Nightmare Night has arrived and everypony had set up their spooky decorations.

Twilight helped Trixie set up some fake bats over the doorway.

“We’ll do a great job this year!” Twilight said.

“Trixie fails to see why you need help with this,” Trixie said.

“Well I noticed your magic is very rusty so I figured helping set up the decorations would hel-” Twilight was cut off by a bat dropping on her head.

“I am not rusty!” Trixie said breaking fourth pony for a moment.

“Calm down, while you are here I figured I can help you master your skills,” Twilight said as she set up some of the ghosts in her front lawn, in order from tallest to shortest.

“And who says Trixie wants you to help her?” Trixie said haughtily.

“Say what you want Trixie, but I can tell you're a mare at the end of her rope, I refuse to let you fall into despair over your past actions,” Twilight said.

“...V-very well, then Trixie will let you teach her some of the tricks of the trade, but on her conditions!” Trixie said.

“Whatever you say,” Twilight rolled her eyes as she set up a goblin, before she could say something else she suddenly vanished,

“What?... Twilight?” Trixie said looking around for Twilight.

“-I’m just saying that you could stand to learn more than magician magics… uh, wait where am I?” Twilight looked around.

“HIIIII!” Twilight spun to see Pinkie.

“Pinkie? Where are we?” Twilight asked.

“We’re in Applejack's barn! Brb!” Pinkie vanished and reappeared seconds later with the rest of her friends.

“Ah!” Fluttershy was clearly in the middle of flying and she tumbled out of the air and onto Applejack.

“Oof!” Applejack grunted.

“Huh?!” Rainbow jumped as she was in the middle of putting on a dragon costume.

“Pinkie?!” Rarity was clearly in the middle of a make-up session as her mascara was smeared.

“Yay! We’re all here! Now let’s get dressed up!” Pinkie said turning into her skeletal form.

“Pinkie! Turn back, what if somepony comes inside?” Twilight whispered harshly.

“No need to worry Twi, because we’re all going as ourselves this Nightmare Night!” Pinkie said.

“What?” Rainbow asked.

“Pinkie what do you mean? I was planning to go as Cleopatrot,” Rarity said imagining herself as the beautiful desert princess.

“Yeah, and I was going as a dragon,” Rainbow said.

“Nope! This year, we let go of all restraints and go as what we really are,” Pinkie said.

“Wait… you don’t mean-” Twilight said in shock.

“No disguises, let’s take this chance to be scary on our terms!” Pinkie said.

“No, that’s not happening!” surprisingly those words came from Fluttershy.

“But Shy, this is one of the few days you can be a Kirin and not worry about other ponies' opinions,” Pinkie tried to explain.

“I-I won’t, I won’t go through that again,” Fluttershy said.

“I agree with Fluttershy, the last time I tried to reveal my Changling form to a pony I trusted they… panicked and I had to erase their memories with a spell,” Rarity said.

Twilight seemed interested in the magical spell Rarity mentioned but quickly refocused on the situation.

“Pinkie, you have to understand there’s a reason they’ve kept their true forms hidden for so long, even if it’s Nightmare Night, it’d be a bad idea to run the risk of exposure,” Twilight explained.

“This is the night to be scary girls! We need to get our freak on!” Pinkie said.

“Ah won’t do it Pinkie, ah said to ya ah intend to keep it a secret, by the way, that reminds me,” Applejack turned to Twilight “Ah won’t be attending this year after all,” Applejack said.

“What? Why?” Twilight asked.

“Conditions aren’t right, ah could last year, but this year something has changed,” Applejack said.

“What?” Twilight asked.

“Ah can’t say, but jest trust me, it’s better ah stay out of it,” Applejack said.

“B-but I was planning a party tonight!” Pinkie whined.

“Ah ain’t comin! Deal with it!” Applejack said before leaving.

“Whoa, cool your jets there AJ,” Rainbow said.

“Ah’m sorry, but ah don’t want ta hurt anypony,” Applejack said before exiting.

“Hurt anypony?” Twilight muttered, a memory tugged at her mind but she didn’t pursue it because Rainbow had blocked it for a reason.

