In this story, Latenighter meets the Purple unicorn that everypony has been talking about.
He Checked the mirror again to make sure that his mane was straight and looked nice.
"Your just going out for lunch to meet Twilight, Latey, you don't have to look perfect," Pinkie Pie said. "Yea I know, but Ma always told me that first impressions mean everything, and I don't want to look like I just came out of the fields," Latenighter said as he walked out of his room, and joined Pinkie pie in the walk to town to meet the unicorn known as Twilight Sparkle.
Latenighter paced his bedroom as he combed his mane up and ate a couple breath mints. Today was the day, as Pinkie Pie, who he had gotten more in touch with had invited him to a lunch with her friend Twilight. He could hardly stand it, meeting Twilight had been on his list ever sine she moved into Ponyville. He had even wrote a small story about her, which Princess Luna had thought was a little on the small side, saying it wasn't like the mare to just leap into battle, and that he should meet her before he wrote anything else about her. Latenighter had agreed and had focused on other stories, one being about a Pegasus from another world that saved Equestria with his super powers.
There was a knock at the door as Pinkie bounded through the door. She lost her balance and tumbled to the floor, where Latenighter helped her back up again.
"You know Pinkie, there is such a thing as waiting for me to open the door," Latenighter said as he helped up the fallen earth pony.
"Oh silly, but then it wouldn't be a surprise of who was at the door, and besides, your mom said to just walk on in," Pinkie said, looking at the Pegasus with joy.
Latenighter looked to the mirror in his bedroom and started to play with his mane again.
"What are you doing Latey? It is just lunch with Twilight, I mean it's not that special, we have lunch every Tuesday," Pinkie said, looking peculiarly at Latenighter, who had began to hover just off the ground.
"I know Pinkie, but Ma always told me that First impressions mean everything when you meet a new pony, and I don't want to look like I just flew out of the field to have a lunch," Latenighter said as he touched back down again. He smiled and looked towards his friend. She had talked more to him after Twilight came to town, and for once, he had began to listen to her. They had since then became better friends, and she had helped him with a few of his chores around Ponyville, acting as his eyes on some of their Hay fields outside the city.
"Let's get going before we're late Latey," Pinkie Pie said as she began to bounce around in his bedroom before bouncing out of the room and towards the front door of the house. Latenighter simply rolled his eyes and giggled as he followed her out the door.
"Have fun you two," Called Ma from the house, in which Latenighter waved back in return.
As the two ponies walked towards Ponyville, Pinkie explained just how exactly he had gotten invited to the lunch that Pinkie and Twilight usually shared alone. They had decided to branch out a little and bring a friend to their lunch, and Pinkie thought since Latenighter had always wanted to meet Twilight, what better way to introduce the purple unicorn.
"She will probably bring one of our other friends, Twilight doesn't have too many here yet, but I think I heard her say she was bringing Rainbow Dash with her," Pinkie said, before looking to Latenighter with a scared look.
"Rainbow Dash," Latenighter said with slight anger in his voice. The two Pegasi knew each other, and weren't really on speaking terms at the moment. Latenighter met the cyan Pegasus while she was placing a small rain over the city, giving their fields life giving food. Later that day, she had stopped by the farm and had a downpour on their house, simply yelling gotcha and flying off.
She had been pranking around him for the past two weeks, and it was getting not only annoying, but more and more destructive. The last prank she did nearly had one of their largest hay fields die when she cracked lightning, setting the field ablaze and then having a torrential rain to put it out. He had chased her for miles before his wings cramped up and he had to stop.
They reached Ponyville and walked through the town while they came closer to the burger joint where they were having their lunch that day.
Pinkie Pie and Latenighter walked through the doors and found the table that harbored Twilight and Rainbow Dash in the corner of the restaurant. They walked over to the table where Pinkie started the formalities.
"Hi Twilight, Hi Rainbow Dash, this here is my friend Latenighter, but I call him Latey for short," Pinkie said as she introduced the Pegasus to the two mares.
"Hello there, my name is Twilight Sparkle," Twilight said, with a Pinkie like grin. She reached out a hoof for a hoofshake, which Latenighter accepted before speaking.
