Daryl was a lot of things. He was weak physically and was terrible at any form of defence, even verbally. He was a cripple with back problems and a full brace on his right leg and had to use a cane to walk, a product of a automobile accident. He was practically blind and used corrective lenses to see.
Oh, and he was on the floor curled up in a ball as two thugs threw kicks at him.
"I get it! I get it! I didn't see anything, please stop! Please!"
He was also incredibly unlucky, as this was his fifth run in with an unsavoury group of people in three days. You see, Daryl had a special talent. It was finding trouble, or having trouble find him. Either worked, because this kind of stuff happened quite often.
A few kicks later the two thugs backed off.
"Ah do apalagize ser, seems mah two fren's ar'a bit vilen' taday." drawled one of the other six men that hadn't beat the tar out of Daryl. "Ya see, we's was jest lettin this guy know tha' we's was protectin his store from now on....and the guys that come in here. Ah'm sure yew won't be lettin anybo'ey know who we's is or anythin', righ'?"
Daryl just shook his head as the man helped him up and handed him his cane. "Of course not. You completely came in here and saved me from a couple of brutes, you're a hero."
"See, tha's jes' what Ah'm sayin dawg! We's the good guys here!"
Ten minutes later Daryl was on the city bus headed home. It was only six in the afternoon but he was hurt and tired and more than eager to go to sleep.
~~~~~~~
He went by Nighttime Cityscapes, and he was what you classified as one mean mother effer. He was also a pegasi, dark grey in coat with a silver mane and tale. Silver also flecked the feathers of his wings. His eyes glowed red in the nighttime lighting and his fangs glistened, betraying his secret. He was not only a pegasus pony, but a vampony at that. Using a hoof to play with his unique heart pendant and the ring that sat upon it he awaited the right time.
~~~~~~~
Daryl was roused awake by extremely loud knocking on his front door. Seeing as his house wasn't big he yelled for whomever was at his door to give him a couple of minutes. Lurching up in his bed, Daryl secured his brace, located his glasses and grabbed his cane before creaking up to standing position and turning to leave his room but grabbed one last thing. It was a memoir, a simple necklace with a ring, but he went nowhere without it.
Hobbling through his home Daryl just made it to his door when someone on the other side kicked it open and caused it to hit his cane. The resulting cause and effect meant that Daryl hit the ground hard without his cane for support as a police officer cursed.
"Damn, I'm sorry about that sir, let me help you up."
Grunting his lack of give a shit Daryl allowed the officer to help him while asking him what was going on.
~~~~~~~
Some hour and a half later Daryl sat at the local Polis Department office listening to Officer Graham, a man he was decently acquainted with, explain how a group of criminals was taken down by some vigilante that had been hard at work. Daryl had heard of this vigilante before, and parents had even started using him, or it, as a story to keep their kids in bed at night.
"So, our resident pony superhero struck again? Doesn't he leave a calling card too? 'Nighttime Cityscape'...Graham, have you guys thought that maybe he slips a hallucinogenic into these guys systems first?" Daryl laughed. This wasn't his first time being brought in relation to this case. Apparently this 'Nighttime Cityscape had a necklace similar to his own, but it couldn't possibly be the same, as Daryl's was from his late fiancée and held her unique one of a kind engagement ring. "I take it someone described a heart pendant and a ring again?"
Graham couldn't help but smirk. "Yup, some tirade about a red eyed hell pony with wings and teeth that were like knives. We still had to bring you in, as per protocol of course, and I do apologize for the rookie knocking you down earlier."
Daryl laughed and shook his head for the umpteenth time that day. "Again, not a problem, I get hurt almost every day so that was nothing."
Graham and Daryl continued their friendly banter for a bit longer before Graham's face turned a bit more serious and sombre.
"Daryl, you still coping well? I know it was hard for you, hell, it was hard for me. We were like brothers, and I rooted for you all the way and had your back up to that night. I mean, we've both lost our parents, but she was something else. I've never loved someone like you loved her, but I know it hurt. I want to know you're still doing okay." Graham asked softly.
Daryl's face grew blank as he thought back to the gang bangers that had been racing when they lost control and slammed into the restaurant killing Daryl's beautiful five minute fiancée. The lass had literally just said yes when the wall crumbled and a burning wreck of vehicle destroyed anything in its path.
"I'm doing pretty good considering it all. Thank you for asking though Graham. Seems you've always pulled my ass out of the fire, one of these days I plan on returning the favour. And Graham thanks for being there for me. It wasn't easy, but I'm doing better."
Smiling Graham offered Daryl a ride home before he had to start his night time patrol.
~~~~~~~
Silent and swift as an owl swooping down on its prey four partially booted hooves whispered as they struck the rooftop. Swiftly sneaking over to the side of the building the figure watched as a police officer followed a suspicious man into an alley...into a trap....
