G5 Adventures in Spooky Buddies

Chapters

A Spooky Nightmare Night in Bridlewood
Pipsqueak Returns to Life/The Buddies and Pippsqueaks Captured
Stories of the Past
Entering the Manor/Billy's Report Choice
Preparing to Trick-or-Treat/Warwick and the Hound Escape
Trick-or-Treating Madness
Dangerous Situations Escalate
The Fernfield Spooky Brew Ha-Ha
The Rescue Mission/Pipsqueak's Sacrifice
The Final Battle/A New Day at Last
Saying Farewell and Returning Home at Last

A Spooky Nightmare Night in Bridlewood

It was a few weeks after the Mane 6, Ruby Jubilee and the Dreamlands got back from another Unity Quest, helping Mystery Incorporated solve a vampire mystery in Louisiana, that it was finally time for one of the most anticipated holidays of the year… Nightmare Night!

Costumes, trick or treating, parties… all the works were going in to make this the best Nightmare Night ever… especially in Bridlewood.

Misty’s mother and father invited the group to Bridlewood to celebrate there, since they spent two Nightmare Nights in Maretime Bay and the year after that in Zephyr Heights. That’s when Pipp got a great idea-- why not invite the Pippsqueaks along? They would love celebrating Nightmare Night in Bridlewood!

Of course, the others did have a few hesitations, but after a long while of considering, they really didn’t see the harm in it.

So, calls were made, costumes were created, and finally… Nightmare Night had finally arrived.

XXXXXXXXX

“Hurry up, girls! Before they leave without us!” an orange unicorn filly in a dark orange cheerleader costume exclaimed to her two friends as they ran through the main streets of Maretime Bay. “Hey, it was Seashell's fault!” a blue pegasus filly in a dark purple cheerleader costume argued as she tried to keep up with her friends. “Watch it, Glory! I had to make sure my makeup was perfect,” the light purple earth pony filly in the dark green cheerleader costume argued in response. “Do you remember who we're spending tonight with?! We HAVE to look our best!”

Peach Fizz groaned. “It doesn't matter why we're late, just that we're late. Now, less talking and more running!”

Her two friends shut their mouths while they ran as fast as their little hooves could carry them. The streets were filled with different ponies in costumes, all putting the final touches on the Nightmare Night decorations. The Crystal Brighthouse finally came into sight as the three fillies continued running and, much to their relief, there were six ponies waiting for them outside, all gathered around the Marestream.

They skidded to a stop once they got there, all of them gasping for breath. They looked up to see their number one idol hovering in the air above them, watching them with a small smile, and they gasped in excitement. “Oooh, you fillies look so adorbs!” Pipp told them with a smile. “Cheerleaders, right?”

Pipp was dressed in a beautiful orange dress with a pearl necklace that held a music note charm that matched her cutie mark, and her wings were given a fairy-like design. “I'm a fairy princess. After the last Nightmare Night of going totally spooky, I decided to do something cute this year. But those cheerleader costumes are so pretty and sparkly, I've gotta post this on my ponygram feed. Selfie?”

The three fillies looked at each other before squealing loudly in delight, making Zipp cover her ears. “Yep… they’re Pippsqueaks through and through…”

Pipp pulled out her phone, touching down next to the fillies before raising her phone up, her hoof hovering over the camera button. However, she paused and lowered her phone, making the three fillies nervous they had done something wrong. “Get in the picture!” Pipp shouted to the rest of her friends. “This is a Nightmare Night selfie!”

Zipp groaned as her friends crowded around the three fillies and Pipp. Misty used her magic to pick up Pipp's phone out of her hoof and levitate it higher into the air so that they could get everypony in the shot. “Do I have to?” Zipp groaned, hovering in the air. “Zephyrina Storm, get your flank over here! And stop looking so miserable!” Pipp added when she saw the look on her sister's face. “You know how much this holiday means to me!”

The three Pippsqueaks looked at Pipp confused, to which she explained. “Zipp's astronaut costume is itchy and by the time she realized it, it was too late to change it.”

Once everypony was crowded around the phone, Pipp urged the group to shout 'Nightmare Night Fashion', and Misty took the shot. When this was done, Misty lowered the phone back to Pipp, who looked down at it with a smile. “Perfect. And…posted!”

The three fillies looked at each other again before squealing, even louder than before. “BEST NIGHTMARE NIGHT EVER!!”

Now that they were done squealing, it was time to get a closer look at the Mane 6's costumes, taken aback by how good they looked.

Misty Brightdawn was a beautiful pink butterfly, complete with wings and a dress-- totally fitting with her cutie mark being a butterfly and all.

Sunny Starscout was a spooky witch, dressed in black, but still had a cheerful demeanor.

Izzy Moonbow was in a complete bunny body suit, with her mane sticking out of her costume slightly, and her horn peeking out from under her hood.

The three fillies paused when they got to Hitch and Sparky. Hitch was dressed up in what looked like a dress with a coral ribbon scarf and a black belt with a golden buckle, and a fancy hat. Sparky, who was on his back, was dressed in a fancy hat similar to Hitch's, a tie, and a vest, complete with a fake mustache. The Pippsqueaks had to admit Sparky was adorable, but they had no clue what the two of them were supposed to be.

Hitch noticed the three fillies studying him and smiled. “Of course you fillies know exactly who Sparky and I are supposed to be.”

The three fillies hesitated, but, not wanting to make the sheriff feel bad, decided to guess anyway. “Umm… a fancy guy in a dress?” Seashell guessed innocently. Hitch's eyes widened and there was a soft blush to his cheeks. “N-No! This is a trenchcoat, not a dress!” he said as the others laughed hysterically. Before the three fillies could embarrass him further, he quickly filled them in. “I'm Sherlock Hooves. And this is my trusty partner, Dr. Watson!”

The three fillies tilted their heads. “Sherlock who?” Glory asked, furrowing her brows, causing Hitch to try and explain to them as best he could. “You know, famous detective from the 19th century? I got the inspiration for this costume by Basil of Baker Street, who we met on an earlier Unity Quest mission.”

The three fillies look at each other as though one of them understood who Hitch was talking about, but they were all confused. “Yeah, if we don’t know who he is,” said Zipp, crossing her hooves, “I doubt he’s famous, buddy.”

“But Sparky sure is cute with his adorable tie and super-cool looking mustache,” Izzy amended, bouncing up next to Hitch and pinching Sparky's cheek with her hoof. Hitch rolled his eyes and grumbled something about him being the only educated one around here, turning to go pout in the Marestream.

The other girls laughed at this, but the Pippsqueaks felt bad about the misunderstanding. “Did we do something wrong?” Peach Fizz asked. Pipp put a hoof around Peach Fizz, still chuckling, making her heart swell in excitement. “Neigh way. Trust us, when he came waltzing in with that getup, none of us knew who he was either.”

“Yeah. I grew up with him and I still had no clue,” Sunny added. “But, if we wanna get to Bridlewood,” Misty said, “we better get going. It's gonna get dark soon.”

Pipp agreed to this, and flew up in front of the Marestream. “All right, Pippsqueaks!” she announced. “Who's ready for a spooooky Nightmare Night?!”

“We are!” the three fillies exclaimed with equal vigor, though there was a small nervousness in the back of their heads they tried to push out of their minds. This was their first Nightmare Night without their parents and while they were excited to spend Nightmare Night with their idol, her love for scaring ponies was well-known, and it made them a little tense.

Pipp, however, seemed to sense their discomfort and tried to take their mind off it. “Yeah! Now that's the energy we're looking for! To the Marestream! Pipp Pipp hooray!”

“Pip pip hurray!” the three fillies echoed the iconic phrase before all eight of them joined Hitch in the Marestream, setting off for Bridlewood.

XXXXXXXX

Immediately after arriving in Bridlewood, the Mane 6 and all the Pippsqueaks screamed as a gray unicorn wearing a scary dog mask with green eyes jumped down from a tree as they walked out of the Marestream.

Misty, however, smiled softly. “Nice try, Dad, but not this time.”

Alphabittle shook his head in disappointment. “Oh well. It was worth a shot, Tea.”

“If it's any consolation, you scared the rest of us pretty good,” Sunny soothed with a smile, causing Alphabittle to smile slightly. “Yeah... thanks, Sunny.”

“Hey, trust me,” Pipp said, flying up next to Alphabittle. “It took me all night last year to scare Misty, and even then I had to go all out.”

Zipp flew next to Pipp with a smirk. “I believe it was I who got her that time.”

“I softened her up, it was a group effort.”

“My baby doesn't scare easy,” said a cream-colored unicorn with a green and purple mane and tail, a cutie mark of two dolphins, darker cream-brown hooves and blue eyes, otherwise known as Paradise Moonray, Misty's biological mother, who Misty seemed very happy to see. “Hi, Mom!”

“Hey, my little butterfly,” Paradise smiled as she and Misty hugged. “It's about time you ponies showed up. He's been waiting in that tree for an hour, waiting to scare you.”

“Well, if she saw me ahead of time, it would've ruined everything.” Alphabittle said with a shrug before he turned to the rest of the ponies. “You ponies ready for some good old fashioned Briddlewood fun?”

That's when the Mane 6 and the Pippsqueaks turned to see the trees, bushes and houses of Bridlewood were decorated with Nightmare Night decorations. Festivities and games were scattered about the wood, and in the background over the speakers was playing a classic Nightmare Night song: The Pony Monster Mash.

Though, one thing they noticed was how many lanterns lit the place up. It was like they wanted to light the place up so it looked like they were in the middle of the day instead of the middle of the night. “Oh my hoofness!” Pipp exclaimed, taking pictures with her phone. “This is so cute… and umm… bright...?”

Alphabittle gave a little smirk to this. “Well, of course. How else are we going to keep away the Shadow Screechers?”

Izzy froze, as did Peach Fizz. The unicorn filly may have now lived in Maretime Bay, but she spent her formative years in Bridlewood, and she knew the legend like every other unicorn.

Misty, however, looked confused as she turned to her parents. “What are the Shadow Screechers?”

Izzy gasped in shock when she heard this. “You never heard of the Shadow Screechers?! That's like the spookiest legend in Bridlewood!”

“I didn't grow up in Bridlewood, Iz, remember?” Misty reminded softly, causing Izzy to immediately understand. “Spooky legend?! I need to know about this,” Pipp gasped, flying in to sit in front of Alphabittle and Paradise. “Are you sure we should be telling this story?” Paradise asked her ex-husband. “I know when Mo-- Opaline first told me this tale, it scared me so bad I had nightmares for weeks!”

“We wanna hear it!” Seashell said, swallowing her fear. “We’re big ponies now! We can handle it.”

All the ponies hesitantly gathered around Alphabittle, who sat down in front of them, going into scary story mode. “Long ago, when Bridlewood was still new, a small band of unicorns decided to travel up north, after hearing tales of a rare crystal that could only be found in a certain wood. Once they arrived, however, it was the dead of night. Not wanting to explore an unknown wood in the dark, they decided to make camp and continue their journey in the morning.”

“A sound decision,” Hitch agreed. “You never know what might be lurking in an unknown set of woods in the dark.”

Hitch shivered, glancing into the Bridlewood forest, where the lantern light did not reach. But when he did, he noticed everypony glaring at him. “What?”

“You're interrupting the story,” Pipp answered flatly, shutting Hitch up. That's when Alphabittle decided to continue the story. “However, one unicorn wanted the riches the rare crystals would bring all to himself. So, in the middle of the night, he packed a saddlebag with some food, a lantern, and a map, wanting to leave extra room so he could pick as many crystals as he desired, before entering the woods on his own. He stuck to the path, and for the first hour, everything was fine. After that, he began to hear the sounds of crunching leaves and snapping twigs, but when he turned around, there was nothing there. He played it off as simply critters running about.”

Zipp rolled her eyes. “Classic horror movie mistake.”

Pipp shushed her sister while listening intently to the rest of the story. “After three hours of searching, he found nothing. He grew weary and decided to rest for a moment before heading back. He started a fire and began to eat,” Alphabittle continued the story. “However, as he ate, he heard a screeching sound. He at first believed it to be nothing but an owl, but it happened again and again, each time getting closer, until it sounded as though it were only a few feet away. However, as the unicorn awaited his doom, nothing entered the light of the fire, even though the screeching continued, before it, too, stopped.”

The nine ponies all held their breath in trepidation, swallowing nervously. Misty, Izzy, and Sunny huddled closer together while even Pipp began to grow nervous. The three Pippsqueaks were beside themselves, hugging each other tightly for comfort while Paradise sat next to them to reassure them.

Seeing as they were getting into the story now, Alphabittle decided to continue. “After minutes of hearing nothing, he slowly put out his fire, deciding these woods weren't safe and, knowing he had to stop his troupe from entering them, he grabbed his map and lantern and hurried in the direction of where he came from. As he walked, following the map perfectly, he'd see shadowed silhouettes in the corner of his eye, but when he'd turn to look, there'd be nothing there. He also noticed how eerily quiet the forest was. There was no chirping of birds or the scurry of small critters and the silence felt deafening. After another three hours of traveling, he saw no end to the woods in sight. He began to panic, running every which way, knowing he'd have to find an exit at some point. Unfortunately, the oil in his lantern began to lessen and lessen until the flame was so weak that it threatened to extinguish, and he seemed no closer to an exit.”

The nine ponies listened intently, leaning closer with wide eyes, despite their fear as Alphabittle continued his spooky tale. “As the light dimmed, he began to see shadowed creatures slowly creep toward him, always staying in the dark just before the threshold of the light. The creatures looked to be long shadows that vaguely resemble ponies, with spikes on their backs and glowing golden eyes. If the unicorn looked into them, he began to feel himself being pulled into something beautiful.”

“W-What was it?” Seashell asked with a tremble. “What did he see?”

“And more importantly… w-what’d he do?” Glory gulped. “Did he escape?” Pipp added with a shaky voice. When everypony looked at her, she shrugged casually, as though she wasn't scared. “What? I'm invested in the story.”

Alphabittle shrugged. “Nopony knows what he saw. However, before his lantern went out completely, he squeezed his eyes shut to avoid the lure of the creatures and threw his lantern at a dead bush, engulfing it in flames, causing the creatures to let out a loud, terrifying screech as the area was lit up. Taking advantage of the distraction, he ran in the direction he remembered camp to be and finally found an exit. As he sprinted into camp, he woke up everypony in the camp and explained everything he witnessed. However, as they heard his tale, they simply laughed it off, believing their friend was trying to play them for fools, so he could have all the riches to himself. Come morning, the party disembarked for the woods to continue their search, leaving their camp for when they returned.”

Sparky trembled nervously at this, leading Hitch to comfort the baby dragon by giving him a comforting squeeze. “Knowing there was nothing to be done for them,” Alphabittle continued, “he made it back to Bridlewood, warning the unicorns not to go in the woods up north. Nopony believed him until the unicorns that left in search of the crystals failed to return. They sent out a search party, but when they got there, they found the entire camp exactly as the group left it, but written in black ink on every possible surface was the phrase: 'We can't keep fighting. The end? No. A beginning? Yes. Their beginning. And it's beautiful. It's the only choice we have left. All else failed.’”

The nine ponies were stunned silent with fear as Alphabittle finished his tale. Even Izzy and Peach Fizz were scared silent, despite hearing the legend before.

Alphabittle chuckled innocently when he realized how scared the ponies were. “Oh, chill, kids. It's not true.”

“A-Are you s-sure?” Peach Fizz stuttered out, forgetting to act brave in front of her idol. “C-cause the l-legend of the t-troggles was r-real.”

All the ponies looked at Paradise and Alphabittle. Usually, they'd agree with Alphabittle, but after the troggle fiasco at Bridlewoodstock, they weren't so sure anymore. Even Hitch, who was the most logical pony, wasn't so confident between reality and tales.

Paradise stepped up. “Don't worry. Even if it were real, they can only hurt you in the dark. And see?” she asked as she pointed to the lanterns strung across the trees. “It's far from dark.”

All the ponies breathed a collective sigh of relief, their fear massively lessening, though there was still a small amount of fear in the three fillie's gut.

Suddenly, the nine cutie marks belonging to the Mane 6 and the Pippsqueaks glowed, and Hitch seemed to notice it first. “Uh, ponies. It's happening again.”

However, as they looked at the glowing cutie marks, nopony was more disappointed than Pipp. “Ugh. I was seriously looking forward to celebrating with classic Bridlewood traditions. Oh well, duty calls I suppose.”

“Yay! We get to go on another quest with you!” Glory cheered before her smile fell a bit. “I just… hope we don’t get lost in space again, like we did last time.”

“Just… stay close to us. We don't know what's going to be on the other side,” Hitch said sternly to the three fillies, who nodded obediently. Misty quickly hugged her parents farewell, and without further ado, all nine ponies jumped through the portal, prepared to be there for any new friend who needed their help.

Author's Note

Phew! The longest prologue chapter in all G5 Adventures, but totally worth it, right? I owe all of this to my friend Willow-- she really did a good job writing this chapter and the spooky story Alphabittle told. We're gonna be working together for the rest of the story, so be prepared for more awesomeness, guys!

Pipsqueak Returns to Life/The Buddies and Pippsqueaks Captured

With the help of the caretaker of the Fernfield Cemetery, the Mane 6, Sparky and the Buddies’ kids were able to temporarily escape the clutches of Warwick, but they weren’t sure how long it would be before that happened.

Sunny was glad she was able to save Billy, but she sort of felt bad that the fight between her and Warwick led to Sheriff Dan becoming a monkey. Hopefully, they would be able to change him back when this was all over.

XXXXXXXXX

At the same time, the Buddies, the three fillies, Aurelia, Zelda and Pipsqueak arrived at the cemetary, where Pipsqueak’s body was supposed to be held.

“What’s the plan now, dudette?” Mudbud asked Zelda curiously.

“Everyone,” said Zelda, “look around for Pipsqueak’s body. We don’t have much time!”

The group began to traverse through the cemetery, looking for Pipsqueak’s body on one of the graves when all of a sudden, Aurelia froze between a collection of graves in front of her.

They were for an entire family of dragons that had passed away in a raging forest fire…

…Aurelia’s family.

She was the only survivor of the incident that happened in Fernfield, 1936.

Noticing that Aurelia had stopped before the graves, B-Dawg stopped and looked at Seashell. “Uh… you dawgs go on without me. I gotta see what’s up with the dragon.”

“Okay, B-Dawg,” Seashell nodded. “If you’re sure.”

B-Dawg trotted back over to Aurelia and sat beside her. “Yo, you okay, dawg-ette?”

“Huh?” Aurelia seemed surprised to see him. “Y-Yes, um… I’m sorry, B-Dawg, I normally don’t… get this sappy.”

B-Dawg looked at the names on the graves: ‘Beacon’, ‘Hope’ and ‘Dreamer’, and noticed the dragon symbol above the graves. “Was this… your posse?”

Aurelia paused at this before sighing, telling B-Dawg the whole story. “I was a hatchling when it happened. A campfire had gotten much too out of control in the forest where I lived with my mother, father and older sister. The Fernfield Fire Department worked countlessly for hours to put it out, but it was spreading, meaning we had to flee our home. However, my… my father’s tail got pinned, and he needed my mother and older sister to help him free, while… I was told to get out of the forest while I still could. I waited and waited at the forest’s edge for hours for them to show, and when the fire was put out, I went back in to see if I could find them, but… they were gone…”

Tears came from Aurelia’s eyes, causing her to quickly wipe them away before she continued the story. “They organized a funeral for my family, but… I was too ashamed to go. I thought it was my fault. So, I wandered into Fernfield one night, where I encountered Pipsqueak and his siblings playing in the front yard of 2332 Pine Lane. They seemed very friendly, so we all played together for what felt like ages. We remained friends for the rest of that year, and then… when Pipsqueak and his brothers and sisters got taken by Warwick, I went in to rescue them. Then… well… you can see how that worked out.”

B-Dawg was silent for a moment, not sure what to say. He felt bad for running away from Aurelia so many times. He wished he could relate to her, but he never lost his family. He still could visit his parents and was best friends with all his siblings. Though the thought of losing them was…too much. However, B-Dawg did know a little something about blaming himself.

“I get how you feel, dawg,” B-Dawg finally said. And when Aurelia gave him a doubtful look, B-Dawg continued. “It's true. Don't you dare tell another soul what I'm about to tell you cause I'll deny it til the day I die but…it's my fault the Howlloween Hound escaped.”

Aurelia smiled bitterly. “We already know that, B-Dawg.”

This caused B-Dawg to glare at her slightly. “Yo, give me a break, dawg. I ain't too good sharin’ no feelings. What I meant was… my brothers, my friends and my sister are in danger of getting their souls taken… and it's my fault. If I didn't let my stupid need to prove myself get in the way, they'd all be safe right now. If… if anything happened to them… I'd never forgive myself.”

B-Dawg paused before looking up at Aurelia. “That's where you and I differ. What happened to your family, what happened to Pipsqueak and his siblings, that wasn't your fault. You did everything you could. I mean, you stayed behind in a creepy old manor for 75 years so Pipsqueak wouldn't be alone for crying put loud. I released the Howlloween Hound and put my family, and all of Fernfield, and the world, in danger. You did all you could to save it. You're a hero, Aurelia. I see it. So does everybody else. Now all you need to do is see it for yourself.”

Aurelia smiled as her heart warmed. She didn't quite see herself as a hero yet, not after everything she failed to do, but talking with B-Dawg did make her feel better. “Thank you, B-Dawg.”

“No problem, dawg. Like Seashell said back at Zelda's shop, you're one of us now. We take care of each other. You're an honorary Buddy,” B-Dawg paused before standing up straight. “Alright, enough of all these sappy emotions. Let's go find Pipsqueak’s statue.”

As Aurelia stood up to do just that, Glory came running up to them. “Hey, guys! We found it! We found Pipsqueak's body!”

“Show us the way,” Aurelia urged. The three of them hurried to where the rest of the group was gathered, in front of a small gravesite with Pipsqueak's body on top of it. “Whoa…” Pipsqueak looked shocked as he stared at his own body. “That’s me.”

“Pipsqueak. Rest in peace,” Buddha read the plaque. “Most loyal friend of Joseph. The best pup a boy could ever have.”

“What do we do now, Zelda?” Rosebud asked. “Okay, well, uh, I have to confess,” Zelda started with a nervous laugh. “I've never really returned a spirit to a body, per se. But umm… I'll give it a whirl.”

And with that, Zelda started the incantation. “Help us, spirits, and take this soul. Place it back into the body the Hound once stole!”

Pipsqueak's ghost began to waver, but it wasn't enough, so Zelda decided to say it again. “Help us, spirits, and take this soul. Place it back into the body the Hound once stole!”

As Zelda repeated it, Pipsqueak began to slowly float towards his body. “It's working!”

Zelda, with much more vigor, repeated the incantation a third and final time. “Help us, spirits, and take this soul. Place it back into the body the Hound once stole!”

When Pipsqueak finally reached his body, the statue glowed as he entered it. Everybody waited with bated breath as the glow slowly disappeared and in the statue's place was a young beagle puppy. “Pipsqueak, it worked!” Peach Fizz cheered. “Whoa, guys! My legs!” Pipsqueak tested out his body. “I can wiggle my nose! Wow, guys, I can chase my tail! I'm back! Whoo! How can I ever thank you guys?”

“No thanks needed,” Seashell smiled. “It's what friends do, remember?”

“Pipsqueak, what do you say we get the kinks out of those legs of yours and race?” Aurelia asked with a smirk. “Just like we used to?”

“You bet!” Pipsqueak exclaimed with a smirk. “75 years of not using them and I bet I can still beat you! Remember the rules?”

“Yes, yes, no wings. Ready, set, go!”

And just like that, the two best friends ran around the cemetery, whooping and cheering the whole time, both of them the happiest they've been in 75 long years.

XXXXXXXX

The old man drove the car with the Buddies’ kids, Sparky and the Mane 6 inside it quite a long way through town, and the Mane 6 couldn’t help but wonder where they were going…

…that is, until they finally stopped outside of a small church in town. “Come on, kids!” the man cried out, opening the door and letting the group out of the backseat. “Hurry, hurry, hurry!”

“Out of the way, sis!” Pipp pushed past Zipp as she got out of the car. “Comin’ through!”

“Hey, we’re all going to the same place!” Izzy shouted. “Right? Aren’t we? I’m so confused!”

“Zipp! Any sign of Warwick?” Sunny asked. And after a moment of scanning the skies with her visor, Zipp was able to see Warwick using his staff to chase after them from the skies. “Up there! Hurry! Everyone inside!”

Sunny stopped, getting ready to activate her alicorn form again. “I can cast a protection spell--”

“No need,” the caretaker said. “The church will protect us. Go!”

Zipp and Sunny looked at each other before running into the church with the rest of the group, Sunny readying the protection spell just in case.

Once they were inside the church, Warwick landed outside of it, grasping his staff rightly. “I want… that… BOOK!!” he shouted and was just about to run up the walkway before he was thrown backwards and into the street.

XXXXXXXX

Sunny, who was watching from the window just in case, watched with wide eyes, turning to the caretaker with shock. “Why… how did that happen?”

The man who saved them chose not to answer right away, but led them further into the church by candlelight. “You’ll be safe here,” he said. “Evil like Warwick cannot enter the house of God.”

“Well, then, how come you have a key?” Alice asked curiously. “I’m the organist here every Sunday. Don’t worry, kids,” the man said, placing the candle down. “We beat Warwick once, we can do it again.”

