Fluttershy's First and Last Nightmare Nightby Captain GamerChaptersAct 1: Plannie PieAct 2: Nightmare Night IndeedAct 3: After-Party CleanupAct 1: Plannie PieMy Little Pony: Friendship is Magic Fluttershy’s First (and Last) Nightmare Night Act 1: Plannie Pie A cold wind blew through Ponyville. It wasn't an ill omen of darker times to come; it was just Fall. Everypony kept indoors or nice and bundled up. One pony, however, was neither of these things. In fact, this particular prancing pinky pony was rarely seen doing anything "making sense" or "adhering to logic" or "obeying physics." In this instance she was disobeying even her own spontaneity by carrying around a list. She had a good reason for this. You see, this story takes place some time before a certain lavender unicorn and her baby dragon assistant touched hoof and claw on Ponyville ground. Pinkie Pie still hadn't established herself well enough in town and made it her mission to know every face, name, mane, and cutie mark in and around Ponyville. Least of all just for the satisfaction of being able to tell somepony new that she knows everypony in town. What better way to get ahead in that than to join the committee for that year’s Nightmare Night celebration and pass out invitations? A celebration is a sort of party, right? Nearing the end of the list, Pinkie knocked on a door which was shortly opened by a mint-coated unicorn. Pinkie stared at her closely, scrutinizing to the point where her eye almost left her head if it focused any harder. After an awkward moment, Pinkie yelped with remembering. "Heartstrings!" The unicorn chuckled, "Ms. Heartstrings is my mother. Everypony just calls me Lyra." "Lyra!" Pinkie repeated and quickly took to her list to make adjustments. Upon peeking at the list, Lyra could swear she saw a doodle of an alligator. She was stopped by Pinkie swinging a letter at her. "You are cordially invited!!" "Invited...?" Lyra took her turn to repeat. "To the Nightmare Night celebration, silly! I'll bet you're really excited to go, huh? With all the candy, costumes, games, candy, pranks, scares, and sugary treats!" "I thought you were going to say 'candy' again. Isn't this a public celebration?" "I know! But now you're CORDIALLY invited!" Pinkie repeated, forming the word very deliberately and slowly with her mouth, "COR-JUH-LEE. Ha ha! That word loses all meaning when you say it like that!" With Lyra opening the envelope and looking at the lacy card with various splashed of black, orange, and pink, the party pony laid her list down to check off another name. She then frowned at one of the few unchecked names on the list. "I KNOW I heard about somepony named Flu-tree-spy or something like that!" Lyra took a look at the list. "Are you talking about that pegasus that's good with animals? I remember a friend of mine leaving her pet and taking the trail out of town almost all the way to the Everfree Forest. There really aren't a lot of ponies offering something like that around these parts." Pinkie was too busy listening intently to only certain parts, "Path out of town... Everfree Forest... Thank you!" Pinkie stomped the ground and let her list pop up into the air, roll itself up, place itself behind her ear, and hold the pencil inside of it. Lyra watched Pinkie Pie hop off in astonishment, not sure if that last action should even have been possible by an earth pony. - "Ooh..." Pinkie Pie cooed at the treelike house that sat along the Everfree Forest path. Lyra wasn't kidding about the animals. There were coops, sties, nests, burrows and more around the house. Pinkie made a correction on her list after checking the name on the mailbox. "Flu-tter-shy..." Pinkie weaved her way through the animals to get to the door. The thought that Fluttershy might not even be home hit Pinkie at this time, but she was in too far to not at least try. She knocked on the door and waited. After a good few moments of watching some bunnies play around, she realized she hadn't seen or heard anything from inside the house. Perhaps Fluttershy really WAS not home... Suddenly, the top half of the door swung out and almost hit Pinkie. The door had been opened by a particularly impatient rabbit that had been using a mumbling pegasus for higher ground. The pink-maned pegasus gave a small whine, “That wasn’t necessary, Angel… I’m sure she heard me just fine… all the way over there.” Rather than piece it together that this pony - assumedly Fluttershy - had been there that whole time, Pinkie just grinned widely. “Hi!!” Fluttershy shirked from the sudden greeting. She spared only a single eye from under the pink curtain of her mane. “He… heh… he-llo…” “I’m Pinkie Pie! Aaand… HERE is your invitation!” Pinkie flipped the envelope from her saddlebag. Fluttershy squeaked “Oh!” as the envelope bounced off her face and fell to the ground. “Oops,” Pinkie said sheepishly to the pegasus rubbing her nose, “I probably should have said ‘Think fast.’” Pinkie wasted no time in just picking up the card and showing it. “Nightmare Night is tonight! You’re coming anyway, but now you’re INVITED, Fluttershy! Isn’t that super amazingly awesome?” Fluttershy kept her head low. Pinkie kept her smile up. It didn’t occur to her that it was anything but encouraging. Fluttershy mumbled her way through a series of awkward sentences before finally muttering out a barely coherent, “Oh, is that tonight? I had no idea…” “Yepperooni! And now that you know, you’re going to come right? It’s gonna be full of candy and costumes and scary pranks it’s not like you have any appointment because EVERYPONY is going to be there unless you’re one of those artistic types who can do all her work by herself aaalllll alone in her house without any pony contact in which case you HAVE to come because it’s such a change of pace and all the sights and sounds of Nightmare Night will inspire you but if ALL you do is stay inside all day a night and try to pass that off as an active life style then you REALLY need to reevaluate your life WHICH YOU DON’T since you’re an animal type and you go outside and frolic with the wildlife all the time at least that’s what I imagine you doing.” After all that, Fluttershy’s demeanor, and even the position she held, didn’t change much. She still held her head low and turned halfway away, her mane blocking most of the view of this pony she had just met. The implications of this lack of yielding were lost on Pinkie Pie. Pinkie grinned wider, “When can I put you down for?” “Oh… I… don’t know… I never… really…” Pinkie’s smile softened to a more sympathetic one. “Wow… you really ARE shy. And here I thought it was just part of your name. Well don’t you worry your pretty little head, Fluttershy! Auntie Pinkie Pie will be there to make sure you have a good time and make lots of new friends! Don’t you want more friends?” “I… um… I guess so… Just… not all at once…” “Good enough for me! And don’t worry if you can’t come nice and early… I’ll come aaalllll the way out here and BRING you if you’re having trouble