On Watch

I watch as the Canterlot mare walks past in full view of the window, with Rarity droning on about something. Oh, but her face! Priceless! A Canterlot snob with a mane like that must be mortified! Well, that brightened my day, and I finished my meal a few minutes later but stayed seated, just thinking. One thing that made me different from everypony else was my love of the moon. Due to this I preferred night jobs and I did not socialise as much. I remember the first time I realised how much I loved the night sky, it was when I was a colt, roughly eleven. My parents were talking to me sternly about my 'laziness' since about two years ago was the sort of age when a pony gets their cutie mark. I was been chastised for not enjoying the activities my parents were signing me up for. After they were done I had run up to my room and cried. Been told your useless often really can effect your mind. Then I had just stared out of my window at the moon. Not moving, but just watching the silver orb hanging in the sky.

One thing that irritates me is how Celestia does the stars. I read some pretty ancient books on astronomy, and either the books are misleading or Celestia keeps fucking up the constellations. Why does she even raise the moon? Her cutie mark is the sun, surely there's some other pony who's talent is raising the beautiful orb. Now this has got me interested, tonight I'm going to check out some books in the library about it. With a goodbye to Mrs Cake I finally walk out. So, what to do? Getting the cloak repaired would be a good idea. The Canterlot mare has probably left already to check on the other preparations. I follow the path I saw the Canterlot mare and Rarity take. I really need to stop calling her that, and find out her name. That can wait, I can ask at the party tonight. I cant help but find this funny, im going to the party of some mare I've never met nor do I know her name. Wow, it really is a short walk, I'm already here. I walk into the boutique and I'm immediately greeted by the white mare.

"Hello, and welcome to Carousel Boutique. What can I do for you?"

"Well, I was wondering if you would be about to repair this." I answer, and turn to show her how frayed and ragged it is. My hopes are crushed as her face fell.

"well, I'm sorry but I wouldn't be able able to fix it, however I can offer you one that is almost a replica."

She goes away for a minute and comes back indeed one that looks like mine, pure black but the edges are trimmed in a a soft blue. It is extremely nice but I know that I have not a hope in hell of paying for something like this, but I can't help but ask.

"How much?"

"Twelve bits."

Twelve bits?! By the moon, if I were to try and get this in Canterlot the price would be quadrupled!

"The price is very generous, I will take it."

Oh. Now I have to take this one off and reveal my blank flank. Sighing, I take it off and prepare for the questions and laughter. Nothing. Well, this is unexpected, but i'm not complaining. I levitate my bit bag out of the pocket and count out the payment. Once done I put on my new cloak.

"It suits you very well, goes matches your mane and coat perfectly." Rarity comments.

I give my thanks and walk out happily with my new cloak and dump the old old one in a bin down the road. Time has certainly flown, its already coming sunset. I brake into a gallop, and head for my home. I didn't get any dinner but hey, I'm not to hungry, so just grab that book and head for the library. Once home I take of my cloak, hang it up and rush up to my bedroom. About ten minutes later, and with my room almost torn apart, I have the book in a saddlebag and I'm out into the night.

It must be something I've developed since foalhood, but I can see quite easily during the night, the moon illuminating my path far easier than a blazing sun. as I make my way up to the library I see that the party must be in full swing, due to the loud sounds and lights coming from inside. I walk in and I'm immediately hit with a wall of laughter, talking and other noises. There's barely enough space to get through due to the overcrowded place but I finally make it up to the librarians desk. I wait patiently but after a few minutes nopony greets me. Suddenly a voice coming from at my legs speaks.

"can I um, help you?"

looking down I see a purple and green baby dragon looking at me expectantly.

"Oh, I'm looking for the new librarian, I have to return this book." I finally get out.

"You mean Twilight? She's upstairs, I'll do it for you."

Twilight, finally. It sounds better than 'Canterlot mare'. I fetch out the book and give it to the dragon, whom presumably goes to put it away and tick it off. Now I can look for a book on a moon pon- hey? What's the new librarian been reading? I notice on her desk is an open book, with a brown leathery cover. I know I shouldn't but I can't help myself. I trot around and read the page its open to. The Mare In The Moon, what's this? Some legend about a moon... Pony. Huh. Fate has a sense of humour. I read through the extract rapidly, trying to read it fully before that dragon comes back.

Once upon a time... Aw, not that regal sisters... Wait? Celestia had a sister?... But shunned and slept through her beautiful night... became a wicked mare of darkness, Nightmare Moon. So there was a pony who controlled the moon!... Eternal Night... Elements of Harmony, and banished her into the moon. So that's not just some weird shape on the moon? Took on responsibility for both sun and moon. So Celestia had a sister who turned evil? Huh. What are are the Elements of Harmony? Oh wait, she's got another book here. Oh, there it is, picture of the moon... and on the longest day of the thousandth year, the stars will aid her escape. Wait. That's today. Oh Shit.