The Everfree forest remained as wild and dangerous as it ever had been, with mutated plants and animals ready to kill and devour the unwary. Tainted by the now mythical battle between Celestia and her little sister, and then in the more memorable past, the megaspell war of pony and zebra, it was rare to find any of pony kind venturing into its overgrown and dark depths.
But hidden within the middle of this place of darkness and magic was the decaying remains of an ancient castle. Crumbling walls a testament to the once frantic energy of its builders, but now covered by poisonous spined vines with deadly joke flowers pushing through the tiles of the floors. But this is not what drew one pony. A pony that was one of very few. Taller than normal ponies that littered the wastelands of Equestria, graced with both horn and wings, she is creation of science and magic. Unnatural, alone, yet with purpose.
A distance away from the crumbling ruins was a clearing. Sweet grasses swayed in the night time breeze and ruffled the leaves of twisted trees that ringed the area. Nothing of the corrupted vegetation grew here, as if cowed by the visage of the stone statue that stood alone. Nightmare Moon.
The deep purple artificial alicorn landed near the statue. Taking a deep breath, bright purple eyes looked upon the statue with awe and reverence. She whispered a refrain she read once in an ancient book she found, “Nightmare night… what a fright….” She smiled “Give us something sweet to bite”. It was like a prayer… or a demand.. and something she felt sure all of ponykind needed to remember.
The wind ruffled the striped scarf that dangled from the long neck of the alicorn as she walked around the statue. She studied it form and took notice on the helmet and chest armor. The chiseled dragonic eyes and sharp teeth of the statute also attracted close examination. Smiling to herself she raised herself up and whispered in the lifeless statues ear “I will make you proud this Nightmare Night”
Great purple feathered wings lifted the alicorn off the ground flattening some of the sweet smelling grass near the altar. The alicorn turned in the air and flew high over the gnarled trees and twisted vines of the Everfree Forest.
The current proprietor of “Absolutely Anything” in the up and coming town of New Appaloosa gave a grin that only a ghoul was able to give. She looked at the shadow in the corner of her shop where twenty minutes before there had been a bright purple flash. Softly a voice whispered to her. Something about the past, and how it should be in the present. Ditzy “Derpy Hooves” Doo, nodded her head as the voice continued. Picking up a chalk she wrote on her little chalkboard “Yes, I agree, This will be fun”
A few more whispers only for the undead ears of the best trader in equestria, and there was a further purple flash, and then only silence. Ditzy turned back to the store, which had fortunately remained empty. She cocked her head to one side as she started thinking, there was so much to prepare! As she continued her thoughts she realised that she was going to have to bring New Appaloosa’s premier party filly into this little plan. Yes, Silver Bell will enjoy this. And -this thought reminded her of a Ministry mare she was friends with long long ago- what is she going to wear?
A cream coloured earth pony filly ran after a bigger green unicorn colt though the streets of New Appaloosa, giggling as her little legs could barely keep up with the older laughing colt. Turning a corner down a side street they dodged around the busy bodies of mares and stallions. The weather had started to become cooler as Fall tightened its grip, but with the Miracle, farm ponies had flourished and harvest time had begun. Fresh fruit and vegetables had flooded the stalls and stores, not the least of which was the store run by that strangely perpetually bubbly ghoul that was the friend to living and dead alike. Armed with some bottle caps the colt turned into the store of Ditzy intending to buy candy for himself, and of course his little sister who came panting behind him. He stopped short. The store seemed to have been decorated, Pumpkins with carved faces leered at him, Black and orange paper decorations surrounded the doorway, and above the door was a black profile of an alicorns head, within the crescent of the moon. Gulping noisily he stepped into the store. Shelves full of food, weapons, and survival equipment filled the interior of the ghouls shop. The filly and the colt made their way through the store towards the counter where the smiling Ditzy waited for them. The counter was filled with jars of various candies and a sign. Buy candy before SHE comes! Beside it was the crescent moon and alicorn head logo.
“Um.. Miss Doo?” The young pony looked up at the perpetually smiling face of the sales ghoul “who is coming”
Ditzy picked up a chalk in her mouth and wrote on the slate that she had in front of her. She turned it around to face the young ponies. “The Nightmare” If anything the undead grin on the face of the ghoul pegasis grew bigger and developed a more menacing look. She hoofed over two small bags of candy to the colt and his sister, then turned the slate back to her. After erasing her words, she wrote some more. the slate was turns around again “Tell your friends”.
After handing over some caps the young ponies turned and walked out, whispering to each other. As soon as they left the store they took off at a gallop.
Ditzy continued putting up some more decorations when the door opened again, and in stepped a zebra. The New Appaloosa zebra community was very small, but they had been accepted with mostly open hearts, but Ditzy knew this one was going to be a hard sell.
“Miss Ditzy” the zebra shaman asked in his deep resonant voice “I would like to ask you a few questions about “ he gestured towards the decorations, and in particular the alicorn moon symbol “this”.
Ditsy nodded, and trotted to her stores door, shut and locked it and turned the open sign over to closed. She then beckoned the shaman to follow her as she picked up her slate, and moved to her office. She knew some things about Zebra culture, but if she played this right… they may be able to make this night even better.
Far outside of town in a disused hut, the sounds of industry rang out. The smell of magicly heated metal filled the air and a lone voice could be heard grunting as the purple alicorn worked her will on the scrap metals she had collected. Discarded shapes surrounded her. She took the hot metal to a water basin and dunked it in, The water hissed and screamed as the metal cooled, while steam wreathed around the face of the concentrating alicorn. When the metal had cooled enough she gently lifted it from the water, and shook it to free it from any droplets that clung to the rough surfaces. She raised it above her head then gently lowered it on herself. This time, she hoped, this time it will look right. She only had a few more days till the big day, and she wanted everything perfect. The metal helm settled on her skull and she turned to look at a well polished metal sheet she had attached to the wall. The reflection looked back. The very picture of the Nightmare. Dark steel helmet, and glowing eyes. She grinned and her reflection grinned back. Tossing her main she saw it flow around her head and settle itself. This will be the best night ever. Taking off the helmet she turned to the steel around her and picked some up in the aura of her magics. More energy in the magics turned the steel back into a glowing hot amorphous blob again and she started working on the next part of her outfit.