attending!” Fluttershy froze in place, wide-eyed. Pinkie Pie took no particular notice. “See you then!” The pink pony hopped away from the house, leaving the pegasus frozen on the spot, where she would likely remain for several hours. Act 2: Nightmare Night IndeedMy Little Pony: Friendship is Magic Fluttershy's First and Last Nightmare Night Act 2: Nightmare Night Indeed That night, Ponyville was as dressed up as it pony partygoers. This was due much in part to Pinkie Pie, who was in the process of hanging her last decoration into place; a cardboard storm cloud. She nudged it to the left where it was too far. She nudged it to the right where it was too far that way. Left, right, left right. “DAHHH!” Pinkie Pie yelped in frustration and flipped the cardboard cloud. When it finished swinging, it dangled itself into just the right spot. “Ooh! But next time I’m getting somepony else to do that FOR me…” She slid down the ladder and admired what was a good part her own handiwork. Normally she’d be right out there with the trick-or-treaters getting her fair share of that deliciously free delicious candy, bit she was taking this opportunity seriously! And by that she vowed to make it the least serious anypony has ever made a Nightmare Night celebration! A few more steps back to take in her decorations and Pinkie felt a nose bump into her flank, followed by a familiar squeak. She turned around to see a rigid Fluttershy. "Ooh, Fluttershy! You made it!" Pinkie exclaimed, making Fluttershy start a little. Fluttershy gave a weak smile, "Well... I couldn't have you taking all that time out of your preparation to come over and get me... Invading my house..." "I wasn't ACTUALLY going to do that, you silly!" Fluttershy's eyes bulged in response to that. She backed away, "If it's not THAT important to you then I think I'll just see myself out." "Out? But you just got here! At least try some candied apples or play Pin the Tail on the Pony! With a live pony!" The party pony backed off a little when she saw the effect of her insisting causing Fluttershy to shrink back even further. Fluttershy looked past her veil of hair, "If... if that's what we're doing first... okay..." "Super!" Pinkie beamed and walked off to tend to some other thing. It didn't take long for her to notice Fluttershy tailing her through the crowd. "The candied apples are over there, Fluttershy." "Oh, well... I'll just help us stay together. Like you, um, said. The other day." Pinkie took a moment to recall. "I didn't say that! Did I? Wait... did I call myself 'Auntie Pinkie Pie?'" "... Yes. You did. Which might, um, not be right since I think I might be a year older th-" "Let's go then! You'll get the special tour of my best party yet! Don't get too excited because every party I throw is the best one yet!" Fluttershy opened her mouth to respond, but Pinkie added, "Oh, what am I saying? Get excited anyway!" Pinkie weaved through the ponies in the street, checking on one thing or another with Fluttershy behind her like a second tail. Though Pinkie really wanted to include Fluttershy in everything, the chance never came. Finally, when Pinkie was discussing decorations, Fluttershy took notice of something. "Are those bats?" After Pinkie confirmed, Fluttershy smiled for the first time since arriving. "They're so lifelike." Pinkie grinned wider. "So you DO like scary decor-" "And adorable!" "Oh. I... GUESS that's a compliment!" "Oh, it is! Most ponies look at a bat's short nose, long ears, and beady eyes and get turned away. But I see little creatures that are just trying their best by seeing with sound. I also like these flowers." Pinkie turned around. "These flowers on the windowsill that are always here?" Fluttershy realized how she overextended and looked down again. "Um... well... they're still nice. I just wanted to compliment you since you seem to be working so hard..." The timid nature of that statement got to Pinkie's heart. She smiled warmly, "Thanks, Fluttershy." And then a pony screamed. Fluttershy yelped 'Oh!' and put Pinkie Pie between herself and the general direction of the scream. Pinkie giggled, "It's okay, Fluttershy! Somepony just pulled off a scare!" "A... scare?" "They're all over the place on Nightmare Night! It's part of the tradition! Don't you like to have fun being scared?" "No." Fluttershy responded with uncharacteristic clarity. "I do not like being scared." Another scream. Fluttershy leapt again and saw the ponies involved in the scare laughing it up, guilty party and victim alike. "Isn't, um, isn't there any place in this party I can go that's a no-scare zone? I really don't want to risk being scared." "Aw, Fluttershy. They're just pranks!" "I know they are. And that's just fine for other ponies, but not for me." Pinkie Pie hummed in thought, sizing up Fluttershy one way or another. She looked ahead, "I guess there's a lot less of that going on where the food is." Fluttershy cast her gaze in the same direction. "Food! Got it." She scampered off to the told location. Just as soon, she was back. "If... you don't mind escorting me there. I'd feel a lot safer." - Everything was brighter over at the food stands; the lights, the attitudes of the ponies, and especially the costumes. Fluttershy complimented, "That is a lovely daffodil costume, Bon-bon." Bon-bon's mint-coated unicorn friend spoke up, "I get hungry just looking at her! And the costume is a nice touch, too." "Lyra!" Bon-bon gasped, eventually leading to giggles. Going past the food stands, Fluttershy was more at ease looking at all the costumes of common occupations, animals, or food products. She paused to giggle at a banana costume. She saw Pinkie Pie's interrogating stare. "Oh, well... my friend Rarity wouldn't like that costume at all. She says that yellow is a hard color to look good in." She felt Pinkie's eyes staring down her own coat. "For, um, clothing." Pinkie enjoyed watching Fluttershy make all these observations and be so comfortable. It was a nice change from all the gasping and hiding. The moment was halted with Fluttershy, well, gasping. It turned out to be a delighted gasp as Fluttershy flew herself over to a costume-wearing dog. "Oh, I've never seen a dog so happy to be wearing a costume!" The orange, freckled owner of the dog smiled proudly, "That's 'cause Winona just LOVES her buckaroo getup! C'mon, Ms. Rider, show 'em a few tricks!" Winona hitched up on her hind legs and took hold of a thrown rope. She twirled and jumped through the rope about in ways that were impressive for a pet. "Atta girl!" the owner said to her faithful pet with a head rub. The end result of Winona's fur was not lost on Fluttershy. "Oh my..." she said and flew herself over, "do you pet her like that all the time? Her fur will quickly settle out of place if you don't comb it down properly." Out of a saddle bag, Fluttershy produced a comb which she used to smooth Winona's fur down. The dog enjoyed the attention. "There we go." Winona's owner watched with a straight face, more just processing information