In one of Ponyville's many quaint little homes, a mare stood in front of her bed, counting off things on her fingers as music played softly in the background.

“Let’s see here: phone, headphones, wallet, toothbrush, hairbrush, toothpaste, pens, notebook, and pepper spray.” A ponytail of wet, straw-yellow mane bobbed as its owner nodded to herself. “Okay, there’s all that. Now, what do I wear?”

Twisted Ankle tugged at the towel wrapped around her body, pink fur still matted from her shower. The Earth Pony crossed her arms and held a hand to her chin in thought. “Miss Cheerilee said we were going to be on the coast. That means it’s going to be cold, right?” she spun on her heels and faced her open closet, green eyes scanning over its contents. “Hm, let’s start with this,” she said to herself as she pulled a soft white zip-up jacket out and folded it up, tossing it into the suitcase on her bed.

“Sweatpants, jeans,” she continued as she grabbed two of each article of clothing and tossed them too into her suitcase. “Now, shirts.” A simple white tee-shirt, one with pink and yellow stripes, another that was pink with a big yellow splotch like it had been hit with a huge paintball, and finally a grey shirt with the name ‘Vandellas’ emblazoned on it.

Nodding to herself again, she moved from the closet to her dresser, pulling a few pairs of socks, bras, and panties from its drawers and tossing them into the suitcase. She walked over to the suitcase, pausing to glance around her bedroom; as though afraid the walls had eyes. She shook her head at her own silliness and allowed the towel to drop.

Her plump rump and the heart crossed with a baton on her flank were exposed for a moment before she quickly pulled on a pair of panties and hopped into a pair of jeans. She crossed one arm over her bare breasts while she pulled a bra from the suitcase and snapped it in place. She pulled the Vandellas shirt over her head, pulling her ponytail free of the neck of the shirt. She quickly pulled on her socks and stepped into her shoes and turned back to the suitcase. A quick bout of organization saw that it closed easily.

She hefted the suitcase and headed for the door. She quickly walked down the main hallway of her home, stopping in the kitchen to grab a peach from the fruit bowl.

“I’m going to meet Miss Cheerilee, Mom!” she called down the hallway.

“Have fun, dear!” her mother called from one of the rooms. “Oh, and Twisty?”

“Yeah, Mom?” Twisty called back.

“I want you to call me before nine. You know I worry.”

“I will, Mom. Bye!” And with that, Twisty left through the kitchen door.

The sun was well past its midpoint as Twisty walked through town. The streets were quiet, almost oddly so. Most ponies were at home, either putting up last minute decorations or just resting in preparation for that evening.

Twisty expected to run into one of her friends on the way to Miss Cheerilee’s, or at least see one of them there when she arrived. As the teacher’s home came into view, Twisty was surprised to see only Cheerilee and a brown Earth Pony stallion standing in the driveway next to a van. Cheerilee was dressed simply, wearing a light blue sweater with long sleeves and a pair of tan pants. The stallion, it seemed, had been unable to decide on a look. He had on a grey tank top, over which he wore a black suit-jacket, which seemed a bit at odds with his faded jeans.

Miss Cheerilee was talking. “…be here. Probably still sleeping in.”

“I know I wish I was,” the stallion said, tugging at the neck of his shirt.

“You can sleep on the way,” Cheerilee said as she walked up to the stallion, tapping him on the nose. “You won’t once we get there.”

Twisty blinked a few times and shook her head, trying to clear away the sudden thoughts of her teacher having sex. Quickly, she put on her biggest smile and loudly called out, “Hello, Miss Cheerilee!”

Cheerilee jumped a little, backing away from the stallion and coughing awkwardly. She smoothed out the front of her sweater as Twisty approached.

“Ah, Twisty, glad to see you here,” Cheerilee said with a too wide grin, which Twisty mimicked.

“Glad to be here,” Twisty replied, handing her suitcase off to the stallion.

He placed it in the back of the van, next to the rest of the bags and then turned back to her. He gave her a sideway’s look. “Little old for braces, aren’t you?”

Twisty quickly covered her mouth with a hand. She’d forgotten all about them.

Cheerilee elbowed her companion. “Reuben, be nice. A hoofball hit her at last week’s game.” She turned back to Twisty and gave her a genuine smile. “I’m glad to see you’re feeling better. Those don’t hurt, do they?”

Twisty shook her head, blushing.

Cheerilee nodded. “That’s good. I apologize for Reuben here. He’s a lawyer, so obviously his parents didn’t hug him enough.”

