A Night at the Movies

by Blazing Heart

Rating: everyone
Tags: Original Character, Mystery, Rainbow Dash, Cutie Mark Crusaders, Rarity, Applejack, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
Length: 21476

While on vacation in Applewood, Rainbow Dash and the CMC explore a haunted movie palace.

Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, Applejack, Rarity, and Rainbow Dash go on a vacation to Applewood for the weekend. Having heard stories of a haunted movie palace, the CMC want to explore it in the hopes of getting their cutie marks in ghost hunting.

I am writing this story for National Pony Writing Month 2018.

This story briefly crosses over with Saddle Song the Singing Cowpony. A quick reference is made to Daring Do and the Sands of Time.

As a film buff, I have placed references to other movies and TV shows. Some are obvious, and others are a bit harder to spot. How many can you find?

Published 2018-11-26 02:10:01 UTC
Last updated 2018-11-29 22:52:32 UTC

Prologue: How It All Began

A message from Mr. Kino, who was known to everypony in Applewood as “Mr. Nicky.”

Meine fellow board members,
It is with a heavy heart that I come before you today. Prof. Menlo was mein tutor und mein mentor. He has taught me everything that I know. He was a great inspiration. Sadly, I’m afraid, as difficult as it is for me to admit, that that pony no longer exists. He has crowned himself as the king of his corporate empire. Greed resides in his heart und he has hurt many ponies, myself included. I hadn’t wished to see what he has become, but now meine eyes are opened und I have seen what he has done. We mustn’t allow his tyranny to grow. I understand that a petition was written to have Prof. Menlo removed from the Applewood Academy. You have come und asked if I would sign mein name. As first, I didn’t want to, but for the good of Applewood, for the good of everypony, und for the good of mein Freund, I, Kino, “Mr. Nicky,” sign mein name to this petition to have Prof. Menlo removed from the Applewood Academy
Ich danke Ihnen.

Mr. Kino’s was the deciding vote. It was not an easy decision. He wished that he didn’t have to do this, but he wasn’t given any other choice.

Elsewhere in Applewood, Prof. Menlo knew of the accusations and the charges that were being held against him.

“Accusations are what they are,” he would grumble. “There are two sides to every story. Clearly, they don’t wish to see my side. Everypony is locked in a battle royal against each other. I’m simply trying to unite us!”

That last comment was far from the truth in the eyes of Applewood Academy’s board members. From their point of view, Prof. Menlo had no intentions of uniting the studios of Applewood to relieve the tensions among them. As a matter of fact, no disputes between them had ever been brought to the Academy’s attention. “He’s greedy! He wants the profits for himself!” the Academy’s board members declared.

Prof. Menlo played his cards very well as no such evidence had been found. It wasn’t until one fateful night that the needle was found. A night guard at a studio found Prof. Menlo’s cronies sabotaging studio equipment and were apprehended on the spot. The professor was brought to court where he denied everything, saying his two employees were acting on their own terms and not on his.

The truth always comes out. Prof. Menlo was found guilty. Mr. Kino’s testimony was the final piece of the puzzle. He came out and announced that the professor had pulled the rug out from under his hooves. Mr. Kino had been running a successful chain of nickelodeons, hence his nickname, Mr. Nicky. Prof. Menlo found his chain to be a threat to his company and ransacked the little theaters.

“You’re playing in the big leagues,” Prof. Menlo said. “You don’t need that chain. Just stick with me. I’ll make you rich beyond your wildest dreams.”

It didn’t take the press long to print the latest scoop, “Prof. Menlo to Be Removed from Applewood Academy.”

Before he was stripped of his membership, Prof. Menlo called a meeting with the board, including the young Mr. Kino. The board members attended to “play along” with him. Nothing he could say or do would change their minds. Mr. Kino attended to hear the professor speak and to see him shine with the little fire that remained in the once-respectable genius.

It was a rather splendid luncheon the professor hosted. He was on his best behavior, but everypony could see the rage seething in his eyes. The board members just went along with him. After the luncheon, everypony unenthusiastically thanked their host as they stood up to leave. Mr. Kino was the last to make ready to depart.

“Nicky,” Prof. Menlo began, “may I have a word with you?”

It was a little weird. Any other day, Mr. Kino would have been fine talking to Prof. Menlo, but after everything that had been going on, he didn’t feel too comfortable.

“Uh, okay,” Mr. Kino replied.

“I know we’ve had our differences,” the professor started. “I did what I had to do and you did what you had to do. You had the moxie to stand up against me.” He patted Mr. Kino on the shoulder. “Despite our falling out, I was wondering if you could help me with one last invention? For old time’s sake.”

It couldn’t hurt, Mr. Kino thought to himself. What’s the worst that could happen?

Mr. Kino followed Prof. Menlo to the stage. There stood an innocent-looking camera, loaded with a reel of film.

“I’ve been working on a new kind of camera,” explained the professor. “I hoped you could be my subject.”

Mr. Kino looked with curiosity at the physics text books on the table. Odsbodkins. What use would the professor have for natural philosophy books? He replied to the professor, “It is a camera?”

“Kino, my friend, it is more than a camera.”

Prof. Menlo stood Mr. Kino between the camera and a white backdrop. Putting on a dark pair of goggles, Prof. Menlo started the camera. A bright light began to glow. The shutter began to click faster and faster like a locomotive picking up speed. The mechanics began to whir as the film rolled faster. Mr. Kino stepped back cautiously, uncertain of what was going to happen. There was a bright flash of white light. Neither Prof. Menlo nor Mr. Kino were seen or heard from again.

The ponies who enjoyed a night at the movies claimed to have heard strange things at the movie palace. Some even said that they had seen a mysterious shadow on the wall. Soon, the Applewood Reporter printed that the theater was haunted. Prof. Menlo's camera and all his reels of film were locked away. With all the hauntings and odd goings-on, ponies turned to catch a picture at another one of Applewood's fine movie palaces. But this one theater never lost its ghostly reputation. Nopony dared to go inside.

One hundred and twenty-three years later...

Author's Note

Hope you're enjoying the story! As usual, your questions and comments are always welcome. Positive feedback and critique, please. Thank you and enjoy the rest of the story!

One: The Weekend to Themselves

It was a lazy day in Ponyville. There wasn’t really anything special in particular to do. Twilight and Spike were in Canterlot to participate in a delegate’s conference with Princess Celestia and Princess Luna. Fluttershy had gone on a retreat with Tree Hugger. Pinkie Pie went with the Cake family to a baker’s convention. Applejack had gotten all of her chores done at Sweet Apple Acres, Rainbow Dash had already cleared the skies above Ponyville, and Rarity had completed her new designs. In their clubhouse, the Cutie Mark Crusaders were also without anything to do. It seemed like they had tried everything they could to get their cutie marks. Their list of new activities to try was running low. Having no luck in finding something to do, the six of them took a walk through the town, trying to figure out how to spend the day.

“Do either of you have any ideas on what we can do today?” asked Scootaloo.

“We can just chill and take it easy,” Rainbow Dash suggested.

“You mean like a spa day?” Rarity perked up.

“No. I mean we just kick back and nap.”

“Ah’m too bored to nap,” said Applejack.

“Well, what do you suggest we do?”

“Hey, I smell popcorn!” exclaimed Sweetie Belle.

The smell was coming from the Ponyville Picture House.

“Why don’t we go see a movie?” Apple Bloom asked with excitement.

“I’m in,” said Rainbow Dash, “but it’s gotta have action.”

“Action? No thank you,” replied Rarity. “How about a nice romance?”

“No romance. No melodramas. Nothing mushy.”

“Ah don’t reckon that leaves us with very many options,” noted Applejack.

“What about the new Saddle Song picture?” Apple Bloom suggested. “I just love that Singing Cowpony!”

“Sorry, Apple Bloom,” said Applejack, “that one doesn’t come out ‘til next week.”

“Oh, darn!”

“How about this one?” asked Sweetie Belle. “It’s a biopic starring Hoofrey Bogart as Mr. Kino and Clark Stable as Prof. Menlo. It’s based on their lives, which has inspired the tales of the haunted movie palace in Applewood.”

“Haunted, huh? So, it’s a ghost movie!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed. “There’s gotta be some action, not to mention the thrills!”

“There’s no ghosts,” said Rarity. “I for one think a biography would be delightful.”

It was the only other film playing. Since they were all in agreement to catch a movie and there weren’t any objections to this film, they all went to go see it. They purchased their tickets from the box office and went inside. The Ponyville Picture House was not a large theater, there were only four screens. It was, however, just big enough for Ponyville. They all bought bags of popcorn, fun candies, and drinks. They went to the auditorium where their movie was playing and took their seats. After a few minutes, the house darkened and the film began to roll.

When the movie got out, they were talking more about it than they thought, especially Rainbow Dash, considering there was neither action, nor ghosts. They paused to converse in the theater lobby.

“How about that ending? Where did they go? What happened to them? Will they be seen again?” Rainbow Dash was beside herself.

“You sure liked the movie, didn’t ya?” said Applejack.

“It was great! I bet you Mr. Kino and Prof. Menlo are the ghosts. They’re the ones haunting the theater.”

They paused to take a breather from the excitement of the film.

Bong! Bong! Outside, the chimes of the Ponyville clock rang two o’clock.

“Two o’clock,” Applejack noted. “We’ve got the whole afternoon ahead of us. What do y’all wanna do now?”

Hmm… they contemplated the possibilities.

“The theater…” a faint voice whispered.

“Did you hear something?” Rarity asked.

The voice whispered again, followed by a ghostly moan. “The theater… O-o-O-o…”

“Rainbow Dash!” exclaimed Applejack. “Just what the hay do you think you’re doin’?”

“It’s not me,” replied Rainbow Dash.

“Let’s go to the theater,” spoke the voice.

Applejack turned to find her little sister hiding behind a curtain. She could see her hooves sticking out from underneath and could hear her imitating a ghost. She approached and pulled the curtain aside.

“Oh, hey, Applejack,” said Apple Bloom, pretending that nothing peculiar was going on. “Boy, this is such a nice curtain. It’s so soft. Have you felt it?”

“Apple Bloom,” began Applejack, “sumthin’ tells me Ah don’t wanna know what you’re up to, but seein’ as Ah’m your big sis, I gotta know. What’re you up to?”

“Couldn’t we go to Applewood and see the haunted movie palace?” Apple Bloom replied.

“We just might get our cutie marks in ghost hunting,” said Sweetie Belle.

“Now, Sweetie Belle,” said Rarity, “there are no ghosts.”

“But what if there are? If they start haunting, who are ponies gonna call?”

“Ah think these little fillies are on tuh sumthin’,” said Applejack.

“About ghost hunting?” asked Rarity.

“No. Ah mean about goin’ tuh Applewood. Twilight and Spike are in Canterlot, Fluttershy’s on retreat, and Pinkie Pie’s with the Cake’s. Why don’t we have our own fun?”

Everypony thought it to be a great idea.

“Oh, I think a vacation in Applewood would be most delightful,” said Rarity. “They have some of the most luxurious spas in all of Equestria.”

“Not to mention all the celebrities!” Scootaloo added.

“Alrighty then,” said Applejack. “All those in favor of goin’ to Applewood, say ‘Ah.’”

“I,” Rarity replied.

Then Scootaloo, “I.”

Then Sweetie Belle, “I.”

Then Apple Bloom, “Ah.”

Followed by Rainbow Dash, “I.”

And finally, Applejack. “And Ah,” she declared. “Looks like the Ah’s have it. We’re goin’ tuh Applewood!”

They each went back to their homes to pack their bags for their Applewood weekend vacation.

In Cloudsdale, Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo made sure they were well-prepared.

“Are you all set?” asked Rainbow Dash.

“You bet!” answered Scootaloo.

“Uh, what’s that?”

“It’s a tennis racket and a flyswatter.”

“Are you sure you’re going to need those?”

“There could be ghosts,” Scootaloo explained. “This is all my ghost hunting gear.”

Rainbow Dash knew that there probably wouldn’t be any ghosts, but seeing how excited her number one fan was, she couldn’t dampen her spirits. “Way to think ahead, Scootaloo! That’s using your noggin. C’mon! We’ve got a train to catch!”

Scootaloo jumped on Rainbow Dash’s back. Rainbow Dash took off into the air and they soared through the atmosphere to the train station in Ponyville.

At Carousel Boutique, Rarity was helping to pack a bag for Sweetie Belle. “Let’s see. We’ll need my hairdryer, shampoo, conditioner.” Rarity used her magic to levitate two outfits. “Which shall I take, Sweetie Belle? The sequins or the glitter?”

Sweetie Belle really didn’t know. “Uh… the sequins?”

Rarity looked over each of the outfits. “You know, maybe I’ll pack them both. It never hurts to pack extra.” She put on a sunhat and put one on Sweetie Belle. “Oh, would you just look at us?” Rarity admired herself and Sweetie Belle in the mirror. “These matching sunhats are too fabulous to pass up. Now, do you have everything ready?”

“Just one more thing,” said Sweetie Belle.

Sweetie Belle took the vacuum from the closet.

“The vacuum, Sweetie Belle?” Rarity asked in confusion.

“It’s in case we find any ghosts,” Sweetie Belle explained.

“Well, if you’re certain you need it. It’s a bit big, don’t you think? Why not bring the smaller one?”

“Okay, Rarity!” Sweetie Belle exclaimed. “What a great idea! The ghosts will never see it coming.”

Having finished packing their bags, Rarity and Sweetie Belle left for the train station where they would meet up with Rainbow Dash, Scootaloo, Applejack, and Apple Bloom.

Down at Sweet Apple Acres, Applejack packed a light bag, figuring she wouldn’t need too much. She was all set and ready to go, waiting by the front door.

“Apple Bloom, are ya ready?” she called out.

“Just about,” Apple Bloom’s voice sounded from upstairs.

There was the sound of shuffling and clanging.

What in tar nation is she doin’ up there? Applejack wondered. She went up to Apple Bloom’s room and found her digging through an old trunk.

“Apple Bloom!” Applejack exclaimed in surprise. “What in Equestria is all this?”