on a topic she hadn't thought much about before. "Uh... thanks. So you're sayin' I should do that any time 'er hair's outta sorts?" "Not all the time... Just once in a while. I'm sure she'll appreciate it because I can tell she just loves to be groomed! Don't you?" Winona barked in agreement, and in approval of Fluttershy's affections. "Why don't you take this?" Fluttershy extended the brush to the orange pony. "I have a bunch of them at home. Oh, I'm not selling it. Just go ahead and take it." "All right, then. But you rest assured I'll return the kindness someday somehow, y'hear?" Fluttershy just smiled and nodded. Pinkie Pie slipped over to Fluttershy's side, "Now tell me, aren't we having the BEST time?" Fluttershy chuckled, "Um... Well, maybe not the BEST time. I'm more... making the best of it. I'm still nervous about when some pony might jump out and-" Fluttershy was cut off by a scream. "... that..." Pinkie Pie tapped a thoughtful hoof on her chin, then settled on something. "Fluttershy, you wait right here. I'll be back sooner than you think!" The pink pony departed, leaving Fluttershy by herself with a drink. Fluttershy was focusing her attention on nice things, though every startle made her head whip around. Staying in her happy place made her not notice at first the shadow creeping up on her. Seeing it on the ground got her attention and she turned around. Right into a large dragon's face. In the panic of the moment Fluttershy couldn't pick out details. All she knew she saw were a snout as big as her and rows of teeth. She also heard a low, mounting growling and hot air against her face. She backed away from the dragon, prompting it to roar in her face. She tossed her face away from the creature in front of her and hid it. The roar stopped, following by a different loud noise. Laughing. Fluttershy stopped shaking enough to uncover her face and look past her hair. The dragon looked much different now that it was giggling without moving. It opened its mouth so wide that the top of its head folded back to reveal the laughing pink pony inside. "Oh, WOW!" Pinkie Pie shouted, "That reaction was the BEST! Your face was amazing! Your scream could have used some work, though. Like... screaming at all." Fluttershy breathed in deep, but short breaths, her eyes moist and trained on Pinkie. "Y... you... scared me?" Pinkie eased the top of the dragon some more, "Well, duh! It's me in the dragon costume, isn't it? Now that you've been scared, isn't it so bad? Because let me tell you, you got it good!" She proceeded to laugh some more. Fluttershy's expression did not change. "And now you're... you're laughing... at me?" "What?" Pinkie got a good look at Fluttershy. "No! WITH you! Fluttershy, when this happens we all laugh TOGETHER!" This didn't help much. Fluttershy's face was scrunching up more. At a loss, Pinkie cried, "It was just a prank!" Fluttershy gasped. Those words struck a chord, and a final nail into the coffin. All her collective will to not cry fell away and she heaved into sobs with tears flowing freely. She turned away from Pinkie Pie and ran. "FLUTTERSHY!!" Pinkie shouted after, but found her mouth shortly stuffed with a dizzying array of sweets. "Oh, wow!" said a particularly rambunctious colt, "That was the best scare EVER!! So bad she ran away crying like a foal! You deserve, like, half my candy for that!" Pinkie Pie's will to follow Fluttershy faded in a fantastic flavorful euphoria. Going cold-turkey from sweets to concentrate on the Nightmare Night decorations had a toll on her and that pile she chewed on gave her a bad relapse. She had candy on the brain and could only think of having more, even as her eyes could still see Fluttershy's fleeing form. Act 3: After-Party CleanupMy Little Pony: Friendship is Magic Fluttershy's First and Last Nightmare Night Act 3: After-Party Cleanup "Wake-up call, dear." Those words were the first thing Pinkie Pie could clearly process since that time last night. She didn't hear Mrs. Cake walk away, so she groaned, "I'm up. Thanks, Mrs. Cake." Mrs. Cake hummed to herself and left the door to go on to other things. Pinkie groaned again and felt her head. A sugar-high hangover was a risk associated with her kind of lifestyle. She reached over to the night stand and pushed in a bottle. She pressed down on the bottle, let it pop off, and took it on both hooves to let a few chiclets fall out and into her mouth for chewing. She replaced the cap and got out of bed to start the day. Along her way, she passed by her loft's waste bin. The dragon costume had been stuffed in, or at least attempted. Pinkie frowned, trying to remember why (other than excessive sugar intake) she would try to dispose of a costume she worked so hard on. When recalling what she used the costume for, it all came back in a flash of images. "Fluttershy!" Pinkie gasped. She was quickly out the door and making a beeline for Fluttershy's house. - Over at the Carousel Boutique, a loud knock threatened to tear the door off its hinges. A unicorn, white as snow with a radiant and twirled purple mane approached it. "Are you sure, Fluttershy? I don't need to be open, today." She heard from the another room a low whine and understood it. "Okay..." She used her magic to unlock the door and open it. "Welcome! How may I help y-" She gave a three-tone yelp at the sight of the pony at the door. The pony was pink... and filthy. "You look like you jumped into a mud puddle! And I say you look like it because I cannot fathom the possibility of that actually happening. Inside! Right now!" Rarity magically pulled the pink pony in and slammed the door, having the latter fly straight through the room and into another where a shower for such emergencies had been built. One aversion of crime against outward appearances later, the pink pony was clean as could be. Shimmering, even. Rarity levitated a brush over, "Now stay still, dear. Your mane is a mess after all that washing." Pinkie Pie took a look to a mirror and nudged her head away. "Not really! This is what I normally look like!" Rarity gave Pinkie an extended stare. "Is that... so...?" "Yep! But I'm not here because of that! I want to talk to Fluttershy! I know she's here because I heard you talking to her before you opened the door!" "Fluttershy...?" Rarity repeated, "This must be about the incident last night. I was waiting for somepony to come by and tell me about it. All I could get out of Fluttershy was she was out and something happened. Let's sit somewhere more comfortable." Pinkie followed Rarity's lead, knowing that when the truth came out that this friend of Fluttershy's would not be so warm. Sitting on bean bags and cups of tea in mouth and magic, the discussion could begin. "Much better," Rarity declared. "Now about Fluttershy... did she go to yesterday night's Nightmare Night celebration and get pranked?" Pinkie chose her words carefully, those being not proper words at all. "Uh-huh." "I knew it!" Rarity hissed, "I've never seen her this distraught in... ever! Whatever