It has been a thousand years since I came to Equestria, a thousand years since I met Luna. Five hundred years since I saved and adopted Mi Amore, and in that time my legend has grown. I have gone from a myth to a living legend, for every horrible and despicable creature I go after, my sack of toys grows larger. I still handle the night when Luna watches dreams, and my daughter ascended almost four hundred and twenty five years ago this year. I have watched as Luna took in a student who proved exceptional at magic, I watched as the first ever sonic rainboom occurred and I knew it wouldn't be long until Daybreaker returned.

It was getting close to the fall moon celebration where the ponies celebrated the longest night of the year, it was three days away when I suggested Twilight go to Ponyville to check on the preparations and make friends. Luna agreed with me because she had noticed Twilight becoming more reclusive in her books and like me could see the potential for greatness. Today was the day Luna would give her the quest that would start it all, as I stood next to Luna in the shadows so only she could see me. We awaited Twilight Sparkle and her number one assistant to come through the doors to the throne room.

"Princess Luna, I'm sorry if we've kept you waiting" Twilight said running through the doors and sliding to a stop bowing to Luna. I chuckled silently as Luna rolled her eyes and bid her to stand back up as Spike walked slowly up to Twilight as she said "so what do you need me to do Princess?"

"Please Twilight, how many times must I tell you?" Luna started looking bored. "Just call me Luna, and I need you and Spike to head to the town of Ponyville to check on preparations for the fall moon celebration."

"Of course Princess, you can count on us" she said smiling. I chuckled once more as Luna told her and Spike that they would be staying at the library of Ponyville until after the celebration at which Twilight beamed causing me to chuckle again. As Twilight and Spike left I made myself known to the throne room, and looked to Luna.

"You know she will send you a message saying your sister shall return on the morning of the celebration correct?" I said.

"Of course I know that's why I'm going to send her a message saying she should make friends, however" she started.

"I already planned on following her, after all what kind of protector doesn't protect?" I asked, chuckling slightly as I started heading for the door.

"Are you traveling your way or by train?" I heard Luna ask from behind me.

"I figured I'd follow her the normal way, besides" I said, turning my head slightly. "I've yet to try the train." After Luna bid me farewell and good luck I stalked through the shadows following Twilight Sparkle and Spike, as she floated their bags behind her, and Spike was going over notes and lists by the looks of it. It took about forty five minutes of walking for us to reach the train station, I watched from inside one of the cargo cars as Twilight paid for their tickets and entered the train bound for Ponyville.

I just decided to move cars once the train left the station, so navigating my way on top of the train, I landed on the platform of the rear passenger car before the train entered the tunnel. As the train traversed the tunnel I stalked through the passenger car, and the one after that until finally I found Twilight and Spike. Sitting opposite them I decided to listen in on their conversation.

"This is so exciting Spike, the princess is entrusting the preparations for the fall moon celebration to us." Twilight said.

"Yeah, but it will probably be a little easier considering you have at least seven different lists" Spike said jokingly.

"You can never have too many lists Spike, I'm just...I don't know" I heard her say, making me raise an eyebrow.

"What do you mean Twi?" Spike asked.

"I mean the books I've been reading, they point to an old evil coming back and every time I've tried bringing it up princess Luna changes the subject. I think that's what she is really sending us to Ponyville for" she said.

"Please Twilight" Spike started sounding exasperated. "We need to focus on the preparations, not some old mares tale."

"Yeah I guess you're right Spike, but when we're not busy I'm going to continue researching it, because I know I'm right." She started, "so what's first on the list?" She asked.

"First we need to speak to mayor mare and then." I decided to zone out and ignore their conversation knowing how events would go. I decided to close my eyes and wait for when we hit Ponyville, so I could continue my vigilant watch and make sure everything goes without a hitch. It had felt like only a few seconds that my eyes had been closed when I heard the toll of the whistle, signalling that we had reached a destination, opening my eyes I found the train at the Ponyville platform, getting out of the seat and stretching I left the car in the silence of shadows and followed Twilight.

