//------------------------------//
// Where One Walks in The Moonlight 
// Story: The Darkest Hour 
// by Anemptyshell 
//------------------------------//

Blueblood was hissing. He glared at me even as I squirmed under his interrogation. I could see Sabre in my periphery. He slowly made his way forward. He was comfortably in Blueblood's blindspot, but Sabre played it slow. His eyes flickered between mine and back to Blueblood. I felt the rough swollen feeling of my dried tongue. I attempted to smile but only amassed a terse grimace. Blueblood blew out his nose and leaned in closer. 

"Who, after everything I've done, who'd seek my aid? Why won't you just leave me alone? I won't go back. I can't. The stallion I was is gone, so quit tormenting me."

He wasn't talking to me, yes, but those words weren't for me. He shook and stomped and growled. Sabre had stopped, though still ready to jump the raging stallion should he need to. When Blueblood managed some level of composure, no matter how skin-deep it was. He returned to glaring at me.

"No one. I wasn't sent by anypony for you. It's okay, Blue. I promise."

I raised my hooves in surrender. Blueblood's puzzlement reached his muzzle as he scrunched up in thought. His look faded to one far away, lost in whatever machinations he had built, from turmoil and guilt. 

"Who sent you? Tell me, I need to know, I need to know who still hates me.

Blue's anger had seeped away. He'd fallen back on his haunches, and his glare had become a pleading stare. He desperately sought something, anything, to validate himself. In those eyes, I saw fear, a practiced fear. His mask had cracked, and he feared what was underneath. 

"I'm sorry, Blue, no one is after you. I don't hate you. You're safe here. I promise friends to have each other's backs. I have yours if you need it."

"Why? Why can't I just be left alone? It's what I deserve, Prince Blueblood, the worthless blood, the rejected son. I just want to be alone."

"I can't do that, Blue. I can't just leave you down here," I said. 

I rested a hoof on Blueblood's shoulder. He didn't say anything instead of resting his gaze on his hooves. He was still shaking. The adrenaline spike had taken its course. There we sat, a pair of misfits if there ever were any. A thestral noble who wanted nor needed a title. And an ex-noble who hated what his titles had become. We sat, Sabre had relaxed, and time ran its course. 

"A foal's tale."

I tilted my head. Blueblood's voice was barely a whisper. 

"What?" I asked. 

Blueblood slowly shook his head. An exhausted chuckle followed. 

"Your snow, those wastes. I recall a foal's tale about a city lost in the ice. A mad king and a heart of crystal. It might just be what you're searching for."

"A story, why would that help?" I asked.

"Because Nightmare Moon was a foal's tale too, sir."

I looked over to Sabre, who scowled back. I had a feeling Sabre wasn't much of a reader. When fiction and non-fiction are more suggestions than legitimate tags, I'd be upset too.

"Your guard is correct. Why should it be only one story that holds truth? A city lost in snow, and a crystal, might be what you're looking for."

Blue looked up at me. Then stood and motioned to the door. 

I nodded and started off. "Come on, Sabre, our friend, needs a nap."

"Sir."

So, that settled, Sabre and I took our leave. I was starting to take it personally that just about every conversation I have leaves me walking away feeling worse than the last. I hoped Blueblood would be okay. I had no doubt he'd keep his thoughts on my allegiances to himself. Though, learning the name of the rebel leader was an interesting tidbit. It seems whoever this Shining was, he and Blue were not on the best of terms. To be honest, it seemed every bridge he could burn, Blue did. My friend certainly has been reborn anew. I had a feeling that he was right when he lamented the death of who he'd been before Nightmare's rule.

"Hey, Sabre."

"Sir?"

"Who is Shining?"

I heard Sabre suppress a groan behind me. It seems this Shining was more than just some random righteous sort. As we made it back from the musty stole halls of the dungeons to the more sanitary halls of the palace at large. I am still waiting for Sabre's response. We passed a pony here and there, but all in all, whatever Solemn had gone to today It had consumed most of the staff and security. It was almost haunting now that the halls were so bare. The sound of hooves on marble and the echo from around each corner had the hair on the back of my neck stand on end. 

"Sir."

"Yup," I said over my shoulder. 

"He was the captain of the guard, sir."

I blinked and mumbled in surprise. The answer made sense. The fact he'd not been executed on day one spoke volumes. The fact he'd grown a faction large enough to have spies in Nightmare's ranks said to his wit and charisma. 

"Makes sense."  

"What now?" Sabre asked. 

