Chapter 1- A Potion For A Lady
A Toxic Desolation
. . .Why must we rush? There is more to life then increasing its speed. . .
Run Rainbow Dash! Run! Don't look back! Just go! Go! Go!
Rainbow Dash shivered in her sleep. All she could hear was a strange pony yelling at her, warning her about something, but the words it spoke just repeated, and she was never able to run. She growled at the pony, asking what to run from. It seemed as if the stallion was telling Rainbow Dash that she was what everyone else should of ran from.
Rainbow Dash awoke frightened. Her hooves were bloody, and her left hoof was covered in scars. Fluttershy's bunny Angel nibbled on Rainbow Dash's nose, thumping her foot on Rainbow Dash's wing. The two yawned, then the bunny hopped away, landing on Fluttershy's back.
The yellow mare held a hot bowl of soup in her mouth. She balanced her back, extra weight placed on top of it, known as Angel, and lightly bit the tip of the striped green and white soup bowl.
"I made your favorite! Carrot soup, with a sprinkle of spice. Call me I'd you have any problems."
Fluttershy looked at Rainbow Dash.
"What happened to my hoof?" Rainbow Dash asked scratching her forehead.
"No one really knows . . . Pinkie Pie just found you like this out side of sugarcube corner at midnight. We're having a detective check out your hoof and try to figure out what happened."
Fluttershy walked away, as Rainbow Dash struggled to stand up. She then limped over to the bookshelf, and grabbed herself a Daring Do comic.
***
The pony with the purple mane, sat in a hotel. Her hooves around somepony's neck. She sipped some wine from a large bottle, threw it on the dark red carpet next to her and her lover, then callapsed all the way in the stallion's arms. He had light blue skin, and a dark blue mane. Rarity was to drunk to notice, but the 'lover' she had spent a room in with, happened to be the one and only Soarin from the Wonderbolts.
Rarity's eyes fluttered, as she picked herself up, then fell asleep in Soarin's arms.
The celebrity was kind enough to tuck Rarity in the bed they were sitting on. He put a hove in her mane, messed it up a bit, then kissed her on the cheek.
"Sweet dreams girl . . ." Soarin began to walk out of the hotel room.
Rarity continued to sleep. She yawned a bit, smacked her lips, then woke up the second Soarin shut the door behind him. She sat confused, then got out of the bed, walked around the broken glass, then heard a beautiful sound coming from the room next to her. The sound of a cello.
Sneaking outside her room, Rarity followed the music, then pressed her ear against a darkly painted, wood door. Her eyes closed, and she listened to a melody, she was not aware of. The door slightly opened, and she stood, staring at a pony with light grey skin, a dark grey mane, and a purple treble clef cutie mark on her thy.
"Beautiful . . ." Rarity spoke softly, as the mare looked behind her quickly, gasped, then got of her bed. "I didn't mean to startle you! I just overheard that music . . . Its absolutely divine! May I ask what your name is girly?" Rarity chuckled, putting a hove out, waiting for the mare to shake it.
The stranger hesitated, put her chin up, then slowly walked over to Rarity.
"Octavia Melody, famous cellist. I meet you and your friends at the gala. Your pink friend made me look like a fool. But I suppose its night to meet another fancy mare."
The cellist shook Rarity's hove.
"Indeed, Pinkie is quite childish. But she is my friend. How about you come over for tea? I mean, after I get over this horrible hangover . . ." Rarity stood dizzy.
"I guess so. I know where your little shop is. Fancy Pants has his little maids come down there and buy clothes for his fashion shows."
"Really? Fancy Pants buys my clothing? Well, I guess I should probably go. Pinkie Pie told me about some party she's having back at Sugarcube Corner. Nightmare night is the most popular holiday in Ponyville . . . Nice to meet you!" Rarity faced the door, and slowly walked outside of the hotel room.
***
Pinkie Pie hung large streamers on the walls of Sugarcube Corner. Mr and Mrs.Cake baked many Nightmare Night themed cupcakes for the little ones, while Apple Bloom attempted to help the Cake's neice, Glare, with the best candy in town. Twilight's new son, Sculpt, was a small pegasus filly, no cutie mark, part wolf, part pegasus. Sculpt snuggled up to Twilight's leg, then ran over to Scootalo sitting on the bright green couch in front of the store.
