The Nightmare Before Nightmare Night

Chapters

Twilight's Lament
What's This?
Danse Macabre
No Rest for the Wicked
Bagging Magic
So Alive
Helter Skelter
Hallelujah
Feed Me
Spirits in the Sky
This is Nightmare Night
Thriller
The Music of the Night
The Ultimate Showdown (Of Ultimate Destiny)
Big Black Motha
Poor Soulshard
This is Nightmare's Eve
Sweet Home Necropolis

Twilight's Lament

Oh how I've always loved my faithful student,
Brash when she needed to be but forever prudent.
With just a few words she had the entire town under her cause,
And noghoul, not even her closest 'friends' could give her room for pause.
How beautiful is the night when it can pull such strings?
Perhaps you don't believe me? Well, you should take a closer look, then.

"RAAAAAAAAAAAAWWWWWR!" Apple Doom, Rotten-Belle, and Scootaweb bellowed, actually managing to widen Twilight Soulshard's eyes.

She then gave a wide grin of approval. "Simply rotten, girls! You've improved since last year!"

"Yeeeees!" they beamed, Scootaweb continuing with, "out of ten, how did we do!?"

"Yeah! Tell us pweeeeze!" Apple Doom begged, her lycan fangs glistening.

"Mmmmm..." Twilight mused, placing a hoof on her chin. "I'd say eight out of ten, but keep practicing and you'll up it a number soon, I know it!"

"Sickening!" Rotten-Belle grinned. "We'll get our Putrid-Marks in screaming yet, girls!"

Scootaweb then smiled widely, her bug-like eyes filled with glee as she hopped merrily on her eight arachnid legs. "So, can we actually go to the other side this year, Twilight?"

"Mmmmm, I'm not sure about that..." Twilight said. "It's dangerous over there, you know, though I would like to finally see that for myself. I do hear the Equestrians have been stocking up on guns the last few years, however..."

"But we can't be killed by guns!" Scootaweb pouted. "Well, some of us can but not Rotten-Belle at least! She's already dead!"

"And I can only be killed by a silver bullet!" Apple Doom cried. "How am I any different from mah sister?"

Twilight gave a slight chuckle, turning towards Rotten-Belle first. "First of all, you still need to graduate from the Ghost Academy." She then turned towards Apple Doom. "And unlike your sister, I think the other side might think you're more cute than scary at the moment."

"CUTE?!" Apple Doom bellowed, before grunting and kicking at Town Square's hardened dirt. "That's not even funny to joke about, Twilight!"

"Sorry, sorry!" Twilight chuckled, rolling her eyes. "I just don't want you three to get hurt; your sisters would kill me. Bullets are still painful, you know."

The Putrid-Mark Crusaders gave three confident grins. "No pain! No game!"

The Lich Queen narrowed her eyes. "The answer is still 'no game.' I'm sorry, girls."

A more defeated look couldn't come upon three young ghoul's faces. "Dawwww," they groaned, sauntering down Main Street as Twilight gave a slight sigh.

However, her mood would not stay stale for long.

"Hey Twilight!" a country accented voice called from behind her.

She began to turn. "Oh hey, Applemoon, what- WOAH, BY THE NIGHT!"

Applemoon's normally slightly glowing yellow eyes were now burning as bright as two miniature stars.

"Check it out! I got Zehorra to mix up a special potion for me this year. How do you like them peepers?!"

"Horrible! Simply horrible!" Twilight grinned.

At that, Twilight felt another presence approaching her.

"Um, Twilight..." a small squeak came from her side, Flutterfright entering the scene. ”Would it be alright if I just... bit people on the other side... but not drink their blood?"

"Ughhh..." Twilight groaned. "Still going through that vegetarian stage of yours? Come on, Flutterfright! I know plasma packs don't make up for the real thing!"

"Yeah but..." she squeaked. "I think it's worth it... I just don't think any living thing deserves to be violated in that way..."

"Yur just feedin' like any other animal, sugar. N' it don't do them no harm," Applemoon stated.

Flutterfright gave a sigh. "Well... maybe a little nibble won't hurt," she said, smiling slightly. "It has been a long time..."

"That's the spirit!" Twilight grinned.

At that, sauntering by came the town's resident mad scientist, a mechanical claw like contraption on his grey back holding the frowning head of Derpy Stitched. The doctor seemed to be just as disgruntled.

"You know, I've always said you'd lose your head if it wasn't stitched onto your body, but you've actually gone and done the opposite!" he growled.

"Everything alright, Dr. Whoovenstein?" Twilight said, raising an eyebrow.

"Yes, yes," he groaned. "Derpy here just went and lost her body!"

The Derpy head gave a slight grunt. "I said I'm sorry, doctor! I tripped and the rest just fell off, and the next thing you know it's galloping away! I just don't know what went wrong... did I do something to offend it?"

At that, the evil doctor gave her a slight, apologetic smile. "No worries, my dear, it was my fault really, and no worries to you as well, Twilight Soulshard," he said, giving her a manic-laced grin. "I'll make sure Derpy here is all ready to go for Nightmare's Eve. It's only four days away, yes?"

"You got it!" Twilight said with a confident smile.

"Excellent, excellent!" the doctor said, his eyes twinkling with anticipation. "Now, if these damned drums will reside for a second perhaps I'll remember to double-stitch your head this time, Derpy!"

"That'd be nice..." she grunted.

The doctor then nodded towards Twilight and her friends. "Well, there's no time to waste then. To the TERRORDIS! HELLONZ-Y! BAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!"

With that, he began to gallop towards the cobweb encrusted, black, gothic box that was his home slash laboratory.

"Whelp, I better get going too," Applemoon said. "Gotta practice mah pounce a bit." Pausing before she left, however, she turned towards Twilight. "You know girl, no offense, but I wish we had gotten this announcement sooner that we were goin' all out. It'd give us more time to prepare."

"None taken, it's just that I had to clear it with Nightmare Moon and all first. You know how long the red tape can take to cut," Twilight said.

"Eh, it's alright," Applemoon smiled. "We'll have all next cycle to prepare, right?"

"Yeah..." Twilight said, a hint of a sigh in her voice as she sulked her head ever-so-slightly. "All of next cycle..."

The lycan Earth Pony gave a nod. "You got it! Catch ya later, Lich Queen," she grinned, apparently not catching on to Twilight's chagrin, before she let loose a howl and tore back towards her rotten apple farm on the other side of town.

Flutterfright, however, was a bit more perceptive.

"Twilight... is something wrong?"

The lavender, putrid, half-dead mare quickly snapped out of it, putting on a forced smile. "Oh... nothing, nothing at all... I'll see you later, Flutterfright."

She gave a curt nod before beginning to saunter down the road, people calling to her left and right.

"Hey Twilight! More blood on my mask?" Coledecay said, pointing to her already nearly completely soaked hockey-mask.

The Lich Queen gave a slight nod. "It's good, but it needs to be about twenty percent more bloody!"

"Twilight, dear, do you think I should go for more poltergeist tactics, or outright full-body apparitions?" Scarity asked.

The purple lich squinted in thought for a second. "Mmm... poltergeist tactics, I think. Your eye for detail should come in quite handy there! Keep your ectoplasm to yourself until the right time comes," she said, though with a slight hint of annoyance growing in her voice.

"Hey Twi! Mind if I switch it up and put on some Surfin' Bird instead of Dave Mathews Band?" Vinyl Screech called.

"Ugh uh... yeah, Surfin' Bird... and make sure to put it on a loop," she groaned.

"Oh, and Twilight, and since we're on the subject of music, can you tell me how this sounds?" the mummy that was Octcryptia called, quickly playing a grotesque version of Danse Macabre. A cobweb coated, blackened cello giving heed to a bloody saw she used as a bow.

"Um... beautifully sinister as always, Octcryptia," she sighed, making it quite apparent in her voice that she needed a moment of peace, though that never came...

"Hey Twilight!"

"Yo Twilight!

"Twilight Soulshard!"

With vein throbbing in her forehead, she had finally had enough.

"UGH! WILL EVERYGHOUL PLEASE STOP BOTHERING ME FOR A SECOND?! I'M TRYING TO THINK HERE!" she roared, her voice saturated with demonic distortion, silencing those nearby.

When she reached a quieter area of town, she then looked over her shoulder to make sure noghoul was near. At that, she sat down upon the cold, autumn ground, glancing sorrowfully upon her long-dead hooves. Most of the town would probably say that she were merely entering a period of contemplation to drum up new ideas for the holiday, or was worried about something relating to it, but that was far from the truth.

Hehehe...
Such passion, such terror, such poise, and such grace,
Yet could it be that my student was only showing one face?
Unfortunately that was true, I cannot lie,
For my faithful student and me...
We did not always see so eye to eye.

"The more things change, the more they stay the same...." she said, her tone laced with sorrow.

The Lich Queen then took a deep, sober breath before her long dead vocal chords truly came to life, uttering forth a haunting melody:

"I sense there's something in the wind...

I feel there's nothing new for this road's bend...

And though I must always stand by them...

I'm not sure I can do this again..."

She paused, teleporting to the top of the town hall, glancing upon Terrorville and its busy residents. Each of them was doing their own thing to prepare for the coming holiday, yet at the same time... it was always the same...

Or was it?

For this year there was something oh-so-different in store, and at that thought, she gave a wicked grin.

"Now we'll truly show what we are,

A smorgasbord of the bizarre,

Through the fog they'll hear the cries,

And feel the weight of broken lies."

She tilted her head back and: "HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.... haha... hmmmm..." she sighed, frowning slightly. "Yet, why do I still feel so empty? I thought finally announcing we were going to get rid of a corporate Nightmare Night would make me happy..." She squinted in thought for a second, tilting her head to one side. "Mmmm, maybe it's because I only have half a soul in me. That could be it..." She tilted it to the other side. "Or maybe it's something more... something I don't like admitting...

My whole life belongs to Nightmare's Eve...

Its twisted touch carved into my being...

And though I will always love the screams...

Sometimes I wish for a reprieve..."

She took another deep breath, though at that, her eyes narrowed in resolve.

"There must be more to life than scares!

Something to do besides prepare,

And though it may take a thousand years,

I will find how I can endear!"

She glanced towards the Everdead Forest, a black wood filled with trees born as corpses who could tell the tale of the world, if only they could speak.

"Across the void from Everdead...

Lies the world that keeps us fed...

I've heard the whispers of that land...

Upon their soil perhaps I'll stand..."

On the other side of the gates, Zecora gazed upon Twilight with a curious and perhaps... slightly sympathetic expression. Her eyes then narrowing in resolve, she quickly got to work at gathering various ingredients for a new potion she had in mind...

Back in Edeathstria, the Lich Queen smiled slightly before heading towards her dead tree house of a library home. There lie something she would need in order to pay the other side a little visit, she just hoped it wasn't misplaced...

Opening the door, she clapped her hooves, expecting the lanterns that lined its book-shelf surrounded circular commons to light themselves. Curiously, that didn't come, though something else certainly did...

"Twilight Soulshard..." a surreal, otherworldly, and deathly voice called. "Let me ask you a question. Do you fear Death?"

Twilight narrowed her eyes. "I am death."

A terrific cackle echoed about the commons. "HAHAHAHAHA! So you don't, huh? You shouldn't really follow that teenage trend, Twilight. It's what gets so many pegasi killed when they fly drunk or do other stupid things... Death is a smart thing to fear..."

The voice seemed to be dancing around her at that point.

"For Death is something that can get into your head, too," the voice teased. "Don't believe me? Why don't you take a look at the The Art of Soul Reaping."

With that, Twilight narrowed her eyes before walking over towards the bookshelf labeled 'A'. She scanned for the book, though after a second her eyes widened in horror. "I-It's not there!"

"Oh, isn't it?" the voice said with mock sympathy. "Perhaps it's somewhere else on that shelf... take a look."

Twilight squinted an eyebrow, beginning to scan the shelf... only to notice there were other books besides those marked 'A' on it.

"W-What is this?! Are all my books out of order!?" she gasped, literally shaking with fear and rage at this point. "RAINBOW!!!!!!!"

"BUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!" Rainbow Death cackled, quickly clapping her hooves, turning on the room's lanterns and revealing herself. She then gave a wink. "Relax, I just mixed up one shelf. And they say Death doesn't scare anyghoul these days!"

"Ugh," Twilight sighed as she began to reorganize the library. "You just had to do it in that annoying way, didn't you?"

Deathie rolled her eyes. "Oh, come on Lich Queen," she groaned. "You've always loved a good scare, and I only have one week a year to practice!"

The Lich Queen gave her a slight smile. "Yeah, I guess I can't blame you..."

"Yeah! And I mean I only get to see you once a year too... well for any extended period of time, that is, and why would I spend it any other way than freaking out my best friend?"

"Heh... I suppose I should be grateful then..." Twilight sighed.

Death cocked her head. "Is... everything alright? I didn't really go that far, did I?"

"No," Twilight said, continuing with her task with the aid of levitation magic. "It's not that... it's just..." She gave another sigh. "It just seems like all anyghoul does when they're with each other is well... scare each other."

"But that's the most fun thing to do! What else is there?" Death chirped. "Seriously, I wait all year for Nightmare's Eve just so I can kick back and scare the living crap out of everyghoul!"

Twilight quirked an eyebrow as she began to walk up the stairs to her bedroom. "I thought you loved soul-reaping, though."

"Oh, I do! Really! The only way I'd give up this scythe is if it were yanked from me by her hooves," Deathie quickly said. "But do you have any idea how many ponies die on a daily basis? How many souls I have to escort to the gates? It'd drive anyghoul mad... and here I was crying about Celestia's healthcare reforms..."

The Lich Queen gave a slight chuckle. "You know, I've always wondered," she said curiously. "Do you just let the souls pile up the week you're on holiday?"

Dashie shook her head with a laugh. "Do you have any idea how much trouble I'd get in if I did that?! Na, I just get some other ghoul or pony to do it for me!"

Twilight cocked another eyebrow. "What Equestrian would actually like to become Death?"

"Ooooh... egomaniacs, the crazies, those kind of people, ya know?" Death explained.

Twilight put on a sheepish grin as she began rummaging around her room for something. "Errr, no offense Rainbow, but doesn't that seem like kind of a bad idea?"

"Naaaa..." she said. "What's the worst that could happen?"

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A line of dead souls stood before a certain black cloaked light-blue unicorn, a massive pair of golden, heavenly gates behind her.

"Alright, all of you!" she said, her eyes twinkling with glee. "The Great and Powerful Reaper Trixie has reaped your souls more efficiently than even the real Death herself could! She now demands that you acknowledge her greatness one by one before she allows you to pass!"

A series of groans could be heard at that, the line avidly voicing their disapproval.

"Awww, are you serious?!"

"I just want to see my father..."

"Get out of the way!"

Trixie shook her head defiantly, before smirking. "Not until my wonderful hooves are thoroughly kissed! Now begin, if you please, or no paradise for you!"

"Ughh...." the first pony in line said, before reluctantly saying, "Great and Powerful Trixie, I don't think my soul could have been shed any faster, thank you for helping me pass...."

"Good," Trixie grinned wickedly. "Just a little more now..."

The line then gave another groan.

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"Whatever," Twilight sighed. "Say, have you seen Frostmourne anywhere? I can't seem to find it..."

"Frostmourne?" Rainbow said, raising an eyebrow. "Isn't it a little early to be waking Spike up?"

Twilight gave a shrug. "He won't mind, I just want to talk to him is all... and I bet Frostmourne hungers at this point."

Rainbow squinted in thought for a second. "Hmmm... well did you check your closet?"

The Lich Queen nearly facehoofed herself at that, chuckling. "Oh, duh! How could I forget something like that?!"

She quickly paced over to and opened her closet door, it filled with spare cloaks, potion mixing ingredients such as 'eye of toad', 'fang of wolf', and 'nightbane seed', and other ghoulish objects. Disregarding them, she soon spotted what she was looking for in the back of it: a putrid green, massive, and jagged sword.

"Bingo!" she grinned, before turning towards Rainbow. "Mind if I borrow a few souls to power this baby up?"

Death gave a shrug. "Sure, why not?" She then pulled out a small locket of sorts, it shaped like a coiled serpent, as she smiled slightly. "It's always good to keep a few serial killers and rapists on hand, in case of emergency." Her smile morphed into a wicked grin before she licked her lips. "Plus... they're pretty tasty."

With that, she opened the locket, Twilight hovering Frostmourne in front of it. "Alright, eat up old friend!"

A few screaming souls soon sailed out of the locket in the form of red, ghastly trails. However, they didn't stay in the outside world for long, for as if they were metal drawn by a magnet, they were quickly sucked into the jagged sword. With her white eyes filled with glee, Twilight smiled wickedly as it began to glow a bright green. "Perfect."

There was then a slight silence as Twilight then made her way to the front door, only broken when she reached it by Deathie:

"Twilight..." she said, her soulless, black eyes again laced with concern. "Are you sure you're alright? You've been acting kind of funny..."

The Lich Queen gave another deep, remorseful sigh. "I'm sorry Rainbow, I just don't think it's anything you can help me with." She then gave a slight chuckle. "Heck, even I don't even know what it is I want, exactly." At that, she put on a determined smile. "But I think I know where I can find what I seek."

At that, Twilight opened the front door to her treehouse, making her way outside, Rainbow calling to her as she left. "T-Twilight! Wait! We can do other things besides scare each other all week!" she cried sorrowfully, before taking a deep breath. "I just wish I knew what..."

What's This?

With souls devoured and Frostmourne set to score,
My student prepared to travel to the Temple of the Doors.
There stood the gateways to all the other realms,
Forever waiting until the last chime of the bells.
However, before she could make her way to the other side,
She would need to call upon our servant of the skies.

The moon shined down upon the Everdead forest, the wind whistling through a thousand dead, blackened branches. With a quickly conjured spell, Twilight teleported over a small creek flowing with stinking, rotten blood, before continuing onward to a small clearing with nothing but dead grass and muck inside its circular self.

"Alright Spike, I hope you've gotten enough sleep this year," she whispered.

A light snow began to fall as she twirled Frostmourne and held its blade end horizontally out before her. As the snow drew closer to it, it actually began to morph into little wisps of blue light before they were sucked into the blade. Twilight smiled slightly at this before taking a deep breath and singing a short, sorrowful melody:

"Through the somber eventide...

Through the moonlit skies...

From the eastern mountain sides...

COME FORTH. I. CRY!"

At the last line, Twilight narrowed her eyes and magically shoved Frostmourne into the frozen ground, sending a red, jagged line of energy outwards underneath it towards the edge of the clearing and beyond. About ten seconds later, a loud, surreal roar could be heard echoing from miles away.

Twilight then tapped her hoof, waiting patiently for the source of the cry to head her way, withdrawing Frostmourne and sheathing it as she did so. A minute later, another loud cry could be heard, this time nearly deafening, as well as the flapping of two, massive wings.

Grinning, she then spotted it on the horizon: a massive, winged bone dragon nearly forty times her length, its reddened eyes glowing in the dark and a green mist twirling about its features. Almost as soon as she spotted it it was then upon her, hovering over the clearing and kicking out a multitude of dead grass and dust. It almost managed to even knock over Twilight. It then let loose another bone curdling roar before bellowing with its nails-on-a-chalkboard-like voice:

"WHO DISTURBS MY SLUUUUMBBBEEEERRR-"

"Hi Spike!" Twilight said, waving with a ginger grin.

"Oh hey, what's up Twilight!" the bone dragon chirped, beginning to lower himself to the ground before giving a slightly annoyed, "didn't expect to see you a few days early..."

The Lich Queen smiled sheepishly. "Sorry about that, but I need your help with something."

The bone dragon then gave the closest equivalent to a shrug it could. "Eh, it's cool, I was having a sort of bad dream anyway...."

Twilight narrowed an eyebrow. "A bad dream? What about?"

"Well, it didn't start out bad. In fact, it was actually pretty good at first! It was about that time a thousand years or so ago when I terrorized Canterlot, back when I lived on the other side." He put on a nostalgic smile. "Man, that was so wicked. I had ponies running every which way, guards shooting arrows at me, buildings burning... I even managed to capture one of the princesses! It was such a classic!"

"Then what happened?" Twilight said, raising an eyebrow.

Spike narrowed his eyes, letting out a deep sigh. "Then it all went horribly wrong..."

A thousand years ago, Spike sat within a somber, damp cave, miles away yet close enough to Canterlot, Princess Luna held tightly by his tail. She appeared to be slightly disgruntled, though it didn't seem to be at her current predicament...

"So then my sister has the nerve of taking over matters on the Northern Front, and I've always handled matters on the on the Northern Front! Apparently though I'm not tactful enough for handling the sensitive diplomacy there! Can you believe that?!"

Spike gave a sympathetic smile. "Ouch, that seems like a low blow, princess," he said. "Say, want another apple?"

"Yes please," the princess said with a thankful nod. Spike then gripped one of the tiny fruits from a barrel he had stolen and handed it to the princess, who then continued with, "anyway, Tia hogs on the glory! She gets the people's love during the day while they sleep during the night! Where's my fame?! Where's my love?! There's no accolade for the eventide..."

Spike gave a nod. "I know, right? It seems like you totally work harder for Equestria than anypony."

Luna then gave out a long sigh. "See, you understand at least! Why can't Tia?!" Her eyes then widened in realization. "Maybe she does but just doesn't care..."

Spike brought a claw to his chin in thought before raising his eyebrows, an idea popping into his head. "You know what you should totally do? One of these days, you should just like... not bring the moon down, you know, for like a week or so? That way the people can appreciate the night!"

Luna squinted in thought. "Mmmm, I'm not sure. What if I get so full of myself I give into my evil, lustful side and get sealed in the moon or something insane?"

A brief moment of silence came before the two burst out into laughter.

"Hahaha, like that's going to-"

"Stop right there, dragon fiend!" a voice called at the cave's entrance, Spike turning his head towards the source before giving a loud, annoyed groan. Surrounding the origin of the heroic voice were four bards who resembled members of a certain band.

"Who's that?" Luna asked.

"Oh god, it's-"

"Horsey Douchebag Link,

He come to town!

Come to save,

The princess Luna!

The evil dragon took her away,

Now the foals will not play,

But they will, when Link saves the day,

Hallelujah!"

The tri-force cutie-marked pony raised an eyebrow, giving his four bards an offended expression. "Douchebag?! Well exccuuuuuseee me, System!"

"Sorry," one of them peeped.

With a sigh, Link then turned back towards the dragon. "Alright, dragon scum! You've got five seconds hand over Princess Luna, or I'm gonna whip out the good stuff!"

"I don't want to see your junk," Spike groaned.

"And we're trying to have a private conversation here," Princess Luna sighed, before waving Link off. "Can you go do hero stuff somewhere else?"

The tri-force pony's eyes widened. "She must be mind controlled!" he announced triumphantly. "No worries, I shall save you princess!" At that, he whipped out a series of round explosives. "Prepare to suck bomb, dragon fiend!"

Spike's eyes widened in horror. "NO NOT THE BOMBS! NOT THE-"

"Hiiiiiiiyaaaaaaaa!"

And he was blown into a million bones.

A thousand years later, Spike gave a spiteful grunt. "Seriously! Screw that guy! Screw that guy! Screw that guy..." he grumbled, before shaking his head and shrugging off the dream.

"So... you used to live on the other side, huh? I didn't know that!" Twilight said, quirking a curious eyebrow.

Spike gave a shrug. "Yeah, but it wasn't that great, I like it here much better! Everything's so gothic and horrible, I love it!"

Twilight then narrowed her eyebrows, a slightly saddened look etching across her features. "You mean... you don't miss it at all?"

The dragon gave a wicked, bony grin. "The only thing I miss about the other side is terrorizing it..." He then gave her a suspicious glance. "Why the sudden interest, though? Have you never actually been there?"

Twilight shook her head. "No, I usually just handle coordinating Nightmare Night efforts from here, I've never actually seen it." At that, she glanced slightly away from him, her face becoming laced with longing. "Spike... mind if I ask you a question?"

"Shoot," he said.

The Lich Queen then folded in her lips, waiting a second before finally saying, "you spend all year sleeping... is it because you need rest, or is it because you're bored?"

Spike gave a moment of thought before saying, "mainly the former, I think. I need time to charge up my magical reserves if you want to open the gates for an extended period of time." He then quirked an eyebrow. "Why do you ask, are you getting bored of death or something?"

"You could say that," she sighed. "I... just want to pay the other side a little visit. Could you make it happen for me?"

Spike gave her a concerned glance. "Y-You're not planning on ditching Edeathstria or something crazy, right?"

Twilight gave a curt laugh at that while shaking her head. "Oh no, of course not... I just... I just want to see what the other side does for fun, you know? They have to do things besides scaring each other all the time!"

The bone dragon's glowing eyes widened in realization. "Ooooh, so that's what this is all about. Twilight, you know there's other things to do besides scaring people all the time, right?"

"Like what?" she puzzled.

"Like studying up on how to scare people better!" the dragon beamed with a grin.

Twilight gave him a blank look, before giving a groan. "That's not what I want to do the rest of my life!"

At that, Spike gave a small sigh... and an understanding smile. "Fine, fine, I'll help you along, I guess. Don't say I never do you any favors, though."

Twilight's eyes then widened, a gleeful smile coming upon her. "You will?! Really?!"

The dragon gave a shrug. "I've got nothing better to do the next few days since someghoul went and woke me up early," he said, giving Twilight a sarcastic smirk. "And if I go back to sleep, I'm not going to be waking up until the next cycle."

"Well in that case, wanna come with!?" The Lich Queen beamed.

"Uhhh," Spike said, lifting a claw. "I'm a bit big to fit through the door..."

Twilight gave a smirk. "Just use your shrinking magic!"

The dragon nearly face-clawed at that, giving a slight chuckle. "Oh, right! I forgot I could do that!" At that, he closed his eyes, concentrating deeply on something before his bony body began to rapidly shrink in size. He became the size of a small house, then a horse-drawn Hurst, and eventually: the size of a lizard. "Ahhh, there we go," he said, his voice twenty times less menacing and thirty times more squeaky. He then flew over and perched himself on the Lich Queen's back. "Alright, to the Temple of the Doors, I guess?"

"Right, here we go!" Twilight smiled, before beginning a gallop deeper into the woods. Eventually, she spotted her destination: a massive, black and red obelisk sticking out of the ground. Her eyes narrowing in resolve, she then made her way to the two double-doors of the structure, their handles created from bloody, guck-encrusted bones.

"Where's the monk?" Spike asked. "Shouldn't he be standing sentinel?"

The Lich Queen shrugged. "Must be inside sleeping or something..."

"I thought he never sleeps, though," Spike pointed out. "He is the most horrifying creature in all of Edeathstria, after all."

"Whelp, only one way to find out what he's doing," The Lich Queen sighed, before lifting a hoof to the doorbell and pressing it. Immediately, a wonderful sound filled the air, raising the duo's eyebrows.

"Come on baby, light my fire,

Come on baby, light my fire,

Try to set the night on fire!"

"Holy night, that's actually pretty good!" Twilight said, tapping her hoof.

"I can see now why they call it the Temple of The Doors," Spike grinned.

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Somewhere across the gates in Equestria there was a drum and cymbal crash. A comedic pony grinned on stage before saying, "so, what's the deal with air chariot food?!"

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Back at the temple, a second later the music stopped as the two double doors opened with a creak. Twilight and Spike gave a sigh of disappointment at the song's end as a certain pony was revealed...

"Why hello there!" a bombastic voice called. "I, Darksong Shadowbane, the red and black alicorn and most feared creature in all of Edeathstria welcome thee to the TEMPLE OF THE DOORS! DUN DUN DUN...."

Twilight gave him a polite smile with a nod. "Hi Shadowbane! Wicked new doorbell!"

"Yes, it was horrible!" Spike said with a smile of approval. "It even made me shiver."

"Thank you, thank you! It wasn't much to install for Darksong Shadowbane, the red and black alicorn and most feared creature in all of Edeathstria, savior of the Eastern Sea and freer of the Old Gods!"

"Never gonna let us forget that, are you?" Spike smirked with a chuckle.

"Never! Darksong Shadowbane, the red and black alicorn and most feared creature in all of Edeasthria deserves-"

"Er, we know of your accomplishments, Shadowbane," Twilight said, a sheepish grin on her face. "But uh... no offense, but we're kind of...." She paused for a second, trying to think of an excuse of how to avoid a prolonged list of all of the alicorn's deeds.

"Pressed for time!" Spike quickly said. "We want to use the door to the 'real' world, if that's alright."

Darksong tapped his chin. "Well... it is a bit early..." He then gave a smile towards Twilight. "But Darksong Shadowbane has always admired the Lich Queen's ability to coordinate Nightmare Night in this area! Darksong Shadowbane will allow you to pass through the gates!"

"You will?!" Twilight said, giving him a cheery grin. "Wicked, Shadowbane!"

Darksong gave a nod. "You may proceed at your leisure, but I'm afraid Darksong Shadowbane cannot accompany you, for he has much knitting to do." He then bounced merrily with a cheeky smile. "I'm making socks for all the horrible little ghouls of Terrorsville! It's a new hobby of mine!"

"I'm sure they'll appreciate that!" Twilight said.

"And thank the night for hobbies," Spike muttered under his breath, earning a look from the Lich Queen. He returned it with a sheepish grin.

With that, the duo and the alicorn parted ways, the former eventually making their way into a massive, circular hall lined with nearly twenty doors, each with small picture upon them representing the holidays they led to: a yuletide tree for Heart's Warming Eve, a jagged sword for the griffin's Meat Slaughter Fest, and even an egg for the Spring Ceremony. However, one door of all stood out in particular: a golden, glowing gateway marked by the two real world princesses trying to nip at each other's tails in a circle, and them surrounded by the six Elements of Harmony.

Twilight smiled at the sight. "Whelp, this is it! Do your stuff, Spike!"