"Howdy Twilight," Latenighter said. "Stupid stupid stupid, how stupid are you Latenighter, I mean come on, Howdy, am I from the wild west of Appaloosa" Latenighter scolded himself in thought.
Twilight seemed alright by it and even giggled a little.
The four ponies then went a little too silent, so Twilight broke the silence with a question.
"So I see that you are a Pegasus, do you happen to know my friend Rainbow Dash?" Twilight asked a little awkwardly.
Latenigher shook his head as a giggle escaped him, "Twilight, just because we are both Pegasus doesn't mean we know each other, but in the case of Rainbow Dash, yes..... I know her," Latenighter said, giving an edge in his voice at the end of his answer. He looked straight at Rainbow, who was beginning to smile at the stallion. "And if she keeps her antics to herself, this will be a pleasant lunch," Latenighter said, looking straight into her eyes.
"Oh Latey, it wasn't that bad," Rainbow blurted out, along with a fit of giggles.
"Not that bad huh, you nearly destroyed our largest crop of Hay," Latenighter said, beginning to get frustrated.
Twilight began to sink down into her chair, "Oh, you too don't like each other at all, maybe I should of brought Fluttershy instead," Twilight said.
Both of the arguing ponies stopped and looked to the unicorn. "No Twilight, it is just that Rainbow has been pranking me for the last three weeks, and last week was the final straw, but if she is content enough to just enjoy this lunch without pranking me, than I would love nothing more than to eat lunch with you two," Latenighter said as he then looked to the menu.
This seemed to convince Twilight as she herself looked to the menu, asking herself what it was she was going to eat for the meal.
When Latenighter looked to at the menu, his eyes widened at the prices. No wonder they ever ate here, the hayburger was six bits for a single patty hayburger, and the hayfries were eight bits for a small. he dropped the menu and nearly shouted, "These prices are outrageous."
Twilight looked over at him with a concerned look before asking, "What's wrong Latenighter, don't you have enough bits?"
He drooped his head down low before whispering out an answer, that was barely audible, "No, no I don't." He then looked up to the other three ponies, and then to the door. "I think I will just wait outside for you guys to eat, don't worry about me," he said as he got up and nearly ran out of the joint.
"Was it something I said?" Twilight said as she looked to the door, then back to the two mares sitting in front of her.
"No Twilight, that's just how Latey is. He isn't from the richest family," Pinkie said with a sad demeanor in her voice.
"Then I screwed up this whole day by coming here, instead of going to that diner on the edge of town that has my favorite daisy salad," Twilight said, looking increasingly worried at the door.
"He's not coming back in Twilight, by now he is probably half way home," Pinkie said, looking to the door also.
"I could of paid for his meal Pinkie, he just left without an explanation," Twilight said, now looking like she was about to cry. "it's all my fault that he left."
Pinkie put a hoof on Twilight's shoulder and soothed her out of her tears. "No it's not Twilight, he's just really stubborn like Applejack, maybe even more so," Pinkie started, now patting Twilight on the shoulder softly. "And tradition runs deep in the dirt family, in that a stallion should always pay for his own meal, and everyone else's if he can," Pinkie said. "It's his head and stubborn pride that drove him to leave Twilight, not you, but we can go find him and maybe get his mom to cook for us," Pinkie said, her mouth now watering. "Oh my Celestia Twilight, you haven't lived until you have had Ma Dirt's cooking, I mean she can make the best pie in Equestria, and that's saying something since the Apple family has blue ribbons at national contests for their pies," Pinkie said, now a puddle of drool spreading across the table.
"Alright Pinkie, let's leave and try to find him. Are you coming with us Rainbow Dash?" Twilight asked as the other two mares got up from the table.
"Of course Twilight, I mean I wouldn't want him to get hurt knowing that I am somewhat to blame here," Rainbow dash said as she hovered off of her chair and then followed the other two out just above the ground, and they left the burger joint and went in search of Latenighter.
His vision started to blur as he flew his way home, as the tears started to flow. How could he even of went, she was no different than the rest of them. He didn't see a tree fast approaching until it was too late, looking up to see the massive trunk of an oak tree everywhere. He hit the trunk full speed, and fell to the ground. He looked up and saw a bunch of yellow birds flying around his head. He groaned a little as he fell over, passing out.