Sugarcube Corner was finally finished for Nightmare night. Apple Bloom and Glare finished the last piece of candy, threw it in a candy bowl, then watched little fillies running towards the store, preparing for the Cake's to open their doors.
Rarity, Sweetie Bell, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, and Applejack ran in front of the crowd, and struggled to get inside. They were out of breath, and imediately, Sweetie Bell, Apple Bloom, Scootalo, and Sculpt sat on the couch, and took they're costumes out from they're backpacks.
They ran into seperate bathrooms, then came out, dressed up. Pinkie Pie also put on her costume, same with Twilight and Glare. Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Fluttershy, and Applejack were all in they're costumes already.
Fluttershy was dressed as a bunny, Rainbow Dash was the mythical fire pony, Rarity was a witch, Applejack was a tiger, and Pinkie was a werewolf.
Scootalo, Sweetie Bell, and Apple Bloom were super heros S, SB, and AB. Together they were the cutie mark crusaders! Twilight dressed up as pink bunny, and Sculpt was a zompony.
"This is nice! Another Nightmare night has come again, and its Sculpt's first!" Twilight yelled excitedly, hugging Sculpt.
"Yea. I mean, having a dreadful scare like last year was horrible! I got scared so much I hid in my shop for days. Poor Sweetie Bell had to walk to school and got sprayed by a skunk!"
Rarity stood, ashamed, as Pinkie prepared to let the fillies in the shop.
Twilight protected Sculpt, her hooves wrapped around him, as Pinkie Pie opened the door. A flak of fillies came busting inside, heading straight for the candy.
"Well, I guess that means yet another Nightmare Night has begun. Come on guys! We have some candy searchin' to do!" Twilight yelled, galloping out of Sugarcube Corner with Sculpt and the crusaders. Rarity followed, stomping her hooves on the hard, concrett floor below her. Fluttershy slowly walked behind, Rainbow Dash flew, and Applejack ran, along with Pinkie Pie, and they all hopped into the night.
Trick Or Treat
Sculpt hid in a large bush with the crusaders. They had a large bag filled with candy of all kinds, and they weren't afraid to prank somepony. All they needed to do, was push the doorbell, and hide once more, fast enough to catch up to they're gardians. Scootalo stood in a position, prepared to dash in front of the door, hit the doorbell, then run back to her fellow fillies. Sweetie Bell ate her candy, and took watch, making sure no one was around to see the munchikins prank they're first victim. Sweetie Bell stomped her hove, showing it was clear, and Scootalo made a dash for the door . . .
She hit the bell many times, then jumped into the bush with her friends. Prank one was finished, and only nine more were left, is what they thought. No pony answered the door. Not even a bug, a bear, or even a zebra. Scootalo hit the bell once more, waiting for someone to chase her and her friends away, but the poor pony just sighed, turned to her friends' heads poking out of the bush, and nodded her head side to side.
"Dang nabit! That's the fifth house we've pranked, and not a single one has answer to door! I guess we won't get our cutie marks in pranking . . ." Apple Bloom got out of the bush, said softly, then kicked a large rock at the door. "I really wanted to get my cutie mark on my favorite day of the year!" Apple Bloom walked over to a chair shaped bush, sat down, then sighed, as Rainbow Dash came dashing towards them.
"There you are guys! We've been worried sick. I mean, everyone else has been worried . . . I knew you were ok. But come on. Sculpt . . . You have a lot of explaining to do with Twilight. But don't worry . . . If she even tries to go near that, 'Your grounded' stuff, I'll protect you, so relax!" Rainbow Dash placed a dirty hove on Sculpt's mane, and messed it up a bit.
Her hove still hurt, but she was able to walk, thanks to Fluttershy's homemade carrot soup.
"Don't worry Apple Bloom. No one accepts pranks on Nightmare Night because they're so used to being pranked. Just means they're a scaredy cat! Ok kid? Now come on. Rarity needs to meet some Octavia chick in the Evergreen forest!!!!!" Rainbow Dash spoke in a frightening voice, causing the fillies to flinch."Don't worry. The Evergreen Forest isn't scary . . ."