could have possessed her to go outside on Nightmare Night? More to the actual celebration?" Rarity took a pause that Pinkie Pie's expression begged to not expect an answer. The silence ate away at Pinkie Pie until a response was on her tongue. Rarity spoke again, "She and I both know that her disposition is too delicate to handle such an environment." The words were lost on Pinkie Pie but she got the gist of what Rarity was saying. "Yeah, about that... Why would Fluttershy take a PRANK so seriously? If somepony pulled that off on me I would be laughing myself silly!" The answer was stalled by a smooth sip of tea. Rarity thought for a moment. "Mmm... I haven't known Fluttershy that long, but I can tell you we are very good friends. Fluttershy's definition of 'fun' is different from other ponies. I may not look it, but I can appreciate a good practical joke because they, like the dresses I make, are art." "... And WHAT art!" Pinkie complimented, "These dresses are great! I bet my parties would be SUPER festive if everypony was wearing something like this! And the way you have it decorated is so classy!" "Why... thank you." Rarity held her head high, "I do take pride in facilitating a shopping experience that is a true experience." Any moment of solidarity was cut by Rarity's eyes opening and brow furrowing. "Wait a moment... Parties. Oh, I can't believe it took me this long to realize this. You must be Pinkie Pie." Pinkie Pie made an "urk!" noise. "Yes... that name was among the crying. Judging by your reaction, I'd say that's you. Are you the pony that sent her away in tears?" It took a bit of gaze evasion before Pinkie braved a slow nod. Rarity gave a quick hum, "Late last night, I finally fly back in from my annual out-of-town get-together. I was tarried so long that I was exhausted. I looked ever so much forward to just tossing myself onto my bed and sleeping the night and the next morning away. Imagine my surprise, my dismay at seeing my good friend Fluttershy having let herself in and bawling her eyes out! Absolutely soaking my expensive new silk sheets in tears, but that is beside the point. Mostly. Pinkie Pie, what did you do to her?" "I didn't MEAN to do anything!!" Pinkie yelped, "I was just doing what I normally do! I was helping Fluttershy have fun at a party and she was so nervous about getting pranked so I tried doing it to her so she could get used to it but she didn't like it and it ruined the whole thing when it was going so well before that! SHE DIDN'T DESERVE THAT BUT I AM NOT A BAD PONY!!" Pinkie finished her emotional flailing by throwing her forelegs around herself. She opened an eye to see Rarity stirring a spoon through her tea. "On any other day, Pinkie Pie, I would believe you. My clients often talk about having just left a party thrown by some wild pony. I never paid attention too closely, but now that I think about it, they were talking about you. To be honest, from what I heard about your parties I figured they would be foalish. But there is one constant in every story, and that is they always had fun. Real fun that they could put a hoof on. So I hear, you just want everypony to have fun and smile more. Am I right?" Pinkie Pie pointed with her forehooves, "YES! You are SO right! If you were more right then you would be LEFT that's how right you are!" The pink pony's gaze fell. "And, and Fluttershy WAS having fun. She was looking at all the animals and the costumes... being helpful to everypony... she was really nice." Rarity hummed again, in confirmation. "She was probably depending on you to keep her from those tricks and pranks she doesn't like." "... and I went ahead and brought one straight to her..." Rarity took another sip of her tea. She could tell that all the ideas were coming together in that pink head and allowed Pinkie the silence to make those connections. She paid attention when Pinkie's head snapped back up. "I was going to talk to Fluttershy to say I'm sorry and figure out why she acted the way she did. But now I just want to apologize! She's a really good friend, and I didn't catch on in time. You have to let me talk to her, Rarity! I fell into a mud puddle running to her house! And then I remembered her mentioning you the other night so I figured out she was here and I fell into that same mud puddle on the way. Then I fell into it again!" "How in Equestria did you fall into that mud puddle a third time...?" "Because..." Pinkie looked away with a grin, "It was fun?" Rarity received the response with some taken aback shock, which alarmed Pinkie. Then Rarity's expression softened and she stifled a chortle until she laughed. The two had a moment of solidarity until a third, very soft voice was heard among them. Rarity stopped laughing just quick enough for the third voice to be heard clearly, realize it was being heard, and squeak to a stop. "Fluttershy?" Rarity called out, prompting Fluttershy to slowly walk from behind the door frame. "Were you... eavesdropping?" "Um... maybe..." Pinkie Pie stood from her bean bag, attentive. "How much did you hear?" Fluttershy gingerly moved her gaze to Pinkie Pie, "I heard enough. You think I'm nice?" "REALLY nice!" Pinkie Pie insisted. Fluttershy turned her full face forward, "Why... thank you. For most of last night, I thought you were really nice, too." Pinkie Pie's face softened to sympathetic. "Fluttershy, if I had known that you didn't do pranks, AT ALL, I wouldn't have even THOUGHT about doing it to you. But I've never heard of a pony who didn't like pranks..." The pegasus hoofed the floor timidly, "Oh, I know. I'm sorry." Pinkie's eyes widened with what she heard. "Wait, YOU'RE sorry? I'm here to apologize to you!" "Oh! Right. I should have kept that in mind. Sorry. Ohh! I did it again! I'm so sorry!" Fluttershy's apologetic tirade ended with Pinkie's hoof on her shoulder. "Fluttershy, I'M sorry. I just assumed you'd feel the same way about pranks that I did. I guess ponies all have fun different ways." Fluttershy smiled back, "Actually, I really did have a good time when I wasn't thinking about scary things or getting pranked. I would really like to see what one of your normal parties is like." Pinkie gasped deeply with an equally deep delight. "Fluttershy, I will take you up on that offer! But I'll warn you: Of all the things everpony says about my parties, they never call 'em 'normal!' In fact... this accepted apology deserves a party! Right here in Rarity's house!" All this time, Rarity had been watching the reconciliation with approval. In the middle of a sip of tea, she heard Pinkie and spat that sip right out. "Now hold on a moment!" The party pony was far too gone in her passion to stop now. "We'll put on these AWESOME dresses and dance on the roof! Ooh! We'll need streamers! Are you using this fabric, Rarity?" "I most certainly am-!" "Thanks!!" Pinkie continued to hop around the Boutique, party-planning out loud while Rarity chased her around to keep the place in one piece. Fluttershy stayed in place to avoid getting sucked into the action, but still watched Pinkie and spared a giggle.
