“Why am I wearing this again…?” She felt rather ridiculous, with the yellow nozzle settled tightly on her head, and her clashing mane sticking out the top of the nozzle like some weird rainbow colored toothpaste. A poofy, yet surprisingly comfortable yellow cylinder was wrapped around her body, with her wings stuck out the sides rather awkwardly. She felt completely childish. Just why did she agree to this?
Seconds later, the reason decided to make itself known again.
“Cause you’re absolutely adorable!” Trixie gushed, glomping her marefriend happily. Rainbow Dash was the only pony who’d seen this side of Trixie. Her romantic, loving, and gushy side. It was different, but Rainbow Dash couldn’t help but love it.
“I’m sexy, you know, not adorable,” she replied, rolling her eyes at Trixie’s compliment. “This just makes me look dumb.”
“Aww, don’t be like that, Dash, Trixie thinks you’re adorable! she even picked out these costumes for us! Please, can’t you at least pretend be a little more enthusiastic?” Trixie requested, pecking Rainbows cheek softly and levelling a pout at her.
“Agh! Trixie, don’t do that! You know I can’t argue with you when you make that face!” Rainbow Dash groaned out, wrapping her hooves around Trixie. Trixie hugged back, chuckling happily.
“That’s why she does it.”
With a roll of her eyes, Rainbow Dash hopped on Trixie’s bed, which was surprisingly big for the small trailer she lived in. But when Rainbow thought about it, the two bedroom trailer, fully stocked with a livingroom and kitchen, seemed a little abnormal too. She was pretty sure it didn’t look big enough on the outside to be this roomy on the inside. She chalked it up to being a Unicorn thing.
Sitting there, she happily watched as Trixie put on her ketchup suit. It was cute that she wanted to dress up like a couple would, and frankly, no matter how embarrassed she felt wearing this, nothing felt better than to make Trixie happy.
“This may be a touch cliche, but Trixie wants our first Nightmare Night to be perfect!” Trixie said, fitting the ketchup nozzle comfortably around her horn. “Just Trixie, you, and all of our friends, having an amazing night of fun.” She smiled, turning towards Rainbow Dash. “How does Trixie look? Beautiful?”
“The beautifullest.” Rainbow chuckled out, giving her a quick hug. “Well, we might as well get out of here. What fun is there, just sitting around on Nightmare Night?” With one final kiss, the two headed out, turning out the lights and locking the door behind them.
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“Spike! Hurry up, we’re going to be late!” Twilight yelled out, calling up the stairs to her assistant. She paced back and forth, the bells on her Star Swirl The Bearded costume jingling.
“You know, Twilight, you always wear the same costume every year. Why is that?” Spike’s voice sounded out, followed by the sound of tiny footsteps coming down the stairs. “Ponies will start finding it a little sad.I’ve already had a few ask about it.”
“Spike! What are you talking about? Ponies know how much of a fan I am of Star Swirl! And they even enjoy seeing it every year, no one has complained to me about my costume. Besides, Dad helped me make it, I can’t just not wear it.”
“Sure you can, just don’t make a big deal out of it and you should be fine.”
Twilight ignored Spike’s argument. “Trixie actually enjoys this costume too, and you know how perfect she wants this night. And every other holiday at that, to be for her and Rainbow Dash, don’t you?” She said, waving her hooves around. “I need to wear it. If not for me, for her!”
Spike chuckled at that. “Wait until I tell Trixie you’re using her’s and Rainbow Dash’s relationship to not look obsessed.”
“You know what I meant!” Twilight flared her wings, rolling her eyes at Spike. Truth is, she understood Spike completely. It must get dull seeing her in the same costume, year after year. And it did become a little stale after a while, a mix up would be fun, but she felt that if she wore a different costume, she would be betraying her usual one. But she’d never tell Spike that, he’d probably find it ridiculous.
“Well, no use talking about it anymore, might as well head out if you’re ready. I don’t wanna be tardy.” And with that, she picked up Spike with her magic, and headed out the door.
“I’m gonna get lots of candy this year, Twilight!” Spike exclaimed, pumping his fist in the air.
