TALES FOR NIGHTMARE NIGHT! A collection to read AFTER the lights are out!by De WriterChaptersTheme PartyThe Sweet SpotPutting the BITE on TrottinghamNIGHTMARE NIGHT AT GRUMPY'S CAVE!Nightmare Night Surprise!The TAIL of the GhostVIGNETTE AT A HAUNTED MANSION PARTYTHE EMPTY GRAVEGNAWED EVENCRACKING THE CODEREPOSSESSEDNIGHTMARE BLESSINGDEAD EASYBONNIE BONESCRAGENMARELUNA’S NIGHTMARE NIGHTSQUEAK’S NIGHTMARE NIGHTBEHIND YOU!THE LUCK OF BLACK CATSNIGHTMARE NIGHT AT THE SWEET SPOTBLOOD RED ROSENIGHTMARE NIGHT LESSONA QUIET EVENINGNO REFUNDCRAWFEATHER!POSSESSIONA BONNIE DAYQUIET NIGHTMARE NIGHT FOR BONNIE BONESBONNIE BONES’ ERRANDTHE MORGRIPE REPORTINVITATION TO A FEASTNightmare NightNightmare VisionTheme PartyTheme Party ~~ ~~ ~~ It was well after dark. There was a polite knock on my door. I opened it on a small gaggle of foals who looked for all the world like Changeling nymphs. Standing proudly behind them was a pony who looked to be a Changeling Queen. “Nightmare Night! What a fright! Give us something sweet to bite!” I grinned and brought over my Foal Bowl. It was filled nearly to the brim with nicely wrapped foal treats. They bore the mark of Caramel Treat’s Sweets on the wrappers. As the foals dug into the bowl, filling their loot bags, I saw a sad look pass over the Queen’s face. “This late, and your bowl is still full? I am sorry to see that.” I sucked a lip and replied, “Blame the police for that. Last year, I set up a haunted house party. I had a big ghoul diorama. The police raided the place and dragged me downtown, accused of murder and cannibalism. They let me go the next morning, when it was shown to be phony diorama. “The arrest and publicity ruined my reputation, though. Not even the formal written apology of Chief Grim, stopped the rumors. That is it, framed on the wall, right there.” I was surprised when the Changeling Queen nodded. “I know. Their idiotic “raid” did not help their haunted house, a block over, at all. It was still a failure.” I shrugged. “I put out notices for a party this year, but not a single pony came until you showed up with these foals. Want to come in? We can still have games and contests if you like. It is all set up.” The Changeling Queen spread her insect like wings part way and replied, “We would be honored. Thank you.” The foals poured into my house! The Queen followed more sedately but with an appearance of real happiness. We had the apple ducking going full blast and a number of the foals were delightedly throwing sticker balls at a target. I had racked up prizes for that and even had some pies out on a table, ready to serve up. There was another knocking at the door. Hard banging accompanied by a loud demand of, “Open Up! We are the Police!” Standing next to the closed door, I called back, “Do you have a warrant?” “We don’t need one! Changelings were seen entering the house!” I whistled a few bars of the Funeral March. “Yes, actually, you do need a warrant to even be on or near this property. After last year’s debacle, Judge Coldheart issued a formal protective order, requiring police to have a warrant for any intrusion onto this property. You know it, too. You are the same pair that messed up so badly last year! “As for CHANGELINGS, on NIGHTMARE NIGHT? Are you out of what passes for minds? Have you ever heard of COSTUMES? Theme Parties? “How many foals have you arrested so far? Did you confiscate THEIR candies, like last year when you, according to the formal investigation, STOLE mine, intended as part of my haunted house party?” With a growl of rage, they kicked in the door, just in time to be lit by multiple flashes. Romaine, roving reporter of the Ponyville Prancer, and bane of deliberate civil misconduct, was shooting pictures as fast as the shutter on her camera could click! The horrified expressions of the two cops at being photographed in the ruin of the door was reward enough. They ran like rabbits. I turned to Romaine and said, “Thank you, Chrysalis. That was perfect.” With a sort of rippling effect, the Changeling Queen stood there, chuckling happily. “You are welcome. That made this a really memorable Nightmare Night.” Her nymphs played happily late into the night. The Sweet SpotThe Sweet Spot ~~ ~~ ~~ The jangle of the spring bells announced another customer opening the door. I cheerfully called out, “Welcome to the Sweet Spot! Best sweets in Ponyville! Happy Nightmare Night!” The pony before me was an ugly orange, with a black mane and tail. He had a bulging loot bag but no costume. He did have a sneer on his face. “Don’t feed me none of that Nightmare Night crap! Just hoof over the Foal Bowl so’s I gets my free treats!” I stared straight back and said, “No. The sign on the door is specific. To get the free Foal Bowl treats you MUST be in costume and you must say the traditional chant. “If you don’t comply, you must buy!” He snorted, “Just hoof over your goodies or I will kick your case in and take whatever I wants! Might just do that anyway! What do you say to them apples?” I smiled widely at him, which made him nervous, and replied, “Leroi, I know you! If you try that, and