Once more I find myself face to face with Nightmare Moon, the taller mare staring down at me with a blank expression on her face. Her lips curl back into a smile, revealing the jagged fangs which appear to be as sharp as razors. "So, Twilight Sparkle," she says in a booming voice. "We meet again!"
I gaze up at her, smiling a smile of my own. "So it seems!"
"Uh, how do I look?"
"Very convincing!"
A flash of white, and Nightmare Moon reverts back into the Luna I know and love. "Good. I wouldn't want anypony to be disappointed when we visit Ponyville tonight."
I trot up to her, nuzzling her neck affectionately. "You never disappoint, Lulu..."
She wraps a wing around me, stroking my left wing gently. "Thank you, dearest Twilight."
I smile up at the taller mare. "Perhaps I should go get my costume on, yes?"
"Of course."
I trot over to the place where I had hung up my own costume; that of Commander Hurricane. I had personally saw to it that every part of my costume was historically accurate; it simply would not do to have an inaccurate costume. I scan the costume once more before donning it, making sure everything is there. The helmet is the correct colour, the patterning just so. The armour on the hooves is perfect, polished and shined so well that I could see my reflection in it. The breastplate had the same sheen; it had taken me ages, but in the end, it was entirely worth it. I duck into the restroom to don the elaborate costume, starting by fastening the golden breastplate to my chest. It fits perfectly, just as I thought it would. Next came the helmet, fitting just like the traditional helmets of the time period. Finally I donned the hoof armour, completing the look.
"Oh, Twilight," Luna sighs as I emerge in full costume. "You look amazing!"
I blush a little. "Thanks, Lulu." I trot over to her, giving her a muzzle to muzzle kiss.
"Shall we depart?" she asks when I have finished nuzzling her.
"Of course."
We arrive by chariot in Ponyville, landing amidst a frightening magical thunderstorm created by Luna herself. She is once more masquerading as Nightmare Moon, as to stir up a good scare amongst the townsponies. I hold on to her tightly; she knows how much I fear thunderstorms. Luckily, the spectacle is short, for we land in no time.
"CITIZENS OF PONYVILLE!" Luna booms in the Royal Canterlot Voice. "WE HAVE GRACED THY VILLAGE ONCE MORE WITH OUR PRESENCE SO THAT YOU MAY BEHOLD THE TRUE RULER OF THE NIGHT!"
This is met with mock terror, shrieks rising up from the younger ones in the crowd. To this, Luna smiles; she has since grown accustomed to her presence in Nightmare Moon form being met as such. Laughing heartily, she reverts back to her true form, immediately receiving an enthusiastic greeting from many of the Nightmare Night partygoers. She returns the greeting happily, stating that she is indeed ready to partake in the enjoyment of the night's festivities. I watch with a smile; it's always nice to see her so cheerful.
This year, the activities, organised once more by my close friend Applejack, include all the hits from previous Nightmare Nights: pumpkin catapults, spider throwing (fake, of course), apple bobbing, dancing, and much much more. We begin by partaking in apple bobbing, Luna on one side of the bucket, myself on the other. Applejack counts us off; on three, we dip our muzzles into the water. While my eyes are shut, I feel with my muzzle, eventually finding something with I believe to be an apple. As soon as I bite down on it, something tries to pull it away. I counter by rising up out of the water, feeling the apple drop from my teeth. I am suddenly aware of another presence. A familiar one. A familiar scent, a familiar taste...
I open my eyes. Much to my surprise, Luna's muzzle is pressed up against mine! She lingers there teasingly before pressing into the kiss, pulling away with a sly smile. Do you have any idea what you've just done?! my mind screams. Instead, I simply say, "You sly dog."
Next, we try the catapults. She goes first, loading a pumpkin and firing away with a smile like a foal on Hearth's Warming Day. Her ammunition hits the target dead on, splattering on impact. Orange pumpkin remains slide down the front of the target board, falling in a heap at the bottom. As she walks away from the catapult to observe my go, she whispers in my ear, "Good luck, sweetheart!"
