Time for Nightmare Night
A short story by: archmagepony
[To Be] Edited by Harmonized
Two hooded humans, one in blue robes and one wearing a brown cloak, are running from enemies who are definitely not human. Arrow fly by them, only to explode seconds later in electrical blasts. The one in a brown cloak delivers several rapid strikes to an swordsman who gets too close, while the blue robed one summons a lightning bolt to strike another nearby soldier. The humans run up to what seems to be a large rock. The blue-robed one grabs a small chunk hanging off. He pulls on it, and a passageway appears. Both figures run into the rock before their pursuers surround them.
I close the doors and rush over to my TARDIS's control console, pulling assorted levers. I pull off my scarf and turn to look at my traveling companion. "And that is why is is essential to never make snow elves mad at you." She is just looking at me, as if wanting to say something. I pull back my hood, letting a mat of black hair cover the top of my eyes, and then face her. "So what do you want to say?"
She looks at me, "About what time is it back on Equestria?"
"Let's see here; I would say it's about the time for Nightmare Night... Give or take a few days, of course."
Esha sighs, then takes a breath, "Traveling with you has been great and all, Time. Really it has. But could I go home to see everypony that I've left behind?"
I look at her with false confusion, "You never had to stay, Esha, all you had to do was ask, and I would've taken you anywhere, including home."
Esha brightens up immediately, "Yay! Thank you so much, Stormy!"
"Don't thank me yet, I could be planning to destroy your planet." I add with a malicious grin.
"We both know you don't do that sort of thing." Esha seemed to laugh at the concept. If only she knew. I thought to myself.
"Right, so Ponyville, Equestria, right in time for Nightmare Night." I throw the controls, and then give my human form one last look in a nearby mirror. A man in his early 20's with dark robes and messy hair is looking back at me. I give him a wave and he waves back. I stop and look at my hand, thinking about how I'll miss it when we shift universes. "Take your last look Esha, because you'll turn back into a pony when we go back."
"That's okay, I missed being a pony anyway." The control room starts to shake as the coredlite crystal tears a rift between the two universes. I look over to see Esha fall unconscious, right before the same happens to me.
I wake up, stumbling over my control console, Remember stupid, you're a pony again. Four legs and a horn. "Bloody." I murmur as I go over to where Esha was still unconscious. I sit down and summon a disharmonious blast from my horn, causing her to come flying up, hitting me in the face with her braid. "I suppose I deserved that." She looks around and her braid hit me again. "That too." She stands up and looks at me.
"Well? An I back?"
"Look down." Esha looks back and seems thrilled to have her old form back. "So what do you plan to dress up as? It is Nightmare Night, after all."
She considers this before asking, "What are you going as, Stormy?"
I throw my hooves up in mock surrender. "Alright, you caught me. I haven't decided yet. I may go as me from an alternate universe. or maybe a shaman. Did always like shamans."
Puzzlement crossed her face, "But Stormy, why are you an archmage, then?"
"Because."
"I know this! You're trying playing the cold-and-aloof-so-you-don't-have-to-give-answers game!" She claps her hooves together to celebrate this discovery.
That smile is so infectiously happy. Despite myself, I start to grin. "Congratulations, you win! Now let's figure out a costume for you then, shall we?"
"We shall." She was mocking my way of speaking, but it was cute, so I would let it go.
"Anything specific you want to go as?"
"Ummm, I know! How could I go as an elf?"
"You liked the elves?"
"Yeah, before they tried killing us, they were pretty nice."
"Well there is only one equivalent in your world I could think of, that would have to be deer."
"Really, and what are they like?" She looks at me, expectant of an explanation.
"Oh, they're magnificent. Have run into patches of trouble with them before, though."
"What species haven't you 'run into trouble' with?"
"Excellent question. and the answer is: none that I've met. Now we may be holding temporal orbit right now, but that could change soon."
"Then why are we wasting time here, let's go!"
We spend about an hour going through my TARDIS's wardrobe. Eventually, we both come out with acceptable costumes. Esha has put on a light green dress and a simple circlet. During our search, we had also come across a pair of faux antlers. "Well, how do I look?" Esha struck a pose, showing off her costume.
"Wonderful, just wonderful. And I think I just competed my costume." I levitate some gold bracelets into my hooves, putting them on my forelegs. "Now let's land this TARDIS and go have a good time." I pick up a set of saddlebags and fasten them onto my hindquarters. We head back into the control room, and I push a few switches. "Well, as the ponies of Stalliongrad say, 'poydem'." The control room shakes as the TARDIS comes to a not-so-graceful landing. I lean out and take a sniff. The scent of cider, pumpkins, and candy, along with the decorations and costumed ponies, told me that we had actually landed at the correct time and place for once. I turn back and announce that we are here. I pick up a green amulet with red flecks as we head out.
We walk into town, nodding hello at the locals. We head over to the festivities. Well, Esha led. Fine, she had to drag me all the way there. "You know he's here, right Esha?"
"Probably. Which is why I want you to come."
"You do realize I could just teleport out of here, right?"
"No you're not." A crash interrupts us, as a brown pegasus wearing a black cape falls in front of us. He stands up, and straights out his red and tan mane, before addressing us.
"Sorry 'bout tha- waaait, I know you. Time you jerk."
I regard him coldly, "Hello, Sonic Crash. I hope you're not planning on pranking me again."
He waves his hooves franticly, "No-no-no-no no, that won't be happening."
I grin and turn away saying, "Goodbye Crash." I look for Esha, but she seems to have disappeared. "Eh, might as well have a little fun while I search for her." I head over to the apple bobbing tub, where I manage to fish out a green apple. The sour flavor tastes so good when I realize I haven't eaten anything today. I slip over to the Nightmare Moon statue, where I slip some of the candy into my bag. I move back to the main area, watching some performers scare young foals with a projection of Nightmare Moon. I head over to some vendors and decide to buy two chocolate-chip muffins.
I was levitating the bits out of my saddlebags as I heard a very familiar voice. "Wha- no! Time's not my coltfriend, he's just a normal friend." I decide to have some more fun as I teleport right behind Esha in midair.
"I wouldn't say that I'm normal at all." I say as I levitate behind her and one of her friends.
My appearance was met with a swift buck in the face. The pain intensifies as I hit the ground. "Still not sure why I deserve these, but given time, I could think of a reason."
"STORMY! I'm so sorry!"
"It's fine. Really, I am." I stand up and brush off my robes.
"So do you want to... I don't know, do something here, Stormy."
"I would love to."
After a few hours, Esha had fallen asleep. I lifted her onto my back, and brought her back to her home. I set her on her bed, and then headed back to my TARDIS to have a good night.
