“Long ago in a haunted castle on a hill...ahem. Are you listening?” the yellow pegasus mare’s eyes narrowed in a deadpan fashion.
Her rainbow-maned friend cackled at her expense. “Heh heh heh! Sorry, Fluttershy! I just can’t take you seriously!”
Fluttershy’s unfazed expression remained on her face. “Are you serious?”
“Yeah, Rainbow’s right,” the orange earth pony commented, “No offense, sugarcube. But yer more...cutesy than scary. Maybe ya’ll should leave the stories to me on Nightmare Night.”
“Uh-huh,” Fluttershy replied with a lazy roll of her eyes.
The three mares had gathered at the forest near the Apple Farm and set up a small campsite with a fire pit. In their time together, they spent it discussing what they’d do once Nightmare Night came. Applejack was already planning to handle the bobbing for apples stand, again. Rainbow Dash had planned to set up a party in the Town Hall with Pinkie’s help.
“Or maybe I could do it,” Rainbow suggested, “I tell a super wicked story!”
It was Applejack’s turn to roll her eyes with dismissiveness. “Fer the last time, sugar. Ain’t nopony wants to hear the story of the Jeepers Breezers. Everypony’s heard ya tell it hundreds of times.”
“Aw come on!” she pleaded with her hooves on Applejack’s shoulders, “It’s a way cooler story than something about a mutant bat!”
“Ahem,” Fluttershy cleared her throat to catch their attention. “In case you haven’t noticed, I have some new stories to tell. You never know. They could be scaaaaary…oooooh….” she said while she wiggled her hooves around in a spooky fashion to emphasize how spooky she intended to be.
Both mares didn’t buy it.
“HA!” Rainbow laughed, then paused. “Oh wait, you’re serious? Allow me to laugh harder. AHAHAHA!”
Applejack flicked the back of the blue pegasus’ head with her tail. “What Rainbow’s sayin’ sugarcube, is that maybe ya should focus on...a different part?”
“Hm…” It would take a moment for Fluttershy to respond. There was a hint of disappointment on her face, but she hid it behind a small smile. “Maybe you’re right. After all, with Twilight having been away in Canterlot for so long, this is going to be her first Nightmare Night. And hopefully Luster Dawn gets properly scared, right?”
“That’s the spirit, sugarcube. Maybe you and the animals can set up a booth of yer own this year?”
Rainbow Dash munched on a melted marshmallow and spoke with her mouth full. “Yeah, you don’t wanna haff a lame boof and insulff Nighffmare Moonf--wah!”
Applejack pushed her friend off of her seat on the log and into the dirt. “...Just do yer best, okay, Fluttershy?”
“Mm-hmm.” The yellow pegasus hid her plans behind a facade of understanding. “Oh...I think I might have just the idea. BEHIND YOU--AAH!”
“Hyeh!” Applejack chuckled, “Nice try.”
That night, Fluttershy went home. Her muzzle furled into a state of annoyance. “Hmph. They don’t think I can be scary, can they? Well I’ll show them. I’ll show them all.” With a huff, she pushed her cottage door open. A white, fluffy rabbit was the first to greet her as always. “I’m trying to relax, Angel Jr. Don’t bother me, please,” she trotted onwards to her bathroom.
The rabbit frowned, and closed the front door for her. His father used to be the one to take care of the pegasus in times like these. Though now, he had passed on due to the shorter lifespan of rabbits compared to ponies. Angel Junior had decided to take up the mantle with a much more forgiving approach. He thumped his foot against the floor as he started to gather his thoughts.
“...!”
Something came to him. He snapped his little furry fingers, and hopped out of the window.
Meanwhile, in the bathroom, the yellow pegasus looked at herself in the mirror. She checked her teeth. Nope. Nothing. “Darn...my vampire powers are receding. Perhaps it’s for the best. But how am I going to be able to scare anypony?”
DING-DONG!
