to disappear right in front of Teardrops, holding onto the table. "This is all happening inside my head then. Bat pony magic." Teardrops remarked, moving foward and touching the table. 'No. it's more than that.' Teardrops found the bar right in front of them. Across the bar Riding was slumped over, not moving at first and then rousing himself in slow order. His drink had been pushed aside and he let out a yawn, sitting up in the complete darkness that was now absent the other shadows. "I think you are just teasing me now." Teardrops remarked, flicking their mane to the side. "If I write the answer down for you, then it's going to be true. You are supposed to tell me." Riding Rain said. "Then write it down, I don't care how you tell me, as long as you tell me. You know both my mother and father then. You must have known them in Silverfield... or, you know," Teardrops added the end part, unsure the exact way to phrase this as they flicked their tail. Riding looked at Teardrops, and both of them locked eyes. Riding raised the bottle again, filling up just more than one helping for himself, and one more for Teardrops. "Stop it!" Teardrops' squeak rang around the darkness. Riding Rain stopped, putting his hoof on his glass. "I have been trying to believe you can be cool, and you'd be helpful, but now I know you are deliberately not telling me something! This is so unfair, I have a right to know! Are you scared to tell me or something?" "Yes." Riding Rain said the word in half of a breath. Teardrops blinked, it was clear they had not expected that reply, however, it was only moment of respite before they learned forward, eyes narrowed and an expecting look. "I am sorry that this is not how the story goes." Riding said. Teardrops shook their head, looking away and averting their eyes, "No you are not. You're clearly enjoying this." Riding frowned. "I will show you who one of them is. You still have to say the name of both of them though. I can tell you that your parents are present and well, does that satisfy you." "No," Teardrops shook their head, sweeping their tail around their hind legs and drumming a hoof on the countertop for a few moments. "Well, maybe a little bit. They are alive then? And in Equestria?" "Correct." Riding said. "...Then, why don't they ever talk to me? Why don't they ever... well." Teardrops trailed off. "I have some memories of, you know. But they're long ago." "Those memories will come back to you." Riding offered. "I sort of remember my mother, not her face though." Teardrops mumbled, swirling around the glass of liquids but not drinking any. "I knew a pony about your age once who had a similar situation. The world is a cruel place for ponies like that." Riding kept his hoof over his glass. "That is great and all but it's not an answer." Teardrops said, "I have had enough of this emotional roller coaster." "Sorry you feel that way. Maybe you can go sing a song and share hugs and that will make all the pain go away." Riding removed his hoof from his drink, and took a long swig. "When has that ever worked?" Teardrops asked. "You seemed to think so on the first night, once you realized there was another bat pony that knew how you felt." Riding offered. "Yeah but that's like, a one time thing! That was a special occasion!" Teardrops swept their tail away, sitting up and leaning on the counter, "No more drama or dodging the question!" A long intense stare ensued between Riding and Teardrops, neither of them doing anything except look at the other for time that neither of them were counting. Neither of them spoke, and Riding breathed, pulling back. "I could go tell... uhm, Well, I could trot out of here! and tell Luna, or tell Éther! or go home to Ponyville and tell my friends! They'd listen! ...I think." Teardrops did not sound sure at all, and Riding ignored the empty threats. "You are not going to do that because if you do then you will never get your answer." Riding relaxed, leaning back on his stool and rocking it a bit. "Yeah, I get it. This has been some sort of sick power trip for you the last few days, right?" Teardrops postured the question straight to Riding's face, forcing a wince of pain. "I was just, making sure;" Riding said, "And until I had the Nightmare under control in the other place... I..." Riding trailed off. Teardrops paused for a brief moment, batting their eyes and gave a groan. "Alright... Alright. Sorry, alright?" Teardrops was clearly forcing the apology. "This is difficult for me as well you know." Riding said. Teardrops sat there for a moment, thinking in the open but not saying anything. After awhile Teardrops sat up, and although they hid their pain well, Riding could see the tears behind those hurt eyes. "They did something bad, didn't they?" Teardrops whispered. "That's why you won't tell me. Your job, you said you protect ponies. This, you're trying to be... protective?" Teardrops trailed off. Riding did not nod, he could see that Teardrops could reach their on conclusion on these questions with silence as an answer. Teardrops continued, with a new question, "Why is it any of your business?" "You know I've been gone for some time." Riding Rain said. "You've seen that the universe and time have been dislocated and are strange. All of this, Éther, Princess Luna, and most of the elements are aware of." Teardrops nodded, giving a sign for Riding to go on. "If we can make things correct, do right, right here, right now, in this timeline." Riding said, breathing deep, "We will see Equestria as it was meant to be." "So- how do I figure into all of it?" Teardrops asked, adding, "I'll help but you have to answer the question." "You helping is not conditional upon me answering the question." Riding stood up, moving to the door and peeling his coat back and shouldering it on. "Wait!" Teardrops cried but stopped as Riding held a hoof up for silence, causing the entire room to feel very mute. Riding put his sunglasses on, not quite covering his diamond eyes. "Rrr!" Teardrops rolled their letter, causing Riding to feel his bones stiffen up a bit. "Ri;di;ng Rai;n! I know where you live! You're telling me, today!" "Teardrops who do you think you have been speaking to all this time when I am here?" Riding asked. "Reddling Riding Rain, but now I am starting to think all those stories are made up, and this is an excuse to be really bad at your job!" Riding's eyes glinted, and Teardrops looked away, saying, "Sorry... I- did not mean to say that. I just..." "Cannot control yourself?" Riding asked. Teardrops glanced up. Riding was glad he got good at smirking, and passing it off as a wince. "What dark magic is this? That's what it is, this is not normal bat pony magic." Teardrops stated. This was not a question or an accusation, it was just a statement of common knowledge that both of them shared. Riding looked down, flicking his hood back and folding up his sunglasses and preparing to shadowstep. He just was not brave enough for this. The unfortunate moment of the conversation happened, however, as Riding tried to run away and felt something drag him down as he lost his breath, knocked out of the shadowstep as he felt himself pushed. "Get the hell off me!" Riding growled, pushing at Teardrops. Teardrops, for their part, was much stronger than Riding was expecting, and found that he was rather stuck in place. He managed to get back to his hooves but could not quite get away as Teardrops grappled onto him. "Stop being such a- a-" Riding flattened his ears, as a mixture of Equestrian, non-Equestrian, and he was pretty sure at least two or three other languages and perhaps a few things that were not words were unleashed upon him. When they were done Teardrops let go, huffing. "Guess I struck a nerve?" Riding kept his tone mild. "You are unbelievable!" Teardrops yelled, turning around and strutting over to the bar. "Why won't you just tell me?" Riding hoofed at the ground, and then looked back over at Teardrops. Teardrops eyes met his. "Not very good with your emotions. Always trying to be cool. You scared me when I first saw you." Riding panted a bit. Teardrops made a sound that almost seemed like they spat a bit at the bar before saying, "I'm very good with my emotions. But why are you scared of me, That's not very mythical assassin of you." Riding put his hoof down, seeing shadows leap out at the point he touched and threaten to consume the area around them, blotting out the light trying to creep through the door. Teardrops pulled back, scrambling up on top of the counter as the deeper and older darkness consumed even the darkness around it. For a moment Teardrops sat on the countertop, their wrist held up but not pointed at Riding while he watched the shadows writhe around him, gripping and massaging his forehoof. "Who am I?" Riding whispered, the shadows biting back somewhat but not completely disappearing. When Teardrops did not answer, they climbed over the counter, balancing their leg and pointing it forward. "A dangerous motherbucker." Teardrops said, their voice shaking but trying to remain brave. Riding glanced up, and then breathed deeply, letting all the shadows return down and vanish under his hoof as he took a few more breaths. Riding pretended he heard buck instead of the other word, nodding. Teardrops stayed in place, but as moments dragged on, they continued looking at the situation. "I need to go to work soon while I rest my body." Riding spoke under his breath, but still loud enough for Teardrops to hear. "Well, I want to hear you say it." Teardrops remained resolute. Riding looked over. They will never forgive me if I chicken out now. Riding thought. Teardrops no longer had their weapon pointed anywhere but the ground, however, they were still keeping their eyes locked on Riding. There was something there, some realization they had not yet shared, something having cut through the pain in those eyes, just a little bit. Their eyes were unwavering, waiting. "You asked me the first night if I had any little ponies. Right now, in this time," Riding Rain said, "I have one little pony present with me in this Equestria." "And they're looking at me right now." Sweat drops. Riding coughed out a breath as he stepped into his room, going over to the door. No lock. Riding waited, keeping his hood on, but no patter of hoofsteps followed after. Several moments passed before Riding tossed his coat off, falling into his bed and looking down at his hooves. I knew the second I saw them. I knew them by a name. Riding looked down at his mark, pulling his cloth dress armor back. An arced line, shaped like a rainbow but all silver. Three drops of rain coming off it. Riding hid his mark again, going to look down and sighing. Try as he might, Riding was fitful, able to perform his job but distracted as he thought of what the next night would entail for him. Stepping in and out of his dream realm, Riding arced himself back to where he was in his cabin, opening his eyes. He could hear hoofsteps outside his door. Riding opened the door, no coat on yet as he looked out. Riding peered at the area the door offered him to look at, seeing nopony around. Turning, Riding went and got his non-hooded coat, pulling it on and heading outside. Riding stopped when he was outside the door, looking at the practice yard. Nopony was in the yard yet, save for himself and another pony that was now attached to his side, a bat wing thrown around in a quick hug, and a hopeful smile and bright eyes. The eyes were not free from pain, Riding could see this, but there was a faint flame in there now, more than just the embers of a dying light. "Good Night, Teardrops." Riding greeted them. "Good - Oh, right, bat pony, it's reversed- Good Night! Riding!" Teardrops stopped, breaking the hug after Riding returned the hug with a wing in quick motion for a moment. "No, no, that sounds really weird, uh." "If you think of a better way to say it, please let me know, it drives me crazy too," Riding nodded, "I never truly got used to it. "So, will it be more flying today?" Teardrops asked. Riding paused, thinking. "I am sure some flying will be involved. I do not think any of you are strong enough yet to get to the higher air currents, so, while all of you practice more I am going to show you other benefits of being a bat pony. It's not all squeaking, and flying, and drinking fruit. "And dark magic." Teardrops added, a bit hesitant as they looked away. Riding looked over and stopped trotting, Teardrops stopping too. Riding had half extended his hoof, unsure if to put a hoof on their shoulder or to ruffle their mane, but he held back. Something inside him still felt so... Distant, even though he had spoken the truth. Teardrops noticed this as Riding put his hoof back down, looking at the ground. "Bat pony magic is different, but what I do is... No, no dark magic." Riding noted. "What is it, then?" Teardrops asked. "I am not sure myself." Riding said. "I made some reports to E'ther about it, but as far as they can tell, it is somehow linked to dream magic." "I read about rare magics. But, you're-" Teardrops stopped, thinking with a hoof on their chin, "You are not a normal bat pony, does that mean I am not a normal bat pony, either? Since, you know..." "We are both normal bat ponies." Riding noted, adding, "Until we can prove otherwise, at least." Teardrops nodded, and they both looked at the mess hall. Before they could either voice a question both started off heading for breakfast, somehow sharing the same morning rituals, despite only having met proper a few days prior. After going through the right door, Riding fetched a tray and piled some fruit on it, and Teardrops got a mango and a pile of hay fries, both of them going and sitting down together at the end of the tables. Riding shook his head towards the hoof with Teardrops' weapon on it. "Were you really going to use that?" Riding asked. "I thought about it until I saw the look in your eyes." Teardrops mumbled, giving a grin as they looked down and bit into their mango. Riding waited, and when the mango was gone he could see Teardrops was still grinning. "I'm good at reading eyes too." Riding pulled up his coat, muffling a laugh into it before he partook in the breakfast, the two of them eating in relative silence for a little while. Other cadets began to stream in, Moonbeam first, and then followed by the others. "I do want to know how you are getting along with your friends, however," Riding paused, looking down at the other cadets. "I would prefer that they reach out and tell me about themselves. How are you getting along with them?" "Hmm..." Teardrops scratched a hoof on their chin, appraising a hay fry before downing it with several crunches. "I feel like I met them somewhere before. Some of them. You know the feeling when you know that you know somepony but you've never met before... uh, heh." Riding nodded in slow motion, not losing the trail of the conversation and Teardrops looked away sheepishly. Teardrops gave a cough, then added "heh, uh, of course you do... Well, me too." "Don't take them for granted." Riding said, "It's a terrible thing to lose friends and those you care about. You are all here to protect each other just as much as any innocent pony. The same should be true for all Night Guard." Riding gave a flick of his tail that caused Teardrops to pull back a bit, the danger in the end of his statement carrying down the table enough to make Nightwing and Moonbeam glance over. "Leave the rest of the fruit on this tray, but can you bring it out to the yard for me, Teardrops?" Riding asked, gesturing to what was left of his breakfast and adding, "We'll need it for today's practice, but I need to go fetch some additional gear for us." Teardrops gave an eager nod, and like that Riding was off, headed towards his cabin. He took a few moments to breathe in there, and scoured the room. He had a new box today, which he unpacked, reading a note from E'ther quickly before getting changed. The cadets were all standing together when Riding appeared next, slicing through the shadows as he strut forward and tossed a box on the ground, wearing his combat coat. Although muffled, it contained chains on the inside and was a heavier coat that Riding typically only wore to war. On his head was an older Night Guard mask, which did not allow for the wrist mounted missiles. He had tucked the end of the string into his armor, which was now heavier. "Whoa." Nightwing said, leaning forward as Teardrops and even Starshadows approached. "The Night Guard's new armor." Riding stated, "Courtesy of the Luminous ones." Riding removed his coat, allowing it to fall to the ground and show off his form. Across his body were silenced metal scales that seemed to run and zig zag over his body, and over this, plates could be attached where one desired them. Riding had them on his shoulders, flank, ribs, and a breastplate, allowing him perfect freedom of movement while offering the most protection he could gain. Riding picked up his coat and slung it over his shoulder, making absolutely zero sound as he tossed a pile of bandanas on the ground, looking back at the cadets with all of his weapons on. "Tonight, you do battle with ...me." Riding smirked, tossing his trench coat away and kicking a box behind him, spilling out wooden weapons. Riding picked up a staff, leveling it over his shoulder with a hoof and then beating his wings to get into the air. The cadets all looked at one another, silent. "And you will be blindfolded." Riding added, gesturing at the blindfolds. Nightwing put on his blindfold, pulling it from a pocket. "Can we know a little more about that armor first? And why blindfolded?" Moonbeam asked, stepping forward. Riding smirked. "Great questions!" Silence fell over the yard for several moments. "You have no idea how that armor is made, do you." Teardrops stated with a blank stare ahead. "Yes," Riding grumbled, "If my orders did not tell me to wear it, I would be in my normal gear. However, that's our orders for tonight, both yours and mine. So, shall we get to it?" "Uh," Teardrops drew their hoof on the ground. Riding noticed this, and shook his head. "We'll talk later, Teardrops. After this. Let's finish the lesson plan and then meet at the bar with some food. You bring lunch." Riding flew up a little higher, about a pony's height below the tree line, looking down at the cadets from above. Rust Shade was the first to put on a blindfold, stumbling a little as Nightwing moved from one action to the next, deft on his hooves and helping the others adjust their blindfolds. Teardrops looked around, then up, but in the wrong direction from where Riding was. "Ahahaha. Come on. Just one time." Riding shook his head. "Now, you are going to learn to fight without your eyes. You-" Riding stopped, feeling the crawling thought in his mind as his hoof moved his staff to point down at the others. "Now, use your... squeaks, listen! Listen to the world around you and see!" Riding called out, declining a bit as his hovering slowed. The cadets paced around a bit as Riding flew over them, landing behind them with his staff poised under a hoof so he could lean up on it, wings still outstretched. Nightwing immediately seemed to detect him, and moved in to attack, but Riding Rain flew into the air before he reached him, his speed more than sufficient to dodge a lunge from one of the training sticks. "Not going to work!" Riding called out below to Nightwing. "Come on, if you have to defend somepony, your enemies will not just stand still and let you hit them!" Riding turned as he finished speaking and saw moonbeam and Rust Shade both crash softly into the ground at a gallop, trying to fly with their wings while blind and almost knocking each other to the ground. It was only with their practice weapons they were able to balance themselves and avoid crashes. "Ehehehe." Riding Rain thought, looking at the other cadets. Secret Sound and Mint were not off the ground yet, but Riding felt something crawl on his back as he flipped around, spotting Rust Shade above him in the air, both hooves clasped around his wooden blade. Riding dodged back, rolling in the air before finally another blow swung, aimed at his left wing. Rust Shade threw everything into his attacks. Riding flew down and landed at the ground, just in time to dodge another blow from Rust Shade. He's berserk. That blow could have knocked me out of the air. Riding thought, dodging some other cadets as he heard a the telltale 'flump' sound of wings landing gracefully behind him. Riding turned and swung, aiming to smack Rust Shade as hard as he could and knock him away. Riding Rain felt time slow for him as he swirled about on his hooves, and for a moment his eyes saw Teardrops looking on, practice stick raised. There as well, was Rust Shade, although he was a little further away. Teardrops eyes were wide as time kept slowing down more and more, until finally it seemed like nothing was moving. Riding watched some shadows grab at the world, and then everything was nothing but blackness. Somewhere, Riding was sure he could hear the Nightmare Riding laughing at him, but sound had no meaning here. Reddling changed the world.One job. It's just one job. One last job. One last life. One kill. That's all it will take. Reddling looked down at his hooves, looking at the blood running freely from them as he looked over the hearts on them as chains were bound around them. They seemed half real and half not real at the same time, and yet, He saw himself disappear, and reappearing within another realm. "Goddesses. Princesses... No. I do not believe they would truly forgive me. Or love me. or do anything. I have to do this." Reddling looked down at the notebook in front of him, just a cover, with some handwritten notes inside the cover. taking a page, Reddling swore to his past self he would never do this again as he began to draw a line. "Maybe, I can still make this right." Reddling said to himself, shadowstepping into another place, and another time, and looking down at what was happening from on top of a gazebo. With the lighting of this place, he knew he was invisible to the individuals below. It was a bit hard for him to make out who, or what they were. He didn't understand his mission really, nor did he know exactly why he was doing it. It had a familiar feeling to him. One he knew all, all too well. Seeing Twilight Sparkle run in to see Princess Luna and Celestia, explaining something to them. Seeing that truly, there was no other way. This was the end for Reddling, and for his future. For ever. He knew that he was about to die in his vision as he watched what looked to be tall, anthro ponies moving fast along a rooftop. breathing heavily, Reddling looked down at what was about to occur. "So many lives. So much blood. So many graves." Reddling stopped, thinking of Teardrops. Thinking of how many he had killed. How much pain and suffering he had seen in the world. It was just one contract. Just one future. But then the killing got easier. Especially after the first innocent pony that he killed. Then it got really easy. Reddling knew his purpose in life: To kill. It is my job to hunt. To kill. To destroy all life that threatens my homeland, even if they hate me. Even if they kill me. I must do as I am told. I must destroy. I must kill. But now, all these years later, seeing the death in front of him about to occur, Reddling was not so sure. No longer was he okay with this as he saw time stop. Holding his hoof out and chanting in a forbidden tongue where he was from, for no such things were said there, Reddling stepped down from the gazebo, feeling the world go completely black and white and grey. The void stretched around him, and he made sure to trot over towards the lady standing directly below her as he saw another man appear right beside him and stopping time. There appeared to be some manner of screaming, and Reddling had been quick to sidestep. Now Reddling had a full view, watching a man, there was no mistaking it, he had read of men in his books. He had read of men in stories. But this man to him seemed more like a machine, bent on murder. Reddling saw two victims, and a man in a red jacket. Fearful, Reddling thought about if such individuals would spare him. Assassins, Reddling knew what assassins did. Assassins kill others. Assassins are evil. We are what ponies are scared of in the night. We are the cannibals... We are the destroyers. The murderers. Defliers of all life they called us. But now, Reddling was not so sure anymore. Stepping faster than the void Reddling put a hoof on the lady as he saw a sword drawn, quickly stepping forward twice, and then a third time back on top of the gazebo. "Mommy-" Reddling noticed time freeze and he could not move. Then, suddenly, something else happened and the girl's screaming seemed cut short. "What's happening-" Reddling heard something warp out, and then there was screaming below. "No more-" Reddling peered over the side, still keeping his hoof on the woman there. a blade was poised to strike at the woman down below. Soon her life would be over. She would be dead, and another killer would be born. One who would write so much gore over the pain they had caused. Maybe those below him were machines. Maybe they were something else, Maybe they truly were flesh and blood. It didn't matter to Reddling. Not then. Not now. Never had. never would he had told himself. But having lost everything to everyone, Reddling just couldn't take it anymore. Overcome by the burden of his guilt, Reddling stepped forward three times, feeling himself running dangerously low on mana. Falling into the void, Reddling felt himself fall forever it seemed like, suspending the woman there, hoping the right choices would be made and she would be safe. Reddling felt himself step back many times, and then spring himself forward with the last of his mana, hoping that he would be able to step back time just enough to prevent the things that were about to happen. "Just one job. Just a simple contract. A life for a life." *Reddling fell on the ground, clutching his hooves and looking at the world around him. he knew he would be alone when he showed up. He knew that no one was going to be there. Alone in his room. Hated by all. sitting there with papers and pens and pencils and a keyboard, typing his life away, hoping for something, anything, to change. They say that you cannot undo the past. Reddling now knew better. Reddling knew, it was possible to change the past. Reddling knew how. Reddling knew what could be done. What had to be done. Gripping the sorrow in his chest, never having truly understood at such a young age why he would listen to other people, Why he had ever listened to other people. Reddling hoped that he could let go of his pain and suffering. If he could step back now, just undo one action forever and ever, he could change history. Nothing he had written would occur, except the story that mattered. the story he truly wanted. But everypony told Reddling it was too late for that. Thoughts and ideas create reality. Reddling had learned through his life and his travels, that the past and future and present, are never as they seem. That our actions have consequences. Reddling had also learned, that it was never too late for you to do the right thing, if you are willing to do so. Reddling turned and looked at the walls around him, counting to himself as each voice went silent. Each child he had lost. His wife he could never see. How everything was taken away from him. When ponies are allowed to kill, this is what happens. He knew this now. Reddling understood his purpose. What he had to "fight" for and what he did not have to "fight" for. With a deep breath, Reddling had his eyes closed as he hoped just maybe one act of redemption would save them all. That maybe, he could let go of his past. Otherwise, it would never matter what he did or did not do. Reddling understood now, that when you fight for your life, you suffer. When you are willing to die for another, another shall die for you. To some this was a game. To some this was funny. To Reddling, it had been a lifetime of dispair, and not one that he wished to continue. Not one he ever wanted to see again. Knowing the darkness and horrors. Knowing the pain he had caused, Reddling was ready to give up. But when given a chance at redemption, he only became more violent, more hurt, more angry, until finally, he could no longer contain his emotions. he began listening to the horrors, whether anymore died or not no longer mattered. Who cared what happened to his soul when everyone else was gone and none of those he truly needed to care about would ever be there. Magic or not, Reddling had been a curious individual. Perhaps, too curious. There is always time to set things right, however. Always. Author's Note Reddling watched Teardrops read the note. waiting for them to speak to him. waiting to hear anypony's voice again. anything. Just even once. But did he regret it... The TraitorAuthor's Note Story by: Nitsua (NitsuaXepher) With contributions from: Éther and Little Dash All original characters: Are property of their respective owners. Additional contributions (name) from: hayburgerandfries Adjustments and "editing" by: Nitsua (Riding Rain) No little ponies were harmed in the writing of this world. The adventures of "Reddling" Riding Rain continue... Dedicated to all of the little blessings, and to Éther, and ... The Traitor "Where were you?" "Reddling" Riding Rain looked at his beer and the ice sheets in his glass, sitting at a small table on a cushion and looking out at the letters before him. He arranged them in a way that was pleasing to himself, shutting his thoughts inside and feeling his mind, going back to it's ease as he took notes in old Silverfieldian. He knew Equestrians would not be able to read this in the past and the present. While they now had access to new Silverfieldian, only Riding Rain remained who could write old Silverfieldian, thanks to their efforts. Riding Rain drained his beer, letting the ice sheets crack as they hit the bottom of the glass. There was a letter here from Bruiser, written drunkedly, involving another friend of theirs who had a little trouble with the law. Riding Rain found trouble reading the hoofmail, so he put it aside for the moment. Something about commune ponies and different issues, it did not give exact details. Riding Rain paused for some time, looking over the notes as he waited for his boss to enter the room. "Fighting ghosts again?" A white maned bat pony asked. He always would pronouce it with the long hard e, making sure to speak a Prance language with her. "No." Reddling said, looking at her as she gave a frown. Neither of them believed his lie, and Reddling breathed a sorry. "I hate this." Reddling said. "Sorry." She said. "C'est la vie..." "..." Reddling agreed silently, nodding his head and pretending he understood her before stopping, "I have no letters from-" "Oui." She continued, Reddling scratching a little tally mark on his notes as she slammed the door, making Reddling half wince as he went back to sorting papers for his new boss. What she means to say is "yes" she is specifically choosing to not do so at this point and I absolutely refuse to believe otherwise. I think she is either doing this to be irritating or doing it to make fun of me not speaking her fancy prance language. He did not expect to be put into pushing paper for a living after he had done everything to save Equestria with his friends. He was not even allowed to visit with them unless his new boss was present, breathing direct and often literal air down the back of his throat. He never saw any colour. He never saw cracks of light. She wore a blue ribbon tie, a white coat, and a suit. He had never even seen her face because she would only exist in absolute darkness. But he had seen her eyes. Sharp and brilliant like two stars together in the night sky. Riding continued moving papers around, doing his job and growing more and more on unease as he finished drink after drink. Ever since he had taken this position, he could drink but never get drunk. But every letter he got in his metaphorical cell seemed like everything got worse. The next letter confirmed this, as did a series of letters that followed. Riding got up at a small trot, shifting his blue coat around so the soft inner silk pressed up against his body. He flipped his sign to "out" and adjusted the dial to a random marking. He had never been much of one for clocks, and instinctively knew close to the correct time that others would need to know, anyway. Riding turned and went right down the hallway, happy to go get some night air. Riding stopped when he was outside, sititng down. There was a small enclave shielded by glass that allowed for both ventlation and gazing at the night sky. He was looking about for a moment before he picked up one of the new cases he had found laying around in the Night Guard quarters. They were small, metal, and contained some sort of "magicae" unknown to him. it was a little larger than his hoof, and he flipped it around for a moment, letting out some smoke from pressing a small switch and watching some smoke fill the air. It was supposed to be calming, however, it only ever made him more on edge as he looked up at the stars. My, this is not what I thought it would be. A desk job. Nothing exciting. And what even is this smoke, in any case? It is supposed to make us relax but it always makes me more and more on edge. Riding Rain looked down at the device and put it away. looking off into the stars. "It is not your break yet." Reddling hear the voice behind him and stood up, whipping around and seeing a black suit walk past his vision and put their hooves on an outreach, resting there in a raised position as the mare looked out at the stars. her white mane covered her face, and an equally white tail flicked idly under her skirt. "Just a moment will not hurt." Reddling said to her. "is that what you told Celestia, Riding Rain? It will 'not hurt?'" She asked, not looking at him. Reddling said nothing, looking down. "You could always ask for reassignment, if this desk job tires you." She said, stars glinting through her white mane. They were like diamonds of every colour anything and everypony could see. "No, I want this job." Reddling said. "Your ill-suited for it, however good you are at it. You can do more." The white maned mare said. "I read your book, you know. The one you finished for the Canterlot Library." "The alphabet of Silverfield and how the reading and the speech differ does not sound like your usual type of reading. Not much pay in learning Silverfieldian." Reddling said, looking down at the stones under him and rubbing his hoof along one. "Learning every language you can does not have to be about pay, Riding Rain." The bat pony in the suit replied. "I was hoping you would ask for reassignment, as I have a new assignment for you." "Watch duty?" Reddling questioned, believing he already knew, but stood up when he heard- "No. Guard Duty." "Who?" Reddling felt his insides almost itching at what was to come. Maybe he could see his friends? Maybe he could do something other than push paper and pens? "Do you remember Web's job when you first joined the Night Guard?" The mare in the suit asked. How could I possibly forget? Those were the best days of my life, and I threw them all away because I was busy trying to fulfill a destiny that was never supposed to be mine, as far as I know. Yes, I remember. I will always remember. And remember what I did not enjoy when I had it. "Yes." Reddling looked ahead with a blank stare out at the night sky. "I will be keeping an eye on you, and it will not just be you, but I would like you to help some ponies get acclimated to their new lives as recruits for the Night Guard." The mare said. Redding Rain continued looking at the stars. It will not be the same though... Not the same as when I was there. This is like rubbing salt in the wound. As good as I am with a knife, she still is better at causing pain. Reddling thought to himself, looking down again at the stones. "You know where to go. I already had some of your supplies sent up to Web's old room. The recruits should be there by now, although I doubt they are aware of their surroundings. You remember your own introduction." The suited bat pony said. Reddling looked back up at her but she was already vanishing before his eyes. Riding watched as she seemed to simply fade back into the darkness of night itself, not even leaving a glimmer or sign she had been there in the first place. She's even better at that than Web is. Who the hell is she anyway? She never even responds to her name that was on the paper. Hang on- Riding paused, pondering to himself about how she would be keeping an eye on him. If I make a note that she is there then maybe I can get her to say her name. Weird to sign a letter with what is not your real name, but given her line of work, I would be more concerned if she was signing with her real name. Riding Rain was up the same second, returning to his workspace and