“‘S not untrue,” Reuben mumbled, rubbing his neck. “Ah, sorry, kid. Wasn’t trying to make fun of you.”

Twisty nodded and allowed her hand to drop to her side. “It’s okay. I’m sure Scary’s going to be a lot more insensitive once she sees.”

“One of my other students,” Cheerilee said, answering the unspoken question. She then peered at something behind Twisty. “Ah, here she comes now.”

Twisty turned around to see her friend, Scary Story, approaching. The black-coated Thestral had tucked her silver mane under the black hoodie she was wearing, which was half-zipped, revealing the pink shirt she had on underneath. And, as per the norm, Scary had put on a black skirt and stockings in favor of something a more wind resistant. Her luggage was presumably in the backpack she carried by the strap. Once Scary was close, she raised the black sunglasses she wore to peer at Twisty with orange eyes.

“You got braces,” Scary stated.

Twisty resolved to keep her teeth behind her lips for the rest of the weekend. “Hello to you too, Scary.”

Scary smiled bashfully. “Sorry, I’m really just happy you still have all your teeth.”

Twisty chuckled. “You and me both.”

Scary nodded and looked over Twisty’s shoulder, waving a hand to Cheerilee. She shifted her gaze and saw Reuben leaned against the side of the Van. “Why is the town lawyer here?”

“Community service,” Reuben replied with a smirk. “And I’m a bag man right now.”

“Huh,” Scary tossed her backpack to Reuben, who caught it and placed it in the van. She turned back to Twisty, pulling a notebook and pen from her hoodie. “Hey, Twisty, if you were going to rename yourself, what would your name be?”

Twisty raised an eyebrow. “Scary, did you use me in one of your stories again?”

“No,” the reply came all too quickly.

“Scary,”

“Ugh, fine, I did. But it’s okay. You don’t die until the end this time.”

Twisty smirked. “Thanks, Scary.” She jerked her head back to indicate Cheerilee. “You put Miss Cheerilee in there too?”

Scary glanced at the teacher. “Kind of,”

“Do I die?” Cheerilee asked with an amused smile.

Scary blushed. “Uh, yeah. But, it’s, um-”

Cheerilee waved her off. “I’m okay with it, Scary. Just give me a hot colt friend before I die this time.”

“Sure thing,” Scary said with a blush.

Cheerilee chuckled and beckoned Reuben to follow her as they went back inside the house, saying something about grabbing supplies.

“So, got anything good yet?” Twisty asked, moving to stand next to Scary.

“A couple things. It’s still pretty rough, though,” Scary said, opening the notebook and flipping to the appropriate pages.

Twisty looked over what her friend had written, noting that the character she presumed to be her was being called Voorshees. And the Thestral that totally wasn’t Scary was called Lace. Twisty tilted her head a little at the next character mentioned.

“Who’s this, ‘Stephanie Broadchest’ supposed to be?”

“Twisty!” came a sudden sing-song shout from behind the pair, making them jump. Twisty was recovering when she was suddenly hugged from behind.

“Guess,” Scary said flatly.

“Ahh, Flare, the hell!” Twisty shouted, twisting in her other friend’s grasp.

Double Moon Flare giggled and released Twisty, hopping back a step. Twisty ran a hand through her mane and turned around. She had always thought of herself as being attractive, but standing anywhere near Flare made her feel downright homely.

Flare was an Alicorn, but it was honestly not as impressive as it sounded. Sure, her teal coat was perpetually pristine, her golden eyes had a faint sparkle about them, and her flowing pink mane with its yellow highlights was always magically untangled, but beyond that her magical abilities were below average. And yes, she had wings, but since she was built like a horny sculptor has polished her from marble, she wasn’t exactly aerodynamic. Still, she filled out her thin purple sweater in ways that turned heads regardless of gender. And the green skirt complimented it nicely.

“Sorry!” Flare said with a giggle. “I’m just so excited! I mean, all of us together, it’s Nightmare-Night, and we’re going to the big, spooky castle. It’s all so perfect!”

“Yeah,” Scary said in the same flat tone. “Almost like someone set it all up, right?”

“I think you’ve been reading too many of your own stories, Scary,” Flare said, putting an arm around the Thestral’s shoulder. “Got a new one, by chance?”

Scary smiled forcibly and lightly picked up Flare’s hand and moved it off her shoulder. “It’s still a work in progress.”

Flare shrugged and quickly wrapped her other arm around Twisty, pulling the other mare close. “Keep me and Twisty updated. We’re really looking forward to it, aren’t we?” Flare gave Twisty a friendly jiggle.

