Rainbow Dash checked over herself for the second time in the mirror, making sure she looked perfect.

Perfect to scare.

Rainbow's goal every year was to scare everpony when Nightmare Night came. This year she was especially determined to meet her goal as she failed most times.

But this time I'll be sure to scare all of them, Rainbow thought.

Looking in the mirror, Rainbow had on a white outfit which concealed most of her blue fur. A hood was thrown over her face to give her the appearance of a ghost. And along with the tears here and there, that should successfully scare most ponies shouldn't it? Rainbow believed so.

I guess I owe that credit to Rarity though, because this costume is awesome.

With that, Rainbow turned to head outside. Now she had to think of her first victim. The first pony to scare.

Who shall it be, the rainbow mare thought with a mischievous grin.

She scanned the ground as she flew through the clouds, beating her wing carefully as to not ruin her costume.

Rainbow turned left, towards the Ponyville Town Square. There were likely more ponies there since most of the Nightmare Night events happened there.

Rainbow peered at all commotion, identifying some familiar ponies amongst the dense crowd. She spotted her friend Twilight in a witch outfit, talking with Princess Luna.

She visited again, Rainbow realized.

Rainbow wondered whether it would be a good idea to let them be her first scare but then reconsidered it since Princess Luna was mostly unwavered by scares, she was the mistress of scaring. And because Luna was standing right next to Twilight, Rainbow doubted she could get her friend.

So Rainbow flew on to look for somepony else. As she did, she halted in her track when she spotted another familiar pony. This one though, took Rainbow by surprise.

The pony was none other than Rainbow's timid friend, Fluttershy. In a forest spirit like outfit.

Rainbow stared at the yellow pegasus for a good minute. Did Fluttershy finally find the courage to come out on the night of Nightmare Night? Does that mean she's okay to scare? As far as Rainbow could see, her shy friend didn't look like she feared anything. She walked on as if this night was like any other night. Which was not often a thing when regarding Fluttershy, the mare who's constantly scared of her own shadow.

Seeing her here, that should mean she's okay to scare, Rainbow confirmed. She doesn't even look scared anymore.

Letting the thought settle in her head, Rainbow moved quietly towards Fluttershy, whom was talking and giving treats to a group of foals.

Using stealthy, flying skills she practised, Rainbow landed a meter behind the shy mare. Heaving a deep breath, she crept forward.

Rainbow felt the feeling of meschief in her veins as she got closer.

Any minute now!

Just as Rainbow was about to say "BOO" a familiar creature plunged out of Fluttershy's shadow at an impossible speed. A creature which towered over the rainbow mare and stared into her soul with glowing, red eyes, baring razor sharp teeth.

"AAAAAHHHHHHH," Rainbow yelled, her heart leaping to her throat. She zipped of the ground and hugged a cloud just above her, shaking with fear.

The shadow creature shrank and revealed his true colors, appearing as Discord. His eyes met Rainbow's as he smirked. Fluttershy had turned around, she was done her business with the foals and was now staring at them.

Rainbow's eyes went wide as she realized what just happened.

Moments later, her eyes narrowed as she glared at Discord, who was now laughing.

"Not funny!" she snapped, leveling herself to meet the Chaos Master's eyes.

Fluttershy appeared beside Discord. "Oh what did she do?" she asked him.

Discord tapped his claws together. "Well, Fluttershy dear, she was attempting to scare you."

Fluttershy turned to Rainbow. "Oh, was she?"

Discord nodded before stretching out his arm to pick Fluttershy up and hug her to his chest. "Not to worry, though. I'm right here and I made sure her scare would go backwards." He turned his head to give Rainbow a triumphant grin. "Which it did."

Rainbow scowled. "Well I was close. And technically, Fluttershy, that isn't fair. You now get to use Discord to protect you."

Fluttershy blinked. Before she could respond, Discord interrupted.

"Technically, Fluttershy wasn't the one who told me to protect her. I said I would protect her. Just to give her a chance to enjoy this Nightmare Night. Like any good friend would."

Rainbow stared at him, flabbergasted. "I, well, obviously I want Fluttershy to enjoy herself too but...."

"But what?" Discord questioned, a challenging look on his face.

Rainbow thought hard for a good response but found herself at loss with words. Eventually she huffed in defeat.

Discord grinned. "See," he said in a leisure tone while setting Fluttershy gently on the floor. "I win."

Rainbow fumed. "Oh ya, just you watch. I'll get you!"

Discord shrugged, turning to a shadow again. "We shall see, Rainbow Dash." With that, he melted into Fluttershy's shadow.

Rainbow remained standing on her spot, glaring at her friend's shadow for a good minute.

Fluttershy, who seemed to have felt Rainbow's silent, seething rage, stepped forward and placed a comforting hoof on her shoulder. "It's okay, Rainbow. Don't be too mad at him. He was just protecting me. And you heard him, he just wants me to enjoy Nightmare Night."

"That's easy for you to say," Rainbow muttered before sighing. "But I guess you're right. He's just making you happy."

Rainbow paused a minute before adding, "But that doesn't mean I'm done being angry with him."

Fluttershy nodded with a sigh.

Rainbow caught the odd note in her exhaling breath. "Fluttershy," she said in surprise. "You sounded like you were relieved from dealing with a foal."

Fluttershy's eyes went wide. "Oh, well..."

"Because she was dealing with a foal," said Discord. His eyes appeared on Fluttershy's shadow.

Rainbow jumped away with a jolt before flicking mad eyes at the ground. "Discord! I know this is all your influence! Fluttershy would never sigh at anyone like that."

Discord rolled his eyes. "Is there anything wrong with teaching Fluttershy how to not be too soft with everypony? Is there anything wrong with telling her to be stronger? Isn't that another thing a good friend would do?"

Rainbow opened her mouth to reply but once again found herself with no words to say. A few minutes later, she let out a furious shout. "DISCORD!!!"

The eyes in Fluttershy's shadow narrowed in a smirking way. "I win again."

"GAHHHH!!! JUST YOU WATCH DISCORD!! THIS ISN'T THE END!!"

Rainbow ducked her head when she realized how loud she was. A few ponies around had stopped and were now staring at her.

Rainbow heaved a breath and slumped back. The eyes on Fluttershy's shadow vanished. She hung her head in both exhaustion and defeat.

She was slightly oblivious to Fluttershy moving closer to put a comforting hoof on her shoulder again.

"Rainbow?" she said softly. "Do you want a candy?"

Rainbow looked up at her friend in surprise, her anger fading. "You know what? Why not?"

Author's Note

Hope you like my little Halloween tale.