It was a dark and stormy night at Ponyville. Everyponies doors and windows were shut. Rain pattered against the glass windows and the wind rocked the sides of the houses. But our story goes to the Everfree forest. Running through the woods was a dark figure. It ran quickly and almost quietly. It wanted shelter from the rain and cold. But, it didn't seem to be heading into town. It seemed to be avoiding it at all costs. However, it came to a clearing. In the clearing was a hut. It was lit, meaning someone was there. The figure walked underneath just to get some resistance from the weather. However, it knocked over a pot from outside creating a lot of noise. The figure ran into the bushes. However, it stopped when it heard somepony shout, "Stop, do not flee. Step out of those bushes and reveal yourself to me." The figure turned and saw a zebra. The zebra had gold rings around her neck, left front leg, and golden earrings. She was looking in the direction of the figure, but she could not see it. The figure started to walk back slowly, trying to avoid further detection. "I can hear your steps, you should not hide. I can assure you that I am on your side" she continued. The figure started to move forward, but stopped once again.

"Y-You won't hurt me right?" it said. By the voice, it was a male pony. The zebra smiled and nodded. The figure started to move closer into the clearing where he could be seen. His body was dark blue with black stripes and his mane and tail was a mixture of gray, light blue, purple, and black. However, this one wasn't the average pony. His front two legs were bird talons instead of hooves. He had wings, but these wings were like bat wings. His head had several gray spikes and one pointed straight like a horn. On his eye were three scars that cut nearly to the bottom of his muzzle. The zebra's eyes widened but she moved aside revealing the door. The creature didn't know what to say and quickly ran inside. It has been a while since he was actually inside a hut or any shelter with a solid roof. The hut had several bottles, flowers, and masks that seemed foreign to him. The zebra walked back in and closed the door. He turned around, "You are not scared of me?"

"It never matters how you look, you should never judge the cover of a book" she said. "But tell me young one while you are here, why did you try to run from me in fear?" The pony looked down at his back first but then at the ground. The zebra looked at his back and noticed his cutie mark. Most ponies' cutie marks represent their talents or abilities, but to this creature, this mark was a curse. The zebra knew of this mark as well. The mark was a heart, but with a figure covering the bottom and along the back. She looked at the creature in front of her. She walked in front of him and lifted his face with one of her hooves. "You have no reason to be scared of me. I wouldn't even harm a flea. But those features of yours are quite unique. Maybe you could…"

"I was born like this" he interrupted. The zebra stepped back from his sudden voice. How he knew she would ask that was quite unusual. But, she left him be. She placed down some straw down enough to make a bed. She walked back over to him and led him to it. The creature dropped to the straw with exhaustion. "Thank you" he said to the zebra. The zebra nodded, "It is no trouble at all; I am a kind pony as you can tell. My name is Zecora; do you have a name as well?"

The creature let out a yawn before answering, "My name is Midnight." He collapsed from his exhaustion and fell asleep quickly. Zecora smiled and went to her quarters. Midnight had trouble falling asleep like he always does. But, tonight he was somewhere safe. At least he believed it was safe. The next morning came, and Midnight was up early. He got up silently and stealthy. He did not want Zecora to wake up. Midnight was about to leave, but once again Zecora stopped him. "Midnight, are you leaving so soon? It's a lot safer to travel at noon" she said. Midnight stopped and turned around. But his wing hit a shelf and the entire contents fell. Before Zecora could grab even one, they all became suspended in a black light. The several items placed themselves back onto the shelf as if they were never knocked off. Zecora turned to Midnight, whose straight spike was glowing in the same color. He noticed Zecora looking and stopped. Zecora walked towards him, but he opened his sinister wings and covered himself with them.

"I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to do it! Please don't hurt me!" he muttered. Zecora still approached him despite the troubling chatter he is muttering. She placed a hoof on his back and gently rubbed it. Midnight calmed down and looked up at her. Zecora smiled at him, "Midnight, that's a magical gift that you just made. But what reason do you have to be afraid? Hiding one's talent is no weak sign. Why, I would be proud if your gift was mine."

"My gift is a curse if at best" he replied. "You've seen my mark. I am a threat to everyone around me. That's why I only stay for a few minutes and leave. No one wants me around. I barely have time to eat or sleep. I just, run, run until I need to rest. You were probably the kindest pony I've met in years. The difference between you and me; you are normal and you have friends."

Zecora looked away in thought. Then, and idea flashed on her face. "Come now Midnight, your life will not end. In fact, I know a few ponies who would be willing to be your friend." Midnight was confused by this but she led him out. Zecora had a plan, but she wasn't sure it would work. The walk wasn't long, for her hut wasn't far from the edge of town. As soon as Midnight saw the clearing, he backed away from it. Zecora turned and saw him trying to hide. But all of the bushes and trees were either too small or to oddly shaped to hide him properly. However, his dark color did hide him pretty well. Zecora ignored his actions and walked into town. As she entered, she caught the friendly hellos from everypony there. She scanned the crowd of ponies for a group she knows well. Finally, she found at least one of them. She headed to a unicorn with a mane that has multiple shades of purple. Her skin was a light shade of purple as well as her horn. The mark on her side was a six-sided star with small sparkles around it. The pony saw Zecora and walked to her.

"Good morning Zecora" she said.

"It is a wonderful afternoon indeed. But dear Twilight, I need your help for a kind deed" replied Zecora. Twilight seemed confused but let Zecora continue to speak. "Last night I ran into a pony that was caught in the rain. He believes that everypony wants to give him pain. I believe the cure for this little remedy, is some friendship from some another pony."

"I get ya Zecora" replied Twilight. "I'll get my friends and I'll meet you little friend."

Zecora nodded and they took their separate paths. Twilight stopped by every place where her friends were; the Library, Sweet Apple Acres, the Carousel Boutique, Sugarcube Corner, even the open meadows and sky. Twilight gathered all of her friends to meet this one pony. Twilight led them all to the entrance of Everfree Forest.

"So…who is this pony exactly?" asked a blue Pegasus with a rainbow mane.

"Anyone that Zecora has found surely would be a strange one" said a white unicorn with a well kept mane.

"Oh come on now Rarity, Rainbow Dash, we were suspicious about Zecora when we first saw her" said a pony with a yellow mane and cowboy hat. Her accent was deeply western. "At least see this pony before y'all start judging the pony."

"Yeah! But you still wonder what he or she is huh?" said a pink pony with a messy mane.

"…I…I don't know if we should be going…" said a yellow Pegasus with a pink mane.

Suddenly, a small baby dragon popped up from behind Twilight. "Twilight, did Zecora give you any information on what this pony is?" he said.

"No Spike, she didn't really say anything" Twilight replied, "All Zecora said was that he is always scared of everypony. He thinks that everypony is out to hurt him. I think we can help him if we just try." They all agreed and continued on. Zecora was waiting for them at the entrance. They all said hello as they greeted her. Meanwhile, Midnight was still hiding in some of the bushes. He saw Zecora at the entrance, but then he saw more figures show up. Midnight became instantly worried. Then, Zecora turned and lead the rest of them in.

Oh no, she was just leading a group of ponies just to hurt me! She…she really wants to hurt me! And now, there are even more than just her!

Author's Notes:

This is the first chapter of when I was first writing, so I apologize to this style if it does not meet your standards