Act 1: Plannie PieMy Little Pony: Friendship is Magic Fluttershy’s First (and Last) Nightmare Night Act 1: Plannie Pie A cold wind blew through Ponyville. It wasn't an ill omen of darker times to come; it was just Fall. Everypony kept indoors or nice and bundled up. One pony, however, was neither of these things. In fact, this particular prancing pinky pony was rarely seen doing anything "making sense" or "adhering to logic" or "obeying physics." In this instance she was disobeying even her own spontaneity by carrying around a list. She had a good reason for this. You see, this story takes place some time before a certain lavender unicorn and her baby dragon assistant touched hoof and claw on Ponyville ground. Pinkie Pie still hadn't established herself well enough in town and made it her mission to know every face, name, mane, and cutie mark in and around Ponyville. Least of all just for the satisfaction of being able to tell somepony new that she knows everypony in town. What better way to get ahead in that than to join the committee for that year’s Nightmare Night celebration and pass out invitations? A celebration is a sort of party, right? Nearing the end of the list, Pinkie knocked on a door which was shortly opened by a mint-coated unicorn. Pinkie stared at her closely, scrutinizing to the point where her eye almost left her head if it focused any harder. After an awkward moment, Pinkie yelped with remembering. "Heartstrings!" The unicorn chuckled, "Ms. Heartstrings is my mother. Everypony just calls me Lyra." "Lyra!" Pinkie repeated and quickly took to her list to make adjustments. Upon peeking at the list, Lyra could swear she saw a doodle of an alligator. She was stopped by Pinkie swinging a letter at her. "You are cordially invited!!" "Invited...?" Lyra took her turn to repeat. "To the Nightmare Night celebration, silly! I'll bet you're really excited to go, huh? With all the candy, costumes, games, candy, pranks, scares, and sugary treats!" "I thought you were going to say 'candy' again. Isn't this a public celebration?" "I know! But now you're CORDIALLY invited!" Pinkie repeated, forming the word very deliberately and slowly with her mouth, "COR-JUH-LEE. Ha ha! That word loses all meaning when you say it like that!" With Lyra opening the envelope and looking at the lacy card with various splashed of black, orange, and pink, the party pony laid her list down to check off another name. She then frowned at one of the few unchecked names on the list. "I KNOW I heard about somepony named Flu-tree-spy or something like that!" Lyra took a look at the list. "Are you talking about that pegasus that's good with animals? I remember a friend of mine leaving her pet and taking the trail out of town almost all the way to the Everfree Forest. There really aren't a lot of ponies offering something like that around these parts." Pinkie was too busy listening intently to only certain parts, "Path out of town... Everfree Forest... Thank you!" Pinkie stomped the ground and let her list pop up into the air, roll itself up, place itself behind her ear, and hold the pencil inside of it. Lyra watched Pinkie Pie hop off in astonishment, not sure if that last action should even have been possible by an earth pony. - "Ooh..." Pinkie Pie cooed at the treelike house that sat along the Everfree Forest path. Lyra wasn't kidding about the animals. There were coops, sties, nests, burrows and more around the house. Pinkie made a correction on her list after checking the name on the mailbox. "Flu-tter-shy..." Pinkie weaved her way through the animals to get to the door. The thought that Fluttershy might not even be home hit Pinkie at this time, but she was in too far to not at least try. She knocked on the door and waited. After a good few moments of watching some bunnies play around, she realized she hadn't seen or heard anything from inside the house. Perhaps Fluttershy really WAS not home... Suddenly, the top half of the door swung out and almost hit Pinkie. The door had been opened by a particularly impatient rabbit that had been using a mumbling pegasus for higher ground. The pink-maned pegasus gave a small whine, “That wasn’t necessary, Angel… I’m sure she heard me just fine… all the way over there.” Rather than piece it together that this pony - assumedly Fluttershy - had been there that whole time, Pinkie just grinned widely. “Hi!!” Fluttershy shirked from the sudden greeting. She spared only a single eye from under the pink curtain of her mane. “He… heh… he-llo…” “I’m Pinkie Pie! Aaand… HERE is your invitation!” Pinkie flipped the envelope from her saddlebag. Fluttershy squeaked “Oh!” as the envelope bounced off her face and fell to the ground. “Oops,” Pinkie said sheepishly to the pegasus rubbing her nose, “I probably should have said ‘Think fast.’” Pinkie wasted no time in just picking up the card and showing it. “Nightmare Night is tonight! You’re coming anyway, but now you’re INVITED, Fluttershy! Isn’t that super amazingly awesome?” Fluttershy kept her head low. Pinkie kept her smile up. It didn’t occur to her that it was anything but encouraging. Fluttershy mumbled her way through a series of awkward sentences before finally muttering out a barely coherent, “Oh, is that tonight? I had no idea…” “Yepperooni! And now that you know, you’re going to come right? It’s gonna be full of candy and costumes and scary pranks it’s not like you have any appointment because EVERYPONY is going to be there unless you’re one of those artistic types who can do all her work by herself aaalllll alone in her house without any pony contact in which case you HAVE to come because it’s such a change of pace and all the sights and sounds of Nightmare Night will inspire you but if ALL you do is stay inside all day a night and try to pass that off as an active life style then you REALLY need to reevaluate your life WHICH YOU DON’T since you’re an animal type and you go outside and frolic with the wildlife all the time at least that’s what I imagine you doing.” After all that, Fluttershy’s demeanor, and even the position she held, didn’t change much. She still held her head low and turned halfway away, her mane blocking most of the view of this pony she had just met. The implications of this lack of yielding were lost on Pinkie Pie. Pinkie grinned wider, “When can I put you down for?” “Oh… I… don’t know… I never… really…” Pinkie’s smile softened to a more sympathetic one. “Wow… you really ARE shy. And here I thought it was just part of your name. Well don’t you worry your pretty little head, Fluttershy! Auntie Pinkie Pie will be there to make sure you have a good time and make lots of new friends! Don’t you want more friends?” “I… um… I guess so… Just… not all at once…” “Good enough for me! And don’t worry if you can’t come nice and early… I’ll come aaalllll the way out here and BRING you if you’re having trouble attending!” Fluttershy froze in place, wide-eyed. Pinkie Pie took no particular notice. “See you then!” The pink pony hopped away from the house, leaving the pegasus frozen on the spot, where she would likely remain for several hours.
