>It's so cold out here.
>Nop0ny in this town would be awake right now, but...
>You're freezing, drenched, it's awful.
>Not to mention you haven't had anything to eat in, oh, how long has it been?
>You can't even remember.
>Not to mention a place to stay.
>It seems the only lights on are the streetlights.
>Oh well, guess you'll have to take shelter in yet another alleyway.
>You continue walking in search of such an alley, until...
>What's this?
>A light that's still on?
>Maybe Luna has finally blessed you.

>You are Anon and as of late, you've been inflicted with insomnia.
>No matter how many times you twist and turn in your bed, nothing works.
>And seeing how p0nies don't have medical drugs...
>You're pretty much boned.
>On yet another sleepless night, you've given into... awake.
>In your kitchen, you're brewing up some special coffee that Rarity showed you.
>Tastes great.
>Out of nowhere, there's a tapping on your front door.
>Jumping, you nearly spill it.
“God... It's almost 2 in the morning...”
>Open the door.
>Standing there is a soaked pegasus staring at the ground... only...
>Not a pegasus.
>Leathery wings... Tufted ears...
>”I-I'm so sorry to bother you, but... I noticed your light was on and it's so cold out here...”
>...and fangs?
>Wariness: ACTIVATED
“Uh... Sure. Just try not to get my stuff soaked.”
>”Thank you...”
>She walks in, and finally looks up.
>”Wh-what?! You're not a pony!”
“Well, yes. You're not quite a pegasus either.”
>Her head hangs low with a huff.
>”I hate being a batpony sometimes...”
>Wait. Did she just say...?
“Batpony? So they really exist?”
>Her eyebrow shoots up.
>”Well, yeah. Am I not proof enough? But... what are you?”
>Oh. This again.
“Uh. I'm a human. Bipedal ape sort of thing, only less hairy. Most of it's on my head. See?”
>She scratches her chin with a hoof.
>”Sounds kinda funny to me.”
“Well, the whole batpony thing seems kind of funny to me. Fangs, leather wings, etcetera...”
>”Uh-huh. So what's your name, human?”
“You can call me Anon. And you, batpony?”
>”Echo.”
>Ah, like echolocation.
>Oh god, imagine if you had said that out loud?
>Wait...
>She looks grumpy.
“I... I didn't really say that did I?”
>She rolls her eyes.
“Heheh... Well, anyway, I'm guessing you need a place to stay.”
>”For now, anyways. I don't wanna get in your hair.”
>Hm.
>”D-do you have anything to eat, perchance?”
>A grumbling noise makes its way to your ears.
>You chuckle softly.
“I have some things in the kitchen. Help yourself.”
>She thanks you and scurries off quickly.
>Man, this is strange.
>I mean, surely this must all be a dream...
>Your insomniac brain unable to discern mind from reality.
>Batponies are only a myth...
>Right?
>”Say, you don't have any bananas do ya?”

>She's an odd one, this Echo.
>Excitable yet reserved.
>You and her have been talking for quite a bit.
>”It's a weird way to go, through the Everfree. I even saw a zebra alchemist. Wasn't sure if my mind was playing tricks.”
“Well, I can't say I've ever been in there. The amount of times Pinkie Pie sung a song about that place was enough to drive me clear. And that was only her voice.”
>The batpony laughs a different kind of laugh.
“Say, why is it a 'keekee' sound you batponies do?”
>”Well, why is it a 'haha' sound that you humans do?”
>Fair play.
>You nod your head in approval.
>”Don't you ever get tired? Most of you day-things never stay up so long past your bedtimes.”
“Well, that's the thing. I'm an insomniac. I rarely sleep.”
>She looks confused.
“Yes, I still get tired. I'm constantly tired.”
>”That doesn't sound so great.”
“But I guess this fits your schedule perfectly.”
>”I guess it does.”
>She smiles a toothy-
>Fanged grin.
>Looking outside, you see there are numerous slithers of daylight creeping their way into view.
“We should probably try to get some rest.”
>She looks at you mischievously.
>”Well, I'm taking your bed.”
“Have it. The sofa's comfier anyway.”
>She giggles quietly and yawns.
>”Sleep well, Anon.”
“Goodnight, Echo.”

>It's almost evening.
>You had expected that Echo would've upped and left by now but you're still downstairs waiting for a peep.
>Throughout the day, you had decided to gather some fruit for her after she explained her diet.
>Blood was a... different sort of delicacy though.
>Most notably, she loved bananas.
>Why'd you gather them?
>In case she returns.
>...Hopefully she returns.
>Good conversation, and with your other P0nyville friends out of town for the next couple of weeks on “royal business”, you're bound to get lonely at some point.
>And heck, if she ain't adorable.
>After what feels like a millenia, you hear movement.
>Trotting downstairs is Echo, with an anxious look.
>”Goodnight, Anon.”
>What?
“Goodnight? But you've only just woken up.”
>”Duh? I'd say 'good morning' if I was going to sleep.”
>Nocturnals...
“What's got you so riled anyhow?”
>”Well... I was puzzling for a while before I came down here...”
“Mhm.”
>”And I was wondering...”
>This is gonna take a while.
“Go on.”
>”...If maybe, just maybe, I could stay here for a little while longer?”