Rainbow Dash had the kids follow them.
Evergreen Forest
Sculpt walked into the Evergreen Forest by Twilight's side, frightened. Scootalo stood by Rainbow Dash, pretending to be brave, but deep inside she just wanted to run into somepony's arms and scream. The trees were covered in large mushy vines, and in the middle of a row of trees, a tree stump sat, and a special gray pony sat there, playing a tune on her cello. It was indeed Octavia, Rarity's new friend from the hotel.
The two greeted eachother, hugged, and went around, introducing one another.
And on the tree stump, sat some little pony's cello, starting to turn grey and dark,
"Its very nice to meet you . . . I am Octavia from the finest orchestra in Equestria. I do a little concert for the princesses every morning, so I may seem a little tired this dark evening." Octavia shook all the ponies' hands.
Sculpt let out a loud growl, then stared at Octavia with a hurtful grin, and pointed his sharp wolf like teeth towards her.
Octavia smirked, growled back at the filly, then walked over to Rarity.
"I can't believe its Nightmare Night and I haven't got a gig in all of Equestria!" Octavia complained, sitting back down on the stump, and played her music.
"Why, don't be ashamed. One day, I didn't have a single costumer give me a bit for my divine dresses. Plus, its Nightmare Night! Nightmare night is a day to be spent with your family and friends. Going around and stea- I mean eat some candy! You don't want to miss out when it comes to candy, do you?" Rarity cheered up the cellist, then tipped her little witch hat.
"I suppose not . . ." Octavia got up, turned away from the ponies, and started walking deeper into the Evergreen forest.
"Wh-Where are you going!? And why are you going towards the heart of the Evergreen forest!?" Rarity yelled, running in front of Octavia, and stopping her.
"Because . . . I need to see Zecora. I've never been happy on Nightmare Night after a terrible memory not so long ago. I will go and ask for a potion or two to drink. Hopefully I will become happy on this night . . . for the first time." Octavia spoke, pushing Rarity out of her way.
"Fine! But we're coming too . . . Zecora is a very powerful potion maker. We'll come just to make sure you don't grab something by mistake . . ." Twilight spoke. The ponies followed Octavia to Zecora's hut in the forest.
"Very well . . ."
Octavia trotted deeper into the forest.
Zecora's Hut
Sculpt pounced on an unknown bug deep in the Evergreen forest. He inspected it like Twilight would, then sniffed it a little, while walking with the group of ponies. Apple Bloom inspected the bug as well, then ran up to Applejack, as she heard her name be called. The little orange filly with a lavender mane stuck right next to Rainbow Dash, shivering slightly, as Sweetie Bell could heard a crunching noise coming from under her hooves. She walked in place for a while, then began to run, but poor Sweetie Bell got stuck. She began to see a red goo under her hooves as she struggled to get them out of what ever it was. She then quickly chewed at it sadly, and got loose.
"Octavia . . . Are you sure you want to go to Zecora's hut? What if she's not there?" Fluttershy stuttered, covering her cold body up with her wings.
The grey pony did not say a word. She just continued to walk as Twilight and Pinkie Pie watched the trees. All they could see was them twisting and turning like some allusion. They're eyes went blank, then they shook their heads roughly, and continued to walk.
"I'm sure. Besides, its not like Zecora would have a pile of horror placed in her lab. It'll just take a few seconds to get a quick drink, then we'll leave." Octavia explained, as the group of ponies came to a stop. They stared up at the large tree shaped hut, then hurried inside.
Octavia searched the many shelfs of potions next to the mixing pot Zecora had ownership of. Sculpt searched with Apple Bloom, Scootalo, and Twilight, as everyone else searched together for a feelings potion. Scootalo held a large clear bottle, filled with a strange, white liquid. She galloped over to Rarity, Rainbow Dash, and Sweetie Bell, then showed them the bottle. In one little scrape, the bottle broke, and the liquid spilled all over the ponies.
Twilight galloped over to them, studied the potion, then poured a bottle of cleaning elixer on top of them.
