It had finally begun to calm down, and as the barn rose ever higher, the three were able to find some respite.

Merry trotted beside Dawn, talking with him cheerily. Star glanced over her shoulder, seeing them in deep discussion together. She looked to the darkening sky with a muted yawn. "It's been a long long day!" she mumbled.

Night nudged her with a smile. "Yeah. It has. We helped out, though."

Star sighed and looked back out towards the town. The guards continued to walk around, seeming restless despite the late hour. "We did, hope it helped us too."

Night circled in front of her. "We can't help ponies just to get something. That's a little, um." He fished for the word, but couldn't find it. "It's not right."

"I know." Star sighed. "Still, I'm tired of being judged."

He put a hoof under her chin. "I'm not judging."

Star blushed, looking into his eyes. "Um, yeah, well. We're on the same side, silly."

Behind them, Dawn slid in closer to Merry. "It's really nice running into you today. It feels like everypony's got something they're upset about."

Merry shrugged. "Yeah. It's, well." She looked back at the group of ponies moving around to make the last few adjustments on the barn. "At least we finished with that."

"Yea." Dawn rubbed behind his head. "We're alike." Merry looked at him quizzically. "Ponies get on both our cases, um. Wanna see something?"

"Well, sure?" Merry smiled. "Show me."

Dawn closed his eyes and focused on his magic. With a dark flash, he turned into the familiar form of a bat pony.

Merry stared, but didn't run.

Star was on Dawn an instant latter, swatting them about the shoulders. "We're in public," she hissed. "You wanna get beat up?!"

"Ow! Hey! Quit it!" Dawn covered their head with their wings.

Night tried to pull Star away. "Hey, calm down!"

"They don't need you defending them, Night. I can handle myself just fine!" Dawn shot back.

Merry looked between the others with a blush on her cheeks. "I think it's cute."

All of them stared at Merry, dumbstruck a moment. In the surprise, Dawn returned to their pegasus form.

"You like that?" Star pointed at where Dawn had been, mouth open wide.

Merry shrugged and blushed. "I just don't see any reason for them to change."

Night grinned. "Finally. Another pony who gets it. What are we gonna do with you two?" He looked at Star, shaking his head.

"I'm gonna go home." She lifted her nose into the air and began marching away.

Dawn shrank a little. "I didn't mean to, um, tell her I'm sorry, please."

Night nudged in. "Tell her yourself. Merry, we should all head home. Long day and all."

Merry nodded. "Alright! See ya!" She darted off. "And thanks again!"

When Night returned, he found Star in a corner of their shared room, curled up. "You can come out now. Nopony's mad at you or nothin'." He leaned down, placing his hooves on Star's shoulders. "We knew we needed to be careful, right?"

"Yeah." Star peeked up at him, sniffled. "I'm sorry, I got scared. It was so public, and he looked so..."

"I know." Night gave her a quick hug. "I know. He feels bad, but he still did a stupid thing."

Star nodded, rubbing her eyes a little with her hooves. "So, the town should like us now?"

Night shrugged. "Maybe? I think they're just, um, they're just tired from all the work and worry." He nestled in with her. "I doubt they love us now. We helped because we wanted to. Let's be happy there's a new barn. It was kind of neat, right?"

"Yeah. It was." Star curled around him, resting her head on his shoulder. "It was nice."

"Good." Night leaned into her. "Because, honestly, it was fun."

"It was." Star closed her eyes. "You're really good at finding gems, you know that?"

"Thanks." Night smiled, rubbing his head on hers. "I just want to do good for ponies." He yawned suddenly. "No starwatching tonight. I'm so tired."

Star nodded, nestling into him with a yawn. "Night night."

***

The next morning came. Star peeked open an eye and looked down at Night. The colt was sleeping soundly with his hoof wrapped around her. Star let out the softest of sighs and slid off the bed. She stretched out with a little grunt, then trotted out to the main living area with a smile. The smell of fresh apple pie was on the air.

"Ma?" Star peeked into the kitchen. "Are you up already?"

"Of course I am, child." Ma wiped some sweat from her brow as she slid a fresh pie out of the oven. "You were all out most of yesterday. What were the lot of ya so busy wit'?"

"We were helping." Dawn trotted in, glancing over the food cooking there. "We worked all day to help put up a barn!"

Ma turned back to the stove as she replied, "Good fer ya. That barn needed raisin', glad it got done." She turned back for the oven. "Breakfast'll be ready soon."

Star smiled at her mother's back, tail swishing a little from side to side.

Dawn went over to the pantry, looking at what was in stock, and helping himself to some oats for a bowl of cereal. A hoof bonked him lightly on the head on the way out. "Jus' said food's comin', show some patience."

Star giggled, but poured herself a glass of juice.

Breakfast came and went. Dawn nibbled the last bits from his bowl. Night, still rubbing sleep from his eyes, stared at his food before taking a bite. "What are we doing today?" They took a fresh bite, perking up as they devoured breakfast. "Maybe we should find Merry?"

