Dragonok, disguised as Hoof Note, smiled as he wandered about Ponyville as everypony else went back to their homes as Nightmare Night soon drew to a close. He could see the little foals yawning with content as they lugged their bags stuffed with tantalizing candies onto their backs as they trotted home for a good night’s sleep.

He had to admit, this Nightmare Night was probably a rather enjoyable holiday with him helping Luna both on socializing with the citizens of Ponyville as well as saving her life from what turned out to be her own daughter. He chuckled as he recalled that delicious moment when he discovered the all-too faded memories that defined the Pony of Shadows’ origins.

Speaking of the Pony of Shadows, Luna, after “saving” Dragonok from his bondage, had apparently sent Selene to the Ponyville Hospital where she can recover until Luna could decide on which course of action she should take towards her former assailant. I hope Luna doesn’t plan on harming the young filly. Tiamantis knows the little one’s been through so much suffering after all her thousand years of making everypony appreciate the night had been ignored once Luna claimed the spotlight.

That reminds me. Where in Chaos is Daemon? We had agreed on meeting here in Town Square yet I see no sign of her. That was when he noticed the signpost with an arrow pointing somewhere along with a picture of Pinkie with a large speech bubble saying FOLLOW THE SIGN FOR A FANTABULOUS SURPRISE, SILLY!

Curious, Dragonok decided to humor the Bearer of Laughter as he strode off towards the arrow’s direction to see where it would take him. He soon arrived at a lovely meadow where a small table for two awaited him. A brass candelabrum tipped with flickering candles proudly stood at the table’s center.

His eyebrows arched upon seeing this unexpected sight. If he didn’t know any better, he would say that Pinkie had just set him up for a date with somepony. The only question to that would be the identity behind said somepony.

He stood as he awaited the arrival of the unknown date. It didn’t take long before the clopping of hooves signaled her arrival.

What he hadn’t expected was the surprised face of Luna glaring back at him.

“Hoof Note! ‘Tis a pleasant surprise! We had not expected thou to be here. Did thou set up this arrangement?”

He chuckled at her question as he shook his head. “I’m afraid not. I believe it to be the machinations of one Pinkie Pie if the signs leading me here are to be believed. Would you like a seat?” He pulled up a chair before he gestured Luna towards it with a flourish of his leathery wings. “After you.”

Luna smiled at this gesture before she sat down onto the comfy chair. “We thank thee for thy courtesy as well as thy assistance. Were it not for thou, we would have not been able to associate with Ponyville let alone make friends with them. However may we repay thou for thy services?”

“There is no need to thank me. I only did what anypony would do with the knowledge and foresight at hoof. Besides, you already repaid me by saving my flank earlier back at the castle after the Pony of Shadows locked me there. Speaking of which, how is she?”

“The doctors have informed us that she has stabilized at the moment. As for what we plan to do to her, we are less certain.” She sighed as she glared into Dragonok’s eyes. “Didst thou notice unusual occurrences while thou were… imprisoned? It would assist us in our judgment.”

“Hmm… now that you mention it, she did seem somewhat sad during our brief conversation. She also focused mainly on how you’ve reaped her hard-earned reward after she spent one millennia of making ponies fall in love with the night.” Dragonok paused for a moment as he scrunched his eyebrows to appear deep in thought. “She also seemed to be surrounded by some sort of shadow creatures that promised her revenge in exchange for their release. The only question I have is from which location they wanted to escape from. Beyond that, I’m afraid I don’t have anything else vital to provide to you.”

“We see,” Luna responded. She sighed as she sagged with the added weight of worries now stacked upon her. “Then what shall we do? We cannot simply punish this mare since she clearly feels justified in her actions against us based on her reasons yet she will continue to do so until her objective has been completed.”

“Then why don’t you ensure that she stays here with the citizens of Ponyville?” Dragonok asked. “Perhaps she’ll gain friendship with some of the ponies there and will become less hostile as a result. And to better improve her chances, why don’t you assign one of the Bearers of Harmony to take care of her and become her friend as well?”

Luna’s eyes momentarily widened upon hearing Dragonok’s suggestion before narrowing in contemplation. “‘Tis seem a worthwhile pursuit but who shalt be her guardian if we may ask?” she asked.