They shook the two potion's off, then walked over to inspect some more potions.
"Found it!" Octavia yelled, a clear, red and purple liquid filled bottle, placed in her mouth. "Now lets go. Its better to bring the bottle, and have Zecora know we didn't take it." Octavia spoke once more, running out.
The ponies followed her, except for Twilight. She grabbed about twenty bottles of the same potion, grabbed one of Zecora's pony pouches, put it on, then threw the bottles in the pockets. She then galloped outside to the other ponies, and they headed back to the town of Ponyville.
From Door To Door
Twilight sat in her large Library house, staring at Spike sleep so peacefully. She emptied the pony pouch from Zecora's house, and threw it on her large bed, right next to Sculpt's. She placed about sixty bottles down on her testing table, took of their caps, and looked at the stuff. She was amazed, as she heard one pony knock on the door about five times. She galloped down the oak wood spiral stair case, and hopped in front of the door. As she slowly opened it, the hinges creaked, and she looked down at a group of young fillies, also known as Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon.
"Where's the candy?" Diamond Tiara asked angrily, and stomped, handing her maid Agnes her fancy pillowcase filled with candy from Sugarcube corner. Silver Spoon followed her lead, but hid in the shadow behind Diamond Tiara, placing a hoof on her forehead.
"Oh right. How could I forget candy on Nightmare night?" Twilight rolled her eyes, shut the door slightly, then ran up her stairs. She kept the candy next to the potion, and on her way up, the poor unicorn didn't seem to pay attention, and about two bottles of the potion spilled on top of the candy. She then grabbed the bowl, didn't dare to look down, and opened the door, staring at the girls, waiting for them to take a piece out of the bag.
"Agnes! Take the candy you ogre!" Diamond Tiara yelled at her maid, growling viciously, while Silver Spoon decided to get her own candy. The maid filled Diamond Tiara's pillow case again, and the poor butler stood behind them all, holding about thirty pounds of candy, an it was about to be forty.
Twilight slammed the door on the little brat's face, then ran upstairs to continue her expirement with the bottles. She walked up the stairs, and stood in shock, frightened. She couldn't seem to find two bottles of the potion. She began to panic, in till Spike yawned a bit, which made her all warm and fuzzy inside. She just continued her practice, and struggled to not worry. Like usual, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie, Applejack, Fluttershy, Octavia, and the crusaders. Sculpt as well, came busting inside through the front door. Sculpt ran upstairs to his mother, hugged her, then sniffed the bottles of white.
"Wow . . . Looks like you created some drinks for the ponies back in the neighbor hood. You think I can drop some of the drinks off at sugarcube corner for the little ones?" Pinkie hopped next to Twilight.
"Sorry, but no. I found these bottles in Zecora's house. I need to study them, and make sure they're safe. They seem to have a sweet smell, and milk poured inside." Twilight spoke, as Sculpt stopped hugging Twilight, and went to scratch Spike's reptile tail.
"Ohh, ok." Pinkie Pie spoke.
"Come on Twilight! We're heading down to the new place called Mare-Do-Candy that opened up across town. I heard that they're giving out tones of candy for free at the most popular candy store district!" Sweetie Bell explained, walking down the stairs with the rest of the ponies except for Twilight and Pinkie.
"Ok! I'll be right there!" Twilight yelled down to Sweetie Bell. Putting the caps on each of the bottles. Twilight trotted down the steps to comfort Sculpt and the crusaders.
"Pinkie! We're about to leave. Are you coming?" Twilight yelled to Pinkie Pie.
"Yea. I'm coming, I just need to help Sugarcube Corner with some more candy. I'll catch up with you!" Pinkie Pie lied. She grabbed the pouch from Twilight's bed, put it on, and grabbed four bottles of the potion. She then put the bottles in her pouch, and saw the other ponies leave for the mall, as Pinkie Pie headed towards Sugarcube Corner.
Sugarcube Corner
Pinkie Pie arrived at her work. She walked inside, and noticed a line of kids, waiting for Mr. And Mrs. Cake to make another batch of candy. The pink land pony squeezed between the crowd, and made it to the kitchen to make some more candy. She took out the potion, put them next to a large metal bowl, and searched for ingredients.
