//------------------------------//
// Prologue: When the Shadows Arise 
// Story: The Dawn Chronicles - Book 1: The Star at Midnight 
// by littlelionbigheart 
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	It was midnight. Most of the ponies across Equestria were most likely sleeping, resting, in their comfy beds... Midnight Star shook her head of these thoughts. Her teacher was Princess Luna, and she generally stayed up late with her, studied and other things. But right now, she longed for sleep more than anything. Luna walked down the final steps of the tower, reaching the bottom, where Midnight was. Luna had been watching the moon, making sure everything was right, while Midnight sat at the bottom of the tower, Half asleep. 

Midnight perked up a little when she saw her teacher. "Is it time to leave now Luna?" 

Luna slowly nodded her head. Luna flew down to lower ground, while Midnight teleported, to where a carriage awaited them. They both climbed in, and the two ponies, pulling the carriage, flew up into the air, heading towards Ponyville. Midnight watched the long shadows the Moonlight cast from the carriage on the clouds that soared past. 

They flew past Cloudsdale, but Midnight had about 7 seconds to look at it before it too, along with the clouds around it, were lost in the distance. They passed over Saddle Arabia and the Crystal Palace, Midnight was too mesmerized by the castle's beauty to notice her mother was lecturing her about Ponyville. 

"... And Rarity will most likely want to know everything there is to know about Canterl-- Midnight!" 

Midnight whipped her head around. "Sorry, you were saying?" 

Luna cleared her throat. "Then there's Applejack, who is more honest than anyone you might know, and also Pinkie Pie, who loves to party. But just a warning, don't hang around her too long, something might land on your head. There's Rainbow Dash, who aspires to become a Wonderbolt one day, Fluttershy, who loves to take care of animals, and by her name, you can probably guess that she is very shy. Last but not least, the pony you will be staying with, Twilight Sparkle. She loves magic, and books. In fact, she lives in a library! You might have heard about her from Celestia, considering she is her student." 

Midnight nodded her head quickly in response. "Yes, I have heard many great things about Twilight, and I am really looking forward to meeting her!"  

The stallions pulling the carriage started to slow a bit, as they were reaching Ponyville soon. Midnight peered down through the clouds, and gazed at what was to be her home for the next year or two, possibly longer. There was the occasional street light on, which alighted the streets with a pale orange glow. She almost fell out of the carriage, as a sudden jerk from the front had knocked her balance off. 

Midnight straightened herself out and forced herself to look away from the small yet beautiful town. The carriage was centimetres off the ground when Midnight jumped out and landed on the fertile earth. She looked up and saw the Tree Library that Twilight Sparkle has been calling home for many years. Luna leaped out of the Carriage, with grace. 

"Welcome Midnight, to your new home."

Midnight raced up to the door, but Luna stepped in front of her as she was about to pound on the door. 

"No, she is sleeping. At least, I would hope. Anyway, if she is, you shouldn't wake her at this time of night." 

Suddenly, the door opened and there stood Spike, Twilight was looking on one of her bookshelves for a book, not even noticing the company she had. "Twilight! We've got company!!!!" 

Twilight turned her head and all of the books she had been levitating with magic dropped to the ground. "Princess Luna!" Twilight ran over. "How nice to see you! And I suppose this is your student, Midnight Star?" 

Luna nodded with a smile. "Indeed it is. You remember what Celestia and I had asked of you?" 

This time, it was Spike who spoke. "I know! You guys agreed that Midnight was going to stay here while she studied!" 

Twilight smiled. "Yes, right Spike. Now... I have no idea where you are going to be sleeping." Midnight smiled with a tired face. 

"It's okay, tonight, I could sleep anywhere!" Midnight peered around Twilight and Spike. "And if you want, I can help you with this mess of books. Or help look for a book." 

Twilight blushed. "Oh no, it's fine. And please excuse the mess. I didn't expect you at this hour... Give me one quick second!" With that, she slammed the door. A minute later she opened the door again, a bed was in the other room of the library, and the mess was clean. 

Midnight gazed at the once messy room that was now almost sparkling clean. "Wow! You do a good job at cleaning! Could you do that with my room back at the Castle?" 

Twilight laughed. "Anyway, if you want you can read some books before you sleep or--- Midnight?" The door to Midnight's room where she would be staying was closed, and a soft snore could be heard. "Well, I guess that settles that." 

Princess Luna dipped her head in gratefulness. "Thank you Twilight Sparkle, this will not be forgotten." With that, Princess Luna flew back to the carriage and they zoomed off. Twilight closed the door and walked up to her own bed, and turned the light out. 



Meanwhile, in a dark alleyway in Ponyville, two mysterious creatures, were discussing "Important" matters. 

"What do you mean the Toxicon queen was injured during the travel?!"  

A male snarled back at the female who had spoken. "I mean that she was hurt, has a boo-boo, understand?" 

The green liquid on both their hooves started to turn a dark shade of red.

"I understood that captain obvious, I meant how did she get hurt!" 

The male rolled his eyes. "Leena, she was almost drowned by cave rats, you were there!" 

Leena frowned. "Oh yeah. Well still, you could have told me Gavier! It would have been 50% easier!" 

A gurgling noise came from a Manhole cover underneath them. Gavier put one of his hooves on it and it immediately disintegrated. A Cave Rat, which was very large, scurried by, making the gurgling noise. Many creatures that looked like Leena and Gavier chased after it, as Cave Rats were and always had been their main source of food. 

"After you Leena." 

Gavier motioned towards the open hole to their sewer home, and Leena flew right in. Gavier followed after and they too started to chase after what would be a delicious meal. Soon, they would not only have the sewers to themselves, but all of Equestria to themselves! If, that is, their plan worked, which, with the help of King Sombra's horn, could not fail.