“Ah’m packin’ all the ghost huntin’ stuff Ah can find. Look. Ah’ve got a magnet, a horseshoe, a compass, Granny Smith’s spare dentures, and this crystal ball Madame Pinkie Pie gave me.”

“Madame Pinkie Pie?” Applejack questioned.

“Yeah. She’s been teachin’ me all about her Pinkie sense.”

Applejack noticed something in Apple Bloom’s bag. “Are ya sure you needa bring a stick?”

“It’s not a stick, Applejack,” corrected Apple Bloom. “It’s called a dowsing rod. Zecora gave it to me.”

Then Granny Smith walked into the room. “Here’s that lil’ radio ya wanted, Apple Bloom.”

“Gee, thanks, Granny Smith!” Apple Bloom said happily.

“How’s a radio gonna help you find ghosts?” asked Applejack.

“It’s not for huntin’ ghosts,” replied Apple Bloom. “It’s for listenin’ to Saddle Song on the train ride.”

“That stallion sure can sing,” commented Granny Smith. “If yer goin’ huntin’ fer ghosts, Ah’ve got sumthin’ fer ya.”

Apple Bloom and Applejack followed Granny Smith to her room. There, she gave Apple Bloom a purple stone.

“What is it?” asked Apple Bloom.

“This here’s the stone of the spirit. Guaranteed to ward of even the most ornery of haints.”

“Where’d you get this?” asked Applejack.

“It belonged to a distant relative, Ah reckon,” Granny Smith explained. “They got it from a pony named Pie, er, sumthin’. From what Ah’ve heard, they were bein’ chased across the prairie by Phantom Cowponies. This one stone kept those spooks away.”

“Is that true?”

“Beats me, but y’all can never be too careful.”

Apple Bloom finished packing her bag. She and Applejack set out for the train station up in Ponyville.

Rarity, Sweetie Belle, Applejack, Apple Bloom, Rainbow Dash, and Scootaloo would soon be on the first train to Applewood!

Two: The Train Ride to Applewood

Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo were the first to arrive at the train station. Rarity and Sweetie Belle were second to arrive. They were followed by Applejack and Apple Bloom.

“Who’s ready to go to Applewood?” Sweetie Belle asked with excitement in her voice.

“We’re so ready!” said Scootaloo.

“Did y’all bring your ghost hunting gear?” Apple Bloom asked.

“I sure did.”

“Me, too,” said Sweetie Belle.

“Here we go, y’all,” said Applejack. “Ah got us our tickets tuh Applewood. Hold tight to ‘em. The train’s gonna be here any minute.”

It wasn’t long before the Friendship Express rolled into the station.

Phssh! hissed the air breaks.

When the train came to a complete stop, the car doors opened and the passengers disembarked.

“A-a-all abo-o-oard!” the conductor called out.

Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Applejack, Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, and Apple Bloom gathered their luggage and boarded.

“Ah wanna sit by the window!” exclaimed Apple Bloom.

Aboard the passenger car, the six ponies took their seats. Once everypony was on board, the whistle blew, and the Friendship Express slowly pulled away from the platform. Chug, chug! Chug, chug! As the train cleared the platform, leaving the station, the whistle blew again. Whoo! Whoo! The train began to pick up speed and they were well on their way to Applewood.

Along the way, the six ponies played games to pass the time. They played fun parlor games, guessing games, told riddles and knock-knock jokes, and played “I spy with my little eye.”

“Your turn, Rarity,” said Scootaloo.

“All right, let’s see. Hmm…” Rarity searched for something that would be a challenge for her friends to find. Bingo! She found it. “Okay, I’ve got one. I spy with my little eye something shiny.”

Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom, and Scootaloo looked all around for something shiny.

“Is it the conductor’s pocket watch?” asked Scootaloo.

“No. Try again,” Rarity replied.

“Is it his glasses?” asked Applejack.

“Sorry.”

After several unsuccessful guesses, Rainbow Dash requested, “Could you tell us what it is?”

Rarity responded, “It was that stallion’s cuff links.” She pointed her hoof to a stallion asleep in the corner window seat, his fedora lowered over his eyes. The cuff links he wore caught the rays of the sun and glistened brightly.

“Great job, Rarity,” Sweetie Belle complimented. “You won the game!”

“Oh, it was nothing really.”

“So, what game are we gonna play next?” asked Scootaloo.

Before anypony could answer, Apple Bloom announced, “Hold up, y’all. Yippie-Yi Yokel’s show is about tuh start. Saddle Song always sings on his show.”

She tuned the radio to the right station, and when the static cleared and the music began to play, she turned up the volume.

The voice of the radio personality rang through, “Well ho-o-ow-dee, everypony! This is Yippie-Yi Yokel comin’ at ya right here on FIM Radio, home of Saddle Song the Singing Cowpony. And here he is with Donkey Gray. Now let’s open the gates and let ’er buck!”

“Thank you, Yippie-Yi Yokel,” said Saddle Song, “and thank you all for tunin’ in.” After his greeting, the Singing Cowpony began to sing his theme song:

I’m a singing ol’ cowpony,
Along the trail I go
With rhythm in my hooves
And a song inside my throat.

How everypony gathers
As I strum my old six string.
They come from miles around
Just to hear me sing.

Apple Bloom really enjoyed listening to Saddle Song perform on Yippie-Yi Yokel’s radio show. Every time his show would come on, she and Applejack, Big Mac, and Granny Smith would gather around the radio in the family room and listen to the Singing Cowpony croon. Saddle Song had quickly become a singing sensation, not just in the Apple family household, but all over Equestria. He had cut several records in Manehattan and, while on a small tour, came to Applewood where he was featured in a Roo Buckaroo film titled, The Pride of the San Palomino, in which he sang “The San Palomino Polka” in the barn dance scene. This led him to star in his own series of films and he started to become a frequent guest on FIM Radio, and a regular on Yippie-Yi Yokel’s show. It soon became a joke that the show was Saddle Song’s, not Yippi-Yi Yokel’s!

The radio show was a half hour long. As they were wrapping things up, Yippie-Yi Yokel mentioned, “So before we go, Saddle Song, Ah understand that y’all have a new picture comin’ out.”

“That’s right,” Saddle Song replied. “It’s called, The Rodeo Rustlers. It’s a very exciting picture, sure to leave ya on the edge of your seat!”

“And could you tell us when we might be seein’ it come out?”

“The actual release is next week, but the big premier is tonight at the Palatial Movie Palace in Applewood.”

“Tickets done sold out in record time,” said Saddle Song’s loyal sidekick, Gray.

Oh, how Ah wish we could go to the premier, Apple Bloom thought to herself.

“Tuh say you fellers are doin’ a mighty fine job, Ah reckon is an understatement,” said Yippie-Yi Yokel. He directed his attention to the listeners, “Y’all heard it here, folks! The premier of Saddle Song and Donkey Gray’s new film, The Rodeo Rustlers, premiers tonight right here in Applewood at the Palatial Movie Palace. Well, that about does ‘er. Thank you all for tunin’ in. We hope to see y’all next time here on FIM Radio. Until then, keep the tumbleweeds tumblin’ and the water cool!”

When the show had ended, Apple Bloom clicked off the radio.

“Wasn’t that a great show?” Apple Bloom asked with excitement in her voice.

“One of the best Ah’ve heard,” replied Applejack.

The Friendship Express had made a few stops at the train stations along the way. Passengers had come and gone. At a railway depot en route, the conductor and the engineer took on supplies to make sure that the train continued to run smoothly and that it would arrive at each station right on time.

Three: Their First Night in Applewood

It was evening when they got to Applewood. What a sight it was! The lights, the energy, the rush! Two pairs of white spotlights waved back and forth, crisscrossing above in the purple night sky.

“Whudda ya think’s goin’ on?” Applejack asked rhetorically.

“I bet it’s a premier!” exclaimed Scootaloo.

“It’s Saddle Song’s premier!” Apple Bloom announced with excitement.

Up ahead was the famous Palatial Movie Palace – a theater far from being haunted or abandoned, mind you. They all decided to swing by to see what was going on before continuing on to the hotel. There was a big crowd of ponies outside the theater where the red carpet had been rolled out. On the glistening marquee above the entrance, the bold letters read, “Saddle Song the Singing Cowpony in ‘The Rodeo Rustlers’” The crowds began to cheer and cameras began to flash.

“What’s goin’ on? Ah cain’t see,” cried Apple Bloom, bouncing up and down, trying to see over the crowd.

“Ah gotcha!” Applejack picked her up so she could see. “There ya go, sugar cube.”

Apple Bloom’s eyes lit up when she saw an Earth pony stallion dressed in a red gunfighter shirt adorned with a blue yoke and cuffs. Around his neck was a white scarf tie, and atop his head was a white ten gallon hat.

“Apples, peaches, pumpkin pie!” Apple Bloom exclaimed. “It’s Saddle Song! Look, Applejack, it’s Saddle Song the Singing Cowpony!”

As the Singing Cowpony walked along the red carpet, he paused to sign his autograph and take pictures with his fans.

Apple Bloom gasped. “Applejack, he’s signin’ autographs. Can we get his autograph, too? Please, please, please?”

“It’s a mighty big crowd,” said Applejack. “But if it’s his autograph you want, then by golly it’s his autograph you’ll get. Now hold tight, lil’ sis, we’re goin’ in!”

With Apple Bloom riding on her back, Applejack weaved her way through the crowd. “‘Scuse us. Pardon. Comin’ through.”

Apple Bloom desperately searched her bag for a pen and a piece of paper. She knew she had packed one in case they did meet up with somepony famous. They were so close to the front of the crowd and Saddle Song was right there! The little filly was afraid that she would miss her chance to see the movie star. It seemed as though they would never make it to the front, but they finally made it. And there was the Singing Cowpony himself!

“Saddle Song, over here!” Apple Bloom called out.

Her heart pounded. Would he hear her? She wanted so much to say “hi” to him, to be able to say that she met him. As he made his was along the red carpet, he looked into the crowd. His eyes met hers. He turned and walked right up to her and Applejack. Time seemed to have momentarily stopped.

“Howdy, friends,” Saddle Song greeted.

“Oh my gosh! It’s really you!” Apple Bloom said in amazement. “My big brother and sister and I have seen all your movies. We know all your songs. We listen to you sing on our Granny Smith’s radio.”

“Well, thank you very much,” Saddle Song replied.

“Mr. Saddle Song, sir, could Ah please get your autograph?”

“Why, of course,” the Singing Cowpony answered. “Who am I makin’ this out to?”

“To Apple Bloom, and Applejack, and Big Mac, and Granny Smith!”

Saddle Song signed his name. “There ya go, lil’ darlin’.” He tipped his hat and continued down the red carpet towards the theater lobby.

Applejack and Apple Bloom returned to their friends. Apple Bloom proudly showed them Saddle Song’s autograph.

“Our first celebrity sighting!” exclaimed Scootaloo. “How great is that?”

“It’s too bad the movie’s sold out,” said Sweetie Belle.

“We could see the movie anytime, but how often would we get the opportunity to actually run into Saddle Song?”

“Ya know what? You’re right,” said Apple Bloom. “This autograph sure is special. C’mon! Let’s get to the hotel. Ah don’t want anything tuh happen to this.” She put the autograph into her bag for safe keeping.

“Come on, y’all,” said Applejack. “It was a long train ride over here. Reckon we oughtta check into the hotel and settle down. We’ve got a big day ahead of us. Better make sure we’re all rested.”

“Indeed,” Rarity agreed. “Every mare needs her beauty sleep.”

Rainbow Dash just rolled her eyes.

They hailed a couple of taxi carriages and were taken to the five-star hotel.

After checking in, they unpacked and settled down for the night. The Cutie Mark Crusaders were excited to have a room all to themselves, saying it was like having a sleepover. Rarity, Rainbow Dash, and Applejack stayed together in the room next door. Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, and Apple Bloom had picked up some brochures. Before they went to bed, they stayed up planning what they would do the next day.

“If we go to the haunted movie palace first thing in the morning, we'll have that ghost caught in no time, especially with all our ghost hunting stuff,” said Sweetie Belle. “Then that'll give us the whole day to see and do whatever we want.”

They named all the interesting things they wanted to do.

Knock, knock, knock! Somepony was at the door.

Scootaloo answered the door.

“Hello, girls,” said Rarity. “I just wanted to check in and see how you’re doing.”

“Just fine, Rarity,” Sweetie Belle informed.

“Okay. Remember: don’t stay up too late. We’ll have a bit of an early start tomorrow. We’ll get some breakfast first and then we’ll go shopping and sight-seeing on our way to the haunted movie palace.”

“Sounds like a plan, Rarity,” said Apple Bloom.

Rarity smiled. “All right then. Have a good night, you three.”

“Good night, Rarity,” the Cutie Mark Crusaders said in unison.

Rarity closed the door and returned to her room. Applejack was getting ready for bed and Rainbow Dash was catching up on her reading. She had recently gone to the bookstore with Twilight back in Ponyville to get a copy of A. K. Yearling’s latest book, Daring Do and the Sands of Time.

“It’s light’s out when you’re finished with that chapter,” said Rarity.

Rainbow Dash didn’t say anything.

“When you’re through with that chapter, darling, we must get to sleep,” Rarity spoke again.

Still, Rainbow Dash didn’t say a word. Her eyes were wide and glued to the page.

“What? No!” Rainbow Dash said aloud, so involved with her book.

Applejack chuckled. “Ah reckon if Ah didn’t know better, Ah’d say y’all were livin’ inside that book.”

Rainbow Dash looked up from her book. “Did you say something?” she asked.

“It’s time to get to bed,” said Rarity.

“Never!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed in a heroic voice. “There’s no pausing the great adventure. When the going gets tough, the world doesn’t stop for you. You gotta charge through!”

Rarity and Applejack stood silently.

Heh, heh, Rainbow Dash chuckled nervously. “Guess I’m a little excited about the new Daring Do book, huh?”

“A little?” questioned Applejack.

“It’s like when I’m reading it, I’m actually there” – her voice grew louder with excitement – “venturing into the unknown and kicking tail. Hi-ya! Take that! You wanna piece of me? Ha!”

