Dragonok breathed in the crisp autumn air. It was that time of year again where creatures born of the shadows would wander about the realm of the mortals in disguise. It went by many names in each multiverse he visited: Samhain’s Feast, All Hallow’s Eve, Izanami’s Festival, the Boogyman’s Carnival, the Blood Moon Masquerade; but this variation of this special occasion intrigued his fancy with its fascinating name and the pony it represented: Nightmare Night.

“So what looks better on me; giant bee or Freddy Kruger?” Daemon asked as she levitated said costumes in front of Dragonok’s face. “I just don’t know whether I should look cute or scary. It’s just too hard to decide!” She pouted as Dragonok didn’t seem to notice as he stared into space. “Maybe I should just mix and match the costumes together if you’re not going to help me-”

“I believe I should go to enjoy this holiday,” Dragonok interrupted.

Daemon gasped as she couldn’t believe what she had just heard. “YOU’RE GOING?!?” She squeed as she began to run around Dragonok in circles in excitement. “This is bestest day ever! What are you going as? Where are we going? Are we going trick-or-treating? The adrenaline’s killing me!” Her words became incompressible gibberish as she stirred herself up into a flurry of motion.

Dragonok waited until she had settled down before he spoke.

“I believe it to be best if I went to visit Ponyville and mingle with its townsfolk in order to better understand the changes occurred over the last thousand years. As for my costume…” A black miasma cloaked him for a few moments before he reappeared.

He wore an oversized tuxedo with a blood-red cape that fluttered in the breeze as he strode towards the now-stunned kagen. His crimson widow’s peak accented the blazing scarlet eyes as two ridiculously oversized canines peeked out of his mouth. His pitch-black fur seemed to absorb the moonlight into himself as his tiny leathery wings flit underneath his cape. The biggest feature was the massive thick-framed glasses that stood on his snout. Daemon could only blink for a few seconds before she burst her sides out in untamed shrieks of laughter.

He had, in short, become a thestral version of an over-exaggeratedly bad stereotype of Count Dracula.

Dragonok smiled at her reaction. “I doubt anyone would notice who I am with this disguise while they laugh at its ridiculous design. I just hope they have a pony version of Dracula in this world or all of this would have been for naught.”

“Couldn’t…agree with…you more!” Daemon gasped as her sides began to split from an over-dosage of laughter. “Give me a… sec… Just need…a chance…to breathe.” She sucked in a gigantic breath as she slowly began to calm down. “Where was I? Oh, right, my costume! So, what do you think?”

Dragonok’s face stretched out into a sinisterly wicked grin as he shook his head. “I don’t think so. I have plans for you.”

Daemon gulped in fear as she recognized the dreaded gleam in his eye.

“I hate you so much. I hate you so much that I wish an evil clown would take you and force you to the electric chair for how stupid you made me look,” a fillified Daemon dressed in a glitter-coated pink unicorn princess costume deadpanned as both master and steed trotted on the streets of Ponyville.

“As long as we both have ridiculous appearances, no one will think, let alone believe, our true identities, Sprinkle Top,” the newly dubbed Hoof Note explained. “Now let’s just enjoy the festivities and have some fun. We’ll meet up back in the Everfree once this holiday ends. Don’t you have some candy to collect?”

Upon hearing the word, candy, Daemon squeed in delight before she immediately ran off in joyous excitement to begin her sugary harvest. Dragonok chuckled upon seeing the filly’s reaction before he began to trot around Ponyville.

He arrived at Golden Oaks Library only to see Celestia’s pupil and the pink bearer of Laughter respectively costumed as Starswirl the Bearded and a chicken. Dragonok chuckled upon recalling Pinkie Pie’s name as he realized the joke surrounding her costume. He then noticed the group of young fillies behind Pinkie and smiled for a moment before he went on his way.

He continued to wander off until his senses suddenly detected a familiar presence. He turned his head towards the moonlit sky and noticed a tiny speck growing closer and closer to reveal a chariot driven by two Lunar Guards. He smiled as he awaited the arrival of Princess Luna.

Unbeknownst to him, Pinkie had noticed him as she bounced alongside the group of fillies in their quest for sweets. Her eyes respectively bulged in shock, turned inquisitive, and then she began to widely smile from cheek to cheek. She turned towards Granny Smith and spoke with her for a few moments before leaving her with the children. She had something special to plan...