As per her list the first place she stopped was the town hall to meet with the mayor, to figure out who to check with and about what. I listened in as Mayor Mare gave Twilight the names of the ponies to check with, first was Applejack about food and refreshment, second was Rainbow Dash about weather, and third was Fluttershy for music and fourth was Rarity for decorations. I knew along the way she'd meet Pinkie Pie and I knew that for the time being I had to steer clear of her but I had a sinking feeling she already knew three ponies had come to Ponyville and wouldn't stop looking for me. I watched as Twilight thanked the Mayor and left town hall headed for Sweet Apple Acres, I decided to follow her sticking to the shadows, it was time for the mane six to get started.

~~~~~~~~~~Twilight POV:~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Alright Spike first on the list is Sweet Apple Acres, for food" I said to Spike as we left town hall and headed down the road to where the mayor said it was.

"I know Twi, I've already got the checklist started" Spike said smiling. As we walked along through Ponyville, a lot of ponies waved or said hi to us. Spike waved back, but I just tuned it out, after all I was on an important mission for the princess. It took us fifteen minutes to reach Sweet Apple Acres, after leaving town hall and coming upon the gate to the farm both me and Spike were struck speechless, there were trees as far as the eye could see. Walking down the path from the entrance to the farm it didn't take us very long to come upon one of the residents of the farm, a tan mare with a blond mane, wearing blue jeans, cowboy boots, a tank top and an old stetson cowboy hat.

As we approached her I started thinking this might be Applejack, the mare we were sent to talk to. "Excuse me?" I asked as we got close enough to her, "but you wouldn't happen to be Applejack would you?"

"Ah sure am" Applejack said smiling. "And who might y'all be?" She asked us.

"I'm Twilight Sparkle and this is my assistant Spike, we were sent by Princess Luna to check on the peepers for the fall moon festival" I said hoping we could get this done quickly so I could study.

"Shoot why didn't just say so, we got everything food wise covered from pies, fritters, cider, cobbler,you name it we got it. Would y'all like to have a taste, make sure it's to your liking?" She asked us with a smile.

"No thanks, we're just here to make sure everything is ready" I said right before my stomach betrayed me. Letting out the loudest gargle I've ever heard, 'shoot I knew I shouldn't have skipped breakfast' I thought to myself as Applejack chuckled.

"Sounds like y'all are lying, but don't worry, the Apple's never turn away a friend" she said as she rang a small bell attached to one of the posts on the porch. Soon a table of food and a sea of ponies greeted us and practically begged us to eat, claiming friends don't let other friends go hungry.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~Krampus~~~~~~~~~~~~

I laughed from the shadows of the apple trees as Twilight and Spike were practically forced to take part in the impromptu Apple family feast. Sneaking my way through the shadows and ponies I made my own way to the food table and selected a few snacks of my own for later consumption. Walking back to the trees to wait I watched for at least fifteen minutes as Twilight and Spike ate and talked with the Apples, as they waved goodbye and started to leave the apple orchard, I followed once more. It wasn't five minutes before the Twilight was bowled over by Rainbow Dash, during her practice session, knowing how the rest of this day would go I decided to head to the library, mostly to leave the book that contained the legend of Daybreaker, and another book about my legend.

As I stalked through Ponyville, keeping to the shadows and skirting as far away from Sugar Cube Corner for now, it took me half an hour of stalking carefully to finally reach the library. Slipping through the shadows to the interior of the library, no one was hidden just yet, meaning I didn't draw the attention of Pinkie, and she hadn't run into Twilight yet. It was actually larger on the inside than I thought it actually was, and there were more shelves than the show gave it credit for slipping through the shelves of the library. It didn't take me long to find what I was looking for. The non-fiction section, I managed to find books about tall tales and legends, finding my toy bag I opened it and reached in pulling out the books I needed to, Predictions and Prophecies and The Boogeyman of Equestria: Fact or Fiction, to be honest the second book always made me raise an eyebrow because it was apparently written by someone that I had taught a lesson to, and had first person accounts of run in's with me.

Shaking my head I set the books in the correct places on the shelves, and resealed my toy bag. Deciding I had taken enough time placing the books, I crept from between the bookshelves to notice the library was packed with ponies. 'How could Pinkie have done this with me inside the entire time and I was only placing those books for a few minutes at most' I thought to myself shaking my head. Deciding I wanted to experience the surprise like a normal pony, I silently snuck out of the library and it didn't take me long to find Twilight and Spike on their way to the library, with Spike having hearts in his eyes and Twilight in a beautiful dress, and a fancy mane style, snickering I followed them back to the library.

