Author's Note
I hope it loaded correctly. I thought I had it set with paragraphs but I don't know. The author bar at the bottom of the upload says there's only 1 word and 1 paragraph even though I edited stuff...
Nightmare Fright
Nightmare Night had come up fast. Ponies wondered what their friends would be dressed as. Town square had been decorated with streamers in orange and black. “Ghosts” flew back and forth over the streets. “Goblins” chased fillies and colts from stall to stall and door to door. “Spiders” dangled from giant webs. It was spooky in Ponyville, and everypony was having fun.
This year had a couple of rather important guests. Princesses Celestia and Luna had joined the festivities this year. No large Gala in Canterlot, no important events. The place-to-be was Ponyville.
The two Princesses had used their magic for disguises. Luna had chosen to take her darker form as Nightmare Moon, though she had forgone the armored helmet and boots. The collar had remained. Fillies and colts loved it, seeing her and screaming as they dropped candy at her hooves and took off. Sometimes she would chase them, sometimes she would merely pick up the candy and eat it. In general, they all enjoyed the festivities.
Celestia had chosen different. Rather than taking on a dark form and becoming Daybreaker for the night, Celestia had chosen a slightly more horrifying appearance. Clad in nothing but a tattered black robe that hid nothing from view, Celestia’s entire body was wreathed in fire. A hood over her head made her flaming mane billow out around her skull like face. When the wind caught the cloak, ponies could see nothing, but bone covered in fire.
The fire, however, wasn’t hot. It wasn’t even real fire. It was illusory fire. Were one to touch it, they would touch flesh. The effect was purely cosmetic, but it had the desired effect. She looked like the very essence of death itself. One little filly had even given her a little plastic scythe to complete the look. The scythe was miniscule compared to Celestia, but she held it as though it were her greatest prize of the night.
The sounds of a microphone caught everypony’s attention and they moved towards the stage. Standing on the stage was Vinyl Scratch, dressed to the nines like a vampire, complete with cloak. Beside her was her filly friend Octavia Melody. Octavia was dressed rather scantily in little more than a sheer black gown. Her mane was tied back into a tight ponytail and her tail was hidden beneath the gown. In front of them was Princess Twilight Sparkle. Or at least everyone thought it was her from the way her eyes were glowing purple.
The mare at the microphone looked nothing like Twilight. Instead, she was at least three heads taller than the young princess. Her mane and tail billowed in an ethereal breeze and seemed to disappear if it got too far away from her body. Her body itself was glowing ever so slightly purple. She had no Cutiemark to speak of and her wings were flared out wide, blanketing the stage below her in shadow. At her sides were her friends and her Captain.
“Fillies and Gentlecolts, Mares and Stallions, welcome to the first annual Ponyville Royal Nightmare Night Festival,” Princess Twilight said to the raucous cheers and stomps of the crowd. “Normally, Nightmare Night Festivals are held in Canterlot or other larger cities. This year however, Ponyville has managed to expand and grow into a town large enough to house many creatures great and small.”
More stomps were almost drowned out by the roars and cries of griffins and other creatures that had moved into Ponyville. “It is with great pleasure that I welcome everyone to our town. This year, as a special treat, my friends and I will show everypony around town. New attractions await everyone in different parts of town. New frights to be had, new friends to be made. All within the relative safety and watchful eye of ponies who have time and time again saved Equestria.
“To start us off, please help me in welcoming the first of our guides around town, Applejack!” Twilight shouted as her friend stepped forward. The orange mare was clad in a rather spectacular lion costume. Quite different from the first one Celestia had seen her in, this lion costume almost looked as though she had transformed into an actual lion. “Applejack will be giving everypony a sack when they reach their destination. Once there, she will explain what their task is. Her frightful event will be held on Sweet Apple Acres.”
