These are the Stories of the NLAC

Chapters

A Beach Fest in High School
The Magical Fantasy Adventure
For love of the Game
The War of the Nudes
The Nudist School on Horror Hill
Nūdisuto gakkō de matte iru
Ready Player One

A Beach Fest in High School

Chapter 1: A beach fest

If there was one thing in the world that Shady hated more than anything else, it was sensory deprivation. It really didn't matter to what degree the deprivation was, she hated it regardless. Head colds were bad, but so was having a limb fall asleep and not moving in accordance to her will, or able to provide accurate sensory input. Not being able to see made it all so much worse when she couldn't hear, or smell, or taste, or even really feel anything. She relied heavily on her senses to keep track of her surroundings, so any interference could be problematic.

That matter aside, however, here she was. Sitting in the shade of a tree for shelter from the heat of a day, a set of earbuds plugged into her phone as she listened to a particular song for at least the third time in a row, in an effort to figure out just what they lyrics were.

Despite not being able to see what she'd been doing at the time, the NLAC party she'd attended had actually been a lot of fun; fun enough that she was willing to attend the next one, and she wanted to come prepared. She'd done some dancing to the beat Vinyl Scratch had been laying down, some body painting -and improvised anatomy studies at the same time- and she even tried her hand at karaoke, despite not really being able to carry a tune. Out of it all, the karaoke had pretty much been the biggest hit, thus giving her reason to want to have something new to offer up when the next party rolled around; those at the party deserved the best she could present, whatever her "best" was.

That, and the song choice and her singing it just struck her as ironic, although she couldn't explain why.

Unfortunately that meant paying more attention to the music, rather than her own surroundings, and thus leaving herself vulnerable. So when she felt someone grabbing her shoulder from behind, naturally she freaked. She screamed in surprise, practically ripping the earbuds from her ears as she jumped to her feet, and swung her cane around in an effort to strike whoever had been stupid enough to sneak up on her.

"Jeez, Snarkzilla, settle down! It's just me!" the guilty party responded.

"Strut?" Shady asked upon recognizing the voice. "Damnit, girl, what're you doing, sneaking up on me like that? You know I hate when people do that!" she stated, now being forced to deal with the aftermath of the sudden adrenaline explosion.

"Not my fault you weren't paying attention," Strut stated in her own defense. "I got a text from Dinks."

"What's up? Is Snap making her move or something?" Shady asked.

"I don't know. She just asked if I could find you, and something about a meeting with that club you're in," Strut replied.

It was no real secret that Strut, in addition to being one of the Rejects, was a member of Dinky's information network. She was one who worked the angle of getting the word out to students who were... less than popular, and statistically less likely to be addressed by others. It only made sense that Rinky Dink would seek her out if she was wanted.

"Alright then," she said as she made sure her phone and earbuds were still present, before stuffing them in her pocket and holding out her hand. "Lead the way."

Contrary to Shady's initial assumptions, nobody was nude when she and Strut showed up. There were lots of people present, but overall the chatter there was a detectable cacophony of sounds and other noises attributed to the shifting and rustling of all manner of clothing, as well as a wealth of smells from the various fabrics being worn.

How exactly this involved the NLAC, or even her for that matter, she didn't really know.

"Hi Shady!"

Although that was likely about to come to an end, now that Dinky had spotted them. Although that had to wait until after Strut basically said she was out after delivering the package to the destination.

"What's going on, Rinky Dink? Is the Empire going on the offensive?" she asked.

"Not as far as we can tell," Dinky replied.

Shady couldn't help but frown in confusion at hearing that. If Diamond Tiara wasn't mobilizing whatever forces she had left in an effort to bring down the club, and they didn't need her to "accidentally" break a couple of legs, then what exactly had she been brought into this for?

"I'm confused," she stated bluntly.

"We're discussing the upcoming party this Friday night, and it didn't seem right to exclude you since you're a fellow club member," Dinky explained.

'Club member in name only,' Shady mentally noted. But that was another discussion for another day. "So what's being discussed?" she asked, deciding to go the route of being appreciative for being included.

Rather than Rinky Dink speaking up and giving her the lowdown, it was Jungle this time around.

"Well the NLAC is doing themed parties soon, and everyone is supposed to bring something that relates to that theme. The first is beach-themed," he explained. "Some of us got together to discuss what could be brought so there's not an overlap of just a few different items."

"Which sounded easier in the beginning, but now not so much," Gears added.

She was starting to feel like they'd brought her in to serve the mediator role. But she highly doubted they would've actually done just that, as she had no real mediation skills beyond telling others to shut up and wait their turn.

"What's so hard about that?" she asked.

"Well we're having trouble separating luau stuff from beach stuff, so we've consolidated the two together since a luau can be at a beach. But a lot of the stuff that keeps getting suggested is clothing. Straw hats, loud shirts, leis, grass skirts, coconut bras, etc. stuff like that," Dinky stated.

"Stuff that runs counter to what the club is all about," Gears added.

She needed more information to go on that just that. "So what's on the list so far that isn't clothing?"

"Well Pinkie's sister, Maud, works at the concrete plant, so she can get us a deal on a hundred pounds of sand in case we wanna have a sandcastle building competition. Other stuff is tiki torches that the club members in shop class are converting to electric with flicker bulbs. We've also got folding chairs, beach balls, volley balls and a net, seashells, a couple of pineapples, suntan lotion, sunglasses, and big towels," Gears stated, sounding like she was reading from an assembled list.

"Which is all well and good, but everybody keeps bringing up clothes, because that's what they think of when headed for the beach," Crackle explained. "Can you think of anything that isn't on the list, that would be found at the beach?"

"Maybe, but at the moment I'm confused. Do you actually have to wear what you bring to the party?" she asked.

"No," Rinky Dink stated; likely with a pointless shaking of the head.

"Well then what's the problem with bringing beach-themed clothes to the party?" she asked.

There was a noticeable decrease in the sound of discussion that followed her question. Had she just said something wrong, and now everyone was looking at her in disbelief?

"Did... did we actually overlook that?" Crackle asked.

"I think we might have," Gears replied and sighed. "How'd you catch that anyway?"

"I don't get out much, so I spend a lot of my time reading," she replied, earning a snort of amusement in the process.

"Well stick around, maybe you can do some more reading if we hit another impasse," Rinky Dink replied and took hold of her shirt sleeve.

- Charlie_K

Octavia sat alone in the Student Union Center’s female locker room, silently picking at the ice white towel wrapped around her grey body. Her black hair was tied up in a neat bun for the moment if it should ever come in contact with water. She had her eyes closed, deep in meditation to calm her pounding heart. This was her first time being here period. Sure she had heard so many great things about this club through the grape vein and Vinyl’s never ending praise. But actually showing up was completely different than hearing stories.
Normally Octavia wasn’t the type of person to hang out at parties in general. Being in large crowds always did drive her crazy and left her with little enjoyment. Oh sure she could put on a strong face and walk through large social gatherings like a proper woman. But inside she would always be screaming, crying, or both. So coming to an event like this wasn’t exactly appealing to begin with. And yet here she was, by request of her sister, and Octavia was doing her best to keep her emotions under control. After taking some very deep breaths and make sure the towel was tightly wound around her body, Octavia got up and walked towards the party. She was uncomfortable that wasn’t in question, but when she saw how relaxed everyone was, she became more confused than nervous. The concept of weird was too mild for what Octavia was seeing. All her classmates, all her friends, were hanging out naked and completely comfortable with it. How was any of this possible?
As she made her way past the bodies of students, luau music filling her ears, she kept seeing the same sight: comfort. Everyone was comfortable, relaxed, and very calm. Well those who weren’t having a blast with the parties theme were calm. And those that were having a blast whizzed by Octavia in a blur. It all seemed so strangely surreal. The towel soon began to feel very noticeable on her body, but Octavia suppressed any urge to take it off as she reached the DJ platform. There she spotted her sister Vinyl Scratch in all her naked glory.
Octavia knew immediately that Vinyl had spotted her despite the DJ having her shades on. Awkwardly, Octavia stood just behind a subwoofer making sure her ears didn’t take a beating from the loud music. Despite her sister being more eccentric than Octavia would like, Vinyl wasn’t stupid and always knew how to keep the crowd entertained without damaging her body in the process. That often meant creating a cone of silence at or near the mix table. And it was there Octavia would always find solace whenever Vinyl dragged her to concerts.
And there Octavia stood, safe from the loud music, switching her gaze from the naked crowd to her naked sister while still wrapped in a towel. Everyone looked so natural and clean, yet she was still puzzled. It didn’t take long for Vinyl to finish up her set list and sign off, though she did promise to come back later for another round of great beats. Once she was done, she walked over to Octavia and gave her a big hug.
“I’m so glad you came along sis,” Vinyl cheered.
“I really don’t see the point of this,” Octavia told her sister.
Vinyl took off her glasses and rested them atop her head, “What’cha mean?”
While keeping one hand on her towel to keep it in place Octavia waved the other around at the party, “This, all this, I don’t get this!”
“It’s a beach themed party.” Vinyl explained.
Octavia gave a dead-panned stare, “I get that you nit. I mean the fact that…oh I don’t know…everyone’s naked!”
“Oh yeah,” Vinyl chuckled, remembering her own naked state, “Guess I forgot about that.”
“How can you forget you’re naked!?” Octavia asked, very confused.
“I don’t know,” Vinyl giggled.
Octavia grumbled, “Alrighty then. Well since you are now once again aware of your state, would you kindly tell me what’s the point of this?”
Vinyl just laughed, “It’s just a party Octy.”
“Yes but all of you are naked, why?” Octavia asked.
Vinyl snorted again, “Because that’s how this club rolls Octavia, we just want to enjoy the time we have here in a…naked and relaxed state. Do we need a reason other than that?”
“Yes,” Octavia blurted out.
Vinyl chuckled as she walked Octavia out of the party room and up the stairs into the school proper, “Octavia, sometimes a party is just a party. Why don’t you at least try to get into the spirit of things?”
“You’re just saying that so you’d get me to lower my towel.” Octavia huffed.
“Ew Sis you know I’m not like that.” Vinyl scoffed, “I’m just trying to get you, for once in your life, to relax.”
“And you think a nudist party will do that?” Octavia asked.
“A Nudist Beach Party thank you very much,” Vinyl said indignantly, “As the club’s resident musician I take offense. I put a lot of effort into designing the tropical techno I got. And yes I think it would, because at least here you don’t have to be Octavia: Future first chair of the Trans Equestrian Orchestra. You can just be Octavia.”
Octavia bit her lower lip, “Fine Scratches, I’ll give it a chance. But I’m not taking my towel off.”
“Fair trade,” Vinyl smiled.

- Blake Skies

“PULL!” Cloudchaser yelled to her sister as Flitter loaded a large, green water balloon into an improvised slingshot made from the volleyball net. Flitter nodded, she smirked while she pulled back the volleyball net until she felt her arms strain before she released the payload, sending a large red water balloon hurling from their perch on the sand covered bleachers, through gymnasium, over one of the many trenches dug into the sand, and onto an unsuspecting team of three trying to hold their own in a trench, causing them to scatter.

“Direct hit!” Flitter squealed in delight.

Cloudchaser inhaled deeply as she adjusted her set of bandoliers as each carrying a set of six water pistols, “I love the smell of wet sand in the morning!”, she sold as she loaded another yellow balloon into the net.

“Hey Jot, check our flank!

Jot A. Doodle peaked from their perch on the bleachers, from behind the wrestling mat, spotting three people trying to sneak around the side of the sand covered stairs. Jot recognized them instantly. Trixie slowly climbed her way up the hill, a super soaker tucked against her chest, followed by Starlight Glimmer and Golden Casket, each of who struggled to carry a heavy load of water balloons inside of a blue tote. Jot knew what they were up to. They planned on forcing JD and his team out of their position, and take the slingshot for themselves. With only 15 minutes to spare, Jot had to act fast so his team could keep their position and their flag. Jot hunkered down in his fox hole, his Hydromaster three thousand water cannon in hand, he turned the red dial to control the pressure of the spray, and gently he caressed the green plastic.

He counted the paces of naked feet against the sand, “Three, four, five,” and popped over the side of the dugout and blasted Starlight’s legs, causing the sand below him to shift. With a grunt, Golden Casket tumbled, dropping his load of balloons onto Snails, who after being pelted was a rainbow frenzy of water balloons, also dropped his basket. The combined avalanche of colorful balloons pelted Trixie, who made a mad dash back down hill, with her friends chasing after her.

“You buffoons!” She screamed at the sheepish duo, shielding her face from the flurry of rubber and water against her bare skin.

“Nice shot JD,” Cloudchaser praised as she peeked above the dugout, spraying two students back with her water pistols until they turned back, “At this rate, we’ll win capture the flag for sure, just five more minutes! Let’s break out Big Bartha and finish it!”

Flitter gave Cloudchaser thumbs up, “You got it, sis!” Flitter and JD moved a sheet from over a large, spherical object, revealing a green, monster-sized water balloon. Together JD and Flitter loaded the heavy water balloon into volleyball net, struggling to pull it back, while Cloudchaser marked their next victims with a telescope she had hidden away in her backpack. However, the combined weight of the beach ball sized balloon and the strain of the volleyball net against his fingers caused JD to lose his grip, and Flitter, unable to bare the weight herself, was forced to launch the ball directly above them.

“Bullocks. . . ”JD muttered, as his eyes followed the Green Behemoth as it fell toward him and his team.

“Incoming!” Cloudchaser yelled as she dove out of the impact zone quickly. Flitter yelped, and scrambled behind her twin. Quickly, JD grabbed the red flag, quickly trying to escape, however his bulky water cannon he held so dear managed to fall free of his grip in his haste. Refusing to abhis overpriced plastic toy, he tries to reach it, stunning his toe against an exposed stair, He jolted up, howled in pain and held his red hair with a loud SMACK.

“Wha!” he shrieked. JD hopped along, covering his head and still held his throbbing foot. JD tumbled down hill, grunting as he did it. Spinning faster, the surroundings blurred until he hit a dune. He was sent flying, all the way from the bleachers to the concessions table where his face planted, scorpion-style into a large cake.his world went dark, going out with a head ache, and the taste of frosting that meted on his tongue.

“Hey, you okay?” asked a familiar, concerned voice.

Jot slowly opened his heavy eyes, from his head to shoulders he felt the sting of the impact. After adjusting to the light, he realized he was no longer in the gymnasium, but now inside the Nurse's office, with flitter and Cloudchaser watching him with empathy.

“You aren't mad are you?, we’re so sosososososo sorry!” Filter apologized, her hands clasped.” We carried you down here, Nurse Redheart said to keep an eye on you.”

JD rubbed his head his head, “No no, don't be, not your fault Flitter.”

“How's your noggin, buddy?’ Cloudchaser snickered, “did the cake taste good!”

“Still attached to my head,” JD smacked his lips, some frosting still in his mouth, “Tastes like lemon meringue, so it's a win in my book.”

Cloudchaser laughed harder, earning herself a swift jab in the side with Filtter's elbow, “Don’t mind her, again, sorry about knocking you out with that slingshot,was my idea,” flitter apologized again, not appreciating JD and Cloudchaser’s sarcastic outlook on the situation.

With a wave of the hand JD dismissed the comment,”Think nothing of it. It was all in good fun, besides, it’s take more than that to out Jot A. Doodle down!

Did we win?” JD asked.

Flitter shook her head, “ No, Rainbow Dash’s team got ahold of the flag after your tumble.”

Jot sighed, “Well, guess it's game over.”

Flitter and Cloudchaser simply looked at each other with wide, devious smirks, “Actually, Cloudchaser started.

“We can keep playing if you want” Flitter finished.

Just clapped his hands together, “Splendid! where's my squirt gun?”

Flitter reached behind a chair, pulling free the Hydromaster three thousand, adjusting its large spout to spray a massive torrent of water on JD’s naked body, “Jesus! What are you doing?!” JD gasped, his red hair drenched and matted.

“What’s the matter, you still wanted to play right?” Cloudchaser teased, drawing her water pistol from her bandolier and spraying JD twice more.

“Now this is unfair!” Jot protested, but he wasn't going to stick around and debate with two armed femme fatales. He bolted for the door, ran down the hallway as fast as he could. All the while Flitter and Cloudchaser sprayed him with icy water relentlessly. “Well,” Jot said to himself between breaths, “At least I made some new friends!”

- L3thAlPwnE

Captain Dink swung her pool noodle sword in a vicious arc hitting the water with a resounding smack. All around the blonde her crew did the same creating a symphony of noise. To her left her first mate Rumble spiked a pool into the water trying to hit one of them while behind her the wheezing of a pump action water gun echoed as Berry Pinch kept the bow of their raft clear. Water lapped at the collection of foam floats, inflatable tubes and flutter boards the Dink had helped lash together back when her crew had numbered eight not four. The Dink looked up once more shocking on the progress of Featherweight who had taken one of the inflatable beds and was paddling madly for some dropped weapons.
“Come on Feather!” Rumble yelled. “You got this bro!” Dinky added her own encouragement.
“Times a wasting seaman! Get your bare ass back here!” Featherweight grinned his buck tooth grin as he grabbed another water gun and two noodles from the water.
“You got it captain! Coming back!” The skinny boy started to turn his makeshift kayak to more encouragement from his superior officers. A wet purple hand taped Dinky on the shoulder.
“Captain?” Pinch whispered. “They’ve broken off their attack.”
Dinky’s eyes widened. “Dear god.” She whispered crawling to the edge of their raft peering into the depths. Sure enough a blonde gray figure followed by a half dozen others were swimming away from them. Towards Feather. “Paddle damn you!” Dinky shouted towards the hapless boy. “They’re coming!”
Pinch and Rumble joined their captain in shouting, smacking the water doing anything to distract their adversaries. Featherweight for his part started paddling madly sending up great silver plumes of water. Dinky smacked the water in frustration as she watched the blonder blur grow closer to her man.
“There’s got to be something we can do!” Rumble hissed in her ear. “Maybe if I take a float I can-”
Dinky shook her head. “No.” Her eyes flicked over to the clock. Two minutes left. “We can’t afford to risk it. He knew what I was asking.” Featherweight was pointing the gun one handed at the water around him firing off random desperate shots while still attempting to paddle one handed. Abruptly the paddle was wrenched from is hand.
A moment of peace settled upon the water. Dinky watched his narrow chest draw in a deep breath eyes closed. Picking up the noodle he’d salvaged he chucked it towards them. It landed a foot away with a fateful flash.
“Witness.” Feather said with a smile nodding once at them. With an explosion of violence they struck upturning his bed and sending him plunging into the water.
“No!” Pinch cried at the choppy waters. Dinky rose to her knees.
“Get ready sailors.” A minute thirty was left on the clock. Rumble snagged the noodle Feather had sacrificed himself for. “Here they come.” A school of multicolored streaks came on led by the blonde one. Dinky’s eyes narrowed as she wrapped her noodle around her bare midriff like a tuba.
A purple and orange figure burst from the water heading for their raft. Blowing through one end of the noodle Dinky launched a shot of water right in its face. Disoriented it missed its mark disappearing below.
Rumble meanwhile was smacking claw like hands away from pieces of their already unstable raft away especially a pair of black one. Dinky joined in and together the two fended them off.
Pinch rained down hellfire with her water fun as figure after figure came up for air or tried to tip the raft. Something hit them from below causing Dinky to fall on her back getting a face full of the water that was beginning to swamp their craft. She rolled back to her hands and knees searching for her noodle bumping into Pinch’s back.
“Come on ya bastards!” Rumble yelled as he swung his own noodle at the water his wild strokes matched by his smaller noodle. A pair of hands grabbed the pool toy and tugged with a yelp Rumble over balanced twisting to his ass ended up in the water. Instinctively Dinky grabbed his hands holding him tight.
Seconds after Dinky did this Rumble was grabbed by his legs. With the harsh squeal of skin on foam he started too slid towards the edge. Dinky wheezed as inch threw herself on top of her captain. Their combined weight halted the grey teens slide.
“Generally I’d complain about being on the bottom,” Dinky groaned. “But good save Pinchy. Rumble can you get free?”
The skater grunted as his hips moved fruitlessly. “No dice. They got me tight.”
“Uh Cap?” Pinch’s breath warmed Dinky’s ear.
“Yes Gunnery Officer?”
“The H.M.S Dink is coming apart. We’re going to tip if this keeps up!”
Dinky stared into Rumble’s purple eyes with an apologetic look. Rumble gazed back with growing horror.
“Don’t you let go!”
“Sorry skater boy not the right play,” Dinky released her death grip with a shrug.
“You bitch-ahhhh!” Dinky’s first mate screamed as he was dragged under. The H.M.S Dink rocked to and fro for a moment before settling. Pinch peeled herself off Dinky with a wet squelch.
“That was cold captain.”
“Necessary First Mate Pinch, Congratulations on the promotion. Now to the defenses.”
“Aye, aye Cap’n.” Pinch through a wet salute as she checked her gun. “Running low on ammo.” Dinky’s eyes were fixed on the figures underwater that had clumped together. Their leader was waving her hands around clearly planning their end game. She picked up her and Rumble’s pool noodles.
“Once more unto the fray,” The petite girl muttered to herself before barking an order at her subordinate. “Refill your gun now Pinch! We only need to hold for one more minute.”
“Thank god!” The purple girl exclaimed. Dinky felt the H.M.S Dink rock as presumably Pinch bent to refill her gun. For her part Dinky kept her eyes focused on their adversaries. “Oh shit-!”
The H.M.S Dink rocked to and fro as the splash of water sprinkled Dinky’s back. Dinky sighed as she turned and found herself adrift alone.
“Damn it.” She cursed softly. The knot of figures had broken up and now were all converging on her ship. “Damn it!” Dinky yelled surging to her feet staggering drunkenly attempting to maintain her balance. One minute left she could do this.
Bending her knees and tensing her core Dinky attempted to call upon the lessons of centering oneself Tree hugger had given. She brandished her pool noodles and let forth a shrieking battle cry. She then proceeded to start beating the surrounding woman like a madwoman which naked and wild eyed as she was wasn’t too far off the mark.
The enemy mad rushes on the surface were swiftly repelled Dinky who by some miracle kept her balance despite nearly pitching head over heels into the water. They started to circle her like sharks before diving and swimming under. Dinky ceased smacking the water a sinking feeling over taking her.
A jolt came from below that traveled all the way from the soles of her feet to the top her head. She had no tricks left. The noodles fell from her limp hands as she spread her arms as the H.M.S Dink started to rise out of the water. She’d almost made it.
With an undignified yelp Dinky fell back wards as the good ship Dink capsized. It was peaceful as she hit the water sinking down into the depths. She snorted some air out of her nostrils and watched the silvery air bubbles flicker upwards. Muted cheers were dimly heard as the tippers celebrated their victory.
A well-endowed tall familiar figure glided into her line of sight. Her golden hair fanned around her face seemingly creating halo as she made peace sign at Dinky smiling widely. Dinky ever the gracious loser replied with a one fingered salute of her own.
Her back grazed the pools bottom. Exhaling all her air Dinky righted herself so her feet were touching the ground and then propelled herself upwards towards the surface.
Dinky broke the surface tension with a spluttered as all around her friend and foe alike chattered eagerly. Scootaloo clung to Rumble teasingly as he desperately tried to tread water while Featherweight had found himself on the big shoulder of Bulk Bicep. Others were hauling themselves onto the pools edge while others attempted to corral the wreck of the H.M.S Dink.
A golden head broke the water beside the ship less captain a cheery grin spread across the gray face.
“Hey Dinky?”
“Yes Ditzy?”
“I won!”
“That you did big sis that you did. Screw you.”
“Oh if only.”

-Travalore

Pool Skipper blew her whistle. “Hey! Slow down over there!” Two students on the opposite side of the pool went from a run to brisk walk. It caused Pool Skipper to smile a little on the inside. Things didn’t change no matter what people wore, or not.
It had been a bit of a shock to the school’s lifeguard squad when Vice-principal Luna, of all people, told them about their next assignment. They were free to back out if they wanted to, but wearing a suit wasn’t an option and at least half of them would have to work.
Skipper had been on duty for a while now and felt a wave of longing to join the students in the pool or dance to the music. She was swaying to it now. Being nude in school had been a fantasy of her’s ever since she had snuck a skinny dip just after she had joined the squad. Guarding tonight was close, but not what she dreamed of.
It had been that dream that pushed her to be one of the first to sign up. She felt smug keeping it a secret and watching her fellow guards struggle to find out who had signed up or goad others, even herself, into it.
Now she was here. Nude in school by order of the vice-principal. The possibilities that realization opened up made her feel giddy and she hugged the lifeguard buoy tightly against her white body with anticipation of what could be. It’s red color matched her hair.
She too had wondered which guards she’d see tonight. She wasn’t surprised at seeing Life Saver, the squad’s captain nor Pond Skimmer, the vice-captain. The real surprise was when everyone else on the squad had shown up too.
A loud “Yo!” broke her from her reverie. It was Life Saver. “Times up. Hand it over and go have fun. They’ve got an awesome beach party over there.”
Skipper pulled off her whistle and put it by the edge of the pool, handed the buoy over to the red bodied girl with short white hair, and made a mock salute before jumping in.
The water felt way better than it had on that first skinny dip. The terror of being caught was gone. Now all she felt was the water and the tickle of bubbles from the jump against her skin.
When she came up she was aware of everyone around her and seeing them nude too made her feel like she belonged.
A beach ball bopped her on the head. She found it after looking for a second and tossed it back to a water volleyball game that had started up. She saw Pond Skimmer playing and decided to join.
It was after being passed the ball that Skipper realized she wasn’t being treated like a guard. Usually, the guards kept their uniforms on after their shift because it was easier than changing. Unfortunately, it didn’t get them invited to games and everyone kept their distance like they were still on duty. And technically they were because if anything happened they’d have to respond.
After scoring a few more points she was feeling hungry and ready to get out. She motioned her intent to Pond Skimmer who waved back in acknowledgement.
Skipper made for the side. Getting out of the water made her remember she wasn’t wearing anything. A quick look around reminded her that one else was either. She chuckled at herself for how quickly she had forgotten.
Life Saver handed Skipper her whistle. “Thanks,” Skipper said and put it on. Life Saver returned the salute from earlier. Pool Skipper grinned. She turned around and was surprised to see Pond Skimmer climbing out. They always needed to stay in contact but she hadn’t meant for the lime green student with aquamarine hair to get out too.
“Where’s the food?” Pool Skipper asked a dripping Pond Skimmer.
She smiled and pointed to where the music was coming from. “Over there, champ. Follow me.” They started walking. “By the way, I knew you’d be here.”
Skipper smiled. “Duh. You read the list. I suspected you’d be here too. You and Life Saver are at every event.”
Pond Skimmer shook her head. “No, no. I knew about your skinny dip.”
Pool Skipper froze and felt herself blush. Her secret was out! She had been so sure no one saw her. She tried to quickly brush off the shock, but only managed to say “What?”
“Oh come on, we’ve all done it.” It was Pond Skimmer’s turn to blush a little but continued. “Life Saver told me when I became her second. Feels good doesn’t it?”
“Life Saver?!” Pool Skipper was able to keep her voice down but not the surprise. “Why wasn’t I kicked out?”
“She said it’s what made her keep you on.”
“Well.” Pool Skipper couldn’t find the right words. “That’s a relief?” Then it occurred to her. “Wait, you said ‘we’ve all done it.’ Does that mean everyone. Is that why everyone?”
Pond Skimmer nodded.
She spoke a thought that had been forming in her mind before she could stop herself. “Would it be possible to swim after we’ve closed up?”
Pond Skimmer smirked. “We’d have to ask Luna. But.” She looked around at all the students. “I think we can come to some agreement and we might not be alone.”
Pool Skipper felt herself jump inside. Then a different thought came to her. One where she was guarding the swim meets as she was now. She kept that one in check and only let a chuckle escape. It would never happen, could it? She had seen quite a few members of the swim team tonight.
“Hey. What would you like to eat?” Pond Skimmer asked from a few steps ahead. “I thought you said you were hungry?”
Pool Skipper hadn’t realized she had stopped walking. She nodded to Pond Skimmer and went to catch up.

Clickety-clack

Author's Note

Hello everybody, if you wish to get involved in this story don't forget to ask. Next chapter, We'll take the theme of Fantasy!

The Magical Fantasy Adventure

Chapter 2: The Magical Fantasy Adventure

As the bus turned the corner onto the long street ahead of it, Meteor Might could hardly sit still. After nearly five years of talking to Lemon Zest online, sharing everything from the newest rock hits to various adventures around their respective countries, the two were finally able to meet in person at last.

Her legs jittered with anticipation. Just one more stop, and she would be at Canterlot High. It was an odd place to meet her longtime friend especially considering how much she had told her about the rivalry between this school and Crystal Prep. This just made the impending meeting all the more exciting, simply because Meteor would finally be able to look Lemon in the eye and say 'I told you so!’

No matter how many times she asked Lemon about why her school was in such a heated rivalry with Canterlot High, all the answers she received were rather mundane to say the least. It was always 'we're so much fancier' or 'they have such big egos' and 'I have better grades than them'. Since when was Lemon someone to care about grades so much? The only times she would usually mention grades in casual conversation was in rating the latest Deathclop album.

But this was something she could ponder over another day, because now she had finally reached her stop, just outside the large horse statue that apparently had been found to be a gateway to another dimension full of magical ponies. Meteor couldn't help but chuckle every time Lemon told her that. A world full of magical talking ponies who sing about friendship, Meteor thought to herself as she pressed a button to stop the bus. What kind of Faustian mind would come up with a ridiculous concept like that?

Picking up the spare golf bag her dad had leant her; Meteor adjusted her knee-length tartan skirt, pulled her denim jacket over her red t-shirt and hopped off the bus, thanking the driver on the way out. She had chosen this outfit today for two specific reasons: One, it was her most iconic look, which she wore in most selfies she uploaded to social media, and two, it would be quick and easy to remove. After years of telling Lemon about her lifestyle, the day that her friend told her that there would be a naturist party going on at Canterlot High when she was due to visit made her eyes light up like a Christmas tree!

But even better than that, it was a fantasy themed naturist party! Two of her favorite hobbies, rolled in to one, the exact time she was due to take her first holiday to America! A small, makeshift sign pointed the way to the club area; down a short flight of stairs to the basement level of the school. Her heart was beating like the blast of a kick drum, every muscle in her body pushing her to leap down the stairs and find a place to leave her clothes as soon as possible.

When she pushed through the curtains that shielded the entrance from the outside world, she was greeted with a mass of multi-colored bodies, all with various accessories to make themselves look like any given fantasy race or class. However, upon shifting her gaze to the far right corner of the room, Meteor's jaw dropped in shock.

She couldn't believe her eyes. What she saw was simply atrocious, disgusting, and abhorrent! There stood a yellow-skinned girl with vines in her pink hair, green paint streaked across her body. She was partaking in a mock duel with another girl, sky blue with rainbow colored hair, wearing only an explorer's hat and open jacket. But what really drew Meteor's attention was the weapons; those horrible, unbelievably inaccurate weapons!

The pink-haired girl wielded a five-foot long Amazonian spear, and she was swinging it from side to side as if it were a sword. Even worse, the rainbow-haired girl had a grossly over-sized survival knife, the hilt sprouting a curved spike at each end. Meteor was all too familiar with these kinds of replicas. Lemon Zest frequently sent her designs of fantasy weapons from popular video games, all of which produced toys that replicated the nonsensical designs.

“Welcome to the NLAC!” a friendly voice chirped next to Meteor. “My name is Cheerilee. May I take your name to check it off the list?”

“Changing rooms,” Meteor said flatly.

“I'm sorry; I didn't quite catch that-”

“Changing rooms. Where are they?”

“Oh, they're just off to the left, first door you come across. But can I-”

Without another word, Meteor stomped off to the changing rooms in a huff, completely ignoring anything else Ms. Cheerilee had to say. Seconds later, she emerged again, all her clothing removed and in their place a narrow-domed helmet, a shield that was almost as long as she was tall, and a historically accurate Persian scimitar. From the amount of times she had read the entire 'Music of Frost and Lava' series, Meteor had her partial cosplay crafted to match the description from the books word for word.

Using her shield to push past the other party goers, Meteor marched over to the dueling corner and dropped her back on the floor. “Listen up and listen well, all ye who seek combat!” she announced, the projection of her voice combined with her distinct accent grabbing everyone's attention. “I have observed yer fightin' style, and I find ya technique ta be severely lackin'. Listen to me, and ya just might learn a thing or two!”

“Oh. My. Gosh!” the rainbow-haired girl exclaimed, grinning like a little kid after meeting their new puppy. “Fluttershy, that's a direct quote from 'A Waltz with Griffons'! I think this girl means business.”

“Who forsakes the business of Jungle Queen Fluttershy?!” Fluttershy bellowed, though she soon reverted back to her usual, meek self. “Oh, um, sorry...got a bit carried away there. Do you know this girl, Rainbow Dash?”

“We have never met before this day,” Meteor said, shifting her shield to reveal the full length of her body—including her more masculine genitals—the final representation of how she was assigned the wrong gender at birth. “However, if you will allow me, then I shall teach you all of the skills needed to effectively become the perfect warrior.”

Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash looked at each other, sharing a brief shrug before they both agreed to...whatever it was Meteor was suggesting. The armored girl spent the next few minutes rummaging around in her bag, pulling out a variety of different (and historically accurate) training weapons for the two to try. Fluttershy settled on a pair of curved daggers, while Rainbow instead favored the longer-bladed katana, both suiting fighters who used their agility and speed to outmaneuver their opponent.

Meteor proceeded to instruct them on everything; from posture to reading the opponent. By the time she was done, Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash were pacing around each other around the makeshift arena, lunging in and clashing their blades, before inverting their stances to strike at each other again.

“Don't leave your guard open!” Meteor called, banging the hilt of her sword onto the table next to her. “Back away when one of ya gets a hit and prepare for the next round. We need ta keep up a level of sportsmanship around here.”

“Well, well, it wouldn't be a fantasy party without at least one lecture from Meteor Might!” A familiar voice came out from behind the crowd of onlooking students. Pulling off her helm, Meteor's eyes went wide with delight when Lemon Zest stepped forward – buck naked except for a black pirate hat, eye patch and a belt which holstered a pair of toy flintlock pistols.

“Meteor ya scurvy lass!” Lemon said in a painfully forced Scottish accent. “How ya been enjoin' tha festivities?”

Dropping her weapon, it was all Meteor could do not to crush Lemon in her arms as she leaped towards her, embracing her in the biggest hug she had ever given a person in her life. “Lemon! Oh my gosh, it's amazin' ta be meetin' ya at long last,” Meteor's voice was on the verge of cracking up, tears of joy falling down her cheeks. “And just look at ya! I told ya you'd enjoy bein' naked one day soon. Didn't I tell ya so?”

“Yes, yes you did,” Lemon said, reverting back to her normal accent for the moment. “I can't thank you enough! I've got so much to tell you about the NLAC.”

“I don't doubt ya do, Lemon,” Meteor replied, gesturing to the arena. “But I think we have some important business ta take care of first. Do ye have an idea o' how long I've been waitin' ta test mah skills against ye in a duel?”

“Far too long,” said Lemon. “But I hope you've got some spare weapons for me. I don't think these guns are particularly fair!”

“What kinda gal do ye take me for? Of course I've got weapons! All suitable for this party, of course. Nothin' sharp.”

“Then let’s get to it! Show me what ye got ya lilly livered scallywag!”

- The Nightmare Rider

Emerald Peace and Flutter Heart enthusiastically set their bags down in the changing room. They had brought materials for their costumes themed to this party’s fantasy setting. They then undressed themselves and joined their fellow nudists at the party. Being their second party, they interacted with the other partygoers more openly. Passing by a few creatively costumed people, they reached the body painting area.

“I’ll go first,” Flutter kissed her boyfriend’s cheek as she picked up a brush and dipped it into the pink colored paint. She slowly began to paint markings onto her body. After finishing her torso, she handed the brush to Emerald and turned around. “Care to do my back, love?”

“Of course,” he began to paint similar markings on her back, taking extra care when he reached her rear. She giggled a little at the feeling. “Okay, my turn.” He grabbed another brush and reached for the white paint. Painting all over his front area, giving him the appearance of a white underbelly, he then moved to his upper arms painting them white as well.

“You look great, Em,” Flutter smiled as they waited for their paint to dry.