you won’t be the first, you will regret it.” Goaded, Leroi kicked. Just as I hoped he would. It never connected. His loot bag sat, partly spilled on my otherwise perfectly clean floor. Whistling Berloize’s infamous Night on Ghoul Mountain, I carefully cleaned up the spilled candies. A quick check proved them all to be safe, so I poured them all into my nearly overflowing Foal Bowl. I took the empty loot bag back to my living quarters and added it to the two others under some trash for burning in my hearth. There was some thumping and muffled sound coming up from my basement. I opened the trap door and, looking down at Leroi and the other two miscreants, chained to the wall, said, “I told you not to do that.” The illusion of a smallish unicorn faded, letting him see the twin horns and tan fur, biggish ears and black nose. “Right,” I told him, “a deer. And it is far too late to grab me and make a wish. I got you first!” My horns flashed a pale light and Leroi, like the others, was muzzled. His chains pulled up tighter too. Can’t really have too much noise. I returned to the store. The spring bells jangled again. Before I could say anything, the foals chanted, “Nightmare Night! What a fright! Give us something sweet to bite!” Smiling happily, I hoofed over the big Foal Bowl. “Help your selves, youngsters, there is plenty!” Under the approving eyes of the light blue pony in her witch costume, the gaggle of foals in every sort of costume, took my advice and grabbed hoofs full of candies and other treats. When they were done, she said it too. “Nightmare Night! What a fright! Give me something sweet to bite!” She got her treats as well. I was almost sorry to see the cheerful little ones go. The next jangle of the bells brought three, looking like a grave digger, a zombie, and a ghoulish creature. Deeper voices chanted, “Nightmare Night! What a fright! Give us something sweet to bite!” I smiled up at them and said, “You are in luck! I have something special, just for you!” I led them into the back and opened the trap to the basement. As they trooped down the stairs, I said, “Enjoy your treats!” Putting the BITE on TrottinghamSomething has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.NIGHTMARE NIGHT AT GRUMPY'S CAVE!Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.Nightmare Night Surprise!Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.The TAIL of the GhostSomething has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.VIGNETTE AT A HAUNTED MANSION PARTYSomething has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.THE EMPTY GRAVESomething has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.GNAWED EVENSomething has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.CRACKING THE CODESomething has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.REPOSSESSEDSomething has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.NIGHTMARE BLESSINGSomething has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.DEAD EASYSomething has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.BONNIE BONESSomething has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.CRAGENMARESomething has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.LUNA’S NIGHTMARE NIGHTSomething has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.SQUEAK’S NIGHTMARE NIGHTSomething has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.BEHIND YOU!Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.THE LUCK OF BLACK CATSSomething has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.NIGHTMARE NIGHT AT THE SWEET SPOTSomething has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.BLOOD RED ROSESomething has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.NIGHTMARE NIGHT LESSONSomething has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.A QUIET EVENINGSomething has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.NO REFUNDSomething has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.CRAWFEATHER!Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.POSSESSIONSomething has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.A BONNIE DAYSomething has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.QUIET NIGHTMARE NIGHT FOR BONNIE BONESSomething has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.BONNIE BONES’ ERRANDSomething has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.THE MORGRIPE REPORTSomething has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.INVITATION TO A FEASTSomething has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.Nightmare NightNightmare Night ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ They were outside, chanting, “Nightmare Night! What a fright! Give us something sweet to bite!” Torchlight glistened off the bared fangs of the once innocent foals. They were not foals, exactly. Not anymore. They were being held back on leashes of chain by larger creatures that had been ponies, once. Not any longer. They had wings that were more draconic than bat-like. Some sort of gore dripped from the sharp horns that sprang out from above their fan like