grabbing his notes and shoving them in a holder before he threw them into a small satchel bag, which fastened right between the foreleg and wing so he could fly without any hinderance. dodging down the halls of the catacombs of Equestria, Riding Rain continued up and into some Night Guard areas proper. He paused for a moment, and then ducked towards his room down a hallway and silently slid himself inside. Riding Rain smiled as he stepped forward with a happy and pleased trot towards his bed, over a purple rug and to a rack that was not far away. Pushing through a row of coats, he grabbed some special armor he had not worn in a very long time. Exchanging the slippers he had on for parade armor, Riding Rain fastened on his favorite type of armor to wear when he was not going into combat. Or worse, doing paperwork. Riding adjusted the shiny blue shoes, the darker coloured cloth under it, and the brighter blue that went on over the top as he sat the satchel bag aside. Despite the time and events that had past, he reckoned himself to be the same age he was when he had joined the Night Guard. He was unaware if this was simply a Silverfieldian feature, or if bat ponies themselves did not appear to age. The only bat pony with white hair he had seen was his boss, but he figured with the dangers of guard duty at night, maybe bat ponies simply did not live long enough to grow older, or retired before they began to age too much. He would have judged this by his friends, except he hadn't any free time to visit anypony. At least until now. When the recruits are on break, I can make the short fly back to Canterlot. I likely do not even need to stay up there, if it was not for the fact that new recruits need constant care. Riding saw shadows lick at the edge of his guard shoe, which was little more than a trimmed down boot. He stomped at the shadows, warning them to stay away. Exactly like that. You even think about them, and there they are. Riding thought, pausing and grabbing at his fancy trench coat before stopping. Maybe he did not wish to wear that one just yet, later. Passing over the coat he had been gifted in the past, Riding instead opted for one of his non-fireproof coats. With the exception of the fireproof coat, all his coats were much the same, although sometimes a little less or a little extra flair had been applied by the seamstress who worked on them. Without any more thoughts of the dingy catacombs, Riding dashed out of the room and closed the door, heading for the exit to the bat pony caves and entering into the lower courtyards of Canterlot castle. A major advantage of being a bat pony and having cave access, Riding had learned, was that you could appear anywhere you needed to in the city within a very short amount of time, provided you knew the path to the exit you wanted. Riding knew of a couple other exits, but really had no reason to use them. When the only place you were headed for was the sky, it did not matter where you came out of the ground. Taking a gallop and then sprinting just a second, Riding threw himself forward and off a ledge, letting his wings extend and grab the wind currents so he could be carried with a glide towards the night sky. tilting his wings with hooves forward, he kited himself to the side and angled upwards, towards the mountains near Canterlot. It was a short flight, and although Riding Rain took his time, he still arrived in nearly the same time as if he had just flown straight there. Riding landed near the bleachers to the small mountain enclave. There were several buildings here, Riding noting that the mess hall had been repaired, as had the bar and showers area. he recognized Web's old cabin, as well as other cabins that were boarded up like his to prevent even an inch of light entering into the building. Riding trotted past the bleachers and over to check on the cabin he had formerly known as being Web's cabin. A couple spare coats, a small and dubious box of supplies, and a fine array of weapons had all been delivered. Riding Rain pulled back his coat, looking down at his side to glance at the kukri he always kept with him. The light of the blade would put these others to shame, but Riding had grown used to training with less useful weapons. Belting on the bastard sword and two long and deadly looking knifes, Riding checked the blue steel of all three before grabbing a half brace of throwing knives, which he belted onto his chest, giving himself ten different options for piecing anything, plus the two in his mouth. Sweeping his coat around himself, letting it only barely keep off the ground but allowing him to crouch and with his pony frame still not get it dirty, Riding smiled to himself. I... this place. Riding thought to himself as he trotted out. He had many good and many bad memories here, a notable one making his hoof itch as he stopped and looked at the mess hall. With a shrug, Riding stepped towards the place. He had the memory of the building half blown apart seared into his memory. Fire, colour, and fighting, the day that things seemed to have gone very wrong for everypony. Yet here, it was restored, the time made right. Riding Rain trotted into the hall and then turned to the right, taking the set of double doors and trotting over to inspect if any food was out. There was a little bit of fruit in a basket, and it looked as though it was set for dinner. Some hay fries looked ready to be prepared later, although Riding Rain did not see the cook present. I wonder if we even have a cook. I hope I don't have to be the cook here too. I never did find out what happened to that green earth pony. I wonder if Web ever managed to fix him? He might have been too far gone... Riding tried to push the intrusive thoughts away. Grabbing a mango Riding Rain turned and froze, wiping his smile away mid movement so that nopony saw this. If it had not been for the fact he could see them breathing, Riding might have thought the other pony in the room was a corpse. He had not heard them make a sound, not even breathing sounds. This was a trait he had come to associate with Web Weaver, his boss, and himself. Although Riding kept his own voices quiet he felt his heart rate quicken and his breathes grow faster. The far end of the second table had a pony in a chair, looking down at their hooves. This pony was not however, anypony that Riding was aware of in the Night Guard. They were a bit on the smaller side for sure, perhaps in or very near their late teenage years in age. They had whipped their purple and nearly black mane back some, keeping it rather short. A mop of bedraggled backmane and tail complimented their bat pony features, with a set of dark purple wings that matched their dark purple mane and pale orange coat. Riding grabbed a second mango and shoved both into his pockets, trotting silently to the end of the table and sliding across from the other pony. I figured they would all still be passed out. How is the pony up? How are they awake? ...Were the others awake and only I passed out during my test? Riding voiced none of his questions to the pony, taking out the two mangoes and sliding one across the table. The pony looked up at the mango, then looked further up at Riding Rain. The bat pony had bright and harmonic eyes, with diamond slitted pupils to match their tufted ears, the little fangs on the side of the muzzle, and the wings. All of this was how a bat pony should be, although Riding felt he could see some measure of sadness in the brilliant purple eyes that seemed to capture so many other shades as well. The eyes were deep, like they saw everything and nothing at the same time, a look that most ponies would say does not fit a pony of that age. Riding knew better though, he knew what you had to see to have that stare in your eyes when you look forward. Fortunately, that look was currently directed at the mango now, making it seem a little less colourful and wilted just by circumstance. Riding waited to see if the other pony would speak, but no words came forth. I almost wish I was psychic at times like this. It would make my former occupation a lot easier. Perhaps that is why I almost wish this. After a few moments Riding decided to speak, "I can put it back if you are not hungry." The bat pony looked back up at him, speaking in a tone that was gentle, but had a harsh feminine tinge to it, "You did not give me anything to cut it with." Riding almost considered drawing one of his night guard knives and stabbing it into the table, but he decided that since he knew this had to be a traumatic change, leaving behind your pony life and becoming a bat pony, maybe now was not the moment to be drawing sharp weapons. Riding put his mango down, looking down at his teeth, then at the pony. "You just bite into it and drink." Riding said. The pony looked at the mango, then up at him, wordlessly posturing the expression of disbelief. Riding gave a pained smile, a forced smile, one that was very fake, and then tried again. "Like this, you just-" Riding opened his mouth and then bit down with his fangs, letting them slide into the skin and flesh of the mango as he made a slurping sound, containing all the juice in his mouth and gulping some down. The mango below shriveled up somewhat, and the other pony grew paler watching the entire situation. Oh they are so not ready for this. Riding thought to himself as he took the mango out of his mouth. "I will see about getting some juice sent to your quarters." The other pony's expression appeared to be somewhere between threatening to coat the hall with vomit and disgust that was changing to realization as they looked at their hooves, the mango, and their back. The pony then looked back to Riding Rain. With his vision, Riding could tell their hair was standing on edge just a bit, nervousness but not yet fear. Horror, perhaps? Maybe I should ask them questions, that might help. "I am Rìdìng Raìn," Riding enunciated his name in the correct manner. "I understand if you do not desire to give me your name, many ponies change their names when they join the Night Guard. I have a friend like that. However, if you wish to use your old name, then what is yours?" The pony gave a bit of a raised look with their eye, expressing interest, even if it was in somewhat of a sardonic way. The pony did not reply with a name, so Riding continued finishing with drinking his mango. When he was finished, the other pony finally spoke. "I do not have one anymore. Nor a mark." The pony said. They looked back at their side, which Riding noticed was a bit paler than normal, as if the pony had found their special talent and also lost it. It was at this moment the thought occurred to Riding that this pony was not wearing any of their Night Guard armor, which included a helmet. Riding chuckled to himself before stopping, realizing this was a terrible moment to chuckle given the state the pony across from him was in. he reached a hoof into his coat, and produced a pair of sunglasses, placing them next to the mango. "You will want those if you aren't back to your quarters by sunrise. Trust me. You do not want to be out in the sun." The pony looked up, then looked down and clammed up, refusing to even offer a comment or question. Riding breathed deep, letting out a sad stutter of breath at the end. "Because of the sun." Riding commented. "Yes." The pony without a name said back to him. "Well, I will be helping you get acquainted with your new life as a bat pony, so if you have questions, or need somepony to talk to, just tell me?" Reddling did not manage to finish his statement without facehoofing. It sounded so fake in his mouth he nearly coughed up some of the mango juice. Even for him, this was a hard lie to tell, this fake politeness. Taking a breath, Riding Rain tried again; "What I meant to say was, it's my job help you. Let me know if you need help-" "-I need help." The pony stated as Riding was finishing his statement. Riding breathed deep, looking down before he leaned back. "It would help if I have some name to call you, even if it's not your name." Riding stated, drumming his hoof on the table in a low tone. "Call me whatever you want." The pony said dismissively, looking away with their eyes relaxed a bit, somewhere between a pout and a cry. I am awful with names. I mean really, I can still remember being asked if Reddling was my real name. No it's just what they call me, because I'm red, right? Uh, I'm never going to come up with a name that sounds believable. Think, Riding, think. Say something you know well. Riding looked back at the pony's sad expression. "Teardrops." Riding Rain stated, leaning forward with a bit of confidence, "That's because you look like you are about to cry, and not for any other reason though. When you think of a better one let me know, please." "Teardrops. Really?" Teardrops replied, pausing and then looking down at their sides before looking back upwards. "There are a lot of other reasons I can think of to call me Teardrops-" "I know," Riding's turn to reply at the very end of something Teardrops said, "Ponies like me can see that much in your eyes, you know." "Are you some kind of mind reader?" Teardrops asked, their face changing to one of suspicion. "Just very good at reading eyes." Riding replied, pushing himself up from the table. "If you ever need to find me, and I am not around out in the yard or in here, check my room, I write in there." "There is... nothing else you do?" Teardrops ears flattened. Riding Rain motioned to the sunglasses, and then beckoned for Teardrops to follow him. They trotted outside, sunglasses on the other bat pony as they entered back into the yard. Riding stopped at his door, and then cast it open, trotting over to the small box and opening it up, setting his supplies on a desk in view of the door. A large bottle of wine, and a slightly smaller bottle of distilled liquids, a stack of papers, and last of all a small set of quills, which he noticed the pony's eyes follow as they seemed to cringe backwards. Riding paused, then put the box down, revealing there to only be a small tin of dry rations, a small, concealable knife, and a small amount of folded clothes with a shorter coat. Grabbing a spare pair of sunglasses from the shorter coat and donning them, Riding looked back at the pony as he stood up. The glasses blackened the room enough that it was almost difficult to see, and Riding found himself thankful for his enhanced vision as he folded them up and put them inside his blue coat before exiting the room, closing the door to his cabin with his wing. "All you do is sit in your room and drink, write, and collect... knives?" Teardrops seemed to be a little more open to discussion now, however the look that Riding Rain was making out under the sunglasses was not one of approval from Teardrops. "Not always." Riding responded in short order, trotting over towards the training yard that made up the center of the enclave, which he judged from the position of his new cabin had it's buildings arranged in the shape of a horseshoe. "Your job, writing, and alcohol." Teardrops trotted along with Riding. "And collect knives, and coats." Riding added on the coats part, motioning towards his coat with his right wing. Teardrops glanced the coat over, and Riding was fairly certain that he saw them roll their eyes. "I'll hold off on the full tour for now, we'll get to that later." Riding stopped, motioning one by one to the buildings. "my cabin of course, the mess hall you already found, the bar, the showers, and the cabins. You would be better off not disturbing anypony else that might occupy the other cabins for tonight, we will start training tomorrow-" "No!" Riding stopped, his hoof wilting a bit as his eyes flicked over to Teardrops' statement. He had not lacked in bravery, if the same could not have ben said for spirit, on his first day. However, he could not recall a day in his job where he would have ever called out to one of his superiors in such a manner unless imminent danger was upon them. The ferocity with which the word had been called out made Riding step away from Teardrops a half pace. He waited for them to continue, making a gesture with his hoof for them to go on. "No, uh, I mean, I want to start training tonight." Teardrops said. "I advice you to not speak that way to other more senior members of the Night Guard, I think you will find a great many are not as forgiving at being told no. Many are used to getting their way, and when they do not, they are used to finding other means to get their way, both legal and illegal depending upon the bat pony." Riding advised. Teardrops looked around and then leaned forward a bit, mouthing the legal and illegal part of the statement back to Riding. Riding gave a nod. "Why?" Teardrops' ears flattened again. Riding shook his head, attempting to communicate that he did not intend to be answering that question at this time. Teardrops gulped, and then gave their wings a flap. "I do want to begin training tonight though. Flying training!" "Flying." Riding stared at Teardrops with simple eyes, not even prepared to give himself a thought at being confronted with that word so fast. "Yes!" Teardrops said, with as much vigor as they had no, although with a very different tone. Riding took another half pace back, his eyes getting a bit wider as he took his sunglasses off. Teardrops did the same, dropping their sunglasses in the grass, little stars in their eyes and shooting a look that gave Riding Rain pause. "I want to teach all of you together at once, you are the only one here right now, so-" Teardrops did not wait for Riding to finish, saying, "So teach me now! I can help you teach anypony else! I want to learn how to fly!" Riding Rain chuckled again, at a better moment this time. "I know how it feels to be so eager, you know?" Teardrops put their head at a tilt, and Riding leaned back, counting the cabins. "That one." Riding put his sunglasses back on and trotted over to one of the cabins, stopping short of the door as Teardrops went past him. Riding gestured to the ground, holding his hoof out at a large, pony shaped indent in the ground, stopping himself from speaking as he stared over at the door to the cabin, which now stood ajar, an uneasy looking Teardrops looking back at him. "How did you know which one is my cabin? I thought you said you weren't a mind reader?" Teardrops queried. "I am not a mind reader." Riding Rain said. "Oh," Teardrops said, looking down, then looking back up with suspicion. "You did not have any notes about anything in your cabin. What are you then, lucky? A prophet?" Teardrops continued with questioning, causing Riding Rain to be silent until they ran out of breath for the moment, not answering any of the questions. After a flurry of questions, Riding Rain patted the ground with the pony shaped indent. "This used to be my cabin, when I joined the Night Guard. I have many memories in this place. It would seem, this place also holds memories of me." Riding gestured down to the indent as Teardrops inspected the ground. "I decided to teach myself to fly after the first night I was here, and this is where I crashed, each and every time. I was so excited to have wings, I had to learn what it was like to be airborn. I learned the airborn part, I failed the flying test, though. Teardrops jerked their head back a bit, looking Riding over with an almost curious expression. "You- did not know how to fly either?" Riding Rain looked away. I hate bringing this up. "Some ponies, like you and a friend of mine, Nightshade we call her, join in pursuit of something with reasons entirely their own. Some ponies have higher goals, like myself. But there are also ponies that join in order to forget the life they had." Riding said, looking back at the indent. "I never learned to fly, so I thought to myself it could not possibly be that hard. I never thought unicorns or earth ponies would be so interested in flying, although I did meet an earth pony who was like that, once." "I mean, it is not their fault they cannot fly." Teardrops added to the thought, "They just, don't understand what it's like to not be able to fly." Riding Rain was glad his sunglasses were on and hoped the glare he had was not translating to Teardrops, because anypony Riding had ever met would move away from that look. "You do not know what you have until it is taken away from you." Riding breathed. "Silverfieldians know this all too well." "Silverfieldians?" Teardrops asked. "Silverfield, it is a small country to the south of Equestria. Hope you never have to see it. They do not have any pegasi that fly in Silverfield." Riding's grim expression invited a few shadows to trace along his hooves, and he kicked at the ground, warning them to stay back. "No pegasi fly in Silverfield?!" Teardrops betrayed a small moment of something there, but Riding was not sure yet what it was. "That does not mean that there are no pegasi born in Silverfield." Riding Rain forced a cough. "Can we go there-" "No." Riding said. Teardrops looked down at the ground at this sudden rebuttal. They were silent for a moment, both of them saying nothing to each other. After a short time, Teardrops broke the silence; "...You, you are from there, aren't you?" "That is correct." Riding Rain did not look at teardrops, staring out at the end of the enclave, which overlooked smaller mountains. "-And you know what it's like to not be able to fly, even when you should be able to." Teardrops continued. "This is true." Riding Rain looked down, kicking the ground. "Do you smoke?" Teardrops queried. "Excuse me?" Riding stopped, looking back at Teardrops. "Sorry- sorry, different pony." Teardrops' turn to kick the ground came up, however, when they looked up the happiness on their face was shining. Riding Rain lowered his sunglasses, taking a look at the unusual bat pony before him. Whatever had been in their eyes before was gone now, and there was a brightness that seemed to almost sting Riding Rain, except he felt no pain. "You can fly now, as a bat pony!?" Teardrops leaned forward, inching closer. Riding reasoned to himself without words that they were something akin to a kitten that was about to capture a toy mouse. "...Yes." Riding did not move an inch, glancing around himself and automatically checking for any unseen weapons that might have been planted around him. His mind was already thinking of potential assassination techniques that could be used on him, or what this pony might be planning. Teardrops was getting even closer now, almost within lunging distance. But they did not seem to have any weapons except- Except those fangs. Riding flicked his head down to where he had been bitten before by an enemy on his right forehoof, wondering if his left forehoof was not to suffer the same fate. "You were a pegasi that could not fly." Teardrops said to Riding. Riding nodded, making himself ready. There was a rushing of wind and he raised his hoof instinctively to guard his neck from a bite, ready to pull his kukri out. Except, no weapons produced themselves from either side, Riding felt the wind knocked out of him for a moment as he was instead grabbed by the pony. It was not a grab lacking in firmness, however, it was also gentle, a foreign emotion that Riding had left behind a long time ago. Riding took his sunglasses off, tossing them away. Below him the pony, only somewhat smaller than he, had locked him into an embrace. it was not quite like that as one might grab a lover, but there was obvious care and closeness. Riding had always hated being touched, but there was no drawback this time, no panic about the hug. He truly could not grasp what exactly had just happened, and his hoof was still raised in an awkward position, as if he had invited the hug. Riding said nothing, taking in a deep breath of night air. Teardrops did not speak either. Riding broke the silence, because he felt something wet on his clothing. "Are you- crying?" Riding asked, looking down at Teardrops. Teardrops nodded. Riding Rain found himself at a loss for words, simply gazing down at the situation. Teardrops was not letting go, though, so he decided to try a different question. "Why are you sad?" Riding asked. "I am not sad." Teardrops mumbled into the blue trench coat. "I'm happy." "Happy?" Riding Rain asked, dumbfounded. "You know what it's like to not fly. I never met another pony like me that could not fly." Teardrops murmured. "Like you..." Riding stumbled a tiny bit, causing Teardrops to break away and wipe away their tears as he grabbed at his back and felt his bat pony wings, a flash of a memory of pain echoing inside of his mind. "I mean, I always sort of knew, you know?" Teardrops said. "Why I did not have any family, why I could not fly, I knew that there had to be other ponies like me." Riding gulped, a shadow of agony dwelling over his chest as he looked over at Teardrops. "I am sorry that happened to you. I know that losing your wings can be difficult-" "It's alright!" Teardrops responded, drying the rest of their tears. "You and me, we both have these!" Riding watched as Teardrops flapped their wings, lifting just a little off the ground. Riding hesitated, then offered a deeper question. "Do you recall if it hurt?" Riding asked. "It always hurts when ponies make fun of you for not being able to fly and laugh about your wings." Teardrops replied, tilting their head as they glanced over, stopping their happy flapping. "Uh, Mister Rìdìng Raìn? Are you alright? You look sad." Riding said nothing. "...You do not have any family either." Teardrops did not ask, but rather, stated this sentence. Riding looked straight ahead. "And nopony calls you Rìdìng Raìn, because they cannot pronounce your name." Teardrops continued. "I remember having wings, until they took them away. In Silverfield." Riding Rain said, looking away and finding his sunglasses, about to put them back on. "I know who you are." Teardrops' voice came from behind him. Riding Rain turned his head, stopping for a moment. "I told you my name, so I hope so." Riding offered. "You are the legendary assassin Reddling Rain. That is what they call you, Reddling." Teardrops declared. "The bat pony from Silverfield. Uh, the bat pony in the armor talked about you." "Did he." Riding stated, folding up the sunglasses. "Good things I hope." "You... did not think to say that up front?" Teardrops asked. "Why?" Riding Rain did not answer. "...You only use that name when you are... on a mission." Riding Rain again, did not answer. Correct. Teardrops approached, sitting down in the grass beside Riding Rain. He did the same, kicking his coat to the side. "I heard you have killed. That- that Reddling, killed, a lot of ponies." Teardrops said. "I am Riding Rain, cannot say if I have ever met him." Riding said. "What did the pony in the armor say?" "You- uh, Reddling Rain, he is mythical." Teardrops remarked. "I heard that he once defeated nine other ponies with a single hoof, just one strike, all at once." "Not all stories translate fully." Riding Rain remarked. "I heard you pacified Discord himself once." Teardrops continued. "Not sure about that one, did not ask." Riding Rain replied. "You brought down all three changeling queens trying to destroy Equestria. The day guards just speak about you by name, nopony claims to remember what you look like or if they even saw you. I heard some say they are pretty sure you are red though, like dried blood, from all the ponies you killed." "I wouldn't repeat that one." Riding looked down at his hooves, which indeed, his pony coat was the colour of dried blood and purple, creating a shade that shifted depending upon the lighting. He could appear many different colours depending upon when you looked at him and the time of day or night. "I heard that you managed to write your own universe into creation, alone." "-Who told you that one?" Riding stopped Teardrops, holding a hoof up. "I read it in a book about you." Teardrops looked taken aback, and Riding put his hoof down, saying nothing. After a brief pause, Teardrops continued, "And- the thing with wings-" "You speak like an Equestrian. In Silverfield, pegasus ponies are dewinged at birth. I lived long enough to remember mine being shorn off my back." Riding had to forcibly vomit the words out, not looking at Teardrops. he heard the air move around the other bat pony as they nodded. "I do not know where I was born, I was an orphan. Like you. What happened?" "I am specifically silent about that part of the story." Riding said. "So it is you then." Teardrops asked. "I heard you have traveled dimensions for your work before. They have some other names for you too, you change it depending on where you go, names like-" "I would rather not talk about that, Teardrops." Riding spoke over them, and they both fell silent. "You are a lot younger than I expected." It was Teardrops turn to break the silence. "I do have a question though, about, you." "And here I was hoping to be answering any other kind of question in Equestria tonight." Riding murmured. "So you never told anypony who you really were?" Teardrops asked. "They tend forget about me not long after even when I have. I think it makes them uncomfortable, they do not like having talks like that, and I normally do not like talking." Riding answered. "This is sort of a two part question," Teardrops interjected at the end, "Why? I mean, not why do they forget about you, but why are you, you know." in response, Riding shrugged his pony shoulders and did not raise his hooves. "They say you are a monster, but you look a lot like me. Do you have any little ponies? Are you married?" "That is an awful lot more than just one question." Riding remarked. "Sorry..." Teardrops trailed off. "I have more than one question. Where were you, all these years?" There was not an immediate reply from Riding as he looked down at his hooves, holding them together and then looking to the south and downwards. The two of them sat there, the night air blowing gentle and sweet around them. Total silence reigned in the middle of the night. "The others, they're real too, then? Midnight Tales, Tree Tops, Nightshade, Bruiser, Web Weaver?" Teardrops asked finally, their voice a little hoarse from not speaking in so long. "...Who gave you this book?" Riding Rain stood up, looking down at Teardrops as they stood up, too. "She did." Teardrops pointed past Riding Rain and he did not move an inch. "I do not know her name though, she did not tell me. I did not ask either." "Close." Riding Rain said, still pointedly not turning around as he straightened up a bit and felt a pony walk so close to him that white mane tickled his coat. "Éther." The suited pony said, adjusting the ribbon tie they wore as they stood adjacent to Riding and Teardrops. Reddling jerked his hoof, barely withholding his facehoof. It is a long E? Are you serious, she signed her name correctly in all those letters I just did not know how to say the name? Are you serious with me right now Éther? "Riding has been calling me Teardrops. That's not as cool as Rìdìng Raìn or Éther, though." Teardrops remarked. "Name changes were discussed earlier." Éther said, looking over to Riding, and motioning for him to follow as they walked a good deal away, leaving Teardrops back at the yard as they went past the bleachers. "This one is here on special orders." Upon hearing this, Riding Rain did facehoof, unable to take the cold situation that he had been served. "I know you know what I am thinking. However, are you serious? This is happening?" "This is happening." Éther's stare was direct, not leaving room for complaint or to negotiate. "Alright, who is their target?" Riding immediately went into thinking mode, turning around with Éther as she put a hoof on his shoulder for a moment, and then took it away. They trotted back towards the yard, stopping in front of Teardrops. "I left you a letter in your cabin. Use your discretion." Éther had scant finished her sentence before Riding saw her seem to simply cease to be present next to the two of them. Teardrops looked at where Éther had been, then looked back to Riding Rain. "Want to go find out what the letter says?" Riding asked. Teardrops nodded, then followed up with, "And then, flying?" Riding chuckled and turned, leading the way to his cabin as Teardrops caught up. "I'll teach you the stretches and the basics, but actually learning to fly usually takes a full night, and you cannot be out during the day without being uncomfortable. I know we can get you in the air tonight, so you can fly first thing next night." Teardrops did not need any more of an answer than this as they arrived hastily at the cabin, Riding stepping inside and seeing two glasses set out for the wine and distilled liquids. One of the glasses was wet and it was clear some of the wine had been used. Riding opened the letter and read it first, then offered it to Teardrops. "Riding Rain, As you know, there has been trouble with the dream realms as of late. We believe that we are close to finding the pony that is responsible for the intrusions to the dream realm. Please keep this in mind when acclimating the new cadets before they join the Night Guard. Web Weaver is not a suspect at this time. We have reason to believe the pony is close to at least some of the princesses, and may or may not know that they are doing this. At this time, we do not have any information on if they are a guard, a noble, an element, or friend of the elements, You are not authorized to execute this pony if they are discovered. Ensure your findings are reported in a prompt manner. Signed, Ether "All this time I worked for her, she just didn't answer me because I would not say her name the correct way. I cannot tell when it's signed that way. Infuriating." Riding commented on the letter as he watched Teardrops eyes scroll over the text and reach the bottom of the parchment. "She has really good writing. It's art." Teardrops replied. Riding crossed his hooves. "I should have brought a book to read." Riding sat up a bit, hesitating, "...You do not by any chance happen to have that book you mentioned, do you?" "Of course not! Éther said it was the only one." Teardrops replied, thinking with the letter in their hoof before placing the letter down. "I seem to recall it was a very plain looking book. Never seen one like it. You know when the sky gets all dark on a new moon, and there's no light at all? It's whatever that colour is, the colour that comes after it is absolutely dark- Although" Riding felt a bit more chilly now. "Flying?" Introductions"I control my own Nightmares." Teardrops let out a loud squeak that rang through the wind as they were buffeted by the winds, almost cast out of the sky as Riding and Teardrops flew together. Riding glanced over and could see the panic in their eyes as the winds began to overwhelm both of them for very different reasons. Riding caught himself in the wind and used it to guide himself into Teardrops, tacking them mid fall and catching them as they fell into lower air currents, shrugging Teardrops into safer currents right below the treeline. Riding turned to look at Teardrops but they had already flown for the bottom of the treeline, slamming into the ground at a trot and almost losing their balance before trotting several paces. Riding landed next to them, panting and looking ahead at Teardrops. Teardrops trotted closer to a tree, leaning on it and huffing. Riding approached, not touching Teardrops but looking at them from their side. "That's... I'm sorry." Teardrops looked away, and Riding Rain averted his eyes so he did not have to see them cry. "That's dangerous!" "I..." Riding huffed, "I know. But if you can... fly up there, you can fly, anywhere." "I'm sorry, I..." Teardrops paused for a bit to breathe, sitting down and then laying flat on the ground to breathe. "Strong wind." Riding agreed, still panting himself. "it takes... a lot of pegasus ponies to tame the winds of Equestria, beyond the lower cloud layer." "Lower, cloud layer?" Teardrops asked. Riding brushed off his hoof, and offered a hoof up to Teardrops, pulling them up and onto their hooves again and beckoning with his head for them to follow him towards the lower practice field. Trotting through the overgrown field, they reached the edge of the Enclave, which oversaw Canterlot, and the Equestria beyond. A layer of clouds floated below them, with another above them. "Down there, you can fly anywhere. Up here though, you have to learn how to actually fly. Past that, it's weaker. and in untamed places..." Riding trailed off. "I will- I am going to try again!" Teardrops said, brushing the back of their hoof across their face and stretching their wings out, but Riding Rain stopped them. "No. Not today. You look tired. There might be another way." Riding suggested, mouthing "For us to speak in private." Teardrops tilted their head, looking up at the sky as their wings gave another beat and then folded up, nodding. "What about the others?" Teardrops asked. "They'll be alright. I remember learning to fly, they won't get above the treeline for a few days. You though, you're