As the town hall clock struck twelve a lone pony stood eyes half closed outside an abandoned building, currently owned by the offices of PW Waddle and Son Realtors, trying desperately not to fall asleep.
Smudge was an yellow Earth pony with a large brown mark on his muzzle and had only been working for the firm three months. Thus begin the newbie he had been saddled with the annoying jobs like cleaning new proprieties or letting new tenants in.
As Smudge was about to drift into the embrace of Luna's dreams the sounds of a conversation floated across the still night air. "I told you will should have left earlier" a male voice said weariness evident in his voice.
"Well I'm sorry but is it my fault if Black Lotus couldn't meet us on time. You of all ponies should understand what it is like to work for the Night Mother" a high pitched females said annoyance evident in her voice "How much further is it dear, the others are restless and it is almost the young ones feeding time"
The voice groaned and Smudge finally made out the silhouette of a small cart being dragged by a single cloaked pony.
As the cart approached Smudge remembered the instructions given to him by Mr Waddle. He removed the cover from the lantern he had been using to keep himself warm and biting it began slowly waving the lantern back and forth until the cart came to a complete halt.
Keeping to his instructions Smudge placed the lantern on the ground and keeping his eyes averted and swallowed and addressed the cloaked figures "Good night sir, even amongst the most glorious of the days?"
"The magnificence of the night will follow and eclipse even the most brilliant of days" the cloak stallion said in a deep voice completing the security phrase.
Smudge let out a breath he hadn't realized he had been holding. "Thank you sir" he turned and grasped a scroll he had sticking out of his saddlebag "Now if you can just sign here and present your deed we can get you settle in right away"
"Of course" the stallion said and hoofed a parchment to Smudge who scanned the document and started when he saw the official crest of not only Ponyville but also that of Luna own personal court. The stallion hadn't seemed to have noticed his surprise and hoofed the parchment back to Smudge and quickly retrieved the deed.
"Now sir" the Stallion said "if you don't mind my family and I have had a long trip and would really like to start unpacking. Besides my wife gets very cranky if she can't hunt every couple of days"
"Of course Sir" Smudge said unsure what to make of that last comment and presenting the keys to the still cloak pony "Okay, now do you need a tour of the premises or any other help before I leave?"
"Well actually " the feminine voice said.
Half and hour later Smudge was regretting trying to be helpful. He had be roped into helping them unpack their cart, which consisted of several large travel trunks and a large pile of bags. The other occupants of the cart had quickly moved into the dark building as the cloaked Stallion and Smudge began unpacking . It took a while to move all the trunks indoors and after nearly tripping on the luggage for a third time Smudge had insisted they turn on the lights. This was meet my hesitation but the stallion soon relented "when in Canterlot" he had muttered as he flicked the switch.
He left out a small hiss as the light flared on and covered his eyes with his foreleg. "There goes the night vision" he moaned and pulled back his hood to reveal what seemed to be a normal earth pony with slightly pointy ears, gray fur and a purple mane.
"Thank you very much mister Smudge" the stallion said turning to Smudge who was dragging in the last trunk "it really is true about Earth ponies and their hospitality and strength, It would have taking me the rest of the night to unload that cart so thank you. Here have a tip"
Before Smudge could argue the stallion tossed him a small coin which landed right in his saddle bag. Smudge gaped at the gesture and a amazing-ness of the shot "Thank you sir and if you need anything else I've left my card in your letter box. Now if you will excuse me" Smudge backed out the room and sighed, he was so very very tired, but at least now he could get some sleep.
The stallion closed the door and flicked the light switch to the off position. He closed his eyes and opened them and felt the power flow lighting up the room. Starry Knight splayed his leathery wings and yawned, his fangs gleaming in the moon light. "I wonder what the Night Mother has planned for us now" he smiled.
A small blur of grey bounded down the stairs and one latched itself onto Starry Knights leg while the other bounced around "Dad, Dad, Dad, Dad, Dad, Dad, Dad, Dad!!!" the little voice yelled "there's werid springy thing in our room!"
"Don't you mean your room Fang?"
The small colt stared up at his father with his wide eyes a look of confusion written
"
Field notes on Pony myths and legends.
By Wandering Script.
Entry 37
700 Years since the fall of Nightmare Moon.
"My studies on ancient pony myths have brought me from my studies in Canterlot to a dark part of the forest in the Hayseed swamps.
The ponies in question were once said to be pegasi but were corrupted and changed by ancient and evil powers into blood thirsty monster known as VESPERTILIO MINUSCULUS or the BAT PONY.
These creatures were said to be a dark grey in colour with large leathery bat like wings. They are so said to be carnivorous and feed on the life blood and meat of their victims. When I asked the settlers in the nearby Baltimare they all seemed to believe these creatures were legends and stories made to scary fillies and foals and give flight to the imaginations of writers and such.
But I believe these creatures are real.
As I spent my time in the Canterlot libraries researching the tale of Nightmare Moon I came across stories and descriptions of odd ponies she altered to suit her needs. After months of research I found proof in one of the basements of Canterlot castle, old armor which did not belong to any of Celestia's guard and did not feature in any of the public records. It was oddly shaped and bore a crest which I had never seen (and being one of the librarians in the nobility section of the Canterlot Library, I know these things) its design seemed to suggest it would not fit most ponies, but before I could gather anymore data I was caught by the royal guard. After spending a week in one of castles jail cell for trespassing in a forbidden part of the castle I gathered up all my savings and set out to find the proof.
Entry 38
As I leave Baltimare and set off into the Hayseed swamps I must report that I found the same crest I found on the old armor on a tree just outside the swamps. It cannot be a coincidence, maybe some of the altered ponies use this to mark their territories.
I will leave this journal with the innkeeper before I begin with instructions to send it to the Princess in Canterlot if I do not return in 3 weeks."
These were the last known writings of the pony known as Wandering Script. Search teams were sent out to look for the missing pony, but with no success. The records were finally delivered to Canterlot 2 years after his disappearance (the inn keeper was old and kinda forgetful)
All notes and known research by Wandering Script on the subject were sealed in the restricted section of the canterlot library until Luna's return 300 years later, where upon Luna made her biggest decision since returning.