Twisty laughed nervously as she watched Scary’s eye twitch. “Yeah. Apparently-” Twisty was cut short by Flare putting a finger over her lips.

“Whoa, no spoilers. Sheesh,” Flare shook her head and hugged Twisty closer, unknowingly smushing the pink mare’s head into her tits. Flare shot Scary a knowing and almost apologetic smile. “Can you believe this gal?”

Scary quickly pulled her sunglasses back over her eyes. “Yeah, she’s pretty, uh,” Scary cleared her throat and looked down. “Twisty got braces.”

Flare released Twisty from her marshmallow hell, if not her hug. “You got braces?” the Alicorn asked.

Twisty nodded. “Yeah. Remember last week’s hoofball game?”

“Oh,” Flare said, drawing the word out. “Yeah, that…. Do they hurt at all? I remember mine hurting.”

Twisty shook her head. “No, I kind of keep forgetting they’re there to be honest.”

Flare giggled. “Lucky you.” She craned her neck, looking around. “Hey, have you seen Laser Bright?”

Twisty shook her head. “Hasn’t turned up yet. In fact, it’s just you, me, Scary, Miss Cheerilee, and her, uh, friend.”

Flare opened her mouth, likely to ask just who Miss Cheerilee’s friend was, when she shifted her gaze behind Twisty.

“Well, speak and she doth appear,” Flare grinned and waved. “Laser Bright! Over here!”

Twisty craned her neck to look over her shoulder as another of her classmates approached. Laser Bright was bobbing her head to whatever was playing on her earbuds, her spiky white mane bouncing along with her and her candy-red eyes a bit unfocused. The Crystal Pony’s coat was a milky white at the moment, but Twisty had seen it shift into transparency. Usually during killer light shows.

Laser Bright pulled her earbuds out once she got close to the van, letting them dangle over her black shirt. “Hey there, guys,” she said as she placed her small gym bag on the ground at her feet and brushed some dirt from her pants.

“Ah, just the mare I wanted to see,” Flare said as released Twisty and approached the Laser Bright, wrapping an arm around her and leading her a little ways away from the others.

Twisty let out a relieved and quiet sigh, habitually brushing the front of her shirt. Flare was well meaning, but she tended to have very little concern for personal space. And she left strands of her mane everywhere.

Scary sidled up to Twisty and nudged her. “I’ve been meaning to ask. Does Flare wear a bra?”

Twisty gave Scary a sideways look before shaking her head to clear out any errant thoughts. “No, thankfully. The last thing I need right now is some bra wire taking my eye out.”

“It’s a little chilly. She might have done it anyway.” Scary said with a snerk. “How does she deal with the weight?”

“Great back strength?” Twisty shrugged, giggling a little.

Scary shook her head. “Stupid Earth Pony strength.” Scary coughed and quickly added. “Not that there’s anything wrong with Earth Ponies.”

“It’s okay, Batty, we’re all friends here.” Twisty replied with a smile. “So, what horrible fate lies in store for, ahem, Stephanie?”

“Ah, ah, no more spoilers for you. Wouldn’t want you to always be two steps ahead of her.”

“Spoil sport,” Twisty sighed and squinted at Flare and Laser Bright, who stood a few dozen paces away. “Wonder what they’re talking about.”

“Yeah, what are Stephanie and Vinyl talking about I wonder,” Scary said, scribbling something in her notebook.

Twisty raised an eyebrow. “‘Vinyl’?”

“Hey, coming up with names is hard.”

“And how hard was coming up with Broadchest?”

“And what would you call the mare who hit puberty at eight?”

Twisty sighed and shook her head. A beat passed before an evil thought crossed her mind and came out her mouth. “You know, Flare would probably find that hilarious. I’m gonna go tell her.”

Twisty could swear she saw Scary blush. “Please don’t. I mean, she said she didn’t want spoilers.”

Twisty smirked. “Fine, fine, I’ll let you tell her.” Twisty nodded at Scary’s notebook. “So, what other inventive names did you come up with? Did you call Xander ‘Stripes’?”

“No!” Scary said, all too hastily.

“There are other Zebra names, you know,” said a voice from behind the too.

Twisty smirked and turned to greet another of her friends. Xander was, as one may have gathered, a Zebra. He was tall, and aside from Twisty and Flare probably the most athletically built of the group. He certainly liked denim, wearing beige jeans and a blue denim jacket over a white shirt. He ran a hand over his short cut mane, which was actually devoid of black stripes.

He fiddled with the black framed glasses he wore as Scary fidgeted on the spot.