“Eh, don’t worry Pinks, how about I go full Vampony tonight, it’ll look realistic but I’m sure eveypony will like it,” Rainbow said.

“Thanks RD!” Pinkie said as Rainbow changed into a vampony.

“Ok girls I guess try to be subtle about your alternate forms for now, you especially Pinkie, ponies might wonder about the flames,” Twilight said.

“K!” Pinkie said as she skipped out the door with Rainbow in tow.

“I’m sorry Twilight, but I can’t show my true self to the townsponies, if they were to find out then…” Fluttershy said remembering the time she showed her old friends.

Twilight hugged Fluttershy.

“It’s fine Shy, you go at your own pace,” Twilight said.

“Thank you so much,” Fluttershy said.

“I must opt out as well, I am too easily recognizable as a true Changeling,” Rarity said.

“I understand,” Twilight said.

“Well, I should get back to Trixie, Nightmare Night begins soon,” Twilight said before teleporting away.

“Let us get moving Fluttershy,” Rarity said before trotting away.

“Ok,” Fluttershy said following her.

Applejack went down into the cellar, she trotted up to the research table and looked at the curses and spell books, and sighed in frustration.

“There has ta be a cure… there has ta be,” Applejack said before a sharp pain went through her head.

“Agh!... It’s almost time,” Applejack said before trotting over to the door and closing and locking it before turning on the music box and closing the jail cell and locking it and then going over to the corner and chain herself to the wall.

“Now… we wait…” Applejack said.

Twilight arrived at her castle and saw Trixie still setting things up, thankfully.

“Hmm? And where did you go? Leaving me to fix this place up alone, some nerve,” Trixie said bitterly.

“Pinkie snatched me away when you weren’t looking, something about special costumes,” Technically not a lie…

“I have heard the rumors about that crazy mare, best we get finished and then go inside to read…” Trixie said.

“Your not participating?” Twilight asked.

“No, Trixie has too many bad memories of bad Nightmare Nights of the past…” Trixie said.

“Want to-”

“No, can I go?” Trixie asked.

“Ok,” Twilight nodded, deciding not to pursue it.

“Thanks,” Trixie went inside the castle.

“I wonder what it was,” Twilight said before seeing some costumed foals approaching.

“Better get the candy ready,” Twilight said going inside and stepping around Spike who was walking out dressed in his two-headed dragon costume again.

“Spike that costume again?” Twilight teased.

“Oh come on, never give up on a look that works, the second head routine always scores me extra candy,” Spike said before running off.

“Come back as soon as possible!” Twilight called after him.

“Ok!” Spike said.

“Trick or treat!” a colt dressed as a ghost said holding out a basket.

“Here you go,” Twilight levitated some candy into the basket.

RD and Pinkie trotted around.

“Wow! Nice costume Rainbow!” A passing pony said.

“Thanks!” Rainbow said.

“Wow! Those flames look so real!” A filly exclaimed when she saw Pinkies pink flaming skull head.

“Thanks!” Pinkie said.

“Gotta say Pinkie, feels nice to get out with my vampy self without worry of a mob,” Rainbow said.

“Agreed!” Pinkie said.

“Hey, I think I see the Crusaders up ahead… shhh!” RD said as she got low and she snuck up to them.

Sweetie was dressed as a princess, Apple Bloom was dressed as a gangster and Scootaloo looked like she had palette swapped with RD.

“Seriously Scoots? Rainbow Dash again?” Sweetie asked.

“What? I did a good job this year,” Scoots said.

“How many times have ya used that one?” Apple Bloom asked.

“I dunno, get off my back,” Scootaloo said before Rainbow dove out of the shadows and hissed.

“AAAAHHH!” The CMC yelped as the scary vampony scared them.

“Hahaha! That was a good one eh?” Rainbow laughed.

“N-not… cool…” Sweetie gasped.

“Are you kidding Sweetie? That was awesome! Good costume Rainbow!” Scootaloo said hugging her.

“Haha, thanks Scoots,” Rainbow said.

“That is pretty realistic, where did you get it?” Sweetie asked.

“Yeah, and can we shop there too?” Apple Bloom added

“Uhhh….. This is homemade,” Rainbow lied.

