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A New Tale For Nightmare Night (Edited By PW)
Author's Note
Trick Or Treat, what a night, here is special Nightmare Night.
Just a little something for the season of spooks, one small micro story to celebrate the festivities and for the poor Stallion to have just a little fun
A New Tale For Nightmare Night (Edited By PW)
Long ago, there was a prince who lived in comfort behind the walls of his castle in Canterlot. The prince spent his days bossing around his subjects and not caring for anyone in the world other than himself, as he grew lazy and crankier and his subjects grew hungrier and angrier.
One day, the subjects of Canterlot couldn't take their abuse anymore, and rising up, they stormed the castle and forced the prince into exile, where he would not oppress any pony anymore.
Alone, humiliated, and powerless, the prince ran into the wilderness, growing resentful of those who betrayed him and heartbroken to learn that he actually didn't have any real friends as a prince, only opportunities leeches seeking a comfortable life by pretending to be his allies.
In a rage, the prince seeks revenge on those who wronged him, only to be shocked when he discovers the actual condition his people lived in… and how those who betrayed him were worse than him when it came time to rule a nation, spreading through and utter misery and despair to everyone.
The prince tried to rile up his people for another hit on the state, but without friends, no power, and no real reason for anyone to listen, he learned what type of monster he was, and the idea alone was enough to make him want to puke.
Ashamed of himself and wiser from seeing the truth, the prince seeks help once more, this time from a darker and wicker source: the mare of the moon, who was more than familiar with the concept of betrayal and revenge and, although violent, had a point behind her actions.
Impressed by his resolve in revenge and finding in him much of her own, Nightmare Moon granted his wish and gave him part of her power so the prince could become her personal agent of terror and righteous executioner to all who seek to harm the innocent.
And thus the prince was gone, and Blood Moon was born! Nephew of the night, and spirit of vengeance and retribution, a title that he didn't waste time to demonstrate upon the wicket nobles before banishing into the night, reuniting with his aunt and waiting for the time when he will be needed again.
And so with each Nightmare Night, Blood Moon wanders aimlessly in the darkness as he hunts for those wicked ponies who break the law or naughty colts and fillies that run away from home, collecting them on his red mist and taking them to his aunt so they can both gobble them whole. So remember, kids, on this day of Nightmare Night, be a good kid and only wander off if you want to encounter Nightmare or her nephew, the Big Bad Stud!
Zecora finishes her story with a poof of smoke to add flare to the tale before turning to the royals. Luna applauds the show and looks at Blueblood. "So? What do you think, nephew? Do you like it?"
"It… a version of what happened to me… kind of," Blueblood answered, trying to use the right words before looking at her confused. "Eating ponies whole?"
"Yeah, I know. I was also confused by that part, but the story needed a scary twist to work."
"Work for what?"
"For scaring little colts, of course," Zecora answered, approaching the two. "No Nightmare Night Celebration is complete without the telling of the story and the offer of candy to save one life. For years, ever since the banishment of Nightmare Moon, this tradition has been one of the most old and beloved of the night. It gives the children a good story to get a fright and marks the end of the beloved night."
"And this year, not only will Nightmare Moon appear, but her nephew will be there too," Luna proclaims excitedly.
"Wait, wait, wait, you… want me to be part of the tradition of collecting candy?" Blueblood asks her in surprise.
"Just picture it, nephew, aunt, and nephew, creating a brand new tradition for Nightmare Night, teaching children to be nice and be good to others… and, of course, enjoying some delicious candies at night. Doesn't that sound like fun?" She tells him with a big smile.
"It sounds like I'm trying to self-insert myself on a legend," Blueblood replied. "Auntie, I'm moved, really, but this is your night, your event. Your special day, when I became Blood Moon for the first time, I wanted to show the kingdom how you can always turn things around no…" Blueblood flares his hooves around. "...whatever this is."
"You don't want to spend Nightmare Night with me?" Luna replies with a hurtful tune.
"No! No, that is not what I mean!" Blueblood didn't waste time rushing toward Princess Luna. "Of course, I would love to spend time with you and Aunt Celly, heck this is gonna be my first Nightmare Night; it's just…"
"It's just what?" Luna asks, still sounding dejected.
"Putting aside the idea of reinventing the idea of Blood Moon… I'm not even sure I can be scary or may go overboard," Blueblood confesses with some heat on his cheeks.
The confession takes both mares off guard.
"That is, what concerns your mind? To be fake or to scare the colts too much?" Zecora ask.
"Yeah, I'm not my aunty; I don't know the first thing about being scary."
The tension in the room quickly evaporates once Blueblood hears Princess Luna and Zecora laughing loudly, to the point that tears start to stream from their eyes.
"What's so funny?" Blueblood asks the two.
"I apologize, nephew. We didn't mean to laugh; it is just," Luna has to clear her eyes before continuing. I did not know the first thing about being scary either; it came naturally to me."
Luna stood from her throne and approached the prince. "I'm sure it will come to you, dear nephew."
She held his chin up lovely. "You are my prized pupil, flesh and blood, and a skillful, quick learner. As I was able to sink into my role as Nightmare Moon, I have confidence you would do the same in your role as Blood Moon. You didn't inherit Celestia's acting skill after all."
Blueblood smiles, and they both share a small laugh as Luna lets go of his face. "Besides, the distraction could be just what we both need now," Luna speaks more somberly.
"I told you, auntie, I'm fine." Blueblood suddenly got defensive and backed away from her.
