Author's Note

Happy Nightmare Night to all of you and enjoy this chapter.

Chapter 9-The Uncertainty Principle

"Twas the night before Halloween, and all through Canterlot, not a criminal was stirring," Solar said while looking at the city while they were preparing for the Halloween Bash. "Not even the Emerland Elf. Might as well enjoy the peace and quiet while I can because sooner or later he will some trouble and tonight I will unmask him."

Meanwhile, Tiger Claw was in his car thinking to himself unaware that Elf threw an emerald shard at the tire making it pop, and crashing the car at the window.

The driver got out and aimed her gun at Emerald Elf to wit the villain threw an emerald bomb that exploded right at her and sent her back then Tiger Claw opened his door and caused Elf to take a bad spin and land on the ground to wit he smiled.

"Keep on smiling, creep," Tiger Claw retraced his claws. "I hear green's the new black and blue."

He charged right at him only to miss him entirely.

"You should be green with envy because you lack my fashion sense," Elf replied then his gilder sprayed knockout gas at Tiger Claw making him fall asleep. "Oh, and built-in gas mask."

Much later...

"Elf, I know you're out there," Tiger Claw said as he was tied up.

"Out there. In here,, Everywhere. Yes, this will soon be my town, TC, and I could use a good right-hand flunkie."

"Not going to happen. Do you think I'm afraid of a goofball dress for Halloween? Can't be afraid of what you don't respect. And I've only respected one man enough to fear."

"Mr.X or known as Xavier Hansen, I've already peeked under his mask."

"Xavier is the mask. Mr.X is Gravestone cause that's all that's left when you cross him."

"Well if that's true, then a man like must surely have life insurance," Elf pulled his sword from his gilder.

At Canterlot High...

"What's that you got there, Travis?" Twilight caught him by surprise.

"Nothing. A new soda," He replied.

"Then you won't mind me trying it."

"No way!"

"This is why you were passed out the other night! Travis, whatever that stuff is, you need help!"

"This is help! 4.0 GPA, a football stud, in-crowd, all thanks to the green," Travis said as he drank it. "A few blackouts are a small price to pay. So spare me your concern. My life's great."

At Canterlot Tower

"Dial Tiger Claw," Gravestone called his phone only to hear it ringed.

"Oh, I'm sorry, Tiger Claw can't come to phone right as this moment," Emerald said as he was in the room. "He's a bit tied up. Gotta love the classics."

"Tiger Claw can take care of himself."

"And yourself apparently. He had a portable jump with enough evidence to put dear Mr. Hansen behind bars forever. Not to worry the drive is in Elf's hands... but it's not on me but I'll have it tonight."

"When and where?"

"Believe me, you'll know."

"I smell a trap when I..."

Then his gilder came through and Elf jumped on it.

"But that's what makes it fun. Besides what choice do you have? Oh, and come alone."

Meanwhile...

"When Twilight said something's wrong with Travis she wasn't kidding, and the next thing you know I'm flying through the city to have a talk with him," Solar said then saw Elf flying. "And look who's finally shown his ugly face."

Emerald Elf was soon caught in Solar's magic.

"Ooh, caught me a big one!"

"Who's landed whom!"

Elf came right at her making her duck under it then Solar followed it.

"Where you been, Elfy? Vacation?"

"Been looking for you."

Then Solar came right at him with a punch, then Elf held her tight.

"We both want Gravestone out of the picture."

"For completely different reasons!"

"Details, details. And speaking of details, I have a portable jump with enough evidence to put Gravestone down for good."

"Great, hand it over. I'll take both of you in."

"Not so fast, it ain't on me. But I'll have it tonight."

"When and where?"

"Anyone else getting deja vu? Oh, well let's run with it. Believe me, you'll know."

Emerald Elf pushed her off and right into the ventilation fan.

Hours later it was a full moon as Solar was on the building.

"If Twilight's right, losing Elfy will seem less painful than talking to Travis."

"I'm not kidding, Travis. We need to talk," Sunset was on the phone with her.

Then come on up.

"Not a good idea, just come down."

Oh, do you give me an earful for Twilight? No thanks. Besides I need to get in costume. I'll meet you in an hour at Halloween Bash.

...

"Yo, Thunder is everything okay?" Rainbow asked him.

"I wish, I just heard from my dad about what's happened with the shuttle," He replied.

"Oh, yeah I heard about it, I guess the guy is like an older brother to you just like me and Scottaloo."

Then later, Solar was looking down at the Bash, then her phone rang.

"Twilight?"

Oh, Sunset, finally. I've been calling and what's up with Travis?

"He's meeting me at the carnival. I'm already here. Where are you?"

Then Solar dropped down right in front of her.

"Sunset?" Twilight asked.

"Nice costume, huh?" Sunset replied as dropped her mask.

"I'm gonna cream Mercer," Duke exclaimed as he and the guys formed a pyramid. "The little twerp was supposed to be the top of our pyramid! Hey look, it's the sun geek!" Duke looked at Sunset then he and the guys fall down.

"My word, that is such a fine costume, the craftsmanship is glorious," Rarity exclaimed.

"I just happened to find these lying around, whoever she is, I hope to get to meet her one day," Sunset said then the fireworks went off.

"Pretty," Pinkie and Sonata exclaimed.

Then one of the fireworks showed an elf image.

"Elf," Sunset quietly said before taking off. "He must be at Steel Mike's factory."

Just as Solar arrived, Gravestone hopped out of his chopper.

"So, Elfy offered you the secret toy surprises, too?" Solar suggested. "Trap?"