“I bet you are Spike, maybe we’ll get your absolute favorite…” And with a close of the door, they were on their way.
______________________________________________________________________________
With a tip of her hat, Applejack grinned at herself. She thought she looked rather spooky, scary even. Taking a step back, she admired herself in the mirror for a brief moment more. This year, she was going as, well, the scariest thing she could muster up while still keeping a hold of her hat. An undead scarecrow farmer. Well, perhaps it’s not quite that scary, but she felt it was, so that’s all that mattered.
Before Applejack could call her costume a success, a very irritated knock came from her door. “Hey,Sis! We’ve been ready forever now! When are ya gonna be done?” Applebloom groaned out, the sound of a hoof tapping could be heard. “You’ve been in there so long that Scoots learned ta fly and Sweetie Belle is on her death bed!”
Tarnation! How ridiculous can that filly get? Applejack thought, covering her face with her hat. With a sigh, she replaced her hat and headed to her locked door. She always kept it locked when she was in it for an extended period. After all, it’d be weird if somepony just walked in on her doing anything unusual.
She opened the door only to see an angry looking Applebloom glaring up at her. She was wearing a costume of a zombie who looked like it was getting ready for a big date. “Finally! We’ve been waitin’ for years!” She groaned out, running towards her room. “Scoots, Sweetie! Ah think Applejack is ready to take us now!”
“Ah have a feelin’ that filly’s gonna get worse with all the candy that’s to come.”
“Eeyup!” Big Mac agreed, seemingly appearing out of nowhere. He was dressed as a pirate captain, which was almost fitting, seeing how he was the towns driver for the Hay Ride.
“Granny Smith already head to the town hall?”
“Eeyup.”
“Well, ah hope the town will love that spooky haunted house. Plus the scary ghost stories before hand, maybe ah’ll give it a shot with the CMC.” Applejack turned towards the front door to see Applebloom and her friends already waiting impatiently.
Sweetie Belle was dressed like a devil, she even got her hair all spiked up, which was rather adorable when she thought about it. And Scootaloo was dressed as a vampire, with nice large bat wings. Applejack felt she might be compensating for something.
“C’mon Applejack! We’re burnin’ trick-or-treat time!”
“It’s not even 7:00 yet, so hold your horses, alright?” We’re gonna meet up with Twilight and the rest of ‘em before we begin doin’ anything.” Applejack replied, though another glare from Applebloom left her rolling her eyes. “C’mon then, let’s get goin’, we don’t wanna be late, but I suspect we’re gonna be the first ones there.”
“Why’s that?” Came the excited, squeeky voice of Sweetie Belle as she practically burst through the door as they left.
“Call it a hunch.”
______________________________________________________________________________
Rarity sat there, dressed as , well, a ghost. She wasn’t much fond of ruining her mane, or coat, with makeup or a mask, so she just settled with a nice, simple sheet. She was sitting near the door, perfectly happy handing out candy to any passing children as she waited for Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy to get costumed up. Well, Fluttershy mostly, seeing how Pinkie has been hopping in and out of the dressing room in her favorite chicken costume for the past half hour.
As Rarity sat there, thinking about how fun Nightmare Night usually is, she heard a small cough from behind. “Huh?” She said, turning to face the noise. And there she was, the cutest sight she has ever seen. Fluttershy in a Red Riding Hoof costume.
“Oh Fluttershy, Darling! You look so cute!”
“Umm… Thanks Rarity.”
“Don’tcha just think Flutters looks amazing!? I really really hoped it would turn out this good!” Pinkie said happily, raring to go. “But enough mushing over Fluttershy! We need candy!” And without even waiting, Pinkie burst through the door, earning a yell from Rarity as she retreated.
“Head for the Hay Burger! That’s are meeting place!”
“She isn’t very patient, is she?” Fluttershy squeaked out as she watched Pinkie hop away. Swinging here picnic basket back and forth a little bit.
“She certainly is pretty rambunctious, that’s for sure.” Rarity headed over to the counter, picking up her own halloween bucket. “I suppose we better get going, we don’t wanna be late.”