“Wait till you see the whole costume,” he winked.

Soon, they were back in the changing room and brought out their bags. Flutter took out a set of fairy wings from hers, while Emerald grabbed a pair of dragon claw gloves and dragon wings. Flutter fastened the wings onto her body and gave a little twirl, looking indistinguishable from an actual fairy. Emerald pulled on the gloves which fit snugly and also made sure his wings were on straight. Finally, he pulled out a pair of prosthetic pointed ears and placed them on his regular ones, and fastened a belt around his waist that showed off a fake dragon tail.

“You look amazing!” Flutter clapped excitedly, as Emerald took a small bow.

“Let’s go show off,” he bared a toothy grin as he led her back into the party. The others were both awed and impressed by their creativity.

“You look just like an anthro dragon, Emerald!” Fluttershy was looking over his homemade costume, admiring the detail. She had dressed herself as an anthro Pegasus. “They have always fascinated me, by the way.”

“That’s pretty cool,” he smiled as he got himself a drink. Flutter was chatting with the Twilight Sparkle from Crystal Prep about how she was adapting to Canterlot High.

“So you’re new here too?” The bespectacled girl asked, blushing a little as Flutter Heart laughed joyfully.

“Before you transferred here, I was the newest student,” the blue-haired fairy girl replied, finding Twilight blushing at her strategically placed paint marks amusing. “You know you’re blushing, right?”

Twilight went even redder at that. “I-I’m that obvious?!” She buried her face in embarrassment.

“Hey, I felt the same way initially too, you’ll get used to it.” Flutter moved her new friend’s head up a little to show there were no hard feelings. She then rejoined Emerald and Fluttershy.

“Fluttershy here was telling me she’s starting to attend the Green Hill Club,” Emerald told his girlfriend.

“Oh, wonderful!” Flutter grinned. “Em’s family and I go there every other weekend, so I hope to see you there!” She hugged her pink-haired classmate.

“Y-Yeah, me too,” Fluttershy blushed. Flutter Heart then released her from the hug, allowing her to mingle with the others.

“Shall we dance like last time?” The fairy asked her dragon love.

“Not tonight,” he sighed. “I work hard on this costume, and I’d hate to see it gets ruined.”

“Then how about we play a game,” she smirked, knowing his competitive spirit would get the better of him.

“You’re on!” He ran off with her towards the arcade area.

Markzilla6895

Being an informant working for Dinky's rumor mill, spy network, information dispensary -whatever one preferred to call it- she had been privy to the fact that the rumors about a nudist club operating on the premises of CHS were indeed true.

Or at least as far as the rumors that'd been dispensed by Dinky herself. The ones she'd heard coming from others, the ones that had been significantly exaggerated and embellished from unconfirmed sources... not so much. But that was simply the nature of the game when information peddling was the name of the game.

Regardless of that fact, simply knowing that something was true, didn't really make you prepared for physically confronting it yourself, and coming face to face with what had simply been an abstract concept of thought. Attending a Friday night NLAC party for the first time was like a sudden slap in the face, or a punch in the gut, that just grabbed you by surprise. It was the sort of occurrence that earned a surprised and a blunt statement.

"Damn that's a lot of boobs!"

As well as a few looks back by other newbies, before it was shrugged off and ignored by those with thicker skin than others. Or earning a stern scowl from Miss Cheerilee, which warranted an apologetic wave being given in response. Fortunately the matter was dropped soon after.

"I bet Shady has a lot of fun bumping into people at these parties," she stated to herself as she looked around at the others present, taking in all the countless variations of the human form that were present and on display.

Folks from all walks of life, all different structures and types, just blending and mixing freely without a single concern for social standing, or any other arbitrary bullshit that would get in the way otherwise. The whole rest of the Bucket of Rejects could be here, and nobody would probably even bat an eye. If not for the lack of her phone, and the fact they were all home currently, she'd be tempted to put that theory to the test.

But for now that simply wasn't going to be the case. Right now it was just her by herself, mingling and taking in the sights as she tried not to stare too hard at all the open, casual nudity that was on full display around her.

That, and all the various efforts at complying with the theme of tonight's party, to varying degrees of success.

The theme of tonight's party was fantasy. A very wide, very open that encompassed so many varying topics and genres, it could encompass almost anything. Unfortunately it was a genre that was largely defined by clothing, so there were a lot of interesting efforts at getting past that stumbling block. In most cases it was body paint, and strap on prosthetics like wings, horns, ears, tails, etc. whatever they could use.

And then there was the one guy who had gone head and shoulders above the rest, and showed up with his entire body painted up to look reptilian. That earned another surprised whistle from her. Now that was dedication right there.

As she watched lizard man walk on by, she wound up catching sight of another person at the party who was looking right back in her direction. Right back at her actually.

"Fleet Foot?" she asked, easily recognizing the blue-skinned track member, whose idea of fantasy was apparently little feathery wings being strapped to her ankles.

"Yes? I'm sorry, do I know you?" Fleet Foot asked back in her usual accented tone, a look of confusion on her face as she spoke. "You look familiar, but I can't seem to place you..."

"That's probably because most folks are busy looking at my leg rather than my face," she replied.

Fleet Foot looked down in response, noting the efforts at going along with the theme of tonight's party, before a look of realization crossed her face.

"Ah! Now I recognize you," she stated, "although I must admit, your name currently eludes me. I don't recall ever hearing it before..."

"Just call me Strut. Most everyone else does anyway," she replied and extended her hand.

"Strut," Fleet Foot repeated as she shook the other girl's hand. "I thought that was attached to you in some way, but I didn't want to come off as being rude. Might I ask how you came to gain such a... unique moniker?"

"I wound up getting saddled with it by an annoying little blind girl when she found out my prosthetic leg was the reason it sounded so odd to her when I walked. At first I used to hate it; I thought she was making fun of me. But then I learned she wasn't being mean, she just has her own way of addressing people," Strut stated, frowning at the memory. But the frown was short-lived as she smiled again. "There are worse things to be called. Besides it's fitting; I can still strut my stuff. Or at least what there is to my stuff anyway."

This led to a shared amused laugh between the two.

"Well speaking as one girl to another, you look fine," Fleet Foot admitted. "Although I'm curious. What fantasy aspect did you pick to go with tonight?" she asked as she look over the girl's left leg and right arm, and what they were covered in.

"Well when I first heard about the theme I was gonna go with prosthetics to make myself look like I've got an metal endoskeleton; you know, T-100 style. But somebody decided that the whole cyberpunk sub genre wouldn't go with the overall theme," she stated in an agitated tone, practically growling as she spoke the last bit. "So since I couldn't do that, I decided to make it look like my limbs were woven out of wood by nature magic. Or at least that's what I was shooting for. I think my aim was way off though."

Fleet Foot waved her hand dismissively in response. "It's fine, it's fine! Nobody's competing with each other here, it's all about having fun. Just settle in and relax."

"Yeah. Right now, though, that's a little easier said than done," Strut stated as she rubbed at her upper right arm. "I don't know how to relax around naked people. I... tend to appreciate the human form," she admitted.

Fleet Foot laughed mirthfully and reached over to pat Strut on the back reassuringly.

"Yes, it can be a bit overwhelming to experience the first time around, even for those who think they can handle it. You'll be alright, though, just try to be polite," she explained.

Strut wanted to laugh in response, but managed to refrain from actually doing such. Politeness wasn't exactly a concept that was foreign to her, but what passed for politeness with her usual group tended to differ from what others defined it as being.

"No guarantees, but I'll try," she replied, before deciding it was time to change the subject. "So then do you mind showing me around? Maybe you can point out some of the highlights of these parties?"

"I would love to." Fleet Foot nodded, "Follow me."

- Charlie K

Moondancer skipped down the halls of Canterlot High giggling to herself, her large black hat dancing as she went. This was defiantly like a fairy tale situation for her. The outfit she had chosen for tonight wasn’t too far out of place for this party: a witch. Sure outside of the hat and some matching knee high boots and socks she had nothing on, but she was a witch none the less. And as she skipped through the halls of the school, she was proud of her choice of costume.

Everyone else had either opted for a mythical creature or mage with long robes. Very few had actually gone for the traditional witch of the fairytales of old. And while her costume didn’t exactly resemble that of an ancient character it was good enough. The fact that she was mostly naked didn’t bother her in the slightest. She wasn’t a nudist, not in the complete sense of the word, but she did love coming to the NLAC parties. Despite the weird clothing requirement, or lack thereof, everyone at the parties was so nice and welcoming and the overall goal was to have fun. Who would not get behind that?

“Hey Moonie!” a familiar voice called out.

Moondancer turned around and saw Minuette run up. Minuette was in a painted on mermaid costume complete with some seaweed in her hair.

Moondancer smiled at her friend, “Hey Minnie, how are you?”

“Not bad actually though it’s a bit cold in these halls.” Minuette answered.

Moondancer giggled, “Well you could go for a dip in the pool I hear the school keeps it quite warm.”

“Yeah but then all my paint will wash off. And I worked so hard on this costume.” Minuette beamed.

“Aww well suffer then.” Moondancer teased.”

“You wouldn’t happen to know any spells that would warm me up now would you?” Minuette asked genuinely.

Moondancer grimaced, “Not unless you want me to set you on fire.”

Minuette giggled, “Nah I think I’ll pass on that. Where are you off too?”

“Just dancing about,” Moondancer answered.

“Oh really, well I’m heading upstairs. Lemonhearts is putting something together and I do not want to miss it!” Minuette smiled.

“I’ll pass; I hear someone’s doing a potion making class in the science lab so I’m gonna check that out.” Moondancer told Minuette.

“Alrighty then see ya later Moonie!” Minuette said running off.

Moondancer chuckled as she resumed her trek through the school. She wasn’t entirely truthful with Minuette though, as the potion making class was a thing that was happening tonight. The problem was it had already happened. And Moondancer was the girl who ran it. Moondancer didn’t lie to Minuette out of malice, she just wanted to walk around the school and Minuette wasn’t a girl who could take no for an answer. Still, Minuette was going to downright enjoy whatever Lemonhearts was planning so Moondancer paid it no mind.

Turning the hallway, Moondancer passed classrooms with a verity of things happening; from players playing Ogres and Oubliettes, to spell crafting, to students just making up random fantasy adventures in each classroom. Everyone was just having fun despite none of them actually wearing any clothing. Then she passed a seemingly empty classroom, where she saw only one student sitting in the classroom. She was sitting alone near the window looking outside very quietly, but what caught Moondancer’s attention was her outfit choice: It was a witch as well. At first Moondancer wanted to walk up and say hello, but she was exactly that great at conversations with new people.

That being said the witches outfit the girl had on looked remarkably similar to hers, so Moondancer had to figure out the truth.

“Excuse me,” Moondancer asked knocking on the door, “Are you from Miss Cackle's Academy for Witches as well?”

The other girl jumped slightly but calmed down once she turned around to see Moondancer. It was then that Moondancer instant recognized her as Blueberry Cake. Her outfit was also far less revealing than Moondancer’s. While she was also primarily naked, the boots she had on went up to her thighs and the gloves covered most of her forearms. But there was no mistake in anything; the outfit was clearly the costume from Moondancer’s favorite novel series.

When her eyes locked on with Moondancer she relaxed, “Oh hey Moondancer, I didn’t know you were a fan of The Worst Witch as well.”

“Same to you,” Moondancer smiled walking in, “whose you’re favorite character?”

“Enid Nightshade actually, she always makes me laugh.” Blueberry answered as Moondancer sat in the desk next to her.

“Maud Spellbody,” Moondancer added, “I just find myself relating to her so much sometimes.” The two girls chuckled for a moment before Moondancer asked, “So what are you doing here?”

“Oh I just wanted a moment alone. I love these parties but they can get so hectic at times I just wanted some peace. What about you?” Blueberry asked.

“Same here,” Moondancer answered.

Blueberry nodded. The duo sat for a moment in silence looking outside at the setting sun. “Kinda wish we could go outside like this.”

“Well we kinda can, I mean the tennis courts and football field is open.” Moondancer answered.

Blueberry raised an eyebrow, “Really?”

Moondancer nodded, “They’re doing a Quidditch match there.”

“Oh this I gotta see,” Blueberry smiled.

“In a bit,” Moondancer answered, “I kinda like the quiet.”

Blueberry nodded, “It is nice. So what spells can you do miss witch?”

“Mostly frost spells,” Moondancer giggled, “Always give people cold spells.”

“Really I thought you’d be good at studying spells.” Blueberry answered.

Moondancer playfully scoffed, “Oh those are easy spells to learn I always wanted to master those spells that are difficult to master. What about you?”

“I’m technically a necromancer,” Blueberry giggled.

“You’re too sweet for that.”

“Thanks but that’s the point. I always fool my victims into thinking I’m a sweet and innocent girl before pulling out the biggest surprise this side of Canterlot.” Blueberry answered.

Moondancer laughed, “Well I’ll like to see that someday.”

“Maybe I’ll invite you to my house one day.” Blueberry agreed, “Though we are going to have to wear more clothing than this.”

“Oh defiantly I don’t think I can be naked in front of someone’s parents.” Moondancer nodded, “Here is just fine.”

- Blake Skies

Threading her way through the crowd, the vice principal of Cantorlot High and current member of the NLAC, Luna headed off towards the pastries, where she would often frequent for these parties. Not only did her sister Celestia appreciate Pinkie Pie’s baked goods dropped off at her front door, but Luna herself found them addicting.

“So I see you were able to make it tonight,” a cheerful voice called out from behind Luna.

“And I’m glad I did too Cheerilee. It's a pity that I couldn't make it to the last party, but I must say that the decorations are amazing,” Luna replied, as Cheerilee stepped next to her.

“Yes and I've even been seeing a few of the girls from Crystal Prep. I'm so glad at how big this whole thing came out to be.”

“Ah, yes.” Luna reached for a chocolate sprinkled donut. “It is quite nice to see how well the students are interacting with others outside of their own school.”

“I know,” agreed Cheerilee. “But it’s also so great to see that even during summer break they are pushing themselves forward. I mean, it's not every day they get to see how much they can use their creativity in such fantastic ways.”

“Indeed. I am amazed at how talented they are. Am I right to assume that someone from the Coders and Programmers club is the one who is responsible for these projections of mythical creatures?” Luna reached again for a pastry, placing the lemon pie piece on a plate that had been steadily filled up with Pinkie’s pieces of culinary magic.

“Yes. I'm actually thinking of when the school year starts we could introduce a mentor program for the students.” Cheerilee looked at Luna with a questioning face.

“I'll have to see,” she responded vaguely. “It was nice chatting with you, but I didn't come here just for the food,” Luna laughed.

“Alright then,” Cheerilee said and walked away.

Luna headed towards the flight of stairs that would lead her to her office, where she had stashed her clothes.

“Oh, hey Vice Principal. I didn't realize that you'd be attending.”

“Hello Ms. Shimmer. Yes, I do rather like being kept into the loop on what goes on around here and I do enjoy trying new things.”

“Well, I'm glad to hear that. Where are you headed?”

“My office. It'd be a pain for me to have to walk around with this plate of pastries.”

“Well, yes. I can imagine so.” Sunset shuffled her feet for a second. “Actually, I was wondering… Well… I haven't exactly seen Principal Celestia around and… Well… Did Ms. Cheerilee come to you about the club?”

Luna smiled in a gentle way. “I am sorry, as I am not able to divulge into that information. Ms. Shimmer, I must be off.”

“Oh.” Sunset said a little bit abashed. “All right then. Enjoy the rest of the party!” Sunset continued to walk down the hall as Luna headed for her office. Once there, she placed the baked goods on her desk, next to her clothes. She quickly opened a file cabinet that she used to store a variety of drinks throughout the whole year, not just for the school year but for the whole twelve months, as Luna did have to prepare during the summer break for the next year. Selecting a raspberry and apple Snapple, she popped it open and took a long swing. She put it down and replaced the cap and walked out, walking towards the body painting area.

- Luna Lily Ruby

“Okay. This party is way more fun than I thought it would be. I can see the appeal of this nudie thing.” Brilliant Rays announced as she entered the cafeteria.

She was the last of the group to arrive. Those already there were Star Dancer, Breeze Kisses, and Midnight Blossom, the unofficial leader of the group. They were all sitting on towels around one of the tables.

“I’m glad you’re enjoying it.” Midnight Blossom said. “Everyone else?”

The other nude students nodded as Brilliant Rays placed her own towel and sat down.

“Great! Now, I know this isn’t our normal gaming night and I wanted to thank you for supporting me, so. . .” Midnight Blossom pulled out a thin binder and a small baggie that rattled. “Who’s up for a quest? This one’ll use the whole school! You game?”

“WHAT?” Brilliant Rays shouted. “Of course I’m in.”

Breeze Kisses nodded.

“I’m game. Play as our standard characters?” Star Dancer asked, trying to hide a smile.

“Absolutely, I’ve got all your character sheets right here.” Midnight Blossom said passing them out and handing around the bag of dice. “This’ll be non-canon. Brilliant Rays is the rogue, Shadow Stalker. Breeze Kisses plays our paladin, Forest Walker. Star Dancer is our fighter, Fire Dancer.” She placed the final sheet in front of herself. “I’m the druid, Dusk Seeker, and together we enter” She paused for effect. “‘Textalia’s Castle!’”

Brilliant Rays chuckled. “Way to be dramatic. Let’s go!”

“We start in the town of River Stitch, the closest one to the evil witch Textalia’s castle. The king has commissioned us to stop her reign of clothing-stealing terror.” Midnight reads.

“Was the king naked?” Brilliant Rays asked.

“Yes, it was awkward.” Midnight answered. They all laughed.

“When we arrive, the town appears deserted. Boarded up windows, closed doors, and not a person in sight.” Midnight continued.

“I roll to cast a spell of perception to see if there are any traps.” Breeze Kisses said and rolled her dice. Midnight Blossom rolled hers and checked Breeze’s roll.

“Sorry. You didn’t make it.” Midnight Blossom said. “16 or higher.” Then her voice grew serious. “You’ve activated a trap! An invisible force dazes everyone. When you recover you find your clothing has disappeared! A well-dressed woman stands in front of you. She calls herself Textalia. Roll for embarrassment.” She paused then read. “It’ll decrease agility for ten turns.”

Everyone rolled. Shadow Stalker and Dusk Seeker didn’t seem too upset by their nudity. It was a different story for Forest Walker and Fire Dancer.

Forest Walker let out a squeak. “I know we are all naked before the Goddess, but not in front of each other. . .”

“Oh! You are going to pay!” Fire Dancer shouted at Textalia. However, she seemed uncertain if she should cover herself or brandish her sword. “Give us back our clothes!”

With an evil cackle Midnight Blossom said, as Textalia, “Ho ho! But you look so much better now.” She made their outfits appear in a heap in front of her. “If you want these rags. Come get them.” Before anyone could move a magical fire consumed both her and the clothes and they were gone.

“Good witch voice.” Breeze Kisses said.

”Thanks. I practiced.” Midnight Blossom smiled.

Star Dancer let out a huff. “Focus.”

Standing in the middle of town, Dusk Seeker rallied her friends. “Come on everyone. We know her castle is nearby. Are we going to let a little nudity stop us?”

“Heck no! I’m getting all my gear back and more!” Fire Dancer said.

“Well, I guess the Goddess won’t be too upset.” Forest Walker added.

“Being naked will make this a good challenge.” Shadow Stalker said.

Switching back to her normal voice and closing the notebook, Midnight Blossom said, “Well, let’s go.”

“Wait. We’re actually going to walk around the school naked?” Brilliant Rays asked barely containing her enthusiasm.

“Yup!” Midnight Blossom said.

Once everyone was in the entrance hallway Midnight dropped into her gamemaster voice. “Surprisingly, there were no traps and entering the castle was easy. But after we entered, the door slammed shut. The beating of drums could be heard from somewhere deep inside the castle. A clawed foot slammed down in front of us. It’s a red dragon! The battle begins. Roll!”

Forest Walker and Dusk Seeker fell into support positions while Shadow Stalker and Fire Dancer split their attack. It started out badly because everyone still had their reduced agility, but after the limitation expired they started their comeback.

In one daring move, Shadow Stalker dodged a claw and pinned the dragon’s tail with her dagger. The dragon reared up giving Fire Dancer the opening she needed to plunge her sword into its underbelly. The sword melted in her hands.

The dragon roared and blew a fireball that consumed Fire Dancer before it collapsed dead. Forest Walker and Dusk Seeker launched spells of protection and healing hoping it was enough.

“You have defeated the dragon. You all earned experience.” Midnight Blossom said. “Forest Walker earned a boost from the Goddess that increased her healing speed. Fire Dancer survived by absorbing the essence of the dragon. She’s now covered in scales, her hands and feet are tipped with claws, horns protrude from her head, she has a tail that can cut when whipped, and her agility has increased.”

“What?” Star Dancer had a look mixed between astonishment and annoyance.

“My Dusk’s power is nature based and would’ve reinforced your armor. Forest’s magic comes from the Goddess and is meant for healing. Since you’re not wearing armor, they combined and used the dragon’s fire to forge your body into one that was strong enough to survive.” Midnight explained. “Besides, this isn’t canon.” She added when Star’s face didn’t change.

“Hogwash, but since it isn’t canon, fine” Star said after a pause. “Lose my sword, turn me into a dragon.” Then mumbled. “Whatever. Doesn’t matter.”

“Shadow, your attack speed went up.” Midnight said. “We continue into the depths of the castle.” She motioned for the group to follow and started walking down the hall. Their bare feet pitter-patted on the tile floor.

“Where are we going?” asked Brilliant Rays.

“You’ll find out.” Midnight grinned. “A goblin appears!”

“I slash it with my claws!” Fire Dancer spat in anger. “Let see what I can do.”

They battled down every hallway. Every room they entered was full of loot. Soon their pouches and packs were near to bursting, of course, none of them have any clothing or pockets. All the while they traveled up and away from the beating of drums. At the topmost level they found a door that led to a massive library.

“This must be where Textalia keeps all her spell books and resources.” Dusk said. “I might find a spell that could clothe us. But you know how these places are. I need you to protect me.”

No sooner had she left than the rest were attacked by giant bookworms. Shadow Stalker distracted them while Fire Dancer raced in with claws and tail ready. Forest Walker’s healing came in handy more than once. Just as the last worm died Dusk came back with an old tome.

“I didn’t find anything for clothing, but I did find something that may help with our pocket issue. It’s a spell that gives us a pocket realm.” She got blank stares. “Near infinite storage?”

“What?” They all chorused.

“Let me cast It.” she said. She cast and felt a space open in her mind. “Okay everyone; focus on what you want in that space and it should go there.”

Soon all their bags and pouches were empty, then those were gone too leaving everyone more uncovered than they were before. They didn’t seem to notice. Shadow Stalker’s daggers disappeared then reappeared in her hands.

“This could be useful.” Shadow commented.

Since they couldn’t go up they headed down. The drumming had died down while they were in the library, but no one commented on it. Their battles into the bowels of the castle were even harder than before. After one dungeon, they entered a room with a pool of water and a door on the far side.

“Shouldn’t the pool should be filled with students?” Breeze Kisses asked.

“Maybe they closed it early?” Midnight suggested.

“Maybe the mermaids got tired.” Star Dancer quipped before jumping in.

Halfway across the pool Fire Dancer, Forest Walker, and Dusk Seeker became ensnared by tentacles that drained their magic and energy. Thanks to her reflexes, Shadow Stalker avoided it, but couldn’t free her companions. In a last ditch effort, she dove down and plunged her dagger into the monster. She took the full force of Forest and Dusk’s trapped magic as it streaked back to its owners.

“The kraken is defeated!” Midnight cheered. “Fire Dancer revived and pulled the unconscious Shadow to shore where they discovered another transformation had happened. Shadow’s skin was now like a frog’s, bright blue with black speckles. It secreted a mysterious substance. Her hands and toes were now webbed. When she woke, she discovered her legs could deliver powerful kicks and she could climb walls.”

“That is so cool!” Brilliant Rays Exclaimed. “I love frogs.”

They battled on until they reached the grand theater. Mounds of clothes were everywhere. They saw Textalia on the stage illuminated by a spotlight.

“Welcome and congratulations!” The fashion witch mocked and struck a pose. “Too bad it was in vain. Clothing Golem, attack!”

A whirlwind of clothing formed itself into a giant golem. It swung its arms wildly, throwing clothes in every direction.

Slicing the clothing to pieces with her tail and claws, Fire Dancer was an unstoppable beast of destruction. Shadow Stalker discovered that the substance her skin made dissolved fabric on contact.

Forest and Dusk alternated between healing and attack spells doing a fair amount of damage themselves. After one last push, they brought it down.

Climbing over the mounds of tattered clothing, they rushed the stage and corned Textalia.

“Give us our clothes back!” Fire shouted grabbing the witch with her claws.

“Of course! They’re right there. Go on. Get dressed. Why wait?” She cackled with a gleam in her eyes.

“What have you done?” Forest asked. The others readied themselves for attack.

“Me?” She said with faux innocence. “I only cast a spell that would make everything you ever gained disappear the moment you got dressed. All those other fools were so easy to beat after that.” She let out a laugh that sent a chill down everyone’s spine. “Be humiliated or lose it all. Either way, I win.”

“Oh that is so not fair!” Star Dancer screamed and stomped her foot. “I was starting to enjoy being a dragon. Toss it. I’m staying naked!”

“I’m enjoying being naked myself!” Brilliant Rays said. “And I love frogs. I vote to stay too.”

“I’ll stay.” Breeze Kisses whispered then spoke up. “I think my paladin has grown closer to the Goddess and I want to see where it leads.”

“But this isn’t canon.” Midnight reminded everyone and they fell silent.

“Can we make it?” Star asked in a much more subdued voice than her normal one.

Midnight felt happiness well up inside her, but composed herself. “Only if everyone is okay with it.”

The other two nodded.

Midnight let out a sigh and smiled. “Okay.” She turned the final page in her notebook.

Dusk cast a spell that bound Textalia so they could take her back to the king. Using their pocket realms they gathered as much clothing as they could and returned it to their rightful owners. The king was more than happy to get his fine clothes back. After the celebration and reward, the heroes set off for their next naked adventure. The end.

The four friends cheered and left the theater and headed back to the gym for their clothes. All looking forward to the next party and what opportunities it would bring.

Clickety-Clack

Author's Note

Hey Guys hope you're enjoying the parties so far. If you want to take part in this massive collaboration please join up with the Nudist and Nudity group located at this link: http://www.fimfiction.net/group/206159/nudists-and-nudity

Don't worry you don't have to be a nudist to be a member. The next challenge for the collab will be posted tomorrow.

For love of the Game

Chapter 3: For love of the game

Dottie Baker could barely believe the situation she had found herself in. Sure the idea of actually going to school for a club event was weird enough, but that was mitigated by the fact that her sister Sunshine had highly recommended the club. Yet when asked, Sunshine was always sketchy on the details about it. And now Dottie knew why. The NLAC was a nudist club, in Canterlot High! Sure Dottie was aware of the NLAC during the entire previous semester and what she was aware of she didn’t believe.

So image her surprise when those rumors turned out to be true. At first Dottie was apprehensive. While only a small amount of the student body of Canterlot High was present, ninety percent of them were running around the entire campus without anything covering their naked bodies. The rest either had towels or protective gear needed for this party’s event. And that alone was shocking, seeing many of the students and teachers she attended classes with. Yet, surprisingly, Dottie was more shocked by the theme: Sports. When she heard Sunshine mention that sports were this party’s theme; Dottie leapt at the opportunity to take part.

It didn’t take long for her jitters to vanish, especially now that she got a chance to play her favorite sport: Baseball. Well technically “soft” ball, as the ball being used was so soft that even if hit at a major league level, it wouldn’t hurt anyone. Regardless, the rules and playstyle was still baseball. And Dottie loved baseball deeply. Ever since she was a little girl and saw her first game at Citizen’s Bank Park, she was hooked. The way the players moved, the crack of bat hitting ball, the rustling of the dirt as players slid into base or to catch a ball and the roar of the crowd when the home team hit a homerun. She loved it.

Even better, when Dottie grew up she trained her arm enough to become a fantastic pitcher. And while no scouts would be eying her today, that still didn’t mean she didn’t have an opportunity to impress. Sunshine, who also wasn’t shy about her love for baseball; volunteered to be Dottie’s catcher.

“Now you’re sure you’re okay?” Sunshine asked before warm ups.

“Why ya ask Sunny, I’m fine.” Dottie responded.

“It’s just a few of the guys are going to be here and there’s gonna be a lot of dicks flopping around.” Sunshine giggled presenting me the game ball.

Dottie gave her a smirk, “Don’t worry about me Sunny; I can keep myself in order.”

With that, Sunshine handed her the game ball and headed over to the catcher’s position for me to warm up. Dottie was kinda thankful that Sunshine was allowed to wear her catcher’s gear for this despite the fact it must’ve been slightly uncomfortable. But as Dottie began her warm up tosses, things seemed to settle down nicely. She was a four pitch southpaw pitcher, preferring to toss from straight over head rather than around her side or in the more traditional sense. Outwardly her explanation for this was because most of her pitches broke downward: 12-6 curve ball, sharp change up and splitter combo, a heavy sinker, and a straight fastball for good measure. But the reality of her drop down pitching was because of her massive bust. At first she did try to pitch normally, but when puberty hit and her chest became the way it was, her breasts keep swinging into her arm no matter how rigged the bra. Throwing side arm or underhanded never felt right, so Dottie became an overhanded thrower and that fixed everything. It also added to her nickname among the baseball players: “Bodacious.”

Dottie actually liked the name, though she always swore it was Sunny who christened it. And today, with her full body on display, she wasn’t going to dodge any questions or points about that. So she focused on her pitching. There really wasn’t much difference to throwing nude as there was throwing clothed, outside of the general sense that she felt the breeze more. The ball was indeed softer, but also hard enough to give the proper simulation of a baseball feel. Soon enough her warm ups were done and the game was ready.

Dottie took a good look around the field, most of the players she was with she recognized as teammates or classmates. While it was weird seeing these people now without clothing on, Dottie shoved that thought out of her mind and looked at the opposing team dugout. Thankfully Rainbow Dash was nowhere to be seen or at least not here on this field. As amusing as that was, Dottie was more thankful she didn’t have to face Dash and gain even more bragging rights. Still from what she could gather from the hunks and babes on the opposing side, this was going to be fun.

“Batter up!” shouted the umpire, and the game was underway.

First batter Dottie didn’t immediately recognize, so even money it was probably a classmate not a sports athlete. Still she was a petite young high schooler who probably was looking just to get a base hit. Leaning in towards the plate, Dottie looked in at Sunshine who began putting some signs down for her. At first Dottie had to do a double take, because even with the chest protector covering a lot of Sunshine’s features, her pussy was still visible and it made Dottie slightly uncomfortable. But she shook it off quickly knowing that it was just going to be par for the course.

Sunshine went through the signs again and called for the fastball.

Dottie nodded and straightened up before setting her hands. Then she went into her wind up and fired the pitch. Much to Dottie’s amazement, the ball sped out of her hands and flew much like a normal baseball would. The bewildered batter meekly swung, but her bat missed the ball clearly.

“Strike one!” called the umpire.

“Nice pitch nice pitch,” the third basemen called.

“It was only a fastball,” Dottie whispered to herself, “Don’t get too excited.”

She leaned back in again and looked right at Sunshine. The call was for another fastball, to which Dottie nodded. After she set, she wound up and fired another pitch. The batter swung and grounded the ball to the right side. The second basemen reached out and grabbed the ball with his glove before gently tossing the ball to the first baseman for the out.

“One out, twenty six more to go,” Dottie muttered.

Next up was a tall, lengthy left handed batter whom Dottie recognized from her science class and the football team. He was certainly gifted, in more ways than she wanted to realize, but none the less an easy batter to face. The one known thing about football players trying to play baseball is that they have very long swings. Sunshine knew it as well and called for Dottie’s signature pitch the 12-6 Curve. Quickly Dottie set before kicking high and throwing the baseball.

Her release was alright but the ball flattened out just after it completed its curve allowing the batter to make contact when he swung. And when he contacted, it was a hard hit. The ball rocketed through the infield and out towards left center with a bang. Dottie was helpless do too much except run towards third base to back up the third baseman. Thankfully the outfielder fielded the ball quickly preventing the runner from going to second.

Dottie regrouped as she headed back to the pitcher’s mound. Now it was time to work out of the stretch, not something she was happy with. The stretch, in pitching terms, was an abbreviated windup to get the pitch over so that the baserunner would be hesitant to steal. However it drastically reduced Dottie’s effectiveness.

And Sunshine knew that as she called for the splitfinger. The batter was another student whom Dottie didn’t recognize, but now it didn’t matter. She had to either induce the double play or get him out. Quickly Dottie set and fired in a splitter that the batter took for a ball.

“Crap,” Dottie muttered to herself.

Still she remained composed and reset herself. Again she wound up and fired another sinker. This time the batter swung and connected bat to ball. The ball grounded weakly to the second basemen, who tagged second with his foot, before throwing it to the first basemen for the final out.

Dottie sigh and smiled as she and her team walked towards the dugout, “I might get used to this.”

Blake Skies

Another Friday night in Canterlot City, another NLAC party at Canterlot High School. More specifically, another themed party.

Curiosity was what had originally drawn Shady to these parties in the first place, but it was the good times that were had with her friends, that kept her coming back for more.

That fact aside, however, the parties having a different theme each week was quickly losing the novel approach it had with her. Not being able to see what was going on, there was little appeal to it all; a lot of it was just undefined noise and commotion. She honestly could've been happy with these gatherings even if nothing special at all was being done. What exactly was wrong with just mingling and talking with one another!?

The theme in question for this week's party was sports. That was pretty much the extent of it, leaving those attending to figure out what sort of participation they were going to indulge in; much like the fantasy-themed party from a few weeks ago.

Sports was just more useless noise to her, it had no real appeal. When she'd found out the theme, she almost hadn't even come this week for that very reason. The only reason she had even attended was because Strut had managed to talk her into it, and convince her to give it a try. In the end she'd finally relented by Friday afternoon, and agreed to give this week a try.

Had she known what Strut had been planning, however, she probably would've just stayed home.

Apparently the world of sports was far, far more expansive than she'd initially thought, and wasn't limited to things like baseball, basketball, football and the like. Apparently there were nerf-type sports that involved participants shooting at one another! And while that at least sounded fun, not being able to see a target made participation problematic. So Strut had recruited her to assist in loading up detachable box magazines with little foam darts, while she and another friend got ready for what would apparently involve going to town on those who were present. She had no idea what all Strut and Jabber Jaw had brought with them for tonight's events, but it sounded like a lot of stuff!

"Remind me again, why did I agree to show up tonight?" she asked rhetorically as she sat perched on a table and loaded up what she was told was a snail drug magazine for foam darts.

"Because you didn't have anything better to do with your Friday night," Strut stated.

"Oh, I don't know about that. I could've spent my night staring at what would've most likely been a blank wall," she replied.

She heard some kind of movement coming from her right where Jabber Jaw was currently standing, but had no idea what was going on. Naturally she turned to Strut for clarification. "What'd she say?"

"She asked if popcorn or chips are the go-to snack food for such an exciting event," Strut clarified.

"Neither one. Pepperoni pizza and root beer," she replied much to the amusement of the others who were present.

"Snarky, you're a class act," Strut giggled. "Alright, that's it for spare magazines. Everything's loaded up. Thanks for the help, Shades."

The sound of everything being picked up and moved is what clued her in to what was going on right now. Strut had tricked her into coming here for the simple purpose of helping with the dirty work of what she and Jabber Jaw were planning on doing. And now that said dirty work was done, she was effectively being ditched.

"Jerks," she muttered as they walked off, "they've got some nerve, Sandlering me like that..."

Sports weren't her forte. That was simply all there was to it. Despite the sounds of others having fun around her, it was fun that she simply couldn't get into alongside them. That left her more or less sidelined, sitting perched on the same table she'd been sitting on for who knew how long. Sitting cross-legged, and contemplating shit. At the top of that particular list was how out of place she was at this particular party. She really didn't belong here, despite her best efforts at convincing herself otherwise. Those who were present were her friends and all, but friendship only want so far; even P.T. would have to agree with that.

"Screw it. I'm outta here."