“Settle down, missy,” said Applejack. “We best be gettin’ some shut-eye. We got our own adventure awaitin’ us tomorrow.”

Rainbow Dash set her book aside. “To be continued,” she said.

They each said their good night’s, turned out the lights, and drifted off to sleep.

Author's Note

Just a friendly reminder: positive comments and feedback, please. Enjoy the rest of the story. Thanks!

Four: The Haunted Movie Palace

The next morning, they got ready for an exciting day on the streets of the entertainment capital of Equestria. There were so many sights to see: the Trot of Fame, celebrity houses, the celebrities themselves! So many choices, what to do first? Their first choice was an easy one: to go have breakfast. Where? Why at the famous Derby Hat restaurant! Before leaving the hotel, they collected hoof-fuls of fliers and brochures from the lobby and picked up even more, and a few magazines, from a sidewalk kiosk.

As they ate, the Cutie Mark Crusaders were busy looking through the brochures and pamphlets.

After they finished eating their breakfast, Applejack, Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, Rainbow Dash, Sweetie Belle, and Rarity stopped by a souvenir shop along the way to the haunted movie palace. The shelves were full of fun nicknacks and Applewood T-shirts. A rotating rack near the register had an assortment of fun postcards depicting Applewood at night, during the day, its famous attractions, and the big Applewood sign on the mountainside.

"Two rolls of film for the price of one!" exclaimed a pony named Globe Trotter. "Now I can take all kinds of pictures! What a great deal!"

Sweetie Belle and Rarity were looking around at the shiny collectables.

“Rarity would like this,” Sweeite Belle said aloud to herself, pointing out a snow globe. Inside was a little representation of Applewood. She called out, “Rarity, look at this pretty snow globe I found. I think you’ll like it!” She showed it to Rarity.

"Oh, I do like it, Sweetie Belle," said Rarity. She gave the snow globe a shake to watch the snow fall. "It's really putting me in the mood to start decorating for Hearth's Warming Eve!"

Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo were busy trying on sunglasses.

"If you're gonna get a pair of shades, they have to be awesome," Rainbow Dash explained. She pointed several out. "These are way too big. These are too bedazzled. And these? These are so twenty moons ago." Then she found a jet black pair. "Now these are what you call an awesome pair of shades."

In another part of the shop, Applejack and Apple Bloom were looking at the accessories.

"Ah bet Granny Smith'll like this bonnet," said Apple Bloom.

"And Big Mac's sure tuh love these bandanas," said Applejack.

After stocking up on fun baubles and curios, the six ponies continued their way to the theater, taking in all of the sights and sounds along the way. As they walked along the streets of Applewood, they collected fliers and brochures from every news stand and kiosk they passed by.

Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, and Applejack followed their map to the famous haunted movie palace. The Cutie Mark Crusaders could not wait to get there. They talked along the way about what the theater could have in store for them.

“Ah bet there’s gonna be ghosts,” said Apple Bloom.

“And unexplained phenomena,” added Sweetie Belle.

“And daddy long legs,” added Scootaloo.

“Daddy long legs?” Rainbow Dash questioned.

“Well whatever they’ve got in there, there’s no way it’ll scare you, Rainbow Dash. You’re the bravest!”

“I can’t argue with that.”

They continued on their way until they saw it. It was the Applewood-famous haunted movie palace itself!

“Here we are!” exclaimed Applejack.

They all stood silent, staring at the once majestic movie palace.

“Are you sure this is the right place?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“Reckon so. Says so right here on the map.”

The theater was not as glamorous as they had imagined. It was so rundown. The paint was peeling, the doors were boarded up. Letters had fallen off of the big marquee. It was easy to see that it had been a long – I might say a long, long– time since anypony had come to do any sort of renovating.

“Ew, it’s so neglected,” observed Rarity. “So dowdy and drab.”

“Well, it is an old, abandoned theater,” said Applejack. “It ain’t exactly gonna look like the Ritz.”

There was a pony pushing a broom around the sidewalk outside the main entrance. He was probably the only one who even bothered to take the time to make the theater, or even if it was just the front sidewalk, look a little bit tidy.

Rainbow Dash approached the stallion. “Hey, uh, is this the haunted movie palace?”

“Is there another?” the pony asked.

“I don’t know. My friends and I came to see the theater where Prof. Menlo and Mr. Kino disappeared.”

“This is that theater.”

“Oh, well, we just thought that-”

The old stallion gave a chuckle. “I know what you’re thinking. For being so famous, for being an apple in the public’s eye, why is it so decrepit? Well, to tell you the truth, there have been ponies who have come to restore this beautiful movie palace to its former glory. No sooner does the restoration begin, everypony is shutting it down.”

“How come?” asked Applejack.

The old stallion pushed his hat back and began to explain, “Everypony says that the theater is haunted. Some say by the ghost of Prof. Menlo. Other ponies think it’s Mr. Kino’s ghost.”

“Do you think it’s true?” Apple Bloom asked.

“Well, in all my years of livin’, I can’t say I ever once saw a ghost,” replied the stallion. “I’ve been sweeping the entrance here for years and never have I once encountered a spook. Of course,” he continued with a laugh, “everypony who says they’ve seen something strange have always gone inside, and I don’t go inside.”

“Well, we certainly appreciate your time, sir,” Applejack said as she tipped her hat.

“Any time,” replied the stallion. He tipped his threadbare fedora in return.

The old stallion collected his broom and his lunch pail and went about his way.

“Well?” asked an eager Apple Bloom. “Who’s goin’ in first?”

“Last pony in is a rotten egg!” exclaimed Rainbow Dash as she leapt into the air, getting ready to fly inside.

Applejack felt a cold sensation on the back of her neck. Something didn’t seem quite right about this whole thing.

“Freeze!” Applejack barked. Rainbow Dash and Apple Bloom froze in place. “Now just what do you two think you’re doing’?

Rainbow Dash replied, “Uh, hello? We’re gonna go check out the creepy, old theater.”

“Yeah, Applejack,” said Apple Bloom. “We’ve got our ghost huntin’ gear and everything."

“Ah know,” Applejack responded, “but Ah’ve kinda got a funny feelin’ about this place. Ah don’t want y’all goin’ in there. Besides, it’s all boarded up.”

“It could be dangerous,” Rarity added.

“But how are we supposed to get our cutie marks in huntin’ ghosts?” Apple Bloom questioned.

Before Applejack could answer her little sister, there sounded a weird frequency, a sound much like a Theremin. Realizing what was making the sound, Apple Bloom quickly began to search through her bag.

“Apple Bloom, what is that?” questioned Applejack.

“It’s the radio,” answered Apple Bloom.

The noise grew louder as Apple Bloom shuffled through her bag. As she pulled the radio out from the bag, it let out a high-pitched noise. Everypony stopped and covered their ears.

“What is that?” asked Scootaloo above the noise.

“Apple Bloom, turn that radio down, or off, or sumthin’,” Applejack demanded.

Apple Bloom fumbled the radio in her hooves before she was able to focus and turned the little radio off. Everypony breathed a sigh of relief and welcomed the sound of silence.

“Apple Bloom,” Applejack began, “ya gotta make sure the radio’s turned off.”

“It wasn’t me, Applejack,” said Apple Bloom. “The radio was in my bag the whole time.”

“Do you think it’s the ghost?” asked Scootaloo.

Apple Bloom gasped, realizing that maybe it was a ghost. They could be trying to communicate with them via the radio. It made perfect sense.

“Now, Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom,” Rarity started. “Remember what we talked about? There are no such things as ghosts.”

“But what about all the stories?” asked Sweetie Belle. “What about what the stallion said? Why doesn’t anypony know what happened to Prof. Menlo and Mr. Kino?”

“I’m sorry, Sweetie Belle. I can’t answer that. I haven’t a reasonable explanation for you.”

There was a look of disappointment on the Cutie Mark Crusaders’ faces. They wanted so badly to try their hooves at a new talent that could earn them their cutie marks.

“But what about our ghost hunting gear?” Sweetie Belle asked.

“We brought all this for nothing,” said Scootaloo, heartbroken.

“We know how determined y’all are to get your cutie marks,” began Applejack. “We just didn’t want to disappoint you. Plus, Ah wouldn’t want any of you tuh go wandering around a building that should be condemned.”

“Yeah, Applejack is right,” Rainbow Dash said in agreement, although she herself would like to have explored the theater. “We didn’t want you to lose your sense of adventure.”

Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, and Apple Bloom still were saddened.

“Ah guess Ah see your point,” said Apple Bloom. “Ah just wanted for us to get our cutie marks. Everypony else in school has theirs.”

“And you three will get yours, too,” Applejack reassured. “Y’all jus’ have tuh be patient and when the time is right, you’ll have cutie marks you can be proud of.”

“So the theater wasn’t all that it was said to be,” began Rarity, “but we’re in Applewood. Surely there must be something else we can do that’s just as fun, if not even more fun. You’ve got all those brochures. Let’s see what we can find.” She looked through the pamphlets. “There’s the Trot of Fame, the Sunset Strip, the celebrity houses. What shall we do first?”

“I don’t know,” Sweetie Belle replied, still a little disappointed

“Say, why don’t we hail ourselves a carriage and cruise down the Sunset Strip? We could go shopping on Rancho Rodeo and, ooh! there’s even the Trot of Style! Anypony who’s anypony in the fashion industry has their name along the Trot of Style, and someday, my name will be there, too.”

“Well… I guess that sounds like fun.” Sweetie Belle cheered up a little bit.

“That’s the spirit! Come on, girls! I hope you’ve brought extra film, because I have got a feeling that we will be taking lots of pictures.”

Six: A Fun Haunted House Tour

After they ate dinner, the six ponies went on a lovely stroll through the city. Up ahead was stallion wearing saddle bags filled with brochures. “Tonight only! Get a tour of the famous Magic Manor!” he called out. “Only two bits a ticket. Get ’em while you can!”

Applejack, Rainbow Dash, and Rarity felt bad that they had let their little sisters down concerning their desire to hunt for ghosts at the movie palace. Hearing the stallion talk about his tour of the Magic Manor, they thought that they would offer to take them to a fun haunted house. It may not be the famous – or rather, infamous – movie palace, but they thought that it would give Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle a ghostly good time.

“Hey, why don’t we do that?” Applejack suggested. “We can take Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo to check out a spooky old house.”

“I’m pretty sure he said ‘haunted,’” said Rarity. "Our little sisters may just be able to hunt for the ghosts just as they had wished."

“A haunted house. That sounds like fun, right, Rainbow Dash?”

“Sounds kinda lame if you ask me,” Rainbow Dash replied.

“How so, pray tell?”

“It’s probably not gonna be scary. You know how many haunted houses I’ve seen? Plenty. You know how many of them were scary? None. The ghosts were just ponies wearing bed sheets. This will probably be no different. Besides, this is Applewood. Anything scary is just special effects and ponies in costume.”

“Oh, come now, Rainbow Dash," said Rarity. "At least give it a try.”

“Yeah, Rainbow Dash," said Applejack. "Where’s your haunted house spirit?”

Rainbow Dash didn’t particularly want to go see the haunted Magic Manor. She looked up at their little sisters, who were walking a little further ahead of them. She did feel bad that they couldn't take them inside the movie palace. She knew how much they wanted to get their cutie marks. She was also proud of them for accepting that they couldn't explore the theater and that their quest for their cutie marks would continue. She decided that she, too, would go on the haunted house tour for Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, and Apple Bloom. "I know how much they wanted to look for ghosts," she began. "This may not exactly be what they wanted, but you can count me in!"

They paused and called over the little fillies to share with them their surprise.

"Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom, Scootaloo!" Rarity called out.

The Cutie Mark Crusaders stopped and turned around.

"What's going on, Rarity?" asked Scootaloo.

"We've got a little surprise for you all," Applejack said.

"A surprise?! What is it?" Sweetie Belle was eager to know what it was.

"We know how much you wanted to look for ghosts at the movie palace," Rarity began, "and we're sorry we weren't able to take you inside, so we thought that we would treat you girls to a fun tour of the Magic Manor."

Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, and Apple Bloom were truly touched by their big sisters' thoughtfulness.

"That's mighty kind of y'all," said Apple Bloom, "but you didn't have tuh do this."

"Think nuthin' of it, lil' sis," said Applejack with a warm smile.

They bought their tickets and trotted to the attraction.

They stood in line to go inside the Magic Manor. As they waited, two of the housekeepers met up and began to talk. Rainbow Dash overheard what they were saying.

"Did you hear?" asked one of the housekeepers. "Princess Luna wants to come to the Magic Manor!"

"Really? I hadn't heard," the other housekeeper replied. "When is she coming?"

"I'm not sure. Probably in a week or two some time. She said in her letter she would come in the winter. She's going to invite a few guests to spend the night here."

That was all of their conversation Rainbow Dash could hear before the two housekeepers' voices were out of range.

Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, and Apple Bloom were reading through a pamphlet about the Magic Manor.

"Look at this," began Scootaloo. "They have special spooky night tours on the weekends."

"And for Nightmare Night, they have an extra spooky midnight tour," Sweetie Belle pointed out.

Apple Bloom kept her radio close by. She wanted to make sure that if the mysterious voice came through again, she would be able to hear it and try to figure out its cryptic message. Of all the sights and attractions they had gone to, it only sounded at the abandoned movie palace. It was a little bit curious. Perhaps it really was a ghost? Maybe, if the Magic Manor was really haunted, a ghostly broadcast might come through again?

A few minutes went by before the six ponies were next in line to begin their tour.

“Next souls, please,” said the tour guide.

“Well, what’re y’all waitin’ for? Let’s go!” Applejack said with excitement.

Their tour guide was a mare dressed in a coat and tie. Her face was powdered pale with dark circles painted around her eyes.

“Welcome, my mortal friends, to the Ma-a-a-gic Ma-a-anor, Applewood’s most famous ha-a-u-unted ho-ou-u-se,” she said in a playful spooky voice. "I will be your tour guide. Step this way, if you dare."

Applejack, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, and Apple Bloom, along with a few other ponies in the group, followed the mare inside to begin their tour. How fun this is sure to be!