“Oh? A visitor? This late? Coming!” she exited the bathroom, and flew to the door. She made use of the peephole to see who it was, but it was hard to tell. “Who is it?”
The pony’s muffled voice came from the other side of the door. “I’m a travelling merchant. Here to offer spooky things in preparation for Nightmare Night.”
“Ooh, that could help. Wait…” Fluttershy paused to think about it. “This is awfully convenient. Too convenient. Stay on your feathers, Fluttershy. You never know what anypony could be trying to pull around this time of year.” She inhaled, exhaled, and let her chest fall before she opened the door. “Hello?”
A hooded pony stood before her with a gravelly tone of voice. “I think you’d be interested in seeing what I have to offer. You look like other ponies don’t take you seriously. Ya wanna prove ‘em wrong, don’tcha?”
Fluttershy mentally scoffed. This pony was far too suspicious to trust. But she didn’t want to display any fear. She knew that if she did, then it would be all too easy for this pony to manipulate her. “Yeah...I wish I could,” she replied in a dejected tone, “but I don’t know how. I want to scare Applejack and Rainbow Dash specifically. But they’re not afraid of anything.”
“Oh-ho...then you’re in luck. I have just the thing for you to use to make your friends run screaming. They’ll never take you for a fool ever again.” The hooded pony reached into one of their saddlebags, and pulled out a glowing green orb. “Take a look at this.”
It was so bright, that Fluttershy had to shield her eyes with a hoof. “What is that?”
“This, my friend, is the Orb of Insectivus. Use it, and any bug you want will be at your beck and call. Nopony can withstand the scariness of icky, creepy-crawly...things.”
“And you’re just giving me this?” she asked with a tilt of her head, “What’s the catch? Don’t you want anything in return?”
The hooded figure waved a hoof in a dismissive manner. “Oh how kind of you. But no. All I want is to see you satisfied with the results, madam. No charge at all.”
“Yeah, I’m not buying it,” she thought to herself while she took the orb in her hoof. “Oh wow, thank you!” Fluttershy said with gleeful eyes, “You won’t regret this!” And right after that, she retreated into her cottage for the night and locked the door.
“Oh I know I won’t...heheh…” the hooded pony mumbled to themselves as they trotted away from the house.
The night of Nightmare Night had arrived. Fluttershy had prepared herself with a beetle costume. Complete with a hat with antenna, and a shell costume that covered her entire rear body, save for holes that she had her legs and wings through. The shell itself was a warm array of red and yellow spray-painted colors with a glossy sheen that still shone against the moonlight wilderness. Now that she was ready, she was on her way to the Nightmare Night party that Pinkie was throwing at Sugarcube Corner to enact her plan.
The pegasus mare looked at the orb she had been given while she walked along the path from her cottage towards Ponyville. “Oh my...I wonder exactly what this will do. I’m both nervous and excited--or nervcited as Pinkie used to say.”
Moments later, she felt a small weight leap onto her back. It was the white rabbit Angel Jr., and he wore a blue and white stunt jacket alongside a blue and red helmet--with conveniently placed ear-holes for good measure. He made some concerned chittering noises to his pegasus caretaker.
“Oh don’t worry, Angel Junior. I’ve fallen for too many Nightmare Night pranks over the years to not realize when something is too suspicious,” she turned to face him, and gave him a gentle nuzzle, “But I’m happy to see that you’re so concerned for me. Your father used to care for me in the same way all the time. Oh and thank you for the costume idea by the way. This beetle is sure to beetle the best!”
The rabbit let out small giggles of joy but stopped, and shook his head when his deceased father was mentioned. His face scrunched up into a frown, and he communicated with more noises, and pantomimed movements that included choking himself, pretending to tear his fur out, and pretending to cry in his paws.
“...Yes, I have to admit. Angel was pretty ridiculous at times when he couldn’t get his way. But he was helpful,” she trailed off as she gave it some thought. “...on occasion. He was a good father to you, wasn’t he?”
