The Usual Life of an Unusual Pony

        The train slowly came to a halt at Ponyville station as all the ponies came forward. A purple unicorn and a purple dragon with green spikes stood in front of it both waiting to catch an eye of a particular pony. The two stood for for a couple of minutes until the dragon spoke.

        "Twilight," The dragon said whining to the unicorn, "we've been here for awhile do you even know what this pony looks like?"

        "Well spike, the letter I got from the princess said he'll be on this train." Twilight said. "As to what he looks like I don't know. The princess only said that it's a stallion, and we'll know when we see him. The only feature a got was his cutie mark is a red cross." The ponies were still funneling out of the train.

        "Well, he sure does take his time doesn't he?" Spike said getting more impatient.

        "Spike I'm sure he has no control over how fast he gets out. Just pay attention to everypony and we'll find him." The dragon stood at full attention.

        "Is that him?" He pointed to a near by pegasus.

        "No, I don't think he sticks out." Twilight said making sure that his cutie mark was wrong.

        "That him?" He pointed to an earth pony. She shook her head. "Is that?" Now pointing to a unicorn.

        "Spike!" She yelled getting annoyed, the ponies nearby looked at her.

        "Well, jeez I'm just trying to help. Why did you even bring me here? It's impossible to even see anypony." Which was true he couldn't see over any of the ponies in front of him.

        "Wait, I think that's him." She said pointing to a pony.

        "Where? How can you tell?" Spike said trying to see over everypony.

        "Over there. See for yourself." Twilight said walking toward him, while lifting Spike up with her magic and putting him on her back

        "Wha- what is that?" Stunned by what he was seeing.

        "I don't know it's interesting though. Just look at those wings! And those eyes!" She was pointing out his most prompt features his strange bat like wings and red cat like eyes.

        "I bet Rainbow is gunna get a kick outta those wings." Spike said with a smile.

        "Ok ok shh, we're getting close don't bluntly point out his features." As soon as she got close he began to smile.

        "Twilight Sparkle I presume?" She nodded. "And this is?" He looked at Spike.

        "This is Spike, my baby dragon." Twilight introduced Spike to him.

        "Pleasure to meet you, Spike." He put out his hoof.

        "Likewise, Mister...?" Spike said shaking his hoof.

        "Oh! He talks! I've never seen a talking dragon!" He said surprised but quickly calmed. "Sorry, where are my manners? I'm Knight, Knight Shade." He said, then shook Twilight's hoof.

        "Well I suppose we should get you settled here in Ponyville." Twilight said starting to trot out of the station.

        "Lead the way." Knight followed. They got somewhat into town, and Spike whispered to Twilight.

        "Psst, Twilight," Spike whispered still on her back, "did you see those vampiric teeth? I'm surprised no pony has mistook him as a threat." Twilight gave him a look.

        "Now Spike, don't judge a book by its cover. By the way he introduced himself back there I'm positive he's nice." She looked back to see him looking around in awe, taking in his new surroundings. They came to a stop in front of a large tree. "This is my house, also where you'll be staying for now." She said stepping in.

        "How is this tree hollowed out, but still alive?" He asked standing outside looking up.

        "Well using a powerful magic you could sustain its life a long time." She took a stab at the dark she wasn't quite sure actually but, he took the answer and stepped inside.

        "Wow..." He stopped in awe. "That's a lot of books. The only time I've seen more than this is at the castle's library." That made Twilight super excited.

        "You've been to the castle's library? I thought only certain ponies were allowed in there." She raised an eyebrow.

        "Well I've never been in it but, I've seen the outside quite a lot after patrolling around there." Knight said.

        "Patrolling? Like a guard? You were in the royal guard?" Spike asked surprised.

        "Yes but, we called it the night guard as we only patrolled mostly at night for Luna." Knight said.

        "So why are you here then? No offense but why did Luna send you here?" She questioned him.

        "Well I've been her most loyal guard. That when I left she made sure I was put with the best pony to show me some more of Equestria." Knight said the best he could.

        "Twilight, you never told me Princess Luna wrote that letter it would of made more sense to see him then." Spike said which made Twilight slightly kick him. "Hey! What's that for?"

        "Spike, why don't you sort those shelves like you told me you would awhile ago while I give Knight an actual tour." Twilight said.