a natural. Like Tree Tops." "Who are they?" Teardrops asked. Riding stopped, looking at the ground, then walked forwards more, continuing his trot. "Who were you before you were a bat pony?" Riding asked, not answering the question. "Nopony." Teardrops said, trotting with haste to keep up. "So was Tree Tops. An Earth Pony who was given a wing as a cutie mark, but never able to fly." Riding said. Teardrops gave a gasp, but did not comment for some time as they trotted further into the forest. "Teardrops." Riding simply put it, saying only their name, but in a grave accent. "Yes, Mister Riding Rain?" Teardrops said. "Just call me Riding." Riding Rain replied. "Riding, yes?" Teardrops tried again. "When we get where I am taking you, I need you to know something. I will not be responsible for what happens once you go in. I can not truly help you. You will be on your own, but if you can pass this test, we may speak. However, the test is twofold." Riding felt the shadows lick at his coat, and closed his eyes and trotted forward, letting them overwhelm his coat. "I do not understand what you mean." Teardrops replied. "Have you heard of Nightmare Moon?" Riding asked. Teardrops nodded, trotting faster to keep up. "I think everypony has once or twice. That was Luna, long ago, right?" Riding paused, before continuing, "In a way, she still is. And every bat pony is afflicted with the same Nightmare. A realm of dreams and shadows and... darker things. Nightmares." Riding saw Teardrops shiver next to him as the shadows grew, the very sky itself seeming to become darker and darker, the trees more and more transparent. Riding closed his eyes, falling into the shadows as he saw Teardrops disappear next to him. The shadows seemed to fall over them, hastening their hooves, inviting them in. It begins again. Riding looked down at the landscape before him, carved from red, bone, and shadow. A small orange bat pony trotted along, looking side to side as the forest gave up it's moniker and illusions, revealing a world painted with red. Riding watched under him as Teardrops screamed in fear, wrapping her tail and wings around herself and apparently sobbing, completely trapped and alone. Riding reached out a hoof, however, another hoof he could not see stopped him. "This is Teardrops test, not yours." A regal voice of the night said, and then was gone as soon as it had spoken. Riding held his hoof back, feeling sick with himself as he looked down on the darkness and horror before him. "Stop it." Riding looked down at the trees of bone and the flaking leaves of red as Teardrops walked forward, screaming around every corner at the bodies of ponies flayed and put on display. So many times Teardrops could barely continue, urging themselves to look down while the darkness drew closer, slowing closing the world off. Riding watched helplessly from the dream realm as he saw Teardrops reach Ponyville, trotting with tears in eyes past a white and yellow pony who had been tied onto wood, holding them still and forced to watch. A rainbow coloured monster turned back to look at Teardrops, saying only one word, "Failure." Riding tried to touch the nightmare but felt his hoof pushed back, as if some invisible force kept him at bay. a dark laugh, from a time forgotten, and a regal sigh, both on either side of him, held him still. This is Teardrops test, not yours. "I will help! I cannot just simply watch!" Riding said, looking up and seeing a mirror in front of him. A bat pony in jaded armor grinned back at him, tentacles petting his coat and extending out. Helpless. Riding looked away and ripped his mind towards Teardrops below, who was now cornered by many rainbow monsters, all encroaching. They chanted songs of weakness, holding them down, holding Teardrops along, ready to display her like every other pony that had suffered. Riding Rain felt glass break as he pushed both hooves forward, and all time and dreams seemed to stop. Within Riding's mind, he could still see Teardrops far off, facing what seemed to be an inescapable fate. Tendrils escaped forth from the rainbow monsters, reaching, grabbing, and Riding turned to face his own situation that was right in front of him. He had seen this many times before, but he had never had to witness another pony's nightmare. In front of Riding Rain was the bat pony from before, and their visage was not pretty. Their sides were stained with blood, but new wings unfurled from their back, also soaked in blood that was fresh and crimson, not dulled. Every vibrant colour of Riding's coat was restored, and while he could not make out the eyes of the creature, it smiled back at him. A triumphant, long coat streaked under the blood, with jaded armor having long dark tentacles rubbing along every inch it could reach with what was nigh an embrace. No, that- Riding Rain breathed deep, looking back at the being. "Why are you doing this?" Riding asked the Nightmare, which did not respond. Riding heard Teardrops crying something but it was far away. The Nightmare continued to smile, and Riding listened for his internal monologue, trying to strike up conversation with himself. However, the words did not come out the way he desired them to. "No, that's-" The Nightmare seemed to be talking over him, looking past Riding. Riding turned around in spite of himself and the obvious sound of alarm bells screaming inside his head to look behind him. "No, no, no." The Nightmare said, as Riding struck at the ground, watching as the tentacles wrapped themselves around him, never controlling him, only rubbing along his side and around him. Riding Rain looked down a short hill at the scene before him, his internal monologue said aloud rather than in his head. Gone now are the attachments that one once had. Lost, and alone. Riding looked down at Teardrops, seeing the rainbows, monsters though they were, recede from the world, as the other ponies faded away, leaving only red, bone, and shadow. Teardrops was several paces away from Riding, and this time he was forced to see tears. Teardrops looked absolutely petrified, shaking in place and backing away while never taking their eyes from Riding. Teardrops, it is I. Riding said, trotting forward a few paces. Teardrops fell over, looking upwards horrified. The sound of the regal voice from before, now clearer than ever, rang inside Riding's mind. He recognized this voice, although, it was happier times when Luna had spoken to him in such a gentle tone. Teardrops bit their lip, which drew blood, slashing the world with colour. Riding felt himself move forward in spite of himself, crunching noises under his hooves as he trod closer. "Why did you do this?" Teardrops finally yelled, pushing aside their tears and standing up. Teardrops took a stance, alone, looking up with fury mixed with tears. Ehehehe. Do what? The Nightmare said, the tendrils reaching out and righting Teardrops. Teardrops, for their part, fought, bit, and hit at the tendrils, however, they forced them to stand and then moved Teardrops forward, moving them to the top of the hill with Riding as he turned with a flourish of his coat. There was a sound as if every thunder had rung out at once without lightning, and the world suddenly went entirely dark. Teardrops screaming was not even audible over the sound of thunder Teardrops was averting their eyes as the world reformed, however, Riding commanded them, the tentacles forcing Teardrops eyes to stare downwards. There was a hole in the middle of an island, which could have been a black pool, but today, was instead full of red, bone, darkness. A picture of destruction. Look. The Nightmare left no room for debate within it's realm. Teardrops' tears stained the map below, spilling like rain and mixing with the map of Equestria that all were forced to watch. From Manehatten and Canterlot to Vanhoover bay and Las Pegasus, every inch of Equestria stood lifeless. Cold, freezing winds had consumed most of the rest of the world, reducing much of it to ashes from the sheer biting of the polar midnight, eternal night casting all into the shadows and leaving it without colour. Something like a great hole rose out of the ground near some silver grass, and only a very small area remained stable, protected but almost illusionary, just south of Equestria. "This!" Teardrops screamed, gesturing at the map as the nightmare tendrils receded, wrapping back around Riding and rubbing along him with excitement and fervor. Teardrops rounded now on Riding, and then banged a hoof on the ground. "Everypony! Everywhere! It was you!" Teardrops was screaming, but the sound was drowned out as thunder without the light of lightning sounded around them, casting the entire world around them into gloom. There was only an island of darkness in black and white colours, constructs moving too and fro and never truly staying in one place around them. "Where are we!" Teardrops demanded, rounding on Riding. The Nightmare only laughed in response, inaudible over the sound of thunder. Would you like to write that down? The Nightmare said, the words appearing as text in an aerial box and floating along, completely transparent, yet visible. it turned with a flourish of the coat, Riding gesturing with a hoof at the world around himself and Teardrops. Riding held his hoof still, and then there was a beat of a heart before he and Teardrops stood within a small room, overlooking an array of shadowy buildings. the Equestrian map vanished, leaving only Riding and Teardrops breathing and alone, overlooking shadow. "You are where I was able to save." Riding and the Nightmare said in unison, feeling his voice crawl like pleasing spiders massaging him as he looked out a window, motioning for Teardrops to go forth and look. Teardrops did not move, and kept their gaze focused on Riding. "You're a-" Teardrops tried twice to say what they wanted to say, but found their voice muffled. "Not here." Nightmare Riding paused, looking down and petting his own coat, seeing black mane hover just in front of his eyes. "Eventually, this place is the fate that awaits all who touch The Nightmare." Riding was aware that he was using knowledge that he did not know how he could recall now, and did not care, either. Teardrops remained angrily focused on him, not phased now by the visage before them. "You are not Riding Rain. Those ponies from before- they weren't my friends or Rainbow Dash! I'm telling you, it's not true!" Teardrops cried. "The truth is awful to accept." Nightmare Riding spoke, trotting to the window with his back turned to Teardrops. After a few moments, Teardrops approached, looking out at the blackness beyond the small island. Within this place, the one you know as Reddling Rain of Silverfield, made a different decision than other bat ponies. Nightmare Riding said. "What would you know!?" Teardrops hissed. "You're just trying to look like him! You don't know the Riding Rain I know!" Nightmare Riding waved his hoof, and Teardrops gasped, as if their breathe was stricken, and a few moments later, coughed. the violence was short and quick, and then, Teardrops recovered with heavy breathing. "Look." Nightmare Riding said. Teardrops looked out at the darkness, looking deeper and longer into the great shadows swirling around. Rain, wind, and shadow whipped around, the roar of thunder deafening to all outside the room, and still almost unbearable within the room from all the noise. "I see nothing." Teardrops said, turning back to face the Nightmare. "What you do not see is the darkness in which the those things called eldritch, horrible, and evil exist within. There was, once, a great rift there, however, I am unsure how to operate it now. This became unimportant however, as within those realms, I found more libraries. From these, I found my way back to where I desired to be." "Which is killing everypony in Equestria." Teardrops snarked, having a violent coughing fit. Riding hissed as something stung him in the side, and he felt himself almost stumble. "A lie." Nightmare Riding spoke, adding fast, "Not everypony." "Yeah, yourself, right?" Teardrops asked, narrowing their eyes. Riding said nothing. "You still have not told me why." Teardrops continued. Riding felt the tension in the room rising, and he reached into his coat, pulling out his kukri and placing it on the window. A series of cracks ran through the blade, which seemed to be shifting into any possible shape it desired, but always holding the visage of a kukri. "Have you considered, of course you have, that I enjoy shadows, and red, and ivory bone colours?" "Like hell you do." Teardrops remarked, moving around and then approaching Riding at anotehr window, where he gestured down at the map from before, which had reappeared. Bound within the middle of the red, shadow, and bone, was another Equestria, completely unharmed, and completely untouched. Every single pony was in their place, each foal, each pony, every Night Guard. All arranged in perfect harmony. "You tell only lies." Teardrops coughed, leaning on the window, looking down at the Equestria, and coughing more before heaving out. "How- how is that possible to see? We are not there." "Nopony ever saw me, anyway." Nightmare Riding spoke, gesturing towards a small town in the center of Equestria where a library and a castle were shifting around. There were ponies playing, all them enjoying their land. Nightmare Riding continued, "While we are here you will address me in the proper fashion, however, only you will retain memories of this place when we depart. It will have felt like a dream to us both, yet I assure you, this is very real." "So, everypony is alright? This is just scare tactics? What's the point, what kind of dream is this supposed to be?" Teardrops demanded. "Shorten that to one question at a time, Little Teardrops." Nightmare Riding spoke. Teardrops looked down at the map. "So everypony is alright?" "They are very much all dead and gone, except for those that were spared the horrors bound." Nightmare Riding turned, looking over at Teardrops and their purple mane. "And, they're alright?" Teardrops questioned, flicking their tail. "Even the ponies who never met me. Although, they will not remember you, even if they should. Your friends do not remember your name, or your face, or your mark." Nightmare Riding gestured next to a farmhouse with a large apple orchard, and also at Silverfield, where deep within a mountain, there seemed to be something small and smeared with blood chained away. "That's... No. No, no no." Teardrops backed up. "That is impossible!" "Nothing is impossible. I learned well," Nightmare Riding spoke over Teardrops coughing, "Within that mountain awaits a final fate, and within that small community, a pony lives a life. However, you are not her." Teardrops approached again, looking down and still coughing a bit. "What they said is true, then- what are you doing." Teardrops cut themselves off mid speech. Riding had produced a small, black book from inside of his coat and opened it. The book appeared to only have a single page, and Riding folded the book back up after a glance. "You'll learn about that, one day. The Nightmare is persistent. You will learn this." Nightmare Riding slowed, turning around and looking back at the darkness, and trotting over to where his kukri had been. "So everypony is alright. And you, you are in the Night Guard. This place..." Nightmare Riding trailed off. "It is where you pacified discord, lower case." Teardrops said, "You didn't defeat them?" "Yes." Riding spoke softly, "One day, you will learn to accept that some battles cannot be won, but that does not mean that there is not victory." Teardrops paused, shuffling a bit. "Are you really Riding Rain? Reddling Rain? The Nightmare? Who are you right now?" Riding said nothing, so Teardrops continued, "I want to know how all of this is possible." Riding closed his eyes and wrapped his bat wings around himself, closing his eyes in pain. "The Nightmare never comes for free." Riding said in a soft tone. "I don't care." Teardrops' resolve was resolute, expressed in vibrant tones of their voice that shimmered as light does. Riding closed his eyes again, nodding, "The first thing you have to accept is there is another pony that looks similar to you in that little town. Remain a bat pony, and you will find the answers you seek in the Nightmare." "I can ask you questions anytime here?" Teardrops asked. "That remains to be seen, but once you have gained the power, yes, you will be able to speak to me and do so for free, but only outside, not within this room." Teardrops nodded, glancing over their shoulder and then approaching as Riding Rain turned around. Teardrops was resting their hoof on Ausfall, sending a glint through Riding's eyes as he appraised the situation. "Who are you?" Teardrops' remark was simple, and without cadence to their voice. Riding brushed his mane back in response, and Teardrops continued, "I met Riding Rain in the Night Guard before I was... here. This place. He has a purple mane." "He has a black mane." Nightmare Riding replied, grabbing at his chest as he felt pain and speaking soft again, "It was painted so he could fulfill his role." "Alright. So who are you?" Teardrops' voice was again simple and without cadence. "I am..." Riding found his strength again, pulling himself up. one of the windows cracked, letting in the noise from outside and causing Teardrops to flatten their ears. the glass flung itself at Teardrops, inches from their face. Riding Rain opened his left eye in the forest. All was quiet, and the moon was passing into day. He had been asleep for many hours. Riding looked down and saw Teardrops resting against the bottom of his chest, resting peacefully and unafraid. Riding shoved Teardrops onto his back and made for the camp, finding all the other cadets absent from the field. Without any ceremony, he shoved Teardrops into bed, making sure to tuck them in before heading for the door and shutting it with a sharp click. What the hell was that. What did they really see? What did I see? Nightmare... and, Luna. Riding thought to himself, heading for his cabin. He did not rest when he laid down, he even kept his armor and weapons on, petting Ausfall and keeping it locked in it's sheathe. I remember glass breaking. I demanded to know why the Nightmare was... Riding shook his head, seeing his purple mane drop in front of his face as he sat up and paced about in his room. Light was leaking through the bottom of the door, dangerous and threatening. Riding, meanwhile, sat down with his bottle, taking a long swig. II doubt I will be getting any sleep tonight. May as well enjoy myself. Riding swapped his trench coat out with one of his others- this one had a large hood, one that would cover his entire face. Riding adjusted himself until he was sure that not a single shred of light would dare defile his flesh. When all was adjusted and pleasing, Riding Rain stepped out into the dawn and headed for the bar. When Riding got there, he stepped into the bar and let himself into the back area with all the bottles, shutting the door and inspecting the weapons that he had stored there. They were exactly what he thought they would be, and Riding held out one of the smaller ones, strapping it to his hoof. There was some odd manner of sensor that he could run under his coat and put into his mouth, which is exactly what he did. Riding checked the side of the weapon for it's command word, and then grabbed one of the packs at the bottom of the box. Turning the dial all the way down and then adjusting the pack, Riding slid it in and saw a brief flash of magical light, and then darkness. Riding picked up a second pack, smaller pack, which seemed to contain seven slotted areas with a scant few particles of dust in them. Riding slid this into the darkness area, and saw a non-offensive light glow in a faint fashion, showing the weapon to be ready for use. "I hate these." Riding thought to himself, a darker tone in his head making everything hurt for a moment as he grabbed at his chest, not quite in pain, and stumbling a bit. Riding quickly quieted himself as he heard noise on the other side of the door, the sound of many ponies trotting around and speaking. Riding Rain waited, closing the box quietly and looking around at the bottles, before picking out one that was pleasing to him. He tucked the bottle under his wing and waited. Once Riding heard six sets of hoofsteps and had heard the door almost close but left open a crack, he opened the door to where he was located. "Close the door." Riding coughed, the Nightmare leaking into his voice as he calmed himself. There was a screaming squeak as one of the bat ponies hurried to shut the door tight, all of the cadets except Teardrops locking their eyes on Riding. Some of them were fearful, some of them were obviously nothing short of terrified. Riding put the bottle on the counter, looking around the room. All the cadets were standing, and Riding gestured with his wing to the countertop, taking down his hood and removing his sunglasses. The cadets averted their eyes as he sighed, putting the sunglasses back on and gesturing to the counter. "Are you here to stand or are you here to drink? And I'll take the note," Riding paused for a moment, then added, "Please, Starshadows." Starshadows hurried over and dropped the note with a bit of a crumple onto the counter and lunged back, hurrying to sit as far away from Riding as he could at the bar as the other cadets all took a stool near the counter. Riding picked up the note and looked it over. The note was written in glowing ink and black paper with blue trim, advertising only three bright blue letters emblazoned at the top. "Really, invisible ink." Riding asked. Starshadows looked directly at the counter, saying absolutely nothing. "You know that these are contraband in all of Equestria, right?" Riding pressed Starshadows, who again, kept absolute silence. Riding folded the letter up and put it away, uncorking the bottle he had chosen and using the shadows to lift seven glasses up to the table. He picked up the bottle in his mouth and poured some out for each of the cadets, and then for himself, setting the empty bottle back down. "Pass them down." Riding said, pausing and watching as the cadets distributed the glasses to one another. Riding then took his sunglasses off again, folding them up and putting them into his coat and continuing, "When we are not practicing or training, or you are not within Canterlot, I want for you to all address me as if I was a normal member of the Night Guard. If you must use honorifics, do not do that." The cadets all nodded in a militant fashion, although, they seemed to ease up a bit at this. Riding pulled a stool up and sat at the counter with them, rolling his glass in his hoof. The others waited on their drinks, and Riding raised his and drank first, downing it all in a long gulp. Still, however, the others did not drink. Riding looked at them, suspicion and curiosity simultaneous in expression on his heart. "We are uh, waiting on Teardrops." Moonbeam idled, tapping their glass. "Teardrops has already gone to rest. We will all continue practice tomorrow together. "Oh." Moonbeam seemed a little disheartened, but all the cadets raised their glasses and took drinks. It was the darker green bat that spoke next, pushing his blue mane back, "I was kind of hoping they would join. They are always so... cold when we try to talk to them. You're the only pony I see them be cordial with." When they were done speaking, Riding looked over at the pony, meeting their eyes and seeing them avert their gaze just a little. "You are Nightwing." Riding said, then looked over at Moonbeam, saying "And Moonbeam." There was dead silence from the cadets, so Riding continued, "It would be pleasing, for the rest of you to introduce yourselves, please." Again, there was dead silence, so Riding passed off a chuckle as a cough, speaking up more. "Do not all speak at once now." "Ah!" A light blue bat stood up, his red and blue hues blowing over his eyes as he spoke up, "Sir! I am Secret Sound, Sir!" "Never call me sir again." Riding mumbled. "Yes!" Secret Sound said, sitting down. "I am Night Guard Riding Rain, of Silverfield." Riding introduced himself back, then turned to the next pony in line. "Rust Shade." Rust shade spoke next, and in the darkness, Riding identified them to be more of a rust colour than a brown, which made his bat pony ears perk up a bit at the name. Otherwise, neither of them said a word to one another. Riding turned to the final pony who's name he did not know. "Mint. You know, like-" Mint stopped, looking down. "Bits, and such." Riding nodded, turning away and heading into the back room before returning with two more bottles, setting them down. As he did and began uncorking another bottle, Moonbeam gestured towards the wrist of his forehoof. "What is that?" Moonbeam asked. "It's called a weapon." Riding said, slowing his speech at the end as he uncorked a bottle, pouring himself another drink and setting the bottle down in front of the cadets. "Not to question you, but are we allowed to drink this?" Secret Sound asked. "You are if I serve it to you. You are also allowed to do so in the Night Guard. If you are old enough to perish for Equestria, then you are old enough for strong drink." Riding mumbled, before downing his glass. "Do not worry, you will not get intoxicated. You may get drunk, but not intoxicated." "R-Right." Secret Sound said. "Is that a bat pony power?" Nightwing's wings flapped a bit, and Riding could see that he was trying to keep them contained so he did not buffet the two cadets next to him. Riding shrugged, "Depending on how you look at it. Our metabolism works different, similar to those masked ponies." "The 'Luminous Ones' you mean?" Secret Sound chimed in. Riding nodded to him. "Do you trust them?" Nightwing asked. Riding waved a hoof, looking away and replying with rudeness, "Do you?" Nightwing shook his head. "Admittedly, no." "That's your answer." Riding Rain uncorked the second bottle and poured himself a third drink. After this they all sat for a moment of silence as the cadets poured themselves more drink, and then they talked amongst themselves a small amount. "So, what do you... do, in the Night Guard? Just guard the princesses right, but you- you don't do that?" Moonbeam interrupted the chatter, looking at Riding Rain as he swirled his glass. "More drink?" Riding offered, turning and heading for the back room as he fetched two more bottles. "No thank you." Moonbeam called after. Riding secured two more bottles, bringing them out and uncorking another bottle and pouring himself a double helping. He took the glass and glugged thrice before he sat it down, looking Moonbean direct in their eyes. Moonbeam had eyes like teal moonbows, echoing around the diamonds in her eyes. "I protect and save ponies." Riding said in a quiet tone. "The books say you killed a lot of ponies." Starshadows spoke for the first time from the end of the bar. Riding looked down at him, uncorking the second bottle and pouring another double helping before passing the two bottles among the other cadets, who were beginning to fall behind in drinking. "Yes," Riding said, "I suppose they do. But I am here to learn about all of you, and help you fit into the Night Guard, not talk about myself." "Well we aren't training right now." Starshadows said back, looking up. Riding caught their glare, and Starshadows was quick to look back down. "Remember your helmets before you go outside." Riding did not disguise the upset tone in his voice; downing his double helping and then throwing his hood up. He unfolded his sunglasses with a bat claw and positioning them on his muzzle before he stepped towards the rear door of the bar, opening the door and heading out into the day. Even under his cloak of night, this was a very unpleasant experience, and he made sure to hurry to his cabin and vanish into the darkness, laying down in bed and keeping his body covered in his coat. Again. Riding found himself in the clearing without light, shadows and ivory and silver whipping around him as he arced out of his dream and into the realm full of other dreams. He headed straight for the Nightmare he was aware of, pursuing Teardrops' dream. Riding found the landscape, but found something preventing him from entering. He could look in, and he saw a pony coated in every colour he could imagine. It had all been splattered across their coat and armor, and they were speaking with Teardrops. Their coat was blood, and their mane was black, shining with all colours of the rainbow, but only in the light. The Pony spoke with Riding's voice, but Riding knew they were not him. "Who are you?" Teardrops asked, their voice devoid of kindness. Riding tried to press into the dream, but found himself still kept out, unable to intervene. He tapped his hoof over and over, but found himself unable to enter the dream as the conversation continued. "I am..." The Nightmare Riding said, and Riding bashed both his hooves down on the dream, feeling it shatter in front of him. The next colours were red. Red, ivory, and blackness. Time slowed and Teardrops seemed to be moving in the slowest motion possible as Nightmare Riding turned around and stared at Riding, their visage turning into a snarl. Riding felt the glass slow and cut his dream body, embedding his body as he entered in the dream, the dream window becoming real glass that was daggers in front of him. There was a dripping sound as Riding stood before the Nightmare, glaring angrily as he unsheathed his blade, the real Ausfall. "Fool." The Nightmare said, turning into shadows that warped around the room. Riding found himself wrapped within them, and then saw black mane fall in front of him. The glass repelled itself and he felt whole again. Everything was vivid and real. Teardrops stood there, with almost no ability to move as Riding felt the dark tendrils clasp his limb and raise Ausfall to his mouth. Riding felt murder in his eyes as he looked down at Teardrops. Another bat pony who failed to accept the Nightmare. The Nightmare coated Riding's limb to steady the blade as it plunged towards Teardrops' throat. There was a sharp pull, and Riding felt the blade move, just a small amount, away. Willing his other forehoof forwards, Riding saw Ausfall shove straight into his own foreleg before the dream blacked out. When the dream cut back there was a Nightmare Riding behind Riding, and Teardrops was slumped against him, unconscious. Looking over his shoulder, Riding saw the Nightmare in all of it's glory for only a moment as it vanished, still clutching the real Ausfall in it's tendrils. Riding had but a moment to see the cracked, fake Ausfall fly to him, leaving him holding Teardrops and with a fake knife. "Riding Rain? Sir?" Secret Sound's voice cut through the door. Riding sat up, covered in cold sweat as he looked at the door. it was already dark outside, moonlight and stars twinkling enough light for bat ponies to see by under the doorframe. "A moment and I will be with you!" Riding called out, throwing off his coat onto the bed and donning the one without a hood, shoving his sunglasses on and trotting at haste to the door and opening it inwards. Secret Sound had already taken several paces back, looking rather sheepish at the situation. "Did you sleep in Sir?" Secret Sound asked. "Do not call me that. Let's go... Thank you." Riding took a moment to add the last part, setting a brisk pace towards the field, Secret Sound almost sprinting to catch up with the trot. The practice field already had every other cadet present, and Secret Sound went to stand by Teardrops, who still looked tired. Teardrops did not meet Riding's eyes today, staring straight down into the ground. Riding looked at the rest of the cadets, and raised a hoof, waving it. "Back to flying practice. After lunch, we will begin a different activity before we fly any higher. Make sure you are prepared." Riding finished the order, watching as the cadets all nodded and Teardrops moved to start gliding away. Riding, however, interjected fast, "Teardrops- meet me in the mess hall." Teardrops stopped, not making eye contact before they headed to the mess hall. Riding watched the other cadets all get to gliding practice before he huffed, and turned to head to confront Teardrops. Teardrops was in the mess hall, at the very end. Riding grabbed himself two small mangoes, tucking them into his wing as he headed to the end of the table and sat down. Teardrops shied away a small bit, still not meeting his eye. "I saw what you saw, Teardrops." Riding's tone was like a point, a point similar to the two he drove straight into the mango in front of him, taking several gulps. "I know. I saw you." Teardrops mumbled. "No, no you did not," Riding said. "You saw the Nightmare." This made Teardrops stop, and look up. There was curiosity now in their eyes, but still, hesitation. "The Nightmare? Riding?" "You see what you fear the most in The Nightmare. Why did you not stab when you had Ausfall? It would have slain the Nightmare." Riding asked, opening his coat and revealing Ausfall to be sheathed there, right next to his ribs and throwing knives. "I... But, that was you, and it was not you?" Teardrops asked. Riding looked away, pausing before he asked, "What is the last thing you remember occurring in the Nightmare you had?" "Glass shattering, and... a hug?" Teardrops questioned themself, and Riding waved a hoof. Teardrops repeated their statement, nodding at the truthfulness of it. "Take my hoof." Riding positioned his hoof towards Teardrops. Teardrops took a few moments, brushing their hoof on the table, as if wondering if they actually wanted to do this. Teardrops looked up, locking eyes with Riding, and then, finally, touched their hooves. An Ethereal world enveloped the two of them, making the mess hall appear less real, as if it was never truly there to begin with. Riding looked down at a scene with Teardrops, seeing himself covered in blood and then a duel breaking out. As the Nightmare grinned and began to vanish Riding moved very fast, drawing the fake Ausfall and pushing Teardrops to the ground. The Nightmare raised Ausfall and struck down, hard, against Riding, who raised the fake Ausfall and parried. There was a bright streak of light and Riding fell away, throwing himself onto Teardrops before the entire scene ended. The two of them seemed to zoom in, arriving back within the room, with the window repaired, great thunder still echoing outside. "I control my own Nightmares, thank you very much." Riding Rain spoke as the tendrils quieted themselves, fading into his clothing as darker than pitch colouring for his jacket and armor. He patted himself down and let his long, dark hair fall around him as he looked over at Teardrops, his hair reflecting both purple and black as all colour drained from his armor and leaked across the ground, oozing towards the center of the island. Teardrops brushed a hoof on the ground, flicking their tail side to side before saying, "So..." "One moment." Riding Rain said, moving his hoof over to a small clear glass pane that had some black mirror behind it and adjusting some dials. After a few moments, Riding looked back up at Teardrops, saying, "Some of what we talk about has to be held until later, just be aware that if you ever need to, you should be able to visit here and listen to any recordings- that is, you can re hear our conversations, like a memory, here." "How is that supposed to work?" Teardrops asked. Riding Rain nudged the cube. "Much like the dream realm, this realm also possesses wonders that Equestria does not know yet. Past, present, and future exist without causality here." Riding tried his best to explain, but Teardrops kind of just glanced up at him. Teardrops shuffled a bit, looking down still. "So this is where we can speak free any time? And you- you are still, you know. Riding Rain, not the Nightmare?" Riding reached forward, offering a hoof to Teardrops, which Teardrops accepted. For a brief moment, both of them could see themselves with eyes closed, and hooves clasped in the mess hall, before it faded back into the ethereal, leaving them present again still within the dark place. "Well, now that I have you here, I think you've got a lot of explaining to do." Teardrops said, waiting for Riding and when he said nothing, taking a pace forward at a trot. "Can I trust anything the Nightmare told me?" "I am not sure. However, the Nightmare cannot see the future in perfect order. Nopony can." Riding commented. Teardrops gave a nod, turning and looking out the window and tapping on the glass. Riding approached, looking down at the map that had been summoned forth in the middle of the pit. Teardrops spoke up, "Is that part true? Equestria, the... bad place around it, all of that?" "I do not know." Riding replied, "Just like dreams, this realm has drawbacks. You ever notice you can never fully remember a dream?" Teardrops nodded, rolling their eyes, "Yes, and it's very annoying! it feels like you are at the best part or you want to talk about it later, and you just forget it!" "Having important information about some topics or future events can put you into a position where you are going to lose memories of this in the other world. Using The Nightmare I could tell you and myself potentially anything, you're just using me as an encyclopedia. However, it's taking that information back with us that becomes the major issue." Riding and Teardrops looked at each other as he finished speaking. "So, you're basically a resource for me then. You can help within reason, you can teach me a lot?" Teardrops offered. Riding nodded, "But neither of us can resolve our conflicts in other spaces and times unless we are there." "Can other bat ponies do this?" Teardrops asked. Riding Rain narrowed his eyes at this. "No." Riding said. "Every bat pony, every pony, has limited access to such things in the dream realm. Within this realm, we can have information access across entire Equestrias, as that map shows- even places that no longer exist or have not existed yet." "So it's not such an unfair advantage, because we have no idea if the information we get is useful to us, or when." Teardrops reasoned, pointing specifically at a town Riding recognized as Ponyville. He had only been there once, but he could recall the quaint place. "It can help us prepare a little bit." Riding offered, "Most of all this is a private place to speak where we will not spied upon. The Nightmare digs deep, and using it is very dangerous. The other bat ponies will be exposed to the Nightmare. If possible, the Nightmare will overcome them. You can however, defeat the Nightmare, on your own terms." "Right..." Teardrops said, still looking down at the map, their tail swishing side to side in a nervous fashion, akin to a cat that was unsure if it wanted to accept food from a stranger. "Enough about that though. I want to know about, you know. The thing the Nightmare said about there being- in Ponyville." "The only way to answer that would be to go there and see for yourself." Riding Rain said. "Prepare your emotions." "Luna, she..." Teardrops looked down, "She said she needed help. She gave the offer to all of my friends, but I felt like she just... knew, I was right for the job." "Luna has a way of knowing such things, that is beyond me." Riding said, watching the map as little ponies moved and played from afar with Teardrops. "Even if I have to forget it, I can know something while I'm here if I have to forget it, right?" Teardrops asked. Riding paused, but then nodded. Teardrops took a deep breath. "You can tell me where I am from." Teardrops stated, pausing in silence with Riding before continuing, "You can tell me who my parents are, and what happened to them." Riding shuffled his hoof around, brushing the ledge of the glass. He could feel the thought at the edge of his mind, but for his own sake, he kept it at bay for now. Riding said absolutely nothing, simply looking out at the endless expanse beyond the small island. "Well? Will you look it up?" Teardrops asked. Riding, looked down, not responding at all. Riding shook his head. Teardrops stood up straighter, indignant. "Why not?!" "I do not need to." Riding said. Teardrops glared at him suspiciously for a moment, giving a groan and looking back out the window. After a few moments Teardrops gave a gasp. "Wait, you already know, then?" Teardrops asked, hope flaming to life in their voice. Riding Rain gave a nod. "Tonight, after practice, meet me in the bar. We can converse like this then." Riding Rain offered, "I know you would rather know now, but it's going to take a lot of showing you and I need to prepare myself for it. Please?" Teardrops hesitated for a moment, but then gave a nod of agreement. Riding offered his hoof towards Teardrops, who accepted it. Riding Rain looked back at Teardrops as he removed his hoof, picking up the second mango and beginning to suck the juice out of it as Teardrops stared at him. Riding reasoned it was good that he had a mango in his mouth, because he was not sure if he would be smiling, grinning, or smirking about the situation. He had never actually tried that before, and was quite excited that it had worked, even though he knew it would. "What are you?" Teardrops asked the correct question at last. "Just a Night Pony." Riding put the second shriveled mango down, putting his sunglasses back on and grabbing both in his wings to discard them as Teardrops rushed to catch up. Teardrops continued after Riding as he rounded the door and headed for the practice field, "Does Éther know?" Teardrops queried. "I sure hope not; that will make our time a little too interesting." Riding Rain commented.