Meanwhile…

Daemon waddled in her princess costume as she acted be cutesy toward each person who gave her candy after she knocked on their doors one by one. Just because she had to wear this silly dress didn’t mean she couldn’t use its sickeningly sweet charms to her advantage.
She soon carried a massively bulging bag overflowing with sweets that she easily carried onto her back. One thing was for certain; it was a feather compared to the staggering weight of the dozens of behemoths she had to once carry in one of the universes back in her home multiverse.

She felt like she was forgetting something important as she carried off her bounty, but she shrugged it off as she imagined consuming the hill of candy she had collected once she returned to the Everfree. She hummed for a moment before she began to chant:

Nightmare Night,

What a fright,

Give me something

Sweet to bite!

Daemon giggled at this variation; out of all the scary holiday chants she heard throughout the multiverses, this had be the best by far! She swirled her bag around her in glee as she cheered for the abundance of candy she had received in less than an hour alone. That had to be an accomplishment if she ever saw it. After millennia of being unable to obtain candy simply because she wasn’t human, humanoid, or considered sentinel, she could finally acquire all the candy she wanted and nopony was going to stop her!

“Mwahahahahahah!” she cackled as lighting suddenly crackled behind her to further accent her drive for the glorious sweetmeats. That was when she noticed the three fillies staring back at her in apparent confusion.

“Um… hi?” Daemon squeaked out before she sunk deep into her costume in embarrassment. She just had to maniacally laugh while wearing such a ridiculous costume, didn’t she?

“Ah don’t think Ah’ve seen you ‘round here,” one of the three fillies said. “Ah’m Apple Bloom! This here is Scootaloo, and that’s Sweetie Belle! And together, we make-” Daemon could almost hear a drum roll coming in as the three fillies collectively sucked in a large breath of air.

“THE CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS!” all three shouted with great fervor.

“Hi….?” Daemon said while mind-blown due to the amount of cuteness crashing onto her upon seeing that little display. “I’m…” Don’t say Daemon, don’t say Daemon, don’t- “I’m Daemon! Great costumes!” Damn it!

“Gee, thanks!” Apple Bloom said. “We made them ourselves with some help from Rarity!”

“I can tell!” She had to admit, but those three costumed fillies were to die for. Apple Bloom apparently went for the pony version of Frankenstein’s Bride with a hairsprayed black wig with silver highlights and painted stitches surrounding her face. Scootaloo was obviously a werewolf (or is it ponywolf?) with fake furry ears to hide her ears and fluffy wolf-paws to disguise her hooves as she wore a furry pelt to further accent the image of a werewolf. As for Sweetie Belle, she wore a stylish black cape accented with red highlights along with plastic fangs and slicked-back hair to create an image of a supposedly scary vampire. I have to admit, Dragonok’s may be funny, but these fillies really put the cute in monsterhood! “I’m here for a visit from Las Pegasus with my papa for a bit. I really like everypony here; they’re so nice!”

“Ah’m glad you like it here!” Apple Bloom then noticed the lack of a particular symbol upon the new filly’s flank and gasped. “Ya don’t have a cutie mark! Do ya know what that means?”

Daemon felt sweat drop down in bullets as she awaited the dreaded judgment she knew was coming towards her. “What?”

“It means you can join us on our epic quest for our cutie marks!” Scootaloo explained before all three ponies cheered around Daemon’s confused form.

“Huh?” Out of all the possible reactions she had expected, she certainly hadn’t expected that. “What?”

Before any of the CMC had a chance to explain, a pink and white blur suddenly charged into them from out of nowhere.

“Girls, I need your help!” Pinkie then noticed the group of bowled-over fillies lying on the ground with stars spiraling around their heads. Pinkie giggled for a moment before she munched on the stars. “Mmm… where was I? Oh, that’s right! I need those fancy wax candles that Rarity uses, a candelabrum, and some romantic music around midnight, stat! Thanks!” She turned to Daemon, gave a wink, and immediately sped off to Equestria know where.

Daemon could blink as she tried to process what just happened in the last few seconds. What was that all about? And how in Tiamantis did she eat all those imaginary stars?

Out of everything Dragonok had expected, the turn of events he had just witnessed both amused and worried him.

His reason for amusement: because Luna hadn’t change at all after a thousand years.

His reason for worriment: because Luna hadn’t change at all after a thousand years.

Upon Luna’s arrival, she had addressed the citizens of Ponyville with her Royal Canterlot Voice which blew everyone into a state of pure fear. If Dragonok hadn’t been used to her high volume since he first heard her address a crowd over a thousand years ago, his eardrums would have likely exploded again. Regrowing the fragile membrane the first time had taken hours to fix and improve.

I guess Lulu’s still shy after being isolated for so long, the poor filly. I should go help her before she alienates herself against everypony else.