The rabbit simply wiggled his nose, and offered no definite answer. Despite this, Fluttershy could instantly understand what he meant.
Her eyes lowered out of shame. “Oh my...I’m so sorry to hear that. I’ll make sure that I do my best to keep watch over you. I just wish that I would’ve noticed sooner. But I respect your point of view on him. If you didn’t enjoy being around him while he was alive, you don’t have to pretend he was a good bunny even though he’s dead.”
No harm done, apparently. Angel Jr. simply sighed, and slumped against Fluttershy’s neck as she walked.
“Well, yes,” she replied, “I have been very busy lately. What with watching over Discord and...well, no, that...that’s been pretty much my entire life outside of my job as a vet. But he’s learning how to keep his powers in check.”
“Hm-hmmm….” Angel Jr. gave a dismissive squeak in response.
Fluttershy raised an eyebrow, and shook her head. “Oh no. He wouldn’t dare pull any Nightmare Night pranks. He knows that he’d be punished very harshly for such actions on Luna’s Night. Anyway, we’re off to Sugarcube Corner! Hee-hee! Ooh, I can’t wait…”
Even through her excitement, Angel Jr. couldn’t help but feel concerned for his caretaker. Especially given the strange orb she had accepted. Wasn’t it enough to already dress as a beetle? Why did she have to do all of this?
It was time for the Nightmare Night party in Sugarcube Corner. Fluttershy was greeted at the door by Pumpkin Cake who had on a traditional witch’s outfit.
“Happy Nightmare Night, Ms. Fluttershy! And you too lil’ rabbit, bro!” she squealed with joy as she pet the rabbit with her hoof.
Angel Jr. responded amicably with nuzzles. Her hoof smelled rather sweet from all the baking she had done.
“Thanks, Pumpkin Cake,” Fluttershy replied as she glanced around the sweets shop. It had been changed somewhat and some displays had been rearranged in order to accommodate the new dance floor that had been added. There were lots of pumpkin and bat-based decorations that hung from the walls to give the store a bit more flair for the holiday as well. “Wow. Pinkie’s Party is going well, isn’t it?”
“For sure!” Pumpkin Cake chirped while she stood on her hind legs. Then she realized something, and put her hooves down on the floor. “Oh--but I can’t talk. I’m the designated greeter. But you be sure to have fun, okay?”
“Oh, alright. Where’s your brother?”
The unicorn mare pointed a hoof to the back of the store where the cream-colored pegasus stallion was managing the sales of treats at the register while dressed as a pirate. “Over there. Ohmygosh, ohmygosh...lots of customers coming. I gotta go!” Pumpkin Cake responded with a panicked expression.
Fluttershy giggled, and trotted over to one of the tables where goodies had been set out for the party pony patrons. Some candy, punch, samples of the Nightmare Night treats that were available for purchase. The works.
“Ooh...quite the spread we have here,” the yellow pegasus mumbled to herself.
A familiar rapsy, tomboyish voice shouted from behind her. “Alright! Ya made it!”
“Hm?” Fluttershy turned around as she bit into a pumpkin muffin.
Rainbow Dash was in a Flash Magnus costume with a proud grin on her face. She flew over to greet her fellow pegasus friend, and put a hoof around her neck. “Aw, yeah! I didn’t think you’d actually come!”
Fluttershy’s eyes narrowed down to unimpressed slits. “Really?” she replied after she swallowed a bit of the muffin, and took another bite. “Do I come across as that afraid, to you?”
“Uh, yeah?” Dash tilted her head to one side, “For the last few years we had to more or less force you to come out on Nightmare Night! Even after all this time, and all the enemies we’ve faced, the fact that we had to like, make you come was still pretty shocking.”
By now, she had finished her muffin. Her response was delayed, but she started it off with a slightly annoyed roll of her eyes. “Uh-huh,” she snarked in return, “really shocking. It’s not like the possibility of me simply being busy on those nights is a thing. Nope, not at all.”
