- >It's so cold out here.
- >Nop0ny in this town would be awake right now, but...
- >You're freezing, drenched, it's awful.
- >Not to mention you haven't had anything to eat in, oh, how long has it been?
- >You can't even remember.
- >Not to mention a place to stay.
- >It seems the only lights on are the streetlights.
- >Oh well, guess you'll have to take shelter in yet another alleyway.
- >You continue walking in search of such an alley, until...
- >What's this?
- >A light that's still on?
- >Maybe Luna has finally blessed you.
- >You are Anon and as of late, you've been inflicted with insomnia.
- >No matter how many times you twist and turn in your bed, nothing works.
- >And seeing how p0nies don't have medical drugs...
- >You're pretty much boned.
- >On yet another sleepless night, you've given into... awake.
- >In your kitchen, you're brewing up some special coffee that Rarity showed you.
- >Tastes great.
- >Out of nowhere, there's a tapping on your front door.
- >Jumping, you nearly spill it.
- “God... It's almost 2 in the morning...”
- >Open the door.
- >Standing there is a soaked pegasus staring at the ground... only...
- >Not a pegasus.
- >Leathery wings... Tufted ears...
- >”I-I'm so sorry to bother you, but... I noticed your light was on and it's so cold out here...”
- >...and fangs?
- >Wariness: ACTIVATED
- “Uh... Sure. Just try not to get my stuff soaked.”
- >”Thank you...”
- >She walks in, and finally looks up.
- >”Wh-what?! You're not a pony!”
- “Well, yes. You're not quite a pegasus either.”
- >Her head hangs low with a huff.
- >”I hate being a batpony sometimes...”
- >Wait. Did she just say...?
- “Batpony? So they really exist?”
- >Her eyebrow shoots up.
- >”Well, yeah. Am I not proof enough? But... what are you?”
- >Oh. This again.
- “Uh. I'm a human. Bipedal ape sort of thing, only less hairy. Most of it's on my head. See?”
- >She scratches her chin with a hoof.
- >”Sounds kinda funny to me.”
- “Well, the whole batpony thing seems kind of funny to me. Fangs, leather wings, etcetera...”
- >”Uh-huh. So what's your name, human?”
- “You can call me Anon. And you, batpony?”
- >”Echo.”
- >Ah, like echolocation.
- >Oh god, imagine if you had said that out loud?
- >Wait...
- >She looks grumpy.
- “I... I didn't really say that did I?”
- >She rolls her eyes.
- “Heheh... Well, anyway, I'm guessing you need a place to stay.”
- >”For now, anyways. I don't wanna get in your hair.”
- >Hm.
- >”D-do you have anything to eat, perchance?”
- >A grumbling noise makes its way to your ears.
- >You chuckle softly.
- “I have some things in the kitchen. Help yourself.”
- >She thanks you and scurries off quickly.
- >Man, this is strange.
- >I mean, surely this must all be a dream...
- >Your insomniac brain unable to discern mind from reality.
- >Batponies are only a myth...
- >Right?
- >”Say, you don't have any bananas do ya?”
- >She's an odd one, this Echo.
- >Excitable yet reserved.
- >You and her have been talking for quite a bit.
- >”It's a weird way to go, through the Everfree. I even saw a zebra alchemist. Wasn't sure if my mind was playing tricks.”
- “Well, I can't say I've ever been in there. The amount of times Pinkie Pie sung a song about that place was enough to drive me clear. And that was only her voice.”
- >The batpony laughs a different kind of laugh.
- “Say, why is it a 'keekee' sound you batponies do?”
- >”Well, why is it a 'haha' sound that you humans do?”
- >Fair play.
- >You nod your head in approval.
- >”Don't you ever get tired? Most of you day-things never stay up so long past your bedtimes.”
- “Well, that's the thing. I'm an insomniac. I rarely sleep.”
- >She looks confused.
- “Yes, I still get tired. I'm constantly tired.”
- >”That doesn't sound so great.”
- “But I guess this fits your schedule perfectly.”
- >”I guess it does.”
- >She smiles a toothy-
- >Fanged grin.
- >Looking outside, you see there are numerous slithers of daylight creeping their way into view.
- “We should probably try to get some rest.”
- >She looks at you mischievously.
- >”Well, I'm taking your bed.”
- “Have it. The sofa's comfier anyway.”
- >She giggles quietly and yawns.
- >”Goodnight Anon.”
- “Goodnight, Echo.”
- >It's almost evening.
- >You had expected that Echo would've upped and left by now but you're still downstairs waiting for a peep.
- >Throughout the day, you had decided to gather some fruit for her after she explained her diet.
- >Blood was a... different sort of delicacy though.
- >Most notably, she loved bananas.
- >Why'd you gather them?
- >In case she returns.
- >...Hopefully she returns.
- >Good conversation, and with your other P0nyville friends out of town for the next couple of weeks on “royal business”, you're bound to get lonely at some point.
- >And heck, if she ain't adorable.
- >After what feels like a millenia, you hear movement.
- >Trotting downstairs is Echo, with an anxious look.
- >”Goodnight, Anon.”
- >What?
- “Goodnight? But you've only just woken up.”
- >”Duh? I'd say 'good morning' if I was going to sleep.”
- >Nocturnals...
- “What's got you so riled anyhow?”
- >”Well... I was puzzling for a while before I came down here...”
- “Mhm.”
- >”And I was wondering...”
- >This is gonna take a while.
- “Go on.”
- >”...If maybe, just maybe, I could stay here for a little while longer?”
Don't like ads? PRO users don't see any ads ;-)
Text below is selected. Please press Ctrl+C to copy to your clipboard. (⌘+C on Mac)
create a new version of this paste
RAW Paste Data