We Are the Night - Chapter one: An Echo Above the Dark

>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.