The crowd cheered and Applejack smiled, waving at every creature before stepping back. “Next I would like to welcome our resident party planner and the one responsible for the entire event, Pinkie Pie!” Twilight shouted and the entire crowd roared as the pink pony bounded forward.
Her mane and tail were abnormally straight but she was still as chipper and excited as ever. On her neck were two bolts, held there by a magical adhesive that would allow them to turn. Her hooves looked as though they had been sewn on at different places, each one a slightly different shade of pink. Her flanks were relatively untouched but each balloon on her rump looked like they’d also been stitched together. “Pinkie Pie will be welcoming all comers to the Haunted Corner at Sugar Cube Corner. She will explain the events prepared for everypony upon their arrival.”
“After Pinkie Pie is our fabulous costume designer, Rarity Belle, who rather than hosting an event will be out among the crowd throughout the night altering costumes to the wearers specifications,” Twilight said, and Rarity stepped forward and took a bow. Her costume was rather restrained. A simple black dress and veil. Anypony who didn’t know her would not understand that her black dress and veil were part of a much larger scheme.
“Next up is Rainbow Dash, who is responsible in small part for tonight’s extremely spooky ambiance. With some help from her fellow Wonderbolts, she will be providing fog, mist and fright throughout the night. If you are caught unawares and not paying attention… look out!” Twilight shouted and Rainbow surged off of the stage looking more like a small pony shaped dragon than a pegasus. She soared over ponies’ heads, playfully swiping at the taller ponies and diving at the younger ones to give them a playful fright.
“Our final two ponies won’t be doing any scaring, but they will certainly be taking part in the events. Starlight Glimmer and Fluttershy have graciously agreed to help oversee many of the events of the night that will be held right here in town square, from bobbing for apples to the spider toss,” the two mares stepped forward and bowed politely. Fluttershy’s costume was the same as it had been every night since she first game out for nightmare night. A simple black dress, some fake bat wings around her normal wings, and vampire fangs. Starlight had taken a cue from Fluttershy and was also dressed in a simple black dress, some fake wings she’d conjured herself, and vampire fangs.
“The final guide for tonight’s festivities is someone rather special to the town. Somepony who has helped us grow into the prospering small city we have become. Captain Arcane Sigil of the Twilight Guard,” Twilight said, and her captain stepped forward. Celestia would have gasped had she not known him well. Physically, he looked the same. Save for the black carapace over his fur, the insect like wings on his back, and the insect like eyes. He had embraced his changeling half for Nightmare Night.
“Please, everyone, enjoy the Nightmare Night Festival. I hope to see you all at the Castle for the Haunted Crystal Tree.” Twilight said before disappearing. The stage was soon covered with smoke the moment she’d teleported and all but Arcane had vanished. He stepped up to the microphone and Celestia hoped for a second he was going to sing. She’d caught him singing once before and it was mesmerizing.
“Fillies and Gentlecolts, Stallions and Mares, esteemed guests from around Equestria. Welcome once again to the first annual Nightmare Night Festival. Each of you received a bracelet upon your arrival. Those of you who haven’t, please approach the stage in an orderly fashion and I will give you one. Your bracelets will show you which event you will be taking part in first based on the color they currently are,” his horn lit, and a single bracelet rose into the air next to him, shining a gentle purple color.
“If it is purple, your event is the Haunted Crystal Tree. After I am finished here, make your way to the Crystal Castle and Princess Twilight will guide you through,” the bracelet changed to a pale pink. “If it is pink, your event is at Sugar Cube Corner. As you were told, you will be informed of the event upon arrival,” the bracelet then changed to a blue color. “If it is blue, your event does not have a guide. You will wander the town until it changes colors again. This is so that ponies who have been to events have a chance to wind down.”
Celestia caught the slight smirk on his face and remembered what had been announced by Twilight. Rainbow Dash and the Wonderbolts were flying around town ready to scare ponies. She wondered what they were all dressed as. Certainly they didn’t all look like dragons. The bracelet changed to a dull white. “If your bracelet is white, you will also be wandering the town. Rarity will be found anywhere within the limits of the town altering costumes if asked, whether magically or with her talents as a seamstress,” the bracelet then changed to a light orange.