An excellent question indeed. One thought that I'd rationed out back in Blueblood's abode. If he had half a night left, let's spend it somewhere fresh. We would be off to Ponyville, let the rabble throw their stones, and learn just how bad the citizens really had it. If I had to guess, bad. It could be worse than bad. Who knows, Nightmare could surprise me. Oh, the goosebumps of suspense were aplenty. 

"I thought a visit to the town nearby might be interesting. What say you, Sabre, up for a little Trieste and adventure?"

I looked back over my shoulder and bobbed my eyebrows in excitement. 

"This will end poorly. Sir."

My guard had come up alongside me and looked unenthused. Every party needs a pooper and all that. He was probably right, though. It'd be something new, at least. 

"It beats sitting here doing nothing."

Sabre rolled his eyes and lamented to himself. "If you say so, sir."

Thus, our adventure would begin.

The march out of the castle was almost too simple. The lack of all but the skeleton of the normally highly guarded front gate was uncomfortable. A moment in time when if a rebel force wanted in, they'd almost be welcomed. Nightmare's systems and priorities for defensive measures were genuinely lost on me. 

The guards that were at the castle entrance gave Sabre and me a cursory look but nothing more. I wasn't going to make a stink of it. A sound system would require documentation of who has come and who has gone. Why was it? I feel like I'd make a more impactful and successful tyrant than our oh so precocious queen? I don't think I'd deal well with the stress, so many lives, so many ponies to complain about everything. It was no wonder. Nightmare was utterly insane. The path from the castle itself was well-trodden and even had a nifty sign here and there pointing down the correct direction. 

The further we got from the castle, the more tense Sabre became. He seemed to almost shake in place whenever we paused. It was less than confidence-building. 

"You okay?" I asked as we came to the fourth notated sign on the forest path. 

"It's been some time since I've left the forest. The towns and cities across Equestria are less than happy with Nightmare's rule and laws. They might not be happy with a thestral parading about. It is unnerving." 

Sabre took a deep breath and looked back towards the castle. I couldn't say his worries were unfounded. It made sense, but with a bit of luck, I'd be able to turn that fear around. It was far easier to hate a group that avoided the citizens. It is far easier to make a connection as an individual. That and I was sick of the castle as a whole. I mean, talk about smothering. 

"It'll be fine. What are they gonna do, hang me from the gallows?"

Sabre didn't answer. I ignored the chill up my spine and continued forth towards Ponyville. The notes I'd seen about the town claimed it to be a pleasant place to visit. So, let's focus on the positives and less on guillotines.

The rest of the walk was a silent affair. The rustle of a bush here, the snap of a twig there. Yet the forest threw nothing to challenge our trek. So, when the final line of trees came to view, the dark, dreary Everfree was left to its own devices. 

No sooner had I crossed the threshold than I took a deep breath and held my head high. I had escaped the all-consuming presence of Her Royal Highness. 

"Ah, freedom," I said. I turned and grinned at Sabre, who seemed none the more relaxed. No, instead, he looked past me to the target of our tromp. Ponyville sat bustling with life. The moonlight cast the whole of the town in a gentle blue glow. Ponies of all kinds trot about on their ever-present schedules. Homes and businesses lined wide, well-kept streets, and life went on, as it had in the sun, so it continued in the night. 

"Shall we, Sabre?"

"If you say so, sir."

It was almost instantaneous. The gentle peace and chatter vanished. As Sabre and I took to the streets, the happy small talk became whispers. I could feel the eyes on the back of my head, the pointing, and the moody atmosphere that grew with each step. 

I let them do as they pleased. I offered a wave as we passed one ground and a pleasant greeting to the next. My hellos weren't returned, but I continued on nevertheless. The worst stare, though, was Sabre as he tried to burn a hole in the back of my head with all his might. 

"You're glares aren't helping Sabre."

"I'm aware, sir," Sabre said. He seemed to grind his teeth as we went. "This was a bad idea. We should go back."

I looked back and scoffed at my companion. "Oh, come on, we've been here—" My words were cut off as I walked into something that grunted. Well, first impression time, I just hope it's better than knocking someone for a loop. 

In fact, I'd knocked my unfortunate wall. The pony in question was a mauve mare with a two-toned pink mane. She rubbed her head as she looked back up at me. I offered a smile and a hoof. "Sorry about that," I said. The mare seemed to take me in for a moment before flinching away from my offered limb. I was taken aback. The stares and whispers were all well and good, but to recoil, that was a bit much. 

"Are you okay, ma'am?" I asked. My smile felt a bit heavier as the mare managed to pull herself up and slowly back away from me. 

