The Carnival of the Damned

The town of Ponyville sparkled with it's festive lights and cheery laughter as Ryn cleared the forest's shadows. Night had fallen across the land and multitudes of ponies now gathered to mingle about in excited revelry. Nightmare Night had come at last! The one night of the year where the veil between this world and the next is lifted; where supernatural beings of other realms cavorted freely with their mortal brethren. The air was thick with happiness and cheer, buildings festooned with decor and streamers that echoed the spirit of the evening. Still, one small shop seemed to stand out from all of this and Ryn could not help but grin as he landed outside of it. The Okikoffee Cafe.

"Heh, looks like Okiku's outdone herself yet again." He chuckled, shaking his head as he looked upon the display.

Bright and smiling jack-o-lanterns littered every given surface, streamers and lights were strung along the walls both inside and outside of the small coffee shop. No display case, window, or table was left untouched. Even the aroma of the freshly baked goodies inside seemed to echo the holiday atmoshpere.

"Rose... Hey, Rose! You can wake up now!" The pegasus nudged the mare, setting her down as her eyes slowly opened.

"H-huh...what..." She was cut off from her questions as a high pitched 'meep' resounded from the inside of the cafe, a little bluish blur rushing out of the closed door to tackle them both in an onslaught of hugs.

"Mister Ryn-Ryn! Rose! You made it, yay! I knew you would, I just knew it!" Okiku beamed as she floated about the two in excitement. "Happy Nightmare Night!" Ryn moved his hoof to ruffle the ghost's hair, sending the little spirit into a fit of giggles as Rose took the time to look about the surroundings. Confusion was still evident in her eyes and features as she turned to Ryn. The pegasus nodded, turning to the little specter with a smile.

"A Happy Nightmare Night to you too, Oki. But...what are you supposed to be? You've decorated the cafe, but I think you forgot to decorate yourself too." He booped her on the nose as she looked down at her ghostly hooves.

"Meep! That's right! I've got to get into my costume!" With many flailing and fluttering she quickly scrambled into the cafe, Ryn aiding Rose as they both followed behind.

"Just follow along," Ryn lowered his head to better whisper to the mare. "I'll tell you everything later. I promise." Rose nodded at Ryn's statement, taking a seat at the counter as he moved to do the same.

"Tada! What do you think?!" Okiku smiled widely as she zoomed out from the back room to float before the two. A small tattered cloak was wrapped about her shoulders, a similar fabric tied on her head as well. She carried a crystal ball, giggling as she moved to set in down on the counter. "I'm a fortune teller this year! Ooh! Let me read your fortunes, please? I can even offer palm readings and cards too!" The little filly was far too preoccupied with her fun to notice the suddenly pale faces of the other two, yet Ryn shook this off and cleared his throat.

"W-Well, should we go then? The night is passing quickly."

"Meep! Meep! Trick or treating time!" She squealed, hurrying to tie two multicolored scarves on their necks as she scrambled for her candy bag and the nearby door. "You two can be part of my caravan, okay? We'll be one big group and-" The spirit paused, eyes focused on a strange vehicle parked near the cafe. The familiar wooden caravan was decorated in accordance to the festive season, boasting bright orange and jet black streamers over the wheels and sides.

"Ryn-Ryn! Look! It's a real one! A real caravan!"

"Wh-what?!" Ryn burst out into the street, Rose following close behind. Dimitri and Roma sat inside waving to the small group, the former cowering behind his sister with a nervous grin.

"H-heh...Greetings to you yet again, my friends. N-no hard feelings, right?"

The pegasus glared, unsure whether to be angry or surprised. "It's not possible. How did you get here so fast?!"

"We are Romanians, my friend. Everyone knows us for our speed. H-how else do you think we could outrun the Royal Guard?"

Ryn opened his mouth to argue when a small hat in between the two caught his eye. Rose saw this as well, paling as she spoke up. "I-is that...she is..." The mare remembered the small filly known as Hazel, recalling the smiling face at the game booths.