He strode off to find Luna only to find both Twilight and Luna chatting to each other close to a memorial of Nightmare Moon. He felt a small smile grow on his face as he watched the two fillies bond through their conversation before he confronted them.

“Good evening, ladies of the night! I hope I’m not interrupting anything important.” He braced himself for the inevitable.

“WE BID THEE A GOOD EVENING AS WELL, CITIZEN!” Luna bellowed with her Royal Canterlot Voice. “WE HOPE THOU HAST ENJOYED THOUSELF UPON THESE CELEBRATIONS OF NIGHTMARE NIGHT! HOW MAY WE ASSIST THEE?”

Twilight gave the disguised Chaos Champion an apologetic grin. “I’m really sorry about that. It’s just that Luna’s getting used to everything after being gone for a thousand year.”

“Don’t be, young Sparkle,” he reassured her. “I’ve studied on the Royal Sisters myself for years. One was bound to have heard mention of the royal ‘we’ and the usage of the Royal Canterlot Voice at some point in my line of research. I doubt you’ve heard of me, though. I’m Foot Note, at your service.” He bowed first to Luna before bowing down to Twilight, much to Twilight’s surprise. “I’m a minor historian from Las Pegasus who’s come for a visit with my daughter. We wanted to meet the progenitor of such a joyous holiday as well as the famous Elements of Harmony. I’m surprised to say that I wasn’t expecting to meet both at the same time, though. What a treat!”

“HOW HAST THOU KNOWN OF OUR ARRIVAL? MY SISTER AND WE HAVE MADE NO ANNOUNCEMENTS BEFORE OUR ARRIVAL TO PONYVILLE. WE IMPLORE THEE TO EXPLAIN THYSELF!”

“I would be glad to; based on your past history with the Elements of Harmony along with a holiday surrounding you as Nightmare Moon, it would make sense to see that you would be curious enough to go take a visit to Ponyville where the Elements of Harmony live once the festivities of Nightmare Night rolled in. My daughter and I were curious to see if you would arrive so we took two tickets to Ponyville and traveled by train. In case you hadn’t shown up, Sprinkle Top and I would have the opportunity to at least enjoy the hospitality Ponyville is famous for before we go back home.”

“How nice! I hope you both have had a nice visit here in Ponyville so far.” Twilight then noticed something missing alongside Dragonok. “Where is your daughter, anyway?”

“She’s enjoying herself in Ponyville at the moment,” Dragonok replied. “She just loves to enjoy herself when she’s out and about. We planned on meeting later on after Nightmare Night ends. For now, I want to focus on the problem you seem to have with interacting with the people if that’s alright.”

“WHAT DOST THOU MEAN OF OUR INABILITY TO INTERACT WITH THE CITIZENS OF PONYVILLE?”

“Would you care to explain, Miss Sparkle?” Dragonok didn’t have to wait long before Twilight gave her reply.

“Well, you see, your Highness,” Twilight explained, “your usage of the Royal Canterlot Voice is scaring people since they think you’re yelling at them rather than just talking to them.”

“BUT ‘TIS TRADITION TO USE THE ROYAL CANTERLOT VOICE TO ADDRESS THE TOWNSFOLK! HAS THAT MUCH HAS CHANGED OVER THE COURSE OF A THOUSAND YEARS?” Luna bowed her head in shame as she realized that she had scared her little ponies until a light bulb popped over her head. “WILL THE BOTH OF THEE BE SO KIND AS TO SHOW US THE WAYS OF THE MODERN FOLK? WE WOULD SINCERELY APPRECIATE THY EFFORTS IN DOING SO!”

“Alright, Princess, let’s start by lowering your voice down a notch. We’ll go to Fluttershy to help you on that. She’s a real expert on keeping her voice down. I’ll take you to her right now, your Highness.” Twilight Sparkle walked on ahead with both Dragonok and Luna following her.

Dragonok inwardly smiled as he walked alongside Luna. He began to hum a little tune) as he trotted towards their destination. He’ll wait until Twilight finishes with her efforts to help keep Luna’s voice down to speaking volume before he could release his big idea.

No one noticed the hooded pony with glowing yellow eyes that seethed upon seeing Luna. It settled back into the shadows as it waited for the right time to strike.

Out of Daemon had expected on this night, she certainly didn’t expect carrying a wrapped bundle of thin, scented candles and a violin while she trotted with the CMC in preparations for what the pink one has had in mind, whatever that may be.

She had to admit, though, it was pretty fun going on a little quest with these girls. She rarely had time to simply act young and silly since she and Dragonok had to always fight on the battlefield with little time to rest; let alone play. It was times and worlds like these that made her content to be alive without worrying about what may arrive in the future.