Flight"You cannot doubt yourself in this line of work." Again. Riding Rain stood in the center of his home. Around him trees seemed to move very fast, and a dark pool of water reflected the sun and the moon above, both of which would not shine their light upon this place. Silver grass gently rustled without noise around him. Riding could see this with his eyes closed, however, he chose to see as he stepped forward, moving right out of where he was and watching as the landscape arced with him and he moved between the dreams. He could see several other orbs near him, important events or nightmares or wonderful rewards. Here and there he side trotted some intrusive onlookers, trying to locate one specific dream and finding that he could not seem to locate one that fit what he was looking for, much to his irritation. Dreams were no small part of being a bat pony, and Riding Rain had managed to become a little more aware each and every time he dreamed. Dream magic, and magic of the soul, were kept away from normal ponies, and with good reason. Riding had recalled somewhat how Cobalt Flare had done dreamwalking when he had needed to enter a pony's dream before, however, he was not quite looking to do this. I admit, I am not even sure if I can safely enter a dream. Unless I stay in very far flung corners or make sure that I stay very undercover, it seems as though I end up being attacked or find myself in terrible nightmares. I am not about to go ask for help stopping that, either. Riding continued to push through the dreamscapes, but he found that he could not find any dream that had the pony he was looking for in them. Teardrops, somehow, either did not dream- which Riding had already ruled out, because every pony dreams even if they do not always remember their dream- or was naturally capable of guarding their dreams from intrusion. Riding was sure that he could think of several other eventualities, but his mind was caught, snagged into the second idea. Somehow, this pony was concealing themselves from him, something that very few ponies could do. Even skilled dreamwalkers who could shield their dreams, Riding knew exactly how to get through their defenses. He looked down at his blue coat and his kukri. It was a simple matter for him to enter a dream, and if needed, he could do so by force, although he was careful to refrain as this attracted a lot of attention. Riding found it more useful to view other's dreams, to see what they saw, or what they were going to see later, and then use this to his advantage. In the Night Guard, use of such things was by order of Princess Luna, totally forbidden. To violate the sanctity of a pony's mind could have such consequences that the dark and stormy Princess Luna made Riding not even want to question what would be done to a trained dreamwalker that broke such commands. Good thing I am not a trained dreamwalker. But why can I not find this pony? Maybe I need to... look for somepony that knows them? No, they said they were made fun of and did not have a family. There's no way anypony in the day world is dreaming about them. Ponies that put other ponies down do not dream of their victims, unless it's a Nightmare. Even then, I do not know where to look because I do not know where they are from- Riding Rain closed his eyes and felt the dream landscape arc with him towards Silverfield's area of dreams. He opened them again and looked across the Silverfield dreamscape. Lots of dreams here, But a lot less dreams than even a large city in Equestria, and none of them were good dreams. Riding kept a little distance from Silverfield, not wanting to get too close, and still failing to see any pony that looked like Teardrops. Riding sighed and shook his head, feeling himself tugged back to his area and then opening his eyes in his cabin. "Futile." Riding said, and as a mental reminder to myself, I need to be very careful about saying anything in my sleep from now on. Those ponies will be listening for sure and they might hear me from the tiny crack under the door. I do not want to explain the screaming at night. Riding glanced over at his nightstand and grabbed a letter that was sealed there, tucking it into his coat for later. His efforts in the dream world had been as futile as trying to find somepony to send some fruit juice to Teardrops the night before. Luckily, they had been more willing to eat after some pre-training. Riding Rain sat up in the waking world now, reaching for the wine bottle and looking around very quick before he took a large swig out of the bottle and then stowed it back under his bed. Belting on his cloth, then his belts, and then his armor, Riding slung his weapons on and then pulled his coat over himself, finally adjusting a pair of sunglasses before stepping out into the false dusk and looking at the horizon. The final rays of light vanished, the signal for another night. Riding slipped out into the yard and stepped forward, not even missing a step when he saw what he knew was going to be happening. It does not take a genius nor an oracle to figure out that this was what would happen the next night. The night before he had taught every single stretch he knew and showed all the basics of bat pony gliding to Teardrops, but there had only been a little time to glide, no full on flight, and no air currents. Teardrops was already in the resting position outside, full Night Guard armor on and their helmet covering their entire face, keeping their eyes and face unreadable. Their parade armor offered practically no cover from the light, although it at least looked pretty. Riding trotted a little faster and took a jump, flapping his wings and catching a very low air current to glide himself across the yard to stand right in front of Teardrops, closing his wings and letting an acrobatic flourish aid his sudden landing, his coat draping around him. "Of course, we are learning flying tonight." Riding Rain said. "That's so cool. I've only seen a few pegasi move like that." Teardrops helmet was facing forward. "I would rather not be compared to any single pegasi you have met." Riding commented. "For tonight, let's focus on being bat ponies. For the rest of your life, really." "Do bat ponies live any longer or shorter than other ponies?" Teardrops asked. Riding Rain turned away, trotting towards the mess hall and declining to answer. He stopped when Teardrops did not follow, and waved a hoof for them to follow. "Won't eating before we fly make it more difficult?" Teardrops asked. Riding gave a shrug without putting his hooves up. "Then learn to drink your fruit and not eat it. Trust me, it's very easy once you get used to it." Teardrops gave a nod, and then took a bit of a gallop to arrive at Riding's side fully as they went into the mess hall. Today there was food out proper, Equestria's famous hay fries, done breakfast style, and lots of fruits with light creamed porridge. Riding stopped at the counter with Teardrops, noting that there were four other ponies already present who had all fallen silent when he had entered with Teardrops. "You can take your helmet off." Riding said to Teardrops. "Oh, Right! Military stuff, sorry-" Teardrops nearly dropped the helmet and stumbled to grab it as Riding balanced it against the serving counter with them. "No, you do not need it at night, is what I mean. However, yes, also military stuff." Riding Rain added. I always followed my own rules in the day guard, and the night guard. I'll be cursed if I start telling somepony to obscenely follow every single rule. Serving others rules has never, ever, served me well. Teardrops nodded as Riding silently thought to himself, taking the helmet and putting it at the far end of the table, away from the other four ponies. Riding's eyes moved with Teardrops, a refrain inside him preventing him from saying anything, and yet, He found himself foiled by this new bat pony. The way in which they moved and the actions they took had jogged very old memories with Riding, and while they were bittersweet memories, now they were starting to border on horror. Who the hell are you? Teardrops stood next to Riding and waited at the counter, practically bobbing in place with eagerness to get back to flying training. Riding wondered if he would be able to keep track of this pony unless he followed their every move once they could fly. A bitter feeling stirred right above Riding's stomach at that. Just like Web did with me. "Where the hell is the cook." Riding finally said. There was no reply from the kitchen. Riding grumbled and took a few fruits, heading to go sit down nearer the other four ponies. This, he thought, would put some distance between him and Teardrops, but once they had their food- a few fruits, There teardrops was, silent and watching everypony as Riding looked at the five ponies in front of him. There is that chilly feeling again. "Greetings." Riding Rain said to the group of ponies. Several of them exchanged glances for a moment. "So, what are your names?" Riding looked at the ponies as they exchanged glances, a couple side eyeing Teardrops. "Please do not make me start hoofing out names again." Riding said. "I admit I am terrible at names." "Uh." One of the blue ponies started, but then stopped. Oh it's going to be like this all night, why is this being done to me? Who did I hurt specifically that made me have to go through this? Riding slumped a bit into his fruit, dragging his fangs into a mango and beginning to suck the juice out. The obvious unnerved looks from the other four got a light attempt at a chuckle from Teardrops. Riding hoped it was a chuckle of approval, because the other bat ponies would look at them very odd like if they did not get used to drinking their fruit. When Riding finished the mango he put the shriveled fruit down, looking back to the ponies. "Let's not all speak at once now." Riding tried to make his comment as dry as the look in his eyes at the situation. He sucked down the other fruits, and then stood up, tossing away the shriveled fruits into a bag and heading outside. "Ugh." Riding said, slumping into a sitting position by the bleachers. "I wonder if this is right above the spot where I vomited the first night." Riding stopped, looking at the bleachers, then back at the mess hall. Teardrops was heading outside now, a fast consumer of the fruit, and headed towards the practice yard as Riding stood up and looked himself over. "You are the legendary assassin Reddling Rain. That is what they call you, Reddling. The bat pony from Silverfield." ...Oh they all know who I am already. They do not see Riding Rain. They do not see me. They see... Riding stopped his internal, vocal, thoughts, looking down for a brief moment at the ground. He pushed his hoof at the bleachers a bit as he descended them, trotting behind them and then behind the mess hall. Riding hoofed at the ground idly for a moment, closing his eyes. Riding flapped his wings and then took off into the sky, gliding a bit higher and looking down at the training yard. Everybat was now in a line, two more having left their quarters and making a total of seven including Teardrops, waiting, and Riding took a moment to ponder how he should appear. Shadowstep? Land like earlier? Maybe he should trot up behind them? Or should he just let them stand there for a few moments? This is actually a very difficult decision to make. I made a first impression already, so my second impression should be... Riding took a deep breath, and then flew over towards the practice yard. He could feel at least a few sets of eyes on him, and he then shielded himself with his wings, covering his face and allowing himself to freefall towards the ground. One of the ponies gasped but Riding did not see who as he let his body twirl and then did a very fast and very sudden upheaval and reversal, flapping his wings to their full span once and breaking his fall before bringing them back around his face. he used this moment to put on his sunglasses very quickly from inside his coat, pulling his wings back and folding them without fanfare. The wind blew around them, and a night predator let out a caw in the night. Teardrops' eyes were huge, almost glowing, although the blue pony next to them looked like he was going to faint. "Unlock your hooves, you'll pass out otherwise." Riding said to the faint looking blue pony, who rested a bit. Riding scanned the rest of the ponies. "You know who I am." Riding watched all the ponies nod to his comment, some with hesitation, some without. Teardrops seemed to be very happy to nod, however, at the very end of the line from the other six. "Well then. It is my job to acclimate all of you to being bat ponies." Riding Rain stopped, looking at the other ponies. "Tonight, I would like to begin flying training. How many old pegasus ponies are here?" Riding saw four of them raise their hooves, including Teardrops. Riding gave a nod. "I want each of you to pair up with an earth pony or former unicorn. Take your time, we are not here to race, and I do not want to have to call the medic to patch anypony up just trying to fly a little ways. Right now, what is most important is that you take time to get adjusted here. Stretch your new wings, and remember that bat pony wings work different from Pegasus wings. And Teardrops, of course, you will be learning with me." Riding thought he saw Teardrops vibrate a little in their armor as the other six paired up into groups, speaking amonst themselves as Riding Rain approached teardrops, motioning towards a far end of the yard. Riding hit his wings out and took a running jump, beating his wings to catch a low air current before hovering, looking down at Teardrops. "Ready to fly?" Riding Rain knew he did not need to even ask this, he just was trying to be honest with politeness. Teardrops shook their head yes many times, and Riding nodded back down. "Do I need to run really fast first?" Teardrops asked, "Like as fast as I can run?" "Not too fast. You need a little bit of space for takeoff. After that tilt your wings with the bones facing upwards and then slowly tilt them forward as you give wing flaps. Your goal is to get to the air currents, not to fight the air itself." Riding watched as Teardrops took a running start and hit the lower air current, but then sort of did a half horseshoe circle, not getting very high into the air. Riding went down to the ground and paused, staying on the lowest air current. "Don't fight the air current once you get up. You have to let the air current allow you to glide. You only want to beat your wings when you hover, like I am now. Just use wing beats to speed up or slow down. Angle the bat pony claws on your wings forward to slow down, and backwards to speed up. Backwards will get you altitude and speed, forwards will take you down." Riding instructed, watching Teardrops make a second, and then a third try. It was the third try where there was a loud bat pony screech, and Riding watched as Teardrops got above the first air current, gliding around the field ever so slightly before landing, able to control and foot their landing without needing to trot a small ways when they hit the ground. Riding glided closer, landing next to Teardrops and nodding to them as they beamed happily. "It's very basic stuff to get into the low currents, there's a bit more you need to know to fly any higher than just low level flight though. I'll teach all of you that together. Don't go above the tree line until then. Do you remember the bat pony wing stretches I taught you?" Teardrops gave a nod, little sounds of bat pony eee escaping them as they took off and flew again. "Make sure to stretch or you will regret it!" Riding called after them, turning to face the other six bat ponies. Riding trotted among them, observing the pegasi taking in differences of their wings, the criss cross of veins, the fur, the differences in structure, alongside their flying partner to be. Riding breathed a sigh out. He knew this was the fun part of being a bat pony. Later would come the more troubling parts. Including a part that he knew how to interact with now. Riding left the ponies behind in the yard and stood at the top of the bleachers, looking out over the trees and at the foot of a larger mountain. Riding knew what was out there in this forest, and in the caves. Riding heard the sound of wingflight behind him, and turned, seeing Teardrops stumble a bit as they landed on the bleachers at an awkward angle, tortting up to Riding and beaming with happiness. Happiness that Riding was not aware you could join the Night Guard with. "You seem happy." Riding remarked. "Yes!" Teardrops' voice was loud, a little too loud for Riding, but he allowed it. It was clear to him this was a very special moment for Teardrops. Riding looked out at the forest again. It was his deep desire that he prevent these bat ponies from ever going into the forest, yet, he was not sure how he was going to do that yet. The Nightmare was a place of horrors. However, I have options. I could say none of these ponies have the aptitude for magic. I could train them to overcome the Nightmare, like I did. "What are you looking at? Is there something out there?" Teardrops asked. Riding shook his head, looking away. "We speak on that later." Teardrops flattened their ears a bit, and Riding sat down in the bleachers, observing for the most part while Teardrops beat their wings, working on hovering in place and then flying around the bleachers a bit before landing, giving a huge huff of air. "Tired?" Riding asked. "It's more difficult than it looks." Teardrops told Riding, who nodded. Both of them sat together in the bleachers for a moment of silence, Riding's preferred way to spend his time, typically. "May I ask, why did you join the Night Guard? You are unlike anypony I have ever encountered here." Riding Rain said, looking down at Teardrops. It was a very slight downward look, as they stood at near the same height. "By request, actually. Of me." Teardrops said. "Of course, all of us have to request to join and prove ourselves." Riding said, stopping as Teardrops continued, "No, I mean it was requested that I join. By Éther and Princess- uh, I mean, Princess Luna, and also Éther." Teardrops corrected themself. Riding Rain raised a hoof, silencing Teardrops with it. He did not think he was using any magic, but he may as well have been. "Do not doubt yourself. Éther does everything with express intent. You are here because of Éther, and how she acts with Princess Luna." Riding Rain said, putting his hoof down. Teardrops was silent for a moment, brushing their hoof along the ground, looking at the moon, then back at where Éther had disappeared the night before. it took a little while, but then Teardrops spoke, "You are saying Éther wanted me here? Princess Luna agreed?" You cannot doubt yourself in this line of work. "You can fly now. Cast away your self doubt. You are not like the other ponies anymore. And within the Night Guard, we are not all the same. Manipulating a Princess is petty work to some of us. If Éther expressed will that you join, Princess Luna would agree." Riding said. Teardrops was silent, then looked up, "Who is she? Éther, I mean." Riding said nothing, drawing his hoof in a little shape along the ground and not meeting Teardrops eyes. "I cannot tell you. But I can show you, if you have the aptitude for it." Riding said after a pause. "Show me?" Teardrops asked. "It is very invasive, and it is very deep and personal. It will be uncomfortable in the extreme, and there is absolutely no assurance you have the capacity for what I can teach. Normally, this is conducted with all of the recruits together so, you will need to wait-" "No!" Teardrops said, causing Riding to back away. When the pony said no, it almost stung him, as if something was just barely holding back a very sharp object, like a warning. Teardrops looked up at him, pausing, "I mean, I want to learn everything about being a bat pony!" "Do not rush this-" "Please?" Teardrops cut Riding Rain off. Riding took a deep breath, looking over his shoulder and then back at the cadets. Riding Rain paused, looking down between the bleachers with sadness. "I worry that you won't be so happy once you get to that part of being a bat pony. I would like for you to hold off on that and not rush this, just for the moment, so I may prepare. Please." There was an obvious huff of sadness from Teardrops, but Riding felt them nod as they took off and headed for the sky. Riding still wanted to teach much more about being a bat pony to these trainees before he had to get to the darker parts of why bat ponies exist, and what some of their purpose is. As midnight approached the moon began changing from it's fullness to waning, marking the halfway point of another month. Riding decided that it might be better if he refrained from causing discomfort, and instead waiting until Teardrops had their back turned while flying to vanish into the shadows. If he could not get the cadets to speak to him openly, then he would have them speak among themselves and listen from the shadows. Stepping in the back way, Riding Rain still could not find the cook, although somehow, all the food had been prepared and cooking dishes cleaned. The speed and silence with which the cook was able to appear, cook food, and then disappear was disturbing to Riding, and although he inspected the cooking area for any signs of poison, he had yet to find anything odd about this other than the apparent lack of a cook. Probably for the better, last time we had a cook he was a surly jerk, and that didn't ever end well for any of us, including him, the bastard. Riding ducked near the countertops and stayed right behind them after he heard every set of hooves pass and go settle down, using his bat pony hearing to hear over the countertop as he used his wing to snag a mango idly and suck on it behind the counter. He had not truly taken time to imagine how talking to the new cadets would go, but he had not expected them to be so distant. Perhaps they needed time to warm up to the Night Guard? Yes, that must be it. Then again, Night Guard were not always known for their comradery, and perhaps these ponies were just as damaged? Just as in need of learning that friends count, even in the Night Guard. Riding pushed the intrusive thoughts away as he listened in on the conversation from afar. "Did you bring the books, no name?" A bat pony, with a gruff voice, asked. "It's Teardrops." There was a faint tinge of snark in Teardrops voice, one that Riding hadn't seen today. It was not disdainful, however her words clarified, "Of course I brought the books. Here, they're under the table." Riding heard a shuffling of hooves, trays, and then paper as several thuds slapped down on the table. "This is so weird, isn't it? The wings, the hearing, the sight. All of it. It's just like those books we found said." A different bat pony remarked, further away from the others. "Not as weird as our teacher casually sitting next to us on the first breakfast." The first bat pony with the gruff voice remarked. "Starshadows, I do not think he is a teacher." Teardrops voice moved, as if leaning over something, "Nightwing and Moonbeam were totally correct when they saw him, I told you. The first night I asked him who he was and he confirmed it. He's just here to help us get used to being bat ponies." "No name- I mean, Teardrops, If these books are correct we should be just as concerned about him as most of these other Night Guard. It says they killed a lot of ponies, a lot of royal guard! You feel safe knowing that ponies like that are training us? I thought they were just stories, you know, made up to scare little ponies at night." A voice that Riding now associated with Starshadows said. "I wonder how many of these other stories are real..." A louder toned, however distinct in it's femininity, bat pony said. "I am not too sure. Dreamwalking by bat ponies? The ability to step into the shadows and appear wherever you want? Manipulate light and darkness? Command ponies? ...Riding Rain, he seems harmless enough, despite all the knives, we could just ask!" Teardrops rattled off a list, although the final comment made Riding Rain suppress a cough from his hidden location. "No!" Several other bat ponies squeaked back at Teardrops, and Riding heard Teardrops audibly reel back into their chair. There was some silence, and Riding could hear several pages being flipped here and there. then the sound of something being pulled out of a folder. "What about this?" Starshadows said, his hoof moving off the table and holding something. "Honestly, I do not even want to talk about that unless we know we aren't being spied upon." the feminine voice stated. Riding heard the ponies look around, and then heard whatever was in the pony's hoof disappear. I will not be the one blamed for the Night Guard going soft. This is not foalschool, mysterious note passing will not be allowed. Riding was about to try and guess who had hidden the note away, when his question was answered. "Let's meet at the bar then. Right at sunrise in our helmets. I heard bat ponies do not go out during the day and so even if it's uncomfortable, we will not be spied on. We could crack the door open so they cannot "shadowstep" in there, or whatever." Starshadows said, adding "I'll bring the note with me." Riding heard some nods of agreement and "mhm's" and "yes" from other bat ponies as they continued eating. Riding had long since finished his mango, and ducked out back to the kitchen, leaving the shrivled fruit on the counter and stepping into the back area, behind the mess hall. There was a fence in the distance, although whatever purpose it served, Riding was not sure now, it seemed a little overgrown with weeds and small trees. I have a terrible feeling about this. Mysterious notes and Éther being potentially not being involved in that aspect of it has way too many red flags. Maybe Teardrops would tell me what is in the note? I'll have to find out after practice. Riding Rain trotted around the mess hall towards the far side of the bleachers, and then took a bit of a running leap and jumped towards the sky, flapping his wings and gaining altitude towards the higher wind currents. In the mountains, the pegasi did not manage the air currents as well, just enough to allow for safe travel. Riding was glad that night flying was not an activity most pegasi enjoyed, because in a few moments none of them would be flying unless prepared. Smacking the air, Riding pulled himself just short of the cloud layer, looking at the black clouds that seemed to move way too fast next to puffy white ones. This just so happened to be a perfect night for this, and why would it not be? Equestria always had the perfect weather arranged for it, except for the notable times when an individual would specifically choose to not have it so. Riding flapped his wings and gave them several beats, closing his eyes and feeling the currents around him grow wilder, fall out of proper circulation, and become confused. He was not a weather pony, and never had any intention to become one, however he had enough time training with day guards and other night guard to learn how to disrupt air currents. When airborne, it was equally important to have combat superiority as it was to have control of flight. Any circumstance to rob your training partner or worse, a foe, could prove to end any conflict without further violence and potentially, without weapons. These thoughts swirled with Riding as he descended back down, satisfied with how wild the air was now. It was like home, like Silverfield. As if no pegasi had ever managed those air currents. Riding had his eyes closed when he heard incredibly soft hoofsteps approaching, and opened his eyes. He was sitting in the bleachers, waiting for the lunch break to be over, and looked next to him to see Éther standing there with another bat pony that was familiar to him. Her body was covered with cloth, hiding all of her features like a mourner, with darkened armor that reflected light back at any sources that would try to reveal her, and thus blinding others. "Hello Éther... and, it's been a long time, Nightshade." Riding Rain said to both of them, addressing the gloomy bat pony with the second name. Nightshade might have let out a snort, but Riding was not sure if it was simply not her just breathing heavily. She shrugged and produced a box, some sort of large case, and set it down on some lower bleachers. "What the hell is this?" Riding asked, looking the box over before looking back at Éther. Only Éther was no longer there, only Nightshade. "New training weapons. Traditional wooden ones are already in a box at your cabin for them. Luna wants the new cadets trained in these, as well." Nightshade opened the case with some loose unicorn magic, which she retained a little control over even in her bat pony form, flicking the case open. Riding pulled back a blanket that was over the top and looked at a set of objects designed to be attached to a hoof. Some were shorter, barely larger than a hoofshoe, others were longer and seemed to be disassembled, almost as long as a pony. "Nightshade..." Riding's voice gave warning and edge, but Nightshade cut him off. "Luna's orders. Do not make a fool of yourself." Nightshade said. "Wait, can we-" Riding felt his voice die. He had stood up and raised a hoof out, but Nightshade had already turned away. She did stop for a brief moment, but did not look back. Then she was gone, stepping into shadows that enveloped her and then left no trace. Dammit. Riding looked down at the box, kicking at the bleachers. As much as he felt he aught to think about his feelings over this right now, he realized there was not much time- the new cadets were trickling back out, and Riding felt around in the box, looking for a note. Sure enough, there was one of Éther's trademark notes. Riding, Ensure that when you teach the new cadets how to blind fight, you issue each of them one of these. Keep the packs in the bottom hidden, help them get target practice. Signed Ether Riding was already disdainfully looking at the box and considering burying the entire thing, but he knew since both Nightshade and Éther had seen him get the box, he could not get away with that. He did not trust these new weapons, and he couldn't foresee any reason why Equestria would have need for them. This said, he had seen a disturbing trend of them being issued to far, far too many guards, even to local constabulary had been issued more of these than they had ponies. Riding closed the box for the moment, jumping and gliding down to meet the new cadets. Given the choices of where to take their training next, he was not going to issue them these new weapons until he absolutely had no choice. Riding Rain fell downwards, breaking his fall and landing, looking at the cadets as they lined up. Riding looks down the line, thinking about what to say, then back at the bleachers, then back to the cadets. The wind blew a little colder now due to the disrupted air currents, but otherwise, everything seemed at peace on the surface. Riding Rain looked upwards, then back down at the cadets. "I would like all of you to continue practicing flying for tonight. I am going to be giving you special training that I was not specifically asked to do, however, I hope you will be thankful for it one day in the future if you need it." Riding paused, and then gestured a hoof upwards, towards the clouds. "Please do not fly above the treeline, I have disrupted the air currents there to make them like my homeland. As you all know who I am and the stories, I am indeed from Silverfield. In Silverfield, the air currents are wild and untamed. If you are ever sent beyond Equestria, you can expect to potentially encounter weather that is not as tame or worse, wild. Those of you familiar with the Everfree Forest can infer enough about what I mean." One of the ponies in the line raised a hoof, and Riding pointed to the grey bat pony, near Teardrops. They took a step forward, and then coughed, saying, "Is it safe? To fly in those conditions?" "No." Riding Rain was short with his reply, watching the grey bat step back into line. "However, short of the end of all Equestria, if you can learn to fly in those wind currents and avoid any inclement weather, you will be able to fly anywhere... Which, reminds me." Riding Rain closed his eyes