“Ah, I see.”

Celestia, in fact, did not see.

First, in the literal meaning of the word, she did not see. At least not clearly.

There was a magic shield in the way.

Golden shimmering barrier stood between her and Night Light and Twilight Velvet.

It was not there for security reasons. Well, at least not for the usual security reason a Princess might want to use a shield.

Suddenly, Night Light sneezed, phlegm and spit landing on the shield, where they began bubbling and sizzling until they vanished into nothing.

“Sorry,” Night Light muttered.

Celestia gave the stallion a sympathetic smile. At least she hoped it was aimed at him. It was hard to tell with the shield in the way. She had to modify the spell heavily to not let anything in.

The result was several inches thick wall of pure magical power that was see-through only by the barest definition of word.

The shield was pure improvisation on her part. Celestia, who, while immune to sickness, was still fully capable of being a carrier. And right now, where almost everypony was on holiday to go to the festival, it fell to her to care for Twilight and Spike until their parents got better.

And Celestia would not risk them catching the flu from her. (Thus, the overpowered shield blocking her field of vision.)

But there was a second thing she did not see, this time more metaphorical.

When Celestia got the message Nightlight and Velvet wanted to speak to her, Celestia thought it would be the usual fare. Probably about Spike or Twilight leaving something behind. It was almost tradition by this point. Though not forgetful, Twilight had too many checklists to forget, the filly often failed to prioritize anything other than books.

Not that it mattered that much. Twilight and Spike spent so much time in the palace that they had all the essentials in their rooms all ready. More often than not, it was the little keepsakes and favorite toys that they had to go back for.

So that was what Celestia was expecting. Twilight or Spike forgot their favorite blanket or doll. Not unusual in itself, with the exception that Celestia chose to make the trip herself - to not risk anypony else getting sick.

But Velvet and Night Light didn't want to talk to her about Twilight forgetting something (though she did leave Smarty-pants behind, the doll now tucked under Celestia's wing.) No, they blindsided her with something else entirely.

“You're really our only option,” Twilight Velvet managed to say despite having to pause to blow her nose seven times before she got the sentence out. Leaving a scattered field of soaked tissues in her wake.

“And you want me to-”

“Take Twilight and Spike trick-or-treating,” Night Light finished, earning a glare from his wife for interrupting the Princess.

Velvet's glare would probably be much more effective if Velvet could go without sneezing for longer than six seconds. As it was, Night Light, half-delirious from fever, simply shrugged..

Celestia sighed.

That. That was the issue.

The Nightmare night.

“We obviously can't,” the very sick Twilight Velvet said. “And poor Shining is even worse off than we’re.”

“I still don’t understand where we got Feather Flu,” Night Light said, voice slurred and slightly feverish. “None of us even have feathers.”

“Shining probably caught it from somepony in the barracks and gave it to us,” Velvet said, then paused. “How is Cadence, by the way?”

“Still recovering,” Celestia replied easily. “The feather flu did not go easy on the poor dear.”

Cadence getting also sick was poor timing. The younger alicorn did not have the same immunity Celestia had - at least yet - and was bedridden for the next few days until she stopped being infectious.

“So, will you take them?” Velvet asked, trying (and failing) to drink some sort of herbal tea without spilling it all over the sofa, table, herself and her husband.

“It would be a great help,” Night Light said, leaning on his wife. “Spike was so excited to go trick-or-treating for the first time and now…” he trailed off.

Celestia winced.

Normally, she would gladly take on any opportunity to spend more time with Twilight and Spike. Even if it was only to keep them from catching feather flu from their parents. Young Twilight was a joy to be around with her ever inquisitive nature, and Spike was simply adorable. Celestia only so rarely got to spend genuine free time with them, outside all the lessons and school.

But this.

This was that night.

Celestia sighed.

Raven Inkwell, the seneschal of her highness, Princess Celestia, could be described as many things.

Dutifully. Stoic. Unflappable.

“No! Bad Spike!” Twilight yelled at the drake. “Don't eat those!”