        "Ugh, fine." Spike said walking over to one of the shelves and taking some books off of it.

        "Come on, I promise you'll like it." She said with him following right by her side. "Are you hungry? If so we should stop at sugar cube corner first."

        "Well I suppose I could-" He was cut short by a sudden yell.

        "Look out!" A cyan coated, rainbow maned pony flew right into him knocking him and the pony a few feet. Twilight was however unharmed. She quickly ran over to the two.

        "Knight! Are You ok?!" Twilight said.

        "Knight? Who's Knight?" Rainbow asked getting up.

        "Maybe you should ask the pony you just flew into." Twilight said standing over him.

        "Hey, you ok? Sorry 'bout that." Rainbow said extending her hoof to help him up. He rubbed his head with one hoof.

        "Yeah, I'm ok. I can remember doing that thousands of times, not into anypony though mostly walls." He took her hoof and got up. Rainbow of course got her name from her rainbow colored mane not much her cyan colored coat.

        "Ah, a fellow pegas-" Rainbow stopped noticing his wings. "Your wings... They're... They're... Awesome!" She said in a high pitched voice.

        "Thanks, I don't get that a lot from other pegasi so thanks." He said quite surprised she liked them.

        "So Twilight, are you going to introduce us?" Rainbow said looking to her.

        "Well Rainbow, this is Knight Shade. And Knight this is Rainbow Dash." Twilight said to both of them.

        "Perhaps you've heard of me?" Rainbow said standing straighter.

        "Actually, yeah you’re that pony that saved the Wonder Bolts from doom with that rainbow explosion, right?" He said remembering only what Spit Fire told him.

        "Yeah, were you there? I think I recall your face." She had no idea if he was or not.

        "Well no, you see I couldn't go cause I told Spit Fire I would cover for her while she was gone but, she told me about it later." He wanted to go but unfortunately he needed to make up the hours because he overslept on couple of days.

         "Wait, you know Spit Fire? Oh my gosh, I think I just met the coolest pony ever. Besides me of course." Rainbow said, he blushed.

         "Well, I suppose we should get going." Twilight butted in before they talked for hours.

         "Well ok, see you around Knight. We should hang sometime." Rainbow said then she flew off.

         "She really needs to be more careful. You sure you're ok?" Twilight said with a worried look.

         "Yeah, I'm good. Like I said I've had worse." Knight said.

         "As long as you’re ok. You said you're hungry?" Twilight said recalling what happened before he got smashed into.

         "Yeah I could use a bite, I was so nervous I barely ate before coming." A couple seconds later his stomach growled.

         "I can see," she smiled, "well follow me." They headed in the direction of a dessert looking building.

         "Are all the buildings in this town shaped weirdly?" Knight said hoping she wouldn't take offense.

         "Mostly the attractions are. Probably to well... Attract ponies." She giggled. "How long are you thinking of staying?" She wondered how long he needed shelter.

         "It depends really I might get a home and stay, or leave sooner or later." He was unsure. They walked a couple more feet until they reached the building.

         "Oh, I have to warn you once we get inside you may get bombarded by 1,000 questions." She was talking about her friend Pinkie Pie of course.

         "Nothing I haven't dealt with before." He said thinking nothing of it.

         "Oh, it isn't like anything." She told him making him confused. They walked in side almost instantly they were confronted by a pink pony with a crazy pink mane.

         "Hey Twilight, who's your friend? What's up with those eyes and wings? What's his name? Has Rainbow seen him?" Twilight put her hoof in her mouth to make her stop talking a mile a minute.

         "This is what I was talking about." Twilight said giving him a serious look. "Ok Pinkie, this is Knight he's new he's staying here 'till further notice. Ok?" Twilight said with her hoof still in her mouth.

         "Humph." Pinkie said or tried to say. Twilight removed her hoof. "Hi! I'm Pinkie Pie, and I haven't seen you around here before, your name's Knight how cool I wish I was named like that although maybe not I kind of like my name Pinkie Pie it's just fun to say Pinkie Pie..." It kind of went on like this for a couple of minutes until she came to the question. "So, did Rainbow see you yet?"

        "It was kind of hard to miss her." He said and Twilight laughed.

        "What? Was she doing amazing tricks or something?" Pinkie said confused.