"Fine." She said before turning about a trotting away. She offered several looks back at me until she turned the bend and was gone. 

"Well."

"I warned you, sir," Sabre had walked up beside me and nudged me. The ponies on the street seemed very far from happy with the scene. I sighed and conceded.

"Fair enough. You were right. Nightmare is a hop, skip, and a jump away. It'd be only natural a small town right off the edge of royal ground would have the most to suspect and the least reasons to assume the best."

  "It's not your fault, sir. Are you ready to go?"

I wasn't really. Going back is to run, fear, and let Nightmare's shadow drown me in her control and tyranny. Thestrals might be Nightmare's favorite breed, but it doesn't mean every thestral favors her. I was undoubtedly that exception, if nothing else. 

"No, I won't run."

"Sir?" 

I started off, head held high. The daggers in my back can stick where they may. If I couldn't sway at least one average pony, how was I gonna help the rebels? They'd be way more suspicious of a thestral, so I'd need to prove myself if I was to help save the day. 

My attention was shattered when a voice called me out. I blanked and looked about to find a mare marching my way. I'd missed her first comment, but it wasn't a pleasant one judging by Sabre's reaction. 

"You saw what he did. Do your job and arrest the bat." the mare said and pointed at me. Sabre looked between the mare and me before groaning to himself. 

The mare in question was irate, her bright orange mane bobbing as she marched forward, still pointing at me. I'd wager her a farmer, judging by her carrot mark. That had to be pretty hard given the lack of sun. I'd be pretty pissed as well in her shoes. 

"I'm sorry?" 

I wasn't sure what I'd done, but any excuse seemed to be the flavor of the night. It was only a matter of time till one too many whispers boiled over into frustrated confrontation. The mare didn't even look my way. She had eyes for Sabre and Sabre alone. 

"He just attacked Cheerilee. He should be in chains."

Sabre just met her rage with a tired look of his own. He watched as she stomped forward, looked up at him, and huffed, inches from my guard.

"Why am I not surprised. One of Nightmare's dogs is too afraid to do their job."

"Ma'am," Sabre hissed through clenched teeth. 

It was about this time I stepped in between Sabre and the farmer mare. "Leave him out of this. If you have an issue with me, then take it up with me."

I snorted, wings flared. I glared back at the mare, who returned it heartily. The two of us matched and stared for nearly a minute before the mare finally found her tongue. 

"Business with you, don't make me laugh. All you bats do is take our crops, our land, our sun, take, take, take. Then you throw Cheerilee to the ground and thank you're above the law. Well, I'm not gonna stand for it. You and your dog are nothing but greedy monsters, just like your queen."

"You know, it's funny. I'd almost agree with you. Nightmare certainly took a lot. But the thing is." I leaned down to meet the mare muzzle to muzzle. "You don't know the first thing about me. You have no idea who I am, what I think, or what I want. So, leave my friend out of this. If you want to yell at me, fine. If you want to insult me, fine. But I draw the line at calling my friend a dog. So, back off!" 

I stomped forward, and the mare took a step back. I didn't stop. I stamped along, and the mare stepped back. Her rage had sputtered out to fear. The street had gone entirely silent as the onlookers watched with bated breath. 

"I'm not Nightmare, I'm me, and the more you blur the line, the more like Nightmare you become. A bully all your own."

I yelled. I wanted the crowd, hell the whole town, to hear. I wasn't welcome here. I got that. I can understand why the townsfolk had genuine grievances and very few outlets to speak their mind. I had little doubt any other noble would have seen this mare locked away or worse. When you bottle years worth of fear and anger, something is bound to burst one way or another. My stress had been ready to blow, and I'd been here weeks. These ponies had every right to be mad. But I wasn't letting them take it out on Sabre. They wanted a scapegoat. Well, here I was.

"Brute."

The silence shattered as one townspony yelled.

"Liar," Another pony said. 

The dam broke, and more insults, a flood of concerns and anger poured down upon me. Let them yell and curse and blame. A mob is rarely sensible. 

"Sir," Sabre pulled me back and away from the carrot mare who looked ready to explode. Sabre seemed very concerned. He scoured the crowd, a crowd that was moving forward from nearly every direction. Then the food and trash started flying. 

"I may have overdone it, yeah?" I asked. 

"This way," Sabre said and pulled me toward an alley between two businesses, where the crowd was least dense. 

So we ran. The crowd had stalled for a moment, then they descended on us from behind. The alley had slowed their pursuit. That was only a stopgap, however. So we ran, from passage to ally, street to street. The crowd was yelling as they followed hot on our trail. The buildings became scarcer as we neared the town limits. Where the houses became tree hucks and tombstones. I glanced about as the gravesites seemed to stretch in all directions. 