Billy pulled out the photo from the case file Sheriff Dan gave him and looked between it and the old man. “This is you, isn't it?” Billy asked, showing the man the photo. The caretaker leaned down to look at it closer. “You’re the boy from the legend.”

The caretaker was silent for a moment before answering. “That was sure a long time ago.””

“#Plot twist!” Pipp whispered in excitement. “Shh!” Zipp whispered, wanting to catch every word, causing Pipp to roll her eyes. Billy smiled at the old man before deciding to start the introductions, pointing to each respective person. “Well, um, I'm Billy and this is Alice, and that's Pete, and Bartleby, and that's Sam.”

“And I’m Sunny,” Sunny added with a smile. “And next to me is Zipp, Pipp, Hitch, Izzy, Sparky and Misty.”

“Hi new friend!” Izzy exclaimed, bouncing up to the man and holding out her hoof. And after a moment, the man smiled and shook it. “Joseph. Joseph Johnson.”

“Mr. Johnson, we’re gonna do everything we can to help,” Zipp said with a smile.

XXXXXXXX

At the same time, as Aurelia and Pipsqueak raced, the Howlloween Hound entered the cemetery, having followed the Buddies’ scent.

He was close now… he could feel it.

As he entered, he saw the Buddies and company looking around the cemetery. As they heard the bones of his collar clank together, they turned around and gasped. “This time, there's nowhere to run,” the Howlloween Hound said ominously. “Ohhhhh this CANNOT be happening!” Seashell hid herself behind Budderball. Zelda, gathering her courage, stepped forward in front of the Buddies and Pipsqueaks. “Mr. Hound, I am Zelda. I am all knowing and all seeing. I specialize in the mystic and otherworldly. I believe I can help you come from the dark back into the light.”

The Howlloween Hound shrugged. “I actually like the darkness. Now get out of my way.”

Out of the Hound's mouth came a puff of gray smoke, causing a startled yelp from the Pippsqueaks as it engulfed Zelda. When it disappeared, Zelda was turned to stone, her soul already being eaten by the hound.

That was when Peach Fizz lost it. She screamed an ear piercing shriek, the other Pippsqueaks following suit. They did not sign up for this when they jumped through the portal for another Unity Quest.

Upon hearing the Pippsqueaks scream, Aurelia and Pipsqueak stopped in their racing to figure out what was going on. “Oh no!” Pipsqueak muttered when he saw the Howlloween Hound. “Aurelia, look!”

“I see it,” Aurelia whispered, “but we need to keep our heads down. We have to rescue them when the time is right, or else we’ll put ourselves in danger too.”

That’s when the Howlloween Hound turned to look at the owl perched on the branch nearby. “Hoot. Go tell that idiot Warwick I’ve captured the puppies and three of their friends.”

And once Hoot had flown away, the Howlloween Hound turned back to the group. “Now, I have a different plan for you lot.”

“We're doomed!” the Pippsqueaks and B-Dawg yelled. Pipsqueak wanted to help, but he remained quiet. He didn't just trust Aurelia with his own life. He trusted her with the lives of their friends. If Aurelia said it was better to remain quiet, then he'd do just that.

XXXXXXXX

Back at the church, Joseph pulled out something wrapped in an old cloth, piquing the group’s interests. “For 75 years,” he explained as he began unwrapping the cloth, “I held on to this book…dreading a full moon on Halloween night. It's the only night Warick could return to finish the spell.”

As Joseph explained and pulled out the book, Warwick snuck up to the window on the side, looming through it. He spotted his book, his anger growing. “They have my book! How do I get my hands on it?”

Back in the church, Joseph opened the book and the group gathered around him. “Whoa, what's up with this book?” Hitch asked. “The writing's all trippy.”

“It's Latin,” Joseph explained. “I learned the language and studied the book from cover to cover trying to decipher its meaning, so I could stop Warwick.”

“So what's it say, Mr. Johnson?” Zipp asked, pulling out her FlyPad to take notes to look back on in case they had to leave the book in here, the one place Warwick couldn't reach it.

“Warwick will need three items to complete the spell tonight,” Joseph explained, “for the evil spirits of the netherworld to remain here.”

Misty and Billy looked worried at this. “The nether-what-now?”

“Oh, I know all about this,” Pipp brushed off. “That's another name for a place where ghosts live… usually bad ones.”

Zipp looked at her sister, confused and impressed. “How'd you know that?”

Pipp waved a dismissive hoof. “Oh please. It's classic horror 101. Besides,” she shot her sister a sly smile. “You're not the only one who can know things.”

“Your sister is right though, Zipp,” Joseph continued. “Halloween is the one night these spirits can roam free in our world. Only the Howlloween Hound can call them out. Warwick will use those spirits to control the townsfolk of Fernfield.”

“Uh, guys…” Hitch said nervously. “This sounds really bad.”

Sparky nodded and whimpered in agreement to this. “But… you said he needs three things, right?” Alice asked Joseph with a shrug. As long as they can stop Warwick from getting those things, they would be safe. “That's right,” Joseph confirmed. “His staff, the spell book, and one other thing.”

“Well, what is it?” Billy asked, leaving Joseph to continue. “The souls of five puppies of the same blood. And, to reach ultimate power… I haven't been able to figure this one out yet. To reach ultimate power, the Howlloween Hound needs three whose bond that is greater than blood.”

Sunny put a hoof to her chin, thinking. A bond greater than blood. A bond greater than blood...

After a moment of thinking, Sunny gasped as the answer came to her. “Friendship! Friendship is the only bond that can surpass blood!”

Izzy gulped at this. “Like ours?”

Zipp shook her head. “No. There are six of us. Joseph said he needed…”

Zipp's eyes widened as a thought came to her. “Oh no...”

“What?” Pipp asked, panicking at the look on her sister's face. “The Pippsqueaks!” Zipp exclaimed. “Of course!” Hitch said as it made sense. “Those fillies are closer than sisters!”

“But five pups of the same blood…” Misty muttered. “You mean… siblings?”

Joseph nodded at this, and suddenly, they were all hit with the same thought. “THE BUDDIES!!!”

XXXXXXXX

Outside, Warwick continued to watch them until Hoot spoke up from behind him. “Master.”

Warwick yelped and turned to him. “Don't sneak up on me like that!”

Hoot decided to spill the beans at that moment, despite his master's scolding. “The Hound has captured the five puppies. And three fillies, though I'm not sure why.”

Warwick smiled evilly. Those fillies would come in handy... even if they didn't realize it yet. “Perfect…” he muttered. “They will all come in handy in more ways than one.”

As he laughed, Warwick hiccuped. Ugh, he really needed to get that looked into. But first, world domination.

He used his staff to fly toward the cemetery, with Hoot right on his heels.

XXXXXXXX

The Pippsqueaks whimpered nervously under the watchful gaze of the Hound, worried for themselves and for the Buddies.

For some reason, the Hound was keeping a more particular eye on the Pippsqueaks than their golden retriever pup pals.

B-Dawg stepped up hesitantly. The less that got hurt from his mistake, the better. “Uh… look, dawg,” he started in a shaky voice, “uh… you already uh… got me and my siblings. Just uh, let the fillies go. You really got no need for them. If… if you let them go they can uh…”

“Spread word of your greatness!” Glory piped up with a very strained smile. “Y-Yeah! So uh, what do you say?” B-Dawg asked with a nervous grin. The Hound was silent for a bit, pretending to think it over before shaking his head. “Nah, I think I'll keep ‘em.”

Seashell sighed at this, looking at her friend with a bit of sadness. “Thanks for trying, B-Dawg… but it looks like we're stuck with him.”

“W-What do you want with us, Mr. Howlloween Hound, sir?” trembled Peach Fizz. “W-We aren't puppies that are related.”

The Howlloween Hound smirked. “No. I sense that you are much more valuable.”

That's when Warwick showed up, flying through the trees and spitting leaves out of his mouth before he noticed the group. “Good work, Hound. Now all I need is my book. You take these puppies and fillies back to the manor and I will meet you there.”

And with a laugh and a hiccup the startled Hoot flew off back to the church.

As the Hound led the Pippsqueaks and the Buddies away, Aurelia looked down at Pipsqueak, having an idea. “Pipsqueak, I want you to listen closely. I have a plan to save the others. I want you to the back road to the manor so the Hound doesn't see you, and meet me there. I have to follow Warwick and alert someone to help us.”

“Promise me you'll be safe,” Pipsqueak said with a trembling voice. “Only if you promise the same,” Aurelia responded back. Pipsqueak nodded, and the two nuzzled each other before Aurelia flew off after Warwick.

XXXXXXXX

Warwick soon arrived at the doors of the church before deciding to use a spell to get them open. “Open wide like the jaws of a dragon!”

The doors burst open and inside the church, an ethereal wind blew as the others turned to him with terror. “You in there!” Warwick shouted. “I have something you want!”

“Yo, dawgs, it's that creepy old warlock!” Billy exclaimed. “Oh yeah? And what gave it away?” Pipp asked sarcastically. “Stay back, kids! We've got this!” Zipp shouted as the Mane 6 fiercely stood in front of their friends. That's when Warwick delivered his ransom. “If you want to see your puppies and fillies again, you better bring that book to my manor!”

And with a maniacal laughter, he flew off on his staff, leaving the group to look at each other with wide, worried eyes. “Oh, no…” Alice muttered. “They've got the Buddies and the Pippsqueaks!”

“Yeah, but what if they're just trying to trick us?” Billy pointed out. “You really want to take that chance, dude?” Pete asked. “I wouldn't,” Hitch agreed. “Ugh! I knew bringing them was a bad idea to leave those guys on their own!” Zipp said frustratedly. Pipp put a hoof on her sister's shoulder, worried about their little friends as well. “I know, Zipp. But there's nothing we can do about that now. All we can do is everything we can to save them.”

“Right… but we also need to find a way to defeat Warwick once and for all,” Sunny said. “I just wish I knew how.”

“Sunny, we'll figure it out. We always do.” Hitch comforted. “But I'm the alicorn! It's my job to protect everybody!” Sunny countered. “And right now, all I've been doing is failing. I didn't listen to Zipp when she sensed the Pippsqueaks were in trouble and now they're captured by some evil spirit. I tried to save Billy only to turn Sheriff Dan into a monkey! I couldn't keep Warwick from getting the staff! And worst of all? I didn't listen to Misty when she said she got bad vibes from it.”

Sunny sat down on the ground, lowering her head in complete shame and heartbreak. “I'm sorry I let you all down.”

The group was silent for a moment before Hitch walked up to Sunny, sitting down next to her. “You know, I'm the sheriff of Maretime Bay. Have been for years. You know this. Some would say I'm even good at it. But when Maretime Bay needed me to protect them most… I failed. But, you know what? I learned a valuable lesson that day. One you actually taught me.”

Sunny looked up at Hitch, confused. “W-what?”

“No leader is meant to do something on their own. When I failed, you swooped in and did what I couldn't. You can't be responsible for everything. That burden is too great for one pony. When you can't, Sunny, lean on your friends to help. We all make mistakes, but our friends will be there to help us pick up the pieces.”

“Yeah.” Zipp agreed, walking up to the pair. “We've got your back.”

“We'll defeat that no-good Warwick and save the Buddies and Pipsqueaks!” Izzy said, bouncing up. “Together!”

“Together!” Misty and Pipp echoed. “Together!” the kids yelled in unison. Hitch stood up and offered his hoof to Sunny. “So, what do you say? Ready to find a third way? Like heroes do?”

Sunny smiled at Hitch, taking the hoof he held out to her and eventually standing up. “Yeah. Together.”

“So… what's the plan?” Bartleby asked.

“Well… we need to find a way to infiltrate the manor,” Misty said in thought, “so… we should bring the book to Warwick like he asked.”

“But what if he goes back on his word?” Alice asked.

“Don't worry,” Zipp reassured. “We won't let him hurt the fillies or the pups.”

XXXXXXXX

Soon, once the book was gathered, the group headed out to the car to get going… only to only have a large white dragon, Aurelia herself, pant and flop down in front of them, out of breath. “Aurelia! Is that… is that you?” Joseph asked, hurrying up to her. “Joseph?” the white dragon asked weakly, looking up at the old man before her. When Joseph nodded, Aurelia jumped up, suddenly full of energy. “Joseph!”

The dragon immediately hugged her old friend, sniffling back tears as the others looked on. “There… there's so much I have to tell you, so much that's happened tonight!” Aurelia said before she stopped, realizing why she had come to find help in the first place. “The Howlloween Hound and Warwick. They're back and…”

“We know,” Joseph interrupted softly. “Yeah. Warwick gave us a run for our money all night,” Pipp answered back with a scowl. “Then he had the nerve to come back and boast about it.”

“He has the Buddies and Pippsqueaks!” Aurelia continued. “You were with them? Are they okay? Are they hurt?” Sam asked, stepping up. “As far as I could tell,” said Aurelia. “I sent Pipsqueak ahead to check on them until I found help.”

“Pipsqueak's okay?” Joseph asked. “For now, at least,” Aurelia nodded. “Just follow behind me. I know a shortcut that will get us there before it's too late.”

“Just lead the way!” Zipp told the dragon, and they got into the car and followed Aurelia to save their little friends before it was too late.

Stories of the Past

The Pippsqueaks were being called on yet another Unity Quest with the Mane 6, this time during Nightmare Night, and they couldn’t wait to see where this adventure was going to take them.

Maybe it was going to be another adventure in space... or with Mystery Inc solving another mystery... or maybe in some new location even the Mane 6 hadn't been before!

Whatever the destination was, our favorite fillies couldn't wait to find out where they were going and who they were supposed to help.

XXXXXXXX

A brightly colored portal opened along a dirt road in the middle of the forest, and the Mane 6 and the Pippsqueaks stepped out of it and looked around. They didn’t see any landmarks that looked familiar, so they weren’t sure where they were…

…until Hitch spotted a school bus at an old manor at the end of the road. “Hey, look over there!”

The others turned and spotted a school bus at the manor, and Zipp used her visor to zoom in on it. “Fernfield Elementary… yes! We’re back in Fernfield!”

“Does that mean we’re gonna see the Buddies and their kids again?” Glory asked hopefully. “It sure does!” Sunny beamed with happiness as her response. “Come on! Let’s hurry over there and say hi!”

The nine ponies hurried over toward the old manor, sneaking past what looked like a class of students, looking around for the Buddies. The ponies knew that wherever the kids were, their four-legged companions weren't far behind.

They were beginning to grow worried, wondering if they were called here because the Buddies were in trouble when they heard voices.

“Sunny! Guys! You’re back!”

“It's good to see you dudes again!”

That’s when the ponies turned to see Alice, Bartleby, Sam, Pete and Billy waving to them, with the Buddies barking and approaching them happily. “Billy, Alice! Sam! Bartleby, Pete! Buddies! It’s good to see all of you too!” Seashell smiled. “Happy Nightmare Night/Halloween!”

“Same to you dawgs,” Billy said. “Are you here for another one of those… mission things?”

“Unity Quests, Billy, but… yeah, that’s why we’re here,” Hitch nodded. “We’re just… not sure what the mission is yet.”

At the same time, the Pippsqueaks were talking to the Buddies a good distance away from their owners (who still had no idea that their pups could talk), who were excited to see their friends again since the last time they were in Fernfield. “It’s so good to see you three again,” Rosebud told Seashell. “How have you been since our little… misadventure in space?”

“Great!” Peach Fizz exclaimed. “Though, life in Maretime Bay hasn't been nearly as exciting since.”

“Yes. Going into space has given me a whole new perspective on life and the vastness of beyond,” Buddha said in that ethereal calm voice of his. “Hey, all I know is that that's the only time you'll be seein’ me eating broccoli,” Budderball said, causing the others to laugh. That’s when the kids’ teacher approached, looking surprised to see them. “Kids? Who are these ponies?”

“They’re our friends from Equestria, Mrs. Carroll,” Alice explained as the ponies smiled and waved to the teacher. “They’re here for a… special Halloween mission, and we were wondering… could they join us for the rest of the field trip?”

Mrs. Carroll paused, before answering with a small smile. “Sure they can. Just so long as they promise not to get in the way or cause any interruptions.”

“Yep, no distractions. You won't even notice we're here,” Zipp said, raising a hoof as though pledging an oath. Mrs. Carroll kept her smile, but it was a bit strained. She doubted nine colorful talking ponies could really go unnoticed, in fact, she figured they’d be the most distracting thing in this whole town, but she just nodded anyway.

Soon, the entire class gathered around the front of the manor, with the Pippsqueaks standing near the Buddies. “This manor has been boarded up for quite some time,” said Mrs. Carroll, “and it all starts with a legend that began about 75 years ago…”

XXXXXXXX

The year was 1937.

The citizens of Fernfield gathered in front of town hall, preparing to leave for the manor on the edge of the town limits. They drove off in their cars, hoping they wouldn't be too late in order to stop an evil plan that was dangerously close to unfolding.

However, back at the manor, Warwick the Warlock, the most dreaded warlock in the area, was already beginning his spell to take over the town, and it wouldn't be too long now before everything was ready. His owl, Hoot, stood at his perch not too far away, and five young beagle puppies sat behind Warwick, having been taken from their homes and families by him. “Tonight… is the night,” Warwick said with growing excitement. “On Hallow's Eve, when the moon is full. I'll show all those fools just how powerful Warwick the Warlock really is!”

“Master, you are the evilest,” commented Hoot, still sitting on that perch near Warwick. “Yes I am,” Warwick said as though it were obvious, giving Hoot a look, before walking away to continue preparing his spell.

Little did Warwick know it, but a young dragon with white scales and blue eyes, a Light Fury, to be more precise, named Aurelia snuck into the manor through an open window and used her cloaking powers to climb the stairs until she found where Warwick, Hoot and the puppies were.

She had to stay out of sight until the right moment… in order to save the puppies, who were some of her best friends.

Pipsqueak, the smallest of the puppies, walked up to Hoot. “Excuse me, Mr. Hoot, sir? When do we get to meet the Howlloween Hound?”

Aurelia's gut churned at the mention of the Howlloween Hound, knowing good and well that whoever this was... it definitely wasn't anyone worth meeting. “I think the master's almost ready,” Hoot responded, looking down at the tiny pup, still unaware of Aurelia's presence. Warwick went to a closet, opening the doors and pulling out his most prized possession: his spell book. It was vital to performing the spell that would summon the Howlloween Hound.

Pipsqueak hurried back to his brothers and sisters when Warwick came back, setting his spell book on the stand, and flipping through the pages before finding the one he needed. It was almost time… and Aurelia knew that she needed to act fast to save her friends.

XXXXXXXX

Outside, the citizens of Fernfield pulled up to the manor, hurrying out of their cars. The sheriff, known all around the area as Sheriff Jim, approached the gate, with his trusty bloodhound, Deputy Tracker, who was barking at the manor. “The manor!” the sheriff exclaimed in an angry whisper. “That no-good Warwick. He must have the puppies.”

That’s when he turned to one of the other men on site. “Give me those bolt cutters.”

The man handed them over, and the sheriff used them to cut the chains keeping the gate closed and locked, and Deputy Tracker. who ran ahead of the posse, and the others hurried towards the manor.

XXXXXXXX

Inside, Warwick heard the sounds of a dog barking and hurried to the window to see silhouettes in the distance, approaching the manor. “Drat!” he muttered before looking up at the full moon. “We must hurry.”

Aurelia flapped her wings and flew a bit closer to the puppies, still cloaked and out of sight to avoid Warwick or Hoot detecting her.

Even she needed to see this for herself.

Warwick stood in front of the mirror, holding his scepter in one hand, while the other he held towards the mirror, beginning the incantation. “Howlloween Hound on All Hallow's Eve, with the moon full and bright, open a portal beyond light! Call three times to summon a Hound of great might! The souls of five puppies you shall have on this night! Howlloween Hound.”

The air seemed to tense as Warwick called out the first time to the Howlloween Hound. An ethereal wind began to blow softly in the room of the manor. “Howlloween Hound!” Warwick cried again, and this time, Aurelia began to see something forming in the mirror. “HOWLLOWEEN HOUND!!!”

And by the third shout, a canine figure with glowing green eyes appeared in the mirror, covered with mist, and causing Aurelia to tense within her hiding place. At that moment, the Howlloween Hound in the mirror spoke. “Who dares summon me?”

The Howlloween Hound's voice sounded old. Almost older than time itself. Pipsqueak looked up at the brown dog that stood in the mirror. Dread welled up in his gut as he looked up into those green eyes. Something about this dog made Pipsqueak want to run in the opposite direction.

After a moment, Warwick spoke up to him. “I do, Hound! Warwick the Great. I have the five puppy souls of the same blood. I believe they are what you need to open the portal.”

Those piercing green eyes turned to Warwick, who shook a little with fear. But he wouldn't let fear hold him back now-- he worked too hard for this. “And why should I open the portal for you?” the Howlloween Hound asked after glancing at the five puppies. Luckily, Warwick had a solid answer he knew the Hound would agree to. “Because together, we shall unleash all the creatures of the underworld on Fernfield. And then you and I shall rule the land, Hound.”

The Howlloween Hound smirked, intrigued. “I like the sound of that.”

“But we only have this Halloween night, while the moon is full.” Warwick paused and turned to the five puppies, leaning down towards them. “The Howlloween Hound will see you now.”

“Let me go first!” the oldest sister of the five volunteered, walking up to the mirror, completely oblivious to the danger that was before her.

Aurelia knew that as long as she was cloaked, she would be fine, so as Warwick, Hoot and everyone else were distracted, she snuck closer to Pipsqueak and whispered in his ear. “Pipsqueak? It's me, Aurelia,” whispered the young dragon. “I used my cloaking magic to sneak in. Are you okay?”

Pipsqueak gasped when he heard the dragon's voice. “Aurelia?” he whispered. “Have you come to see the Howlloween Hound too?”

Aurelia sighed, wishing her friend wasn't so oblivious sometimes. “No, Pipsqueak. I've come to rescue you. You and your siblings are in danger.”

Pipsqueak looked confused at this. “Danger? What do you mean?”

“Look… just hang tight, and I'll get you outta here as soon as help arrives,” Aurelia promised. “I just gotta wait for the right time.”

XXXXXXXX

At the same time, the posse arrived at the front of the mansion, ready to burst in and save the puppies from Warwick. Among them was a little boy around the age of six named Joseph Johnson, and his father... Pipsqueak's family, who had been ever so worried about the beagle pup and his siblings since they went missing. “Pipsqueak!” the little boy yelled, fear for what the warlock had in store for his loyal pup evident in his voice. “We have to find him, Dad! He's my best friend!”

“We will, Joseph,” his father promised sincerely. Deputy Tracker pawed at the door, alerting the sheriff to the fact that the door was probably locked. “Grab that tree trunk!” ordered the sheriff, pointing to a group of men nearby. “We have to break down the door!”

The group of men complied, grunting as they did so. They knew this wouldn't be easy, but they had vowed that this night would be the last time Warwick the Warlock would hurt another soul in Fernfield.

XXXXXXXX

Back in the manor, almost all of Pipsqueak's siblings were turned to stone, their souls taken from them. Pipsqueak was now scared, understanding what Aurelia was talking about when she said he was in danger.

“PIPSQUEAK!!!”

Pipsqueak heard Joseph calling him from outside, as did Hoot and Aurelia, causing the dragon to realize that now was their only chance to escape. “Pipsqueak, it’s now or never,” Aurelia whispered. “Decline the invitation to the Howlloween Hound and I can get you out of here!”

Pipsqueak nodded and turned toward Hoot. “I-I changed my mind,” he said to the owl politely. “I don’t wanna go with the Howlloween Hound.”

“Master, the puppy doesn't want to go now,” Hoot repeated what Pipsqueak told him, tilting his head. Warwick sighed in frustration, turning to Hoot. “All I wanted was a wise owl. And I've seemed to have gotten a moronic parrot.”

He then turned to Pipsqueak with a devious smile. “You're next.”

That’s when Aurelia uncloaked herself, snarling and biting the warlock’s hand as he reached for Pipsqueak, causing him to yell out in pain. “Come on, Pipsqueak!” the young dragon urged. “Let’s get out of here!”

With a nod, Pipsqueak ran for the exit, Aurelia right behind him. “You can’t escape!” Warwick called as they fled the room. Then, in an attempt to stop them before they got out of the manor, Warwick dropped his scepter and stood on top of it before it floated up and followed Pipsqueak and Aurelia out of the room.

XXXXXXXX

Aurelia and Pipsqueak didn't want to stay in this manor another second, quickly navigating the hallways until they reached a grand staircase that led to the main foyer. “Come on, Pipsqueak!” Aurelia said as they ran down the stairs. “He’s catching up to us!”

“Might as well accept your fate!” Warwick yelled, gaining on them. Both Aurelia and Pipsqueak screeched to a stop when they saw the closed front door, the other side of it banging, threatening to break it wide open. Aurelia gasped as she saw Warwick gaining on them, spreading her wings and flying up to attack. “Stay away from him, you big meanie!”

She launched plasma blasts at the warlock from her mouth, but unfortunately, he managed to dodge them before he knocked Aurelia clean out of the air, causing her to shriek and fall to the ground, disoriented.

With Aurelia out of the way, Warwick swooped down and grabbed Pipsqueak right as the front doors swung open to reveal the mob of townspeople. They hurried in, only to stop when they saw the puppy in Warwick's arms, much to Joseph's horror. “PIPSQUEAK!!”

