An alarm clock chimes on a night stand next to a glamorous bed. A white snow white hoof rises up and begins beating the table top in search for the clock. The hoof finds it's mark and stops the clocks incessant ringing. Rarity lifts her from her grave of pillows, her mane resembling a bird's nest from tossing and turning in bed from the previous night. She squints at the clock to see the time, 5:00 AM. She takes a quick glance out her window, the sun hasn't even thought of getting up yet. The starry night sky still dominates and the moon reigns above.

Normally, Rarity would go back to sleep since, according to her, every mare needs her beauty rest. Not this time though. A recent special order for a new dress calls for a particular kind of fabric called Crystal Silk. Made like normal silk, what makes it special is it is made by a unique breed of silk worm, that is only found in the Crystal Empire. The thread of this Crystal Silk gives a sheen that resembles the glow of crystals, a sheen that even sateen can't rival. However, due to the rarity of the worms and popularity of the fabric among the elite, Crystal Silk is always in high demand and highly expansive. So much that when new shipments come in, Equestria's supply of Crystal Silk runs dry within 24 hours. Rarity learned this lesson the hard way by visiting the only store in Canterlot, three times in a row, that only sells to fabric to find out, three times in a row, that it was all sold out. This time, however, she is determined to get there as early as possible before Dazzling Fabrics runs out, even if it means cutting into her beauty sleep.

Rarity begrudgingly forces herself out of bed, pushing the covers off and planting all four hooves on the floor. "If I'm going to get that fabric," she thinks to herself, "I need to get moving." Her horn lights up in her light blue aura, the light switch on the opposite end of the room gets covered in the aura and flips the switch to on, bringing the lights to life. The sudden flash causes her eyes to squint, as her pupils adjust to brightness. She looks around the room for her hair brush.

The rooms she is staying in is slightly larger than a typical one-pony room, it's slightly large enough to hold a queen size bed in addition to a dresser, closet, and desk. The rooms isn't glamorously decorated like her room in Ponyville, aside from the furniture boasting color patterns of white, purple, and green, décor is lacking. She had been meaning to get her temporary room for the Canterlot Boutique decorated but she has had very little time recently.

Rarity find the silver, soft bristle brush on her dresser. She casts her magical hue, causing the brush to hover and begin a brushing motion through her mane and tail. After about ten or twenty strokes, her mane and tail reclaim their natural wavy design. She sets the brush back down on the dresses and casts her magical hue on a crystal bottle of perfume, hovers it over, and gives herself a few spritz. Usually she would just take a shower, but the fabric must take priority. She set down the bottle and casts her hue on a saddle bag just behind her, hanging on one of the bed posts, and puts it on her. Looking into the mirror, she gives herself a determined glare and begins a pep talk, "right, now you listen here, Lil Miss Rarity! You are going to get that fabric and finish this job! You will not be distracted, you will not be deterred! You will be focused, single minded, and determined! No pony is going to bring. You. Down!"

Finishing her pep talk, Rarity faces the door, pulls herself back ready to launch. Then she lunges into a proper trot, because a lady does not sprint.

She trots out of her room into the main office, from the main office to the floor. The boutique takes on an eeriness in the dark. The dressed manakins are either silhouetted or given white glow from the moon peering into the front windows. As Rarity walks towards the front door, she notices the unique lighting on her outfits, "hm, I may have to experiment with this lighting, but not now, focus Rarity!" She makes it to the front exit and head onto the empty streets of Canterlot. She takes a left and heads towards Dazzling Fabrics. Thankfully the store is only three blocks away and is a straight shot from her boutique.

As Rarity trots along, she begins to feel her bag bouncing a bit more than usual. At first she ignores it, but after the first block, the bag begins to bounce more. "Did I remember to tighten it before I left," she thinks to herself. Her question is quickly answered as her bag slips off to her left, spilling a good portion of the contents onto the sidewalk. "Damn," Rarity says under her breath, she proceeds to pick up the contents using her magic.