"Right, here we go," Spike said, taking a deep breath for entering a mode of deep concentration. Eventually he began to mutter, "quæ addet ut tangat te nunquam mihi molestus Im tam felix et bysso..." As he did so, the green mist that hovered between his bones began to exit his body, twirling like a whirlwind into the door. At that, it began to glow a bright green, and eventually it began to open on its own to reveal a bright, piercing light, Twilight having to shield her eyes from it.

"What is it?" she gasped in awe, before she began to trot cautiously over towards the door. Taking a deep breath, she did the best to compose herself before stepping through to the other side of the fence...

Upon that, her eyes were beginning to adjust to the light, them quickly widening at the majesty of what lay before her. She was in a beautiful, green forest, color around her like she had never seen before with light piercing down on her from the heavens and revealing white, fluffy, clouds.

"By the night... it's so.... horrible!" Twilight called, spinning in circles to glance at all that she could.

Spike gave a groan. "Beautiful you mean..." he gagged.

"You're right! Beautiful is a better word for it!" Twilight beamed. "Oh my gosh... so much color... and the air... it smells so..."

"Fragrant?" Spike grunted, before wincing slightly and shielding his red eyes. "Ugggh, I forgot how bright the other side is..."

"Isn't it....." she squinted, trying to think of the right word. "Wonderful?!"

"You say that like it's a good thing..." he groaned, before giving a sigh. "There, you've seen the other side. Can we go now?"

"Not yet, Spike!" the Lich Queen beamed. "There's so much to see! Look at all of this!" She then clapped her hooves gingerly, bouncing about in utter joy. "Bythenightbythenightbythenight this is so great!"

At that, she took a deep breath as she began to prance around the forest.

"What's this?! What's this?!

The sun is shining in the sky!

What's this?!

The trees are still alive!

What's this?!

I can’t believe my eyes,

Spike I must be dreaming, pinch me now this isn't fair!

What's this?!

What's this?! What's this?!

There's something very wrong!

What's this?!

The birds are flesh and singing songs!

What's this?!

Creeks aren't filled with bloody gack,

Why does this place get such a bad rap?

Have I totally gone daft?!

What's this?!"

Spike gave a disgruntled groan.

"Twilight Soulshard my dearest friend,

I'm not sure what you see,

This world is far too brightly lit,

And far too filled with green,

Just the sight of all this color,

Is making me feel sick,

Can't we just head on back home so you can be our lich?"

The bone dragon put on a hopeful smile.

"Bah, come on Spike! There's so much more to see first!" Twilight said with glee.

"Ugh, what else is there?"

He was met with a grin as Twilight spotted something out of the forest. "How about that town over there!? Come on!"

Spike sighed before shrinking down further and scurrying underneath Twilight's cloak. Merrily, the Lich Queen then sped onward, her cloak's hood up as she sang all the way:

"Oh Look! What's this?!

There's music in the air!

What's this!?

It's played to sing to and not to scare?!

Inspired!

They gather round to dance in glory,

And there's absolutely nothing gory!

What's this?!

What's this?! How slick!

The foals are jumping over ropes!

What's this?!

They're not meant to hang and choke?!

By the night there is no fright,

Not a single corpse in sight,

And there's a smile on every face,

Now correct me if I'm wrong,

This looks like fun,

This looks like fun!

Oh could it be I've got my wish!?

That must be it!

NOW WHAT. IS. THIS!?"

At that, she spotted a sign near the outskirts of the loving town. She quickly read it before scratching her head.

"Ponyville, huh? Hmmmm...."

Danse Macabre

And so my student reached the other side,
The walls of the cosmos she had defied.
And now the town of Ponyville was in her eye,
Where only reality was meant to reside.

"Ponyville?" Spike said, his voice ringing out from underneath the Lich Queen's cloak. "Isn't that the town you're in charge of Nightmare Nighting every cycle?"

"Uh huh!" Twilight said, still glancing about at everything around in wonderment. "It's also home to my counterpart and her friends, the Elements of Harmony."

"The wah?" Spike blinked.

"You know, the Elements! They're experts on all things friendship!" Twilight beamed.

"Ugh..." Spike groaned. "So what, are you going to try to meet up with them or something?"

The Lich Queen gave a slight laugh. "Of course not! If they saw a corpse-like version of their own Twilight walking around they'd probably freak out and summon a guard or something. I really don't feel like being lynched, or stoned, or being stoned then lynched, or maybe lynched then-"

"Twilight!" Spike gasped in annoyance. "The Equestrians don't lynch ponies, nor do they stone them. That isn't their way." He gave a pause. "They actually just shoot them."

"Spike!" Twilight cried.

"Sorry, sorry," he chuckled, his voice indicating anything but that. "Seriously though, keep your hood up..."

The Lich Queen gave a sigh."Yeah, I will…”

She then began to make her way through town,, and it was an interesting sight to say the least. The ponies there were just... ponies. They weren't zombies, or vampires, or anything out of the ordinary; just ponies, meant for living and not scaring.

She grinned widely at that thought. If anypony could show her the path she wanted to trot upon, it was them. However, after a while it didn't seem they were too keen on her presence...

"Ewww... what's that smell?" a peach pony with candy for a cutie-mark said, wincing in disgust.

"Yeah! What died around here?" another pony called.

"I think it's coming from that pony in the cloak..." another said, her voice a whisper but just loud enough for Twilight to hear.

"Twilight, no offense, but I think they're saying you smell like a corpse," Spike whispered.

"You think?" the Lich Queen snapped. "Ugh! Now I'm going to need to find some way to mask my scent..."

To further her troubles, out of nowhere then came a pink bouncing pony that appeared to be the non-burnt version of her Pinkie Slice.

"Hi there!" she beamed, grinning widely at her. "I've never seen you around before! Are you new to town?!"

"Um..." Twilight said, her words sounding like the vocal equivalent of sand paper thanks to her decaying vocal chords. "Yes, uh… very new."

"Ooo! Ooo! Well, I'm Pinkie Pie! I totally love meeting new ponies and you're the newest pony I've seen lately so would it be cool if I show you around town or something?!"

"Ummm..." Twilight said, sweat-dropping as she backed away from the pink pony.

"Heh. She's scarier than our Pinkie," Spike whispered.

"Say, why’s your hood is up!? No need to be shy!" the Pink pony beamed, bouncing in front of her.

"Oh uhhh... I prefer it like that... I have a skin condition," the Lich Queen simpered.

"Awww come on! You should get a little sun!"

The pink mare then drew closer, looking into her cloak's hood before letting out a screech and galloping away. “EEEEEP! EVIL DEMON PONY! EVIL DEMON PONY!”

"W-Wah?" Twilight said, her eyes widening with confusion as she sauntered away from the increased attention she was getting. "What did I do?"

"It's your freaky glowing lich eyes," Spike grunted. "You need to grab a pair of shades or something."

"S-Shades?" Twilight asked, cocking a curious eyebrow.

"You know! Sunglasses!" Spike said. "I've seen some of the vampires wear them before passing through the gates."

"Ooooh!" the Lich Queen said. "Right, shades... um..." She then quickly glanced about, eventually spotting a general store nearby. "Ah, there we go. I hope they'll take Edeathstrian bits..."

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A moment later, she made her way out of its front doors, a disgruntled look on her face… as well as a pair of sunglasses.

"Sure was nice of the clerk to throw in a bar of deodorant and a can of the spray-on stuff for free!" Spike chuckled.

"Hey, if you were made of rotting flesh and not just a skeleton you'd smell just as bad as me," Twilight grunted as she began to spray herself down in the cover of an alleyway.

"Eh, you'll get there someday," Spike mused. "And hey, you smell more fragrant already! Less like a corpse and more like a... sweaty armpit covered in TAG."

Twilight rolled her eyes. "Gee, thanks Spike... you really know how to up a ghoul's self-esteem."

The dragon gave a cheeky smirk. "That's what I'm here for!"

At that, she put back on her cloak, making sure to spray it down as well before making her way out into the town once again.

"That's her!" a certain pink pony cried, who now stood next to a white pony resembling the ghostly Scarity. Upon that, the former began to trot back uneasily.

"Pinkie, dear," the mortal Scarity said. "I thought we learned from Zecora that you shouldn't judge a book by its cover."

Pinkie shook her head. "Yeah, but-"

"I must give my apologies," the white pony said, walking towards the lich and smiling upon her. She then gave a slight chuckle. “She seems to think you're not what you seem, though what she says is just silly. I'm sure she's just been getting into Nightmare Night too much lately. I mean an undead demon here in Ponyville? What nonsense!”

"Heh, yeah..." Twilight said, chuckling nervously. "How crazy would that be?"

"Well, technically you're a lich, not a demon," Spike pointed out.

"I must say, though," the mortal Scarity exclaimed, sniffing at the air and wincing. "I wouldn't mind... sharing my spa treatment this afternoon with you, if that's alright."

Twilight's eyes widened under her shades, cursing the TAG body spray she had put on for failing her.

"You shouldn't do it," Spike whispered. "You can't go taking off your cloak..."

"Yeah… you’re right,” Twilight whispered back, earning a curious eyebrow from the mortal pony. She then grinned slightly before saying, "um... thank you for the offer, but I think I'll just go home and take a blood bath." She winced. "I mean, uh.... a bath! Yes... with water... and..."

"Soap..." Spike whispered.

"And soap! Lots of soap!"

"Rarity..." she heard Pinkie whisper. "She's not a normal pony! I'm telling you she had glowing eyes!"

"I'm sure they just caught the sun in a strange way," Rarity said rationally, before turning back towards the undead pony with an apologetic smile. "My dear, I shall not take no for an answer! You simply must try the miracle baths! They're to die for..."

"Oh no!" Twilight whispered towards Spike, her eyes widening. "They have necrotic baths here, too?! I thought this place was different..."

"It's just an expression," Spike groaned in annoyance. "Trust me, the only thing horrible about this place is that stupid sun they like to keep up for like fourteen hours a day... and I don't mean horrible in a good way."

At that, Twilight sighed in relief before simpering towards Rarity. "Um... I guess I could... try it out?"

It was times like this she wished she had a little voice in her head to tell her when she was doing something wrong, and while she didn't have that, she did have one on her shoulder.

"Miiiistaaaaakeeeee!”

"Marvelous! Simply marvelous!" Rarity beamed before leading the walking corpse towards Ponyville's spa. "Come, dear! One hour of spa treatment and you'll be feeling... and smelling..." she said under her breath. "Like a rose!"

"Who the heck wants to smell like a rose?!" Spike whispered. "Ugh, these other worlders are just... bizarre."

"Aren't they intriguing, though?" Twilight said, smiling widely.

"That's one word for it," Spike groaned. "Listen, though. You need to book it or she's going to see that you're not a normal pony.”

"B-But she's being so nice to me..." Twilight whispered. "I can't just-"

"Do it!" Spike growled, peaking out of her hood. "Look, there's their version of your crazy tree house. Go hide behind it or something!"

At that, Twilight took a deep breath for quickly galloping over to the rear of the massive structure as Rarity prattled on and on about otherwordly girl stuff...

"First, we'll start with a manicure! You won't believe what the spa ponies can do to your hooves! Then, we'll go for the miracle bath and..." She then blinked, noticing Twilight was no longer at her side. "Why, how rude! Where did she go?!" She then gave an indignant huff. “Dearest? Where are you?"

Twilight merely gulped, remaining silent.

Rarity took a deep breath in disappointment. “Well, I suppose I'll just have to spend my time there alone then..."

The Lich Queen gave a sigh of relief at that before glancing at the massive tree house before her. It was simply brimming with life, birds singing in its branches with so many leaves growing upon them it was as if it was being fed by nothing but growth formula.

"Oh my..." Twilight whispered in delight. "It's so beautiful! I wish I could get mine to grow like that..." she sighed.

"Ugh!" Spike groaned. "What's with you!? You're a lich for crying out loud. You make things live in death, not live in… life. It isn't in your nature to be fascinated by this kind of thing! It's weirding me out!"

"Shut up!" Twilight growled. "I don't need you or anyghoul else telling me what I'm supposed to like and not like! I'm not a freak!” She then squinted in thought for a second. “Well, I am… but not the bad kind!"

"I'm sorry..." Spike whispered. "I didn't mean it like that. It's just... I think you're letting this world get to your head."

"Good! Let it get to my head!" Twilight argued. "In fact, I want to see a little more of it, including how my counterparts live!"

At that, the Lich Queen gave a huff before knocking on the back door to the real Twilight’s treehouse.

"What are you doing?" Spike asked.

"Seeing if anypony's home," she grinned.

"Oh no... nonono! You don't need any more attention drawn to yourself!" Spike cried.

"That's not what I'm knocking for," Twilight said, her eyes twinkling.

"Then what?"

The Lich Queen then knocked again, ignoring the bone dragon. At that, she waited another thirty seconds or so before creaking the door open and stepping inside, confident nopony was home.

"Breaking and entering is a crime here you know," Spike pointed out.

"I'm just going to have a brief look around and then leave," Twilight hissed. "I need to see it..."

With wonder, she glanced about the interior of the treehouse, her being inside a kitchen of some sort. However, instead of the shelves being lined with bottles of spiders, 'red weed', 'eye of goblin' and other delicious cooking ingredients, they instead seemed to be stocked with strange canisters filled with stuff such as 'garlic salt', 'pepper', and other weird spices.

"Garlic, huh?" Spike said, peering at the shaker of the stuff curiously. "Hope Flutterfright doesn't decide to feed here..."

Twilight trotted over towards it. “I wonder…” Curiously, she then picked up the small canister of the stuff, opened her mouth and dripped a little on her tongue.

“AAAACK!”

Her gag reflex quickly kicked in before she spit it out into a nearby kitchen sink.

"Hah! See! This world is not for ghouls," Spike said. "Your mind says one thing, but your body another."

"Quiet, Spike! I’m not giving up yet!” Twilight growled, rinsing her mouth out with water... and gagging again. "ACK! This water is so... pure! No muck or anything in it!"

Spike then gave a sigh. "Twilight... if you don't even like the food and water here, how are you going to like their idea of fun? Can we just go home? Rainbow Death only gets to see you once a year, you know, and so do I. Can't we spend it having fun the right way?"

"You speak as if there's an objective way of determining what fun is or not!" the Lich Queen growled. She then took a deep breath. "Please, Spike. Can't we just keep looking around a little bit more? I promise we'll hang out a little when we get back..."

"Fine... let's just make it quick," the dragon groaned.

With a smile, Twilight took a step into the commons of the library. The shelves, like in her own world, were stacked with book upon book, all organized neatly. It seemed that her and her counterpart may have had a lot in common. It made sense, after all, she was essentially her double, just... slightly different. For instance, on a small desk there was a book titled Slumber Parties for Newbs.

This was something that simply couldn't be found in Edeathstria. Most books there were about the dark arts or how to properly scare somepony or ghoul, not slumber parties. Next to the book, however, was something quite familiar to the Lich Queen, a scroll of some sorts.

In her dimension, she was responsible for reporting to her princess, Nightmare Moon, on what she was learning about fear in Terrorsville, though she doubted that this Twilight was doing the same.

"Huh..." Twilight said, glancing curiously upon the letter.

Dear Princess Celestia,

Tonight, I plan on learning a bit more about friendship by hosting my second slumber party! Hopefully, this one won't involve two of my best friends arguing with each other the whole night or a tree crashing through my bedroom window. I have a Nightmare Night theme in mind, and I plan on telling the best scary story I can think of: one about the mythical world of Edeathstria.

It's kind of funny, to be honest. Pinkie claims she saw an image this parallel world in Zecora's hut sort of like what the stories describe, though our zebra friend claims it was just an illusion created through potion making. I'm inclined to believe her. I mean, how ridiculous is that? How could there be another world dedicated to a holiday, with counterparts of us living there!?

Anyway, I hope things are going well in Canterlot…

The letter stopped at there, apparently incomplete.

"They knooooowwww," Spike whispered in a spooky tone. "Buahahaha. This Twilight is going to be in for a big surprise come Nightmare Night, isn't she?"

"Yeah..." the Lich Queen sighed, before peering upon a number of stacked boxes near the desk. "Huh, what's this? Battle Clouds, Ponopoly, Uno?"

"Games the other side plays, I think," Spike said, glancing at them curiously. "Must be for Twilight's slumber party or whatever she calls it."

At that, Twilight smirked slightly. "Hmmm.... I wonder if she'll mind if we... borrow these for a bit."

She then levitated the games as well as the desk’s book into a small sack she carried at her side.

"Hmm... I've gotta say I'm kind of curious to how these games work too," Spike said, scratching his head.

"Hah! Now who's getting into the other side?" Twilight grinned.

The dragon gave a grunt. "Yeah, whatever..."

Twilight opened her mouth to poke fun at Spike further, though before she could she was interrupted by a voice above... one sounding quite familiar.

"Twilight?" it called, letting out a yawn soon afterwards. "You home already?"

"Oh hellfire!" Twilight said in a hushed tone, scurrying towards the front door. "She has a roommate?!"

"I told you this was a bad idea!" her Spike hissed.

"Yo, Twilight! What's with the cloak?" the voice called again.

Halting in her steps, Twilight then turned about to face its origin, her eyes widening at the sight. At the top of the stairs leading to the loft came waddling down a small, purple dragon. This must have been their world's Spike.

"Uhhh..." Twilight said, trying her best to make her voice sound as normal and non-scratchy as possible. "Just a... new fashion statement I'm trying out."

The other world's Spike lifted a concerned eyebrow at that. "Are you alright? You sound like you're coming down with something."

"N-No" she simpered. "I think it might be a bout of Goblin's Throat..."

The 'real' Spike raised an eyebrow.

"Goblin's Throat?!" her Spike whispered. "You mean a cold... say a cold!"

"I mean uh- a cold! Yes, a cold!" she quickly corrected herself.

"Twilight..." Spike said suspiciously. "You're acting really weird. And what's with the sunglasses..." His eyes widened in horror. "You're not turning into a douche, are you?"

Lifting an eyebrow at the opportunity, Twilight quickly gave a smile. This was her chance! Playing along, she then gave a small, sorrowful sigh. "Yes... I'm afraid that's true Spike. I've embraced my inner douche."

The real Spike then took another step towards her."Heh, I’m just kidding with ya, Twi.” He then lifted an eyebrow. “B-But wait, what's that smell?" He then gripped his nose. "Sweet Celestia! You smell like you've taken a bath in TAG!” His eyes widened in realization. “Oh god, you really are turning! What’s gotten into you?!”

"He's on to you... you won’t be able to keep this up for long," her Spike whispered. "Quick, do something! Plan B!"

"Uhhh..." Twilight said, backing away from the dragon. "Screw it." At that, she flung off her cloak and sunglasses, revealing her pale, dead form and glowing white eyes. "SPIKE THE DRAGON! I AM A MONUMENT TO ALL YOUR SINS! RETRIBUTION IS AT HAND!” she roared in her demonic voice, quickly closing in on the dragon as she summoned a red mist that began twirling around her. "PREPARE TO GIVE YOUR SOUL TO ME! BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

Spike's eyes widened in horror, his mouth opening as if he were about to scream as his body convulsed into shivers. However, he never made a sound. As if petrified into a statue like form, his tiny body quickly collapsed onto the floor.

Twilight sweat-dropped at that, simpering. "Hmmm... too far?"

"Hahahaha! Na, that was golden! That never gets old!" her Spike cackled. "Oh, man! This Nightmare Night is going to be so horrible! I'm definitely coming with you to the other side!" With that, the tiny bone dragon scurried out of her hood and hovered before her. "Think of it! You could do your whole demonic thing, and then I'll come flying in and burn down some vacant house or something! It'll be so great!"

Twilight raised an eyebrow, glancing down at the fallen Spike. "Mmmm... maybe," she grunted. "I don't like that I've made him faint, though... maybe I should tone it down a bit."

"Mph, maybe," Spikie mused. "Think he's going to sound the alarm when he wakes up?"

"I don't think so," Twilight said as she put back on her cloak. "He'll probably just think it was all some horrible dream."

"Dawww... and there goes the magic,” Spike pouted. "Ah well. Anyway, you've got your board games and that book. Can we please head back now before we really do end up being found out?" He then gave a slight shiver. "I swear if they send this timezone's version of that stupid hero after me… do you know how long it takes for my bones to morph back together?”

"Alright, alright!" Twilight chuckled. "I guess it's time we get back... the others are probably worried about where we are."

"Yeah, and they need your leadership," Spike pointed out. "You said you were doing some sort of wicked Nightmare Night revamp this year, right? Well, you've got to keep the ball rolling."

"Yeah..." she said before glancing down at the real world's Spike one last time. "You know... he really is just a cute version of you."

Spike’s eyes then widened in horror as he made his way under the cloak. "Oh by the night... now you're saying the word 'cute' like it’s a good thing, too! Come on; let's get out of here before you're corrupted fully!"

“Yeah…” she sighed. “Let’s go home.”

With heavy hooves, the Lich Queen then discreetly made her way out of town and towards the woods where she had come from, taking one last, sorrowful glance back on Ponyville as she did so. While she could bring a few things back from it, she could never truly reside there if she ever grew completely bored of the Nightmare Realm...

"What's this... What's this...?

It seems some things I can’t defy…

What's this...?

I must heed to nature’s cry...

It seems... at this...

That dreams are meant to die...

I must... admit...

I can never live a lie..."

As she finished, a voice perked up from nearby, causing the Lich to raise an eyebrow."Twilight Soulshard, my friend from the other side, why do your eyes seem less than dry?"

"Z-Zecora?" Twilight gasped, glancing upon the zebra.

She smiled warmly at her in return, holding a small bottle of some sorts.

"By the night! I never thought I'd meet you in person..."

The zebra chuckled in amusement before giving a slight nod. "I must admit it is a treat, to meet somepony from across the street."

"What's with her and rhyming? She sounds like Nightmare Moon's memoirs..." Spike whispered from underneath her cloak.

"Hush Spike," she whispered back, before smiling back at the zebra. "Well, it's nice meeting you, Zecora, but I really do need to get back home."

The zebra nodded sympathetically. "I do understand if you do not wish to stay put, the ponies here may not be so taken by your looks."

"Yeah... I've learned that the hard way..." the Lich Queen sighed.

Zecora then lifted a hoof. "Before you go, however, I have a small gift," she said, holding out the small bottle filled with a bubbling red liquid before the Lich Queen. "Perhaps this will allow you a brief time of bliss."

Twilight quirked her head, gazing upon it in wonder. "What is it?"

"It is called the 'Essence of Life', and creating it was no small device," Zecora explained. "With it, you can grasp once again the mortal coil, until the clock strikes twelve at this Nightmare Night's turmoil."

"So... it will... give me life until the end of Nightmare Night?" Twilight puzzled. She then shook her head, glancing away from it. "I can't accept this... you would have had to given up a few days of your life in order to make it!"

Zecora merely smiled whimsically. "Life is but a small part of the path, one day I will walk another land's grass."

"Yeah..." Twilight sighed. "I wish I could say that makes two of us." She then squinted slightly. "You really want me to have this, though, don't you?"

"I must insist, my Lich Queen friend, enjoy yourself until the cycle's end."

At that, Twilight took a deep breath, glancing at the potion for a second or so. Could she really abandon her town and live life here for a brief time? See what the other side had in store for her? Perhaps... though she could at least hang onto it for now... it would be rude not to accept a gift.

"I'll uh... think about it," Twilight said, levitating it out of the zebra’s hooves, her eyes watering slightly as she glanced downwards. "Thank you, Zecora. This is probably the best gift anyone's ever given me."

She glanced back up towards the zebra, only to find she had vanished.

"W-Where..." she said, scratching her head. "Spike, did you see her leave?"

The dragon gave a grunt."I'm in your cloak... I can't see anything."

At that, she gave a long sigh. "Well, let's get going..."

Immediately, the dragon’s mood gave a one-eighty degree turn. "Now that sounds like a plan!"

The two then made their way through the woods once again."You know, I really hope the other Spike is alright. I still feel pretty bad..." Twilight said.

"Eh, I'm sure he'll be fine."

☼☼☼
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"Hey Spike!" the real Twilight called, walking into her treehouse and levitating a bag of groceries. "Are you still sleeping?” At that, she spotted him on the commons’ floor, her unable to hold back a warm smile “Awwww… he was so tired he couldn't make it up to his bed! I'll need to remember not to work him as hard..."

With that, she made her way over and prodded the dragon with her hoof.

"Wake up, Spike! I had the Cakes make your special cupcake!”

He didn't budge.

"Spike?" she said, cocking her head curiously before nudging him again.

This time, however, his eyes shot open. He quickly gasped for breath, hopping to his feet and glancing about the room in panic before he spotted Twilight. His eyes then widened in horror.

"GAH! Oh no! You’re not getting my soul, demon! I already promised it to Rarity for my stitching lessons!" he bellowed, backing up towards the wall.

"Spike!?" Twilight gasped. “What’s wrong?!”

He ignored the comment, scurrying into the kitchen before heading back with a cup of water muttering, “holy Celestia, please bless this water… for as I walk through I walk through the valley of evil, YOU WILL BE MY LIGHT!”

He then tossed the water onto Twilight, her eyes widening in utter bafflement.

"YOU'RE NOT GETTING TWILIGHT! GET OUT OF HER!” he roared, forming a cross with two claws. “THE POWER OF CELESTIA COMPELS YOU! THE POWER OF CELESTIA COMPELS YOU!"

A more blank look couldn’t come to Twilight’s face as water dripped off her mane.

No Rest for the Wicked

While my student may have yearned for the other side's taste,
She couldn't abandon her kin for her own petty sake,
Still, while she couldn't have what she longed for in full,
Perhaps her own kind she could begin to school.

Sitting at her reading desk, pages flew in a fury as Twilight made her way through Slumber Parties for Newbs.

How fruitful her studies became the rest of that day,
So much she learned about the mortal land's ways.
And the more she gained the more it got into her head,
It wouldn't be unlike a good lich to bring love to the dead.

"Hey Twilight!" Pinkie Slice said, bouncing merrily through the Lich Queen’s tree house's front door before joining a gathering of her five closest friends. "Ouch, guess I'm a little late. Sorry! Big Macinslash let me try out a new dream on him! It was simply... delicious. Hehehe..."

"You'll have to tell us all about it, dear," Scarity smiled, her eyes yearning for a good tale.

"But first... uh... why are we here anyway?" Applemoon said, glancing at the Lich Queen curiously.

She simply gave a smile. "Well girls, if you don't know already know, me and Spike here recently paid a visit to the other side," she said, gesturing to the bone dragon who was now the size of a small dog.

"The other side?!" Pinkie beamed. "Oooo, what were you doing there?! Figuring out their greatest fears? Because you know... that can be pretty handy for certain ghouls...." She then gave a wicked grin. "I can't wait to try a few things out on those teens on Elm Street this year... hehehe..."

"Umm... actually," Flutterfright peeped, simpering. "That's not what you were really there for, was it, Twilight?"

Spike gave a nod. "Yep, you’re on the money," he groaned. "And why she has her heart set on doing this is anyghoul's guess."

Rainbow raised an eyebrow. "What's he talking about, Twilight?" she said, fluttering above the floor with just one long, smoky black wing, her arms folded. "We're you there looking for other ways to have fun or something?"

Twilight nodded with a bright smile. "Yes! And I think I may have found out how they make their magic!"

Pinkie cocked her head. "With the souls of virgin sacrifices?"

"No..." Twilight sighed.

"Harnessing the power of the moon?" Applemoon suggested.

The Lich Queen rolled her eyes. "Nope, but... warmer... I think."

"How about from the netherworld?" Death suggested.

"Gah! Come on you guys!"

"Oh just tell them already, Twilight," Spike groaned. "We might as well get this over with."

At that, the Lich Queen gave them a nod before pulling out the board games from her sack. "They have fun... with these!"

The group entire group raised their eyebrows.

"What are they?" Scarity asked, scratching her ghostly head and gesturing towards Ponopoly.

"They're called..." Twilight said, thinking for a second. "Board games!"

"Board games?" Pinkie Slice said, a wicked grin coming upon her a second later. "You mean like... cutting boards?" Her eyes then widened with delight as she bounced with jubilance. "Oooo, are we going to cut something up?!"

"No!" Twilight said in an exasperated tone. "The purpose of board games is to provide an activity to bring your friends together in a calm, yet competitive manner!"

Spike gave a chuckle. "Yep, she analyzed the crap out of all this stuff."

She gave Spike a blank look before continuing with, "board games and other activities are frequently featured in an other worldly activity called..." She paused, grinning widely while she pulled out Slumber Parties for Newbs. "Slumber parties!"

The group scratched their heads, undead crickets chirping outside.

"Were you expecting a cheer or something?” Spike mused, smirking.

"Quiet, Spike!" she grunted, shooting him a glare. "So, what do you five think? Want to try this out with me?"

"Heh... slumber parties, hmmm?" Pinkie grinned, her dream demon eyes twinkling. "Well, I have been meaning to show you guys around... my world.”

She then gave a brief cackle.

Twilight shot her an annoyed look in return. "We're not going to be sleeping the whole time, Pinkie." At that, she turned towards the rest of her friends with a warm smile. "Look, you guys are my best friends in the whole Nightmare Realm, and I think a change of pace might be somewhat exhilarating. Aren't you guys bored of just scaring each other all the time for fun?"

"Mmmmm..." Applemoon said, squinting an eyebrow in thought.

"Well..." Rainbow Death said.

"Maybe a teensy bit..." Flutterfright said.

At that, Scarity gave a sigh. "Come, dears. Obviously this means a lot to Twilight. We should do it for her if anything."

"Yeah... she's right," Applemoon said, nodding. "I guess we can try out the other world's style of fun. What's the hurt in that?"

Rainbow Death gave a slight smile, scratching her chin with her scythe. "I do like competitions, though they usually involve zombie slaying." She then gave Twilight a sheepish smile. "Er, no offense, Twi. I mean the more mindless variety."

Twilight shook her head. "None taken, Rainbow!" At that, her eyes began to fill with glee as a massive smile came upon her face. "Alright, let's get started! I bet you're all going to love this!"

At that, she opened the Ponopoly box and began to sort its cash and cards, the group of ghouls gathering around it curiously as Spike let loose another disgruntled groan.