Act 2: Nightmare Night IndeedMy Little Pony: Friendship is Magic Fluttershy's First and Last Nightmare Night Act 2: Nightmare Night Indeed That night, Ponyville was as dressed up as it pony partygoers. This was due much in part to Pinkie Pie, who was in the process of hanging her last decoration into place; a cardboard storm cloud. She nudged it to the left where it was too far. She nudged it to the right where it was too far that way. Left, right, left right. “DAHHH!” Pinkie Pie yelped in frustration and flipped the cardboard cloud. When it finished swinging, it dangled itself into just the right spot. “Ooh! But next time I’m getting somepony else to do that FOR me…” She slid down the ladder and admired what was a good part her own handiwork. Normally she’d be right out there with the trick-or-treaters getting her fair share of that deliciously free delicious candy, bit she was taking this opportunity seriously! And by that she vowed to make it the least serious anypony has ever made a Nightmare Night celebration! A few more steps back to take in her decorations and Pinkie felt a nose bump into her flank, followed by a familiar squeak. She turned around to see a rigid Fluttershy. "Ooh, Fluttershy! You made it!" Pinkie exclaimed, making Fluttershy start a little. Fluttershy gave a weak smile, "Well... I couldn't have you taking all that time out of your preparation to come over and get me... Invading my house..." "I wasn't ACTUALLY going to do that, you silly!" Fluttershy's eyes bulged in response to that. She backed away, "If it's not THAT important to you then I think I'll just see myself out." "Out? But you just got here! At least try some candied apples or play Pin the Tail on the Pony! With a live pony!" The party pony backed off a little when she saw the effect of her insisting causing Fluttershy to shrink back even further. Fluttershy looked past her veil of hair, "If... if that's what we're doing first... okay..." "Super!" Pinkie beamed and walked off to tend to some other thing. It didn't take long for her to notice Fluttershy tailing her through the crowd. "The candied apples are over there, Fluttershy." "Oh, well... I'll just help us stay together. Like you, um, said. The other day." Pinkie took a moment to recall. "I didn't say that! Did I? Wait... did I call myself 'Auntie Pinkie Pie?'" "... Yes. You did. Which might, um, not be right since I think I might be a year older th-" "Let's go then! You'll get the special tour of my best party yet! Don't get too excited because every party I throw is the best one yet!" Fluttershy opened her mouth to respond, but Pinkie added, "Oh, what am I saying? Get excited anyway!" Pinkie weaved through the ponies in the street, checking on one thing or another with Fluttershy behind her like a second tail. Though Pinkie really wanted to include Fluttershy in everything, the chance never came. Finally, when Pinkie was discussing decorations, Fluttershy took notice of something. "Are those bats?" After Pinkie confirmed, Fluttershy smiled for the first time since arriving. "They're so lifelike." Pinkie grinned wider. "So you DO like scary decor-" "And adorable!" "Oh. I... GUESS that's a compliment!" "Oh, it is! Most ponies look at a bat's short nose, long ears, and beady eyes and get turned away. But I see little creatures that are just trying their best by seeing with sound. I also like these flowers." Pinkie turned around. "These flowers on the windowsill that are always here?" Fluttershy realized how she overextended and looked down again. "Um... well... they're still nice. I just wanted to compliment you since you seem to be working so hard..." The timid nature of that statement got to Pinkie's heart. She smiled warmly, "Thanks, Fluttershy." And then a pony screamed. Fluttershy yelped 'Oh!' and put Pinkie Pie between herself and the general direction of the scream. Pinkie giggled, "It's okay, Fluttershy! Somepony just pulled off a scare!" "A... scare?" "They're all over the place on Nightmare Night! It's part of the tradition! Don't you like to have fun being scared?" "No." Fluttershy responded with uncharacteristic clarity. "I do not like being scared." Another scream. Fluttershy leapt again and saw the ponies involved in the scare laughing it up, guilty party and victim alike. "Isn't, um, isn't there any place in this party I can go that's a no-scare zone? I really don't want to risk being scared." "Aw, Fluttershy. They're just pranks!" "I know they are. And that's just fine for other ponies, but not for me." Pinkie Pie hummed in thought, sizing up Fluttershy one way or another. She looked ahead, "I guess there's a lot less of that going on where the food is." Fluttershy cast her gaze in the same direction. "Food! Got it." She scampered off to the told location. Just as soon, she was back. "If... you don't mind escorting me there. I'd feel a lot safer." - Everything was brighter over at the food stands; the lights, the attitudes of the ponies, and especially the costumes. Fluttershy complimented, "That is a lovely daffodil costume, Bon-bon." Bon-bon's mint-coated unicorn friend spoke up, "I get hungry just looking at her! And the costume is a nice touch, too." "Lyra!" Bon-bon gasped, eventually leading to giggles. Going past the food stands, Fluttershy was more at ease looking at all the costumes of common occupations, animals, or food products. She paused to giggle at a banana costume. She saw Pinkie Pie's interrogating stare. "Oh, well... my friend Rarity wouldn't like that costume at all. She says that yellow is a hard color to look good in." She felt Pinkie's eyes staring down her own coat. "For, um, clothing." Pinkie enjoyed watching Fluttershy make all these observations and be so comfortable. It was a nice change from all the gasping and hiding. The moment was halted with Fluttershy, well, gasping. It turned out to be a delighted gasp as Fluttershy flew herself over to a costume-wearing dog. "Oh, I've never seen a dog so happy to be wearing a costume!" The orange, freckled owner of the dog smiled proudly, "That's 'cause Winona just LOVES her buckaroo getup! C'mon, Ms. Rider, show 'em a few tricks!" Winona hitched up on her hind legs and took hold of a thrown rope. She twirled and jumped through the rope about in ways that were impressive for a pet. "Atta girl!" the owner said to her faithful pet with a head rub. The end result of Winona's fur was not lost on Fluttershy. "Oh my..." she said and flew herself over, "do you pet her like that all the time? Her fur will quickly settle out of place if you don't comb it down properly." Out of a saddle bag, Fluttershy produced a comb which she used to smooth Winona's fur down. The dog enjoyed the attention. "There we go." Winona's owner watched with a straight face, more just processing information on a topic she hadn't thought much about before. "Uh... thanks. So