"Are you, nephew? Ever since your most recent victory, and being just two more tests away from reaching your goals, you have been anything but happy," Luna confronts him in a more severe tone before she softens her gaze.
"You have worked diligently in earning your wings, nephew. Nopony in Equestria knows that fact more than me and Tia. And I'm not saying you haven't stopped and rested because I know you have kept your promise, but resting your body and mind are two different things."
She pokes his head. "And it's clear you need a break from your quest and your worries."
"It's more than that," Blueblood confessed, looking away in shame. "Auntie, what happened to Aunt Celly? What I did at Sharp Shooter hide I…"
Luna silences him and brings him into a hug. "You don't need to tell me. I know how hard it was for you, but it is in the past. I'm not telling you to pretend it didn't happen. I'm asking you not to let that event control your life."
"How can I do that?" Blueblood asks with tears in his eyes.
Luna breaks the hug and clears his eyes. "By spending time with your cool aunt and allowing yourself some fun! The world can wait. I want to give you this small moment in time, nephew. Please don't waste this opportunity. Allow me to take your mind away from your troubles."
"I'm still unsure I can get my head in the game, auntie. Do you think I can rise for the role?"
"But of course, and not that is relevant, but I heard four lovely mares are looking forward to seeing you in their most dazzling costumes." Luna casually drops, looking away with a big grin as she obtains the expected reaction, with Blueblood's eyes widening in surprise.
"So would this be like a global ordeal where we go to all cities to scare everyone? And do you need me to be the scary silent type or more of a bombastic, over-the-top villain?" Blueblood asked, having been sold on the idea.
The answer earned another round of laughs from Zecore and Luna: "We can discuss the finer points later; first of all, we need to work on your speech and presentation. Lesson one: the fog is our friend."
After that, Luna and Zecora spend the day teaching Blueblood about their plans and how it will be the prince's introduction to his very first Nightmare Night.
Weeks later, at the afternoon of Nightmare Night,
Once Celestia finished her early court, she didn’t waste time in dashing to her room and getting ready for her trip to Ponyville, where she fully intended to join her sister in the festivities.
She was halfway done putting on her ice dress when a knock on the door alerted him, followed by his nephew's voice coming from the other side.
"Auntie, do you have a moment?"
"But of course, dear, come in," Celestia calls and uses her magic to open the door before resuming putting on her costume.
"Thank you, auntie, I could use some advice… what are you wearing?" Blueblood asked once he marched in and saw how his aunt was putting on a celest and white with snowflake sequins on it, a puffy long boa over her neck, white gloves, and some light celeste eyeshadow and lipstick, as well as a white crown that looked like yet another snowflake.
"My ice queen costume, of course. What do you think?" Celestia poses in front of him, lifting a hoof. "I was against the puff ends at the gloves, but it blends with the rest, don't you think?"
"Yeah… and that is kind of scary, how well it looks for the mare of the SUN," Blueblood points out.
"Oh, come on, Blueblood. The idea of this night is to be somepony else and have fun," Celestia argues as she goes to her vanity mirror to retouch a little of her makeup. "Plus, I must say that I can fit the role pretty easily," Celestia tells herself, admiring herself in the mirror with her blue horn that now seems made of ice.
"White fur, I'm already a ruler, and let's be honest here, nephew, look me in the eyes and tell me my mane does not resemble an aurora borealis."
"Okay, I admit you got me there," Blueblood admits with a roll of his eyes.
"Anyway, you were saying something about needing advice?" Celestia asks with a raised eyebrow.
"Yeah, the truth is, I'm kind of nervous for tonight, aunty; today is my big entrance, speak, and I… I'm afraid I may ruin the night for everypony else, especially Aunt Luna."
"Come on, Blueblood, don't say that," Celestia approaches him. "It's okay to be scared and nervous for your first time at anything. But before you start to worry, please answer these questions. Who was the stallion brave enough to venture into the den of a criminal trice his size and manage to send him flying?"
"It was me," Blueblood replied.
"Who was the stallion that, after one heartbreaking defeat against a cheater, dusted himself up, created new magic, and bested his foes in a rematch?"
"I did that." Getting more confidence.
"And who is the brave stallion that, against all odds, keeps rising triumphantly against stronger and stronger foes whenever they appear?"
"I am!" Blueblood proclaims in enthusiasm.
"That's right; you are Prince Blueblood, confident, brave, strong, and kind. You have gone to hell and back and become a beacon of hope and determination; you have faced off against the scariest of foes before. And I guarantee you would rise to this one like all other challenges before."
"Yeah!"
"Now go, my sweet little nephew, to my sister and make this Nightmare Night a night to remember!"
"I will do that!" Blueblood tells before rushing out of Celestia's room. Only to rush back inside and give Celestia a big, strong hug.
"Thank you so much, auntie; I needed that."
"Anytime, nephew," Celestia returns the gesture momentarily before Blueblood leaves the room for good, leaving the princess to chuckle.
Oh, it's so sweet how much he reminds me of Luna. All it took was a little bit of an ego boost.
After running for a while, Blueblood reached the balcony where Luna was waiting for you, wearing a black cloak and next to a chariot pulled by two bat ponies.
"Ah, nephew, there you are." Luna acknowledges his arrival and passes him another cloak for him to wear. "Why were you running? You are just in time, and there is no need to rush. The sun hasn't even set yet," Luna mentions, pointing at the horizon of the setting sun.
"Sorry… aunty… got… a bit excited," Blueblood replies in between paintings as he puts the hood on.