behind his sunglasses, thinking back to his own lessons here. "You do not have to stand in a line with me here. I am not the Captain. You may all relax if you wish. Sit down, rest yourselves." Riding watched and saw Teardrops take a seat, and after a few moments, the other cadets seemed to relax as well, although they did not quite make themselves comfortable. "The Night Guard here, is a place of opportunity. I noticed some of your new names already, so you have that figured out. They do not normally tell you about this unless you ask- however, I think it best to be straightforward." Riding turned to face the cadets. "There is nothing that can prevent you from being the pony you wish to be other than your orders, yourself, and the other Night Guard. We are more than just a guard, we all find our places. We do what no pony else can do, because no pony else can." "More than just fly like bats and see in the dark, then?" The feminine voice, who Riding identified as the lavender pony, said. "Your name?" Riding asked. "Moonbeam, sir." Moonbeam replied. Riding gave a nod, then turned towards them directly. "Yes. Until such time as the Captain of the Night Guard arrives to teach you combat training, or unless any of the other senior bat ponies make themselves known, I will be responsible for teaching all of you about such topics. I do not know most of the answers about the Night Guard, but I can find you the pony that does if I do not." "And what topics can you teach us about?" Moonbeam pushed further. Riding glared behind his sunglasses. "I can teach you to stay alive and keep other ponies alive." Moonbeam glanced hesitantly at the other bat ponies, and seemed to choose it was unwise to push the topic further. Riding beckoned to the group, pointing towards the yard. "Remember, not above the treeline, I do not wish to spend my evening untangling you from trees, although it would not be the first time I dug a bat pony out of tree limbs." Riding Rain stopped speaking under his breath, unsure if the cadets had attuned their hearing quite enough to hear him yet, "Actually, I bet I could still find that same tree Midnight crashed into..." Riding coughed, looking back up at the cadets. "In any case! Practice your flying. If you have specific interests, then I want your name before I teach you or request a bat pony to help teach you. Once you all have basic gliding down, we will work on trying the higher air currents tomorrow night." Riding turned, looking at the bleachers and closing his eyes as he felt the space around him compress, squeezing the air out of his lungs as he took a sharp breathe in on the other side, finding himself standing in the bleachers. he heard a couple gasps from the other bat ponies, with exception of Teardrops. Riding closed the box in the bleachers and hoisted it onto his back before taking another breath, and feeling air compress around him once more as he found himself outside the rear of the bar. Riding set down the box taking a few heavy breathes, rattling the door and pushing it open before dragging the handle of the box in with his mouth. Darn, this thing is heavy. Riding kept moving until he found himself behind the bar, pulling the box into the storeroom with many bottles of distilled liquids and other bottles. Closing the door with a wingclaw, Riding looked out at the bar. He was not used to seeing this room from behind the counter, and noted that the cook who usually served as the bartender still was not present. Stepping back into the night air, Riding went to go check his cabin, confirming the second box's location, and then flying back towards the bleachers. Riding Rain landed on the bleachers and looked out at the field, counting the cadets, but finding himself short one pony. Short, exactly, the shortest of the new cadets. Riding turned his head to look at the other end of the bleachers, seeing the purple hued iris in both of Teardrops eyes looking his way. "Can you teach me to do that?" Teardrops asked quietly, the excitement in their voice obvious. "Do you just fly really really really fast? Or is that like, bat pony magic?" Riding Rain looked down, declining to answer. Telling the truth is not right here. To be honest, I do not know what it is I do when I do this. It's not shadowstepping, but it is something else. "Oh, alright." Teardrops said, looking down, before looking back up, towards right above the treeline. "Can you take me up there? Teach me?" Riding looked above the treeline, then over at Teardrops. At first it had been endearing, and he understood what it was like to have a pony with the mindset of Teardrops, but now he felt irked in the slightest. Maybe he could make some sort of bargain here? Yes, that's it. "I will make you a promise Teardrops." Riding stopped, looking up at the sky. "Tell me what you really want, why are you really here. What is it that you thought you would find in the Night Guard? Do not tell me flying, I know you are here to fly. But there is something more in your eyes, they betray you." Teardrops moved closer, sitting across a break in the bleachers and looking over still. "What do you mean?" "I'm just curious what you intend to do after you are done learning to fly. What are you really looking for in the Night Guard? You can be anypony that you want to be here, you have freedom. If you tell me that, I'll help you get there." Riding paused, looking over, but not direct into Teardrops eyes. "When I joined the Night Guard my eyes were painful like yours. I do not want to see another pony have that kind of pain, I can see your suffering, and you do not have to explain it." "That seems like a lot of extra care." Teardrops said, "You don't treat the others that way." Riding looked down at the ground below the bleachers. "Consider it part of me saying sorry to the Night Guard and Princess Luna, for my past. You, Starshadows, Moonbeam, and Nightwing all seem to have plenty of plenty of your own ideas." Teardrops tapped their hoof, looking around a bit, then finally speaking after the moon had moved a bit in the sky. "You saved the Night Guard though. No matter what you did, isn't that enough of a sorry? You did what you had to do." "I'm not that pony anymore." Riding replied. "That was my story, I want to make sure a pony that has pain in their eyes can make their own story the way I never had a chance to." "You did make your own story, though." Teardrops countered. "I want that. I want my own story. I want to be... somepony." "No more specifics?" Riding asked. "Well. I want to be a fast flier. Like the legendary Rainbow Dash, and- I want to be cool. and you know, do things that matter?" Teardrops answered. "Fame may not come in the way you want in the Night Guard." Riding looked over at Teardrops, who shook their head. "Not fame. I mean if it happens alright." Teardrops said. "I am not very good at this kind of thing- uh," Teardrops stopped suddenly, a fleeting sign of pain flashing in those eyes. Riding caught it, but he was not quite sure what it was. "Not one for romance and emotion? Do not talk to Éther much then, she puts emotion into every single word she has ever spoken." Riding commented. Teardrops rolled her eyes, "Yeah, she called it love language. Bleh. more like the sap language." Riding Rain suppressed a laugh, passing it off as a chuckle and a cough together. "She probably knows how you feel before you do. She has the best spies." "What's her job, anyway? Do you know?" Teardrops asked. Riding shrugged. "Officially, she is a lawyer. The Canterlot Intelligence Agency handles most of the spying that isn't done by the Night Guard. Yet, Éther always seems to know everything they know, sometimes before they know it. Assume anything you say or think, Éther knows before you know it sometimes. That's just how she is." "Spooky." Teardrops commented, kicking their hooves. "Alright, well I can tell you I do not want that. Can you teach me how to not be spied on by her and the... what did you call it?" "The Canterlot Intelligence Agency." Riding reminded. "Yes, them. can you teach me how to avoid them so I can live my own life and be somepony?" Teardrops asked. "Yes." Riding said, glancing away. Teardrops blinked, stopping the kicking of their hooves and looking over. "Wait, really?" Riding smirked to himself. This is one thing I can teach you, little Teardrops. It also will give me access to your dreams! "What do you dream about at night?" Riding Rain asked. Teardrops blinked again, "That's a pretty personal question for a teacher to ask their student, isn't it?" "Not for us." Riding Rain replied. "Bat ponies have the ability to communicate with one another through dreams, we never, truly, sleep. We may rest, we may choose to be unconscious, but I have learned that it is impossible for us to actually stop. We continue to exist in the waking moments whether we move our body or not. They do not tell you about that when you sign up." "And, it is possible for me to learn these skills? Can any bat learn them?" Teardrops leaned forward with eagerness in their eyes. Riding chuckled again. "Not from the others here. Come on, let's go for a fly before we talk more." "That is such a suspicious thing to say." Teardrops replied, flapping their wings as Riding did the same and they took off, gliding. However, Riding glided them upwards towards the treeline, taking a sharp turn upwards as Teardrops hovered, hesitating for a second. "You want to learn how to fly in the upper air currents? To have the ability to fly anywhere?" Riding asked Teardrops, pausing and looking down at the orange bat. Teardrops looked down at the ground, then up at the sky and pushed forward, beating their bat wings so hard Riding was given a little pause as they broke into the upper air currents. Riding was right behind Teardrops, feeling the wild wind buffet him as he watched Teardrops struggle to regain balance. Teardrops nearly fell straight down as their wings failed them. Riding hit a little wind their way and flew up behind them, gesturing his head to the side. "React to the wind, do not let it control you, but do not fight it." Riding Rain said. "Further up, they cannot hear us over the wind!"
Motion and Mirrors"Why won't you just tell me?" Riding Rain stepped forward into the middle of the practice field just before lunch, having relocated the box from the bar while the others were practicing flight. With a wave of his hoof, he called the cadets to draw in towards him, motioning for the mess hall. "This will be a bit of a long lunch, I have something to teach all of you about. Two things, if we have time tonight, however, the second is an all day event, so let's get this out of the way first." Riding said, heading first towards the mess hall. The other cadets fell in alongside Teardrops as they shuffled in, fetching lunch that seemed to be almost prepared with magic by the speed and efficiency with which it appeared. Riding had specifically been watching the mess hall this day to see if he could figure out who was cooking the food or delivering it. Yet, when he had gone to move the box from the bar he found all the food already prepared. Riding piled on a helping of hay fries with some bananas and a mango, going to sit down at the far end of the table. he watched as the other cadets filled their trays and sat at the other end of the table, although Teardrops sat a little further away, giving them access to speak to both Riding and the other cadets. "You should talk to your friends." Riding advised, munching on a couple hay fries while eyeing Teardrops. Teardrops looked at them, then looked at Riding, and nodded, pausing before scooting further towards their friends. Riding hurried through his meal as best he could, and then stood up, moving behind the counter of food and fetching the box, which he slowly moved in front of the cadets, right below the table they were eating on. "I hate these weapons," Riding Rain said, putting a hoof on the box and looking down at the cadets. "It is my express desire that you never use them, however, I am issuing each of you one. After that, I am going to teach all of you a different trick, and then we will combine both of them." Riding opened the box, placing down a wrist mounted weapon by every one of the cadets, and then placing disassembled halves of the longer ones by each of the cadets. "Why do you hate guns?" Moonbeam asked. Secret Sound nodded, "Sir, we have all shot guns before in the Equestrian military- uh, except for Teardrops, I guess." Riding Rain looked at Teardrops, then at the others, and shook his head. "Incorrect," he paused, then looked down at the weapons, "These are not guns." Riding took one of the wrist mounted 'pistols' that was beside Teardrops, and reached into the box, pulling out a small pack, and then a tiny pack that looked like a set of slides. "Hold your hoof out." Riding commanded, and teardrops put their hoof forward. Riding went slow as he attached the wristmount onto Teardrops wrist, then ran the wire through their armor and up to their head, positioning it next to their mouth, just under where the helmet could be fixed into normal armor. Riding adjusted the dial less than a quarter of the way, and pointed Teardrops hoof far away from the other cadets and himself. "Stay still." Riding chided, noting Teardrops hoof shaking as he put in the first pack of light, locking it in and letting the light flash before there was darkness. After this he put in the slide, which had twelve small particle areas, although they were much smaller than the ones Riding's hoofweapon had. Riding specifically made sure to keep his hooves on Teardrops hoof, pointing it directly at the fruit that had remained uneaten, over by the counter a few paces away. Teardrops looked to Riding, who gestured down at the weapon. "There is a command word inscribed on the side of this. Only the one who wears these weapons can see it, so it will not be used against you. You may speak it when you are ready to fire." "Right..." Teardrops said, looking at the fruit and then muttering a word that Riding made sure to omit from his memory. Teardrops looked at the fruit basket and took a breath, and then the entire basket was gone, fruit tumbling every single way off the countertop. there was a bright flash of purple lightning, and the sound of hellfire and screams filled the air for only a second. Nothing of the basket remained. Although a few of the cadets had cried out in pain from the sharp noise on their new bat pony ears, all of them were entranced, staring at the scene. Riding adjusted the dial back to it's lowest setting, locking it in place. "This, is no gun." Riding Rain said, pulling back his own hoof and letting go of Teardrops. "What in Luna's name are they?" Nightwing voiced for the others. Riding brushed his mane back, closing the box as he went to reseat himself. "The last weapon you ever need to use. She can explain, though." Riding jerked his head over his shoulder, sensing a tickling of mane along his longcoat. A suited pony stepped past Riding, pulling up the sleeves of her suit and showing two wristmounts that were ever so much different. They glistened with platinum and silver, with grand engravings and no dials that would make a princess blush to even behold them, much less wear them. Éther sat on the counter, holding them up and showing they were locked in at the lowest setting. Éther spoke up in her fancy prance language, Riding translating for her to the cadets after each sentence. "In our language, we call it compressed time. Riding is correct, these are no guns. These are explosives. Long ago, terrible things occurred across all realities. Somepony..." Éther stopped here for a moment, looking at the group, then continued, "Found the fourth Anti..." "Antimatter." Riding interjected. "Ending of existence bomb." Éther continued. "They called it the victory four missile. This is a smaller, emulated, version of it. It erases whatever is shot from history. Past, present, and future." The cadets broke into murmurs for only a single second before they all fell silent, the warning glare from Riding and the cold stare of Éther keeping them all in their place as they dared not make the same mistake twice. "What kind of pony would create such a weapon? You mean if somepony is shot with this, they...?" Nightwing trailed off, losing his bravery to go further. "The lowest setting will simply remove them from time for a short period. Higher settings, gone." Riding commented. Éther stood up, trotting towards the exit to the mess hall, adding, "You will be told when you may unlock the setting." Riding had barely finished translating before Ether's hoofsteps stopped as she turned the corner, vanishing once more. She left not a single trace, her tail tip vanishing into thin air. "Who is that?" Starshadows asked, adding, "She wasn't in the books, was she?" Moonbeam shook her head, and then when Secret Sound added nothing, Nightwing commented, "Creepy. and in a suit, too." "She is..." Rust Shade bit his tongue back. "She is your lawyer." Teardrops and Nightwing spoke at the same time, the other cadets turning to her. Riding was still watching the space where Éther had vanished, but finally turned his gaze to the cadets. "Please take these to your cabins." Riding Rain said. Everypony was quiet for a small amount of time, and then Riding heaved up the much lighter chest, dragging it towards the kitchen with his mouth. Once he had the box stowed away, Riding returned to the mess hall to head out the front door, and found Teardrops waiting to trot beside him. "Why did you only load and lock mine?" Teardrops asked, waving their wrist in a gesture. Riding Rain said nothing and exited the mess hall. Riding allowed the evening for more flying practice, offering Nightwings a blinder for additional training when he asked for more challenge. The bats seemed to be getting used to wearing one hoof heavier than the other, and by false dawn, Riding was satisfied with their flying. "Tomorrow you will go in blind as far as flying. Please wear those weapons so you can get used to the weight of them. I will be instructing you with traditional weaponry, for reasons that will be obvious tomorrow." Without any ceremony, Riding turned and headed straight for the bar. Teardrops, this time, tagged along, walking close behind him as he entered the bar and fetched a bottle, keeping it in his mouth and not entirely noticing Teardrops until they were face to face with him. ... She is quiet, and fast. Riding looked with eyes wide enough they peaked over his sunglasses. "What's that for?" Teardrops tilted their head to the side. Riding motioned to be let aside, going past and heading for the mess hall. He stopped to balance a glass on the top of the bottle as he went out. The other cadets were already inside, and Riding watched Teardrops continue to follow him as he sat down a little closer, but still away, from the cadets. Teardrops sat right across from Riding, staring at him and putting a small mango into her mouth, biting down with only fangs. "Now you are acting like a real bat pony." Riding commented, piecing some fruit and sucking on it while Teardrops gulped downed the juice of their mango, a little spilling which a long, slightly tipped tongue at the end licked up back into their mouth as they both finished their respective fruit juice. Riding produced the glass from earlier and put it down, uncorking the bottle with a claw on his wing and then pouring out a double helping and downing it with a bit of the meal. "You missed out on the bar last night." Riding commented as Teardrops looked up from their second mango. Riding passed the bottle towards the other cadets, nodding to some less drinking suited but otherwise functional bowl shaped glasses. He then turned back to Teardrops, continuing, "Would you like to join me for a few drinks?" "Uh, a few drinks?" Teardrops said, hiding behind the now shriveled mango. "Yes, that's right." Riding Rain said, "You know, maybe talk a little bit too, unless you and your friends have something planned?" Teardrops looked over at the others, and Riding stood up, nodding down and heading for his room. "Helmet, just after sunrise. the bar, you followed me there. See you there." Riding stepped backwards into shadows and then took a deep breath, finding himself in his room and in the utter darkness it allowed. taking a sigh, Riding changed into his other gear, ready to go outside and never be seen by the sun. Once he was comfortable with his adjustments, Riding laid down in his bed, tossing and turning. No rest came to him, and only this feeling of uneasiness hung over him. I did not feel uneasy before I came out here, but each night is only making me more and more restless. Teardrops, who are you really? I felt it, just a little bit, when we were in the other place. I should really think of a better name for to call that realm. Some place that exists after darkness. Complete Darkness. Even the Nightmare looks for light in that place... Riding sat with his fretful thoughts, waiting until he saw a crack of light before he got up to head for the bar. He was now just as eager to get answers as Teardrops was. Although, still, something inside said he was not going to desire to accept the answer. Riding was already at the bar when Teardrops arrived, shutting the door with a wingclaw and heading for the countertop as Riding uncorked a bottle with his bat wing, unable to suppress a happy smirk. Teardrops sat down and removed their helmet as Riding took his sunglasses off. Teardrops turned their head to the side, inspecting Riding closer. "What are you smirking about?" Teardrops asked. "You really took well to this bat pony life. The wingclaw." Riding Rain commented. "Oh," Teardrops sounded a bit sheepish, and a slight blush confirmed this as they said, "Uh, I saw you doing that and so- you know." Riding poured himself a glass, offering a glass towards Teardrops and pouring a glass for them as well. Teardrops hesitated for a second, then picked up the glass, taking a slow drink with Riding as they tasted their wine together. This bottle was more than pleasing, it was fruity and fragrant. Riding had felt drawn to this bottle, as if it was placed there. It had the strength of a strong spirit, yet it was sweet like mango and honey, and not unbalanced in the slightest. "...This is, really good," Teardrops remarked. "This is not normal stuff." "Hard to find that, you know. I've only had it one other time, in fact." Riding commented. Why do I know that? "Huh." Teardrops looked down at the glass, and for a moment Riding thought he could see tears ready to spill forth and mix with the drink. Riding refilled both glasses so he could look elsewhere and not imagine this. "So, do we need to, you know." Teardrops asked, offering out a hoof. Riding stood up, checking the rear exit and then going to the front exit and locking it, making sure they were alone. Riding tossed his coat down on the floor, gently covering the crack at the bottom of the door so no light shined except that of Teardrops purple eyes and the diamond lights of Riding's eyes. Riding Rain returned to his stool, and as he did so, he saw teardrops let out a gasp as here and there shadows jumped, tendrils flicked. Partial landscapes, and aspects of faces and limbs of all sorts of creatures, stretched together filled the shadows. Many of these danced around Riding, who now had black wings and a black mane overlayed on his shadowy form. "No." Riding said. "We're hidden. We only need to go to that place if we are not in the same physical location." "Alright. I definitely want to know why all the interest- but first, I want my answers from earlier." Teardrops said, "Where I am from. Who my parents are." "It's a very different place." Riding commented, "Did you ever have a last name, before you were called Teardrops?" "No." Teardrops said. "Did you ever wonder why?" Riding Rain asked. "Of course I wondered why!" Teardrops replied. the shadows writhed as Riding pulled back. "Do you think I sat around my whole life just thinking, 'oh it's totally normal that every pony else has a loving family and I live all alone in this room without a pony in the world to care about me! my heroes will not even notice me!' it took me years to finally have a few friends, and once I got to know them, I had to leave them behind to be here! No, I totally never wondered about it at all, that's totally not why I am sitting here playing along so you will tell me what I want to know!" Teardrops heaved a bit on the table, looking down at their glass, then pouring another glass. Riding stowed the bottle on the other side of the counter when Teardrops had another share, finishing his own glass while they caught their breath. "I am very sorry about this." Riding Rain said. Teardrops looked up, but the entire room was already black. 'This place.' Teardrops thought, their thoughts echoing all around. 'Void.' Teardrops stood up, seeing the shattered remains of many homes. The buildings were strange, distant, and not like anything that Equestria had ever seen. They looked more like boxes held together with crude materials, and built without any love at all. The world was ethereal and cold as the darkness receded, leaving ethereal grass, and creeks and puddles of water running here and there. Teardrops could see they were on some sort of broken path made of many dull colours, complimented by equally dull grass and- "Ugh, ew! No!" Teardrops pulled away, getting right into the middle of the road. The ground, and the water even more so, seemed to be a colour like pitch and blood, with the water of creeks and puddles completely red, as if it had been created only from red rain coming down to fill it. "What is this place? Riding? Princess Luna? Somepony?" Teardrops called out. No answer came. teardrops felt themselves, and then lifted their hoof. They still had their weapon here, loaded too, as well as armor. 'Well at least if I run into anything nasty I can stun it and fly away now.' Teardrops looked around. Most of the buildings seemed uninhabited, but here and there, entities moved about. Some had series of lights within some dark, but not scary of unkind, frame. 'Normally, I would be terrified of things like that. But they sort of just seem to be here. I wonder if they can even see me? ...Might be better to just not find out.' After moving along the road, Teardrops found that their hooves seemed to just guide them to where they needed to be. There were whispers of conversation and past memories, but eventually, they all faded away. The streets wound in square shapes, harsh angles were here and there. Teardrops finally stopped outside of a large building that towered over the others. All the windows had been smashed, and the stone seemed like it was made of fire, although it gave no heat. Teardrops tested one of the steps and found it safe, and trotted forward. The inside was covered with destroyed wooden furniture, and it looked like large amounts of wine had been spilt here and there. facing away from Teardrops at the end of the hall was a figure. "You." Teardrops made a simple remark. The figure nodded, looking away. "The Nightmare? Or, something else?" Teardrops asked. The figure tilted their head to the side, appraising the situation without looking fully over it's shoulder. "You're going to have to spell it out for me. I do not see how this is an answer. Are you Riding Rain? Do you know him? He keeps evading my real questions." Teardrops waited, but the figure did not reply. It did, however ,seem to shimmer, a brilliant light that was brighter than white moving with them as they adjusted their form, shifting about as formless shadows. Teardrops looked down at the ground, as if bidden to do so. "This is where I am from." Teardrops spoke not with their own will, but with an answer that had been given straight to them. Teardrops looked up at the darkness and the light that moved with it, however, they did not offer any more answers to the rest of the question. "Why though?" Teardrops asked, then a thought occurred to them, they rushed over to a window and looked out at the dull grass, the different buildings, and then rounded back on the shadows. "Wait wait, wait on the other question; this is Silverfield?" The dark figure moved across the ground, not seeming to make any sound as it proceeded out of the hall. Teardrops went after, pursuing them into the street. Teardrops stopped, seeing the dark figure standing before some other bright lights. These lights were different from the other figures, and seemed offensive to teardrops' eyes. Averting their gaze, Teardrops heard the lights yelling in strange tongues. 'They look like they're about to get in a fight. But, the darkness doesn't have any weapons, does it? How will it win that fight? ...Then again, how could it lose? It's just shadows and darkness. I cannot even tell if it has a body. Teardrops waved at the offensive lights, and when there was no response, Teardrops checked their wrist. They cannot see me. Interesting. Can we interact though? I do not think I want to find out. Everything stopped moving for a second, and Teardrops breathed, looking around as the world stopped moving and the shadows gave way to a pony shape, stepping out and towards Teardrops, however, still cloaked within the darkness and the shadow. "Hello, Teardrops. I told you, I needed to show you." Riding said. Teardrops nodded, then asked, "So this place? it is where I am from?" "That is not the entire story, however, in a manner of speaking, you are not incorrect." Riding remarked. "Then, my parents must be here too." Teardrops continued. "Can you take me too them?" "You passed by them earlier." Riding said, looking around at the landscape, and then pausing. "Come, we do not have a lot of time here. This world will be unmade in a short amount of time." "How come?" Teardrops asked, galloping to catch up with Riding as he trotted along the street, his long blue coat shifting between colours as he moved. At some moments it was all black, and other moments, it was all blue. "The beings that once inhabited this world chose a different answer over the antimatter victory four missiles." Riding commented, a tinge of disgust in his voice that Teardrops noted. Riding continued, "You will not be here to see that part, and I've seen enough times for my taste. "So, this is... Silverfield, right?" Teardrops reiterated. "Again, in a manner of speaking;" Riding said, "The difficulty is that while this place is not Silverfield, it is. And what Silverfield is, is not Silverfield. They are both the same place, and yet this is not the Silverfield of Equestria you know. This is the Silverfield of a place that has been destroyed by it's own inhabitants." "But it is my home." Teardrops remarked, hugging at the ground with caution. Riding Rain nodded, moving towards a river. "Look." Riding said. Teardrops eyes moved into the sky, and there was a loud gasp. Something blinding seemed to be racing along, yet, it was impossible to make out what it's purpose was for this far below. "What is it?" Teardrops asked. Riding just shook his head no. Teardrops looked around for a few moments, trotting along and looking at purple flowers, observing the river standing completely still, and looking at the stone buildings built by fire. "So, are my parents here? You said I went past them, and I saw beings moving around! I, wasn't sure if they could see me, though." Teardrops pressured, drawing back in close to Riding. Riding put his sunglasses on, trotting towards the river and heading down a path towards a large table. This had a shape that was familiar to Teardrops, a large horseshoe. "There is a little clause in all of this. I can tell you who your parents are. However, you have to tell me who they are first." Riding said simply, touching the horseshoe table and looking at it shimmer. "You may, of course, say this at any moment you so desire. If you are correct, and I am present, I can tell you. I admit, I was not sure where we would end up at, but now that we are here." "And what is here? I get the where is Silverfield, but..." Teardrops stopped as Riding glanced over. "The end of all things. " Riding motioned to the table. "Technically speaking, we are actually inside your memories, if that's comforting at all." "Oh." Teardrops said, stopping. "Wait, what?" Riding faded in and out of darkness, almost as if he was seeming to disappear right in front of Teardrops, holding onto the table. "This is all happening inside my head then. Bat pony magic." Teardrops remarked, moving foward and touching the table. 