Twilight and the others started their search around the town, except for Pinkie Pie, who bolted off for the old dirt family farm.
Latenighter opened his eyes to see the trunk that had knocked him out, and turned his head a little to see a starry mane. He followed the mane to see the violet alicorn it was connected to. He looked over and seen Princess Luna, jumping up, he tried to bow, holding his head.
"Art thou alright?" Princess Luna asked. "Or are you just sleeping under the tree."
Latenighter looked up at the princess before he spoke. "Princess Luna, what are you doing here?" He asked the bringer of the night.
"I have noticed that your dreams have been troubling lately, and I was on my way to talk to you when I saw you under this tree," Princess Luna said as she used her magic to heal the massive bump on his head. "So can you tell me what is wrong Latenighter, my friend?"
Latenighter looked at the princess, before turning away. "You are a Princess of Equestria, you don't have time for my daily struggles," he said, a little embarrassed.
Princess Luna's face went from caring to almost a snarl. "Latenighter, don't you ever insult us like that again," she said, bringing her hoof over to Latenighter's chin and bringing his face back to hers. "Yes, I am a princess of Equestria, but that doesn't mean that I don't have time for other ponies. I make time for all of my subjects, either in the waking world, or in the world of sleep, even for their daily struggles," she said as her face returned to it's previous caring state. "Now tell me what has my first friend from this time so troubled?"
Latenighter sighed as he opened his mouth to speak, he wasn't going to be able to keep it in forever. "Well, I guess it all started when Pinkie told me a couple days ago that I was finally going to meet Twilight Sparkle," he started.
"So you met the unicorn that freed us from the moon?" Luna asked. "Was she like you expected?"
"No Princess, she wasn't. She was just like the rest of them," he said slowly.
"Whatever do you mean, I have seen the way she cares for her friends, why would meeting another make her any different?" the princess asked, deeply interested in the conversation.
"Well, I guess looking back, it could of kinda been on me too," Latenighter said. "We had lunch at the local hay burger joint in town, and the prices were so high and I didn't have enough bits to even afford a single hay burger," he said.
"And you didn't ask for any help for payment?" Luna asked, a little confused.
"No Princess Luna, my family, we have deep rooted traditions that we were raised by, and I couldn't let them pay for my meal," Latenighter said, a little embarrassed.
"Ahh, traditions, I see now. Yes, I know how hard it can be following traditions, and I understand now why you left, but do you think that you could of went about it differently?" Princess Luna asked.
"Well, maybe I could of stuck around and watched them eat, but that would of just been degrading," Latenighter stated, looking back to the oak tree that felled him earlier.
"What I mean was you could of talked to them about it, maybe gotten them to go somewhere a little easier on bits, or even asked if they could help you out on the payment," Princess Luna answered, moving so that Latenighter was looking at her again.
"Maybe Princess, but it was my first time meeting her, and I thought that she and Rainbow Dash were going to start making fun of me," Latenighter said before breathing out another speech under his breath. "Like the others."
Luna's ears perked up at the sound of his whisper and looked deeply into his eyes. "They have been bothering you again, those three mares, haven't they?" Luna asked, looking extremely concerned.
"Yes Luna," Latenighter said just above a whisper. "I used to fly over Ponyville when I went to check the fields on the other side of town, but now that Pinkie and I have been hanging out, I have been walking through it again, and everypony has been noticing again. All I heard the week before last was Poor Farmer and....., Blank Flank," Latenighter said, a single tear coming to his cheek, and rolling lazily down until it became air born and fell to the ground.
Luna Brought forth one of her wings and pulled the stallion to her side. "Let no pony tell you that you are not unique Latenighter, I have seen through your words that you will become an author Pony one day, and one day will possibly change the world with those words. and I do understand your financial situation, but I do think that in time the bits will come to you as well, and know that through these times, the ponies that take time out of their day to talk to you and be your friend, will be there for a long time," she said with a comforting smile. She noticed out of the corner of her eye a pink fluffy tale poke it's way over a bush, as if looking to make sure the coast was clear. "And I don't think I am the only one who thinks this Latenighter," Luna said as she gestured to the tail that had popped back up.
Latenighter looked over and smiled as he seen the tail reemerge from the bushes.