"That's okay; I'm excited, too," Luna says. Luna helps him put the hood over his head. "I can barely wait for when Tia and I show you all there is for Nightmare Night. Once we are done with our performance, we can put on other costumes! Oh, you are going to be surprised with what I pick."
"Wait, so we are not gonna be just Blood and Nightmare Moon?" Blueblood asks in surprise.
"Well, if you prefer, you can remain as just Blood Moon, but tonight the night is young! And the possibilities are endless, so there is no harm in having a little fun. Do you remember the summoning spell I taught you?"
"Yeah?"
"Then there you go! Anticipating this event, I place stallion costumes there, too, in case you wish to try other options for the night; it's all about the fun!" Luna mentions excitement.
"Okay, now I'm starting to know why you love this day so much, auntie."
"And this is just the tip of the iceberg, nephew; wait until you see the games." Luna steps inside the carriage, followed by Blueblood as she says that, and the chariot lifts off.
"Prepare yourself, Ponyville! Because tonight the mare of the moon brings a guest! And with it, the flights would be doubled!" Luna announces to the four winds as they fly away.
Early Fright (Edited By PW)
With the night just a few minutes away, Luna's chariot descended on the ruins of the castle of the two sisters to leave Blueblood behind and allow him a moment to ready himself.
At the entrance, Zecora, with her mane flat and some spider webs for effect, was wearing a beige cloak, waiting for the prince in question.
"I will set the mood. Do you remember your signal, nephew?" Luna asks in excitement.
"Yeah, I will wait on that balcony to hear Zecora's story and await when she proclaims my name. Then I will turn into my dusk form and turn the moon red." Blueblood recited the instructions he had memorized.
"Good. After that, follow the group of children and make sure they don't stray from the path. Just loosen up, relax, and embrace your character. Trust me, it's easier than you think," Luna says with a big smile.
"And for extra help, I can mark the trail should you feel lost. Just look for this little lock," Zecora mentions, raising a standard silver look dangling from her hoof.
"As an extra precaution, I add an extra flare to the tale. With these locks has been the fate of those who were bad, serving as warning and guiding signs." Zecora smiled and pointed at a nearby tree, where another silver lock was dangling in its branches, illuminated by moonlight.
"I turned my enemies into silver locks, got it!" Blueblood nods, staring at the one in the tree before looking at Luna. "We will wait right here, Auntie."
"And I will do whatever I can to not delay the festivities. We are going to have so much fun! See you soon." Luna waves goodbye as the chariot flies away, leaving the prince alone with Zecora.
"There is still one hour left before the little ones arrive, which gives us plenty of time for some good old-fashioned warm-ups," Zecora says as she heads inside the castle.
"Warm-ups?" Blueblood repeats as he follows Zecora.
"Indeed, you see, young prince, during each Nightmare Night before the little ones arrive, we open the gates to the older young teenagers seeking some small trills with scares no apt for young children."
As she explains, Zecora guides Blueblood to the second floor, where there are ponies dressed as zombies, were ponies and grotesque monsters with half their disguises on as they chat among themselves.
"You turned the castle into a haunted mansion… eh… castle?" Blueblood is impressed by the decor of the hallways, traps, mechanics of moving armors, false walls, and trap doors being tested around the two.
"Indeed, one more tradition that we call the early fright, and for many teenagers a passing rite."
"One they can treasure forever!" An excited voice called from the right, and when turned, Blueblood was slightly startled when they saw a unicorn stallion dangling from the ceiling. Except the bottom half of his body resembled a realistic tarantula oozing green saliva. His upper half seems relatively normal with his bright orange fur and black mane.
"Hi! Fright Night, director of spooks ghouls and more." The stallion extends his hand for Blueblood to shake. "Nice to have you with us today, Your Highness."
"Thanks for letting me join the fun," Blueblood completed the gesture. "And I must say, Mr. Night, that is one incredible custom; it's almost as if your lower body is fused in the middle of a real giant tarantula."
"Ha, thanks. You would be surprised what you can achieve with patience, wires, paper mache, and some good old-fashioned reanimating and fuse spells."
Fright proclaims, jumping off his web with a spin and landing in front of them, using the spider as his legs. "Here! Let me show you where you can practice your fears. "He encourages the two as they continue walking through the hallway.
"As Zecora said, every night, we turn the castle of the two sisters into a haunted castle for teenagers. For years, I still remember my first early fright. This is not the usual kid's boos and spooks, your Highness, in here we can let loose," Fright explains as he points around.
"We have your usual jump scares," he says, pointing to armor that suddenly leans forward and reveals a half-melted skull in his head.
"The classic flickering lights with spooky shadows." He points to an empty hallway with flickering lights, but each time the lights return, a monster at the end of the hallway seems to get closer.
"You can't go wrong with the proper ambient sounds." He points at the ceiling, where testing spooky soundtracks like chains and howls are playing.
"We even have some psychological horror," He points down at a balcony where a group of ponies are hugging the wall, trying not to be noticed by a giant pony chef working on a deformed kitchen and making a soup… one that seems to have an equine hoof poking out of it.
"Very popular these days, even if a little tricky to pull off."
"So you see, Blueblood, if you have material you want to try, Fright Night is the pony to talk. He can show you the ropes and tell you how to perform."
"Speaking of which, we set the perfect stage for you, your Highness, drum roll, please."
He hit the door frame repeatedly before opening it, revealing the castle's throne room. "Ta-Da."