ears. Claws, instead of proper hooves, gripped the chains of the chanting young. Besides the torches, a pustulent moon glared down on the ghastly scene. Nightmare Moon approved of what she saw. Something touched my ankle. I looked down, shuddering. I stepped away from the severed head whose lips had given away its intent to bite. My movement alerted the chanters outside. They began to hammer and claw at the door, still chanting sweetly, “Nightmare Night! What a fright! Give us something sweet to bite!” I shied away frantically … and fell from the sleeping stall, hitting with a thump! Another dream. A nightmare, of course. I wandered out to the kitchen, where the likely cause of my bad dream lay on the table. Overate again. It is hard to stop, once I start. I gathered the bones and the remains of nearly rotted meat and dropped them into the coffin with the rest of the corpse until time for my next meal. Nightmare VisionNightmare Vision ~~ ~~ ~~ “Nightmare Night! What a fright! Give us something sweet to bite!” We all hear that on this night. It is not common to hear it coming from a graveyard. I figured that it had to be a prank. I went to look. Probably not the smartest decision that I ever made! The gate creaked on its rusty hinges. Unkempt weeds hindered its opening. I picked my way past the many headstones, a fair number of which were leaning crazily. Soon, I was getting into the older section. Moss covered many of the stones. Some were now fallen slabs or broken statuary. The call still came from up ahead. Childish voices chanted, “Nightmare Night! What a fright! Give us something sweet to bite!” Now, the beneficent light of the moon overhead was interrupted by crooked branches, trailing moss down like great webs into my face. I have been to the graveyard on many occasions. I thought that I knew it really well. I had no recollection of this! There were ancient looking crypts and mausoleums looming on every hoof. I shuddered. It was finally penetrating my thick skull that there was something very wrong here. There was phosphorescence up ahead. It was moving. Bobbing a little as it did. Now I could see it. It was a skull, eyes glowing with a putrid light. It was held by a decaying hoof to light the way. I stopped cold. It was a small group of dead looking foals, guided by an older but very dead looking unicorn. They were all, apparently, undead, risen from the grave for this night. They knocked on the rotten wood door of a crypt. The opening gaped wide and another undead creature of nightmare held out a foal bowl filled with the earthly remains of what appeared to be a recently killed foal. The ghastly group added bits of the corpse to their gore leaking loot bags. They passed the corner of that crypt and went to the mausoleum beyond. Trying to contain my gorge, I sneaked as silently as I could, away from the horrid scene. I was nearly to the gate and the safety of the town beyond the walls that separated the living from the dead, when I tripped on a low headstone. I woke up, still inside the graveyard, to a bright dawn. My head ached. I gazed about but could see none of the unkempt, weedy, moss-grown place of the Nightmare Night just passed. Amused, I thought, “A bad dream, nothing more. I passed out or got knocked out when I fell, that is all.” Reassured, I decided to try locating any of what I had seen. All was neat and well kept, as it should be. Passing over a low hill, I came to a part of the cemetery that I had never found before. The ancient empty tombs and long abandoned crypts filled me with dread. Then I saw them. The sight that has haunted my days and nights ever since. Small hoof marks, going from crypt to tomb to mausoleum.
Theme PartyTheme Party ~~ ~~ ~~ It was well after dark. There was a polite knock on my door. I opened it on a small gaggle of foals who looked for all the world like Changeling nymphs. Standing proudly behind them was a pony who looked to be a Changeling Queen. “Nightmare Night! What a fright! Give us something sweet to bite!” I grinned and brought over my Foal Bowl. It was filled nearly to the brim with nicely wrapped foal treats. They bore the mark of Caramel Treat’s Sweets on the wrappers. As the foals dug into the bowl, filling their loot bags, I saw a sad look pass over the Queen’s face. “This late, and your bowl is still full? I am sorry to see that.” I sucked a lip and replied, “Blame the police for that. Last year, I set up a haunted house party. I had a big ghoul diorama. The police raided the place and dragged me downtown, accused of murder and cannibalism. They let me go the next morning, when it was shown to be phony diorama. “The arrest and publicity ruined my reputation, though. Not even the formal written apology of Chief Grim, stopped the rumors. That is it, framed on the wall, right there.” I was surprised when the Changeling Queen nodded. “I know. Their idiotic “raid” did not help their haunted house, a block over, at all. It was still a failure.” I shrugged. “I put out notices for a party this year, but not a single pony came until you showed up with these foals. Want to come in? We