Chapter 1
For one thousand years, we have stood vigil over the deepest shadows of Equestria, avoiding the brilliant light of the sun.
There are many who would fear us, for we are different. Where they frolicked and played, we stood silent vigil, awaiting the return of our rightful ruler.
They called her a monster and told stories of her terrible acts.
We did not dispute this. She did many terrible things.
They cursed her name and avoided the night.
We accepted this without hate. Those who had suffered were rightfully angry.
They drove us from the skies we loved, banishing us to the darkest caves of the most inhospitable mountains.
We folded our wings and waited. The caves were our home as well, and we could make them comfortable.
They did not understand us. They did not try to understand us.
We understood them. We never stopped watching.
They were the majority of the population. The Earth Ponies, noble and strong, who worked the land and fed Equestria. The Pegasi, swift and bold, who changed the weather and worked the world. The Unicorns, masters of mystery and magic, who helped create high culture and raise cities from the ground.
We had never equaled their numbers, together or alone. We were among the smallest segments of the population, outnumbered and ultimately alone.
Generations passed. They moved ahead, changing as civilizations always do. Cities rose, technology advanced, ideas spread.
We watched them change, but made few ourselves. We had no need to change our ways while our duty was left unfulfilled.
They crossed the seas and met with ponies from far away, negotiating treaties and creating trade routes to bring in new and exotic goods.
We spoke to no others. Not visitors from far away, and not other creatures of the night who lived lives so close to our own. We accepted what goods we had and left it at that.
They explored the depths of the world and made a land largely secure from threats. It was not perfect, but they generally managed, and they lived in peace and harmony.
We built our own walls and waited behind them, even safer than they, for our existence had been quickly forgotten. We did not seek to change this.
It would have been easy to hate them for what they did, but our Princess would never have accepted that.
It would have been easy to steal all they had, but they were ponies who should have been our friends.
It would have been easy to abandon our Princess and submit to the light, just to lay down our burden for awhile, but we could not bear to move on.
We, who loved the dark, were too weak to step into the light without her.
Then came that fateful day when the stars were finally right. She returned, as we knew she would.
As we knew she must.
It did not take her long to find our dreams once the terrible one had gone. We opened our gates and let her inside.
As always, we were ready to serve her. The greatest among us begged for permission to travel back with her to Canterlot, rather than letting her fly on her own, as had been our ancient duty.
She gave permission.
The greatest among us begged again, taking out armor newly made and weapons newly forged so that they could serve as her guards.
She allowed our service.
Once more, the greatest among us begged, asking that she watch over us as we integrated back into the society of Equestria and made ourselves known once more.
She accepted. Our waking hours, as well as our dreams, would be observed by our beloved ruler.
With our Princess returned, we made no secret of our presence in Equestria. There was no need for secrets.
With our Princess returned, we told no lies about our beliefs and our faith in her. There was no need for lies.
For one thousand years, we had been loyal servants, waiting for our Princess to return. Our loyalty continued.
We knew that our wings frightened others.
We did not hide them, but instead spread them for all to see.
We knew that our cultures were different now, and our ways must seem strange.
We invited them in, to teach our ways and destroy the fear that ignorance causes.
For the Earth Ponies, we brought food and beautiful flowers that only bloomed in the darkness, to show that we cared for the same land as they.
For the Pegasi, we scheduled tournaments and competitions, to show that we shared the air and loved to fly.
For the Unicorns, we offered up treasured secrets of arcane power, to show that we had knowledge and intellect.
Many of them were afraid of us, but that was fine.
We had waited a thousand years for this. A little extra work to prove our goodwill wasn’t so hard.
The best among us walked proudly beside our Princess. In turn, our Princess stood as the equal of Celestia, whom the other ponies revered. The day was theirs, the night was ours, and there was no need for conflict in a land we shared.
We did our share of work and then some, never complaining about the difficulty of the tasks.
There is a long way to go before we will have truly integrated. Many ponies are scared of us, of our ways, of our fearsome appearances.
That is acceptable.
For as long as it takes, we will reach out. If they will go halfway, then so will we. If they can only hold up their hoof, we will stretch out to grab it.
Even if we are rejected, we shall continue to accept them.
If Equestria needs us, we shall be there. That is our ancient duty, our pride, and our joy to offer.
Do not be afraid of the darkness, for we are the Watchers of the Night.
From dusk to dawn, the land is ours, and we shall protect it.
Rest well.