I load my catapult, aiming right at the center of the target. With wind direction and velocity taken into account, I fire, watching the large pumpkin sail through the air. With a splat it hits its mark, sliding down to the dirt floor. I laugh with pleasure, trotting back to where Luna waits. Soon, one of the partygoers judges the marks, determining Luna as the victor. As it turns out, I hit my target slightly off centre, while hers had been spot-on, earning her a five-point victory.
From there, we proceed to get drinks, watching all the ponies go about various Nightmare Night activities. They are wearing all sorts of costumes, from zombies to vampires and everything in between. There are trick-or-treaters, weaving their way through the crowds to the neighbourhoods in their quest for candy. We watch the phones on the dance floor, moving to the rhythm of the most popular seasonal hits. While we do this, the mayor comes up to us once more.
"Sorry to bother you," she begins, "But I think the time has come for the annual candy offering."
"Ah!" Luna replies enthusiastically. "One of the grandest parts of this wonderful celebration! Shall we, Twily Dearest?"
"Yeah!" I say, unfurling my wings. "It's their favourite part of the night."
We take off into the starry sky, flying out to the spot on the edge of the Everfree Forest where I met Luna two years ago on her first Nightmare Night in Ponyville. We descend into the clearing, Luna directing me to take a hiding spot behind a bush to cast a wind spell. She uses her magic to revert to her Nightmare Moon form, alighting atop the lone marble pedestal. She next casts an illusion spell to appear as a statue, completing the set up.
After a short while of waiting, the foals come with the portions of candy they set aside for this event. Since that first night, I came to realise that it was often the least-desired brands. Yet this had no effect on the scare whatsoever. One by one they set the candy at the base of the pedestal, walking back to wait for the most frightening part of the night. After the last foal has placed her candy, I trigger the wind spell as Luna begins to speak.
"WE ARE PLEASED WITH YOUR OFFERING, YOUNG ONES. SO PLEASED THAT WE MAY DECIDE TO EAT IT INSTEAD OF EATING YOU!" At the last words, Luna ends the illusion, revealing herself in her Nightmare Moon form. The foals shriek and scream in response before fleeing into the woods in laughter and mock fright. She lands in front of the pedestal, turning back into her regular self as I greet her.
"That was spectacular, Lulu," I say. "I'm sure they all loved it."
"Thank you, Twilight," she replies with a smile. "Before we return to the castle for the night, there is one more thing I'd like to do."
"Oh?" I ask, intrigued. "What might that be?"
"You'll see, my love," she says as she takes off towards the town once more.
When I arrive in the town, I find her talking to Vinyl Scratch, the blue-maned disc jockey dressed as a vampire who is in charge of the music. I trot up to them, and just as I am about to speak, the DJ puts on a song. It's a slower love song, one which I know to be a huge hit. Luna comes up to me and bows, spreading her wings. "May we have this dance, m'lady?" she asks with a smile.
"Of course." She sweeps me into her hooves, taking me out to the dance floor where we proceed to engage in a slow dance. We savour the moment, both of us wishing it would last forever. At the end of the song, she dips me back, delivering a kiss to the muzzle. We duck to the side as the DJ puts on another track, this time an upbeat one.
"Thank you so much, Luna. I loved our dance," I say as we walk over to where the mayor waits.
"Anytime, my love."
We greet the mayor and, upon affirming there is nothing else left to do, give our thanks and return to Canterlot for the night.
The sound of falling water fills the room, soothing in nature. I lay on the bed half asleep; I am exhausted from all the partying of the night. With a thunk, the water shuts off, followed by the sound of a curtain being drawn back. Soon after the bathroom door opens, emitting a shaft of light into the dim, lamp-lit room. Luna emerges, shutting off the light and casting a quick drying spell before hanging up her towel. Quietly she trots over to me, running a hoof through my mane. Then, the bed shifts, and I roll onto my side to see her turn out the lamp, sliding under the duvet to join me.
"Did you have fun tonight, Luna?" I ask with a yawn.
She pulls me in close, tracing my form with her wings slowly, lovingly. "Of course, Twily." She rests her head between my ears as I begin to doze off, whispering ever so quietly, "It was most wonderful of a night."