//------------------------------// // New in the Neighborhood // Story: The Demon and his Daughter // by Manic Moon //------------------------------// It was a normal sunny day in Ponyville. The sky was blue and everypony was enjoying their day. No, strike that, not everypony. Twilight Sparkle was at wits end. 3 little fillies were currently running wild in her library and crusading for new opportunities to get their Cutie Marks. Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom and Scootaloo were sitting on a big pile of books and browsing through page after page to find a new way to end their lives as so called ‘Blank Flanks.’ Twilight did her best to restore some order back in her home, but the odds were three to one (Spike was no help, since he was still sleeping in his basket rather soundly). She tried using her magic to reorganize the mess, but for every book she put back in its shelf, the fillies were already throwing around two other ones. "What did I do to deserve such a punishment?" she said, when suddenly the voice of Scootaloo came out of the pile of books. “Twilight! What´s a ‘demon pony?’ ” “WHAT?!?” Twilights scream echoed through the whole library, when she realized how loud she just said this simple question. She shook her head and went to the 3 little fillies, who looked at her in unison, pretty nervous because of her sudden outburst. "I´m sorry, what was your question again Scootaloo?" Scootaloo held an old black book in her hooves. The cover read ‘Monsters & Myths of Equestria.’ On the open page was a picture of a pitch black pony with sharp teeth and eyes without irises. It holds an evil grin and stands above a frightened pony. "The book says this thing is called a demon pony. What kind of ponies are they and why don't they have a Cutie Mark?" Scootaloo asked. Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom were looking over her shoulder to see the scary picture too. Twilight sat herself down next to the Cutie Mark Crusaders and thought for a minute, then she remembered the old story of the demon ponies. "The legend of the Demon Ponies is as old as Celestia herself. They are evil creatures without a soul. It´s said that they are stronger than a Minotaur and fireproof like a dragon. Demon Ponies can´t get Cutie Marks because they have only one talent. " "Which one? Which one?" the 3 fillies said in union. "EATING BAD FILLIES!!!" Twilight shouted, rising her hooves in a dramatic gesture. The girls fell over in surprise. "AAAAAAAAH! What was that for, Twilight?" Sweetie Belle asked, slowly getting back on her hooves. Twilight giggled "Sorry. I couldn't resist. But thats what my mother always told me about the demon ponies, when I was a little filly. You shouldn't worry about these creatures. It´s just an old fairy tale to scare fillies.” "Too bad. We could have been Cutie Mark Crusaders Demon Pony hunters... Maybe we could still try to find a evil pony and pretend it´s a demon pony!" Scootaloo said. "That´s a great idea Scootaloo! Let´s go and find a big net and everything else we need!" Apple Bloom said. All 3 fillies ran out of the library, happy to finally got a new crusading goal. Twilight shut the door behind them and sighed. Because of the loud screaming Spike, having finally awoken, came down the stairs of the bedroom. "What's all this noise? You know I love to sleep long time on Saturdays. " Spike mumbled incoherently. "Spike! Finally awake? Just in time to help me reorganize the library. Those three little hurricanes sure made a big mess around here." Twilight smiled warmly. The complaining of the little dragon could be heard around the whole neighborhood of the tree-library, almost to the road skirting the Everfree Forest, where a big carriage slowly made his way to Ponyville. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- In another part of Ponyville, Rarity and Pinkie Pie were enjoying a little brunch. Both were sitting outdoors and waiting for their orders. Like always, Rarity was sipping on her tea while Pinkie explained her plans for the day at speeds even Rainbow Dash couldn't keep up with. "... And then I'll go to Fluttershy’s, because she’s giving Gummy his weekly scale massage! She is always so happy to care for Gummy. She says he is so quiet and easy to satisfy. And then....." Pinkie Pie was going on and on like this, when suddenly Rarity caught some movement from the corner of her eye. It was Mayor Mare, and she was taking the 'For Sale' sign off from a house right across the street. "Look Pinkie, it seems somepony new is moving to Ponyville. Perhaps someone famous from Canterlot or..." "A new villager! This is so awesome! I've got to do a Welcome party for him! Or her! Or maybe it´s an entire family, with a colt, a mare, some fillies and maybe even a pet! " Pinkie said. She was bouncing around the table gleefully, much to the annoyance of Rarity. "I've got to go and set everything up for the party! See you later Rarity!" She was speeding away in no time, leaving a trail of multicolored balloons and party favors in her wake. "But your order...? Pinkie?” She sighed. “Looks like I have to dine alone today. " Her look got a little bit darker." And I have to pay alone, too... Though at least these new ponies can be sure to receive a nice welcome in Ponyville." Rarity took another sip from her cup of tea and kept on enjoying the day. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The day went on and with every waking hour the sky was getting darker and darker - the Pegasus ponies were planning a rainy night. When the last ray of sunlight disappeared, Derpy gave a the central rain cloud one big buck and the rain began. Everypony hustled into their houses and only now and then you could see a single pony running to get home and out of his wet misery. Soon, the clocktower of the village showed nearly midnight. Just a small couple of houses still had lights on. One of these houses was that of Twilight Sparkle. She was reading the last chapter of the new Daring Do book (Daring Do and the Prince of Chaos). She knew that Rainbow Dash would visit her in the morning to get it and she had to know how the story ended. Twilight was absorbed in the epic battle between Daring Do, Discord, and Discords son, when a big carriage came to a halt right next to the library. A dark figure made its way to Twilights frontdoor. A loud knock goes through the library and Twilight turned her face away from the book. "Who could that be? In the middle of the night and with this weather outside it must be something important." She made her way down the stairs and to the frontdoor. Slowly the purple unicorn opened the door and peered at the figure out in the rain. At first she thought that Zecora was standing before her, because the pony was wearing the some hooded cloak like her zebra friend. But it also had a scarf on and his eyes couldn't be seen in the dark of the night. The pony before her was as big as Big Macintosh too. She has to admit, that she was a little bit intimidated by this stranger, but she didn't back away. "Good evening, Sir! How can I help you at this hour?" she said. "I'm really sorry to bother you in the middle of the night Ms, but I saw that there was still some light in this house and I hoped that you maybe could tell me the way to the Flower Street Nr. 11. I'm new around Ponyville and can't find it in the dark. " the stallion said. For a moment Twilight could have sworn, that she saw a completely blank and white eye in the face of the stranger, but she quickly put this thought to the side. Probably just her imagination, reminding her of the tale she had told the crusaders earlier. "Of course. It´s not too far away from here. Just go down the street to the village well and turn left. Should be the second house on the right side." Twilight saw the carriage behind the pony. "May I ask who you are and where you're coming from?" "Ah, Where are my manners? I am Manic Moon and I lived in Manehattan. My daughter and I hope to start a new and more peaceful life here in Ponyville. " "Nice to meet you, Manic Moon. My name is Twilight Sparkle. I moved here from Canterlot some time ago and I can guarantee you, that this is a wonderful place to live. You and your daughter will love it here." "Thank you Ms. Sparkle! I indeed hope so." He turned around and went back to his carriage, mumbling to himself, "I should hope so indeed..." Manic Moon disappeared in the night and Twilight closed the front door. "Manic Moon. That´s an interesting name for a pony. I wonder what his special talent is." Suddenly the picture of his white eye came back into her head, but she shook it off quickly. "I really should got to bed now. My mind is starting to play tricks on me." Twilight whispered to herself. She climbed in her bed and with the sound of the rain outside she soon drifted off to sleep. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Manic stopped at the house with the Nr. 11. He opened the door of the carriage and turned the light on. "Wake up Zelda... We're in Ponyville. The rest of the night we can sleep in our new house." he said quietly to the pony in the back, voice brimming with love. A little unicorn filly crawled out from under a well-worn blanket, rubbing her sleepy eyes. A tired, but happy "Yay!" came from her mouth. Manic smiled and gave her a kiss on her head, before gently picking her up and walking them to their new lives in Ponyville.