And with that they headed out the door, knowing that the night would be amazing.”Or so they think!” Chuckled out Discord, watching the many ponies, and one dragon, as they all prepared for the night. “They’re gonna be in for quite a surprise!”
Author's Note
The Hay Burger was the town’s main hangout spot. Friends, family, lovers, all kinds of ponies flocked there, celebrating all sorts of things. But tonight, it was all about Nightmare Night. Ponies of all ages, covered in a variety of of costumes, were gathered together in small clusters throughout the Burger joint. Some were dropping in for a short time, a brief meetup before heading out to the towns festivities, while others planned to spend the entire night at the party they hosted every year.
One group stood out among the others a bit more noticeably. It was the town’s resident heroes, plus three little fillies huddled up at a nearby table. Anypony who looked at them could tell right away they were not normal ponies. But the fact they had an alicorn among them just made it harder not to notice their presence.
The group was seated in one of the booths, with one pony standing before them like a teacher giving a lecture. From right to left was the town's resident apple producer, Applejack. Next came the shy animal caretaker, Fluttershy, who looked to be shaking in her outfit at just being around so many costumed ponies.
The couple who had become the talk-of-the-town was next, with Rainbow Dash sitting happily enough, while her marefriend Trixie sat on her lap. Trixie looked equally happy, holding the hooves of her marefriend and cuddling against her. Then came a rather elegant white sheet with two eye holes cut into it. Said eyes was obviously belonging to the towns local seamstress, Rarity. Spike came next, and it was no surprise to everypony that he kept so close to the nearby ghostly apparition.And finally, next to him, sat the Princess of Friendship herself, Twilight Sparkle.
Next to this booth, a small table has been pulled up, holding the three smaller members of this Nightmare Night gathering, the Cutie mark Crusaders. Each was looking quite bored, despite the intense situation unfolding at the large booth next to them.
They were all staring at one pony, Pinkie Pie, who stood before them all. A huge chalk board towered behind her. On the board seemed to be a map of Ponyville, with big X’s over several locations, along with a long list tacked to the side of it.
Pinkie stood in front of the board inside the Hay Burger with a stern look on her face. Her friends knew Pinkie well enough to know Nightmare Night wasn’t a joking matter. Free candy, plus fun, plus tricks, plus making ponies happy? It was Pinkie’s ideal holiday.
“So, as you all know, I, Pinkie Pie, will be your fearless leader on this magnificent night. I can’t guarantee all of you will live, but I can guarantee you this, I will be the first to step on the field, and I will be the last to step off, and all of us, dead or alive, will come home.” Pinkie said, eyeing everypony there with a glare.
“Pinkie!” Rainbow Dash groaned out, pulling the now pale Fluttershy into her grip. Trixie gently began to pet her, trying to keep Fluttershy from entering the comatose state her body was clearly demanding her to do.
“What?” Pinkie asked back, shrugging in confusion.
“Why do you have to be so serious? You’re gonna make Fluttershy die of like, a heart attack or something! Besides, why’d you quote the heck out of We Were Soldiers? It’s Nightmare Night, not war.”
“Not war?! We are about to enter battle against everypony else in town. We will win the most candy, and we will succeed at getting the prize of best costume. I will NOT fail this ti-” She never got to finish her sentence, as a loud thud sounded around the table, followed by a quick “Trixie didn’t do this!”
They all looked towards Trixie to see a look of pure shock on her face as she nursed a now unconscious Fluttershy.
“Oops… Sorry!” Pinkie said with a sheepish smile, swinging her right fore hoof back and forth.
Twilight sighed, “I’ll go get us some coffee.” And with that, she stood up and walked away.
As everypony moved to put Fluttershy on the table, Trixie stretched out and pulled Rainbow Dash into a hug.
“T-Trixie doesn’t wanna die though! She’s too beautiful for war, don’t make her go!” she said this with obvious sarcasm, though she used a rather convincing face. “Or perhaps, since Trixie is about to go to battle, she could receive a… good luck kiss?” Trixie batted her eyelashes at Rainbow Dash, who was blushing, but making no effort to extract herself from Trixie’s embrace.