And currently losing her mind.

The tiny dragon spit out the object previously lodged in his maw. With great speed, it went on its parabolic arc, hitting a target with accuracy that would make an experienced marksman jealous.

Said object was a stapler.

A stapler hitting Raven in the face - her glasses specifically. Which was lucky, because she would otherwise have the joy of having her eyes stapled shut.

The mostly barren room Raven called her office was suddenly filled with the noise of patience running low. (It sounded suspiciously like the gritting of teeth into dust with only the force of one's own jaw.)

“I’m sorry, Miss Inkwell.” Twilight apologized sheepishly, picking the dragon (who blew Twilight a raspberry in response) in her magic. “Spike is just cranky because-”

“You promised!” Spike wailed. “You promised we will go trick or treating together!”

Twilight hushed Spike, though Raven could not but notice the fact that Twilight herself looked close to tears.

“Spike,” Twilight said gently. “You know why we can't. Mom and Dad are sick”

“It's not fair,” Spike whimpered.

Raven shoulders slumped. She was not trained nor equipped to deal with this.

The doors into the office opened. A large figure slowly crept in.

“Princess!”

Twilight, with Spike in tow, bolted for the alicorn, where Spike promptly decided to attach himself to Celestia's leg with a hug, while Twilight skidded to a stop.

“Hello Twilight. Spike,” Celestia said, smiling. Then she looked more closely at the decimated office. “Raven, I do hope they were not too much trouble.”

“They were…manageable, your highness.” Raven allowed, pulling the staple out of her glasses. “But I do have to hurry now. My sister is waiting.”

Barely, almost impossibly to notice, Celestia's smile wavered.

“Ah. I see you’re keeping up with your tradition.”

Raven gave a nod.

“She is persuasive when she wants,” Raven said. “Watching scary movies together doesn't really appeal to me, but it seems season appropriate.”

“It's good for you to relax sometimes, Raven,” Celestia said. “You work far too hard.”

“Somepony has too, your highness,” Raven said, breaking into her own, almost unperceivable smile. “Scheduling and paperwork won't do themself.”

“Of course,” Celestia said. “Thank you. I don't know what I would do without you.”

“Struggle, obviously,” Raven deadpanned. She looked at the clock on the wall. “Time for me to run."

“Goodbye, Miss Raven!” Spike piped up, followed by Twilight's nervous wave.

“Goodbye, and do enjoy your time off, Raven.”

“I shall endeavor to try, your highness.” Raven got up to make her leave. She stopped briefly at the doors, turning towards the two children. “And I’m sorry you can't go out tonight.”

“It's okay,” Twilight said, her expression that it was not. “There will be another next year, right?”

“But that's forever away!” Spike exclaimed.

“I…” Celestia trailed off, then gulped. “I actually planned to take you trick-or-treating,” she finished.

Twilight squeaked. Spike's eyes went wide. Raven simply stared.

“Are you sure, your highness?” Raven said unsurely, “It's… It's that night.”

Princess Celestia gave the short mare a look.

“I’m aware,” Celestia said curtly.

“Oh!” Twilight gasped. “I have to get my costume ready!”

“Me too!” Spike called out after her.

“What are you going as, Princess?” Twilight suddenly asked.

“Sorry?”

“It's a tradition!” Twilight said with all the authority the adorable eleven year old could muster. “Everypony has to go in a costume!”

“I’m a knight!” Spike affirmed seriously.

“It's going to be a surprise,” Celestia said mysteriously, already panicking inside, trying to come up with something.

‘Maybe my old armor? I don't think I took it out of storage since I fought Sombra with-’

She frowned.

‘Or maybe rather not. The old thing probably doesn't fit anymore, anyway.’

“Ready to go?” Celestia said to Twilight, the filly making some last-minute changes to her costume. (She went as Clover's theorem of perpetual arcana. She had to add more pluses to her hat.)