She would slip out to the changing area, completely undetected by the others present. Grab her clothes, get dressed, call home, and wait outside to be picked up. It'd be easy enough to do, she could just tell her parents that the club's weekly meeting was about a subject she really didn't have any interest in, and that she didn't have any desire to stay around until the meeting had concluded. It wasn't a lie by any measure. She was just thankful that they were blissfully unaware of the finer details about what the NLAC was, and what it was about. That was a conversation she really didn't want to have.

She would also contemplate how best to get back at Strut for pulling this stunt on her. She was going to get it, it was just a matter of time before she figured out what she was going to do. But that was better reserved for when she got home.

"And what's a fair maiden such as yourself doing over here all alone?"

She stiffened up and nearly fell off of her perch in surprise at the sound of the voice being so close to her. She recognized a lot of voices when she heard them, but she really recognized that particular voice; it was Soarin! He must've come over while she was contemplating what she was going to be doing, and not fully paying attention to her surroundings. Had she been, she would've recognized his approach instantly.

"Hey, Clipper!" she greeted, unable to keep her voice from being tinged with excitement as she spoke. She tried to, but she'd failed miserably at exercising the necessary discipline in that regard. "So who's this 'fair maiden' you're addressing?"

"Well you're the only one sitting by yourself, so I guess I'm addressing you," he replied and chuckled. "Usually you're more active at these parties. Instead you're just sitting here all by yourself. Is something wrong?"

Clipper had noticed that she was absence from the activities? And he'd actually come over here to check on her, rather than dismissing it as her just being her?

Maintain neutrality. Maintain neutrality. Maintain neutrality.

She did her best to shrug dismissively at the question. "Blind sports hasn't really caught on yet. The only reason I showed up is because Strut tricked me into helping with munitions for the nerf war," she explained.

"Oh. Well that's not nice," he replied, his tone sounding genuinely unhappy at that. She had to bite her cheek in response.

"No shit," she replied. But now wasn't the time for plotting revenge. That could come later. "So what about you? You got some track and field event going on?"

"No, not this time around. Actually since the theme is so wide open, I thought I'd get involved in ARMA instead," he explained.

Despite the gesture being unnecessary, she tilted her head at hearing his statement. "Isn't that a video game?" she asked, only to hear Clipper laughing in response. "What? What's so funny?"

"Well it is, but in this case ARMA means Association for Renaissance Martial Arts. A-R-M-A. Like learning how to properly use a sword in a historical fashion," he explained.

She couldn't help but frown at this. "Sounds pretty dangerous. Are you using real swords for that?"

"No, no, nothing like that! What we're using has a PVC core with foam padding wrapped around it," he explained.

The next thing she knew, she felt something in her presence, in close proximity to herself. Curiosity finally won out and she reached out to touch it for herself. It was long, hard, cylindrical... and totally covered in foam. Feeling further on down, she came to a section that seemed to fork off in two different and opposite directions at the same time, and further on down and continued on straight, her fingers brushing against Clipper's strong hand in the process of determining just what was being held in front of her.

She suddenly felt the need for an oscillating fan and a bottle of water.

"Oh," she replied as she slowly withdrew her hands. "Well take care then. have fun."

"So you're just gonna sit here by yourself?"

She'd expected that to be the end of her conversation. But it hadn't been. Instead Clipper was actually still present, and still talking to her, rather than going off to engage in his own activities.

Maintain neutrality! Maintain neutrality! Maintain neutrality!

"Giving me something to swing or throw really isn't a good idea; too much risk of collateral damage," she replied and shrugged, "besides, it's alright. I don't really belong here anyway."

"Hold up. Say what now?" he asked, his voice filled with surprise as he spoke. "Whadda you mean you don't belong here?"

"Just what I said, Clipper, I don't belong here. I'm not a nudist, I don't come here because I like taking my clothes off. I show up to these things because I like being able to hang out with my friends," she explained. "Granted, you're probably better at hanging out than I am, but..."

She was surprised when Clipper actually chuckled at that.

"So let me see if I follow. You don't belong here at the NLAC because you're not a nudist, but you show up week after week anyway, because you like being with your friends. But instead of being with your friends, you're sitting here all by yourself, because you don't like this week's theme."

"Well like I said, there's not much I can really do. Give me a baseball bat or a hockey stick and I'm a liability to everyone around me. All I can really do is sit. So I'll sit," she explained and shrugged again.

"Huh," Clipper replied, accompanied by what sounded like him scratching his head. "You know, Shady, I think I have an idea on some sports you could take part in."

"Don't lie to a blind person, Clipper, that kind of stuff tends to get resented," she warned him.

"No, I'm serious, I think I know a sport that'd work for you," Clipper stated, "provided you don't mind getting a piggyback ride, that is."

"... A piggyback ride?" she asked. Now he really had her curiosity. "With who? You?"

"Well it was my idea, so..."

Clipper, giving her a piggy back ride? As in he was actually going to pick her up, and...

Maintain neutrality! Maintain neutrality! Maintain neutrality! Maintain neut-
Maintain_neutrality.exe has stopped working.
Hell_yeah.exe has been initiated

"Let's do this!" she stated.

"That's the spirit!" Clipper laughed.

Charlie_K

The War of the Nudes

Chapter 4: War of the Nudes

No one would've believed in the last years of the twentieth Century, that Equestrian Girl affairs were being watched from the timeless worlds of the internet. No one would've dreamed that we were being scrutinized as someone with a microscope that studies creatures that swarm and multiply in a drop of water. Few men even considered life outside the realm that was their own. And yet, across the gulf of computer screens, minds immeasurably crazier to ours regarded that earth with envious eyes. And slowly and surely they drew their plans...to strip us.

“Report,” Silver Shadow asked his friend Clutter.

“Unknown sir, readings at the moment are indeterminate.” Clutter responded.

“Okay then let’s run down with process of elimination, what is it not?” Silver asked.

“Simple Captain, it is not a comet, meteor, nor a probe of any kind. And while it has the size of a manned space craft, we cannot detect any life forms or any forms of propulsion.” Clutter answered.

Next to Clutter was the helmsmen, and Silver’s sister, Starshine spoke up. “So what we’re seeing is an emerald green rocket like UFO?” she said in her deadpan tone.

Clutter nodded, “Precisely.”

Sliver sighed, “Well that’s certainly interesting, can we get any closer?”

Clutter nodded again, “I believe it would be safe enough.”

“Helmsman, take us in closer please, one half impulse.” Silver ordered.

Starshine nodded and keyed in the commands. The van slowly moved forward towards the school to get a closer look at the arrivals for today’s party. Despite the trio roleplaying as their favorite Sci-Fi series Star Trek, they were not in outer space nor were they patrolling the sector around planet Earth. Still that didn’t them form having fun.

And tonight they were guaranteed to have fun. While none of them were nudists, they did have fun at the previous weeks party so coming back a second time was a guarantee. At present, the trio was in Starfleet uniforms, though they had planned to ditch them for a set of painted on uniforms. Silver was dressed in Command Gold, Clutter in Science Officer Blue, and Starshine in Tactical Red. In front of the van was a large coach bus that was close to unloading passengers.

According to the CMC, they were supposed to be guests for the party tonight, acting as invaders from the planet mars. So Clutter took it upon himself to “investigate” the arrivals.

“Clutter you’re sensors picking anything up now?” Silver asked.

Clutter shook his head, “Best I can get is several life forms, but readings are indeterminate.”

Starshine smiled, “Perhaps we should attend the party and check things out.”

“I’d advise caution there.” Clutter turned, “There might be dangers we do not yet understand there.”

“Dangerous missions are something every captain and crew must face.” Silver chuckled, “Perhaps we should get into the proper….attire for the night?”

With that, Starshine parked the van and the trio headed out for their part in the party tonight.

Blake Skies

Sunset Shimmer adjusted the outfit she had Rarity make for this event. The party’s theme was sci-fi and Sunset volunteered with movie duties. Unsure what to show at the party, she turned to the most knowledgeable person in pop culture she knew, a young man by the name of Quibble Pants. He had suggested that they show the partygoers old cheesy science fiction movies and have the viewers mock the films.

“Oh, so like that one show with the guys watching bad movies?” She had asked.

“Exactly,” he replied. “And we can even dress up as the two villains who send the movies.”

Sunset chuckled as she stuck the two giant bone needles into her hair, leaving it in the style of a bun. She looked over her costume as Dr. Kinga Forrester from the new Mystery Science Theater 3000 season. Quibble Pants, meanwhile had styled the front of his hair into a curl, identifying himself as TV’s Son of TV’s Frank. For Sunset, the idea of wearing a costume at a nudist party seemed ridiculous but the costume is what helped identify the character. She took a deep breath before stepping out into the main room, heading towards the seating area where a large projector screen had been set up. Quibble Pants stood at the opposite end of where she was standing. Several guests, including Emerald Peace, Flutter Heart and Sandymane, were already sitting on the couches and chairs, waiting for the movie to start.

“Greetings, everyone,” Sunset began. “Our first bad flick tonight involves a giant radioactive dinosaur on a South Seas island.”

“Meatloaf?” Quibble joked.

“No, Godzilla,” Sunset sighed in frustration. “It also features a giant lobster and a tanker full of drawn butter.”

“It was a rock lobster!” Quibble added as Sunset began the movie.

“Prepare to enter the nightmare fueled world of Godzilla vs the Sea Monster!” Sunset switched on the projector and the movie began to play.

“We’ve got Movie Sign!” Emerald and Sandymane cried out in unison. Flutter looked dumbfounded as Emerald, Sandymane and the others began making jokes at the movie’s expense. When the movie reached the scene where Godzilla had reawakened, Emerald was grinning like a maniac. The scene continued to play as Godzilla began to play an impromptu game of volleyball with the giant lobster named Ebirah.

“And it’s a home run!” Sandymane called out as Ebirah smacked the large boulder into the sea. Godzilla roared and began to wade out into the sea.

“He should wait an hour before going for a swim,” Flutter spoke up a little. The other movie watchers clapped at her first joke. She smiled a little as the movie continued.

markzilla6895

Winder Rider didn't consider herself to be a true nudist. She enjoyed when she could be nude while relaxing, but that wasn't the same as actually subscribing to the lifestyle; she just wasn't ready for that yet. Nor did she know if she would ever be.

All that aside, she really liked attending the weekly NLAC parties, and wished that she'd gotten started with them sooner, rather than waiting as long as she had before actually doing such. There was no telling how much fun she'd missed out on, skipping those first parties. It wasn't even apprehension over the prosthetic leg that kept her from showing up and participating, she'd just... never thought about doing it before.

The fact that the parties were all themed and unique just added to the fun of coming here each Friday night. And tonight's theme... tonight's theme had been the one she'd been waiting on!

The name of the game -and theme- tonight was science fiction, which meant that all related genres were fair game for use; including the cyberpunk genre which she'd been cheated out of the last time! Currently she was taking full advantage of that fact, her body adorned with numerous steel-colored prosthetics that not only complimented the titanium appendage, but further left her looking like a metal endoskeleton was just beneath the surface of her skin, and visible from where the outer covering had taken battle damage. And while her nerf guns weren't exactly phase plasma rifles in the 40 watt range, they were two that had long ago been painted and given a weathered, steam punkish design that was far removed from the bright neon colors they'd originally come on.

Looking all around her, she saw so many examples, from so many series that she recognized. Considering they had to be executed without the aid of clothing that many considered to be iconic, it led to some... very interesting results to be had and observed. Props, prosthetics, and body paint were the name of the game tonight.

She was so caught up in taking in the scenery, she didn't pay attention where she was going until she felt -and heard- something smack into her prosthetic leg.

"Hiya Strut!"

Shady. Her being here really wasn't a surprise; she'd been coming to these parties ever since the beginning. Although running into her in the manner they had was still unexpected.

Looking over at her, it was easy to get which sci-fi element she'd gone with, what with her entire left arm being covered in red and gold colored plates all to way up to her shoulder, and the circular glowing light currently adhered to her chest.

It was no real secret that Shady had a Downey crush, even if she couldn't actually see the movies he starred in. It was his snarky nature, his mastery of quips that had her captivated with him. So it really wasn't a surprise to see her going that route tonight.

"Hi Shady," she greeted in turn, "where'd you get the armor?"

"I borrowed it from Bolts for the party tonight. Now I owe him a favor for letting me do it," Shady replied. "Then I told him I needed some help getting the arc reactor glued onto my chest just right. So now he owes me a favor," he continued as the grinned cheekily.

Wind Rider snorted in amusement at the story. She always knew that Shady was no dummy, but it was still hilarious how she handled herself in these type of situations. She just wished she could've actually witnessed things unfolding, rather than hearing it being recounted to her.

"So what're you supposed to be? What's your gimmick for this evening?" Shady asked.

"T-800 model 101 that's taken a lot of damage to its outer skin covering," she replied.

"Huh. That's pretty cool. I guess even Skynet would realize the value of female infiltrators," Shady commented, before shrugging dismissively. "So, Strut, what's the lay of the land look like tonight? You're way better at recognizing pop culture references than I am."

Wind Rider chuckled as she looked around them. "Well let's see. I'm seeing examples of Star Trek, Star Wars, Farscape, I think Battle Star Galactica, Stargate, Guardians of the Galaxy, unless that green-skinned chick is with the Star Trek crowd, The Matrix... I think some Neighponese giant robot references that I don't recognize off the top of my head. Doctor Who-"

"Clockwork and Rinky Dink's sister, right?" Shady asked.

"Of course," Wind Rider replied. "We've got Godzilla, Green Lantern, Back to the Future, Avatar, Pacific Rim... got a wide assortment of various martians and other extra-terrestrial lifeforms for the whole "Mars invasion" idea. We've got-" she continued, but paused as her eyes fell on one party member in particular. "Ho... ly... crap..."

"Strut, what're you seeing?" Shady asked as she tugged on her friend's arm. "C'mon, I know you, you don't talk like that without good reason. What's up?"

"Shady, this is one of those times when I really wish you had sight so you could see what I'm seeing," Wind Rider replied absently as she continued staring ahead of her. "And it makes me really glad I'm not a guy, otherwise I'd end up embarrassing myself..."

"What're you seeing?" Shady asked again as she tugged harder.

"I don't know who I'm looking at, but there's one girl here who went all out on the body paint. It's a mix of oily black, flat black, and charcoal gray, and she looks like one of H.R. Giger's illustrations that walked right out of his Necronomicon book. We're talking heavy, heavy details here. She must be really serious about this," Wind Rider stated, doing her best to try and make the matter understandable to her blind friend.

Despite not knowing just what was being said, Shady still whistled in response. If her friend was talking like that, it had to be significant.

"Is she hot?" she asked.

"Might as well be made of pure fire," Wind Rider elaborated. "Seriously, this is one of those cases where gender need not apply for consideration."

"Well then go over and talk to her, you big dummy," Shady insisted. "Unless of course you want me to call her on over," she added as she gripped her cane with her gloved hand and raised two fingers, preparing to loudly whistle and call over the mysterious girl that had caught her friend's attention.

Winder Rider quickly slung one of her nerf guns, and grabbed Shady's hand before she could embarrass the both of them. "You do that, and so help me, I swear I'll beat you to death with your own cane," she hissed, before letting her go. "Fine, fine. I'll go talk to her. I just hope she doesn't plant some hostile embryo in my chest..."

"Use a condom," Shady suggested.

"Oh, hush you," Wind Rider retorted, already walking off before Shady could offer up anymore of her off-brand humor to the matter.

Shady just grinned as her friend left in an exasperated huff. There would probably be payback later on, but such was the nature of their friendship at times. They were thick as thieves, but lacking a unifying issue to stand behind, they wouldn't hesitate to turn to each other for their own amusement.

The sound of fingers snapping from behind alerted her to the fact that someone had walked up on her. The sound of fingers being snapped four times in rapid succession informed her that it was Jabber Jaw who was currently standing there.

Being mute, communication between the two of them often required a third party to act as an interpreter since she couldn't make sense of the sign language used. But that was a small detail, and neither one of them let that get in the way of being friends.

"Hey there, Jabber Jaw! You having fun?" Shady asked.

One snap of the fingers. Yes.

"Always good. You participating with tonight's theme?"

One snap of the fingers.

"Cool. So what's yours anyway?" she asked. Even though it wasn't a yes/no question, she still got an answer as she felt something furry rubbed against her free hand.

She then felt Jabber Jaw leading her hand along whatever was being held out to her, bringing her into contact with the taller girl as her hand led around to her back, and to a belt around her waist.

"You a pony?" Shady asked, instantly recognizing the furry thing as being a costume tail.

Two snaps of the fingers, followed by her hand being brought up to what she could only assume was a ribbon choker necklace, affixed to a sizable jingle bell that lived up to its name as it was moved.

"You're a catgirl?" she asked.

One snap of the fingers.

"Oh, that's cute! Not exactly sure a catgirl is all that science fiction-y, but it's still cute," Shady stated and grinned.

Jabber Jaw proceeded to pet her on the head. Under different circumstances, Shady would take offense to such. But in this case, she really didn't mind. Although if given a choice in the matter, she would've preferred a hug more.

"So "Invaders from Mars" is the gimmick tonight, huh? I'm curious about how that's gonna work out. How about you?"

Shady had no idea how Jabber Jaw could drag out the snapping of her fingers, but she did. The slow snapping, which was like a person stretching out saying "yeah..." in a suspicious manner, combined with the pause between the question and response, immediately suggested something was up.

"Are you part of the invading party?" she asked.

One snap of the fingers.

"Oh..." Shady replied slowly. "I should try and make a break for it, shouldn't I?"

One snap of the fingers. And done in a way that made her feel like she was addressing a grinning shark.

"Yeah, I thought so. Bye," Shady replied and quickly pulled away. Unfortunately she wasn't quick enough, as Jabber had quickly wrapped her arms around her, pinning her arms to her sides in the process as she lifted her up off the ground.

Realistically she knew that she could easily break loose from his hold if she put up enough fight. But she also knew that it was all in the name of fun and games, and she wasn't actually going to be hurt. Plus she could feel Jabber's boobs pressing into her back, which kind of took the fight out of her. Or at least it did until Jabber actually started tickling her!

"Alien abduction! Alien abduction!" she laughed as she tried desperately to squirm and wriggle free.

Meanwhile, while the two chuckle heads she often associated with were demonstrating significant goofiness, Wind Rider was making her way over to her quarry, the Giger Girl. Not that she was exactly into girls, but she certainly didn't have anything against them from time to time; especially when the presentation that was actually being presented was... she wanted to growl like a tiger to express that particular point.

Such matters of consideration, however, came to an immediate halt as a certain party-goer she recognized entered the picture, and approached said Giger Girl first. Sandalwood. His theme wasn't ringing any bells with her, but that was well beside the point now. Even her own being too slow to approach this mysterious stranger first wasn't the part bugging her the most; that was just how things went. No, it was an entirely different matter that had her cold foot being being superseded by boiling blood.

"Why you son of a bitch!" she stated, her approach now taking on a more meaningful one.

Reacting as if that was his name, Sandalwood turned around to face her as she approached. "Wind Rider? What's going on?"

"Don't play dumb with me, Sandalwood, I know you're dating Misty Meadows. So what're you doing here, flirting with someone else when your girlfriend is absent?" she asked in a very hostile tone. "You'd better have a damn good reason for two-timing like that..."

"Wind Rider..."

This time it was said Giger Girl speaking up, in a soft voice with just enough of an accent for there to be an exotic allure in her words. Or at least that would've been the case, had Wind Rider not actually recognized that voice.

"Misty?" she asked in disbelief, while at the same time looking the other girl over more carefully. "Wow! I never thought I'd see you at one of these parties."

It was no secret to her friends that Misty was very sensitive about her body, especially with how close to borderline she was on the whole BMI thing. That, combined with several food allergies that limited her dietary options, made her weight -and the lack thereof- a sensitive topic to discuss.

"Neither did I," Misty admitted uneasily. "But then I decided to, how do you say it, accessorize?"

Looking over Misty better now that she was closer, Wind Rider could see what she was referring to. The body paint currently being worn, had been applied in a manner that actually served to compliment her skinny frame, with highlights in key areas that served to better define the supposed bio-mechanical nature of the presentation. Whoever the artist was that had applied said highlights and touches had certainly known what they were doing in getting the maximum effect. Some would've needed prosthetic touches to achieve such a look, depending on what their frame was like, but Misty managed to pull it off without such.

"Oh..." Wind Rider replied slowly, uncertain of what else to really say. This whole situation was already way awkward enough. "Well, you look good!"

"Thank you," Misty replied, "and thank you for being so concerned. It was all very... what is that word? Chivalrous?"

"I don't know, I guess that's it?" Sandalwood replied, just as lost for a response as Misty was currently. Really, he was just glad Wind Rider hadn't taken things further before the truth had gotten out. That could've been really ugly.

"Well, you know, just being a good friend and all," Wind Rider replied absently with an uneasy chuckle. "I'll just be going now," she muttered, already in the process of formulating her escape plan. If she went back to her other friends now, and explained the situation to them, she was fairly certain that she'd never hear the end of it. The hostile embryo would've been preferable to that.

Charlie_K

Padawan Bluestem read the paper taped to the large wooden doors of the school and looked at his master. Their robes fluttered in the warm summer night’s breeze.

“Master, do you believe they’re here?” Bluestem asked as he lowered his hood.

Master Key remained silent for a time then nodded. “What do your feelings tell you, young padawan?”

Bluestem had to stifle a giggle, Key was only one year older than he was, but in a way Key was the master in more ways than one. He was a nudist and had been trying to get Bluestem into the lifestyle ever since they met. He was also the one who wrote the play they were enacting tonight. So, out of respect for his friend, he stayed in character.

“I feel a disturbance, Master.” Bluestem said.

“As do I, padawan. Our enemies are cunning, but the Force is with us. Let us to go this ‘student union.’”

On the way, Bluestem was shocked to see so many naked students strolling around. Some were dressed in revealing costumes that he recognized from various science fiction shows and, in a way, it felt a lot like the Cantina scene in the first Star Wars movie. A few more steps and Bluestem could see the reception desk.

“How may I help you two, gentleman?” A grey skinned girl with blonde hair asked, sitting behind a desk.

“We are here for the party. Can you assist us?” Master Key asked.

“Of course, more out-of-towners, I see. We’ve been getting a lot of you tonight. Are you on the list?” She asked with a strange lilt in her voice. “What are your names?”

They gave their names. “And we are on the list.” Master Key followed with a slight wave of his hand.

Bluestem didn't know if the receptionist saw the gesture. What he did know was that they had been confirmed the week before, but still, the little bit of in-character action made him feel good.

“You are on the list.” The receptionist said, her voice losing a little bit of the pep it had before.

“And we can go have fun?” Master Key asked with another wave and grin.

“You can have fun.” The receptionist responded her voice was even more monotone than before. Bluestem started to wonder how much of it was an act. It had to be, right? “Dressings rooms for men on the right.”

“We can keep our belts on?”

“You can keep your belts on.”

“We can go.”

She finally lost it and let out a laugh. “Get going you two and don’t have too much fun.” She grinned.

“Thank you.” Both said with a smile of their own.

She motioned them through. Bluestem asked if Key had planned it, which he, of course, denied. Bluestem sighed and followed his master down the steps towards the changing areas.

Bluestem blushed as he saw Key remove his robe and stand naked before him. They had always been clothed during rehearsals. Bluestem had seem him naked in the showers but this was, different.

“Um, could you, turn around?” Bluestem asked.

Key sighed and turned around. “I’m going to see you away.” But he continued to look away.

Bluestem gulped. This was it. He thought of removing a band-aid. With a gasp, he slide the robe down. He felt the air over his body. Like Key, he had decided to wear nothing underneath except his lightsaber utility belt and shoes. No way to chicken out.

Key turned back and said. “There now, it wasn’t that hard. You doing fine. Let’s hang these up and get going.

Bluestem wasn’t done. If he was going to do this, he’d go as far as possible. He blushed as he sat down on a bench and took off his shoes. He heard Master Key chuckle as he went to hang up his robe on a nearby hook.

“Now, focus. Our foes are already here. Remember the plan” Key walked the length of the room with a purposeful stride. “We find them and stop them. They’ve infiltrated this party in hopes that nudity will make those weak against their evil intent.”

Bluestem nodded with a frown.

Master Key continued. “And our hope is that nudity will weaken their dark power and allow us to beat them, if not capture them.”

“Sounds good. Let’s go!” Bluestem said as he hung up his robe.

“Not so fast. Let’s search together. They might not be expecting that. If we catch them on their own, they’ll be no match. Follow me.” Master Key said, adjusting his utility belt. His lightsaber bounced off his bronze colored thigh.

“Right!” Bluestem affirmed as he checked his own belt. A thrill ran through him as he felt his own lightsaber bump against his hip. Now, finally, they were here and performing what they had worked so hard to make.

Strangely, being nude made him feel more confident. Was it because he felt like he was hiding under the robe? It couldn’t be, could it? It was just a play and everyone was naked too. People couldn’t actually feel better about themselves or more self-confident when they were wearing nothing, could they? No, he was just getting into character. He cleared his mind and focused on what they had rehearsed.

Bluestem followed his master out of the changing room. He was so focused on trying to remember what came next that he forgot what actually did and it almost missed hearing the tell-tale angry bee-hum of a Sith's lightsaber as it slashed towards him.

With reflexes that surprised even him, he brought up his own lightsaber in a block that deflected the attack. He fell into a defensive stance.

“You’re being held back. Join me and free yourself.” The blue Sith laughed. She turned and raced off in the opposite direction.

The line had been ad-libbed, but her trying to draw him away from Master Key was part of the act to help announce the final battle and get more involved. He took a second to look behind him. Master Key was already facing off against the Sith Lord, Orange Striker, an orange-skinned student and the master of the Sith that attacked him.

Bluestem’s attacker had been none other than Blood Rose, formerly Padawan Blue Rose, his sister, both in the play and in real life. She had blue skin like he did, but had grey and red lines painted down her body. That too wasn’t part of the play and he wondered where she’d got painted. He’d have to ask when this was over. He retracted the lightsaber blade and clipped it to his belt and took off after her.

Their story was that they had been padawans together. Training in the great temple. She always kept him on his toes because she was better than him. However, she had been obsessed with gaining more power in the Force and her journey had lead her down a dark path. Bluestem was suppose to kill her, but he knew she could be brought back to the light side.

The hallways were crowded with students. Bluestem saw costumes from shows like Doctor Who, Battlestar Galactica, Star Trek, and even some random cyberpunk get ups. At the far end a red blade lit up, but didn’t seem to get many people’s attention. What Blood Rose shouted did.

“Bluestem! Surrender or die.”

“Blue Rose, sister, why fight? Come back to the light. This isn’t who you are!” Bluestem shouted back activating his own lightsaber.

By now the crowd seemed to get that something was happening and cleared a path between the two. Their chatting dying down as they watched to see what would happen next.

“The name is Blood Rose!” She shouted and raced down the hallway.

“I don’t want to do this!” Bluestem raised his own lightsaber and ran towards her.

Their blades clashed and whirled as they fought up and down the hallway. Bluestem and Rose had practiced this fight at home in their backyard and he felt really good about it. Although, he hadn’t realized how narrow the hallway would be and had a few close calls with bystanders. No one got hurt. The crowd soon realized this was a show and started to whoop and cheer as the two combatants fought.

Finally, Blood Rose Force pushed Bluestem back causing him to fall and slide on the cool tile floor. It took him a bit to get back on his feet.

“Pathetic as ever. You cling to old traditions and morality. Give in to your feelings. Be who you are meant to be!” Blood Rose said and raced off down the hallway.

Bluestem watched her go. After she was gone he announced the final battle would be in the gym and then he raced off after her.

Their next fight was out in sport fields behind the school. Master Key and Orange Striker would be in the library or the cafeteria by now.

He fought Blood Rose, but for some reason he felt different. It wasn’t the kind of different he felt between rehearsing and performing. In fact he felt better than he normally did while performing. It took him awhile before he finally hit on what was nagging him. It was her lines, more specifically what they could be saying.

Their fight wasn’t about the dark and light side at all but about clothing and nudity. Key had always said clothing held people back. That it was based in outdated morality and traditions, but Bluestem had only half listened. As he fought with his sister and reflected on the lines he started to notice something different about her.

True they hadn’t practiced nude before. Their house wasn’t open to it, but he had seen his sister naked and seeing her again wasn’t anything special. However, sharing this moment with her made him feel more proud to be her brother than ever before. She wasn’t the “little sister” who kept getting on his nerves, nor “the pest” that kept following him and his friends around, but a person all her own. Was nudity really affecting him like that?

Somewhere in the back of his mind he could hear Key’s voice whisper that it was. He tried to push it down but it persisted. With each blow and counterblow it told him that being naked had forced him to look at himself and accept who he was. That he wasn’t a student or the labels that he wore, but a person all the same and now he was seeing the same in her. With effort he quelched the voice and focused on the ending blows and lines.

“Sister, why did you turn away from the light? Why can’t you understand that it’s wrong? Come back to me.” Bluestem cried.

“No. The dark side is freedom. It allows me to be the true me. You’re forcing yourself to be blind.” She screamed, but Bluestem to could see the conflict in her eyes. She faltered and tripped just as they practiced.

“You know that’s not true. Come to the light, sister. You know you still can.”

“Stop confusing me!” She “kicked” Bluestem in the gut and ran away.

Bluestem picked himself up and let everyone know that in a few minutes they would be in the gym for the final climatic battle. Instead of running off like last time, he walked away, mindlessly clipping his lightsaber to his belt and pondered the latest lines.

Did being naked really change how he saw himself and his sister? Did it make him free? It was so confusing. A breeze cooled his sweaty body and he let out a sigh of pleasure. He had to admit, being nude did have some benefits but this would be it, right? He saw a clock and started running.

The gym was larger than Bluestem imagined it would be and it was way more crowded too. He wondered if they would have enough room. He made his way to the DJ booth where they were suppose to gather.

Orange, Key, and Rose were already there. Key handed him a headset so their lines could be heard while they fought.

“What kept you?” Orange asked.

“Just enjoying the party.” Bluestem said as he clipped it to his ear and adjusted the mic. It was wireless and didn’t didn’t have a belt box like the old models did.

“Yeah, well, you can do that later. Everyone ready?” Key asked. Everyone nodded and did a sound check.

They took their places. In the middle of one of the dance songs “Duel of the Fates” by John Williams broke in and everyone stopped. Some had questioning looks while other cheered.

Bluestem activated his lightsaber and made his way to the middle of the gym where an opening was being made for them to fight. He could see the others advancing from their positions.

“You’ve fallen into our trap. You’re being corrupted as we speak. Continue your journey towards the dark side.” Lord Orange Striker shouted, his voice booming through the speakers.

“Nudity is a pure connection to the Force and your evil ways will never cloud that! It is you who have lost.” Master Key yelled back.

“We shall see, Jedi!” Lord Orange Striker said and raised his lightsaber.

Bluestem tensed and looked over at Rose. She was ready too. The red blade came down the battle started.

Four lightsabers battled against each other in an all out brawl. At times Bluestem was back-to-back with Key while at others he was defending himself against both Sith at once. He twirled into different stances to block and counter with what seemed like impossible timing. In reality, this had been their most practiced fight.

Again, Bluestem felt something come over him. Only this time it was more. He didn’t feel worn out like he was used to. Tried to deny it had anything to do with being nude, but deep down he knew the truth. As he accepted it, he felt a wave of peace wash over him.

Then Lord Striker shoved his lightsaber through Key’s chest, well, under the armpit.

“Noooooooo!” Bluestem shouted as his master crumbled to the ground. The battle was nearly over and for a moment Bluestem was glad, it had been a grueling performance but on the other hand he didn’t feel quite ready for it to be over.

“You master is dead. Submit to the dark side or share his fate!” Lord Orange Striker said while brandishing his blade at Bluestem. Blood Rose moved aside.

“I’ll never join you!” Bluestem said.

“Just like your sister. In the end you will beg for the dark just as she did. Give in.”

“Never!” Bluestem charged Orange Striker.

Just before he reached him Blood Rose intercepted him. They exchanged blows only this time it felt less like an act and more like he was really fighting for his sister, for nudity, and for things he didn’t quite understand.

“Blue Rose, this isn’t who you are. Come back to me. Remember the Jedi you really are.” Bluestem said as he blocked her attack.

“Forget her! She’s dead. It only took her awhile to realize it.” She shot back.

“That’s not who you are. Fight it!” They exchanged a few more blows. “I love you.”

It was in the script for her to pause and fight with her conflicting feelings and she did, but she wasn’t suppose to have any lines. “It won’t be like before, will it?”

Bluestem nodded. “No, I guess it won’t be. I’m okay, you?”

“Yeah.” It was barely a whisper but the mic caught it and it echoed around the gym.

Back on script, Blood Rose glared at Bluestem, screamed in frustration, and then lunged for Lord Orange Striker.

Bluestem moved in next to her and together they impaled the Sith lord just as the music ended.

The gym erupted in applause and cheers. Bluestem helped Orange to his feet while Key got up on his own. Together they high-fived and patted each other on the back. The DJ announced who they were, their drama club, and a thank you to all who stayed to watch.

The regular dance music started back up and the cheers and applause died down. Bluestem knew he should be happy as he smiled and waved but he felt confused and lost. In the back of his mind he knew the script wasn’t about Star Wars but about his refusal to accept nudity and he had to talk to Key about that, but first he needed to set things straight with his sister.

He caught Rose by one of the gym doors. She had a questioning look as he came up to her but went with him into the hall.

“Sis, thank you for being apart of this. It was a lot of work and, and I can’t believe we’re here naked.”

“I know, right? Thank you for this. I wasn’t sure about the nudity, but once I learned I got to beat you up, I was in.” She smiled but looked away.

“I guess I haven’t been the best of brothers.” He chuckled then tried to regain control of himself. “Did you mean what you said, you know, back there?”

“Yeah. I guess I did.” She said then paused. “I’ve never felt this okay with myself before. And to be honest, I know I’m not ready for it to end.”

Bluestem could see the struggle in her eyes to admit that and he struggled to find the words while he sorted out his own feelings. “Me either. And not just here. Would you be okay trying this at home? Talking to Mom and Dad?”

Rose blushed before answering. “Yeah?”

“Yeah. Okay.” Bluestem said feeling like a weight had been lifted.

They gave each other a quick brother-sister hug, things would be different but better. They pushed the door to the gym open and rejoined the party.

Clickety-clack

Here is what The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy has this to say about “Nudists”. Nudism is a lifestyle based around at some point in human history that no one covered up at all. Some say it is because of some woman saying a snake told her to eat a mind-bending fruit and said to her boyfriend to try it, this is regarded by most nudists as “A very bad move”.

The important thing to know about nudists is that they see an extreme difference to sex and simple nudity. If you are going to a social gathering of nudists, you would have a better time picking up a date in a temple of celibate hermaphroditic monks from the planet of Xynix 6. Especially one that is a club at a public High School like Canterlot High.

Luckily enough, that is what one Chocolate Mint, a literature teacher at that school, does every week at to help a fellow teacher, Cheerilee. He has also made the precaution to bring a towel. Nudists and galactic Hitchhikers can agree that a towel is about the most massively useful thing in the Universe.

Partly it has great practical value—you can wrap it around you for warmth as you bound across the cold moons of Jaglan Beta; you can lie on it on the brilliant marble‐sanded beaches of Santraginus V, inhaling the heady sea vapors; you can sleep under it beneath the stars which shine so redly on the desert world of Kakrafoon; use it to sail a mini raft down the slow heavy river Moth; wet it for use in hand‐to‐hand‐combat; wrap it round your head to ward off noxious fumes or to avoid the gaze of the Ravenous Bugblatter Beast of Traal (a mind-bogglingly stupid animal, it assumes that if you can't see it, it can't see you—daft as a bush, but very ravenous); you can wave your towel in emergencies as a distress signal, and of course dry yourself off with it if it still seems to be clean enough.

Every week before a NLAC club begins, Mint will stop by at the Teacher’s Lounge to get a drink from the vending machine, the Sirius Cybernetics Nutrimatic Drinks Dispenser, a cup of his favorite drink to relax which is warm hot chocolate. Mint pushes the button and the cup is ready, he takes a drink and as usual ever since the school installed it, it tastes terrible. He spits it out into a wastebasket next to him.

