As the storm began to dissipate over the course of the next half-hour or so, the rain beating relentlessly against the windows of the home started easing, and although the occasional flashes of lightning were still visible along the distant horizon, the dark clouds that previously covered much of the horizon broke partially towards the west, revealing a wild, wispy evening sky up ahead. With the sudden return of electricity to Coltlumbus Avenue, the emergency generator powering the house throughout the duration of the storm was quickly shut off by Windward, plunging the house into darkness for a few seconds before the lights turned back on again.
As he swept up large shards of glass off the floor left over from Ward's panic attack earlier on, Storm's mind went back to that very moment and analyzed it constantly, and though he tried not to think too much about what had happened, he felt as though it would linger on in his mind for a long while yet. It was both a strange and frankly unnerving event for Storm to witness, although once he found out about the stallion's post-traumatic stress from Lilli he could in a way understand where he was coming from. War can be a tough experience to deal with and although Storm was no psychologist, it was pretty evident that he was being haunted by whatever it was he'd witnessed on the battlefields of Griffonia. Yet he would not dare to ask about it; he simply couldn't, as doing so would be both unfair and perhaps even cruel. Ward had clearly been through a lot and pressing him for information like that could risk more serious panic attacks and the complete breakdown of any trust Lilli had in him, to begin with.
Having emptied the dustpan containing the glass into a recycling bin outside the house, embraced all the while by a bitingly cool, northerly wind, Storm quickly made his way back inside through the living room, where he was met by Lilli, standing next to the doorway leading into the kitchen.
“It's cold outside, isn't it?” she shivered playfully as she watched him approach, following her statement with a 'brr' noise as the rear door slammed behind him.
“You bet,” Storm smirked. “You alright now?”
“I guess,” her ears drooped just as Storm began approaching her. “I'm still kind of worried about this whole thing.”
“Lilli, as I said before, I highly doubt he'll get deployed,” Storm issued a sigh, placing the dustpan on the floor behind the door frame, next to what he assumed was a kitchen cabinet. “I mean, he isn't the fittest stallion out there for military service, let's be honest.”
“Yeah, just thinking about it just unnerves me.”
“Then don't think about it,” Storm ruffled her mane playfully, grasping her shoulders. “Come on, Lils. The Marine Corps wouldn't just deploy a guardspony with post-traumatic stress, especially if they've been made aware of what it is he suffers from in the first place. I mean, I don't know much about the military myself, but it just wouldn't be fair if they did.”
“I hope you're right, Stormy,” Lilli replied uneasily, not entirely convinced by Storm's words as she nuzzled him gently. “I don't want to go through the pain of seeing him go again if anything happens.”
“Don't worry, nothing will happen,” Storm smiled comfortingly at her. “Whatever is going on out there doesn't concern us and I doubt it will. Our navy is superior to the Griffon navy in almost every sense of the word, while they’re still out there in wooden boats.”
“I guess you're right,” Lilli finally flashed a quick smile as she glanced up at him. “Maybe I'm putting too much thought into it.”
“Definitely,” Storm smirked as he ruffled her mane. “It'll all be alright.”
“By the way, my mom just called,” Lilli responded, taking a quick glance outside at the distant, setting sun just as the sound of clanking metal made its way into both their ears. “She says she landed in Seaddle safely and is at her hotel right now.”
“Good,” Storm smiled. “Nice to know she had a safe flight. I guess that's your dad ready for work, huh?”
“Probably,” Lilli replied, just as the clunking sound coming from the foyer of the house paused for a brief minute. As Storm listened in, however, he could pick up a quiet conversation taking place, presumably over Ward's cell phone. Raising both eyebrows as he listened in, his heart quickly skipped a beat as he took note of its subject — Ward’s earlier panic attack.
“It's perfectly fine, honestly...I just got carried away. I'm fine now...honest.”
“Of course I am, Clear! Come on, this wasn't the first time something like this has happened and it sure as hell won't be the last. You know I have my issues, right?”
“No, I'm not gonna ask them for some time off. Nothing ever happens in my patrol area anyways, so I doubt I'll have any more panic attacks tonight.”
“Yeah, yeah, everything's fine...Yeah, I'll talk to you tomorrow, alright?”
“I love you too, and yeah, I'll tell Lilli and Jet before I go you said good night. Night, honey.”
-
“Lilli, Jet! Storm, you come over here as well!”
Storm and Lilli did what was asked of them and made their way to the foyer of the house, where Storm was quickly greeted with the sight of an armored Ward, the words 'VANHOOVER ROYAL GUARD' and his guard number engraved into the sides of the chest plate. Ward, despite the calm image he'd projected during the conversation he had with his wife over the phone only a minute or so earlier, was still shuddering and shaking like a leaf, which concerned both Storm and Lilli, as well as Jet, who was overlooking the situation from his usual vantage point on the stairs.
“What is it, dad?” Lilli asked concernedly.
“You feeling alright now?” Jet inquired.
“Probably,” Ward replied uneasily, something which was picked up by Storm. “Listen, I just wanted to let you guys know I'll be heading off to work in the next ten minutes.”