'No. it's more than that.' Teardrops found the bar right in front of them. Across the bar Riding was slumped over, not moving at first and then rousing himself in slow order. His drink had been pushed aside and he let out a yawn, sitting up in the complete darkness that was now absent the other shadows. "I think you are just teasing me now." Teardrops remarked, flicking their mane to the side. "If I write the answer down for you, then it's going to be true. You are supposed to tell me." Riding Rain said. "Then write it down, I don't care how you tell me, as long as you tell me. You know both my mother and father then. You must have known them in Silverfield... or, you know," Teardrops added the end part, unsure the exact way to phrase this as they flicked their tail. Riding looked at Teardrops, and both of them locked eyes. Riding raised the bottle again, filling up just more than one helping for himself, and one more for Teardrops. "Stop it!" Teardrops' squeak rang around the darkness. Riding Rain stopped, putting his hoof on his glass. "I have been trying to believe you can be cool, and you'd be helpful, but now I know you are deliberately not telling me something! This is so unfair, I have a right to know! Are you scared to tell me or something?" "Yes." Riding Rain said the word in half of a breath. Teardrops blinked, it was clear they had not expected that reply, however, it was only moment of respite before they learned forward, eyes narrowed and an expecting look. "I am sorry that this is not how the story goes." Riding said. Teardrops shook their head, looking away and averting their eyes, "No you are not. You're clearly enjoying this." Riding frowned. "I will show you who one of them is. You still have to say the name of both of them though. I can tell you that your parents are present and well, does that satisfy you." "No," Teardrops shook their head, sweeping their tail around their hind legs and drumming a hoof on the countertop for a few moments. "Well, maybe a little bit. They are alive then? And in Equestria?" "Correct." Riding said. "...Then, why don't they ever talk to me? Why don't they ever... well." Teardrops trailed off. "I have some memories of, you know. But they're long ago." "Those memories will come back to you." Riding offered. "I sort of remember my mother, not her face though." Teardrops mumbled, swirling around the glass of liquids but not drinking any. "I knew a pony about your age once who had a similar situation. The world is a cruel place for ponies like that." Riding kept his hoof over his glass. "That is great and all but it's not an answer." Teardrops said, "I have had enough of this emotional roller coaster." "Sorry you feel that way. Maybe you can go sing a song and share hugs and that will make all the pain go away." Riding removed his hoof from his drink, and took a long swig. "When has that ever worked?" Teardrops asked. "You seemed to think so on the first night, once you realized there was another bat pony that knew how you felt." Riding offered. "Yeah but that's like, a one time thing! That was a special occasion!" Teardrops swept their tail away, sitting up and leaning on the counter, "No more drama or dodging the question!" A long intense stare ensued between Riding and Teardrops, neither of them doing anything except look at the other for time that neither of them were counting. Neither of them spoke, and Riding breathed, pulling back. "I could go tell... uhm, Well, I could trot out of here! and tell Luna, or tell Éther! or go home to Ponyville and tell my friends! They'd listen! ...I think." Teardrops did not sound sure at all, and Riding ignored the empty threats. "You are not going to do that because if you do then you will never get your answer." Riding relaxed, leaning back on his stool and rocking it a bit. "Yeah, I get it. This has been some sort of sick power trip for you the last few days, right?" Teardrops postured the question straight to Riding's face, forcing a wince of pain. "I was just, making sure;" Riding said, "And until I had the Nightmare under control in the other place... I..." Riding trailed off. Teardrops paused for a brief moment, batting their eyes and gave a groan. "Alright... Alright. Sorry, alright?" Teardrops was clearly forcing the apology. "This is difficult for me as well you know." Riding said. Teardrops sat there for a moment, thinking in the open but not saying anything. After awhile Teardrops sat up, and although they hid their pain well, Riding could see the tears behind those hurt eyes. "They did something bad, didn't they?" Teardrops whispered. "That's why you won't tell me. Your job, you said you protect ponies. This, you're trying to be... protective?" Teardrops trailed off. Riding did not nod, he could see that Teardrops could reach their on conclusion on these questions with silence as an answer. Teardrops continued, with a new question, "Why is it any of your business?" "You know I've been gone for some time." Riding Rain said. "You've seen that the universe and time have been dislocated and are strange. All of this, Éther, Princess Luna, and most of the elements are aware of." Teardrops nodded, giving a sign for Riding to go on. "If we can make things correct, do right, right here, right now, in this timeline." Riding said, breathing deep, "We will see Equestria as it was meant to be." "So- how do I figure into all of it?" Teardrops asked, adding, "I'll help but you have to answer the question." "You helping is not conditional upon me answering the question." Riding stood up, moving to the door and peeling his coat back and shouldering it on. "Wait!" Teardrops cried but stopped as Riding held a hoof up for silence, causing the entire room to feel very mute. Riding put his sunglasses on, not quite covering his diamond eyes. "Rrr!" Teardrops rolled their letter, causing Riding to feel his bones stiffen up a bit. "Ri;di;ng Rai;n! I know where you live! You're telling me, today!" "Teardrops who do you think you have been speaking to all this time when I am here?" Riding asked. "Reddling Riding Rain, but now I am starting to think all those stories are made up, and this is an excuse to be really bad at your job!" Riding's eyes glinted, and Teardrops looked away, saying, "Sorry... I- did not mean to say that. I just..." "Cannot control yourself?" Riding asked. Teardrops glanced up. Riding was glad he got good at smirking, and passing it off as a wince. "What dark magic is this? That's what it is, this is not normal bat pony magic." Teardrops stated. This was not a question or an accusation, it was just a statement of common knowledge that both of them shared. Riding looked down, flicking his hood back and folding up his sunglasses and preparing to shadowstep. He just was not brave enough for this. The unfortunate moment of the conversation happened, however, as Riding tried to run away and felt something drag him down as he lost his breath, knocked out of the shadowstep as he felt himself pushed. "Get the hell off me!" Riding growled, pushing at Teardrops. Teardrops, for their part, was much stronger than Riding was expecting, and found that he was rather stuck in place. He managed to get back to his hooves but could not quite get away as Teardrops grappled onto him. "Stop being such a- a-" Riding flattened his ears, as a mixture of Equestrian, non-Equestrian, and he was pretty sure at least two or three other languages and perhaps a few things that were not words were unleashed upon him. When they were done Teardrops let go, huffing. "Guess I struck a nerve?" Riding kept his tone mild. "You are unbelievable!" Teardrops yelled, turning around and strutting over to the bar. "Why won't you just tell me?" Riding hoofed at the ground, and then looked back over at Teardrops. Teardrops eyes met his. "Not very good with your emotions. Always trying to be cool. You scared me when I first saw you." Riding panted a bit. Teardrops made a sound that almost seemed like they spat a bit at the bar before saying, "I'm very good with my emotions. But why are you scared of me, That's not very mythical assassin of you." Riding put his hoof down, seeing shadows leap out at the point he touched and threaten to consume the area around them, blotting out the light trying to creep through the door. Teardrops pulled back, scrambling up on top of the counter as the deeper and older darkness consumed even the darkness around it. For a moment Teardrops sat on the countertop, their wrist held up but not pointed at Riding while he watched the shadows writhe around him, gripping and massaging his forehoof. "Who am I?" Riding whispered, the shadows biting back somewhat but not completely disappearing. When Teardrops did not answer, they climbed over the counter, balancing their leg and pointing it forward. "A dangerous motherbucker." Teardrops said, their voice shaking but trying to remain brave. Riding glanced up, and then breathed deeply, letting all the shadows return down and vanish under his hoof as he took a few more breaths. Riding pretended he heard buck instead of the other word, nodding. Teardrops stayed in place, but as moments dragged on, they continued looking at the situation. "I need to go to work soon while I rest my body." Riding spoke under his breath, but still loud enough for Teardrops to hear. "Well, I want to hear you say it." Teardrops remained resolute. Riding looked over. They will never forgive me if I chicken out now. Riding thought. Teardrops no longer had their weapon pointed anywhere but the ground, however, they were still keeping their eyes locked on Riding. There was something there, some realization they had not yet shared, something having cut through the pain in those eyes, just a little bit. Their eyes were unwavering, waiting. "You asked me the first night if I had any little ponies. Right now, in this time," Riding Rain said, "I have one little pony present with me in this Equestria." "And they're looking at me right now." Sweat drops. Riding coughed out a breath as he stepped into his room, going over to the door. No lock. Riding waited, keeping his hood on, but no patter of hoofsteps followed after. Several moments passed before Riding tossed his coat off, falling into his bed and looking down at his hooves. I knew the second I saw them. I knew them by a name. Riding looked down at his mark, pulling his cloth dress armor back. An arced line, shaped like a rainbow but all silver. Three drops of rain coming off it. Riding hid his mark again, going to look down and sighing. Try as he might, Riding was fitful, able to perform his job but distracted as he thought of what the next night would entail for him. Stepping in and out of his dream realm, Riding arced himself back to where he was in his cabin, opening his eyes. He could hear hoofsteps outside his door. Riding opened the door, no coat on yet as he looked out. Riding peered at the area the door offered him to look at, seeing nopony around. Turning, Riding went and got his non-hooded coat, pulling it on and heading outside. Riding stopped when he was outside the door, looking at the practice yard. Nopony was in the yard yet, save for himself and another pony that was now attached to his side, a bat wing thrown around in a quick hug, and a hopeful smile and bright eyes. The eyes were not free from pain, Riding could see this, but there was a faint flame in there now, more than just the embers of a dying light. "Good Night, Teardrops." Riding greeted them. "Good - Oh, right, bat pony, it's reversed- Good Night! Riding!" Teardrops stopped, breaking the hug after Riding returned the hug with a wing in quick motion for a moment. "No, no, that sounds really weird, uh." "If you think of a better way to say it, please let me know, it drives me crazy too," Riding nodded, "I never truly got used to it. "So, will it be more flying today?" Teardrops asked. Riding paused, thinking. "I am sure some flying will be involved. I do not think any of you are strong enough yet to get to the higher air currents, so, while all of you practice more I am going to show you other benefits of being a bat pony. It's not all squeaking, and flying, and drinking fruit. "And dark magic." Teardrops added, a bit hesitant as they looked away. Riding looked over and stopped trotting, Teardrops stopping too. Riding had half extended his hoof, unsure if to put a hoof on their shoulder or to ruffle their mane, but he held back. Something inside him still felt so... Distant, even though he had spoken the truth. Teardrops noticed this as Riding put his hoof back down, looking at the ground. "Bat pony magic is different, but what I do is... No, no dark magic." Riding noted. "What is it, then?" Teardrops asked. "I am not sure myself." Riding said. "I made some reports to E'ther about it, but as far as they can tell, it is somehow linked to dream magic." "I read about rare magics. But, you're-" Teardrops stopped, thinking with a hoof on their chin, "You are not a normal bat pony, does that mean I am not a normal bat pony, either? Since, you know..." "We are both normal bat ponies." Riding noted, adding, "Until we can prove otherwise, at least." Teardrops nodded, and they both looked at the mess hall. Before they could either voice a question both started off heading for breakfast, somehow sharing the same morning rituals, despite only having met proper a few days prior. After going through the right door, Riding fetched a tray and piled some fruit on it, and Teardrops got a mango and a pile of hay fries, both of them going and sitting down together at the end of the tables. Riding shook his head towards the hoof with Teardrops' weapon on it. "Were you really going to use that?" Riding asked. "I thought about it until I saw the look in your eyes." Teardrops mumbled, giving a grin as they looked down and bit into their mango. Riding waited, and when the mango was gone he could see Teardrops was still grinning. "I'm good at reading eyes too." Riding pulled up his coat, muffling a laugh into it before he partook in the breakfast, the two of them eating in relative silence for a little while. Other cadets began to stream in, Moonbeam first, and then followed by the others. "I do want to know how you are getting along with your friends, however," Riding paused, looking down at the other cadets. "I would prefer that they reach out and tell me about themselves. How are you getting along with them?" "Hmm..." Teardrops scratched a hoof on their chin, appraising a hay fry before downing it with several crunches. "I feel like I met them somewhere before. Some of them. You know the feeling when you know that you know somepony but you've never met before... uh, heh." Riding nodded in slow motion, not losing the trail of the conversation and Teardrops looked away sheepishly. Teardrops gave a cough, then added "heh, uh, of course you do... Well, me too." "Don't take them for granted." Riding said, "It's a terrible thing to lose friends and those you care about. You are all here to protect each other just as much as any innocent pony. The same should be true for all Night Guard." Riding gave a flick of his tail that caused Teardrops to pull back a bit, the danger in the end of his statement carrying down the table enough to make Nightwing and Moonbeam glance over. "Leave the rest of the fruit on this tray, but can you bring it out to the yard for me, Teardrops?" Riding asked, gesturing to what was left of his breakfast and adding, "We'll need it for today's practice, but I need to go fetch some additional gear for us." Teardrops gave an eager nod, and like that Riding was off, headed towards his cabin. He took a few moments to breathe in there, and scoured the room. He had a new box today, which he unpacked, reading a note from E'ther quickly before getting changed. The cadets were all standing together when Riding appeared next, slicing through the shadows as he strut forward and tossed a box on the ground, wearing his combat coat. Although muffled, it contained chains on the inside and was a heavier coat that Riding typically only wore to war. On his head was an older Night Guard mask, which did not allow for the wrist mounted missiles. He had tucked the end of the string into his armor, which was now heavier. "Whoa." Nightwing said, leaning forward as Teardrops and even Starshadows approached. "The Night Guard's new armor." Riding stated, "Courtesy of the Luminous ones." Riding removed his coat, allowing it to fall to the ground and show off his form. Across his body were silenced metal scales that seemed to run and zig zag over his body, and over this, plates could be attached where one desired them. Riding had them on his shoulders, flank, ribs, and a breastplate, allowing him perfect freedom of movement while offering the most protection he could gain. Riding picked up his coat and slung it over his shoulder, making absolutely zero sound as he tossed a pile of bandanas on the ground, looking back at the cadets with all of his weapons on. "Tonight, you do battle with ...me." Riding smirked, tossing his trench coat away and kicking a box behind him, spilling out wooden weapons. Riding picked up a staff, leveling it over his shoulder with a hoof and then beating his wings to get into the air. The cadets all looked at one another, silent. "And you will be blindfolded." Riding added, gesturing at the blindfolds. Nightwing put on his blindfold, pulling it from a pocket. "Can we know a little more about that armor first? And why blindfolded?" Moonbeam asked, stepping forward. Riding smirked. "Great questions!" Silence fell over the yard for several moments. "You have no idea how that armor is made, do you." Teardrops stated with a blank stare ahead. "Yes," Riding grumbled, "If my orders did not tell me to wear it, I would be in my normal gear. However, that's our orders for tonight, both yours and mine. So, shall we get to it?" "Uh," Teardrops drew their hoof on the ground. Riding noticed this, and shook his head. "We'll talk later, Teardrops. After this. Let's finish the lesson plan and then meet at the bar with some food. You bring lunch." Riding flew up a little higher, about a pony's height below the tree line, looking down at the cadets from above. Rust Shade was the first to put on a blindfold, stumbling a little as Nightwing moved from one action to the next, deft on his hooves and helping the others adjust their blindfolds. Teardrops looked around, then up, but in the wrong direction from where Riding was. "Ahahaha. Come on. Just one time." Riding shook his head. "Now, you are going to learn to fight without your eyes. You-" Riding stopped, feeling the crawling thought in his mind as his hoof moved his staff to point down at the others. "Now, use your... squeaks, listen! Listen to the world around you and see!" Riding called out, declining a bit as his hovering slowed. The cadets paced around a bit as Riding flew over them, landing behind them with his staff poised under a hoof so he could lean up on it, wings still outstretched. Nightwing immediately seemed to detect him, and moved in to attack, but Riding Rain flew into the air before he reached him, his speed more than sufficient to dodge a lunge from one of the training sticks. "Not going to work!" Riding called out below to Nightwing. "Come on, if you have to defend somepony, your enemies will not just stand still and let you hit them!" Riding turned as he finished speaking and saw moonbeam and Rust Shade both crash softly into the ground at a gallop, trying to fly with their wings while blind and almost knocking each other to the ground. It was only with their practice weapons they were able to balance themselves and avoid crashes. "Ehehehe." Riding Rain thought, looking at the other cadets. Secret Sound and Mint were not off the ground yet, but Riding felt something crawl on his back as he flipped around, spotting Rust Shade above him in the air, both hooves clasped around his wooden blade. Riding dodged back, rolling in the air before finally another blow swung, aimed at his left wing. Rust Shade threw everything into his attacks. Riding flew down and landed at the ground, just in time to dodge another blow from Rust Shade. He's berserk. That blow could have knocked me out of the air. Riding thought, dodging some other cadets as he heard a the telltale 'flump' sound of wings landing gracefully behind him. Riding turned and swung, aiming to smack Rust Shade as hard as he could and knock him away. Riding Rain felt time slow for him as he swirled about on his hooves, and for a moment his eyes saw Teardrops looking on, practice stick raised. There as well, was Rust Shade, although he was a little further away. Teardrops eyes were wide as time kept slowing down more and more, until finally it seemed like nothing was moving. Riding watched some shadows grab at the world, and then everything was nothing but blackness. Somewhere, Riding was sure he could hear the Nightmare Riding laughing at him, but sound had no meaning here.
Reddling changed the world.One job. It's just one job. One last job. One last life. One kill. That's all it will take. Reddling looked down at his hooves, looking at the blood running freely from them as he looked over the hearts on them as chains were bound around them. They seemed half real and half not real at the same time, and yet, He saw himself disappear, and reappearing within another realm. "Goddesses. Princesses... No. I do not believe they would truly forgive me. Or love me. or do anything. I have to do this." Reddling looked down at the notebook in front of him, just a cover, with some handwritten notes inside the cover. taking a page, Reddling swore to his past self he would never do this again as he began to draw a line. "Maybe, I can still make this right." Reddling said to himself, shadowstepping into another place, and another time, and looking down at what was happening from on top of a gazebo. With the lighting of this place, he knew he was invisible to the individuals below. It was a bit hard for him to make out who, or what they were. He didn't understand his mission really, nor did he know exactly why he was doing it. It had a familiar feeling to him. One he knew all, all too well. Seeing Twilight Sparkle run in to see Princess Luna and Celestia, explaining something to them. Seeing that truly, there was no other way. This was the end for Reddling, and for his future. For ever. He knew that he was about to die in his vision as he watched what looked to be tall, anthro ponies moving fast along a rooftop. breathing heavily, Reddling looked down at what was about to occur. "So many lives. So much blood. So many graves." Reddling stopped, thinking of Teardrops. Thinking of how many he had killed. How much pain and suffering he had seen in the world. It was just one contract. Just one future. But then the killing got easier. Especially after the first innocent pony that he killed. Then it got really easy. Reddling knew his purpose in life: To kill. It is my job to hunt. To kill. To destroy all life that threatens my homeland, even if they hate me. Even if they kill me. I must do as I am told. I must destroy. I must kill. But now, all these years later, seeing the death in front of him about to occur, Reddling was not so sure. No longer was he okay with this as he saw time stop. Holding his hoof out and chanting in a forbidden tongue where he was from, for no such things were said there, Reddling stepped down from the gazebo, feeling the world go completely black and white and grey. The void stretched around him, and he made sure to trot over towards the lady standing directly below her as he saw another man appear right beside him and stopping time. There appeared to be some manner of screaming, and Reddling had been quick to sidestep. Now Reddling had a full view, watching a man, there was no mistaking it, he had read of men in his books. He had read of men in stories. But this man to him seemed more like a machine, bent on murder. Reddling saw two victims, and a man in a red jacket. Fearful, Reddling thought about if such individuals would spare him. Assassins, Reddling knew what assassins did. Assassins kill others. Assassins are evil. We are what ponies are scared of in the night. We are the cannibals... We are the destroyers. The murderers. Defliers of all life they called us. But now, Reddling was not so sure anymore. Stepping faster than the void Reddling put a hoof on the lady as he saw a sword drawn, quickly stepping forward twice, and then a third time back on top of the gazebo. "Mommy-" Reddling noticed time freeze and he could not move. Then, suddenly, something else happened and the girl's screaming seemed cut short. "What's happening-" Reddling heard something warp out, and then there was screaming below. "No more-" Reddling peered over the side, still keeping his hoof on the woman there. a blade was poised to strike at the woman down below. Soon her life would be over. She would be dead, and another killer would be born. One who would write so much gore over the pain they had caused. Maybe those below him were machines. Maybe they were something else, Maybe they truly were flesh and blood. It didn't matter to Reddling. Not then. Not now. Never had. never would he had told himself. But having lost everything to everyone, Reddling just couldn't take it anymore. Overcome by the burden of his guilt, Reddling stepped forward three times, feeling himself running dangerously low on mana. Falling into the void, Reddling felt himself fall forever it seemed like, suspending the woman there, hoping the right choices would be made and she would be safe. Reddling felt himself step back many times, and then spring himself forward with the last of his mana, hoping that he would be able to step back time just enough to prevent the things that were about to happen. "Just one job. Just a simple contract. A life for a life." *Reddling fell on the ground, clutching his hooves and looking at the world around him. he knew he would be alone when he showed up. He knew that no one was going to be there. Alone in his room. Hated by all. sitting there with papers and pens and pencils and a keyboard, typing his life away, hoping for something, anything, to change. They say that you cannot undo the past. Reddling now knew better. Reddling knew, it was possible to change the past. Reddling knew how. Reddling knew what could be done. What had to be done. Gripping the sorrow in his chest, never having truly understood at such a young age why he would listen to other people, Why he had ever listened to other people. Reddling hoped that he could let go of his pain and suffering. If he could step back now, just undo one action forever and ever, he could change history. Nothing he had written would occur, except the story that mattered. the story he truly wanted. But everypony told Reddling it was too late for that. Thoughts and ideas create reality. Reddling had learned through his life and his travels, that the past and future and present, are never as they seem. That our actions have consequences. Reddling had also learned, that it was never too late for you to do the right thing, if you are willing to do so. Reddling turned and looked at the walls around him, counting to himself as each voice went silent. Each child he had lost. His wife he could never see. How everything was taken away from him. When ponies are allowed to kill, this is what happens. He knew this now. Reddling understood his purpose. What he had to "fight" for and what he did not have to "fight" for. With a deep breath, Reddling had his eyes closed as he hoped just maybe one act of redemption would save them all. That maybe, he could let go of his past. Otherwise, it would never matter what he did or did not do. Reddling understood now, that when you fight for your life, you suffer. When you are willing to die for another, another shall die for you. To some this was a game. To some this was funny. To Reddling, it had been a lifetime of dispair, and not one that he wished to continue. Not one he ever wanted to see again. Knowing the darkness and horrors. Knowing the pain he had caused, Reddling was ready to give up. But when given a chance at redemption, he only became more violent, more hurt, more angry, until finally, he could no longer contain his emotions. he began listening to the horrors, whether anymore died or not no longer mattered. Who cared what happened to his soul when everyone else was gone and none of those he truly needed to care about would ever be there. Magic or not, Reddling had been a curious individual. Perhaps, too curious. There is always time to set things right, however. Always. Author's Note Reddling watched Teardrops read the note. waiting for them to speak to him. waiting to hear anypony's voice again. anything. Just even once. But did he regret it...
The TraitorAuthor's Note Story by: Nitsua (NitsuaXepher) With contributions from: Éther and Little Dash All original characters: Are property of their respective owners. Additional contributions (name) from: hayburgerandfries Adjustments and "editing" by: Nitsua (Riding Rain) No little ponies were harmed in the writing of this world. The adventures of "Reddling" Riding Rain continue... Dedicated to all of the little blessings, and to Éther, and ... The Traitor "Where were you?" "Reddling" Riding Rain looked at his beer and the ice sheets in his glass, sitting at a small table on a cushion and looking out at the letters before him. He arranged them in a way that was pleasing to himself, shutting his thoughts inside and feeling his mind, going back to it's ease as he took notes in old Silverfieldian. He knew Equestrians would not be able to read this in the past and the present. While they now had access to new Silverfieldian, only Riding Rain remained who could write old Silverfieldian, thanks to their efforts. Riding Rain drained his beer, letting the ice sheets crack as they hit the bottom of the glass. There was a letter here from Bruiser, written drunkedly, involving another friend of theirs who had a little trouble with the law. Riding Rain found trouble reading the hoofmail, so he put it aside for the moment. Something about commune ponies and different issues, it did not give exact details. Riding Rain paused for some time, looking over the notes as he waited for his boss to enter the room. "Fighting ghosts again?" A white maned bat pony asked. He always would pronouce it with the long hard e, making sure to speak a Prance language with her. "No." Reddling said, looking at her as she gave a frown. Neither of them believed his lie, and Reddling breathed a sorry. "I hate this." Reddling said. "Sorry." She said. "C'est la vie..." "..." Reddling agreed silently, nodding his head and pretending he understood her before stopping, "I have no letters from-" "Oui." She continued, Reddling scratching a little tally mark on his notes as she slammed the door, making Reddling half wince as he went back to sorting papers for his new boss. What she means to say is "yes" she is specifically choosing to not do so at this point and I absolutely refuse to believe otherwise. I think she is either doing this to be irritating or doing it to make fun of me not speaking her fancy prance language. He did not expect to be put into pushing paper for a living after he had done everything to save Equestria with his friends. He was not even allowed to visit with them unless his new boss was present, breathing direct and often literal air down the back of his throat. He never saw any colour. He never saw cracks of light. She wore a blue ribbon tie, a white coat, and a suit. He had never even seen her face because she would only exist in absolute darkness. But he had seen her eyes. Sharp and brilliant like two stars together in the night sky. Riding continued moving papers around, doing his job and growing more and more on unease as he finished drink after drink. Ever since he had taken this position, he could drink but never get drunk. But every letter he got in his metaphorical cell seemed like everything got worse. The next letter confirmed this, as did a series of letters that followed. Riding got up at a small trot, shifting his blue coat around so the soft inner silk pressed up against his body. He flipped his sign to "out" and adjusted the dial to a random marking. He had never been much of one for clocks, and instinctively knew close to the correct time that others would need to know, anyway. Riding turned and went right down the hallway, happy to go get some night air. Riding stopped when he was outside, sititng down. There was a small enclave shielded by glass that allowed for both ventlation and gazing at the night sky. He was looking about for a moment before he picked up one of the new cases he had found laying around in the Night Guard quarters. They were small, metal, and contained some sort of "magicae" unknown to him. it was a little larger than his hoof, and he flipped it around for a moment, letting out some smoke from pressing a small switch and watching some smoke fill the air. It was supposed to be calming, however, it only ever made him more on edge as he looked up at the stars. My, this is not what I thought it would be. A desk job. Nothing exciting. And what even is this smoke, in any case? It is supposed to make us relax but it always makes me more and more on edge. Riding Rain looked down at the device and put it away. looking off into the stars. "It is not your break yet." Reddling hear the voice behind him and stood up, whipping around and seeing a black suit walk past his vision and put their hooves on an outreach, resting there in a raised position as the mare looked out at the stars. her white mane covered her face, and an equally white tail flicked idly under her skirt. "Just a moment will not hurt." Reddling said to her. "is that what you told Celestia, Riding Rain? It will 'not hurt?'" She asked, not looking at him. Reddling said nothing, looking down. "You could always ask for reassignment, if this desk job tires you." She said, stars glinting through her white mane. They were like diamonds of every colour anything and everypony could see. "No, I want this job." Reddling said. "Your ill-suited for it, however good you are at it. You can do more." The white maned mare said. "I read your book, you know. The one you finished for the Canterlot Library." "The alphabet of Silverfield and how the reading and the speech differ does not sound like your usual type of reading. Not much pay in learning Silverfieldian." Reddling said, looking down at the stones under him and rubbing his hoof along one. "Learning every language you can does not have to be about pay, Riding Rain." The bat pony in the suit replied. "I was hoping you would ask for reassignment, as I have a new assignment for you." "Watch duty?" Reddling questioned, believing he already knew, but stood up when he heard- "No. Guard Duty." "Who?" Reddling felt his insides almost itching at what was to come. Maybe he could see his friends? Maybe he could do something other than push paper and pens? "Do you remember Web's job when you first joined the Night Guard?" The mare in the suit asked. How could I possibly forget? Those were the best days of my life, and I threw them all away because I was busy trying to fulfill a destiny that was never supposed to be mine, as far as I know. Yes, I remember. I will always remember. And remember what I did not enjoy when I had it. "Yes." Reddling looked ahead with a blank stare out at the night sky. "I will be keeping an eye on you, and it will not just be you, but I would like you to help some ponies get acclimated to their new lives as recruits for the Night Guard." The mare said. Redding Rain continued looking at the stars. It will not be the same though... Not the same as when I was there. This is like rubbing salt in the wound. As good as I am with a knife, she still is better at causing pain. Reddling thought to himself, looking down again at the stones. "You know where to go. I already had some of your supplies sent up to Web's old room. The recruits should be there by now, although I doubt they are aware of their surroundings. You remember your own introduction." The suited bat pony said. Reddling looked back up at her but she was already vanishing before his eyes. Riding watched as she seemed to simply fade back into the darkness of night itself, not even leaving a glimmer or sign she had been there in the first place. She's even better at that than Web is. Who the hell is she anyway? She never even responds to her name that was on the paper. Hang on- Riding paused, pondering to himself about how she would be keeping an eye on him. If I make a note that she is there then maybe I can get her to say her name. Weird to sign a letter with what is not your real name, but given her line of work, I would be more concerned if she was signing with her real name. Riding Rain was up the same second, returning to his workspace and grabbing his notes and shoving them in a holder before he threw them into a small satchel bag, which fastened right between the foreleg and wing so he could fly without any hinderance. dodging down the halls of the catacombs of Equestria, Riding Rain continued up and into some Night Guard areas proper. He paused for a moment, and then ducked towards his room down a hallway and silently slid himself inside. Riding Rain smiled as he stepped forward with a happy and pleased trot towards his bed, over a purple rug and to a rack that was not far away. Pushing through a row of coats, he grabbed some special armor he had not worn in a very long time. Exchanging the slippers he had on for parade armor, Riding Rain fastened on his favorite type of armor to wear when he was not going into combat. Or worse, doing paperwork. Riding adjusted the shiny blue shoes, the darker coloured cloth under it, and the brighter blue that went on over the top as he sat the satchel bag aside. Despite the time and events that had past, he reckoned himself to be the same age he was when he had joined the Night Guard. He was unaware if this was simply a Silverfieldian feature, or if bat ponies themselves did not appear to age. The only bat pony with white hair he had seen was his boss, but he figured with the dangers of guard duty at night, maybe bat ponies simply did not live long enough to grow older, or retired before they began to age too much. He would have judged this by his friends, except he hadn't any free time to visit anypony. At least until now. When the recruits are on break, I can make the short fly back to Canterlot. I likely do not even need to stay up there, if it was not for the fact that new recruits need constant care. Riding saw shadows lick at the edge of his guard shoe, which was little more than a trimmed down boot. He stomped at the shadows, warning them to stay away. Exactly like that. You even think about them, and there they are. Riding thought, pausing and grabbing at his fancy trench coat before stopping. Maybe he did not wish to wear that one just yet, later. Passing over the coat he had been gifted in the past, Riding instead opted for one of his non-fireproof coats. With the exception of the fireproof coat, all his coats were much the same, although sometimes a little less or a little extra flair had been applied by the seamstress who worked on them. Without any more thoughts of the dingy catacombs, Riding dashed out of the room and closed the door, heading for the exit to the bat pony caves and entering into the lower courtyards of Canterlot castle. A major advantage of being a bat pony and having cave access, Riding had learned, was that you could appear anywhere you needed to in the city within a very short amount of time, provided you knew the path to the exit you wanted. Riding knew of a couple other exits, but really had no reason to use them. When the only place you were headed for was the sky, it did not matter where you came out of the ground. Taking a gallop and then sprinting just a second, Riding threw himself forward and off a ledge, letting his wings extend and grab the wind currents so he could be carried with a glide towards the night sky. tilting his wings with hooves forward, he kited himself to the side and angled upwards, towards the mountains near Canterlot. It was a short flight, and although Riding Rain took his time, he still arrived in nearly the same time as if he had just flown straight there. Riding landed near the bleachers to the small mountain enclave. There were several buildings here, Riding noting that the mess hall had been repaired, as had the bar and showers area. he recognized Web's old cabin, as well as other cabins that were boarded up like his to prevent even an inch of light entering into the building. Riding trotted past the bleachers and over to check on the cabin he had formerly known as being Web's cabin. A couple spare coats, a small and dubious box of supplies, and a fine array of weapons had all been delivered. Riding Rain pulled back his coat, looking down at his side to glance at the kukri he always kept with him. The light of the blade would put these others to shame, but Riding had grown used to training with less useful weapons. Belting on the bastard sword and two long and deadly looking knifes, Riding checked the blue steel of all three before grabbing a half brace of throwing knives, which he belted onto his chest, giving himself ten different options for piecing anything, plus the two in his mouth. Sweeping his coat around himself, letting it only barely keep off the ground but allowing him to crouch and with his pony frame still not get it dirty, Riding smiled to