Deputy Tracker barked threateningly at the warlock, and soon enough, Aurelia was able to steady herself and growl, her wings lifted to show she was ready to attack. “Stay back!” Warwick threatened, hugging the puppy closer to him. “Stop, Warwick!” the sheriff commanded, just as Warwick pulled out a bottle with clear liquid inside, taking off the cap with his mouth and spitting it back out. “Stay back! Or I will turn you all into toads!”

When two men didn't heed his warning and took a step forward, he tossed the clear liquid in their directions and brown smoke engulfed them. When it disappeared, in their place were two toads, just as the warlock promised.

Aurelia let out a shriek, completely terrified of toads. The rest of the men gasped in shock and horror, but Warwick wasn't finished. “Soon, you will all be my slaves!”

He throw the now empty bottle down on the ground and flew back up the stairs with a maniacal laugh, Pipsqueak still in his arms. Joseph didn't care about his threats, and hurried up the stairs, despite his father's protests. “Deputy Tracker,” Sheriff Bob commanded, “after him!”

Deputy Tracker barked and ran up the stairs, causing Aurelia to gasp in panic. “Deputy Tracker, wait for me!” she cried, using her tiny dragon legs to hurry up the stairs.

XXXXXXXX

The first rays of sunlight were beginning to peek over the distant mountains, and Warwick put Pipsqueak in front of the mirror to face the hound. “Quickly, Hound. Dawn is here! Take the last puppy.”

“I’m fading,” said the Hound, but Warwick was desperate. “Complete the spell!”

The Hound released an eerie howl, and smoke emerged from his mouth, separating Pipsqueak's spirit from his body, and turning his puppy body into a statue, just like his brothers and sisters. “Pipsqueak!” Joseph yelled as he ran to his best friend who was reduced to nothing more but a stone statue. However, before he could, Warwick grabbed him, attempting to hold him in place while also holding his scepter. “There's nothing I despise more than petulant young children!”

Aurelia had climbed up the stairs and was about to help Joseph when immediately... she froze, seeing Pipsqueak's ghost slowly approaching the mirror with the Hound. “No! Pipsqueak!!”

She was too late... she couldn't save her friend... and that hurt her deeply.

Joseph stepped on Warwick's foot and freed himself from the warlock, also causing Warwick to cry out in pain. However, before the Hound could consume Pipsqueak's soul, the sun shone into the room, blinding the Hound. “The sun! My eyes!”

And because he was blinded, the Hound could not pull Pipsqueak's soul into his mouth, causing it to break free and float above his statue.

Deputy Tracker charged into the room, snapping Aurelia out of her stunned trance before they both attacked Warwick, causing him to drop his scepter onto the ground.

After getting the deputy and the young dragon off of him, Warwick turned to the Hound in panic. “Hound! Open the portal!”

“I need all five puppy souls,” the Hound told him as he began to fade. “It’s too late, Warwick.”

And just like that, the Hound had disappeared back into the spirit world, causing Aurelia to catch her breath. At that moment, the sheriff, Joseph’s father and a few other men barged into the room. “It’s over, Warwick!” Sheriff Jim said. “You’re under arrest! Enough of your black magic! You're through.”

“Never...!” Warwick responded, holding up his hands as though they were a shield. “I'll take this town under my control one day. Mark my words... I'll be back!”

And before anyone else could respond to Warwick's claim, he jumped through the mirror and disappeared into the spirit world before the mirror returned to its normal state. Joseph walked up to the stone statue of his best friend as the sheriff and his father gasped in shock at what just occured, the sheriff speaking first. “What in tarnation just happened?”

Tears filled Joseph's eyes as he turned to his father with sad, pleading eyes. “Dad... look what he did to Pipsqueak.”

Aurelia let out a sniffle as she approached with Joseph’s father, saddened by the loss of her friend. Joseph’s father crouched down in front of his son and tapped on Pipsqueak’s stone body. “It’s just a statue, son.”

“No, it’s Pipsqueak,” Aurelia sniffled, feeling to blame entirely for what happened. “We have to turn Pipsqueak back!”

But as she said this, she wasn't looking at the statue. Rather, she was looking at his ghost that hovered in the air, tears filling her eyes. “Joseph, Aurelia,” Pipsqueak called to them. “I’m right here.”

Aurelia fought back tears when he said this, hearing every word. But nobody else seemed to hear Pipsqueak. The sheriff seemed to sense something, because he looked around the room, but it was with fear. “We have to get out of here… now!”

The father, desperate to help his son in any way he could, stood up and grabbed the spell book, knowing there had to be some kind of spell to reverse the damage caused to Pipsqueak and his siblings.

As they began to leave the manor, Pipsqueak found himself pursuing them, Aurelia slowly following behind. “Wait… why are you afraid?” he questioned. “It’s just me, Pipsqueak.”

The humans didn’t seem to hear him as they left the manor, and a woman worriedly approached Sheriff Jim. “What happened, sheriff?”

“I don’t know,” said Sheriff Jim, “But, hopefully, it won't happen again.”

When they all left the manor, Pipsqueak tried to follow them, but he couldn't make it through the front door, some kind of shield preventing him from leaving. “Oh no! I’m… trapped in here!”

When Aurelia noticed Pipsqueak wasn't following them, she stopped, turning back to face him as her heart broke. She couldn't leave him all alone in the creepy old manor, with nobody to talk to, especially since it seemed that she was the only one who could see him. “This home,” said Sheriff Jim, “is officially condemned!”

Taking a deep breath, she quickly ran into the manor before the sheriff closed the doors, listening to what he said next. “Let's board it up, boys! I don't want anyone going in.”

However, Aurelia running back into the manor completely confused Pipsqueak. “Aurelia? What are you doing? You gotta go back out there!”

“...no, I don’t,” Aurelia said to her friend firmly, but sadly. “It’s my fault you’re like this, and apparently, I’m the only one that can see you. It must be for a reason. I… I just can’t leave you alone like this. I’ll find a way to change you back… I promise.”

Entering the Manor/Billy's Report Choice

“...it was 75 years ago that the manor was boarded up,” Mrs. Carroll began to wrap up the story. “No one is exactly sure what happened that night, or whether the legend is even true at all. But it’s an interesting part of Fernfield folklore, regardless.”

The Mane 6 and the Pippsqueaks, though the former stood with the Buddies’ kids and the Pippsqueaks stood with the Buddies themselves, listened intently for the whole story, eyes wide in amazement.

A legend like that in the small town of Fernfield?

They wouldn't have believed it if they hadn't heard it themselves.

After a long moment of silence, Zipp spoke up. “Do you guys really think that story is true? I mean… a Howlloween Hound who can suck out animals' souls? That sounds pretty extreme.”

“The troggles were real, by what you guys told me,” Misty said, “so it’s pretty clear that anything can happen. I just hope WE never have to see it happen.”

Alice let out a shudder. “You and me both.”

Over with the Buddies and Pippsqueaks, Budderball couldn’t stop expressing his excitement for the night ahead. “I can't wait for tonight. Halloween is my favorite event of the year, paws down. You do a trick and you're guaranteed to get a treat.”

Seashell giggled, amused at this. “It’s trick or treat, Budderball.”

“Even better!” Budderball exclaimed. “For me,” said Rosebud, “it’s all about the costume. I can’t wait to dress up!”

A kid the Mane 6 didn't recognize who stood next to Billy leaned in and whispered, “Kids go in there every Halloween… and they say the Howlloween Hound's name three times in the mirror... they're never seen again.”

“Where'd you hear that?” Billy asked suspiciously, narrowing his eyes. Pipp chuckled as though she didn't buy any of it, though there was the slightest tremble in it. “C'mon,” she said, waving a dismissive hoof. “He's just trying to scare us.”

The kid gave the talking pony a strange glance before turning back to the Buddies’ kids. “No. No, it's true. And he gets their pets too. Once you hear the hounds howl… it's too late.”

Both the kids and the ponies shivered, looking back up at the creepy mansion with trepidation, their hearts racing. “Either way, this place gives me the creeps,” Hitch said, his voice trembling ever so slightly. As he said this, everybody and pony heard howling and they all jumped in fear, stumbling back a bit before they all noticed another blonde-haired boy howling behind the tree.

Mrs. Carroll immediately caught onto what the boys were doing and frowned sternly as the two blonde-haired boys laughed. “Okay, Rodney and Skip, no more tricks.”

Rodney and Skip fist-bumped one another before Mrs. Carroll turned back to the class. “Come along, children. Onto the bus! We have one more stop on our spooky Fernfield tour.”

As the class and the Mane 6 began to walk toward the bus, Zipp stopped and turned to the Pippsqueaks and the Buddies. “Are you guys okay with meeting us in front of town hall in a few hours? I know you probably wanna catch up with one another.”

“Don’t worry about us, Zipp,” Peach Fizz brushed off. “We’ll be fine.”

“Okay… have fun, and don’t forget about meeting us at town hall!” Sunny told the fillies sternly before she and the rest of the Mane 6 followed the class to the bus.

After they had left, Mudbud looked around and noticed one of the Buddies had disappeared on them. “Where’s B-Dawg hiding?”

It wasn’t but a second or two later that B-Dawg came out of hiding from the bushes. “I wasn’t hiding, yo. I was just gettin’ ready to pounce on the hound,” B-Dawg said in a brave tone. “Yeah right, dude,” Mudbud said with a roll of his eyes, right before he turned over to the Pippsqueaks. “He was hiding like a scaredy cat, cause he thought there was a ghost.”

“Pshaw, dawgs,” B-Dawg immediately brushed off. “B-Dawg is afraid of nothing, especially no ghost!”

However, the other Buddies didn’t seem to believe this statement. “Then why are you afraid to go trick or treating tonight?” Budderball asked, making the Buddies and Pipsqueaks laugh in response. Well… all except Peach Fizz, who stood beside B-Dawg with a frown on her face. “Come on, guys, don’t make fun of B-Dawg just cause he’s a little nervous,” she scolded softly. “It’s not nice.”

“I ain't nervous, yo!” B-Dawg argued, his pride preventing him from admitting the truth. “And I'm gonna prove it. I'll go in there right now, call out that Howlloween Hound, and kick his tail, yo.”

And just like that, B-Dawg made a dash for the manor, much to Rosebud’s concern. “B-Dawg, wait! Where are you going?”

But it was too late… B-Dawg had already slipped through a hole in the planks and went inside the dark house.

XXXXXXXX

B-Dawg glanced around the dark manor with a hint of nervousness in his gaze. “W-Whoa… this place is really creepy…”

Little did B-Dawg realize it, but Pipsqueak, still a ghost from 75 years earlier, and Aurelia, who had grown to full dragon size, were still in that house, with Aurelia using her cloaking power to keep from being seen.

Aurelia rarely ever left Pipsqueak by himself, except for when she went into the forest to hunt for food. But on Halloween, she never left Pipsqueak's side.

And needless to say, both of them were surprised to see a pup in the dark manor. “A pup…?” Aurelia murmured to herself. “What is he doing in here?”

XXXXXXXX

Eventually, Seashell’s guilt of letting B-Dawg go into the manor alone got the better of her. “Come on, guys… we can’t just leave B-Dawg in there by himself. We promised Sunny we’d look after each other!”

“Indeed we did,” Buddha realized. “We can’t abandon our brother, even if he is acting a bit foolish to try and impress us.”

Realizing Seashell and Buddha were right, the other Buddies, Glory and Peach Fizz followed her inside the manor, standing alongside B-Dawg in the main foyer. “S-See?” B-Dawg tried to act brave. “It’s not TOO scary.”

Aurelia and Pipsqueak watched the group of eight closely, and as Budderball caught a glimpse of the chandelier, Pipsqueak moved a bit, causing the chandelier to clink, much to Budderball’s surprise. “Did you guys just see that?”

Glory looked around, unsure of what he was seeing. “S-See what?”

“A strange glow, like a ghost,” Budderball explained, knowing how crazy he was sounding, but considering he was standing next to three talking ponies, maybe it wasn't all that crazy at all. B-Dawg chuckled nervously, wondering if he really didn't believe his brother, or he did but didn't want to. “Uh, nice one, dawg.”

“Budderball, are you sure you saw a glow?” Seashell asked gently. “It could have just been the light reflecting off the chandelier.”

“Do you really wanna find out?” Budderball asked, not taking his eyes off the chandelier. “Maybe we just oughta leave.”

“Ha! Look who's being the ‘fraidy cat now. Big tough Budderball.” B-Dawg taunted his oldest brother with a light smirk. “We must respect the spirits of the night. Ghosts are lost souls that can't find their way to heaven.” Buddha said, not seeming the least bit scared. “Uh, yeah,” Peach Fizz nodded quickly. “I’m just… gonna agree with whatever Buddha said. Because... one, he's one of the most logical of all of us, and two... well, it just sounds like a good idea.”

B-Dawg took a deep breath to steady himself. “B-Dawg the Brave, here I go.”

And just like that, B-Dawg ran up the main stairs. “B-Dawg!” Glory called after him before she sighed under her breath. “Let’s reel him in before we end up getting in trouble.”

XXXXXXXX

At the same time, Mrs. Carroll’s class, now accompanied by the Mane 6, were at the Fernfield Cemetary, looking at a very specific grave. “This is the great Deputy Tracker's grave,” the teacher told her students as Billy slowly wandered from the rest of the group. “One of the best canine officers our town ever saw.”

That was when something caught Billy's attention. He jogged up to one of the graves, seeing a small stone statue in the shape of a puppy.

It must've been someone's pet that passed away, but... whose pet was it?

It was then the grave digger, who was currently digging a hole, looked up at Billy. Something about that man's stare sent a wave of fear through Billy and he screamed, hurrying back to the rest of his class. “Billy!” Zipp gasped and rushed to meet him, worried. “Are you okay?”

Misty looked up at the man and his stare didn't startle her... instead, his cold glare filled her with sympathy.

This man's eyes were full of sorrow and grief, though she couldn't figure out why. It was just a look she'd see in her own eyes so many times when she lived with Opaline. “Good afternoon, Mr. Johnson!” Mrs. Carroll called before turning to the students and their pony pals. “That's the caretaker. He's been running this place as long as I can remember.”

“Doesn't that guy look a little creepy to you?” Zipp asked her friends, staring at Mr. Johnson. “And… maybe a little suspicious?”

“Yeah, that dude's like spook central,” Pete answered, making some of the other students nervous. “Okay, let's continue on, children.” Mrs. Carroll said, giving the ponies and kids a look. The class began walking away, everyone giving the cemetery caretaker a nervous glance before walking away. Misty stood where she was for a bit, watching him, and wondering if...

“Misty, come on!”

Misty heard Sunny calling to her, startling her out of her stupor and spared one last glance at the caretaker, before hurrying off to catch up with the rest of the class.

XXXXXXXX

Back at the manor, B-Dawg entered the main room and stood in front of the mirror that the Howlloween Hound supposedly came through.

He was beyond terrified of this legend, but... his brothers and sister teasing him made him realize that he had to face these fears head on.

As soon as they saw him do it, they would be out of there. “Here we go, B-Dawg,” he muttered to himself. “Just say it three times, and it will all be over.”

Pipsqueak and Aurelia silently followed B-Dawg, curious dread building in their stomachs as he began to call out the Hound's name. “H-Howlloween Hound…”

The rest of the Buddies and the Pippsqueaks followed B-Dawg into the room, where he called out a second time, this time, even more nervous than before. “H-Howlloween Hound…”

“O-Okay…n-nothing happened, let's go,” Peach Fizz stuttered. Call it unicorn instinct, or fear after everything they've been through back in Equestria, but she thought that it was better not to tempt fate... especially when there was a spooky Halloween legend around.

But it was at that moment that Aurelia and Pipsqueak chose to reveal themselves. “Stop, please!” Pipsqueak begged the eight friends. “Don’t say it!”

Seashell's eyes widened as soon as she saw Aurelia appear from thin air. “A-A... A DRAGON!”

At her cry, they all turned to look and discovered Seashell was right. “It’s not just a dragon!” Budderball quivered. “There’s a ghost, too!”

“Let’s get out of here, dudes!” Mudbud urged quickly. “Come on, B-Dawg!” Glory cried. “Run!”

It was then that four out of the five Buddies and all three Pippsqueaks bolted out of the room as fast as they could. But B-Dawg was much too frightened to move. “Don’t say it again,” Aurelia pleaded. “You’ll release them!”

But B-Dawg was too focused on Pipsqueak to listen to Aurelia's warning, screaming out of fright. “You're…you're the… Howlloween Hound!!”

“Oh no!” Pipsqueak cried to Aurelia, realizing that B-Dawg had accidentally said it a third time, whether he meant to or not before turning back to B-Dawg. “You said it three times!”

“AHHH!!!” B-Dawg shrieked again before he ran clear out of the room. “Run for your life!!!”

“Come on!” Aurelia told Pipsqueak quickly as B-Dawg ran out of their sight. “We have to catch him before he gets out!”

And so, they immediately flew out of the room and tried to pursue B-Dawg before he got out of the manor. “Wait!” Pipsqueak called after B-Dawg. “Wait!”

“He's not the Howlloween Hound!” Aurelia finished, chasing after the terrified pup, but it was too late... B-Dawg had already slipped out of the exit.

XXXXXXXX

And even though he was already outside the manor, B-Dawg was too busy screaming to hear what the two of them had to say. “Aahhh! Ghost on my tail!”

The Buddies and the Pippsqueaks proceeded to run for their lives toward the end of the road, unaware that Hoot, Warwick’s owl minion, was following them, perching in a tree as the group stopped to catch their breath. “Yo… that was a ghost, dawgs!” B-Dawg said to the others, terrified. “A real off-the-chain ghoul!”

“Dudes, was that the Howlloween Hound?” Mudbud asked. “I’m not exactly sure what who the ghost was, Mudbud,” Seashell said, trembling out of fright. “But I do know that there was a huge dragon in there with him!”

“It had to have been him, though!” B-Dawg argued. “I said Howlloween Hound three times into the mirror, dawgs. I released the Howlloween Hound!”

Meanwhile, Hoot had been listening in on their conversation, surprise filling his voice as he muttered to himself. “Could it really be true? They’ve released Master after all these years?”

“B-Dawg is correct, although he was smaller than I'd imagined.” Buddha confirmed, his voice still lacking any true fear the rest of them felt. “Whatever it was, we are outta there,” Peach Fizz panted, out of breath. “And I, for one, am never going back.”

“Ditto,” Glory agreed. “Do you think we should tell Sunny?” Seashell asked. “Maybe she and the other ponies can help!”

“No way!” Glory dismissed. “If they find out we released the Howlloween Hound, they’ll never let us go on another Unity Quest again!”

“C'mon, let's go catch up to our kids and friends. They should be close to finishing the field trip by now,” Buddha suggested before running off in the direction of Town Hall, the Pippsqueaks and Buddies following closely behind.

XXXXXXXX

The school day was just about finished, and the Buddies’ kids and the rest of their classmates, plus the rest of the Mane 6, were standing outside Town Hall for Mrs. Carroll to dismiss them. “Now, I know you're all excited about trick or treating tonight, but let's not forget that your Fernfield history projects are due Monday.”

“Monday?” Billy asked, a touch of panic in his voice, leading Rodney to scoff beside him. “What a bonehead...”

“Yes Billy. Is that a problem?” Mrs. Carroll asked, a little irritation in her voice. “It's been assigned for the last two weeks.”

“Oh! Oh, that project! Yeah, I totally finished mine,” Billy openly fibbed. Zipp leaned in to Hitch, putting up a hoof and whispering, “He didn't even start it, did he?”

Hitch looked at Zipp in surprise. “How did you know?”

Zipp shrugged. “Used to pull the same thing with my teacher back in school.”

“Great, Billy,” Mrs. Carroll responded back with a smile. “What subject did you choose?”

“I…uh…” Billy racked his brain for something, anything that sounded believable and just said the first thing that came to his head. “The… Curse of the Howlloween Hound.”

“Perhaps your project might finally answer whether the legend is true or not,” Mrs. Carroll said, seemingly intrigued. “Oh, oh definitely,” Billy said with fake confidence, internally panicking. “Okay, class dismissed! Happy Halloween!” Mrs. Carroll squealed with a giggle the rest of the class and ponies couldn't decide was manic or not, startling all of them, even Misty, before walking away. “What am I gonna do?” Billy asked once Mrs. Carroll was out of earshot. “Called it,” Zipp muttered. “What do you mean, Billy?” Alice asked, confused on why he would say such a thing. “Yeah,” Izzy said. “The curse of the Howlloween Hound sounds like a great project topic.”

“Zipp had a hunch that Billy didn’t even start on the project,” Hitch said sternly, raising an eyebrow. “Right, Billy?”

“Maybe,” Billy answered, looking away. “I just picked the first thing that came into my head.”

“Uh-oh,” Pete and Sunny muttered at the statement, causing Billy to sigh in exasperation. “I don't even know if I'll be able to go trick or treating tonight.”

“Now that,” said Bartleby, “is a disaster.”

“Hey, Billy, don't worry. Zipp is a master at cramming school projects at the last minute. She did it all the time when we were in school. I'm sure she'd love to help you,” Pipp comforted, shooting her older sister a bit of a side look. “Right, Zipp?”

Zipp groaned, dropping her head back. “I thought I was done with school projects when I graduated. Ugh, fine. I guess I could put in some two cents for your project. You know... thinking back to the story is giving me an idea. If the police were involved, then I would bet Sheriff Dan knows a thing or two about it.”

“Zipp's right!” Pete agreed, snapping his fingers. “The sheriff would be the perfect place to start!”

“That’s a great idea!” Sunny smiled. “Come on, let’s go ask Sheriff Dan if we can look in the archives!”

XXXXXXXX

Needless to say, when the Mane 6 and the Buddies' kids told Sheriff Dan about their dilemma, he was more than happy to help and led the group to the staircase leading into the archives. “The Howlloween Hound?” Sheriff Dan started as he led everyone down the staircase, turning on the lights which didn't do much to illuminate the area. “Yeah, I've heard that spooky story around the campfire once or twice. Careful, kids, there's a stair here that--”

Sheriff Dan was cut off as he tripped and stumbled down what was left of the small staircase. He stood up, trying to act as though everything was fine and he meant to do that, even though he could feel a couple of bruises forming. “Yep, that's the one,” he finished as the rest of them finished walking down the stairs, avoiding the stairs Sheriff Dan just demonstrated was not safe.

And once they were all down safely, the group took the chance to look around a bit. “So… what exactly are we looking for down here?” Misty asked, careful not to step on anything important. “Sheriff Jim kept all the evidence from every case he was ever on down here,” Sheriff Dan explained. “We're bound to find something in these cold case files.”

“But it’s like a maze down here,” Hitch noted to the others, frowning at the mess around them. “How are we gonna find anything in all this… assortment of boxes?”

“Don’t worry, kids,” Sheriff Dan said. “I’ve got this room perfectly organized.”

As he said this, he started walking towards the messy desk, tripping over something and knocking a stack of other boxes to the ground. "Except that."

“Uh-huh,” Zipp said with a raised eyebrow, making it clear she didn't believe him. Billy crossed his arms next to her, clearly not believing him either.

And so, the others began searching through the boxes and files for the one they needed.

They saw 1971, 1984, 1962... but for the longest while, none of them were able to find the year 1937.

...that is, until Billy looked at a stack of boxes and found one marked 'Halloween, 1937' on the bottom. “Hey, I think this is it, Sheriff Dan!”

Both Sheriff Dan and Zipp peeked around the corner. “What?”

“Yeah,” Billy pointed at the box. “Look.”

“Holy Dinah!” Zipp said as she came over. “That’s some good detective work, Billy!”

Sheriff Dan came over and inspected the box himself before smiling. “Yep… Halloween, 1937.”

“Let me give you a hoof with that, sheriff,” Izzy offered. She lifted the box with her magic and softly set it on the ground without disturbing any of the other boxes, surprising the others greatly. “Oh… umm…” Sheriff Dan cleared his throat. “Thanks, talking purple unicorn.”

“The name's Izzy, sir. Izzy Moonbow,” Izzy exclaimed, holding out her hoof to which Sheriff Dan hesitantly took it. “And it was no problem.”

Sheriff Dan reached into the box and got the file Billy needed, but as he took it, Billy saw a large staff with a blue gem at the top sitting in the corner. “Whoa, check that out!”

When the kids and ponies noticed what Billy was pointing at, they all gasped in amazement. Sheriff Dan turned around, grabbing it. “Oh…” he muttered, inspecting it. “That's quite the magic wand.”

“Looks like a scepter or staff to me,” Sunny said, inspecting it as well. “I wonder what it's doing down here.”

“Hey, that'd be great for my presentation,” Billy spoke up. “Do you think I could borrow it?”

“Well, it is a part of the cold case file…” Sheriff Dan said to himself as he debated whether or not it would be a good idea. “But it's been over 70 years, so uh… ah, what the heck?”

Billy grasped the scepter with excitement, and Sheriff Dan spoke up a second later. “But, that is police evidence, so I'm gonna need that back, Billy.”

“Oh, I promise I'll bring it back,” Billy said. “Yeah,” Izzy snorted jokingly. “Wouldn’t want you casting any spells.”

“Dude, that thing is so cool,” Zipp said with wide eyes, leaning over Billy's shoulder to look at the scepter, taking pictures of it with her flypad. However… Misty found something unsettling about the scepter itself. There was just some kind of… dread that emanated from it, a dread that made Misty's heart race.

