>you are anon
>you are the night
>or, at least, that's what you always whisper to yourself while wearing your sentry armor
>you have been the night guard of the limits between ponyville and the everfree forest for a couple of months now
>you can't think about nothing more boring than this, like seriously EVERY NIGHT IT'S THE SAME SHIT, nothing extraordinary ever happens
>maybe the only exception would be when Fluttershy tries to talk to you in the lonely nights
>she can get pretty weird around you sometimes
>however we should leave this to another occasion
>there are also some great things about your job
>the pay it's extremely good, while most p0nies here cook or grow vegetables, you're getting rich only by roaming by the town and looking tough
>living the dream
>now you finally know why most of the males end up on the royal guard
>there's also your good old pal Zecora
>she sometimes invites you to her hut to have a drink and a good conversation
>but that's not the best
>when she's in a good mood, she will give you a jar of one of her best potions
>goddamn you love her potions
>some of them can give you enough energy to don't sleep for a day
>or increase your senses to unhuman levels
>however, you only use your benefits to help ponies in ordinary tasks
>you've never had to fight a menace
>BECAUSE NOTHING EVER HAPPENS HERE
>and don't forget about how well respected you are here
>every now and then somep0ny gets in your nightstand to greet you with everykind of gifts
>from plants and pies, to cute drawings of you and dry fruits
>they must see you as a protector or something
>you honestly can't see why
>BECAUSE THERE ISN'T SHIT TO BE AFRAID OF HERE
>however, this night it's different
>this night actually something happened
>you are in the middle of your duty, patrolling the entrance of the mysterious forest while humming old songs from your time on Earth
>you can't mimic dubstep with your mouth anymore
>last time you did that, somep0nies heard you and thought robo-p0nies were attacking the town again
>why did all the good stuff happen when you weren't here?
>Princess Luna was evil, Discord was evil, there was a horde of bug-ponies that could change their apparience
>everything was dangerous and exciting
>but you had to come just in the times of peace, right?
>since Twilight Sparkle is a princess, everything suspicious of evilness must be hunted down
>and if that's not enough, every town and city must be protected by royal sentries
>why did they make her a pricess? you always knew she had OCD
Look at you, thinking about these things again.
>you whisper to yourself in protest
>bored as always, you decide to get on your watchtower to start an imaginary checking list
>trees: check
>nightstand for the best sentry ever: check
>bat pony on royal armor: ...
>system does not compute
>you get down to make sure you aren't hallucinating
>if you are, you have a zebra to kill
>as soon as the unknown creature notices you, she greets you with a warm smile and races towards you
>"Hello, you must be Anonymous"
Um... yes, who exactly are you?
>even if this is new to you, you have to admit you are taking this very easily
>at least until Luna speaks behind you
>"I see you are meeting the rookie, Anonymous!"
>at the sudden surpise you jump while doing a very embarrassing scream
>the bat pony is having a hard time trying not to laugh
>but Luna didn't took this with good humor
>"why does everyone get scared when I talk to them? I stopped using the royal voice a long time ago!"
>you quickly bow and apologize for your behaviour
I'm sorry, princess, but everyone would be scared if you heard a voice behind you at the middle of the night
>the princess of the night blinks twice before showing another sign of anger
>"why nobody told me that? That could have made things easier"
>does she even get out of her castle?
Excuse me, princess, why you brought with yourself a...
>oh yeah, you don't even know what IS she
>"bat pony, she's a bat pony" the princess proudly replies
Oh, thank you, why is your majesty here? And why there's with us a bat pony?
>the dark blue mare smiles at your curiosity and replies
>"I'm here to inform you about your new companion, her name is Echo, and she will join you in your duties of night sentry"
>that's the most dumb idea you've ever seen
Um, princess, can we talk about this in private?
>Luna realizes how distracted Echo is, and agrees
>"you don't like the good news I'm bringing to you?" the royal sister, inquires
Don't misunderstand my words but, this is not necessary at all, I know more than anybody that nothing ever happens here, reinforcements aren't required. Hell, I'm pretty sure this little encounter will be the most exciting story I will ever tell to the new generations
>you can even imagine it
>"and suddenly, I had vision of a dark pony, but instead of normal wings, they were bat wings" a grumpy Anon recounts with passion
>"what kind of sickfuck was responsable of this?, I thought in silence"
>Luna's sighing interrupted your flashforward
>"there is no more room for guards in any other town in Equestria, the only place she could work would be here"
>"besides, there's something special on her, she isn't following this way for money nor for respect, she doesn't stop repeating this is her dream, her destiny. I can't just send her home once I've seen the fire in her eyes"
>well this is impressive
>somep0nies can have really shitty dreams to follow
>"so, I have to ask you, will you accept her as your new partner in the jobs of orden and justice?"
