We Are the Night - Chapter two: Be Quick or Be Dead

>Day Doin' it Right

>You are Anonymous

>And you are in Equestria

>All right this is starting to get pretty slow

>But before we step into the deadly battles and the bat pony plot, like any sane person would do, we need to acknowledge a few things first

>For example, how Echo and you growed up to be the partners that saved Equestria from an unexpected doom

>So let's just start right after you met your nocturnal comrade

 

>The melody of fillies playing and p0nies working in their peaceful town impregantes the air

>Melody loud enough to awake you from your semi-eternal slumber

>Morning in Ponyville shimmers

>But you don't look shinny at all

>You take a look at your clock, placed happily in the nightstand

>You have a couple of hours left until your night shift starts

>Better make this time worth

>Worth in sleep

>However something stops you from coming back to your recovering rest

>It is Echo

>She's sitting in the corner of your room

>Watching you

>Her golden eyes seem to pierce through your soul

>Don't scroll down you pussy, the spooky part hasn't even started

>You look back at her

>The ankwardness it's strong in this one

>You decide to break the silence asking for an explanation

What are you doing, Echo?

>Something seems to snap inside Echo's mind, as she recovers her senses and stands up

>"I'm so sorry, sir. I couldn't sleep well, so I decided to get down the floor and wait for you to wake up"

But I though you liked to sleep on the ceiling

>You don't know anything about bat ponies, so all you can do right now is guess about them

>"I do, but that's not the reason"

>You get out of the bed so you can get closer to her

>She takes a deep breath and then answers with energy

>"It's just that I'm too excited to sleep, soon will be my first night as a night guard and I can't hold all this anxiety"

>There's something about her reply that makes you doubt, but not about her anxiety

>It feels like she's holding something else that she's not telling

>However you are way too drowsy to discuss

So it looks like you don't need sleep, let me get a shower and right after that we will start our duty

>Her eyes sparkle like two suns at your statement

>"Does this mean I will start my training as a sentry?"

>You reply to her rushed conclusion from your bathroom

Not yet, we need to do something more important today

 

>You and Echo are walking by the peaceful streets of Ponyville

>Not as guards, but as civilians

>You are on your casual clothes, while Echo isn't wearing anything at all

One of the most important things about being a mighty guardian, it's to know the people you are protecting

So this time, I will introduce you to the friendly p0nies of ponyville

>You can tell this was not what Echo expected, but her determinated look it's still there

>Along the way, diverse p0nies greet you with a warm smile

>"Hello Anon, how is it going?"

>"Hi Anon, wonderful day isn't it?"

>"Good to see you, Anon. Who's your friend?"

>You greet back any salute from them, slowly introducing Echo to the entire town

>Bat p0nies were something new for the most part of the villagers, especially the ones that never traveled outside p0nyville

>Somep0nies like Carrot Top were afraid of her at the beggining, but thanks to your polite diplomacy she now watches her as a new loyal protector

>This was actually a pretty good idea, now that the people have know her correctly she could even make some friends

>Suddenly... running

>The sound of massive hooves running along the distance comes to your senses

>It's getting louder

Oh no, please tell me it's not her

>Echo seems curious at your unhappiness

>"It's there something wrong?"

>she gasps at the odds

>"It is... the town in danger?"

>You look at her with the most fucking serious face you've ever done

I'm afraid it's even worse than that

>As fast as lighting a pink figure races to you and watches in awe the newcomer

>Pinkie gasps in excitement as Echo smiles to her

>"Are you new in town?"

>ITSHAPPENING.GIF

>Pinkie doesn't give enough time to Echo to answer as she assaults her with a million questions

>"omgwhereareyoufrom?arethosebatwings?yourearslookfunnywhatisyourcutiemarkabout?doyoulikecupcakesweshouldhaveapartydoyoulikepartiesbecauseIlovepartiesIjusthadapartylastnightwewerecelebratinggummysbarmitzvahandthen..."

>You can see how Echo's happy face turned into a face of impression... and then a look of fear

>Echo is looking at you with a gaze of despair

>Although she doesn't say anything, you know what she's thinking

>MAKE IT STOP ANON, PLEASE MAKE IT STOP

>It looks like Pinkie could keep going for years

>"...andthatswhyicantgothecastleagainareyousomekindofvampireponybecausethatwouldbesospookyandOMGyounevertoldmewhatareyoudoinghereareyouanon'smarefriendbecauseIalwaysthoughanonwasgayImeanheneverlo..."

>You will have to stop her in order to save Echo from a mental breakdown

>You clear your throat in order to get Pinkie's attention

>Like, really loud

>Right in front of her

>While holding her with your both hands

>Pinkie notices you, but she doesn't cut the chatter

>"Oh hi Anon, I was talking to Echo about the time I was in Canterlot and I got into a pie eating contest so..."

>You interrupt her before Echo runs away in horror

Pinkie, I know you want to know Echo as much as any other p0ny, but there are a LOT of new friends coming for you from the entrance, so why don't you go to say them hello?

