He woke up at the crack of dawn like he always did, but his sleepless eyes told a different story than that of rest. He had only gotten to sleep a few hours before, after a long study session with Twilight at the library. They had started with simple pony physics and finished with advanced teleportation magic.
Even though Latenighter was a Pegasus, he had enjoyed reading and learning the spells with Twilight. After they had been introduced a few months before, they had become great friends, after all, she did help him finally earn his cutie mark. Latenighter took a moment and looked to his mark, an open book with a picture of the moon on one page while the other was filled with writing.
He heard a light knocking on the front door of the house as he slowly got off his bed and stretched as he looked for his glasses. He heard Ma trot happily from the kitchen beside his room to the front door to greet their guest.
"Hello," he heard a light voice of a mare that sounded like a harp.
"Why hello there dear, it's been a while, come on in, I think I still have some coffee on.." he heard Ma say as the front door creaked open and the two ponies walked across the hardwood.
"Do you know if Latenighter's here?" The new mare asked as Latenighter opened his bedroom door.
"Here I am," Latenighter said as a large yawn escaped him. "Who's asking?"
"Latenighter dear, you remember Starlet Gaze don't you?" Ma asked as she poured hot coffee into a thermos for the Pegasus.
"Starlet?" He said as he looked to his guest. The magenta earth pony mare hadn't changed much. Her coat was still silky smooth by the looks of it, and her blue mane still fell from her head like the mountain stream, falling gently down her neck until it ended in a small curl. Her face had looked as if it was carved by angels, and she had a glow that he couldn't quite place.
"It's been a while Late, want to catch up in the library?" Starlet said with a playful grin.
"S-sure, as long as Twilight doesn't mind," Latenighter studdered.
"Well? Whatcha waiting for?" The Magenta mare asked as she began to trot to the door. Latenighter followed, trotting like a young colt.
"So.." Starlet asked as they left the old farm house and began to walk down the stone road that led to Ponyville. "Whats all changed since I've been gone?"
"Well about six months ago, Princess Celestia sent her student Twilight Sparkle here to learn about the ways of friendship and report her findings," Latenighter said as they passed the old Oak tree that stood as a road sign where his road split off, one road leading to town while the other led to Sweet apple acres. "Here last month or so we had a parasprite outbreak, but other than that, town hasn't really changed much.."
"So.... nothing out of the ordinary?"
"Nope.."
"Hmm... not even a cutie mark??" She said as she gestured to Latenighter's flank, in which he started to blush.
"Oh Right! I completely forgot, I got my cutie mark! Thanks to Pinkie Pie and Twilight," he said proudly.
"Pinkie, wasn't she that one hyper pony from school?"
"Yep! And she hasn't changed," he said as they began to walk passed the first buildings of the town.
"So, how was Canterlot? Did you finish your degree in astronomy and get into the castle?" Latenighter asked as they passed Sugarcube Corner, where a hyper Pinkie waved from the window. Latenighter waved with his wing as he kept on his path to the Golden Oak Library.
"Well, I did finish my degree, but as for the castle... I didn't get in... they said since Princess Luna was back, they didn't need an astronomer," Starlet said with a huff. "They didn't even look at my resume, all because Luna was back!"
"Well, Princess Luna does know the night sky pretty well," Latenighter said before he was cut off.
"Your defending her! Late! I can't get in with her there and you're here defending her! Come on!" She yelled as they approached the library.
"Starlet, Luna is the bringer of the night... but maybe I could ask her about it?"
"What! As if you even knew her... they wouldn't even let me in the throne room, and you have connections with the Princesses? Don't make me laugh Late!" Starlet mocked.
"Well you see Starlet, that was one thing I forgot to mention... Luna has been helping me getting my writing career started..." Latenighter said softly, a little hurt.
"Late, I'm sorry, I shouldn't have been so mean," Starlet said softly
as they finally reached the Library. "If you could, that would be amazing!" She said as she brought her hoof to the door and knocked.