After a minute, Sheriff Dan spoke up to the group again. “Well, let's go back upstairs. I have a souffle in the oven.”

Pipp looked confused at this statement. “Souffle?”

“I’ll explain later,” Sunny whispered before they all followed Sheriff Dan back up the stairs.

XXXXXXXX

Around the same time, the Buddies and Pippsqueaks finally arrived at the town hall, only to see Deputy Sniffer, a bloodhound, sleeping in front of the front porch. “Hey there, deputy dude!” Mudbud called. “H-huh? W-What's going on?” Deputy Sniffer stammered as he stood up, trying to wipe away the cobwebs of sleep from his mind. He caught sight of the Buddies and Pippsqueaks, a smile forming onto his wrinkly face. “Ooh! Top of the morning to you, Buddies and Pippsqueaks.”

“Actually, it's afternoon, deputy,” Seashell corrected with a soft smile. That’s when the others emerged from the sheriff’s office, seeing the Buddies and Pippsqueaks in front of them. “We were wondering where you guys got off to,” Alice said with a smile. “Did you guys have fun catching up?” Hitch asked. The Pippsqueaks eyes widened momentarily, as they thought about what they had accidentally done. They hoped they could fix what they did before the Mane 6 found out. “Uh… yep,” Glory said quickly. “Loads of fun.”

“Yep. Lots of catching up to do,” Peach Fizz added quickly with a nervous chuckle. But before the Mane 6 could say anything further, Sheriff Dan exited the station behind them. “You guys,” Bartleby realized, “it’s four o’clock! If we don't get ready for trick-or-treating, we're not gonna maximize our candy potential!”

“Thanks for all the help, Sheriff Dan,” Billy thanked the sheriff. “Well, good luck on your project, Billy. You let Sheriff Dan know if there's anything else I can do for you,” Sheriff Dan said before he then turned to the rest of the kids. “And you kids, remind your parents to come to the Fernfield Spooky Brew Ha-Ha tonight or I'll have to arrest them!”

Everyone laughed awkwardly at Sheriff Dan's joke at the end, except for Izzy, who was cracking up, saying that Sheriff Dan was a mastermind with his jokes.

That’s when everyone split up to head to their houses for trick or treating, with Billy and B-Dawg bringing Zipp and the Pippsqueaks home with them.

But what they didn’t realize was that this Halloween was probably going to be the spookiest of their whole lives.

Preparing to Trick-or-Treat/Warwick and the Hound Escape

The Buddies (more specifically B-Dawg) and all three of the Pippsqueaks thought they released the Howlloween Hound from the mirror in the manor, when it was really Pipsqueak and Aurelia that they had seen.

But, there would be time for figuring stuff out later.

Right now, they had to get ready for trick-or-treating with the Buddies’ kids and the Mane 6... and hope they didn't find out about what they had potentially done back at the manor.

XXXXXXXXX

Since she promised to help Billy with his report, Zipp decided to go with Billy and B-Dawg back to their house for a while, and the Pippsqueaks wanted to tag along, to see if they could glean any information on the Howlloween Hound so they can kick its tail back into the mirror.

They ran down a street filled with spooky decorations, and Glory turned to B-Dawg, who was running behind them. “Come on, B-Dawg!”

“Let’s go, boy!” Peach Fizz urged playfully, since B-Dawg couldn’t talk in front of Billy for obvious reasons. They all walked into Billy's and B-Dawg's house, where Billy's mom was preparing food for the celebration later that night in the kitchen. “Hey, Mom,” Billy said as he hurried to the kitchen. “Oh, hello dear,” Billy’s mother greeted before she looked over at the ponies next to them. “Are these some of the pony friends you told me about the last time you saw them?”

“Yeah. This is Zipp, Seashell, Peach Fizz and Glory. Guys, this is my mom. Either way, we gotta get ready for trick or treating. Did you pick up the costume?” Billy asked, getting straight to the point. “I sure did,” his mother answered. “It's right over there on the table. And I bought a matching one for B-Dawg as well.”

“Sweet,” Billy said in excitement, walking towards the dining table to look inside the orange bag, only for his stomach to fall. He pulled out a bunny costume that rang with a bell. Zipp snorted upon seeing it, trying to hold back laughter while Billy looked over at his mother. “Mom?”

“Isn't that adorable?” Billy’s mother asked with a smile. “You are just gonna be the cutest little hip-hopper out there.”

Zipp couldn't help it any longer. She burst out in laughter, falling to the floor holding her stomach, making Billy blush in embarrassment. “M-Mom, I said hip-hop rapper, n-not…” Billy paused, looking down at the costume. “...hip-hop rabbit!”

Zipp started laughing again, tears filling her eyes from laughing so hard, picturing Hip Hop Billy in a bunny costume like Izzy.

Billy looked at Zipp, completely embarrassed. “I mean, are you trying to completely ruin our street cred?” Billy sighed to his mom, putting the bunny costume back in the bag, B-Dawg barking in agreement. “I'm sorry, we cannot wear these.”

“Billy,” his mother scolded, “you two would look adorable as bunnies.”

“And it doesn’t help you’re laughing at it, Zipp,” Glory crossed her hooves, causing Seashell and Glory to look down at him in disdain. “I'm… I'm sorry…” Zipp said in between chuckles, wiping tears away with her hoof. “But… I mean… c'mon! That bell is everything. Besides... your mom is right about one thing. You guys would look adorable as bunnies.”

Billy looked at Zipp, twisting his lips. He groaned, looking at the bag with the bunny costume, picturing the entire neighborhood laughing at him like Zipp did, but theirs wouldn't be as well-meaning as hers was. Especially Rodney and Skip. They'd have a field day with him if they ever saw the two of them like that. He could bet he'd be called Peter Rabbit for the rest of the year, if not until the day he graduated high school. Maybe even after. He'd never live it down.

He grabbed the scepter he got from Sheriff Dan, when an idea struck him. Maybe… maybe he would have a good get-up for Halloween this year after all. One that didn't involve a bunny costume.

Sure, it wasn't as cool as a hip hop rapper, but it would do. It'd do rather nicely.

And, he was sure Sheriff Dan wouldn't mind. After all, it wasn't like that thing really was magic or anything. Just some old man's staff or whatever.

He went off to his room with B-Dawg in pursuit, causing the Pippsqueaks to look at Zipp scoldingly before they decided to follow.

Now, Zipp felt sort of bad for how she laughed at the thought, and hoped there was something she could do to make it up to him.

XXXXXXXX

“Hold still, B-Dawg!” Seashell said with a struggle as she and the rest of the Pippsqueaks tried to get B-Dawg into his bunny costume. “We can't get this in you if you keep wiggling!”

“No way you gettin’ my tail in that tacky get-up,” B-Dawg said, and he was only talking because Billy was out of the room, putting on his own costume. “If you think it's so great, why don't you wear it?”

“B-Dawg, come on! Billy told us to help him out by putting this costume on him!” Peach Fizz said as she tried to help her friends. Suddenly, an idea came to Glory. She ran downstairs and grabbed a dog treat, running back up and holding it in front of B-Dawg. She didn't expect him to behave for the treat, but it may just be the distraction her friends needed. “What if we give you a treat if you sit still?”

B-Dawg didn't seem amused by the action the pegasus filly was taking. “Yo, who do you think I am? Budderball? If you think I'm just gonna sit still because you got some lousy treat in that hoof of yours, you best keep on dreamin’ yo. Seriously, how gullible do you think–”

While B-Dawg was busy lecturing Glory, he forgot to keep moving to keep the Pippsqueaks from putting him in the costume. However, he stopped mid-sentence when he realized that was the hustle all along. To get him distracted so they could put him in it. “Nice thinking, Glory.” Seashell complimented with a smile, to which Peach Fizz agreed. “Yeah. I never would have thought of it.”

“Yo, c'mon. Did I just get hustled by a filly?” B-Dawg groaned, clearly not happy. Glory shrugged, tossing the treat to B-Dawg. “It isn't my fault you fell for it.”

B-Dawg ate the treat, but he was clearly not happy about being dressed up as a bunny… especially when Billy came out of the bathroom, wearing a black wizard robe and holding the staff he got from Sheriff Dan. “Check it out, dawgs,” he said to the others before speaking in his best wizard voice. “I present to you… Warwick the Warlock, at your service.”

“Ooh, looking sharp!” Seashell said with a smile. However, B-Dawg's only response was a humiliated whine. “I'm sorry, B-Dawg,” Peach Fizz frowned. “But… it really isn't that bad.”

“Yeah… you can be like a… cool rapping bunny. Like… the Bunny Bop from Pipp's video,” Glory added. “Pipp did the pony hip hop based off the bunny bop,” Seashell corrected. Zipp smiled fondly as she came into the room. “Ahh…memories.”

However, B-Dawg only put his paw over his face with a whine, clearly not feeling better about the situation. Billy sighed, feeling bad for B-Dawg. Hoping to help him feel better, he grabbed the manila file from his desk and opened it, setting it on the bed. The Pippsqueaks and Zipp gathered around, intrigued, Zipp with her flypad.

“This must have been what the warlock looked like,” Billy said, pointing to a picture of a man with long hair and a beard and cloak. Zipp looked at the photo beside it, grabbing the magnifying glass from Billy. “Hey, that must be the boy from the story. You know, the one with the pup. What was his name again?”

“I think it was Joseph?” Peach Fizz said, thinking back to the story. “Hey look! There's an address!” Seashell exclaimed, pointing at it. Billy took the magnifying glass from Zipp, leaning in closer to look. “Yeah. There is. 2332 Pine Lane.”

He looked up at the ponies and B-Dawg. “I wonder if he still lives there?”

“It was like, 75 years ago, Billy. He's probably like, a bazillion years old or something,” Zipp pointed out. “Yeah, you're probably right,” Billy agreed with a shrug. “But maybe, if you could talk to him,” Peach Fizz said, “that would make it the easiest project ever!”

“Yeah, and maybe they found a way to fight back the Howlloween Hound!” Glory said, jumping up and down, hope blooming inside her. She stopped when she realized what she said and her eyes widened, Seashell and Peach Fizz glaring at her. Glory chuckled nervously. “You know…for uh… research purposes…”

Zipp narrowed her eyes at Glory, her detective instincts tingling.

What could those fillies be up to?

XXXXXXXX

Later that night, Rodney and Skip decided to head back to the manor and find something that would scare the wits out of the Buddies' kids and their new friends, even though no one had got into the manor in 75 years. “It's kinda creepy,” Rodney said as the two boys approached the manor, holding flashlights since the sun was going down.

The two approached the manor door, before Skip crouched down with a crowbar, trying to lift one of the wooden planks that had been used to board up the manor front door, while Rodney held the flashlight so Skip could see what he was doing. “Hurry,” Rodney urged, glancing around, more nervous about getting caught than about any ghost story. “Almost…” Skip grunted as he tried to pry up one of the boards, eventually doing so. “Got it.”

Suddenly, a cat yowled, scaring the heck out of Rodney. He jumped, yelping and pointing the flashlight towards the direction of a black cat. Skip looked up at the cat, scoffing. “Dude, chill. It's just a dumb cat.”

Skip tossed the crowbar he was using at the cat, scaring it away. And seeing that there was no one else that could stop them or slow them down, Skip and Rodney slowly entered the manor. “Whoa…” Rodney muttered once he entered the manor, his eyes wide as he looked around, using his light to see. “Aurelia,” Pipsqueak called as he caught sight of the two young boys who didn't look older than thirteen. “More visitors.”

Aurelia quickly cloaked herself and hurried to see what Pipsqueak was looking at. “Hmm… looks like two human boys, a few years older than… Joseph was that night.”

The two of them grew silent at the mention of Joseph, their hearts growing heavy. It had been 75 years since they had seen Pipsqueak's owner... and they both missed him terribly.

Even though it pained him, Pipsqueak hoped Joseph was able to move on, and find a new buddy, even if that buddy wasn't him. All he wanted was for his boy to be happy.

The boys oohed and ahhed as they explored the manor, with Pipsqueak and Aurelia trailing them.

But their fear began to rise when Rodney and Skip entered the room where the mirror was.

The boys explored the contents of the room first, looking at mysterious bottles of potions and reading titles of the spellbooks, saving the mirror for last. It really was as though the house was frozen in time, somebody living there one minute, only to be gone the next, and nobody came in after.

There was sure to be something to scare the kids from class in there... they were sure of it.

XXXXXXXX

At the same time, as the sun had fully set, the Buddies, their kids and the ponies had all gathered together outside Billy's house, with Billy now in a complete wizard costume. “With the Howlloween Hound, I will control the world!” Billy said in a mocking Warwick like voice, cackling dramatically, making the others laugh. “Wow… that was impressive,” Hitch said with an impressed smile. “Thanks, dawg,” Billy responded back. “Whoa, check out the scepter! It's glowing!” Zipp said, pointing at the scepter and taking pictures with her FlyPad. “Zipp's right. Look!” Alice agreed, a shocked look on her face. “Do you know why?”

“Huh…I don't know…” Billy said, inspecting the scepter. “Maybe it has batteries or something.”

Misty took a step back. She still got bad vibes from that thing and she didn't trust it. It felt… similar to the kind of magic Opaline used. Dark. She didn't know if it was a real feeling or just paranoia from her life with Opaline, but she sure as heck didn't want to find out!

Meanwhile, with the Pippsqueaks and with the Buddies, Mudbud (dressed as a pirate) spoke up to B-Dawg, trying his best not to laugh. “Argh, matey! Does the B stand for bunny?”

Budderball (dressed as a superhero), Rosebud (dressed as a princess) and Buddha (dressed as an alien) joined Mudbud in laughing at how B-Dawg was dressed. “This ain't no ordinary rabbit costume, dawgs,” B-Dawg stood up to his siblings. “It's a killer rabbit. And those things are da bomb!”

“Okay, guys,” said Izzy. “Let’s go score us some sugar!”

“Oh yeah!” Glory cheered. “You know,” Sam then added, dressed as an alien just like Buddha, “there are healthy alternatives to sugar, too. My family is handing out homemade almond raisin granola!”

The whole group was silent for a moment as they all stared at Sam. This was Halloween. This holiday was made as an excuse to eat unhealthy candy. Eating healthy on Halloween was, like, a sin.

Well... a sin to everyone except Sunny, that is. “Hey, that's a great idea, Sam,” she smiled. “You know, that would've been great in my 'No Junk Food' campaign back in Maretime Bay!”

“Okay, no offense,” Bartleby raised his hand, “but I vote we skip Sam’s house.”

"Yep."

"Me too."

"No way, Jose."

"Seconded!"

Every kid and every pony, except for Sam and Sunny, raised either their hand or their hoof at this, confirming the decision. And for a moment, Sunny looked almost as disappointed as Sam. “Sorry, Sunny,” Hitch apologized. “I know how important that campaign was to you, but majority rules.”

“Come on! If we don’t hurry up,” said Seashell, “we’re gonna miss out on all the good stuff!”

And that’s when the group set off, the full moon shining brightly above them.

XXXXXXXX

Back at the manor, Pipsqueak and Aurelia watched intently as Rodney and Skip piddled around the room when Rodney found Warwick’s hidden potion cabinet in the wall. He picked up one of the potions, bringing it close to his flashlight to try and read the faded dusty label. “Rodentus… trans… something…”

But as he looked around, Skip noticed something strange happening to the mirror in front of him… like something was emerging from within it. “Rodney…?!”

“What?!” Rodney asked in frustration. Rodney turned around and pointed his flashlight at the mirror, freezing in fear when the shape in the mirror became clearer. As the figure seemed to come closer, the boys could see that it was a man neither of them recognized, accompanied by a hound with ghoulish-green eyes.

Then, much to the boys’ utter shock and surprise, the figures in the mirror actually came out, turning from simple reflections to real life beings, both the man and the hound.

The man, known as the evil Warwick himself, was the first to speak, being on his hands and knees from being trapped in the mirror for 75 years. “We are… free!”

Aurelia gasped quietly from where she was cloaked and below where Pipsqueak was floating. “Oh no!”

Warwick stood up, wiping away the nonexistent dirt. “Ugh… it was horrendous in there!” he groaned and cringed as someone would do if they were in a room full of cobwebs. But a second later, he stopped wiping himself when he noticed Rodney and Skip standing in fear not too far away. “Are you the ones that released us?” Warwick asked, reaching towards the two boys. The two of the stuttered and stammered, too afraid to say anything coherent. “Speak up!”

Warwick's shout caused Rodney and Skip to gasp in fright, unsure of what to say or what to think. They were about to say something when Warwick seemed to notice something. “Wait a minute,” he glanced around, before turning back to the boys. “Where’s my staff? My book?”

He then pointed an accusing finger at the boys. “You've stolen them, haven't you?!”

However, Rodney and Skip were so frightened, they could neither confirm or deny this statement.

Warwick then grabbed the bottle from Rodney's hand and opened it before pouring the contents on the boys. “Ratius rodentius!”

Then, the two boys' human bodies disappeared as their clothes dropped to the floor, and Rodney and Skip had been turned into rats!

“Oh no! What happened to us?!”

“Let’s get out of here!”

And just like that, the two rats scurried off into the darkness. “Now... they won't be able to warn the rest of the town,” Warwick said before turning to the Howlloween Hound. “We must finish the spell.”

“I can smell the blood of the five puppies we need,” the Hound stated. “They have been in this room.”

“Oh no!” Pipsqueak yelped before he and Aurelia retreated from the room before they were spotted.

XXXXXXXX

At the same time, Skip and Rodney, now trapped in their rat forms, scurried down the manor stairs as fast as they could. “Hey, watch where you're going!” Rodney said with a scowl. “That's my tail!”

“Will you zip it?” Skip said seriously. “We have to find help!”

That was when the cat, the very same black cat that had scared Rodney and Skip threw a crowbar at, came in through the small hole they had made by prying up the wooden board.

Both rats… er boys… froze when the cat started talking. “You'll make a great Halloween treat.”

Both boys’ eyes widened, not sure whether they were more shocked that a cat was talking or afraid that the cat planned to eat them.

Afraid, they decided. Definitely afraid. “We… we were just kidding,” Rodney quickly tried to explain. “Y-Yeah, we… we love cats! R-Really!” Skip added. That was not enough however when the cat yowled at them. A look in the cat's eyes must've said it all because both rats ran down the remaining stairs and into a neighboring room.

They were safe for now… but they weren’t sure how safe they were going to be when the cat or Warwick and the Hound returned.

XXXXXXXX

Warwick made the boards on the front entrance of the manor explode into nothingness before he and the Hound stepped out of the manor and into the vast world beyond.

The front yard was foggy, and in the distance, the sound of an owl could be heard hooting. The full moon rose high in the sky, adding a ghostly glow to their surroundings. “Oh,” Warwick then sighed, “the manor has seen better days.”

Hoot the owl sat on the tree branch nearby, not believing his owl eyes. “Hoo hoo! Master, it’s true! You’re back!”

Warwick eyed the owl with a frown upon his face. “Yes, Hoot, you moronic birdbrain. Go and find my staff. Nothing can happen without it. It'll be illuminated by the moonlight.”

“Yes, Master,” Hoot responded before flying off, leaving Warwick and the Hound to head off in the direction of Fernfield. “Hoot will find the glowing staff,” Warwick told the Hound, “and I will find my spell book.”

However, the duo were unaware that Aurelia and Pipsqueak had been watching them when suddenly, Aurelia thought of something. “Hold on a second, Pipsqueak… if they can leave… maybe you can too!”

Pipsqueak looked at her in surprise. “You think so?”

“Only one way to find out!”

Deciding to test Aurelia’s theory, Pipsqueak floated out of the manor and into the open after all those years. “I’m free! Yes!”

“Good thing too-- I wouldn’t have gone out there without you,” Aurelia said with a bold smile, before turning serious again. “Okay… we better go and warn those puppies!”

And so, Pipsqueak and Aurelia decided to follow Warwick and the Hound from a safe distance, hoping to stop their evil plans before they went too far.

Trick-or-Treating Madness

Warwick and the Howlloween Hound were now free from the mirror in the manor, and while Warwick sent his loyal owl henchman Hoot, out to go and find his staff, Warwick and the Hound set out for Fernfield to find the five puppy souls and Warwick's spell book to complete the spell before sunrise.

However, they had no idea that Aurelia and Pipsqueak had left the manor themselves, hoping to warn the Buddies and their friends before it was too late.

But could they really do it in time?

That was the real question that needed to be answered.

XXXXXXXX

“Thanks!”

“Thank you!”

“Thanks again!”

“Bye!”

“Come on, guys! This house is supposed to be loaded with treats!”

The Mane 6, the Buddies' kids, the five golden retrievers and the Pippsqueaks ran from house to house throughout the neighborhood, getting the best treats they could find.

But as they came to all sorts of different houses and saw all sorts of different costumes around, B-Dawg couldn’t help but feel a little worried about the Howlloween Hound. “Yo, let's get this trick-or-treatin' show on the road,” he suggested to his siblings and the Pippsqueaks once they were alone. “I don't want any more run-ins with that Howlloween Hound dog or any other creepy ghost, for that matter.”

“Dude,” Mudbud reassured his brother, “they’re just kids and Equestrian creatures in Halloween costumes.”

“Either way, dawg,” B-Dawg responded. “I’m keeping my eye on everything tonight.”

“Believe us, B-Dawg,” Seashell shuddered, “we’re doing the same thing.”

Zipp noticed the way that B-Dawg and the Pippsqueaks were acting, and her detective senses were rising much quicker than she wanted them to.

They were definitely worried about something…

…but what in the world could they have to worry about on Halloween/Nightmare Night?

Sunny eventually put a hoof on Zipp’s shoulder. “Zipp, try and relax. The Pippsqueaks are probably just a little nervous to be away from their families on Nightmare Night, or maybe they’re acting worried for B-Dawg’s sake.”

“Maybe, but… the Pippsqueaks know they can talk to us about anything,” Zipp sighed. “I just… wanna help.”

“They’ll tell us in their own time,” Sunny responded. “For now, let’s enjoy tonight while we have it.”

XXXXXXXX

At the same time, Warwick and the Howlloween Hound ventured through the streets of Fernfield, looking for the five puppy souls or Warwick’s spell book.

But no matter where Warwick looked, he saw creatures that terrified him to the core-- witches, goblins, demons, specters… all the works. “This is horrible,” Warwick fearfully told the Hound. “Evil creatures are roaming the streets!”

“Come on!” a girl in a princess outfit told her family as they ran across the street in front of them. “The best candy’s at the next house!”

Warwick couldn’t help but shudder at this. “That pink goblin is hideous!”

“You've misled me, Warwick,” the Hound told the warlock. “This town has already been taken over.”

“Quickly, Hound. We still have some time,” Warwick told the hellhound. “Go and find your puppy souls!”

And with that, the Hound ran off in another direction to begin his own search.

XXXXXXXX

At the same time, the Buddies' kids and the Mane 6 ran up to the home of the kids' teacher, Mrs. Carroll, and Izzy nervously pushed Pipp forward. “Go ahead, Pipster…” she said with a nervous smile. “Ring the doorbell!”

“Ooh, don’t mind if I do!” Pipp said before she knocked on the door, letting an evil cackle let whoever was at the house know that they were there. Suddenly, a large man in a surfer-like monster outfit, Mrs. Carroll’s husband, opened the door with a groan, causing Pipp to shriek and jump back before giggling. “Who dare knocks on my door?” the man asked in a scary voice. “Dude!” Pete said, impressed. “Sweet costume!”

“Oh, yeah,” Hitch said as he caught his breath. “You sure had us fooled.”

“Dude,” said Mr. Carroll, “it’s Franken-Dude to you.”

That’s when Mrs. Carroll approached the door with a basket of treats, dressed in a similarly styled costume as her husband. “Oh, hello, children!”

That's when the five kids and the six older ponies waved and bid her a warm greeting.

“Hey!”

“Hi!”

“Hi, Mrs. Carroll!”

“Nice to see ya!”

“It’s Mrs. Franken-Dude,” Mrs. Carroll said with a spooky-sounding laugh. “Welcome to our spooky house. So, what do you think?”

“It’s totally awesome!” Bartleby said before holding out his bag. “Trick or treat!”

“Rad. Yeah, let Franken-Dude help you out there, all right?” Mr. Carroll said as he passed out one treat each and put them in the trick-or-treaters’ bags. “Except one per customer or Frankendude will get upset and then have to storm the village.”

“And that,” said Zipp, “would definitely be uncool.”

“Well, we better get going, trick-or-treaters,” Sunny said. “We have a lot more houses to cover on this street before we go to the next one.”

That’s when each of the kids and older ponies bid the couple farewell and made sure to say thank you before darting off to the house next door, rumored to have very good candy.

However, the Buddies and Pippsqueaks stayed behind, and Mr. and Mrs. Carroll couldn’t help but coo at how adorable the puppies and young ponies looked in their costumes.

And after a moment, Budderball decided to use this to his advantage. “It's time for us to get some treats. Watch and learn.”

“What's he doing?” Peach Fizz asked, watching as Budderball walked up to the Carroll house and began whining. “The dude begs,” Mudbud explained as Budderball did all the actions Mudbud said, much to the delight of the Carrolls. “He chases his tail. Then rolls over. And for the finale, Budderball's signature trick-- play starving.”