“Ya’ll need to get a room, you’re gonna make me puke my guts out.” Applejack said, rolling her eyes.
“I agree, this googoo stuff is really gross,” Spike said, gagging playfully.
“You’re just jealous cause I have a super sexy marefriend, and you can’t make out with her like me!” Rainbow Dash said confidently, although her blush had clearly deepened on her face. Trixie cooed at Rainbow’s declaration, hugging her harder.
“Can someone please tell me when this entire story became rated Mature?” Pinkie asked, causing everyone to raise an eyebrow at her. “What? I’m serious. There are tags on these for a reason!”
“Sure…” Spike said with a shake of his head, walking away from the weirdness that was his friends.
“Ya know, now that ah think about it, ya’ve really softened up Rainbow,” Applejack teased, poking Rainbow Dash with her hoof.
“What do you mean?” Rainbow asked, shifting uncomfortably in her seat, conveying her obvious embarrassment to the group. A giggling Trixie was standing behind her, having let Rainbow finally have some breathing room.
“Well, before ya got with Trixie on Hearts and Hooves Day months back, you used to be so against all that ‘mushy’ stuff, what happened eh?” Applejack asked with a wink.
“She fell in love with The Great and Powerful Trixie!” came the squeaky reply from Trixie.
“Trixie!”
Everypony burst out laughing, she was definitely a different mare than she was several months ago.
“Well, here comes Twilight with that coffee.” Rainbow said quickly, changing the topic at hand.
Twilight was holding a nice large tray of coffee cups with her magic, trotting towards them quickly. “Here guys, put a cup near Fluttershy’s nose, it’ll help wake her up.”
And that it did, with a few quick exchanges between Fluttershy and Pinkie, they returned to their seats.
“So, Trixie is currently wondering, what exactly do you have that board for?” Trixie asked, as she made herself comfortable in Rainbow Dash’s lap again. “It looks like you tried to plan this whole night out?”
Pinkie nodded, pointing to the board. “Our first plan of action is trick-or-treating! We need to hit every house before 11:00, then we head for the town square till Midnight for a little scare factor, after that, we head for the statue of Nightmare Moon to make our offerings. Finally, we end our night at the Halloween Party back here. Sound like a plan?” She stood before everyone with a look that clearly said “I know what I’m doing.”
“Wow, Pinkie, I’m very impressed with how well you’ve planned for this!” Twilight said, patting Pinkie on the head.
“You know it! But I did learn from the best!” Pinkie said, throwing Twilight a quick hug, causing her to blush in reply.
“Now that we got a game plan, what are we doing just sitting around here? Let’s get out there and have some fun!” Rainbow Dash stated, shoving Trixie out of her lap, and jumping on the table. This prompted quite the glare from said showmare, a glare promising heavy retribution to come.
“Candy!!!” Pinkie screamed running straight out the doors.
“She’s so impatient!” Rarity fussed from under her sheet.
“And you’re so judgemental, Sugarcube,” Applejack said, rolling her eyes.
Rarity “Hmph’d” and trotted out the door. Applejack followed behind quickly, looking ready to start a nice little argument with Rarity. The three fillies filed out after them, Scootaloo grumbling under her breath.
“Can’t believe this was the only lousy line I got…”
Rainbow left next, flying out while whistling out a quick little holiday tune.
This left Twilight in the perfect position to see Trixie’s sinister grin as her horn lit up and a small, black nimbus cloud appeared next to her. Trixie caught Twilight’s eye as she made for the door, and most likely after the rainbow maned pegasus. The cloud followed after Trixie, letting out a small, ominous rumble.
“Tonight’s gonna be a hay of a time!” Trixie said, laughing loudly as she exited the Hay Burger, cloud in tow.
Twilight groaned to herself, getting an idea of just what kind of a holiday was in story for her. “Hay of a time indeed …” Slowly, Twilight followed behind, hoping she could avoid getting caught in the crossfire.
Author's Note
I heavily thank Phaoray for helping with this.