~~~~~~~
Officer Graham finally thought he'd managed to find his break. He'd been tracking a drug operation for a couple of months and he'd finally managed to catch a glimpse and give chase to one of the lead suspects. Graham couldn't help but smile as panting from his quarry filtered back to his ears.
Graham smiled grimly as he watched the man duck into an alley that Graham knew turned into a dead end. Rounding the corner Graham confronted his cornered prey.
"Sorry, but you just turned into the wrong alley. Face down, hands on your head."
"Officer Graham, so glad you could make it to the party. Drop the gun or my friends will be forced to shoot you rather than teach you a lesson."
Immediately recognizing the trap Graham dropped his firearm and rolled forward just as a baseball bat whizzed past his head. Spinning around Graham made to throw a punch at the man with the bat when a second slammed a fist into Graham's jaw. Immediately two others stepped forward and secured Graham's arms. As this happened a well dressed man stepped out from the shadows.
"Officer Graham, vigilant as ever. I apologize for the crude tactics, but you have been a very large thorn in my side as of late. You see, your good work has been disrupting my supply lines. Because of this I haven't been able to get any new shipments, and that annoys me greatly. Because of this my associate Salvadore is going to have to teach you a lesson." the man explained as a larger man with brass knuckles stepped forward. Just a Salvadore started walking forward a shape slammed into the burly man and pushed him back a metre.
"Didn't I tell you fools that this was my alley? You know, the last time I chased your dealers out of here. Oh, and that's my human you've got over there, so if you don't mind releasing him..."
Graham couldn't believe it. All the druggies and dealers were right! Sure as the sun rose in the morning there was a winged pony! Its coat was a lime/neon green and it had ice blue hair. It couldn't have been taller than 5'3" but it had obvious musculature and wore what looked like leather boots on its hooves.
The crime boss narrowed his eyes fiercely. "Cityscapes, right? I've heard tales of you. Some avenger who fights against all crime and fights for the good of everybody. I see the tales of you being a little horse with red eyes and pointy teeth weren't far from the truth either."
Cityscapes merely narrowed his eyes. "I care little for the laws of this world. What I do care for is ages and right and wrong. Sell your mind poisons to whomever you please, but do not sell to children and do not assault the innocent to get your point across!" With this said Cityscapes reached under his wing with his mouth and tossed a small bag towards the crime boss. "That is a bag of powder I have held onto since my arrival. It holds the dried crushed residue of a plant from my own land. I have found it is a powerful hallucinogenic for humans. Three grains last four an hour, four for three hours, five will kill you. I don't mind you taking five grains granted, but it would be impolite to not warn you. Now release Graham and be on your way."
The crime boss eyed the pony critically for a moment before voicing his thoughts. "And why not just take you and the cop both down now? I mean, I could ju-"
Before the boss could finish his words Cityscapes had him on the ground and had his muzzle next to the boss' throat. "And what is to stop me from simply killing you now? You will leave, and you will obey my rules."
Five minutes later Cityscapes was staring critically at the one other being in the alleyway. "Graham, I hear you've been quite interested in meeting me. Heard you've been at it for quite a while now. Also heard you said something about how if I was such a good guy why didn't I show my face. Something tells me your world wouldn't be too prepared for this."
Graham couldn't help but agree as he tried to keep his mind from going nuts. The pony in front of him, now that Graham could see its face, had bright red eyes and four fangs where a humans canines would be.
"What are you?"
"Right now I'm Nighttime Cityscapes the pegasi vampony. But in reality, I can be anything that breathes. But we have met before. Meet with Daryl tomorrow morning and hoof this amulet to him. He will know what it means. Oh, and Graham, I highly dis-advise you tell anypony about this meeting." Cityscapes explained before spreading his wings and launching himself into the air leaving a very, very confused Graham in his wake.
~~~~~~~
Daryl was awoken yet again by knocking, granted it wasn't incessant this time. Hauling himself up he realized his necklace was missing. Narrowing his eyes Daryl realized that whoever was on the other side of the door knew about his special friend. Upon opening the door Daryl was mildly surprised to find Graham in off duty clothes.
"Daryl, I believe this is your, oh, and I think we should talk." Graham said flatly as Daryl nodded and motioned for him to step inside. Once Graham was inside Daryl relocked the door and led his friend to the dining room and took a seat.
"So then Graham, you have met my close friend Nighttime Cityscapes. I hope you can understand why I never mentioned him to you. He is a bit different after all. How did you meet him by the way?" Daryl asked calmly from his seat as Graham stood in the doorway.
"He helped me out of a mess last night. Nice enough guy, er, pony, but I don't care for how he just let the men that had me go, he even gave them some hallucinogens!" Graham grumbled in annoyance.