Budderball was laying down by that point, whining up at the couple, winning over their hearts. The couple quickly reaches for a treat and gives it to Budderball, calling him cute the whole time. “If Budderball's an expert at anything, it's begging for treats,” Rosebud said to the others with a shrug. Budderball walked back to his siblings and the Pippsqueaks triumphantly with a treat in his mouth before they ran off to catch up to the others.

XXXXXXXX

Meanwhile, Pipsqueak and Aurelia wandered the street, looking for the pups and three little fillies, hoping to find them before the Hound did. Aurelia was cloaked to not raise a panic and lead the warlord and Hound straight to the pups if they found them.

That was when Pipsqueak spotted something just ahead of them. Or more or less… someone. “Aurelia, look! There's another ghost! Maybe he can help me.”

Aurelia bit her lip. “Just…be careful, Pipsqueak. It's been awhile since we've seen the outside world. I'm sure a lot has changed.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll be careful,” Pipsqueak promised before floating over to the other ‘ghost’. “Excuse me? My name is Pipsqueak. I was wondering if you’ve seen a unicorn filly, an earth pony filly, a pegasus filly and five Golden Retriever puppies.”

The ghost raised up a human hand, slowly moving through Pipsqueak, making him laugh lightly. “That tickles!”

Suddenly, the white cover was torn off, revealing a girl inside, who screamed. “Ghost!” she cried before running to her mother down the street. “Help, Mom! I just saw a real ghost!”

“Time to go home,” the girl’s mother said, not believing the claim for a second. “You've had enough sugar for one night.”

Aurelia was by Pipsqueak in an instant to make sure he was okay. “I just asked a question. Was it something I said?” Pipsqueak asked. “I guess ghosts are seen as scary nowadays. You better find something to disguise yourself with before you draw anymore unwanted attention,” Aurelia responded with a shrug. That’s when she noticed the cover that the girl had left. “Why not use that sheet as cover? People will think you’re a child in a costume, and not a real ghost.”

Aurelia threw the white sheet over Pipsqueak's ghost, landing on top of him, becoming the perfect disguise. And, without another word, the two were off again, hoping for no more distractions.

XXXXXXXX

“Wow, that last house was a jackpot!” Izzy said as she, the rest of the Mane 6 and the Buddies’ kids walked from another house along the street. “I love butterscotch!”

“Are the Pippsqueaks and Buddies doing okay?” Misty asked.

Sunny just shrugged. “I'm sure they're fine. I think they just got distracted and fell a little behind us.”

“Yeah,” Alice agreed with a nod. “The Buddies are prone to wandering off.”

“But they always find their way back to us,” Pete finished. “Well, as long as the girls stay with the Buddies, I think they’ll be fine,” Zipp said, trying to reassure herself. “At least… I hope.”

“Sis, are you feeling okay?” Pipp asked her sister, frowning out of concern. “You’re not normally so jumpy.”

“I guess… something about this particular Halloween is giving me bad vibes,” Zipp frowned. “Yeah, I'm with you. There's something wrong about that staff,” Misty admitted after hearing Zipp's worries. “Well… I’m not sure myself,” Misty said. “I mean… if it really belonged to that warlock, do you think there’s a chance he could come back for it?”

“Neigh way, Misty-- that was a LOOOOOOONG time ago,” Izzy brushed off. “Nopony can come back after THAT long… right?”

“Opaline did,” Misty muttered quietly. “She was thousands of moons old, remember? If she could live that long… who’s to say somepony else could too?”

This left the Mane 6 pondering in thought, wondering if Misty had a valid point as they tried to catch up with the Buddies’ kids.

XXXXXXXX

As for the Buddies and Pippsqueaks, they were trying to catch up to the Mane 6 and the kids when all of a sudden, Pipsqueak in his disguise and a cloaked Aurelia approached them.

“There you are,” Pipsqueak sighed in relief. “Thank goodness we found you guys!”

“Yo, if you're lookin’ for a pawtograph, I ain't in da mood,” B-Dawg said with a shaky voice. “We're here to warn you about the Howlloween Hound,” a disembodied voice whispered, which was really Aurelia in disguise. She flashed her eyes at them so she wouldn't scare the Buddies and fillies again, without revealing her whole self and ensuing a panic.

Seashell felt herself tense when she saw this and recalled what the voice said about the Howlloween Hound. “...how do you two know about that?”

Knowing that she and Pipsqueak didn't have much of a choice in the matter, Aurelia grabbed the sheet and slid it off Pipsqueak, revealing him, as well as revealing herself partly so only the Buddies and Pippsqueaks could see her. “AHHH!!! It’s the Howlloween Hound and that dragon again!” B-Dawg cried. “I told you dawgs they’d come after us!”

“No!” Pipsqueak tried to explain. “I’m not!”

“RUN!!” Glory cried before the eight screamed and ran for their lives. “Wait! Come back!” Aurelia cried out, but it was too late-- they had already fled out of her sight. “Come on, Pipsqueak, back into your disguise. We have to follow them and warn them before it’s too late.”

XXXXXXXX

After a bit, of running, the eight friends paused to catch their breath, when they saw Pipsqueak in his ghost costume rounding the corner, making them groan. “Yo, this ghost dawg just doesn't give up!” B-Dawg cried, causing Peach Fizz to tremble nervously. “What do we do?!”

“I know a place,” Buddha said, seemingly calm and collected, though deep inside, even he was nervous. “If there's anyone who can help us with a paranormal problem, it's Zelda. Follow me.”

“Why didn't we just go there first when this whole mess started?” Seashell asked as the group of them followed Buddha. “Please, wait. We're just trying to warn you guys,” Pipsqueak pleaded, trying to get them to stop while Aurelia rolled her eyes. “At least they know to run away from the Howlloween Hound...”

Pipsqueak blinked, wondering if he should feel offended. “Hey, what's that supposed to mean?”

But Aurelia was already off after the Buddies and Pippsqueaks. “Aurelia!” Pipsqueak called, chasing after her. “Aurelia! What'd you mean by that? Aurelia!”

XXXXXXXX

That's when the Howlloween Hound saw the Buddies and Pippsqueaks crossing the street not too far away, making him hum in thought. “That must be them. And those little friends of theirs might make a good midnight snack after I open the portal for Warwick.”

But before he could follow them, he saw Pipsqueak following the pups and young ponies, and a cloaked Aurelia was on his tail. This caused the Hound to become quite interested. “It looks like someone else is after those puppies and their friends, too…”

And without wasting a second thought, he followed the group from a safe distance, waiting for the right time to strike.

XXXXXXXX

At the same time, the Mane 6 and the Buddies' kids were roaming down another street when they reached the only undecorated house on the block, much to Bartleby and Izzy's disliking. “Remind me to never come trick-or-treating here at… 2332 Pine Lane again!” Bartleby said, looking at the address on the side of the house. “Yeah,” Izzy scoffed out of disbelief. “Talk about ZERO Halloween spirit!”

Suddenly, something in Billy’s head made him remember something. “2332 Pine Lane?”

Billy pulled out the photo from the file he had gotten from Sheriff Dan, inspecting it closely before he realized something. “Hey! Guys! The boy from the story lived here!” Billy exclaimed with excitement when he connected the pieces. “This is Joseph's house!”

Zipp gasped in understanding. “That's right! That's why this address sounded so familiar!”

“Go knock on the door, Billy. Maybe he still lives there,” Sunny encouraged, gesturing to the house. But before anyone could move, Hitch held up his hoof. “Hold on. We're just gonna knock on some random person's door who was most likely part of a cold case to ask him about it? Maybe we should think things through before--”

“Oh, Hitch. Quit being such a worry wart,” Pipp said, putting a hoof around Hitch. “This is going to be great information for Billy’s project!”

“C'mon, guys. He'd be like…a thousand years old or something.” Billy argued. “Eh. It's possible,” Izzy said with a shrug. Suddenly, she scrunched her face in thought. “I think. Is it?”

“Well, nothing ventured, nothing gained,” Sam said with a shrug, as though that was the deciding factor. Billy sighed before opening the gate and walking in, the group of ponies and kids following close behind. With the briefest hesitation, Billy knocked once, but nobody answered. “I guess nobody's home. See, I told you guys. It's just a creepy old house with nobody in it.”

As he spoke, the door behind him opened, revealing an old man. The kids and ponies froze in fear, their eyes wide, staring at the man behind Billy, who was completely oblivious.

Seeing his friends’ reactions, he narrowed his eyes in confusion. “What?”

It was Zipp who got the courage to speak. “B-Behind you…” she said, pointing a hoof at the man, who she recognized from the cemetary as the groundskeeper, Mr. Johnson. “Ha ha. Good one, Zipp. I'm not gonna fall for…” Billy started to say sarcastically, but trailed off when he saw the looks on their faces. “For reals?” Billy asked, his heart starting to race as the group took a step back, to which Sam confirmed. Slowly, Billy turned around, jumping back when he saw the gray-haired man just standing behind him, staring them all down. “Oh! Um… uh… h-hello, sir. I…”

Billy started, trying to grasp onto his words. He was so certain nobody lived here, he forgot to put together what he wanted to say in case someone actually did live here.

He quickly pulled out the picture from the case file. “I was just wondering if this boy still lives here.”

“No. This boy hasn't lived here in quite some time,” the man responded irritably. “What do you want?”

“W-We’re sorry for the inconvenience, sir,” Misty said rather politely, “but… Billy here is doing a class project on the Howlloween Hound legend, and… if that boy lived here, we were hoping we could ask him a few questions about that night.”

However, the man's expression did not change. “I'm sure if that boy wanted to talk about it, he would've a long time ago. Now go away!”

“Okay, okay... we're… we're sorry sir.” Billy quickly apologized, turning around with his friends to leave. “Ugh… rude…” Pipp muttered. “We were just asking.”

“Hey boy!” the man suddenly cried, causing the group to quickly turn around. “Where'd you get that staff? Hand it over! That's very dangerous!”

All the ponies froze, remembering what Misty said about the staff and how she got bad vibes from it. Something clearly wasn't adding up, and they began to wonder if there was more to this “legend” than they thought. “Everypony, let’s go!” Sunny cried. “Move move move!”

The group sprinted off in a panic, the old man following, but once they got onto the sidewalk, the man sighed and stopped, thinking to himself that he was getting much too old for this.

Whatever was going on, the Mane 6 knew what sometime or another… the truth would be revealed.

Dangerous Situations Escalate

The Buddies and Pippsqueaks were currently on their way to see someone named Zelda, who Buddha was sure could help them with their problem, unaware that not only Pipsqueak and Aurelia were following them, but the Howlloween Hound was following them as well.

And at the same time, the Mane 6, Sparky Sparkeroni and the Buddies’ kids had just got away from a creepy old man who tried to get the staff from Billy, and the Mane 6 couldn’t help but feel that Misty’s gut feelings about the staff were correct.

XXXXXXXX

At the same time, Warwick continued to roam the streets in search of his spell book. “I must find out who's responsible for this infestation,” he said as he eyed all the costumed people roaming the streets. “No one beats Warwick the Warlock at his own game.”

That was when Warwick caught sight of a house, filled with evil decorations. But it wasn't the decorations that caught his attention. It was the fact that all the “monsters” seemed to flock towards it, as though they were drawn there. “Perhaps the evil sorcerer lives there?” Warwick thought to himself. He approached the house, hiding himself behind one of the decorations. “All the ghouls and goblins are flocking to his door.”

As he cackled, the decoration he was hiding behind echoed him, startling him.

Quickly, he approached the door, finding a creepy looking door knocker. Wanting to find out this evil sorcerer's secret and perhaps make a deal with him, Warwick grabbed the handle of the door knocker and began using it to knock, when it suddenly screeched before cackling evilly. Warwick screamed, jumping back, wondering what kind of evil sorcery this was.

Suddenly, the door opened, revealing a man with a face that looked to be made of clay, horrid blonde hair, and a weird get up that was unfamiliar to Warwick. Whatever it was, it scared the pants off him and Warwick screamed for dear life, still on edge from the magical door knocker.

Mr. Carroll blinked, a little more than confused. “Dude, little bit, uh, old for trick-or-treating?”

“No!” Warwick snapped. He didn't know what trick or treating was and he didn't care. He just wanted out of this… this insane asylum the world had become and go back to when the world made some sense. “Now, give me what's rightfully mine!”

Mr. Carroll thought for a moment before answering, not sure if he was completely understanding this weirdo, but if what he thought was right, then he was being a little more than rude. “Okay, I think that would entail a trick or treat on your part.”

And of course, Warwick had absolutely no idea what Mr. Carroll was talking about. Suddenly, both Warwick and Mr. Carroll heard a hooting sound in the distance, and without even taking his eyes off Mr. Carroll, put his arm out and an owl landed atop it.

Mr. Carroll had to admit he was impressed, but that was before the bird talked. “Master, I have good news.”

Mr. Carroll's eyes widened in shock. Well, first talking ponies and now a talking owl. Now he's seen it all. “Okay, that's… wow. Ventriloquism. That's impressive. I mean, not as impressive as the magical, colorful, talking ponies from earlier, but still awesome.”

“Magical?” Warwick asked, wondering if there was more than one major source of magic in these parts, causing Mr. Carroll to nod. “I know. Crazy, right? Well, anyway, bro, you just got yourself a treat. Nice.”

Mr. Carroll then gave Warwick a chocolate bar, and then Warwick grabbed it, taking a bite into it, wrapper and all. Mr. Carroll had no idea who this guy was, but he certainly earned the award for weirdest dude of all time.

Once the door was closed again, this gave Warwick and Hoot a chance to talk more in private. “Now, Hoot, tell me the good news. Have you found my staff?”

“Yes,” Hoot replied promptly. “A young warlock has it. And he's accompanied by six magical talking ponies.”

Warwick sneered at the sound of this. “I leave for 75 measly years, and they find someone new to replace me. Where's the respect? And what is it with these talking ponies? Who are they?”

Hoot simply shrugged in response, as lost as his master was.

XXXXXXXX

The Buddies and Pippsqueaks ran as fast as their little legs could carry them, hoping to outrun the Howlloween Hound and the dragon. Or…what they thought to be a dragon.

The Pippsqueaks had met dragons before, including Dragon Lord Spike, but they were good.

But any dragon that hung out with the Howlloween Hound as company just screamed bad news.

The eight of them came to a stop, panting heavily. They glanced behind them to make sure it was safe to stop, but the street was empty. “I think we lost them,” Rosebud said, panting heavily.

“Oh, thank goodness…” Peach Fizz whimpered out of relief. “My hooves are getting tired!”

“Why is that ghost dude after us?” Mudbud asked, his voice a panic. “Maybe he wants to drink our blood!” B-Dawg cried in horror, but this caused Seashell to glance at him strangely. “That’s more of a vampire thing, B-Dawg.”

“M-maybe he wants to… eat our brains!” B-Dawg tried to come up with a better answer. “That's zombies, dude,” Mudbud informed. B-Dawg grumbled a bit. It wasn't like he had every monster's traits down flat. “Maybe he wants to devour everything he sees!”

“That’s Budderball,” Rosebud shot Budderball a smirk, much to his bewilderment. “I don’t wanna point hooves here,” Glory said, “but I think the best reason he’s after us is probably because B-Dawg released him from the mirror!”

“Oh, sure, dawg! Blame me!” B-Dawg shot the pegasus a look. “It's you guys teasing me and calling me scaredy-cat that made me do it.”

“It’s true,” Buddha admitted truthfully. “We have to take personal responsibility for our own actions.”

“Come on, guys, we can still fix this,” Seashell said. “All we gotta do is find this Zelda character and get her to help us solve this whole ghost deal before it ends badly.”

That’s when all eight of them began to move down the road once again.

XXXXXXXX

“He's got all kinds of terrifying creatures following him.” Warwick said as he and Hoot watched Billy, his friends and the Mane Six continue their trick or treating festivities. “How will we get to him?”

“Those are just his friends, Master.” Hoot informed helpfully. “Friends?” Warwick repeated, not sure if he was more curious and repulsed. “With ponies and creatures of the underworld?”

“No,” Hoot answered, “they’re…”

“Silence!” Warwick barked, shutting the owl up instantly. “I need to focus.”

Hoot sighed dejectedly. Warick wanted a smart owl, but had no interest in what he had to say. As always. “Come on, everypony!” Izzy cheered as she and Billy led the group down the street. “Let’s go to that house over there!”

“Whoa, slow down, Iz!” Pipp panted as she and the others followed after them. “I love my fairy costume, but it can make you sweat a little after a while!”

Suddenly, Izzy and Billy skidded to a stop. “Well, I didn't mean you had to stop completely,” Pipp clarified with a bit of surprise. “You there! Young warlock,” Warwick cried to the group, causing them to turn to him. Then, after eyeing them for a moment, Warwick chuckled lightly, turning to Billy to ask him a question. “Do you know who I am?”

Zipp thought he looked a little familiar, but she couldn't put her hoof on it... and from the looks on her friends' and sister's faces, none of them knew who he was either. “Uh… I don’t think so,” Billy responded with the shake of his head. “But, seriously, sir, whoever you are, let me tell you this,” Pipp said as she flew over and lifted Warwick’s robes for her to inspect. “Your fashion sense… ugh. It could use a little bit of work. If you ever need some fashion advice, look me up!”

The warlock looked at the pink flying pony, clearly offended. “You dare insult me?! I am Warwick the Warlock!” Warwick declared as Sam whistled and made the cuckoo sign to his friends. “The evilest warlock known to man! And... to ponies, apparently.”

Suddenly, Warick hiccupped, making the whole group laugh... well, all except Zipp and Misty. Zipp couldn't help the feeling that this guy looked vaguely familiar, and she wanted to know why, while Misty got seriously bad vibes from whoever this man was. The same kind of bad vibes she got from the staff Billy had with him.

Suddenly, Warwick yelled in frustration, making them all flinch and back up. “I will make all of you ghouls my slaves!”

“Uh…” Billy looked at his friends, chuckling nervously. “This guy's clearly gone round the bend,” Hitch whispered to the others. “We should handle this situation with caution. He's clearly not in his right mind and that could make him dangerous.”

“Now… give me that staff!” Warwick yelled, making Misty even more worried. Again with the staff. What was so important about it? “Here,” Billy held it out for him. “Take it, mister.”

No school project was worth all this worry and torment.

As Billy began handing the staff to Warwick, sparks flew out of it and suddenly, a ball of sparks erupted, mimicking a magical blast, causing Warwick to fly backwards into an open coffin with a scream.

They all looked at the scepter with shocked wide eyes. “Oh. So that's what Misty meant about bad vibes,” Izzy muttered in complete and utter shock. “That was awesome.” Sam said with a small smile. “Uh… Billy?” Misty looked at Billy with wide eyes. “How did you just do that?”

“Dawg, I have no idea!” Billy exclaimed as something came to mind, causing him to reach down into his bag. “But I'm pretty sure that guy was who he says he is.”

“And who's that? This Warwick with the bad style?” Pipp asked, raising an eyebrow. “Pipp, this is serious! Remember the story about the Howlloween Hound?” Zipp said seriously as Billy brought out the picture of Warwick from the file Sheriff Dan gave them. “Well, that Warwick guy was a part of that legend! Check this out!”

When the others glanced at the photo Billy brought out of the bag, they realized Zipp and Billy were both right, causing Pete to suddenly be filled with dread. “That dude really is the warlock!”

“Oh no!” Izzy and Bartleby, said in unison, completely terrified. “But how is that possible?!” Hitch asked in shock as he cradled Sparky. “That all happened 75 years ago!”

“Uh, guys? Maybe we should figure that out later.” Sam said with a shaky voice, pointing in the direction Warwick was pushed back in. “Look!”

When they all looked, they found that Sam was right-- Warwick was opening the coffin that had closed on him when he landed inside of it, disoriented and out of breath. “I can’t believe I’m saying this,” Pipp said with worry, “but I think all my followers would agree that this is an opportune time to RUN!!!”

“Go go GO!!” Zipp cried out in agreement, and the group ran off, trying to be out of sight of the warlock before he got his bearings. After the group of eleven had left, Hoot fluttered over to his master and perched nearby out of concern. “Are you okay, master?”

“I… clearly underestimated… that warlock.” Warwick replied, looking worse for wear. But now, he had to come up with another way to get his staff back.

XXXXXXXX

“Guys, hurry!”

“Run!”

“Come on, let’s go!”

The Buddies’ kids and the Mane 6, with Sparky on Hitch's back, continued to sprint down the street as fast as they could, trying to get away from Warwick, until they eventually reached a grassy area nearby and causing them to stop and catch their breath. “What was with that guy?” Sam asked as he gasped for breath. “Yo, I have no idea, but he wanted this thing pretty badly,” Billy said, looking at the apparently magical staff he was holding. “Don’t you guys remember the story Mrs. Carroll told us on the field trip today?” Zipp asked, clearly worried. “Warwick is exceedingly more powerful when he has that staff, and he must be trying to use it to take over Fernfield!”

“But what is he doing out of the mirror?” Izzy asked. “That IS where Ms. Carroll said that he and the Howlloween Hound disappeared to, right?”

“I don’t know, but for right now, that doesn’t matter,” Misty said. “The one thing on my mind right now is what we should do next-- Warwick is as terrifying and evil as Opaline and Allura combined! And that’s really saying something!”

“First on our plans,” said Zipp, “is that we need to protect the kids. Since Billy has the staff, he could be in a lot of danger!”

“You're right, Zipp,” Sunny agreed. “We need to do whatever possible to keep Billy and Warwick separated from each other. There's no telling what he'd do to get that staff back.”

“Guys, we need to think,” Hitch said. “Is there any place we could take the staff to keep you safe from Warwick?”

“You tell me, Sheriff,” Izzy said, leaning into Hitch with a knowing smile. And after a moment of thinking, Alice let out a gasp. “Of course. Sheriff Dan! Izzy, you're a genius!”

“That’s a great idea!” Pipp said after realizing what Alice was thinking. “Sheriff Dan had the staff to begin with, so if we give it back to him, he would be able to protect it a lot better than we could!”

“But it’ll take forever to get there on foot!” Sam pointed out. “Actually… I have an idea for that,” Sunny said. “Zipp, you take the lead and show us the way to Town Hall. Sam, hop on my back. Izzy, take Pete. Misty, you stick with Billy. Pipp with Alice and Hitch with Bartleby. We can get you there a lot faster if we do the running!”

Sunny's friends nodded with determined smiles before the kids got on their backs. Just then, Pete seemed to remember something with a startled gasp. “The Buddies!”

“And the Pippsqueaks!” Hitch cried out in realization. “We completely forgot about them wandering the streets!”

“The Pippsqueaks and the Buddies are together, and as long as they stay together, they should be fine!” Zipp said. “Now, let’s go! He could catch up at any second!”

“Zipp's right. And as long as Warwick's on our tail, the Buddies and Pippsqueaks are safe,” Pipp agreed before they all ran off, not realizing how far from the truth that statement truly was.

XXXXXXXX

At the same time, Warwick returned to the Carrolls’ house and knocked on the magical doorknocker, letting Mr. Carroll once again come to the door.

Once seeing it was Warwick, Mr. Carroll rolled his eyes. This guy wasn't giving up, was he? “Yeah, again, great bit before, but, uh, it's kinda one piece of candy per trick.”

“Look, I need your help, monster,” Warwick said without preamble, confusing Mr. Carroll. “You're big and you're scary, the perfect henchman for this job.”

Okay, Mr. Carroll couldn't decide if this dude was really starting to freak him out or frustrate him.

At that moment, Mr. Carroll was about to say something when Warwick threw some sort of clear liquid at him. “Slavius mineus!”

“What the…” Mr. Carroll muttered when suddenly, his mind began to haze over, as though a thick fog had just set in. Suddenly, Mr. Carroll wasn't in control of his body as he stood there, waiting for a command. “Now,” said Warwick slowly, “you will do exactly as I tell you. I want you to find a young warlock whose staff has a shiny blue crystal. I want you to seize it.”

“Yes, master,” Mr. Carroll said emotionlessly, as though he truly was a zombie Frankenstein. “And eliminate him,” the warlock finished with a sinister smile. “Yes, Master,” Mr. Carroll muttered obediently before walking down the steps, without looking where he was going, and stepped on a pumpkin decoration, smashing it.

Though he continued as though nothing happened, undeterred, the pumpkin around his foot, causing Warwick to cringe. “I probably should have used somebody smarter for this job,” Warwick muttered to his loyal companion, as though already exhausted.

XXXXXXXX

The Buddies and Pippsqueaks walked with determination, refusing to slow down and give the Howlloween Hound and his pet dragon a chance to catch up. Finally, they arrived in front of a small building with a sign that said, Fernfield Shop of Curiosities. Buddha stopped, turning to it, the rest of them following suit, ready to get this crazy nightmare over with before the kids and Mane 6 found out. “I believe this is the place.”

Buddha was first to approach the shop and go into it, with the others following through the doggy door. They all entered a dark room with mystical looking items filling shelves. There was a red light in the corner, adding a mysterious factor to the whole room. In the center was a small round table that held a single crystal ball. Apart from the Buddies and Pippsqueaks, it seemed like nobody or pony else was here. “Hello?” Peach Fizz called out. “Is anypony home?”

“I don't think anybody's here,” B-Dawg guessed after a moment of silence when nobody answered. B-Dawg then walked up to the small table, putting his two front paws atop it, looking closer into the empty crystal ball. “Yo, check out this crystal ball, dawgs.”