Night shrugged as he chewed. He took a sip to clean up his mouth before replying, "Sounds like a plan to me. Maybe we'll make a few more friends this time."

Ma sat back and folded her arms. "Figures. Of all the creatures, y'all went an' decided to make friends with the other outcast? That ain't gonna get ya more friends."

"We don't care about that," Star shot back. "Besides, if ponies don't want us for being us, they can stay away."

Ma looked at them, clearly not agreeing. "That's all fine'n'dandy. Just don't come cryin' to me when yer feelin' lonely. I can't be everythin' for ya."

Despite her words, the group set out at a lively trot onto the road outside. They went from house to house in search of the pony they'd met yesterday. After some searching, they finally located Merry.

They knocked on the door.

A moment later it swung open. A tall, burly pony opened the door, looking down at the group of fillies and colt with a raised brow. "Merry? Think these're the friends you mentioned?" He stepped to the side.

Merry popped out a moment later with a big smile. "That's my dad! Isn't he big?" She hopped out with a laugh. "Gives good hugs too."

"You don't get in any trouble." Her dad closed the door without returning to sight.

Night looked at Merry curiously. "He's kinda scary."

The group turned and started trotting, moving down the road a little.

"Maybe, but he's nice. Always has been." Merry smiled as she looked aside at the others. "You should know better than to judge ponies just on their outsides like that."

They all blushed at having the lesson turned about on them. Night cleared his throat. "So, where are we heading?"

"We could play tag in the fields?" Dawn suggested. She flapped her wings excitedly. "I'd be real good at that!"

"I'm sure you would." Merry moved in to bump against him. "But no flying. That's hardly fair for the rest of us."

"Come on, I can do a little!" Dawn flapped her wings for emphasis. "Just to make things more even?"

Merry nodded. "Uh huh. So what else are we doing?" She perked with a sudden notion. "Why don't we help. You all like helpin' ponies out. This time, we can help the guards."

"Help them?" Night shook his head. "I'm not helping somepony who wants us locked away."

"Not that kind of help." Merry gestured at the nearby buildings. "We can go searching for that prisoner, so they won't have to."

Dawn frowned thoughtfully. "If we found them, that'd be big news. Everypony would know we're good ponies if we did that." She turned to the others, smiling a little. "I bet momma would be proud of us for that."

Night grunted and looked down.

Star shook herself out in her steps. "That sounds a little dangerous, but if we did it." She trailed off on that last part, imagining it all.

Dawn blushed and nodded. "Yeah! If we could, we'd be famous!"

"We'd be heroes." Merry smiled at that.

"We have to do this," Dawn said firmly.

Night threw a hoof. "Fine, fine! Since you're all so set on this."

Merry giggled. "That's the spirit! Let's get out there and find ourselves a criminal!"

They marched through the town, heading down the street. The Eclipse Born had to be quick about moving around all the adults walking by. They didn't have time for foals getting underhoof, and odd foals even less.

Soon, they found themselves on a side road heading out towards the woods. The road was dusty from disuse. It didn't help that ponies avoided the area as much as possible on account of being a little spooked by what lay beyond.

Night stepped ahead of them, tapping at his head. "You'd all be lost without me. Watch!" His horn glowed as he wove a spell into being, thin laser lights firing out in all directions a moment. "Let's find who doesn't want to be found." He smirked and led the way. "This way!"

The four foals dove into the forest and began walking in the direction the beam had pointed. Night pushed bushes aside for the others, helping them find their way through. Merry advanced to the front, proving she could take care of things in the way faster with her bulk. "Real kind of you, but focus on that magic of yours. Make sure we don't get lost."

Star laughed. "No doubt about it. Night always gets us where we're going, no matter what." She reached over and rubbed his head. "Did you teach yourself all your magic?"

Night wrinkled his face at that. "Of course I did! Who else was gonna teach me?" He pointed to the left. "That way."

Dawn flitted about from bush to bush, exploring around as she followed. "I wanna learn some magic too."

"Magic's for unicorns." Merry gave Dawn a playful shove. "You should learn to be the best pegasus you can be. Or that other thing. What was that other thing you turned into?"

Dawn looked aside with a blush. "Um, well, I can also turn into a bat pony. We all have different gifts."

"Oh, well, that's neat. I'd like to see that sometime." Merry hastened towards a shack ahead of them.

"Maybe," Dawn said with a little smile.

Night held up a hoof. "Don't go rushing in there." It came out in a warning hiss as he backed towards some cover. "Could be dangerous in there."

Merry slid into a hiding spot beside Night. "You're being awfully quiet. What do you think is in there?"

Star and Dawn ducked down beside them.

"Trouble." Night stopped his magic. "Trouble we have to catch, without getting hurt."

Author's Note

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