“If your bracelet turns orange, your event is at Sweet Apple Acres. A fleet of carriages will be waiting at the edge of town to take everypony there, as you will need your energy for Applejack’s event,” he said, and he put his bracelet on. “If anypony has any questions for me, now is the time to ask them. Be polite, do not ask anything personal, and don’t ask me to spoil any of the events. Everypony worked rather hard on these all month, I won’t be giving out any hints.”
Several ponies around the princesses groaned but the moment all of the bracelets lit up, the crowd dispersed. Celestia and Luna hadn’t received bracelets, so they waited where they were. Arcane came down to them and bowed politely. “Princesses. Glad you could come,” he said as he lifted their hooves and put pre-lit bracelets on them. Luna’s was orange and Celestia’s was purple.
“Thank you for greeting us captain. We had hoped to see each of the events together,” Celestia said, and he smiled.
“Not to worry, you will. Princess Luna, Applejack personally asked for your assistance with her event. You will be taking part as a part of the event. Princess Celestia, Twilight wanted some personal time with you before the events really kicked off,” he said, and they looked at their bracelets and nodded.
“We should have known they would have plans for us. Twilight does plan things to the most minute detail,” Luna said softly, as if she was close to complaining.
“Actually princess, splitting the two of you up at the start was my idea. I also have something planned for the two of you,” he said, and Luna’s ears pricked up. He’d planned events specifically for the two of them? It had been quite a while since he’d left for Ponyville. The last time he did something for them in Canterlot, the entire castle had been terrifying. “So, if that’s everything, off you go Luna,” his horn lit and before the princess of the night could say anything, she was teleported to Sweet Apple Acres.
“Princess. Thank ya kindly for showin’ up. Ah had a bit of a plan fer the first events in the corn maze,” Applejack said the minute Luna appeared next to her. “Ah’m sure glad ya game lookin’ like Nightmare Moon. Ya know the old stories, how Nightmare Moon would gobble up ponies if they didn’t bring her sweets on Nightmare Night? Well, mah plan is simple…”
“You want me to be a monster in your maze,” Luna interrupted, and Applejack smiled and nodded.
“But not quite. Nopony will have any candy when they go int’ the maze. They have t’ find their baskets inside the maze. Each basket will have a single piece o’ candy in it. There will be more at different spots in the maze. They c’n only take one piece. You will be allowed t’ wander the maze however ya want, just not flyin’ the whole time. Y’can jump over walls, but y’can’t fly,” Applejack said, and Luna thought for a moment. “If’n ya catch a pony without candy, ya get t’ eat ‘em.”
Luna paused. The story of Nightmare Moon eating ponies whole had been made up by frightened parents during the first Nightmare Night so their foals would behave and not stray too far from them. Now, Luna was expected to actually eat a pony if they can’t present her with candy. “Is that safe? I will be eating them alive, and they will be in my stomach. Is that not… dangerous?”
“That’s why we picked you. Well, why Ah picked you. You c’n use yer magic t’ teleport ‘em back to the start of th’ maze b’fore they reach yer belly. They’d have t’ start all over again,” Applejack said, and Luna had to think for a moment. She could use her magic to do that, any alicorn could really, so the foals would be safe. “And, just t’ make sure they can’t jus run through the corn if ya scare ‘em, the maze is enchanted. They can’t run through the walls of the maze, they gotta go through the paths.”
“What of parents. If their foals are screaming in genuine fright, will they not want to come rescue them?” Luna asked and Applejack nodded.
“They rightly will, but Twi also put an enchantment on their bracelets. They’ll know their foals are safe. Specially when they teleport back. The foals will know they’re safe too, on account o’ teleportin’ back to th’ entrance. Ah’ll be waitin’ right here t’ tell ‘em it’s all part o’ the maze and they gotta hurry t’ get their candy back.”