They gathered inside the foyer. When everypony in the group was present and accounted for, the tour guide began to speak. "This is the Magic Manor, home to many magicians and vaudeville performers alike. The great illusionist, Hoofdini, and even Prof. Menlo and Mr. Kino, the subjects of the Hoofrey Bogart and Clark Stable film, have all performed here or showcased their work here. I ask everypony to please refrain from touching anything outside of the velvet ropes. The Magic Manor is very old. You wouldn't want for anything to break... or to fall!" She cast her eyes to the chandelier above them.

Everypony looked up to see the chandelier plummet towards them. They yelled out and braced themselves. A swift breeze blew past them. All was silent. They all looked up to see that the chandelier was still hanging from the ceiling above them. Some of the ponies in the group breathed a sigh of relief while others laughed at the joke. The falling chandelier was just one of many fun parlor tricks that they would be seeing on the tour tonight.

"You will have to excuse the Magic Manor," said the tour guide. "It sometimes finds amusement in pranking its guests. This way, follow me."

They followed the tour guide down the hallway. There were several busts on pedestals; they were not representative of anypony in particular. As the ponies passed by them, it seemed as if they were turning their heads, watching their every move.

"Whoa, freaky," said Scootaloo as she walked past one of the busts.

Next, the tour guide led them to the sitting room. Along the walls were portraits of ponies who performed at the Magic Manor. Among those was a painting of Hoofdini. Just like the master escape artist himself, the painted pony in the portrait disappeared. Applejack walked by the painting, casually glancing at it. She turned away to look at the other furnishings in the room, when she turned back around and saw that the pony was no longer there. She did a double take.

"Wasn't there a pony in that picture just a second ago?" she asked.

As she turned to walk away, Hoofdini's likeness reappeared in the painting.

After spending a few moments in the sitting room, the tour guide led them down another hallway. They neared a corner which the tour guide turned down. When the group turned the corner, they found their guide nowhere in sight. They began to clamor among themselves.

"Where did she go?" one pony asked.

"She was here a moment ago," said another pony.

A voice sounded from the back of the group, "Excuse me. Pardon me." To everyponies' surprise, the tour guide was at the back of the group, making her way back to the front. "As I've mentioned," she addressed the crowd, "this mansion is chalk full of secrets and tricks. That's why it's very important that we stay together. And remember, don't touch anything. There are secret passageways and trap doors. Come along now."

She escorted the ponies to a lounge, which had once served as a theater, and still does for the members of the Magic Manor club. There was a small stage at the front of the room. Along the back wall was a cider bar. In the center were several rows of chairs.

"This is the lounge," said the tour guide. "The lounge, as you can see, is also a little theater. This is where Hoofdini performed and where Prof. Menlo showcased his very own moving picture projector. Please have a seat."

Near the stage sat an upright piano whose keys faced the ponies. Once everypony was seated, the room was filled with lively old timey-style music as the piano began to play all by itself. After the piano's performance, a stallion stepped out and gave a bow. He told jokes and performed a little show for the Magic Manor's guests. Then a mare came out and did a tap dance routine. After a magic show, the guests were treated to a classic short film. It was as magical and as vaudeville as ever! When the show ended, the tour guide led everypony through a hallway which seemed to have magically appeared. All down the length of the hallway were mirrors. As the ponies made their way to the end, they could enjoy looking at their reflections with a ghostly character waving hello. The hallway brought them to a small gift shop where the guests bought fun souvenirs. The Cutie Mark Crusaders bought themselves a magic kit, wondering if maybe they could get their cutie marks in the art of prestidigitation.

"That was amazing!" exclaimed Sweetie Belle. "Thank you for bringing us!"

"You girls are most welcome," replied Rarity.

"The thrills, the mystery, what's not to like about a spooky mansion?" said Rainbow Dash.

"An' Ah thought you didn't give two shakes about haunted houses," Applejack commented.

"Yeah, but this isn't just some haunted house, this is the Magic Manor!"

"Well, Ah'm glad y'all had fun."

After having such an amazing time, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, and Apple Bloom set out for the hotel. After a fun and busy day, it was time to settle in for the night. The next day, they would be on the train back to Ponyville.

"Ah had such a fun weekend," said Apple Bloom. "Ah wish we didn't have tuh go home tomorrow."

"Yeah," Scootaloo agreed. "I wish we could stay longer."

"I'm sure Twilight, Spike, Pinkie Pie, and Fluttershy will adore these gifts we picked out for them," said Rarity.

"Ah reckon they will," Applejack assured.

They made their beds and got ready to call it a night. They were already making plans on coming back. There's just so much to see and do in Applewood, you can't cover it all in just one weekend. In their room, Applejack, Rarity, and Rainbow Dash hit the hay. Next-door in their room, Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo also bedded down. They all had such a fun time, they couldn't stop thinking about everything they had done. The Cutie Mark Crusaders just couldn't get to sleep, but after an hour, they finally dozed off.

Author's Note

Questions and comments are always welcome. Do please keep them positive and enjoy the rest of the story!

Seven: Who Ya Gonna Call?

Some time had gone by since Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, and Apple Bloom had all gone to bed. It was their last night in Applewood before they would take the Friendship Express back to Ponyville. Even though she had had a good time and wished that she could have gone hunting ghosts at the haunted movie palace, there was just one thing that Apple Bloom couldn’t shake from her mind: the strange static that had come from her radio. She hadn’t even flipped the switch to turn it on, yet it had hummed to life. Static and buzzing, and the sound of its tuning as if it were trying to find a station, had come through the speaker. Could it really be a ghost? It did start to go haywire when they had first stopped by the movie palace. If there really was a ghost, maybe it is using the radio to try to communicate with her? It had come out of nowhere. It was as if there were supernatural forces at work here.

Apple Bloom couldn’t sleep. That mysterious transmission coming through her radio wouldn’t let her get to sleep. She had to, she just had to, know what it was. She got out of bed. She went to her bag and took out her radio. She stared intently at it. She waited for something to come through its speaker… She waited… Nothing. When it did not, of its own accord, come to life, she switched it on. The static came through loudly. She quickly turned the volume down. She looked back at Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo. They were still asleep. The static hadn’t woken them up. Apple Bloom steadily turned the volume up so that it was just loud enough so she could hear it. She put her ear to the speaker, hoping she could hear the ghost. When the ghost didn’t speak, she tried turning the dial to scroll through the stations. Some were clear and others were fuzzy. Clear of the static, no ghostly voice came through. Apple Bloom knew that there was something to that signal. She knew there was something to the movie palace. One way or another, she was going to figure it out. She, however, had just this night to do so.

Apple Bloom lowered the radio’s volume so that the sound was barely audible, but she didn’t dare turn it off.

"Psst! Hey, Sweetie Belle. Scootaloo. Wake up," Apple Bloom whispered.

Sweetie Belle stirred. She opened her eyes.

"What's going on?" Scootaloo asked as she rubbed the sleep from her eyes.

"It's my radio," Apple Bloom explained after she had turned on the lights. "Ah keep thinkin' 'bout that voice we heard earlier. Ah jus' know it was tryin' tuh tell us sumthin'."

"What're you gonna do?"

"There's only one thing we can do. We gotta go back to the movie palace."

"Are you sure that's a good idea?" asked Sweetie Belle.

"Ah'm positive," Apple Bloom replied.

"I don't think Applejack would like it," said Scootaloo.

"And I don't think that Rarity would either," added Sweetie Belle.

"Maybe not," started Apple Bloom. "But Ah know somepony who will."

Apple Bloom crept quietly to the door that connected both of the hotel rooms together. She carefully turned the door handle and opened it up. She made sure not to wake anypony up. Stepping ever so softly, she tip-toed her way across the room. Rainbow Dash, Rarity, and Applejack were sound asleep. Apple Bloom gingerly approached Rainbow Dash.

“Psst! Rainbow Dash,” Apple Bloom whispered. She nudged her shoulder. Rainbow Dash, wake up.”

The Pegasus stirred. Her eyes wearily opened. Half asleep, she rubbed her eyes to adjust them to seeing in the dark. She blinked a few times and, squinting her eyes, saw Apple Bloom standing next to her.

“Apple Bloom, what’s wrong?” Rainbow Dash asked in a hushed voice.

“Ya gotta take us to the haunted movie palace,” Apple Bloom explained. “There’s sumthin’ goin’ on there and Ah jus’ gotta find out what.”

Rainbow Dash noticed the light coming through from under the door and knew that the Cutie Mark Crusaders were wide awake and planning something.

Rainbow Dash climbed out of bed. “Come here.” She led Apple Bloom back to her room. Upon entering, Rainbow Dash found Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo with their arsenal of ghost hunting gadgets. “So, what’s this about going off to the haunted movie palace?” she questioned.

“There’s something in there,” Scootaloo explained.

“We’re going back home tomorrow,” said Sweetie Belle. “Tonight is the only time we have to solve the mystery.”

“Please, Rainbow Dash? Could you take us to find the ghost?” Apple Bloom pleaded with a pout.

Rainbow Dash was not so sure she should. “I don’t know…” she started.

“You didn’t want us to lose our sense of adventure,” said Sweetie Belle.

“Think of it as your own Daring Do adventure,” said Scootaloo.

The idea piqued Rainbow Dash’s curiosity. She thought about the excitement she would feel: The brave and adventurous Rainbow Dash taking on ghosts and zombies in her latest book, Rainbow Dash and the Haunted Movie Palace! See her team up with her hero, Daring Do! No spook can stop these two! Ka-pow! She turned to the Cutie Mark Crusaders. “All right. Ya got me. I’m in. I’m ready to bust some ghosts!”

“Don’t tell Rarity and Applejack, please?” said Sweetie Belle.

“It ain’t gonna take us long,” said Apple Bloom. “We’ll go in, find the ghost, get our cutie marks, and be back at the hotel before they even know we were gone.”

“Hold on,” Scootaloo began. “If they see that we got our cutie marks, then they’ll know where we were.”

“Not tuh worry,” Apple Bloom replied. “If we get our ghost hunting cutie marks, then they’ll know this is what we’re meant to do and they’ll have no reason to worry.”

“We better get going before it gets later,” advised Sweetie Belle.

“Wait,” said Rainbow Dash. “I’m gonna need something to fight the ghosts with.”

“Here, Rainbow Dash. Take my tennis racket,” said Scootaloo.

“Thanks, Scootaloo. Stop us if you can, ghosts! We’re ready for you!”

Eight: A Night at the Movies

Rainbow Dash, Scootaloo, Apple Bloom, and Sweetie Belle gathered their ghost hunting gear and silently slipped out the door so as not to disturb or to wake up Rarity and Applejack.

The four of them went off to the haunted movie palace. In the daylight, it looked old and rundown, but in the dark, it looked scary and intimidating. Just what could be lurking inside? Rainbow Dash, Scootaloo, Apple Bloom, and Sweetie Belle stood outside the entrance, looking upon the dilapidated theater. Then, that weird frequency sounded from Apple Bloom’s radio again. She quickly drew it from her bag and turned up the volume to get a better hearing.

“Listen, you guys!” Apple Bloom exclaimed. “Sumthin’s comin’ through the radio just like before.”

It sounded like a voice. There was an awful lot of static. Too much, in fact, to tell what the voice was saying. Apple Bloom quickly turned the dial to try to clear all of the static. As she tuned the radio, the voice would clear and break up. Doc… No… Help… They were losing the signal. Perhaps there was some sort of interference? Further tuning the radio would be no use it would seem. Apple Bloom set the radio down.

“Did ya hear that?” she asked.

“I heard it,” answered Sweetie Belle.

“Me, too,” replied Scootaloo.

“Doc. No. Help,” Rainbow Dash repeated the words the mysterious voice spoke that they could make out. She tried to make sense of what it meant. “There’s gotta be more to the message, but there was too much static to hear it all.”

Just then, the radio began to automatically scroll through the different stations. Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, and Rainbow Dash paused and looked down at it. The dial darted back and forth.

Between the stations and through the static, the voice spoke, “Come… Come in… Theater… You… Harm… Your help…”

After the voice delivered it cryptic message, there was white noise followed by dead air. The channel on which the dial had stopped came through the speaker.

Chills went through everypony as they stood motionless, looking at the bewitched radio. “Whoa…” they said in unison. That was about all they could say. They were in disbelief. Did they all really hear that? It was strange, no doubt about it. It would certainly be one thing had only one of them had heard it, but all four of them did. They each took comfort in knowing that the others had heard that voice, too. Rightfully so did they each take comfort.

Apple Bloom gazed upon the movie palace with a look of understanding and determination. “C’mon, y’all. We gotta go inside.” She picked up her little radio and stepped toward the front door.

“Apple Bloom, wait up!” Scootaloo exclaimed.

Rainbow Dash quickly trotted up to Apple Bloom, stopping between her and the door. “Look, you guys,” she began. “I know you wanna be super awesome ghost hunters and get your cutie marks, but I think you should let me go inside first. Just to make sure the coast is clear.”

“Don’t forget the tennis racket,” said Scootaloo.

“Thanks!” Having armed herself with her trusty ghost-hunting tennis racket, Rainbow Dash bucked the door in. She peeked into the dark doorway. As near as she could figure, the coast was clear. “No ghosts here,” she reported. “Let’s go, team!” She spoke in a low voice in case somepony, or something, was hiding in the darkness. The Cutie Mark Crusaders donned their trusty headlamps and prepared to enter into the dark theater. One by one by one, Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle walked cautiously through the door and into the lobby. Into the unknown…

It was a spooky, rundown theater. Cobwebs were formed around the chandelier in the lobby. The concessions counter was covered with a thick layer of dust.

Uh… uh… achoo! Sweetie Belle sneezed. “Boy, the dust in here is going to make me start to sneeze.”

The elaborate designs, the grand architecture, the ornate decorations. This must have been such a magnificent movie palace in its day. It was so regal, so sophisticated, one might assume – and rightfully so – that it was commissioned by Princess Celestia. Mind you, Princess Luna, or rather, Nightmare Moon, was still imprisoned in the moon when the movie palace was alive with ponies coming to see the latest motion picture.

They carefully stepped around the lobby when they heard a sound behind them. The quickly turned to see who or what was there. Squeak, squeak, squeak! It was just a little mouse scurrying around.