“Cool!” Scootaloo said.

“What can I say, I’m a pro at anything!” Rainbow boasted.

“Hey girls!” Pinkie appeared.

“AAAHHHH!” The three screamed again.

“Oopsie!” Pinkie chuckled.

“Now that is a costume! How’d ya do it?” Apple Bloom asked.

“Uh… internet?” Pinkie said.

“Internet? What’s that?” Apple Bloom asked.

“Oh yeah, wrong century, NVM,” Pinkie waved it off.

The CMC shrugged it off as another one of Pinkies shenanigans.

“Alright! Now let’s get moving you three!” RD ushered them along.

“Got it!” The three ran off.

As the group left the area two hooded figures moved through the crowd and they staked out at an alleyway with the castle in sight.

“Now… we wait…” The pony said.

“I don’t know man… if we get found out we could be in big trouble,” The second stallion shivered out.

“Then we won’t,” He said cautiously.

“How can you be sure?!” The coward asked.

“Shh!” The calmer one said before seeing a pony watching them.

“Uhh… just hanging out!” The calmer pony said.

“Yeah, no illegal activities over her- oof!” The pony grunted as the other elbowed him.

The pony shrugged and left.

“You blow this and Vel will have our skins!” He whispered harshly.

“Sorry…” The coward said.

Foals made their way to the Apple Family Farmhouse.

Snips and Snails were there dressed as robots.

“Alright, Snips! Ready for some candy eh?” Snails asked.

“Yeaaah!” Snips said excitedly.

As they trotted up to the farmhouse and received their caramel apples and they turned to leave they heard noises.

“Huh?” Snips said.

“What’s up, eh?” Snails asked.

“I heard something,” Snips beckoned Snails to follow him.

Big Mac hoofed off another bushel when he saw Snips and Snails wandering… towards the direction of the cellar!?

“Hold this!” Mac hoofed the apples to Granny Smith and galloped to them.

“It’s coming from over there, it sounds like growling,” Snips said.

“Huuuh,” Snails said.

“WAIT!” Mac said getting in front of them.

“Huh?!” Snips and Snails exclaimed.

“There’s uh… nothing over there,” Mac said obviously lying.

“Really?” Snails questioned.

“What’s with the noises?” Snips asked quickly.

“Uh… tractor! Ah must have left it runnin, better go turn it off, now go on git,” Mac ushered them away.

“Ok ok,” The two trotted away and Mac gave a heavy sigh before turning to go over there and ‘turn off the tractor’

As he went over there he saw a figure moving towards the cellar.

“Huh? Uh sir! Ya don’t want to go in there!” Mac tried to tell him.

“...” The figure ignored him.

“Sir! This is private property, and ah have ta ask ya to lea-” The stallion suddenly reached forward and tapped Mac on the forehead and he fell to the ground unconscious.

“Silence mortal,” Vel said as he approached the cellar and he lit his horn and the lock broke.

He entered the cellar and saw the room.

“Hmm… she dabbles in the arcane, but not for the gain of knowledge, rather, to gain something from it,” Vel turned towards a jail cell and approached it.

He heard growling and shuffling around.

“An unsavory beast, naturally I should dispose of you, but I have… other uses for you,” Vel said.

The figure lunged at the bars and collided with them, its green eyes locked onto its potential prey and claws swiping inches from Vel's face.

Vel didn’t even flinch.

“I see, you haven’t learned to retain intelligence in this form, Well then, I suppose I must get moving,” He then lit his horn and a circle formed in front of him and then suddenly he vanished.

Thirty seconds later the circle broke into streams of light that went into the locks and unlocked them, and then into the cage where it unlocked the shackles….

The creature was loose…

Hungry…

Prey… need prey… shackles gone? Cage open? Take chance, find prey!”

The beast moved out of the cage and looked around, as if it hasn’t been out of a cage in a long time the creature saw the open door and wandered out.

It wandered into the moonlight, revealing a monstrous form.