you're sayin' I should do that any time 'er hair's outta sorts?" "Not all the time... Just once in a while. I'm sure she'll appreciate it because I can tell she just loves to be groomed! Don't you?" Winona barked in agreement, and in approval of Fluttershy's affections. "Why don't you take this?" Fluttershy extended the brush to the orange pony. "I have a bunch of them at home. Oh, I'm not selling it. Just go ahead and take it." "All right, then. But you rest assured I'll return the kindness someday somehow, y'hear?" Fluttershy just smiled and nodded. Pinkie Pie slipped over to Fluttershy's side, "Now tell me, aren't we having the BEST time?" Fluttershy chuckled, "Um... Well, maybe not the BEST time. I'm more... making the best of it. I'm still nervous about when some pony might jump out and-" Fluttershy was cut off by a scream. "... that..." Pinkie Pie tapped a thoughtful hoof on her chin, then settled on something. "Fluttershy, you wait right here. I'll be back sooner than you think!" The pink pony departed, leaving Fluttershy by herself with a drink. Fluttershy was focusing her attention on nice things, though every startle made her head whip around. Staying in her happy place made her not notice at first the shadow creeping up on her. Seeing it on the ground got her attention and she turned around. Right into a large dragon's face. In the panic of the moment Fluttershy couldn't pick out details. All she knew she saw were a snout as big as her and rows of teeth. She also heard a low, mounting growling and hot air against her face. She backed away from the dragon, prompting it to roar in her face. She tossed her face away from the creature in front of her and hid it. The roar stopped, following by a different loud noise. Laughing. Fluttershy stopped shaking enough to uncover her face and look past her hair. The dragon looked much different now that it was giggling without moving. It opened its mouth so wide that the top of its head folded back to reveal the laughing pink pony inside. "Oh, WOW!" Pinkie Pie shouted, "That reaction was the BEST! Your face was amazing! Your scream could have used some work, though. Like... screaming at all." Fluttershy breathed in deep, but short breaths, her eyes moist and trained on Pinkie. "Y... you... scared me?" Pinkie eased the top of the dragon some more, "Well, duh! It's me in the dragon costume, isn't it? Now that you've been scared, isn't it so bad? Because let me tell you, you got it good!" She proceeded to laugh some more. Fluttershy's expression did not change. "And now you're... you're laughing... at me?" "What?" Pinkie got a good look at Fluttershy. "No! WITH you! Fluttershy, when this happens we all laugh TOGETHER!" This didn't help much. Fluttershy's face was scrunching up more. At a loss, Pinkie cried, "It was just a prank!" Fluttershy gasped. Those words struck a chord, and a final nail into the coffin. All her collective will to not cry fell away and she heaved into sobs with tears flowing freely. She turned away from Pinkie Pie and ran. "FLUTTERSHY!!" Pinkie shouted after, but found her mouth shortly stuffed with a dizzying array of sweets. "Oh, wow!" said a particularly rambunctious colt, "That was the best scare EVER!! So bad she ran away crying like a foal! You deserve, like, half my candy for that!" Pinkie Pie's will to follow Fluttershy faded in a fantastic flavorful euphoria. Going cold-turkey from sweets to concentrate on the Nightmare Night decorations had a toll on her and that pile she chewed on gave her a bad relapse. She had candy on the brain and could only think of having more, even as her eyes could still see Fluttershy's fleeing form.
Act 3: After-Party CleanupMy Little Pony: Friendship is Magic Fluttershy's First and Last Nightmare Night Act 3: After-Party Cleanup "Wake-up call, dear." Those words were the first thing Pinkie Pie could clearly process since that time last night. She didn't hear Mrs. Cake walk away, so she groaned, "I'm up. Thanks, Mrs. Cake." Mrs. Cake hummed to herself and left the door to go on to other things. Pinkie groaned again and felt her head. A sugar-high hangover was a risk associated with her kind of lifestyle. She reached over to the night stand and pushed in a bottle. She pressed down on the bottle, let it pop off, and took it on both hooves to let a few chiclets fall out and into her mouth for chewing. She replaced the cap and got out of bed to start the day. Along her way, she passed by her loft's waste bin. The dragon costume had been stuffed in, or at least attempted. Pinkie frowned, trying to remember why (other than excessive sugar intake) she would try to dispose of a costume she worked so hard on. When recalling what she used the costume for, it all came back in a flash of images. "Fluttershy!" Pinkie gasped. She was quickly out the door and making a beeline for Fluttershy's house. - Over at the Carousel Boutique, a loud knock threatened to tear the door off its hinges. A unicorn, white as snow with a radiant and twirled purple mane approached it. "Are you sure, Fluttershy? I don't need to be open, today." She heard from the another room a low whine and understood it. "Okay..." She used her magic to unlock the door and open it. "Welcome! How may I help y-" She gave a three-tone yelp at the sight of the pony at the door. The pony was pink... and filthy. "You look like you jumped into a mud puddle! And I say you look like it because I cannot fathom the possibility of that actually happening. Inside! Right now!" Rarity magically pulled the pink pony in and slammed the door, having the latter fly straight through the room and into another where a shower for such emergencies had been built. One aversion of crime against outward appearances later, the pink pony was clean as could be. Shimmering, even. Rarity levitated a brush over, "Now stay still, dear. Your mane is a mess after all that washing." Pinkie Pie took a look to a mirror and nudged her head away. "Not really! This is what I normally look like!" Rarity gave Pinkie an extended stare. "Is that... so...?" "Yep! But I'm not here because of that! I want to talk to Fluttershy! I know she's here because I heard you talking to her before you opened the door!" "Fluttershy...?" Rarity repeated, "This must be about the incident last night. I was waiting for somepony to come by and tell me about it. All I could get out of Fluttershy was she was out and something happened. Let's sit somewhere more comfortable." Pinkie followed Rarity's lead, knowing that when the truth came out that this friend of Fluttershy's would not be so warm. Sitting on bean bags and cups of tea in mouth and magic, the discussion could begin. "Much better," Rarity declared. "Now about Fluttershy... did she go to yesterday night's Nightmare Night celebration and get pranked?" Pinkie chose her words carefully, those being not proper words at all. "Uh-huh." "I knew it!" Rarity hissed, "I've never seen her this distraught in... ever! Whatever could have possessed her to go outside on Nightmare Night? More