Dash simply laughed it off. “Hah! You always pull that card on Nightmare Night with those adorable downcast eyes and the ‘Oh no. I’m just so busy’ trick,” she mimicked her friend’s timid demeanor. “But it’s good to see you out and about...is my point, hehe…” she rubbed the back of her neck with a nervous smile. At that point, she had realized she went too far.
Fluttershy paused, and stared at the rainbow-colored pegasus with an unamused, stoic face complete with a raise of her eyebrow.
“Hehe…” Dash started to sweat a tad.
All the sudden, the yellow pony let out a giggle, and nudged her friend. “Heeheehee! Oh, Dashie. You know that I can’t stay mad at you. I’m just happy you showed up with me. And that Flash Magnus costume is stellar. The armor is almost an exact recreation of his,” she leaned forward and gave the right side of the armor a curious tap with her hoof. It resulted in a hollow, artificial tap sound. “Oh wow...I can’t believe that that’s plastic!”
The blue mare stretched her wings proudly. “I know, right? Magnus was the coolest. Wish he could actually be here, but I guess I’ll fill in for being the legendary flyer around here.”
Fluttershy giggled into her hoof. “Oh Rainbow. Even after all these years, you haven’t changed a bit.”
“Yeah,” the pegasus put on a smirk as she flexed her wings a bit more. “I know. I’m still awesome. And fearless, and the best flyer in Equestria, and--”
A voice from behind interrupted her speech.“Boo.”
“GAAAH!” Rainbow Dash let out a screech, and a whinny before she fell on her back, frozen in fear.
Applejack faded into view and stepped away from the wall she had been leaning against. “Aw, sorry, partner. Didn’t see ya there,” she said with a chuckle. She had on a white bodysuit and nothing more.
Fluttershy wasn’t scared. In fact, she was very intrigued. “Oooh...Applejack, what’s that you’re wearing?”
“What? This? Just a little somethin’-somethin’ Rarity cooked up fer me. This year, Ah’m The Invisible Mare,” she remarked proudly as she prodded the scared-stiff Rainbow Dash with her hoof.
Fluttershy clapped her hooves. “Amazing! I loved that book. But I never would’ve guessed that you read them, Applejack.”
“Heh. There’s a lot ya’ll don’t know about meh,” she put a hoof against her chest.
“Hello! I’m still down here! Can somepony pick me up?!” Rainbow Dash shouted.
Right outside…
“That’s right...now is the perfect time to activate the orb. Let me just…” the hooded unicorn’s horn flashed to activate a spell.
It was time.
The party at Sugarcube Corner went on relatively calmly without a hitch. Applejack explained her new fondness for novels such as The Invisible Mare and how they assisted her when she needed to rest. Rainbow Dash introduced Fluttershy to some of her old friends which included Spitfire--in a devil costume, and Soarin’--in an angel costume to match (the holy being, not the rabbit). Both now retired, the former Wonderbolts had aged just about as well as any other hard-working stunt pony. That being, just barely behind everyone else with a heavy amount of baggage in their eyes along with some wrinkles. But Spitfire claimed something about it making them look more experienced.
Fluttershy wasn’t convinced, but kept that little anecdote to herself.
Everything was going well until she felt furry fingers that poked the back of her neck.
“Hm? What is it, Junior?” Fluttershy turned her head around to get a better look.
Angel Jr. tapped a part of her costume that started to glow. It was the Orb of Insectivus that she was given by that strange pony from before. The little rabbit chittered and squeaked with concern.
“Oh my...this could be bad. But I wonder…” the pegasus opened up her costume and saw the orb that rested upon her flank. “Oh. It must be activating. Guess it’s time to activate my biggest scare yet, Junior. Heh...heh...heh…” she stated with her best attempt at an evil laugh.
It was not well-received by the rabbit who covered his eyes with his paws out of pure shame mixed with a hint of anxiety.