It looked like Applejack but she was covered in several areas of her body in wooden armor-like plates on her back, legs and face. Her teeth were replaced by fangs, dripping with a greenish venom. And her claws, though wooden looked as if they could shred through metal. Her mouth was extended and more wolf-like and so was her tail, branch-like horns stuck out of her head as she raised it to sniff the air.

And her eyes… they glowed an ominous green glow…

She then gave a howl… the howl of one of the most dangerous creatures, a Timberpony.

It growled as it looked around, eager to sate it’s hunger.

And saw Big Mac…

Granny hoofed off another apple, wondering where that grandson of hers had trotted off too.

Then she heard the howl… and she paled before looking out in the direction of the Cellar and saw a creature approaching a downed Big Mac.

“Ah hay…” Granny threw the apples aside and galloped inside.

“Hey!” A colt whined when he saw the apples on the ground.

Granny came back outside with a silver ax in her mouth.

“Whoa!” Cheerilee said “I appreciate authenticity as much as the next pony but, that’s quite dangerous-” Cheerilee said but Granny held the ax in her hooves and barked out an order.

“GET THESE YOUNG’NS AS FAR AWAY FROM HERE AS POSSIBLE!” Granny yelled.

“What? What are you talking about Granny Smith? Is everything alright?” Cheerilee asked.

Granny sighed and swished the ax at Cheerilee who jumped back with a yelp.

“GET THE HAY OUT! NOW!” Granny yelled before galloping off.

“K-kids… let’s get moving!” Cheerilee shakily said before ushering the kids away.

Timberjack came up to Big Mac and sniffed him.

“Maaaaaacc…” The creature growled out and shook its head as if it was fighting the urge to dig in.

But fighting instinct like this was too hard…

Timberjack snarled and leaned in, mouth opening widely to bite down on the neck of her prey, ready to tear, to eat, to crunch his bones between her teeth! TO-

“Get away from mah grandchildren!” Granny yelled coming down with the ax and chopping off an antler.

Timberjack yelped and snapped at the old mare with her teeth.

“Applejack, how’d ya get out? We were extra careful!” Granny said holding the ax in a way she previously couldn’t.

The beast snarled and lunged to bite the mare but Granny dodged and swung her ax cutting a little bit into her shoulder.

As Granny backed off she saw the antler and wound regenerate.

“Don’t make me hurt ya,” Granny said.

The beast roared and pounced, Granny made to dodge but her hip cracked and she grunted in pain and was pounced down.

“AGH!” Granny Smith grunted and she held the ax up as Timberjack bit down on the handle.

“Accursed old age!” Granny grunted before tilting the weapon and touching the silver to AJ’s skin, causing a burn.

Timberjack yelped and backed off.

“AJ, don’t run into town!” Granny got up and held the ax out defensively.

“Gr-Graaaaannnyyy…” TJ snarled.

“Yes, ah’m yer granny, please Applejack, jest go back into the cellar,” Granny said.

“Ah…ah….” Timberjack shook her head a little.

That’s right, now come this way an-” Granny gave a grunt and fell to the ground as Vel appeared behind her and struck her in the back of the neck.

“Sentimentality, worthless,” Vel said approaching Timberjack who snarled at him.

“You have a job to do, now do it,” Vel said.

“ROOOAAAR!” Timberjack lunged for Vel but he flared his horn and teleported her.

“Alright Princess, your move,” Vel said.

“Hah! Look at this haul!” Scootaloo cheered as she gestured to her bag of candy.

“Mines bigger,” Apple Bloom said.

“Mines filled with more candybars,” Sweetie bragged.

“Psh,” Scootaloo said.

“It’s not a contest girls, besides, nights not over yet,” Rainbow said.

“We gotta thank you both, your scary costumes really helped out,” Scootaloo said.

“And the part where a rat poked out of your costume was pretty surprising,” Scootaloo said.

“Hah, yeah, costumes, uh hey! Wanna go by Twilights? Before Nightmare Moon shows up?” Rainbow suggested.

“Good idea!” Apple Bloom said and they ran off towards Twilight's castle since it was in sight.

“Let’s get moving RD, there might still be time for pranks later,” Pinkie said.

“Got it,” Rainbow said as the two ran after them.

