"It’s Nightmare Night, Zenex."
By Enraged
“It’s Nightmare Night, Zenex.”
The unreformed nymph squealed and hopped out of bed, before turtleshellingTM.. The other unreformed changeling, Hivehunter, blinked, his red eyes staring at the shell. He chuckled and picked it up, staring into it. He smiled upon seeing a pair of blue and green eyes staring back at him.
“Heheh, come on out Zenny Boy.”
“Uh-uh!” The nymph began shaking with fear. Hive chuckled and carried the nymph over to the dresser drawer. He set the shell on the drawer and began looking through it.
“Heheh, come on Zenny Boy,” Hive said, grabbing his costume. “Don’t you want some candy?”
Zenex’s turtle head poked out. “W-Well… yeah…”
Hive began changing into his costume. “Well, come on! Let’s go!”
Zenex shook his head again. “Uh-uh. Besides, Hero’s bringing me some candy.”
Hive chuckled. “Aw, that’s no fun,” he fake pouted. Zenex whimpered slightly. Hive looked at him. “What’s wrong?”
“V-Vexer…” Zenex mumbled.
“Oh… right…” Hive sighed.
Vexer. He was a fairly mean nymph. Okay, ‘fairly’ and ‘mean’ aren’t the best choice words for Vexer. During Chrysalis’ reign, he got whatever he wanted, when he wanted. He was practically king of the nursery and king of the nymphs. Only his close friends didn’t fear him. It was quite easy to get on his bad side. Heck, even the smallest thing like taking the last bit of food was punishable by ‘getting beat to kingdom come’.
Zenex was one of, if not the, main target. Zenex had always been different. He was insecure about himself. War hero or not, nothing stopped Vexer from bullying the ever living crap out of Zenex, who they nicknamed ‘Doll-Eyes’ for his Heterochromia Iridum, aka two very colorful eyes.
However, it was around the time of Nightmare Night when Zenex was bullied and pranked the most. Around when Zenex turned six, making Vexer eight, the latter found out about Nightmare Night and from there on, along with his friends and other nymphs who didn’t like Zenex, they proceeded to play prank after prank after prank on the poor nymph. One of the worst ‘pranks’ was when they pretended to be a pack of Bloodsuckers, a creature that preys on changelings and is very deadly.
Zenex nearly wet himself that day.
It didn’t help that Hive had PTSD and hated seeing kids getting hurt. His story was quite long, but it had to do with the Battle of Sire’s Hollows. But due to the PTSD, Hive couldn’t do anything to stop Vexer, as he didn’t want to go through the pain and regret of hurting another child.
Zenex couldn’t blame him. It was his problem, not Hive’s.
Soon, Hive stepped out, dressed in old military fatigues. He was holding a prop crossbow and prop dynamite sticks. “What do you think, Zen? I’m—”
“Captain Foresight from the First Pony-Changeling War. And you seem to be him from the Battle of Fort Hyaline.”
Hive chuckled, putting a rag around his muzzle that was painted to have red blood splotches on it. “Heh, smart kid.”
Zenex blushed sheepishly. “I have my ways…”
Hive smiled, before looking around. “So, you’re absolutely not going?”
Zenex nodded. “Mhm. Mind’s made up.”
Hive blinked. Zenex was shy, yes. He didn’t like creep and scary things, yes. But…
This was free candy. Zen may have been a shy and quiet changeling, but he never backed down from free candy.
“Come on Zenny Boy,” Hive said, trotting over. “I can’t go out there and grab all the candy without you.”
Zenex shook his head. “Nu-uh! I’m not leaving this room.”
Hive raised a brow. “But… won’t Vexer know you’re in here? I mean, you can’t hide here forever.”
Zenex opened his mouth to speak, but didn’t. Hive was right. Vexer would more than likely know that he was hiding again. But then, he smelt something. It smelt sweet, like lavender or…
Cinnamon.
This somehow calmed his nerves.
He hesitated, before speaking. “F-Fine... I’ll go...”
Hive chuckled and smiled. “Atta boy. Go on and get changed, I’ll go find the others.”
Zenex nodded and ran to the closet, looking for his costume. Hive nodded and left the room.
~~~
Hive lined up beside the other Fangs. They were all dressed out in their own costumes.
A reformed changeling, Pharynx, who was dressed in a General’s uniform, looked at the Fangs. “So, what are your Nightmare Night costumes?”
Blue Fang held his head up. “I’m a special operations soldier,” he chirped, holding his head high. He was decked out in his Spec Ops uniform, as well as some prop equipment.
“But, we’re always special operations soldiers,” Brokenwing said. Blue blushed sheepishly as his brother stepped up. “I’m a Bloodsucker.” He showed his carapace, which was painted red, and his belly was painted tannish-yellow. He also had a red lizard tail.
Mitchell was next. “I am a black widow spider.” He said, showing off his cardboard box costume, with a few cardboard legs.
“That’s not very creative Mitch,” Pharynx said.
Mitchell narrowed his eyes. “Buck you. Next!”