I just wanted to getaway. Away from the castle, away from the politics, away from the fear, and away from Nightmare Moon. Yet, I was lost in a graveyard, running from a mob, all because I was a fucking bat. Sabre was just ahead of me, which made the stabbing pain in my chest worse. I felt my chest contract as the weight of the night fell upon my withers. 
   
"Shed." 

Sabre pointed to a run-down hut that sat amidst the stone effigies. The crowd hasn't too far behind. We were hidden only by the crown of a hill in the endless sea of grey. I managed a steady breath and nodded. 

"Shed."

So to the shed, we fled. We'd only just shut the shoddy door as the crowd crested the hill themselves. All we could now was wait and pray. Though to whom I should pray was beyond me. I'd take anyone willing to listen. 

"Please help," I whispered as the mob stalled and started to spread out in their search. It certainly wouldn't take much brainpower to try the only building in sight. 

"Help?"

My breath caught in my throat as I turned from the door to the interior in whole. Tools, straps, chisels, and a workbench. Oh, and a stallion who'd been engrossed in whatever book he now had set on the dusty weed-covered shed floor. 

Sabre had a hoof gripped tight to the hilt of his rapier. The pegasus was grey, like completely grey, grey coat, deeper grey mane and tail, and charcoal eyes. A pair of eyes that had locked with mine. 

"You're in my shed." the stallion said. 

Sabre nor I made any move. The grey stallion shrugged. "What's the hang-up?"

"Hang up?" I asked. 

The stallion nodded and stood. Sabre pulled the first inch or so of his blade free. 

"No need for that, soldier. It was just a bit of gallows humor."

The conversation was interrupted by nagging on the shed door. "Come out now. We know you're in there."

My mouth ran dry, the chalky stone vapor in the air not helping any. I took a step back from the door as the banging continued.

"So loud. At this rate, they'll raise the dead. Which is all the more a bother. I worked hard keeping them in the ground."

The stallion stepped past me and to the door. The hiss of Sabre's blade being drawn did little to steady my nerves. This was not good, not one bit.

"Calm down. I'm coming."

The banging stopped as the grey stallion yelled through the shed's thin walls. 

"Spade, that you?" a voice from the other side asked. 

"No, I'm the guy who killed Spade, skinned him, and made his pelt into a nifty coat for when it gets a bit chilly."

I restrained a choked balk as the stallion waited for the mob outside to digest his straight-faced sass. Sabre had lowered his weapon and seemed lost in the scene the stallion Spade had conjured up. 

"Faust, dang it, Spade, no needed that image."

That had me struggle to withhold a laugh. What a mood killer. The anger had vanished from the pony on the other side of the shed door. 

"Can I help you?" Spade asked. The speaker for the mob. 

"You haven't seen anypony come through here, have ya?"

My body tensed, Sabre had readied his weapon, and Spade gave me a cursory look before returning his attention to those outside. The seconds ticked by as the stallion seemed to weigh his answer. 

"Do the memories of lifeless eyes of those I bury count?" Spade asked. 

I could hear the cringe from the other side. Several seconds passed as the mob whispered amongst themselves. Spade cracked a smirk as we waited. 

"No, Spade, they don't. Have you seen a bat come through here?"

Spade smacked his lips a couple times. I could feel my heartbeat in my ears. Sabre had taken a step closer to Spade. The grave keeper didn't seem to mind. I mouthed for his help. The grey stallion rolled his eyes and turned back to the door. 

"Can't say I have. Though judging by all the racket. You sound ready to lynch one. I expect a bonus for cleaning that mess up."

The mob went quiet once more. After a few seconds, the mob leader responded. "Yeah yeah, whatever you say, Spade. Go back to cuddling your chisel, you mad pony."

"Love you too."

That said, Spade walked back to where he'd placed his book. The crowd sounded as if they were dispersing. Spade settled down, picked his book back up, and went back to reading as if nothing had interrupted him.   

When several minutes had passed, the rumblings of the mob went silent. Sabre sheathed his blade, and I finally recalled how to breathe. Spade looked up and sighed. 

"You're still here?" he asked. "Actually, I'm curious. How'd you get the torch and pitchfork treatment? Must have made quite the scene."

"Oh right, uh, that," I said and rubbed the back of my head. "Kind of a long story."

Spade shrugged and closed his book. "I have time."

It just so happened. At the moment, so do we.