The way the Nutrimatic Drinks Dispenser works is very interesting. When the ‘Serve’ button is pressed it makes an instant, but highly-detailed examination of the subject’s taste buds, a spectroscopic analysis of the subject’s metabolism, and then sends tiny experimental signals down the neural pathways to the taste centers of the subject’s brain, to see what is likely to be well received. However, no one knows quite why it does this, because it then invariably delivers a cup-full of liquid that is almost, but not quiet, entirely unlike tea.

Mint groans, “I mean what is the point?”

The Dispenser responded, “Nutrition and Pleasurable Sense Data. Share and Enjoy!”

“Listen, it tastes terrible.” Mint throws the cup away in annoyance.

The machine didn’t listen to him, “If you enjoyed your drink, why not share it with your friends?”

Mint gave it a ‘are you kidding’ look, “because if I did share it, I would lose them. Do you know what I’m saying? That drink- “

The machine interrupted him “That drink was individually tailored to your personal requirements of nutrition and pleasure.”

Mint rolled his eyes “so I’m a masochist on a diet, am I?”

“Please Share and Enj- “

“Shut up and listen, all I want is a cup of hot chocolate. Understand?”

“Yes”

“and do you know why I want a cup of hot chocolate?”

“Please wait.” The machine made beeps and bops and Mint took a few steps back from it worried it might blow up. “Computing” it said a moment later.

Mint raised an eyebrow “What are you doing?”

“Calculating why you want cocoa powder in heated water.”

“Because I like it and it helps me relax.”

The machine made a beep “Stated reason does not compute with program facts.”

Mint didn’t understand “What?”

A deep voice joined in “You heard her.”

Mint looked around the room, “Who said that?”

“Me,” a vent in a high point on one of the teacher lounge walls, “I’m the new Ventilation System, remember? You complained about me yesterday.”

“Yes because you made my classroom smell like a perfume department.”

“I’m programed for scented air; you love it because it’s fresh”

Mint got angrier as he sat in a chair “I like it when it smells like a pine forest and not reminding me when I went to the store with my mom and every employee invading my safe space.”

The chair suddenly vibrated, “What’s going on now?” Mint yelled in surprised.

“Please calm down,” said the chair “Your stress and nerves are melting away.”

Mint got out of the chair, “JUST STOP!!! ALL OF YOU JUST STOP!!!”

Some smooth music started playing and it just made Mint angrier, “AND STOP WHOEVER IS PLAYING THAT!!!!”

There was a long silence until the Dispenser spoke “Still computing why you want cocoa powder in heated water.”

Mint took a deep breath, “Alright, when I need to relax I don’t need music, a massage chair, or nice smelling air. I just sit back and enjoy some hot chocolate.”

“Then why did you built us?” All the machines say in unison.

“I didn’t build you.” Mint said in confusion

“But you are an organic lifeform” The Ventilation said.

“This is ridiculous” Mint said in defeat, it was getting closer to the time the NLAC party started and he needed to be there for Cheerilee. The door opened by itself and Mint looked at in in surprise, “What?”

“Enjoy your day, Lit Teacher Chocolate Mint!” said a voice.

Mint groaned.

Gojirafan101

The Nudist School on Horror Hill

The Nude School on Horror Hill

Vice-Principal Luna waited anxiously outside of the Student Union Center biting her thumbnail; there was no denying the emotions that were flowing through her now. Despite going over every detail down to the smallest detail, she was still nervous. This was either going to go horribly wrong or horribly right.

When the CMC approached her about having a horror theme for this weeks nudist party, she was dubious. At first she thought it would be like the parties of old: “dress” up for the event, spend some time with friends, and then leave when the party was over. But then the idea ballooned into something more devious. First it was the idea to set up holograms to create ghostly images and shadows. Then the decor Pinkie Pie seemed rather eager to provide. Finally the kicker: this one was going to be a slumber party.

Even Cheerilee went ballistic at that concept, but sly words from Apple Bloom and Sunset Shimmer changed her tune. But the Vice-Principle held firm at no slumber party. Then, with a slip of the tongue it all came crashing down. As if to quote her favorite horror flick, Luna said; “Well if they choose to stay the night I’ll give them a passing grade in a class they want.” It was simply in jest. But before she could pull those words back it was too late.

And now there they were, mere minutes from letting a crowd of fifty students and friends ready for the occasion into the school for one giant nudist scarefest slumber party. The myriad of ways this could backfire were incalculable. Yet internally she felt an eagerness to try this.

It was at that moment Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo appeared from the room. Luna turned and looked at them, “Is everything in place?”

“According to Button and Featherweight all the projectors are set up, the speakers are in place, and the decor is in order.” Sweetie answered, “We’re ready to go.”

Vice-Principle Luna nodded and took a deep breath, there was no turning back now. She walked out to the front entrance to greet a myriad of students awaiting her. Putting on her best Vincent Price expression, Vice Principle Luna addressed the crowd.

“Welcome, welcome one and all to our Night of living frights here at Canterlot High. I’m sure you’re all eager so let me not waste anyone’s time. I propose to you all a little challenge, one that I’m sure many of you could accept. If you manage to spend the entire night at Canterlot High, I'll give each of you a passing grade in ONE class of your choice. Though be forewarned, there are ghosts that roam the halls this night and they have claimed seven victims already. Perhaps tonight you may be victim number eight. Would you come and join us, you don't want to be late to your own funeral?”

To Shady, the premise of this week's NLAC party, at least as far as she understood it, had been simple enough. The theme was horror, being done in an early Nightmare Night sort of fashion. But it went further than just that, and there was the promise from Vice Principal Luna of a passing grade in a class of choice for any students that were brave enough to actually spend the entire night at the school.

Selling her mother on the whole "spending the night at school" idea had been the hardest part. She hadn't been able to think up a way to explain the whole idea, and she knew that if she tried the "spending the night with a friend" routine, said friend would be getting called up and questioned on the matter, so that wasn't an option that could realistically be employed.

Thankfully she had an ace in the hole, and that was Vice Principal Luna herself!

Ever since enrollment in CHS, the two of them had shared a unique point of bond and understanding; or at least she liked to believe that was truly the case. For the two of them, they were linked through their mutual associations with darkness, even if it had been for different reasons. One of them had adopted the darkness as her own, while the other had been born into it, and molded by it all her life.

If nothing else, it made an interesting point of conversation whenever it came up.

She had explained the situation to Vice-Principal Luna, she hated the vice principal term the woman was unfortunately saddled with, and the Vice-Principal had handled the rest from there. With one call to her mother for a discussion between the two older women, she heard as the principal went about explaining the matter in a way that was simultaneously both completely honest, and entirely dishonest about just what was going to be happening overnight at the school, making it appear as a legitimate school function. She weaved the details like a spider weaving its web, everything carried out like a well-choreographed dance, and easily secured permission for her to spend the night at the school with the other students who were participating in the night's events.

With permission secured and in hand, the actual wait to Friday night had felt excruciating, and the few days between then and now had seemed like forever. This was pretty much the first slumber party she'd ever been on, and because of that fact, containing the resulting enthusiasm was more or less impossible for her. By the time Friday had finally rolled around, she was practically ready to bounce off the walls as she waited for the ride to school with her duffle bag in tow, carrying with it a pillow, sleeping bag, spare sheet, a change of clothes for Saturday morning, snacks, and a set of pajamas for the sake of keeping up the necessary appearances of the cover story.

Officially she was here to have spent the night with her friends and have fun with them, as they went about securing passing grades for select classes. And she was indeed doing just that; she had been since arriving at the school, and slipping into more appropriate attire for the night's party. Unofficially, however, she was here simply to laugh her ass off at the others falling victim to whatever scares that Vice-Principal Luna had planned for them, and gloat about her superiority over them.

According to what her friends had been telling her, Vice-Principal Luna had gone all out on getting the school ready for the night's events, doing her best to make it downright terrifying for those who would have to brave the night for the sake of their grades. There were fog machines and strobe lights set up to generate a disorientation effect in the atmosphere, to leave others unsettled and unbalanced. Even the PA system had been commandeered for the night, and was currently broadcasting background noise for heightening the experience, occasionally punctuated by sound effects like chains rattling, heavy footsteps, random screams, and other haunted house goodies.

All in all it was a very, very impressive amount of effort put into this week's party.

But effort could only go so far in the real world. Strictly speaking the night was still relatively young, everyone was still very much awake, there was plenty of sugary goodness available for keeping them hyper, and their mental defenses were still high to guard against potential scares.

And then there was the likes of her, who was immune to visual effects that would undoubtedly get others, and get them good. It didn't matter what sort of salvo size was fired, Vice-Principal Luna was simply way out of her league on this one. She couldn't help but grin just a little bit wickedly at that particular thought.

Of course it wasn't all a matter of scares and varying degrees of horror haunting the school halls. There was still the fact that tonight was still technically a slumber party. And as Pinkie had so -not- eloquently pointed out, if they weren't ready for the slumber portion, then the party portion was in full effect! With clothes removed and properly stored away, Shady took part in the night’s activities.

Where and how exactly the pink party girl had gone about procuring enough pillows for the night's activities, Shady didn't have a clue. Nor did she really care; it meant that her own pillow from home wouldn't be getting destroyed in the resulting pillow fight.

The scares of the evening might've been limited to a PG level -making it more Poltergeist rather than Friday the 13th- but the resulting massacre of said pillows would've been rated a hard R for sure although all the breasts and other such bits of anatomy being present and visible would've certainly contributed to such.

Then there was the matter of Strut and a few other like-minded individuals who'd seen fit to bring nerf goodies along, claiming that the horror theme of the night simply demanded a game of "students vs zombies" while there was enough light to make it practical; something about being able to see to retrieve their munitions later on since they didn't have the glow-in-the-dark sort with them.

When the sun had finally set to the point that they couldn't see by it, that was when the more horror-related aspects of the slumber party started to gear up, and Principal Luna's plans started to become more apparent to the rest of them. Once the sun had gone down, those that had shown up for tonight's fun had found themselves being ushered to the gymnasium where they'd all be spending the night, principal included.

She couldn't actually see anything, but the air was heavily tainted -by her nose anyway- with the smell of hot metal and kerosene as oil lanterns burned, giving both illumination, and helping add to the atmosphere of their surroundings. Maybe there were candles burning as well for the spooky effect, she couldn't be certain.

What she was certain about, however, was that ghost stories were being told. Some present were telling the stories themselves, others were using MP3 players and speakers to play creepypastas read by those regarded as being the top narrators. And as she listened to their tales, it was easy to understand why they were so highly regarded. Through a combination of excellent vocal control, unsettling background music, and sound effects at key moments to emphasize specific details, it was damn unsettling to listen to. More than once she found herself uneasily glancing over her shoulder -despite it being a completely useless thing to do- because she was positive that something was watching her. The background noises coming from just beyond the gymnasium doors didn't help matters either.

She was seriously started to suspect that Principal Luna had taken everything into consideration when planning out this night, including her own inability to see, and responded accordingly to such.

Over to her left, she heard Jabber Jaw giving a full body shudder on her sleeping bag as the latest tale came to a close, before frantically signing something.

"What'd she say?" she asked.

"That she's not going to be sleeping tonight after hearing that one," Strut translated.

Shady just shook her head in response. The latest story hadn't been that scary as far as she was concerned. But then again that was just her.

"Well at least you're not in the dark 24/7 like I am. You can at least see when something might actually be there," She pointed out. That was a luxury she didn't have, and if there was some monster around that left her having to listen for it, or try and smell it out. And while her senses were probably up to the task, she really didn't wanna find Bob in such a manner. And if Vice-Principal Luna had hired Slenderman to be lurking in the hallways of the school... well, she hoped that she was at the right height for punching him straight in the balls should they meet.

This shit was getting way too serious. They needed a way to break the tension before the scares got a little too real and close for comfort. Maybe go talk to Vinyl about getting some music going, or maybe see if there was enough motivation for the group to heckle some of the more ridiculous stories going around the various smaller circles of fellow slumberites.

"Alright," she said as she pushed herself up, "hold down the fort. I gotta visit the bathroom. I've got way too much soda in me."

"What?" Rinky Dink practically squeaked. "You're actually going out there alone? Don't you know that's the worst thing to do in horror movies!?"

"No, the worst thing to do in horror movies is go somewhere secluded or off limits like an idiot," she pointed out as she extended her cane. "I know where the bathroom is, and if something's waiting out there, I intend to swing this to kill. I'll be alright."

She heard Gripes scoff dismissively from where he currently was in the gymnasium, but paid him no more mind than a cursory flipping the bird in his general direction. She had better things to do than stand around and trade barbs with the complainer at the moment; she'd reserve that for when she got back. And if that should fail, it was going to be pillow fight round two, and there would be no prisoners taken. Executions perhaps, but no prisoners.

Fortunately the walk to the girls' bathroom was far more uneventful than any of the ghost stories has been. Even more fortunately, Principal Luna hadn't gone the Castle route of hiding joy buzzers on the toilet seats; which was good because she doubted that she'd be able to forgive something like that, regardless of who was responsible.

The walk back to the gymnasium was even more uneventful than the walk from there. Now that she wasn't pressed so urgently, she could more easily think about the situation she'd gotten herself into.

The real world was a scary place. This? This was all just make-believe, for the sole purpose of entertainment. Her mother was a lawyer, meaning she knew about some of the horrors and atrocities the real world held, that would be called too farfetched to be believed in a work of fiction; stuff the human mind simply couldn't accept as being real because it exceeded the comprehension of most sane people. Werewolves, zombies, and cannibalistic mimes were nothing compared to the things her mother had warned her about. All Principal Luna could throw at her were sound effects, and what was so scary about them when you knew what to expect?

As it turned out there was a lot!

On the way back to the gymnasium she must not have been paying proper attention to her surroundings, because her ears were suddenly assaulted by a horribly unpleasant noise like scraping metal, blaring out of a PA system speaker that felt like it was right next to her. She immediately recoiled in both pain and surprise, covering her ears with her hands, with her war cry desperately being in need of improvement.

"Damn it!" she yelled. She'd come to observe others getting scared, and she'd wound up getting scared herself in turn! She was supposed to be immune to this, but Principal Luna had gotten her good! She was undoubtedly never going to hear the end of this.

"Alright. This requires retribution," she said to herself as she took stock of the situation. "First, I'm gonna learn how to alter the pitch of my voice. Then, I'm gonna learn ventriloquism. And then, I'm gonna make her think Principal Celestia has found out her secret and crashed the party. That'll get her back," she said and chuckled darkly to herself. It would take time to orchestrate everything, but it was going to happen.

There was just one problem she had to tend to before she could actually go about doing that. She was hopelessly lost as fuck right now! When she'd gotten startled she hadn't thought to pay attention to how she'd moved, and now she couldn't remember what direction she was currently facing.

"Damn it," she repeated. She absolutely hated when stuff like this happened to her! Not she had to get her orientation back before she could find her way back to the gymnasium. "Why does crap like this always happen with me?"

Of course she knew the reason this stuff happened to her rather than anyone else, was because she was the only student at CHS who was blind, so naturally it would happen to her rather than anyone else. But knowing the why didn't make things any easier for her.

"Alright, Shady, let's figure out where you are. If they need to send a rescue party to find you, you're never gonna hear the end of this one," she muttered to herself, feeling around with her cane in an effort to get her bearings back. She quickly found out she was standing next to a wall, but that told her very little since she couldn't discern just which wall it was. "I guess there's no choice but to pick a direction, and hope to find something familiar."

Stuff like this really sucked, because stuff like this was nothing but an unpleasant reminder of what reality was. And the reality was that, no matter how confident she acted, or how competent she seemed, or how much sarcasm she used, nothing was going to change the fact it all required a significant amount concentration, situational awareness, and focus to keep everything running as smoothly as they did. And when that concentration was broken, when that situational awareness was interrupted, everything she worked hard to convey was gone. Until she managed to get her bearings back again, she was pretty much totally lost, and just so damn vulnerable! It was utterly debilitating to put up with.

"Gotta find a point of reference. Some familiar landmark or something," she muttered to herself, knowing that if she could actually do that, she'd be able to draw on her mental map once again.

The idea was simple enough. Although actually doing it was proving to be more difficult than she was comfortable with. Her defenses had been compromised, and now she was finding the background noises in the hallways to be more unsettling than they had been originally. The way they echoed off the walls and reached her ears was making it hard to focus, when there were random footsteps and creaking doors to contend with.

"Time to fight fire with fire," she muttered and gripped the phone hanging around her neck. "Siri hit me up with "Sound of Madness" and do it fast."

She expected the sound of the usual chime of acknowledgement to meet her ears, but she heard nothing of the sort, nor any song following.

"What the? Siri? Talk to me."

Again, no response. For whatever reason, her phone wasn't responding, despite the battery being freshly charged this afternoon in preparation for tonight. Had Principal Luna actually found a way to invoke whole the "cellphones don't work" cliché that so many horror movies exploited without mercy, just for the sake of covering all the bases, and ensuring she hadn't forgotten a single student?

She gave a groan of dissatisfaction. She was lost, she couldn't call for help, and now she didn't have her music to listen to. This night was just getting better and better.

"You try to be tough, and this is what it gets you. Nice going, you broken idiot..."

The next thing she knew was the pain of stubbing her left toe against something jutting out in her path. Naturally she screamed, giving off a few less than stellar examples of profanity in the process as she tried not only to cradle the inflamed digit while it throbbed, but also not lose her balance and fall flat on her ass.

Was it really asking too much to get a break at some point tonight? Much to her surprise, it wasn't one but rather two breaks that were had. The first was that her toe wasn't being broken from the impact, meaning she'd actually be able to walk it off. The second was when she realized that she'd collided with a water fountain! There were only so many water fountains to be found in CHS, especially on the first floor where she currently was. And if it was right here with her, there were only a handful of locations that were this close to the bathrooms.

"Alright!" she stated. She'd found her point of reference for narrowing down where she needed to go, in order to get back to the gymnasium. Things were finally looking up! "Principal Luna, you don't win this one!"

There was still the matter of just which water fountain she'd managed to run into, but there were only two that it could really be. She just had to stay sharp for other points of reference, and she'd know where exactly she was.

And then that all went south as she felt her whole upper body crossing through something very stringy, and very sticky, that immediately caused her to seize up, and her heart start beating faster as a tiny squeak escaped her lips. It was a spider web... she HATED spider webs!

She shrieked, cane forgotten about as it dropped to the ground, as she desperately tried to pull the disgusting mess off of her body. Where there were spider webs, there were spiders, and she hated spiders even worse than their webs! Already she was feeling their tiny little legs scurrying across her skin as they began their assault against her; even if they weren't there, she was still feeling them! This left her frantically swatting at every rogue sensation crossing the surface, while simultaneously trying to pull the webbing off and get free from it!

The logical part of her mind knew that there was no way a spider web this big would ever be missed by the janitorial staff. But right now that part was being stampeded by the primal part of her mind that gave zero fucks about what was logical, and there was nothing she could do about it. And with being naked it just made the whole experience all the worse!

"Ick, ick, ick, ick!" she yelled as she frantically tried to wipe herself down, trying to remove the webbing from her skin before any spiders it carried could get any more access to her than they had already. The fact that it was tangled in her hair and on her face just made it even more terrifying. She didn't want to think about it, she just wanted it gone!

Vice-Principal Luna had DEFINITELY done her homework on this one!

If it hadn't been for her heart beating as hard as it was, she was sure it would've stopped completely at the next commotion to reach her ears. Immediately her struggles with the webbing halted as her entire body went stiff like a plank. She didn't have a clue what she was hearing exactly, and she wasn't sure whether it was the distorted breathing, or the background noise that wrestled it for domination, but something about this commotion was terrifying on an extremely primal level.

Immediately her senses were on high alert as she whirled around in the hallway, directing her ears like radar dishes as she tried to pick up on what exactly was going on around her. Was something actually approaching her like a predator stalking its prey? Was it just background noise and panic from everything that'd been happening in the span of a few minutes?

"Screw this, I'm outta here!"

What might or might not be going on wasn't important any longer; all she cared about was escaping as rational thought took a back seat to the blindest of panic possible. She didn't care what direction she went, what was that way, or even about retrieving her cane right now. Throwing her arms in front of her and crossing them to act as a shield, she took off running with her head down as fast as she could, intent on plowing through whatever might be in front of her. If Slenderman was stalking the halls right now then he was gonna find himself flat on his back, wondering what the number of the truck was that ran him over.

Adrenaline was coursing through her veins at high speeds as she ran, plowing ahead as fast as her legs could carry her, and nothing was going to stop her or slow her down. Nothing that is, except for stepping down wrong on something unseen, in a manner that sent her toppling forward with an excited scream as she hit the ground with a hard thud.

Panic temporarily gave way to pain - a lot of pain- as she laid there, her senses trying to reboot themselves from her unplanned landing. But the sensory whiteout and blood pounding in her ears only provided a temporary shielding against that terrible, horrible commotion that'd sent her into a panic in the first place, which came back with a vengeance as the static cleared, and once again asserted terror over her.

She pushed herself back up onto her feet, only to scream as pain shot up her right leg as she put her weight on it. She knew something hadn't been right when she'd tripped and fallen, and now she knew that it was her ankle twisting. That was seriously going to limit her ability to run, especially with it being her dominant leg that'd gotten injured. The best she could do was limp along, bracing herself against the wall for support as she hopped along on her good leg, all the while trying to keep her balance and not fall over again. And if that didn't work she'd crawl on her hands and knees to get away from that horrendous breathing!

Unfortunately she didn't get far before realizing that she'd picked the wrong damn direction to travel, as bumped into something that was in her path, and nearly toppled over again from the impact. And from the grunt that came from it, it was reasonable to conclude that it wasn't any decoration. Escape from such a close proximity was pretty much impossible, so she opted to go down swinging rather than whimpering. Flight was kicked to the sidelines like a deadbeat renter as fight was engaged, and she started swinging her fists wildly, landing at least one good solid hit on whatever was in her path, and earning a grunt for her efforts. Several glancing blows followed, but this was short lived as she found herself being grabbed from behind and pulled away, motivating her to struggle harder.

"Lemme go, lemme go!" she shrieked, desperately clawing at what had her as she squirmed about, and desperately wished she didn't keep her fingernails so neatly trimmed and short.

"Shady! Shady, calm down! It's alright!"

"My goodness! What's gotten into her?"

Voices! Actual speaking voices! Somebody was talking to her; two somebodies actually, who were addressing her by name! That was enough to take the wind out of her sails. And as she was calming down, she was starting to realize that a couple of breasts were currently being squished against her back.

"Who's that? Who's there? Which boobs are these?" she asked.

"They're mine, silly," the voice behind her replied with a giggle. "Don't you recognize them?"

That voice... it was Rinky Dink's sister; Champy was the one holding her from behind. Almost immediately at realizing she wasn't actually in danger, she finally allowed her defenses to lower as she relaxed considerably, just about slumping against the older girl. Champy's body was a stark contrast to everything else she'd been experiencing in the halls since leaving the gymnasium; she was real, she was friendly, she was warm, she was comfy. It was all too much for her to continue remaining on high alert while leaning against.

The things haunting the hallways and stalking her, those weren't, and hadn't been real. Champy, however, was quite real, and here with her right now. She'd been trying to find her way to safety, but safety had come and found her instead. As frazzled as she felt, that was enough to just take all the fight right out of her.

"Now that that's been taken care of, perhaps we could get some answers?" a second voice asked. She recognized this voice as belonging to Clockwork. "If I'm going to be on the receiving end of a beating, I'd like to at least know why."

At hearing this she tried several times to give a response, only to find that the chemical dumps in her system had left her less than eloquent, and unable to properly explain what she'd gone through.

"I thought I ran into Slenderman," she finally managed to get out in justification of her actions. "I heard weird noises in the hallway, and I was covered in spider webs and I... I...” she tried to explain, but simply couldn't articulate what she'd gone through. "I didn't beat you up too hard, did I?"

"For someone of your size and age, you can hit surprisingly hard," Clockwork commented, not directly answering the question he'd been presented. "Let's just get back to the gymnasium. This hallway has an unsettling atmosphere about it."

"Right," she agreed quickly, only to yelp in pain as she felt the pain in her ankle as she put her weight on it once again. And without having her cane to put in its walking stick configuration, this was going to be very tricky.

"Oh dear. That looks like it's quite swollen," Clockwork commented, undoubtedly looking at her throbbing ankle as she stood like a goofy flamingo. "It's probably best if you don't put any weight on it."

"I don't really have much choice. I lost my cane somewhere back there when I got caught in the spider web," she replied, gesturing vaguely in the direction behind her. "I kinda need that to get anywhere."

"Actually, I think I've got an idea."

She didn't want to admit it, but that statement on Champy's part made her a bit uneasy. Rinky Dink's sister wasn't an idiot, but she had a... very unique outlook on things. She couldn't begin to imagine what was in mind for this particular situation.

What followed was Champy letting go of her -an act that nearly caused her to fall on the floor before she regained her balance- before moving around in front of her, taking hold of her hands as she knelt down, and then puling her forward as she gripped her thighs and hoisted her up onto her back for a piggyback ride! It was completely unexpected... but not exactly unwanted.

"There you go. Now you don't have to walk," Champy stated pride evident in her voice as she spoke.

"Well that would certainly do the trick," Clockwork commented. "I'll catch up with you two; I'm going to see if I can find where she dropped her cane."

"Thanks, Clockwork, I appreciate that," Shady replied as she settled in on Champy's back for the return trip to the gym.

"Alright, let's get you back and get that ankle looked at," Champy stated as she readjusted her hold in order to better carry her.

Shady simply nodded in response, not up to offering anything else as she was carried. She'd been through way, way too much to be eloquent right now. All she wanted to do was get back to the gym, get her ankles looked at, and maybe finally turn in and get some rest. Even her snark and sarcasm was drained dry right now, leaving her nothing as she slouched against Champy's back for the ride.

"Um, Shady, those aren't my shoulders," Champy spoke up, her voice squeaking in the process.

"They're more comfortable to hang onto though," Shady replied.

"Shady..." Champy repeated.

Shady sighed in response as she relented, repositioning her hands up on Champy's shoulders. She knew that tone, and she knew that it meant business when it was used. "Spoilsport," she muttered unhappily. But she knew that trying to fight the issue simply wasn't worth it.

"Just because the girls are out and about, doesn't mean they want to be played with," Champy giggled.

Shady merely grunted as she once again settled in for the ride back to the gym, grateful for the fact that she didn't have to walk. Even without her ankle being an issue, she was emotionally exhausted from the psychological roller coaster ride she'd been on. She couldn't remember the last time she'd ever been that terrified before, and she didn't particularly care for ever experiencing it again. This had certainly been quite the eye opener for her. She had to address the fact that she wasn't the unshakable badass she thought she was.

Right now, however, she didn't care about all that. Right now all she wanted was to get back to the gym, get her ankle looked at by the staff on duty for stuff like this, get herself settled in for the night, and if she was lucky, maybe actually get some sleep. She'd be able to better sort these matters out in the morning at breakfast when she was more awake and able to think clearly.

Charlie_K

The following is a first person perspective by the Author’s character Poe. This is the only situation where it happens do not be alarmed.

Why do I refuse to wear clothes, you ask? It is not madness nor the dare. I assure you, my current undressed state is for survival and heaven forfend I should wear anything until dawn’s first light. Oh yes, a dare was involved. Make no mistake. A silly dare really -- among friends -- to spend one night naked at our high school until sunrise. Good friends, mind you. Still, it was a dare and I believe a good dare among good friends is a dare you can take any day. Was I foolish in taking the dare? No. How was I, or anyone, you understand, to know the horror that lay behind it? Predicting the future, that is madness. Listen to my story and you will understand why my nudity is vital for my continued survival.

It’s not that I want to be naked, I’m not a nudist, at least, I don’t believe I am, and if I thought it safe to slip on a pair of shorts or pull down a shirt, I would do so with gleeful abandon. Wash from your minds that this dare keeps me from doing so now. No, not the dare, even though the sun is close, I would gladly forfeit. Nudity, for me, has always been something forbidden. Something to be seen as wrong or uncivilized. That is not to say I was steadfast against nudity before the dare or I wouldn’t have entertained the thought. After taking the dare I even practiced being naked. It started in my room. I was careful -- oh so careful in my plans. I always made sure I was alone before getting undressed. How I feared someone would walk in unexpectedly. I always left a change of clothes close at hand, just in case. With all prepared, I spent the first session sitting still until I grew bored. Slowly, ever so slowly during the following days, I increased my activities. I watched television, my body coiled like a spring ready to jump at the slightest hint somebody was coming. Then, and I will admit this to no one else, I found being nude added a pleasantness to doing homework. Even my friends, who never let me forget the dare, eventually learned of, then assisted, with my practice. They suggested, and then insisted, I go nude around them. It was awkward and we had a good laugh, but the novelty quickly wore off and not only did we become comfortable with it but soon it was my custom, habit, and even, routine. Finally, I stayed nude for a sleepover. I must remind you that I still have every intention to return to a textile-based existence, but after the sleepover I was tempted to forget it. Whatever my end decision I felt myself as fully prepared as I could be.

Despite my growing confidence and comfort with being nude, fear plucked my nerves as my friends and I walked to the school. We were within view of the solemn and deserted building when the plucking turned to strumming. The building appeared more oppressive and foreboding than I had remembered. I was only in attendance a few hours before but in that time an inexplicable change had befallen it. The trees rustled their leaves at me as if in warning not to approach, the blank windows of empty classrooms told of the nothingness that waited. The bare parking lot was devoid of any signs that life was inside. As the building crawled closer its shadow reached for me. Oh how I wish I would’ve heeded those warnings and turned back, yet I stilled the strumming before it could grow into a cacophony. I had prepared for this; it was simple nudity for one night. I was feeling a spot of stage fright. I could go through with it. I could combat this fear as I did my fear of nudity. I reminded myself that it was the same building, the same trees I had seen before, their rustling was the wind, the shadows from the setting sun, and I had been there when classes let out. All natural occurrences easily explained to a settled mind. No, that was not it. Something still picked at me. Inside the building, I knew something lurked that not even clothes could protect me from.

My friends sensed this change as well and offered me a way out, but one doesn’t let a dare go based on mere nerves and superstition. How could I live it down? In a show of empty bravado, I stripped my clothing at the entrance, neatly folded them and handed them to a nearby friend with instructions to return them in the morning. I even smiled and waved to them as they walked away. To prove my resolve I didn’t walk to the front doors until they had turned the corner and were out of sight. The shock of what I had done hit me as soon as I touched the cold metal handles of the front doors. A dozen thoughts of how idiotic, how wrong, how much trouble I could be in, and even how to reverse my decision, flooded my mind. One night nude in my high school? What madness? How idiotic and foolish! One thing I should mention, because it came to me at that moment, was that I would not, in fact, be alone. I have, until now, withheld the information that this dare was connected to a school function for fear it would expose the innocent to unfair review, for they, in no way, could have had any knowledge of the terror their horror themed soiree would subject me to. Remembering there was a party, and possible safety, I was able calm myself again. The quickest way to end this would be through the front doors and to find the party. Resigned to my fate, I pulled on the heavy metal handle. To my surprise, it opened quite easily. I had expected it to be locked, but open it did. Moving quickly, I slid inside and an inky blackness and utter silence engulfed me. So quickly had I been transported from light to darkness I momentarily forgot all and jerked in surprise as a resounding boom echoed through the entrance hall as the front door closed? I whirled around, my hands fumbling for the push bar, my fingers finding it, quickly clasped it, and I pushed, but it wouldn’t budge. Somehow the force of its closing had clicked the heretofore defunct lock into place. With dread I realized there was no turning back.

As the echo faded a laughing and cackling rose, jeers and cheers clashed with screams of accusation all aimed at my nakedness. Some of the ghastly voices raced down the hall calling for others to see my naked state while more were close enough to whisper in my ear taunts of how much trouble I’d be in. I couldn’t see anyone in the black pitch but it sounded like dozens surrounded me. The door was hopeless as an escape so I ran. I ran without knowing where I was running to or caring where I ended up, so long as I escaped the voices and didn’t get caught. My new goal was to find clothes. Every fiber of my being was calling out for them as my bare feet raced over the cold hard floor. I cursed those who planned the party, my friends for tempting me, and, most of all, myself. Exhausted and humiliated, I slumped against a locker and crumpled to the floor, hugging my knees as tears fell from my eyes and weariness consumed me.

So lost in my sorrow and berating myself, I didn’t notice that the laughing had stopped until I heard the unmistakable slap of sneaker against laminate floor. Someone had caught me or was about to as it sounded far off. My tormentors come to continue what they started or saviors bringing clothing, I cared not. I looked up and saw a lone figure slouched at end of the dimly lit hallway. It’s presence chilled me for reasons I could not put into words. Their clothes looked familiar and I tried to recall the classmate I’d seem them on, yet I couldn’t remember or see who wore them.

They were dressed in a simple tee with a hoodie pulled up, in the dim light, I couldn’t see a face. Below that, they wore jeans that bunched up and spilled over a worn pair of sneakers. I called out to them as I got up, but heard no reply. Drying my eyes and fighting back my tiredness, I again ignored the warnings my brain was sending. Instead, I tried to look as dignant as I could and focused on getting dressed. I was done with the dare, nakedness, this night, and if they offered me a way out, I’d take it. As I got closer, the more naked I felt, which I should’ve realized was odd since I had never felt that way around my clothed friends even during those first few minutes of nudity. Was it the school? The feeling nagged at me while at the same time they were in conflict with my yearn to feel clothes wrap around my body, to feel their warmth, their security, their welcome embrace. Before my first word of greeting was fully formed, I saw whom, or I should say what I was greeting. A paralyzing chill gripped me. The clothing had no body. That is to say, no body wore the clothing. I finally saw what my longing gaze had not seen: the fabric of the shirt hung lopsided in a crude parody of how a person normally wore it, the pants were slouched because they lacked the structure of skin, bone and muscle to properly hold them up, and the shoes were untied because there were no hands to tie them.

A cold sweat broke over my body, my will to wear those clothes faded slower than my drowsiness which had vanished and was replaced by a heightened sense of awareness and alarm. Regaining myself, I moved back slowly. As I did, and this vision will never leave me, it’s empty sleeves raised. Lacking the support it would normally have, the arm slumped in the wrong places and finally completely collapsed as the thing stumbled and lurched forward. I felt the hair on the back of my neck rise as it got closer and then I could make out a moan, if that’s what it could be called: “. . . Body. I need a body!”

Horrid thing be gone! I ran. No longer did I feel the need for bodily cover. I could care less if the whole school saw me naked as I imagined that vile fabric wriggling and writhing over my body, slowly compressing me, devouring me, till there was nothing left. I needed to find a place to hide. Turning down more hallways, I followed the maze of walls and lockers. Lockers that started to slam and bang as I past them, alerting that thing to where I was. I saw the open door of a classroom and ducked inside. I moved under a window and peered through it into the hallway. The lockers stopped their banging and silence was once again my companion, but I knew it was out there. Faintly, I could hear the slap, slap, slap of those empty shoes grow near. They had a slow, lopsided step to them that only added to its unnaturalness. I felt a new fear as those steps were joined by others. I didn’t want to think, to conceive, to know that there could be more. I ducked back down. Please say it wasn’t so.

The steps grew closer until they were just beyond the door. The door I had forgot to shut in my haste! How could I have overlooked it? They would see where I was once they entered. Again I felt the clothing’s tug to stay where I was, for let them find me, to clothe me. I could feel their threads slide over my body and shuddered in revulsion. I looked around and saw the teacher’s desk, as quietly as I could; I crawled over the cool linoleum floor and hid in the foot well. I settled in just as I heard the shoes stop at the threshold of the door. Then I heard them enter.

I held my breath. My heart beat rapidly. It’s thumping growing louder in my ears with each passing moment. Until I couldn’t take it anymore. Fearful they would hear my exhale, I tried to let out my breath as smoothly and silently as possible, but at that moment a scream echoed from outside the door. There was a shuffling of shoes as what appeared to be more than one of those things scrambled to leave. In moments the screaming was muffled and then snuffed out.

I was no longer in control of my breath and it took many precious moments for me to bring it back down. I crawled to the doorway and listened for any signs of their return, of hope that the one who screamed had escaped or that more people were out there and I would be found. I knew my best hope was still to find the party, if such a party actually existed. And while it might be said that continuing my original search could be a sign of insanity, I know it was not as insane as staying where I was in vain hope for help to find me. Who else besides those things knew I was here?