himself. I... this place. Riding thought to himself as he trotted out. He had many good and many bad memories here, a notable one making his hoof itch as he stopped and looked at the mess hall. With a shrug, Riding stepped towards the place. He had the memory of the building half blown apart seared into his memory. Fire, colour, and fighting, the day that things seemed to have gone very wrong for everypony. Yet here, it was restored, the time made right. Riding Rain trotted into the hall and then turned to the right, taking the set of double doors and trotting over to inspect if any food was out. There was a little bit of fruit in a basket, and it looked as though it was set for dinner. Some hay fries looked ready to be prepared later, although Riding Rain did not see the cook present. I wonder if we even have a cook. I hope I don't have to be the cook here too. I never did find out what happened to that green earth pony. I wonder if Web ever managed to fix him? He might have been too far gone... Riding tried to push the intrusive thoughts away. Grabbing a mango Riding Rain turned and froze, wiping his smile away mid movement so that nopony saw this. If it had not been for the fact he could see them breathing, Riding might have thought the other pony in the room was a corpse. He had not heard them make a sound, not even breathing sounds. This was a trait he had come to associate with Web Weaver, his boss, and himself. Although Riding kept his own voices quiet he felt his heart rate quicken and his breathes grow faster. The far end of the second table had a pony in a chair, looking down at their hooves. This pony was not however, anypony that Riding was aware of in the Night Guard. They were a bit on the smaller side for sure, perhaps in or very near their late teenage years in age. They had whipped their purple and nearly black mane back some, keeping it rather short. A mop of bedraggled backmane and tail complimented their bat pony features, with a set of dark purple wings that matched their dark purple mane and pale orange coat. Riding grabbed a second mango and shoved both into his pockets, trotting silently to the end of the table and sliding across from the other pony. I figured they would all still be passed out. How is the pony up? How are they awake? ...Were the others awake and only I passed out during my test? Riding voiced none of his questions to the pony, taking out the two mangoes and sliding one across the table. The pony looked up at the mango, then looked further up at Riding Rain. The bat pony had bright and harmonic eyes, with diamond slitted pupils to match their tufted ears, the little fangs on the side of the muzzle, and the wings. All of this was how a bat pony should be, although Riding felt he could see some measure of sadness in the brilliant purple eyes that seemed to capture so many other shades as well. The eyes were deep, like they saw everything and nothing at the same time, a look that most ponies would say does not fit a pony of that age. Riding knew better though, he knew what you had to see to have that stare in your eyes when you look forward. Fortunately, that look was currently directed at the mango now, making it seem a little less colourful and wilted just by circumstance. Riding waited to see if the other pony would speak, but no words came forth. I almost wish I was psychic at times like this. It would make my former occupation a lot easier. Perhaps that is why I almost wish this. After a few moments Riding decided to speak, "I can put it back if you are not hungry." The bat pony looked back up at him, speaking in a tone that was gentle, but had a harsh feminine tinge to it, "You did not give me anything to cut it with." Riding almost considered drawing one of his night guard knives and stabbing it into the table, but he decided that since he knew this had to be a traumatic change, leaving behind your pony life and becoming a bat pony, maybe now was not the moment to be drawing sharp weapons. Riding put his mango down, looking down at his teeth, then at the pony. "You just bite into it and drink." Riding said. The pony looked at the mango, then up at him, wordlessly posturing the expression of disbelief. Riding gave a pained smile, a forced smile, one that was very fake, and then tried again. "Like this, you just-" Riding opened his mouth and then bit down with his fangs, letting them slide into the skin and flesh of the mango as he made a slurping sound, containing all the juice in his mouth and gulping some down. The mango below shriveled up somewhat, and the other pony grew paler watching the entire situation. Oh they are so not ready for this. Riding thought to himself as he took the mango out of his mouth. "I will see about getting some juice sent to your quarters." The other pony's expression appeared to be somewhere between threatening to coat the hall with vomit and disgust that was changing to realization as they looked at their hooves, the mango, and their back. The pony then looked back to Riding Rain. With his vision, Riding could tell their hair was standing on edge just a bit, nervousness but not yet fear. Horror, perhaps? Maybe I should ask them questions, that might help. "I am Rìdìng Raìn," Riding enunciated his name in the correct manner. "I understand if you do not desire to give me your name, many ponies change their names when they join the Night Guard. I have a friend like that. However, if you wish to use your old name, then what is yours?" The pony gave a bit of a raised look with their eye, expressing interest, even if it was in somewhat of a sardonic way. The pony did not reply with a name, so Riding continued finishing with drinking his mango. When he was finished, the other pony finally spoke. "I do not have one anymore. Nor a mark." The pony said. They looked back at their side, which Riding noticed was a bit paler than normal, as if the pony had found their special talent and also lost it. It was at this moment the thought occurred to Riding that this pony was not wearing any of their Night Guard armor, which included a helmet. Riding chuckled to himself before stopping, realizing this was a terrible moment to chuckle given the state the pony across from him was in. he reached a hoof into his coat, and produced a pair of sunglasses, placing them next to the mango. "You will want those if you aren't back to your quarters by sunrise. Trust me. You do not want to be out in the sun." The pony looked up, then looked down and clammed up, refusing to even offer a comment or question. Riding breathed deep, letting out a sad stutter of breath at the end. "Because of the sun." Riding commented. "Yes." The pony without a name said back to him. "Well, I will be helping you get acquainted with your new life as a bat pony, so if you have questions, or need somepony to talk to, just tell me?" Reddling did not manage to finish his statement without facehoofing. It sounded so fake in his mouth he nearly coughed up some of the mango juice. Even for him, this was a hard lie to tell, this fake politeness. Taking a breath, Riding Rain tried again; "What I meant to say was, it's my job help you. Let me know if you need help-" "-I need help." The pony stated as Riding was finishing his statement. Riding breathed deep, looking down before he leaned back. "It would help if I have some name to call you, even if it's not your name." Riding stated, drumming his hoof on the table in a low tone. "Call me whatever you want." The pony said dismissively, looking away with their eyes relaxed a bit, somewhere between a pout and a cry. I am awful with names. I mean really, I can still remember being asked if Reddling was my real name. No it's just what they call me, because I'm red, right? Uh, I'm never going to come up with a name that sounds believable. Think, Riding, think. Say something you know well. Riding looked back at the pony's sad expression. "Teardrops." Riding Rain stated, leaning forward with a bit of confidence, "That's because you look like you are about to cry, and not for any other reason though. When you think of a better one let me know, please." "Teardrops. Really?" Teardrops replied, pausing and then looking down at their sides before looking back upwards. "There are a lot of other reasons I can think of to call me Teardrops-" "I know," Riding's turn to reply at the very end of something Teardrops said, "Ponies like me can see that much in your eyes, you know." "Are you some kind of mind reader?" Teardrops asked, their face changing to one of suspicion. "Just very good at reading eyes." Riding replied, pushing himself up from the table. "If you ever need to find me, and I am not around out in the yard or in here, check my room, I write in there." "There is... nothing else you do?" Teardrops ears flattened. Riding Rain motioned to the sunglasses, and then beckoned for Teardrops to follow him. They trotted outside, sunglasses on the other bat pony as they entered back into the yard. Riding stopped at his door, and then cast it open, trotting over to the small box and opening it up, setting his supplies on a desk in view of the door. A large bottle of wine, and a slightly smaller bottle of distilled liquids, a stack of papers, and last of all a small set of quills, which he noticed the pony's eyes follow as they seemed to cringe backwards. Riding paused, then put the box down, revealing there to only be a small tin of dry rations, a small, concealable knife, and a small amount of folded clothes with a shorter coat. Grabbing a spare pair of sunglasses from the shorter coat and donning them, Riding looked back at the pony as he stood up. The glasses blackened the room enough that it was almost difficult to see, and Riding found himself thankful for his enhanced vision as he folded them up and put them inside his blue coat before exiting the room, closing the door to his cabin with his wing. "All you do is sit in your room and drink, write, and collect... knives?" Teardrops seemed to be a little more open to discussion now, however the look that Riding Rain was making out under the sunglasses was not one of approval from Teardrops. "Not always." Riding responded in short order, trotting over towards the training yard that made up the center of the enclave, which he judged from the position of his new cabin had it's buildings arranged in the shape of a horseshoe. "Your job, writing, and alcohol." Teardrops trotted along with Riding. "And collect knives, and coats." Riding added on the coats part, motioning towards his coat with his right wing. Teardrops glanced the coat over, and Riding was fairly certain that he saw them roll their eyes. "I'll hold off on the full tour for now, we'll get to that later." Riding stopped, motioning one by one to the buildings. "my cabin of course, the mess hall you already found, the bar, the showers, and the cabins. You would be better off not disturbing anypony else that might occupy the other cabins for tonight, we will start training tomorrow-" "No!" Riding stopped, his hoof wilting a bit as his eyes flicked over to Teardrops' statement. He had not lacked in bravery, if the same could not have ben said for spirit, on his first day. However, he could not recall a day in his job where he would have ever called out to one of his superiors in such a manner unless imminent danger was upon them. The ferocity with which the word had been called out made Riding step away from Teardrops a half pace. He waited for them to continue, making a gesture with his hoof for them to go on. "No, uh, I mean, I want to start training tonight." Teardrops said. "I advice you to not speak that way to other more senior members of the Night Guard, I think you will find a great many are not as forgiving at being told no. Many are used to getting their way, and when they do not, they are used to finding other means to get their way, both legal and illegal depending upon the bat pony." Riding advised. Teardrops looked around and then leaned forward a bit, mouthing the legal and illegal part of the statement back to Riding. Riding gave a nod. "Why?" Teardrops' ears flattened again. Riding shook his head, attempting to communicate that he did not intend to be answering that question at this time. Teardrops gulped, and then gave their wings a flap. "I do want to begin training tonight though. Flying training!" "Flying." Riding stared at Teardrops with simple eyes, not even prepared to give himself a thought at being confronted with that word so fast. "Yes!" Teardrops said, with as much vigor as they had no, although with a very different tone. Riding took another half pace back, his eyes getting a bit wider as he took his sunglasses off. Teardrops did the same, dropping their sunglasses in the grass, little stars in their eyes and shooting a look that gave Riding Rain pause. "I want to teach all of you together at once, you are the only one here right now, so-" Teardrops did not wait for Riding to finish, saying, "So teach me now! I can help you teach anypony else! I want to learn how to fly!" Riding Rain chuckled again, at a better moment this time. "I know how it feels to be so eager, you know?" Teardrops put their head at a tilt, and Riding leaned back, counting the cabins. "That one." Riding put his sunglasses back on and trotted over to one of the cabins, stopping short of the door as Teardrops went past him. Riding gestured to the ground, holding his hoof out at a large, pony shaped indent in the ground, stopping himself from speaking as he stared over at the door to the cabin, which now stood ajar, an uneasy looking Teardrops looking back at him. "How did you know which one is my cabin? I thought you said you weren't a mind reader?" Teardrops queried. "I am not a mind reader." Riding Rain said. "Oh," Teardrops said, looking down, then looking back up with suspicion. "You did not have any notes about anything in your cabin. What are you then, lucky? A prophet?" Teardrops continued with questioning, causing Riding Rain to be silent until they ran out of breath for the moment, not answering any of the questions. After a flurry of questions, Riding Rain patted the ground with the pony shaped indent. "This used to be my cabin, when I joined the Night Guard. I have many memories in this place. It would seem, this place also holds memories of me." Riding gestured down to the indent as Teardrops inspected the ground. "I decided to teach myself to fly after the first night I was here, and this is where I crashed, each and every time. I was so excited to have wings, I had to learn what it was like to be airborn. I learned the airborn part, I failed the flying test, though. Teardrops jerked their head back a bit, looking Riding over with an almost curious expression. "You- did not know how to fly either?" Riding Rain looked away. I hate bringing this up. "Some ponies, like you and a friend of mine, Nightshade we call her, join in pursuit of something with reasons entirely their own. Some ponies have higher goals, like myself. But there are also ponies that join in order to forget the life they had." Riding said, looking back at the indent. "I never learned to fly, so I thought to myself it could not possibly be that hard. I never thought unicorns or earth ponies would be so interested in flying, although I did meet an earth pony who was like that, once." "I mean, it is not their fault they cannot fly." Teardrops added to the thought, "They just, don't understand what it's like to not be able to fly." Riding Rain was glad his sunglasses were on and hoped the glare he had was not translating to Teardrops, because anypony Riding had ever met would move away from that look. "You do not know what you have until it is taken away from you." Riding breathed. "Silverfieldians know this all too well." "Silverfieldians?" Teardrops asked. "Silverfield, it is a small country to the south of Equestria. Hope you never have to see it. They do not have any pegasi that fly in Silverfield." Riding's grim expression invited a few shadows to trace along his hooves, and he kicked at the ground, warning them to stay back. "No pegasi fly in Silverfield?!" Teardrops betrayed a small moment of something there, but Riding was not sure yet what it was. "That does not mean that there are no pegasi born in Silverfield." Riding Rain forced a cough. "Can we go there-" "No." Riding said. Teardrops looked down at the ground at this sudden rebuttal. They were silent for a moment, both of them saying nothing to each other. After a short time, Teardrops broke the silence; "...You, you are from there, aren't you?" "That is correct." Riding Rain did not look at teardrops, staring out at the end of the enclave, which overlooked smaller mountains. "-And you know what it's like to not be able to fly, even when you should be able to." Teardrops continued. "This is true." Riding Rain looked down, kicking the ground. "Do you smoke?" Teardrops queried. "Excuse me?" Riding stopped, looking back at Teardrops. "Sorry- sorry, different pony." Teardrops' turn to kick the ground came up, however, when they looked up the happiness on their face was shining. Riding Rain lowered his sunglasses, taking a look at the unusual bat pony before him. Whatever had been in their eyes before was gone now, and there was a brightness that seemed to almost sting Riding Rain, except he felt no pain. "You can fly now, as a bat pony!?" Teardrops leaned forward, inching closer. Riding reasoned to himself without words that they were something akin to a kitten that was about to capture a toy mouse. "...Yes." Riding did not move an inch, glancing around himself and automatically checking for any unseen weapons that might have been planted around him. His mind was already thinking of potential assassination techniques that could be used on him, or what this pony might be planning. Teardrops was getting even closer now, almost within lunging distance. But they did not seem to have any weapons except- Except those fangs. Riding flicked his head down to where he had been bitten before by an enemy on his right forehoof, wondering if his left forehoof was not to suffer the same fate. "You were a pegasi that could not fly." Teardrops said to Riding. Riding nodded, making himself ready. There was a rushing of wind and he raised his hoof instinctively to guard his neck from a bite, ready to pull his kukri out. Except, no weapons produced themselves from either side, Riding felt the wind knocked out of him for a moment as he was instead grabbed by the pony. It was not a grab lacking in firmness, however, it was also gentle, a foreign emotion that Riding had left behind a long time ago. Riding took his sunglasses off, tossing them away. Below him the pony, only somewhat smaller than he, had locked him into an embrace. it was not quite like that as one might grab a lover, but there was obvious care and closeness. Riding had always hated being touched, but there was no drawback this time, no panic about the hug. He truly could not grasp what exactly had just happened, and his hoof was still raised in an awkward position, as if he had invited the hug. Riding said nothing, taking in a deep breath of night air. Teardrops did not speak either. Riding broke the silence, because he felt something wet on his clothing. "Are you- crying?" Riding asked, looking down at Teardrops. Teardrops nodded. Riding Rain found himself at a loss for words, simply gazing down at the situation. Teardrops was not letting go, though, so he decided to try a different question. "Why are you sad?" Riding asked. "I am not sad." Teardrops mumbled into the blue trench coat. "I'm happy." "Happy?" Riding Rain asked, dumbfounded. "You know what it's like to not fly. I never met another pony like me that could not fly." Teardrops murmured. "Like you..." Riding stumbled a tiny bit, causing Teardrops to break away and wipe away their tears as he grabbed at his back and felt his bat pony wings, a flash of a memory of pain echoing inside of his mind. "I mean, I always sort of knew, you know?" Teardrops said. "Why I did not have any family, why I could not fly, I knew that there had to be other ponies like me." Riding gulped, a shadow of agony dwelling over his chest as he looked over at Teardrops. "I am sorry that happened to you. I know that losing your wings can be difficult-" "It's alright!" Teardrops responded, drying the rest of their tears. "You and me, we both have these!" Riding watched as Teardrops flapped their wings, lifting just a little off the ground. Riding hesitated, then offered a deeper question. "Do you recall if it hurt?" Riding asked. "It always hurts when ponies make fun of you for not being able to fly and laugh about your wings." Teardrops replied, tilting their head as they glanced over, stopping their happy flapping. "Uh, Mister Rìdìng Raìn? Are you alright? You look sad." Riding said nothing. "...You do not have any family either." Teardrops did not ask, but rather, stated this sentence. Riding looked straight ahead. "And nopony calls you Rìdìng Raìn, because they cannot pronounce your name." Teardrops continued. "I remember having wings, until they took them away. In Silverfield." Riding Rain said, looking away and finding his sunglasses, about to put them back on. "I know who you are." Teardrops' voice came from behind him. Riding Rain turned his head, stopping for a moment. "I told you my name, so I hope so." Riding offered. "You are the legendary assassin Reddling Rain. That is what they call you, Reddling." Teardrops declared. "The bat pony from Silverfield. Uh, the bat pony in the armor talked about you." "Did he." Riding stated, folding up the sunglasses. "Good things I hope." "You... did not think to say that up front?" Teardrops asked. "Why?" Riding Rain did not answer. "...You only use that name when you are... on a mission." Riding Rain again, did not answer. Correct. Teardrops approached, sitting down in the grass beside Riding Rain. He did the same, kicking his coat to the side. "I heard you have killed. That- that Reddling, killed, a lot of ponies." Teardrops said. "I am Riding Rain, cannot say if I have ever met him." Riding said. "What did the pony in the armor say?" "You- uh, Reddling Rain, he is mythical." Teardrops remarked. "I heard that he once defeated nine other ponies with a single hoof, just one strike, all at once." "Not all stories translate fully." Riding Rain remarked. "I heard you pacified Discord himself once." Teardrops continued. "Not sure about that one, did not ask." Riding Rain replied. "You brought down all three changeling queens trying to destroy Equestria. The day guards just speak about you by name, nopony claims to remember what you look like or if they even saw you. I heard some say they are pretty sure you are red though, like dried blood, from all the ponies you killed." "I wouldn't repeat that one." Riding looked down at his hooves, which indeed, his pony coat was the colour of dried blood and purple, creating a shade that shifted depending upon the lighting. He could appear many different colours depending upon when you looked at him and the time of day or night. "I heard that you managed to write your own universe into creation, alone." "-Who told you that one?" Riding stopped Teardrops, holding a hoof up. "I read it in a book about you." Teardrops looked taken aback, and Riding put his hoof down, saying nothing. After a brief pause, Teardrops continued, "And- the thing with wings-" "You speak like an Equestrian. In Silverfield, pegasus ponies are dewinged at birth. I lived long enough to remember mine being shorn off my back." Riding had to forcibly vomit the words out, not looking at Teardrops. he heard the air move around the other bat pony as they nodded. "I do not know where I was born, I was an orphan. Like you. What happened?" "I am specifically silent about that part of the story." Riding said. "So it is you then." Teardrops asked. "I heard you have traveled dimensions for your work before. They have some other names for you too, you change it depending on where you go, names like-" "I would rather not talk about that, Teardrops." Riding spoke over them, and they both fell silent. "You are a lot younger than I expected." It was Teardrops turn to break the silence. "I do have a question though, about, you." "And here I was hoping to be answering any other kind of question in Equestria tonight." Riding murmured. "So you never told anypony who you really were?" Teardrops asked. "They tend forget about me not long after even when I have. I think it makes them uncomfortable, they do not like having talks like that, and I normally do not like talking." Riding answered. "This is sort of a two part question," Teardrops interjected at the end, "Why? I mean, not why do they forget about you, but why are you, you know." in response, Riding shrugged his pony shoulders and did not raise his hooves. "They say you are a monster, but you look a lot like me. Do you have any little ponies? Are you married?" "That is an awful lot more than just one question." Riding remarked. "Sorry..." Teardrops trailed off. "I have more than one question. Where were you, all these years?" There was not an immediate reply from Riding as he looked down at his hooves, holding them together and then looking to the south and downwards. The two of them sat there, the night air blowing gentle and sweet around them. Total silence reigned in the middle of the night. "The others, they're real too, then? Midnight Tales, Tree Tops, Nightshade, Bruiser, Web Weaver?" Teardrops asked finally, their voice a little hoarse from not speaking in so long. "...Who gave you this book?" Riding Rain stood up, looking down at Teardrops as they stood up, too. "She did." Teardrops pointed past Riding Rain and he did not move an inch. "I do not know her name though, she did not tell me. I did not ask either." "Close." Riding Rain said, still pointedly not turning around as he straightened up a bit and felt a pony walk so close to him that white mane tickled his coat. "Éther." The suited pony said, adjusting the ribbon tie they wore as they stood adjacent to Riding and Teardrops. Reddling jerked his hoof, barely withholding his facehoof. It is a long E? Are you serious, she signed her name correctly in all those letters I just did not know how to say the name? Are you serious with me right now Éther? "Riding has been calling me Teardrops. That's not as cool as Rìdìng Raìn or Éther, though." Teardrops remarked. "Name changes were discussed earlier." Éther said, looking over to Riding, and motioning for him to follow as they walked a good deal away, leaving Teardrops back at the yard as they went past the bleachers. "This one is here on special orders." Upon hearing this, Riding Rain did facehoof, unable to take the cold situation that he had been served. "I know you know what I am thinking. However, are you serious? This is happening?" "This is happening." Éther's stare was direct, not leaving room for complaint or to negotiate. "Alright, who is their target?" Riding immediately went into thinking mode, turning around with Éther as she put a hoof on his shoulder for a moment, and then took it away. They trotted back towards the yard, stopping in front of Teardrops. "I left you a letter in your cabin. Use your discretion." Éther had scant finished her sentence before Riding saw her seem to simply cease to be present next to the two of them. Teardrops looked at where Éther had been, then looked back to Riding Rain. "Want to go find out what the letter says?" Riding asked. Teardrops nodded, then followed up with, "And then, flying?" Riding chuckled and turned, leading the way to his cabin as Teardrops caught up. "I'll teach you the stretches and the basics, but actually learning to fly usually takes a full night, and you cannot be out during the day without being uncomfortable. I know we can get you in the air tonight, so you can fly first thing next night." Teardrops did not need any more of an answer than this as they arrived hastily at the cabin, Riding stepping inside and seeing two glasses set out for the wine and distilled liquids. One of the glasses was wet and it was clear some of the wine had been used. Riding opened the letter and read it first, then offered it to Teardrops. "Riding Rain, As you know, there has been trouble with the dream realms as of late. We believe that we are close to finding the pony that is responsible for the intrusions to the dream realm. Please keep this in mind when acclimating the new cadets before they join the Night Guard. Web Weaver is not a suspect at this time. We have reason to believe the pony is close to at least some of the princesses, and may or may not know that they are doing this. At this time, we do not have any information on if they are a guard, a noble, an element, or friend of the elements, You are not authorized to execute this pony if they are discovered. Ensure your findings are reported in a prompt manner. Signed, Ether "All this time I worked for her, she just didn't answer me because I would not say her name the correct way. I cannot tell when it's signed that way. Infuriating." Riding commented on the letter as he watched Teardrops eyes scroll over the text and reach the bottom of the parchment. "She has really good writing. It's art." Teardrops replied. Riding crossed his hooves. "I should have brought a book to read." Riding sat up a bit, hesitating, "...You do not by any chance happen to have that book you mentioned, do you?" "Of course not! Éther said it was the only one." Teardrops replied, thinking with the letter in their hoof before placing the letter down. "I seem to recall it was a very plain looking book. Never seen one like it. You know when the sky gets all dark on a new moon, and there's no light at all? It's whatever that colour is, the colour that comes after it is absolutely dark- Although" Riding felt a bit more chilly now. "Flying?"
Introductions"I control my own Nightmares." Teardrops let out a loud squeak that rang through the wind as they were buffeted by the winds, almost cast out of the sky as Riding and Teardrops flew together. Riding glanced over and could see the panic in their eyes as the winds began to overwhelm both of them for very different reasons. Riding caught himself in the wind and used it to guide himself into Teardrops, tacking them mid fall and catching them as they fell into lower air currents, shrugging Teardrops into safer currents right below the treeline. Riding turned to look at Teardrops but they had already flown for the bottom of the treeline, slamming into the ground at a trot and almost losing their balance before trotting several paces. Riding landed next to them, panting and looking ahead at Teardrops. Teardrops trotted closer to a tree, leaning on it and huffing. Riding approached, not touching Teardrops but looking at them from their side. "That's... I'm sorry." Teardrops looked away, and Riding Rain averted his eyes so he did not have to see them cry. "That's dangerous!" "I..." Riding huffed, "I know. But if you can... fly up there, you can fly, anywhere." "I'm sorry, I..." Teardrops paused for a bit to breathe, sitting down and then laying flat on the ground to breathe. "Strong wind." Riding agreed, still panting himself. "it takes... a lot of pegasus ponies to tame the winds of Equestria, beyond the lower cloud layer." "Lower, cloud layer?" Teardrops asked. Riding brushed off his hoof, and offered a hoof up to Teardrops, pulling them up and onto their hooves again and beckoning with his head for them to follow him towards the lower practice field. Trotting through the overgrown field, they reached the edge of the Enclave, which oversaw Canterlot, and the Equestria beyond. A layer of clouds floated below them, with another above them. "Down there, you can fly anywhere. Up here though, you have to learn how to actually fly. Past that, it's weaker. and in untamed places..." Riding trailed off. "I will- I am going to try again!" Teardrops said, brushing the back of their hoof across their face and stretching their wings out, but Riding Rain stopped them. "No. Not today. You look tired. There might be another way." Riding suggested, mouthing "For us to speak in private." Teardrops tilted their head, looking up at the sky as their wings gave another beat and then folded up, nodding. "What about the others?" Teardrops asked. "They'll be alright. I remember learning to fly, they won't get above the treeline for a few days. You though, you're a natural. Like Tree Tops." "Who are they?" Teardrops asked. Riding stopped, looking at the ground, then walked forwards more, continuing his trot. "Who were you before you were a bat pony?" Riding asked, not answering the question. "Nopony." Teardrops said, trotting with haste to keep up. "So was Tree Tops. An Earth Pony who was given a wing as a cutie mark, but never able to fly." Riding said. Teardrops gave a gasp, but did not comment for some time as they trotted further into the forest. "Teardrops." Riding simply put it, saying only their name, but in a grave accent. "Yes, Mister Riding Rain?" Teardrops said. "Just call me Riding." Riding Rain replied. "Riding, yes?" Teardrops tried again. "When we get where I am taking you, I need you to know something. I will not be responsible for what happens once you go in. I can not truly help you. You will be on your own, but if you can pass this test, we may speak. However, the test is twofold." Riding felt the shadows lick at his coat, and closed his eyes and trotted forward, letting them overwhelm his coat. "I do not understand what you mean." Teardrops replied. "Have you heard of Nightmare Moon?" Riding asked. Teardrops nodded, trotting faster to keep up. "I think everypony has once or twice. That was Luna, long ago, right?" Riding paused, before continuing, "In a way, she still is. And every bat pony is afflicted with the same Nightmare. A realm of dreams and shadows and... darker things. Nightmares." Riding saw Teardrops shiver next to him as the shadows grew, the very sky itself seeming to become darker and darker, the trees more and more transparent. Riding closed his eyes, falling into the shadows as he saw Teardrops disappear next to him. The shadows seemed to fall over them, hastening their hooves, inviting them in. It begins again. Riding looked down at the landscape before him, carved from red, bone, and shadow. A small orange bat pony trotted along, looking side to side as the forest gave up it's moniker and illusions, revealing a world painted with red. Riding watched under him as Teardrops screamed in fear, wrapping her tail and wings around herself and apparently sobbing, completely trapped and alone. Riding reached out a hoof, however, another hoof he could not see stopped him. "This is Teardrops test, not yours." A regal voice of the night said, and then was gone as soon as it had spoken. Riding held his hoof back, feeling sick with himself as he looked down on the darkness and horror before him. "Stop it." Riding looked down at the trees of bone and the flaking leaves of red as Teardrops walked forward, screaming around every corner at the bodies of ponies flayed and put on display. So many times Teardrops could barely continue, urging themselves to look down while the darkness drew closer, slowing closing the world off. Riding watched helplessly from the dream realm as he saw Teardrops reach Ponyville, trotting with tears in eyes past a white and yellow pony who had been tied onto wood, holding them still and forced to watch. A rainbow coloured monster turned back to look at Teardrops, saying only one word, "Failure." Riding tried to touch the nightmare but felt his hoof pushed back, as if some invisible force kept him at bay. a dark laugh, from a time forgotten, and a regal sigh, both on either side of him, held him still. This is Teardrops test, not yours. "I will help! I cannot just simply watch!" Riding said, looking up and seeing a mirror in front of him. A bat pony in jaded armor grinned back at him, tentacles petting his coat and extending out. Helpless. Riding looked away and ripped his mind towards Teardrops below, who was now cornered by many rainbow monsters, all encroaching. They chanted songs of weakness, holding them down, holding Teardrops along, ready to display her like every other pony that had suffered. Riding Rain felt glass break as he pushed both hooves forward, and all time and dreams seemed to stop. Within Riding's mind, he could still see Teardrops far off, facing what seemed to be an inescapable fate. Tendrils escaped forth from the rainbow monsters, reaching, grabbing, and Riding turned to face his own situation that was right in front of him. He had seen this many times before, but he had never had to witness another pony's nightmare. In front of Riding Rain was the bat pony from before, and their visage was not pretty. Their sides were stained with blood, but new wings unfurled from their back, also soaked in blood that was fresh and crimson, not dulled. Every vibrant colour of Riding's coat was restored, and while he could not make out the eyes of the creature, it smiled back at him. A triumphant, long coat streaked under the