3 Cups of sugar
5 Sprinkles of cinamon
10 chocolate chips
2 white chocolate chips
5 peices of chopped up rasberries
2 strawberries
4 drops of caremel
The perfect combination for the perfect piece of candy for the ponies of Ponyville. Pinkie Pie left to greet and warn the fillies that the candy would be done in a few minutes, as Mrs. Cake came along the kitchen. She stared down at the unstirred batter, grabbed a spoon, then started mixing. Next, she looked at the 'bottle of milk'. She poured the four bottles, finished mixing, then walked away. Pinkie Pie came back, looked down at the mixture confused, then sighed. At that moment, she packed the bottles. She was prepared to test the potion herself, but she just packed the bottles away, and headed outside, prepared to followed the ponies to Mare Do Candy.
Chapter 3- Barricade The Doors
Mare Do Candy
Sweetie Bell stood in wounder in the middle of the marvelous candy store. Gummy Mares, Candy Corn, skittles, twix, Twizzlers, and starbursts. A fillies dream, but no candy there could outshine Sugarcube Corner's. Sculpt filled his little wolf mouth with gummy mares and Candy Corn, causing him to get a sugar rush Twilight didn't approve off, and the crusaders went off, throwing candy in large bottles, and jugging them down.
"Ok guys. It might be a candy store, but you can't just eat the candy without paying for it!" Twilight said softly.
"Actually, we can. Only on Nightmare Night." Rainbow Dash spoke, eating a hoof full of Twizzlers. Twilight gasped, clapping her hoofs together, and ate a bucket of twix bites. Pinkie ran inside, catching her breath. Fluttershy gave her a cup for gummy mares, which revived the party pony's strength.
Pinkie sighed, looked around, then grabbed about five wooden shelfs. All the candy fell on the floor, which the fillies ate.
She hammered them to the door, and did the same thing with the windows.
"Pinkie Pie? What are you doing?!" Twilight asked.
"They're coming! I don't know how, or what happened, but there's, there's, there's zomponies out there!" Pinkie yelled, jumping next to a small unicorn named Dinky.
"What are you talking about!? Zomponies aren't real Pinkie!" Twilight argued, removing the wooden planks. Twilight screamed, as she saw a group of zombies running towards the shop. "Why are they running!? They should be walking!"
Sculpt whined, and cuddled up to Twilight. Rainbow Dash wrapped her bright blue wings around Scootalo, and Applejack protected Apple Bloom. Rarity decided to do something brave for her sister, and she jumped in front of Sweetie Bell, and walked her to the back of the store. Same with Rainbow Dash, and Applejack.
"Sculpt! Over here!" Apple Bloom yelled to Sculpt. When the wolf didn't move, Apple Bloom ran up to him, grabbed his puffy grey and white tail, and dragged him to the back of the store with the others.
"Does this place have a basement?" Twilight asked, backing up. She nailed the planks back onto the door, then backed up with the rest of the mares and stallions. No one responded. Just Applejack stomping, and walking around.
"I doubt this place does, but we haft to check. I think I saw a ladder. It probably leads to an attic of some sort." Applejack stepped up. She tapped each wall of the store with her hoof, in till she saw a birch wood ladder, with square nails. She whistled to everyone, pointed at the ladder, then ran up. Everyone followed her, and Derpy Hooves shut the door behind her . . .
It's Still Nightmare Night . . .
Sculpt sniffed. He could smell a dirty flesh from outside the store. No smell of rotten flesh, but it smelled as if someone was struggling to get in and escape the zomponies. Sculpt whined and whimpered, but his mother wouldn't let poor Sculpt escape the attic and help the stallion. He bit Rainbow Dash's wing, and pulled her towards the exit.
"Ugh. What now kid?" Rainbow complained cruelly, plucking some uneven feathers from her beautiful wings.
"I can smell a stallion out there. Cold and hungry! We need to get out to him and let him in before the zomponies find him!" Sculpt whimpered, showing the pegasus his pair of bright blue eyes.
