Priorlight

"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.