“It’s dark in here,” said Apple Bloom. “Can anypony help me find a light switch?”

They looked the room over, the beams of light from their headlamps crossing back and forth as they searched.

“I found one!” said Scootaloo. She flipped the light switch on. Darkness. It was still dark. She flipped the switch again. Nothing happened. Giving it one last try, she flipped the switch on and off repeatedly. The movie palace, or the lobby at least, did not illuminate. “No luck, you guys,” she informed. “The lights aren’t turning on.”

“Let’s find the breaker room,” Apple Bloom suggested. “We can jumpstart the circuits.”

The beams of their headlamps carefully covered every corner of the room like ever-watchful eyes. Sweetie Belle came upon a door that was slightly opened. She directed her light’s beam to the plaque on the door’s face. “Breaker Room,” the plaque read.

“Hey, I found the breaker room!” Sweetie Belle called out.

She extended a small hoof and slowly pushed the door open. She looked down the dark passageway. The beam of light emitting from Sweetie Belle’s headlamp cut through the dusty darkness.

Rainbow Dash, Apple Bloom, and Scootaloo met Sweetie Belle at the breaker room door. They peered down into the darkness.

“Who’s going in first?” Scootaloo asked playfully.

“One of you give me a headlamp,” said Rainbow Dash. “I’ll go in first and you three follow directly behind me.

Scootaloo was a little nervous to be without her headlamp, so Apple Bloom gave hers to Rainbow Dash. The brave Pegasus mare stepped carefully down the stairs with Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle following so close behind her that they were practically on top of her. At the bottom of the staircase, they found themselves in a room with circuit switches and a generator.

“How do we get it started?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“We just find the main switch and give ‘er a flip, then we should be good to go,” said Apple Bloom.

“How do you know so much about electrical engineering?”

“We helped Dr. Whooves as his assistants,” replied Sweetie Belle.

“We wanted to see if we would get our cutie marks,” added Scootaloo.

They looked around for the main power switch.

“Is this it?” asked Rainbow Dash.

“That’s it! You found it!” exclaimed Apple Bloom.

Rainbow Dash flipped the switch. The generator slowly hummed to life. It took a second to warm up for, after all, it had been one hundred and twenty-three years since anypony had been here. After a moment, it was purring like a kitten.

“What now?” Rainbow Dash inquired.

“We can go back upstairs and try the light switch again,” replied Scootaloo.

The four of them returned to the lobby. Back in the lobby, Sweetie Belle found the switch. Flipping the switch on, the lights of the chandelier flickered like strobes for a few quick seconds before the lights settled on staying illuminated. They were rather dim. A few bulbs burnt out when trying to shine. Though it wasn’t much light, it was enough to see clearly.

“Maybe we should’ve just left the lights off,” Scootaloo quipped. “This place is filthy.”

“It’s an old, abandoned theater,” said Sweetie Belle. “Nopony has worked here in over a hundred years. What do you expect it to look like?”

They looked around the concessions bar.

“Hey, look! There’s still popcorn in here,” said Apple Bloom.

“I wouldn’t eat that if I were you,” said Rainbow Dash.

“It’s all right, Rainbow Dash. Popcorn never goes bad.” She took a mouthful of popcorn. Her face froze in disgust. “Bleh! Ew, this popcorn tastes gross.”

“Perhaps being one hundred and twenty-three years old has something to do with it?” suggested Scootaloo.

“Okay, you guys,” began Rainbow Dash. “So the snacks are no good, but I bet there’ll be some awesome stuff in the auditorium. Let’s go check it out.”

They walked through the hallway into the once-spectacular auditorium. As they walked through, they passed in front of a light. Four ponies ventured down the hall. Five shadows were reflected on the wall. In the auditorium were rows and rows of dust-covered, worn-down, and moth-eaten seats.

“Whoa!” Apple Bloom stumbled, having caught her hoof on a snag in the carpet.

“Are you okay?” a concerned Rainbow Dash asked.

“Yeah, Ah’m fine,” Apple Bloom replied.

They split up and looked around the house, walking up and down the aisles, in and out of the rows. At the front of the house, a red curtain partially covered the big silver screen.

“Help me open the curtain,” said Sweetie Belle.

Rainbow Dash found a rope off to the side, hidden from the view of the attendees who once sat in that very theater. Pulling down on the rope, the curtains parted to either side.

In front of the screen was the orchestra pit. Apple Bloom and Scootaloo went in to inspect it. Some pages of sheet music and a baton snapped in half lay strewn across the floor.

Scootaloo thought that the old sheet music might make a good souvenir and put some in her bag.

“What are you doing?” asked Apple Bloom. “Ya can’t take those.”

“Are you forgetting that this place is abandoned? Nopony’s missed these yet. Everything in here is pretty much up for grabs.”

“Yeah, but what about the ghost? It may not like you taking stuff from here.”

Scootaloo hadn’t thought about that. “You have a point, Apple Bloom. I’ll just put these back here.”

Having uncovered the screen, Rainbow Dash cast her glance to a little window at the back of the house. “The projection booth! Now there’s gotta be some cool stuff in there.”

They all walked back down the hall toward the lobby when they came to a door with a plaque reading “Projection Booth.” Trying to open the door, they found that it was locked.

“Darn! It’s locked,” said Apple Bloom. “C’mon, let’s look for a key.”

They searched high and low for a key, but to no avail.

“This place is so big, it’ll take forever to find a key,” said Scootaloo.

Key or no key, they were getting inside the projection booth, even if they had to break the door down. It worked for the front door, did it not?

Sweetie Belle used her Unicorn magic to levitate the nearby waste receptacle and hammered it against the door. Bang! Bang! Bang! A few solid whacks and the door began to weaken.

“Phew! This is one tough door,” said Sweetie Belle, pausing to take a breather.

“Step aside, Sweetie Belle,” said Rainbow Dash. “Let me take a swing at it.”

In a flashy fashion, Rainbow Dash jumped for the door and roundhouse kicked the door, breaking it open all the way.

“All right!” Apple Bloom cheered. “Let’s go inside.”

“Nice moves, Rainbow Dash,” Scootaloo complimented.

“Eh, it was nothing,” Rainbow Dash replied. “Once you get to this level of awesome, you can do it to.”

They followed this dark stairway up to the projection booth. It was completely dark. The smell of the film lingered in the stuffy air.

“Wow! I bet this is what it was like when they opened up King Trot’s tomb, huh?” said Rainbow Dash.

They looked around the spooky old projection booth. Webs were formed in the corners and a few reached down from the ceiling.

“Is there a light in here?” asked Rainbow Dash.

Finding a light switch, Scootaloo flipped it up and the lights came on. The projection booth was not a very big room. At the center stood the film projector. Up against one of the walls were cardboard boxes.

“Look at all this stuff,” said Sweetie Belle. “I wonder what’s in here.”

She went up to one of the cardboard boxes. It was sealed with duct tape. They opened it up and eagerly, with curiosity, peeked inside. It was filled with round, flat, metal containers. A label on the tops of each one read the title of the film they contained.

“Check it out!” exclaimed Sweetie Belle. “I know this movie. It’s a classic. This is the one where Little Tramp finds a diamond mine in the Frozen North. Rarity says that she would like to own a diamond mine.”

They went through the whole box. They opened up another box, and inside, there were more reels of film. They were reels for a bat pony film, a Spring-Hoofed Jack film, and a film by D. W. Griffon.

“Look, you guys.” Something caught Apple Bloom’s attention. She pointed to a name on one of the reels. “Look at the name. It says ‘Kino.’”

Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, and Rainbow Dash remembered the name from the movie they had seen in Ponyville. “Mr. Kino,” they all said in realization.

“You don’t think…” began Sweetie Belle. “Could this be the Mr. Kino?”

“This must be a film he made,” said Scootaloo.

They all looked in wonder. At the bottom of the box, hidden underneath the other reels we a rectangular metal box.

“Hey, what’s this?” Rainbow Dash questioned.

“It looks like some kinda safe,” observed Apple Bloom.

“What do you think is inside it?” asked Scootaloo.

“Money probably,” Sweetie Belle responded.

“Nah, it can’t be money. Why would somepony hide it in here?”

“I don’t know. Maybe it was stolen?”

“By who?”

“By whoever was the last pony here before it became deserted.”

“Wait. What if the thieves weren’t hiding the money here back then? What if they’re present-day thieves? What if they come back? What if they find us with their stolen money? I’m too young to go to jail.”

“Nopony’s going to jail,” said Rainbow Dash. “Let’s just open it up and find out what’s really inside.”

“Ah don’t know about that,” said Apple Bloom. “Look. It says right here, ‘Do not open. This box is to remain sealed at all times.’”

Rainbow Dash assured, “Apple Bloom, whatever’s in here is over a hundred years old. Besides, whenever there’s creepy old stuff that says, ‘Do not open,’ it’s basically an open invitation telling you to open it. Can one of you hand me that wedge over there. I think I can pry this thing open.”

Scootaloo gave Rainbow Dash the wedge-shaped door stop.

“Stand back,” Rainbow Dash cautioned.

Rainbow Dash busted the lock and opened up the mysterious metal box.

“What’s inside?” asked Sweetie Belle.

“Lemme see! Lemme see!” exclaimed Scootaloo.

Rainbow Dash tried to figure out what it was. “It’s a… It’s a…”

“It’s just another reel of film,” Apple Bloom pointed out.

Scootaloo wasn’t so sure about that. “Or is it?”

“Look, there’s a note,” Scootaloo noticed. “What does it say?”

Sweetie Belle levitated the note with her Unicorn magic. She brought it under the dim light so she could see its writing. A century of time had faded the message. She squinted her eyes to read it better. She read the note, “Under no circumstances is anypony allowed to play this reel. Exhibition of any kind of this motion picture will end in certain doom.”

Rainbow Dash was willing to accept this challenge. “Certain doom, huh?”

“What do you think is on it?” asked Scootaloo.

“Ah don’t know,” replied Apple Bloom.

“We probably shouldn’t play it,” said Sweetie Belle. “After all, it does say nopony should play it. It’s got to say it for a reason.”

“I don’t think there’s anything wrong,” said Scootaloo. “It’s just a movie. Right?”

The Cutie Mark Crusaders looked back down into the metal box.

“Where’s the reel?” they questioned in a tizzy. They were in a panic. There was a clicking sound behind them. Hearing the sound, they quickly spun around, their hearts racing as if they had been caught committing a crime.

“Rainbow Dash, what are you doin’?!” Apple Bloom exclaimed.

“I just wanna see what’s on here,” she explained.

“Are you crazy? Did you not hear what the note said?” asked Sweetie Belle.

“Oh, come on. You really think that note means anything? It’s just a movie. How bad could playing it be? I mean, it’s not like we’re unleashing a monster from Tartarus or anything.”

“Couldn’t you just hold the film up to the light?”

“What’s the fun in that? This has sound on it. I wanna hear what it says.”

“This isn’t a good idea. This so isn’t a good idea.” Scootaloo sat rocking back and forth with her fore hooves on her head, preparing for the worse to happen.

Rainbow Dash loaded the film reel into the projector. Turning it on, the film began to roll. Rat, tat, tat, tat! Rat, tat, tat, tat!

They peered through the window to the screen in the auditorium. It shown brightly as the cue mark counted down.

Beep… Beep… Beep…

A curious film began to play. There was a street, a lamp post, and a cozy little house. A peaceful, slice-of-life scene it was; however, there was something unsettling about it. Something didn’t feel quite right. There was a cold chill in the air as their blood began to run cold. Weird piano music played on the film’s soundtrack. It sounded lively and cheerful, but it too, was strange.

The door of the little house opened. Out stepped a stallion with a skip. He wasn’t dressed like a clown, but he strolled around like one. He wore a creepy smile. No, it wasn’t painted on his face. It was his natural smile. “Natural” I say, but everything about this film – the setting, the music, the atmosphere, the pony, in short, the mise-en-scene – was unnatural.

The ponies watched with curiosity as the stallion pranced around on the screen. They really didn’t know what to think. They didn’t think such a film was worth locking away in a metal box, buried beneath reels of film, and hidden away from the world. They certainly didn’t see any value to the film. Perhaps it was on account of its cheap production value that it was cast away?

“Why would anypony take the time to keep this so secure?” Rainbow Dash wondered. “It can’t be because of its production value.”

“Maybe they didn’t want anypony to watch it because it’s so bad,” Scootaloo suggested.

“Works for me.”

They continued to watch. Now, something interesting in the film began to happen. The stallion suddenly froze in his tracks as if he had been caught and turned to face the screen. He ran up to the screen and leapt for it. He jumped up, standing up on his hind legs. He leaned with his fore hooves on the screen.

“Hey. Hey!” the stallion spoke.

A moment in which a character on the screen speaks directly to the audience is called breaking the fourth wall.

“Hey!” the stallion called again.

He tapped his hoof on the screen.

Clunk, clunk, clunk!

“Did you hear something?” asked Apple Bloom.

“You mean that weird stallion knocking on the screen?” asked Scootaloo.

“No. It wasn’t in the film. Listen.”

They sat quietly and motionless, waiting for the sound… Waiting… Nothing. They drew close their ghost hunting gear just in case there was something there.

On the screen, the stallion did nothing. He just remained in the same position, casting his eyes around as if he were looking about the house.

“He may be weird, but he is kind of funny,” said Sweetie Belle.

The stallion called out, “Is anypony there?”

He "tapped" on the screen again.

Clunk, clunk, clunk!

“Listen, there it is again!” exclaimed Apple Bloom.

“It’s the stallion knocking on the screen,” Rainbow Dash clarified.

“No, no. It’s comin’ from the auditorium.”

Clunk, clunk, clunk!

They listened carefully. Apple Bloom was right. It wasn’t coming from the film at all. It echoed throughout the theater. It did sound like it was coming from the auditorium. What could it be? If it knocked any harder, the screen might just fall from the wall.

Apple Bloom ran out to investigate.

Rainbow Dash called out after her, “Apple Bloom, wait up! Don’t go out there. You don’t know what it is.”

Rainbow Dash hurried out the door after her with Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo following close behind.