blood, with jaded armor having long dark tentacles rubbing along every inch it could reach with what was nigh an embrace. No, that- Riding Rain breathed deep, looking back at the being. "Why are you doing this?" Riding asked the Nightmare, which did not respond. Riding heard Teardrops crying something but it was far away. The Nightmare continued to smile, and Riding listened for his internal monologue, trying to strike up conversation with himself. However, the words did not come out the way he desired them to. "No, that's-" The Nightmare seemed to be talking over him, looking past Riding. Riding turned around in spite of himself and the obvious sound of alarm bells screaming inside his head to look behind him. "No, no, no." The Nightmare said, as Riding struck at the ground, watching as the tentacles wrapped themselves around him, never controlling him, only rubbing along his side and around him. Riding Rain looked down a short hill at the scene before him, his internal monologue said aloud rather than in his head. Gone now are the attachments that one once had. Lost, and alone. Riding looked down at Teardrops, seeing the rainbows, monsters though they were, recede from the world, as the other ponies faded away, leaving only red, bone, and shadow. Teardrops was several paces away from Riding, and this time he was forced to see tears. Teardrops looked absolutely petrified, shaking in place and backing away while never taking their eyes from Riding. Teardrops, it is I. Riding said, trotting forward a few paces. Teardrops fell over, looking upwards horrified. The sound of the regal voice from before, now clearer than ever, rang inside Riding's mind. He recognized this voice, although, it was happier times when Luna had spoken to him in such a gentle tone. Teardrops bit their lip, which drew blood, slashing the world with colour. Riding felt himself move forward in spite of himself, crunching noises under his hooves as he trod closer. "Why did you do this?" Teardrops finally yelled, pushing aside their tears and standing up. Teardrops took a stance, alone, looking up with fury mixed with tears. Ehehehe. Do what? The Nightmare said, the tendrils reaching out and righting Teardrops. Teardrops, for their part, fought, bit, and hit at the tendrils, however, they forced them to stand and then moved Teardrops forward, moving them to the top of the hill with Riding as he turned with a flourish of his coat. There was a sound as if every thunder had rung out at once without lightning, and the world suddenly went entirely dark. Teardrops screaming was not even audible over the sound of thunder Teardrops was averting their eyes as the world reformed, however, Riding commanded them, the tentacles forcing Teardrops eyes to stare downwards. There was a hole in the middle of an island, which could have been a black pool, but today, was instead full of red, bone, darkness. A picture of destruction. Look. The Nightmare left no room for debate within it's realm. Teardrops' tears stained the map below, spilling like rain and mixing with the map of Equestria that all were forced to watch. From Manehatten and Canterlot to Vanhoover bay and Las Pegasus, every inch of Equestria stood lifeless. Cold, freezing winds had consumed most of the rest of the world, reducing much of it to ashes from the sheer biting of the polar midnight, eternal night casting all into the shadows and leaving it without colour. Something like a great hole rose out of the ground near some silver grass, and only a very small area remained stable, protected but almost illusionary, just south of Equestria. "This!" Teardrops screamed, gesturing at the map as the nightmare tendrils receded, wrapping back around Riding and rubbing along him with excitement and fervor. Teardrops rounded now on Riding, and then banged a hoof on the ground. "Everypony! Everywhere! It was you!" Teardrops was screaming, but the sound was drowned out as thunder without the light of lightning sounded around them, casting the entire world around them into gloom. There was only an island of darkness in black and white colours, constructs moving too and fro and never truly staying in one place around them. "Where are we!" Teardrops demanded, rounding on Riding. The Nightmare only laughed in response, inaudible over the sound of thunder. Would you like to write that down? The Nightmare said, the words appearing as text in an aerial box and floating along, completely transparent, yet visible. it turned with a flourish of the coat, Riding gesturing with a hoof at the world around himself and Teardrops. Riding held his hoof still, and then there was a beat of a heart before he and Teardrops stood within a small room, overlooking an array of shadowy buildings. the Equestrian map vanished, leaving only Riding and Teardrops breathing and alone, overlooking shadow. "You are where I was able to save." Riding and the Nightmare said in unison, feeling his voice crawl like pleasing spiders massaging him as he looked out a window, motioning for Teardrops to go forth and look. Teardrops did not move, and kept their gaze focused on Riding. "You're a-" Teardrops tried twice to say what they wanted to say, but found their voice muffled. "Not here." Nightmare Riding paused, looking down and petting his own coat, seeing black mane hover just in front of his eyes. "Eventually, this place is the fate that awaits all who touch The Nightmare." Riding was aware that he was using knowledge that he did not know how he could recall now, and did not care, either. Teardrops remained angrily focused on him, not phased now by the visage before them. "You are not Riding Rain. Those ponies from before- they weren't my friends or Rainbow Dash! I'm telling you, it's not true!" Teardrops cried. "The truth is awful to accept." Nightmare Riding spoke, trotting to the window with his back turned to Teardrops. After a few moments, Teardrops approached, looking out at the blackness beyond the small island. Within this place, the one you know as Reddling Rain of Silverfield, made a different decision than other bat ponies. Nightmare Riding said. "What would you know!?" Teardrops hissed. "You're just trying to look like him! You don't know the Riding Rain I know!" Nightmare Riding waved his hoof, and Teardrops gasped, as if their breathe was stricken, and a few moments later, coughed. the violence was short and quick, and then, Teardrops recovered with heavy breathing. "Look." Nightmare Riding said. Teardrops looked out at the darkness, looking deeper and longer into the great shadows swirling around. Rain, wind, and shadow whipped around, the roar of thunder deafening to all outside the room, and still almost unbearable within the room from all the noise. "I see nothing." Teardrops said, turning back to face the Nightmare. "What you do not see is the darkness in which the those things called eldritch, horrible, and evil exist within. There was, once, a great rift there, however, I am unsure how to operate it now. This became unimportant however, as within those realms, I found more libraries. From these, I found my way back to where I desired to be." "Which is killing everypony in Equestria." Teardrops snarked, having a violent coughing fit. Riding hissed as something stung him in the side, and he felt himself almost stumble. "A lie." Nightmare Riding spoke, adding fast, "Not everypony." "Yeah, yourself, right?" Teardrops asked, narrowing their eyes. Riding said nothing. "You still have not told me why." Teardrops continued. Riding felt the tension in the room rising, and he reached into his coat, pulling out his kukri and placing it on the window. A series of cracks ran through the blade, which seemed to be shifting into any possible shape it desired, but always holding the visage of a kukri. "Have you considered, of course you have, that I enjoy shadows, and red, and ivory bone colours?" "Like hell you do." Teardrops remarked, moving around and then approaching Riding at anotehr window, where he gestured down at the map from before, which had reappeared. Bound within the middle of the red, shadow, and bone, was another Equestria, completely unharmed, and completely untouched. Every single pony was in their place, each foal, each pony, every Night Guard. All arranged in perfect harmony. "You tell only lies." Teardrops coughed, leaning on the window, looking down at the Equestria, and coughing more before heaving out. "How- how is that possible to see? We are not there." "Nopony ever saw me, anyway." Nightmare Riding spoke, gesturing towards a small town in the center of Equestria where a library and a castle were shifting around. There were ponies playing, all them enjoying their land. Nightmare Riding continued, "While we are here you will address me in the proper fashion, however, only you will retain memories of this place when we depart. It will have felt like a dream to us both, yet I assure you, this is very real." "So, everypony is alright? This is just scare tactics? What's the point, what kind of dream is this supposed to be?" Teardrops demanded. "Shorten that to one question at a time, Little Teardrops." Nightmare Riding spoke. Teardrops looked down at the map. "So everypony is alright?" "They are very much all dead and gone, except for those that were spared the horrors bound." Nightmare Riding turned, looking over at Teardrops and their purple mane. "And, they're alright?" Teardrops questioned, flicking their tail. "Even the ponies who never met me. Although, they will not remember you, even if they should. Your friends do not remember your name, or your face, or your mark." Nightmare Riding gestured next to a farmhouse with a large apple orchard, and also at Silverfield, where deep within a mountain, there seemed to be something small and smeared with blood chained away. "That's... No. No, no no." Teardrops backed up. "That is impossible!" "Nothing is impossible. I learned well," Nightmare Riding spoke over Teardrops coughing, "Within that mountain awaits a final fate, and within that small community, a pony lives a life. However, you are not her." Teardrops approached again, looking down and still coughing a bit. "What they said is true, then- what are you doing." Teardrops cut themselves off mid speech. Riding had produced a small, black book from inside of his coat and opened it. The book appeared to only have a single page, and Riding folded the book back up after a glance. "You'll learn about that, one day. The Nightmare is persistent. You will learn this." Nightmare Riding slowed, turning around and looking back at the darkness, and trotting over to where his kukri had been. "So everypony is alright. And you, you are in the Night Guard. This place..." Nightmare Riding trailed off. "It is where you pacified discord, lower case." Teardrops said, "You didn't defeat them?" "Yes." Riding spoke softly, "One day, you will learn to accept that some battles cannot be won, but that does not mean that there is not victory." Teardrops paused, shuffling a bit. "Are you really Riding Rain? Reddling Rain? The Nightmare? Who are you right now?" Riding said nothing, so Teardrops continued, "I want to know how all of this is possible." Riding closed his eyes and wrapped his bat wings around himself, closing his eyes in pain. "The Nightmare never comes for free." Riding said in a soft tone. "I don't care." Teardrops' resolve was resolute, expressed in vibrant tones of their voice that shimmered as light does. Riding closed his eyes again, nodding, "The first thing you have to accept is there is another pony that looks similar to you in that little town. Remain a bat pony, and you will find the answers you seek in the Nightmare." "I can ask you questions anytime here?" Teardrops asked. "That remains to be seen, but once you have gained the power, yes, you will be able to speak to me and do so for free, but only outside, not within this room." Teardrops nodded, glancing over their shoulder and then approaching as Riding Rain turned around. Teardrops was resting their hoof on Ausfall, sending a glint through Riding's eyes as he appraised the situation. "Who are you?" Teardrops' remark was simple, and without cadence to their voice. Riding brushed his mane back in response, and Teardrops continued, "I met Riding Rain in the Night Guard before I was... here. This place. He has a purple mane." "He has a black mane." Nightmare Riding replied, grabbing at his chest as he felt pain and speaking soft again, "It was painted so he could fulfill his role." "Alright. So who are you?" Teardrops' voice was again simple and without cadence. "I am..." Riding found his strength again, pulling himself up. one of the windows cracked, letting in the noise from outside and causing Teardrops to flatten their ears. the glass flung itself at Teardrops, inches from their face. Riding Rain opened his left eye in the forest. All was quiet, and the moon was passing into day. He had been asleep for many hours. Riding looked down and saw Teardrops resting against the bottom of his chest, resting peacefully and unafraid. Riding shoved Teardrops onto his back and made for the camp, finding all the other cadets absent from the field. Without any ceremony, he shoved Teardrops into bed, making sure to tuck them in before heading for the door and shutting it with a sharp click. What the hell was that. What did they really see? What did I see? Nightmare... and, Luna. Riding thought to himself, heading for his cabin. He did not rest when he laid down, he even kept his armor and weapons on, petting Ausfall and keeping it locked in it's sheathe. I remember glass breaking. I demanded to know why the Nightmare was... Riding shook his head, seeing his purple mane drop in front of his face as he sat up and paced about in his room. Light was leaking through the bottom of the door, dangerous and threatening. Riding, meanwhile, sat down with his bottle, taking a long swig. II doubt I will be getting any sleep tonight. May as well enjoy myself. Riding swapped his trench coat out with one of his others- this one had a large hood, one that would cover his entire face. Riding adjusted himself until he was sure that not a single shred of light would dare defile his flesh. When all was adjusted and pleasing, Riding Rain stepped out into the dawn and headed for the bar. When Riding got there, he stepped into the bar and let himself into the back area with all the bottles, shutting the door and inspecting the weapons that he had stored there. They were exactly what he thought they would be, and Riding held out one of the smaller ones, strapping it to his hoof. There was some odd manner of sensor that he could run under his coat and put into his mouth, which is exactly what he did. Riding checked the side of the weapon for it's command word, and then grabbed one of the packs at the bottom of the box. Turning the dial all the way down and then adjusting the pack, Riding slid it in and saw a brief flash of magical light, and then darkness. Riding picked up a second pack, smaller pack, which seemed to contain seven slotted areas with a scant few particles of dust in them. Riding slid this into the darkness area, and saw a non-offensive light glow in a faint fashion, showing the weapon to be ready for use. "I hate these." Riding thought to himself, a darker tone in his head making everything hurt for a moment as he grabbed at his chest, not quite in pain, and stumbling a bit. Riding quickly quieted himself as he heard noise on the other side of the door, the sound of many ponies trotting around and speaking. Riding Rain waited, closing the box quietly and looking around at the bottles, before picking out one that was pleasing to him. He tucked the bottle under his wing and waited. Once Riding heard six sets of hoofsteps and had heard the door almost close but left open a crack, he opened the door to where he was located. "Close the door." Riding coughed, the Nightmare leaking into his voice as he calmed himself. There was a screaming squeak as one of the bat ponies hurried to shut the door tight, all of the cadets except Teardrops locking their eyes on Riding. Some of them were fearful, some of them were obviously nothing short of terrified. Riding put the bottle on the counter, looking around the room. All the cadets were standing, and Riding gestured with his wing to the countertop, taking down his hood and removing his sunglasses. The cadets averted their eyes as he sighed, putting the sunglasses back on and gesturing to the counter. "Are you here to stand or are you here to drink? And I'll take the note," Riding paused for a moment, then added, "Please, Starshadows." Starshadows hurried over and dropped the note with a bit of a crumple onto the counter and lunged back, hurrying to sit as far away from Riding as he could at the bar as the other cadets all took a stool near the counter. Riding picked up the note and looked it over. The note was written in glowing ink and black paper with blue trim, advertising only three bright blue letters emblazoned at the top. "Really, invisible ink." Riding asked. Starshadows looked directly at the counter, saying absolutely nothing. "You know that these are contraband in all of Equestria, right?" Riding pressed Starshadows, who again, kept absolute silence. Riding folded the letter up and put it away, uncorking the bottle he had chosen and using the shadows to lift seven glasses up to the table. He picked up the bottle in his mouth and poured some out for each of the cadets, and then for himself, setting the empty bottle back down. "Pass them down." Riding said, pausing and watching as the cadets distributed the glasses to one another. Riding then took his sunglasses off again, folding them up and putting them into his coat and continuing, "When we are not practicing or training, or you are not within Canterlot, I want for you to all address me as if I was a normal member of the Night Guard. If you must use honorifics, do not do that." The cadets all nodded in a militant fashion, although, they seemed to ease up a bit at this. Riding pulled a stool up and sat at the counter with them, rolling his glass in his hoof. The others waited on their drinks, and Riding raised his and drank first, downing it all in a long gulp. Still, however, the others did not drink. Riding looked at them, suspicion and curiosity simultaneous in expression on his heart. "We are uh, waiting on Teardrops." Moonbeam idled, tapping their glass. "Teardrops has already gone to rest. We will all continue practice tomorrow together. "Oh." Moonbeam seemed a little disheartened, but all the cadets raised their glasses and took drinks. It was the darker green bat that spoke next, pushing his blue mane back, "I was kind of hoping they would join. They are always so... cold when we try to talk to them. You're the only pony I see them be cordial with." When they were done speaking, Riding looked over at the pony, meeting their eyes and seeing them avert their gaze just a little. "You are Nightwing." Riding said, then looked over at Moonbeam, saying "And Moonbeam." There was dead silence from the cadets, so Riding continued, "It would be pleasing, for the rest of you to introduce yourselves, please." Again, there was dead silence, so Riding passed off a chuckle as a cough, speaking up more. "Do not all speak at once now." "Ah!" A light blue bat stood up, his red and blue hues blowing over his eyes as he spoke up, "Sir! I am Secret Sound, Sir!" "Never call me sir again." Riding mumbled. "Yes!" Secret Sound said, sitting down. "I am Night Guard Riding Rain, of Silverfield." Riding introduced himself back, then turned to the next pony in line. "Rust Shade." Rust shade spoke next, and in the darkness, Riding identified them to be more of a rust colour than a brown, which made his bat pony ears perk up a bit at the name. Otherwise, neither of them said a word to one another. Riding turned to the final pony who's name he did not know. "Mint. You know, like-" Mint stopped, looking down. "Bits, and such." Riding nodded, turning away and heading into the back room before returning with two more bottles, setting them down. As he did and began uncorking another bottle, Moonbeam gestured towards the wrist of his forehoof. "What is that?" Moonbeam asked. "It's called a weapon." Riding said, slowing his speech at the end as he uncorked a bottle, pouring himself another drink and setting the bottle down in front of the cadets. "Not to question you, but are we allowed to drink this?" Secret Sound asked. "You are if I serve it to you. You are also allowed to do so in the Night Guard. If you are old enough to perish for Equestria, then you are old enough for strong drink." Riding mumbled, before downing his glass. "Do not worry, you will not get intoxicated. You may get drunk, but not intoxicated." "R-Right." Secret Sound said. "Is that a bat pony power?" Nightwing's wings flapped a bit, and Riding could see that he was trying to keep them contained so he did not buffet the two cadets next to him. Riding shrugged, "Depending on how you look at it. Our metabolism works different, similar to those masked ponies." "The 'Luminous Ones' you mean?" Secret Sound chimed in. Riding nodded to him. "Do you trust them?" Nightwing asked. Riding waved a hoof, looking away and replying with rudeness, "Do you?" Nightwing shook his head. "Admittedly, no." "That's your answer." Riding Rain uncorked the second bottle and poured himself a third drink. After this they all sat for a moment of silence as the cadets poured themselves more drink, and then they talked amongst themselves a small amount. "So, what do you... do, in the Night Guard? Just guard the princesses right, but you- you don't do that?" Moonbeam interrupted the chatter, looking at Riding Rain as he swirled his glass. "More drink?" Riding offered, turning and heading for the back room as he fetched two more bottles. "No thank you." Moonbeam called after. Riding secured two more bottles, bringing them out and uncorking another bottle and pouring himself a double helping. He took the glass and glugged thrice before he sat it down, looking Moonbean direct in their eyes. Moonbeam had eyes like teal moonbows, echoing around the diamonds in her eyes. "I protect and save ponies." Riding said in a quiet tone. "The books say you killed a lot of ponies." Starshadows spoke for the first time from the end of the bar. Riding looked down at him, uncorking the second bottle and pouring another double helping before passing the two bottles among the other cadets, who were beginning to fall behind in drinking. "Yes," Riding said, "I suppose they do. But I am here to learn about all of you, and help you fit into the Night Guard, not talk about myself." "Well we aren't training right now." Starshadows said back, looking up. Riding caught their glare, and Starshadows was quick to look back down. "Remember your helmets before you go outside." Riding did not disguise the upset tone in his voice; downing his double helping and then throwing his hood up. He unfolded his sunglasses with a bat claw and positioning them on his muzzle before he stepped towards the rear door of the bar, opening the door and heading out into the day. Even under his cloak of night, this was a very unpleasant experience, and he made sure to hurry to his cabin and vanish into the darkness, laying down in bed and keeping his body covered in his coat. Again. Riding found himself in the clearing without light, shadows and ivory and silver whipping around him as he arced out of his dream and into the realm full of other dreams. He headed straight for the Nightmare he was aware of, pursuing Teardrops' dream. Riding found the landscape, but found something preventing him from entering. He could look in, and he saw a pony coated in every colour he could imagine. It had all been splattered across their coat and armor, and they were speaking with Teardrops. Their coat was blood, and their mane was black, shining with all colours of the rainbow, but only in the light. The Pony spoke with Riding's voice, but Riding knew they were not him. "Who are you?" Teardrops asked, their voice devoid of kindness. Riding tried to press into the dream, but found himself still kept out, unable to intervene. He tapped his hoof over and over, but found himself unable to enter the dream as the conversation continued. "I am..." The Nightmare Riding said, and Riding bashed both his hooves down on the dream, feeling it shatter in front of him. The next colours were red. Red, ivory, and blackness. Time slowed and Teardrops seemed to be moving in the slowest motion possible as Nightmare Riding turned around and stared at Riding, their visage turning into a snarl. Riding felt the glass slow and cut his dream body, embedding his body as he entered in the dream, the dream window becoming real glass that was daggers in front of him. There was a dripping sound as Riding stood before the Nightmare, glaring angrily as he unsheathed his blade, the real Ausfall. "Fool." The Nightmare said, turning into shadows that warped around the room. Riding found himself wrapped within them, and then saw black mane fall in front of him. The glass repelled itself and he felt whole again. Everything was vivid and real. Teardrops stood there, with almost no ability to move as Riding felt the dark tendrils clasp his limb and raise Ausfall to his mouth. Riding felt murder in his eyes as he looked down at Teardrops. Another bat pony who failed to accept the Nightmare. The Nightmare coated Riding's limb to steady the blade as it plunged towards Teardrops' throat. There was a sharp pull, and Riding felt the blade move, just a small amount, away. Willing his other forehoof forwards, Riding saw Ausfall shove straight into his own foreleg before the dream blacked out. When the dream cut back there was a Nightmare Riding behind Riding, and Teardrops was slumped against him, unconscious. Looking over his shoulder, Riding saw the Nightmare in all of it's glory for only a moment as it vanished, still clutching the real Ausfall in it's tendrils. Riding had but a moment to see the cracked, fake Ausfall fly to him, leaving him holding Teardrops and with a fake knife. "Riding Rain? Sir?" Secret Sound's voice cut through the door. Riding sat up, covered in cold sweat as he looked at the door. it was already dark outside, moonlight and stars twinkling enough light for bat ponies to see by under the doorframe. "A moment and I will be with you!" Riding called out, throwing off his coat onto the bed and donning the one without a hood, shoving his sunglasses on and trotting at haste to the door and opening it inwards. Secret Sound had already taken several paces back, looking rather sheepish at the situation. "Did you sleep in Sir?" Secret Sound asked. "Do not call me that. Let's go... Thank you." Riding took a moment to add the last part, setting a brisk pace towards the field, Secret Sound almost sprinting to catch up with the trot. The practice field already had every other cadet present, and Secret Sound went to stand by Teardrops, who still looked tired. Teardrops did not meet Riding's eyes today, staring straight down into the ground. Riding looked at the rest of the cadets, and raised a hoof, waving it. "Back to flying practice. After lunch, we will begin a different activity before we fly any higher. Make sure you are prepared." Riding finished the order, watching as the cadets all nodded and Teardrops moved to start gliding away. Riding, however, interjected fast, "Teardrops- meet me in the mess hall." Teardrops stopped, not making eye contact before they headed to the mess hall. Riding watched the other cadets all get to gliding practice before he huffed, and turned to head to confront Teardrops. Teardrops was in the mess hall, at the very end. Riding grabbed himself two small mangoes, tucking them into his wing as he headed to the end of the table and sat down. Teardrops shied away a small bit, still not meeting his eye. "I saw what you saw, Teardrops." Riding's tone was like a point, a point similar to the two he drove straight into the mango in front of him, taking several gulps. "I know. I saw you." Teardrops mumbled. "No, no you did not," Riding said. "You saw the Nightmare." This made Teardrops stop, and look up. There was curiosity now in their eyes, but still, hesitation. "The Nightmare? Riding?" "You see what you fear the most in The Nightmare. Why did you not stab when you had Ausfall? It would have slain the Nightmare." Riding asked, opening his coat and revealing Ausfall to be sheathed there, right next to his ribs and throwing knives. "I... But, that was you, and it was not you?" Teardrops asked. Riding looked away, pausing before he asked, "What is the last thing you remember occurring in the Nightmare you had?" "Glass shattering, and... a hug?" Teardrops questioned themself, and Riding waved a hoof. Teardrops repeated their statement, nodding at the truthfulness of it. "Take my hoof." Riding positioned his hoof towards Teardrops. Teardrops took a few moments, brushing their hoof on the table, as if wondering if they actually wanted to do this. Teardrops looked up, locking eyes with Riding, and then, finally, touched their hooves. An Ethereal world enveloped the two of them, making the mess hall appear less real, as if it was never truly there to begin with. Riding looked down at a scene with Teardrops, seeing himself covered in blood and then a duel breaking out. As the Nightmare grinned and began to vanish Riding moved very fast, drawing the fake Ausfall and pushing Teardrops to the ground. The Nightmare raised Ausfall and struck down, hard, against Riding, who raised the fake Ausfall and parried. There was a bright streak of light and Riding fell away, throwing himself onto Teardrops before the entire scene ended. The two of them seemed to zoom in, arriving back within the room, with the window repaired, great thunder still echoing outside. "I control my own Nightmares, thank you very much." Riding Rain spoke as the tendrils quieted themselves, fading into his clothing as darker than pitch colouring for his jacket and armor. He patted himself down and let his long, dark hair fall around him as he looked over at Teardrops, his hair reflecting both purple and black as all colour drained from his armor and leaked across the ground, oozing towards the center of the island. Teardrops brushed a hoof on the ground, flicking their tail side to side before saying, "So..." "One moment." Riding Rain said, moving his hoof over to a small clear glass pane that had some black mirror behind it and adjusting some dials. After a few moments, Riding looked back up at Teardrops, saying, "Some of what we talk about has to be held until later, just be aware that if you ever need to, you should be able to visit here and listen to any recordings- that is, you can re hear our conversations, like a memory, here." "How is that supposed to work?" Teardrops asked. Riding Rain nudged the cube. "Much like the dream realm, this realm also possesses wonders that Equestria does not know yet. Past, present, and future exist without causality here." Riding tried his best to explain, but Teardrops kind of just glanced up at him. Teardrops shuffled a bit, looking down still. "So this is where we can speak free any time? And you- you are still, you know. Riding Rain, not the Nightmare?" Riding reached forward, offering a hoof to Teardrops, which Teardrops accepted. For a brief moment, both of them could see themselves with eyes closed, and hooves clasped in the mess hall, before it faded back into the ethereal, leaving them present again still within the dark place. "Well, now that I have you here, I think you've got a lot of explaining to do." Teardrops said, waiting for Riding and when he said nothing, taking a pace forward at a trot. "Can I trust anything the Nightmare told me?" "I am not sure. However, the Nightmare cannot see the future in perfect order. Nopony can." Riding commented. Teardrops gave a nod, turning and looking out the window and tapping on the glass. Riding approached, looking down at the map that had been summoned forth in the middle of the pit. Teardrops spoke up, "Is that part true? Equestria, the... bad place around it, all of that?" "I do not know." Riding replied, "Just like dreams, this realm has drawbacks. You ever notice you can never fully remember a dream?" Teardrops nodded, rolling their eyes, "Yes, and it's very annoying! it feels like you are at the best part or you want to talk about it later, and you just forget it!" "Having important information about some topics or future events can put you into a position where you are going to lose memories of this in the other world. Using The Nightmare I could tell you and myself potentially anything, you're just using me as an encyclopedia. However, it's taking that information back with us that becomes the major issue." Riding and Teardrops looked at each other as he finished speaking. "So, you're basically a resource for me then. You can help within reason, you can teach me a lot?" Teardrops offered. Riding nodded, "But neither of us can resolve our conflicts in other spaces and times unless we are there." "Can other bat ponies do this?" Teardrops asked. Riding Rain narrowed his eyes at this. "No." Riding said. "Every bat pony, every pony, has limited access to such things in the dream realm. Within this realm, we can have information access across entire Equestrias, as that map shows- even places that no longer exist or have not existed yet." "So it's not such an unfair advantage, because we have no idea if the information we get is useful to us, or when." Teardrops reasoned, pointing specifically at a town Riding recognized as Ponyville. He had only been there once, but he could recall the quaint place. "It can help us prepare a little bit." Riding offered, "Most of all this is a private place to speak where we will not spied upon. The Nightmare digs deep, and using it is very dangerous. The other bat ponies will be exposed to the Nightmare. If possible, the Nightmare will overcome them. You can however, defeat the Nightmare, on your own terms." "Right..." Teardrops said, still looking down at the map, their tail swishing side to side in a nervous fashion, akin to a cat that was unsure if it wanted to accept food from a stranger. "Enough about that though. I want to know about, you know. The thing the Nightmare said about there being- in Ponyville." "The only way to answer that would be to go there and see for yourself." Riding Rain said. "Prepare your emotions." "Luna, she..." Teardrops looked down, "She said she needed help. She gave the offer to all of my friends, but I felt like she just... knew, I was right for the job." "Luna has a way of knowing such things, that is beyond me." Riding said, watching the map as little ponies moved and played from afar with Teardrops. "Even if I have to forget it, I can know something while I'm here if I have to forget it, right?" Teardrops asked. Riding paused, but then nodded. Teardrops took a deep breath. "You can tell me where I am from." Teardrops stated, pausing in silence with Riding before continuing, "You can tell me who my parents are, and what happened to them." Riding shuffled his hoof around, brushing the ledge of the glass. He could feel the thought at the edge of his mind, but for his own sake, he kept it at bay for now. Riding said absolutely nothing, simply looking out at the endless expanse beyond the small island. "Well? Will you look it up?" Teardrops asked. Riding, looked down, not responding at all. Riding shook his head. Teardrops stood up straighter, indignant. "Why not?!" "I do not need to." Riding said. Teardrops glared at him suspiciously for a moment, giving a groan and looking back out the window. After a few moments Teardrops gave a gasp. "Wait, you already know, then?" Teardrops asked, hope flaming to life in their voice. Riding Rain gave a nod. "Tonight, after practice, meet me in the bar. We can converse like this then." Riding Rain offered, "I know you would rather know now, but it's going to take a lot of showing you and I need to prepare myself for it. Please?" Teardrops hesitated for a moment, but then gave a nod of agreement. Riding offered his hoof towards Teardrops, who accepted it. Riding Rain looked back at Teardrops as he removed his hoof, picking up the second mango and beginning to suck the juice out of it as Teardrops stared at him. Riding reasoned it was good that he had a mango in his mouth, because he was not sure if he would be smiling, grinning, or smirking about the situation. He had never actually tried that before, and was quite excited that it had worked, even though he knew it would. "What are you?" Teardrops asked the correct question at last. "Just a Night Pony." Riding put the second shriveled mango down, putting his sunglasses back on and grabbing both in his wings to discard them as Teardrops rushed to catch up. Teardrops continued after Riding as he rounded the door and headed for the practice field, "Does Éther know?" Teardrops queried. "I sure hope not; that will make our time a little too interesting." Riding Rain commented.