Outside…
“Oh, this’ll be the best prank ever. When I reveal just how smart I was to trick Fluttershy, I’ll certainly win Best Scare of the Year. Now...go forth, my creations. Cause mayhem and scare everypony’s flanks off!”
The rumbling of an imminent stampede was near. Thousands of legs clattered and crawled along the ground as they exited the bushes and approached the sweet shop. Would anypony survive? Only time will tell…
Applejack’s ear flicked. Years of working on a farm and defending it from hostile creatures gave her the ability to detect the oncoming sign of danger first. “Anypony else hear that?”
“Hear what?” Rainbow asked, a mug of cider in hoof, “don’t tell me you’re hearing ghoooosts or something are you?” She responded teasingly.
“Naw. No ghosts,” the orange earth pony replied as she looked out of one of the nearby windows. “And this ain’t no prank either. Ah think there’s somethin’ comin’. Somethin’...gross and creepy.”
The pegasus with the rainbow mane was not amused, and simply sipped her cider. “Wow. And I thought I was the one that was easily fooled. It’s probably some prank or something. Relaaaax. Enjoy yourself.”
Applejack sighed. Rainbow’s words always did calm her down when she needed it most. As a result, she was always grateful to have her support in moments like these. “Yeah. Ya right, Dash. Maybe it’s just some strange little Nightmare Night thing Zecora likes to pull.”
Meanwhile, across the room…
“Oh dear,” Fluttershy mumbled as she peered out of the window. “They’re coming...in waves...very fast. This is going to be perfect.”
The rabbit on her back almost screeched out of terror, but he made no noise. At that moment, he was entirely on edge with his foot thumping against her costume. But the pegasus didn’t feel it. She was too focused on the orb she held in front of her.
She sniffed the air, and flicked her tongue. “...I see...yes, silky substances, lots of legs. Ah! I got it! Okay Junior. Get ready for a shock,” she said with a devious grin flashed outside, towards the darkness.
They came.
Dozens upon dozens of hair spiders that appeared from the trees, the bushes, and the grass. A swarm of them were all racing to infest, and overtake Sugarcube Corner, and everypony within.
It didn’t take long for somepony to notice.
“Hey...why are a bunch of spiders outside?” a mare in a jack-o-lantern costume pointed outside. Everyone else gathered around the window, and saw them. However, they weren’t too concerned at first glance.
“It’s probably just a prank,” a stallion in a royal Canterlot guard costume commented.
“Yeah, like, no way those are real,” a mare in a vampire costume remarked.
“Yeah. Not unless they start spinning webs or anything, heh,” said another stallion, this one in a timberwolf costume.
Unfortunately for them, these were real spiders. Tarantulas to be exact. Enhanced by magic, the eight-legged monstrosities crawled up to the windows and shot their web-like silk out in order to lift them up.
Needless to say, everypony’s reactions were instantaneous.
“AHHHHH!” Everypony in the room screamed at once, and quickly dove under nearby tables and chairs for safety.
“What the hay is goin--” Applejack looked around, only to see the front door of the sweet shop forced open by powerful magical web shots from a group of the hair arachnids. “GYAAAH! THEY’RE REAL YA’LL! HIDE!” she stormed, and dove behind one of the display cases.
“EEEE!” Pumpkin Cake had already taken shelter there, and squealed with pure terror next to Applejack.
Rainbow Dash had flown up to the ceiling, and started to shiver in place. “C-c-c-c-c-creepy...c-c-c-crawlies...g-get ‘em away…! If this is a p-prank it’s not...f-f-f-f…”
CLANK!
The vent cover in the ceiling hit the middle of the empty floor. Everypony in the room watched with shrunken, fearful pupils that slowly traveled upwards to the source of what made the vent cover fall off.
More tarantulas. All gathered around the opening to the vent, and threatening to travel inside. In total, there looked to be at least a hundred that had blocked off all windows, doors, and vents!