They followed Apple Bloom to the auditorium. She walked up to the screen, looking up at the image of the stallion. As Rainbow Dash, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo were hurrying down the aisle to catch up with her, they were all suddenly startled by a loud voice.

“You there! Little filly!” the voice boomed.

They stopped cold and looked up at the silver screen. The stallion appeared to be looking straight down at Apple Bloom.

“Little filly, can you hear me?” the stallion asked, his grin now a look of concern.

“Me?” Apple Bloom asked.

“Yes. You!”

“How can you hear me? How is it that you can see me?”

“There’s no time to explain. I’m trapped in here. I need your help in getting me out. Could you help me?”

“How do I do that?” Apple Bloom asked the stallion.

“Go to the projector,” the stallion instructed. “Let the film run as fast as it will go. Then, turn the bulb as brightly as it will shine.”

“Is that all?” Apple Bloom asked.

“Yes, that is all. Now, please hurry.”

“Okay, I’m on it!”

Apple Bloom turned and started for the projection booth.

Rainbow Dash, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle had hurried to Apple Bloom’s side.

“Hold on a second,” said Rainbow Dash with a scowl. She wasn’t about to let some weird stallion in a film who could apparently hear and see them go any further without answering a few questions first. “Just who do you think you are?”

“We haven’t much time,” the stallion replied. “I’m afraid we’ll have to put the formalities on hold.”

Rainbow Dash squinted her eyes and pursed her lips. She didn’t trust this pony. Neither she nor Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle knew who he was, and he didn’t know them. However, he really could be a pony in need. She thought of what Twilight would do. She thought of what she and the rest of the Mane Six would do. They have fought their share of baddies in the past. Some were genuinely villainous like Lord Tirek and King Sombra. Others, like Discord, just needed the love of a friend. But what was this pony’s story? Rainbow Dash didn’t know. He wasn’t quick to introduce himself. If this was anything like her ghost theory, could he be Prof. Menlo? Could he be Mr. Kino?

“And why should we help you?” Rainbow Dash asserted.

“This was an accident,” the stallion answered. “I’m not supposed to be here. I’m not the enemy here.”

“Then who is?”

“Get me out from here and I’ll explain everything to you.” The stallion was stern in his speech. His tone suggested that he was in no mood to converse. He wanted out and he wanted out now.

Rainbow Dash thought for a moment. Perhaps they should at least attempt to let him out. She decided that helping to release him from his celluloid prison would be the right thing to do. “All right,” she declared. “We’ll help get you outta there.”

Rainbow Dash, Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom, and Scootaloo returned to the projection booth. They manned the projector.

“Hello?” the stallion called out in concern. “Are you still there?”

“We’re in the projection booth,” Apple Bloom replied. “We’re gonna crank up the speed, so hold on.”

The stallion stood firmly, his fore hooves holding tightly to the sides of the frame of the film.

“We’re supposed to let the film run through the projector as fast as it will go and turn up the light as bright as it will go,” said Apple Bloom.

They let the reel run at full speed.

Suddenly, the light in the room began to brighten and dim, brighten and dim.

“What’s going on with the lights?” asked Rainbow Dash.

As the lights pulsed, static started to come through Apple Bloom’s radio. “My radio!” she exclaimed.

She took it out from her bag. They gathered around to hear if the voice would speak again, and if it did so, what it would say. Apple Bloom turned up the volume. She was prepared to turn the dial to get a better signal, but she realized that it would not be necessary.

“Meine kleinen Ponys,” the voice spoke through the radio.

Everypony stopped cold and quickly held up their ghost hunting gear. They began to tremble. They were staring at the radio. They only took their eyes off of it to look around the projection booth.

The lights in the projection booth, as well as the lights in the whole movie palace began to grow brighter and brighter with a surge.

“What is this?” the stallion on the screen grumbled. “What’s going on here?”

Suddenly, the movie palace was shrouded in darkness. All of the lights had gone out cold. Neither the voice nor static nor a frequency of any sort came through the radio either. The projector had gone out, too. Just a few moments later, the lights came back on, growing steadily brighter to the dim state they were just moments before. The static and frequency hums came back through the speaker of Apple Bloom’s little radio.

“He-hello?” Apple Bloom wondered who was there. “Can you hear me?”

“Ja. I can hear you,” the voice answered.

“Are you a ghost?”

“I am like a ghost.”

“Are you only a voice?” asked Scootaloo.

“I had a body once. Look to the wall, Fraulein.”

Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom, and Rainbow Dash turned to the wall. There was the shadow of an Earth pony stallion.

“If you’re not a ghost, what exactly are you?” asked Rainbow Dash.

“I was a pony just like you, but after mein dear friend betrayed me, this is what I have become.”

“Your friend did this to you?” Apple Bloom said in disbelief.

“He invented a camera, but it was not like any other camera. It was a camera made not just with science, but with magic. It was a camera that could imprison anypony who stood in front of it. One day, he tried to use it against me. When I realized what was happening to me, I tried to escape, but it was already too late. I reached mein hoof out to him. I pulled him into the light of the camera. He had gone mad und I couldn’t let him wreak havoc on everypony in Applewood. I didn’t want to do it, but he left me no choice. I knew I couldn’t escape. The camera had turned off before I was fully absorbed into the film. Thus, I have become this ghost, this shadow. I am the film und the film is me. Moving pictures are a series of photographs. They are made by light und can only be seen by light. Like a shadow. But I am still here. In the molecules around you. That is how I you can see me in the light, und that is how you can hear me through the radio. Since the scene the camera had captured was this theater, I am confined to this theater. Mein body at least, although I have found that mein voice can carry just outside the movie palace.”

Rainbow Dash began to put the pieces together. He was a pony who was betrayed by his friend. His friend was a menace to the citizens of Applewood. They were both absorbed into the film. Trapped. Never to be seen again, perhaps? “Who are you?” she inquired.

The stallion replied, “Mein name is Herr Kino. The ponies in Applewood once knew me as Mr. Nicky.”

Rainbow Dash, Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom, and Scootaloo all gasped in disbelief. It was really Mr. Kino!

“If you’re Mr. Kino…” Apple Bloom began. “Then your friend must be Prof. Menlo.”

“I wish I could say that he is still mein friend,” Mr. Kino said sadly.

“So, you two are trapped in the film?” Rainbow Dash asked to confirm.

“Ja,” Mr. Kino replied.

“That’s why nopony has seen either of you in a hundred and twenty-three years,” said Sweetie Belle.

“A hundred und twenty-three years?!” Mr. Kino was almost speechless. “Has that much time really gone by?”

“So, then the pony we saw up on the screen must be Prof. Menlo,” said Sweetie Belle.

“Exactly,” replied Mr. Kino. “Which is why I had to shut off the projector. I couldn’t let him escape.”

“Not to offend you or anything,” began Rainbow Dash, “but we just spoke with Prof. Menlo and he says that you’re the one who betrayed him. He says he should be free and you should remain trapped.”

“I am not surprised. When greed and power consumed him, he saw many of us as obstacles in the way of his monopolistic corporation.”

“Well, speaking with you is a lot more pleasant,” said Sweetie Belle. “Prof. Menlo was a bit of a grump.”

“There’s gotta be some way we can get you out,” said Apple Bloom.

“There is a way, Fraulein. But you must set up Prof. Menlo’s camera first.”

“Okay, Mr. Kino,” Scootaloo said proudly. “Just tell us what to do, and we’ll get you out lickety-split!”

Mr. Kino was uncertain. “I am afraid that turning on the projector will also bring Prof. Menlo back.”

“What’s so wrong with that?” asked Rainbow Dash. “Sure, maybe he wasn’t a good friend, but he’s had a century to unwind. Maybe you two can talk and put all your differences aside?”

“I don’t think it will be that easy. Prof. Menlo was not one to compromise. He sees things his way.”

“But maybe after all this time he’s changed,” said Sweetie Belle.

Mr. Kino was quiet. His shadow of his body language suggested that he was giving the idea some thought. “I don’t think so,” he finally replied.

Nine: Mr. Kino and Prof. Menlo

It was late into the night. Back at the hotel, Applejack was in a deep sleep. Rarity was resting peacefully, too. She rolled over onto her left side. Then she rolled over onto her right side. A parched throat had disrupted her slumber. She took off her sleep mask and got up to fix herself a refreshing glass of water. Going into the bathroom, she closed the door behind her, but left it slightly ajar. She turned on the light. She took a few swallows of her water. Before she returned to her bed, she paused for a moment to check her mane in the mirror. Perfect! Not a strand out of place! She turned out the light and returned to bed. She lay her head down. She sat up and fluffed her pillow. She lay back down. She sat up once more to fix her pillow. Not being satisfied with the fluffiness of her pillow, she got back out of bed to fetch one of the extra pillows they had kept on the chair.

Hm. That’s odd, she thought to herself, not finding the pillows there. I could have sworn we left them here. She turned to go back to bed and noticed one of the pillows on the floor beside Rainbow Dash’s bed. Oh, Rainbow Dash. Taking all of the pillows.

She picked up the pillow from the floor. That’s when she noticed something odd…

“Applejack!” she cried out in distress.

“Wha-what? What’s goin’ on?” Applejack frantically questioned as she sprang up wide awake.

“Applejack, Rainbow Dash isn’t here.”

Rarity had pulled the blanket back. All of the extra pillows were aligned on the bed. A quickly drawn doodle of Rainbow Dash’s face was sketched on a piece of paper and placed on the pillow at the head of her bed.

Applejack noticed something else. “Look, Rarity. Her bag is gone, too.”

She and Rarity turned their attention to the door that connected their room to their little sisters’ room. They went inside and turned on the lights…

“They’re not here!” Rarity gasped in shock.

Just as they expected!

Applejack noticed that the bags of ghost hunting gear were also not there. “Ah bet Ah know where they are,” she asserted.

Applejack and Rarity hurried as quickly as they could to the movie palace. They rushed down the hallway, through the lobby, and out the front door.

“Ah cain’t believe this,” Applejack grumbled. She changed her tone of voice. “Well, Ah do believe this. Oh, but Ah cain’t believe it’s happenin’.”

“Oh, I do hope they’re okay,” said Rarity worriedly.

Much like the borough of Manehattan, and the resort of Las Pegasus, Applewood was a city that never slept. Even at this hour of the night, the streets were alive with activities. Ponies were coming and going. Somewhere, there was probably a production crew shooting the night scenes for their latest picture.

As they made their way along the streets, they caught sight of a stallion standing beside his taxi carriage as he sipped his late-night cup of Joe while on break from his night shift. He spoke with another taxi driver. Rarity and Applejack shouted out to him as they ran towards him, “Hey! Taxi!”

Before the taxi driver knew it, the two mares had jumped into the carriage. Flabbergasted and speechless, the taxi driver spit out the swig of coffee he had just taken. “What the?!” he exclaimed.

“We need you tuh get us to the haunted movie palace pronto!” Applejack demanded.

“How ‘bout sayin’ ‘please?’” the taxi driver grumbled as he cinched up his harness.

“Please take us to the movie palace,” said Rarity.

“Sure thing,” said the driver in a cheerful tone. “Hold on.”

With his harness in place, the taxi driver made for the haunted movie palace. He weaved through the traffic along the way. Rarity and Applejack held on tightly, practically for dear life.

“I’m not so sure taking a taxi was a very good idea,” said Rarity.

“Yee-haw!” Applejack hollered. “Git your cowpony on, Rarity. This is much faster than walkin’.”

“Yeah, but is it safer?”

A group of ponies were crossing the street when the taxi carriage came barreling by. The ponies jumped back in surprise.

“I’m walkin’ here!” one pony shouted.

The haunted movie palace was straight ahead.

“There it is!” Rarity exclaimed.

Curiously, its lights were turned on.

“Oh, Sweet Betsy from Pike! Ah hope it’s that janitor who turned on those lights.” Applejack commented.

Just one block away, the stallion suddenly stopped.

“Excuse me,” Rarity started, “we asked you to take us to the movie palace.”

“Sorry, miss. There’s too many weird things that happen there,” the taxi driver explained. “This is as far as I’m taking you.”

Rarity and Applejack got out from the carriage and ran the rest of the way to the theater. A small crowd of ponies were standing around in curiosity, looking at the lights of the movie palace. Rarity and Applejack paused at the front door.

“Look! The door’s been opened,” Applejack pointed out.

“And somepony has even taken the time to turn on all the lights,” Rarity added.

The lights were dim in the lobby and a few of the bulbs outlining the marquee flickered on and off.

“Ah’ll give you four guesses as to who’s behind all this,” said Applejack.

She and Rarity went inside. A few concerned ponies noticed.

“Hey, don’t go in there,” one pony called out after them.

They dared not to follow them inside.

“Ew, look at this place,” Rarity looked around the lobby in disgust. “And I thought it looked atrocious on the outside. I’m sure even a ghost would want to tidy up.”

“Save the spring cleanin’ for later, Rarity,” began Applejack. “We gotta find our sisters and Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo.”

Rarity would certainly never step hoof in a place in this condition, but she could easily do so when it came to her friends’ and family’s wellbeing.

“Apple Bloom!” Applejack called out. “Rainbow Dash!”

“Sweetie Belle!” Rarity called out. “Scootaloo! Where are you?”

They searched around the lobby. Nopony was there. They walked through a doorway and followed the hallway to the once grand auditorium. Nopony was there either. Not finding Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, and Rainbow Dash there, they darted back down the hallway. They found the door to the projection booth. They hurried through the doorway and up the stairs.

In the projection booth, Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, and Rainbow Dash heard the hoof steps of somepony approaching. They were hurrying up the stairs. They were coming right to them. Not knowing who, or what, it was, the four ponies huddled together, their ghost hunting gear raised and at the ready. The hoof steps rapidly sounded. They were coming closer until…

Bam! The door burst wide open.

“Yahh!” the four ponies yelled out. Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo swung their tennis racket and fly swatter, respectively. Sweetie Belle switched on her little vacuum and Apple Bloom held up the stone of the spirit that Granny Smith had given to her.

Rarity and Applejack jumped back in surprise.

“Oh, my heavens!” Rarity exclaimed as she ducked down.