~~~~~~~~~~~Twilight POV~~~~~~~~~~~

It had taken me and Spike longer than I had thought to finish the checklist, mostly because of Rarity. She even denied me giving her money, because "friends do things like that" 'ugh' I thought to myself. "I can't wait to get to the library and just study" I said out loud causing Spike to chuckle a bit. Finally reaching the library I opened the front door to be greeted by darkness, I shrugged and walked in.

"SURPRISE!!!" I jumped at least three feet off the ground as the pink pony who gasped and ran away from me and Spike earlier was suddenly in front of me.

"What is all this!?" I asked, still a little startled and trying to get my breathing under control.

"This is your surprise, welcome to Ponyville party silly" the pink mare said, bouncing up and down. "I'm Pinkie Pie by the way, do you like the party, well do ya, do ya, do ya?" She asked excitedly.

"Well...yes but why through somepony you don't know a party?" I asked, perplexed. Watching as Spike walked away from me and to a food table set up a little ways away.

"That's easy silly filly, so me and everypony else could get to know you" she said happily. I suddenly felt myself dragged through the party and introduced to every single pony there, slowly I warmed up to the citizens of the town and slowly started to mingle. Tasting great food, playing games and talking with the five mares I had talked to about the preparations for the celebration. The party lasted until about 9:30 pm and as everypony left I thanked them all, especially Pinkie Pie for the party, finally able to relax, I perused the shelves of the library seeing what books it held within.

Perusing the non-fiction section I came across two books I had never seen or read before. I grabbed the books in my magic and giddily walked back to the main portion of the library where there was a couch setup. Plopping myself onto the comfy couch and carefully setting the books on the coffee table in front of me I picked up the first book Prophecies and Predictions and started reading. It took me about two hours to finish the book and I had finally been able to piece together the full story, my eyes widened and I yelled to Spike "Spike!, Take a letter."

"Arghhh, alright what am I writing?" He asked grumpily, getting up and grabbing a quill and a piece of parchment.

"Dear Princess Luna, I have come across a horrible conclusion. The villain Daybreaker will be returning after a thousand years on the day of the fall moon celebration. We need to find the elements of harmony so we can banish her once more" I said watching as Spike wrote everything I said down and with a breath of fire disappeared. "Good now we wait for her to respond and then I can read the other book" I said, then I looked to the other book 'Equestria's Boogeyman: Fact or Fiction' I picked it up and flipped it open, turning back to Spike I said "let me know when the Princess responds" watching him nod I decided to read the second book.

It felt like I had only been reading for a few minutes, when I felt Spike tap my shoulder. Smiling at him as he handed me the rolled up letter I nodded to him signalling he could go to bed. Undoing the crescent moon wax seal, and unrolling the letter, I read it...once, twice and finally on the third time it sunk in.

"Dear Twilight Sparkle,

Thank you for writing your letter and letting me know about what you found. However it would be in your best interest not to follow old mare tales and find friends, your only young once after all. Tell Spike I said hi, and please enjoy your time in Ponyville.

Your friend,
Princess Luna"

I couldn't believe the princess would tell me not to focus on a possible threat to the country and tell me I need friends. 'I don't need friends, I have my books' I thought to myself and smiled, until I remembered how much fun I had had at Pinkie's welcome party for me. Sighing I decided to head to bed deciding that Equestria's boogeyman was a myth told to keep young colts and fillies in line. Trudging up the stairs to my bedroom, I opened the door and entered, closing the door silently behind me to make sure I didn't wake up Spike.

Face planting onto the bed I pulled the covers over my head and decided I would continue my research tomorrow. Besides I still had two days until Daybreaker returned, I would figure out how to find the elements of harmony in time for the fall moon celebration.

Author's Note

Again I'm sorry if this seems rushed. And I'm sorry I'm using POV again I just figured it would help the story flow, I don't plan any more POV changes because I want to challenge myself. That's why I'm writing this story, I felt this chapter flowed really well.