“AAAAIEE! GETAWAYGETAWAYGETAWAYGETAWAY!” Rainbow Dash screamed with unbridled terror, and flew to a different corner of the ceiling. Her chest rose and fell at a rapid pace as she hyperventilated. “Who...who did...this...this isn’t funny!”
All the while, Fluttershy giggled as she stepped into the middle of the empty room with a low, devious chuckle. Nopony noticed, but the spiders didn’t actually enter the sweet shop...yet. They were seemingly under her command.
Angel Junior had passed out from fear, and lied limp upon the mare’s back.
“What’s the matter, Dashie? AJ?” Fluttershy looked up at her terrified pegasus friend, and the display case that hid her equally petrified earth pony friend, “afraid of a few cute, adorable tarantulas?”
“FLUTTERSHY?! What the heck’s wrong with you?! Spiders are mean, nasty, and they shoot webs that tie you up!” she yelled while she hovered against the corner of the ceiling for safety. This way, she had a view of every angel in the room.
Applejack’s head rose up from behind the case of baked sweets. “And t-t-they’re also...p-p-pests that eat...everythin’! A-Ah wouldn’t touch ‘em with a ten-hoofed pole!” she cried out. Pumpkin Cake still latched onto her out of fear.
“F-Fluttershy please,” the unicorn twin pleaded, “d-don’t let them in here...mom, dad, Pinkie, and Pound Cake would lose it if I managed to mess up store management solo. Please...I’m begging you here…” she begged with wide, watery eyes.
“Oh? You’re realizing that I hold all the power, now. Don’t you?” The yellow pegasus snickered, and held the orb up. She flew into the air, and leaned against the nearby wall where a window full of tarantulas was located. “Awww, so you mean to tell me that you’re all scared of me?”
“YES!” shouted everypony in the room.
“Hmhmhm...that’s all I needed to hear.” She leaned down to the windowsill, and spoke to the arachnids. “Okay, Terrance. You and your family can return home now. And thank you for helping me.”
One of the spiders saluted with its leg, and whistled. They cleaned up the skill they created, and all of the hairy tarantulas retreated away from the windows, doors, and vents. Safely away from the bakery.
Everypony slowly came out of hiding. Rainbow Dash gave a relaxed sigh as she approached her friend. “Thank goodness. But...did you really find a bunch of spiders to help you scare us all?”
“Not exactly….” she turned around and looked at her rabbit friend. “Okay Junior. Go get her.”
The rabbit sat up, and nodded. It would appear that he had faked being passed out for the entire time. He hopped out of the open window...and returned a few moments later through the front door as he forcefully pushed a hooded pony inside.
“Hey! What’re you--ooff!” the hood came off, and revealed the face of a pink unicorn. “...Hi, everypony. Hehe.”
“LUSTER DAWN?!” the entire crowd shouted at once.
“Now how in the hay does that work?” Applejack commented with a raise of her eyebrow.
Fluttershy let out a satisfied laugh. “Heh-heh! It was simple. She gave me this little thing,” she held up the green orb, “called the Orb of Insectivus. But on my way here, I noticed loads of spiders in hiding, ready to react to a spell she had cast on them. That’s when I realized I was being pranked because spiders are not insects. Insects have six legs and spiders have eight, therefore making them arachnids,” she said with a stomp of her hoof. Fluttershy had always been passionate about animals. So to see someone try to deceive her while also misnaming a species was enough to tick her off. “So I sung them a little song which broke the spell. But had them act as if they were still under her control.” She turned to face the pink unicorn, “You really should have thought that out better, Luster.”
“Argh…” The unicorn sighed with a hoof against her cheek. “Darn it. There goes my chances of earning Scare of the Year…”
“So hold on,” Rainbow jumped in, “Luster was trying to prank us the whole time, but Fluttershy reversed the prank onto us and her as well?!” The pegasus glanced at her friend with fearful, yet pleased eyes, “...Wow, Fluttershy. I never knew you could be so devious.”
