Early one midsummer morning, Ponyville gained its newest - and, by some measures, most unusual - resident, one Vanta van de Nacht. Little is known of her life before moving to the rustic Royal Town, but thanks to the comprehensive diaries she kept following her arrival on the outskirts of the Everfree, an accurate portrait can be painted of her early adult years. With the kind assistance and cooperation of her surviving descendants, and with funding from the Canterlot Archival Committee, these diaries are presented here for posterity in semi-dramatised form, and are necessary reading for all who would learn of the genesis of one of Equestria's most influential - and instantly recognisable - politicians.

A note on the calendrical system used here: Though Vanta van de Nacht herself preferred to use a highly idiosyncratic calendar of her own invention, all dates mentioned have been converted to the Standard Equestrian Calendar, which works - for those outsiders who may be unfamiliar with the system - as follows:
Ancient Era (AE) refers to the time before the founding of Equestria, with dates counting back from that time (c.f. the AD/BC system used by many humans).
Classical Era (CE) is the time between the founding of Equestria and the banishment of Princess Luna.
Interlunate Era (IE) refers to the millennium during which Princess Luna was banished.
Elemental Era (EE) refers to the modern day, counting from the winter solstice later in the year of Luna's return.
There are twelve months in an Equestrian year, each of approximately thirty days; the names of these months have in this edition been Anglicised for ease of human understanding. The start of the year is the winter solstice, twelve days before the start of the human year.