Then Kydra. “I’m a original Wonderbolt. The ones from the First Changeling-Pony War.” She was wearing a uniform that was dark grey like her chitin, with yellow lightning strikes on her sides and hooves.
Pharynx blinked. “But… you’re a Black Widow. Don’t you hate Wonderbo—”
Kydra put a hoof over his mouth. “Shush.”
Mantis chuckled and stepped up. “I’m a tank pilot,” he said, showing off his tan jacket and his tank helmet.
“But you are a tank pilot!” Blue chirped.
“Shut up!”
Stinger facehoofed and pushed passed them. “I’m an insane doctor.” He showed his doctor’s coat with some red paint on it. He even had his tools. A few nymphs by, causing Stinger to smirk. He whipped around with his tools in his magic. “Are you vready for your operation?”
They screamed and ran off.
Dagger burst out laughing. “Good one, Sting!” he chirped, stepping up. “I’m the killer from that Nightmare Night movie.” He chuckled and showed his dark blue/grey jacket and white mask with a brown mane.
Then Hive. “I’m Captain Foresight during the Battle of Fort Hyaline.” He showed his costume.
The others "ooh’d" at him.
Pharynx looked for Zen, who was hiding behind Hive. “What about you Zenex? What are you dressed as?”
Zen squeaked. “You guys are gonna laugh at me...”
“No we won’t,” Ky reassured.
“Promise?”
“Promise,” they said in unison.
Zen stepped out from behind Hive with a cloud of pink as wide as the night sky. He was dressed as a...
“K-Kit-Kitten...” he said, his face still booming with pink. His costume was a kitten with a white pelt, his tail was transformed into a white cat tail, and he had fake cat ears and whiskers on.
“Awww!”
Zen looked up to see the Fangs awed by his adorableness. He smiled and chirped.
“C’mon Zenny! Let’s get us some candy!” Ky said.
“Yay!”
The Fangs happily trotted off towards Ponyville. However, as they did, Zenex heard a sort of… cracking sound. It was like the awful sound of a joint being snapped into place. But he ignored it and continued walking.
~~~
Hero trotted through Ponyville. He was an unreformed changeling with a blue braid and dark blue eyes. He was carrying a sack of candy. And by that, a large sack. “Heheh, Papa Pharynx is gonna be mad.” He smiled and looked around. He walked around town, noticing a few games going on. He chuckled at the creatures playing the games. He then heard a few bushes rustling. He chuckled and walked over.
“Wolfy? You in there?”
A large grey wolf hopped out. He had his own sack of candy in his mouth. Hero smiled.
“Heheh, hey Wolf. How’s the candy hunt going?”
“Wroof!”
Hero smiled. “Good. Any chocolate?”
Wolf nodded and dropped the bag. Hero went through it and took out any of the chocolates. He smiled and traded some non-chocolate candies with Wolf.
“Heheh, good job buddy.” Hero stood up.
Wolf barked and followed Hero. The two walked through Ponyville, then noticed the Fangs walking over. He smiled and waved.
“Hey gang!”
“Hey Hero!” Zenex trotted over and hugged him. Hero chuckled and rubbed his head.
“Hey Zen. Heh, nice costume.”
Zenex blushed. “Thanks… I like your Corporal costume.”
Hero chuckled and showed off his military fatigues, green helmet, and a prop crossbow. The others looked at the prop.
“Oooh!” Zenex said, looking at it. Hero smiled and tossed it to him. Zenex smiled. “It looks like the real thing.”
“Mhm.” Hero nodded and took it back. He then reached into his sack. “Heheh, here Zen.” He tossed a few bits of candy to him.
“Yay!” Zenex grabbed the candy. Hero chuckled as Zenex gobbled the candy up. But then, he heard the cracking sound again. It was like a weird rattle. Before he could ask if anyone else was hearing it, Hive sighed.
“Oh crap… he ain’t goin’ to sleep, is he?” Hive asked to the others.
“Mm-mm,” Broken replied, shaking his head.
“Aw, feer up Hifey!” Zen said in between his chews, completely forgetting about the sounds. “At feas’ i’s no’ lefon hehher!”
Hive chuckled. “I guess…”
Hero chuckled and walked over to Pharynx, nuzzling him. “Heheh… Papa Pharynx…”
Pharynx blushed and rubbed his head. “Heheh, hey kid…” he greeted. Hero blinked innocently, eating his candy. “Heh, I guess someling’s not goin’ to bed, eh?”
“Mm-mm!” Hero said, eating a Hayshey’s chocolate bar.
“And you’re gonna have quite a stomach ache and a sore fang.”
“That doesn’t matter!” Hero buzzed his wings and landed on Pharynx’s back. “Toughbugs push through the pain!”
Pharynx’s eyes did a three-sixty roll. “Hero, I’m not Thorax. If you’re ride on someone’s back, ride Wolf.”
“But Uncle Thorax’s carapace isn’t as soft!”
“Well I— hey!”