“So why are we carrying this stuff, anyway?” she asked the CMC.

“Ah don’t rightly know, but when Pinkie Pie’s involved, Ah reckon it’s gonna be fun!” Applebloom replied.

“Yeah! I bet it’s going be awesome!” Scootaloo added

“Maybe she wants us to plan a date for two special someponies?” Sweetie Belle interjected.

“That doesn’t make sense. It’s not even Hearts and Hooves Day. Who plans a date in Nightmare Night?” Scootaloo met the deadpan glares from her fellow Crusaders. “What?”

“Scoots, this is Pinkie Pie we’re talking about,” Apple Bloom dryly explained. “No pony knows how her mind works. You remember the Froggy Bog Bottom Incident; the one where Twilight tried to understand how her Pinkie Sense works only to accept that there are some things that no pony on Equus could ever explain. That was just on Pinkie’s Pinkie Sense alone. Let’s just accept the fact that Pinkie Pie is just being Pinkie Pie and have some fun while we’re at it. Who knows; we might get our cutie marks this way!”

“Okay then… let’s just get the stuff to Pinkie Pie and leave it at that.” That was when Daemon’s brain picked up on a certain word. “Wait. What’s a Pinkie Sense?”

Once the Cutie Mark Crusaders explained the fine details of a Pinkie Sense, Daemon experienced a sense of dread. This certainly would not end well if Dragonok and Pinkie meet before this night was over.

Well, that certainly was interesting.

As he watched from nearby upon the group’s arrival at Fluttershy’s cottage, Twilight had asked the terrified filly for lesson on how to lower Luna’s voice down to a more conversational volume… after the fact that Fluttershy screamed, was d ragged out with magic, and had to face Luna which led to her mental barricades against Nightmare Night crack to the point where she became floppy with petrified fear. He had to admit, though, it did work on helping Luna’s voice go down a notch. Although, shaking an almost unconscious Fluttershy before giving a big hug and bellow express her gratitude made the young fillies and colts he saw earlier with Pinkie Pie scream in fear.

As a matter of fact, where is she, anyway?

The moment he thought of this, Pinkie Pie somehow descended slowly from above him and placed a rainbow cupcake on top of him, much to his surprise. She places a hoof in front of her face to signal silence before she disappeared back to wherever she came from.

How in Tiamantis does she do that? I didn’t sense any signs of True Chaos emitting from her but her unpredictable actions matches that of a master wielder of True Chaos. I guess I’ll find out sooner or later. He quickly devoured the cupcake as he savored each bite before he focused back on the matter at hand. Right now, I need to see if Luna’s alright. After that, I really need to ask Pinkie Pie for that recipe; it’s an explosion of fireworks stuffed with tons of sweetness in my mouth!

He soon found Twilight comforting a morose Luna. “Don’t worry, Princess Luna. Everything will be okay soon, I promise.”

He sighed upon seeing this sight. Poor Luna… She truly didn’t deserve being treated like the Boogeyman. All she desired was for ponies to love her and her precious night just as they had towards her sister and her day. None of this would have happened if only both had listened to him before they transformed him to stone.

He shook his head of thoughts. The past is not important for now; what matters is that Luna obtains the ponies’ adoration and admiration, and he knew exactly how to do it.

“Excuse me, but I believe it’s time for we try an idea I’ve had brewing in my mind.”

The town went about its merrymaking when, all of a sudden, a group of costumed Shadowbolts appeared out the sky and landed amongst the startled ponies. A mysterious melody began to echo throughout Ponyville before they began to perform a coordinated dance number as three of them dressed as ghosts walked in front of the group and began to sing.

Colts and fillies from everywhere

Are you ready for a great, big scare?

Follow us for a fun fright

Here upon this Nightmare Night

Upon hearing this, the other Shadowbolts began to sing in complete synergy as they swayed from side to side.

This is Nightmare Night, this is Nightmare Night

Ghosts all dance in see-through white

This is Nightmare Night, everypony have a bite

Trick or treat ‘til everypony gonna scream with fright

Everypony scream, in moonlight

Upon this Nightmare Night

A Shadowbolt dressed as a zombie staggered out of the group.

I am the one hiding under the grave

Snatching little ones who misbehave

The moment the zombie Shadowbolt staggered back to the group, another dressed as a doctor coated in stitches popped out and continued on the solo.

I am the one hiding within your closets

With skin scarred with a hundred oozing cuts

It immediately returned after saying its one-liner as the Night Guards continued on their chorus.