"I will leave you to make your apology Latenighter," Luna said as she took a couple of steps back before taking off the ground. She began to fly north when she stopped and turned around, "And I am still waiting for your newest story," before returning to her path and flying out of sight.
The tail in the bushes began to wag and Latenighter sighed as he called over to the pony that the tail belonged to.
"Pinkie, you can come out of the bushes now," Latenighter called.
As if on queue, the tail grew a body and jumped out from behind the bush. Pinkie Pie walked over to the young Pegasus before exploding in speech.
"Latey, we have been so worried about you, Twilight thought that you left because of her and she felt so bad and now she and Rainbow Dash are out in Ponyville looking for you, I knew that you wouldn't be in Ponyville so I ran straight for your house when I saw Princess Luna talking to you, hey, I didn't know you were friends with Princess Luna," Pinkie said, all in a single breath. She gulped in another and began to speak again, but Latenighter placed his hoof over the pink mares mouth.
"I am sorry for leaving earlier Pinkie, and no, I didn't leave because of anything Twilight said. It was stupid of me to leave without asking if we could do something else or help me," Latenighter said, pawing the ground.
"Ok Latey, well now we want to know if ma can cook for us?" Pinkie asked, looking to where Latenighter used to be, but found only a dusty replica of him there. "Now why would he leave this time?" Pinkie asked herself, "Sounds like bad writing to me, am I right," Pinkie said to a nearby cloud, that said nothing in return.
Just then she heard the voice of one of her friends, Applejack coming up the path.
Pinkie Pie watched as Applejack walked up the road before addressing her.
"Hi Applejack, what'cha doin?" Pinkie said as she watched the orange farm pony walk up to her.
"Well howdy Pinkie, I was just heading up to Latenighter's place, Big Mac is going to be busy takin off the corn, and ahm going to be busy in the orchard next week, so I was going to ask Latenighter if he could Help Big Mac out with the corn harvest," Applejack said as she reached the pink pony. "What brings you by this particular tree?"
"Oh You know, just talking to myself, or am I?" Pinkie said, looking to blank space.
"I can see that Pinkie, well, do you want to walk with me up to the house?" Applejack asked as she began to walk up the path towards the farm owned by the Dirt family.
"Sure, why not, maybe Latenighter went back home," Pinkie said as she followed in hoof with the orange earth pony's proud steps.
"Well, if'n he aint there, I'll just leave a message with ma," Applejack said as she continued towards the farmhouse down the old road.
Latenighter was up in the tree where the others couldn't see him. When he had seen it was only Applejack, he thought about coming down, but he didn't really want to explain his methods to the farm pony. Him and Applejack had gotten along pretty good over the years, with the apples being like family to him. They had either been over at the apple orchard helping them or the Apples were helping him and his family with the hay fields. She had always messed with him about not wanting to be a farmer full time, but didn't take it too far after that. He had always picked back saying that she was too into her farm, which had always gotten her more sour than a rotten peach. He was even doing the countryisms now, he was really into the harvest this year.
After the two mares left the oak tree, and vanished from his sight, Latenighter left the tree and began to walk back to the house, and explain his vanishing to Twilight and accept Applejack's offer and probably get yelled at by Ma, like he did by Luna earlier.
Pinkie Pie hopped through the door of the Farmhouse just as Applejack opened it, pushing her against the door frame.
"Hi Ma, Hi Ma!" Pinkie shouted happily as she bounced around the room.
"Afternoon Ma," Applejack said politely after catching her breath.
"Why hello Applejack, Pinkie Pie, what brings ya'll round here," Ma said with a cheerful and caring voice that could only be described as motherly. "Where's Latenighter Pinkie, I thought you and him were going to lunch with that unicorn that he's been talking about the last week?" Ma asked, puzzled that her son had not walked in after Applejack had came in.
"Well, he was with me, and we did go to lunch, but he disappeared," Pinkie said, looking around the house. "We went to that Hayburger Joint in town.."
"The one that charges six bits for a single hayburger?" Ma asked, looking over at the Pink bouncing earth pony.
"Yea, and He had the same reaction, and then he said that he would wait outside and then left. I thought he would come back here, so I started back this way, and ran into him at the oak tree up the road, then he disappeared like the writer just plucked him out of thin air," Pinkie said, winking at a tea kettle on the stove, which began to steam when the water inside began to boil.