"The… throne room? You are giving me the whole room for me to scare teenagers?"
"Of course! Think about it! What better place to start the legend of the vengeful prince than where he used to spend his days or where he made a deal," Fright mentions, jumping around the room.
"I'm thinking red fog covering the floor, chains, cages dangling from the ceiling, rusty weapons, skulls, and skeletons, oh yeah. It's all coming together."
Fright says as he uses his magic to set everything up, "With the star appearing on his special seat" With thunder sound effects, a new throne appears at the end of the room, made of swords with some skulls acting as its armrest and poking at the end of the sword acting as a backrest.
"What do you say, your highness? Do you like it? I can also add some fake blood to sell the image!"
"No, no, everything is fine as it is." Blueblood, stop Fright before he does something. "And wow, you really love your job, don't you?"
"Guilty as charged, there is something about the rush of adrenaline, the satisfaction of a good scare, the idea you reach out to your clients; it is enough to put a smile on my face, so what scare would you like to try?"
"Well, I'm supposed to be a vengeful and kind of a hunter, so maybe something that evokes a chase?"
"Say no more! I know what you need. A new group is waiting, and I can guide you step by step. Zecora, could you guide them here?"
"Of course; good luck, young Blueblood." Zecora leaves to bring the teenagers, while Frights explains the plan to Blueblood and assists in choosing the right outfit for the occasion.
Ten minutes later, four ponies, two stallions, and two mares dressed as firefighters and nurses were reaching the throne room.
"I keep telling you, the early fright is losing its edge," One of the nurses with pink and purple fur admits.
"What? Come on, Petals. You were scared," The other nurse, a taller and slimmer pegasus, confronted her.
"Yeah, maybe a little, but after the first surprise, the novelty wears off."
"Damn, Petals, you are ice cold," One of the firefighters, the shorter of the group with light yellow fur, mentioned Petals could only shrug.
"I can't help being harder to scare than others, but hey, A for effort. At least they try."
"I wouldn't be calling victory just yet, Petals; remember, Zecora mentioned they added something new for the throne room," The other firefighter, a unicorn with blue fur, mentions.
"They always try, like the haunted kitchen, the armory, and the garden. The pony-eating plants were a nice touch, but I would not hold my breath; what else could they try?" Petals ask sarcastically as they reach the entrance.
"You are all about to see. I hope this last stop is just what you seek," Zecora says as she slowly opens the door. Petals rolls her eyes and marches inside with her friends.
"Whatever, hit me with your best shot, haunted castle."
They were slightly startled when the door suddenly close shut behind them, making them look back and then forward, where they saw a row of six skeletons with crowns on their heads and swords poking out of their chest as evidence of a gruesome end, one finally the room a seven throne room with yet another corpse this one of a pony with a triangular hat, a leather outfit and a red cape holding what appears to be a golden key.
The floor was covered by a red mist, and the sounds of chains and clanks from suspended cages on the ceilings caught everypony's attention.
Looking up, they saw even more weapons stuck to the ceiling, marks of a struggle with swords, and burn marks.
"What happened here?" The nurse asks.
"It looks like some bizarre and gruesome execution," The blue firefighter mentions, pointing at a painting of a king cross out. The room seems to have those on the walls with the same situation, cut by a sword or the words "traitors" written all over the place.
Examining the place, they even see piles of gold and hoof sticking out everywhere.
"We are also locked," The other stallion points out as he tries to open the door.
"Figures," Petals remains calm as she advances to the corpse at the end of the room. "I think I get it. It's atmospheric fright. The room is creepy, and you don't want to touch anything, but you need to grab that key. I bet it's covered in slime or something," she explains calmly as she continues to approach.
"Petals, wait, what if it's a booby trap?" The nurse tells.
"Oh, come on, Rose. This is a haunted castle, not an escape room. They frightened us, so there's no need to go over…" Petals grab the key, only to gasp and yell when the corpse hoof grabs her complex and comes back to life.
Letting go of Petals, she stumbles and falls back before backing away as the pony rises from his throne.
"Naughty mare, looking for something to steal?"
Blueblood spoke in a deep, dark voice with black eyes and red pupils. "Those who broke the law shall be punished," the prince proclaimed before stomping the floor, making stone walls rise, and trapping the group inside a maze. "Do you wish to escape? You are welcome to try while my blade seeks your chest."
"Petals!" Rose calls in alarm from the maze walls, starting to panic.
"Okay, okay, this is scary, I get it," Petals admits starting to get afraid too, not helped by the sound of blades poking out of the walls and causing them to run.
Soon, the room was filled with screams as the ponies ran away while Blueblood chased them around until they stumbled into the front door, where the key was now, and they worked desperately to open it.
The prince purposely walked slowly, letting them open the door before starting to run once they managed to cross and close the door behind them.
Ending the event by stabbing the door a couple of feet on top of the ponies for one last scare.
Once they were gone, Fright appeared and put the room back in place.
"Not bad, Your Highness! Not bad, you are a natural at scaring."
"You think so, Mr. Night? I didn't go overboard back then?" Blueblood looks at the spider stallion, who shakes his head. "Nah, they love it, trust me, and it looks like the throne room experience was a complete success! Do you want to give another round until you make your entrance?"
"Well, it never hurts to practice. I can give it another go."
"That is the Nightmare Night spirit! Let's give these hormonally confused colts a good fright!" Fright says in excitement as he jumps to the wall. The two prepare to scare group after group until it is finally time for the prince's big entrance.