Luna smiled. It was a genius plan. “Very well, I will participate. Any candy dropped at my hooves shall be mine.” Applejack smiled and nodded before looking down the road.
“Here they come. ‘Member, look scary,” Applejack said, and Luna nodded before looking at her hooves. Applejack watched her for a moment and shivered when Luna looked back up. Her eyes had changed to the ones she remembered from all those years ago. If she hadn’t seen it happen, she’d think Nightmare Moon was back.
The carriages pulled up and ponies piled out, their orange bracelets dimming as they reached their destination. Many of them looked at Princess Luna with a mixture of shock, amazement and fear. They were looking at Nightmare Moon, not Princess Luna. “Welcome ya’ll, t’ the Sweet Apple Acres corn maze. Did ya’ll bring yer baskets?” she asked, and the fillies and colts raised their baskets up. A small glow appeared in them and when they looked there was a piece of candy in each basket.
“Now don’t eat ‘em. They ain’t fer you just yet. Ya gotta find more first. They’re scattered round the maze in small piles. Only take one from every pile ya find. If ya don’t, we’ll know. While yer in there, Nightmare Moon will be stalkin’ ya. If she finds ya, ya gotta give her candy. Else she’ll gobble ya up. Applebloom, if’n ya could demonstrate fer us?” Applejack said and Luna watched as her little sister walked out of the corn maze.
“Oh no. My basket is empty. What ever will I give to Nightmare Moon so I am not eaten up?” Applebloom said, causing her big sister to facehoof. Her acting was horrendous. Applejack looked at Luna for a moment and the Princess of the Night took that as her cue. Time to show some real acting.
“Little foal! Thou did not bring us any candy! As a punishment, thou shalt be our candy instead!” Nightmare Moon shouted and Applebloom actually jumped, surprised at the Canterlot Voice. Her hooves never touched the ground, instead being caught up in Luna’s magic. The little filly actually struggled, suddenly not thinking it was part of the corn maze and unintentionally selling it better for the other ponies present. Luna’s acting had been just that good. The fillies, colts and parents present watched as “Nightmare Moon’s” maw opened wide like a snake’s and she lowered the small yellow filly into her waiting maw like a treat.
She didn’t even close her mouth, instead going down on her chest and keeping her maw open wide for the ponies to watch as Applebloom slid out of sight. She clacked her jaws closed and stood back up, tipping her head back and swallowing with a loud glurk. The ponies watched as the bulge that was Applebloom slid down the lunar monarch’s throat and stopped at her collar.
It was a momentary set back. Nightmare Moon hunched her shoulders, tipped her head down and suddenly stretched upwards. The bulge slid passed the collar and down into her stomach. Once Applebloom was settled, Nightmare Moon lolled out her tongue and released a contented breath. “Ahhhhh~” she said, looking satisfied. A moment later, her eyes went to the other foals. “Now thou hast seen what will happen should thou fail. Enter the maze and bring us more candy. We expect more than a single measly piece.”
The moment of silence that followed was soon overtaken by shrieks of excitement as foals and parents alike raced into the maze. Luna smiled and giggled before looking at her belly and teleporting Applebloom out safely.
“That… was the single… stickiest place… Ah have ever been,” Applebloom said as she shook herself off. Luna assisted by using her magic to make the slime disappear. “C’n Ah go now? Ponies’ll tell other ponies what happens if they don’t bring candy. Ah gotta meet mah friends fer…”
“Go on git. Thanks fer helpin’ out sis,” Applejack said, swatting a piece of candy into Applebloom’s near by bucket.
“Thanks a bunch sis,” Applebloom said before grabbing her bucket and racing off.
“I suppose I have waited long enough. A feast awaits within the maze.” Luna said and Applejack laughed as the disguised princess leapt eagerly into the maze.