“I think you should take the night off, dad,” Lilli frowned. “Especially after that panic attack… I don't know, I'm just worried about you and I wouldn't know what to do if something happened to you.”
“Yeah, I'm worried myself,” Ward sighed, raising a hoof to his head. “This PTSD seems to be getting worse with each panic attack I have.”
“Wait, hold on,” Storm interjected, left hoof shooting up into the air. “Don't you get medication to control your symptoms or something?”
“I do, and the pills I take do work, but sometimes, panic attacks and… just general bouts of fear can happen out of nowhere, I guess,” Ward replied solemnly as he gazed down at the floor. “Sorry if I scared you all earlier, especially you Storm. It was never in my intention to do so, but Lilli and Jet both understand what goes on.” His statement was quickly followed by two nods coming from both Jet and Lilli.
“It wasn't scary, it was just unnerving,” Storm admitted. “I don't think I've ever witnessed a panic attack like that.”
“You haven't seen anything yet,” Ward grimaced as he recalled a worse panic attack he once had. “This wasn't even the worst one I've had...Listen, Storm...I need some help.”
“Yes?”
“Well, see... I usually patrol a four-by-four block area here in Silverwood within the industrial area close to the airport, right?” Ward asked. “Sometimes I get a partner assigned, but most of the time I'm on my own, which is what I prefer in most cases.”
“Yeah?”
“Tonight, I'll most likely need someone to accompany me,” Ward narrowed his eyes onto Storm. “All my Guard friends are on call right now, and I know you're not a Guard yourself, but just in case I have another panic attack I'll need somepony to keep an eye on me...and I was thinking maybe you'd like to come.”
“I don't know about this, sir,” Storm admitted in uncertainty as he turned to look at both Jet and Lilli, briefly imagining Ward breaking down again though this time in the middle of a patrol.
“If you're into this sort of stuff, I could show you what I do as a Guard,” Ward proposed. “I could show you some of the equipment I use as well; plus, I could give you a ride home in the morning if you'd want.”
“Storm,” began Lilli, wrapping her wing around his body. “We'll be fine, I promise. Plus, the area my dad patrols in isn't usually dangerous even in the slightest.”
“You sure?” Storm glanced down at her with an uncertain smile.
“Yeah,” Lilli smiled softly, nuzzling against his wing for a brief moment.
“So, what do you say?” Ward asked, gazing intently at him.
“I don't know honestly,” Storm replied with slight unease in his voice. “I wouldn't know what to do in case of a panic attack.”
“Just try your best to calm me down, alright? Say something to reassure me, do something to make me feel less afraid.”
“Storm,” Lilli began. “If my dad does have a panic attack, just sit him down for a breather... get him to relax.”
“I don't know if I'd be able to…”
“Sure you will!”
“So, are you with me?” Ward inquired. “Please, Storm. I really need the help. I'd do anything to repay you, whatever you might need. Money, transport, whatever.”
“Alright,” Storm relented finally, smirking slightly at the shorter stallion standing in front of him. “I'll go with you, for your sake.”
“Thank you,” Ward glanced up at him, a slight smile forming on his face.
-
As night quickly fell and the skies above Vanhoover darkened, Storm and Ward made their way through the seemingly-empty suburb of Silverwood in the direction of the city's airport. Hurtling down rain-washed streets with Ward hauling his Guard carriage behind him, the journey across town to the industrial area was a largely quiet one, though Storm could clearly tell something was bothering the poor stallion. Just looking at the stallion from behind the carriage's windshield was enough to make Storm wonder what was going through his mind at that point, although a gut feeling told him Ward was hesitant about going on his shift in the wake of the panic attack he had earlier.
The trip to the industrial park did not last too long, and Storm could tell this part of Silverwood was at the very fringe of the city, judging from the large, expansive swaths of coniferous pine forest to his left, behind which were the rolling foothills of the San Helena Mountains which flanked the city and the largely rural counties to its immediate east. These were to an extent also visible and were seemingly peppered with trees by the looks of it. To his right, however, were large warehouses and gray factories, their towering chimneys having faded and weathered away over time despite clearly being painted a scheme of red and white, creating an obvious contrast to the natural wonders seen to the left of the carriage.
After a sudden right turn taking them deeper into the industrial park, the carriage began to slow down.
“We're here.”
“Already?” Storm asked, his train of thought suddenly derailing as the carriage came to a sudden stop, its left wheel running aground against the curb. Getting up off his seat, he quickly opened the door he sat nearest to and jumped out of the carriage onto the cold, wet, cobblestone street beneath, before taking a quick look around. By the looks of it, this was a rather poorly lit area of town, the numerous shoddily maintained lampposts running alongside both sides of the street flickering and dimming periodically, probably as a result of little funding by the city government. The two ponies were surrounded by three-four-story office blocks and warehouses on both sides of the street, the headquarters of various transportation companies and other such corporate entities. “So, this is the industrial area you patrol in, huh?”
“Yep,” Ward replied with a quick nod. “My patrol hours are from 10 till 6, and during this time we'll cover a 16-block area of this part of town.”
“Eight hours, huh?”
