A Toxic Desolation

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.