As she is picking up her stuff, she hears a set of hooves walking towards her. As the hooves stop in front of her, she looks up and see a stallion with a dark grey coat, charcoal black mane and tail, and some rather peculiar features she's only seen at one time. Usually she would be worried about being approached by a male stranger in the dark, but his face looked to be warm and friendly, bearing a small smile with two little fangs peaking out the corners of his mouth. "Do you need any help ma'am," he says in friendly, medium tone.

"Oh yes," Rarity said, her worries quickly subsiding, "I would gladly appreciate the help."

The stallion then begins to help her pick up. As they work, Rarity notices him using wings to pick items up. While Rarity knows that Pegasi use their wings to pick items up, the design of this stallion's wings is what throws her off. They look like bat wings. She looks at his face and notices his narrow pupils, deep yellow iris, and long pointed ears. Not too mention the fangs, he looks exactly like Fluttershy when she was turned into Flutterbat.

The stallion catches Rarity glaring, who quickly turns away blushing in embarrassment. The stallion smiles and gives a small chuckle, "so what intrigues you the most," he asks.

"Excuse me," Rarity responds, looking up from her work.

"My fangs, the wings, maybe the eyes," he says.

"Oh, well, your eyes are rather unique," she says, feeling a bit more comfortable.

"Eh, not really," he says, "just about every Thestral has eyes like mine. But I guess they're pretty unique when compared to the eyes of a horn-head."

"A what," she asks, feeling a tinge of offense.

"Oh, sorry," he says, realizing his mistake, "I meant to say unicorns, I didn't intend to--w-what I mean--that's what we--," he stumbles over his words trying to find the right thing to say.

Rarity chuckles, "it's alright dear," she puts her right hoof on his chest, calming him down, "no harm, no foul."

The stallion chuckles nervously, he then looks down and sees a coin purse on the ground. He bends down and picks it up with his mouth, "I believe this is the last things," he says through his teeth.

Just as he was handing over the purse, a shout comes from across the street, "You! Blood sucker! What the hell are you doing!" The stallion freezes in terror, his eyes are wide open, and his wings are standing up straight. Rarity, more confused than concerned, looks across the street for the source of the voice. The voice came from a unicorn night guard out on the patrol. The guard comes charging across the street, he shines his horn, casting the bag in the Thestral's mouth in a dark blue aura, ripping the bag from his teeth. The guards stops between the two, he faces the Thestral and gives him a death glare.

"What do you think you're just trying to do here," the guard interrogates, "you're the fifth blood sucker I had to deal with tonight, and my patience has long since gone."

"I-I-I was just trying to help," says the Thestral as he begins to crouch in terror.

"Oh yeah, just trying to help yourself to her bits," the guard shouts.

"You've got it wrong sir," interjects Rarity, "you see, I dropped my bag and a lot of the contents spilled out and he came along to--"

"To see if get big score huh," the guard interrupts, creating his own conclusion, "just like any typical blood sucker. Ma'am, I suggest you leave, I'll deal with this thief." The guard hands Rarity her coin purse.

"What? No, he's not a--," Rarity is interrupted by the guard giving her the death glare now. Afraid of what may happen, Rarity runs off. As she runs, she is unable to hear the rest of the exchange between the two, but she is scared to think of what the rest of the conversation. Instead of dwelling on that ordeal, she reasserts her focus back on getting the Crystal Silk, though her mind finds great difficulty in forgetting what just happened.

When Rarity finally arrives at Dazzling Fabrics, the sky is just starting to change color. She looks inside the shop windows and sees the lights are on and only the clerk is inside, a clerk she happens to know very well. Rarity taps on the glass to catch the clerks attention. The pale pink coated and silver mane and tail mare clerk does notice and rushes to the door. She unlocks the door and greets Rarity inside, "Raarity, daarling, so good to see you again," she says with a rather pretentious tone.

"It's good to see you as well Ms. Dazzle," says Rarity as she walks into the shop, "I'm surprised you would let me in this early."

"Well, that's because I know exactly why you're here," says Dazzle, "If you would wait by the check out counter, I'll head in the back and get your fabric."