“Princesses should have princess-level snacks!” Sweetie said

“AH’m gettin' cavities tomorrow!” Apple Bloom cheered… before crashing into something and falling down.

“Huh?” Apple Bloom looked up and saw a creature standing there… a familiar one…

“Applejack?” Apple Bloom said as Sweetie and Scoots paused there, they saw the creature that vaguely looked like an Applejack and timberwolf hybrid, looking around as if confused about where it was, before looking down at the three.

“Oh no…” Apple Bloom paled when it clicked… the stories Granny told, and why Applejack had to sleep in the cellar at least every few moons…

“Wow, nice costume, you actually look vicious AJ, I hardly recognized you,” Scootaloo said honestly.

“Yeah,” Sweetie said.

The creature just growled…

Three morsels must eat…

“Huh? Applejack?” Rainbow arrived on the scene with Pinkie “Wow, that’s quite the costume,” Rainbow chuckled.

Timberjack growled deepened and she began to stalk towards the three, and they backed up, the crowd began to notice her and some ponies were chatting among themselves.

“Uh, AJ, we get it, y-you can drop the feral act,” Scootaloo said nervously.

“Yeah, got us good,” Sweetie said.

“Girls?....” Apple Bloom said.

“What?” They said glancing at AB.

“Back away slowly…” AB said.

“Why?” Sweetie asked.

“That ain’t AJ…” Apple Bloom shivered knowing the wrong move could result in death.

“AJ, I think you're scaring them, you may want to stop,” Rainbow said.

“Wait…” Pinkie said and she made her eyes glow… and saw darkness surrounding AJ’s body.

“What?” RD asked.

“Rainbow… this is bad,” Pinkie said nervously.

“Why?” RD asked.

“Help them!” Pinkie said before vanishing.

The monstrous Timberpony roared right in their faces earning a scream from the CMC.

They all braced themselves as Timberjack lunged for them, only to be tackled by Pinkie and she threw her at a wall.

“Whoa!” Rainbow exclaimed.

“RAINBOW, HOLD HER OFF, I HAVE TO GET EVERYPONY OUT OF HERE!” Pinkie said as she vanished and reappeared behind the CMC.

“H-Huh?” they glanced back at Pinkie and before they could ask any questions Pinkie teleported them.

“What’s going on?!” Rainbow said before seeing Timberjack leap out of the hole in the wall with a roar.

“AJ STOP!” RD called and she jumped in front of the ponies she was lunging for and bucked her away.

“Get moving!” RD told the ponies and then turned her attention back to AJ as she got up.

“I don’t know what happened to you Applejack but you need to snap out of it!” RD said with determination.

“ROOOAAAAR!” The Timber Pony roared and began stalking forward.

“I got no choice…” RD said before flashing her fangs and stalking forward as well.

Then they rush towards eachother and clash.

Twilight hoofed her last bit of candy into the hooves of a filly in a witch costume.

“Bye!” Twilight said waving her off, before wiping her brow. “Glad that’s over,” Twilight said before turning to go back inside, before hearing her name and turning to see Spike approaching.

“Hey Twilight, see my bag?” Spike said gesturing to his bag of goodies.

“Heh, I guess what you said is true,” Twilight chuckled.

“Yup! Works every time,” Spike said proudly before hearing screams and the two turned to see ponies fleeing from something.

“Huh? What’s happening?” Spike asked.

“I don’t know, Spike go inside, I’ll check it out,” Twilight said.

“I want to go with you,” Spike said.

“No Spike it’s too dangerous, go enjoy some candy while I see to the commotion,” Twilight said before galloping away.

“...Like hay I’m missing what’s going on here,” Spike said going after her.

Little did they know, that’s what the pair of ponies in the alleyway nearby were waiting for and they snuck towards the castle.

“Time to initiate, phase two,” The shorter one said.

“O-ok!” The other pony said.

Author's Note

And we have Applejack's monster form revealed at last!

I couldn't resist a Timberpony/Werewolf and Vampony/vampire dynamic between RD and Applejack.

Credit to Dis-harmony Light and Draco Dei for guessing it, if you also guessed right but I didn't see you then I give credit to you too.

Good job