        "No, she kinda flew right into Knight." Twilight said.

        "Oh that Dashie, she almost never does that though you should really see her in action she's pretty graceful in the air I remember this one time-" She was cut off by Twilight.

        "Pinkie, I really have a lot to show Knight. Isn't there something you have to do?" She winked at Pinkie.

        "Twilight, I think you have something in your eye. I do have to help Mrs. Cake with something though. Bye Twilight, bye Knight." She hopped off behind the counter. They turned to leave. "Oh, wait!" She stopped them. "Here!" She held out two cupcakes. "Here's one for both of you. On the house!" She smiled.

        "Thanks, Pinkie!" Twilight and Knight said in unison. Pinkie smiled and hopped off once again as they exited.

        "Here," Twilight said giving him her cupcake, "I think you need it more." She smiled.

        "Thanks." He ate them both in one bite. "So, where we off to next?" He asked her.

        "Let's go shopping!" She trotted off in a direction smiling to herself. "I thought I'd never say that to a stallion." She said still smiling. He was about to say something before he could however he was overwhelmed by a brightly colored building.

         "Whoa." He said quietly

         "Beautiful?" She asked him.

         "No, bright too bright." This surprised Twilight.

         "I suppose it is a little with the sun this way." The sun was starting to set just behind the building making it more dark than bright.

         "Hey! Guys wait for me!" Came a voice behind them. The voice was Spike's.

         "Spike! Did you happen to know that we were going here?" Twilight questioned him doubtful he didn't know.

         "What?! Thinking I knew you guys were going here? No, I just finished organizing and thought I'd come along." Spike said trying to justify himself. He walked on the other side of Twilight.

         "Twilight." Knight said quietly so Spike couldn't hear.

        "Yes?" She answered him.

        "What's so bad if Spikes with us?" He asked her.

        "Well don't tell Pinkie I told you but, he's in love with the pony that lives here." She said very quiet.

        "Aw, that's cute." He said in high pitched tone.

        "It would be if he didn't talk about her 24/7." She sounded annoyed. He looked over at Spike who smiled at him. They walked into the building. A bell rung that was set to ring if somepony opened the door.

        "Welcome to the Carousel Boutique we're closing soon, but I'll be with you in one second!" A voice came from a doorway near back then a high pitched voice came from below.

       "Hi, Twilight! Who's your friend?" He looked down to see a white unicorn filly with a purple and pink mane.

       "Hello," He said, "I'm Knight." Introducing himself.

        "Cool, you look amazing. Not sure what my sister will think though." She sounded unsure. "I'm Sweetie Belle." He stepped forward to shake her hoof hiding Twilight and Spike. Just then an elegant white pony with a curled purple mane came out of the door the voice came from earlier. The mare took one look at Knight and got stiff.

        "Sweetie Belle who's this?" She said nervously.

        "This is Knight he came with Twilight." The mention of Twilight's name made her loosen. Twilight and Spike emerged from behind Knight.

        "Hi Rarity." Spike said in a trance.

        "Hello Spike, Twilight." She spoke to both of them. "This is Knight?" She said looking at the bat pony, everypony nodded. "Hello I'm Rarity." She said staying as far as possible.

        "Hello Rarity nice to meet you." He said not sure if he should approach her.

        "Come on sis he's nice." Sweetie Belle said to convey her to get close. She eventually did and shook his hoof. She observed him trying to pick out things she liked about him.

        "Your mane is nice how'd you do it?" Rarity asked him.

        "Well it naturally grows out this way then I just dye the ends red." His mane and tail were dark brown with red tips the only difference on his tail was a wide red lightning bolt going from flank to almost touching the ground.

        "I see, it seems to fit you. Is there any reason you're here? Not that I don't want you here I'm just busy." Rarity said.

        "I was just giving him a tour of town." Twilight said.

        "Where did you come from Knight?" Rarity asked him taking note of his features.

        "Canterlot, I was a royal guard there, for Luna." He answered her.

        "Oh! A Canterlot guard did you know the princess?"

        "Well I knew Luna. Me and Celestia never quite got along too well." Twilight looked at him and wondered how Celestia, her mentor and the most understanding pony, never 'quite' got along.

        "Maybe you could pass along a message to Princess Luna?" She got excited.