Rarity walks over to the counter and takes a load off while Dazzle heads into the back room. Rarity looks around the shop to kill time, a wide diversity of fabrics on display all over the shop, all kinds of fabric weaved into all kinds of patterns. As Rarity is looking around, the front door bell rings, she looks over and sees another Thestral. This one is a mare with a purple-blue coat and a long, wavy, navy blue mane and tail. She doesn't notice Rarity, instead is fixated on looking for her fabric.

Dazzle comes back with a full of Crystal Silk. "Here you go Rarity, I had this roll set aside just for you," says Dazzle.

"Thank you so much Ms. Dazzle," Rarity opens her bag and magically pulls out thirty-five bits and lays them on the counter. She uses her magic to lift the roll of silk, she's considering on going ahead and leaving, but she decides to stick around for a little bit. "If you don't mind Ms. Dazzle, I would like stay for a little bit and look at the other fabrics, there might be something here that will work with the outfit I'm designing."

"Certainly Rarity," says Dazzle, "take as much time as you need."

"Thank you so much dear," Rarity walks off into the sateen section of the shop. As she heads that way, the Thestral makes her way over to Dazzle.

"Excuse me, miss," says the Thestral in a timid voice.

"May I help you ma'am," says Dazzle, but her tone is different, rather than overly nice, it's cold and annoyed.

"Uh yes, I'm looking a thin wool fabric in a sunset red," says the Thestral, "my daughter's birthday is coming up and it's her favorite color."

Rarity, overhearing this conversation, mentally applauds the little girl's taste in color. A sunset red is a beautiful, warm color.

However, Dazzle remains unamused, "ma'am, Dazzling Fabrics doesn't open for another two hours, I'm afraid I'm going to have to ask you to leave."

"What," exclaims the Thestral confused, "but you let that other mare in."

"She is a special case, you on the other hand," Dazzle quickly glances up and down, "well...you are not. Either leave now or I will get the night patrol involved. Understand?"

The Thestral, seeing no way around this, walks out with a defeated look. Rarity watches her leave, her face is frozen with shock. Dazzle had always been kind to other ponies, why was she acting this way to her? Determined not to let that poor mare's search go unsuccessful, Rarity goes over to the wool section and immediately finds the fabric she was looking for, thin wool in sunset red.

Rarity, with a face disappointment, walks over to the counter and places down the roll and ten bits. "Ah, wonderful choice Rarity," says Dazzle, "Sunset red is always a lovely color."

"Save your sweet remarks for somepony else," Rarity says as she walks away from the counter and out the door with both rolls of fabric.

Rarity turns her head up the street and notices the mare. "Miss, excuse me, miss," Rarity shouts and she runs towards the Thestral, "I believe this fabric belongs to you," she hovers the fabric over to the mare.

Her face freezes with surprise, "you got me my fabric?"

"I couldn't let your search go unsuccessful," says Rarity, "after all, your daughter has excellent taste in color."

The mare, overjoyed, leaps at Rarity and wraps her forelegs around her. Rarity hugs back and begins to sense the mare beginning to cry, "thank you so, so much for this," says the mare trying to hold back her tears, "I was afraid I wouldn't get to make her dream dress, but now I can because of you," the mare pulls back and looks at Rarity, "you are most generous pony I have ever met in my entire life, thank you!"

"You're welcome my dear, what is your name," Rarity asks.

"Misty Wind."

"Well Ms. Wind, I'm happy I, Rarity, was able to help make your daughter's dreams come true," says Rarity, "now if I'm not mistaken, you have a dress to make?"

"I do, yes I do," Misty then runs past Rarity shouting, "thank you again for everything Rarity!"

"You're welcome," Rarity shouts back.

A rather eventful morning so far and the sun hasn't even risen yet. Both of these ordeals with these two Thestrals certainly seems that events like these have been happening for a long time. If so, why hasn't she noticed anything before? Granted she has never spent a lot of time wandering the city streets late at night or very early in the morning. But she would think that this kind of stuff would be reported daily in the news. Are the journalists even aware of what's going on? Do any of the city officials know? Do the Princesses know?

Author's Notes:

I made a blog post recently stating that I was considering on changing the title of this story. After some careful thought and idea boiling, I've decided to rename "All Quiet on the Homefront" to "War Reaps The Hate We Sow." I will keep the cover image the same as to not make things too confusing.