Heading to the balcony, the prince glanced at himself in a vanity mirror and took a deep breath with his eyes closed, mentally preparing before smiling and pumping himself up.
"It's show time!"
Blood Moon Big Entrance (Edited By PW)
A group of children is hearing the story of Nightmare Night around a caldron, and Blueblood waits for his signal. He is surprised to see the look of interest of the kids and their parents when Zecora adds the story of Blood Moon to her tale, with fog images of him with his face blurred.
Among the group, he could see Spike and Twilight. The dragon was dressed as a three-headed dragon, while Twilight surprisingly dressed as Cadence. Yet there were no more of the mane six among the crowd.
Slightly disappointed, Blueblood almost misses his cue before transforming into his dusk alter ego in time for Zecora to proclaim the sigh of a red harvest moon, turning the night red.
"..ah, and would you look at that, tonight of all nights, the moon shines red; tell my everypony, have you been nice fillies and colts?"
The colts remain quiet and look around before getting scared when they see Blood Moon staring right at them from the balcony before banishing on a poof of smoke.
"There he is! Is Blood Moon!" One of the colts exclaims in fear as they all look at the empty balcony.
"Oh, very funny, Snails," Diamond Tiara complains in annoyance. "I bet Blood Moon doesn't even…"
A cracking sound alerts the kids again as they look at the foliage. "...real?" Diamond finishes getting scared as the kids and Spike huddle together, trying to locate Blueblood.
The cracking of branches keeps happening all around them as they spot fleeting shadows everywhere, and more red mist starts to zip everywhere.
Okay, Blueblood, you are almost there; I need to say something scary.
Blueblood pumps himself up as he prepares himself. Standing behind the backs of all the kids, he leans forward to whisper something loud enough so they can all hear it, even if it is a whisper, and then speaks.
"Boo."
The second he spoke up, all the children jumped from their fear and turned around to spot Blood Moon before screaming and running away in panic. Only Twilight and Spike remained in time to see Blood Moon hoof facing himself.
"Boo? Seriously?! I just needed to say something scary and say, "boo"? Stupid!" Blueblood keeps chastising himself in embarrassment as Twilight chuckles briefly.
"I thought it was funny, and if you scare them regardless, does it matter?" Twilight mentions as she approaches Blueblood.
"I didn't know you were going to join on the legend of Nightmare Moon Blueblood, although considering how you obtain your dusk form, it kind of makes sense," Twilight mentions with interest in her voice.
"Hi, Twilight, and yeah, Aunt Luna suggested the idea and decided to give it a try. I look like the spawn of Nightmare Moon like this, right?" He mentions as he pose and Twilight nods.
"Yeah, you do, and it seems like you inherit her taste for gobbling little ponies whole," Twilight jokes, holding her hoof against her mouth and chuckling.
"That is gonna take me a while to get used to," Blueblood admits with a roll of his eyes. "Nice costumes, by the way."
"Thanks, I'm a three-headed dragon," Spike proudly mentions.
"And this year, I decided to make a little role play; watch this." Twilight cleared her throat before she started prancing around. "I'm the princess of love; I spread love and kindness wherever I go and erase any frown I see around," She proclaims as she spreads some glitter everywhere.
"Okay, I think Candy would find it more than funny and a little flattering once she sees you, Twily," Blueblood comments. "Stay away from all the ponies dressed as Shining Armor; they may try something." Blueblood half-warns, half-jokes with a chuckle.
"So, would the moon stay like that all night?" Spike asked, pointing at the sky, which was still reddish in hue.
"Nah, it's just for effect while I do my job. Once the tributes are done, I will return to normal and put the night back in blue," Blueblood explains.
"Speaking of which, we need to keep going, young prince. You need to be on the lookout for wandering children and ensure that no kids get lost in their tracks," Zecora mentions to the prince.
"Right, still on the clock; see you later, Twily?"
"Sure, look for us at the castle or in town. Rarity told me she is eager to see you. However, I'm unsure if it's because she wants to show you her costume or see you. Anyway, have fun, Blueblood." Twilight waves goodbye as she and Spike leave.
The prince waved back and then followed Zecora deeper into the woods, heading to the Nightmare Moon statue. Zecora told him a couple of tricks and what to expect on the terrain he would be patrolling.
Once they hear the voice of children in the distance, Blueblood takes his cue and hides in the foliage. Zecora reunites with the kids and acts again as their guide. The kids soon return to a more cheerful group.
"You were totally scared," Sweetie Belle said with a slight chuckle.
"I did not," Scootaloo defended herself..
"Ah, come on, Scoots, it's okay to be scared; we all were back then," Apple Bloom mentions. As the prince looked at their small little argument that had left them trail behind, he couldn't help but chuckle at how they decided to dress up as the three stooges, with Apple Bloom being Moe, Scoots, Curly, and Sweetie Belle, Shem.
"And it kind of a good lesson, be a good filly and don't wander off into the woods," Apple Bloom explains.
"Yeah, yeah, I get it, but I'm telling you I'm not scared! I'm like my idol Rainbow Dash; nothing scares me," Scoots proclaims, hitting her chest as her friends start to back away at the shadow approaching as Blood Moon appears from the mist behind Scootaloo.
"Is that so?" Blood Moon asks with a raised eyebrow right behind Scootaloo.
The filly remained quiet before dashing away as fast as she could, following close behind her friends.
Blueblood chuckles briefly before returning to the foliage. Thankfully, no other children get lost, and his job is reduced to being on the lookout for any stray animals until they arrive at their destination, a statue of the mare of the moon in a menacing pose in the middle of the forest.