        "Sure, what is it?" He said

        "Well I've redesigned the guards outfit, not that I thought they were bad or anything. I just thought they could be updated." She thought he would see her way.

        "Well, I suppose it might take a little bit though she does get busy." As soon as he finished a clock rung.

        "Oh look at the time it's closing time. I do have a lot of work to do so if you excuse me. And thank you for passing along my message." She said as she went back through the door she came out of.

       "Goodbye Knight! Maybe you could meet my friends sometime." Sweetie Belle said. Knight smiled and said goodbye. Twilight lifted the still in trance Spike and put him on her back. Outside was completely pitched black.

       "Great, what happened to the street lights?" Twilight asked.

       "You need help? Here stick close." Knight said. His eyes seemed to reflect the light of the moon.

       "What's going on with your eyes?" Twilight asked.

       "What? Oh, I forget you don't know. It's how I see in the dark." He took Twilight's hoof and led her. She knew she could just use a light spell, but this intrigued her.

       "Ooh, Twilight's got a boyfriend." Spike Giggled has he whispered to Twilight.

       "Did you set up a place for Knight to stay?" Twilight whispered to Spike.

       "Wha? You never said!" Spike told her.

       "Ha! You’re joking about me when you'd rather see Rarity than help the new pony?" Twilight retorted.

       "Well... Well at least I'm not holding hooves with a stallion." Spike said looking clever.

       "What's that Spike? You don't want gems for a month? Ok." Twilight said and Spike was quiet.

       "Ok, here we are." Knight said letting her hoof go.

       "You go first." Twilight told him as expecting something inside. He went inside. Twilight flicked on the light. There was nothing no ponies hiding, no punch, no Pinkie or her friends, it was just how everything should be. "What?" Twilight said looking under everything and in between books.

      "Everything ok?" Knight asked her.

       "Yeah just fine." She looked nervous that Pinkie forgot about Knight. Did she not like him? No, that was unlike Pinkie to just dislike a pony. A knock came from the door. Twilight walked over and opened it.

       "Hello, Twilight." It was Pinkie looking sad.

       "Pinkie, What's wrong?" Twilight asked now worried about Pinkie.

       "Well Dash and I were going to set up a party, but I was short on party supplies. So... So now we can't do it." She started to cry.

       "Shh, Pinkie calm down it doesn't have to be tonight." She perked up a bit. "I didn't tell him so do it tomorrow." She tried to calm her more.

       "But you don't understand! I've never been late on a party my whole life!" Twilight could see tears forming again.

       "Pinkie I'm sure no pony will know you threw it late only Rainbow, you, and Rarity know he's here." Twilight said.

       "Ok Twilight!" She instantly cheered up. "Tomorrow it is!" She then ran off.

       "Be careful!" Twilight yelled then closed the door.

       "Uhh, Twilight." Spike said. "We don't have anywhere for Knight to stay.”

        "It's ok." Knight said across the room "I probably won't sleep tonight anyway. Still getting used to the whole sleep at night thing." He laughed.

        "You sure? I'd hate to make you sleep on the floor or pass out." She said seriously.

        "It's fine you guys can go to sleep I'll be fine." He took a book off the shelf called 'Advanced Aerodynamics for Pegasi'.

        "Ok, just let me get you a chair at least." She used her magic to take a padded chair from upstairs and Knight blushed. "What?" She asked.

        "So you could do that but you couldn't provide light on the way back?" He said.

        "I could have I just wanted to know if you could see in the dark." She justified.

        "You two can figure your love out I'm going to bed." Spike said which made Twilight blush then he went upstairs.

        "He's kidding, he's just mad I'm not letting him have gems for making snarky comments." She then went awkwardly up the stairs. He began to read in the chair for an hour then heard something outside. He got up and went outside. He glared both ways then flew upward reaching a window he peered in seeing Spike and Twilight sleeping.

        "Hm, wind maybe?" He said to himself. He saw dark movement out the corner of his eye he flew toward it. He flew around the tree a couple times. Nothing? He swore he saw something. Just then something flew past him spinning him off balance. He regained balance and flew after it, but it was too fast. He returned inside. "Definitely not sleeping tonight." He grabbed his book and went outside to the top of the tree he sat reading but kept a keen lookout.