>Be Anonymous
>Despite living on Earth, you somehow managed to impress the Princesses with some great act of heroic kindness
>(but that's a different story)
>As a reward, Celestia has granted you 1 week to visit whichever part of her realm that you desire
>The decision is easy
>"I'll go to Hollow Shades," you say
>Immediately Luna pipes up in your telepathic Skype chat: "Splendid choice, human! You will not be disappointed!"
>Celestia is strangely terse, however, when she replies: "Very well. You are certain this is the place you wish to visit?"
>When you affirm, she simply tells you that you will be teleported to the village of Hollow Shades at midnight, along with whatever you're wearing and holding - so pack accordingly
>Luna babbles in excitement and assures you that you will receive a warm welcome as a VIP in the town, and that all proper lodging and amenities will be provided to you, along with a tour guide
>Both Princesses wish you well, and then you feel their presence in your mind fade, leaving you to your own devices
>Trembling with excitement, you set about throwing some stuff into a suitcase
>You can hardly think straight. Just what should you bring to the magical land of Equestria?
>Along with clothes, toiletries, and some emergency food, you also toss in a flashlight, a journal, and a camera
>You throw in your phone for good measure, perhaps the bats will find it interesting 
>When midnight approaches, you barely feel prepared
>This all feels like a dream; you can hardly believe it's really happening
>Your hand clenches the handle of your suitcase, and as your clock strikes 12, you shut your eyes tight
>For a moment, you wonder if nothing really happened after all
>Then you sense it: the cool, crisp air on your skin
>The smell of wet earth and the forest
>The sounds of the wind in the trees, and the chatter of many voices
>Dozens of eyes are staring back at you when you open yours
>Bat ponies, tons of them, all clustered by the water's edge
>You look down and realize that you're standing knee deep in the warm green waters of a spring
>The sound of bat wings snaps you from your reverie, as does the sensation of a colorful flower garland being placed on your head
>"Hi, Anonymous!" says the bat pony doing the honors. "Or can I call you Anon? Anon it is. My name is Echo, welcome to Hollow Shades!"
>She speaks a mile a minute, and is already shaking your hand before you even realize what she's doing
>Echo tells you that she will be your tour guide during your stay, and that she'll be taking care of you over the next 7 days
>"But it won't be just me," she says, as she gestures grandly at the assembled bats. "Everypony in Hollow Shades is thrilled that you're here. I'm sure they all want to give you a warm welcome."
>She turns expectantly to the crowd, but they continue to just murmur excitedly amongst themselves, as they've been doing since the moment you arrived
>You notice them eyeing you with a mixture of curiosity, awe, and... something else
>You'd almost call it... hunger
>But that would be ridiculous, wouldn't it?
>Echo hisses, and finally the crowd of bats shouts out a staggered series of welcomes
>You lift your hand in acknowledgment and smile regally
>"Well then!" Echo says, clopping her hooves together. "Let me show you where you''ll be staying. Can I get you anything to eat or drink? Maybe some fruit juice? Black currant is in season right now and it's very good."
>As she leads you away from the spring, the other bat ponies disperse before you, though they don't leave
>Instead they simply retreat into the forest, ducking next to tree trunks or flying up into branches
>They watch you as you go by, giggling and whispering to one another, and you have the distinct impression that they are all following you at a distance as you walk toward the village
>Hollow Shades' outskirts are of an exceedingly low density; as Echo leads you down a rough dirt path carved into the forest floor, you see the orange lights of single homes nestled in faraway copses and in the shade of stony hillocks
>The land here is rocky and sloping, but thickly forested, hickories and great oaks forming a dark canopy
>You hear the sound of rushing water, and shortly see the source of it as you come upon what seems to be the first major concentration of buildings
>Here, jutting up beside the massive tree trunks, are narrow towers built of wood and stone
>Atop them rest rectangular structures with sloping, shingled roofs
>Wooden bridges span between the towers and the surrounding trees, creating a network of interconnected structures
>Paper lanterns swing from ropes, providing multicolored illumination
>At the base of the towers are more traditional buildings
>Cabins and what looks like a store or trading post; wagons are hitched out front, semi-unloaded of their cargo of barrels and crates
>Running diagonally through this section of the village is a rushing stream, obviously bat-made
>Water gushes out from beneath the earth and flows down a carved stone channel that leads out into the shadows of the forest
>Echo is dragging you toward one of the towers
>"This is the area where we usually receive travelers," she explains, pointing toward the wagons. "We don't get many, but ponies come from all over Equestria to trade with us. And their bits are just as good here as anywhere else."
>She leads you up a frighteningly narrow set of stairs up to the structure crowning the tower, a sort of dormitory
>You notice that there are only some mundane ponies sleeping here - a couple earth ponies and a unicorn, all snoozing in vertical sleeping bags that look like they're woven into the wall
>"Do any bat ponies sleep here?" you ask. When Echo gives you an inquisitive look, you explain: "It'll take me a little while to adjust, but I was hoping to sleep like you all do. During the day, I mean."