☼☼☼
☼☼
☼☼☼

"What?!" Rainbow growled. "I landed on 'Go to the Dungeon' again?! These stupid dyes are rigged!"

"Whelp, my turn then!" Applemoon smiled before rolling the dyes and moving her small horse-drawn carriage across the board. "Hmmm... chance huh?" At that, she picked up a small orange card, peering at it curiously. "Nightmare Moon descends from the sky and burns down one of your factories?! Pay up one hundred bits for repair costs?!" She then gave a slight growl. "Now ain't that just disrespectful! Our princess ain’t like that: she’s too dignified for random destruction!"

"That's my job," Spike grinned, playing with the small dragon figure he held in his claw.

At that, Twilight gave her a slight smile. "Don't take any offense, Applemoon. Nightmare Moon is just very misunderstood on the other side." She then turned to the sheepish yellow mare beside her. "Your turn, Flutterfright!"

"Oh, alright," she squeaked, rolling the dyes again. "I don't think I'm very good at this game, though..."

Applemoon shook her head with a slight chuckle. "It ain't you, sugar. This game relies a lot on chance."

"And I'm the one having the worst luck here," Death pouted, glancing at the 'Go to the Dungeon' space with spite. "Ugh, this game is so boring! Can we try another one out?"

Twilight gave her a blank look. "Come on, Rainbow. We've each barely gone four turns."

"And that just shows you how boring it is," she grunted, Spike giving a chuckle.

"It is kind of... sobering," Applemoon said. "Wouldn't wanna play this drunk, that's for sure."

Flutterfright lifted a hoof. "Ummm..." she peeped as she landed on another player's property. "I wouldn't mind switching either... if it's alright with the rest of you."

"No problem here," Spike grunted.

“Though I do enjoy the marvelous detail that went into making these little figures,” Scarity said, squinting at a small metal dog with amusement. “I believe I could do without more of this.”

The Lich Queen sighed. "Alright, alright. Let's try another activity..." She then began scanning over her book, skipping over the 'scary story' section of it. "Ah! Movies!" she beamed.

"Uh, Twilight..." Spike said, lifting a claw. "All you have are horror movies."

"Horror movies?!" Deathie grinned. "Count me in!"

"Me too!" Pinkie beamed.

“That’d be nice…” Flutterfright said softly.

Twilight brought a hoof to her chin. "Well, alright... how about we watch 28 Days Later and then Dawn of the Dead-"

"Yeeeeees!" the group squealed.

"-But why don't we try to change it up and root for the non-zombie ponies?" the Lich Queen suggested.

"Awwwww..."

"Are you serious, Twilight?" Pinkie groaned. "The poor zombies just want to eat!"

Spike gave a chuckle, shaking his head."A lich rooting for the survivors… what’s this world coming to?”

"Hey, the art of zombie slaying should be respected," Rainbow blurted out. "Those things are just unnatural! Nothing should defy death like that!" she spat, before simpering towards Twilight once again. "Er yeah... no offense...”

She narrowed her eyes, a hint of annoyance coming upon her this time. "None taken, Rainbow..."

"Well, come on then," Spike grinned, making his way down to the cellar. "I'll go fire up the projector."

☼☼☼
☼☼
☼☼☼

"What the hell are they?" a mare asked on screen, glancing down at a zombie infested mall’s commons.

"They're us, that's all. There's no more room in hell," a badass stallion proclaimed.

Another stallion narrowed his eyebrows, him with gold coins for a cutie-mark. "What?"

"Somethin' my grandaddy used to tell us... you know macumba? Voodoo? Grandaddy was a priest in the southern lands. Used to tell us... when there's no more room in hell... the dead will walk Equestria."

Rainbow Death gave a fan-girlish squeal. "That is such a cool line!" she whispered towards Twilight, a grin on her face. "Come on, kill the stupid things already!"

The lavender lich quickly nodded in agreement.

With that, Pinke gave a smirk towards the screen before turning towards Rainbow Death and singing:

"Na-Na-Na,

Gonna eat their brains!

Hey hey hey!"

"Pinkie!" Twilight and Deathie growled. "We're supposed to be rooting for the living!"

Flutterfright raised a hoof. "But... don't the zombies have a right to live too?"

"I agree," Applemoon nodded. "Have some sympathy for the devil. If he does truly does exist, I bet he has his hands full."

"They're not alive though!" Deathie grunted. "They're just... half-way there." She then grinned back towards the screen before lifting her scythe. "Come on you guys, go living!"

"Go dead!" the rest of the group cried.

Rainbow narrowed her eyebrows in defiance, Twilight joining with her as she cheered, "go living!"

"Go dea-"

"Will you guys just shut up and watch the movie?" Spike groaned, fluttering above the couch Rainbow and Twilight were sitting on. "This whole thing is just a big political message about how materialism turns ponies into mindless slaves, anyway." He then turned towards Twilight. "It screws the Equestrians just like it's screwing Nightmare Night, something we're still going to fix, right?" he asked, raising a suspicious eyebrow.

"Of course," she said with a hint of a sigh.

The group then continued watching the movie; things becoming more and more distraught for the surviving ponies. Eventually, two survivors were all that were left, them escaping the mall in a strange peddle-driven flying machine.

"Dawww... seriously?!" Pinkie grunted.

"Please tell me there's an alternate ending, Twilight," Scarity said, glancing over at her.

The Lich Queen gave a sigh. "This movie was made back before there were alternate endings."

Applemoon folded her arms at that. "Well, this must have been Equestrian made, then. No way the zombies would lose in one of ours."

Twilight gave a slight, disappointed nod. "Yeah, you're right, Lyra Heartstab brought it back from the other side a year ago. She said she wanted me to examine it."

"Hmmm," Pinkie pondered. "Well, I'd give it at least an eight of ten. I liked the part where the guy got his guts eaten in the elevator."

"Oh yes, that was completely horrible!" Scarity grinned.

"The poor zombies did look awfully hungry," Flutterfright added in.

"And the natural order of things was completely screwed once again..." Death grunted, folding her arms. "Thanks Horse Romero..."

"Mph," Twilight grunted, pulling out her stolen slumber party. "Alright, let's see what's next..."

☼☼☼
☼☼
☼☼☼

"Why are we doing this again?" Deathie groaned, Twilight smearing black guck on her face with a cheeky smirk.

"Cus it's what the book says to do! Facial masks are supposed to..." She paused, glancing down at her book. "Hmmm... where is it…? Oh, there we go! They're supposed to bring out our natural beauty!"

Death gave her a blank look. "Twilight, I'm Death. I have never nor will I ever look pretty." She then gave a chuckle. "It's fate's greatest tease, really. Most that die are greeted by this ghoulish figure, expecting the worst, only to be escorted to paradise. I kind of like it that way."

Twilight gave another sigh as she glanced over towards Scarity. Using levitating magic, the ghostly ghoul was applying the same stuff to Pinkie.

"How are you feeling, darling?"

"Like I've got my face covered in bloody, black guck," she said. "Not that I mind, I guess."

"Mph," Scarity said. "I wish I could join you, but I'm afraid this facial cream you've concocted won't stick, Twilight."

"Yeah..." she grunted as Flutterfright began to mold it onto her face as well. "I figured..."

"Twi..." Death said, wiping the cream off her face with a cloth. "I know this means a lot to you, but would it be possible for us to spend a little time having... our sort of fun?"

"Oh come on, Rainbow!" Twilight groaned. "We still have a lot of bases to cover..."

"Bases that just aren't meant for us," Spike pointed out. "Listen, me and Rainbow only have like a week of time to spend with you, and we've tried this experiment out... but I just don't think it's working."

"B-But..." Twilight whimpered.

"Pleeeease, Twilight," Rainbow said, making the best puppy-dog face Death could.

Twilight gazed downwards in disappointment at that. "Can't you just take another week off, Rainbow? We could do halfsies!"

"You know I can't do that..." she sighed.

"But why not?!" Pinkie Slice bounced. "I'm sure whoever you've got covering for you wouldn't mind!"

"It's not that simple," she grunted.

"Then what is it?" Twilight puzzled.

At that, Death took a deep breath. "Alright, you guys wanna know why I can't spare too much time?"

The group nodded eagerly.

Death then grinned, whipping out her serpent shaped locket. "It's because of my friends here."

"Your lockets?" Twilight puzzled.

"Oh, you know what I'm talking about, Twilight," she winked. "You see, wanna know what used to really piss me off? The fact that I used to have to escort good, though terribly wronged people to the gates, only to have to stand by the psychopaths who killed them later, that whole 'equality in death' crap still in full swing." She then smiled wickedly, her eyes narrowing. "That was until I decided to break the status quo, add a little... order to chaos.” She gave a brief cackle. “Evil will pass on alright, but not where it wants to go...”

"What do you mean, darling?" Scarity asked, hovering above the ground and peering down at her in curiosity.

In response, Death pulled out another locket and twirled it, this one shaped like a bleeding heart. "This one's for child killers, for instance."

The group's eyes widened.

Deathie actually gave a somewhat warm smile at that. "Though laws may change in time, justice will always be justice, and more importantly though, justice serves some really good snacks.” She then licked her lips as her smile turned wicked. "So, you guys getting the picture yet? Why I love my job so much? If not, perhaps I can elaborate further... Pinkie, guitar me!"

"Comin' right up, Deathie!" she beamed, whipping out an old fashioned blues guitar from dream-space and tossing it to Rainbow, who began a bluesy elephant cager's rift. Nodding her head and tapping her hoof to the beat, she began with:

Well I was walkin’ down the street,

To grab a bite to eat,

And saw this pretty little thing watchin’ me.

She said I never seen a mare,

Who ever looked so fine and rare,

Could you use a little company?

At first she treated me alright,

She made my evening nice,

Then she pulled out a dagger just for me,

But on that freak night she learned,

That Death can’t die,

And she was mine for eternity.

"Cus now there ain't no rest for the wicked,

The order don't cut it for me,

I've got disease to flay!

I've got business to pay!

There ain't no sin that goes for free.

And no I can't slow down,

I can't hold back,

And you know?

I never would.

For there ain't no rest for the wicked,

Til I shed my last soul for good!"

She twirled her scythe, winking towards the Lich Queen.

"So Twilight don't you see,

How much this job means to me,

I've gotta keep with the times as they come.

Though for every sinner there's ten saints,

That still don't kill the stank,

It's this ghoul's own special form of fun.

You know they might think they're slick,

Doin' dirty deeds in the thick,

They don't know how good these eyes can see.

And while they might escape the livin',

I don't know who they think they're kiddin',

Cus there's no escape from me.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Cus there ain't no rest for the wicked,

The order don't cut it for me,

I've got disease to flay!

I've got my mouth to feed!

There ain't no sin that goes for free.

And no I can't slow down,

I can't hold back,

And you know?

I never would.

And there will be no rest for the wicked,

Til the clock stops tickin' for good!"

Rainbow Death gave a grin as the song came to a close. "Swag."

"B-But Rainbow," Flutterfright squeaked. "I thought we were wicked... though I could be wrong."

Death gave a slight laugh. "Na, you guys aren't wicked, at least not the kind I'm after. You guys don't kill anyone, at least not that I know of."

"Ooo! Ooo!" Pinkie Slice said, bouncing. "What about Prince Blackblood. Are you still after him?"

Deathie put on another evil smirk at that. "All ponies pass in time, and so do ghouls." She then pulled out yet another locket, this one a black cross, and dangled it in front of the dream demon's eyes. "And when he does, I've got a special locket waiting just for him."

Twilight then took a deep, saddened breath at that. "So... you guys truly just want same ole same ole, don't you?"

The group nodded with eager smiles before linking arms and singing:

"Hangin’ out,

Down the street,

The same ole chills,

We got last week!

Not a thinnnng toooo doooo,

But haunting youuuu,

We’re all alright!

Hello Edeathstria!”

“Awww man, I love That 70’s Ghoul!” Pinkie grinned.

"Yeah, friggin' Hyde is just horrible!" Deathie chuckled. "Especially when he turns into Jekyl."

Twilight, however, was not so thrilled. With longing in her eyes, she glanced away from them. "I... think I need to take a walk."

At that, she began to walk towards the door, the group voicing their objections as she sauntered away.

"W-Wait, Twilight! We can do a few more things," Dashie said.

"Yeah! We didn't do Uno yet or whatever it's called!” Applemoon cried.

"And I guess I could try making cherry pies instead of blood pies!" Pinkie added.

"No... you guys will just get bored of that stuff too," she sighed, turning towards Spike. "You were right, Spike, this does go against our nature."

"T-Twilight," he said. "I wouldn’t mind giving it another go either…"

However, at that point the Lich Queen was gone, now walking out the door and towards a lonely path into the forest. At this, she levitated the life potion Zecora had given her out of her sack, gazing at it curiously.

"Hmmm...” she pondered. “Would it kill me to miss one Nightmare Night?"

At that thought, she gave a slightly wicked smile, a plan forming in her head.

Bagging Magic

And so my student just couldn't resist,
The temptation of the zebra's gift.
Three days of mortal flesh were in her grasp,
And she intended to make them last.

I wish I knew of her will at the time,
It would have saved us trouble down the line.
Because most things don't go as they are planned,
As you'll quickly learn to understand.

"Putrid-Mark Crusaders! What do you want?!" Apple Doom shouted, marching in front of her friends.

"Our putrid-marks!" Scootaweb and Rotten-Belle shouted.

"And how are we going to get them?!"

The two gave wicked grins. "Creepy laughing!"

Apple Doom smiled in return. "Good, let's hear them girls! You first, Scootaweb."

With that, the spider-pony hybrid took a deep breath before cackling: "Buahahahahaha!"

The lycan filly gave a nod. "Hmmmm," she said, squinting in thought. "Good, but it needs more lung."

"Mph, I think it's these stupid mandibles! They block some of the sound," Scootaweb pouted, clicking them in annoyance.

Apple Doom gave a slight smile. "I'm sure you can get it, Scoots, just keep practicing." She then turned towards Rotten-Belle. "Alright, you next!"

Rotten-Belle gave a quick nod before bellowing: "Buahahahahahahahaha!"

For that, she received a slight look of approval. "Nice! Definitely better than yesterday... though you're still squeaking a little..."

"Dawwww," she sighed. "But I don't think I can ever get rid of it! My voice is frozen in time...."

Her 'drill instructor' gave her a slightly sympathetic smile. "It's alright, I'm sure there's ways to compensate. Can't you make it sound like your sister's? With that distorted effect?"

Rotten-Belle brought a hoof to her chin. "Well... maybe it's something they’ll teach me at the Ghost Academy." A bright smile then came to her face. "How about you, Apple? How's yours sounding?"

The lycan blushed slightly at that. "Eh... it's nothing.”

"Oh come on, don't be humble!" Scootaweb grinned. "Show us your stuff."

“Well... alright,” she sighed. She then gave a slight smile which quickly morphed into a confident smirk. "Here goes nothing.” At that, she took a deep breath before bellowing in an unnaturally deep tone: "Buahahahahahahah!"

Her two companions' eyes widened in delight.

"Woah!"

"That was amazing!"

Apple Doom gave a slight shrug, a smile still on her face. "Eh, it's just something all lycan can do naturally."

"Beats the tar out of anything vampires can do," Scootaweb complimented, her knowing exactly what Apple Doom wanted to hear.

"Daw, thanks Scoots!" she beamed.

At that, the three froze as another voice rang about their crypt of a clubhouse:

"I gotta say, it doesn't sound that bad."

The three filly ghouls' eyes widened. "T-Twilight?!" they cried as the lich stepped out from the shadows.

“Hey you three,” she smiled.

"W-What?! How did you find our secret clubhouse?!" Scootaweb grunted.

Twilight gave a slight chuckle at that. "You three realize that you're not alone down here, right?"

At that, they quirked their eyebrows. "Wah?"

One of the various stone coffins in the room then lifted courtesy of a bony hoof, a skeleton pony rising from it. "Hi, everyghoul!"

"Eeeep!" the three crusaders peeped, scurrying behind Twilight, her rolling her eyes.

"Haha! I've still got it," the skeleton mare beamed, her adorned with a 'Vote For Me' electoral pin and a perpetual grin on her face. "Anything I can help you with, Twilight?"

The lich shook her head. "Sorry, Mayor Scare, I actually came for these three.”

The skull that was the mayor's head actually twisted one-eighty to reveal a frozen frown. "Ah... I see,” she said in a disappointed tone.

Scootaweb returned the frown. "I hope we haven't been keeping you awake, Ms. Mayor."

"Yeah, we're sorry," Apple Doom said.

Her skull twisted about again to reveal her grin. “Oh, it’s quite alright, dears. I do enjoy hearing your practice sessions.” She then turned towards Twilight. “Nightmare Night’s getting pretty close. Is everything proceeding well?”

“Better than ever,” Twilight smiled.

“Good to hear,” the mayor beamed. “Just let me know if you need anything, per usual, alright?”

"Will do," Twilight said, smiling politely. She then turned towards the three crusaders and knelt down. "So, are you three up for an adventure?"

"An adventure?!" the three grinned.

"Oooo, what kind?" Scootaweb bounced.

"Do you need our help performing a resurrection ceremony?!"

Twilight gave a slightly wicked smirk. "Better than that. I have a very special mission I want you three to do for me... one that involves a trip to the other side."

The jaws of the three crusaders nearly hit the floor.

☼☼☼
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"Mph..." Darksong grunted, standing at the doorway of the Temple of the Doors. "I, Darksong Shadowbane, the red and black alicorn and most feared creature in all of Edeathstria must voice my objection to this... mission of yours."

"Oh come on!" Rotten-Belle grunted.

Scootaweb narrowed her bug-like eyes. "We can totally do this!"

"Yeah! Just give us a chance!"

Twilight gave a sigh. "Darksong, I understand your concerns, and I'd say 'no' too, but as long as these three take the invisibility potions I got from Zehorra, I'm sure they'll be able to pull it off without a hitch." She then turned towards the crusaders, narrowing her eyes. "You three are going to take the potions right? And not try to impress me?"

The trio nodded with cheeky smirks.

"Mmmm, but isn't there a more experienced ghoul that could go?" Darksong said. "Darksong would, but unfortunately Darksong has to stay here to keep the portal open."

Twilight shook her head, taking a slightly saddened breath. "No... this is a personal matter. Noghoul is to know of this, OK?"

"Our lips are sealed!" Rotten grinned, the other two crusaders nodding in agreement.

"Darksong shall... not boast of this," the alicorn grunted before taking a deep breath. "You say you wish to use one of the temple's beds?"

Twilight nodded. "If it's not an inconvenience. The potion I'm intending to use is going to knock me out for a good nine hours: if what I know about it is correct."

Darksong gave a slight chuckle. "It is no problem at all. Darksong considers it an honor that the Lich Queen wishes to undertake the first steps of this… interesting journey here.”

Twilight gave a slight smile. "Thank you for understanding, Darksong."

The alicorn gave a curt nod. "Immortality can get... tedious at times, especially in a place like this, though Darksong compensates with horrific feats! Did I ever tell you about the time I slayed the dreaded hug monster of the Eastern Woods?"

"Yes, Darksong..." Twilight groaned.

He then brought a hoof to his chin. "How about the time when I single-handedly brought down Princess Trollestia's airship that was spamming that ‘Trololo’ song?"

"Ten times..." she sighed.

"Hmmm... how about-"

"Er, Darksong... no offense, but I really want to make the most out of this potion..." Twilight simpered.

"Ah, yes," he said with an apologetic smile. "I do get carried away sometimes, don't I?"

"Naww..." Rotten-Belle said.

"It's all fine n' dandy," Apple Doom smiled.

Scootaweb glanced away from him slightly. "They do get kind of boring-" She was cut off when Apple Doom gave her a quick rib. "Hey! Can't a spider speak her mind?"

At that, a slightly saddened Darksong glanced at the three. "You may proceed to the portal. Take care on the other side..."

Twilight gave a nod. "Yes, be very, very careful. Do not underestimate your target. She is one of the most powerful magic users on their world."

"We won't!" the three grinned wickedly.

The Lich Queen then narrowed her eyes. "And make sure to treat her well. Maybe show her about Edeasthria a bit... though make sure it's discreetly. If she's anything like me, she'll be just as curious about my world as I am about hers."

"You've got it, Twilight!" the three said. They then turned and made their way to the portal chamber.

"Heh, kids, they’re simply putrid," Darksong chuckled, before turning towards Twilight with a quirked eyebrow. "Have you ever considered having any...? Darksong certainly has occasionally."

He then gave her a wink, Twilight returning it with a cough. "Uhhh.. right! To the guest room!” She then simpered slightly. “For uh… sleeping purposes only."

The alicorn gave a disappointed sigh before leading the way. "Very well…” He then glanced towards the portal room. “You're sure they will do fine?"

"They're smart kids, and they've got the invisibility potions. What could go wrong?"

Darksong raised an eyebrow at that. "What exactly is it that you wish for them to do?"

"Ooooh... just a little errand," she said, smirking slightly. "I need them to retrieve a... package for me."

☼☼☼
☼☼
☼☼☼

"Awww man!" Scootaweb grinned as they neared the portal hall. "This is going to be so ghastly!"

"Yeah! I can't believe Twilight trusted us with this!" Rotten-Belle squeaked happily.

Apple Doom gave a smirk. "You know, I bet she'll be so grateful she might even teach you a bit of necromancy, Rotten!"

Her eyes widened in delight. "You think so?!"

"Of course..." Apple Doom grinned. "Now the question remains, though. Who's going to bag the target?"

"I wanna do it!" Scootaweb grinned.

"Naw, let's draw straws!" Rotten-Belle squeaked.

"Twilight said we should work together!"

"Yeah! Three of a kind!"

"Now and forever!"

"Crusaders together!"

"WHEEEEE! HeheheHAHAHAHA!"

"Kidnap the starry child,

Stick her in a sack!

Paddle from reality,

And don't you dare look back!”

"First we're going to set some bait,

A spellbook from beyond the gates,

And when the bookworm comes to look,

I'll trap her in my cobweb's gook!"

"Wait I've got a better snare,

To catch this purple magic mare!

We'll wait until she falls asleep,

And then she'll be our pet to keep!"

"Kidnap the mortal mare,

Show Sparkle that we care!

Bring her to our twisted world,

And give her mortal terror!"

Scootaweb scratched her chin. "You know, I wonder why the Lich Queen wants us to treat her so well? Why she wants this other Twilight at all?"

"Hmmm..." Apple Doom pondered. "You know, what if she wants to deliver her to Nightmare Moon? You know, as a Nightmare's Eve gift... unspoiled."

"Hehehe... well this changes everything, doesn't it?" Rotten-Belle said, grinning wickedly, her two friends joining her before they stepped through the golden gateway to the other world.

"Kidnap the dopplegagger,

Throw her in a ditch!

But keep her alive and well,

For our ghastly lich!"

"And then our goddess of the moon..."

"Will cook her in a big ole stew!

She'll be so pleased I do declare..."

That she will cook her rare!

HAHAHA!

"You know why don't we save the trouble,

And gift wrap her ourselves I say,

We'll deliver her to our majesty,

And she will let us stay!"

"I bet she'll be so grateful for our deed,

She'll show us magic beyond our dreams!"

"She'll go to where our lich won't pry,

And show us where our talents lie!

HECK YES!"

We'll be her little henchmen,

And we'll do our job with pride!

We'll do our best to please her,

And stay on her good side!"

Kidnap the starry child,

Hang her on a stake!

Drag her to Necropolis,

And put her on display!"

Apple Moon gave a grin as the song came to an end. "Alright, together girls! Creepy laugh!"

The two nodded before bellowing: "Buahahahahaha!"

At the end of it, Scootaweb scratched her head, glancing at the thick woods around her, nightfall having descended upon them. "Where are we?"

"Their version of the Everdead forest..." Apple Doom said, glancing about.

"Mmmm... it's pretty spooky," Scootaweb noted. "Though it could stand to be a little more... dead."

"Yeah, definitely," Rotten-Belle nodded. "Now, where exactly does this... Twilight Sparkle live?"

"You guys... look over there," Apple Doom smirked, glancing at a series of lights protruding through the thick woodland. "That must be Ponyville."

"Oooo... we're one step closer," Scootaweb grinned. "You know, I've been thinking. Why don't we do this without invisibility potions? We'll show Twilight the full bottles when we get back and she'll be twice as impressed!"

"I don't know..." Rotten-Belle said. "She said that we should use them..."

"Bah, it was probably just to keep Darksong from freaking," Scootaweb argued. "Come on, we've so got this! It's what Rainbow Death would do!"

"Yeah... but she has a scythe... and she's Death," Rotten-Belle pointed out.

"Mmmm, I think we can do it," the furry lycan smiled before gazing to the full moon above. "Our goddess has our backs."

"Well, let's get to it then," Scootaweb beamed. "For our putrid-marks!"

☼☼☼
☼☼
☼☼☼

"Spike, what are you doing?" Twilight Sparkle grunted, gazing at the young dragon as he sprinkled 'holy' water around the tree house.

"Defending our house from further demon incursions," Spike muttered. "I swear, it was a divine warning, Twilight! I'm not going to just let it slip by me!"

Twilight quirked an eyebrow. "Yeah, but was it really necessary to go and take that stupid thetan test and convert to Celestiatology?"

"Hey! I want to know how close I am to being able to pay for priest-hood!" Spike argued.

"Spike!" Twilight said, exasperated. "That whole religion is based on a book written by somepony named L. Wrong Hubbard! Doesn't that ring a few alarm bells?"

Spike rolled his eyes. "If the religion is a scam, then why should I have to pay so much money to get into it?! It's obviously better than most other religions or they wouldn't charge so much!"

Twilight sighed. "I really need to make you read my book on logical reasoning..."

Spike gave a reluctant huff at that. "Hmph, well you'll thank me for this one day when the supernatural decides to pay us a visit!"

The purple mare gave a chuckle. "Spike, I've already told you, there's no such thing as demons. That's like saying that ghosts exist, or lycans, or that giant spiders are still around."

Spike didn't respond.

“Spike?!”

He remained silent, standing completely still, his eyes widened as he gazed at something above Twilight, his mouth starting to slowly open.

Twilight cocked an eyebrow. "Ground control to Major Spike! Is everything over there alright?"

"Uhhh..." he finally stuttered, gulping hard.

"T-This is Major Spike to ground control...

There's something very wrong...

I think you're about to thank me for this song..."

At that, he took a deep, shaky breath before whispering, "D-Don't move. I'm going to get the biggest can of bug spray we have..."

Twilight gave him an exasperated look. "W-What are you- EEEEEEEP!"

At that, the giant spider-pony that was Scootaweb leapt down from then web she was hanging and onto Twilight. She then flipped the purple pony on her side and stung her with her venom barb. Grinning, the spider then began to wrap her in a web as Twilight's eyes rolled to the back of her head.

"My mother Shelob would be proud," she smiled.

"Twilight!" Spike gasped.

Composing himself, the purple dragon then narrowed his eyes before marching over towards the spider, taking a deep breath and preparing to roast her.

"Uh-uh-uh," Rotten-Belle grinned, appearing in front of Spike with a smirk.

The purple dragon gasped in horror, stopped in his treks. "S-Sweetie-Belle?! W-What's going on?! Is this some sort of prank?"

"It's no prank, I'm afraid," she said in a sing-song tone, hovering above the ground as Spike’s eyes somehow widened further. "I gotta say though, you're pretty wicked for someone on the other side! I love the scales! Our Spike doesn't have those!"

"Y-Your Spike?!" Spike gasped. "W-What is this?! Who the heck are you?"

"Messengers," a throaty growl came from behind him.

At that, Spike twirled around to face a grinning Apple Doom, her lycan fangs dripping with saliva.

"Messengers?!" he cried, backing away from her and right through Rotten-Belle, her form freezing every part of his body that touched it.

"ACK!"

He then stumbled back, falling on his rear, paralyzed, as Scootaweb continued her job.

"Don't worry, Spikey-Wikey," Rotten-Belle said with a cat-like smile. "We're not after you, just your master!"

"S-She's not my master!" Spike growled. "She's my best friend, and you're not about to take her anywhere!"

His eyes narrowing, he growled menacingly before letting loose a sheet of flames towards Rotten-Belle... only for them to go right through her.

"Daw, don't you want to hear what our message is?" she teased, smirking smugly.

"N-No!" he gasped.

"Too bad..." Scootaweb grunted. "It's quite simple, though..." Her eyes then narrowed. "Don't follow us."

With that, the poison barb of Scootaweb struck Spike, knocking him out cold as well.

The ghostly mare gave a slight giggle at that. "Shame, he's kind of cute!" she beamed, twirling about him. “Can we take him with us?”

"Ugh, you say 'cute' like it's a good thing," Scootaweb grunted as she began to drag Twilight towards the back door. "Come on, let's drag this meatbag to the other side." She then squinted in annoyance slightly. "By the moon, it may be midnight, but it's still too bright for my tastes... I'm feeling kind of naked."

"Yeah, there isn't enough fog here at all!" Apple Doom groaned. "To the gates! Crusaders, away!"

At that, the three grinned wickedly before making their way through the mostly deserted town, singing silently:

"Kidnap the mortal mare,

Throw her in a web.

Send her to our goddess,

Who will beat her until she's dead."

So Alive

As the crusaders made their mischief beyond her sight,
My student made way for the touch of life.
In one fell swoop the potion was gone,
And sleep took her in its somber song.

In a tidy guest quarters, Twilight Soulshard slumbered soundly upon a nicely made bed, Darksong watching over her worriedly from the door, pacing occasionally.

For nine hours she stayed far from wake,
Her dreams filled with that other place,
And as she slept something beautiful came way,
Life once again took her into its sway.

With a yawn, Twilight's eyes fluttered open, the cracked ceiling of her guest chambers within her sight. It didn’t hit her initially, her feeling somewhat groggy still. However, after a second, she felt something different... something had changed.

"I feel... so warm," she said breathily, smiling brightly as she began to wake, her fatigue gradually wearing off.

She then felt something in her chest, something she hadn't felt in an age: a thump of some kind that wouldn't cease beating.