“I, uh, I mean,” Scary stammered.

Xander smirked, green eyes twinkling with amusement. He waved Scary off, placing his book bag on the ground. “Just messing with ya, Scary. I kinda wish I was named Stripes sometimes. Makes it sound like I’m fast.”

Scary smiled nervously and nodded.

Xander looked around. “So, anyone else show up yet?”

“Flare and Laser Bright,” Twisty said as the two mares walked back over. “And Miss Cheerilee and her friend.”

“Miss Cheerilee brought a friend?” Laser Bright said.

“You mentioned them earlier,” Flare nodded. “Who is it?”

“You know the town lawyer?” Scary spoke up.

“Him?” Laser Bright said, eyebrow raised. “What’s he doing here?”

“Oi!” a voice suddenly called.

The group turned towards the source of the call. Twisty smiled and waved.

“Ember, glad to see you made it!”

Ember Roundup was moving at a good clip as she approached to the group. She dug her heels in once she was close, almost literally grinding to a halt. The berry-blue mare wobbled unsteadily for a moment before finding her balance. She pulled the akubra off her head and fanned herself with it; her wire glasses perched dangerously far down her nose. She placed the hat back atop her frazzled orange and purple mane and pushed her glasses back over her grey-blue eyes.

“Did I miss anythin’?” Ember asked, brushing the front of her near omnipresent vest and black shirt emblazoned ‘reporter’.

Xander jerked his head at Scary. “Scary wrote us in another of her stories.”

Ember sighed. “Please don’t tell me my name is Dundee again.”

“Uh…” Scary trailed off.

Ember shook her head, pulling her camera bag from her shoulder. “I don’t mind, Scary, really. But, please tone down the accent this time. I don’t sound like I just hoopped off th’ boat from o.s., ta.” Ember said, exaggerating her normally gentle Brumbiland accent.

Scary stared and scratched at her ears. “I’m sorry; I didn’t get a word of that.”

Ember snickered. “You’re a cheeky bastard, Scary. Now, anyone seen Miss Cheerilee?”

“Still in her house,” Twisty said. “And why did you bring a camera?”

“What else am I supposed to record with?” Ember bent down and zipped open her bag, pulling out a hand-held camera. “I’m doing an article for the paper and it helps to have visual notes. Plus the local station said if I can cut together a segment, they’ll air it.”

“The station’s interested in a segment about an old castle over a hundred miles away?” Twisty raised an eyebrow.

Ember smirked. “More like they’re interested in the scandal I promised them.”

Flare spoke up. “I'm afraid to ask, but what scandal?”

“The one where our deadly beloved Mayor uses innocent students to help her cheat the tax-mare.”

Xander snorted. “Really?”

“You seen that lawyer here? What’s his name? Saul or Jimmy or something.” Ember waved dismissively as she fiddled with her camera. “Anyway, this lawyer is the one that found the Mayor her loophole.”

“And who told you about all that?” Laser Bright asked, sounding skeptical.

“The lawyer did,” Ember said matter of factly, smiling happily once she got her camera running. “And I’ll be getting all the evidence on film. Well, digital film. High-Definition, too.”

“Are we all gonna be a part of your big whistle-blow?” Scary asked, pointing at the camera.

“If that’s okay. I can always blur out your faces in post if you want.”

“Just be sure to shoot my good side and there’ll be no need for blurring,” Flare giggled, making a pouty face at the camera.

“I think all your sides are good,” said a voice with the vaguest of buzzing to it.

In spite of themselves, the group collectively jumped as they found a Changeling in their midst. The Changeling in question was wearing a Ponyville letter jacket over a dark-green sweater and a pair of thick, black jeans.

“Ah, Token, when did you get here?” Flare asked.

Twisty internally winced a little. She might have gripes about her name, but it was hard to beat literally being the Token of the group. And Twisty hated to admit it, but she did find it difficult to distinguish Token from his fellow Changelings. The letter jacket helped.

Token shrugged. “I’ve been here the entire time. I actually thought you were just ignoring me.”

There was a pregnant pause before Token snorted and fell into a fit of laughter. “Just messin’ with you, guys, I only just got here.”

The rest of the group shared in the laugh as the door to Cheerilee’s house opened, the school teacher striding out with Reuben close on her heels. Cheerilee was holding up a magazine, her purse around her shoulder.

“See, like that,” Cheerilee was saying.

Reuben scoffed. “I appreciate the vote of confidence, Cheer. But, I am not that flexible.”

Cheerilee shrugged. “We can just reverse the positions.”

“I can live with that.”