>Her face brightens as if you had just handed her a ripe, juicy mango. "You can definitely stay with us, if that's what you want," she says. "It gets very cozy in the winter, when there's 20 of us packed into a room."
>Echo has your suitcase whisked away to who knows where, telling you not to worry, that it will be kept safe in the communal quarters where you'll be sleeping later
>Admittedly, you do feel a pang of concern when you are removed of all your belongings, but you suppose you don't really have anything to worry about
>The bat summoned to take them is a young, drowsy-looking mare named Lullaby
>As greeting she gives you a sleepy smile and a wide yawn before she saunters off
>Echo checks her wrist, even though she isn't wearing a watch
>"It's just about lunch time," she says. "How's about I take you to the Trough and treat you?"
>You aren't particularly hungry, but you quickly agree, as you're simply eager to see bat society up close, and what better place than where they go to eat?
>Your guide leads you down another dirt path toward what you assume to be the village heart
>In a wide clearing, towers sprout from the ground like a forest unto themselves
>They are of varying heights and sizes, and some look very old and elaborate, with curved roofs of black tile that make them appear both primeval and curiously gothic
>The Shady Trough is a fat, rambling building supported by multiple columns beneath it, all of middling height compared to their neighbors
>A hub for bat activity of all kinds, wooden bridges grant access to the heaving structure from every angle
>Echo explains that the tavern is actually older than Hollow Shades
>It once served as an ordinary, housing early frontier bats whenever they traveled through this part of the forest
>Originally built on the ground, a fire two hundred years ago prompted its proprietor to remake it in what was now its current state
>By then the bats had settled throughout the woods, and increasing trade in the region required a place to accommodate a higher volume of travelers
>Initially this area was a place where bats would travel from their isolated family homes to congregate and trade
>Over time, bats simply began building their homes here, and so Hollow Shades was gradually born
>Through it all the Shady Trough had remained, a grand, haphazard structure of columns, porches, and balconies with immaculately carved balustrades
>Orange lights flicker through slitted windows, and you see bats passing into and out of the front door
>Echo pushes her way through the line, either uncaring or oblivious to the concept of waiting her turn
>Normally you'd be embarrassed by her boldness, but the bats don't seem to care; they all stare at you in much the same manner as the ones who greeted you by the spring
>This time, some of them actually begin to approach you, but Echo is already dragging you to a table
>"Let's eat!" she says, licking her chops as she rubs her hooves together
>Dining, for the bats, seems like something from which they take great pleasure
>Served in massive quantities on communal plates are berries and whole apples, along with mountains of tiny fish (eaten whole) culled from the many springs in the area. Served along with them is their sweet roe, pulverized with a potato-like tuber into a creamy paste
>Echo serves herself with a large ladle gripped in her teeth, then proceeds to lap the food off her plate with her tongue
>Typically a summer fruit, blackcurrant juice has been allowed to ferment and then boiled down with tortoise shell and a number of herbs to create a tart, syrupy drink
>It tastes rather unpleasant, but Echo guzzles the stuff, telling you that it wards off "the colic" and is excellent for the complexion
>You enjoy far more the golden "mead" that arrives warm in an enormous tankard, supposedly made from nectar collected from forest flowers
>Feeling a pleasant buzz and a little full, you are taken aback when a piled-high plate of roasted meat is brought to the table
>The main course, Echo tells you, as she begins shoveling it into her bottomless maw
>Appearing to be some kind of poultry, perhaps a squab or pheasant, the outside has been seared with a shiny honey-orange glaze, while the inside remains raw
>You observe as Echo sucks the juices from the interior of each piece before gobbling down the rest
>Throwing caution to the wind, you find that the meat is sweet, succulent, and almost butter-tender, melting like fatty tuna in your mouth
>Finally Echo allows some of the bats hovering around your table to join you
>Two of them immediately dig in, while the third introduces the group around mouthfuls
>"Nice to meet ya, I'm Hekesuh," the mare says, "this is Aux, and his MAREfriend, Moonshine."
>The one called Aux immediately sprays a fine mist of potato-roe paste into the air, then slides onto the floor
>Moonshine quizzes you on your life back on Earth, asking about what you do for a living and what it's like where you live
>Through conversation you learn that the aptly-named pony works as a fermenter and distiller, and uses the moon phase as a means to mark the progress of her products' fermentation
>Hekesuh tells you that she and Aux are aspiring young freelancers, too talented to bother with things like "steady jobs"
>"You boys are lazy bums," retorts Moonshine, somewhat to your confusion, but you've been drinking a lot, so perhaps you misheard
>Eventually the plates have been licked clean and Echo finally seems satiated; she banishes your tablemates back to the shadows and drags you back out the door
>She's more than a little tipsy
>"Let's go on an adventure," she says, all 50 pounds of her alighting on your head
>She points down one of the dirt paths leading toward a particularly steep, rocky hill. "Onward, Anon!"