Wow, there IS a statue of Nightmare Moon here? Why? It is perfect for effect, but who builds a statue in the middle of a forest? Unless this wasn’t always a forest?
Blueblood pounders as he lays low and allows the kids to tribute some of her candy in front of the statue.
Once the mountain was filled, Nightmare Moon started cackling with a storm cloud before appearing. She made an over-the-top speech saying how this year she would spare the kids for their candy for now and warned them to be nice or they may get a visit from her spawn.
Taking that as his signal, Blood Moon appears behind the kids and makes his eyes glow. "Do I smell naughty kids? I hope so. My aunt is a little peckish tonight, and nothing would make me happier than to offer her some extra snacks tonight." He finishes with a smirk as he watches the kids scream in horror and run away, making sure they remain on the safe side as they go back to Ponyville.
Once they were gone, the royals and Zecora chuckled and broke the act.
"Well done, nephew! As I suspected, you embrace your role flawlessly!" Luna praises as she approaches and hugs Blueblood, still in his Nightmare Moon disguise.
"Well, it wasn't much of an act, to be honest, but you were right. It was fun, and if it taught them to stay safe, all the better," Blueblood replied as he nuzzled Luna's neck, and they broke apart.
Luna, save time in approaching the mountain of candy. "And now for the spoils, we collect quite the tribute this year. Does anything here catch your eye, Zecora?"
"I wouldn't mind one or two chocolate bars or some gummy bears," Zecora replies as they inspect the pile of candy to share while Luna looks back.
"And what are you waiting for, nephew? Come here and pick your treat."
"Wait, really? But aunty, all of this is YOUR candy."
"And I love to share it with my friends and family. Now come here, you help us collect it, so this is as much your candy as it is ours," Luna replied.
"Thanks," Blueblood smiles and approaches the group. "By chance, are there any of those cream-filled candies or chocolate-covered marshmallows?" He asks as they look and separate the candy into three piles for their enjoyment.
"Thanks again for all your help, Zecora." Luna thanked her once they had put their candies in three different bags.
"It was my pleasure, your highness, and now that our activities are done, all of us can enjoy the rest of the night," Zecora exclaims excitedly. "Should I expect you later in the center of town?"
"We will be there; Aunt Celly is probably arriving by now," Blueblood replied.
"Which means we can now change into something more fun. Also, nephew, could you end your little trick?" Luna asks as she points up at the blood moon.
"Ah, right. Sorry, I forgot." Blueblood chuckles as he closes his eyes and breathes in, slowly returning to normal as the night goes back to normal.
"There, all better," Blueblood nods as he looks at his aunt. "So what are you gonna dress up as this year, aunty?"
"Ah-ah, that is for me to know and you to find out by the time comes. For now, you should be thinking of your costume. My wardrobe is at your disposal, nephew," Luna tells him excitedly as she reverts to her original form and teleports away hers and Blueblood's candy.
"Do you wish for me to teleport you into the city, or would you rather walk?" Luna offers as she prepares her horn.
"I… I would walk; it will give me time to think of a good costume." The prince ultimately decided to incline her invitation as Luna nodded.
"Fair enough, but try not to take too long; there is still one long night ahead of us, nephew, and there are so many games for us to try. Just look for us at the gaming booths," Luna mentions before she and Zecora depart with a teleportation spell, leaving the prince alone.
Taking the opportunity, Blueblood takes a deep breath and admires the moon in the sky.
I wasn’t so sure at first, but Aunt Luna was right. After all the madness in my life, having the chance to stop and have fun is… refreshing. It reminds me how comfortable it is to live with hooves.
The prince pounders as he stares at his hoof before chuckling and shaking his head.
Oh, come on. This is no time to be melancholic. Think Blueblood. What could you dress up as just for fun?
The prince starts debating as he slowly traverses the road back to Ponyville.
I mean, worse come to pass. I can stay as Blood Moon, although that implies a whole red night, and I’m not sure if that could be so good for the animals or the flora. Not to mention how, with my introduction, ponies may think I’m still in character and run away from the vengeful…
Blueblood paused as an idea came to mind.
…spirit? Do I dare?
The prince asked with a smirk, and an idea came to mind. He cast the special summoning spell Princess Luna saved for him.
Oh, why the heck, no? It's Nightmare Night, the night for fun and surprises.
With the festivities in full swing, Princess Celestia, in her ice queen costume, enjoyed the night chatting with everyone or taking pictures with other ponies dressed up. She found a particularly amusing moment when someone asked her and three other mares to pose as the four seasons in nature.
She makes sure to ask for a copy of that picture later on before continuing to explore the town and its games.
"So even when disguised, you can't help but still be a ruler, dear sister?" Luna questions with a smirk as she approaches Celestia.
The monarch of the sun was surprised by the question before smirking as she took a good look at Luna.
"You are one to talk, Luna, or is the fire queen now?" Celestia asks while admiring Luna. She is wearing an elegant long black dress with a semi-transparent cloak with a red sequence on it underneath a prestigious golden armor chest and crown that resembles a flame. Luna did some work on her mane so they resembled smoke and flames, and she put some red makeup and even flame paint on her face to complete the effect.
"You are not the only one who can pull an ironic costume, dear sister."
Celestia can only roll her eyes and chuckle. "Whatever you say, dear sister, how was Blueblood in his big debut?"