"No can do Skull, or whatever your name is. I'm not your mother, and Twilight would kill me if I even let you step half way down those steps. So, you stay up here, I stay up here, were all stay up here. Got it?" Rainbow Dash explained with a following chuckle. She began to walk back to the farthest part of the attic, with her pals.
"I'll tell Rarity about your little 'session' with Soarin." Sculpt laughed wickedly.
"Why would Rarity care?" Rainbow Dash turned around, growling at the little twerp.
"Because, I know and see everything. I'm a wolf. A wolf who can hear five miles away, and I can run faster then a poor pegasus pony can fly. I can run and see everything, and even if I don't see, I can hear conversations. Why do you think there's always this weird sound coming from Twilight's room everytime you go there? Huh? Well that's me laughing at the fact that you think a poor wolfie can't tell the difference between a white plastic cup, and a glass cup." Sculpt slammed his rump on the door out of the attic. He crossed his arms, smirked, then looked up at Rainbow Dash.
"Rarity and Soarin! Come on kid . . . Lets go get that little f-" Rainbow Dash began.
"Woah! Woah! Woah! Not to far now!" Sculpt looked around, opened the attic door, and slowly walked down with Rainbow Dash behind him. They couldn't see a stallion or a mare, but they heart a strange yell coming from the light. Rainbow Dash flew up, punched the light, and could see the night sky. She flew up on the roof, looked around, and was about to go back inside, in till she saw a stallion fighting some flying zomponies.
Rainbow Dash charged at the monsters, closed her eyes, and slammed the flying zomponies to the ground. She then watched the pegasus turn around slowly. Blood splattered on his face. Rainbow Dash gasped, blushed, then spoke.
"Its you . . . Bu- But where is Spitfire?" Rainbow Dash asked glumly, facing Soarin.
"Over here . . ." Soarin flew over to a section on the roof. Spitfire layed next to the attic. She could see Twilight and the ponies inside.
"What happened to you!?" Rainbow Dash teared up, flying over to Spitfire. She stopped flying, and stared at Spitefire's right hoof. It was covered in bite marks, and blood covering it.
"Zom . . . Pony . . . Bite." Spitfire struggled to say. Rainbow Dash and Soarin grabbed Spitfire, and flew her inside the shop. Sculpt jumped for joy, then grabbed a pile of bandages from the counter. He wrapped it around the bite marks, grabbed some sugar, and sprinkled it over her arm.
"Come on." Sculpt said like a manly man, leading the pegasi inside the attic. Twilight gasped, ran to hug Sculpt, then growled at Rainbow Dash.
"Don't worry! The kid hid the whole time. I'm the one who gave those zomponies a punch or two. But we found Soarin and Spitfire. Now don't freak out . . . Spitfire got bitten, slightly! We wrapped it up in bandages, Sculpt put some sugar on the bandage, and now she's all good." Rainbow Dash attempted to make a horrible excuse.
"Fine. But no more going out there!! Ok. We can't eat candy forever, so some of us might haft to go into the city. I suggest we find a buddy for the night, and sleep side by side. The fillies will sleep in between each stallion and mare. We're not risking a filly getting bitten tonight."
Twilight explained, grabbing Sculpt. She and Fluttershy showed all the fillies the middle of the attic, and there were about 50 fillies in the store. (There was a lot of fillies eating candy off the floors . . .).
Rarity saw Soarin, blushed, then hugged him. She then walked back over to Sweetie Bell, hugged her, kissed her on the forehead, then layed down on the outside of the circle next to her.
Twilight got paired up with Derpy, Fluttershy with Dr. Hooves, Applejack with a bright green stallion, with a dark green and orange mohawk mane, and Pinkie Pie with Spitfire. All the unicorns used they're magic to sew a large blanket, big enough to cover the fillies completely, but allow them to breath perfectly, and to cover up the adults up to their necks.
Soarin sighed, walked over to Rarity, and slept next to her. He placed a hoof on her cutie mark, then fell asleep, leaving Rainbow Dash staring outside the attic window, and watching the zomponies. While she was at it, she carved some weapons, then found a spot next to a handsome red pony, with a manly, dark red mane. She then slept there, tears rolling down her cheeks . . .