Hero giggled cheekily, causing Pharynx to growl. “Oh, you’re gonna be giggling real soon.”
“Hehehe! What’s that supposed to mea—”
Pharynx scooped him up and began tickling Hero’s belly. Hero immediately burst out giggling.
“Eeehehehehe! P-Pahahahapa Pharynx!”
“Heh. What was that, Hero?”
“Stohohop it!”
“Why?”
“It tihihihickles!” He began squealing and kicking.
Pharynx chuckled. “I know. Tickle tickle tickle!”
“Bahahahaha! Stohohop!”
“Why?”
“I’ll gihihihihive you some cahahahandy!”
Pharynx slowed down a bit. “Hm… do you have Snik-Snaks?”
“Yehehehes! A whole lot!”
“How many would you give up?”
“Ahahahall of them!”
“Okay then.” Pharynx let him up. Hero reached for the his sack and sorted all of the red wrapped Snik-Snak bars and bites out. And there were a lot of them.
“Dang Hero…” Pharynx said, watching as they filled a sack of his own.
“Mhm. I don’t like Snik-Snaks.”
“WHAT?!” most of the group said in unison.
“Whaaaa? I don’t like crunchy in my chocolate!” Hero shot back. They began grumbling. Hero rolled his eyes. “Whatever…”
~~~
Zenex was trotting down, door by door, getting more and more candy. Turns out most ponies think blue and green eyes are cute. Who knew? However, as he walked, he felt an uneasy feeling wash over him. He felt like he was being watched. He took a step forward, and the feeling became worse and worse. His breathing became heavier. Before he stepped around a house, he heard the rattling sounds again, this time much closer. They sounded like… bones?
Before he knew it, a long white skeletal horse with a dark black mane veered it’s long neck around the side of the house. It looked like a long horse. A very long horse.
Part of Zenex wanted to run, but something calmed him down. The familiar smell of cinnamon. The creature neared closer, its boney neck making clicks. Zenex reached a hoof out to it, gently laying it against the creature's skull.
“W-What are you…?”
The creature clicked again, sounding like morse code. Zenex didn’t understand it. At all.
“Um… a-are you hungry…?”
The creature shook its head. Zenex tried walking around it, but it stopped him. Zenex blinked.
“I-Is there… is there something over there?”
This time, the creature nodded.
Zenex blinked. “Is… Is it danger? Is something trying to hurt me?”
The creature nodded again. Zenex switched his Instinct on, then noticed the green outlines of changelings waiting in bushes. His eyes widened.
“V-Vexer…” he looked at the creature. “Is that what you’re warning me about? Is he gonna hurt me?”
Another nod from the creature. It was at this point that the reformed changeling nymphs looked over, then jumped out of the bushes.
“Why didn’t he— Chrysalis’ mercy!” one of the nymphs squeaked.
“W-What is that thing?!” the lead changeling, one with a purple scheme, asked, quite terrified.
Zenex smirked. “This, Vexer, is… um…” Ge took a while, then answered, “L-Long Horse!”
The changelings only needed to hear the clicking bones to begin shrieking in terror, before bolting off one the other direction, screaming for their mothers.
Zenex giggled and looked at the creature. “I uh… got your name right? Right?”
The creature nodded, giving a few clicks. Zenex smiled and rubbed his head.
“Heheh, you’re not so scary… you’re kinda… cute.” Zenex chuckled. The creature made a few final clicks before disappearing behind the house. It was at this point that Hero ran over.
“Hey Zenex! What are you doing?”
Zenex blushed. “I uh…” he looked over to see Vexer and his gang had dropped their candy. “I just scared the crap outta Vexer and his dumb friends!” he chirped, running over and scooping the candy into his bag.
Hero blinked. “Vexer’s pretty hard to scare. How’d you do that?”
Zenex looked at the house. He smiled. “Oh, I have my ways.” He walked past him. “Come on, we have some candies to devour.”
Hero smiled. “Eeyup!” He followed him.
As they walked, they found the Fangs. They were trading candy with each other. Hero smiled and nuzzled Zenex. He giggled and nuzzled back. The two began trading candy for their "feast" later.
~~~
Zenex and Hero were sprawled out on Hero’s bed, twitching around. Their stomachs growled, but not in hunger.
“Ugh… ah think ah may’a busted som’in…” Hero groaned.
“M-Me tooooooahh…” Zenex looked at him. “W-Where’re evey’one a’...?”
“M-Maybe they’re in their rooms…?”
“I dunno…” Zenex crawled over to Hero, wrapping a hoof around him. Hero snuggled closer, yawning. Zenex also yawned. The two had been eating a lot of candy. They were tired, had tooth and stomach aches. They snuggled close, yawning.
“Nagh’ Ze’ey…”
“Nigh’ He’oh…”
Soon, they were both asleep. However, as they did, a few pieces of candy and an apple disintegrated from Hero’s nightstand. Today’s Nightmare Night won’t be forgotten. Especially by Zenex, who caught a familiar whiff of cinnamon as he drifted off to sleep.