to the actual celebration?" Rarity took a pause that Pinkie Pie's expression begged to not expect an answer. The silence ate away at Pinkie Pie until a response was on her tongue. Rarity spoke again, "She and I both know that her disposition is too delicate to handle such an environment." The words were lost on Pinkie Pie but she got the gist of what Rarity was saying. "Yeah, about that... Why would Fluttershy take a PRANK so seriously? If somepony pulled that off on me I would be laughing myself silly!" The answer was stalled by a smooth sip of tea. Rarity thought for a moment. "Mmm... I haven't known Fluttershy that long, but I can tell you we are very good friends. Fluttershy's definition of 'fun' is different from other ponies. I may not look it, but I can appreciate a good practical joke because they, like the dresses I make, are art." "... And WHAT art!" Pinkie complimented, "These dresses are great! I bet my parties would be SUPER festive if everypony was wearing something like this! And the way you have it decorated is so classy!" "Why... thank you." Rarity held her head high, "I do take pride in facilitating a shopping experience that is a true experience." Any moment of solidarity was cut by Rarity's eyes opening and brow furrowing. "Wait a moment... Parties. Oh, I can't believe it took me this long to realize this. You must be Pinkie Pie." Pinkie Pie made an "urk!" noise. "Yes... that name was among the crying. Judging by your reaction, I'd say that's you. Are you the pony that sent her away in tears?" It took a bit of gaze evasion before Pinkie braved a slow nod. Rarity gave a quick hum, "Late last night, I finally fly back in from my annual out-of-town get-together. I was tarried so long that I was exhausted. I looked ever so much forward to just tossing myself onto my bed and sleeping the night and the next morning away. Imagine my surprise, my dismay at seeing my good friend Fluttershy having let herself in and bawling her eyes out! Absolutely soaking my expensive new silk sheets in tears, but that is beside the point. Mostly. Pinkie Pie, what did you do to her?" "I didn't MEAN to do anything!!" Pinkie yelped, "I was just doing what I normally do! I was helping Fluttershy have fun at a party and she was so nervous about getting pranked so I tried doing it to her so she could get used to it but she didn't like it and it ruined the whole thing when it was going so well before that! SHE DIDN'T DESERVE THAT BUT I AM NOT A BAD PONY!!" Pinkie finished her emotional flailing by throwing her forelegs around herself. She opened an eye to see Rarity stirring a spoon through her tea. "On any other day, Pinkie Pie, I would believe you. My clients often talk about having just left a party thrown by some wild pony. I never paid attention too closely, but now that I think about it, they were talking about you. To be honest, from what I heard about your parties I figured they would be foalish. But there is one constant in every story, and that is they always had fun. Real fun that they could put a hoof on. So I hear, you just want everypony to have fun and smile more. Am I right?" Pinkie Pie pointed with her forehooves, "YES! You are SO right! If you were more right then you would be LEFT that's how right you are!" The pink pony's gaze fell. "And, and Fluttershy WAS having fun. She was looking at all the animals and the costumes... being helpful to everypony... she was really nice." Rarity hummed again, in confirmation. "She was probably depending on you to keep her from those tricks and pranks she doesn't like." "... and I went ahead and brought one straight to her..." Rarity took another sip of her tea. She could tell that all the ideas were coming together in that pink head and allowed Pinkie the silence to make those connections. She paid attention when Pinkie's head snapped back up. "I was going to talk to Fluttershy to say I'm sorry and figure out why she acted the way she did. But now I just want to apologize! She's a really good friend, and I didn't catch on in time. You have to let me talk to her, Rarity! I fell into a mud puddle running to her house! And then I remembered her mentioning you the other night so I figured out she was here and I fell into that same mud puddle on the way. Then I fell into it again!" "How in Equestria did you fall into that mud puddle a third time...?" "Because..." Pinkie looked away with a grin, "It was fun?" Rarity received the response with some taken aback shock, which alarmed Pinkie. Then Rarity's expression softened and she stifled a chortle until she laughed. The two had a moment of solidarity until a third, very soft voice was heard among them. Rarity stopped laughing just quick enough for the third voice to be heard clearly, realize it was being heard, and squeak to a stop. "Fluttershy?" Rarity called out, prompting Fluttershy to slowly walk from behind the door frame. "Were you... eavesdropping?" "Um... maybe..." Pinkie Pie stood from her bean bag, attentive. "How much did you hear?" Fluttershy gingerly moved her gaze to Pinkie Pie, "I heard enough. You think I'm nice?" "REALLY nice!" Pinkie Pie insisted. Fluttershy turned her full face forward, "Why... thank you. For most of last night, I thought you were really nice, too." Pinkie Pie's face softened to sympathetic. "Fluttershy, if I had known that you didn't do pranks, AT ALL, I wouldn't have even THOUGHT about doing it to you. But I've never heard of a pony who didn't like pranks..." The pegasus hoofed the floor timidly, "Oh, I know. I'm sorry." Pinkie's eyes widened with what she heard. "Wait, YOU'RE sorry? I'm here to apologize to you!" "Oh! Right. I should have kept that in mind. Sorry. Ohh! I did it again! I'm so sorry!" Fluttershy's apologetic tirade ended with Pinkie's hoof on her shoulder. "Fluttershy, I'M sorry. I just assumed you'd feel the same way about pranks that I did. I guess ponies all have fun different ways." Fluttershy smiled back, "Actually, I really did have a good time when I wasn't thinking about scary things or getting pranked. I would really like to see what one of your normal parties is like." Pinkie gasped deeply with an equally deep delight. "Fluttershy, I will take you up on that offer! But I'll warn you: Of all the things everpony says about my parties, they never call 'em 'normal!' In fact... this accepted apology deserves a party! Right here in Rarity's house!" All this time, Rarity had been watching the reconciliation with approval. In the middle of a sip of tea, she heard Pinkie and spat that sip right out. "Now hold on a moment!" The party pony was far too gone in her passion to stop now. "We'll put on these AWESOME dresses and dance on the roof! Ooh! We'll need streamers! Are you using this fabric, Rarity?" "I most certainly am-!" "Thanks!!" Pinkie continued to hop around the Boutique, party-planning out loud while Rarity chased her around to keep the place in one piece. Fluttershy stayed in place to avoid getting sucked into the action, but still watched Pinkie and spared a giggle.