“Hey, I've something similar back in Bridlewood,” Peach Fizzed piped in. “They belong to psychics, right?”

Buddha nodded to this statement. “It's like a giant gumball,” Budderball added. Suddenly, the bottom of a dog's face appeared inside of it, startling B-Dawg. “Welcome.”

“Y-You guys?” Seashell gulped. “The gumball is talking to us.”

Suddenly, a Chinese Crested dog appeared from behind the crystal ball. “I am Zelda.”

“AHH!!” the Pippsqueaks and B-Dawg shrieked. “I am all knowing and all seeing. I specialize in the mystic and otherworldly. I also do doggy weddings and doggy bar mitzvahs,” Zelda added, before continuing her monologue. “Now, I sense you puppies and fillies are in danger.”

“Only if we end up at your groomer,” B-Dawg joked. “B-Dawg!” Glory scolded, glaring at the rude puppy. “That was mean. You're almost as bad as Zipp was earlier when she was laughing at your bunny costume!”

“Yeah, how did that make you feel?” Peach Fizz added, making B-Dawg lower his head nervously. “I apologize for my brother,” Buddha apologized, before jumping in. “We need your help because this ghost and dragon has been chasing us.”

Zelda seemed to understand the situation. “Well, this is Halloween, the only night spirits are free to roam. We must make contact with this ghost of yours.”

“Are you sure bringing the Howlloween Hound here purposefully is a good idea? That sounds a little dangerous, don't you think?” Seashell asked, her two friends nodding in agreement.

But Zelda continued as though Seashell didn't speak, seeming to get excited. “Oh, I have a ouija board. It can be used to contact the other side.”

XXXXXXXX

Outside the shop, Pipsqueak in his ghost costume, and Aurelia, who was still cloaked in invisibility, arrived at the small shop, carefully looking through its window to see the Buddies, Pippsqueaks, and a new dog sitting around a small table inside.

Aurelia sighed in relief. Finally, they found them. The two of them were starting to grow worried that the Howlloween Hound had gotten to them first. “I'm going in,” Pipsqueak whispered to Aurelia. “Wait, hold on--” Aurelia started, but Pipsqueak was already floating through the wall, his ghost costume falling to the ground behind him.

Aurelia groaned before glancing around, softly opening the door to the shop and sliding in, still cloaked in disguise, just in time to see the dogs and the Pippsqueaks gasp in shock and fear. “I don't think you're gonna need your Luigi board,” Glory said with a shaky voice. “There's the ghost!”

Seashell had noticed the door opening and closing and though she couldn't see it, she knew exactly who that was, even before Aurelia uncloaked herself. “And its pet dragon!”

But Zelda was still stuck on the ghost part. “Oh, a ghost!” she exclaimed before passing out. “That dudette is down for the count,” Mudball announced. “Please,” Aurelia begged, now uncloaked. “We’re not going to hurt you.”

B-Dawg groaned in fear. “That's what ghosts and dragons always say before they eat you.”

“Ghosts don’t eat,” Pipsqueak informed. “There’s no way for us to.”

“And, no offense, but the thought of eating you guys doesn't sound very appetizing,” Aurelia added. “I think the only one who'd be offended would be Budderball,” Glory joked. “I actually don't mind. If it keeps me from being eaten, I'm a-okay with that,” Budderball said before he turned to the ghost. “But you not being able to eat… that's the saddest thing I ever heard.”

“We’re a friendly ghost and dragon,” Pipsqueak assured. “I promise.”

As if on cue, Zelda woke up, looking as though she was simply taking a nap. “Oh, my, what a horrible dream.”

“I know I look strange,” Pipsqueak started, approaching them cautiously, as though approaching a wounded animal. “But I was once a pup, just like you. My name is Pipsqueak.”

“And I'm Aurelia,” the dragon added. “Hey, you guys are from the story,” Buddha said with realization. “Yes. I've been like this ever since that night,” Pipsqueak confirmed, glad that the Buddies and Pippsqueaks finally stopped to listen and hear them out. “The Hound stole my brothers’ and sisters’ souls.”

“And I stayed behind with him, so he wouldn't be alone, since he couldn't leave the manor,” Aurelia added. “The spell must've been interrupted that night,” Zelda deduced, putting the pieces together. “Your soul was left in limbo. Halfway in the world of the living, and halfway in the world of the dead.”

XXXXXXXX

Outside, Zelda was about to be greeted by another visitor, one who was much darker and much more dangerous than the first ones. The Howlloween Hound wasn't far behind, sniffing their scent to track the five puppies and three fillies.

XXXXXXXX

“We're sorry we scared you guys at the manor,” Pipsqueak apologized. “We were just trying to stop you from releasing the Hound,” Aurelia finished before hanging her head. “Unfortunately, we were unsuccessful.”

“Yeah. We're sorry too, Pipsqueak and Aurelia,” Rosebud responded. “I'm Rosebud, and these are my brothers, B-Dawg, Mudbud, Buddha, and Budderball.”

“And I'm Seashell!” Seashell exclaimed, taking over introductions. “And these are my best friends, Peach Fizz and Glory!”

“Also known as the Pippsqueaks!” Peach Fizz finished. “Nice to meet you. The Hound and Warwick are free. And they're still trying to finish their spell.” Pipsqueak explained with fear, making his voice slightly tremble. “But they need five puppies of the same blood to do it. They're after you guys,” Aurelia continued, before turning to the Pippsqueaks. “But that doesn't mean the three of you are safe either. The Hound can and will consume any other souls that get in his way, just to get himself more powerful.”

“We must stop them from completing the spell.” Zelda stated, much to everyone's agreement. She turned to Pipsqueak. “And Pipsqueak, now that you and Aurelia have left the manor, if you do not return to your body before sunrise, you will be lost forever!”

Aurelia gasped, her heart stopping at the thought of losing her best friend forever. If she knew that was a possibility, she never would've let him leave the manor. She would've just gone after the pups and fillies on her own if it meant keeping Pipsqueak safe.

Luckily, Zelda had an idea. “We must find the body you once inhabited. We shall ask the spirits through my crystal ball.”

XXXXXXXX

As the seven dogs, three fillies, and single dragon gathered around the crystal ball to do just that, the Howlloween Hound found the shop where they were taking cover. He approached the window, much like Pipsqueak and Aurelia did, looking through it to find his delicious targets.

XXXXXXXX

“Oh, beautiful and wise one,” Zelda chanted to the crystal ball in front of her. “We ask for your help on this night of Halloween. Please show us this young pup's body. Does it still exist on the earthly plane?”

Pipsqueak gasped as, after Zelda chanted her incantation, the stone statue of his body appeared inside the crystal ball, hope blooming inside of him. “That's me! I turned to stone the night it all happened.”

“Ah, snap!” B-Dawg groaned. “The cemetery? I mean, is it really necessary to go there, dawgs?”

“Yes. I'll do anything to save my best friend,” Aurelia quickly answered, meaning every word of it. Peach Fizz sighed, shaking her head. “Of all the places in Fernfield it could've been, it just had to be the cemetery, didn't it?”

“Can this night get any more scary?” Seashell exclaimed, dropping her head on the table. But, as soon as Seashell said this, the doggy door opened and through it came a huge brown dog, bigger than any dog they've seen before, with striking green eyes. The other two Pippsqueaks and Buddies gasped in fear at this. “Hello, puppies and company,” the Hound said ominously. “Oh, no!” Aurelia cried. “It’s the Howlloween Hound!”

“Come out, come out, and I'll have your souls for dinner,” the Howlloween Hound taunted. He tried to come in, but he barely budged. “Oh no. I'm stuck!”

“The back door! Quickly!” Zelda exclaimed. Aurelia stepped between the group and the Hound, flaring her huge wings. “You guys go ahead. I'll catch up.”

“What are you doing?” Budderball asked, watching the dragon with wide eyes as Aurelia explained her plan. “I'm gonna try to slow him down and buy you guys some time. Get to Pipsqueak's body, before the sun rises.”

“Aurelia, you just gained my biggest respect. You the ultimate dawg, dawg,” B-Dawg said, touched by her act of bravery. “Yeah. We owe you our lives, dudette,” Mudbud agreed. Aurelia quickly turned to the Buddies and Pippsqueaks with a pleading look. “You can pay me back by keeping Pipsqueak safe and making sure he gets back into his body before the sun rises. Don't let me lose my best friend forever.”

“We will return Pipsqueak to his body if it's the last thing we do. You have our word, Aurelia,” Buddha promised. “Yeah! You’re one of us now, and we stick together!” Seashell agreed confidently. “Let’s go, guys!”

And so, the group rushed toward the back door after Zelda… but however, Pipsqueak stayed behind. “Aurelia, don't do this. He's too powerful.”

“Go, Pipsqueak. Get your body back. Don't worry about me. I'll be alright,” Aurelia stated firmly. With a brief hesitation, Pipsqueak followed the group of dogs and ponies, feeling like the worst friend in the world for leaving Aurelia behind.

Aurelia smiled bitterly at the Hound, one that promised revenge and malice. “I'm no longer the weak baby dragon I was when we last saw each other, Hound. I've grown up now, and I would be pretty stupid if I let you hurt anymore of my friends.”

And so, the two leapt at each other to attack as the Buddies, the Pippsqueaks and all their new friends quickly made a successful escape.

The Fernfield Spooky Brew Ha-Ha

Aurelia, the fateful dragon friend of Pipsqueak, stayed behind to boldly attack the Howlloween Hound so that way all her friends could get away and find Pipsqueak’s body.

Pipsqueak felt like the worst friend in the world for doing this, but there was no other choice if they wanted to get out of there safely.

Now, we must go to the Mane 6 and the Buddies’ kids, who were currently having a terrifying time of their own.

XXXXXXXX

The ponies with the kids on their backs arrived at the lawn in front of town hall, the ponies’ legs aching. They've never ran such a long distance before with such heavy things on their backs.

However, they skidded to a stop when they heard groaning. They turned around and saw Mr. Carroll walking towards them. The kids jumped off the ponies’ backs, who promptly collapsed to the ground in exhaustion.

“Mr. Carroll!” Billy called out, relieved. This was the kind of situation adults should handle, not twelve year olds, and Billy was more than happy to pass on the responsibility. “Maybe you can help us.”

Suddenly, Mr. Carroll yelled in an emotionless voice. “Give me staff!”

“That's not normal,” Pipp pointed out, “even for Mr. Carroll!”

“That dude's eyes are creepy!” Pete exclaimed, just as Mr. Carroll tripped and fell to the ground. “He's under a mind control spell!” Misty realized. “The same kind Opaline put on my mom!”

“We have to get to that party! Sheriff Dan's in there!” Alice told the others. “Good idea!” Sunny cried. “Run!”

The group ran toward Town Hall as fast as their hooves and feet could talk them, and they immediately burst through the doors of Town Hall, music blaring and lights flashing, making it a full out bash. The “Monster Mash” was sung by a man on stage in a creepy costume and joined by two backup singers.

The whole spooky scenery made Pipp momentarily forget they were running from an evil warlock and his henchman, and pull out her phone, snapping pics. “Oooh! Love the atmosphere! Totally spooky!” Pipp exclaimed, dancing to the music. “I didn't know you guys played the 'Pony Mash' over here.”

“Pipp!” Zipp scolded, grabbing Pipp's hoof, making her stop. “We have bigger things to worry about right now.”

Pipp chuckled nervously, snapping back into the game. “Sorry.”

They started to chase the rest of the group, having fallen behind a bit, when they skidded to a stop, seeing the group awkwardly standing in front of a woman Zipp recognized.

Billy’s mother. “Billy! Billy, come on! Dance with your mom. Whoo!” she exclaimed while dancing to the music. “Whoo!”

“I like her style,” Izzy whispered to Bartleby. “Mom, I really don't have time right now.” Billy explained, trying to hurry while the ponies kept an eye on the entrance for Mr. Carroll and Warwick. “See, there's a monster chasing us and--”

“Of course there is, dear. It's Halloween!” Billy's mom interrupted. That was when the ponies noticed Mr. Carroll coming in through the entrance. “There he is!” Zipp cried. “RUN!!”

The kids turned around to see Mr. Carroll coming through. They gasped as the twelve of them pushed through the crowd, hoping to find Sheriff Dan as soon as possible. “Billy, sweetheart,” Billy’s mother cried out, “where are you going?”

XXXXXXXX

Warwick had followed Mr. Carroll to Town Hall, impressed by the magic it took to get it to be…well like how it was, though it wasn't what Warwick would call…tasteful. The music pounded in his head, making him cringe, and the amount of “monsters" there was overwhelming. “This must be that young warlock's lair!” Warwick then thought to himself. “It's swarming with all those creatures. This warlock is more powerful than I thought.”

He then hurried to Town Hall, wanting to get his hands on that scepter as soon as possible. As he approached it, a group of terrifying creatures cut him off, making him yelp, startled. “Hand over the candy!” one of them demanded, holding a pitchfork threateningly. “Stay back, demon!” Warwick countered, refusing to be scared off by this… this thing. He could handle a few strays. “You'll not trick or treat me!”

Warwick grabbed the demon by one of its black horns, pulling on it, when it suddenly… popped off?

That was when Warwick immediately realized that something was off. “Wait a minute…”

That's when he pulled on the demon's face, revealing a young boy, probably about 12 or 13, underneath. “You’re no demon!”

Anger welled up inside of Warwick, causing his blood to boil. He couldn't believe this! Was he… was he just tricked by a… a child?

He turned to another one in the group, pulling off their mask. “And you… you're no goblin!”

This was preposterous. He turned to another creature, pulling back its red eye mask to reveal yet another child. “What kind of trickery is this?! These are just kids in disguises!” he cried before barging through the crowd of kids. “Out of my way!”

“Let’s get out of here!!” the kids shouted before running for the hills.

XXXXXXXX

At the same time, the Buddies, the Pippsqueaks, Zelda and Pipsqueak ventured through the town to find Pipsqueak’s body before Mudbud spotted Deputy Sniffer sleeping nearby. “Dudes! Sniffer! He'll know what to do about that nasty Hound!”

The group immediately rushed to Deputy Sniffer, and Seashell desperately shook him to try and wake him. “Deputy Sniffer! Wake up, wake up! We need your help!”

Deputy Sniffer was startled awake, stammering out the first thing that came to his head. “Huh! T-Trick or treat, smell my paws.”

“Yo, dawg! It's a straight up 9-1-1!” B-Dawg exclaimed out of fright. “B-Buddies, Pippsqueaks, you startled me there. What's the problem? Did someone steal Budderball's candy bag?” Deputy Sniffer asked with a small smile. “No. This is more serious than trick-or-treating,” Zelda responded seriously to this remark. “Oh, well, hi there, Zelda,” Deputy Sniffer greeted with surprise. “Deputy Sniffer, we have a HUGE problem,” Glory frowned. “The Howlloween Hound has been released!”

“I sense we have a few hours before the entire town is doomed and soon, after that, the whole world!” Zelda explained to the bloodhound in a rush. However, Deputy Sniffer could smell a prank a mile away, and he wasn't about to fall for this one. Though, he had to commend them for their effort. “You're quite the trickster, Zelda,” Deputy Sniffer said to the group with a small smile. “My great grandpappy, Tracker, used to tell me that old wives’ tale when I was just a pup. Scared the bejesus outta me.”

“We're telling you, Deputy Sniffer, the Howlloween Hound isn't just some old mares’ tale. He's real!” Seashell exclaimed, wondering just how many legends were real in this world. That's when Pipsqueak floated into view, and even he had to admit it, Deputy Sniffer was impressed. “Wow… great ghost costume.”

“It's not a costume, Deputy Sniffer,” Peach Fizz said as she shook her head. “He's a ghost.”

“See? I can float through walls,” Pipsqueak went to the sheriff's door and floated right through it to show him. Deputy Sniffer paled at the sight, his blood going cold as Pipsqueak came back through. But to be honest, three talking magical fillies was a crazier sight to see. “Whoa-ho-ho! Well, I'll be a monkey's uncle.”

Pipsqueak smiled at the old bloodhound, happy to know that the deputy was convinced of his existence. “My name is Pipsqueak. I knew your great grandpappy, Deputy Tracker. We could really use your help.”

That was when B-Dawg saw something approaching them. He couldn't tell what it was, but he had the feeling that he didn't want to find out. “Yo, dawgs. Something's comin’ our way!”

But as it turns out, when the others all turned to look at what B-Dawg saw, it was just Aurelia limping into view from the shadows of the trees. “Aurelia! Thank goodness you're okay!” Rosebud said in relief as the Pippsqueaks rushed over to help her. “You ARE okay, aren't you?” Seashell asked worriedly. “I’m alive,” Aurelia sighed, “if that’s what you mean.”

Pipsqueak rushed over, wishing he could hug her, but he settled for worried questions instead. “Aurelia, are you hurt? What happened? I was so worried about you! I'm sorry I left, I should've stayed behind! Where's the Howlloween Hound? How did you get back here?”

“Pipsqueak, Pipsqueak, calm down,” Aurelia said calmly. “Firstly, my leg is a little sore, but I can still move around all right. Secondly, it was better if you didn’t stay behind. Third… I’m not sure where the Hound is at the moment, and lastly… I followed your scents back here, just to ensure you all were safe.”

“Oh! Deputy Sniffer, this is Aurelia!” Seashell introduced. “Aurelia, this is Deputy Sniffer.”

“Yeah. Because of her, we had enough time to get away to come here,” Buddha told the bloodhound. “Without her, I'm not sure we would've beat the Howlloween Hound without getting caught.”

“A pleasure to meet you, Ms. Aurelia,” Deputy Sniffer said politely. “Likewise, deputy,” Aurelia tipped her head. “We thank you for everything, and with your help, the Howlloween Hound might be defeated for good.”

Truthfully, Aurelia was a little more injured than she let on, but she didn't want to worry Pipsqueak anymore than she already had. And Pipsqueak was a priority. She didn't want anyone else fussing over her if it meant interfering with the mission of getting Pipsqueak back to his body.

Suddenly, Deputy Sniffer glanced behind them to see a large hound approaching. “Uh… would this hound happen to be large and brown with green eyes?”

“Oh no!” Seashell shrieked. “He found us!”

“The long paw of the law will handle this intruder,” Deputy Sniffer said confidently. “You guys go.”

“Thank you, deputy,” Aurelia said, tipping her head. “This means more than you’ll ever know.”

“Hurry!” Zelda urged. “We have to get to the cemetary!”

The group then ran off, Aurelia flying in the air so her injured leg wouldn't slow them down. At that moment, Deputy Sniffer stood up to face the Hound and buy the others some time. “Stop! In the name of the law!”

The Hound approached Deputy Tracker, not the least bit worried about being stopped. “Time to meet your fate.”

“You’re under arrest!” Deputy Sniffer barked. But suddenly, the Howlloween Hound let out a howl, emitting smoke from his mouth and surprising Deputy Sniffer entirely. “What in tarnation do you…?”

But Deputy Sniffer was cut off as he was suddenly turned to stone. That left the Hound to go and find the others on his own.

XXXXXXXX

Back inside Town Hall, the Mane 6 and Sparky managed to keep the Buddies’ kids out of Mr. Carroll’s sight for a while…

…but that didn’t keep him out of the sight of Mrs. Carroll, who was at the party for her husband to participate in the costume contest. “Oh, there you are, Frank!” she said as soon as she saw him, not realizing her husband was being mind-controlled to find the ponies and kids. “You didn't tell me you left early for the party! C'mon, the contest is starting and you're a shoo in!”

Mrs. Carroll dragged her husband toward the stage, where the costume contest was supposed to occur. At the same time, Warwick entered the building and stalked around for the Buddies’ kids and the ponies, when he suddenly got thrown into a dance with Billy’s mom. “Oh, I love your costume! You're a wizard, right?” said Billy’s mom. “You’re a wizard, right?”

“I am a warlock, madam,” Warwick said, unsure of why he was doing this, “and I'm not wearing a costume! Now unhand me, you crazy kitty cat!”

At that moment, the music ended, causing the crowd to cheer as Sheriff Dan came onstage in an old-timey sheriff's outfit for his costume. “OK, all right. OK, all right,” he said as all the finalists for the costume contest made their way onto the stage. “Ladies and gentlemen, please, a round of applause for the finalists for most original costume. Okay, you've all got your numbers...”

When the Mane 6 and the kids heard Sheriff Dan announce the start of the contest on stage, they rushed there, knowing there wasn't a moment to lose, oblivious to the fact that Mr. Carroll was headed there himself.

Billy ran on stage, the others stopping at the front of the crowd. Sunny went on stage with Billy, acting like a bodyguard, in case Warwick or Mr. Carroll tried anything. “Sheriff! Sheriff! I've really gotta talk to you!” Billy called as he and Sunny joined the Sheriff on stage. “It's really really important.”

“INCREDIBLY important!” Sunny whispered in agreement. “In a jiffy, you two. I just have to announce the winner, all right?” Sheriff Dan brushed off, before turning back to the crowd, despite Billy's protests. “Ladies and gentlemen…”

As Sheriff Dan started to announce the winner, Zipp noticed Mr. Carroll standing on stage in the line-up, holding a sign that had the number five on it, which caused her to gasp. It didn't seem like Mr. Carroll noticed them yet, which meant they had the advantage. “Sunny!”

“Drum roll, please,” Sheriff Dan requested the band. “Sunny!” Zipp called a little louder, though it was still a whisper, and it was still as effective as Billy was in his attempt to get the sheriff's attention. “The winner is… Frank Carroll!” Sheriff Dan announced as a spotlight fell upon him. “Franken-Dude!”

While Mrs. Carroll screamed in excitement, Billy and Sunny tensed upon hearing Mr. Carroll's name, both of them taking a cautious step back. Warwick, who had entered the building to track Mr. Carroll's progress, had pushed himself to the front of the crowd to get the perfect view of the stage.

He groaned in frustration when he saw Mr. Carroll accepting an award completely oblivious to the young warlock, his target, who was not even fifteen feet away from him. “Useless monster!” he muttered. “Must I do everything myself?”

It was then Mr. Carroll noticed his target: the staff. The Frankendude zombie walked towards the two of them, his arms out. Sunny stepped in front of Billy but was knocked out of the way by Mr. Carroll, falling to the floor.

That’s when Mrs. Carroll pulled out her camera for a celebratory photo. “Say cheese!”

The picture was taken a second later, blinding Mr. Carroll and causing him to be disoriented. He stumbled to the edge of the stage, tripping over his own feet and tumbling off the stage and right on top of Warwick, who was approaching the stage to get the staff himself.

This caused the ponies to gasp and Mrs. Carroll to scream in fright. “Heavens to Betsy!” Sheriff Dan announced as the crowd gasped at the fallen pair. Billy stared down at Mr. Carroll with wide eyes for a moment before turning back to Sheriff Dan. “Somebody had a bit too much spooky punch.”

Sunny was already up on her hooves and next to Billy, giving him a nod, before staring down at Mr. Carroll, as a sign that she'd keep an eye on him as Billy talked to the sheriff. She didn't see the warlock yet, since Mr. Carroll's body blocked him from view.

Billy tapped Sheriff Dan's shoulder, and he leaned down to Billy, who quickly whispered in his ear, “You know that story about the warlock? Hypothetically speaking, could Warwick return to Fernfield, even if it was, like, 75 years ago?”

Sheriff Dan thought for a moment before answering. “Billy, it's Halloween! All the scariest monsters return this time of‐-”

“Billy! Look out!” Sunny exclaimed, interrupting the sheriff, pointing a hoof towards Warwick, who had gotten free from Mr. Carroll's body, thanks to the help of Mrs. Carroll and others, and was now hurrying to the stage.

But before Billy could react, Warwick was already on him, wrestling with him for the staff. “Give the staff to me, boy!” Warwick demanded as the two of them struggled. “It belongs to me, Warwick! The greatest warlock of all time!”

“I've gotta return that to Sheriff Dan!” Billy exclaimed, trying to get out of Warwick's grasp. Sunny looked around, racking her brain for something that could save her friend, without hurting Billy. Or anybody else. She thought about levitating Billy out of the way, but she could end up levitating Warwick by accident too, giving him the advantage. She may have been the alicorn, but she wasn't confident with her magic enough to use it to help Billy without hurting him.

Plus, she had to be careful when it came to that staff. It was clear that the staff was unstable, if the accidental sparks from earlier were any indication, and one wrong wave could hurt somebody.

That was when an idea struck her.

When she looked back up at the struggling pair, she saw that Warwick had the staff, but still wouldn't let go of Billy. “What have you done with my book?!”

“Now, sir!” Sheriff Dan called, distracting Warwick. “That my friend is a party foul! Unhand that boy! Enough monkey business!”

“Billy!” Sunny cried. “Duck!”

Once Billy did this, this gave Sunny the opportunity to grab the staff with her magic. Warwick, prioritizing the staff, let go of Billy so he could grab onto it with both hands. Billy didn't stick around so Warwick could grab him again.

He jumped off the stage and, upon seeing this, Misty knew it was the right time to leave. “Come on, guys! Hurry!”

The others quickly followed Billy out of the building and through the crowd. They all ran to the exit when Hitch skidded to a stop, noticing Sunny was still on stage, wrestling Warwick for the staff with her magic. She never intended to win the staff over, if he wanted it that badly he could keep it, but she wanted to keep him distracted enough for her friends to escape. “Hitch!” Misty called, noticing Hitch had stopped and skidded to a stop herself. “Come on!”