"Trap," Gravstone replied.

"Figures, don't wait up."

Both headed into the lave forge of the factory.

"A lava factory, what's with bad guys and lava factories?"

"This is so embarrassing," Tiger Claw said while dangling from the air.

"And disappointing. Did you really think you needed a jumped drive to protect you or could protect you?"

"Ah, come on boss. You can't have fallen for that. There's no drive, nor any evidence. There never was."

"Yes, yes, I'm a big fat liar," Elf replied then several bombs went off. "Like we didn't all know this was a trap?"

Solar grabbed Gravestone and then jumped to a secure location before being dunked by a vat of lava.

"Welcome to the Emerald Elf's House of Horror!"

Solar and Gravestone avoided the bombs that Elf threw at them, then Elf fired three emerald shards at Gravestone but didn't hurt him, then he turned his focus to Solar by firing his finger lasers at her then, Gravestone picked a crowbar and threw right at Elf's gilder knocking him off balance.

"Uh, thanks."

"Take the Elf or very least unmask him, and we'll call it even."

"Uh, excuse me, who rescued who from the molten steel?"

As Solar fought off Emerald Elf, Gravestone headed to the control room and pulled in Tiger Claw and freed him and both headed out.

Such as Solar knocked him off his gilder.

"Next time you throw a bash, bring snacks for the guests they'll stay longer."

"But at least l brought party favers."

Elf jumped back on his gilder and then open a chute that realise multiple bombs.

"Oh, why don't you save the trouble and give up!" Elf grabbed her then sucker-punched her.

"Cause I know secret, I know whose face is behind that mask."

"We all wear masks, Solar Eclipse. But which one is real? The hides your face, or the one that is your face?" He replied then fried emerald shards at her and she dodged it and the bomb.

"I know you're Darell Mercer!"

"Am I?"

Solar used her magic and trap him in her aura.

"Nice one, here mine," Elf's gilder fired goo at her which traps her then he uses it to harness and hook her. "What do you think of my Elf Goo? Now let's see what cracks first, the goo or your bones."

He went through a pipe and then swung her side to side.

"Well, that taught us nothing, perhaps a more drastic test is required!"

Elf went high into the full moon sky and drop her.

"Happy landing!"

"Okay, don't panic, I haven't tried this move in a long time, so fingers crossed," Solar said as rolled in mid-air and became a ball of fire and bounced all the way to the ground and remove the goo. "Okay. All this pain at least I'm still alive."

Then Elf flew down at threw a bomb at her, Solar deflect it with her magic and send it back to him and causing him to crash.

The Elf got backed up and limped his way to his gilder and took off, just as he was taking off, Solar fired a sphere of magic at him but missed.

"Go ahead. Run, I know where you live," Solar said as she followed him.

Much later, Solar arrived at the Mercer Penthouse.

"I knew it!" Solar exclaimed as Emerald Elf pulled off his mask and reveal to be Travis. "Wait a minute, you're the Emerald Elf?"

"No! This isn't my costume! I was supposed to be a cheerleader," Travis said then winced due to his twisted leg.

Then Darell came in.

"Travis? Solar Eclipse? And why is Travis is wearing the..." Darell asked then saw the vial. "Where did this come from?"

"Dad, I can explain..."

"What is it?" Solar asked.

"Elfkin Green. An early stage, experimental performance enhancer, highly unstable and addictive. Why would do you something so dangerous? So stupid?" Darell asked him, then Travis twisted his arm then tossed across the room.

"For you!" Travis exclaimed as Solar catch him. "You told me to man up! I took the green to become the son you always wanted me to be. To become a man, like you."

Travis fainted and Solar before he fell to the ground then heard him snoring.

"This makes no sense. If this kid's the Elf, why would he attack Mr. X? Why attack Mercer Corp?"

"I've had dealings with Mr. X," Darell told her. "But when I tried to extricate myself, I was threatened by his stooge, Tiger Claw. And somehow, Travis overheard, while he was under the influence of the green his subconscious created someone who take Mr. X down. I will not allow this. I'll say I was the Elf. After all, I invented the green making me the obvious suspect."

"No, sir, he needs you," Solar said. "And what good can you do him locked away for a crime you didn't commit?'

"Didn't I? This is all my fault. I drove Travis to... I will get him help, I swear. If you let me."

"Me?"

"If you turn him in, if Mr. X learns Travis was the Elf, he wouldn't survive the night. Please he's my only child."

"And my best friend." Solar thoughted then headed out. "The Elf disappears, forever leaving a mystery that never gets solved."

"Thank you."

The next day at the Canterlot Weekly building, Thunder Prism showed Platinum Writer, a paper of Solar beating Elf from their rivals, The Daily Crown.

"And should I care what the Crown runs on its front page?"

"Because their Solar Eclipse scoop and Shimmer's pictures of it slaughtered our space shuttle coverage at the newsstands."

"Which means the people have spoken, get Shimmer in here, and locked her to an exclusive deal. If they want Solar Eclipse, we'll give'em Solar Eclipse."

At Cantelot High...

"Hey guys," Sonata greeted Aria, Twilight, and Sunset in the cafeteria. "What with the glum looks?"

"Haven't you heard, Travis is taking a leave of absence," Aria replied. "His dad said he had come down with something."

"Well, at least, he finally getting some help," Twilight firmly said.

"Then why it doesn't feel like a happy ending," Sunset added. "They can never know that Travis was the Emerald Elf. That is one secret I will keep to my self.