Spike, true to his word, dressed as a knight in cardboard armor. And with a surprising amount of realism too, the tassets and articulation were on point. (Though the gorget was a bit oversized in Celestia’s humble opinion) It even had a fully functioning lance rest.

If Celestia would hazard a guess, a certain royal guard in training probably helped to construct it before he became sick.

In comparison, her own costume was a little threadbare.

Her costume consisted of two parts. First was a memento of hers. Ancient relics, gifted to her by a friend. A blue cloak and a hat, decorated with bells and stars and crescent moons.

She would be afraid that her keepsakes would get damaged, but the whole get-up was so heavy with preservation enchantments and protection charms that it was probably more durable than her armor. (She did try it on for old times' sake. It did not fit.)

The other part of her costume was a badly made fake beard. It was simply some cotton held in place by a piece of wire and an inordinate amount of glue.

“Princess!” Twilight called excitedly, then stopped in confusion. “Who…who are you going as?”

“Star Swirl the Bearded,” Celestia answered with a smirk. “He was a mentor of mine. And an excellent magician.”

Twilight's eyes went wide at the implication of Celestia having a mentor.

“He taught you?” Twilight exclaimed, “He had to be the best mage to ever live!”

“Hmm. Though he could get too grouchy at times. He never did have a sense of humor”

Princess Celestia lifted both of them onto her back, trotting down the street, surrounded by staring parents and their giggling foals. Twilight attempted to bury herself into Celestia’s bellowing mane and hat, while Spike grinned and enjoyed the ride and the sights. (He was the only dragon in Canterlot. He was used to stares by now)

She stopped before a door to one of the more wealthy noble houses near the castle district.

She hummed to herself.

“Twilight, can you remind me what is the procedure for Nightmare Night?” Celestia asked. “I'm afraid I was an adult when trick-or-treating became customary and never participated myself before.”

Spike giggled from under the visor of his cardboard armet.

“You’re old!”

“That I’m,” Celestia said with a smile.

“We ring the bell, then we say trick-or-treat!” Twilight explained.

“Then candy!” Spike exclaimed, lifting his tiny fist and cardboard cut-out sword high.

“Yes! Then they give us candy,” Twilight finished with a serious nod.

“Of course,” Celestia said. “That is the most important part."

She rang the bell and waited.

The doors opened. An elegant mare dressed up as a cat - ears and whiskers included - opened the door.

“Trick-or-treat!” Both Spike and Twilight hollered.

The mare laughed, reached into a bag of candy with her hoof to dispense the prize.

“You’re both adorable, you-”

She then looked up, saw the fake beard, the wizard cap and the billowing rainbow mane, horn and wings, froze, blinked about seven times and then started to shake.

“P-pri-”

“Honey? Are there more ponies at the door?”

A stallion in a clown costume and cartoonishly oversized pants stepped into the foyer, laughing to himself.

He then also froze and stared.

“Good evening Lord Fancy Pants,” Princess Celestia said easily. “Trick-or-treat.”

She turned to Twilight.

“Did I do it right?” she asked the purple filly, practically vibrating with excitement.

Somepony will have an easy time getting settled to bed tonight. If she continues like this, she will be all tuckered out soon.

“Yes!” Twilight said with a laugh.

“Candy,” Spike piped up, ever so helpfully.

“Your highness!” Fancy Pants finally recovered enough to form sentences. “What a surprise-”

“Star Swirl,” Celestia interrupted. “I’m Star Swirl the Bearded.”

Fancy Pants blinked, turned to his wife, then shrugged.

“Of course,” he said. “How foolish of me.”

Candy was given, foals were appeased. All was well.

So far so good.

“Do not eat your candy now,” Celestia admonished Twilight slightly. “You will get sick before bed.”

The filly staring at her candy hoard pouted, but nodded.

After the first house - well, a villa really - the others in the neighborhood followed quickly. Within the half-an-hour it took them to walk down the Palace district, Spike and Twilight had their baskets filled almost to full.

Celestia had a sneaking suspicion that ponies were a smidgen more generous with her around, but such things were almost unavoidable.