I stepped from the doorway expecting the banging of lockers to start again, but not one sounded. I took another step, barefoot, gently applying pressure to the floor as I inched forward. With bated breath I continued to walk on tiptoe away from where the clothes and scream had come from. Did I think of helping the victim? Yes, how could I not? But what was I to do? I had no defense, no weapon; I had no way of knowing what could stop them? If I survived the night, and I would -- I would -- I would tell others about what happened. I couldn’t lose my focus. I took more steps. I was momentarily reminded of sneaking nude through my house while my parents slept. How safe I had been, I realized. I suddenly pictured myself nude with my family as we watched television together and shared meals. It was a strange thought. Who would go nude in front of their parents? Yet I couldn’t completely dismiss the image as I slowly crept down the hallway.

I turned the corner of an L-shaped hallway and was greeted by a dead end. I looked back down the long, narrow, hallway I had just walked and realized I didn’t recognize it at all, had never been down it in all my time at this school, or even have the faintest clue of where I was in the building. As far as I knew, there were no dead ends in the school. Yes, someone could get lost by endlessly traveling in circles, but there were no dead ends and certainly no hallways that ended like this. I studied the abnormality and wondered what it could mean. Before I could apply my mind to the problem I heard a familiar, bone chilling, slap. Then the realization of my situation hit me. I was at the end.

Had I been led to this place or was it out of my own confusion, I will never know. I could see the clothing now. I watched its slumped mass come nearer, its features skewing into an even more grotesque visage than before. It seemed to spill over itself as its rolls of fabric lunged towards me. I backed up, but where could I go? I ran down what little hallway I had left until I reached the wall. I pressed and pushed at that unforgiving wall for what felt like hours. I pounded and pleaded. I kicked it with my bare feet. Finally, I sat down and cried. I cried in the name of defeat, of exhaustion, the pain in my foot, of anger for the place I was in, and for the clothing that had won. I looked up and glared at the approaching outfit with rage.

As I did, I finally realized where I had seen them before, that set of clothing had been in my closet, my laundry hamper, in the hands of my friends this very night, and it was my clothing! The clothing that I had given up and so cavalierly handed over. How could I have not recognized them before? Now they had come back to claim me. To remind me that I would always put them on. That there was no escape.

What could I do? Wait for it to end? Let them come to wrap me up in their embrace of cotton, wool, polyester or blends that I could never, would never, escape. I don’t know how I knew it, but I did as certain as if I had learned it in these classrooms. I shouted at it to cover me in its synthetics and natural fibers. I ranted, I raved, and I screamed about how great it felt in past week when I had been nude at home and with friends and how I didn’t want it to end. The words came out so fast I couldn’t stop them. I don’t even know where they had come from but once they were out I knew I didn't want to get them back. I realized I had enjoyed my nude time and didn’t want it to end, but it would end as soon as they got me. I made up my mind. If the clothing wanted me, it would have to come for me and even if I had to wear them, I would still be nude underneath. They got closer.

I looked at my clothes again with new resolve and their image shifted. As I continued to look the more I saw them for what they really were, another trap, another illusion, and another deception. They were not my clothing at all. Those were not my pants, my shirt, and my shoes. A new wave of resistance swept over me and I crawled backwards bumping up against the wall. I felt my back grow cool against the stonework that shouldn’t be there and stood. I alternated from staring them down in defiance to looking away. At length there was barely an inch separating us. I could smell their stale and musty fibers; feel them brush the hair of my chest as it seemed to swell outwards having finally reached its goal. I could feel my will crumbling even as I struggled to press myself more into the wall. Anything to prevent being fused with this textile horror. I let out a final scream of despair and closed my eyes waiting for the final embrace.

I became aware of a discordant hum of human voices. A loud yell and a bang that sounded like metal on concrete. It was followed by the patter of what I realized were many bare feet on a hard smooth floor. The set of clothing, pressed in on me so closely I felt like my skin was burning, crumpled to a heap. Lifeless as they ever had been and as they were always meant to be. Bare arms caught me from collapsing myself and hoisted me up. Skin pressed against skin as I felt myself brought into a human hug. I vaguely realized they were nude like me. Had they come from the party? The clothing had lost! We trampled the fabric remains as they helped me down the hallway.

Clickety_Clack

Rule number one; don't ever enter the elevator of a haunted place! Nightingale thought to herself.

Then again she didn't really have that much of a choice. Being confined to a wheelchair since birth had some disadvantages though Nightingale would never admit it. However tonight might just be one of those nights. Nightingale wasn't born into a nudist family or a nudist lifestyle, but after coming to one nudist party during the final days of school she was hooked. It was interesting at first, especially feeling her bare bum on the wheelchair, but since then she's hooked. Especially with all the friends she met at the first party.

Though tonight, she was desperately questioning her reason for coming. A Nudist Slumber party sounded awesome, and she even packed a sleeping blanket and pillow for the occasion. But when she heard it was going to be a haunted theme, that’s when Nightingale panicked. Even with her deductive reasoning, she was still terrified of things that go bump in the night. And this night was no exception. She was so scared she even tied her sleeping blanket and pillow to her wheelchair so that she could find a safe place to hide and sleep.

The doors to the elevator slid open revealing a dark and cold hallway before her. Tentatively Nightingale slowly wheeled herself out into the corridor. Instantly she was met with a chilling brush of air that made her shiver. Usually these cold bursts wouldn’t affect her, but this time she was naked and her bare skin was getting the full effect. The hair on her jet black skin stood up right as she rolled into the hallway, franticly looking around for anything that can go boo.

Her movements were so erratic that she messed up her perfectly kept green hair with black stripes. When she finally was sure nothing would scare her, she checked on her hair and reorganized it. Now calmer, she took a look around. Whoever had set up the décor for the party needed to be congratulated on a spectacular job: false cobwebs hung from the ceiling, the lockers were covered with a gentle mist of reflective glitter that made them look creepy and ghostly, and best of all only the dimmest of lights were up emerging anyone in the hallway in bluish darkness. Furthermore speakers were playing ambient sounds that were ominous and foreboding, which gave everything a very terrorizing feel.

Nightingale was so immersed within the world that she swore she could see her own breath despite it being nowhere near cold enough. Questioningly, Nightingale rolled on looking for any friendly faces and/or places to hide. So far in her travels she had run into two phantoms and four students in dress up. And out of those six encounters the phantoms were far more convincing.

Then, in the distance, Nightingale saw a silhouetted figure walking oddly through the hall in front of her. At first it moved to her left as if feeling around for something before pausing and then swinging to the right. Nightingale slowly wheeled back, unsure of what exactly was going on before her. Then the figure paused again, this time it seemed to look in her general direction. It seemed a person but with an oddly shaped head that didn’t stand upright but was sort of hunched over in an odd state. Almost instantly the creature lunged forward towards Nightingale. Suddenly frozen with fear, Nightingale could do little against this on coming terror.

But then the creature came into light, revealing Nightingale’s absent minded friend Clear. With normally short but messy fiery-red hair that was collarbone length and a slightly lighter shade of red skin, yet a sea-blue left eye and an orange right eye, Clear’s features were definitely unique in this pastel world. Clear’s real name was unknown to Nightingale, as the nickname she was ironically given seemed to stick better. Yet the duo met at Nightingale’s first party and were friends ever since, even if Clear was very scatterbrained.

However the weirdest thing about Clear was her outfit: a Marshmallow hat with marshmallow gloves on her hands. She had a mischievous look on her face as she moaned and groaned at Nightingale like a ghost.

Catching her breath however Nightingale was having none of it, “Clear!”

“Boo!” Clear responded.

“Clear for goddess sakes you scared the piss out of me what were you doing?” Nightingale pressed.

“Spooky huh…um…you…you…”Clear stammered.

“Nightingale Clear, we met last time?” Nightingale reminded.

“Nightie hello what are you doing here?” Clear cheered.

Nightingale was shocked but quickly recoiled herself, “Clear, we’re at the Nudist themed horror party.”

“This is a nudist party? Wait why you are nude?” Clear asked, “Why am I nude?!”

“Clear focus please!!!” Nightingale shrieked.

“Oh I love guessing games.” Clear giggled.

“Would you please dearie?” Nightingale whimpered.

Clear seemed to straighten out and looked upon Nightingale with a warm smile, “Aww Nightie is everything okay?”

“No it is not. I am scared out of my wits and why are you dressed up like a marshmallow?” Nightingale asked, remembering Clear’s “Outfit.”

“Oh do you like, it’s my ghost costume.” Clear said posing for Nightingale, “Spooky right?”

“Clear that is a marshmallow.” Nightingale commented, trying to not listen to the ambient noises around her.

Try as she might, she clearly couldn’t get over the fact that she was still disturbed by the sounds around her. When she first entered the hallway the distant screams and moans were all she could hear. Now it was the sound of chains rattling in the distance and that chilled the poor girl to the bone. And as she looked at Clear, Nightingale realized that the sounds were affecting her too.

“Clear,” Nightingale asked, “Are you okay?”

Clear shushed her, “Do you hear that?”

“Yes I do Clear, those chains.” Nightingale whimpered.

“No, no, no, do you hear that?” Clear asked again.

At first Nightingale wasn’t sure what she was listening for. But then she heard it, a low grumbling noise like a monster creeping up from behind. Both Nightingale and Clear looked in the noises general direction but saw nothing. Cold sweat ran down their naked bodies, making the girls shiver.

Suddenly Clear wrapped herself around Nightingale, holding her tightly. Nightingale was shocked by Clear’s suddenly clinginess, as she had never been in close contact with a girl before let alone a naked one. Momentarily her fear was displaced as she felt Clear’s warm skin brush up against her own. It was soothing and comforting despite the fact they were both naked.

Nightingale turned her head towards Clear, who was cowering like a child. Quickly she wrapped her arms around Clear and held her close while trying to not be frightened herself. As she rubbed Clear’s back a thought came into her mind, did she like Clear? Obviously her friendship with Clear was established and Clear did look beautiful, but was Nightingale attracted? She had never pondered her orientation ever, then again what was Clear’s orientation? Did she have one? What if she was gay would this be sending the wrong signals? What if Nightingale was actually gay herself?

Then all that thought process came to a crashing halt, when the noise stopped. A deathly silence took over the hall way, piercing in its quiet and terrorizing to the girls. Clear picked her head up from Nightingale and looked around.

“Is it gone?” she asked.

“I don’t know.” Nightingale responded.

The two were now hyper aware of each other’s breaths and heart rates. Clear looked at Nightingale and Nightingale looked back. Nightingale could see the confused fear within Clear’s heterochromia eyes and while Nightingale was trying to be reassuring, it just wasn’t working. Taking a deep breath, Nightingale tried to recoup.

Then a thunderous bang echoed through the halls. It was as if every locker suddenly swung open and then slammed shut all at once. Both nude girls panicked and screamed clutching each other tightly. When the noise came again Clear let go of Nightingale, leapt over the wheelchair, and then started pushing Nightingale at breakneck speeds down the hall.

Both girls were shrieking like banshees as the banging seemed to follow them, passing cobwebs and thick fog as they ran. Suddenly Nightingale saw an open class room.

“CLEAR THERE!” Nightingale screamed.

“WHERE?” Clear shouted back.

Nightingale lunged towards the room, “THERE!!”

Clear spun right and the duo dived into the room. Once they were inside fear took over Nightingale as she threw herself from her wheelchair and started crawling to the other side of the classroom under the desks. In that moment she lost sight of Clear.

She looked around, eyes dancing in the darkness trying to find her friend but she wasn’t in sight. Nightingale’s mind raced as she tried to figure out what happened was Clear caught by a monster or was she simply barricading the door. The banging came again, this time by the screams of a spook in the hallway. Nightingale covered her ears and tried to mask the sounds with screams of her own. Her eyes closed as she panicked there on the floor.

This was the worst situation she could be in, trapped in a classroom, away from her wheelchair, and worst with no support. Finding the classroom wall, Nightingale wanted to hide in the darkness. Suddenly everything went quiet again. Keeping her eyes sealed shut, Nightingale then heard soft footsteps walking her way. Her heart thumped as they got closer and closer and closer.

“No! No stay away!” Nightingale panicked.

Suddenly a hand found its way onto her hip. Nightingale shrieked, as did another person within the room.

“I’m sorry! I didn’t see you there! I was just so scared!” Clear whimpered, “I don’t know what’s going on!”

Nightingale’s eyes shot open. There standing before her was Clear, panicked and without her costume, but there.

“Clear!” Nightingale screamed as she lunged over as far as she could to grab her friend.

Clear, seeing Nightingale’s predicament, knelt down and embraced her friend, “Oh Nightie you’re here. Are you okay?”

Nightingale began crying into Clear’s shoulder as she held on, “I thought you were gone.”

“Nah I didn’t leave, I was just guarding the door in case any of those monsters came in. Besides did you know we’re in Time Turners old class room?” Clear asked.

“I guess we are.” Nightingale said, calming down a little. It was good to hold onto Clear again even with Nightingale not sure if she was attracted or not. Soon enough her brain relaxed and she began to acutely listen to the sounds around her. At that point she ascertained the origin of the noise.

“Oh my goddess,” Nightingale said beginning to laugh, “They’re speakers!”

“I don’t get it?” Clear asked tilting her head.

“The sounds we’ve been hearing, they’re from the speakers the CMC set up around the school.” Nightingale laughed now feeling more relaxed.

“Oh that makes sense, I think. Why would they do that?” Clear asked.

Nightingale leaned back and looked into Clear’s eyes, “You know you’re lucky you’re adorable.”

“I am?” Clear said brightening up.

Nightingale nods, pangs of sleepiness beginning to hold her. She yawns, “Well I think I found my place to camp out tonight. Clear can you…?”

But Clear was already on it, letting go of Nightingale and walking over to the wheelchair. She unhooked the blanket and pillow and brought it over to Nightingale. Quick as a flash Clear got the area set up and Nightingale tucked in. Laying her head down on the pillow Nightingale looked up at Clear who seemed slightly upset.

“Clear did you bring a sleeping bag?” Nightingale asked.

Clear shook her head no.

Nightingale then smiled and lifted her blanket, “You can stay with me then.”

“R…Really?” Clear asked to which Nightingale nodded. Clear beamed as she crawled in right next to Nightingale, pressing her body against hers, “Thanks Ham.”

“Ham?” Nightingale asked with a grin, “Fine I’ll take it.” Then she lay there feeling an interesting feeling. Clear was against her there was no question about that, snuggled up like a bug in a rug. Yet Nightingale felt slightly uneasy, as her naked body was pressed against another’s.

Yet she wasn’t uneasy because it felt gross or discomforting, but that it felt good. And even better since it was Clear’s. Was Nightingale gay, and falling in love with Clear? The two had been through a scary encounter no questions asked, but was that fear now turning to love. And if Nightingale was feeling these feelings, was Clear?

Nightingale decided to test the waters, “Clear?”

Clear opened her eyes and looked at Nightingale, “Yes?”

Without saying another word, Nightingale pressed her lips onto Clear’s. At first Clear didn’t respond but then she kissed back. The two lip locked for a moment, a wave of passion and enjoyment sweeping through Nightingale before she pulled back.

Clear’s cheeks were redder than ever as she looked at Nightingale, “Wha…what was that for?”

“For being with me tonight.” Nightingale responded with a smile.

“Oh, can I have another?” Clear asked.

Nightingale smiled and pulled Clear in for another. There was no doubt, she was in love. After they kissed, Nightingale rested her head against Clear’s and they both went soundly to sleep in each other’s arms.

Blake Skies

Marine Blue walked up to canterlot high as the sun was setting, she had shown up a little early but she was hoping to meet her friend Sketch Pad before they went inside.

“Hi Sketch! Glad I saw you before we got inside.”

“Hi Marine thanks for coming it’ll be nice to have someone I actually know here. You did hear me say this was a nudist party right? I mean I didn't even need to convince you.”

"Oh you know, I'm on the swim team, those swimsuits don't leave much to the imagination. Plus a locker room isn't exactly a private changing room.”

Secretly Marine loves to practice swimming laps naked at home whenever she was alone. The water felt amazing and not wearing a clingy swimsuit was always more comfortable.

“Huh, I guess that's true. Ready to go inside and put on something more comfortable hee hee.” He said with a big stupid grin.

“Oh har har.”

***

Marine was the last one in the girls changing room after she had talked with Sketch Pad longer than she thought.

As Marine approached her locker and began to undress she still felt a small amount of trepidation.

“Alright, this will be just like before a swim meet… except I won't be changing into my swimsuit… and there won't be any water to cover me… and there’ll be naked boys.” She couldn't help but grin at that last thought.

Just as she was almost finished undressing there was a loud bang from the locker next to hers. She tried to take a startled step backwards but tripped on the pants around her ankles and fell onto the bench behind her. She noticed that the door was unlocked so she decided to look inside, when she opened the door a cat jumped out and ran away.

“Aw poor Kitty, who would bring a cat to-” she looked at the name tag and saw the name Fluttershy. “Oh he must've fallen asleep in her backpack by accident, she's always surrounded by animals.”

***
Marine met Sketch Pad outside the dressing rooms. He only had remarkably detailed skull face paint, while she just had some shell jewelry, she wasn't sure how to dress like a mermaid and be a nudist at the same time.

“So what happens at these parties?”

“It's usually different and sometimes they have a special event like tonight. Plus I heard principal Luna has set up something special just for the straight A students, I thought you might want to check out.”

“Oh, like what?”

“Apparently Luna got the famous hypnotist Starswirl the moustached to hold a special event here.”

“What, like Starswirl the bearded, from the fairy tales?”

“No no, The moustached, very different. Although legend has it that it used to be part of an even greater moustache-goatee combination but he interrupted his wife's mahjong game so she r-r-ripped it off.”

“Why'd you roll your r when you said ripped?”

“That's how he tells it.”

“Oh.”

“Yeah, anyway here we are, wanna try it?”

“Sure! I’ve never been hypnotised before.

When they opened the door they were met with an almost overpowering smell of incense. Once inside they saw that all the desks in the classroom had been pushed against the back wall, and in the center of the room sat a man in a full ceremonial vestments, and one giant moustache no wonder he was called The moustached.

“Ah, another exemplary student.” Starswirl said with a grand gesture towards Marine Blue. “Please, lie down and make yourself comfortable,and I'll take you on a grand adventure through the power of hypnotism.”

Spread before Starswirl was an extravagant Saddle Arabian rug and several plump pillows.

Marine Blue cautiously approached and laid down on several of the pillows, as she did she felt a slight tingling sensation but she tried to ignore it and relax.

“Before we begin I must ask the young master to please step outside.”

“Aww, but I wanted to watch.” Sketch Pad said with audible disappointment.

“My sincerest apologies but we must have privacy.”

“Fine, but I'll be right outside.” He said the last part specifically to Marine as he stepped out the door.

“That is fine.” Once the door closed Starswirl began. “Now I want you to close your eyes and relax. I'm going to count backwards from ten and as I do you'll feel yourself falling asleep.”

“Ten...nine... eight…

***
Marine woke up in a dark empty room she sat up and looked around and saw she was in the same room.

“Hey Sketch, are you still out there!” Marine tentatively called out. “Anyone!... Moustache.”

After no response Marine got up and walked to the door, she cautiously opened the door and poked her head out only to see the hallway was dark and empty as well.

“Jeez, did they cancel the party after I fell asleep or something?”

Marine cautiously stepped out into the hallway to look for anybody. As she walked down the deserted hallways all she could hear was the soft slapping sound of her bare feet on the cold floor. Marine soon found herself in the main hall and noticed that even the nightmare night decorations were gone. Marine walked up to the main doors and when she tried to open them there wasn't any give to the handles at all.

“Oh great they locked me in too!” Marine shouted as she threw her arms up in frustration.

Marine walked over to one of the windows, it was pitch black except for a dark red glow on the horizon.

“Is that the sunrise? ...no the color seems wrong.”

Marine turned around to face the empty main hall and was suddenly very conscious of how naked she was, it normally felt comfortable and relaxing but now she felt vulnerable and exposed. It was then she remembered her locker with all her clothes and cellphone in it.

“Oh, once I get my phone I'm going to let Sketch Pad have it for leaving me here all alone.”

As Marine made her way to the locker room she began composing a tirade in her head.

***
Marine walked into the locker room and quickly found her locker, she saw her lock was gone in fact none of them had locks anymore. Although the lock was gone when Marine tried to open it the door refused to open, so she grabbed the handle with both hands placed one foot on the adjacent locker and gave a mighty pull. Finally the door swung open so suddenly Marine stumbled backwards and fell over a bench, she triumphantly jumped back onto her feet.

“Yes! Son of a b-”

Marine was dismayed to find the locker empty except for a small piece of paper, Marine picked up the small scrap and saw there was writing on the paper she squinted in the dim light to make out the message it simply said “If you see a woman don't look at her she isn't human.”

As soon as Marine finished reading the last word she heard the door to the locker room close behind her, she spun around her heart racing but no one was there and she was too scared to see who came in so she ran out of the room as quickly and quietly as she could. Once out in the hallway she was confused to see it was much longer than before and lit by a dim red light.

“What, where's that red light coming from? ...The same red as that light on the horizon. What is that light? I need to see it again.”

***
After wandering around the hallways in a daze Marine found herself in a classroom on the second floor, she stumbled up to the window and looked out. Off in the distance was a giant red cross glowing with an otherworldly red light, as Marine stared at the cross her ears began to ring and her vision started to fade until all she could see was the cross. Marine stared at the cross until she heard the door close behind her, she groggily turned around and there was a tall woman in a white dress standing by the door except her face was distorted somehow blurry and her eyes were black empty pits. Marine couldn't stop staring at the black pits where the things eyes were supposed to be, as Marine stared at the woman standing by the door without seeming to move the woman was suddenly towering over Marine. The woman slowly began to lean down her mouth opening her face inches from Marines.

***
Marine woke with a gasp still lying on the Saddle Arabian rug.

“What, where am I?” Marine asked while looking around.

“Relax, the adventure is over you are back where you belong.” Starswirl said.

“I'm back, what does that mean?”

“Nothing important, go rejoin your friend and enjoy the rest of the party.”

“...ok.” Marine said as she reached for door knob.

“You shouldn't have looked.” Starswirl said as Marine was leaving.

***
Later that night after everyone was asleep Marine was still wide awake in her sleeping bag next to Sketch Pad.

“Hey, Sketch are you awake?” Marine whispered.

“No.” Sketch Pad answered with a groggy voice.

“Can I sleep with you in your sleeping bag?” Marine asked nervously.

“Fine.” Sketch Pad was too tired to question it.

The sound of Sketch Pads sleeping bag unzipping could be heard in the darkness, Marine quickly scampered from her sleeping bag and into his. Even though the sleeping bag wasn't made for two and Marine could feel Sketch Pads entire body pressed against hers she felt safe being next to somebody again.

Doomguy666

Her plan was perfect. Lemon Zest had crafted a costume guaranteed to scare the living daylights out of anyone attending tonight's NLAC party. She had been planning this elaborate prank for months, down to the finest detail. Now that the biggest obstacle—getting into the school without being recognized—was out of the way, she could execute a scheme so devious, it would leave Rainbow Dash quivering in her boots (if she was wearing any).

When all eyes were off her, Lemon slipped into the janitor's closet to get into the spirit of things. Removing each piece of her Crystal Pep uniform, she slid out of her underwear, revealing a body that was entirely painted black - with the exception of her face. From her backpack, she pulled out a large paper mask that was carefully crafted into the shape of a raven's head. To complete her costume, she slipped over each arm a pair of long, prosthetic wings; smothered in a loose pattern of faux raven feathers that completed the look.

But what was truly ingenious about this costume lay underneath. For Lemon Zest, being a master technician came part and parcel with her love of Heavy Metal music. To give this costume a little extra oomph to its scaring power, Lemon had strung a series of wires through four specific points; all powered by a basic set of AA batteries. Four small buttons hidden in her palms would activate one function each: glowing eyes, fans to blow air around the wings, infrasonic speakers for intimidation, and a high-pitched screech for the ultimate jump scare. With all systems checked out green, she was ready to go.

After hiding her clothes within a small hole in the wall to prevent them from being stolen, Lemon threw open the door and lurched out. The fog machines dotted around the hall whirred at full capacity, filling the halls with the mist of dry ice to decrease visibility to a safe minimum: perfect conditions for a good scare. Now all Lemon had to do was get the drop on a few unsuspecting students and her night would be complete.

Her first fright went off like a charm. Two smaller kids—blond haired and looking barely old enough to even be in high school—walked directly into her path, nearly colliding with her in the process. Leaning over to glare down at the twins, one flash of her eyes was all it took to send them scampering off in the other direction, screaming their lungs out the whole time? The fact that these screams turned to giggles shortly thereafter didn’t bother Lemon in the slightest. It was just typical tween behavior: their mood swinging in a different direction every other minute.

Turning a corner, Lemon found herself coming face to face with her next victims; a pair of purple-skinned girls, with wild patches of hair plastered across their bodies. It was evident that they were attempting to re-create themselves as werewolves, though to Lemon it looked like they stopped half way. Despite this, their reaction was one hundred percent fitting with their choice of monster to imitate. Recoiling back in surprise, the wolf-girls dropped to their knees and arched their backs, snarling and swiping their 'paws' in an over-dramatic show of force.

Undeterred, Lemon retaliated by taking her own show of aggression to the next level. With a flick of her wrists, she fluffed out her wings to their maximum span, flapping them repeatedly in a short-sharp circular motion. This in conjunction with the power of the fans created a swirling vortex of fog; the perfect set up the almighty screech which followed. One look into crimson glow of the raven eyes, and the werewolves were off with their tails between their legs.

Cackling with laughter, Lemon switched off the fans before giving chase. If it wasn't for the fact that everyone was naked, she would have wished for a camera to capture the looks on the other party goer's faces. It's been so long since I had this much fun! Lemon thought to herself. Maybe I should try something like this for the next friendship games.

What wasn't so fun was how quickly she started to run out of breath. Evidently, the werewolf girls were far quicker on their feet than Lemon was. Ugh, guess I'd better hit the gym before then as well.

If anything was to help Lemon get her breath back quickly, a sudden boom of thunder was as good a solution as any. Leaping several feet forward, Lemon found her feet carrying herself around the next corner before she had a chance to compose herself. Geez, who scheduled a thunderstorm for tonight anyway? Checking over her electronics to ensure nothing was broken; Lemon breathed a sigh of relief before she continued on. She had a rough idea of the way to the club room, based on the initial entrance of the students.

Yet for the next several minutes, Lemon didn't encounter a single soul. In fact, now that she thought about it, the fact that she had only seen four students out of the entire party so far was strange in itself. Was the NLAC really that unpopular? The more she walked on, the more her stomach began to clench with a deep feeling of uneasiness. Something was wrong. She couldn't pinpoint exactly what, just some nebulous concept of things not being the way they were supposed to be.

As she brushed her arm against a door handle, Lemon felt a shiver through her body. Now she was getting suspicious. Had someone tampered with her infrasound somehow? Clicking the vibration buttons a few times, she confirmed that it made little difference to her churning gut. Okay, so Canterlot High figured out how to use infrasound, Lemon thought to herself, taking a few deep breaths to keep herself calm. Big deal. Once I find the club, I'm gonna ramp these speakers up to eleven and watch as even Rainbow Dash screams in terror!

Pushing herself onwards, Lemon could feel her heart thumping in her chest harder than the kick drums of Maretalica. As much as she tried to ignore it, her increased levels of perspiration weren’t making everything easy. She had known from day one that over-working herself could demonstrate the limits of her costume's ventilation. It was a risk she had considered worth taking, but now she was beginning to regret not making the air holes just that little bit bigger. Just as Lemon was about to move on, the sound of clanging footsteps started to echo through the halls. At last! More opportunities to scare!

Running towards the sound, Lemon pressed every button at once to get the maximum jump scare out of her upcoming victims. Yet as soon as she spread out her wings, everything started to go wrong. Nothing seemed to be working, and what was worse, the hallway lights were flickering on and off. That was the precise moment when the figures appeared; their naked bodies’ pure white in color with smoke streaming behind them. Heavy chains attached to their feet dragged behind them, undoubtedly the cause of the painful moans booming from the anguished faces.

Lemon tried her best to suppress a scream. In the back of her mind, she knew this would just be another costume. If only the primal part of her brain would recognize this as well, she could stop herself shaking and find a way to turn the scare back on these so-called ghosts. To compromise, Lemon gave in to her instincts and ran in the opposite direction as fast as her legs could carry her; stopping just short of the classroom door where things had started to go wrong. The window to the classroom was too fogged up to see inside, but Lemon still considered it a better option than facing down the ghosts unprepared.

Grabbing the handle, Lemon pushed down on it with her full weight, but it wouldn't budge. “Just my luck!” she yelled, her whole body starting to shake from panic. “That's the last time I rely on Sugarcoat for inside information!” Lemon slammed her shoulders into the door over and over, trying desperately to break in before anyone, or anything, else could catch up to her.

Unfortunately for Lemon, her situation was about to go from bad to worse, as she didn't anticipate something slamming on the other side of the door in response. Screaming, Lemon backed against the wall, frozen in fright as the things on the other side busted out from the classroom.

They too were vaguely human, but only in the most basic sense. Their bodies were covered in scales, their fingers and toes webbed to give them a distinctly fish-like appearance. But what made Lemon wrench the most were the pulsating gills on the side of their necks, oozing with slime that dripped across their entire bodies. Slime would soon is smothered all over her if Lemon didn't get out of here right now.

From this point on, Lemon completely cut lose all sense of rational thought. With fish people in front of her and ghosts creeping around the corner, she had to find the quickest way out. Her lungs still burning from exhaustion, Lemon charged off at full speed, retracing her steps as best as she could. But no matter how fast she ran, she couldn't seem to escape the creatures that had their sights set on her. Bursting from every room, more and more fish people started chasing after her. She hadn't the faintest clue why they desired to catch her so badly, nor did she care. All thoughts of her costume, the prank, or even recovering her hidden clothes were abandoned in favor of focusing her efforts to get out of this Tartarus-be-damned school.

After an indiscernible amount of time running, a ray of hope finally caught Lemon's eye. It was the flight of stairs that led down to the club room. From her previous visit, she remembered that there was a chute frequently used by Pinkie Pie to transfer treats and other confectioneries to the party goers. She knew that it would not be an easy climb, especially with an unknown number of students in the club room itself who would question what she was doing. But right now, she had little other choice.

Leaping down the stairs, Lemon burst through the double doors and through the lobby area, only for her delight to vanish the moment she saw what was on the other side. If the fish people were a horrifying sight, then Lemon didn't have a word to describe just how much fear she felt from what these club goers had become. Everyone turned to face her, their pupil-less eyes staring blankly at her, with splatters of blood and a bizarre, rainbow-colored substance around their mouths. Extending their arms out in front of them, every person in the club let out a unified moan, lurching towards Lemon as a single minded horde.

This was it. Lemon had nowhere left to run. With fish people behind her and zombies in front, she was doomed to whatever fate these monsters had in store for her. Backed into a corner, Lemon fell to her knees and shut her eyes tight, tucking herself into the fetal position as she waited for the end. When the first ice-cold hand of a zombie touched her skin, Lemon let out a scream louder than she had ever made before; pouring her heart and soul into her last, terrified breath.

“Cooookiiiies...”

It took several moments for Lemon to regain enough composure to be baffled by what one of the zombies had just said.

“Cooooookiiiiiiiiiiies!!!” the rest of the horde declared. Cracking open one eye, Lemon looked up to see Rainbow Dash standing above her, extending out her hand.

“Come on, Lemon,” Dash said. “Don't you want to try some zap-apple jam flavored cookies?”

Sitting up, Lemon stared at Dash in confusion. Most of the horde had returned to the snacks table, munching away at the aforementioned cookies, leaving Rainbow Dash and a few others encircled around her.

“I... w-what…?” Lemon stuttered, still struggling to process what was going on.

“Gotcha!” a delighted Rainbow Dash exclaimed, pointing at Lemon. “Now, are you gonna let me help you up, or what?”

“Rainbow Dash, don't you think you owe Lemon an explanation?” said Twilight, dusting off some of the flour that made up the majority of her ghost costume.

“I still want her to figure it out for herself.” Pushing past Twilight, Sugar Coat adjusted her classes and pushed her fake gills closed.

“Sugar Coat?” Lemon snapped, raising to her feet. “What is the meaning of this?! Are you responsible for ruining my biggest prank ever?”

“That is where you are mistaken,” Sugar replied in her usual deadpan manner. “This was never your prank to begin with. It was mine.”

Lemon pulled off her mask and stood with her mouth agape, twitching her right eye as she tried to figure out which of the many emotions fighting for space within her to express first. “I think you broke her, Sugar,” Rainbow Dash giggled. “And you said the prank wouldn't work.”

“Actually, it was you who said that the plan would fail.” Sugar retorted.

“I have to agree with Sugar,” Twilight added. “You did make a bet saying Lemon would never be scared by her own tech. Now you owe her ten bucks.”

“B-but, how?!” Lemon exclaimed, still struggling to comprehend what just happened. “And more importantly, why?! I had planned everything out in secret beforehand, Sugar. How could you betray me like this?!” Burying her face in her hands, lemon felt herself tearing up a little. “Ugh, I'm so embarrassed!”

“Hey-hey, don't be,” Dash said, placing her hand on Lemon's shoulder. “Your costume was freaking incredible! The only reason we pranked you is 'cause you didn't respond to any of Sugar Coat's messages urging you to talk to Sweetie Belle.”

“What has she got to do with all of this?!” Lemon snapped, still on the verge of crying.

“She has everything to do with this,” Sunset said, letting go of Twilight's hand as she made eye contact with Lemon. “She made sure that all pranks were to be organised around her, for the safety of everyone during tonight's events. You wouldn't listen, so we needed to teach you a lesson.”

“Woah there, Sunset,” Dash said as she stepped between the two girls. “Being a bit harsh there, aren't you? This was all supposed to be in good fun! No need to be so mean about it.”

Sunset took a deep breath. “Sorry, Dash. I guess I just have low expectations from students of Crystal Prep.”

“Well...” Lemon piped up, wiping the tears from her eyes. “I have to admit, it was a pretty incredible prank. I tip my mask to you all for pulling off something so big around me! I'm sorry I got too wrapped up in stuff to pay attention to the rules.”

“Hey, no biggie,” Dash said, offering out her open palm to Lemon. “I know what it's like to get carried away with a prank. Now what do you say we go talk to Sweetie Belle and sort out what other pranks we could pull for the rest of the night?”

“Now that is an amazing idea!” Grabbing Rainbow's hand for a vigorous shake, Lemon felt a renewed sense of excitement as a whole new series of prank ideas flashed through her mind. “But first, do ya think we could get my electronics sorted? I think Sugar must have done something to put them on the fritz.”

Sugar shook her head. “I can assure you, I didn't touch any part of your costume. Neither did anyone else, for that matter.”

“Huh, strange. I guess it must have been shoddy wiring after all.” Lemon shrugged her shoulders.

Meanwhile, further back in the halls of Canterlot high, a certain Pink Party Pony ripped open the dimensional fabric, popping out with a pair of pinking shears in her hooves. Turning to face the reader of this fan fiction, she proclaimed, “Ain't I a stinker?”

Mystic Mind

Author's Note

And with that night of the living frights is over. our next challenge will be up on the Nudist and Nudity Group page at the link provided or on my newest blog that'll come up right after this chapter comes up.
Link: https://www.fimfiction.net/group/206159/nudists-and-nudity/thread/329394/we-remember-it-so-you-can-too

Now as is required by law, let's all start Zombie dancing to Thriller!

Nūdisuto gakkō de matte iru

Everything is going to be alright. Everything is going to be alright.'

The was the mantra currently going through his mind on repeat, and currently it was only thing actually keeping him from succumbing to a massive anxiety attack right on the spot where he stood. Coming here had been a horribly bad idea on his part, he was quite certain of that fact now!

It was a basic fact of life -right up there with needing oxygen to survive- that high schools were host to a great multitude of rumors floating about at any given time. And at any given point in time, they could be had at the low rate of a dime a dozen, if not a dime a gross. CHS was no different in that respect.

The thing about rumors, however, was that if one paid the proper amount of attention to not only the message, but also the source from which it originated, a great deal of factual information could be garnered. It was all about separating fact from fiction, and knowing who to go to for verification. In this case, the one to go to was the information broker known simply as Dinky. Despite her young age, she was a wealth of information to those that managed to pass her evaluation process.