A sudden knock at the door disturbed her concentration and the metal fell into the basin. Steam gushed up from the hissing metal. Slightly annoyed she turned to the door and used her magics to open it. Waiting outside was the Zebra shaman.
“Hello” she smiled as she looked at the striped pony “um.. come in?”
The zebra nodded and entered, “Miss Doo told me about your plans, and suggested I talk to you. As you may know, we zebras have…. beliefs… in regards to this festival”.
The alicorn laid down and gestured for the shaman to join her. Pulling a book from on of the sparse shelves at the back of the shop with her magics, she opened it and laid it down before the zebra. The page was opened to an aged photo of the statue that was now in the everfree forest. The shaman looked at it and saw before the statue was a pile of candies, surrounded by costumed fillies and colts, escorted by some adults. Ministry mares in fancy dress, and.. most importantly, a Zebra.
The alicorn said only one word.. a name known to many of the Zebras “Zecora”
The zebra and the alicorn began to talk. Soon there was agreement and smiles from both.
Occasional dark clouds drifted spooly over the full moon. A street in appoliza had been closed off, and roughly costumed colts and fillies laughed and ran around the legs of their similarly dressed elders. Ditzy smiled as she watched over the proceedings, wearing 5 paper bags. One on each hoof and one on her head. When she was asked what she was dressed as, she just shrugged and smiled. In the street where party games, apple bobbing tubs, puppet shows and a stage set up where a roughly assembled musical band played. Fillies and colts had collected candies in buckets and bags from the older ones to the cry of “Nightmare Night, What a fright, give us something sweet to bite!” an alicorn couple and their own filly were joining in the fun, and Zebras, though looking quite confused were content enough to let their own young dress up as well, and partake in the games and treats in store. The Shaman however was dressed in full ceremonial dress and Vodou makeup and had a huge grin on his face. He winked at Ditzy from across the street and the ghoul did her best to wink back. It didn't hurt that only Ditzys store had sold costumes and enough candy for this, even though it was only a small celebration this time. She looked down at her own adopted filly, Silver Bell, who had used her artistic abilities to paint herself to look just like her mom. Silver Bell, the Zombie.
At the end of the street, a great statues plinth had been set up, looking empty with nothing on top, but written on its side were the words “Nightmare Moon” The band came to a halt and the dancing adults and sugar high youngsters were drawn to the stage front when the Zebra Shaman made an entrance, wrapped in green clouds from his magic powders.
“Follow me, and Very soon” he began in his deep resonant voice “you’ll hear the tale, of Nightmare moon”
The young gasped and the elders watched with interest, as the tale began,
From inside Absolutely Anything the alicorn dressed herself, Breast plate, Helmet, and Iron shod shoes. When she was ready, she gave an evil grin at the mirror, making sure she had the full effect. She then peeked out the windows at the crowd, Parents with their foals, as the zebra recited the poem perfectly, all while blowing gusts of the green powder that formed images of the Nightmare. Frighten screams and squeals from the children reassured her that things were going well. At the right moment, she saw them start to leave some of their candies at the foot of the massive stone looking plinth. Activating a voice enhancing spell she prepared herself. As soon as the last child had laid his offering, she vanished from the store.
On the plinth there was a sound of cracking thunder and a flash of white as the Creature of Nightmares suddenly appeared and reared up. A booming voice rang out from the black armored winged and horned figure looming above all
“CITIZENS OF NEW APPALOOSA!” she cried out in full majesty, wind billowing her mane around her head, as torch lights danced on the shiny black steel armor “I AM PLEASED WITH YOUR OFFERING, SO PLEASED THAT I MUST JUST EAT IT…” the voice increased in volume and reverberated off the buildings of the street “AND NOT EAT YOUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!”
Screams of youthful terror echoed all over the street as the young ponies stampeded to their parents, who had been surreptitiously warned beforehand by Ditzy and her accomplices. They comforted their little ones who sniffled a bit then looked back to the dark purple figure with the blackarmor who had lept off the plinth and had taken a candy from the pile and was chewing on it happily. She then turned to the Shaman and bowed to him, in thanks for his work in their little game, and he bowed back with a huge smile on his painted face. Feeling emboldened the fillies and colts ran up to “Nightmare Moon” and peppered her with questions, as she handed back some of the sweets that had been offered to her. Adults smiled and returned to talking and dancing as the band started to play again. The alicorn danced with the children and their parents, before later taking her leave. She had fun, and it was good, she thought, to see this celebration restarted after so long. She smiled at Ditzy Doo and her daughter before heading back into the store. She took off her costume and put it in Ditzys office, where she knew it would be safe. Then in a flash she was gone. After all, she still had business with a certain changeling drone to take care of.
One year later
The whole town of Appaloosa was decorated with spooky decorations, and an empty plinth was placed in the middle of the town square. Stores everywhere were selling candies, apples, costumes and ponies from outlying settlements and other towns had made their way to the town.
Hidden in a store that is owned by a Ghoul, a steel clad deep purple alicorn peeked out of a window, and she smiled.
Author's Note
A little something for this most important of months with the most important festival. Editing not quite finished, so there may be some minor edits that get done. This is sort of a side story to Fallout Equestria, Hivemind.
