Author's Note

This is a short spin-off of another series I'm writing.

1. Grand Opening – The Pony of Apparitions 🔮

The magnificent City of Baltimare. Life here was constantly on the move. In this place, ponies never experience boredom, always finding new adventures to embark on. When nighttime fell, Baltimare transformed into a mesmerizing cityscape of neon lights. Nopony would EVER want to leave. Me included.

I’m a twenty-four-year-old unicorn stallion specializing in the spooky. You know, the WooOOOoooOOoooOOooos. The scary! The horrific! The frightening, bone-chilling fear that lurks in the innermost depths of your heart! An unrenowned owner of a haunted house attraction.

Upon entering the first floor, visitors were greeted by a counter with a register, ready to accept their bits. The room was filled with creepy artifacts scattered haphazardly. Odd-shaped pony skulls, tapestries of Nightmare Moon, charms with unknown languages written on them, witch bottles of odd shapes and things floating inside, cursed voodoo dolls from my village, odd jewelry, and a closet of numerous masks.

I leaped into my showbiz chair and looked at the spooky pony in the mirror, which was embellished with many miniature light bulbs. Me! That stallion’s coat was as dark and enchanting as a night sky painted deep navy blue. A sharp tooth peeked out on the left of my mouth while my irises were mint green. Above my storm grey mane was a top hat that matched the color of my coat. There was no hole for my horn, so I just wore it on my head, the horn relatively free. The purple band around the top hat added a nice touch to the overall look. Last but not least, I just needed to add the missing piece.

After opening my closet, I saw masks filling every few inches of space. This was an occasion to use my favorite one! The white-half mask. From its original state as a whole white mask, it now lies broken in two, each half telling a different story. I placed it on my face and glanced back into the lit mirror. “Hmm… something isn’t right.”

Dear Luna, how did I forget my lucky dark purple cape of dismay? A swoosh cut through the air as I fastened it on. “Now it’s showbiz time!”

With Princess Twilight Sparkle’s magic, the sun sank below the horizon, casting a golden farewell before the moon took its place. That’s right. Tonight was Nightmare Night! Dashing to the front door, I flung it open, bracing for what awaited outside. “Welcome! Welcome all to Baltimare’s Haunted House of Apparitions!”

I had poured my heart and soul into designing posters and spreading them around the city. I could almost hear the lively cheers of Baltimare’s residents and tourists. But I found myself on my knees, forelegs splayed out in anticipation. The silence was deafening.

That can’t be right, though...

I veered up at the black sky, peeping an eyeball, my gaze fixated on the space beneath the staircase before sweeping it across the entire expanse of the shady street. It was empty, and my heart was just as so.

The street itself was devoid of vitality. Other than my labored breath of anticipation and elation, no sound or hoofstep could be heard as the place remained pony-free.

I was raised in a small town called Hollow Shades, reconstructed after Princess Twilight took reign. The moment I received my cutie mark, I knew it was meant to be. It symbolized a jack-in-the-box ghost pony charging out of a haunted house window. But after my mother’s death, my father’s expression turned sour with disgust at the sight of it. This emotional struggle has always been a part of me, shaping my journey.

”It’s simply the most ridiculous mark I’ve ever laid eyes on. I’m astounded by the sheer ridiculousness of it.”

So, without his support, I moved to Baltimare, intending to spread the wonders of the eerie. For I am a pony of all that is creepy.

”You long to support yourself through the means of this unconventional garbage? Then vanish from my sight this instant!”

I am...

”Your ‘dreams’ are so outlandish, it’s almost comical! But you’re just a hollow—”

Shack.

”Joke!”

Hollow Shack. Pony of Apparitions. And what scared me the most was the realization that my grand opening was a complete and utter disaster. And that he was right.

Under the oppressive, pitch-black sky, a heavy emotion weighed down on me. I retreated inside my failure of an establishment and switched off the lights, one by one. And with a loud familiar thud of a shut door, there was nothing left to do—but to close up shop.