can still have games and contests if you like. It is all set up.” The Changeling Queen spread her insect like wings part way and replied, “We would be honored. Thank you.” The foals poured into my house! The Queen followed more sedately but with an appearance of real happiness. We had the apple ducking going full blast and a number of the foals were delightedly throwing sticker balls at a target. I had racked up prizes for that and even had some pies out on a table, ready to serve up. There was another knocking at the door. Hard banging accompanied by a loud demand of, “Open Up! We are the Police!” Standing next to the closed door, I called back, “Do you have a warrant?” “We don’t need one! Changelings were seen entering the house!” I whistled a few bars of the Funeral March. “Yes, actually, you do need a warrant to even be on or near this property. After last year’s debacle, Judge Coldheart issued a formal protective order, requiring police to have a warrant for any intrusion onto this property. You know it, too. You are the same pair that messed up so badly last year! “As for CHANGELINGS, on NIGHTMARE NIGHT? Are you out of what passes for minds? Have you ever heard of COSTUMES? Theme Parties? “How many foals have you arrested so far? Did you confiscate THEIR candies, like last year when you, according to the formal investigation, STOLE mine, intended as part of my haunted house party?” With a growl of rage, they kicked in the door, just in time to be lit by multiple flashes. Romaine, roving reporter of the Ponyville Prancer, and bane of deliberate civil misconduct, was shooting pictures as fast as the shutter on her camera could click! The horrified expressions of the two cops at being photographed in the ruin of the door was reward enough. They ran like rabbits. I turned to Romaine and said, “Thank you, Chrysalis. That was perfect.” With a sort of rippling effect, the Changeling Queen stood there, chuckling happily. “You are welcome. That made this a really memorable Nightmare Night.” Her nymphs played happily late into the night.
The Sweet SpotThe Sweet Spot ~~ ~~ ~~ The jangle of the spring bells announced another customer opening the door. I cheerfully called out, “Welcome to the Sweet Spot! Best sweets in Ponyville! Happy Nightmare Night!” The pony before me was an ugly orange, with a black mane and tail. He had a bulging loot bag but no costume. He did have a sneer on his face. “Don’t feed me none of that Nightmare Night crap! Just hoof over the Foal Bowl so’s I gets my free treats!” I stared straight back and said, “No. The sign on the door is specific. To get the free Foal Bowl treats you MUST be in costume and you must say the traditional chant. “If you don’t comply, you must buy!” He snorted, “Just hoof over your goodies or I will kick your case in and take whatever I wants! Might just do that anyway! What do you say to them apples?” I smiled widely at him, which made him nervous, and replied, “Leroi, I know you! If you try that, and you won’t be the first, you will regret it.” Goaded, Leroi kicked. Just as I hoped he would. It never connected. His loot bag sat, partly spilled on my otherwise perfectly clean floor. Whistling Berloize’s infamous Night on Ghoul Mountain, I carefully cleaned up the spilled candies. A quick check proved them all to be safe, so I poured them all into my nearly overflowing Foal Bowl. I took the empty loot bag back to my living quarters and added it to the two others under some trash for burning in my hearth. There was some thumping and muffled sound coming up from my basement. I opened the trap door and, looking down at Leroi and the other two miscreants, chained to the wall, said, “I told you not to do that.” The illusion of a smallish unicorn faded, letting him see the twin horns and tan fur, biggish ears and black nose. “Right,” I told him, “a deer. And it is far too late to grab me and make a wish. I got you first!” My horns flashed a pale light and Leroi, like the others, was muzzled. His chains pulled up tighter too. Can’t really have too much noise. I returned to the store. The spring bells jangled again. Before I could say anything, the foals chanted, “Nightmare Night! What a fright! Give us something sweet to bite!” Smiling happily, I hoofed over the big Foal Bowl. “Help your selves, youngsters, there is plenty!” Under the approving eyes of the light blue pony in her witch costume, the gaggle of foals in every sort of costume, took my advice and grabbed hoofs full of candies and other treats. When they were done, she said it too. “Nightmare Night! What a fright! Give me something sweet to bite!” She got her treats as well. I was almost sorry to see the cheerful little ones go. The next jangle of the bells brought three, looking like a grave digger, a zombie, and a ghoulish creature. Deeper voices chanted, “Nightmare Night! What a fright! Give us something sweet to bite!” I smiled up at them and said, “You are in luck! I have something special, just for you!” I led them into the back and opened the trap to the basement. As they trooped down the stairs, I said, “Enjoy your treats!”