At first, Celestia thought about flying down to lower Canterlot and avoiding the Palace district and the nobles within its lavish townhouses all together. But that would take time and Celestia was a little afraid the foals would explode from impatience.

And if the nobles wanted to be generous with her charges to impress her, well, who was she to deny them? It made Twilights and Spikes happy, and that was what mattered tonight.

The problem was, of course, not everypony was so generous when she wasn't around.

“Get out!” screamed Lady Blueblood. “Get out before I call the guards!”

A gaggle of terrified foals, maybe only a few years older than Twilight, ran from the manor. Some ditching parts of their costumes for greater speed at they escaped the premises.

“B-but you led all the others in!” One of them, a colt dressed up in a clearly homemade pirate costume, stuttered out. “Why us?”

“I’ll not have common rabble sullying my garden!”

Celestia frowned.

It was easy for Celestia to see why ponies from the other, less well off parts of Canterlot would make their way up to go and try their luck at gaining a greater prize from those wealthy and showing it off.

And, sadly, for Celestia, she also had an easy time seeing how certain nobles would take issues with ponies outside their close community coming here.

She took a deep breath.

Celestia could understand not wanting to participate in the…holiday. Sweet Ancestors, she knew. For how long had she avoided anything to do with this terrible reminder of that night? It made her blood boil, literally. The very fact that her little ponies would turn this dark day into a celebration of how she banishing her little sis-

Yes, Celestia could understand not wanting to participate. But Lady Blueblood was not refusing to participate. She was simply very choosy about who else should. And she was using her power and status to do it. Power and status given to her by grace of Celestia's own crown. And she was using it to bully foals.

And that would not stand.

“Twilight,” Celestia said. “Do remind me, what is that we say when we ring the doors?”

“Trick-or-treat, princess.”

“Hmm, and what exactly does the ‘trick’ option entail?”

“I, eh,” Twilight trailed off. “I don't know.”

“I think I would like to find out,” Princess Celestia said, horn lighting up. “Hold on tight. We shall be taking a little detour.”

“My lady, the…evicted trick-or-treaters are back.”

Lady Blueblood raised an eyebrow at her butler.

“Well, kick them out,” the noble mare said. She had quite enough of the insolence. First her staff was asking for a day off (denied, of course) and now rabble was invading her domicile as if it belonged to them.

The butler opened his mouth as if to say something, then closed his mouth again.

“I…I don't think I can.”

Lady Blueblood (The Seventh) sighed.

“Useless!” she sneered.

The mare stomped her way to the entrance, kicking the door open.

“I’m calling the guards!” she shrieked. “Do you have any idea who I’m-”

Blueblood looked up.

“Good evening,” Princess Celestia said, her smile wide and sharp as a knife. The group of foals all standing behind her, staring in mix of apprehension and awe.

“Your highness!” Lady Blueblood. “We weren't expecting you. We can-”

“Trick or treat.”

The noble mare blinked.

“What?”

“Trick,” Celestia said easily. “Or treat.

The Princess tilted her head. Something in her eyes changed. Lady Blue Blood began to sweat. Her breath hitched.

“That's your choice. Your two options, yes?” The princess said pleasantly. “As tradition dictates.”

“I’m sorry, there must have been some misunderstanding. I-”

“Now,” the princess lifted her hoof, silencing the noble mare. “Correct me If I’m wrong, I seldom participate in such things. My perspective may be skewed.” Celestia smiled at her. It was a smile that cut.

“But you already made your choice, right?”

Lady Blueblood gulped.

“So, let me ask again.” Celestia said, leaning down until she was eye level with Lady Blueblood.

“Trick, or treat?”

“That was awesome!”

“My bag is full!”

"I didn't know toilet paper could do that!"

“Thank you, Star Swirl!”

Celestia laughed at the foals running around her, leaving the now... improved villa and its apoplectic owner behind. “I was happy to assist my little ponies.”

The foals scurried along, Twilight sighing a sigh of relief as they vanished.