"My heart... it's working again?"

At that, she couldn't contain herself any longer.

"YEEEEEEES!" she screamed in joy, leaping out of bed and dashing towards the door, her eyes widening when she realized something else had changed as well. "My voice... it's not all scratchy watchy, too! Oh holy night! I can sing even better now!”

She then giggled while dancing to:

"Na-na-na-na,

Feelin' alive,

Feelin' alive!"

"Twilight, is everything well?" Darksong asked, walking towards her from down the hall.

"Better than well, Darksong!" she beamed, actually grasping him in a hug and pecking him on the cheek, his eyes immediately widening as he blushed redder than his mane. "I haven't felt this good since... oh my gosh I can't remember when! I'M NORMAL! I AM ALIVE!"

"W-Well uh," Darksong stuttered, still blushing. "Welcome back to the land of the living."

At that, Twilight gazed at something the alicorn was levitating, a small basket of rotting fruits. "Oooo, can I have one of those?" she beamed.

"W-Why yes," Darksong chuckled. "I actually brought them for you. I figured you'd be hungry."

"More than hungry," Twilight grinned, immediately levitating an apple out of the basket and bringing it to her waiting mouth. "I'M GOING TO EAT A WHOLE BUSHEL OF THE-" At that, her eyes widened in horror as the putrid taste of the fruit caught her taste buds. "By the night! It's so wretched!" she said, nearly puking as she spat the rancid thing out.

"Indeed, all the fruits here are like that," Darksong said.

"Yes, and this is wonderful!" Twilight beamed.

"W-Wonderful?!"

Twilight nodded frantically. "Don't you see, Darksong?! I'm not only alive in the sense that I'm a living ghoul, I'm alive in the sense that I'm a living pony. I'm a creature of the other side!"

With the jubilance of a small child having eaten a bag of sugar, she quickly rushed back into her bedroom, glancing about frantically for a mirror, finally finding one on the far wall. Her eyes widened in awe as she gazed at a fully living, non-decaying pony. "O-Oh my gosh! I look just like my counterpart!" she squealed. "Bythenightbythenightbythenight!" She then rushed to the center of the room, beginning to do her best attempt at a hand stand. "I must stand on my head! I must stand on my head!" she giggled.

"Uhhhhh.... Lich Queen," Darksong said. "Darksong would just like to say he's glad to see you so happy but... he would also like to say you're acting somewhat insane."

"And what's wrong with that?!" she said with a manic grin, taking him in her embrace. "Dance with me, Darky!"

His eyes widened at that. "U-Uh yes! Will do!"

Using magic, she levitated a record from a small holding case and put it on a player, starting it immediately.

"It's a beautiful day!

Sky falls, you feel like,

It's a beautiful day!

Don't let it get away!"

Squealing with delight, the former Lich Queen then led the alicorn in an awkward, quick-paced dance around the room.

"Bono is right!" Twilight grinned. "It is a beautiful day! Not horrid, not putrid, not ghastly, not sickening: BEAUTIFUL!"

"See the world in green and blue,

See Equestria right in front of you,

See the canyons broken by cloud,

See the pegasi clearing the storms out.

It's a beautiful day!

Sky falls, you feel like,

It's a beautiful day!

Don't let it get away!"

"I can't let it get away..." Twilight suddenly gasped, releasing a relieved Darksong from her grip and she bolted to the door. "I've got to get to the other side!"

"T-The other side?!" he gasped, his eyes widening in realization. "S-So... that was your plan all along..."

The former lich grinned in delight. "You got it! I'm going to experience two days I never thought I would! I'm going to have normal friends! We're going to love and dance and sing and play board games and... and... go on picnics!"

"W-What of the other Twilight?" Darksong said, utterly confounded. "Your little henchghouls came back a few hours ago - said they were bringing her to Necropolis for Nightmare Moon."

"That's perfect then!" the living mare smiled. "My master will surely treat her with hospitality!"

With that, she bolted passed Darksong, out of the quarters, and towards the door hall.

"T-Twilight, wait!" Darksong called desperately, chasing after her. He caught her just as she was about to step through the golden gateway, him panting for breath as he arrived. "Darksong may not be the smartest alicorn, or the the wisest, but he'd..." He winced slightly. "I'd like to think in my old age I've learned a thing or two." At that, he took a deep breath. "You can't go living life wishing for something you can't have."

"But I can have dreams," Twilight grinned, pausing at the gateway. "And for two days, THEY'RE GOING TO BE LUCID!"

With that, she giggled and leapt over to the alicorn's side, singing:

"Sit down at my table,

Put your mind at ease,

If you relax you'll learn real soon,

That you can do whatever you please!

I can see the future,

I can change it 'round some too!

Cus I now have a heart and soul,

And my wildest dreams can come true!

I got voodoo, I got hoodoo,

I got things I ain't even tried!"

At that, she used her magic to create a holographic image of five ponies from the real world: The Elements of Harmony. Twilight then gave a grin.

"And I've got friends on the other side!"

"Y-You've got friends on the other side?!"

"Heck yeah I do!

I've got friends on the other side!"

The alicorn raised an eyebrow, shaking his head.

"But are ya ready?!"

"You bet I am!"

"Are ya ready?!"

"Or you can call me Flim or Flam!"

"You're sure you're ready?!"

"Don't you act so sly!"

With a sigh, the red and black alicorn gave a smile.

"Then go meet your friends on the other side!"

At that, every single door in the hall swung open, revealing the Spring Bunny, Yultide the Gift Pony, the Griffin Slaughter Fest Butcher, and even Billy Hays, the Spring Cleaning pony holding a bucket of Oxyclean in his mouth. And together, they all sang:

"Go meet your friends on the other side!"

The doors then slammed, all except one.

"Thank you, Darksong," Twilight smiled. "I won't forget this..."

"And neither will you, I fear," he sighed. "But there's nothing I can say to stop you, it seems. Go on."

With that, Twilight gave him one last smile before stepping through the doorway to the world of light, Darksong shaking his head incredulously.

“Viva la Nightmare Night!” Twilight said as she walked out of sight into the Everfree Forest.

“Viva la Nightmare Night…” he sighed as he closed the door behind her.

The red and black alicorn shook his head again, making his way to the adjacent hallway. However, before he reached it he was interrupted by one last voice:

"Hey there, Darksong! Billy Hays here with Oxyclean! Man, this world is as dirty as hell! Can I interest you in a bucket?!"

Darksong simpered. "Er... no thanks Mr. Hays. This world likes being filthy."

At that, the sale's pony's eye twitched, his voice becoming a more menacing growl than any ghoul could muster: "Heresy!"

He then furiously slammed the door.

With another sigh, Darksong finally exited the room, pondering something as he did. "Hm, Darksong should probably contact Nightmare Moon and make sure she knows the 'real' Twilight is coming..." He then brought a worried hoof to his chin. "Darksong hopes that she's alright..."

☼☼☼
☼☼
☼☼☼

Thud...

Crack...

Whomp...

"Ugggh...."

The first thing Twilight Sparkle noticed when her eyes slowly fluttered open was that she couldn't move, and it was something that didn't take her long to figure out why: her whole lower body was encased in web. With a gasp, she then began to glance around, soon finding she was being dragged through some sort of forest, thick and foggy like Everfree, but completely dead.

"By Celestia... where am I?" she whispered.

She then glanced up. The sky was filled with fog as well, it pierced by the brightest moon she had ever seen and swimming in a sea of black and red. Before she could take in more, however, her view was completely blocked.

"Heeeeey!" Rotten-Belle smiled, hovering over her head as Scootaweb continued to drag her.

"Sweetie?!" Twilight gasped. "What's going on... why can I... see through you?"

"Ugh," she grunted. "You're the second person in a day to confuse me for my stupid counterpart."

"C-Counterpart?" the mortal mare said, squinting an eyebrow in confusion.

"That's right!" Apple Doom said, walking alongside her. "You've been given an all-expense paid vacation to the Nightmare Realm!"

Twilight's eyes then widened further. "The N-Nightmare Realm?!” she gasped. “Oh my gosh... either I'm dreaming or the stories were true..." She then shivered slightly. "No... it all makes sense! What Pinkie saw, what Spike did!" At that, she gave Rotten a worried glance. "Spike! Is he alright?! I swear if you hurt him-"

"Ugh, that's such a cliché," Scootaweb grunted. "The victim making threats when she's in no position to."

"Don't you worry your pretty mortal head, Twilight Sparkle," 'Sweetie' grinned. "We didn't touch a scale on his cute little body."

"I swear... if you say 'cute' one more time I'm going to gag," the spider-pony groaned.

"Sorry," Rotten simpered.

Twilight shook her head incredulously, glancing at the spider pony before her with both disgust and intrigue.

"S-So you're supposed to be Scootaloo?"

"You got it," Scootaweb grunted.

"And you're... Apple Bloom..."

"Mhmmm..."

At that, Twilight squinted in thought. "And if there's a counterpart for every one of us in my world...." Her eyes then widened in horror. "What Spike saw must have been the counterpart to me!"

Rotten gave a shrug. "I'm not sure what you're talking about, but she did say she paid the other side a visit."

"Heh, and you really are just like her," Apple Doom said, smiling. "Sharp as a scythe, she is."

"W-Why did you kidnap me though?" Twilight stuttered. "Where are you taking me and why can't I use my magic?!"

"Ohhhh, just cus of a little dampening potion," 'Sweetie' said, giggling. "No worries, it'll wear off in a few hours, though I'm afraid it won't be much use to you if the goddess finds you... distasteful."

Twilight raised an eyebrow. "Celestia's counterpart, I assume?"

The three shook their heads, smirking. "Nope, she's called Trollestia, but she isn't in charge here. That falls to Nightmare Moon."

Twilight then sighed in relief. "Good... now I know this is a dream."

Apple Doom cocked an eyebrow. "Why do you say that?"

"Because my friends and I freed Princess Luna from her dark side two years ago," Twilight chuckled.

At that, the three crusaders looked at each other before giggling.

"What's so funny?" Twilight asked, squinting an eyebrow.

Scootaweb brought one of her legs to her mouth to contain her laughter. "Oh nothing..."

"It's just we think you got the wrong Nightmare Moon," Apple Doom said.

The mortal mare's eyes widened. "W-What? How can there be two Nightmare Moons!"

"Don't ask us how it all works," Rotten said, shrugging. "That's more of a thing for philosophical minds such as our Twilight’s..." She then cocked her head. "And yours..."

Apple Doom nodded in agreement. "Maybe if you please the goddess she'll answer a few of your questions.”

Twilight shook her head at that. "I doubt she's going to be too happy with me," she sighed, before squinting another eyebrow. "W-Why are you three doing this, though? If the stories are true, your world is supposed to be dedicated towards scaring... not evil." She then shot the trio a glare. "Sweetie, Scootaloo, and Apple Bloom would never do anything like this!"

"We're just doing what we thought our Twilight would have wanted," Apple Doom shrugged.

Scootaweb nodded. "Yeah, don't shoot the middle-ghouls."

Rotten narrowed her eyes. "And either way: we're not them."

The lavender Element shook her head again, squinting in confusion. "W-Why did she want me ponynapped, though?" she said with a hint of a cry before her eyes widened in realization. "Wait... oh no..."

☼☼☼
☼☼
☼☼☼

"Spikey, I'm hooooomeeee!" Twilight Soulshard cried in joy as she entered her counterpart's tree house. Immediately, she sniffed the air of it, basking in the fragrance of the living bark. "Oh my gosh... it smells so great!"

"Uggggh..." Spike groaned groggily, him lying on the floor in a puddle of his own drool. "What happened? I feel like I've been stabbed..."

Twilight's eyes widened at the sight. "Oh no," she whispered to herself. "I didn't want them to hurt anypony... they must have taken the other Twilight by force!"

Spike then took a deep breath, groggily rising to his feet, his eyes widening in horror as his memories returned to him. "Oh no! NO! Twilight-"

Quickly getting into an act, Twilight quirked an eyebrow, smiling brightly as she waved towards Spike.

The dragon did a double take. "B-But... y-you... h-how... they took you! I saw them do it!"

"Oh, Spikey," she grinned, chuckling. "I am the Element of Magic. You don't give me enough credit!"

With that, the dragon sighed in relief before cocking an eyebrow. "Spikey?" he said, before quickly shrugging it off. "Well, anyway, I'm glad to see you're alright." He then glanced at the cup of spilled holy water he had been sprinkling the house with. "Ugh... you were right, though, like usual... that religion is a scam. It didn't help at all!"

At that, the former lich smiled warmly before levitating the dragon into a tight hug. "Don't worry, Spike... I'm not going to let anyghoul hurt you from now on!"

Spike's eyes widened at the act, though a warm smile quickly followed. "Heh, well I'm glad to see you too!"

The hug continued.

"Uhhh, Twilight..."

And continued...

"You can let go of me now..." he coughed, sweat-dropping.

"Oh, sorry!" Soulshard simpered, releasing him. "I'm just..." She then gave a chuckle. "Ever have one of those days where you're just happy to be alive?"

"Depends on how many gems I've eaten," Spike said, shrugging. After that though, his tone grew serious. "We really need to write a letter to the princess though... Ponyville seems to be targeted by the supernatural for some reason."

"Princess... Celestia?" Twilight said.

Spike raised an eyebrow. "Who else? Princess Luna?"

"Oh, right! Yes! Princess Celestia!" Twilight said, shaking her head with a slight chuckle. "My memory must still be a little fuzzy... they knocked me out after all."

"Right..." Spike said, nodding slowly. "Anyway, I'll get out a scroll. And... would you mind writing it? I'm still feeling really stiff," he said, wincing as he held out a limp claw.

Twilight gave a quick laugh, smiling brightly before heading towards the door. "Oh, Spike! Why would I want to do that when it's such a beautiful day!?"

"B-But Twilight! This is important!" Spike cried, darting to her side as she stepped out into the fresh autumn air.

"Hahahaha!" Twilight giggled, gazing at all the sights around her: pegasi flying in the sky, ponies making their merry way through town, flights of birds heading south... and high above, a sun beating down and filling her with a warmth she never thought she'd experience. "It's all so GREAT!"

"T-Twilight," Spike gasped. "You're acting... slightly crazier than usual. That spider's venom must be screwing with your head..."

"Oh, come on Spike! I've never felt better," she grinned. "Like I said! It's just a great day to be alive!"

At that, she giggled merrily before starting to prance about town.

"This was a triumph.

I'm making a note here: huge success.

It's hard to overstate my satisfaction!"

She shivered in glee as a cool breeze then blew over her.

"The winds of the Nightmare,

A breeze that I've never felt before.

For the good of all of us,

Except the ones who are dead!"

At that, she twirled with a grin before pouncing towards a nearby park, the strange looks of the ponies around her bouncing off her manic-laced joy.

"And there's no use crying over every choice we make,

You've just got to keep on trying,

Til you fix your mistakes!

And the magic gets done,

And you make a neat pun,

For the ponies who are still alive!"

Gasping for breath, Spike quickly caught up to her.

"Twilight what's with you?

I'm being so sincere right now:

I think you've finally lost your mind for good..."

Twilight rolled her eyes at that, bouncing Pinkie Pie style towards Sugarcube Corner.

"Just go and leave me,

Though who's going to help me eat this pie?

Actually make it a chocolate cake,

Cus it's never too late!"

She then gave a giggle.

"Look at me still talking,

When there's so much to do,

When I look on back,

It makes me glad I'm with you!

I've got a new life to run,

One that's completely filled with fun,

With the ponies that are so alive!"

She gave a brief cackle.

“And believe me I am so alive!

I'm making magic and I'm so alive!

This cake's FANTASTIC and I'm so alive!

So alive!

So alive!"

"You... are such... a bipolar... crazy!" Spike finally gasped, the song being over with.

Twilight gave a slight frown in return. "I am?"

"Yes!" Spike cried, before actually chuckling slightly and wrapping his arms around her in a warm hug. "But you're my bipolar crazy."

The smile was quickly returned.

"Thanks, Spike," Twilight said, her eyes moistening slightly. "I'm just... really glad to be here." She then put on a grin. "Come on, let's go find our friends and do something! I don't care what!"

The dragon gave another chuckle. "Man, it's really weird seeing you in high spirits... and there being no studying involved," he said. "But you know what? I think I like this new you! I think this is going to be the start of a new, awesome friendship!"

"Heck yeah it is!"

With that, the two quickly finished the chocolate cake before darting out of Sugarcube and into the light.

Helter Skelter

Now that their own journey had come to an end,
It was time for the crusaders to make amends.
Unfortunately, it was too late before I learned the solemn truth,
That you should never turn your back on a total douche.

As the crusaders and company passed through the Everlost forest, an even darker version of Everdead that lie north of it, Blackblood stopped once again to peer up into a tree. There sat a black crow, its eyes set aglow, and to it he whispered:

"Mali, per occultus nuntius missus ad cohortem. Helterus skelterus."

"Hey! What are you doing?" Rotten asked, raising a suspicious eyebrow as she hovered next to Blackblood, her hooves on her hips.

The black prince gave an indignant huff. "I'm sending messages to my political allies. I have important business to attend to besides babysitting you three brats, you know."

The ghost gave a huff. "Blah blah blah, I'm a douche, blah blah blah," she muttered to herself, hovering away from him.

"So, Twilight..." Scootaweb said, trotting besides her. "We saw the other side a little bit... but that was at night. Is it true they keep the sun up almost all day?"

"Mmhmm," Twilight smiled, apparently not harboring any sort of arachnophobia. "Though it depends on the season."

"Woah..." Scootaweb said.

"That's so weird!" Apple Doom added.

"Well, without the sun there couldn't be any crops or plant life," Twilight explained, before cocking an eyebrow. "How in the world do you do it here? All I've seen is the moon up."

At that, the three crusaders glanced towards each other curiously, pondering the question, before turning back to Twilight, shrugging, and saying, "eh, magic."

"Ah," Twilight said, chuckling.

Another moment of silence passed before Apple Doom spoke up. "Say, Twilight... since you're from the other side and all and probably the best to judge..." She then gave a wide grin. "Can you tell me how good my roar sounds?"

"Sure," Twilight said, quite bemused at this. She honestly thought that Apple Doom was almost as adorable as Apple Bloom, her wolf-like features making her look almost like a cub. In fact, now that she wasn't put in mortal danger by the three, she had to admit that they were all cute in their own way, even the spider Scootaweb. With that in mind, how in the world Apple Doom’s roar supposed to be-

"RAWWWWWWWWWWWRRRR!.!.!.!" the werewolf screeched, nearly petrifying Twilight as the lycan’s eyes glowed a bright red for a brief second, her voice becoming unnaturally distorted.

Noticing what she had did, Apple Doon simpered slightly. "Er, did I go too far?"

Shivering, and taking a moment to compose herself, Twilight eventually stuttered out, "N-No, it was fine... uh... t-ten out of five."

"Yay!" Apple Doom beamed. "Wait until I tell our Twilight I just scared the Element of Magic!"

"Hmph," Blackblood's many mouths grunted. "You call that a scare?"

"Hey, not all of us have the benefit of looking like something that crawled out of Null Space," Scootaweb grunted. "Oh wait..."

"Speaking of which," Twilight said, nervously turning to face him. "I-If you don't mind talking about it, you've sort of peaked my curiosity."

He quirked an eyebrow, before lowering it. "You want to know about Null Space," he sighed. "Very well... ask your questions."

"I just want to know... what is it exactly? I heard something about R'lyeh. Can you tell me anything else?"

The many eyes of Blackblood narrowed. "All you need to know is that it's filled with unappreciative troglodytes who don't know majesty when they see it."

"Ah," Twilight said, before whispering towards Apple Doom, "guess I'm not going to find anything out, am I?"

The young lycan shook her head with a slight smirk. "Anyway," she then said, smiling slightly. "Know any good songs from your side of the gates?"

The mortal mare raised an eyebrow. "I thought you only liked songs that were scary."

"Yeah well... you're not the only one who's curious," she grumbled.

"Yeah, come on! Let's learn something to pass the time with," Rotten grinned.

Twilight chuckled slightly. "Well I might know a good one, a very famous one, and one somewhat appropriate for the situation. It goes something like this:"

She then took a deep breath, before starting with:

"One pill makes you larger,

And one pill makes you small,

And the ones that mother gives you,

Don't do anything at all,

Go ask Alice,

When she’s ten feet tall!"

"Hey! I know this one! Vinyl tried it out last year but it was rejected for actually being good," Scootaweb grinned.

With that, Blackblood gave a chuckle before singing:

"When logic and proportion,

Have fallen sloppy dead,

And the white knight is talking backwards,

And the Red Queen's 'Off with her head!'

Remember what the dormouse said,

Feed your head!

Feed your head!"

The entire group stared at him wide-eyed as he finished.

"What?" he grunted. "A dignitary can't appreciate decent music?"

"Shades of gray," Twilight chuckled. "It's always shades of gray..."

"That they are, Twilight Sparkle!" a wicked, bombastic voice called out from the woodlands, a voice that rang through Twilight's mind, taking her back to over two years ago.

"W-Who's that?!" Scootaweb whispered.

"I'm not sure," Blackblood said nervously.

Twilight, however, narrowed her eyes. "I think I know..."

At that, a very familiar figure stepped out of the woods, her wearing a gray, witch's cloak complete with a pointy hat. It was almost a rhyme to her counterpart's outfit, The Great and Powerful Trixie.

"And with that in mind, The Great and Powerful Wicked Witch of the West would like to give you one chance to surrender peacefully so she may claim what is rightfully hers!"

"Trixie," Twilight growled, her eyes narrowing.

"Witch of the West, not Trixie!" she said, stamping a hoof.

"Whatever," Twilight sighed. "I'm not going anywhere with you. I just want to get back home and take a nice bubble bath..."

At that, she gave a slight laugh. "Hah! I'm afraid you won't have much of a choice," she said, grinning wickedly while glaring at Twilight with spite. She then brought a hoof to her mouth before whistling loudly.

The quintet huddled closely together after it, listening for whatever might be coming. Eventually, the clitter-clatter of bony hooves perked their ears, it growing closer and closer. The three crusaders knelt down into a combat pose, Twilight glancing at the woods apprehensively. Finally, stepping out of the treeline and into the clearing came a small skeletal pony army, all equipped with various medieval weapons, sharpened and glistening. Upon them they wore tattered armor, the same that seemed to have unsuccessfully protected them in some ancient battle long ago.

"Undead!" Rotten cried, before realizing her friends were giving her looks. "The not-so-cute kind," she simpered.

"So, Twilight Sparkless," 'Trixie' said smugly. "What's it going to be? I pulled these boys out the ground at the site of the Battle of the Eastern Hills, and though they may have failed there, I assure you they won't be doing the same thing twice."

With three tiny growls, the crusaders formed a tri-force formation around Twilight, confident smiles coming on their faces.

"Go back to your great and powerful home, witch!" Scootaweb growled, her mandibles clicking fiercely.

"Yeah! You're not laying a hoof on her!”

"Girls!" Twilight cried. "I can't ask you to fight for me... you'll end up getting hurt!"

"Yes... not fighting would be nice," Blackblood said desperately. "You should probably just surrender. She'll let the rest of us go!"

"Oh, just shut up," Apple Doom growled, before turning back towards Twilight. "We can totally take these guys."

"Yeah!" Scootaweb said. "Rainbow says killing undead is easy. You just gotta go for their heads and watch that you aren't surrounded."

"Hmph," The Wicked Witch said, her smug smirk coming back upon her. "You'll soon find that the undead of The Great and Powerful Witch of the West are much more of a challenge than those used in sporting events!" She then turned towards a certain group of the creatures, them forming a straight line about thirty meters from Twilight. "Archers, take aim to wound!"

The firing line gave curt nods before lifting bows, each with sharpened arrows whose tips glistened off the moonlight.

"She's definitely not messing around!" Blackblood cried. "And I don't feel like picking arrows out of me later!"

"Then run and hide, you friggin' sissy!" Scootaweb growled. "Some escort you're turning out to be."

"It isn't like a gentleman to get his hooves dirty," he said indignantly. “That’s more of a thing for… lesser beings to handle for him.”

The spider gave a sarcastic laugh. "By the night! I'd wrap your mouths up with web if you didn't have so many!"

Blackblood's eyes widened in fury. "You wouldn't dare!"

"Save it for the skeletons, girls," Twilight said, before wincing slightly. "Actually, no. Scratch that." At that, she shook her head. "I can't believe I'm saying this, but Prince Blackblood is right," she sighed. "Go, get out of here. She wants me and me alone."

"Quit stalling! Either fight or back down, but don't waste my time!" 'Trixie' shouted. "You have thirty seconds to comply. But if you don’t, my arrows will blot out the moon!"

Twilight took a deep, shattered breath at that. "Look, you girls are friends with Death herself, right?"

The trio gave nods.

"Twenty seconds..."

"Then surely she'll be able to mount a rescue for me, won't she?"

"She's not all powerful, though!" Rotten argued. "And who knows where the wicked witch will take you!"

"Ten seconds..."

"I don't care!" Twilight argued. "I'm not going to put your lives in jeopardy for my sake!"

"Hello!?" Rotten cried, waving at her noncorporeal form with exaggeration. "Arrows can't do anything against me!"

"But Trixie could!” Twilight said, before wincing slightly. “Witchie, whatever her name is! Just go!"

"Let arrows FLY!.!.!" The Great and Powerful Witchie roared.

The group gasped as the archers released their volley. Thirty arrows whizzed through the air, Twilight narrowing her eyes and preparing a spell mentally.

“Eep! I don’t want to fight in the shade!” Scootaweb wimpered, closing her eyes.

However, they never hit a soul. For as soon as Scootaweb opened her eyes she found herself surrounded by a purple bubble shield, as well as thirty or so shattered arrows.

"Trust me girls," the Element of Magic winked, not even breaking a sweat. "I've dealt with a lot worse than her.” She then chuckled. “I'll have to tell you about Discord and Queen Chrysalis sometime..."

Scootaweb gave another smirk. "Good, then it'll just make this easier."

“Girls…”

“We’re not budging!”

The living mare rolled her eyes. "Ugh, you remind me of another tenacious little trio I know." She then sighed in defeat. "Fine, you can help, but don't try anything too fancy!"

"Yayyy!" the three beamed.

"Crusaders! Attack Pattern Omega!" Apple Doom said, smirking confidently.

The other two crusaders raised eyebrows. "Uhhhhh, Apple. We don't have any attack patterns."

The lycan gave a shrug. "Well, at least it sounded cool."

With that, 'Trixie' spoke up, her voice filled with both spite and actually a slight bit of admiration as she gazed upon the shimmering shield. "Impressive, Twilight."

The archers let loose yet another volley, their deadly projectiles whizzing through the cold night’s air as the crusaders and Blackblood winced for impact, only for them to batter against the shield once again, their small, wooden structures splintering and falling lazily to the ground.

'Trixie' gave another nod. "Most impressive." Her eyes then narrowed. "But you're no witch."

With that, The Wicked Witch of the West flung off her hat, revealing a jagged horn glowing green.

"Suck it!"

As her horn glowed ever brighter, Twilight's eyes widened in horror when a stream of purple particles began to emanate from her shield. As if they were being pulled in by a miniature black hole, they were quickly drawn to the witch's horn.

"Woah!" Twilight cried.

"W-What's going on?" Rotten asked, a hint of fear coming into her voice for the first time. "What's she doing?"

"It's a magic leeching spell," the Element of Magic explained. "Dark magic... not many on my side know of it, and I can't think of any counters! This Trixie is a lot more powerful than the one I know, it seems. Her magic is real."

"B-But we can still beat her, right?" Apple Doom said.

Twilight gave a slight nod, her eyes filled with confidence. "I think so, because it seems this Trixie and my Trixie have at least one thing in common."

"W-What's that?" Blackblood stuttered.

"Arrogance," the mortal mare said, glaring his way.

With that, Twilight turned her eyes the Western Witch's way before actually increasing the amount of magic she was feeding her shield. 'Trixie' gave a gasp at that, the trickle of particles flowing towards her horn now becoming a flood. Within a second, a small magical explosion erupted from it, kicking her back and sending her careening into the ground.

"Never let your eyes be bigger than your stomach," Twilight said, smiling. “Princess Celestia taught me that.”

With eyes narrowing once again, she dropped her shield, preparing to go on the offensive. As she gritted her teeth, particles of light began to form around her pointed birthright as wisps of energy were sucked into it. A loud whir sounded, and when it grew to an eardrum shattering shriek a lance of light lashed out from her forehead and towards a wide-eyed Wicked Witch of the West.

Gasping, ‘Trixie’s’ horn glowed brightly for but the briefest second before a bubble shield leapt up around her, the lance of light from Twilight breaking upon it like a wave on a rock, bounding to the sides.

"Archers! Bring her to her knees!" she cried, panting heavily.

The skeletons gave nods, supporting themselves on two hind legs as they drew arrows from tattered quivers.

"Come on! Let's keep them off Twilight's back," Apple Doom called, leading the crusaders in a charge towards the ranks of the undead. A number of skeletons equipped with spears and swords quickly moved to intercept them. However, the crusaders were ready for this, their eyes narrowing.

A series of clumsy sword swings were then sent Scootaweb's way, though by standing upon two of her strongest, insectoid legs, she was able to use the hardened tips of the other six to parry. Sparks filled the air as the young spider took deep breaths, struggling to maintain her balance. The glowing, red, piercing eyes of her opponents sent chills down her spine, them where their eye sockets once held sight long ago.

In the meantime, two spears careened towards Apple Doom, her gasping as she quickly jutted out of the way. The two pointed tips of the deadly weapons grazed her head’s fur, her barely managing to dodge, and instead struck cold soil, digging into it. Their clumsy skeleton owners then began desperately trying to rip them out.

Apple Doom never gave them the chance, however. Letting loose a roar, she eyed down one of them and then lept into to the air as if pouncing upon prey, her yellow eyes two embers in the night. She then sent a ferocious claw into its skull for a head. With a pop, it snapped off and spiraled into the ground, its red, glowing eyes quickly flashing out forever.