"Hmm, that doesn't sound like Latenighter at all," Applejack said as she went to the kitchen to help Ma, who had went to the stove.
"No, but I can believe that he had a reason to do what he did," Ma said as she pulled a coffee mug from the cabinet from above the stove. Would you two like a cup of fresh tea?" she asked the two other mares in the room.
"Sure, I would love a cup of your world famous tea Ma!" Pinkie shouted as she cut across the room so fast that would of made Rainbow Dash jealous.
Applejack nodded and smiled as she accepted a mug of the steaming hot beverage.
The door opened as Latenighter stepped through quietly, but even at his top ninja like stealth, still caught the ear of Ma Dirt.
"Oh Latenighter, come on into the kitchen for a minute would you," Ma said as Latenighter tried to ease the door shut. At that, he finished shutting the door, allowing it to close at it's normal crack, and walked into the kitchen, slowly.
"How did you know..." he began
"Oh Latenighter, I am your mother, I can hear you anywhere," she answered as he walked through the doorway to the kitchen.
"Did i hear correctly from Pinkie Pie, did you really leave her and her friends there? and don't you lie to me," Ma said, her tone changing to one of anger.
"Yes Ma, and it was stupid of me, but you always told me to pay for my own meals, no matter what," Latenighter said, a couple of tears streaking down his cheeks.
"Dry up those crocodile tears child," Ma said as she walked over to him, "There is no need to cry."
"Sorry Ma," Latenighter said, wiping his eyes, "I have already been punished by Princess Luna for this, and i didn't want to come home and be yelled at again," he said, looking down at the ground.
"The Princess, why would she worry about you dear, i know you are special, but why?" Ma asked.
"Well, to be truthful, i have been friends with Princess Luna for a while, and i have been writing to her my stories Ma," Latenighter said, looking up to his mother, only to see a look of disgust on her face. "I know, it doesn't make sense, and i don't know why she even talks to me, but that is a question that i don't want to ask again, so i will just leave you to your tea Ma, and you can yell at me later," Latenighter said as he turned around and began to walk out of the house.
"Wait Latenighter," Ma said as she ran to the doorway. "Don't go leaving just yet, if you can prove your story, then i will consider removing your punishment."
"What Punishment?" he asked.
"You will do all the work on the hay field on the other side of town by yourself, and without pay," she answered him.
"I'll be right back then," Latenighter said as he flew out of the house to the roof of the barn where his letter to and from the Princess set. When he reached the rooftop though, he found a new letter from Princess Luna. He opened the letter wrapped with a seal of a crescent moon and read it's contents.
Dear Latenighter, I want you to read this letter to your mother, so don't read anymore until you return to the house, and if you think we are joking, just know that we are watching you from the oak tree you were hiding in.
Latenighter put the scroll down for a minute and looked towards the oak tree down the road and saw a violet dot sitting on top of it. He sighed and took the letter back into the house, where his mother was anxiously waiting for him to return.
Latenighter walked through the door with the letter that had just been sent to him.
"Well, what proof do you have?" Ma asked, calmly.
"This," Latenighter said as he held the letter in his mouth. He opened the letter back up and read the next lines in the letter.
Dear Ma, I have never seen such commitment in ones destiny as we have seen in your son. Long has it been since I have seen Equestria as well, but then again, I am just the bringer of the night.
Sincerely, Princess Luna
Latenighter closed the scroll as he looked back to the mare in front of him. Her expression had not changed a bit.
"Soo, you expect me to believe that?" Ma said.
"No, but we would expect you to believe us," The voice of Princess Luna called out from the porch. The door opened by a force of magic as the Night Princess walked through the door.
The ponies all bowed to the violet alicorn as she walked through the door.
"Please rise, I am not here for royal matters. I knew that Latenighter wouldn't tell of my mentoring him, and that it would one day it would get him into trouble," Princess Luna said as she came to a stop in front of the Mother.