The yellow pegasus flicked her tail. “There’s a lot you don’t know about me, Dashie. You’d better be on guard for next year,” she added with a wink.
“Nonononono! I-I’m good...I think I’ll stay home next year, in fact! Hehehehe....” she shivered, and drank from her mug of cider until it was finished.
Applejack, meanwhile, chose to reprimand Luster. “Ya’ll best be careful handlin’ other creatures in yer pranks. Ya don’t know what could happen!”
“Yeah...I get that now,” Luster Dawn got off the floor, and tilted her head down from shame, “I’m sorry, everypony.”
“It’s alright, Luster,” Fluttershy cupped her hoof beneath the pink unicorn’s chin, “But I think I have an idea on how you could improve.”
Her eyes turned from ashamed to hopeful when she heard the pegasus’ words. “...Really?”
The next morning…Luster Dawn was at Fluttershy’s cottage to have tea with her in her backyard. Angel Junior had also prepared a nice salad for all of them to enjoy.
“‘Dear Princess Twilight…’” Luster Dawn mumbled to herself while she used her magic to scribble onto parchment with a quill pen. “‘Today, er, last night I learned that using animals in pranks is a bad idea. Making them work against their will isn’t very nice and I should’ve thought about how they felt as well as everypony else. Next Nightmare Night, I’ll stick to the fake spiders. Your student, Luster Dawn.’” She finished it, and rolled it up. “Now if only I had a dragon that could blow on this letter so I could send it to her immediately.”
Fluttershy trotted over and poured some tea in their cups. “Oh, I can help with that.”
Luster used her magic to levitate the cup to take a sip. “Mmm. Wait, you can? How?”
“I don’t have a dragon. But I have a draconequus, hehe,” she explained with a light giggle. “Oh, Diiiscoooord!”
The embodiment of chaos arrived at her call. “Ah! At last! Fluttershy has invited me over for tea! Oh what a wonderful--” he stopped mid-sentence when he laid eyes on the pink unicorn. “Oh? And just who are you?”
“...Luster Dawn,” she replied with a shy tone. “I’m...one of Twilight’s students. Here to learn friendship and whatnot.”
“Oooh! A new friend! How exciting!” Discord cheered, and brought out loads of board games and decks of playing cards, “Now what should we do first, new friend? Checkers? Chess? Pachisi?”
Fluttershy cleared her throat. “Ahem...she is the guest. Allow her to pick first.”
“Right, right of course,” the stack of board games disappeared as he rolled his eyes.
“Well, first I wanna send this letter to Twilight,” she held it up with her magic, “Can you do that for me, Mr. Discord?”
“Hmm...well,” he shrugged, and grabbed the letter with his paw, “for one of Fluttershy’s friends, I suppose it’s only fair, isn’t it?” With a snap of his claw-fingers, the letter was on its way. “And please, drop the ‘Mr.’ We’re friends now, aren’t we?”
Luster Dawn couldn’t help but chuckle as she turned her gaze back to the pegasus. “Hehe...I guess we are. Thank you, Fluttershy.”
“No problem at all. And hey, I can help you get started on next Nightmare Night’s prank, and how to make it harmless,” she said with an eyebrow raise akin to Applejack’s as she sipped her tea.
“Oh! That’d be helpful!” Luster replied, “And Discord, I’d like your help too!”
“Uh--wh--” he stuttered, genuinely not expecting the idea to be included in something such as this. “Really??” he asked with starry eyes.
Luster nodded. “Mm-hmm!”
“Oh wonderful! We're going to be great friends for eternity!” Discord yelled aloud as he put his paw-arm around Luster’s neck for a hug.
“T-thanks…” the pink unicorn replied, a bit less nervous now. “Maybe this friendship thing won’t be so bad?”
Fluttershy and Angel Junior giggled as they watched their friends interact with each other. The yellow pegasus thought to herself while it all happened before her. “Ah...just how I planned it. And nopony was the wiser.”