"Hah! That's one!"

She then twirled about, her panted breath leaping forth like a ghost into the night, before pouncing upon the second target. A claw was sent flying into this skeleton’s skull as well, it snapping off and twirling in a spiral to forever grace the clearing's floor, its pointed war helmet sliding a few feet away from it.

"What do five claws say to the face?!" Apple Doom grinned. "SMACK! Double Kill! Hahaha!” With that, she turned towards Rotten. “You know, these guys aren't tough at all!"

"Yeah! Twilight was right; the wicked witch is all talk!" Rotten called as she stood motionless, letting five very daft skeletons take swings right through her. "But what in the world is a double kill?"

"Something I've heard the announcer say at zombie killing tournaments! Me and Scootaweb watch them all the time!"

"Uhhhh, yeah... could use a little help, though!" Scootaweb cried, sweat dripping off her forehead as she continued desperately trying to hold off her six saber wielding attackers.

"Don't worry, Scoots! I've got this," Apple Doom grinned, before pouncing towards her. "Rotten! Take care of the archers somehow!"

The ghostly unicorn gave a quick salute before bounding towards their picket line, them now prepared to fire. However, upon seeing the apparition, they quickly turned towards her. They then let loose another volley, their deadly projectiles whizzing through the night, and finally, right through her as well.

"Wow! You guys can't even hit something ten feet in front of you!?" she teased, apparently completely unharmed. "Did you even go to archer school?"

The skeletons ignored the comment, silently loading another volley and firing once again with a series of barely audible twangs. However, once again, the rain of projectiles simply floated through the ethereal figure. As if she were made of smoke, they quietly made tiny holes in her, only for them to be quickly filled.

"Na-na-na-na,

Na-na,

Can't touch this!"

She then brought two wiggling hooves to her ears, sticking her tongue out.

In the meantime, across the clearing, Twilight continued to advance on 'Trixie', her eyes narrowing as another beam of light surged forth like a spear from her horn, her opponent now sweating bullets under her shield.

"Ugh, you worthless idiots!" the wicked witch cried the skeleton line's way. "Shoot at the purple one, not the ghost! By the night!"

The skeletons cocked heads at that, almost as if they were offended, before reloading. As they did, several melee attackers approached Twilight, their weapons glistening in the moonlight.

"Good! Protect your master! Buahahahaha!" the witch cackled.

Twilight gasped, forced to disengage her attack. Her eyes narrowing, she then supported herself with her frontal legs before sending two bucks towards her nearest attackers, surprising them before they could bring their spears to bear. With a strength she didn't think she had, her hind legs actually cracked the frontal ones of the skeletal ghouls. With them gone, the bony monsters collapsed upon their fronts.

"Applejack would be proud of me, though I hope this doesn't count as disrespecting the dead," Twilight simpered, before eyeing 'Trixie' preparing an offensive blast out of the corner of her eye. "Oh no you don't!"

With a glare, another brilliant whirring sound was heard from the student of magic’s horn, and out of nowhere appeared a brilliant, shimmering wall of purple energy, Trixie's spell crashing against it as the wicked witch gave a growl.

At that, two more skeletons wielding swords then approached Twilight. Spying them, the purple mare let loose a war cry before charging her horn once again and sending two furious blasts of light towards them. The magic holding their bones together was ripped asunder by the thundering energy, their skeletal forms disintegrating into pieces before flying backwards.

"I really need to thank Princess Luna for that crash course in combat magic she gave me," the mortal mare smiled, though she quickly narrowed an eyebrow. "Though I think she might have been a little too enthusiastic with the amount of power she said to put in her beam spells."

"Mmmm," 'Trixie' mused. "You were taught by one of the other side's princesses, hmmm?" She then grinned. "Glad to see that The Great and Powerful Wicked Witch is getting a challenge for once!"

With a ghastly grin, she charged her horn and sent another beam Twilight's way, her doing the same in the opposite direction. The two spells met in the middle with a tremendous crackle of energy, actually sending visible ripples of heat outward. The two were now metaphorically locked in parry.

Across the field, in the meantime, the skeletal archers prepared to fire once again....

"BEEEEYA!"

"Wooo yeah!"

However, they were never given the chance. Scootaweb and Apple Doom, now finished with the former’s opponents, began making their way down the picket line, knocking bows out of skeleton hands, and sometimes knocking skeletal hands off skeletal arms, a killing spree of epic proportions.

"Hah!" Apple Doom beamed, lopping off the top half of a skeletal archer (it standing on its hind legs) that was sent flying towards the ground. Its torso then began to claw towards the young lycan, her letting out an 'eep' before composing herself, growling and kicking its bobbing skull off its torso.

Grinning confidently, she turned towards another, repeating the process.

WHOOSH-SMACK!

It lost its head.

"Triple kill!"

WHOOSH-SMACK!

Another lost its bow arms.

"Killing spree!"

WHOOSH-SMACK-WHOOSH-SMACK!

"Killing frenzy! RUNNING RIOT, YEAH!" Apple Doom grinned.

"Oh yeah?" Scootaweb smirked. Supporting herself on her two strongest legs, she quickly dug two others into a skeleton skull's eye sockets and slammed its body into the ground. Its helmeted head no match for the force of impact, it quickly snapped off and rolled a few feet away.

"Running riot!" she cried proudly. Grinning, Scootaweb then turned to perform the same act on two other nearby undead.

WHOOSH-SMACK!

"RAMPAGE! UNTOUCHABLE!"

One last skeleton was all that was remaining, Scootaweb quickly scurrying over towards it, launching herself upon its back, riding it rodeo style, and ripping off its head with her fearsome sticky, pointy-tipped legs.

"INVINCIBLE!” she roared, flinging the skull some yards away. "I am the queen of zombie slaying! Hahaha!"

Apple Doom's jaw nearly fell off her furry face.

"Wooo yeah! I think that was all of them," Rotten cried merrily, glancing at the clearing that was now completely littered with skeleton bones and medieval weapons. She then glared towards Blackblood who simply stood in the midst of it, his many mouths smiling smugly. "Sure got a lot of help from someghoul, though..."

"Didn't want to chip a tendril," he chuckled.

"Come on, forget him!" Apple Doom growled, glancing towards the beam-o-war that was taking place on the other side of the clearing. "We need to go help Twilight!"

The three then took off towards the two opponents, though they didn't make it too far, for two black, gooey tendrils quickly erupted from Prince Blackblood, striking both Scootaweb and Apple Doom with such a force that the moment they hit the ground, they were knocked unconscious.

"Blackblood!" Rotten cried, glaring daggers at the abomination. "You're really trying to live up to your biggest douche in the universe title, aren't you?!"

The abomination merely grinned. "Sticks and stones, my fair child. You can say what you wish, but I've got business to pay, and as soon as I help my apprentice finish with the Element of Magic, I'm afraid your own business will be over with here."

"Not if I have anything to say about that," she cried, her horn beginning to glow. "I might not know as much magic as Twilight, but I still might know enough to beat your sorry flank!"

"Pffffft-HAHAHAHAHA," Blackblood cackled. "What are you going to do, levitate me to death?"

The young ghoul's eyes narrowed. "Actually, yeah, I was thinking about lifting you about two hundred feet into the air and seeing how big of a splat you make."

Blackblood's mouths smirked smugly. "Come at me then, little filly! Let's see if you can play in a big girl's league!"

Not saying another word, the ghost moved towards him.

"Bahahahaha! Oh my, this is too rich! The sister of that foalish Scarity who actually thought she'd be my 'loving princess' thinks she can take me?! What a hoot- WAHHHHH!"

Growling, Rotten made good on her threat, beginning to lift him in the air.

"Apprentice! I need some assistance!" he cried.

Across the field, 'Trixie' gasped for breath as Twilight's beam began to overtake her own. "You're on your own, master!"

"We'll see about that!" he roared, sending a fury of black tendrils blitzkrieging towards Twilight. Before she even knew what hit her, the jagged spears of black struck her side. Like she was merely a stone to be kicked, she was sent sailing into the air before careening down on her side with a terrific THUD!

"Now's your chance! Strike when your opponent is weak!" he called to 'Trixie', who immediately smirked before facing the fallen mare.

"Trixie," Twilight gasped, trying desperately to stand. "I don't know what you're after... why you're doing this... but the Trixie I know at least had a noble side to her... don't do this."

"For the last time," she growled. "I. AM NOT. TRIXIE!"

SHIIINGGGGG-POOOOW!

One blast was all it took to knock the purple mare unconscious, her letting loose a groan before collapsing into the dirt.

With that, the Wicked Witch of the West pivoted herself to face a frightened Rotten-Belle, preparing to send a strike her way as well.

The young ghost's eyes widened, and seeing no other option, she quickly made headway into the woods, scurrying out of sight.

"Oh, hellfire!" The wicked witch growled, stamping a hoof. "Now we're screwed..."

Blackblood gave a slight chuckle, glancing at his new captives. "On the contrary, things couldn't have worked for the better. Noghoul will believe that the royal Prince Blackblood just disregarded direct orders from Princess Nightmare Moon, especially if it's coming from a mere child..." He then smiled slightly, tapping a hoof to his chin. “Except maybe… one ghoul.”

☼☼☼
☼☼
☼☼☼

Fifty miles away in Terrosville, Rainbow Death sat outside Twilight Soulshard's treehouse, quietly playing a sorrowful tune on guitar.

Hallelujah

Beyond my sight the spirits of envy and pride,
Took the child of light in complete surprise.
Now bait was set, a wicked chord struck,
For the one who could save her from such poor luck.

"Rainbow Death! Have you seen dear Twilight anywhere?!" Dr. Whoovenstein cried.

"No..." she groaned, plucking on her blues guitar near the front door of Twilight's treehouse.

Dr. Whooevenstein swallowed hard. "You're sure about this?!"

"How could I not be sure, doctor?" she grumbled.

"Ugh..." he groaned. "Damn it all! She's the master of scares, for the love of the drums! I need her opinion on my idea on how to turn my counterpart into a shivering ball of fear!"

“Who, Dr. Whooves?”

“Who else?”

Rainbow gave a chuckle. “Heh, I’ve paid him a visit once or twice, though that quirky pony just doesn’t want to die.” She then rolled her eyes. “Regenerations… what a weird, confusing concept.”

“So he doesn’t even fear death?!” Dr. Whoovenstein cried.

Rainbow quirked an eyebrow. "Nope, you're just going to have to figure out a better idea on your own.”

"Fine," he growled as he began to walk off, muttering to himself, "bloody hell, if I didn't know any better I'd say she ditched us!"

"Seems like you don't know better then," Rainbow whispered sorrowfully, continuing to strum.

"Rainbow!" another voice cried.

"What?!" she screeched, this time striking a rotten chord.

"Have you seen Twilight anywhere?!" Mayor Scare said nervously, her perpetual worried face currently now facing forward. "I can't make decisions around here without her!” She then leaned closer. “I'm an elected official, not a decider. Decisions always seem to need her backing."

“What sort of decisions?” Rainbow asked curiously.

At that, she took a deep breath before saying, “I’m not sure how many ghouls we should send through the gates…”

A moment of silence passed as Death pretended to think about it. "Forty-two," she finally concluded.

"W-What?!"

"You heard me,” she said. “It’s the answer to life, the universe, and everything. Run with it."

"Are you sure?"

Death simply nodded. "Yep."

“That doesn’t make much sense, though…”

“Hey, I’m Death. I can see the strings of the universe. Trust me. Forty-two.”

"W-Well if you say so…" the mayor stuttered, a lightbulb shining above her head. "You know… I think I get it, actually! I'll have to remember that one!"

Death gave a curt nod. "Now go forth, live long, and prosper!" she grunted.

"Thank you, Rainbow!" the mayor cried as she scurried away.

At that, Death gave a sigh. "Ugh, why does everyghoul think I know where Twilight is? If I knew that, I would have gone and gotten her myself…" She glanced at the treehouse longingly. "I love scaring... I really do. It's fun, invigorating, and sometimes gives a pretty big ego boost." She then peered downwards in sorrow. "But... the real reason I keep coming back here every year... well, let’s just say it isn't because the Elements belong together... except perhaps maybe two. Death, and she who defies her."

"Everything alright, sugar?" Applemoon said, walking up towards her.

"Yeah... peachy," she grunted. "Not like my best friend just went and ditched us on Nightmare's Eve, the one week I have to be with her..."

The lycan narrowed her eyes slightly. "Mmmm, she’s my friend too you know." However, she then gave a sympathetic smile. "But I know there's more to it than that with you, isn't there?"

Rainbow Death merely glanced away from her, continuing to strum.

"Anyway, I wanted to know if you-"

Death hit a sour note once again. "Ugh! I don't know where Twilight is, OK? Can't anyghoul just get along without her!?"

"Actually," the lycan pony said, holding up a hoof. "I just wanted to know if you've seen my sister anywhere."

"Your sister?" Rainbow said, raising an eyebrow.

The werewolf gave a worried nod. "Yep. Her, Scootaweb, and Rotten have all gone missing, too."

Death quirked an eyebrow. "Think Twilight might have something to do with this?"

The lycan took a deep, stuttered breath. "I-I'm not sure... I hope not." She then glanced away from Rainbow. "You know... I actually think Spike might know where she got off to, at least."

Rainbow's eyebrows narrowed. "How do you know?"

"I just... know when people are hidin' stuff from me, is all, and when I asked him about it… well, let’s just say I guess my counterpart's Element might be within me... just a teeny bit."

"Hmph," Death grunted. "Well why isn't he saying anything about it?"

Applemoon shrugged. "Beats the fur off me, that's for sure."

At that, Death gave another sorrowful sigh, her friend quirking an overly-long lycan eyebrow.

"You're sure you don't want to talk about things?"

"No..."

The lycan smirked slightly. "Yeah ya do..."

Rainbow rolled her eyes. "I really don't..."

She gave a chuckle. "The more you say no, the more I hear yes. You're the kind of ghoul who always means the opposite of what they say."

With that, Death gave a disgruntled moan. "Please... just leave me alone."

"You’re absolutely-“

“Yes.”

Applemoon then gave a sigh. “Well… alright then. Just let me know if you hear anything, alrighty?”

“You got it,” Death said, waving a lazy hoof as Applemoon began sauntering away.

At that, Death began a sorrowful strum composed of four simple, but powerful chords, making sure noghoul was around her when she did so. Satisfied, she took a deep breath, and with her surprisingly good voice, began to sing:

"They say there is a secret chord,

That you can play to please the lord,

But you never cared for ends now did you?

It goes like this, the fourth, the fifth,

The mighty fall, the major lift!

From one baffled heart who never knew ya...

Hallelujah...

I never thought I'd be so depraved,

I saw you dancing on your grave,

But your beauty in the moonlight took me to you.

I finally learned that I could sing,

As you went and cut my wings!

But now you've went and gone before the hallelujah....

Hallelujah...

As time went on I came to know,

That some deserve a second go,

The golden gates can wait til I see through you.

You've planted your flag upon my heart,

Though love is not a victory march!

It's a cold and it's a broken hallelujah!

Hallelujah...

Baby I've been on this road before,

I've seen this room, I've walked this floor,

Loneliness is a blade that sticks right through you...

And now my feelings will never sound,

They'll always be within the ground!

I guess I'm just not meant for a hallelujah...

Hallelujah...

Hallelujah..."

She took a deep breath at the end of it, gazing up at the sky. "Wherever you are, Twilight, I hope you're alright... I don't want the next time I see you to be at the gates." She then shook her head. "My question is though: did you find what you were looking for?"

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"Shots, shots, shots-shots-shots,

Shots, shots, shots-shots-shots,

Shots-shots! EVERYPONY!"

"Twilight! Lil' Jon commands us to take more shots together! WE MUST OBEY HIM!" Pinkie shouted, speakers blaring around her.

"Woooo yeah!" Twilight Soulshard cried, filling up six glasses at the table her and the Elements of Harmony sat at, it located in Ponyville's only nightclub. "Tequila," she hiccuped. "Why the heck do you have such a girly name?! This isn't a girly drink! You're like... a friggin' drink of the gods! The girly... manly gods... and stuff."

"Hahaha!" Applejack giggled groggily. "You are drunk are so right now!"

"Your face is drunk," Twilight said, sticking her tongue out. "You definitely just mixed up that last sentence, hahaha!"

"Bahahaha!" Rainbow Dash giggled. "Ms. Moonshine can't hold her liquor, Ms. Moonshine can't hold her liquor!" she sang in a childish tone.

"Oh you hush before I challenge you to a drinking contest and kick you sorry flank across the bar!" Applejack growled.

"Anytime. Anywhere!" Rainbow Dash smirked confidently. "I'll kick yo flank into the air. HAHAHA, OH MY GOSH THAT RHYMED!"

"Shots, shots, shots-shots-shots,

Shots, shots, shots-shots-shots,

Shots-shots! EVERYPONY!"

"BOTTOMS UP!" Twilight called, her six 'friends' immediately gulping down the tequila before wincing at the burn, all except Fluttershy. Noticing this, the Lich Queen quirked a suspicious eyebrow. “Heyy…. how come you can take this stuff like a champ?"

"Oh my..." she peeped, not even remotely drunk. "I'm not sure. It must just be a gene thing. I swear this is my first time."

"Yeah, what gives, Twilight?! You've never wanted to hit the night club before!" Rainbow grinned.

The Lich Queen gave a smirk. "Eh, well I'm a changed girl, girls! And I gots a plan!"

"Oooooooo, what plan?!" the group cried drunkenly, leaning closer.

"A glorious plan!" Twilight announced, raising a triumphant hoof. "I say we just get on a friggin' train and ride that steam-driven awesome machine all across this beautiful land of Equestria! Right! Friggin'! Now!"

"Oh heck yeah!" Pinkie beamed, waving the bottle of tequila about. "The Friendship Express is about to become the PARTY EXPRESS!"

"Heck yeah it is!" Twilight screamed. "You guys have already got the picture here! And we won't stop til the sun hits the sky! We'll go to South Equestria, to Appleloosa, and Dodge City!"

"BEEEEYAAA!" her friends cheered.

"Then we're gonna go to Filledelphia, and Manehattan!"

"BEEEEEYAAAA!"

"And Los Pegasus, and Van Hoover!"

"BEEEEEYAAAA!"

"AND THEN WE'RE GONNA GO TO CANTERLOT AND CHILL IN THE WHITE PALACE!"

"BEEEEEEYAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"

"Heck yeah! Let's get going!" Pinkie cried.

"Hold on," Twilight said, smirking as she dizzily careened around in her chair, alcohol soaring through her veins. "One. Last. Sho-"

Her head then slammed to the table, drool spilling out of the side of her mouth.

"Hahaha! Lightweight!" Rainbow Dash giggled drunkenly, before slamming face first down as well.

Applejack raised an eyebrow, letting loose a sigh. "Ugh. Check their pulses. Friggin' city folk."

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"Rainbow Death!" a voice cried, startling the grim reaper out of another song she was playing. Floating from the sky came Rotten-Belle, a panic-stricken look upon her.

"Rotten?" Rainbow said, raising an eyebrow. "There you are! The town's been-"

"No time!" she squeaked.

"What?!"

Rotten took a deep breath:

"TwilightorderedustogototheothersideotkidnaptheotherTwilightbutthenweweresostupidandbroughthertoNightmareMoonbutshwascoolbutshegotPrinceBlackbloodtoescortusbutthenhewentandkidnappedTwilightandScootaweb-"

"Rotten!" Death cried, exasperated. "For the love of the scythe, I need that to be about ten percent slower and twenty percent more coherent, please." Her eyes then narrowed. "I heard Prince Blackblood though, so I suppose there's douchebaggery involved."

With that, Rotten took a deep breath, nodding. "Long story short, Twilight Sparkle is on this side of the gates. You know, our Twilight's counterpart?"

Death gave a nod. "Yeah, I've heard of her. She's one of the good ones. Locked up that nasty piece of work Discord if I remember right. Where is she, though?"

"Blackblood ponynapped her! We took her to Necropolis to uh... meet... Nightmare Moon, and she was fine with it all, but then she asked us to bring her back to her side, him escorting us, and he laid out some sort of crazy undead ambush!"

"Ugh, that sack of crap!" Death growled, striking an angry chord before composing herself slightly. "Pardon my language, kid. Anyway, so where's our Twilight?"

At that, another voice entered the scene, this one belonging to Spike as he fluttered down from the dead treehouse's upper windows, the size of a bat now. "Ugh... I think I know," he grumbled. "I might as well come clean now that the crap's hit the fan."

"You were easedropping?" Death said, raising an eyebrow.

"No, I just happened to guess what you two were talking about," Spike said blankly.

Rainbow gave a chuckle. "The snark is strong with this one." Her tone then grew serious. "Anyway, where the heck is Twilight? The town's falling apart without her around to help lead Nightmare Night."

At that, the dragon took a deep breath. "I think she might be on the other side of the gates... taking the 'real' Twilight's place."

Death's eyes widened. "Are you sure?!"

"I think he's right!" Rotten cried. "That's what the other Twilight said she was doing, too!"

With that, Rainbow gave a sigh. "You two are serious, aren't you?" She then narrowed her eyes. "Whelp, it seems I've got the other side to pay a casual visit, then. Someghoul needs to convince the Lich Queen to come home."

"B-But what about Blackblood!" Rotten cried. "He has Scootaweb and Apple Doom, too!"

"You know what they say about him, right?" Spike gulped.

"Yeah, cus I'm the one who says it," Death grunted, before taking another deep breath. "Alright Spike, you head to the other side and try to convince our Twilight to come home. You can shrink to the size of a fly or something so nopony spots you."

He gave a nervous simper. "Yeah but... uh... flyswatters."

Death gave him a blank look in return. "Then shrink to something smaller! Come on Spike, we need to get her back...” Her voice became hushed. “I need to get her back..."

At that, Spike quirked a suspicious eyebrow, though he soon gave a reluctant sigh afterward. "Alright, I'll try my best... but I've kind of been acting like a jerk to her lately... I hope she'll listen."

"She will," Death smiled. "Just don't be forceful about it." Her eyes then narrowed. "In the meantime, I've got business to pay with a certain douche, business a long time coming." She then pulled out a whetstone, beginning to sharpen her scythe. "I'm not really supposed to interfere with the affairs of the living in this way... but I've been chewed out before. Noghoul will miss him, anyway."

"B-But... you don't even know where he's gone!" Rotten pointed out.

Death gave a smirk. "Yeah, but I know where he usually hangs out: in the very same area where me and Twilight once went hiking and found Frostmourne, the Frozen North. I'm the only one who can get there quickly, so it looks like I'm going to have to go..." She raised her hood, her eyes glowing white in its darkness. "Alone."

"Uhhh... bit dramatic, don't you think?" Spike said.

Death then gave a brief giggle, lowering her hood. "Hahaha! I'm such an awesome loose-leaf reaper who doesn't play by the rules sometimes." Rotten and Spike quirked their eyebrows, her own narrowing. "Seriously though, I hope he's ready to say 'hi' to Cthulhu for me, because his gooey flank is getting sent back to Null Space."

At that, she stowed her whetstone, flapped her single long, black wing and cascaded into the night.

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Snow fell upon a frozen, lonely mountain range, the moon glistening down upon its peaks. Deep beneath them lay miles of long-forgotten mine shafts, though perhaps not forgotten by all.

"Master... I've never been one to question your judgement before, but it seems like we've gone and bit off more than we can chew this time," Trixie said nervously, pacing about a small, dirty, underground room. "Why did you wish to kidnap Twilight Sparkle?"

Blackblood gave a slight chuckle. "Well, originally I just wanted to have her killed and then have a good snack..." He then sighed slightly. "And that would have been so delicious, too... the other side's souls always are. But an Element, though? I can't even imagine the power and thrill that would give me." He then lifted a goey hoof. "However, I now have another plan in mind. A plan that will benefit both of us, Trixie."

"That isn't my name anymore!" she spat. "I haven't been known as Trixie Elphaba since what was rightfully mine was stolen from me! I am now the Wicked Witch of the West, nothing more."

"Mmmm yes... such a pity what happened," Blackblood mused.

"I was all lined up to become the next student of the great Nightmare Moon!" she roared, storming about the room. "I was the greatest necromancer in Edeathstria! I could grasp the mortal coils of hundreds and hold them in my hooves!" Her eyes then narrowed. "Yet she just couldn't let her former student go when she passed. She just had to bring her back, turning her into that wretched Lich Queen!"

Blackblood gave a chuckle at that. "And now I have a way for you to rightfully receive what is yours."

"Oh?" Trixie mused.

"Yeeeees," Blackblood said, his voice a snakelike hiss. "You will be leaving here to Terrosville soon. I've heard rumors that the town is in disarray, Twilight Soulshard having gone missing. I am now confident she's on the other side of the gates."

"You... want me to take over for her," Trixie said, smiling slightly.

"Why not? You are a famous necromancer. They will follow your lead."

Trixie's eyes widened with glee. "Oooh, thank you master!" she cried merrily. "This is a perfect idea!"

Blackblood lifted a hoof. "However, I want you to do something before you leave. I want you to interrogate Twilight Sparkle to find out what sort of defenses Ponyville has that could pose a danger to you and your kin during the... festivities..."

"A wise idea," Trixie nodded.

"And I also want to see how much information you can squeeze out of her about the various residents of Ponyville, including her friends... when it comes to their greatest fears." His many mouths grinned, him walking over to her side. "Image it Trixie, imagine bringing mortal terror to the Elements of Harmony, and then, once you're done with that, you defeat Twilight Soulshard in a duel... and neutralize her. Nightmare Moon will be so impressed that she'll make you her appointed student!"

"B-But... she cares about her Twilight... she brought her back from the dead!" Trixie argued.

Blackblood gave a cackle. "Not anymore. Her student abandoned her to the other side. I was there when she found out... I heard the disappointment in her voice. She's ready to abandon her in return." At that, he pointed towards the doorway to the room. "Now go and have your fun with the Element of Magic. Leech the information from her anyway you can. Use truth serum if you must."

Trixie gave a confident smirk. "Hehehe... we'll see if that's needed." However, she then gave him a concerned glance. "What of Death though? Do, you think she'll come here?"

Blackblood nodded. "Yes... and when she does, I'll be ready for her, for Death isn’t familiar with my kind.” He gave a brief chuckle. “I know what she is..." His many mouths suddenly slid open, revealing twirling vortexes of glowing mist leading into a black void. “But I wouldn't say likewise.”

Feed Me

Across the map pieces moved into place,
As Nightmare Night approached, just one day away.
The bone dragon moved to the Temple of the Gates,
While the ghostly child moved towards my city to set me straight.

However, the key to all things was bound for arctic ice,
A forgotten realm by all those under my sight.
And upon his frozen throne the creature of null,
Readied himself to fulfill his goal.

Within a small, personal chamber Blackblood stood in front of a map of Edeathstria. Upon it were small pieces resembling Death, his apprentice, and other entities. As his mouths grinned, he pushed the blue pegareaper on it towards his base of operations.

“So close…” he whispered.

However, his wicked mood was cut short when he caught sight of the figure of Nightmare Moon, her sitting upon Necropolis. He then gave a silent, longing sigh.

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With a tremendous CRASH, Rainbow Death landed upon a forever snow-grazed mountainside, a blizzard kicking around her with such ferocity that it completely blotted out all light, putting her in a comfortable darkness. Unfortunately, she couldn't stay within the shadows for long.

"Te tenebras non valebit, FLAMMA NOCTIS!" she cried into the heavens. "The darkness will not avail you, FLAME OF UDUN!"

Immediately, a bolt of lightning cascaded from the heavens, striking the tip of her scythe and giving it an eerie, blue glow. Now being able to see her general vicinity, she quickly spotted the mouth of the mines that held her target.

"Bingo," she said, narrowing her eyes.

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Twilight Sparkle's eyes fluttered open as a groan escaped her mouth. She felt as if every part of her body had been pummeled, though the pain in her side was by far the most potent. Glancing about at her surroundings, she let loose a gasp when she finally took note of her current situation: she was strapped to the floor in the middle of a glowing, red pentagram.

"Scootaweb," she whispered, barely able to see into the dark environment she was in. "Apple Doom?"

She was met with only silence, save for the occasional ghostly sound of the wind that echoed into the room.

"Ugh... where am I..." she said, shivering slightly. "And who didn't pay the heating bill?"

At that, she narrowed her eyebrows, concentrating deeply. A small whirring sound was heard from her horn as wisps of light entered it, though it quickly fizzled out.

"Ack!" she growled, a fierce pain shooting through her head. "No magic for me it seems... must be another dampening potion."

Her ears then perked as the sound of a wicked cackle entered the room, her narrowing her eyes in spite at it.

"I'm afraid that was my doing, Twilight Sparkle," Trixie called, entering her vision with a smug smirk upon her face. "Though I have to say, you're as quick as a whip. It might make this almost as fun as if it were the real thing."

"My counterpart..." she sighed. "What do you have against her?"

Trixie's eyes narrowed at that. "Nothing that you should concern yourself with." She then lifted a hoof. "However, despite all this, I'd just like to point out that none of this is personal. You're not her, after all." She then gave a chuckle. "However, I still have a job to do."

"W-What exactly are you going to do?"

The Wicked Witch of the West gave a grin. "I'm going to do the best I can."

At that, she gave another cackle, beginning to circle her prey like a shark, and a second later, Twilight felt a sharp pain surge through her neck, Trixie quickly waving a hypodermic needle in front of her eyes afterward.

"W-What the heck did you just give me?!" Twilight gasped, now furiously kicking at her restraints.

"Ooooh just a little cheat to make this easier. You see, I really don't have much time to do this." Her smug smirk returned. "I've got a holiday to run, after all."

"Y-You... want to take Soulshard's place in Terrosville, don't you?"

Trixie merely chuckled. "Spoilers."

With that, she clapped her hoofs, and immediately a small ensemble of skeleton ponies entered the room, holding various instruments.

"Always nice to add a little art into interrogations," she grinned. "It makes them a little less... barbaric."