Putting the BITE on TrottinghamSomething has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.
NIGHTMARE NIGHT AT GRUMPY'S CAVE!Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.
Nightmare Night Surprise!Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.
The TAIL of the GhostSomething has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.
VIGNETTE AT A HAUNTED MANSION PARTYSomething has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.
LUNA’S NIGHTMARE NIGHTSomething has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.
SQUEAK’S NIGHTMARE NIGHTSomething has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.
THE LUCK OF BLACK CATSSomething has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.
NIGHTMARE NIGHT AT THE SWEET SPOTSomething has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.
NIGHTMARE NIGHT LESSONSomething has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.
QUIET NIGHTMARE NIGHT FOR BONNIE BONESSomething has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.
BONNIE BONES’ ERRANDSomething has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.
INVITATION TO A FEASTSomething has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.
Nightmare NightNightmare Night ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ They were outside, chanting, “Nightmare Night! What a fright! Give us something sweet to bite!” Torchlight glistened off the bared fangs of the once innocent foals. They were not foals, exactly. Not anymore. They were being held back on leashes of chain by larger creatures that had been ponies, once. Not any longer. They had wings that were more draconic than bat-like. Some sort of gore dripped from the sharp horns that sprang out from above their fan like ears. Claws, instead of proper hooves, gripped the chains of the chanting young. Besides the torches, a pustulent moon glared down on the ghastly scene. Nightmare Moon approved of what she saw. Something touched my ankle. I looked down, shuddering. I stepped away from the severed head whose lips had given away its intent to bite. My movement alerted the chanters outside. They began to hammer and claw at the door, still chanting sweetly, “Nightmare Night! What a fright! Give us something sweet to bite!” I shied away frantically … and fell from the sleeping stall, hitting with a thump! Another dream. A nightmare, of course. I wandered out to the kitchen, where the likely cause of my bad dream lay on the table. Overate again. It is hard to stop, once I start. I gathered the bones and the remains of nearly rotted meat and dropped them into the coffin with the rest of the corpse until time for my next meal.
Nightmare VisionNightmare Vision ~~ ~~ ~~ “Nightmare Night! What a fright! Give us something sweet to bite!” We all hear that on this night. It is not common to hear it coming from a graveyard. I figured that it had to be a prank. I went to look. Probably not the smartest decision that I ever made! The gate creaked on its rusty hinges. Unkempt weeds hindered its opening. I picked my way past the many headstones, a fair number of which were leaning crazily. Soon, I was getting into the older section. Moss covered many of the stones. Some were now fallen slabs or broken statuary. The call still came from up ahead. Childish voices chanted, “Nightmare Night! What a fright! Give us something sweet to bite!” Now, the beneficent light of the moon overhead was interrupted by crooked branches, trailing moss down like great webs into my face. I have been to the graveyard on many occasions. I thought that I knew it really well. I had no recollection of this! There were ancient looking crypts and mausoleums looming on every hoof. I shuddered. It was finally penetrating my thick skull that there was something very wrong here. There was phosphorescence up ahead. It was moving. Bobbing a little as it did. Now I could see it. It was a skull, eyes glowing with a putrid light. It was held by a decaying hoof to light the way. I stopped cold. It was a small group of dead looking foals, guided by an older but very dead looking unicorn. They were all, apparently, undead, risen from the grave for this night. They knocked on the rotten wood door of a crypt. The opening gaped wide and another undead creature of nightmare held out a foal bowl filled with the earthly remains of what appeared to be a recently killed foal. The ghastly group added bits of the corpse to their gore leaking loot bags. They passed the corner of that crypt and went to the mausoleum beyond. Trying to contain my gorge, I sneaked as silently as I could, away from the horrid scene. I was nearly to the gate and the safety of the town beyond the walls that separated the living from the dead, when I tripped on a low headstone. I woke up, still inside the graveyard, to a bright dawn. My head ached. I gazed about but could see none of the unkempt, weedy, moss-grown place of the Nightmare Night just passed. Amused, I thought, “A bad dream, nothing more. I passed out or got knocked out when I fell, that is all.” Reassured, I decided to try locating any of what I had seen. All was neat and well kept, as it should be. Passing over a low hill, I came to a part of the cemetery that I had never found before. The ancient empty tombs and long abandoned crypts filled me with dread. Then I saw them. The sight that has haunted my days and nights ever since. Small hoof marks, going from crypt to tomb to mausoleum.