"Simply flawless, dear sister; our nephew had a natural flare for this; you could say he is more accustomed to being Blood Moon."
"Oh, Luna, by any chance, this night was also a way for you to place the idea of preferring his dusk form in Blueblood?" Celestia questioned with a slight smirk.
"I have no idea what you mean, dear sister." Luna fakes ignorance as she looks away. "I'm just saying that he picked my form first, and there is a celebration behind it."
"And mine would always be remembered to inspire generations to come."
Luna growls, making Celestia chuckle.
"Oh, relax, Luna, I'm just jesting. You know he loves us both, even if mine is better."
"It's not."
"It is."
Celestia shook her head before they could break into an argument. "Let's not sidetrack and enjoy the night, shall we?"
"Agree; there are so many games I want to play alone and with you, and I still need to decide which one to show Blueblood first."
"Speaking of which, where is he?" Celestia asks, looking around.
"He told me he needed more time to decide what to dress up and would meet us here. He is probably on his way as we speak."
"Princesses." The voice of Rarity catches both royal's attention as they look to the crown, where Rarity, Applejack, and Fluttershy appear.
Rarity captured more attention with her dazzling red and blue dress with diamonds on it, sparkling in the moonlight. She also wore a diamond tiara with diamond paint on the left side of her face, completing her look at the poker card of the queen of diamonds.
Applejack was the more subtle composition of a blue dress; her hear comb in two ponytails with a white shirt and a basket was Whinona, poking her head. AJ was also wearing red sparkling slippers, and finally, Fluttershy was the simplest of all, wearing just a red hood and a basket with a blanket on it.
"So glad you could make it, and may I say your costumes are divine!" Rarity doesn't waste time complimenting their ice and fire costumes, admiring their craftsmanship.
"Thank you, Rarity, yours look beautiful too," Celestia complimented.
"And I'm kind of surprised; I was under the impression that you would be against the idea of dresses, and you didn't exactly enjoy the night, Fluttershy," Luna commented, looking at both mares.
"I'm not exactly against wearing a dress, your highness," AJ explains. "I just don't like wearing them outside special occasions or parties; they all get in the way when you work at the farm," Applejack replied.
"And I'm trying to be a bit more assertive and try to join in on the fun too," Fluttershy comments, raising her head and surprising Luna when she notices how her costume was more elaborate than she initially thought. The shy pegasus wasn't dressed as a red riding hood but a vampire with her fangs and a darker pink mane. She was also wearing a gray vest and pink shirt that, combined with the hood, made her look like some noble vampire.
"I see. Well, I'm glad all of you will be joining us tonight; the more, the merrier," Luna smiles and happily nods.
"Indeed," Rarity also nods. "Say, have you seen Blueblood? I've been simply dying! To show my latest work," Rarity says with excitement, earning a chuckle from the princesses.
"He is on his way, so don't worry. Just need a couple more minutes to think of a costume."
At that moment, they heard a drum roll. Looking ahead, the group saw a costume contest, with Rainbow Dash, the host of all ponies, wearing her usual Shadowbolts costume.
"And the runner-ups for the coolest, most awesome costume for Nightmare Night after mine, of course. Are Optimus Stud and Giorno." Rainbow announce. Pointing at both ponies, one wearing a detailed costume of Optimus Prime, the other wearing a golden suit with a heart and a comb of hair resembling three kinds of ravioli.
"Let settle this with a good old-fashioned round of applause! Stallions make an entrance and let the audience decide!" Rainbow suggests as Optimus goes first.
"Autocolts! Roll out!" The pony calls and fakes the sound to impress the public by changing into a tractor.
"Hmph! Is that the best you can do? Hide it as a vehicle while you call your minions. Allow me to show you how to make an entrance."
Giorno calls out as he steps forward and stands on two legs. "All touch becomes gold; you will soon learn the power of my gold experience!" He poses like he is ripping part of his shirt as a ghost gold creature appears next to him, and he stares at the public, who goes wild.
Even Rainbow seems impressed, stomping the ground. "Well, I say that is impressive. Sorry, dude, but he clearly knows how to make an entrance. Better luck next time." Rainbow pats the runner-up and picks a trophy. "Looks like it's decided then. The winner is…"
Everyone stopped when they heard something in the distance, followed by a chuckle echoing everywhere as the lights were turned off.
"What the…" Rainbow looks everywhere as the laughter increases until a spotlight turns up and points at the rooftop, trying to follow a shadow who is using a grappling hook to jump from rooftop to rooftop.
"Is that… Mare Do Well?" Rainbow questioned herself until the figure spoke up.
"Citizens of Ponyville, do not bother hiding your hearts; the phantom thief will always find their targets; get ready to face the Joker!"
Blueblood spoke up, wholly immersed in character, as he posed with a strange, long specter and wore a top hat to the audience.
The prince was wearing a long domino mark with black liners on the eyes, a black wig, a black trenchcoat, a gray vest, and two red globes for his frontal hooves.
Everyone remains quiet as the lights remain, and Blueblood steps into the scenario, making everyone cheer and give him a huge round of applause.
"I… have no words that IS an entrance." Rainbow Dash can only shake her head and offer the trophy to Blueblood, who simply shakes his head.
"Please, give it to him. I may be a thief, but neither he nor this trophy are my targets." Blueblood continued before jumping off the stage and heading to his aunts once he spotted them.
"Ta-Da!" What do you think, aunties?" Blueblood asks, extending his front hooves. "Too much? I hope I didn't go overboard; I love your costume, Aunt Luna. Didn't know you and Aunt Celly were going for an ironic costumes match this year."