She then began to circle around Twilight again as the small band began to play a ghostly, wicked tune.

"Well, well, well!

What have I caught?

Element of Magic, huh?

Hah! I'd never thought!

Mortal champion of the light,

Hahaha! Yeah bucking right!

You're joking! You're joking!

I can't believe my eyes!

You're kidding me you have to be,

It's this little small fry?!

She's nerdy!

She's ugly!

She couldn't hurt a fly!

And I hate to tell you honey,

But your life's been just a lie!"

"W-What are you talking about?" Twilight groaned, a dizzy feeling beginning to overtake her. "What lie?"

"Oh you haven't figured it out for yourself, already? Maybe you're not as smart as I thought." At that, she leaned down towards Twilight, giving her a sympathetic glance. "Blackblood has eyes on the other side, you know. Let's just say not all the birds hanging out in your town are completely... alive. They've... seen things… such as your princess actually having to come and rescue your sorry flank because of your own spell! One caused by a complete mental breakdown!"

"I-I was under a lot of stress at the time!" Twilight gasped. "I had just gotten done dealing with Disc-"

"Blah blah blah, try to make up whatever excuses you want," Trixie grinned. "The real reason for it is because you're completely neurotic! You've got mental issues up the whazoo!"

"That's not true!" Twilight shouted, trying desperately to force her lax muscles against the restraints. "I don't have any mental issues... I'm just a hard worker, and stress comes with that!"

"Even so," Trixie chuckled. "That stress often leads to complete hilarity. Have you ever considered that your so-called 'friends' might only be hanging around you because they're just waiting for the next time you blow?"

"Shut up!" Twilight roared. "You're not getting into my head!" She then shook it as if trying to knock the serum out of her mind. "You're not getting into-"

"Oh I'm already in," Trixie grinned. "You're mine, child of the light."

"When the Wicked Witch says,

There's trouble close at hand,

You'd better pay attention now,

'Cause it ain't no flimsy sham!

So you'd better start prayin' now,

To your so called 'teacher' of the light,

Though I don't think she'd even care,

If her student dies tonight!"

"You're not... turning me... against... CELESTIA!" Twilight cried.

"Hahaha!" Trixie cackled. "Even your own teacher only hangs around you for amusement, you know! She even told you so after the Grand Galloping Gala!"

"S-She did?" Twilight said groggily. "I-I can't... remember."

"Oh yes," Trixie smirked. "Don't you remember? She only invited you to that stupid event because she thought you and your friends would make a mess! Face it, Twilight! Your teacher's nothing but a huge troll! She only has you write those letters to her so she can joke about how obvious the things you've found out are to her friends!"

"I've... been sheltered all my life," Twilight said, continuing to fight. "Those facts are not obvious... to anyone just discovering what friendship is!" She then gave her a glare. "Something you don't know anything about!"

"Oooooooooo," the band cried sarcastically. "She dun told you!"

"Friendship is for the weak," Trixie said smugly. "The only person I need in my life is Blackblood!"

"And that explains why you are... who you are," Twilight sighed.

At that, Trixie was upon Twilight like a tempest. "You're in MY WORLD now, not your world! There is no key to my head!"

"There wasn't even a lock," she grunted, barely grasping at consciousness at this point.

"You still can't deny the facts though!" the wicked witch said bluntly. "Your whole life is just a joke! The entire town of Ponyville is in on it, too!"

Twilight took a deep breath, shaking her head.

"Awww, don't worry Twilight," the Wicked Witch grinned. "Doctor Trixie is here to help!"

"Cus if I'm feelin' antsy,

And there's nothin' much to do,

I just go and cook a batch,

Of Snake and Spider stew.

And don't ya know the one thing

That would make it oh so nice?

If it meant the approval,

Of the student of the light!"

At that, one of her skeleton henchmen made her way to Twilight's side, force-feeding her a spoonfall of a soup that seemed to have been cooked in a sewer pipe, Twilight quickly gagging on it, spitting it out, and shouting:

"Release me now,

Or you must face the dire consequences!

My friends aren't against me,

So stop jumping over fences!"

"You're jokin', you're jokin'!

I can't believe my ears,

Would someone shut this harlot up,

I'm drownin' in my tears!

It's funny, I'm laughing,

You really are too much!

And now, with your permission,

It's time we finish this up!"

At the end of the song, Trixie moved in closer to Twilight, hovering in front of her.

"Help me Twilight... help me take revenge on those who wronged you, and she who wronged me. Tell me the location of Ponyville's armory."

Twilight winced again, breathing heavily, the last vestiges of her sanity becoming depleted.

"TELL ME!"

"Fifth Street... basement... Sugarcube Corner..." Twilight said quietly.

"What was that?" Trixie smirked.

"Fifth Street... basement... Sugarcube Corner..." she repeated, a little louder this time.

"Hehehehe.... hahahahaha... HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" Trixie cackled, dancing about the room. "YEEEEEES!" Smiling, she finally stopped in front of Twilight, leaning towards her . "I want to know more, though... so much more. I want you to tell me your friends greatest fears. I know you know what they are. Will you help me, Twilight?"

"Yes," she whispered softly.

The wicked witch's smirk returned. "Excellent."

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As Death trudged through the winter storm, approaching the entrance to the mines, a brilliant cackle emanated from them.

"Hehehehe.... hahahahaha... HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

"A female voice?" Death said to herself. "Who in the world..."

"Oooooh, just a loving student of mine," a very familiar, very smug hiss crept out of the caves, the origin of it soon making itself known.

"So, it looks like you've converted others to the douchey side of the force," Death said, narrowing her eyes.

"Douchey?" Blackblood said, cocking a head. "You know, people keep calling me that, but I don't know why. What's wrong with seeking power? A few thrills out of life?"

The reaper gave a sarcastic laugh. "You don't get it, do you? Great leaders don't seek power, they have it forced upon them. And as for thrills, hedonism is fine and dandy... as long as you don't have to cut down anypony to receive it." Her eyes narrowed once again. "How many souls of the innocent have you shot up you friggin' junkie?"

Blackblood's many mouths merely gave a smirk. "Enough." With that, he began to circle Death, his stuck-up voice making her wish for it. "You know, we're not that different you and I. You eat souls too, don't you? To seethe that hunger you were born with?"

Rainbow narrowed her eyes. "The big difference is that I deserve it, and so do they.”

The gooey abomination chuckled once again, his mass wiggling as he did so. "Keep telling yourself that, Deathy."

Rainbow Death gave another sigh. "Oh, just quit trying this whole Hannibal crap on me, please. It isn't going to work. 'Blah blah blah, we're not so different, blah blah blah, I got kicked out of friggin' Null Space for being such a tool.'"

"And as a creature of Null Space... I am beyond anything you've ever known," he snapped, his many eyes giving glares. "Your reach is far, but not that far." He then raised an eyebrow before giving a sarcastic laugh. "Do you even have any idea what my kind are? The very look of some of us can drive most insane!"

"Yeah, well the only thing you're doing right now is driving me to drink," Death grunted, before taking a step towards him, her sharpened scythe still glowing a menacing blue. Her voice then grew deadly serious as she said: "I don't know what you are, exactly, Blackblood, or how many times you've cheated me, but not anymore." She took another step forward, taking a deep breath. "It's the end of the line."

"Then make it so, moi loving reaper," he grinned. "Let justice be justice, and reward be reward for all those within me!"

"I'm glad we're in agreement," she whispered, raising her scythe. "Because justice... will always be justice! RAAAAAAAAAUGHHHHHH!.!.!.!"

Like a force of nature, Death surged forward, her single black wing flapping madly. She flew close to the ground, so close that snow whizzed upwards in sheets to her left and right as she sped across it. She held her scythe vertically, preparing to cut through the Eldritch Abomination before her, her teeth gritted against the wind.

Blackblood gave a gasp, letting loose a fury of tendrils that whizzed through the blizzard, blitzkrieging towards Death on both her left and right.

At that, Rainbow gave a battle cry, kicked off the snow and twirled, now facing the ground below her. Her sight was quickly filled with twenty black tendrils that slammed against each other with loud, wet CLAPS, quickly become snarled in each other. Death then narrowed her eyes, twirled vertically in an arc, and sent her scythe towards the wiggling mass of black goo.

SHIIIIIIIINGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG!.!.!.!

Like a knife through butter, her glowing blue blade tore through them, and as if they were animals, they emitted a series of shrieks before crashing into the snow, flailing about, and staining it with a black, oil-like blood.

"HAHAHAHAHAHA! Ohhhh this is going to be fun!" Death cackled. She then flapped her single black wing once again and careened towards the Prince of Null, her rainbow-colored mane and cloak flapping fiercely in the winds. “There’s very few who should truly fear the reaper, baby, but you're on the list!”

Grunting, Blackblood actually severed his own, bleeding tendrils from his body before raising himself on his hind legs and morphing his frontal two together into a large, glistening, onyx sword.

As if she were part of the storm, Rainbow surged forward like a winter spirit. Growling, she sent a diagonal slash towards the abomination’s gooey head meant to decapitate, keeping her momentum as she did so.

Glaring her down, Blackblood raised his sword to block as he sent a series of tendrils from his hind-legs into the ground, fastening himself into position.

CLLANNNNNNNGGGGGGGGGGG!.!.!.!

The two blades SLAMMED together, a brilliant shower of sparks flying from them. Death's body, however, continued to move forward as Blackblood stayed surprisingly in place, the force of impact not affecting him. Gritting her teeth, Rainbow wildly flapped her wing in reverse to quickly bring herself to a stop before she could collide with the sickening being.

Seeing the world in slow motion, Blackblood eyed a certain coiled-snake shaped locket swinging from a chain around the reaper's neck. With that, he gave a wicked grin and put all his weight against Death, sending her sailing back. She now hovered a few feet off the ground away from him, the snow licking at her mane.

"I've heard rumors of those lockets of yours, Rainbow," he said, smirking. "I hope you keep a tight lid on them."

Death narrowed her eyes. "You're not getting anymore snacks, Blackblood. These are mine!"

Blackblood gave a mock frown. "You'd really let a poor, lonely exile not get his fix? The one thing that keeps him going? You're not nearly as kind as you like to make yourself think you are."

With that, he gave another chuckle before his mouths flung open wide, revealing the glowing spirals of mist. To her horror, Rainbow's locket suddenly snapped open, a number of screaming, misty black souls careening out of it to be devoured by Eldritch Abomination.

"You were right, Rainbow! This is going to be fun!"

He then licked his many lips, and naturally, he began to sing:

"Feed me."

Her eyes widening, Rainbow began to back away from him. "Oh crap..."

"Feed me."

"Did it have to be souls?!"

"Feed me!"

"Did it have to be mine?!"

"Feeeeed me Rainbow,

Feed me all night long!"

A look of both horror and realization came upon her face.

Blackblood smiled haughtily. "That's right, girl! This was a trap, and you fell for it hook, line, and sucker! Who's the douche now?!"

"There are many more things to being a douche than outright stupidity, you know," she said, her eyes narrowing.

"Hehe, whatever. I've got what I want. Why should it matter what people think?"

With that, the spirals leading into the void within him began glowing ever brighter.

"Feeeed me Rainbow,

Feeeed me all night long....”

“Stay back you Cthulhu wannabe!” Death cried.

The abomination gave a frown.

"But if you feeed me Rainbow,

I can grow up BIG. AND STRONG!"

True to his word, his mass began to expand outward, him becoming twice the size of your average ghoul, Death continuing to float away from him in horror.

"You think it was all a coincidence, sweetheart? Me letting one of the crusaders escape?"

Death’s eyes narrowed. "You wanted her to warn me..."

"That’s right!” he grinned. “And now, if I can do something like this, who's to say that I can't do anything I want?!"

"Like what?" Rainbow growled.

"Like deliver, girl! Deliver what my greasy heart desires!"

"How'd you like to know the score?

You just got kicked across the floor!

And now that my hoof is in the door,

You're gonna get it!

Gotta thank you for cuttin' loose,

You've gone and hung your own damned noose!

It's really funny when you stop to think,

Do you get it?"

"So what's your plan, Blackblood? Something cliche like world conquest? Or do you just want to become Douchezilla and call it at that?" Death growled, hugging her other lockets to her chest defensively.

"Pahahaha!" Blackblood cackled. "No, I'm afraid my plans aren't that... ambitious. I only want one thing, and she's waiting for me in Necropolis."

Rainbow gave a sarcastic laugh. "You're doing this to try to impress a girl?! You know, there's a lot easier way of doing that besides this! Like... getting a new personality."

"Ooooh the girl I want isn't some lowly piece of tramp. I've got bigger fish to fry!"

"How big?"

"The biggest," he smirked.

Death raised her eyebrows. "Are you serious?"

“You bet I am,” he grinned.

"Cus I'm her genie, I'm her friend,

I'm her willing slave!

Go ahead and feed me and,

You know the kinda eats,

The kinda ghostly treats,

The kinda itty-bitty sweets I crave!"

"Enough!" Rainbow growled. "You're not getting anymore snacks!"

"But how are you supposed to kill me if you can't get close?" he smirked.

"Whelp, that’ll have to wait til’ later, it seems,” she said, before taking off towards the tunnel. "Gotta say, Blackblood, and I hope you're not disappointed when I tell you this: but kicking your sorry flank was only a secondary objective!"

Blackblood's eyes widened. "You're not getting out of those caves in one piece!" he growled, darting towards her. However, as he closed in on the entrance, he suddenly halted, a scheming smirk coming upon him. "Trixie!" he called. "Kill Twilight and teleport out of there, I'm going to start cutting the loose ends now!"

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The wicked witch took a deep breath at that, giving a now unconscious Twilight one last glance. "Well, Twilight, seems I've got places to go, people to meet, rivals to beat..." With that, she levitated a knife that had been dug into one of the points of the pentagram, and with agitation in her eyes, she slowly crept it towards the student of magic's throat.

Suddenly, however, she froze.

At the last second she winced, dropping it to the ground and shaking her head. "No... I'm not a killer.” She then gave a sigh. “Goodbye, student of the other side."

With a blinding flash, she teleported out of the room, and at that, Twilight's eyes fluttered open.

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A fury of tendrils was then emitted from the monster sized Blackblood, digging into the various support beams in the frontal area of the mine shaft and snapping them. A few seconds later, a deep rumble was heard as the mountain began to collapse down upon itself.

Spirits in the Sky

Blackblood had done it, it was his finest hour,
The souls of the worst he had gone and devoured.
And as the fate of the true Twilight hung in the air,
Across the void her counterpart also suffered despair.

"Ugggh.... never again," Soulshard groaned, rubbing her temples. "Never... ever again."

In the kitchen of the child of light's treehouse, now he temporary lodging, the Lich Queen sat at its table in clean morning robes. Her eyelids were heavy and purple as she let loose a groan, sipping on a cup of coffee.

"Never what again?" Spike asked, walking into the room and raising a suspicious eyebrow. "Don't tell me you were out drinking all night."

"Best... night... ever," she said, smiling, before quickly sighing. "But worst morning ever.” However, her smile quickly returned. “Still, I don't think I've ever felt so alive..."

"Heh, well I just wished I could have come and joined you, but somebody had to push legislature for a higher drinking age," he said, giving Twilight a look.

"Who, me?" she said, her innocent tone completely lacking sarcasm.

"Yeah, you!" Spike groaned. "Now I have to wait til I'm sixteen. Uggggh...."

"Well, it's for your own good," Twilight sighed, wincing slightly as another ping of pain shot through her forehead. "I meant it... never again."

However, after that something wonderful happened. The pain in her head was starting to lighten, giving way to a wonderful feeling of bliss.

"Woah..." she said, glancing down on her coffee. "Pinkie was right. This stuff is amazing!"

Spike raised an eyebrow. "What, the coffee? You drink it all the time!" He gave a chuckle. "Jeez, Twilight, it's starting to seem like you were just born yesterday lately."

"Born again yesterday, you mean," she muttered to herself.

Spike narrowed an eyebrow. "What was that?"

"Ooooh, nothing," she said. "However, I'm definitely doing that again, now! Coffee is the most horri-," she winced slightly, grinning sheepishly. "I mean... glorious drink to ever grace this world's presence. And so is Tequila."

"Whatever," Spike said, rolling his eyes. "But I'm not giving you mouth to mouth if you pass out from alcohol poisoning. That'd be weird." He then put on a grin. "Anyway, what do you wanna do tonight, Twilight?"

Twilight gave a smirk. "Why, the same thing I’m going to do every night, Spike. Try to take over the night club!” She then lifted her head and gave a well-refined: “BUAHAHAHAHAHA!”

Spike took a step back from her at that, glancing at her nervously as he sang:

"Spikey and the Brain.

Spikey and the Brain.

One is a dragon,

The other's insane..."

"Oh narf! I mean, uh, hehehehe," she giggled lightly, sweat-dropping.

"Still... kind of creepy there, Twilight," Spike gulped, before whispering: "Man, that spider's venom must really have done a number.”

"I heard that," Twilight grumbled, finishing up her coffee. "Seriously though, I was thinking about heading to the park with everypony and having a picnic. Wanna come with?"

The tiny dragon gave a shrug with a slight smile. "Sounds good to me, nothing else on my schedule but sleeping... and following Rarity around... and then more sleeping.... while following Rarity in my dreams..."

"Uh, Spike," Twilight said, lifting a hoof. "It kind of sounds like you're... stalking her."

"I'm not stalking her!" he snapped. "I'm just... putting myself in positions to admire her beauty... two to four hours a day." He then shook his head. "Anyway, I'm going to head down to Sugarcube Corner for one of their gem cupcakes. What do you want for the picnic?"

"Ehhh, just get what we usually get."

At that, Spike gave a tiny salute. "You got it! I'll see ya in a bit."

He then began waddling out of the room.

Upon his leaving, Twilight gave a long sigh, glancing at the clock on the wall. "Ten hours left," she sighed. "Ten hours until it's back to eternity's grind... I want more time..."

But before she could finish up with her breakfast to make the most of her time, however, a tiny voice filled the air, it emanating from the mouth of her coffee mug. "Maaaan... that other Spike. I kind of like him! He's like me only he's still developing his snark. That and he still hasn't given up his obsession with his Rarity yet."

Twilight's eyes flew open wide as she glanced down towards its origin, quickly spying a fly sized bone dragon sitting on her mug.

"S-Spike?! What are you doing here?!" she hissed, squinting a single eye to get a closer look at him.

"I uh..." he said. "I just wanted to keep an eye on you is all. If they found out what you really were, they might try to dissect you or something."

"Very funny, Spike," she grunted, quickly blowing him off the mug.

"Hey!" he shouted in annoyance, growing to the size of a small lizard. "Easy, there.” He then rolled his eyes. “Jeez, I said it'd be dangerous flying around at that size, but nooo... I just had to do it..."

"I'm still waiting for an answer to my question," Twilight said in annoyance, tapping a hoof.

Spike took a deep breath, scratching the back of his bony skull. "Alright, to be honest, I just... miss you is all. Even if it only has been one day."

At that, Soulshard gave him a slight smile. "I miss you too, Spike, and I'm sorry that the few days I had to do this just happened to be during the week we usually spend time together..."

"Eh, it's alright," he smirked. "We'll have all of eternity, right?"

"Yeah," Twilight said, sighing heavily. "All of eternity..."

Spike quirked an eyebrow. "You still sound... uncontent."

"It's just..." she said, glancing away from him. "Before I left, Darksong said that I wouldn't forget this… and I think he was right. Imagine biting into the best rotten apple you've ever had... only to find out the orchard that grew them burned down a day later."

"Well... hey, there could be other ways for you to visit here," Spike said. "We just haven't found them." He then gave a slight chuckle. "Ways that don't involve you going around looking like a blind hobo covered in TAG."

Twilight rolled her eyes before giving a slight chuckle as well. "Yeah, maybe..."

"Look... Twilight," Spike finally said. "I did come here because I missed you, but that isn't the only reason. Crazy crap's going down in the Nightmare Realm."

At that, Twilight squinted an eyebrow. "The other Twilight!" she suddenly gasped, her eyes widening. "Please tell me she's alright! I've been so busy I've forgotten all about her!"

Spike gave a gulp. "Well... you're not going to like this."

He then began to relay the tale Rotten had told him, how she and her two friends had dragged Twilight all the way to Necropolis, only for her to be kidnapped she was to be sent back.

“… and yeah, apparently Prince Blackblood was behind it, working with the Wicked Witch of the West.”

"Blackblood?" Twilight said, narrowing an eyebrow. "The douche?"

"Even douchier than Horsey Douchebag Link, and he has douchebag in his name!" Spike said. "Seriously, the three of us couldn't even think of any reason why Blackblood would want the other Twilight."

“And you said Trixie helped him?” she sighed, narrowing her eyebrows. “Why is she involved in this?”

Spike gave a shrug. “I dunno, she does have that grudge against you.”

"Ugh! This is all my fault!" Soulshard suddenly cried. "If I hadn't been so selfish... hadn't had her ponynapped…"

"Easy, there," Spike said. "You couldn't have seen anything like this happening. Things just happened to click together in the right, crappy way."

"B-But you said Rainbow is going to free her, right?" Twilight said, sighing in relief. "That's good... if anyghoul can save her it's her."

"She seemed pretty confident in herself," Spike nodded. "Then again, she always has that cocky attitude about her." He then took another deep breath, pausing for a second. "There's nothing you can do to help her though," he finally said. "They took her to the Frozen North..."

"There has to be something, though!" Twilight cried. "I can't just sit here going on picnics when-"

"Twilight!" Spike interrupted. "There isn't anything. They're miles upon miles away, and doing your teleport thing to get there would take days, if I'm not mistaken."

"You're right," she grumbled. "Night damn you, Blackblood! I was having the greatest time of my life, and you had to mess it all up!"

Spike shook his head. "Twilight, you can stay here if you want," he said softly. "But... I thought I should also let you know the town isn't fairing too well without you leading them, too. They need their Lich Queen."

"Ugggggh!" she groaned. "When it rains, it pours, doesn't it?"

The bone dragon lifted a claw. "Well, hold on... I'm sure they can make do without you... but it's not going to be the awesome Nightmare Night revamp that you've always wanted."

Twilight shivered in anger. "Great... this is just... UGH!" she cried, lightly cracking a hoof against the table.

"We'll have next year, and the year after that," Spike quickly said. "You can always make up for it. I'm really sorry, I didn't mean to force you into-"

"No," Twilight said, silencing him. "You were right coming here to tell me this. It's what any good friend would have done." She then squinted her eyebrows. "You're sure there's nothing I can do to help Rainbow, right?"

The bone dragon gave a nod. "I'm positive." He then sighed. "Twilight, the choice you need to make is whether or not you want there to be a fantastic Nightmare Night or whether you want to keep having the time of your life."

A moment of silence passed as Twilight squinted in thought. "I might as well go back," she whispered. "I only have ten hours left, anyway... I might as well just get used to the tedium."

"You were having a good time, though!" Spike said. "For real. The town can handle themselves. It won't be spectacular but it will still be cool. And wouldn't it be fun seeing Nightmare Night from a... different perspective?"

"I suppose..." she sighed, before smirking slightly. "You know, if you were sent to bring me back you're doing an awfully poor job at it."

"I just... w-well," he stuttered. "Before I spoke up, I don't think I've ever seen you so happy... even if you were hung over."

At that, Twilight gave a large smile, quickly wrapping her hooves around the tiny dragon in a hug. "You really are a jerk with a heart of gold, you know that?"

"Yeah... well," he grunted. "Tell anyghoul and I'll eat you.” He then gave a smirk. "And don't think I'm going to go easy on you tonight just because you're my friend. You better be ready to be scared silly!" His smirk became wicked. "Mortal."

"Hah! Well you can try your best!" she grinned, before glancing away from him slightly. "I just hope we don't go too far with this whole Nightmare Night thing... the ponies on the other side... they're truly good people. Kind... caring... compassionate, like us in so many ways. However, I think we misjudged how scared they like being. There's a limit on that."

Spike quirked an eyebrow. "You mean we shouldn't be putting anypony in a false sense of mortal danger? But that's so awesome!"

Twilight shook her head. "Like you said before, they aren’t built like us. They have a different nature. They like being scared, sure, but..." She then gave a sigh. "Applemoon was right. If we go too far there could be some real mental scarring that we wouldn't get. I really, really hope that whoever takes over for Nightmare Night knows what she's doing."

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"Um, pardon," Applemoon coughed. "But you want me to do WHAT?!"

"You heard me," Trixie grinned, pacing in front of the four remaining Elements of Fear. "I have reason to believe that what I've said to do will show your counterpart the meaning of fear."

Applemoon gave a sarcastic laugh. "Meaning of fear?! What you're talking about sounds like psychological torture! This isn't that... that Discord's holiday!" she growled.

"What doesn't kill somepony makes them stronger," she said.

Flutterfright lifted a hoof. "Um, Witch of the West," she squeaked. "We all really appreciate you lending your expertise to us-"

"As I thought you would," she said smugly, Applemoon rolling her eyes.

"-But, if you don't mind me saying... if the alternate Fluttershy is as sensitive as me..." she said. "This could be... really, really bad for her."

"Oh come on you guys!" Pinkie Slice beamed. "We could take what we're about to dish out!"

"But they're not us!" Applemoon argued. "I mean sure, what we had planned to do before was pretty darn scary, but it seems like we're doing too much precision targeting!”

"That's what Dr. Whoovenstein was going to do," Pinkie retorted. "And nobody yelled at him!"

"Well, Dr. Whooves could take it if the rumors are true about the guy," Applemoon grunted. "And besides, Dr. Whoovenstein is friggin' crazy, always ranting about those drums of his!"

"She does raise a good point, darling," Scarity said, turning towards Pinkie. "Sure, me going about and rattling furniture would surely have spooked the residents of Ponyville, but... I have my doubts that this plan is going to be fun for both sides. If fun for anyghoul at all."

"Ugh!" Trixie groaned. "Do you guys want this to be a good Nightmare Night or not?! The ponies on the other side like being scared just as much as we do! It would be a pity to deny them of our skills the one day of the cycle they can receive it, unlike us! Do you really wish to be so selfish?"

"Well," Flutterfright squeaked, dragging a hoof across the ground as she fluttered her bat-wings. "No, I suppose not..."

Trixie gave a wicked smirk at that. "You're getting the picture, now! Instilling fear in them will help them build character. We will make the other side be able to hold stedfast the currents of true horrors such as war, famine, and unrest; just like we've always done!”

"B-But there's a horizon people can pass that they won't come back from!" Applemoon cried. "I know that for a fact... I almost reached it... when my folks..." She then heeded to silence.

At that, Flutterfright quickly moved to her side and placed a sympathetic wing over her, Pinkie giving her a tiny nuzzle in the meantime.

"The Great and Powerful Wicked Witch... is sorry to hear that," Trixie said in a genuine tone, glancing away from her. "B-But this is different than facing death, and it will help them when they do have to see it!"

"Y-You really think it'll help my counterpart in the end?" Applemoon said sorrowfully.

"I'm confident it will," Trixie smiled. "Now come on! You four are the Elements, fear incarnate! Help me think up good ideas for the rest of the town to scare their counterparts with!"

At that, the Wicked Witch gave a confident smirk before taking off into the town, all four Elements save for Pinkie giving reluctant sighs before following her.

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Panted breath.

A whirring sound.

A bright light that filled a dusty room.

Gasping, Twilight glanced around her surroundings, her horn set aglow.

Snap-Snap!

Her restraints were quickly wrapped with purple magic before they were snapped off, her wincing in concentration as she performed the spell. She then glanced towards the door to the underground interrogation room, her eyes widening when she noticed it was completely covered in rocks.

"This... is not good," she sighed. "Hello?!" she then called. "Is anyghoul there? Trixie?!"

No response.

"Oh no... there must have been some sort of accident," she said, before closing her eyes. "And she... left without me too. Not a shade of gray, it seems."

"T-Twilight?" a voice then called, it coming from the other side of the entrance. "I-Is that you?"

The purple unicorn's eyes widened at that. "R-Rainbow Dash?"

"Ummm... sort of," it said, sheepishly.

"Rainbow Death," Twilight then said, a look of horror quickly coming to her face. "W-Wait, if you're here does that mean-"

"No!" she cried. "No, you're not dead. Believe me; if you were I could get in there with you." There was then a second of silence. "Can you use magic at all?"

Twilight gave a nod before saying, "yeah! I'll try teleporting over to you. How many hooves do you think there are between this room and you?"

"Ummm..." she said. "Hard to tell, the door is completely covered. Probably about thirty or so, I suppose."

"Right," Twilight said. "Hang on, I'm coming over!"

Her horn began to glow brightly again, and soon there was a flash of light. Her vision then became blurred as it usually did after teleports, but it soon faded, revealing a smiling figure... one with pitch-black eyes.

"Eeep!" Twilight cried, quickly taking a step back from her.

"Oh, relax," Death said, rolling them. "Hahaha! I love when people freak out at these peepers, though."

At that, the mortal mare took a deep breath, composing herself. "So... you're Rainbow Dash's counterpart I've heard of."

Death quickly raised her eyebrows. "Wait, you've heard of me?!" She then coughed, quickly lowering them and smiling confidently. "I mean, uhhh... of course you have! I am the fastest reaper there ever was, after all!"

Twilight rolled her eyes. "And I can already see why you're Rainbow Dash's counterpart."

"Heh, guess I'll take that as a compliment," she smirked. "You know, I actually had to pay her a visit one time after she nearly got herself killed in flight training camp. Crashed right into a mountain!" She then gave a smile. "She wasn't ready to pass, though. Guess she never remember'd me, huh?"

"I suppose death is something we can only remember... when it happens," Twilight said, gulping.

“Ugh, you mortals. Always fretting about it...” she said, rolling her eyes. “It honestly isn’t as bad as you think… not with me around! I always make sure to reap em’ quickly if it’s… painful.”

“Death is painful?” Twilight said.

“Errrr,” Rainbow said sheepishly. “Actually, it depends on how you die… most of the time it isn’t. Like I said, it isn’t too bad.”