From this meeting he'd garnered what amounted to five pieces of critical, need-to-know information; CHS was indeed host to a secret naturist club being operated within its grounds. Weekly meetings were held every Friday night. There was absolutely no sex at the parties. Each party had its own unique theme to make things interesting. And last but not least, this week's theme was anime.

Addendum. Six pieces of information. The sixth piece of information was that the theme applied only to anime series that spanned no more than 50 episodes. This was apparently to avoid too many party goers attending as shinigami, shinobi, pirates, half-demons, and martial arts-crazy aliens with color-changing, gravity-defying hair. Horror and hentai were also out for obvious reasons. Creativity was the name of the game at this party, apparently.

Once the information had been gathered, however, there was the question of just what to actually do with it?

Informing the school staff was one option. Although that could go... poorly. If the club was operating on school grounds, either the staff was already aware of such, and had no qualms with how it was being operated. Or the staff was ignorant of such occurring, and if such was the case, why exactly should he speak up when other students weren't? It really wasn't his place to be doing such anyway; the student body at CHS could look after itself, and speak up if they didn't like something.

He knew intellectually that this was the bystander effect in full swing. But he just couldn't bring himself to be motivated to do anything about it.

A second option was simply doing nothing whatsoever. Knowing that this club physically existed didn't obligate him to take any particular course of action, either one way or the other. It was really no different than knowing just how many lockers the school had built into its structure; it was knowledge now possessed, but knowledge didn't require acting upon it.

A third option was to actually make use of this newfound knowledge. He could attend the party being hosted this upcoming Friday night, and see what it was like for himself. But it was an option that truly didn't bode well with him. Attending a nudist party -more than likely- would involve being nude himself for whatever was going on. The very thought of it sat uneasily with him; he didn't have anywhere near enough self confidence to consider taking such a course of action, leaving himself exposed to anyone and everyone that would be present.

But at the same time, CHS was host to a wide number of students, with a wide number of variants in body types. It was statistically unfeasible that he was the only one among them who might possess body image insecurity issues. What was the statistical probability that the only students attending these parties were those who were lean, tone, and popular? Not very good, that was more or less for certain. If that was the case, Dinky would've likely pointed this fact to him when he'd been inquiring about details. The girl was a social butterfly, interacting with numerous groups of individuals. She wouldn't associate with one group to the point of excluding all others, it simply wasn't in her nature.

He dared not inquire for further details, lest he give the wrong idea. The less contact had on this particular matter, the better it was. The more questions asked, the less plausible deniability there was. It would be a better course of action to just disregard the whole notion as being ludicrous.

But that was easier said than done. The fact the party's theme was anime had him... curious as to just how those attending it would be able to pull it off. Anime was, by its very nature, heavily defined by visuals and designs; designs like the clothing selected for the characters involved. But at this party, there wouldn't be any clothing, so how were they going to actually make the theme work?

That thought, perhaps more than any other thought, was what festered in his mind throughout the days leading up to. The more he pondered the matter, the more he found himself giving more consideration to the idea of actually going to the party, and seeing how the theme was met. Curiosity was wrestling with insecurity, and slowly but surely, curiosity was dominating the fear of being seen by everyone present. He could honestly visualize said insecurity being put into a half nelson by curiosity, all the while wondering how a series like "Azure Strike Gunvolt" could be done without costumes equipped with glowing lights. Or if "Blue Comet SPT Layzner" was obscure enough to not be considered. And if someone there could successfully pull off "Bodacious Space Pirates" in the buff then that would certainly be something to see.

Curiosity had eventually managed to win out in the end. Although it had hardly been in the fashion of a brutal K.O. that had fans cheering in the stands. Rather it was more of a win on a technicality, with both sides too exhausted to keep fighting any longer, and curiosity having been declared the winner purely because of collapsing on time of insecurity and pinning it to the mat.

Still, curiosity had technically won in the end, leading him to where he was right now; in the middle of this NLAC party and one wrong move away from freaking the fuck out! Coming here had been a horrible idea! What was he thinking, showing up for a nudist party!?

Taking a deep breath, he focused on steadying his nerves, and began running his mantra at double speed.

The plan had been simple enough on Thursday. Just show up at the designated meeting place, stay as close to the back of the amassed crowd of people as possible, and don't do anything to draw any attention to himself. Easier said than done, but it was still his plan on how to go about doing it.

There was the added bonus of his rearward position letting him see for himself that a wide variety of body shapes and sizes were present in tonight's crowd. That did a lot to help ease his initial concerns. If they could be at ease with the idea of strutting around in nothing but their skin, then surely he could be as well.

Then there was the matter of the theme for the night's party, and how it would allow him to pull this whole operation off. Costumes were out, but masks were fair game. His mask in this case, worn as soon as he'd gotten to the crowd, was one for an Optimus Prime costume. Not strictly anime, but there were at least eight "Transformers" series that were indeed anime, and one would be hard pressed to find one that didn't have an Optimus Prime-type figure included in the Autobot lineup, even if he did go by the name of Convoy instead.

Much to his surprise, Miss Cheerilee and Vice Principal Luna had been present to give all the new arrivals a speech pertaining to conduct and such. At seeing them, he was glad he hadn't pursued the first option, as it would've just made him look foolish. If such high ranked members of the school staff were actually present for this, and apparently had no problem with the club operating on school grounds, raising the issue of concern simply wouldn't have been the proper course of action to undertake.

Once the initial introductions and briefing had been made, it was time for the rubber to meet the road, as the crowd shuffled its way inside to the assigned and designated changing rooms. He'd been among the very, very last to actually get undressed in an effort to minimize interaction and recognition by anyone. He was doing his best to remain calm, but despite that his entire body more or less one big white knuckle throughout it all. Imaging your fellow classmates naked was one thing, but no level of such was enough to actually amount to preparation for when that became a reality. If not for the mask he currently wore to hide his face, he doubted that he could've even come this far. The urge to flee was so, so very strong right now, even trying to convey Optimus Prime was proving ineffective.

He just had to step out and join the others, that was all. Just mingle for a bit, and evaluate the matter from there. It was simple enough in theory, although actual practice was another matter. The only thing he really had going for him as a source of comfort was the fact that he'd be hard to recognize. His hair and skin tone were both common enough for him to appear nondescript, and the lack of anything like tattoos, birthmarks, or noteworthy scars just served to further allow him to occupy and blend into the background. Plausible deniability was good, it was very good.

Stepping outside and joining the others, it was nearly enough to send him running back to the changing room to get dressed, and get the fuck out of there! His heart was threatening to punch its way out of his rib cage like Ripley Scott's chestburster, as he experienced enough anxiety terror to make the possibility of unwittingly getting physically aroused a total nonissue. He was scared stiff to the point of not actually being able to get stiff in the first place.

'Everything is going to be alright. Everything is going to be alright,' he continually repeated to himself, although at a much faster speed now, to the point he was almost mentally stammering. Even he wasn't believing his own bullshit, but he still had to try regardless.

He looked around at the others mingling, trying to distract himself from the full scope of his situation. He tried focusing on individual details pertaining to the night's theme, rather than the people they were attached to. Props, prosthetics, and body paint were all in play tonight, but very little in the way of actual masks. The fact that he'd gone with a mask to hide his face meant he would likely draw more attention to himself, which was very bad.

The next thing to be noticed was everyone themselves. They were all mingling freely, regardless of how they looked, or what social clique they might belong to outside of these walls. He honestly didn't think something like that could happen, but it really was. Nerds and popular kids were interacting in a friendly, casual manner, that he'd simply never seen occur before. Was it really because of this club, and the removal of artificial barriers that made such interactions possible? Was that what drew everyone to these gatherings?

Looking around again at everyone present, he couldn't help but admire the others. They had far, far more self confidence, than he himself could ever hope to possess. For them, being nude was apparently no big thing. But for him, it was anything but that. Insecurity had returned in full force, more powerful than ever and was currently berating both him and curiosity at the same time for even coming here. And as much as he didn't want to admit it, insecurity was raising a lot of good points.

He'd been here a grand total of five minutes. But in his current state, it felt like an interminable number of hours slowly crawling on by. His entire body was so tense, if someone had shoved a piece of coal up his ass, it'd be a diamond in less than two weeks. That was assuming they could actually get the coal up there to begin with. He was tense enough that somebody wouldn't be able to drag a needle out of his butt with a bulldozer. He could-

And this his mental track just stopped. The argument between insecurity and curiosity ground to a screeching halt as something caught his eye, although he wasn't entirely sure what he was seeing. He very nearly took off his mask, just to make sure he was seeing what he thought he was seeing, and that it wasn't something that'd gotten in his line of sight.

He didn't know where they'd gotten it, but one of the girls present for the party was actually carrying around a "Medarot" plushie. More specifically it was a life-sized "Medarot" plushie of Brass in her blue and ivory sailor fuku getup. He was more of a Peppercat fan himself as far as that series went, but even he would admit that was still pretty cute. Although he was pretty sure that even Brass would object to being carried around like she was currently, as it was hardly a comfortable looking position.

All of the sudden, without even realizing it, he'd made a very important discovery. He'd actually calmed down. He hadn't a clue how it'd actually happened, but he suddenly became aware of a lack of overwhelming tension in his body. He almost laughed at this discovery. He'd gone from white knuckling to mellowing out, all because of some girl carrying a plush robot tucked under her arm? It was... all kind of funny, really.

But his sudden relaxed state came to a crashing end as something else entered his line of sight. A blue-skinned girl with white hair was suddenly in very close proximity to him, looking right at him with a smile in her face, as she stood there with fake cat ears on her head, a tail/belt around her waist, and a big brass jingle bell hanging around her neck.

It was definitely an "Asobi ni Iku yo!" reference, but the sudden appearance of the girl had nearly made him jump out of his skin in surprise. The fact he hadn't screamed had been nothing less than a small miracle in itself. But he didn't really have time to contemplate that, as he was struggling to get his breathing under control again.

Despite his terror, the blue girl continued smiling all friendly like, and waved at him in an equally friendly manner. More out of ingrained behavior rather than conscious thought, he nervously waved back to her. that just seemed to make her smile more, as she began making various gestures with her hands. It took him a minute to figure out that it wasn't gestures, but rather sign language. He at least recognized it overall, but he didn't understand a word she was saying. Figuratively speaking of course.

His puzzlement must've been brutally apparent even through his mask, because she stopped in mid-sign to look at him curiously. A few more gestures were made that he didn't understand, before she turned around, put two fingers between her lips, and proceeded to whistle loudly. It sounded like some variation on the old "shave and a haircut" tune, but he wasn't sure. Nor was he sure what all that was about either.

Perhaps it was some sort of code, as another girl was approaching them from out of the crowd. A girl with a prosthetic leg, and way more self confidence in herself than he had in himself right now. At first he thought she was doing a reference to "Fullmetal Alchemist" but quickly realized that wasn't automail. No, she was going more for a "Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann" thing, looking like Yoko Littner with the skull hair clip, the scarf, and the big-assed rifle she was lugging around with her.

"What's up, Jay?" she asked.

The first girl was signing to her, while gesturing back in his direction, trying to communicate some matter that was completely escaping him.

"Oh," the second girl replied with a sense of understanding, before turning her attention to him. "My friend over here is trying to introduce herself, you can call her J.J. and wants to know if you're having fun here," she translated.

He looked between the two girls in uncertainty as he pondered the question, before slowly shaking his head. He really wasn't having any fun here, what with how terrified he was currently. He'd come here for the sole purpose of sating his curiosity and that was it. And now that he'd more or less completed that mission, he was terrified to hang around any longer than was absolutely necessary.

"Oh no? That's too bad," the second girl replied, before looking back at J.J. as she started signing something else. "Oh yeah, she wants to know if you can talk?"

Could he talk? Now he was getting really uncomfortable with all this. In truth he could speak, and speak quite well. But he couldn't do that here. If he spoke, it would mean his voice would be heard. If his voice was heard, there was the possibility it might be recognized. If his voice was recognized, plausible deniability would go right out the window. Again, he shook his head.

Lying and being dishonest were things he really hated to do. But he technically wasn't lying, since he couldn't talk while here at the party; doing so was far too much of a risk, and could ruin everything.

"Oh. Bummer," the second girl replied, much to J.J.'s annoyance, who began signing again. "What? Slow down, Jay, I can't understand you. What? No. No it's none of our business if he doesn't understand sign language."

With the two girls currently bickering with one another, this looked like the perfect opportunity to back out on the situation entirely. Just move nice and slow, backing up at a gradual pace that wouldn't alert them to his retreat, and then he'd be able to slink off into the background, and no one would ever be the wiser. He would be gone long before anyone noticed his absence, and he'd be forgotten about like he was a figment of their imagination.

"Why he's wearing a mask to the party doesn't matter, that's not any of our business either," the second girl stated, as J.J. signed in what he could only assume was protest.

He'd come to this party only because curiosity had proven stronger than insecurity in the matter. He'd wanted to know just how anime and nudism could be made to work together, when it seemed like such an unlikely combination with no hopes of actually working. Nudism didn't belong in anime outside of fanservice, and yet it was being made to work here just fine. It almost looked natural for people cosplaying as various anime characters to be strutting around in the buff, treating it like it was no big deal at all.

Now that he had his answer, and curiosity had been effectively sated, insecurity was once again building up strength, now that its opponent had been worn down, and was now delivering payback for its earlier. The brief period of calmness had long since passed, and all he wanted to do right now, more than anything else, was simply leave. His mission here at the NLAC party had been completed, and now it was time to engage his exit strategy. He would slowly move back until he could blend into the background of other students, slowly working his way further and further back towards the changing area, grab his clothes, get out of here, and be forgotten about as if he had never been here in the first place.

It was just a matter of actually doing that. In all of his planning for how things would proceed, he hadn't actually anticipated the possibility anyone paying any attention to him, much less actually talking to him. That significantly complicated the matter, and now he had to figure out how to compensate for such developments occurring.

Or... he could just stay for a while, and actually participate in the party.

He knew that it was an available option, it just wasn't a very good option. There was far, far too much that could go wrong if he did. The more people that were interacted with, the greater the risk of recognition. And once that occurred... the less said on that the better. Just the thought of the potential consequences made him internally shudder.

No. The best course of action was just to continue with the current approach of slowly but surely moving away from any cluster of activity unfolding, as he surreptitiously weaved his way into the assembled crowd of people, unassumingly working his way into the background where he would disappear as a result of being completely uninteresting. It was no big deal, it was something done millions of times a day, by millions of people in countless cities. It was no big loss if he wasn't here, even if the music was really good.

Or... he could just stay for a while, and actually participate in the party...

It was impossible not to notice the sheer number of bodies on display as he did his best not to bump into anyone during his course of travel. So many different bodies, so many varying types and structures, all being shown off without an apparent care in the world as to what someone else might think of them. So many imperfections, and so many minute degrees of variation on the standard form. These were real people, exposed for what they really were, and without a single care in the world over such a fact.

Each and every single person here, from Dinky, to Rumble, to Sunset Shimmer, all the way up the chain to Vice Principal Luna herself... all of them were demonstrating not only self confidence, but also security in their body image, to levels that he could never, ever hope to compete with. He held a great deal of respect for everyone with the courage to be here openly.

He respected them, but he couldn't be here with them. He just couldn't.

Without so much as a word spoken to anyone, he slipped his way through the assembled party goers. Without fanfare, or notice from anyone as to what was going on, he secured his clothing from the changing area. And without even so much as an aside glance from a single person present, he quietly slipped out the exit, disappearing just as he'd come.

Charlie_K

Kinder sat in her room glaring at the mirror. Forty two hours of hard work and dedication had all been for a waste. She had the perfect Sailor Scout cosplay costume ready, dyed her hair to match, and even went out of her way to buy the iris changing contacts to more match her character and it was all going to be for naught. Because she was no longer going to International Sailor Moon Day. Her entire friend base had dropped out either due to illness, work, family, or lack of interest. All those hours wasted for nothing.

If she wasn’t so angry at the universe, she might’ve been in tears. It would’ve been ironic too, as her favorite character was known for bawling her eyes out. Still even Usagi would’ve found ways around an inconvenience like this. So stiffening her anger, Kinder reached over to her phone and looked up if any parties were on today. After a few moments she spotted something that was happening at Canterlot High.

“The NLAC…?” she asked, “What’s that?”

A bit of digging later left Kinder blue in the face with anxiety and concern. The NLAC was a nudist club, on Canterlot High, and it was having an anime costume party tonight. On the one hand it was perfect, despite her not being able to go to the con her costume wasn’t going to waste. On the other, she’d had to curtail a lot of it because….she’d had to be completely naked. And she’d have to be naked in front of boys, and in front of potential classmates. Kinder wasn’t a prude or hard on the eyes, but the fact that she’d have to do this was near terrifying.

Then again, Sailor Moon never backed down from a problem why should she? Biting the bullet, Kinder put her full costume on, tied her hair into meatball pigtails, and headed out.

About an hour and a half later she was completely regretting her decision. There she was, save for the tiara, hairclip and meatball shields, gloves, and boots, naked with hundreds of others while walking around the school. The fact that everyone else was nude in some form or another was comforting yes but it did little to alleviate her terror. Still many had approached her about her costume for poses and questions so Kinder was finding ways to get her mind off the ordeal. It was just weird being in this state and seeing so many other so…casual.

Regardless, walking around exchanging pleasantries wasn’t the only activity at the school. The CMC had set up a wide range of events and activities from playing arcade games straight from Neighpon as well as a few carnival games. One of which was catching candy fish in a pool made of jello. The particulars of how it was created aside it had become a popular attraction, so Kinder decided to assist in whatever way possible. Thankfully she wasn’t alone. Much to her surprise she wasn’t the only one with aspirations of “dressing up” as a Sailor Scout as the rest of the original seshi had their nudist cosplayers present as well. And while Kinder knew none of them, she put that behind her to play her part.

But as she stood there, a cold breeze brushed her sending a chill down her spine. This wasn’t the first time tonight that it had happened but for Kinder it was the final time. Pulling her best impression of Usagi, she turned around and stomped her foot.

“Urgh come on guys it’s been twenty minutes! You’re supposed to replace me now!” she grumbled. Much to her frustration, none of the other scouts responded, “Urgh no fair.”

Now annoyed, Kinder turned back to her gong banging. Things could’ve been better all things considered, then again this was better than sitting at home doing nothing. But as she looked around she could see other ‘cosplayers’ hanging a merry old time either play fighting, enjoying party games, or just mingling. And here she was, simply banging a small gong. That being said it did tell people what was going on here so she couldn’t be too upset. Thankfully there were no monsters for the sailor scouts to fight….this time.

Blake Skies

Joypad Burst was more than ready to get naked and party. Her father, ruiner of all things, had barged into her room and forced her to go to the mall to fill out job applications, She had been mere moments from auditioning for ChpS3T, the elite major league gaming team of her dreams. Joining them would’ve been a job! It meant she’d be paid, she could move into the team’s house, and most of all, be away from him. Not only that, but she barely had enough time to grab her phone, backpack and clothes before landing on the front stoop.

It wasn’t like she had great chances of being hired anyway. One, she knew she terrible at retail, and two, her outfit was only black hot pants, a matching micro midriff halter top, and nothing else. It was meant for the party, not filling out a dozen applications. And while she was proud of her leg-length red and white streaked mohawk and controller grey body, she hated the way the store managers tried to put her down for it. When the really bad ones asked something like, “Is that what you plan to work in?” She’d turn it around and say, “You’re absolutely right. I shouldn’t be wearing this at all.” Then teased a finger over her belt or tugged at her top. It was an idle threat, but their expressions were priceless.

Now she was nude, partying, and could end the night on a positive note. She started by avoiding the arcades, she had to take her mind off ChpS3T, and headed for the Japanese festival booths. It was a right decision. There was food, mochi ice cream, and even that little fish game everyone knew was rigged but still fun to play. She thought she’d seen it all and went out back to cool down and enjoy some last minute snacks. Crunching on some pocky, she spotted a media trailer parked in the parking lot and a lone person sitting out front reading on their tablet.

Curious, Joypad ambled up. The sign over the trailer claimed it was promoting the “next generation in virtual reality gaming.” She sighed and was about to walk away when she noticed the promotion was for tonight only and wouldn’t be made available to the public for years. That was odd, to say the least.

“Okay, I’ll bite, how’s this the ‘next generation in VR?’” She asked.

The attendant put down her tablet and dove into the sales pitch. “Oh, this isn’t just any VR game, it’s true immersion. Like nothing before. The only drawback is that you have to be naked to play, which is why we’re here. We’re working it out, but for now--” She started to mumble and looked embarrassed. Her expression changed as she thought about something. She looked down at her tablet. “You know.” She trailed off again, as her fingers danced over the surface, then she snapped an enthusiastic look to Joypad. “You want to try it? Everyone had to sign up a week in advance, but there’s been some cancellations.”

“What? Oh, um,” Joypad couldn’t think of anything to say but, “okay.”

The woman smiled and asked for her phone. Joypad hesitated, but decided it was worth the risk and handed it over. The woman downloaded an app while she took down Joypad’s contact information. After it was done, she opened the app and made some adjustments. Then handed the phone back to Joypad. The app made a ding as Joypad took it. “There, you’re in line. Come back as quick as you can when the phone vibrates.”

Joypad looked at it. There were some robot anime characters that she recognized from a show in her father’s collection. She thought she’d watched it with him but couldn’t remember. Robots were cool and she realized the more she thought about it, the more she wanted to try it. She flipped over to her encyclopedia app and called up the series as she headed back to the school building.

“See you soon.” The attendant called after her.

The series was called Bubblegum Crisis 2040, a late 1990s remake of an older cyberpunk series by the same name, only the earlier version didn’t have the “2040” part. Both series followed the same plot: in a postmodern age, four girls fought malfunctioning robots produced by an evil megacorporation, while wearing form fitting body armor. Joypad corrected her previous assumption that the characters were robots and read on. What annoyed her was that she couldn’t figure out why it was called “Bubblegum Crisis” and any attempt to launch the app came up with an error message, “No スーツ detected. Please connect.”

So engrossed in her study, she almost dropped her phone when it started vibrating. A new message appeared “Knight Sabers. Rogue boomer. Report to HQ.” From reading the article and vaguely remembering the show, she knew the team of girls had been codenamed “Knight Sabers” and the malfunctioning robots were called “boomers.” Joypad gave up trying to reason why anything was named anything and raced back.

She reached the trailer only slightly out of breath and promised herself to up her workout routine. Most top gamers worked out and she didn’t want to let herself or her future teammates down. The woman from before opened the door and led her inside. The trailer was cramped with a mix of men and women wearing lab coats all sitting at terminals. In the middle of the trailer was a circular platform with a railing. One of the labcoats noticed her and waved her over.

“Hello, are you,” he swiveled in his chair to check a tablet, “Joypad?” He had a calm professional voice and didn’t make any mention of her nudity or the way she looked. It reassured Joypad that this was a good place.

“Um, Yes, that’s me.” She confirmed.

“Good.” He said, then looked apologetic. “Since you didn’t sign up early. You’re going to have to fill out some paperwork.” The tech gave her a quick safety briefing and she answered a few questions about motion sickness and other possible ailments, then signed a waiver.

When that was done, he tapped on his tablet and her phone vibrated. He noticed and said “Ah, good. May I see that? It will be your view screen. The helmet has special lenses to make images appear 3D and should cover your whole field of view. All you have to do is move naturally. Understand?” Joypad wasn’t sure she did but nodded anyway and handed it to him. He took it and led her to the platform. He helped her get over the railing and had her stand in the middle. He picked up a blocky object from a pile nearby and she saw it was vaguely helmet-shaped. It had a cradle in the front she assumed was for her phone. Straps like a bike helmet’s dangled from the bottom. Her thoughts must have been mirrored on her face because he added. “It’s a prototype, the finished model will be much more streamlined and lighter.” He plopped her phone into the cradle and closed it. Joypad heard the familiar charging ding and gave a small prayer of thanks, her battery was low.

He and some other staff members then helped her put on plastic gloves that ran to her elbows and step into knee high boots. They placed some odd looking shoulder pads on her too. She made a mental note that keeping her midsection exposed while wearing stuff felt awkward. There’s nudity, and then there’s not being fully covered. After all was secure, the helmet went on. A cool blue light flickered on as the app activated. She was guided through setup and calibration screens until everything checked out. During the process, she noticed her phone looked better and clearer than she remembered and, as the tech said, the screen encompassed her entire field of vision.

After everything was set, there was a pause and then Bubblegum Crisis 2040 appeared with a subscript that read “the VR experience. Ver. 1.0.00.2” It seemed to hover in a field of white and had no pixelation or any other signs of low resolution. The tech’s voice clicked on over the helmet’s headphones.

“Okay, Can you hear me?” He asked. It was crystal clear.

“Yup.” She responded.

“Good, we’re starting the simulation, please follow the instructions.” His voice clicked off. Almost immediately, the image on the screen disappeared and Joypad found herself standing in a room. It was so sudden she had to take a moment to orient herself. The graphics were downright gorgeous. There was a slight hint of cell shading that kept it from falling into the uncanny valley; otherwise, she would’ve sworn she was no longer in the trailer.

The room appeared to be a small reception area and like many in science fiction films or games was bland, tan, and tasteless. She looked down and noticed she was naked here too, but was quickly distracted by how her virtual arms laglessly followed her real life ones. A ding broke her awe as a door opened on the far side. A woman walked out and came up to her.

Joypad was again struck by the realism. The woman wore a white business suit with a skirt and had long grey hair, but her facial features were young. The name ‘Sylia’ floated above her head. She had a concerned expression. “I’m glad you got my message. We haven’t seen this type of boomer before and it’s already caused a lot of damage.” She paused and looked Joypad up and down. Joypad felt like she was back in the mall. She knew this was a video game character, an animated character no less, but she still braced for what was coming.

“It’s good to see you haven’t put on your speedsuit. These new hard suit don’t require one. Some of the others were a little self-conscious about the nudity requirement, but you don’t seem to be. And why should you with body like yours.” Sylia smiled. “Follow me. You’ve got to see this.” She laughed as they walked towards a corridor.

Joypad was stunned. Did the program know she was actually naked and had it made a pass or was that part of this Sylia’s personality? She had no idea and was kind of disturbed by the quick emotional shift. Thinking about it distracted her enough to not realize she was actually walking to keep up with Sylia. Walking! She almost fell over herself as it dawned on her, and to run to catch up. As she rounded a corner, she was confronted by a garish blocky white robot on a hanger. It’s hollow upper half was suspended above a matching bottom half. It looked nothing like the sleek and stylish armor of the show.

“I’m sorry if it’s a little cold at first. I’m told they warm up quickly.” Sylia said and motioned to Joypad to climb in.

With no other option, Joypad hesitantly stepped in and felt a little coolness run up her legs to her knees. The top half lowered once she was situated. A heads up display appeared and gave her a selection of different suits. Only one, the “fighter” class, was available. The only customization option was its color, so she went with her favorite, grey with red and white accents, of course. When she was done, she pushed the virtual “OK” button and was surprised to feel a little resistance against her fingertip. Next the suit asked for a passphrase to create a “mind link.” When she asked what that was, an electronic voice told her that it would help meld her with the liquid metal sections of the suit and allow her to form them into weapons based on need.

She took a second to think, then said, “I’m a nudist. Nudity makes me stronger, faster.” She heard a gushing noise and felt the grey goo cover her head before she saw it. It quickly blocked out her vision and crept down her body. It was all she could do not to squirm.

After it had fully covered her, she felt it tighten around her and a popup told her it was ready. The room reappeared and an overlay directed her to the “launch tube.” She felt lighter somehow as she followed the guide to a cramped looking elevator. Before she stepped in, she saw herself in a nearby mirror. The blocky suit had been transformed into something aquatic, fluid, and what she’d later call “gracefully powerful.” Another thing that caught her attention was just how transparent and form fitting the midsection was. She looked down and saw the cover over her torso was virtually see-through. She knew fighting like that should scare her but instead gave her a rush of adrenaline and eagerly entered the tube.

The door sealed shut and running lights going up flashed on. “Knight Saber. Get ready to launch!” Sylia’s voice commanded. “Launch!” There wasn’t a countdown, just the feeling of gravity on her shoulders and knees as lights sped by at an ever quickening pace. Then she was out and flying over a vast city.

There was no rendering, nothing had to come into focus or buffer, it all felt like she thought it should, if she was there. She had a few moments to admire the view before she realized she was falling towards a rooftop and had no clue what to do. A popup told her to jump as a countdown timer began. It was running out at a frightening fast rate. “This was a quick-time event,” she told herself. “I’m not really falling.” Even though it felt like it. She cleared her mind and braced for the moment. When the timer hit zero she jumped and felt herself rocket back into the air. She saw smoke a few blocks away and she got ready for her next jump.

During the next two jumps Joypad was run through a tutorial. She could form weapons just by saying their name. Thinking of them didn’t have any effect, much to her disappointment. By the time she landed where the smoke was coming from she felt ready to take on anything. She couldn’t have been more wrong.

On one end of the street was a police barricade and on the other was something out of a nightmare. The “boomer” wasn’t a humanoid robot like she’d seen on her phone, but a five story tall lump of organic-metallic flesh that had fused with the surrounding buildings and anything else nearby. At its top was a squarish skeleton-like head that screamed as police opened fire. Sylia’s voice sounded frantic, almost hysterical, as it crackled over the headset and all but drowned out the noise around her. “Stop dawdling and kill it already! Forget the police. We’ve located the core. Destroy it now!” A green marker appeared on the monster. Of course, it was behind the thing’s head. A hail of gunfire ricocheted around Joypad as the comm shut off. “Are they firing at me? I’m trying to help!” She yelled as she ran towards the monster.

Tentacles sprouted from its base and shot towards her. She barely had time to dodge as they careened past. A cop car exploded and there were shouts of surprise and panic behind her. More tentacles appeared. She used an arm cannon to shoot them but it wasn’t enough. The remaining few wrapped around her arms and legs and pulled in. She swore she’d never watch tentacle anime the same ever again and called up a sword.

Confidence washed over her as she fell into her gaming groove. All of her life stressors became targets she gleefully obliterated. Her homework was slashed to ribbons right before she demolished a large group of tentacles that represented the store managers. Thinking of their disapproval reminded her why she started being a nudist and what she’d learned. It fueled her warpath.

She’d started going nude to take back control of her life from her father, and she mostly achieved it. The first time she went undressed around him ended in a yelling match. She bluffed and said it was for self expression. He called her on it and said it was childish and if she wanted to act that way, then she could stay naked until she grew up. So she did. She went naked with her friends, other family, even when his friends visited, and any other chance she got. It was unexpected, but both quickly realized she was right and Joypad went to work learning out just how and why.

What continued her drive to be a nudist was what she discovered about society and women. She immediately cut down her wardrobe to what she liked, not the latest trends. She examined her friendships and nurtured those that were healthy, and stopped those that weren’t. She made mistakes but found what made her happy and gave her life meaning. It caused her focus on video games as a career instead of a hobby. Knowing what happiness was for her made her search for more. It had led to the NLAC and now she was naked and fighting virtual robotic horrors and knew she’d found another thing that made her happy. Every grueling step of it.

Sweat rolled down her body and matted her hair, and she was breathing hard as she reached the top. Her thoughts were solely aimed on winning. She ignored her aching muscles and hacked down some stray bug bots. With a burst from her boosters, she shot to the robot’s head. Her HUD showed the core was just under it’s cranium at the same time it warned her that her battery was critically low and her hard suit couldn’t take much more damage.

“Oh, of course!” She yelled, more out of defiance than desperation and readied a knuckle bomb punch. She knew she should think of something like ChpS3T, her father, or the future, to push on, but all she could focus on was ending it. She drove her punch deep into it’s brain. The monster’s insides were as disgusting and squishy as she’d feared and she welcomed it.

Her fingers grazed something solid. She grabbed it and yanked it out with all the energy she had left. The heart-sized blob gave a satisfying pop as she squeezed it. Black gunk spewed everywhere. She could feel her suit absorb its energy and saw the battery recharge. The robotic hell under her screamed and fire burst from its eyes. She tossed the fleshy sack aside and jumped towards the roof of a nearby building. Time to go. Her boosters kicked on and rocketed her into the sky. The monster collapsed in a fiery blaze below as another hail of gunfire rang out, but she no longer cared. She’d won.

Sylia’s voice came over her headphones. “Congratultions. Mission success.” It faded out along with the screen. Joypad suddenly felt heavy and had a sense of solid ground beneath her. A scoreboard popped up with a rundown of her achievements and bonuses. She scored an “A-.”

The helmet loosened. She grasped for the railing as soon as it was off. Her whole body ached and she felt drained. Sweat dripped off her nose, fingers, breasts, and ran down her legs as she hunched over. She felt hands grasp the shoulder pads and help remove the gloves. They helped her step out of the boots. Hands led her to a place to sit and gave her a water bottle she drank from until she felt sick. Then she focused on catching her breath.

Slowly she felt herself regain her senses and noticed a sharply dressed woman sitting next to her. “Well, that was quite the display.” Her words were direct, but her tone was calm and she was smiling. “From the look of it, you enjoyed that?”

Joypad found it difficult to talk, or do anything, but listen and nod, so she did.

“Good. Let’s not waste time. I want to offer you a job. Your scores were impressive and we could use your skills. You game?” She gave Joypad a stare that felt like a challenge. It was a challenge.

The decision wasn’t hard. Even in her exhausted state she knew this was better than any application she’d filled out that night. Possibly better than working for ChpS3T. Forget her father. She took another drink of water and rasped out, “Challenge Accepted!”

Clickety_Clack

A short series of knocks on Rainbow Dash’s front door announced her guest’s arrival for the evening sooner than expected. Dressed in her soccer shorts and a white t-shirt with red sleeves, Dash slid down the banister and landed just short of thethreshold, pulling it open and greeting Scootaloo with a loving hug. Despite her outward rejection of emotional displays — “Mushy Stuff”, as she called it — she made an exception when showing how much her surrogate sister meant to her.

“Hey there, Scoots! Glad you could make it!” Dashsaid. “You ready for an awesome night of epic action and excitement?”

“I sure am, big sis!” Scootaloo squeaked. Tonight's evening wasn't warm, but she had still dressed lightly; a simple get up of green cargo shorts, red shirt and sandals. This was undoubtedly done on purpose, as the second Dash shut door, she had gotten naked.

“Woah there, squirt,” Dash remarked. “Best keep your gear nearby. I’m not expecting guests, but you never know who could stop by.”

Scootaloo blushed a little. “Oh yeah, sorry,” she replied. “Guess I am getting a little carried away. Where do you want me to put them?”

“There’s a basket next to the sofa. Just leave ‘em there.”

“’Kay!” With a hop, skip and a jump, Scootaloo bounded into the living room, the curtains already drawn to preserve her privacy. “Say, Rainbow Dash?”

“Yeah?” Dash replied, sitting down next to her.

“Aren’t you gonna get naked as well? I know you’ve only been to a couple of parties, but I figured there’s no need to stay dressed, with us being alone and all.”

Dash thought about the subject, something that she didn’t often do. Her parents had never been the strictest of moral guardians, but it was standard for them to insist on being dressed around the house. She’d never given the idea much consideration, but in the presence of Scootaloo — who could be described no other way besides relaxed in her own skin — there was little reason not to.

“Huh, why not?” she replied, pulling off her shirt, shorts and underwear, dropping them behind the sofa. Straight away she felt a sense of relief wash over her, the warm air of the heated room settling soft against her skin. “Now on to the more important question. What do ya feel like watchin’ first?”

“Depends what you’ve got,” Scootaloo said, eyeing the tall shelves that were packed to the brim with DVDs and old VHS tapes. “I want something awesome for tonight!”

“Well, you sure are in the right place, Scoots.” Dash chuckled, that description encompassing much of her collection. Rubbing her chin, she took a moment to ponder what would impress Scootaloothe most. “I think I have just the thing! Do ya ever watch much Anime, Scoots?”

“You mean those gruesome cartoons from Japan?” Scootaloo asked with a look of morbid curiosity on her face.

“Something like that,” Dash said, her mind conjuring images of the more risqué shows she had watched during her alone time.

“I’ve heard about ‘em through Dinkie and a few others, but I haven’t really watched any.”