'That was fun, Rose Lady! Come play with me again later!'

She winced, saddened by the young pony's fate.

Dimitri nodded sadly, lifting the hat up for better examination. "Yes. Sh-she is gone. We went back to the graveyard; we wanted to find her. S-She deserved a proper burial. A filly's remembrance, yes?" Ryn cringed, his gaze instinctively turning to Okiku as Dimitri continued. "I-I guess we were too late, the hat was all that was there. Only the hat, and a strange dark mare a little beyond it. Odd to see another in that place of sadness, but she did not disturb us. Only looked on with silver eyes." The gypsy shrugged. "Ah, but if she has been the one to give little Hazel a place of rest, I bless her for it."

Ryn nodded, lowering his head. "I'm sorry for your loss." Rose echoed the sentiment, Dimitri nodding as Roma nudged her brother. She hopped down from her seat, nervously approaching Kuromaru.

"S-Sir, I thank you for saving my brother. Hazel's passing...i-it is a terrible loss, but the pain would have been doubled if my idiot brother here had been lost also." Taking his hoof into her's, she set a small gold object there along with a folded parchment. "Consider this as a token, a gift from my brother and I. If you ever have need to return to Aelor, this will help you find your way." She smiled, bowing low before returning to her brother.

"Well, it is time for us to be on our way once again. We will remake the carnival, a living for us and honor to our troupe. It is like your saying, I think. How you say: 'The show must go on!' yes?" He chuckled, waving a hoof to them as Roma grinned. "Farewell, my friends. Oh! And a Happy Nightmare Night!"

Rose and Ryn waved at the departing gypsies, hurried along by the small ghost whose stomach rumbled loudly in the anticipation of sweet treats.

...

The night was filled with merriment, treats, and celebration; yet as is the way of all things, this too had to come to an end. Ryn silently crept downstairs after assuring that Okiku had been safely tucked in for the night. Rose had stepped outside, sitting at one of the small outer tables as she looked up to the round moon overhead. Her hoof absentmindedly fiddled with the Rosencroix pendant at her neck as she mulled over the jumbled thoughts in her head.

Ryn had kept his promise, telling all of the occurences in Aelor as they carried Okiku back to the cafe. The small ghost pony had passed out rather quickly from the intake of candy and fun, nuzzling into Ryn's mane as he recounted the tale. All this, yet she still found it difficult to believe. To think that she would willingly attack them, and Blood...

She cringed, recalling how Ryn had described the lengths taken to cure Mortis' wicked potion. The great Lord of the dark Rosencroix Kingdom, Ancient Blood willingly allowing himself to be run through with that dagger. All to embrace, to hold her steady so that Ryn could give the antidote...

The pegasus stepped outside in time to hear her wistful sigh.

"...You miss him, don't you?"

"Ryn..." She quickly got to her hooves, wiping away a few tears that had begun to accumulate on the corners of her eyes. "I-I can never thank you enough, any of you, for what you have done for me. It is thanks to you all th-that..." her voice faltered and he nodded.

"What did you expect? You didn't think we would just leave you to die, did you?" He smirked, hoping to at least gain a small smile from the mare. She turned away, and he lowered his head.

"I-I just... you know I wouldn't have done that truly, don't you? I-I caused both of you such pain, after all you had gone through. I'm sorry. I'm so..so very..." No other words would come, only the choking sobs as precursor to bitter tears. Ryn paled, hurrying to give a comforting hug as the cries continued. Only after many minutes of this had passed did Rose find a small sembleance of her voice returning. "A-All this, and I can never apologize to him. I can never thank..I-I can't..."

"You can."

She paused at Ryn's words, looking up in stunned silence. "Wh-what do you mean?" Ryn looked up to the moon's celestial glow, recalling silently the vow he had made, and the agreement to Blood.

'Should she wish to return, you shall bring her here immediately.'

"R-Rose...do you want to go back?" Ryn's eyes searched hers, and she slowly nodded.

"Yes..."

...