“Oh,” Twilight said, sighing slightly in relief. “Well, that’s good to know for down the line, I suppose.”

"Yeah, just don't ask any more questions about it, alright?" Rainbow said, before smirking slightly. "I'm not really supposed to reveal that there's paradise waiting for you when the time comes." She then gave a fake look of shame. "Oops, did I say that out loud?"

"Y-You mean..." Twilight gasped. "Heaven is..."

Rainbow merely smiled before whipping her blues guitar from nowhere. She then began a casual, four chord strum.

Twilight raised her eyebrows, the disbelief of what she was just told still swimming through her. “Y-You really have some skill on that thing."

“Heh, thanks. Just something I do on my free time,” she smiled. “However, if you think that’s cool, listen to this:

When you die and they lay you to rest,

You're gonna go to the place that's the best.

When they lay you down to die,

You're gonna meet up with the spirits in the sky!

Goin' up to the spirits in the sky,

Make sure to say it before they cry,

Cus when the toll strikes and they lay you to rest,

You're gonna go to the place that's the best!"

"Feeling better?" she said, smiling.

"I... still... you're not screwing with me, right?"

'Dashie' smirked. "Na, I joke about a lot of things, but not this."

"Prepare yourself, you know it's a must,

But your heart you've already shown us.

So you should know that when you die,

Gonna recommend you to the spirits in the sky!"

Death then gave a wink. "Don't pity the dead is all I can say. Pity the living. A very wise wizard once said that."

Twilight shook her head incredulously. "Why did you just..."

"Tell you?" she said, cocking her head. "Well, because for one thing I'm pretty sure this mountain is about to fully collapse on us. And for two... I think you deserve it for all you've been put through."

"Same heart of gold," she smiled. "But I'm not ready for you just yet, Rainbow." She then glanced upwards. "I've never teleported through so much solid matter before, but it's possible. I'll just take us straight up, and you'll need to catch me, alright?"

Rainbow Death gave a nod. "Right, I've got this." She then wiggled her long, black wing.

"However," Twilight said, raising a hoof. "I wasn't taken here alone. We need to find Scootaweb, Apple Doom, and Rotten if she's here."

Death shook her head. "Rotten wasn't captured. She's the one who told me you'd been ponynapped." She then gave a long sigh. "However, it was all a trap. Blackblood lured me here so he could get his slimy hooves on..." At that, she smirked slightly. "Well, that's a conversation for another time." She then gestured forward. "Anyway, lead the way. We've got a lot of ground to cover..."

The mountain gave another rumble.

Twilight gulped. "Hopefully enough before this mountain has had it. I'm not really keen on digging my way out.”

This is Nightmare Night

Nightmare Night was now close at hand,
Everyghoul in Terrorsville now heeding to Trixie's plan.
And as they did so, life and death searched the mines,
For two missing young they were determined to find.

Cold, still numbness...

The clopping of hooves...

Ghostly mist for breath...

"Ugh, where in the world could they be?!" Twilight cried. "Why would Blackblood go and move them so far from me?" Her eyes then widened in horror. "You don't think he..."

Rainbow quickly shook her head. "No, I would have known if he did. As douchey as Prince Blackblood is, I guess he draws the line at killing foals. I'll give him that, at least."

"But then where are they? Could have taken them for some reason? Hostages perhaps?" Twilight said.

Death gave a shrug. "I have no clue, Twilight. He didn't go into detail about his plans." She then gave a grunt. "Gotta give him credit for being somewhat genre savvy too, I suppose."

"Well, we need to find them soon... we have to stop Trixie," the mortal mare said, before giving a gulp. "She... extracted a few things from me..."

Rainbow gave a curt nod at that. "Hey, don't worry about it. Our Twilight could probably give a hoof if whatever she's pulling on the other side becomes too dicey."

At that, a small sobbing sound could be heard, perking their ears.

"It's coming from this way!" Twilight cried, beginning to gallop down the cold, dirty tunnel. "Hurry!"

"Got it!" the one-winged angel said, quickly catching up to her with a few large flaps of it.

Eventually, they came upon a mound of rubble blocking the way forward, though the sobs were much more pronounced now. Panting, Twilight leaned closer and stuck an ear to it, her eyes widening.

"They're on the other side!" she cried.

"T-Twilight?" came the winded voice of Apple Doom.

The mortal mare gave a nod. "It's me, girls! Are you two alright?"

"N-No! Scootaweb's really hurt... a boulder came down on her!" There was a small break of silence, followed by, "She's looking very feint..."

"Oh no," Twilight whispered.

Death took a deep breath. "I swear... if she's-" She paused, her eyes narrowing as she continuing with, "I'm going to make Blackblood wish he was dead." She then turned to Twilight. "Get us over to the other side, quick!"

The mortal mare gave us a quick nod, and in a flash they had made it over. There lay Scootaweb, collapsed on her chest, her eight legs limp. As Apple Moon had said, she was looking very feint.

Death's eyes suddenly flung open wide. "She's leaving us..." she whispered. "I can sense it."

"I-Isn't there anything you can do, Rainbow?" Apple Doom squeaked, her own eyes moistening.

"Maybe..." Rainbow said, starting to pace, before suddenly pausing, a look of resolve coming upon her. "Actually, yes. You know what? I can do something about it, and I'm going to do something about it!" At that, she scurried over to Scootweb's side, kneeling down before her. "Hang in there, kid. At the very least, you'll reach the gates with a friend."

"W-What are you going to do exactly?" Twilight gasped.

The grim reaper turned towards her. "I'm going to do the best I can." She then gave a slight smile. "For once, I'm going to make sure everyone lives while I'm around." She then took a deep breath, reaching towards the fallen spider with two hooves and chanting, "mortalis infans mihi spiram vitae tuae."

And with a puff of black smoke, she was gone, Apple Doom and Twilight staring at the scene with both shock and awe.

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Lonely, brown fields of infinity strung out as far as far as the eye could see, the only noticeable features of this land a winding dirt road, a few blades of dead grass, distant, surreal and distorted black trees… and Scootaweb and a certain Great and Powerful temporary reaper, standing before two massive, golden gates.

"The Great and Powerful Trixie welcomes you to the planes of death, young ghoul," a certain cloaked reaper said, smiling down upon the figure. "I have to say, I'm starting to get used to seeing all these... interesting creatures turning up here."

"B-But," whispered Scootaweb. "I'm not ready just yet... I want to go back and be with my friends..."

Trixie gave a sigh. "I'm afraid you don't have much of a choice...” She then took a deep breath. “However, The Great and Powerful Trixie offers her condolences. I am... sorry." She then turned away from her, muttering, "I swear... fifth time today someone's denied paradise..."

"Hold on there, Trixie," a voice called from the distance, Rainbow Death approaching the two. "I'll take this one."

Trixie raised an eyebrow. "Is Trixie's shift up already? She was having a most enjoyable time ferrying the dead..."

"No," Rainbow said, rolling her eyes. "I still need you to keep watch. I've got stuff to handle on the mortal planes."

"What kind of stuff?" she asked.

"Weird, crazy stuff," she sighed. "Actually, your counterpart on the other side is involved with it."

"T-Trixie has a counterpart?" she said with awe.

"Yeah... she does," Rainbow grunted. "Anyway, go ahead and escort somepony else. I'll take this one."

Trixie gave a nod. "Very well. She's all yours."

At that, with a wave of her great and powerful scythe, she disappeared in a black puff of smoke.

With a deep breath, Rainbow then approached Scootaweb, kneeling down by her side. "Hey kid..."

Scootaweb gasped for breath. "R-Rainbow... please don't make me go just yet..."

Death gave her a smile. "I don't intend to. I hate seeing kids here. It's just... unnatural." Her glance then turned serious. "Being a ghoul, you have the choice of becoming a ghost like Rotten... is that what you want?"

Scootaweb looked downward. "If I do that... I'm never going to see my mother again..."

Rainbow gave a curt nod. "I thought you wouldn't want that option. However, there's also option two. You can pass through the gates and leave it all behind..."

She gave a sigh, shaking her head. "And if I do that... I'm never going to see Rotten any of my immortal friends again... like you."

"I wouldn't say that," Rainbow said, holding up a hoof. "All things come to an end, entropy forever unforgiving. It may take trillions of years, but everyone will see these gates eventually, even Death herself. Might be sooner than later now, actually, cus I might get kicked out of the reaper club just like my predecessor with all the rule shredding I've been pulling today."

Scootaweb didn't look up, trudging a single leg in the dirt. "B-But... what about everyone else?"

Death gave a chuckle. "Yeah, I know. A pretty long time, huh? Too long to be spent twiddling your hooves waiting for everyone to catch up to you." She then gave another warm smile. "Which is why I'm giving you this once in a lifetime offer, a third option, of returning back to the mortal world with me... but not as a ghost. Sound good?"

"B-But... aren't you going to get in trouble?" Scootaweb gulped.

"Heh. Maybe, but I've been allowed a little leeway with this kind of thing during Nightmare Night, anyway, and guess what night it finally is?" she grinned. "Even so, I'm a bit curious to see just exactly what's waiting for me beyond those gates one day, too, you know." At that, Death reached her hoof out towards Scootaweb, smiling widely as she lifted her up. "Come on. I still have to take you zombie hunting one of these days. Twilight tells me you kicked a lot of flank when it comes to them, lately." She then gave a grin. "And when you do finally kick it one day, you'll meet Death as an old friend. Best way to go, right?"

Scootaweb gave a slight smile in return. "Best way."

The two then began walking the opposite way from the gates, Scootaweb taking one last glance at it.

"Rainbow..."

"Yeah?"

"What's it like... paradise that is?"

She was met with only another smile. "Whatever you want it to be." She then gave a sigh. "I just wish you were allowed to remember this."

The spiderpony's eyes widened. "W-Wah-"

With a puff of black smoke, they were gone.

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Death reappeared back in the Nightmare Ream, smiling down as Scootaweb's eyes fluttered open. She then turned towards gawking, her expression estatic. "For once, everyghoul lives who deserves to live, Twilight. Everyghoul lives! Hahahaha!"

"You were right, Rainbow," Twilight smiled. "Death isn't something to be feared."

"Heck no! People should only fear me on Nightmare Night!" She then grinned wickedly. "And once we go and get my Twilight back, it's going to be the best. Night. Ever!"

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"Spike! The screaming dragon skulls need to be about one inch to the left!" Twilight Soulshard cried, standing before the ladder he was on, him working tirelessly to get Twilight’s borrowed treehouse decorated for Nightmare Night.

"Ugh! Can't you just do it with magic?" he called from his ladder.

"Oh, right," Twilight smiled sheepishly, before levitating the bewitched skulls into their proper place.

"I swear," Spike said, rolling his eyes. "I've never seen you this finicky about Nightmare Night before. Bewitching skulls to scream when people come near, actually putting a spell on the treehouse that will turn it into the friggin' Whomping Willow. It's like you took a crash course in the Fear Tactics University of Scares overnight." He then gave her a pleading look. "And you didn't bring me?! That would be awesome!"

Twilight gave a grunt. "I just want the treehouse to be perfect for Nightmare Night is all!"

Spike rolled his eyes. "Seems like you're just becoming obsessed with scaring people, not that I mind. Scaring people on Nightmare Night is awesome! I can see why Zecora loves it so much."

At that, Twilight's eyes widened in realization. "Oh no..." she whimpered to herself. "I'm... letting myself get drawn into Nightmare Night... It's like an instinct to me or something..." She then let loose a sigh. "I'm supposed to be enjoying the other side's fun, for crying out loud!"

She then turned to Spike.

"Hey Spike, feel like going to the roller ring?"

The dragon beamed down at her. "The roller ring? Heck yeah! We never go there! I hear they’re having a Nightmare Night themed skating competition going on. Oh! And I hear Pinkie's having a movie marathon, too, nothing but scary ones! Nightmare on Elm Street, Friday the 13th. And that one really bad movie about some leprachan wanting his gold back..."

A look came to Twilight's face that best resembled a nervous breakdown, her pacing away from Spike as he hung up more decorations. "Curse you Nightmare Night, curse you!" she hissed to herself. "You just can't let me go, can you?"

"Of course not," bone dragon Spike said, hiding in her 'Lich Queen' black cloak costume. "We are ghoul. Lower your defenses and prepare to service us. Resistance is futile. You will be re-assimilated."

"Shush, Spike! We're not the friggin' Borg," Twilight grunted.

"I'm kidding, for the love of the night!" her Spike cried, exasperated. "But look around at the town. They're doing a bunch of stuff on Nightmare Night that doesn't involve scaring. No need to freak out."

"Huh?" Twilight said, quirking an eyebrow as she began gazing about. Curiously, she quickly spied some sort of pumpkin catapult game, another one consisting of a web that ponies were attempting to toss spiders on, and an apple bobbing station. She smiled slightly upon that. "Heh... well I guess there's more to Nightmare Night then just fright here." She then took a nostalgic breath. "You know, I bet they're getting ready for it back in Terrorsville right now, too..."

"Think they're singing the song?" her Spike said, grinning.

"Oh heck yeah they're singing the song," she grinned back. “Hahaha! I can’t wait to see what they have prepared for us!” She then turned back towards the town, gazing at all the ponies having fun during her celebration. “You know, I think I was wrong, Spike. Our holiday is more than just some corporate affair.” She then put on a warm smile. “I just hope it always stays that way.”

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A dimension away, the town of Terrorsville was finishing the final stages of preparation for Nightmare Night's gritty reboot, most of them now singing as they worked:

"Ghouls and horrors of every age,

Let's bring the other side something strange.

From the world of ghosts and graves,

Comes the thoughts of those depraved!"

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A flash of purple light.

A mad flapping of wings.

Rainbow Death, now somehow carrying Twilight, Scootaweb, and a very relieved Apple Doom made headway Southward towards Terrorsville, flying high in the night sky.

"Hey, check it out!" Scootaweb shouted, pointing a leg high towards a moon that was slowly becoming overwhelmed by tendrils of blood.

"A bloody moon," Apple Doom grinned.

"What does that mean?" Twilight called over the cold winds.

"Nightmare Night's beginning," Death said, smiling. "Normally, I'd be freaking out with joy right now. However... Blackblood's going to make his move sometime tonight." Her eyes then narrowed, her wing flapping becoming more pronounced. "Gotta pick up the pace! Temple of the Doors, here we come. BEEEYA!"

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"This is Nightmare Night!

Drown out all the candle light!

Make good of the promise,

Of this cycle's fright!"

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Inside the TERRODIS, Dr. Whoovenstein cackled madly as he pulled a series of levers, the machine whirring to life for the first time in ages.

"Oh, this is going to be so fantastic, Derpy!" the evil doctor grinned, glancing at a fully repaired Derpy Stitched.

"D-Don't you think this is a bit too far, though?" she gulped.

The mad scientist rolled his eyes. "Oh, don't be such a sissy! He can take it!" He then grinned wickedly. "Alright, Doctor. Time for the flight of your life." He then took a deep breath before singing:

"Come ride with me,

Through the veins of history,

I'll show you a god,

Who falls asleep on the job!"

"HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! HERE COMES THE DRUMS! HELLON-ZY!"

At the doctor's madness, Derpy gave a single gulp.

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"This is Nightmare Night!

Let our flame burn oh so bright!

Show no quarter to the mortals,

Of the side of light!"

Trixie gave a smirk at that, watching over the town's proceedings from the top of Town Hall.

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Blackblood stood in the forest before the Temple of the Doors, watching... waiting... scheming. However, after a brief moment, his many eyes narrowed as he looked towards the direction of Necropolis, him letting loose a somber sigh.

"I am the shadow on the moon at night,

A freak among freaks; the universe's blight.

But I am the only one who can say for sure,

That I’m the ghoul who deserves to be yours!"

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Smiling happily, Twilight Soulshard pranced about Ponyville, taking in the festivities of Nightmare Night.

"What's this?! What's this?!

Our holiday they love!

What's this?

Thank the moon so high above!

What's this?!

There's children loving all the sights,

Even if it's only half a fright,

It's been dragged down from corporate heights!

What's this?!"

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"This is Nightmare Night!

This is Nightmare Night!

Nightmare Night! Nightmare Night!

Nightmare Night! Nightmare Night!"

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Slendermare, Vinyl, Octavia, and Lyra Heartstab, and the remaining Elements of Fear trotted through the Everdead Forest towards the Temple of the Doors.

"So... you guys don't have any doubts whatsoever about this?" Applemoon said, raising an eyebrow.

"What's so bad about showing videos to my counterpart of humans eating horse meat?" Lyra Heartstab said.

"Because that's... that's too far! It's sick!"

Lyra gave her a beaming smile. "Thanks!"

"Sick in a bad way!" Applemoon cried.

"There's a such thing?" Vinyl said, adjusting her baseball cap to make sure it was ninety degree sideways. "Man, the other Vinyl is so gonna freak when I show her Hilary Bluff's cover of My Generation. Oooo, and the newer Maretallica albums. Buahahahaha!"

"Not bad," Octavia smirked. "Though I plan on playing Iván Erőd by Ludwing Van Neighhoven."

"What's so scary about that?" Pinkie said, cocking an eyebrow.

"Ooooh nothing," Octavia said whimsically. "I'm just going to make minor changes to it here or there that subtly ruin the piece! And then I'm going to make it look like I'm taking her place so I can spread this new 'Neighhoven' around Equestria! Hahahaha! Her inner perfectionist won't be able to take it!"

"Ooooo, that is good," Pinkie said, bouncing.

"Well, at least those two don't sound too bad," Applemoon whispered to herself. "Unless I severely underestimate how OCD classical musicians and DJs can get..." She then turned to Slendermare. "What do you think about this whole thing?"

The Eldritch Abomination simply gave a shrug as if to say, 'meh. Been there, done that.'

Applemoon gave a silent cry. "Ugh! I’m still not liking this…"

"I-I still have my doubts too, you know," Flutterfright squeaked.

"As do I, dear," Scarity said.

"Well good," Applemoon said, her eyes narrowing. "Cus I have a feeling that the Witch of the West doesn't have the best interest of the other side in mind when it comes to this whole deal."

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Trixie gave one final cackle as the song came to an end, glancing towards the Temple of the Doors with lust filled eyes.

"In our town! We call home!

Everyghoul hails to the pumpkin song!

Thriller

All across Equestria my kind moved in for frights,
Ready to make it the oh-so-perfect night.
Even I was ready to give a good, ghastly run,
The perfect scare prepared for the Princess of the Sun.

"Someone has replaced me royal sweet stash with raisin filled cookies?!" she would have cried. "WHAT MADNESS IS THIS?! WHO HAS EARNED MY DESPISE?!"

"BUAHAHAHAHAHA!" I would have cackled with a grin, flying high over Canterlot on my flank kicking Nimbus-2000 of win. "Happy horrors, everypony!"

Unfortunately, my own plans were soon put down,
When the treachery of Blackblood was brought to the crown.
As the clock struck ten a tiny foal burst into the throne,
A single crusader who came mysteriously alone.

"Hah!" Nightmare Moon's chupacabra assistant beamed, Rotten having just finished blurting out her tale. "Totally called it!"

"Uggggh," Moony grumbled, bringing a hoof to her face. "I hope you're not like this at the movies, Bloodfang."

"Yeeeehahh! He totally called it, though! Shamoneigh!"

"Yes!" Nightmare cried sorrowfully, her assistant and Moonwalker quickly giving her two apologetic glances. "I get it! I screwed up! I just really wanted to get him out of my mane is all." She then turned back towards Rotten. "So wait, Death went after him, though?"

Rotten gave a nod.

At that, Nightmare Moon chuckled, sighing in relief. "Ooooh he is so screwed!"

"Gonna get his soul eaten! Yeeehah!"

Nightmare quickly gave him a blank look. "I love you, Moonwalker, but I don't need any narration. This isn't a Diedco carriage insurance commercial."

"Myyy bad!"

"But yeah. Deathie said she'd be at Necropolis with his head on a platter by now," Rotten frowned. "I kind of just came as a backup option, in case she..."

She took a deep breath, a small second of silence following before:

"Deathie are you OK?

So, Deathie are you OK?

Are you OK Deathie?

Deathie are you OK?"Nightmare Moon gave a growl. "MOONWALKER! Come on, this is serious!"

He quickly snapped his mouth shut, his expression turning sheepish as he sulked back.

"Anyway, Rainbow's wayyyy overdue," Rotten continued. "And so is Spike. He said that he'd come here too to let you know everything was alright. That the 'real' Twilight is all well and good."

"Hmmm... this is worrisome," Nightmare Moon said, her words laced with apprehension. She then gave a deep, remorseful sigh. "This is my fault in the end... I need to set things straight. Put my hoof into matters for once."

Rotten nodded in agreement.

With that, she took a deep breath, turning towards one of the nearby guards. "Go tell the royal chef to go and dump the raisin cookies into the furnace. Seriously, those things don't belong in any dimension."

"Dawwww...."

She quickly rolled her eyes at that before saying, "oh, and can someghoul go get me my Nimbus, please? Time to shred up the night!" However, she then glanced worriedly out of one of the nearby blood-stained windows, towards the direction of the Everdead forest. "I just hope you're alright, student of the light… and especially you... my student of the night."

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Ding-Dong!

With a smile, Twilight Soulshard made her way to the front door of her borrowed treehouse, levitating a large bucket of bubblegum and Recess candy.

"You're sure the foals will love me if I give them nothing but bubble-gum and peanut butter cups, Spike?" she asked.

"Of course!" he said with a smirk, currently sitting across from a film screen on an old couch. He and Pinkie were currently watching the ending of The Hills Have Eyes, their Nightmare Night party just coming to an end. "It's the best candy there is!

At that, Twilight smiled and opened the door, the real world's versions of the Cutie-Mark Crusaders beaming up at her, each looking like villains from Friday the 13th, Hellraiser, and Michael Mareyers from Nightmare's Eve.

"Cutie-Mark Crusader Slasher Villains!" they beamed.

Twilight couldn't help but smiling. "Awwww, don't you three look simply atrocious.”

The three gave cocked their heads at that, but apparently soon decided she meant it as a compliment. "Thanks, Twilight!"

However, despite her approval, she quickly cocked an eyebrow. "Aren't you a bit young to be watching those films, though? Do your guardians know?”

"Nope!" they grinned.

Twilight rolled her eyes. "OK, girls. Here's your candy, then." At that, she levitated a literal boatload of bubble-gum and Recess cups into the large, already candy filled bags hanging at their sides.

"Recess Peanut Butter Cups?!" Scootaloo said, her eyes literally watering.

"Mhmmm," Twilight smiled.

"Best. House. Yet!" the three beamed. "Thanks, Twilight!"

"Haha, no problem girls. Have a good night." At that, she began to close the door as the three scurried merrily away. Though before she did, her eye caught something coming from the distance. A rolling fog was slowly starting to overtake the town, blanketing it in a surreal darkness.

"Woah," bone dragon Spike said, poking a tiny head out of her hood.

"Hey, what's with the fog?" the real Spike said, walking over to Soulshard’s side. "I don't remember the weather ponies scheduling anything for this evening." He then gave a brief smile. “Gotta say, it fits the tone, though. Shame they hit the tail end of trick or treating."

Ignoring him, Twilight simply continued to gaze at it. "Alright, Rainbow, if you're leading this whole thing... don't go too crazy."

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"Alright, ghouls and ghosts!" Trixie grinned, marching in front of a line of ghouls who stood at the edge of Everfree forest, most of them with eager looks on their faces. "You all ready to have some fun?!"

"Wooo yeah!"

"Let's get this started!"

"Heck yeah! I hope the Doctor is ready for… my take on history. HAHAHAHA!”

Trixie merely gave a satisfied smirk. "Well then, you all already know what you're doing! Let's get ready to RUMBLE!"

Following that, the crowd let out a cheer and began scurrying into the fog, previously having been generated by Trixie's horn. It was now as thick as any cloud in the sky, blocking out visibility save for a few feet ahead of oneself.

"Witch of the West...” Applemoon called , stopping at her side and giving her an apprehensive glance. “This is the last chance to change things, ya know. You sure this is what our Twilight would want?”

"Ugh! Quit worrying, will you?!" Trixie growled. "Take your family and go have some fun! Jeez!"

Applemoon opened her mouth to argue more, though she quickly sensed it as a futile effort. Instead, she simply let out a sigh before turning towards Big Macinslash and Granny Sith. "Alright... let's uh... get this over with."

The two then gave reluctant nods before heading into towards Sweet Apple Acres, Granny Sith raising a black hood over her head.

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"Woah..." Pinkie Pie called, now joining both the real Spike and Twilight at the door. "Is it just me, or is that fog getting thicker? It's like a big, rolling cloud!"

At that, a few screams could begin to be heard, quickly joining in with a chorus of door slams and evil laughter. However, this wasn’t the end of it. The same chorus of horrific sounds could be heard from then on out, and like a rising orchestra conducted by the Devil, they gained in intensity as the night went on.

"It. Has. Begun," Twilight gulped.

"Dun dun dun..." her Spike said, rolling his eyes.

“Heh. Must be a bunch of teenagers teaming up to really kick things up a notch,” the real Spike smiled. “Gotta say, they’re doing a good job.”

“Yeah! It’s almost as good as Zecora’s Nightmare Moon story,” Pinkie smiled. “She did a really good job this year, too. Loved the blood-soaked fangs! Still wish I knew what I saw through her brewing pot though... but maybe it was just-"

"Ooooh Piiinkiiieeee," a surreal, gravelly voice suddenly called from the fog, a black silhouette of a pony coming into view.

Her good mood was immediately squelched.

"H-Huh?" Pinkie peeped nervously, a shiver running up her spine. "W-Who's there?"

Twilight's eyes widened.

"Ooooh man," bone dragon Spike whispered. "This is going to be so friggin' wicked."

"I don't know," Twilight whispered worriedly. "Out of everyghoul who could really go too far with this, it'd probably be Pinkie Slice..."

"Oh come on. She'll have some tact. She's not that crazy..."

However, following that, the voice then began to sing:

"One and two guess who's coming for you?

Three and four better lock your door..."

Soulshard’s Spike quickly sweat-dropped. "Errrr... I can be wrong sometimes, though. Jeez Pinkie…”

"W-What are you talking about?!" the real Pinkie Pie gulped, backing away from the door now and shivering slightly. "T-Twilight!" she gasped, turning towards her. "I don't like this... w-we should do as whoever that is says! Lock the door, quick!"

"Easy, Pinkie," the real Spike said, rolling his eyes. "It's probably just one of those teenagers I was talking about… or Rainbow Dash.” He then narrowed an eyebrow in thought, before eventually concluding with a quick nod, “actually, yeah. It’s probably her.” Following that, he raised the same eyebrow. “I thought you liked a good scare, though, Pinkie?”

"I-I do... but this..." she peeped, now hiding behind the couch. "I d-don't know about this... what’s with her voice?" Her eye then began to twitch. "O-Oh my... my Pinkie Sense is going haywire... something very bad's about to happen."

“Pinkie, relax," Spike reassured her with a smile. "It's probably just some sort of voice distortion thingy."

"Five and six grab a crucifix,

Seven and eight better stay up late..."

"OK, Rainbow Dash!" the real Spike called, glancing Pinkie's way with a hint of concern. "You've had your fun. Don't you think it's enough, now?"

A beat of silence.

The silhouette then dissipated, Spike quickly sighing in relief.

Pinkie, however, continued cuddling into a little ball of fear, out of sight of the rest of her friends...

"Pinkie. It's alright, you can come out now," Spike called.

At that, she took a deep breath, nodding to herself in reassurance. However, just as she was starting to compose herself, a cold, hissing breath came to her ear:

"Nine and ten never sleep again."

"EEEEEEEEEEEEEEPPPPP!"

"Pinkie!" Twilight cried, rushing over towards her.

She made it just in time to see her feint body lying on the floor, and the burnt-abomination that was Pinkie-Slice grinning wickedly underneath a brown fedora. A split-second later, she gave Twilight a wink before somehow leaping inside the ear of the real Pinkie, the ghoul's body literally condensing into a thread as she did so.

"Oh my gosh... that was... that was too much!" Twilight cried. "She was supposed to wait until Pinkie was sleeping and then pull some dream-related scare! Not this! Who planned this whole thing?!"

"Twilight?" Spike said, rushing over towards her. "What are you talki-“ His eyes then widened in horror. “Oh my gosh, why is Pinkie on the floor?!"

“I-I don’t know!” Soulshard cried.

Spike then glanced at her suspiciously. "Twilight, what the heck is going on? First you start acting like a friggin' alien, talking to yourself and doing very Un-Twilight like things, and then I hear you talking about like you knew who was harassing Pinkie, and now this?!" He narrowed her eyes. "I haven't seen any meteors lately, so I don't think I've just walked into The Invasion of the Body Snatchers, but still, I really need to ask: who are you and what have you done with Twilight?!"

"The jig is up," bone dragon Spike whispered, as Soulshard backed away from the real thing, him taking menacing steps towards her.

"S-Spike," Twilight called, throwing him a warm smile. "It's me, Twilight! Your Twilight. Can't you tell?"

"I don't know who you are but you're not my Twilight! Sure, you've been fun to hang around lately, but that's just been a facade, hasn't it?!"

Soulshard took her head frantically. "I'm telling you, I'm-"

And then came the first chime of midnight, it from Ponyville’s automated clock tower.

"Oh no..." she gasped.

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Inside her hut, Fluttershy quivered in her bed as the sounds of shrieks emanated from Ponyville, her animal friends drawing close to her for comfort. Too swept up in shivers was she that she didn't notice a pair of red, glowing eyes gazing in at her from the nearest window.

"OK, Flutterfright," her counterpart whispered to herself, taking a deep breath. "Trixie says this will help her in the long run... so just... make it quick."

At that, her eyes began to glow brighter. And as they did so, every single one of Fluttershy's pets suddenly found their own eyes rolling to the back of their heads. A second later they collapsed upon their caretaker's bed, the color fading from them as their irises shrank.

"W-What?!" Fluttershy gasped. "N-No!"

She couldn't even bring herself to say anything else, instead she immediately began gasping desperately for air.