“Easy, y’all, easy!” Applejack tried to settle everypony down. “It’s me and Rarity.”

The four of them put down their defenses when they realized who was there.

“Rarity!” Sweetie Belle exclaimed, happy to see her big sister.

“Applejack! What’re you doin’ here?” Apple Bloom asked, not expecting to see her or Rarity there at the haunted movie palace.

“Ah reckon Ah should be askin’ y’all that same question,” Applejack replied.

She did not look too happy to see them there.

“Ah jus’ wanted to find the ghost,” Apple Bloom explained. “We were maybe gonna get out ghost huntin’ cutie marks.”

“For the last time, Apple Bloom, there ain’t no ghost hauntin’ this theater.” She turned her attention to Rainbow Dash. “And you, Rainbow Dash, how could you bring them here? Don’t you realize that y’all had Rarity and Ah worried sick? Now c’mon. Ah’m takin’ y’all back to the hotel.”

“Wait, Applejack,” Apple Bloom pleaded.

“No, Apple Bloom. We’re leavin’."

“Please, don’t leave,” Mr. Kino’s voice came through the radio.

Applejack and Rarity paused.

“Who said that?” Rarity asked a bit nervously.

Scootaloo announced, “Rarity, Applejack. Allow us to introduce you to Mr. Kino himself.”

She pointed her hoof to the young filmmaker’s shadow on the wall. Applejack and Rarity turned around. They were a bit spooked to see a shadow and nopony present to cast one.

“Mr. Kino?” began Applejack.

“The Mr. Kino?” asked Rarity.

“Don’t be frightened, Fraulein. I am not a ghost,” said Mr. Kino. “I am neither a parlor trick. I am trapped in a void. I have been for one hundred und twenty-three years.”

“I’m dreadfully sorry to hear that,” said Rarity. “Perhaps if we had the Elements of Harmony with us, we could get you out of there.”

“The key to my escape is that projector.” Mr. Kino extended his hoof. Being a two-dimensional shadow, his hoof reached down the wall and across the floor, pointing to the projector.

“Well, let’s start ‘er up and get you outta there,” said Applejack.

“Hold on,” started Scootaloo. “Running the projector will not just bring back Mr. Kino, it’ll also bring back Prof. Menlo.”

“Mr. Kino and Prof. Menlo are in there? Golly, how many ponies are in there?”

“Well, this certainly explains why nopony has seen or heard of either of you since you two had disappeared,” said Rarity.

Apple Bloom asked, “Mr. Kino, are ya ready to come back? Even though Prof. Menlo may be comin’ back, too?”

Sweetie Belle added, “I know you two had your differences, but if you could talk things out, it just might solve all your problems.”

Mr. Kino stayed silent for a second.

“Take it from us,” began Rainbow Dash. “We’re the defenders of Harmony. There’s no friendship problem we can’t fix.”

“Your determination to help me gives me confidence that I will have mein old friend back,” Mr. Kino spoke. Though he was a shadow, they knew that he was wearing a look of courage on his face. “Start the projector.”

Rainbow Dash fired up the projector. The reel of film began to roll as fast as the projector would allow. The screen in the auditorium illuminated. The image of Prof. Menlo reappeared.

“What is this about?” he inquired assertively. He banged his hoof on the screen. “Get me out of here now!”

With the projector running at full speed, it was now time to turn up the light.

“Okay, we’re turning up the light,” informed Rainbow Dash. To Rarity and Applejack, she cautioned, “Ya might wanna look away. Things are about to get bright!”

The light shined as brightly as they could get it. They all shielded their eyes from the bright white light that radiated from the projector. The faster the film reel spun, the louder the whirring of the projector became until it reached a steady volume. The projector was revved up to maximum power. It began to shake and its mechanics were running like the devil.

“Is it working?” Apple Bloom called out above the noise.

“It’s working!” Prof. Menlo exclaimed on the screen. “Ha, ha! It’s working!”

“Wunderbar! It’s working!” exclaimed Mr. Kino with joy.

The film was spinning so fast that each individual frame on the filmstrip seemed to merge into one single frame, glowing brightly in a blinding white light. The beam of light which projected the image from the film onto the silver screen began to be filled with particles. Each time a frame from the film passed in front of the light, another layer of particles was added. With each new layer added, the forms of two stallions began to take shape and materialize. The image of Prof. Menlo on the screen, and thus on the filmstrip, began to fade until he was no longer there. Then in a bright flash of light, everything went dark. The projector stopped and slowed to a stop, cooling down.

“What happened to the light?” asked Rarity.

“It’s the faulty wiring,” replied Applejack. “This place is a century old, remember?”

The lights of the movie palace slowly faded on.

A great gasp escaped from everyponies’ mouths.

Standing before them were two stallions: Mr. Kino and Prof. Menlo in the flesh.

Ten: A Friendship Problem

Mr. Kino patted himself to make sure that he was real. He touched his hoof to his face. Was he really here? After one hundred and twenty-three years, could he really be back? “Oh, glücklicher Tag!” he exclaimed with sheer delight.

Prof. Menlo, too, looked himself over. “At last! I’m free!” he bellowed with a hearty laugh. “Ha, haa!”

No longer did the ghostly voice come through Apple Bloom’s trusty little radio. It had no reason to for the stallion to whom it belonged was standing right there among them. Now, only white noise sounded. Apple Bloom switched the radio off, having no need of keeping it turned on now.

“Vielen Dank!” Mr. Kino thanked ever so gratefully. “Vielen Dank!” He looked up at Apple Bloom. “You, my dear Fraulein. You have truly helped me.” He patted her on the head.

“You’re welcome, Mr. Kino,” said Apple Bloom. “It’s so great to finally meet you.”

Before another word could be exchanged, a gruff voice spoke, “Mr. Kino.”

Mr. Kino, recognizing the voice, turned around. There was a look of nervousness on his face. “Prof. Menlo,” he said, then swallowed hard. “It has been a long time.”

“A long time,” Prof. Menlo replied sternly and expressionless.

“We’ve had our differences, I know, but, may I say how good it is to see you once again.” Mr. Kino’s voice had a little bit more cheer in it.

Prof. Menlo stood silent and motionless. He wore a scowl on his face as he leered at Mr. Kino.

Apple Bloom, Applejack, Sweetie Belle, Rarity, Scootaloo, and Rainbow Dash were quiet. What a reunion this would be. How would these two long lost ponies get along?

After a moment, Mr. Kino spoke again. “Prof. Menlo?”

“You have some nerve,” Prof. Menlo grumbled. He bothered not to even say hello.

“I beg your pardon?”

“First you sell me out-” Prof. Menlo began to raise his voice as he grew angrier “-then, you trap me in this reel.”

“I didn’t want to. We were friends. You left me with no choice.”

“I wasn’t going to let anypony, not even you, stand in my way.”

“But we were partners. We were in this together.”

“You were a weak link.”

Mr. Kino was quiet. His eyes had begun to water.

“‘Scuse me, everypony,” began Applejack. “Can we, uh, settle down here?”

Mr. Kino and Prof. Menlo glanced up at Applejack, the former with an ear to listen to what she had to say while the latter turned in contempt.

“You two are supposed to be friends,” said Rainbow Dash. “You shouldn’t be fighting. I can’t imagine anything so terrible that it could break up your friendship.”

“Wake up, Pegasus,” said Prof. Menlo. “Betrayal breaks up those who once were friends.”

“I did not betray you!” said Mr. Kino. “You betrayed us. You betrayed us all. You betrayed yourself.”

“I will not hear another word of this!” Prof. Menlo shouted. “You betrayed me and that’s final.”

“Gentlecolts, gentlecolts, please,” Rarity stepped in.

"And who are you?" Prof. Menlo questioned.

"Sorry we haven't properly introduced ourselves," said Apple Bloom. "Ah'm Apple Bloom, and this here's my big sister, Applejack, and our friends, Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, Rainbow Dash, and Rarity."

"Howdy!" greeted Applejack in her conventional country style. "It sure is a pleasure meeting' your acquaintance."

"How do you do?" Rarity asked.

"It seems you know who we are," observed Prof. Menlo.

"We've heard all about you," said Sweetie Belle.

Scootaloo stated, "Yeah. You were a great inventor and-"

"Were?" Prof. Menlo interrupted. "I still am a great inventor."

"Sorry. You are a great inventor." She turned to Mr. Kino, speaking cautiously so as not to offend him either. "And... you are still the owner of the nickelodeon chain?"

Mr. Kino chuckled. He knew she was trying not to offend him, and the kindhearted stallion took none whatsoever. "I was," he answered. "I wonder what has become of it now?"

"It could be the most successful chain in Applewood," Prof. Menlo spoke. Mr. Kino looked at the professor. Did he really just give him a compliment? Mr. Kino wasn't sure if he should be happy. His question was answered when the professor continued, "It could be the most successful chain in Equestria had you sold it to me."

"I worked hard to start that chain." Mr. Kino asserted himself. "Und in one night, you try to take it all away from me." He couldn't hold back any longer and let the professor have it. "All of us in Applewood. You took everything away from us. You were mad. Mad! You let greed und power corrupt you. Look what it has done to you. You blame me for your downfall, but it is you, Professor, who is to blame. You did this to yourself."

Rainbow Dash, Scootaloo, Rarity, Sweetie Belle, Applejack, and Apple Bloom were silent. They didn't try to intervene. Mr. Kino and Prof. Menlo clearly have some issues they need to work out, and if they are going to make any progress, the first thing they can do is let the two lost ponies vent.

For Mr. Kino, it felt really good to be able to get all of this off of his chest. A hundred and twenty-three years earlier, Prof. Menlo had never given him a chance. His anger didn't allow it. He was callous.

Prof. Menlo leered at Mr. Kino. "Are you finished?" he questioned.

Mr. Kino took a deep breath. He stood straight, puffed out his chest, and held his head high. He wasn't going to let Prof. Menlo push him around. He was standing his ground and not even the professor could shake him. "Ja," he replied. "I am finished."

Prof. Menlo sat for a second and removed his jacket. There was an aggressive air about him as he loosened his necktie. He wasn't in any mood to listen. He wan't going to be told off either. Sensing his hostility, everypony was prepared to step in.

"Let me tell you something, Kino." Prof. Menlo quickly advanced.

Rainbow Dash and Applejack held him back. Mr. Kino stepped back, thinking that he would be feeling the professor's wrath.

"Whoa! Easy there, Professor," said Applejack.

"Obviously there is more going on here then two friends feuding," said Rarity. "You two are going to sit here and talk it out. Nopony is going anywhere until this is settled."

All was silent for a moment. Prof. Menlo was too angry to speak. Mr. Kino didn't know what more he could say.

"I don't hear either of you talking," Rarity said.

After a pause, Prof. Menlo was the first to speak. "I had everything. The inventions, the patents. I had it all. I had all of Applewood in my hooves. But you..." he said with a growl, looking directly at Mr. Kino. "You took it all away from me."

"It was poisoning your mind," Mr. Kino tried to explain. "It hurt me to do it because I didn't want to see you sad. Neither could I see you happy with something that was corrupting you. I only did what I did to help you. To save you! You were mein friend."

"I was perfectly happy," Prof. Menlo snapped. "Satisfied with all I had, with all that I could get."

"You will never be satisfied," Mr. Kino cried out. "You have so much, yet you have nothing. Tell me, Professor, are you truly happy?"

Prof. Menlo's eyes began to water. He tried to hold them back. He was hurting, but there was something underneath. There was something bothering him that he wasn't acknowledging. Mr. Kino was beginning to realize that the professor was in pain and that he was using his anger to cover it up.

"Prof. Menlo, are you truly happy?" Mr. Kino asked him again, wanting to help his friend fight his demon.

Prof. Menlo shut his eyes tightly and gritted his teeth until he couldn't take it anymore. "I'm not happy!" he exploded. "Dear Celestia! Is that what you want to hear? Is that what you want from me?" He breathed heavily.

Everypony was quiet.

"I was happy. I was once satisfied with what I had," Prof. Menlo continued, sitting down. "Before we met, I was working in electricity. I was making great strides. I was working on achieving so much. But then, a scientist named Zapperman designed a device that could produce more electric power than my invention. A brilliant Pegasus he was. To tell you the truth, I was jealous of him. He accomplished everything I set out to do and more. I turned my attention to records and then photography and then motion pictures. There were so many scientists and inventors, many great minds working to develop the next big thing. I didn't want to admit it, but some of them beat me to the punch. I wished that it was I who made those discoveries. That is why I claimed all the patents and took credit for what other ponies had done. That is why I set out to build up a corporation where I alone could invent and develop. You're right to say that I was greedy, that I was hungry for power. But I was envious and afraid that my inventions wouldn't amount to much. I'm sorry I hurt everypony. And I'm sorry that I hurt you, my friend." He breathed a sigh of relief. It did him a lot of good to let that weight off of his shoulders.

"Why did you not say anything before?" Mr. Kino asked.

"I was too proud," Prof. Menlo explained. "And I let my frustrations cloud my better judgement and I took it out on everypony. I thought that controlling Applewood would make things better and ease my conscience, but it didn't. I was a fool."

Mr. Kino put a comforting hoof on Prof. Menlo's shoulder. "We all make mistakes," he said. "But if something is bothering you, you should not be afraid to say what you're feeling. Mein Freund, I forgive you."

With teary eyes and his hardened heart opened, Prof. Menlo pulled Mr. Kino into a warm embrace. "Thank you, Kino. You really are a good friend." He turned to their six rescuers. "Thank you, too. Without you, we would still be trapped, doomed to live an eternity with a petty argument unresolved."

"Thank Mr. Kino," said Apple Bloom. "If he hadn't communicated to us through my radio, we never would've come in."

"Kino, you certainly are a better stallion than I am," Prof. Menlo said. "I really don't deserve a friend like you."

"Everypony deserves a friend," Mr. Kino began. "Sure, there may be times we argue, but we should stop to listen and learn from each other, respect our opinions. There will be things that you're better at than I, und things which I'm better at than you. There's nothing wrong with friendly competition. It gives us the encouragement to be the best we can be. Und what pony wouldn't want to see their friends do their best?"