Ma looked into the eyes of the Princess before speaking. "Well your majesty, I guess that solves it then," She said to the princess, before turning her attention to the Pegasus that was her son. "Well Latenighter, i guess we both have an apology to make. So i am truly sorry for falsely accusing you of lying to me dear," Ma said, holding a hoof up to her son to hug her, which he did. After they had finished the hug, she started talking again. "And i think that you have an apology of you own to make," Ma said as she turned back to the other mares in the room.
"Your right Ma, I'll be back after a while, could you get some Apple pie made for my friends, if they still want to hang out and have lunch with me," Latenighter said as he turned around and walked towards the front door, but was stopped by Pinkie Pie.
"Wait Latey, I'll come with you," she said as she began bouncing towards the Pegasus. The two then walked out of the front door as Applejack and Ma began gathering ingredients for the Pies in question.
Latenighter and Pinkie pie began their trek back to Ponyville when Pinkie Pie suddenly burst out laughing.
"What's so funny Pinkie Pie, and could I get in on the joke?" Latenighter asked curiously to the pink earth pony.
"Oh Latey, we ran all around Ponyville today and didn't get a single thing done, you must have changed because that would of driven you nuts," Pinkie said as another hearty laugh took her.
"I guess Pinkie," Latenighter said as a giggle came over him, "But at least I got to meet Twilight Sparkle, who will undoubtedly never speak to me again after I tell her.." Latenighter began.
"Tell her what?" came the voice of the unicorn, Twilight Sparkle.
"Where did you come from?" Latenighter asked the purple unicorn.
"Yea, where did you come from, sounds like another attempt by the writer to make a good story," Pinkie Pie said as she looked to Twilight with a questionable look.
Twilight acted like she hadn't heard the last part and answered their question. "Magic, duh," Twilight said, a little too blunt. "Now what are you going to tell me?" Twilight asked.
Latenighter then began to tell her about the events of his day after he had rudely and abruptly left their lunch meeting. Twilight listened contently to his story, sometimes looking at him with disbelief, and sometimes with trust. After Latenighter had finished his explanation, Twilight waited for a couple moments to comprehend the information that had been relayed to her, she spoke.
"Latenighter, why are you still a farmer?" Twilight asked.
"Well Twilight, you would get the same answer from Applejack, as I understand the two of you are friends, but it's in my blood, and some traditions just can't be broken that easily," Latenighter answered.
"Pinkie told me that you are trying to be an author pony, and that story was amazing, I just don't comprehend why you haven't gone after your dream," Twilight said to the Pegasus farmer.
"I haven't thought much of it when I farmed, because it was the only thing my family ever knew, and it was the only thing I was taught. I guess I could focus a little more time on my writing.... huh.... hey, what gives.," Latenighter said as a white aura formed around him and levitated him up off of the ground. The two mares watched with awe and the slightest touch of fear as the Pegasus lifted off the ground as the white aura grew and covered the pony. The aura then partially blinded the ponies as it faded quickly and the Pegasus hit the ground with a thud.
"Huh...., what happened?" Latenighter asked slowly as he rose back to his hooves. The two mares were smiling smiles that could only be described as Pinkie sized. He began to look around at his body to see what had changed. He stopped when he looked to his flank, now fully cutie marked. "I got my.., my..., cutie mark?" Latenighter asked himself. The mark was an open book with a quill writing upon one page, and the other page shown the night sky, complete with the glorious moon, which had been Latenighter's friend for as long as he could remember.
"WHOOOOPEEEEEE!!!!!!" Latenighter yelled as he began to dance around like a young colt, snorting and making excited horse noises. The two mares joined in and danced around with the newly cutie marked stallion before he took off the ground and back towards the old farm house. The two mares watched him as he flew at such a speed that a mach cone began to form around him. Then out of nowhere, Pinkie looked to a cloud and began speaking to it.
"So to make a long story short, Latenighter is gonna talk to his family and eventually Princess Luna about how Twilight Sparkle helped him get his cutie mark. And now I am going to climb back into the world of you humans and find my friend the writer and hit him upside his head with his laptop and get him to write better stories without help from yours truly," Pinkie Pie said before pulling out a small stick and opened up a portal in the middle of the road and jumped through before waving a hoof at the unicorn. "Bye Twilight, and bye readers, hope you might of enjoyed my talking," Pinkie said before closing the portal and entering the human world and wait, that's my laptop.............................