Hitch hesitated before turning to Misty and giving her the baby dragon that was riding on his back. “Take Sparky and get out of here! I'm not leaving Sunny!”

Knowing there was nothing she could say to talk Hitch out of it, she gripped Sparky with her magic, put him on her back, and ran out of Town Hall.

As Hitch and Misty talked with each other, Sunny and Warwick struggled for the staff. Suddenly, the staff jerked and a wayward beam erupted from it, right into Sheriff Dan. Both of them froze and looked down at Sheriff Dan, but instead of a man in an old-timey cop costume, there was a monkey in an old-timey cop costume. “What in tarnation?” he asked, both of them clearly understanding the monkey. “Oops,” Sunny muttered, her ears flattening and her face blushing in embarrassment. “That was NOT supposed to happen!”

“SUNNY!!!”

That sounded like Hitch! Sunny turned to see Hitch in the middle of the crowd. She glanced at Warwick and Sheriff Monkey before flying off towards the exit, Hitch trailing close behind. “You're under arrest!” Sheriff Dan announced, much like Deputy Sniffer did. “For insulting an officer of the law!”

Unlike Deputy Sniffer, Sheriff Dan had more luck when he attacked Warwick, climbing atop him and smacking him on the forehead. The audience, believing this all to be part of the show, laughed and hooted at the pair, pulling out their phones to record the interaction. Sheriff Dan then climbed off of Warwick when he realized this was going nowhere and ran off stage and towards the exit.

“Great trick!” Billy’s mother said with a smile. “Just fabulous!”

As the audience applauded, Warwick got caught up in the moment. “Thank you! It's good to be loved!”

He hiccuped, quickly becoming the laughingstock of the audience. He sneered before dropping his staff and jumping on top of it. “But it's better to be feared!” Warwick cackled before flying out of Town Hall in pursuit of the young boy and pony. “Wow!” Mrs. Carroll said, amazed with the feat. “That was amazing!”

The audience didn't think anything of it, thinking it was all a trick and applauding. When Warwick was out of sight, they continued their festivities, dancing to the music as though there was no tomorrow.

XXXXXXX

Billy ran through the exit of Town Hall to see his friends waiting for him outside. He skidded to a stop, glancing behind him, his body full of panic. “Dude! Did you get the staff to Sheriff Dan?” Pete asked, causing Billy to shake his head. “I don't know, dawg! Last time I saw it, Sunny was wrestling Warwick for it!”

“And where are they?” Misty asked, stepping forward, Sparky still on her back. That was when Sunny and Hitch burst through the doors of Town Hall, both of them out of breath. Misty and Zipp hurried over to them, making sure they were okay. Once Hitch caught his breath, Misty gave Sparky back to him, softly setting him on his back with her magic.

That was when Billy noticed neither of them had the staff. “Yo dawgs, where's the staff? Is it with Sheriff Dan?”

“Well…” Sunny hesitated, “...sort of.”

“Uh…what do you mean by sort of?” Zipp asked, narrowing her eyes at the pair. “Does he or does he not have it?”

“Uh…” Sunny trailed off, biting her lower lip, not sure how to answer that particular question. How could she tell them that she and Warwick accidentally turned Sheriff Dan into Sheriff Monkey?

Suddenly, the door to Town Hall opened, and a monkey came wandering out, chittering. “Hey,” Bartleby said, pointing down at it. “Is that a… a monkey?”

“And why is he dressed like Sheriff Dan?” Pipp asked, looking down at it, twisting her lips. “That IS Sheriff Dan!” Hitch blurt out to his friends, not able to take the secret any longer.

The kids and ponies looked at each other confused, but before any of them could ask anything, Sheriff Dan spoke. “Run, kids! He's coming!”

And with that, Sheriff Dan ran off before the kids and ponies began to run themselves. “But wait a sec!” Izzy cried out to her friends. “Where’s Warwick?”

As though summoned, Warwick came down from above behind them, cackling evilly. “There you are!”

They skidded to a stop, not sure where to go next. Sunny jumped in front of them, flaring her wings, glaring at Warwick, ready for round two. “Does that answer your question?” Zipp asked sarcastically, skidding to a stop with the rest of them to face Warwick, flaring her own wings, and scraping her hoof on the ground. “Uh-huh!” Izzy nodded fearfully, but stood with her friends to protect the kids. “Now, where is that book?” Warwick asked as he flew towards them. “Or do you all wanna be turned into monkeys, too? The first time may have been an accident, but I can sure as heck do it again.”

“No, really, Mister, we don't know where the book is!” Billy pleaded, not even knowing what book he was talking about, let alone where it was. “Wrong answer, boy!” Warwick said. “You better stop while you can, Warwick!” Sunny snarled. “We are the protectors of Equestria, and you’re not going to hurt our friends as long as we’re around!”

“Then I suppose I’ll have to get rid of you pests first, alicorn!”

As Warwick started to cast a spell, a man approached behind him, a shovel in hand. Sunny, recognizing this man, barely spared him a glance before looking at Warwick, not wanting to give him away. As the man lifted his shovel, Sunny held Warwick still with a levitation spell, giving the man the perfect opportunity to hit Warwick on the back of the head with the shovel, causing Warwick to drop to the ground.

The man glanced down at Warwick before looking at the kids and ponies. “Hurry!” he said, stepping over Warwick's body. “Come with me!”

He hurried past the group, but when they made no move to follow him, he turned back towards them. “Before it's too late! Come on!”

The kids and ponies looked at each other, before shrugging and following the old man. It wasn't like they were abundant in options and Warwick was already groaning. They followed the old man to a black car, all of them piling into the vehicle just as Warwick was starting to come to.

The old man got into the driver's side, turning on the car, and driving away just as Warwick stood up. Warwick watched them drive away with a glare, beside himself that they got away again. “They won’t get far…” he promised with a vengeful look, internally promising himself that he was willing to do anything just to get his hands on that book.

The Rescue Mission/Pipsqueak's Sacrifice

The Pippsqueaks and the Buddies had been captured by Warwick and the Howlloween Hound, and if the kids and the Mane 6 ever wanted to see them again, Warwick demanded they bring his spellbook to the manor.

Of course, Aurelia arrived in the nick of time to alert them of the situation, and they were off like a shot, out to rescue their friends before it was too late, and Warwick took control of the world.

But would they succeed?

That’s the big question right there.

XXXXXXXX

The Pippsqueaks and the Buddies sat in an iron cage on the floor in the top room of the manor as Warwick flew in on his staff, looking pleased with himself as he faced the Hound and Hoot. “I told those wretched children to bring me my spell book.”

“What if they don't come with the book?” Hoot wondered out loud.

“Quiet, you moronic birdbrain,” Warwick spat. “They will want to save their precious puppies, won't they?”

The Pippsqueaks glared at Warwick as he cackled and hiccuped, knowing that one way or another, they were going to find their way out of this mess once and for all.

All they hoped was that these villains COULD be stopped.

XXXXXXXX

Aurelia flew ahead of Joseph’s car as they went down the road toward the manor, but as they drove along, Alice suddenly had a thought. “Mr. Johnson, what happens if we can't stop them?”

“Then the spirits will be under Warwick's control forever,” Joseph said with a heavy heart. “They'll take over Fernfield first, and who knows what they'll do next?”

“Yeeeah,” Izzy said, “that’s definitely not good.”

“One thing is definitely for sure,” said Misty. “We have to put a stop to this, one and for all… for the sake of all worlds, not just this one.”

This caused the others to nod as they continued to follow Aurelia down the road.

XXXXXXXX

Back at the manor, two rats scurried along the floor, squeaking. They hurried up the manor stairs and to the room that held the Buddies and the Pippsqueaks, and stopped right before the iron cage.

“What are you dudes up to?” Mudbud asked curiously. “We're going to get that dirty rat.” Skip replied, much to the chagrin of Rodney. “Hey, I resent that comment.”

“Come on! Or you'll be a dirty rat for the rest of your life!” Skip urged the rat next to him. “Ready to exact some revenge!” Rodney said, smiling with his rat mouth. “W-Wait! Free us fir--” Seashell started, but the two boy turned rats were already off, scurrying towards Warwick. “Or go after the evil warlock. That works too.”

Peach Fizz twisted her lips, looking up at her horn. “If that Hound didn't cast a spell on my horn, I might've been able to pick the lock with my magic. But it's dampened.”

“Soon, they will be here with my spell book,” Warwick said, not noticing the rats before turning toward the Hound. “And you can devour those… delicious puppy souls.”

Suddenly, the eight of friends trapped in the cage heard Warwick cry out in pain, and they knew the two human-turned rats got to him. They had to admit, seeing him get a small taste of his own medicine gave them more satisfaction than they care to admit. “Oh, what is it?” the Howlloween Hound asked with a roll of his eyes when Warwick continued screaming. “Something is biting me! Ow!” Warwick started before he yelped in pain again. “Quickly Hound, Hoot, do something!”

He began jumping around, making his shoes tap as though he was tap dancing to a musical number. B-Dawg was impressed, despite himself. “Yo, now that dawg has some serious moves.”

The Hound thought of something he could do to make the pain stop, but alas that would involve turning the idiot into stone, and unfortunately, his presence in this world was reliant on the said idiot, so, instead, the Hound watched, taking small pleasure in his pain.

Finally, the two rats dropped out of his robe, much to Warwick's relief. “Vermin!”

“You ain't seen nothing yet!” Rodney yelled at him. “Change us back you jerk!” Skip demanded. He thwnsaw the look on Warwick's face change and he knew it was time to get the heck outta Dodge... well, so to speak. “Run for it, dude!”

The two human-turned rats bolted from the room, avoiding Warwick's shoe in the process. Warwick growled in anger and turned to the Hound as the rats left his sight. “Hound! Get them!”

The Hound curled his lips and did as Warwick commanded, counting down the seconds until he was no longer under this idiot's command. But he still wasn't happy about it. “I'll get the book from those stupid kids and those pony pests!” Warwick cried out, causing fear to enter Rosebud's soul. “The ponies and our kids are here?!”

“Oh no!” Seashell gasped. This was exactly what the Pippsqueaks and their friends were hoping to avoid when they didn't tell the Mane 6. Warwick picked up his staff before turning to Hoot. “You guard the puppies and these fillies.”

“Yes, master,” Hoot said rather obediently. “Fail me,” Warwick warned, “and I'll turn you into a feather duster!”

Warwick walked away, planning to finally put a stop to this madness once and for all.

XXXXXXXX

Outside the manor, a young beagle puppy ran as fast as his little legs could carry him. Aurelia sent him to keep an eye on this end of things and he wouldn’t let her down.

He ran up the manor steps and through the front door, praying this would be the last time he set paw in there.

He entered the room where it all happened, for the second time as a living pup. For the past 75 years, he and Aurelia did all they could to avoid this room, it being not only the place where the mirror was kept, but also the root of all their horrible memories.

Now, he was entering it willingly, but not as a naive young pup, but as a hero this time to save his friends. “Psst, Buddies, Pippsqueaks,” he whispered, hoping not to be caught by the nearby owl. “Pipsqueak!” Peach Fizz exclaimed in a whisper. “Are we ever glad to see you!” Budderball sighed in relief. “I've gotta get you out of here,” Pipsqueak told his friends sternly. “Aurelia is out there right now, finding us some help. We just have to keep Warwick and the Houns from casting the spell until she can come back with reinforcements.”

But it was at that moment, Hoot spotted him, hooting with narrowed eyes. “What do you think you're doing?”

Pipsqueak stood firmly at this. “I'm saving my friends.”

“I can't let them escape. Master would be furious,” Hoot said, though there was the smallest tremble in his voice. Glory recognized it and seized the opportunity to try and speak up. “Hoot, why are you so loyal to Warwick?”

“Seriously, dude!” Mudbud added, catching onto what Glory was doing. “It's totally obvious he plans to get rid of you.”

“Which is totally not fair. Especially since you waited, like, 75 years for him to return? You're so loyal to him, but he's so mean to you,” Peach Fizz added with a soft frown. However, Hoot shook his head at this remark. “Master sometimes gets angry, but he would never get rid of me. He needs me.”

“Yo, are you hallucinatrippin’?” B-Dawg asked. “He's got that Howlloween Hound to do his dirty work now.”

“Yeah. He could've sent you to avenge him with those rats, but he sent the Hound instead.” Peach Fizz pointed out. “Yeah,” agreed Seashell with a nod. “And besides, he calls you names like... moronic birdbrain.”

“...that does sound like something he would say,” Hoot realized with a soft tone. “You have a conscience, but yet you have spent your whole life being bossed around by someone who doesn't respect you.” Buddha added, but this caused Hoot to turn away. “What do you know?”

And that was when Pipsqueak came with the finishing blow. “I know you never meant to hurt us, Hoot. And even though you've been under Warwick's control for a long time, you still have a chance at a happy life in this beautiful world. But if Warwick wins, we'll all be doomed. Haven't the last 75 years without evil been a lot nicer than your time under Warwick's wing?”

After a long moment of considering, Hoot had to realize that Pipsqueak had a point… all of them did. He was never respected as an equal… more as a lackey than anything. “It was kind of nice not having to look over my shoulder all the time.”

So, slowly, he flapped down and used his talons to pick the lock of the cage, releasing the Buddies and Pippsqueaks, causing a lot of them to smile. “You won’t regret it, Hoot,” Pipsqueak said sincerely. “I promise.”

XXXXXXXX

“RUN!!” Rodney yelled to Skip as they were chased by the Howlloween Hound. “He’s on our tail!”

The two of them ran through a small hole in the wall, escaping the Hound. The Hound snarled. “Rats! Another ridiculous chase.”

XXXXXXXX

“Thanks for saving us, Pipsqueak,” Glory said in relief. “We’re so glad you came when you did.”

“C'mon guys. We gotta go, before they return,” Pipsqueak urged. “But wait, what about Aurelia and the others?” Seashell asked. “Right here,” Aurelia said, appearing beside Pipsqueak, scaring the heck out of everyone. “Yo, dawg, you gave us a heart attack! We're too young to die!” B-Dawg scolded. “Oh, sorry about that,” Aurelia apologized. “I had to make sure it was safe before I could reveal myself. Right now, we have the advantage. Warwick and the Hound don't know that the Mane 6 and the kids know everything.”

Glory gasped, wide-eyed. “You were with them?”

Aurelia nodded. “Yeah. They're on their way. I was sent ahead to free you while Warwick and Hound were distracted trading the spellbook. But, it appears, Pipsqueak beat me to it.”

That’s when Seashell, Glory and Peach Fizz hung their heads, shameful at what they had done. “Hey… what’s wrong, girls?” Rosebud asked. “...this is all our fault,” Seashell muttered. “If we weren't so worried about what the Mane 6 thought of us and so worried about them not taking us on another Unity Quest and just told them everything from the start, we wouldn't be in this mess.”

However, B-Dawg shook his head to this. “Nope, dawgs, we ain't starting that blame game.”

“But it's true. If we had just told the Mane 6 when they asked us if something was wrong earlier…” Glory started, only to be interrupted by B-Dawg again. “Yo, if I hadn't said the Howlloween Hound's name three times, we wouldn't be in this mess.”

“If we hadn't made fun of B-Dawg for being scared, he wouldn't have felt the need to prove himself. Sorry about that by the way,” Budderball added, causing B-Dawg to brush the topic off. “It's cool. And I wasn't scared of nothin’ yo.”

“Have you literally learned nothing the entire day?” Rosebud asked, making B-Dawg blush and look away. “If we had just stopped and listened to Aurelia and Pipsqueak sooner instead of running around town like headless chickens, we might’ve realized the gravity of the situation sooner, before the real Hound came after us.” Buddha pointed out... and even Pipsqueak had to agree. “They're right. If me and my siblings weren't so naive and gone with Warwick willingly, he wouldn't have had the five puppy souls he needed.”

“If I had just been brave enough to fight Warwick before he was powerful 75 years ago instead of waiting for help, I could've delayed him long enough for the rest of Fernfield to get here,” Aurelia added. “If I had been less loyal to Warwick, and not given him the information he needed, he wouldn't have been able to capture you all,” Hoot piped. “If Sheriff Dan was more responsible and he didn't give that staff to Billy, the Warwick dude would have a whole lot harder time finding it,” Mudbud added. “And he'd be less powerful.”

“The point is, dawgs, we can be playin’ this game all night, goin’ round and round in circles til we were dizzy,” B-Dawg interrupted before they really did go at it all night. “B-Dawg's right.” Buddha agreed. “Go back far enough, and all of Fernfield is to blame for this.”

“When really, the only people who are to blame are the Hound and Warwick,” Rosebud continued. “What's important is that we do what we can now to stop Warwick and the Hound,” Aurelia finished.

The Pippsqueaks smiled at their friends. They were right, of course. Go back far enough and everyone could find some reason to blame themselves for this whole mess.

Blaming themselves wouldn't stop Warwick. Action would. “Aww… what a touching moment.”

The sound of a voice coming into the room was enough to make them all jump. Aurelia quickly cloaked herself, hiding from sight.

They all turned around to see the Howlloween Hound standing in the doorway, which just so happened to be the only exit. They all took a couple of steps back in fear, internally groaning. Had they saved the friendship lesson for later, they would've been out of here by now. They weren't about to make that mistake again anytime soon. “How did you get out?” the Hound continued. “I let them go,” Hoot said firmly, way more confidently than he ever said anything while under Warwick. “I knew I couldn't trust you,” the Hound said, though the tone of his voice made him sound like he couldn't care less. “I've had enough of the darkside.” Hoot continued. “I won't be responsible for anymore evil.”

Suddenly, the owl hooted as the Howlloween Hound approached him. “Run, children, run!”

“Come on! Let’s go!” Seashell cried before leading her friends out of the room as Hoot distracted the Hound, but as they were out of the room, the Hound used his powers to turn Hoot to stone before following.

All the puppies, the Pippsqueaks and Aurelia bolted down the stairs into the lower part of the manor, where they finally made it to the living room. They skidded to a stop when they realized there was nowhere else to go. “Dudes, we're trapped!” Mudbud announced as they glanced around the room. The Howlloween Hound entered the room, blocking the only exit. “Finally, your puppy souls will be mine.”

Pipsqueak took a deep breath. He was inspired by Aurelia's act of bravery and sacrifice and he vowed to do the same for his friends. “Let them go, Hound. All you need is me.”

Aurelia could see what Pipsqueak was doing a mile away and she would not stand for it. “Pipsqueak, no!”

“What is this?” the Hound asked, intrigued despite himself. Pipsqueak stepped forward to the Hound. Aurelia tried to go after him, but one glance from Pipsqueak and the rest of his friends, with heavy hearts, did everything they could to hold Aurelia back. It wasn't easy, but with the eight of them working together, they managed… barely. “Pipsqueak! No! Don't do this! Please!”

Pipsqueak knew that if was going to do this, he had to hurry. His friends couldn't hold Aurelia, a teenage dragon, back for long. “It's me, Pipsqueak. You stole all of my brothers’ and sisters’ souls. Now all you need is me to complete the spell. Then you'll have five souls of the same blood.”

Suddenly, something in the Hound's mind made him remember the young beagle. “Why, Pipsqueak, I do remember you. Your siblings were delicious.”

“Take me. And let the rest of my friends go. You don’t need them,” Pipsqueak said before he turned to his friends for the last time. “Goodbye, Buddies. Pippsqueaks.”

“No, dude! Don't!” Mudbud begged as he tried to help keep Aurelia back. “We'll find another way! We always do!” Seashell yelled. They all began to protest, but Pipsqueak silenced them all with a look. They all knew it was the only way. Even though the Howlloween Hound would be free, so would the Buddies, Pippsqueaks, and Aurelia.

They could then meet up with the kids and the Mane 6 and come up with a way to defeat the Howlloween Hound. There'd still be hope.

Finally, Pipsqueak turned to the white dragon, barely keeping herself together. “Thank you, Aurelia. For being the best friend any pup could ever ask for.”

“Pipsqueak! No! Please! Don't leave me! You're… you're all I have left! Don't do this!” Aurelia cried as she sobbed. She wasn't one for crying in front of others and she usually wasn't so vulnerable, but if a stranger saw her at that moment, they wouldn't even be able to tell. “No. You have eight new friends right here,” Pipsqueak told her before he turned to the others. “Take care of her for me. Just like she did with me all those years here.”

Pipsqueak turned back to the Hound, giving him a nod. With a mighty howl, gray smoke engulfed Pipsqueak, turning him to stone.

Aurelia wailed, collapsing to the ground. She was back at the night the Howlloween Hound took those four souls. The souls of her friends and she could do nothing. She was back at the night the fire burned down the forest, her home, and while her family burned, all she could do was stand there and watch. That feeling of helplessness returned tenfold. Here her friend sacrificed himself, and all she could do was stand there and watch.

She was numb inside. She didn't want to get back up. She didn't want to fight. The Howlloween Hound had taken everything from her. She recovered from the loss of her family, built a new life for herself here in Fernfield, and the Hound tore it all down.

“Aurelia! Aurelia! We have to go! We have to go now!”

Aurelia DID hear this, though she didn't know who it was. Nor did she care. She made a vow 75 years ago. She vowed she would never leave Pipsqueak alone in this manor. And she wasn't about to break that now, even if he was stone.

“Look! My magic's back!”

“Maybe if we all work together, we can carry her out of here!”

Suddenly, she felt hooves and paws pick her up and drag her through someplace. It was in the general direction of the wall, she thought, which was odd, since they were trapped. That's why Pipsqueak gave his soul... to let them get away! “Aurelia,” she heard a voice whisper in her ear... a voice belonging to none other than B-Dawg himself. “Aurelia, dawg, we’re gonna come back for him. I promise. But we can't do it alone. We need to get back up. But right now, we need you to fight. Remember what I told you earlier. You're a hero. And you're one of us now. Don't let his sacrifice be for nothing. Fight, dawg. We need you to fight…”

XXXXXXXX

“I can now open the portal.” The Howlloween Hound said as the fireplace closed behind the puppies and fillies with the limp dragon. He'd go for the fillies later. When he had more power. “I'm not waiting for that idiot Warwick any longer.”

And with that, he ran away, leaving Pipsqueak's cold stone body behind in the main room, the only sign of the sacrifice he made to keep hope alive.

Author's Note

It is with heavy hearts, I inform you today that... G5 is officially ending after nearly four years. I seriously thought they would keep going with TYT season 2 before ending it, but... I've been wrong before.

I'm going to try my best to keep G5 Adventures going, I promise.

...hoof to heart promise... 😭

The Final Battle/A New Day at Last

Pipsqueak had just made the ultimate sacrifice, willingly giving his soul to the Howlloween Hound so he could open the portal, saving Aurelia, the fillies and the Buddies and giving them their one chance to get away.

Aurelia, in very few words, was devastated.

Pipsqueak was the only friend she had left, and now she felt completely alone.

All our heroes could do was hide and ensure that the Hound couldn’t find them… at least until they could find another way to stop them.

XXXXXXXX

The Howlloween Hound approached the mirror and spoke in a loud tone of voice. “Open the portal! Release the spirits of the netherworld!”

The mirror gave an otherworldly glow before spirits began flying out of the mirror, left and right, cackling as though there was no end.

Once the spirits were free, the Hound went off in search of the fillies, Buddies and Aurelia to finish what he started.

The Hound may not have needed the Buddies' souls anymore, but anything to get them out of his way was good enough for him.

XXXXXXXX

“Come on, guys! Put your backs into it!” Zipp strained as she, Hitch and Misty tried to help Joseph open the gates to the manor, but they were stiffer than even the ponies didn’t know what. But what they didn’t expect, when they finally got the door open, was to see spirits flying out of the windows of the manor and out into the open world. “Oh no!” Misty cried with wide eyes. “Warick and the Hound must’ve got the portal open!”

“Ohhhhhh my Pippsqueaks….!!!!” Pipp tried her best not to start crying, openly terrified for the sake of her little friends. “Have faith, young ones,” Joseph said as he and the others got back in the car. “We can still stop it.”

“Yeah.” Sunny muttered, looking up in fear at the manor. “We don't have a choice.”

Joseph drove off towards the manor, none of them having any idea on how to stop this thing before anybody else got hurt.

XXXXXXXX

It was getting later into the night, and the streets had less and less trick or treaters occupying them, until the streets were empty for the night as everyone went back to their houses to inspect the delicious treats they got that night.

Well, all except for a group of young boys, who decided to stay out a little later than they were supposed to. They stood in the middle of the suburban street, smashing pumpkins with their feet and laughing when they exploded.

Suddenly, streams of white light filled the street as faint bits of ghoulish laughter reached their ears. The boys stopped in their fun, tensing as the streams of white circled the whole street, leaving all sorts of destruction in their wake.

Halloween decorations exploding.

A fire hydrant knocked down leaving behind a fountain of water pushing itself into the sky before coming back down.

Posts on fences breaking down and garbage cans being knocked over, the contents inside spilling out.

After a few moments of standing back to back with each other, each racked with fear and incomprehension, the group of young boys decided to get the heck outta there after the swirls of white light came towards them from all directions before suddenly disappearing. They ran, leaving behind a street littered with complete destruction.

XXXXXXXX

Back at Town Hall, the Fernfield Annual Spooky Brew Ha-Ha was in full swing, the party raging on until the late hours of the night. The dance floor was still full of people dancing to music, all having the time of their lives.