“Well, you’re in luck! Everything I’ve got will be beneath the TV. Twilight sorted everything into alphabetical order last time she was over, and I gotta say, I don’t have the heart to ruin it! I swear, that girl is obsessed with organising stuff.”

“Yep, sounds like Twilight alright,” Scootaloo chuckled and crawled over to the anime box. “I never would’ve guessed her Equestrian counterpart was a Princess, what with the weight of so many responsibilities. I guess it goes to show even normal people can do amazing stuff!”

Rainbow Dash hung on her sister’s last words, getting an impression of the kind of anime that would be perfect for her. “Hey, Scoots, do you dig giant robots?”

“What kind of question is that?” Scootaloo scoffed. “Of course, I do! What kind of kid doesn’t?”

“In that case, look for an anime starting with the letter ‘g’. It has a big drill on the side of the box, ya can’t miss it.”

Tracing her finger over the dividers denoting each section, Scootaloo found what she was looking for. “Goo-ren lar-gen?”

“Gurren Lagann! That’s the one!”

“Does it have tons of gore in it?”

“Nah, only a little,” Dash said with a reassuring tone, noticing Scootaloo’s discomfort. “Why, are ya chicken about a little blood or something?”

“I am NOT chicken!” Scootaloo huffed, stamping her feet. “You could show me the bloodiest anime you’ve got, and I’d be just fine with it all!”

“Haha, don’t worry about it, squirt!” Dash laughed with a sly smirk. “I’m only teasin’ ya. Besides, if your parents found out about some of the stuff I’ve watched, they’d throw a fit!”

Scootaloo blushed, having missed the obvious sarcasm in Dash’s voice before. “Can we just get on with the show already?”

“Yeah, yeah, we’re getting to that, Scoots. I’ve got the remote, so just put in the first movie disc and I’ll go make us some popcorn! I’ve seen this movie, like, a dozen times, so I know you’re gonna love it!”

The title screen came on, the blaring rock music immediately grabbing Scootaloo’s attention. She tilted her head back and forth – an involuntary action did as an expression of her curiosity. Five minutes later, Dash returned with the popcorn, smiling as she saw Scootaloo’s gaze fixated on the giant mechanical bull’s head, along with the scantily clad girl wielding a gigantic rifle who dropped through the roof in a blaze of glory. Though Scootaloo was young, she was still old enough to recognise such a weapon as an obvious phallic symbol; a fact that made Dash snicker every time.

“So how is a scrawny little guy like Simon gonna to take on a huge evil robot like that?” Scootaloo asked.

“Oh, just wait and see,” was all Dash said in response.

Then it happened. The core drill lighting up, the gunman bursting through the surface, the little mole-rat thing popping out of Yoko’s cleavage. One look at Scootaloo’s eyes going wide in amazement made it obvious to Dash that she was hooked.

The minutes ticked by, the events escalating with it. With every new revelation of the giant robot’s power, the inspiring motivational speeches sending chills down Scootaloo’s spine, her grin just grew wider - to the point where Rainbow Dash almost wondered if it would end up stuck like that!

The next four hours passed by in a flash, gripping Scootaloo and Rainbow Dash along for the ride on the emotional roller coaster that was the twin movies, Gurren-Henn and Lagann-Henn, with Dash only getting up to put Tank back in his enclosure. Neither Dash nor her parents could figure out how he kept getting out by himself, but thankfully he never got far. By the time it was all over, Scootaloo felt an incredible sense of wonder, the likes of which no movie had ever made her experience before.

“So, Scoots. What do ya make of it?” Dash asked, though she needn’t have, as the intensity of Scootaloo's hug was all the answer she needed.

“That. Was. INCREDIBLE! Thank you so much, Rainbow Dash! I never thought someone like Simon would be hero material, but he became so awesome ‘cause of his bro, and how Kamina never left his heart, and how much everyone got a moment to kick butt, and how it was really sad but really happy at the same time and…”

“Woah there, settle down, squirt!” Dash interjected, peeling Scootaloo off from around her waist. “You’re kinda crushing me.”

“Oh, sorry,” Scootaloo blushed, giggling awkwardly. “I just never knew cartoons could be so awesome!”

“That’s anime for you,” replied Dash, a statement which brought up a particularly relevant memory to the subject at hand. “Say, didn’t Sweetie Belle say she wanted to make this month’s NLAC party with an anime theme? I’m sure I overheard Rarity mentioning it at some point.”

“Oh yeah, she did, didn’t she?” Scootaloo had forgotten about the party from the hype of a sleepover with Dash, but now that the topic was brought up, a big, brilliant idea popped into her head. “Rainbow Dash! Would you like to come to this party? We could make costumes of Simon and Kamina, only we’d be wearing nothing but their coats and accessories. It would be the best party ever!”

To this request, Rainbow Dash couldn’t say no even if she wanted to. The way Scootaloo’s face lit up like a Hearth’s Warming tree was just far too cute, even for a person who liked to act they rejected cuteness wherever possible.

“I don’t see why not,” Dash answered, much to the delighted cheers of Scootaloo. “I’ll bring the references to Rarity after you head home tomorrow. I’m sure it'll be a breeze for her to recreate the designs.”

“Yay!” exclaimed Scootaloo. “I’ll also ask if Button Mash has spare parts to fashion into a core drill. Oh, man, I can’t wait for the party now! We are gonna make such an impression on everybody!”

“Yeah, yeah, I know we will. But for tonight, how about we play a few card games until bed time?”

“But it’s only ten o’clock!” Scootaloo protested. “Can’t we find one more anime film to watch or something?”

“Aw, heck, why not?” Dash said. “But tomorrow I’d better be rested enough for band practice. There’s no way I’m going to a party and not play a few jams with Vinyl Scratch on stage!”

“You got it, sis!” Scootaloo agreed with a short salute. “Tomorrow morning, you’ll be fresh as a daisy!”

*******

Several weeks later, the date of the party arrived. Rainbow Dash had noticed the growing level of attachment to this franchise Scootaloo had gained since, coming as a modest surprise. She had expected her to enjoy it, but not to be absorbed in the whole thing! Thankfully, she was keeping up with her schoolwork, allowing Dash to breathe a sigh of relief.

The last thing she needed was to be weighed down by the Scootaloo's peersblaming her for taking over her life with a Japanese cartoon. In fact, Scootaloo had been doing better in some subjects than usual. While it wasn’t an intended effect, Rainbow Dash took pride in inspiring her little sister in such a dramatic way!

Now it was time for the big reveal of their costumes. Both Dash and Scootaloo were thrilled at Rarity surpassing their already grand expectations, not least due to the detailed replication of the show's colour scheme. Scootaloo felt it a shame that Rarity wouldn’t be here to appreciate her achievement, but they respected each other’s boundaries, so there was never any pressure for her to join. The satisfied faces of her friends were all the evidence she needed to prove her hard work paid off.

Ahead of most other attendees, Dash and Scootaloo met up with Sweetie Belle, Applebloom and Cheerilie outside the changing rooms. They had already changed into their partial costumes for the night's proceedings—some consisting more of body paint than actual cloth—all strategically placed for their characters to be recognisable while showing off their skin.

Once Dash and Scootaloo had disrobed and stored away their regular clothes, they donned their respective costumes and strode out of the changing rooms; their closest friends being the first to witness their outfits. Rainbow Dash took on the likeness of Kamina, the swirling red cape held together with golden laces paired with the sharp angled, red tinted sunglasses. She had even paid to get a custom replica of Kamina's katana; an item which she had promised to unveil its full glory on stage.

Next to her, Scootaloo presented herself with the iconic blue-and-red-trimmed jacket of Simon, paired with red goggles perched upon her head and a replica core drill hanging around her neck. Together, they struck the dramatic (and some would say, cheesy) pose which would shatter all doubts about who they were replicating.

"Ours is the drill that will pierce the heavens!" Dash announced first.

"Just who the hell do you think we are?!" Scootaloo finished, presented with such dramatic flair, it wouldn't have surprised Sweetie Belle to see a large explosion randomly burst out from behind them – though she was thankful such a thing didn't happen, given what a mess it would've made.

"Wow, Scootaloo," Sweetie giggled. "I knew you'd gotten into that giant robot show, but your enthusiasm is something else entirely!"

"Think I got Simon's likeness down?" Scootaloo asked with a small blush.

"Ah haven't even watched the show, and ah know exactly who you're supposed to look like," said Applebloom, looking Scootaloo over with admiration. "Giant robots have never been mah thing, but you've gotta show me what it's like sometime."

"Oh, you know I will!" By how elated Scootaloo was at the prospect of showing Applebloom this anime, her attitude likened it to passing down a family heirloom.

"Alright, squirt," Dash said. "I've gotta run and start doin' sound checks for tonight's performance. Catch you after the show, 'k?"

"No problem, Aniki!" Scootaloo replied with a salute.

No matter how many times she referred to Rainbow Dash with that term, it never failed to make Dash chuckle. Although she was unlikely to say it aloud to anyone besides Scootaloo, her surrogate sister's endearing enthusiasm always warmed her heart - not least due to how strongly it mimicked her own. She knew that with an attitude like that, Scootaloo was going to go far in wherever life would take her.

******

Bowling had always been one of the most popular activities within the NLAC. No matter what the occasion, the students would race to form large teams and get as many games in as they could during the allotted time. Vapour Trail, by contrast, was not as enthusiastic as others would be.

One look at her made it obvious why. She was a small, frail girl with pale white skin and fluffy green hair; a body built more for the dexterity and flexibility required for soccer than lifting heavy objects. During the NLAC parties she had attended prior, Vapour always kept herself mingling among the biggest crowds, keeping herself out of the limelight and chatting only to her small circle of friends she was comfortable opening up to.

Letting out a disgruntled sigh, Vapour picked a ball at random, dragging it across the floor until she reached the alley, barely to lift the thing, but she persisted. The voice of Sky Stinger, her best friend, echoed in her mind. “You’ve gotta be tough to compete against Rainbow Dash’s team!” he had said. “Facing against an opponent like her? It’s no easy task! She’ll wipe the floor with ya if you’re not careful.”

While his words had been harsh, Vapour couldn’t deny that there was an element of truth within them. Rainbow Dash was one of the best Soccer players Canterlot High had ever seen, so if she wanted to support her team, then she was going to need to build herself up to be stronger and faster than ever before. Pulling the bowling ball up with all her might, Vapour bent her elbows, widened her stance and looked straight down the alley. She had to get this right. Sky Stinger and all her teammates were depending upon it.

With a hefty shove, Vapour threw the ball, watching it bounce down the alley with tense anticipation. The ball travelled in a straight line for most of its travel, until right towards the end, it veered off to the left, scraping past a pin with barely enough force to make it wobble. “Darn it!” She exclaimed.

She turned back to get another ball, only to find her way blocked by Scootaloo – standing with her legs far apart and her arms held across her chest. “Nice costume!” She exclaimed with a wide, cheesy grin spread across her face, pulling up her goggles.

Vapour looked down across herself, blushing a little. “Th-thanks,” her voice was meek. She had almost forgotten that she was wearing a minimalist costume: a pair of bat wings strapped across her back, furry scarf and a pair of red bobbles – one for her nose, one for the little antenna on her head. “I know the Moogle isn’t anime per se, but I figured since the game it’s from is Japanese, I’d still blend in.”

“Doesn’t bother me one bit!” Scootaloo said with dramatic enthusiasm. “But more importantly, it looks like you’re struggling with bowling techniques. Want me to show you how it’s done?”

“Well…” Vapour hesitated, though the decision to accept help was a no-brainer. “I guess if you don’t mind, then sure.”

This is my chance! Scootaloo thought to herself. So long as I have this drill, I can do anything to help struggling club members! I’ll lead by example, just like Simon would. Grabbing a ball at random, Scootaloo pulled it free from the rack, only to find that she, too, was struggling with the weight.

“Are you sure you’re okay with this?” Vapour asked. “I appreciate the help, but you don’t have to do all this.”

“Don’t you worry,” Scootaloo insisted, trying to fight against the struggle. “I got this in the bag! Now, watch and learn; the weight of the ball is super important. The heavier the ball, the steadier it will be on the path you throw it.”

Flinging the ball, no more than half an inch forward, Scootaloo held her hand to her ear, expecting to hear the pins fall at any moment. After thirty seconds of waiting, no such sound came.

“Um, Scootaloo,” Vapour said, tapping Scootaloo on the shoulder. “I think you missed.”

Scootaloo stared down the alley. There must have been some mistake. She thought to herself. I can’t have failed this easily! I’ve just gotta give it another try. That’s what Simon would do. Keep going at it until you get it right!

“Scootaloo? Are you alright?” Vapour asked, giving Scootaloo a concerned look. While she was normally one of the more extroverted members among the club founders, something felt a little off today. Vapour opened her mouth to question this, but promptly shut it again. The thought of causing a scene filled her with too much anxiety to say any more.

“Don’t you worry, Vapour Trail!” Scootaloo proclaimed out loud. By now, Vapour was certain that Scootaloo was forcing herself to maintain this excessive persona. “I’m sure that ball was just damaged. Here, let me grab another one.”

As before, the tiny amount of force Scootaloo could apply to her throw meant the ball didn’t reach a quarter of the alley's length before rolling into the gutter. Wordlessly, Scootaloo grabbed yet another ball, heavier than the last. The results didn't change, all the while Vapour Trail stared on in confusion at what she was trying to achieve.

“One… more… try…” Scootaloo heaved, her body wearing down from each successive attempt. “I… can… do this!”

“I think that’s enough, Scootaloo,” Vapour said, her wispy voice underlining her concern with unmistakable clarity. Even her natural shyness had its limits, and watching someone hurt themselves trying to be nice was a line she refused to cross. “Thanks for your help, but I think I can take it from here.”

“Huh?” Scootaloo looked up at Vapour, the realisation that she was making a mess of her attempted bowling lesson taking a moment to click. But when it did, Scootalo’s face blushed bright red. “Oh, hey, look at the time! I’d… better go help Sweetie Belle set up pancake games again, bye!”

With that excuse out of the way, Scootaloo ran from the bowling alley, leaving Vapour Trail scratching her head, befuddled at the nonsense she had just heard. Shrugging her shoulders, Vapour turned her attention back to bowling – searching among the rack for a ball that wasn’t quite as heavy as the others she and Scootaloo had attempted to throw. She surprised herself with the result.

******

“Come on, come on, almost there…” Rumble Ready muttered to himself, furiously pounding the arcade machine's buttons, desperate to achieve the holy grail of video games that was a score in excess of one million-points. Alas, forty thousand remained his personal best, one blast of an enemy space ship ending his game with the all too familiar mockery of Game Over! Try again.

“Dang it!” Rumble exclaimed, stamping his foot in frustration. He had been at this game for nearly an hour now, yet he couldn’t get past the fifteenth stage.

Do you wish to play again? The game asked in its monotone, robotic voice.

“You know I will!” Cracking his knuckles, Rumble wiggled his fingers and pulled up his belt. It was the only piece of clothing he wore over his light grey skin, the monkey-tail it held in place combining with his spiky-black hair creating the perfect Kid Goku costume. If Goku had no problem being naked around others, then neither would Rumble!

Grabbing the joystick once more, Rumble readied himself to fight through the virtual alien armada again. His index finger hovered over the start button, when a familiar squeaky voice caught his attention.

“Hey Rumble! Waddya playing?” asked Scootaloo, curiously peering over his shoulder.

“Oh, hey,” Rumble said. “I’m playing Galactic Invaders IV. Button Mash told me his dad once got over a million points on this game, so if anyone’s gonna beat a score like that, it’s gonna be me!”

“That is so cool!” Scootaloo replied in amazement. “I think I’ve seen this before. It’s allot like that time Simon blasted through all those space ships with a giant robot drills the size of a galaxy!”

Rumble paused for a moment, blinking in confusion at the description of the admittedly rather awesome sounding battle. “So, I’m guessin’ that’s who you’re dressed up as? This ‘Simon’ guy?”

“You know it!” Scootaloo stated proudly, clutching her core drill pedant and striking Simon's signature pose. “This is the drill that will pierce the heavens! With the power of the spiral, nothing’s impossible!”

“Nothing’s impossible, you say?” Rumble rubbed his hand over his chin, carefully considering Scootaloo’s last statement. “Well, since nothin’s impossible with this, spiral-whatsit, how about a game on vs mode? Who knows, maybe you will be the one who gets the million-point mark first.”

Scootaloo’s hands were already planted on one arcade controller, noticing how the prospect of a challenge relit the fire in Rumble’s eyes. “Oh, it is on!”

“It most certainly is!” Hammering the start button, Rumble began the game. Right out of the gate he demonstrated his level of skill, his thumbs reflexing with cat-like agility to the ever-increasing density of the alien battle fleet – the digit counter soaring ever higher in a firework of lasers and exploding pixels.

Scootaloo, by contrast, struggled to keep up. She was certainly no slouch, having spent many a summer evening honing her gaming skills against Button Mash. But Rumble? He was on another level, both literally and metaphorically. My Spiral power has gotta kick in for something like this! She thought to herself, frantically jamming the joystick from left to right and back again.

But Rumble was still ahead, his momentum gaining with each ship downed. Scootaloo fared no better at the first boss, its giant crab-like claws blocking anything she could throw at it. Mere minutes after the game began, Scootaloo’s ship went down; crushed in the pincers of a giant robotic crustacean.

“Yes!” Rumble proclaimed, a bright neon ‘You win!’ message flashing repeatedly under a score if forty-four thousand. “Good game, Scoots. Wanna try-”

“Again!” Scootaloo snapped, cracking her fist down on the start button before Rumble could finish. I’m gonna get it this time for sure! Just gotta believe in myself. I’ve got this!

This time around, Scootaloo did marginally better, although she still found herself outclassed by Rumble. The first boss rose and fell, only to herald the destruction of her ship shortly thereafter – overwhelmed by the sharp increase in enemy waves.

“Again!” Scootaloo clenched her fists tight, displaying but a fraction of the frustration boiling up within her.

“No offence Scootaloo, but I think it’s time to take a break,” Rumble said, having been around gaming circles long enough to recognise the early signs of tilting.

“No! I can do better than this, I know it!”

“If you say so.” Rumble shrugged his shoulders, briefly considering going easy on Scootaloo and allowing her the satisfaction she so badly craved. Rumble dismissed this idea once the new game started up. Scootaloo wasn’t stupid. There was no way he could lose on purpose and avoid her noticing.

So, the two continued to battle, round after round, with Scootaloo’s performance getting increasingly erratic as time went on. By this point, she had stopped making eye contact with Rumble, instead locking her eyes on the screen, starting each new game on reflex. By the tenth round, the score disparity got so wide that, even if Scootaloo could survive the second boss battle, there would be no hope in catching up.

When the familiar ring of Game Over echoed out from the speakers, Rumble stepped back and stretched his limbs. “Well, it was nice playing with ya, Scoots, but I am one-hundred percent done with this game for now. I don’t think my thumbs can take another round! Who knows? Next time you may even be able to beat me, if you practice enough.”

Just as quickly as she had appeared, Scootaloo was gone. Scratching his head, Rumble wondered if she had been taking lessons from Pinkie Pie in getting the jump on people. Shrugging his shoulders, Rumble turned his attention back to the arcade machine, looking over the scores from the last round.

One more game couldn’t hurt, could it?

**********

Inside a changing room cubicle, Scootaloo sat on the bench, curled up with her arms wrapped around her legs. She had thrown off her costume, leaving it in a small pile on the floor. I’m not fit to cosplay as Simon, she thought to herself. She had tried a plethora of different activities at the club tonight, each one an attempt to show others how they could overcome any challenge through the power of self-motivation.

And yet each time, no matter how much effort she put into it all, she failed. She tried over and over at every task, refusing to let herself give in. Vapor Trail’s bowling, Rumble Ready’s arcade game, even table soccer against Applebloom had turned up with nothing! What the hell is wrong with me? The words echoed through her mind, the weight of her emotions increasing with each repetition. I guess it’s hardly surprising. Of course, mantras like ‘believe in yourself’ never work outside of anime. I was such a fool to believe otherwise.

Scootaloo pulled her legs in tighter, burying her face in her palms. How had it all come to this? She was never a person who struggled with confidence before. She just did what she did. The biggest challenge she had faced over the last year was supporting the NLAC, which hadn’t been a challenging task. Beyond that, she had a pretty easy life. Most other kids her age had a much harder time adjusting to the naturist lifestyle. She recalled the first time she had stripped naked in front of Sweetie Belle and Applebloom, her mind racing with all the potential outcomes for what was, under normal circumstances, a socially unacceptable action.

And the grand result? Nothing. The world didn’t end, she didn’t become a social outcast – quite the opposite. Social nudity had increased her circle of friends. By now, being naked around others had become second nature to her, given the right environment, of course. This fact brought up a question in Scootaloo’s mind. Why wasn’t it enough? She had helped inspire countless Canterlot High students to become naturists, at least during the NLAC party days. So why did it all ring so hollow?

Looking back to her costume, Scootaloo’s thoughts drifted back to that of Kamina and Simon. She supposed Rainbow Dash wasn’t all that different from Kamina. Headstrong to a fault, equal parts passionate and proficient at both sports and music. Scootaloo wondered for a moment if Dash ever encountered her problem? If she was honest, she doubted it. Rainbow Dash had magic on her side, stemming from her expression of loyalty. How could someone like that ever have a crisis of self-determination? Dash was the perfect fit for Kamina.

What about me? Scootaloo wondered. Am I even capable of being someone like Simon? He was amazing and I’m just… not. There was something about that last thought which, as much as it appeared to reflect reality, didn’t ring true about her comparison with Simon. In fact, there was a fundamental truth about the character which she was missing. While Kamnina had always been the brash and bombastic boaster, that wasn’t Simon. While he had grown to fill his big brother’s shoes, it had taken quite some time and a dramatic trial by fire to do so. Could it be that Scootaloo just needed to grow more, both physically and emotionally?

“Ugh,” Scootaloo groaned. Her head was starting to throb from all the conflicting emotions swirling around inside her. Perhaps she was overthinking this. The entire basis for her self-analysis was a Japanese anime, after all. Even so, she supposed it could be considered a positive quality of hers; wanting to inspire others the same way this anime inspired her. Was that so wrong?

Scootaloo’s argument with herself could have easily gone on for longer, but the sound of loose guitar strums brought her attention back to the outside world. She didn't know how long she had been hiding away, but seeing as nobody else had returned to get dressed, she figured that the party was far from over.

Listening carefully to the disjointed array of guitar notes, Scootaloo realised that there was only one person, out of all NLAC members, who played an instrument with that specific tone. It had to be Rainbow Dash, even if her jams weren't up to her usual standard of play. Scootaloo knew next to nothing about playing musical instruments, but she had heard Rainbow Dash performing enough time to know when something was off.

Leaving her costume on the floor, Scootaloo peered out from behind the curtain to see Rainbow Dash, leaning against the wall and picking at her guitar strings in short, sharp bursts, cursing beneath her breath each time she stopped.

“No, no! This isn’t right! Gah, I’ve gotta do better than this.” Dash grumbled.

“Dash?” Scootaloo asked, pulling back the curtain to face her directly.

“Oh, hey, squirt,” Dash replied, strumming the same chord repeatedly. “Didn’t expect to see you back here. What happened to your costume?”

“I…” Scootaloo hesitated, wondering if there was any point in dumping her problems on Rainbow Dash. The two were close, closer than most, but that didn’t stop Scootaloo from wondering if her worries would be taken seriously.

“Scootaloo? Is something the matter?” Dash asked as she stopped playing, recognising the nervous twitches Scootaloo got when she was struggling with something emotionally. “What’s up, bud?”

“Oh! I-It’s nothing. Nothing important,” Scootaloo lied, unable to stop her feet from twisting on the spot.

“Come on, Scootaloo,” Dash retorted, pulling her guitar over her head and leaning it against the wall behind her. “I can tell you’re lying. I may not be great at dealing with emotional stuff, but I’m always good to listen when something's biting at my friends. So, what’s the problem?”

With a long, exasperated sigh, Scootloo slumped down on the floor next to Dash guitar. “You asked where my costume was, and well, the reason I took it off is part of the problem.”

“What? You mean there’s something wrong with being a nudist version of Simon?” Dash asked, sitting down next to her surrogate sister.

“No, it’s not that,” Scootaloo’s voice dropped into a monotoned ramble, too emotionally exhausted to express anything more. “I just don’t deserve to pretend I’m like Simon. I’m nothing like him. He has so much spiral power inside him—believing so strongly in himself—that he can over-come any challenge, inspiring the best in everyone around him. And me? I just can’t. Try as I might, every challenge I’ve faced tonight, I failed at. Can’t even give others promising ideas on how to be better at their task.”

“Scootaloo, not everyone can be like Simon-”

“I know that!” Scootaloo snapped, her voice cracking as she interrupted Rainbow Dash. “I know it’s all just an anime and all that stuff. I know Spiral Power isn’t really a thing, that’s not the point. I just felt so inspired by Simon, y’know? Like if I keep myself going at a task, even when I think I’m at my limit, I’ll be helpful to others, for a change. I’m a fraud! A phoney! A faker!”

“And being a big part of the NLAC’s founding doesn’t do much for ya, I’m guessing?”

Scootaloo nodded. “Right. I guess I’m starting to feel like a fifth wheel. Sweetie Belle did most of the legwork in getting the club started. I was just one of the first members.”

Picking up her guitar again and placing it in her lap, Rainbow Dash began to play a riff that had become familiar to Scootaloo especially; Sky Blue Days, the opening theme to Gurren Lagann. “Say, Scoots, do ya remember what Kamina said to Yoko shortly before he died?”

“What didn’t he say? You’re gonna have to be more specific than that.”

“Y'know all that big, over-blown self-confidence? It was mostly an act. It was to help Simon keep going and become the man he knew he could be. That’s why Kamina has that awesome motto. ‘Believe in yourself. Not the Simon that I believe in; believe in the Simon who believes in you!”

Scootaloo couldn’t help but giggle at the mention of the ridiculous motto, though she had to admit that, in a weird way, it did make sense. Wrapping her arm around Scootaloo, Dash continued. “While Simon was digging their way out of the underground village, Kamina was totally scared on the inside. But he trusted Simon with everything he had, so in the end, Simon overcame everything.”

“Of course! I remember now!” Scootaloo’s face lit up as she recalled everything Simon had gone through, still coming out triumphant despite the seemingly insurmountable power his enemies held. “But I still don’t know how I can motivate people when there’s nothing I’m good at.”

“Scoots, you know that’s not true,” Dash replied with a twinkle in her eye, implying that she perhaps knew a little more about Scootaloo than she did herself. “I’ve seen you pull off some sick stunts on your Scooter, and you are one-hundred percent fantastic on the Soccer Pitch! Even if you can’t do that exact kind of stuff indoors, I know you're smart enough to figure out something similar. And hey, who ever said you needed a special talent to inspire people anyway?”

Scootaloo took a few seconds to reply, pondering that thought through a review of the day’s events so far. “Now that you mention it, I didn’t do all that bad against Rumble Ready on the arcade game. Perhaps I could keep practicing with him?”

“That’s the spirit!” Dash exclaimed, giving Scootaloo a thumb up. “And you know what? You’ve already inspired one extra person today!”

“Oh?” Scootaloo was quick to ask. “Who? Tell me!”

“Me!” Dash pointed her extended thumb to herself. “The guitar licks you heard me playing before? I was getting some serious artistic block trying to come up with fresh jams for the performance. But now? Now I know exactly what I want to play. And it’s all thanks to you, Scoots!”

Throwing her arms around Rainbow Dash, Scootaloo hugged her tight. “Thank you so much, Aniki!”

“Hehe, anytime, squirt,” Dash chuckled, ruffling Scootaloo’s hair. “Now how about ya get your costume back on, while I go set up for the big performance tonight!”

“On it!” Skipping back into the changing room cubical, Scootaloo could hardly wait to get back to Rumble and show what she could achieve with her new-found confidence.

***********

Despite his earlier battle with Scootaloo giving him a serious case of gamer’s thumb, Rumble Ready continued to force his way through the game, pushing his score up higher and higher with each new run – yet still he still could not reach that illusive one-million-point score.

He had on several occasions considered stopping, yet those same games with Scootaloo had sparked something inside of him. Something that would not let him stop until he reached his goal, despite the irritation he felt in his reddened fingertips. “Oh, come on!” he exclaimed, having reached seventy-thousand points before dying for what felt like the hundredth time that day.

By now, Rumble had to admit that he had long passed the point of feeling worn out. His eyes were watering from staring so long, and his feet were practically begging to have the weight taken off them. He was close to breaking point, and if he didn’t reach his goal soon, he had no idea how long it would be until he’d be ready to try again.

That was when Rainbow Dash stepped on stage, a bombastic cheer from the party goers echoing throughout the club. The music that greeted Rumble’s ears next was a powerful guitar riff and turntable beat combination, with lyrics that sent a shiver down his spine.

Ask if you can hear the sound

Of my voice through the cold hard ground

I lost it while searching for you

I screamed into the dark

If the world we're living in

Has a single soul that you love?

If it holds a shred of meaning

Well, then it's worth every fight

The song also heralded the return of Scootaloo. “Hey, Rumble!” She said in a much calmer voice than before. “Sorry if I got too obsessive during our game before. I was acting like a major jerk and a sore loser.”

“Nah, it’s no big deal,” Rumble replied. “To be honest with ya, I’m getting a little frustrated at this game myself. I’m so close to getting that ultimate score, but I always seem to fall short. At this rate, it’s not lookin’ likely that I’ll ever get there.”

“Come on, Rumble, don’t say that!” Scootaloo exclaimed, slamming one fist onto her bare chest and pointing the other to the ceiling. “As the great Kamina always says, believe in yourself! Not in the Rumble that I believe in, or the Rumble you believe in, either. Believe in the me who believes in you!”

“…That made absolutely no sense,” Rumble replied after a brief pause, his mouth hanging open at such a cheesy proclamation, until both he and Scootaloo burst out laughing. “But I think you knew that already!”

“Hahaha, yeah, I guess it is a bit ridiculous,” Scootaloo agreed, wiping a tear from her eye. “But hey, it’s still pretty motivational if you think about it! So, what’s say we have one more game together? Even if we don’t get the highest score ever, we still had an amazing time blasting aliens, didn’t we?”

“You know what? That’s a great point! Come to think of it, I remember there being a co-op mode as well as a versus mode, so why don’t we try that together, as Space Fighter Buddies?”

“Space Fighter Buddies, huh? I like that idea! You’re on!”

And so, the two began the game again, this time combining their strengths instead of pitting them against one other. All the while, Rainbow Dash finished off her epic guitar solo with the chorus to the song once again:

And when all that we know comes to push and shove

Then we will pierce the heavens!

The colours we see are new to you and me

When we see the sky

As we began to run

So, we can finally feel the sun

Finally, you and I feel so alive

I feel your beating heart

If you believe in me

We'll find where we were meant to be

Now who cares about tomorrow

If today we are free?

My answer is always "Yes"

That I will always be with you

Congratulations, you win! New high score! The game announced as the song ended, both Scootaloo and Rumble jumping for joy. Their final score: one-million, forty-five-thousand, six-hundred and thirteen points.

-Mystic_Mind

“Ed found him!” Ed shouted from her spot on the floor.

“I still don't understand what kind of high school student gets a thirty-two million wu-long bounty.” Jet black said as he looked at Ed’s computer screen.

“I don't care how he got that bounty just so long as we don't have to eat shiitake mushrooms ever again.” Spike said with a shudder.

Jet set Ed's computer on the table to read about their bounty while Ed played with ein.

“Huh, says here that he regularly attends meetings at some club called the natural living appreciation club, or NLAC for short.” Jet read off of the bounty wanted page. “There's not much information available about this club, apparently they have nudist parties on Fridays.”

“Well I'm not going I'd look like a weirdo.” Spike announced.

“I can't go either I'm older than you are. What about fey?” Jet asked.

“I'm not going us girls have modesty.” fey said despite the fact she barely had any clothing on already.

“What's a nudist?” Ed asked as she sat up rolling ein off her chest in the process.

“A nudist is someone that goes around without their clothes on.” Jet explained.

“That sounds fun Ed wants to try!” Ed shouted as she began to take her clothes off.

“No, Ed wait until we get to earth!”

***

After a short bout of wrestling and some persuading they finally convinced Ed to keep her clothes on, at least for the trip to earth. The rest of the Bebop crew dropped Ed and ein off outside the school before returning to orbit. Ed skipped up to the entrance of the NLAC building carrying ein on her shoulders and casually walked right on in.

“ooh, lookit all the naked people ein.” Ed said to the little Corgi while holding him out at arm's length. Not paying attention where she was walking Ed walked into the back of ms. Cheerilee.

“Oh, hello I'm ms. Cheerilee is this your first time attending an NLAC party?” Ms. Cheerilee asked noticing Ed's still dressed state.

“Oh, Ed forgot!” Ed quickly began to take off her loose fitting shirt and small form fitting shorts.

“It's alright the changing rooms are right over ther-ACK!” Ms. Cheerilee got hit in the face with a tee shirt that Ed threw off, she pulled the tee shirt off her face in time to see Ed run off to join the party.

“That was a girl?” Ms. Cheerilee said to herself confused.

***
By now Ed had forgotten she had gone there to catch a bounty and was now just enjoying the party, fortunately with her darker skin and bright red hair she blended in with the rest of the students at canterlot high school. Ed wandered aimlessly around trying various activities at the party.

“Ooh, they have a pool!” Ed immediately threw ein into the pool and jumped in afterwards. Ein started to doggie paddle while Ed played in the water, she hadn't been swimming for a long time and noticed that swimming naked felt pretty good.
Suddenly Ed was lifted out of the water on pinky pies shoulders.

“Hello! I'm pinky pie I never met you before, I know because I know everyone who are you? Are having fun at this happyrific party?” Pinky pie shouted barely breathing between words.

“And I'm Edward Wong hau pepelu tivrusky the fourth and that's ein.” Ed gestured to the side where ein was now trying to climb out of the pool but couldn't quite make it.

“Pleased to meet you.”Ed said with a regal accent before bursting out laughing and falling backwards off of pinky pies shoulders and back into the water.

“Ah! I know let's go get some yumtastic treats from the buffet, I made them myself.” pinky pie said while wiggling her eyebrows.

“Why that sounds delightful.” Ed dove underwater and resurfaced under Ein lifting him out of the water with her head and both girls climbed out of the pool and headed of to the buffet.

***

Ed and pinky pie were eating cake with milk, Ed was sitting on the floor holding her cup with her feet and even got some dog treats from Fluttershy for Ein.

“How long are you and your cute little doggie gonna keep attending canterlot high?” Pinky pie asked.

“Ed’s just visiting for tonight on a super secret mission from beyond the stars.” Ed said with a deep voice while waving her arms.

“Okayyy, oh hey meet my friend Grey Ash.” Pinky pie said hoping to change the subject and pulled the first person she saw over to where they were sitting, which happened to be a boy with pale grey skin and hair that looked familiar to Ed.

“Um, hel-”

“STINKY GAS”

“Wait what?”

Ed pulled a pair of squirt guns out of the bag next to her and squeezed the triggers releasing a noxious cloud of green gas, which when it cleared Ed, Ein, and Grey Ash were all gone.

***

“Well I'm surprised Ed actually managed to bring somebody back with her” Jet black said incredulously.

“Yeah, it would've been nice if she brought back the bounty instead of the damn kid on the school web page” Spike said without looking up from his cigarette.

Ed went floating by naked in zero gravity back on board the Bebop.

“Ed! Put your clothes back on!” Spike yelled with his eyes closed.

Ah hahahaha!

-doomguy666

Ready Player One

Ready Player One

Arrow Wind smirked a devilish smirk upon her face as she properly dressed herself for tonight’s affair. Getting on her Bosmer ears was simple enough, more so she had made sure her Thieves’ guild “outfit” would work out perfectly for the NLAC’s party. Even her bow and arrows were properly ready for the gamer theme that would define tonight. The only trick was, outside of the thieves’ hood and facemask, Arrow Wind would not have any clothing on. Even better she was going to take her sister Blazing Wind to the same affair. It was perfectly devious and fabulous, take her sister to a nudist party!

“It shall be the ultimate payback!” Arrow giggled highly.