>you look at where Echo is before thinking of an answer
>she is looking at her shinning armor with delight, while practicing what would be an order of arrest
>goddammit why does that have to be so cute?
>fucking p0nies, fucking Luna, fucking Equestria, fuc-
Don't worry, your majesty, I'll take her under my hypotetical wing and I promise that she will be safe under my sight.
>Luna's sudden hug suffocates you, as she can't contain her happiness
>"OH, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOUTHANKYOUTHANKYOU"
>once you get precious air back to your lungs, you realize you still have some questions to ask
>after what you just said, Luna is disposed to answer every doubt in your mind
Why is this the first time I'm seeing a bat pony?
>"indeed, a wise question, my little pony!"
I'm not a p-
>"bat ponies are native from Hollow Shades, a mysterious, yet beautiful hidden city that exists in the darkness"
>"most of them are still there, but a good fraction of bat ponies joins the royal guard as night sentries or Lunar warriors©"
Well that's interesting, Is there something important about them that I should know?
>Luna gives a short laugh at your worries
>"I guess it will be more fun if you find it out by yourself"
So that means you won't answer more questions?
>"Exactly"
>after that, she waves goodbye to you and Echo, then she flies away before dissipating in the bright nightsky
>it's only you and Echo now
>and you're gonna keep your promise no matter what
>you're gonna make her the perfect guard, a scouting machine, a stealthy fighter, not the hero Equestria deserves, but the hero Equestria needs
>even you look more determinated than before
>you look deep into her golden eyes, as you speak loudly
Attention, soldier!
>at the sudden order, she straights herself and lifts her head
What's your primary mission here in Ponyville?
>she doesn't makes her time to think, as she replies like a tape recorder
>"To keep this place in order, and bring security to their population"
>a simple, but effective response
And how we will do that?
>"By seeking and destroying and menace, sir!"
Will you risk you life for the nearby?
>"sir, yes sir!
Will you crush any attempt to hurt the peace of this land?
>"SIR, YES SIR!"
>then you see it
>the flames in her eyes, just how Luna showed you
>her energy and enthusiasm are enviable
>shame that her hype will not last long, maybe three nights
Now that's what I like to hear, sentry. We will be the sword and shield of this town, the lonely heroes of this crude land, the seekers of justice and light.
>Echo's eyes glow like shooting stars while she speaks
>"So, what will be your first order, sir?"
>as soon as she ends her question, you both yawn at unison
>you look up in the sky to realize the morning sun it's rising
Right now, we better go to sleep, our duty here it's over.
>she obliges to your first order with a face of dissapointment
>you and your new companion are walking through the waking streets of ponyville, while a new question arises in your mind
So, Echo, where are you staying? Princess Luna never told me about that
>her ears perk up in reaction, as she gives a quick response
>"Oh, right, the princess said there will be no problem if I'm staying in your house as your roommate"
>and the princess said that WITHOUT ASKING YOU?
>why would she even do that? you were so dumb to even promise her about Echo's sake
>you open the doors of your house, as a curious Echo tries to look everything that is inside at the same time
>as you get ready to go to dreamland, you can't help but think there's something wrong here
>oh yeah, now you've noticed, there is no place for Echo so she can sleep
>your bed is just large enough for you, and you don't want your killing machine to sleep in the floor
>as if she knew you were thinking about her, she comes quickly into your room, worried about the look in your face she asks
>"is there a problem, sir?"
I'm sorry, Echo, but it looks like there's no place for you to sleep. I mean, we could share my bed, but last time I had that idea, it all ended up very na-
>once you turn around again, you find out she's hanging upside down, right at your ceiling, 90 degrees from your bed
>she snickers and affirms with joy
>"yes, this place it's perfect"
>you would normally ask a ton of questions about what just happened
>however, you are so tired that you'll leave that for tomorrow
>you quicky tuck in your comfy bed after turning off the lights
>you give a quick glance above yourself to see a sleepy Echo
>she wrapped herself in her own wings, then proceeded to let a soft yawn come out from her mouth
>why can't you hold all this cuteness?
>you close your eyes, waving goodbye to this weird night
Sleep tight, Echo
>a weak voice inmediately replies to your wish
>"sweet dreams, Anon"
>right before falling asleep, you got a feeling that your life will never be the same again.