“You think you're up for it?” Ward asked, his auburn mane billowing in the breeze.
“Definitely,” Storm chuckled. “I'm perfectly capable of pulling an all-nighter, so let's do this.”
“Don't get too excited,” Ward chuckled in response, although Storm still noticed the unease in his voice. “It's rare that anything serious happens around here, even after dark. Also, I'm sorry if I scared you earlier.”
“No, it's fine, honestly.”
“But I could tell you weren't expecting that,” Ward replied, guard armor glimmering in the moonlight as they both walked down the vacant street leading deeper into Silverwood's industrious fringe. “I have my problems, you see?”
“I understand,” Storm nodded as they made their way past a vacant carriage and beneath a sign advertising the services of a delivery service operating in and around the Vanhoover area. “Lilli's told me.”
“Yeah,” Ward nodded solemnly. “I've seen way too much to bear.”
“I'm sorry,” Storm rested his hoof on the stallion's shoulder. “But you did fight for our country... it must be a real honor to have been able to do so.”
“I guess,” Ward replied seemingly indifferently, before taking a quick glance at the weapons in his belt as they turned left at an intersection. “You know how I said things rarely go wrong around here?”
“Yeah?”
“Well, what I said is true,” Ward gulped. “But when things do happen around here, they are pretty serious.”
“How so?” asked Storm, a chill rushing down his spine as a gust of wind embraced both of them.
“Let's just say that...a ton of Guards tend to get involved,” Ward replied, coming to a halt at the corner of a recently-built office building. Leaving his carriage behind him, he set down his saddlebag next to the curb and unzipped it. “Hungry? I've got bagels, some sandwiches, and coffee inside the flask.”
“No thanks,” Storm shook his head in response. “I think I can last for now.”
“Suit yourself,” the guardspony shrugged in response, a cool, yet gentle breeze blowing through both their manes and sending shivers down their spines as Storm took a good look around the street, trying to check for any disturbances while keeping in mind that such events were unlikely.
“So...Ward?”
“Yeah?” the stallion turned to look at Storm.
“What rank are you, exactly?”
“Sergeant.”
“Ah. What is it that happens around here anyway?” Storm raised an eyebrow.
“You'll know when you see it if anything does happen tonight,” Ward replied, the westerly breeze picking up slightly before. “I don't want to reveal too much right now, but as I've said before, what happens around here can get serious, so serious in fact that we've actually had the feds over several times before. I'm dead serious, man.”
“Damn,” Storm chuckled nervously. “Sounds serious.”
“Yeah,” Ward smirked. “Didn't want to scare you or anything, but that's what sometimes happens around here after dark.”
“I mean, I've never really been on a guard patrol, so I don't really know what to expect,” Storm replied, shrugging his shoulders.
“Eh,” Ward began, also inspecting the various different buildings in front of them for any disturbances, before taking a quick glance around the street. “Most of the time it isn't as fun as some guards say it is, but when something does happen it can be.”
“What makes the feds get involved anyways?” Storm inquired, his curiosity slowly getting the better of him.
After a long, drawn-out sigh, Ward finally issued a response to Storm's question despite knowing full well what his reaction would be. “To make a long story short, bat ponies. That's all I can say.”
“What?” Storm scoffed, just as expected by Ward. “Bat ponies?”
“Yeah, you heard right,” Ward smirked, watching as Storm gave him a long, questioning look. “Bat ponies, or to be politically correct, Thestrals. They arrive here in vast numbers, despite knowing the risks, though most tend to lay low around this part of town.”
“But weren't they wiped out?”
“Large numbers were wiped out during the war we've had with them, yes, but they've apparently made a comeback,” Ward responded. “Right now, based on what the bats I've questioned told me, I know they live in colonies scattered across the country from here, through Maneitoba, Saddleskatchewan, et cetera, et cetera, all the way to Trotonto.”
“But how do they blend in with the other ponies? And how does nopony find out about their existence?”
“Very poorly, I'll say,” Ward explained. “Most of the time, they use reverse-engineered magic potions originally derived from vampire bat venom to turn them into Equestrian equivalents of their true selves. They also assume Equestrian names, though what most of them will not realize is that these potions are temporary, that they'll only work for a set amount of time. After that, they'll turn back into bat ponies and will need to find a way to replenish their supplies fast, before someone finds out about who they really are. And to answer your other question, it's pretty much inevitable somepony will find out sooner or later. There's just too many of them around, here in Coltumbia at least, for them to lay low effectively.”
“Wow,” Storm exclaimed, blinking thrice in disbelief. “This is unreal.”
“Yeah, a lot of ponies refuse to believe me when I tell them,” Ward chuckled. “But the bat ponies are still here Storm, hiding away in the shadows.”
“Have you had any close encounters with one?”
“Once or twice,” Ward cringed slightly. “And believe me, they weren't pleasant. In fact, that's exactly why I hate patrolling here, you never know who you're gonna run into.”
“I thought you said it wasn't dangerous over here.”
“To a large extent, it isn't, and most of the time these bats go unnoticed,” replied Ward, following his statement with a sigh. “But many of them choose to come out of hiding and make their presence known, which is where we come in.”