“Hey, Miss Cheerilee!” Twisty called all too loudly. “Everyone else showed up!”

Cheerilee stumbled a bit, but quickly regained her stride, rolling up the magazine and stuffing it in her purse. “Thank you, Twisty,” Cheerilee smiled as she approached her assembled students.

Cheerilee came to a stop and clapped her hands together. “So! It looks like everyone is here, but to be safe, let’s have you all sign the sheet.” Cheerilee lightly elbowed Reuben, who nodded quickly and pulled a clipboard from the back of the van. He handed it to Twisty, who signed her named and passed it along to Scary.

Cheerilee began speaking again. “Now, before we disembark, I want to get a few things out of the way. First of all, I want to make it clear who my friend here is. You might recognize him as our local lawyer. Reuben, say hello.”

Reuben, who was in the process of loading Flare’s oversized suitcase into the van, stopped to give a little wave. “Hey there,”

Cheerilee continued speaking. “He is coming with us in an official capacity. And that is because the castle we are to be visiting is in the process of being declared a historical site. Congratulations, kids, you will be a part of history.”

“A very technical and boring part,” Reuben interjected. “And that’s from the guy who reads legal docs for a living.”

“Reuben, be nice,” Cheerilee chided. “Moving on: I know I promised you all an A for going on this trip and you will receive it. But, you will also be taking a test once we return and you will be graded on it. But worry not, Daisy Wiss, the mare that will be giving you the tour, has written the test herself and she assures me that you won’t have a bit of trouble with it so far as you listen when she speaks.”

Reuben again paused in his loading of luggage. “You didn’t read the test?”

Cheerilee thought about that for a moment. “Huh, probably should, come to think of it.”

“You are a teacher, aren’t you?”

Cheerilee looked over her shoulder. “Any more lip from you and you’ll spend the next few hours chewing on a ball-gag.”

Reuben grinned. “Is that a promise?”

Cheerilee smirked and almost as one Twisty and the others shuddered.

Cheerilee turned back to them and continued. “Anyway, I don’t want any of you worrying your heads about the test or get the idea that the whole trip will be one deluge of facts after the other. You will have plenty of time to yourselves this weekend. As such, I would like to point out you are all adults and I plan on treating you as such. However, you are still my students so if you go and fall hundreds of feet and dash yourselves on a couple of jagged rocks, it will reflect badly on me. So please, be cautious.”

Reuben closed the van’s back doors and went to the van’s side, pulling open the passenger door.

“Make sure to buckle up,” Cheerilee said as she climbed into the driver’s seat. “And I just want to make it clear that the radio will be driver’s choice.”

Twisty got in first, scooting along the first row of seats to the window. The rest of the students climbed in, Scary plopping herself down beside Twisty.

“Surprisingly comfortable,” Scary mumbled as she buckled herself in.

Twisty nodded as she reached for her own seat belt. She then jumped as she felt a hand on her shoulder.

“This is gonna be awesome!” Flare crooned from the seat behind Twisty.

“I’ll bet,” Scary said flatly.

Twisty patted Flare’s hand before shrugging it off her shoulder, offering an apologetic look to Scary.

“Ready?” Cheerilee asked, looking over her shoulder. Once she had her chorus of replies, she started the engine and began guiding the van onto the road. She fiddled with the radio as the van rolled down the street.

“Uh, Cheer, you want to keep an eye on the road?” Reuben said, sounding a bit nervous.

“Careful,” Cheerilee said as she turned the dial. “I have the gag in my purse.”

Again the collected students shuddered.

“Aha,” Cheerilee grinned as she found her station.

A female DJ was speaking on the radio. “You’re listening to a prerecorded Radio Vinyl, because I’m napping right now! Why? In preparation for tonight when we will be doing our ten hour continuous broadcast! From nine until dawn, I’ll be here, live, with music, guests, and all sorts of fun. It’s our Dead by Dawn marathon. Hope you can survive the night. But, until then, here’s some tunes for ya.”

Twisty looked out the window as Cheerilee found her way onto the highway, watching as the short buildings of her home quickly gave way to trees alight with fall colors. The sky was filled with massive clouds, white and puffy on top and forebodingly dark underneath.

A strange feeling washed over her, equal parts excited anticipation and… dread?

Twisty shook her head, clearing away any dark thoughts. She was being paranoid. Too many late-night horror movies with Scary. There wasn’t anything to worry about. Not a thing.

Right?

Author's Note

Nine little ponies set off for Castle Rapture. How many will be dead by dawn?

Probably all of them, because I'm a monster.