“That’s all up to you, but I would recommend a little joy to enter her life so that she may laugh alongside the ponies she meets.” Dragonok grinned as Luna’s eyes gleamed with understanding as she smiled at the hidden meaning behind his choice of words.

“We thank thee, Hoof Note,” Luna said as her eyes now gleam with mischief, “we are most pleased with thy suggestion. We shall ask her once we meet her face to face.” Without her even expecting it, two bulging baby blue eyes followed by the biggest grin she had ever seen popped right in front of her from out of nowhere.

“HiPrincessLunaandnewponywhoIplantogiveaWelcomeToEquestriaPartyorshoulditbeWelcomeBackFromBeingAStatueParty;I’llfindoutsoonerorlaterbutwhenyoucomebackwithoutdisguisingyourself,Draggy,Ihopewecanbethebestestofbestfriendsandhavethebiggestbestestpartyever!”

Pinkie then sucked in a massive gulf of air that momentarily inflated her entire body into balloon-like proportions (even her poofy mane had somehow inflated to thrice its usual size) before she immediately released it out in one go. Her body deflated back to her usual proportions as air hissed out of her mouth.

Once all the air had vanished, she then asked, “Now what will the monsieur and the madmosseile be having tonight?” in a posh Prench accent. It didn’t help that she somehow wore a butler suit over an oversized chicken costume with a massively oversized pink polka-dotted bowtie with equally large Groucho glasses perched on her snout.

Luna kept a stern face for a few moments before her mask cracked apart as she tipped over her chair, rolled over the dewy autumn grass, and shrieked with unbridled laughter all the while. This had to be the most hilarious costume she had even seen in all her life! It even topped off that time when she saw Tia dressed as a giant banana at one of those stuffy royal dinners just to see everyponies’ shocked expression. Sure, she didn’t understand what Pinkie was saying since she spun her words out like one of those fast-shooting tennis ball machines she once saw at the Canterlot Tennis Court since her return, but this was priceless.

Dragonok, on the other hand, sweated bullets since he immediately translated Pinkie’s hyperspeed chatter and knew exactly what Pinkie had just revealed without Luna noticing it. He knew he shouldn’t be surprised at this latest development but this pink pony somehow even defied the rules of the multiverse to the point where she could make even Discord crack under her might with ease the moment she becomes a novice Chaoswielder. Reality itself would immediately shriek, lifted its dress up to its hips, and speed off into the distance just to get away from her. By Tiamantis, even Order Omega would be in a run for their money should she ever become a master at using Chaos magicks.

He mentally shook his head while remaining composed with a smile on the surface. Whatever magicks or tricks she used doesn't matter for now nor was her knowledge of his identity especially vital.

What matters now is enjoying this dinner date with Luna even if he had to hide his identity from her. He didn’t want their past together to spoil this one special night. He relaxed as he allowed himself to reenter the gentle atmosphere.

Out of nowhere, a beautiful chorus of melodies seeped into the air as Pinkie somehow presented a lovely cake out of nowhere before she took out a violin to play along with the music with her eyes closed.

Luna and Dragonok didn’t question this sudden change of events as they both smiled and released their worries to the wind filled with gentle music. They chatted, laughed, and ate underneath the star-sprinkled sky as their cares soared away for that one night, that one precious Nightmare Night…

Nearby within the bushes…

The Cutie Mark Crusaders and Daemon played on violins, a harp, and a flute as they peeked through the bushes to see the happy couple.

“Aw… aren’t they adorable together?” Sweetie Belle gushed. “I know for sure we have our cutie marks this time!”

The CMC all snuck a glance at their flanks only to see nothing there once again. “Ponyfeathers!” they simultaneously exclaimed.

Daemon just chuckled as she continued on playing the violin with her head against its smooth surface as she pulled the bow with her hooves to provide sweet melodies to both Dragonok and Luna. Tiamantis knows how she got dragged into this, but she wouldn’t miss this for the world for her master and friend.

Author's Note

Well, that's it for Nightmare Night but don't worry; there's more to come! See ya soon!