Until suddenly, streams of white light circled the air above them, however, instead of showing any fear, they simply thought it was all part of the show. “Sheriff Dan really went all out this year,” Billy's mother said to Mrs. Carroll when she noticed the spirits, as the two women, as well as the still possessed Mr. Carroll, danced to the music. “The special effects are amazing!”

“Oh, yeah,” Mrs. Carroll agreed with a nod. The spirits continued to circle above the crowd before they descended down, entering their bodies and taking over their minds. They convulsed for a moment before they stared ahead blankly and slowly made their way out of Town Hall, much like Mr. Carroll acted when he was under Warwick's hypnotic trance.

XXXXXXXX

Back at the manor, Joseph, the Mane 6 and the Buddies' kids got out of the car as they drove closer to the manor, unaware that Warwick was watching from the window. “Perfect,” he muttered wickedly. “Bring it right to me.”

XXXXXXXX

“Yo, this place is a lot creepier at night,” Billy said, his voice shaking, as the group cautiously walked up to the manor.

Zipp held up a hoof to keep the kids behind the Mane 6 at all times. “Stay close to us, kids. And remember the plan. We need to keep Warwick and the Hound distracted long enough for Aurelia to free the Buddies and Pippsqueaks.”

The rest of them nodded before they continued, their hearts racing in fear. Slowly, they entered the manor, the door creaking as it opened. “Warwick!” Joseph called once they were all inside. Sunny, Misty, and Izzy all had their horns charged, just in case, while Zipp and Pipp were hovering in the air, and Hitch had his hooves ready in case they needed any fawna magic. “We're here. We have your book.”

Suddenly, Warwick appeared from above on his staff. “Ah, just in time. Hand it over,” Warwick reached out, waiting for them to hang over the book, causing Izzy to whimper nervously. “Where are the Buddies?” Billy asked bravely. “And the Pippsqueaks!” Pipp continued, glaring daggers at Warwick.

Nopony or warlock or whatever Warwick was... would dare hurt her biggest fans and get away with it.

Warwick shrugged. “Oh, they're around here somewhere.”

He knew exactly where they were, completely unaware of everything that happened while he was waiting for his spellbook to be delivered. “Now, I'll be taking that book.”

However, Joseph stood in his way, grasping the book more firmly. “No book until you hand over those fillies and puppies.”

“Oh, really?”

Sunny saw the expression on Warwick’s face and his hands moved half a second before he cast the spell. She quickly jumped in front of the kids and her friends, them being top priority, quickly forming a golden shield around them. However, Joseph was standing at the forefront of the group and Warwick's spell hit him before Sunny's shield could protect him. The sparks hit him square in the chest, causing him to fly back off his feet and drop the spellbook.

Alice and Izzy shrieked at this while the others looked shocked. “Mr. Johnson!!”

As Warwick cackled, Sunny gritted her teeth as she held up her protective bubble. She wanted to help Mr. Johnson-- she did, but she had to make the choice between helping him or keeping the protection spell up, and she had to choose the latter, despite hating to have to choose at all.

Finally, the sparks died down and Sunny took down the protection bubble when she was sure the immediate danger had passed. Warwick laughed maniacally as he grabbed the spellbook and hurried up the stairs. “Mr. Johnson!” Alice cried out. “Are you okay?!”

“Come on, talk to us, please!” Hitch begged as they gathered around the fallen man. Smoke lifted from his chest as he groaned, barely able to lift his head. “Go after him, you kids. It's up to you now.”

“He's right, guys,” Misty said with a bold face. “It’s up to us to make sure Warwick never hurts anyone else again!”

“After him!” Zipp cried out. And so, the Mane 6 and Sparky led the Buddies' kids up the stairs in another attempt to stop Warwick.

XXXXXXXX

“Now, I shall complete the spell,” Warwick started as he approached the mirror with his spellbook in hand, oblivious to the fact that the Buddies and Pippsqueaks were missing and the spell had already been cast. “And all the creatures of the netherworld will be here forever and I will rule the land.”

Warwick chuckled to himself before placing the book on the pedestal and eagerly opening it. However, the warlock himself was blinded by a golden light with a choir singing in the background. He dropped his staff just as the Mane 6, Sparky and the kids ran into the room.

Sunny levitated the staff with her magic and gave it to Billy, who showed the most responsibility when it came to looking after it and the Mane 6 stood in front of the kids.

Since he didn’t notice them at first, Warwick tried to say the words on the glowing pages, despite the bright light. “Our Father… who art…” he began to say before he realized. “Wait a minute… this is not my spell book!”

“It’s the Bible!” Alice said, just as Warwick turned to face them. “Before we came here, Billy and Sunny had a thought,” Hitch agreed with a firm face. “They knew that if we gave you the REAL spellbook, there was nothing we could do to stop you, so what better than to replace the spellbook with a decoy?”

“Pretty brilliant on their part.” Zipp added with a shrug. “Gotta say, I'm impressed.”

Warwick growled in frustration. “Hand me my staff… boy!”

“Uh-oh…” Misty gulped, feeling as if this wasn't the best idea after all. “No! Protectus!” Billy cried, pointing the staff towards Warwick, the gem at the end of it glowing brightly. The spell’s force was enough to knock Warwick onto the ground with a yell before he fell unconscious, surprising the group entirely.

That’s when Sunny gave the next set of movements. “Hitch, use your earth pony magic to create really long vines! Zipp and Pipp, use those vines to tie Warwick up!”

“Already on it!” Hitch said as he stomped his hooves, creating two long vines for Pipp and Zipp to use to tie Warwick up.

He was out of their manes for now… but it wouldn’t be long before Warwick woke up.

They had to get the spirits back into the mirror, and fast!

XXXXXXXX

Back in another part of the manor, the Buddies, Pippsqueaks, and Aurelia entered a kitchen after exiting the secret passage. B-Dawg managed to talk Aurelia into moving on her own, but she still dragged her feet, her eyes empty of tears, not by choice, but because she had no more tears left to cry. “Oh sweet mama!” Budderball exclaimed, momentarily forgetting everything that's happened that night. “Where there's a kitchen, there's gotta be food.”

“Budderball, now's not the time.” Seashell scolded. “We need to find a place to hide. Now!”

“Yeah, before the Howlloween Hound find us,” Rosebud agreed with a bit of fright. “What's the point?” Aurelia said dejectedly, with her heart broken into a million pieces and burned to ash. “We're doomed anyway. The Hound's probably opened the portal already. Once he's done that… there's no stopping him.”

“Not that attitude!” Mudbud told the white dragon. “You heard Pipsqueak! You got us now, remember?”

“And we’re not gonna stop anypony when we’re stone ourselves,” Glory said. “Everyone spread out! Hurry!”

Aurelia disappeared immediately, cloaking herself, not moving a muscle. “It would be nice if her cloaking abilities extended to others.” Peach Fizz muttered as they all fanned out to find a place to hide. But before Budderball could wiggle himself into a hiding spot like the others, he spotted a jar underneath the table and licked his chops once he saw the label. “Mmm, perfect! Pickled eggs! A fellow can’t fight evil on an empty stomach.”

He walked up to the jar, opening it with his nose and dived in without hesitation... all while the others, even Aurelia, gagged in pure, unbridled disgust. “Ew, Budderball,” Rosebud started, her mouth and stomach twisting with disgust. “Those are eyeballs.”

“They're a bit rubbery,” Budderball answered as he swallowed his current bite. “Besides, I've got a stomach made of steel. You think these are the worst things I've eaten. This barely even makes the top ten.”

As Budderball chowed down on the pickled eyeballs, the Howlloween Hound approached from behind, the bones on his collar clanking together as he watched Budderball continue to dive into the eyeballs. “Uh, dude!” Mudbud said, trying to get his brother's attention. “No, seriously, Mudbud,” Budderball shook his head. “They’re not that bad. You want one?”

“Budderball… please don’t panic,” Seashell said to the largest pup of the five, trying to remain calm, “but the Howlloween Hound is right behind you!!”

“A-And I shouldn’t panic?!” Budderball blurt out before turning around, realizing they were all right. “Hello, children,” the Howlloween Hound smirked. “Just thought I would visit the kitchen for a late night snack.”

Upon hearing this… something inside Aurelia snapped.

The Hound already took everything from her, and he just kept on taking! Wouldn't he ever leave her alone? He just took her best friend, someone she thought of like a brother, and now he wanted to take the few ponies and pups she had left?

Over her dead body!

Aurelia immediately uncloaked herself, standing in front of Budderball with her fangs bared and a snarl emitting from her throat. “No one… gets past… me!”

The Howlloween Hound chuckled at such a remark. “Still willing to fight, dragon?”

“Oh, I’ll ALWAYS keep fighting,” Aurelia said defensively. “You may have taken Pipsqueak… but you will NEVER take my friends!”

However, while Aurelia was trying to stand up to the Hound, B-Dawg suddenly glanced at Budderball and got an idea. “All right, dawg,” he said to the Hound. “You win. But… take Budderball first! He’s got the most meat on his bones.”

“B-Dawg!” Rosebud immediately scolded, shocked to hear him say such a thing. “A-Actually,” Budderball shivered from behind Aurelia, “I’m not that tasty-- really!”

“Silence!” the Hound barked. “I don’t care who’s first. You’ll all end up in the same spot.”

“Trust me, dawgs,” B-Dawg assured the others. “I’ve got a plan.”

Mudbud could hardly believe it. “B-Dawg has a plan?”

“I can have a plan,” B-Dawg said before turning to Budderball, Aurelia and the Pippsqueaks. “Yo, Budderball. When I tell you, let one rip! And Aurelia, you and those fillies charge it up with that dragon breath and cutie mark magic!”

The Hound began to howl, smoke beginning to emit from his throat, giving B-Dawg the right signal. “Do it, dawgs! Now!”

Budderball strained as he put out one of his most powerful farts to date, sending it wafering toward the Hound. “Come on, girls!” Aurelia cried out to the Pippsqueaks. “We have to help!”

Aurelia then launched her dragon fire at the fart cloud, causing it to grow more powerful, and soon, the Pippsqueaks’ cutie marks began to glow before the fart wafered the rest of the way toward the hound.

The wind from the fart pushed the Howlloween Hound's spell back towards him, causing him to cough. “No! This can’t be happening!”

And with the help of Aurelia's dragon fire and the Pippsqueaks' cutie mark magic, the Howlloween Hound was turned to stone by his own spell.

B-Dawg chuckled. “Our secret weapon!”

“That was wicked, dude!” Mudbud cheered. “And disgusting, but seeing as it saved our lives, it was awesome!” Glory added, cheering with the rest of them. “That takes years of practice.” Budderball explained, so proud of himself that he didn't even try to act modest. “Good thinking, B-Dawg!” Rosebud praised. “Yes, great job!” Aurelia smiled before suddenly wondering somethng herself. “But how did you know that would work?”

B-Dawg shrugged. “I knew Budderball's potion could neutralize anything, including the Howlloween Hound.”

In all honesty, he had no idea it would work and it was a risk, , but since none of them had any better ideas, it was a risk he had to take.

Not that he'd admit that out loud. “Guys! We have to get back to the kids!” Peach Fizz realized. “And Sunny and the others!”

“Peach Fizz is right!” Buddha realized. “Come on!”

And so, the puppies, Aurelia and the three filly besties all fled the kitchen, leaving the Howlloween Hound's stone statue behind.

XXXXXXXX

Sunrise was going to happen any minute, and if the Mane 6 and their friends didn’t act fast, the spirits of the netherworld would remain in Fernfield forever.

But they had no idea how to send the spirits back into the mirror.

Luckily, Joseph arrived just in the nick of time, fully recovered from the blast Warwick gave him earlier. “Quickly, Billy!” He urged as he walked into the room. “The sun is rising! Say the spell!”

“Come on, Billy!” Alice urged, her voice panicked. “Say it, dude!” Pete agreed. “Do you know what spell you're doing?” Zipp asked, leaning over Billy's shoulder to look at the book as well. “I… I think so?” Billy answered hesitantly. “Good enough for us!” Hitch urged, pushing Billy forward. “Hurry! Warwick could wake up any second and try to stop us!”

So, with a racing heart, Billy looked at the book, holding the staff before starting the spell itself, with all his friends looking on. “Aboleo alica. Quod etiam bestia. Quod inritus universitas res. Verto super Quod narro is thrice,” Billy said as the mirror began to cloud up… and as Warwick began to regain consciousness. “All's ut eram inerferta furta! Dnuoh Neewollowoh! Dnuoh Neewollowoh!”

By this point, Warwick was fully aware of what was happening, and tried to stop the spell. “NOOOO!!!”

“Dnuoh Neewollowoh!” Billy cried out one final time, causing the spirits that were in Fernfield to come flying back toward the mirror. “You're finished, Warwick!” Joseph yelled as the whisps of white light began to enter the mirror, a sentence he's been waiting to say for 75 years.

The room was filled with spirits as the while around them before entering the mirror. The kids and Mane 6 were scared of all the spirits, but they had to trust the spell would work and stay where they were, otherwise they would probably get caught in the same spell.

As the spirits went into the mirror one by one, Warwick stood up, struggling to stay on his feet as an ethereal wind blew throughout the room. Eventually, he broke through the vines Hitch had created and glared toward the group. He started towards Billy, set on revenge. “I shall take you with me!”

“Not in a million years!” Sunny yelled as she jumped between Billy and Warwick, going at it with him for a second round, but this time, nobody was going to accidentally be turned into a monkey.

As they struggled, Joseph snuck up behind them. Sunny saw this and made their struggle closer to the mirror. Grunting, Joseph stepped on Warwick's foot hard, and, startled, Warwick let go of Sunny, stumbling back closer to the mirror. Joseph pushed Warwick again into the mirror, however, Warwick grabbed the edges in time to keep himself from going in completely. “It's you, that petulant child!” Warwick said as realization struck him. “You're back!”

However, Joseph remained firm this time. “The name is Joseph! Joseph Johnson!”

“NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!” Warwick screamed as he lost his grip and fell back into the mirror. And within seconds, he was gone.

Sunny took a few breaths of relief as Izzy rushed over to her. “Are you okay, Sunny-Bunny?”

“I… I’m fine now,” Sunny said, getting onto her hooves. “Thanks, guys.”

“Um… quick question, though,” Pipp raised a hoof. “W-What if he… you know… comes back?”

“I don’t think that will happen again, Princess Pipp,” Joseph said as he regained his composure. That's when he eyed the staff Billy was holding… and Misty immediately caught on. “Billy… we need this thing destroyed for good. That’s the only way we can ensure Warwick never gets out of that mirror.”

Billy nodded in agreement before turning to Joseph. “We couldn't have done any of this without you, Mr. Johnson. And after everything Warwick has done to you… would you care to do the honors?”

Joseph smiled softly at Billy before grabbing the staff Billy held out to him. He looked it over once, before rearing it back as high as he could and bringing it back down with a yell, smashing it on the wooden floor with all the strength he possessed, shattering the gem inside.

Seconds after the gem broke, the mirror Warwick was trapped in began to crack before the glass inside disappeared, sealing the portal forever.

As the kids, the Mane 6, and Joseph stared at the former mirror, panting heavily, with the gem shattered, the spells Warwick and the Hound casted began to reverse themselves all over Fernfield.

XXXXXXXX

In front of the sheriff's station, Deputy Sniffer was turned back from stone and Sheriff Monkey was back to being Sheriff Dan. In the cemetery, Zelda was also turned back from being stone.

The townsfolk of Fernfield, who were blankly walking somewhere, suddenly went back to being themselves with a Jolt, chatting confused amongst themselves. Back at the manor, Pipsqueak, his siblings, who had been stone for 75 years, and Hoot all turned back from stone as well, free to move and stretch themselves.

XXXXXXXX

Pipsqueak hurried up the manor stairs to the room with the mirror, barking at the boy that was and would forever be his, no matter how old he got or how many years passed with them separated. Joseph turned, his face lighting up instantly at seeing his four-legged best friend. “Pipsqueak!”

The Mane 6 couldn't help but coo as the little beagle puppy ran up to him and jumped up and down along his leg. Joseph bent down and picked him up, hugging him closely.

While the kids and Mane 6 loved watching this heartfelt reunion, they were worried about their own companions. “But where are the Buddies?” Bartleby asked. “And the Pippsqueaks!” Pipp looked around desperately. “Where are they?”

“We’re here!”

“Pipp!”

“We’re okay!”

Suddenly, coming through the door were five golden retriever puppies, three fillies, and one teenage dragon. As soon as Aurelia caught sight of Pipsqueak and Joseph, tears of pure joy filled her eyes. She shot across the room like a bullet, wrapping both of them in a dragon tight bear hug, knocking all three of them to the ground, threatening if they ever left her again, she’d turn them into stone herself and keep them with her at all times.

The kids immediately dropped to the ground to greet their puppies, while the Mane 6 hugged and fussed over the Pippsqueaks, grateful they were all safe. “You are never leaving our sight again the next time we go on a Unity Quest. You are going to be glued by our sides twenty four seven, and we are never going to take our eyes off you,” Pipp said sternly. “Do you understand? I'm half tempted to tie each of you to one of my friends.”

“...we’re sorry,” the fillies chorused, looking at the ground. “For what?” Hitch asked, confused. “There's no way you were expected to fight off the Hound and Warwick all by yourselves. We should be the sorry ones.”

“Yeah.” Sunny agreed. “We should've kept a closer eye on you instead of brushing off Zipp's concerns when she thought there was something wrong.”

The Pippsqueaks looked at each other, before sighing heavily. They learned their lesson once and it was a lesson they did not need to learn again. “But that's just it. Zipp was right,” Glory started, causing Peach Fizz to nod. “We knew the Howlloween Hound had been released since before we left the manor to meet you in front of the sheriff's station because…”

“Because we were the ones who released him.” Seashell continued when Peach Fizz trailed off, all of them looking down in shame.

“You… you did?” Zipp asked, regretting doubting her detective instincts when they were right… again. “Why didn't you just tell us?” Izzy asked, tilting her head. “Yeah. You know you can tell us anything,” Pipp added. “Well, we thought about it…” Seashell started. “But we worried that if we did…” Peach Fizz continued. “You wouldn't let us go on another Unity Quest,” concluded. “Because we messed this one up.”

The Mane 6 looked at each other before smiling and looking down at the three fillies. “We're not mad, you know,” Hitch stated. The Pippsqueaks shot their heads up, looking at the Mane 6 with wide shocked eyes. “Y-You're not?”

“While it's true we're a little disappointed that you didn't come to us first when this whole mess started…” Pipp began. “The truth is, if it wasn't you, someone else would've done it.” Zipp continued. “And I know from experience,” said Misty, “it's okay to make mistakes. Everypony messes up once in a while. It's a normal part of growing up.”

Izzy nodded to this. “The important thing is that you learn from them, you own up to them, and do what you can to fix it.”

“And I've got the feeling you've done all three,” Hitch finished. “So… you're really not mad?” Peach Fizz asked. “Even though we royally messed up?” Seashell added. And this simple question caused Sunny to smile. “You're not the only one who messed up. I accidentally turned Sheriff Dan into a monkey when I was trying to help Billy. As Misty said, we all make mistakes.”

She then turned to the rest of her friends. “And something tells me helping our friends defeat Warwick and the Hound was the reason we were sent here in the first place.”

“Come on, everyone!” Misty called with a smile. “Let's get out of this evil place!”

XXXXXXXX

As the group, which seemed to triple in size, exited the manor, it seemed as though the whole town of Fernfield were waiting outside. They could all hear the siren as Sheriff Dan pulled up in his cop car, assuring everyone that it was okay.

The twenty heroes stood just outside the manor, watching as Zelda, Deputy Sniffer, and Sheriff Dan emerged from the confused crowd, signaling that they were okay, even after being turned to stone or, in Sheriff Dan's case, a monkey.

Hoot was perched on a tree branch just outside the manor, watching with a small smile as the heroes emerged. “Maybe now I can be a wise owl.”

“It's a new day, at last.” Joseph said as he hugged Pipsqueak close. The kids and ponies looked at each other with bright smiles that seemed to shine in the early morning sun.

“Hey, can we get some help over here?”

They all turned to see Rodney and Skip, very much not rats, standing behind some bushes, the same bushes B-Dawg hid behind at the start of all this. And from the looks of it, they didn't have any clothes on.

Then what Skip said next just confirmed it. “Yeah. It's cold! Can someone find our clothes?”

As one, the group of heroes laughed, more than happy that their lives were back to normal, and that their biggest worries were no longer fighting evil dog spirits and powerful warlocks, but were now trying to find the two annoying daredevils some clothes and wondering how many jokes the five kids could make out of this to tease the two boys with for as long as they could.

Yes, the sun had risen on a new dawn, ending one terrifying chapter and beginning a more welcomed one, creating a new day at last.

Saying Farewell and Returning Home at Last

This adventure was finally over.

Warwick and the Howlloween Hound were finally gone.

Pipsqueak, Joseph Johnson and Aurelia were reunited with one another after 75 long years.

The Mane 6 were proud of themselves and the Pippsqueaks for a job well done.

But now… there was one thing left to do.

XXXXXXXX

That next afternoon, after everyone had a full day to try and get themselves together, the kids, Buddies and ponies all stood in front of Aurelia, Joseph and Pipsqueak, along with Pipsqueak’s brothers and sisters in the RV that stood behind them.

The Pippsqueaks and the Mane 6 chose to keep their costumes on, since they would be heading back to Equestria soon, but wanted to give all of their friends a proper farewell in the meantime.

Billy chose to speak first. “Thanks again for all the help on my project, Mr. John… I mean, Joseph.”

“It was a pleasure… dawg,” Joseph said amusingly, causing the others to laugh. “So… what are the three of you gonna do now?” Sunny asked curiously. “Well,” Joseph began, “tracked down Pipqueak's brothers' and sisters' owners. They live all across America now, so we're going to visit.”

“Joseph figured it was about time the three of us did some living,” Aurelia smiled. “See the country and spend some time together after all these years.”

“We’re so happy to hear that,” Misty smiled.

“Yeah,” Hitch nodded. “After all that’s happened, you guys DEFINITELY deserve a vacation.”

As the Mane 6 and the kids continued to talk to Aurelia and Joseph, Pipsqueak turned his attention to the Buddies and fillies. “It's so great to have a new leash on life. I'll miss you, guys.”

“We’ll miss you too,” Seashell smiled sadly. “Yo, dawg, we'll catch you on the flip side,” B-Dawg said. “I think what my brother's saying is,” Buddha clarified, “we’ll never forget you.”

Mudbud nodded to this. “Hang loose, dude. Both you and the dragon.”

“Now that you can eat again,” requested Budderball, “do me a favor. You need to check out the chili cheese dogs at every town you visit and tell us which one's the best.”

“We’re gonna come back to Fernfield soon, I can feel it,” Glory smiled. “And when we do…”

“You’re gonna be the first ones we look up!” Peach Fizz added. Rosebud was the last to bid her farewells. “Have a great time, Aurelia and Pipsqueak.”

Aurelia tipped her head in thanks. “We will. And thank you, for everything.”

“Goodbye, Buddies and Pippsqueaks,” Pipsqueak smiled. Joseph picked up the beagle pup and allowed him to lick his face, causing the Mane 6 to smile alongside all their friends. “I haven’t felt this spry in years.”

“Joseph, we better get going,” Aurelia said. “The country isn’t gonna wait a long time on us.”

“You’re right,” Joseph chuckled. “We better hit the road. Bye, kids.”

“Bye, Mr. Johnson!” everyone chorused while the Buddies barked a farewell. “Bye, Aurelia!”

Joseph and Aurelia boarded the RV, and within minutes, the large vehicle drove off and out of their sight.

Seashell sighed. “Boy… this has been one adventure I’m never gonna forget.”

“And speaking of adventure,” Zipp sighed as she watched the portal open not too far away, “looks like this adventure is over for us. We’d better get you fillies back to Equestria.”

“That’s right! Time pauses back home,” Glory said, “so we still get to go trick-or-treating!”

“We’re gonna miss you guys a lot,” Sam said to the ponies sadly. “We’ll miss you too, but don’t worry,” assured Sunny. “We’ll be back someday. I promise.”

And so, exchanging one final farewell with their Fernfield friends, the ponies and Sparky ran toward the portal before jumping in, leaving Fernfield behind.

XXXXXXXX

“Alphabittle, look!” Paradise gasped as the portal opened and the Mane 6, Sparky and the Pippsqueaks came back through. “They’re back!”

“Mom, Dad!” Misty rushed over and hugged her parents.

“We’ve been wondering if you kids were okay,” Alphabittle stated. “How was your latest adventure?”

“It was so cool!” Seashell exclaimed. “I-In some ways.”

“Let’s just say,” said Zipp, “this adventure really taught us to appreciate the beauty of life a bit more than we thought we had to.”

“And we met some new friends,” Peach Fizz said, “and reunited with new ones!”

“And best of all,” said Glory, “we’re not scared of the Shadow Screechers anymore!”

Paradise blinked in surprise. “Wow, that must’ve been some journey. Why don’t you tell us all about it when we go trick-or-treating?”

“Trust me, Paradise,” Hitch sighed. “We wouldn’t miss trick-or-treating in the safety of Equestria for anything in the world.”

And then, laughing, the group proceeded on their way, another adventure complete, another world was saved…

…and they knew that even though they were far away from their Fernfield friends once again…

…the strength of their friendship would carry through the ages.