>By the time you finished with your lie Pinkie was already gone

>You need to stop lying to save yourself from troubles, but you know this is always the most easy way

>You look at a shaking Echo

>Damn, if you didn't knew her you would say she just came out from a war

>She has seen some shit

>But you don't have time to relax

>It's only matter of time before Pinkie gets back here

All right soldier, it is time for a tactical retreat.

>And by tactical retreat you mean get the fuck out of here to your house

>You and Echo race like your lives depend of it

>Once you arrive you close the door with any existing lock you have

>we_are_safe_for_now.wav

 

>You and Echo are panting like animals, resting on the back of the front door

>Echo is the first to speak

>"What the hell was that, sir?"

>You wait to recover some air before answering

That was nothing less than Pinkie Pie. She's pretty awesome once you know her, but sometimes she can be just exhausting

>You both get up as Echo can't help but snicker a little

>"Does she even need protection? I'm not sure if there's a creature powerful enough to survive 5 seconds around her kekekekekeke~"

>It's the first time you listen to a snicker like that

>You have to admit it's pretty contagious

>"kekekekekeekekeekekekeee~"

>Now both of you are laughing aloud on the floor

>When the laughter finally comes to an end, you decide it's time to get ready for tonight's shift

>You suit up your armor quickly and Echo does the same

So, are you ready for your first night on duty?

>Echo doesn't think it twice

>"I was born ready"

>By the look on her face it seems like she's challenging the gods to bring her whatever they have

>Too bad that they don't have anything planned for her

>It is almost time

>The sun it's setting

>Darkness it's comming

>You get out to the streets again, now without ensuring Pinkie isn't here of course

>You follow the same path you do everynight

>When you get to the limits on Ponyville, you see it

>There it is, your own guard post

>The lookout it's equipped with it's own watchtower and your old monitoring chair

>That's how you call your beach chair

>You like beach chairs

>Now that you are finally here, it's time to set some rules

ATTENTION, SENTRY!

>She holds stiff at your order

This is how we will guard the town tonight. At first, we will stand at the entrance of the Everfree Forest, making sure nobody enters the town... or leaves.

>She quickly nods, taking your word as law

Then we will have turns, one of us will keep an eye over the city from the watchtower, while the other will patrol the town making sure everything is alright

>Your voice is loud an imposing, almost like a general commanding his elite soldiers on a vital mission

It's everything clear?

>Echo replies with life and vigor

>"SIR, YER SIR!"

 

>The only sound you can hear it's from the river

>The night is silent and calm, and so you are

>You are the night, correction: WE are the night

>You are standing still, defending the town from any "upcoming threats"

>Yeah, let's keep it this way

>You don't want to crush the rookie's dreams

>Yet... You're sure the time for her to know the truth will eventually come

>She's standing by the other side of the entrance with her warface.jpg

>Stiff as a rock, brave as a bear

>Spooky as a bat

>Cute as a pony

>A deadly combination

>You wonder for how long she will remain like that

>Yes, time to play a little game, let's count how many hours will past until Echo breaks the silence

>A test for her patience, maybe she will not make it sane, maybe the silent night will drive her crazy

>"Ummm... Sir, can I speak to you?"

>5 Seconds, what a failure, the trees could hold hours and hours silent

>God you were so alone

Speak quick, sentry!

>She looks at you with sad eyes

>"Did I... ummmm.... fail the test?"

>How did she knew you were testing her patience?

>Bat p0nies can read minds? Does that mean she can tell the kind of sickfuck you are?

>"I couldn't handle the incident with Pinkie correctly, and just by now I realized that it was a test from you, am I a failure for getting scared?"

>You breathe again and relax, turning on your brain again

>Now that you think about it, you DID told her that you will train her to be an exceptional guard of the night

>Better to keep her interested, if you don't say anything she will lose any interest to follow her dreams

>You clear her throat and speak with your sergeant voice

You are clever my dear Echo, I was testing your response to situations out of control. But this time what matters it's that you learn the lesson. In critical situations, you must act swiftly. Master your mind, so you can make the right decitions while keeping your head cool. Remember my words: be quick of be dead.

>While you do your fancy talking, Echo can't help but look at you with some kind of admiration

>"Got it sir: Keep calm and act quick"

>You're starting to get tired about being called "Sir". You haven't done anything in order to deserve that title.

One more thing rookie. From now on just call me Anon as how my friends usually do

>She screeches in joy before asking two more questions

>Does that mean we are friends? Are we allowed to be friends?

>You laugh at her innocence

Of course Echo, there will be long nights when we will have to watch, eat and fight together. What kind of nightmare would be if we weren't friends

>As soon as you finish your sentence you get hugged hard

>Like, really hard

>What have you done so everytime you finish getting hugged?

>"Ooooh Anon I'm so happy, I barely had friends in Hollow Shades and in the barracks I was so alone. It's good to know I can count on you for everything, to have somep0ny to laugh, play, talk and..."

>You feel like you've created a monster

>She keeps going on and on

>MAKE IT STOP, PLEASE MAKE IT STOP

>The worst part of this is that the night has only begun