This is Nightmare Night, this is Nightmare Night

Nightmare Night, Nightmare Night, Nightmare Night, Nightmare Night

In this realm we call home

Everyone dance to this ghostly song

In this realm, don't we love it now?

Everypony's waiting for the big surprise

Dripping with drool, ghoul popping out of the pool

Something's waiting just to pounce and then you'll scream

Every Shadowbolt at that point jumped forth and startled the mesmerized crowd.

Scream! This is Nightmare Night

Red 'n' black, moonlit white

Aren't you scared?

Well, that's just fine

Scream it once, scream it twice

Go and hide from the cockatrice

Ride with the moon in the dead of night

Everypony scream, everypony scream

In our realm of Nightmare Night

A Shadowbolt swathed in foal’s clothing and a bib waddled his way toward the citizens.

I am the doll with the tear away face

Murder in a flash but I leave no trace

A thundercloud appeared from the sky as the massive head of a Shadowbolt popped out of the rumbling mass.

I am the one with the oversized brain

I am the wind brushing through your mane

Another Shadowbolt decked in armor leapt from a building with the moon behind it to portray the silhouette of a gigantic bat searching for prey in mid-flight.

I am the dark knight lurking at midnight

Filling your dreams to the brim with fright

Every Shadowbolt held their breaths before they bellowed out in harmony.

This is Nightmare Night, this is Nightmare Night

Nightmare Night! Nightmare Night! Nightmare Night! Nightmare Night!

Nightmare Night! Nightmare Night!

Yummy candies everywhere

Life's no fun without a good scare

That's our job, but we're alright

In our realm of Nightmare Night

In this realm, don't we love it now?

Everypony's waiting for the big surprise

Nightmare Moon might catch you really soon

And scream like a banshee

Make you jump out and then hide

This is Nightmare Night, everypony scream

Won't you make way for royalty?

They parted way for a midnight black chariot to glide down to reveal the grinning visage of Nightmare Moon, much to everyponies’ shock.

Nightmare Moon is queen of the nighttime sky

Everyone hail to the Nightmare Queen, now!

This is Nightmare Night, this is Nightmare Night

Nightmare Night! Nightmare Night! Nightmare Night! Nightmare Night!

In this realm we call home

Everyone dance to this ghostly song!

Nightmare Moon, at this point, contributed to the chorus with booming laughter as lightning flashed behind her to form a menacing silhouette.

Mwa hah-hah-hah (Nightmare Night! Nightmare Night!)

Hah hah-hah-hah (Nightmare Night! Nightmare Night!)

Hah hah-hah-hah (Nightmare Night! Nightmare Night!)

Hah hah-hah-hah (Nightmare Night! Nightmare Night!)

Whee hee hee hee!

On that final note, every Shadowbolt leapt into the air before they dissipated into a dazzling array of fireworks that sparkle in the night sky. Nightmare Moon swirled into a cocoon of darkness only for Luna to step out of the shadows and bowed before her subjects.

She began to sweat as the audience didn’t say a word. Why was nopony speaking? Did she do something wrong? What was she to do? She should have known that nopony would-

Out of nowhere, the sound of hooves stomping caught her ear. Her head rose in disbelief as the entire town began to applaud.

“That was awesome!”

“What a stunning performance!”

“Never thought I’d see something like this!”

One particular pony dressed as a pirate with a red bandana shyly walked up to Luna. “That was the best Nightmare Night ever!” he exclaimed with a Braytish accent. “You’re the funnest princess I’ve ever met. Are you coming back next year?”

Luna felt her mouth perk up to a smile as she nodded with joy. “We shall indeed, little one!”

Dragonok smiled as the crowd surrounded Luna with high praise on her performance. He knew that a musical would be a good idea. Everyone, regardless of which multiverse, always loves a form of music, whether it be the sweet strum of strings, the throbbing boom of dubstep, or the yowling of a cat being shredded in a blender. He still didn’t like the last one, but the people of that multiverse did so who was he to judge? “At least nothing could go wrong now.”

“That is where our opinions differ,” a voice echoed out before tendrils formed of darkness latched onto his body and immediately dragged him into the reaches of the Everfree Forest.

Menacing laughter began to ride on the wind as two sulfur-yellow eyes gleam with malevolence from the shadows…

Author's Note

Who in Equus captured Dragonok? What does it want with him? And what is Luna and the Mane Six gonna do about it? We'll all find out soon on The Avatar of Chaotic Power, so stay tuned! Don't forget to add your ideas for this story here if you like to see what I'll do with some of them! Sayonara!