>Deeper in the forest, nestled against a sheer wall of rock, is the training barracks
>A narrow waterfall cascades beside it, thundering into a deep pool 
>Echo explains that the most promising recruits are handpicked by representatives of the elite Night Guard, which operates out of Canterlot
>However, the majority end up as part of the standing Equestrian military
>"Service used to be compulsory," Echo says, "but that was a million years ago."
>An odd statue in the courtyard out front appears to be a symbol of that earlier time
>Dressed in fearsome armor bearing the motif of a nightmarish eye, a stone bat pony holds its eternal vigil
>As you approach the building, you notice that its architecture is markedly different from the buildings-on-posts design you observed in the village proper
>The barracks is built up against the rock face, with parts of it even cut into the stone as it scales up the cliff
>Canterlot's influence is obvious in the celestial motifs carved into the walls and balconies, a faded galaxy of stars and moons
>You have to crouch when you enter the lobby, where a bored-looking bat pony behind the front desk asks you to wait
>The rooms of the interior are dome-shaped, with smoothed walls and alcoves in which lamps of colored glass glow brightly
>Echo flops onto one of the Imported cushions on the floor and commands you to do the same
>"Might be awhile." She hiccups. "They're busy this time of year. Tomorrow the Night Guard rep is coming, and everything has to be speck and span!"
>Soon she is curled up into a ball, drooling as she dozes
>You take this opportunity to stroll around the front of the barracks
>On display are several military honors and awards given to Hollow Shades
>Adorning a golden star are a crystal heart, moon, and sun, granted to the ponies of the village for their tireless efforts combatting Changeling incursions
>Here also is the Sword of Stalliongrad, given to one "Mosina"
>As you lean in to give the blade a closer look, you suddenly feel a presence floating behind you
>Two bright red mischievous eyes greet you when you turn around
>"Hey hey," says the bat pony mare, tossing her two-tone blue mane. She gives you a sultry look. "You're cuter than I thought you'd be."
>She introduces herself as Night Watch, and tells you that she'll be your guide in the barracks
>"Let her nap," she says, when you mention Echo. "I wanna have you to myself before we make this a threesome."
>Following her past the lobby doors into the barracks' main hub, you realize that you've entered the rock of the cliff
>You stand in a massive hollowed-out chamber, where the walls soar up to a ceiling high above you
>Multiple tunnel entrances dot the walls, and you see other bat ponies flying to and fro between them
>"Don't worry," Night Watch says, eyeing your lack of wings, "we'll just take the long way."
>She indicates the precarious path that spirals up around the edge of the chamber
>As you climb, she playfully holds onto your shoulder, "so you won't fall off," and informs you of her duties as a guard in Hollow Shades
>As a former Night Guard member, her instruction is invaluable to prospective recruits
>"When I was younger, I was the top pick for the Guard," she boasts. "Went through the Trials and everything. Not supposed to talk about that, though." She winks at you. "Very hush-hush."
>Now, she works to teach combat and survival skills to Hollow Shades' greenest bats, grooming them for soldiery and a chance at the Guard
>She also heads the local militia. "No one's better at handling a spear than me," she says. "Put a polearm in my hoof and I'll make that sucker explode."
>Eventually you reach your first destination on the tour: the practice rooms
>Here some bats are fighting with wooden sticks, using them as dummy spears
>You watch as a mare with a bright orange mane trounces her hapless sparring partner
>"Pretty good, Flare," Night Watch says, after the bout is over. She steps onto the practice floor and picks up the other recruit's fallen weapon. "Show me what ya got."
>The younger mare looks nervous, but you see in her fiery eyes a kind of raw courage
>She demonstrates this a moment later with a sudden charge at her instructor, her spear angled low
>Night Watch moves with practiced agility, batting aside the attack and sending Flare into an off-balance stagger. She follows up with a quick rap to the recruit's rump, ending the fight as quickly as it began
>"Again," Night Watch says, slowly circling
>Flare blows a lock of her mane from her face, and again charges
>This time, however, she attempts to feint, swinging low before suddenly snapping the stick up toward Night Watch's face
>But the instructor is too fast; with a loud crack, she meets Flare's weapon with her own, and both sticks break
>Night Watch looks like she's about to speak and impart some fighting wisdom, when Flare suddenly tackles her to the ground
>You watch as they grapple, a flurry of hooves wrestling for the top position
>Once again it is the older mare who emerges victorious, pinning Flare to the ground
>Night Watch breathing heavily, her face aglow as she grins. "Not bad," she says. "Not bad at all."
>When finally she relinquishes her hold on Flare, she introduces her to you
>"She's as green as they come, but she's one of the better ones of the lot," Night Watch says. "In a few years, I might even be able to call her Guard-worthy."
>"Nice… to meet you," Flare says, still panting. She shakes your hand with great vigor. "I'm guessing you're not from around here."
>"Very funny," Night Watch says. "Hit the showers, we'll meet you down there in a little while. You two can get better acquainted then."
>Leaving the training rooms behind, you once again begin to climb the frighteningly narrow, spiraling path
>"All right, newblood," Night Watch says, winking, "Time to show you where the real magic happens."