"We weren't," They replied at the same time.
"This was just a coincidence," Celestia clarified. "And to answer, no, your costume looks fantastic, dear. Is that an elegant thief get up?"
"Sort of, yeah, a phantom thief. A hero who fights for what is right and punishes those with rotten hearts. It's a long story, but that's the short version."
"And it seems you have a speech ready to go with it, too," AJ chuckles as she glances Blueblood over. "It really suits you, partner. It's pretty slick."
"Thanks, AJ. Your costume is pretty as well," Blueblood admits awkwardly as they share a slight blush.
"And what do you think of mine, darling?" Rarity asked, fishing for a compliment as she posed in front of him.
"What else can I say that they haven't told you a million times, Rarity? You are the very definition of a sparking and magnificent queen of diamonds with beauty in and out radiating everywhere. And your costume is incredible, too."
That hit hard on Rarity as she can't stop giggling like a school filly. "Oh, you…" She needs a second but gets the idea of a hidden two-part compliment, making her blush and have another fit of giggling. "My, my, Joker, you are good with words."
"Just show my lady the manners she deserves." Blueblood keeps on the act as he grabs her frontal hooves and plants a small kiss on them, making Rarity giggle uncontrollably as she steps back a couple of steps in embarrassment and happiness.
The princesses share a knowing smile as Blueblood goes for the final mare.
"And, of course, the bravest of them all, Fluttershy. You do not know how happy I am to see you here."
"I… I wanted to try something and fight my initial fears," Fluttershy confesses.
"If you ever feel afraid, know that I'm always here for you; it will be like in the mascarade, Fluttershy; remember Angel conducting your animals?"
Fluttershy can't help but smile and nod. "Thank you, I will remember it."
With all three mares blushing and in bliss, Blueblood walks toward Luna.
"And I must thank you too, auntie."
"Whatever for, nephew?" Luna asks, faking surprise.
"For getting me out of the castle, you were right; it has been some time since I gave a chance to breathe. I needed a break from everything and to remember to have fun. I don't know what will happen tomorrow and don't want to think about it right now."
He brings the two princesses into a hug. "Right now, I only want to spend the night with all of you and have fun."
"As do we, nephew. I'm so glad to see you happy." Celestia and Luna return the hug, and the three share a moment until Pinkie calls for their attention.
"Joker!"
Blueblood was surprised as he ended the hug in time to see Pinkie running and stopping in front of him wearing a cat costume, a black cat that seemed to be wearing a cat mask on top of her head, a yellow scarf, and a utility belt.
"There you are, Joker! Let's go! We need to go into our next assignment!" Pinkie proclaims, immersed in her own character. This only seems to surprise Blueblood even more, as she seems to be wearing something from the same universe.
Deciding to ignore that, the prince only laughs and nods, "Tell us the intel, Morgana!" He plays along, and Pinkie explains their plan of action for enjoying the rest of the night in peace.
When the time came to call it a night, everyone said their respective goodbyes, with Blueblood offering to accompany the mares to their homes, with Rarity being the last one, as she wanted a moment to talk while taking a walk in the park.
"Tonight was incredible, darling," Rarity mentions, still in bliss as she leans on Blueblood's shoulder.
"It was. There was so much for me to experience: the games, the costumes, and even practicing how to scare kids. I hope to do the same next year."
Rarity giggles and sighs. "I would look forward to seeing what dazzling costume you choose."
"As would I, even if knowing you. I bet you already have something in mind."
"Maybe?" Rarity jokes before taking a deep breath. "Blueblood… how are you feeling?"
"I'm not going to lie. Part of me is still nervous. My enemies are still out there, and what they say still haunts my dreams," he confesses, looking at Rarity.
"I can't stand the thought of you getting hurt because of me."
"Darling, we told you before, we can defend ourselves."
"I know you can, but I can't help getting worried, Rarity. I understand what it feels to be in love, and I wish for this to be the time."
"I know, darling, it's still too soon." They stop, and Rarity holds his front hooves with her own. Around the two, other couples share a moment alone.
"Say, darling, do you know about one last tradition of Nightmare Night? One reserve for couples only."
"I think we both know, I don't," Blueblood chuckles.
"Well, allow me to teach you. During Nightmare Night, right at midnight, couples enjoy sharing one last treat before ending the night. It goes something like this: First, you need to close your eyes, could you?"
The prince doesn't respond and closes his eyes.
"Good. Then you wait for the bell's toll, which will happen any moment now; once you hear it, you can open your eyes again."
Rarity let go of Blueblood's hooves and applied some lipstick in anticipation until midnight arrived, and Blueblood received quite the surprise from Rarity as their lips parted ways moments later.
"Happy Nightmare Night, dear; I hope you enjoy my last trick and treat. Even if we can't be, we can still have this little moment." Rarity smiles and winks at him. "And don't worry, we know we can wait, and it is almost over. And when that happens, we can figure out a way to talk to our friends together."
"Have I ever told you how much I love you?"
Rarity giggles, and they share a hug. "With words or with actions?"
They keep laughing and resume their stroll, ignoring how Twilight, looking for Blueblood, stumbles into a scene that scares her to the bones.
"B-b-blueblood, and… Rarity… no, no, no, no!" Twilight mumbles to herself, starting to get into a crisis as she backs away slowly before running away.
Author's Note
Even if late, happy Nightmare Night everyone, hope you all had fun