That was the moment that Prof. Menlo and Mr. Kino became friends again.

Apple Bloom was certainly happy that her curiosity in her radio's ghostly broadcast led her here, and she was happy to see that she and her friends were able to help two ponies rediscover their friendship. She wondered, Maybe ghost huntin' really ain't what the Cutie Mark Crusaders are destined to do. Perhaps it's bein' able tuh help ponies in need?

Eleven: Back Home

The next morning, Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, and Applejack packed up the rest of their belongings at the hotel. Mr. Kino and Prof. Menlo escorted them to the train station and thanked them once more and to see them off. Some of the ponies thought that they had recognized the two stallions, but it couldn't be actually be them, could it? After all, they were both said to have mysteriously vanished over a hundred years ago. There was no denying that it was them. It was like seeing two ghosts. But they weren't ghosts. They were no longer. It was soon in the newspapers all over Equestria that the two long-lost ponies were back in the land of the living. Reporters interviewed each of them and their six new friends who helped bring them back.

It was early in the evening when the Friendship Express pulled into the station in Ponyville. The six ponies disembarked and gathered their luggage on the platform.

"I had such an amazing time in Applewood," said Sweetie Belle.

"I know!" Scootaloo exclaimed in agreement. "It was such an awesome weekend! I'm so happy we could make it happen."

"And Ah'm sure glad that we were able tuh help Mr. Kino and Prof. Menlo be friends again," said Apple Bloom.

"Yup, we sure had quite the adventure," said Applejack.

"I had a marvelous time myself," Rarity commented.

"And we solved the mystery of the haunted movie palace and the mystery of what happened to Mr. Kino and Prof. Menlo!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed. "Two mysteries in one spells awesome!"

"Well, Ah don't know 'bout y'all," began Applejack, "but Ah reckon Ah could use a vacation from our vacation!"

"A late night and an early morning. Not a good combination," said Sweetie Belle.

"I guess we better get on home then," said Rainbow Dash. "That was pretty fun, though. We should do it again some time."

"Not too soon, I hope," Rarity responded. She turned to her little sister, "Come, Sweetie Belle. Let's go home."

After wishing each other a good night, the three pairs - Applejack and Apple Bloom, Rarity and Sweetie Belle, Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo - returned to their homes: Sweetie Belle and Rarity to Carousel Boutique, Apple Bloom and Applejack to Sweet Apple Acres, and Scootaloo and Rainbow Dash to Cloudsdale.

At Sweet Apple Acres, Applejack and Apple Bloom opened the front door quietly.

"Don't be too loud," Applejack said softly. "Ya don't wanna wake up Granny Smith."

"Ah'm already awake," Granny Smith spoke.

The Apple matriarch was sitting in her rocking chair and Big Mac was sitting on the sofa.

"How did your vacation go?" Granny Smith asked.

"Mighty fine, Granny Smith," said Applejack.

"That's nice. An' did y'all find any ghosts?"

"Not exactly," Apple Bloom replied. "But there was this voice that came through the radio. Turns out it was Mr. Kino, the pony who owned all the nickelodeons."

"Ya mean Mr. Nicky?"

"Yeah! Ya see, he and Prof. Menlo were stuck inside a reel of film. Mr. Kino talked to me through the radio, and Rainbow Dash took us to the movie palace where we rescued them. They were fightin' an' feudin' with each other, but we helped make 'em friends again."

"Phew! Sounds like y'all were pretty busy." Granny Smith stood up and stretched. "You can tell me more about it in the mornin'. This ol' gal's gotta be headin' tuh bed."

"Jus' one more thing, Granny Smith!" Apple Bloom excitedly reached into her bag. "Look what Ah got for us." She proudly showed them Saddle Song's autograph.

"Well Ah'll be. Y'all got tuh meet Saddle Song."

"We sure did! An' look, it's got all our names. Pretty cool, huh, Big Mac?"

"Eeyup!" Big Mac agreed. "Sure is, Apple Bloom."

It had been a long weekend, a very late night, an early morning, and a long train ride. Apple Bloom could feel her eyelids getting heavy. She gave a big yawn.

Big Mac smiled. "You're plum tuckered out. Let's get you tuh bed."

"But Ah'm not sleepy," Apple Bloom said with a yawn. "Ah've got so much more tuh tell ya."

"Tell ya what, how 'bout in the mornin' we whip us up some pancakes and you can tell me everything?"

"Ah'd like that a lot."

Applejack smiled warmly as the three of them went upstairs to get a god night's sleep.

Epilogue: A New Beginning

Some time had passed since their Applewood vacation until one day, they each received a letter. It read:

Dear Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, and Applejack,
You are cordially invited to the the grand opening ceremony of the newly refurbished Kino Movie Palace. We ask the honor of your presence on the evening of this special occasion. We cannot thank you enough for everything you have done.
Sincerely,
Kino "Mr. Nicky" and Prof. Menlo

On the evening of the gala, the Mane Six, the Cutie Mark Crusaders, and Spike arrived in Applewood dressed in their finest attire. Spotlights waved back and forth outside the theater. There were cameras, there were lights, there was a red carpet! What was once an old dilapidated building was now a beautiful picture house. In big letters above the box office, the name "Kino Movie Palace" twinkled like stars. Many celebrities had come. Saddle Song, Gray, and Roo Buckaroo were there. Curly Top and Mare-ilyn Monroan were there. And the old stallion who swept the front sidewalk? He was also there, wearing his new usher uniform. Shaking hooves with the ponies of the hour were Clark Stable and Hoofrey Bogart, the actors who portrayed Prof. Menlo and Mr. Kino respectively in their biopic.

It was a wondrous moment when the Ponyville friends met up with Mr. Kino and Prof. Menlo.

"Meine Freunde! I'm so happy you are here!" exclaimed Mr. Kino.

"Indeed," said Prof. Menlo. "None of this would be possible without you."

After exchanging a few sentiments, Mr. Kino stepped up to the podium positioned just outside the main entrance. The crowd quieted down and he proceeded to speak. "Good evening, Applewood.It has been one hundred und twenty-three years since I last saw your bright lights. It is wonderful to be here again. I have meine new friends to thank for that. I once owned a small chain of nickelodeons. That is how I got mein nickname, Mr. Nicky. I am proud to say that I will be bringing mein chain of theaters back, with the help of mein friend und mentor, Prof. Menlo, who has helped fund the refurbishment and restoration of this beautiful movie palace und the first theater of mein new chain." He and Prof. Menlo took up a large pair of scissor and held it up to the red ribbon extending across the length of the entrance. "In the name of friendship," Mr. Kino announced, "I declare the Kino Movie Palace open!"

He and Prof. Menlo cut the red ribbon. Cameras flashed like crazy and everypony cheered. The first film and popcorn were on the house. It was an exciting and heartwarming event. It was more than a grand opening. It a new beginning. It was a celebration of friends.

"To friends," said Mr. Kino holding up a glass of sparkling cider. "To friends old and new. To friends who will come here to enjoy a night at the movies. To friends!"

"To friends!" everypony repeated.

They drank their toast. Old friends did make new friends and they all indeed enjoyed a night at the movies.

Author's Note

I certainly hope you enjoyed reading this story. Feel free to ask questions and share comments. I do ask that responses are kept positive. Thank you!

Five: On the Streets of Applewood

From the haunted movie palace, they went to Rancho Rodeo. There were so many shops! They spent some time there window shopping, going inside the stores and doing actual shopping, and Rarity tried on many a frock and outfit. Then they went to the Trot of Style. The names of such fashion-forward ponies, and those who have made a name in fashion such as Photo Finish, Hoity Toity, and Sassy Saddles had their names engraved on plaques along the pathway.

After walking along the Trot of Style, Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle decided that they would take turns picking out a fun activity for them to do.

Scootaloo made the first pick. “Let’s go to the wax museum!”

The wax museum was certainly a sight to see. There were life-size replicas of some of Equestria’s most famous stars. There were the actors, Hoofrey Bogart and Clark Stable, Horson Welles, Curly Top the little filly star, Sapphire Shores, a few members of the Wonderbolts including Spitfire, Soarin, and Surprise. After having been dishonorably discharged, the wax model of Wind Rider had been removed. There was also the cowpony star, Roo Buckaroo.

“They’re so lifelike,” Sweetie Belle observed. “It’s as if they could walk up to you and say ‘hello.’”

There was also a royalty-themed exhibit with wax models of Princess Celestia and Princess Luna. In an exhibit decorated with sequins were models of Princess Cadance and Prince Shining Armor. A sign posted in the adjacent exhibit read, “Coming soon, Princess Twilight Sparkle.”

In another area of the museum, a couple of ponies were setting up another new exhibit.

“Golly, who’s goin’ in here?” Applejack asked them.

“This space is reserved for Countess Coloratura,” one of the ponies replied.

“Countess who? Sorry, fellas. Ah ain’t ever heard of her.”

She continued on her way, looking at all the models.

Once they had toured the whole museum, they gathered outside to discuss what they would see next.

They stopped at a bench to read through all the fun tourist attractions and activities.

“I wanna go see the Trot of Fame!” exclaimed Scootaloo.

“You picked the last thing,” said Sweetie Belle. “It’s my turn to pick.”

“What do you want to see?”

“I don’t know. I haven’t decided yet.”

“Well, while you decide, we can go see the Trot of Fame.”

“That’s two in a row for you! Then you’ll have to let me pick two in a row.”

“Settle down, y’all,” Apple Bloom intervened. “We’ll get tuh see everything, don’t you worry.”

Sweetie Belle made her decision. “I know! Let’s go see all the celebrity houses!”

“We probably won’t see anypony famous,” said Scootaloo.

“We just might,” Sweetie Belle returned.

“I don’t know. We could look at houses any time.”

“But these are celebrity houses. Who knows who we’ll get to see. Maybe Hoofrey Bogart watering his lawn?”

“Hoofrey Bogart wouldn’t be watering his lawn during a tour. Everypony would crowd him for his autograph.”

“It’s just a thought. Besides, he’s got to water his lawn.”

“You guys!” Apple Bloom raised her voice. “We’re supposed tuh be havin’ fun. Cain’t we just decide what we’re gonna do?”

“Well, Scootaloo doesn’t like my idea,” said Sweetie Belle.

“I didn’t say that,” Scootaloo replied.

“But that’s what you meant.”

“U-u-g-g-h-h!” Apple Bloom couldn’t take their bickering anymore. “If neither of you can decide on sumthin’, then Ah’m goin’ back to the hotel.”

"You guys, stop arguing," Rainbow Dash intervened. "We'll get to do everything you want. Maybe we'll get to see some celebrities, maybe not. But whether we do or not, we're here to enjoy a weekend vacation together."

Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle knew that Rainbow Dash was right. Though they had come to Applewood to hunt for ghosts and maybe get their cutie marks, they were here to spend the weekend together and have fun.

"I'm sorry, Sweetie Belle," Scootaloo apologized. "I really would like to see the celebrity houses, too. I still don't know if we'll see anypony famous along the way, but even if we don't, we still get a pretty awesome tour."

"And I'm sorry for arguing, too, Scootaloo," said Sweetie Belle. "I guess I'm still a little upset that we couldn't go inside the haunted movie palace and see if we could get our cutie marks. I just want to get my cutie mark so badly. I didn't mean to take out my frustrations on you."

"Sometimes friends can argue back and forth with each other," Rarity began, "but the most important part is to recognize the differences and respect each others' opinions, and at the end of the day, we're all still the best of friends."

"That's right," Applejack agreed. "Jus' look at me an' Rainbow Dash. Sumtimes we bicker and butt heads, but we sure don't let it break up our friendship."

"It's great to have competition," stated Rainbow Dash. "Sometimes you need somepony to give you that extra push so you can do your best." She turned to Applejack with a competitive air. "Just wait 'til the next Running of the Leaves. I'm gonna leave you in the dust!"

"You're on!" Applejack accepted Rainbow Dash's challenge.

A good pep talk from their big sisters was just what the doctor ordered. Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo hugged it out. Apple Bloom smiled warmly, happy to see that her friends were friends again.

"C'mon, everypony!" Scootaloo exclaimed. "Let's go see some celebrity houses!"

They made their way to the carriage stop where the next tour was waiting to depart. They took their seats in the carriage and began their tour of the neighborhood.

"Good afternoon, everypony," greeted the tour guide. "You will see the luxurious homes of some of Applewood's biggest stars. We can't guarantee that you will see any celebrities on our tour, but if you do, it won't cost you a single bit more! So, sit back, relax, and enjoy the tour."

While they were on the tour, they saw the houses of many famous ponies. They even passed by Hoofrey Bogart's house! And even though they didn't see the movie star himself, they could all agree that they all had fun on the tour.

After they had returned from the celebrity houses tour, it was Apple Bloom's turn to decide on what the group's next activity would be.

"It's your turn to pick what we do next, Apple Bloom," informed Sweetie Belle. "What do you want to do?"

"Hmm..." Apple Bloom thought. "Ah know! How 'bout we go down the Sunset Strip?"

"A great idea, Apple Bloom," said Rarity. "Let's go, girls!"

What a sight the Sunset Strip was! There were rows of tall palm trees reaching up to the sky. The sky itself was a beautiful sight. It had become an orange-pink color as the golden sun set beyond the horizon. As the day turned to night, all of Applewood became illuminated. The neon lights began to glow, spotlights began to beam to and fro above the city, and the brilliant lights of the marquees dazzled.

But before the sun had finally set, there was one thing that Applejack wanted to go see, and that was the ranch of the humorist and trick roper, Houlihan Horse. It was located just outside the city in the tranquil Applewood Hills.

"Ah jus' had tuh come here an' get a picture," said Applejack. "Granny Smith used to listen to Houlihan Horse tell his jokes on the radio when she was a little filly. Ah believe she even saw one of his shows with her folks."

The view of the sunset from the ranch was amazing. It was so picturesque, so sublime. Not even a photograph could capture its magnificence in full, but Applejack snapped a picture either way. By the light of the glimmering stars and the luminous full moon, Applejack, Rarity, Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, Rainbow Dash, and Sweetie Belle went back to the city. When they had gotten there, they found a nice restaurant where they ate a nice dinner.