Daryl just smiled. "I can see why that would bother you, but you must understand a number of things. First is that he isn't from here, nor does he want to be here. His arrival was caused by an explosion of power that I've related close to something like a bomb. It somehow managed to throw him through a portal. Second, they have magic where he comes from. Not like our magic, but true magic like from stories. Cityscapes can control weather patterns, handle or 'hoofdle' clouds as it were. His emotions can cause different elemental responses. Excitement for electricity, sorrow for ice, anger for fire and can just randomly draw loose moisture from the air. Now third, he doesn't care for this place in the slightest. He fights, he acts tough, but from what I understand he only does this for survival and to protect me. I asked about it once and he glowered darkly and muttered something about hive minds. But no, he doesn't like to fight, but he believes in protecting the young, the elderly and the innocent. Sadly he doesn't see much of this world, or himself for that matter, as innocent."
Graham let this new knowledge of Cityscapes float around through his mind for a time before finally settling on what to say next.
"How does he plan on getting home, or can he?"
"We found a way, but it requires an exact amount of energy, essentially the equivalent of one person's life. I told him to go nab a thug off the street, but his morals won't stand for it. Then I got to thinking and realized that I don't do anything anymore other than hobble around and eat food and gets cheques from the government. I'm getting him home, and I'm going to see her again. For now though he needs a place to stay while I get everything prepared. Can you let him stay with you and finally take that week’s vacation?"
The way Daryl admitted it to Graham shocked the officer to his core. He'd known Daryl since they were both kids and they'd always been friends. "You can't just die! I mean, he isn't even human and you want to give your life for him?! What the hell, I'm not doing this, there is no way in hell I'm doing this!" Graham raged until Daryl threw a loaf of bread at him.
"It's happening Graham. We need a third party to take care of the evidence. I know this is a lot to take in Graham, but I'm tired of things and my heart is failing anyway. I've got a year tops and my knack for bad luck doesn't help. I'm going to die regardless; I might as well do something worthwhile before it happens."
Nodding in defeat, as Graham knew of Daryl's failing heart, the man left to go home and prepare for his new guest.
~~~One week later~~~
Graham trudged through the woods as he neared Nighttime Cityscapes. The stallion was waiting patiently for Graham to arrive and once he did Nighttime's relief was evident.
"I wish to thank you for this by the way. Once it is done I'll have five minutes before I fully disappear. Anyway, I thank you for your company over the past seven days, and I wish for you to have a full life. Be safe Officer Graham."
Nodding approvingly Graham set about readying the odd crystal that the pony had produced and readied. With a few nudges and pokes as well as careful placement Graham had the crystal ready and Cityscapes activated it.
"Five minutes is now in effect. Anything you wish to tell me or ask me?"
Graham thought about it for a moment before his eyes settled on a unique ring and pendant that Cityscapes was wearing. "Why are you taking that with you?"
"To remember the man who saved my life. There is a gift for you by the way. A dvd sits in your house on the coffee table Graham. It will explain to you everything."
There was a sudden flash and Nighttime Cityscapes was gone.
~~~Back in Graham's home a few hours later~~~
Graham smiled satisfactorily as he finished watching the dvd. Who would have thought someone could make you believe they were the same man you'd known your whole life. It was a shame that Daryl had died two years prior, but it made sense. Just happy no one had actually had to die to send Cityscapes home, Graham came to the startling revelation that the pony had stayed to give him closure. In retrospect it made sense, especially given Cityscapes rather kind attitude. He didn't not like Earth because it wasn't home, he disliked the place because of its collective 'badness'. Cityscape was a kind stallion pony that happened to have strong negative reactions to negative things. Made the idea of the poor guy coping back home an interesting prospect.
"What are you up to now Cityscape?"
~~~~~~~
As his senses began to filter back in Cityscapes was quickly aware that a group of guards had him hemmed in, there was an entity pushing at the edges of his mind trying to regain its access and that he seemed to be at some sort of formal event.
"...doing here?!"
"Wha...?" Cityscapes mumbled groggily.
"I said, 'What are you doing here? This is a wedding!"
Cityscapes slowly managed to figure out that the stallion yelling at him was white with blue hair. He quickly remembered the stallion as a betrothed Prince to be from two years back. This also sent shivers of worry through Cityscapes as the edges of his mind were broken into and images of badly injured ponies were pushed through his mind. He remembered that these same images used to be debilitating and were meant o make him mentally retreat into his head. As the entity pushed its way forward he became distinctly aware of a plan involving the very even he was at. Angry at this entity and recognizing it for what it was Cityscapes fought back with images of his own he'd picked up from Earth.
"GET OUT OF MY HEAD!"
Just as Cityscapes screamed his denial to the entity and pushed it free from his mind three score black chitinous beings broke into the ballroom Cityscapes realized he was in.