Celestia could only grimace at that. One day, Twilight would need to learn to socialize with her peers. Everypony needs friends.

Celestia knew well what isolation and loneliness could lead to.

“Princess?” Twilight said, yawning. The night did go on pretty long.

Covering the whole villa in magically conjured toilet paper did take some time, after all.

“Yes Twilight?” She said, amused.

“We still need to make the offering.”

It did not take long to find one.

The ‘shrines’ popped up around Canterlot every year for the festival. Ponies would make a sacrifice of candy, so Nightmare Moon would leave them alone and 'ungobbled'.

This one was not very big. A marble cube with small statue of smirking Nightmare Moon on it. Somepony lit candles in a circle around it. There were piles of offered sugary things strewn all over already.

if she ignored the sweets, it almost looked like a tombstone

She hated them. These shrines. The insult baked into the very concept, As if her sister would ever eat foals! She wasn't a monster. She wasn't-

And they never captured how she looked right. It was always a snarling, smug caricature of the real thing. The face of those statues irked her the most. They never captured the anguish, the sorrow, the anger. The hate-

Maybe it was for the best.

Twilight and Spike fell asleep on her back a few minutes back. The streets became more and more empty by the minute as the remaining trick-or-treaters retreated home.

She was alone.

Celestia walked towards the statue.

“Hello Luna.”

The alicorn smiled sadly. The statue stayed in place, as statues do, staring into nothing. Cold stone eyes. Cold stone snarl.

Cold stone.

Celestia looked on her back at the snoring foals.

“I think you would have liked them,” Celestia said fondly. “If only you got to meet them.”

She sighed. The statue stayed. Unmoving and still. Not dead, because you have to live to die. This was stone. It never lived to die.

“This is silly.” Celestia said suddenly. “I‘m talking to the air. You’re not here. You’re gone. So why I’m-”

Celestia stopped. She took a deep breath.

“I’m sorry,” she said. Again. As she always said this night for the past almost a thousand years. An offering of her own. “I’m sorry sister.”

Celestia gave a bitter laugh. Her horn lit up - taking a little from both baskets of sweets. It took a few moments to find the right things.

Dark chocolate. Luna always liked bitter-sweet things, never really going for the more sweet options. Making most of the offering even more ironic.

“I miss you Luna. I love you. And I’ll always miss you.”

“Princess?” Twilight whispered.

“Shh, Twilight, I’m taking us home.”

“You’re making the offering?” Twilight mumbled, eyelids heavy, consciousness somewhere between the waking world and the dream one.

“Yes,” Celestia said simply.

“She looks lonely,” Twilight said, looking at the statue.

“She was.”

Celestia looked back. Twilight was snoring peacefully again.

She smiled at the foal, then met the unfeeling statue's gaze for the last time.

“Goodnight Luna.”

Above her, the full moon shimmered.

Author's Note

Welp, I got an idea for a short blib about Celestia and Nightmare Night, so here it is. it's the spooky season and considering the usual deluge of horror coming, I decided to write this little palate cleanser. A short, cute and little bitter sweet thing.

I like these kinds of stories (about Twilight and Spike’s childhoods). I feel there are simply never enough of them for me to read. (One of these days, I’m probably just going to make an anthology of short stories like these, I swear)

I know they don't say trick-or-treat in the show. Well, I know so now.

Funny story (for a given value of funny) it's a translation error on my part. I watched the show in the dub of my mother tongue when I was younger and that's the version I have seared into my brain matter.

But my language simply doesn't have the expression. So I always assumed that when they said something else in the dub, in the original, they just said trick-or-treat. That's what they do on Halloween in the US, right? And Nightmare Night is clearly just Equestria’s Halloween.

Nope, they do not say trick-or-treat.

And it's not like I haven't seen the English version before. I did. I just don't remember it as well as the dub I watched to death as a kid.

In short, I’m dumb.

But the story was already written when I found out (I decided to check the transcript for something else) and found out.

So yeah.

Anyway, I hope you extracted some enjoyment from it.