Back when the two girls were in middle school, Blazing pranked Arrow just after they got done with gym by stealing Arrow’s clothes. That forced the poor girl to nearly streak around the school to get the clothing back, and gave her the unfortunate nickname of “Clear Winds.” Now it was time for payback, this time it would be Arrow’s turn to be the thief.

All Blazing knew was that she was going to a video game themed party, and the duo had dressed accordingly for their personal favorite: Elder Scrolls V Skyrim. While Arrow was attending as her sneaky Nightingale Thief from Valenwood, Blazing Wind was going as a Nord Warrior who was a part of the Companions. The most ironic thing was if they were going to a normal party Blazing would be the least dressed as Nord women in Skyrim followed the standard tradition of video games of wearing less clothing.

Still none of it was going to matter tonight, and for Arrow that was all she needed. Arrow had been to two parties before but she was far from a Nudist, she mostly liked the atmosphere and the unique ways people came up with wearing costumes while naked. But Blazing was nothing short of a prude, and seeing her within this atmosphere would be very, very hilarious. Wrapping up her hard work, Arrow walked back into her room, donned her outfit, and walked down to the front hall. Blazing was already there waiting impatiently for her.

“It is not wise to keep a Companion waiting.” Blazing snipped, already in character.

“Nocturnal was late in her arrival so forgive me for keeping you.” Arrow giggled, “Are we ready to depart?”

“Let’s, before the nightwalkers make their presence known.” Blazing smiled getting up.

“Wouldn’t you be one of them Madam Lycian?” Arrow giggled again.

“Hush up you!” Blazing responding, though even she couldn’t help but smile.

“Well then let’s get going.” Arrow smiled.

With that the duo headed off. Once they reached Canterlot High, Arrow sprung her surprise upon Blazing. It didn’t take long either because upon their arrival they instantly ran into two students running around without clothing on. After a moment of shocked silence, Blazing caught on quickly.

“A NUDIST PARTY!” she bellowed nearly loud enough to be heard in Zebrica.

Arrow did her best to stifle a laugh, “Clearly that is the case, I mean why else would these students be acting that way?”

“You…you knew already didn’t you little thief?” Blazing snapped, her face becoming red.

Behind her hood and mask, Arrow could only barely hold back a smile as she sang, “Maybe.”

Blazing’s nose was bent out of shape as she angrily glared at her sister, who was very much enjoying herself, “This is payback for that streaking prank isn’t it?!”

“Oh you know it sister. Now you have two choices, walk home in defeat or shed most of your armor and partake in tonight’s amenities.” Arrow smiled.

Blazing glared, “Then what will my sister do?”

“Oh I’ve been here before, I do not intend on going home today.” Arrow smiled and headed off to the locker rooms to get undressed. Blazing watched her go with a raised eyebrow, trying to stifle a growl. She had been bamboozled and worse left in a situation that was far from perfect. While the exact details of the party had been left a secret, the party was still Video Game themed. Yet it would mean being naked. Biting her tongue, Blazing resigned herself and raced after her sister.

“I will not be outdone by you Thief. I am a Companion after all and we do not run from a fight, or a challenge.” Blazing announced.

Twenty minutes later, Arrow was in honest to goodness shock. Her sister had effortlessly shed her costume, slapped on some war paint in strategic areas to help cover some dignity, and was now mingling around the crowds of fellow cosplayers and gamers as if nothing had changed. Thank goodness her hood remained to cover her face, or Blazing might have mocked Arrow’s dumbfounded expression.

However, Arrow had not been idle in the festivities. Like a good thief, she had been hard at work “pickpocketing” and “robbing treasures” as well as taking part in some quests that fellow party attendees had created right on the spot.And most of it had been great fun despite the lack of a full costume. Finally, the Wind sisters met up at the snack table to eat their weight in food.

“Ah I underestimated you sister,” Blazing smiled, seemingly comfortable.

“Nah, I think I’m the one who underestimated you. I hadn’t intended for you to be this comfortable. I’m proud of you sis…” Arrow smiled back.

“Oh? Well then I guess I’ve done my job,” Blazing chuckled, “Like I’ve always said, ‘You’ll never get the better of me.’ Still even I must admit this is kinda fun.”

“You know what’ll make this even more fun?” Arrow giggled, “I hear you can get a really fun quest upstairs.”

Blazing’s eyes widened, “Really?”

“Oh yeah and a few are tailored to the person’s style.” Arrow smiled, “And this time I am not fibbing.”

Blazing pondered for a moment before nodding, “Then let’s be off.”

Smiling Arrow lead her sister out of the cafeteria and up the steps to the second floor. Of course there was in fact a billboard that was plastered with missions capable for anyone and everyone to play. Of course Arrow managed to find a quest suitable for a Thief but it was Blazing who found the more interesting quest. All the directions said to start the quest was: “Go to the roof.” Saying goodbye to her sister, Blazing did so. Upon reaching the roof she was met with the statue of a feminine angel holding her hands outwards towards the sky.

It was painfully obvious that the statue was a person in a costume, as she was clearly as naked as Blazing, but still Blazing played along as the statue spoke to her.

“A new champion approaches, listen to my words mortal and obey.” The angel spoke in an admittedly good attempt at a god-like voice, “A fowl darkness has seeped into my temple, a fowl darkness that you must destroy. Do for me this task, and you will be rewarded handsomely, fail and your soul will forever be trapped in the realms of oblivion.”

Blazing knelt down and responded, “What is it you ask of me madam Daedra.”

The Angel seemed to recognize the name, “The necromancer Malkoran has defiled my shrine and uses token to fuel his fowl deeds. You mortal will enter my temple, retrieve my token, and put down the defiler.”

“It shall be done milady.” Blazing nodded and headed off.

“Before you leave,” The angel spoke again, “I shall provide you with this beacon, it’ll be the light you’ll need in the darkness.” Then one of her hands left its position and switched on a laser beam that slowly found its way to pointing down.

Now with a sense of purpose, Blazing followed the beam of light back through the school, avoiding any party goers who wanted to get in her way. Finally the light led her to the basement, into the massive storage area that the NLAC club members had painstakingly turned into a dungeon complex. Blazing was slightly impressed, there were some cosplayers dressed up as Draugr, skeletons, and other creatures that go bump in the night. However the vast majority of obstacles were nothing more than cardboard or Styrofoam cutouts.

Still Blazing was glad she broad her foam axe to help “cut” her way through any and all obstacles. It didn’t take long to deal with the threats, one or two hits doing the job, until she reached the area where Malkoran was waiting. He stood in front of a glowing alter holding an actual orange sword whose hilt was glowing like the stars. Dressed in black robes that were not as revealing as Blazing’s outfit, Malkoran turned around and faced Blazing.

Without saying a word, the necromancer struck firing blasts of ice magic at the Companion. Jumping and dodging out of the way, Blazing looked for an opening. She found it when Malkoran stumbled. With one strike, she buried her axe into the necromancer’s shoulder ending his reign. With her task done, Blazing approached the altar.

“That is Dawnbreaker,” the angel said, having discreetly followed Blazing down, “My tool to vanquish the vermin that plague the land. And with Malkoran dead, it can be that again. Take my Dawnbreaker champion, use her to bring light to the darkest places.”

With a sense of pride, Blazing picked up the blade and much to her shock it was real. Roughly weighing ten or so pounds, the blade had amazing balance and the grip felt comfortable. Taking a few swings, Blazing instantly fell in love with the blade.

“This is amazing.” She said.

“I’m glad you like it,” the angel said, dropping her tone and returning to a normal voice, “My brother and I made it ourselves.”

“Really?” Blazing said, stepping down to help the Necromancer back to his feet.

“Yup, I did the metal work and my sister here worked on the lights.” He smiled, “I’m Cold Steel, and my friends call me Sharpie though.”

“Hard Strike,” the angel introduced.

“Blazing Winds,” Blazing smiled, “I must say I’m impressed I’ve never seen craftsmanship this good unless I’m at a really high end Convention.”

“Well it’s yours if you want it.” Hard Strike smiled.

Blazing’s eyes widened again, “Oh no I can’t accept this.”

“Of course you can, you earned it. Besides we can make real easily.” Cold Steel responded.

“Yeah we came here both cuz we like the theme’s and because we sell our merchandise here.” Hard Strike responded.

“Wonderful.” Blazing said, “Well how about I make it up by getting you both something to eat?”

Blake Skies.

As with everyone else in the world, there were aspects in Jay's life that she was less than happy with. But at the same time there were a lot of aspects that she was more than happy with. It was a constant balancing act, as was with everything else, but sometimes it was easier to keep your balance than it was others.

On the positive, she was a student attending CHS. On the negative, CHS was still a high school, and entailed all the soul-crushing unpleasantries and eldritch horrors associated with such.

Positive: she had a lot of friends, so she wasn't alone in that situation. Negative: she was mute, and communication with most of them was difficult and time consuming.

Positive: there were very few at CHS that would actually make fun of her for her deficiency. Negative: she was still mute regardless, and had been since way back when in grade school, when she'd caught that baseball to the throat.

Neutral: she was a nudist. Positive: she knew a lot of others who were also nudists, or at least had no objections to the lifestyle. Negative: her parents didn't know, and she couldn't bring herself to actually tell them, for fear of what their reaction might be.

Positive: CHS had its own nudist club right on the premises. Negative: it wasn't officially sanctioned with the school, making it a gamble to attend.

Positive: The club hosted themed parties. Negative: these parties only came once a week, on Friday nights.

Positive: Tonight's theme was video games! Motherfucking, honest to goodness, video games! The most requested party theme had finally been selected and made into a real event! Negative: none found.

All in all, as far as she was concerned right now, the positives in life outweighed the negatives, so she had good reason to be happy; especially tonight when the party was getting into full swing! So lock up the women and hide the fried chicken!

Alright, that last one was a silly reference, even by her own standards, but she was excited enough to not care about such. A video game theme had been on the request list ever since Sweetie Belle concocted the idea of themed parties, and now, finally, it'd come to pass.

Of course that led to its own difficulties. Video games, as with many other media aspects, were largely defined by visuals, one of which was character design, which involved a great deal of detail related to clothing. But at a nudist party, that really wasn't an option. So, par for the course, that left makeup, prosthetics, and accessories to convey which video game they were referencing to meet the theme.

She'd lucked out easy tonight, having decided to go with the "Tomb Raider" franchise for her entry. Even though she wasn't built like Lara Croft -and pity to any girl that actually was- that did little to actually get in the way. While shorts and a tight tank top weren't options, the double weapons rig certainly was; both thigh and shoulder holsters, making it very easy to be ready for tonight. Granted it was a bit fetishy and all with how the stuff rode on her, as well as where it rode on her, but that -much like the inevitable chafing- was unavoidable.

"Alright, I showed up for this party. Can I go now?"

Jay looked over to her left at the guest she'd brought along to tonight's party; one Fizzlepop Berrytwist, who looked very uncomfortable with the whole thing. She stood there with goosebumps popping out across her plum-colored skin, despite the warm weather of the season, with her arms crossed against her front in a less-than-efficient manner of doing anything to either warm herself, or conceal anything.

In response to the question, she shook her head and began signing back, pointing out that they'd just gotten here.

"I said that I'd show up for the party. I never said that I'd actually stay for it," Fizzlepop pointed out.

Jay shook her head and signed back at an accelerated rate, pointing out just how stupid that was.

"Slow down, I can't understand you when you stutter," Fizzlepop stated in an annoyed tone.

Jay frowned back in an equally annoyed manner, but was quick to respond. One of the aspects of her theme getup tonight was lots of pouches for vital accessories, such as a pen and notepad. She pulled those out and began writing out a response, moving with the speed of someone possessed by otherworldly forces.

Another positive: she was quite skilled in speed writing, and with legible penmanship. And from the looks of it, she was going to be needing those hard-earned skills right now to communication with the reluctant Fizzlepop.

"It's Friday night. What other pressing matters do you have right now?"

"Work," Fizzlepop stated plainly.

"You're already maxed out on overtime for the month at Sugarcube Corner."

"There are other places in Canterlot looking to hire people for part-time work. There's always day labor to be found, even at this time of night," Fizzlepop replied dismissively.

"With your hand broken?"

Fizzlepop had no immediate response for that one. All she could do was unfold her arms and look at her left hand, at the ring and pinky fingers that were currently bandaged and splinted to keep them immobile. Making it worse was the fact that it was her dominant hand that'd suffered the break.

"It's not like it was broken that bad, the doctor was just overreacting, that's all," Fizzlepop grumbled as she folded her arms again, tucking the bandages back out of view. "Besides, I've still got one good hand, I can still do something..."

"Fizz' you're pushing yourself too hard."

"That's easy for you to say. You might not have to work, but I certainly do. And my being here is interfering with that," Fizzlepop stated.

Jay knew that Fizzlepop was going to bring that up in protest, as it wasn't the first time. Having been on her own, and taking care of herself ever since her parents tragically died when she was still in junior-high, the girl had been forced to developed a hard work ethic, that bordered on ludicrous. Her body was a testament to this fact, bearing numerous scars from various odd and part-time jobs she undertook to ensure she had enough funding to make ends meet. And while it was admirable, it wasn't healthy.

"One night off isn't going to do you any harm. Relax and have fun."

"If I wanted to relax I've got a game console back at my apartment I could just dust off and fire up," Fizzlepop stated.

Jay did her best to groan, already involved in a response that was going to take at least a whole page to get across just how bad of an excuse that was.

"Besides, everyone here is naked. I don't do naked," Fizzlepop added.

That made Jay stop writing and look back at Fizzlepop, unsure of just how to respond. She'd told her about what could be expected at one of these NLAC parties when she'd invited her to attend. She knew what she was talking into.

"Look, Silent Bob, I decided to be a good sport and show up to take a look around out of basic politeness since you invited me, but I don't do the whole party scene thing," Fizzlepop stated. "I'm gonna grab my clothes and get the hell outta here before anyone else tries to stop me and make this anymore awkward. And if we're really friends like you say, then you'll respect my decision in this, and not try to get in the way."

Jay didn't want to admit it, but she felt crestfallen at this turn of events. Here she'd been trying to be nice and help out a friend who was terribly overworked, by showing her a fun way to relax, and said friend was rebuffing her efforts because she was too worried about work to actually let go and even catch her breath. This wasn't good. This was Fizzlepop's last semester at CHS, possibly her last semester for school at all, and if she didn't let herself stop and take a break while she still could, she likely never would. She could very easily see Fizz' working herself into an early grave if this pattern didn't change.

Instinctively her hand went for her phone to text her friends, in hopes that they would be able to do something about this that she couldn't do herself. But as she touched her hip, she remembered that her phone had been left with her clothes, and wasn't a viable option. She'd have to go about finding her friends the old fashioned way, and hope that she had enough time. Fizz' might not want her to interfere, but that didn't mean the rest of her friends couldn't become involved if they saw her.

Much to Fizzlepop's surprise -and general discomfort- there were still people streaming in to partake in tonight's party. The number of people who were currently in the changing room as she stepped inside, was even greater than the number that'd been present when Jay had brought her here. Just how open of a secret was this whole NLAC club? How many nudists were there at this school!?

"Fuck it," she muttered to herself as she stepped back into the room. She needed her clothes, and she needed them right now.

She was aware of the fact that she was drawing at least a few stares with her swimming upstream approach to doing things, but she didn't care. More to the point, she was well beyond the point of even being able to care about what they might've thought. She was going to get her clothes, get dressed, and get the hell out of here. What she really needed right now was to get out of here, and find somebody who was willing to pay her for logging a couple hours of labor; not to be surrounded by a bunch of naked fools who had to take their clothes off to have a good time!

"Wow! That was rude."

Fizzlepop froze in the middle of getting back into her underwear as she heard that.

"I said that out loud, didn't I?" she asked without turning around to see who was addressing her.

"You certainly did. And if that's how you feel, fuck you too."

Saying nothing, Fizzlepop finished pulling her underwear back up and grabbed her bra to throw on, before turning around to see just who she'd pissed off without realizing it. She recognized the student by sight, as her prosthetic leg was unmistakable, although her name eluded her at the moment. It had something to do with Wind, but that was all she knew for certain right now.

"Why'd you even show up if you had no intention of staying anyway?" she asked pointedly.

"I was tricked," Fizzlepop replied and returned back to getting dressed as best she could with only one and a half hands at her disposal.

"And you didn't think anyone of it when everyone was getting undressed?" she asked.

"I was in a state of shock. It took a minute for my brain to reboot and figure out exactly what was going on," Fizzlepop replied defensively as she pulled her pants back on.

"Uh-huh," came a response that was filled to the brim with disbelief. "Look, Fizzle, if you don't wanna stay for the party, that's no skin off my nose. But there's no need to be rude about something you don't understand."

"First, don't call me Fizzle," Fizzlepop replied as she slipped her arms into her shirt to pull over her head. "Second, I wasn't being rude. And third, I understand plenty. I just don't like it."

"Why?"

It was a funny little question. It only consisted of a single word, and yet when asked to the right person, it had so much destructive potential. It could reveal if someone was a great liar, was convinced beyond doubt that they were right in their position, or even potentially trigger a psychological meltdown as the one who was asked delved too deep into the existential. And Fizzlepop knew that.

Rather than giving a direct answer, she opted to shrug in response. "Some other time. Right now I've gotta get going."

"Or, alternatively, you could actually stay for the party and give it a chance, rather than scurrying off like you're terrified," the other girl pointed out.

"Now why would I do that? And what's it to you anyway? What interest do you have in all of this?" Fizzlepop asked.

"Well I know that my friend, Jay, invited you to tonight's party, and she's going to be mighty disappointed if you just cut and run like a chicken," the other girl stated. "As to the why. If you stay for an hour I'll give you twenty bucks. How's that strike you?"

A bribe. This girl, this amputee with an attitude, was actually resorting to offering her a bribe to hang out at this nudist mosh pit? That was certainly a new one. There was the distinct urge to slap her in the face for doing such.

On the other hand... it was twenty bucks, it was almost three times the minimum wage rate in Canterlot city, and all she had to do to earn it was stick around for an hour. There were certainly harder ways to make a dollar, and she knew about them very well. This didn't really count as prostitution, but it did count as selling herself. Then again she'd planned on going around town to find someone she could basically sell herself to for a few hours to make some extra money, so it really wasn't all that different.

"Deal," she said and sighed in defeat. "But I'm keeping my clothes on. Cheerilee said that I could," she added.

"Fine, fine, whatever you want," the girl replied and waved dismissively.

"Wow!"

Not having access to her phone, Jay had to track her friends down the old-fashioned way, on foot. Luck had been with her, however, when she'd found several of them clustered together, their presence practically beckoning her like an oasis in the desert to someone dying of thirst.

Shady was in the process of trying to learn how to play a guitar, under the watchful tutelage of Sunset Shimmer as she stood close by, offering up advice, and helping the younger girl adjust her hold on the instrument. But the real luck had come in the form of Vinyl Scratch also being present in the little group. Unlike the other two girls, Vinyl actually knew sign language; a skill she'd found invaluable for communicating while wearing her headphones and effectively deaf to her surroundings. That allowed her to explain the situation with Fizzlepop to Vinyl, who in turn could explain it to the others.

"She went and pulled that on you? That's just messed up," Vinyl stated and shook her head.

"I knew she could be kinda bitchy, but I never thought Stormy would do that," Shady agreed, her attention no longer on the guitar in her hands, but rather on her friend in distress at having her friendship with another friend threatened in such a manner. "Hey, Bacon, if you wrote P.T. about this, do you think she'd come over and hand stormy her ass?"

"I kinda hope she does, I'd pay to see that," Vinyl stated.

"Yeah, you and me both, Pop," Shady added.

Jay could tell that Sunset wanted to facepalm as Shady and Vinyl shared a high five at the direction this conversation had taken. That left her with wishing she could audibly groan at the antics of the two chuckleheads she was friends with.

"I don't think it would come to that. At least I hope not. But Twilight would certainly have some unkind words on the subject of weaponizing friendship and all that," Sunset replied.

"Magical curb stomping aside, what are we really supposed to do about Stormy not wanting to be here? We know nudity isn't for everyone," Shady pointed out as her fingers found their way to tuning keys to slightly adjust the tension on the top string. "Last I checked, we weren't tasked with making people like these parties. Not that I know how we could if we were though."

"I gotta agree. If someone doesn't like bein' here that's their loss, not ours," Vinyl added.

This wasn't the way Jay had been anticipating things to go when she brought this development to light. She'd been hoping for words of advice on what to do, or maybe even someone offering to go talk some sense into the stubborn girl. But not apathetic acceptance. Two of these three girls were part of the group that'd kicked the Dazzlings right out of CHS, shouldn't this have been a cakewalk for them?

She briefly considered going after Fizzlepop herself to try and write some sense into the girl, but then stopped, and started gesturing in the direction of the entrance until the others followed her lead.

"Huh. Would ya look at that," Vinyl commented.

"Where?" Shady asked.

"It looks like your friend, Wind Rider, managed to get Fizzlepop to hang around. She's dressed, but at least she's here," Sunset explained.

"Way to go, Strut," Shady commented and grinned, before once again returning her attention to the guitar she'd been holding.

"So does somebody wanna explain why she's carrying a shotgun and a chainsaw to this party?" Vinyl asked as she tilted her head sideways in trying to figure out what Wind Rider's video game of choice was.

Strut responded by scribbling down a response, before tearing out the sheet of paper and passing it to Vinyl to read.

"She decided to come as the Doom Marine."

"Wait, seriously? She actually went with that? Dude, that's awesome, I love that game!" Vinyl stated.

Charlie_K

“What!” Moonlight cried. “You can’t go out like that?”
Night Streak and her mother looked at the distraught girl with a perplexed gaze. They were steps from the the garage. “Why not?” Night Streak asked crossing her arms over her head and stretching a little.
“You’re nekkid, that’s why!” Moonlight said, “And stop doing that. It’s embarrassing.” Her voice choked on the last word as Night Streak accentuated her pose.
Night Streak couldn’t see the blush under her friend’s facepaint, but knew it was there. While it was cute, it put Night Streak on edge. She had hoped her playing up her nudity would make her friend laugh, but it had obviously backfired and she put her arms back down.
“Sorry.” Night Streak looked down at herself and changed tactics. “But really, I’m wearing paint.” She was too. For the party she was going as the resurrected vampire Raziel from the Soul Reaver video game series. He happened to be nude in the game and that was perfect for her. Her mother, a cosmetic artist for the local theater, had used Night Streak’s natural black skin to give the blue paint depth. The effect was stunning. From head to her toes, it looked like she was a gaunt ghoul with sinuous blue muscles. Her only real covering was an oversized brown scarf that had silver tear streaks under her eyes. “And a scarf!” She added as she tussled it.
“That doesn’t count! People can still see -- can still see your everything!” Moonlight was becoming more and more flustered and tried to cover herself.
It was Night Streak’s hope that tonight would change Moonlight’s feelings about nudity and maybe join her. A few months ago, Night Streak had introduced Moonlight to her nudism and while her friend was supportive, she didn’t seem to want to join. That’s what tonight’s surprise was suppose to be about, it would be her big entrance into nudism. But she had to get her to the party and this obviously wasn’t helping. Maybe changing the focus would help.
“Well, what did you think? I’d be wearing a coat all evening?” Night Streak asked. “Besides, your costume is going to get more attention than mine.” Night Streak knew Moonshine liked to appear shy, but lived for showing off in front of others. Especially in athletic competitions, but tonight she was showing off in a different way. Her costume was even more impressive than Night Streak’s. Night Streak crossed her fingers and hoped her ploy would work.
“Really?” Moonlight looked at her costume. She had decided to go as Sly Cooper from the same named game series. Like Night Streak, Moonlight had been painted but it only covered her legs, arms, and face. She wore a black leotard under the iconic blue shirt and had the matching hat, gloves and boots. She also wore a prosthetic raccoon nose that Night Streak’s mother had made and a racoon tail they had bought off the Internet. It was fastened with a clear belt over the leotard.
Night Streak put her hands on her friend’s shoulders and sighed. “You’ll be fine and look amazing. They will flip for that nose.” She tapped it a little. “I’ve done this, I know them, and they’ll be cool, okay?” Despite her smugness she felt herself continuing to falter. Her plan was so close to coming together and falling apart all at once she wished she knew which way it was going to go. Pushing her friend like this went against a lot of her more solid feelings towards nudism, but nothing she’d tried to get Moonlight into try it had worked. It was all or nothing tonight. Night Streak grabbed her friend’s hand and said “Let’s go!” There wasn’t any resistance.

“Buckle up!” Night Streak’s mother called as they pulled out of the garage a moment later.
Night Streak put her hand on Moonlight’s wrist in an effort to calm her friend. She could understand why Moonlight was so nervous. She remembered the butterflies in her own stomach the first time her mom had driven her to a party. But Moonlight didn’t know what she was walking into. The conundrum was troubling for Night Streak, she accepted her nudity but didn’t want to be nude herself. “It’ll be okay.” She kept repeating to herself under her breath.
A few minutes later, Night Streak was startled out of her stupor as Moonlight gasped in surprise and then felt the blood drain from her as Moonlight exclaimed, “Oh my god, they’re nekkid!”
Night Streak had hoped there wouldn’t be any students out to spoil the surprise, but on reflection that had been a dream. She looked out her window and saw some of the NLAC members strolling across the athletic field. Nothing she could do about it now except advance her plan by a little more than she already was.
“Um, so you see, the reason I won’t have a problem with my costume is.”’ Night Streak couldn’t help suppress a guilty grin. “Everyone else will be naked too.”
“No!” Moonlight said, her tone clearly sharp and aggravated. Her eyes darted from side to side in frantic thought. “This wouldn’t happen to be one of your plans to get me nekkid, would it?” She gave Night Streak a hard penetrating stare.
“Whatever do you mean?--”
“Nope! You’ve been acting weird all night. This is why, right?” Moonlight shook her head and stared at the van floor. Night Streak could feel her frustration. “We’ve been friends for so long and shared a lot, but now this. Do you realize -- Yes, you’ve been nekkid around me, and I’m fine with it, but stop pushing me!”
Night Streak drew back. This was what she’d feared. Trying to surprise her friend into just being nude had been a stupid idea. She felt herself crumbling and thought she lost it all until her mother spoke up.
“Well, from what I know of these parties, they’re clothing optional, right? You don’t have to get naked. Isn’t that right, Nighty?”
Night was stunned for a moment. She was right. There was no push for anyone to be naked, was there? Earlier her mother and her had had a long talk on if the plan was a good idea at all, but this angle was new and so obvious. It was only about getting Moonlight to experience a nudist event. That’s when an idea clicked into place. “Um, yup.” Night Streak said. “You may stand out, but you can stay dressed.”
Moonlight’s outward expression didn’t change for awhile as she contemplated. Then she sighed and said, “Fine. I’ll go. You know I can’t stay mad at you.” Moonlight’s shoulders drooped a bit, but she quickly regained her posture and looked Night Streak in the eye. “But I’m staying dressed, hear me?”
“Fine, fine, okay.” Night Streak smiled and put her hands up in resignation. Then she pulled the door open. Her plan was still working, if modified a bit. There was only one more thing to pull off, the hardest thing, but she’d come this far, it had to work.

She waved to her mother as she drove off and felt a rush of excitement as she stood nude in the middle of the parking lot. She didn’t have long to enjoy the feeling because Moonlight grabbed her arm and dragged her into the school and down to the cafeteria. Once both were seated, Moonlight demanded to know what was going on and what else Night Streak had planned. Night Streak knew the gig was up and gave her the story of how the NLAC was formed and how she’d gotten involved. While she told the story, many students they knew walked by and stopped to say “hi.” No one was unfriendly or mean, which wasn’t all that of a surprise being a nudist event, but just the amount of people they knew at the party was surprising. Even more surprising was how Moonlight seemed to relax as more and more of her friends or people she knew talked to her. So Night Streak decided to push for just a little bit more.
“Why don’t you take off the leotard?”
“What!? No way.” Moonlight shrieked and covered herself with her arms. “You said I didn’t have to get naked”
“But you wouldn’t be naked!” Night Streak said and glanced at the shirt.
“That’s pretty thin.” Moonlight said and gave her a weak glare. Night Streak knew she had won and let out a sigh of relief. Her friend’s more playful nature was coming back. Moonlight looked around at the students. “Okay, fine. This is just a big step and I wish you hadn’t pushed me into it.” She took a deep breath and held it for a second before letting it out. “Just the leotard?”
“Yes. Keep the rest of the costume on. Otherwise, you’d just be a raccoon and that’s no fun. All I’m asking is that you give it a try, alright?” She smiled and held Moonlight’s hand. “Trust me.”
Moonlight let out another sigh. “Trust you when you look like a demon. Sure. Okay. At least I’ll be more dressed than they are. Where can I change?”
“That’s the spirit!” Night Streak cheered. “Let’s get you to the changing rooms.”

Moonlight timidly stepped out of the changing room and pulled down on the shirt that did nothing to hide her lower half. Night Streak grinned. Moonlight’s natural skin color was white and, combined with the makeup, gave her friend a white furred tummy look. Not quite like Sly, but they were gender bending their character anyway so what was a little extra artistic license? Besides, in Night Streak’s opinion, they should’ve been female to begin with (or at least had the option to be), but that was an argument for later. Right now she was just so excited her friend had done this for her and was hoping she’d go along with the next part too.
“Ah! Now we have the great thief as she should be!” She loudly proclaimed as she embraced Moonlight. “You can’t get more authentic than that. Even at a game con! Imagine what they would say if they saw us as we are now? You’d win the costume prize for sure.” As she spoke and continued to embrace her friend, Night Streak could feel the tension wasn’t leaving Moonlight. She whispered in her ear “Stay calm. You’ve got this. Soon, you won’t even notice. I promise.” Moonlight nodded slightly and Night Streak let go. She gave the costume another look over and nodded in approval. She loved how the tail seemed blend into the costume. The clear belt didn’t show up at all. “Definitely an improvement. Now, let the games begin!”
“Games?” Moonlight asked. Her posture was becoming more natural and her arms dropped to her sides. “What games?”
Night Streak knew that a challenge might have taken Moonlight’s thoughts off the nudity earlier and would have avoided a lot of this. Looking back on it, she should’ve led with that, but it was too late now.
“Oh, did I forget to mention? I signed us up for the escape room challenge.” She grinned. In the video games, Raziel was about as clever as Sly and both had puzzles to solve, so having a real-life puzzle room would be authentic for the characters and fun for both of them. “I hope you brought your ‘A-game’ and don’t mind a little sweat.” She was happy to see Moonlight perk up at that.

They made their way down the hall to the event and signed in. Calling it an “escape room” wasn’t really accurate. In reality, it was more like a cross between that and a team building obstacle course.
They were informed they could start immediately since the last group had just made it through the halfway point and the first part had been reset. They quickly entered and were met with a high wall with a cut out in the middle that looked like some sort of window. The room had nothing in it to give them ideas of what to do or how to solve it. Like most escape rooms, they were allowed three hints, but each hint would reduce their score. If that wasn’t enough, they also had to beat the clock. The faster time, the more points.
They didn’t waste any time getting to the wall and scoured it for any clues. Night Streak found the first set of handholds and discovered they were meant for pulling, not climbing. Her attempt to pull only managed to wedge whatever it was in place. It took both of them pushing it back in, finding the other set of hand holds, and then pulling it out together to solve the puzzle. As they pulled, a shelf revealed itself and both were able to reach the window and enter the next level.
That set the tone for the rest of the rooms. Every challenge, every obstacle, required at least two people to solve it. There were points where one person might have been able to do it, but it would’ve either taken a lot of strength or flexibility. It was impossible in the rooms where they had to turn a set of keys in sync or lift each other up to open a hidden compartment.
Through it all, Night Streak waited for her friend to bring up the nudity, to mention something, for them to have a moment to talk, but she was given the cold shoulder, unless they were solving the puzzles.
Finally, they came to the last room and of course it was the hardest. The problem looked simple. There was a pit with an idol head on the other side. They couldn’t jump it and there was no way to wall run or swing across. Suddenly a voice boomed out. “Present your sacrifice!” The two girls were confused. They didn’t have anything to sacrifice. There wasn’t anything from the previous chambers they hadn’t already used to solve a puzzle. It was just them.
Then the realization hit. It was wrong. The rules said both had to exit. How could they sacrifice one of them after coming so far. Was this was how it ended? Neither wanted to accept the outcome and agreed they had to be missing something. Precious minutes ticked away as they put their heads together, but what else did they have to sacrifice? They refused to ask for a hint.
Night Streak made up her mind. She dragged her friend into this. She had to make it out. Without anymore thought, she ran towards the pit.
“Night! Wait!” Moonlight yelled and charged past her in a dead sprint. She was always faster. She stopped inches from the edge and, without any hesitation, whipped off her shirt and threw it in. “Here’s your sacrifice!” It happened so fast Night Streak didn’t have a chance to stop. In a motion Night Streak couldn’t possibly describe or do herself, Moonlight grabbed her waist, spun both of them around, and pulled her back to safety.
“Your sacrifice is accepted!” The voice boomed out. A drawbridge lowered from the far side and they easily walked over the pit. Night Streak looked over the edge and saw the shirt just just a few inches below on a crash pad. She picked it up and realized it could’ve been her and then wondered how many other student’s had been “sacrificed.”
Night Streak thought the biggest surprise tonight would be getting Moonlight naked, but in the end it was being awarded tickets for two, all expenses paid trip to an exclusive nudist resort no one had heard of on a privately owned island. The award was donated by an anonymous donor. It turned out they were one of the few teams to not only finish the game with both of them, but to do it in the shortest time and with no hints. Night Streak felt like celebrating and splurged on treats from the concession stand in the Student Union, with a slight stop at the body painting booth on the way to fill in some parts of Moonlight’s costume. Moonlight said she didn’t want to put the shirt back on with how sweaty she was.
They got their food, and settled down in a booth. Night Streak had so many questions. Her first one was “what would we have done without your shirt?”
“That’s easy.” Moonlight smiled and looked strangely contented as she ate her ice cream. “We would’ve made a sacrifice of self.”
“But we had to end with both us--”
“Not a physical sacrifice. We would’ve had to admit something about ourselves or make an affirmation. When we don’t have anything left, we have ourselves. There’s more than one way to sacrifice ourselves. It came to me after we made it over the bridge and there’s something I have to admit.”
“You sly little -- Wait. speaking of sly, how come you seem okay with nudity now?” Night Streak asked taking a sip from her milkshake.
Moonlight blushed and swirled a curly-q french fry in her ketchup. “Well, that’s the thing I have to tell you. You see, I --.” She ate the french fry and chewed it to prolong the wait. “I’ve been going nude at home.” As soon as she said it, she looked down and it was obvious she was embarrassed.
Night Streak felt like she had been knocked sideways. She was happy for her friend, but frustrated all the same. “If you were okay with nudity then why did you put me through this? Why did you fight it so much?”
Moonlight looked up with anger in her eyes. “First, this is social nudity. It’s completely different than home nudity and a big step. And because you don’t have the right to push me or anyone else into things we’re not ready for! If you knew I was a home nudist, I know you’d gloat about getting me into nudism and try to get me to go nude with you. I wasn’t ready for that. I was afraid you’d push me faster than I was ready. Turns out you did anyway. You shouldn’t do that to your friends.”
Night Streak felt crushed. Did she hurt her friends that way? She thought back on her life. She had always been enthusiastic about sharing her interests, she just thought her friends would share her enthusiasm after they tried it. Did she really know their feelings? It pained her to admit that she didn’t. She knew she had pushed Moonlight tonight, but she thought about her feelings or how much fun she alone would have?. Did that make her a bad of a friend?
Moonlight broke her train of thought by continuing. “Look. I know you mean the best. You wanted a friend in nudism, but the more you pushed the more I resisted, even though I liked it, because you weren’t giving me a choice. I needed to come to it myself. Understand? Why do you think I hung out with you so much? Maybe I did need a push, but it was too much. I don’t know” Some tears fell Moonlight’s eyes. “I’m sorry for the deception. Are you sorry? Can we still be friends?” She held out her hand.
The flood of words hit Night Streak like a tidal wave. She tried to unpack them on top of her own thoughts but it just collapsed. In the end, she realized her friend was a nudist like her, that was good, she needed to not push her friends into things, but it was okay to share, and that they were still friends after all. “Yes.” Night Streak took her friend’s hand. “We’re still friends.”

-Clickety_Clak