And at that, the conscience of a ghoul kicked into full swing.

"No," Flutterfright said, her eyes narrowing in resolve. "No, this isn't helping! This is just... this is just being stupid! I don't care what that witch says!"

At that, she immediately released the bit of mind control she had over her counterpart's animal friends, all except one. They immediately lept back upon their feet, glancing about in a confused manner, Fluttershy gazing at them wide-eyed in awe.

"Oh my gosh!" she cried, her tears of sorrow turning into those of joy, a look of relief coming upon her like no other. "I was so worried! What in the world happened?!"

Flutterfright gave a warm smile at that, before pulling the puppet strings of her countpart's version of Devil Bunny, forcing him to leap onto the yellow pegasus with a warm hug.

"If he's as... cold in this reality as he is in mine, hopefully that will mean something," Flutterfright smiled.

"Huh, who said that?" the real version of her squeaked, peaking out her window in curiosity, Flutterfright quickly giving a tiny eep and sinking her head out of sight.

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Rarity shivered as she tucked herself into her bedroom, gulping as the fog continued to grow in density.

"Oh my... what in the world is happening out there?" she squeaked, rolling into bed and hiding herself under the covers. She then took a deep breath and shut her eyes, trying her best to block out the whole ordeal.

However, it wouldn't be long before the outside world came within.

"Rarittty..." a ghostly voice oozed out of the walls.

"W-What?! Who's there?!" the fashionita eeped, peaking out of her covers and scanning her dark room.

She was met with only silence.

"Oh my... I suppose tis just the raven, nothing more," she sighed, her heart racing. "I mustn't let my imagination get to- EEEEEP!"

Scarity appeared right over her covers, glaring down upon the terrified pony.

"GHOST!" the mortal unicorn squealed, quickly leaping out of her bed and jutting to the door...

CLACK-CLACK!.!.!

She grabbed desperately at the handle, trying to rip it open, only to find, to her horror, that it had been locked.

"Rarity..." the ghost said, its voice hollow, distorted and surreal. It even had a strange echo about it. "I am the Ghost of Fashion Future... I have taken a form that would be... comfortable with you."

"O-Oh," Rarity peeped. "W-Well..." She then took a deep breath, trying her best to compose herself. "I-I suppose if you have a choice of forms, why not go with the one with such a beautiful mane?"

"Oh, thank you, darling," Scarity smiled. "I must say, I wish I still had a corporeal form. Yours is much more pronounced."

Rarity gave a chuckle. "You're too kind, and too hard on yourself, dear. Yours still looks positively radiant, literally speaking! I simply love the glow about it!"

At that, Scarity let out a cough, her voice bearing even more ghostly distortion. "Anyway, I'm afraid we must exchange pleasantries another time, for I bear grim news from the future..."

Rarity raised an eyebrow. "And what news is that?"

Scarity took a deep breath, trying her best to force her conscience aside. "I'm afraid... the news I have to report is that... pink tiara's will soon be out of style."

"W-What?" Rarity said, her breath staggered.

"I'm afraid I did not speak incorrectly."

"N-No!" Rarity whimpered, shaking her head rapidly. "This must be some mistake!"

"Why do you say that?" Scarity said, quirking her head, noticing tears were now coming to Rarity's eyes.

"Because you came a day late!" she cried. "Do you have any idea how many I just made to sell in Canterlot?! All the latest fashion reports said they'd be in style for nearly six months!" She then gasped for breath. "N-Now... they're all going to go to waste!"

"N-Now calm down, dear," Scarity said. "Surely this won't-"

"I won't be able to buy new supplies now! I'll either have to take out a high interest loan or my business will have to shut down! I'll be IN RUINS!" she shrieked, a few tears now visibly streaming down her face. "I'll never be able to help Sweetie through college... I won't be able to do anything now! Out all all the things that could happen, this is the... the... I can't even bring myself to say it!"

With that, the ghostly mare's eyes narrowed as she stamped a defiant, silent hoof on the ground. "No, my dear, I'm afraid that it isn't the worst possible thing. In fact, it isn't even a thing."

"B-But you just said-"

"I lied," she sighed. "For you see, I'm not really the Ghost of Fashion Future."

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"Granny Smith?" Applejack called worriedly, trotting frantically through her house to find her suddenly vanished family. "Big Macintosh?! Apple Bloom?!"

She entered the living room, her head quirking about like a pigeon's, at every which angle. "W-Where are yall?! I just saw ya a-"

At that, a scraping sound could be heard on the nearest window.

"W-Wah!?"

With eyes widening, Applejack quickly turned, only to see nothing.

"W-Who's there?!" she called, her eyes narrowing. "What'd you do with mah family?!"

Another scratch on an opposite window. This time, however, Applejack turned towards it just in time to see a black shadow of a pony with brilliant, glowing yellow eyes.

"WHAT IN THE WORLD!" she shrieked, stumbling backwards. "That's it! If whoever's out there don't stop right now, I'm getting Ms. Pepper!" Her eyes then narrowed. "N' let me tell ya, she'll do much more than make ya sneeze!"

"I wouldn't do that if I were you..." a throaty, deep voice said, it coming from her door. It was quickly followed by a few more claw scrapes.

"Oh, so you ain't just timberwolves, huh?! Well then good, I'll say again! GET OUT OF HERE NOW!"

"Mmmm, well you're half-right about that I suppose," the same voice growled.

As Applejack's eyes widened in horror, her front door was suddenly ripped off its hinges, sailing into the ground with a terrific CRACK, and revealing a grinning, overly furry version of Big Macintosh, his eyes glowing yellow, and his wolf-like paws digging into her wooden floor. Taking slow, menacing steps he entered the living room, a surprisingly agile furry Granny Smith following him.

"You failed us, Applejack," they chanted, drawing ever closer to her. "We were taken by the children of the moon, your back turned to our doom. And now... you're ours to consume."

"N-No!" Applejack called, her heart thumping like no tomorrow.

At that, 'Big Macintosh' gave a wicked grin, reeled back on his hind legs, and just as he was about to pounce...

"STOP!"

Panting, a furry version of her galloped through the front door, and behind her Granny Smith, Apple Bloom and Big Macintosh.

Applejack's jaw nearly dropped at this. "What in the name of all that is holy is goin' on!? Who are you, and why do you look like me?!"

Applemoon took a deep breath, gazing at her counterpart with remorseful eyes. "I-It's a long story. All you need to know is that your family is safe and that I'm sorry... I'm really sorry." She then turned towards her own family. "I just couldn't go through with this whole thing! It was too much."

The two nodded in agreement. "You're right... we took it way too far. This wasn't fun for noghoul..."

"These three hooligans went and ponynapped us bout' five minutes ago, came in right through our windows," Granny Smith explained, before taking a deep breath. "Said they wanted to scare ya, for your own good."

"This was for my own good?!" Applejack roared, storming in front of Applemoon and glaring daggers. "Look miss, I don't know who ya’ are, but in this town scarin' people like that ain't for nopony's own good!"

"I know... it was stupid of me. I'm sorry! I'm truly sorry!" Applemoon cried.

"We're sorry, too..." Granny Sith grunted, running a hoof across the floor in remorse. "We got shanghaied into this whole thing. Damned egomaniac…”

"And who exactly is that?!" Applejack growled.

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As the bell tower of Ponyville continued to chime, Trixie walked merrily down Main Sreet, occasionally summoning demonic shadows and raising long-dead corpses from the ground to frighten anypony in sight. However, they weren’t her true target. That honor belonged to the one who resided in the large treehouse before her.

“Alright, Twilight Soulshard,” she smirked. “It’s time to take a trip to the western side of the tracks.”

The Music of the Night

Nightmare Moon soared high above layers upon layers of fog, the scenery below whizzing by her in a blur. On the tail of her broom sat Rotten, gawking in amazement at their tremendous speeds. However, despite the thrill of the moment, Nightmare's face remained placid.

“Princess?” Rotten called. “Everything alright?”

“Hm... what?” Nightmare Moon said, shaking her head to snap out of it. “Yes… I’m fine, child.”

“Are you sure?”

The Princess gave a quaint nod, smiling slightly. “It’s nothing you should worry yourself with...”

“Oh… alright then,” Rotten said, frowning slightly as she gazed back downward.

However, after a few minutes more, Nightmare eventually took a deep breath.

"Nighttime sharpens, heightens each sensation,

Darkness wakes and stirs imagination,

Silently the senses abandon their defenses,

Helpless to resist the notes we write,

So why have you gone my student of the night...?"

A second of silence followed, eventually broken by Rotten.

"What are you singing about?" she asked, quirking her head.

"Mistakes..." she sighed, Rotten quickly giving her a glance of confusion that Nightmare merely chuckled at. "Don't be so surprised, young one. Someone in my position makes twenty times more than the average ghoul."

"D-Do they all weigh heavy?" she asked.

Nightmare Moon merely smiled. "Yes, but we learn to live with them."

However, she soon found her eyes moistening slightly, and it was not because of the wind.

"Well, some of us do..." she sighed. "Let's just say I should have let the dead lie..."

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Ding!

Zecora lay in her hut, giving a sigh at the chaos she could barely hear coming from Ponyville. She grabbed a glass from her night table, taking a sip of water. However, soon after, something else joined the chorus of shrieks, her ears perking at a certain chiming sound...

She then took a deep a breath. "The bell tolls for thee, creature of the night. I hope you have learned something on the side of the light."

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Ding!

"No! NO!" Soulshard shrieked, backing away from a now utterly perplexed Spike. She could feel it again... coldness leaping at every fiber of her being.

"I knew it!" the real Spike growled. "I knew it but didn't want to admit it!"

"I-I just want more time," Twilight whimpered, ignoring him. "More t-time."

A look of bafflement came upon the real Spike at that. "W-What?"

"AAAAAAAAAAAGGGGHHHH!" Soulshard screeched, every part of her body feeling like it had been lit on fire.

Then came the decay...

First, it was bits of her fur, and eventually skin falling off.

"O-Oh sweet Celestia," Spike said, his eyes now saucers as he backed away from her.

"God... why did she have to go through with this," bone dragon Spike whispered.

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Softly, deftly, you turned your back upon creation,

When long lives call for loving inclination,

But you opened up your mind, let your fantasies unwind,

Though the darkness you know you can never fight.

You belong to the music of the night..."

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Ding!

And then, the pupils of the 'mortal' mare were entirely erased, giving way for whiteness to overtake them. Spike was now staring up at two, glowing white holes for eyes, his face a mixture of horror and awe.

Soulshard began taking deep breaths, the final process of the conversion ending before it started. Everything she loved about having a mortal ghoul's body... a normal pony's body... was now gone. The warmth? Gone. The trickle of blood through her veins? Forever stopped along with her heart. The feeling of her mortal coil being something besides jagged and twisted? No longer. It had all given way to the music of the night.

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"You closed your eyes for a journey to a strange, new world!

Leaving all thoughts of the one you knew behind!

Now turn your gaze and let the music set you free!

It is here where you were truly meant to be..."

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"Vile demon! You may have tricked me once, but not twice!" Spike growled, narrowing his eyes. "I took a five dollar course in exorcism at the Church of Celestiatology. You are so screwed this time! Now, IT'S TIME TO GO BACK TO TARTARUS!" he roared, holding two claws in a cross formation. "The power of Celestia compels you-"

"Spike..."

"The power of Celestia compels you!"

"SPIKE!"

"The- wah?"

A few tears could be seen dripping onto the wooden floor.

"W-What?" Spike gasped, shaking his head in disbelief. "B-But... demons don't cry... do they?"

"This one does..." she sighed, plopping down onto her flank as she gazed upon two dead hoofs.

They shivered along with the rest of her.

"T-Twilight... is it really you? What happened?!" Spike whimpered, before giving a slight, nervous chuckle. "T-This is a Nightmare Night prank, right? A really good one, like that thing with Pinkie?"

The Pink mare still lie on the floor, fast asleep.

"N-No," Soulshard gulped, shaking her head. "No... it's not a joke, and your Twilight should be fine by now..."

Spike's eyes widened. "W-Wait. You mean to tell me you're some... other Twilight?"

The Lich Queen nodded solemnly. "It's... complicated. I come from a land called the Nightmare Realm. Don't ask me how, or why, but... there are ghouls there who take after those on this side and..." She then took a deep breath. "Well... let's just say there are some things... not even our gods can explain."

"B-But why would you ponynap my Twilight?! To take her place? I don't see a goatee on you so I don't think you're her evil twin, even if you have crazy, glowy eyes... and come from a place called the Nightmare Realm... and... well whatever."

She took a deep breath. "It was silly... stupid. I wanted... a chance to experience something different. My kind have minds that are notoriously single-tracked. We are the essence of Nightmare Night after all; therefore we are built for scares... and scares alone."

Spike quirked an eyebrow. "So you came here to escape boredom?"

The Lich Queen nodded. "I tried to bring something different to the other side, but they just rejected it before giving it a chance!"

A small sigh came from the being's hood, and soon out of it slipped bone dragon Spike, the real Spike doing a double-take.

"Who the heck is that?!"

"Oh uh... hi," he said, simpering. "Yeeeeah... long story short, I'm uh... you. In a sense."

"You're... small," Spike said, quirking an eyebrow.

"Yeah, so are you," he grunted. "And purple."

"What's wrong with being purple?" he said, his eyes narrowing.

"Nothing... it's just a cute color."

"CUTE?!"

"Hahaha! Just messin' with ya. I'm sure you'll be a terrifying dragon some day. And who knows, if you screw with a bunch of necromancers maybe you'll become like mwah."

"Yeah... I'll have to remember to drink more milk then, I guess," he said blankly, before turning back to Twilight. "S-So what happens now?"

"Now..." the Lich Queen sighed, narrowing her eyes. "I'm going to call this madness off..."

"Wait!" Spike called, turning towards the limp body of Pinkie Pie. "Uh... what about Pinkie?"

"Oh... erm..." the Lich Queen sweat-dropped, scurrying over to the hyperactive mare's side and beginning to shake her. "REALITY-PIE! WAKE UP!"

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"We all live in a yellow submarine!

Yellow submarine, yellow submarine!

We all live in a yellow submarine!

Yellow submarine, yellow submarine!"

Pinkie Pie and Pinkie Slice then gave a large giggle as they finished the verse.

Currently, as the song would suggest, they were riding inside a yellow submarine, it navigating through a sea filled with cherry chungas, party decorations, Gummy alligators with insane smiles on their faces, and strange, merry sea creatures, all wearing clown outfits (fit for sea creatures).

"Ooooo yeah! This is totally the best dream ever!" the real Pinkie beamed. "Thanks Pinkie Krueger!"

She quickly gave a cough. "It's uh... Pinkie Slice."

"Whoops, sorry! But yeah, I totally forgive you for that stupid dream about my friends not showing up to my birthday party and abandoning me!"

"Hah, yeah, sorry about that," Slicey simpered. "Thanks for setting me straight, though. I shouldn't be scaring people with their worst fears... shock and gross-out horror with witty humor is so much better! It's so easy and cool and who doesn't love when things pop out at you?!"

"See, now that is the best kind of scare!" Pinkie beamed, before looking in the periscope... only for an evil, jagged looking set of bloody teeth to pop up within the small viewing window. "EEEEEP!"

"Hahaha!" Slicey beamed, before giving a slight smirk. "You know what's even better than shock horror, though?"

"What?!" Pinkie said, bouncing away from the perescope.

"Friggin' zombies!"

"Pony Ratzi Zombie Mode Activated - Level 12!" a disembodied voice called.

"Wooooo yeah!" the two cheered, as zombies equipped with scooba gear with swastikas upon them swam towards the submarine.

"Choose your weapon!"

"Oooo! Oooo!" Pinkie bounced. "Ummmm... give me a giant bass I can slap zombies with!"

"I'll take a rubber hammer!" Slicey called.

The two weapons appeared in their hooves.

"Yayyyy!

"FIGHT!"

"Haha! It's time to do what has to be done by us to defend our sub against the enemies and live up to FULL. LIFE. CONSEQUENCES!" the two chanted at the same time, before double-taking, looking at each other and dropping onto the ground in laughter.

"Pinkie!" Slicey said, still giggling. "I need to kill fast... and hammer too slow!"

"OH NO! HAHAHAHA!"

The two then lept to their feet, striking a combat pose.

"ZOMBIE RATZI GHOSTS! PREPARE TO DIE!"

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"Oh crap!" Twilight gasped, continuing to shake Pinkie. "Our Pinkie must really have her in a tight grip... who knows what horrors she could be experiencing right now."

At that, however, a voice made itself known, one which she hadn't heard in years upon years:

"Hah! And It's nothing compared to what I'm going to do to you."

"What in the world..." Twilight said, her eyes widening as she turned to face Trixie, a bolt of lightning cascading down behind her. For a moment, she stood as a silhouette.

"Woah!" her Spike called. "Gotta admit, that looked pretty cool."

The real Spike nodded in agreement, before the look of bafflement that had been hanging on him the last hour returned once again. "Is that... Trixie?!"

Twilight gave a nod. "Trixie Elphaba, to be exact."

"It's Wicked Witch of the West!" she growled, storming in front of Twilight as her eyes narrowed.

"Well... that'd be kind of awkward to say in regular conversation," fleshy Spike grunted.

Bone dragon Spike nodded in agreement, before chuckling slightly. "Hah! I knew I'd like you."

"What's not to like?" Spike smiled.

"What's going on, Trixie? You haven't partaken in anything Nightmare Night related for years..." Twilight said.

"Well, that's until I got the chance to run it," she grinned. "And you can't say it hasn't been a blast, HAHAHA!"

Soulshard's eyes widened. "A blast?! You let our Pinkie go completely out of control! Who knows what kind of scars she left on the real one!"

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SLAP-SLAP-SLAP-SLAP-SLAP!.!.!.!

"NEIN NEIN NEIN NEIN NEIN!" a Ratzi zombie growled, currently being slapped in the face with a large fish.

"Wooo yeah! Ratzis and zombies together?! How could something be more awesome to beat up!?" Pinkie grinned.

"How about... Ratzi zombie robot ninjas riding SHARKS... WITH FRIGGIN' LASER BEAMS ON THEIR FRIGGIN' HEADS?!" Pinkie Slice cried.

Pinkie's jaw dropped to the floor of the sub.

"YEEEEEAHHHH!"

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"I shudder to think what else is going on in there!" Twilight cried.

"I'm just continuing where you left off," Trixie smirked. "Only... with improvements. We're bringing true horrors to Ponyville! If you take a look around you'll see it isn't that bad."

"Ain't that bad?!" a voice called from the door, Applejack, Applemoon, Rarity, and Scarity quickly scurrying in. "You made me think mah family had been taken by werewolves!"

"And that my business was about to go under!" Rarity growled.

Trixie shuddered in rage. "What?! Shouldn’t you two be quivering on the floor in fear at the moment?!”

“Our counterparts called the whole thing off,” Applejack smiled.

Trixie slammed a disgruntled hoof onto the floor. “Ugh! They would have been the perfect frights! And they would have gotten away with it too, if it wasn’t for their meddling consciences!”

"Ugh! Come on tin ghoul! Have a heart why won't ya!?" Applemoon groaned.

"A heart?!" Trixie laughed sarcastically. "I am a necromancer for crying out loud! A ghoul! My heart is as black as the night! As it should be! As yours should be!"

Applejack gave a glare, storming in front of her. "Nightmare Night isn't just about scares. It's about having fun with scares! I don't know how it was a hundred years before, but things have changed!" At that, her eyes widened as she caught sight of somepony... or someghoul, in this case. "Wait a minute, Twilight?!"

Soulshard simpered, waving slightly. "Her uh... counterpart."

"Don't worry, everypony..." the real Spike said, shaking his head. "She's cool... I think."

"T-Twilight," Applemoon gasped. "You've been here the entire time!?"

"In a... manner of speaking," Soulshard sighed.

"She came here to experience something new," bone dragon Spike said breathily. "Because we wouldn't give her the time of day."

"No," Twilight said, shaking her head. "It's not your faults... I was being selfish... I shouldn't have abandoned you all on Nightmare Night." She then quirked her eyebrow, glancing towards Applejack. "You know... what you said gives me an idea, however."

Applejack narrowed her eyebrows in confusion. “So wait, if you’re her counterpart, what happened to the real Twilight?!”

“She should be safe, our Rainbow’s taking care of things,” bone dragon Spike said, gaining sighs of relief from… most of the group.

"Hello!" Trixie waved, growling at Twilight. "You're not carrying out any new ideas! Not anymore! Because I'm about to take your place as the student of Princess Nightmare Moon!"

"Nightmare Moon?!" Rarity gasped.

"B-But we..." Applejack stuttered.

"Different Nightmare Moon," Twilight grunted, before turning back towards Trixie, attempting to force a warm smile. "Elphaba... remember when I used to call you that? When we used to be good friends? Remember when we used to hang out on the Black Mountains? When we swam in the blood lake below Necropolis, trying our best to conjure dead fish to scare each other with?" She took a deep breath. "What happened to you? Why are you working with Blackblood of all ghouls?"

"Because Blackblood knows how I feel!" Trixie shouted. "He knows what it's like to be the underghoul! To be underappreciated!" Her eyes then narrowed. "To have something they've always wanted dangled in front of them..."

The Lich Queen shook her head. "Trixie... I-I regret... coming back. I really do... the other side of the gates were truly paradise... yet I just couldn't let my former life go."

"You're lying! You're just trying to get me to buzz off!"

"I'm not," Twilight whimpered, tears forming around her glowing eyes once again.

"She's tellin' the truth, sugar," Applemoon nodded.

A look came upon Trixie at that. One that had been blocked out by her stress and angst for many years: sorrow.

She then took a deep breath. "Y-You... were my only friend in the world, Twilight... when you died I felt... I felt like being an apprentice to Nightmare Moon was the only thing I could have had going for me..."

"You became obsessed, didn't you? Lost sight of everything else?" Twilight said, her eyes laced with sympathy.

Trixie gave a slow nod. "It... I don't even know what to think." She suddenly gave a glare. "Stop trying to confuse me! We aren't friends anymore!"

Twilight took a step closer to her. "We'll always be friends, Elphaba, even if you don't realize it at the moment..."

"I-I-I..." she gasped, shaking her head. "I d-don't know..."

The Lich Queen's eyes narrowed. "If being an apprentice to Nightmare Moon means that much to you, I'll give you the chance to become it." She then gave a slight smile. "I hereby challenge you to an honorable necromancer duel. If you win, I'll give up my title to you."

Trixie's eyes widened at that. "Y-You would do that?"

"For a friend, I would."

And what happened next?
Well in Terrosville they say,
That Trixie Elphaba's black heart,
Grew three sizes that day.

"Awwwww," bone dragon and normal Spike said, before quickly contorting their faces into disgust. "I mean, uh, ewwwww, gross... so sappy."

At that, the sound of two mare's stifled sniffs could be heard from the door.

"It's so utterly bizarre," Rarity said, wiping away a few tears with a hankerchief. "But so lovely at the same time..."

"I'm with you there, darling," Scarity whimpered, wrapping a cold, ghostly hoof around her counterpart.

Twilight then raised a hoof. "However, before we do this, I want to put Nightmare Night on pause, and I'll need your help for that."

“A-Alright,” Trixie gulped. “I’ll lend you a hoof.”

Twilight then gave a nod, making her way out the door with Trixie in tow.

"Attention all ghouls! This is Twilight Soulshard! Please cut whatever you're doing immediately! Nightmare Night is put on hold for now!" she roared with her projected, demonic voice.

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"NO! NO! HUMANS WOULDN'T DO THAT!" Lyra screamed, currently strapped to a chair. Her eyes were lynched open by metal claws, viewing footage of a human just about to dig into a slab of supposed pony meat.... "NOOOOO!"

"Hahahaha!" Heartstab grinned. “Sometimes they liked to serenade it in barbecue sauce, too! I hear they thought it’s delicious!”

"Attention all ghouls! This is Twilight Soulshard! Please cut whatever you're doing immediately! Nightmare Night is put on hold for now!"

"W-Wah?"

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"Brushy brushy brush...." Coledecay grinned wickedly, currently moving a massive drill towards a horror-stricken Colgate's face, her strapped to a dentist chair. "Hehehe..."

"N-No! Please! I like my teeth the way they are!"

"Mmmmm," her counterpart grunted, pausing the drill for a second. "Why so serious, Colgate? Why... so... serious?!"

Colgate merely gave a gulp, Coledecay smiling wickedly in return.

"Wanna know how I got these cavities?" her counterpart grinned, showing her rotten, yellow teeth, Colgate shaking her head rapidly in response. "My father... was a coffee drinker... and a fiend. One day... he comes home with an entire box of sugar..." She then gave a cackle. "And he forces me to drink a cup of it... oh.... so.... sweeeeeeeeet...."

Colgate gave a shiver.

"And as I chugged it down... do you wanna know what he said?"

"N-No..."

Her manic-laced grin stood upon her as her eye began twitching. "He said... 'Why so serious? WHY SO SERIOUS?! You'll be a dentist.... and a success! HAHAHAHAHAHAH!'"

The drill then whirred to life again.

"LET'S PUT A SMILE ON THAT FACE!"

"EEEEEEEEEEEEEEPPPPP!"

"Attention all ghouls! This is Twilight Soulshard! Please cut whatever you're doing immediately! Nightmare Night is put on hold for now!"

"Awww man..."

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"It's Friday, Friday,

Gotta get down on Friday,

Everybody's lookin' forward to the weekend, weekend,

Friday, Friday,

Gettin' down on Friday,

Everybody's lookin' forward to the weekend!"

"NO! NO! Make it stop! By Celestia please make it stop!" Vinyl cried, currently trapped inside her home with her maniacal counterpart.

"Oh it gets better," Vinyl Screech grinned. "This chorus repeats FIVE TIMES DURING THE SONG! HAHAHAHAHA!"

“NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!”

"Attention all ghouls! This is Twilight Soulshard! Please cut whatever you're doing immediately! Nightmare Night is put on hold for now!"

"Oh, pickle..."

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Inside the Everfree Forest, Slendermare trotted about merrily, the Cutie-Mark Crusaders and pretty much every other foal from the town currently ensnared inside the many black tendrils that stretched from his back. However, in one he held a magic music rock, it currently emanating:

I'm soooo happy!

Happy and lucky me!

Things that bother you!

Never bother me!"

"Uhh... Slendermare," Scootaloo whimpered. "We've uh... been frolicking around the forest for like... two hours now. Can you just eat us or whatever you're going to do?"

Slendermare ignored her, continuing to frolic.

"Things that bother you,

Never bother me,

I'm so happy and fine! Haha!

Burning in the sunlight haunting in the moonlight,

Having a wonderful time!"

"Ugggh..." Scootaloo groaned.

"Attention all ghouls! This is Twilight Soulshard! Please cut whatever you're doing immediately! Nightmare Night is put on hold for now!"

"Hooray!" the foals cried.

Slendermare merely sulked slightly, shutting the music rock off.

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"Ahhhh, what a marvelous adventure that was, Doctor!" Dr. Whooevenstein grinned, the TERRORDIS just touching back down in Ponyville. He currently wore a sombrero as well as other souvenirs... such as several Dalek laser cannons laced into a necklace.

"I must say, it was much better than I thought it would be!" the Doctor smirked. "When we ran into those Daleks in the Ancient Badlands, I thought we were goners!"

"Hah! Well I must say, the sounds of their shrieks as I pummeled them with the TERRORDIS nearly drowned out the drums! I'm almost glad we ran into them... no pun intended!" Doctor Whooevenstein grinned.

"That was a brilliant idea, by the way," the Doctor smirked.

Whoovenstein merely shrugged. "Couldn't have done it without that forcefield you jury-rigged."

"Why thank you! A bit of magitech, actually, wasn't really my invention," the Doctor noted with a smile. "Amazing what you can learn from these ponies."

Whoovenstein rolled his eyes at the Doctor's modesty. "Nonetheless, absolutely brilliant!" He then turned towards Derpy Hooves. "I must say, your assistant really helped out. I'm glad we were able to pick up that muffin replicator in the New Lunar Republic!"

"Likewise!" the real Doctor beamed.

Nom-Nom-Nom-Nom-Nom!.!.!

In the back of the TERRORDIS, both Derpy and Derpy-Stitched were chowing down on and swimming in a sea of muffins, both worm-filled and raisin-filled, each with warm smiles on their faces.

"Best adventure yet!" Derpy Hooves smiled, before eyeing a worm-filled muffin with a hint of disgust. "You kind of have a weird eating habit, though, Stitchy."

"Right back at ya," her counterpart smirked, sticking out her tongue.

"Attention all ghouls! This is Twilight Soulshard! Please cut whatever you're doing immediately! Nightmare Night is put on hold for now!"

"Ugggh..." Whoovenstein grunted. "Looks like all good things..."

"Must come to an end..." the Doctor finished for him.

The two then looked at each other, smiled widely and:

“Hahahaha!”

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And at that, the shrieks and sounds of frights emanated from Ponyville died down, ghouls and ponies alike stepping out from inside various buildings to gaze curiously at the Lich Queen.

"Alright! Thank you everyghoul!" Trixie called. "Now, can everyone gather to the graveyard?" She then turned towards Twilight, giving her a somewhat forced smile. "Alright. Time to settle things the honorable way."

"Right," Soulshard nodded. "It will be a hideous battle my friend. One worthy of song, and one that hasn't happened in years."

Trixie gave a confident grin. "I just hope you're ready for an..."

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"EPIC ZOMBIE DANCE OFF AND RAP BATTLE!" the two cheered.

The entire contingent of ghouls in Ponyville were now gathered at the town's lone graveyard, peeking at the two as they faced off against each. Even some of the regular ponies had joined them, curiosity overtaking them. On top of that, their counterparts and them, after a bit of chatting and apologizing, were now actually starting to get along somewhat well.

"That wasn't really horse meat the human was eating," Heartstab had said to Lyra. "It was actually just dog meat... sorry for scaring you that way."

The human-loving pony merely smiled in return. "I'm just glad you're admitting it, at least... archaeology and humans in particular are kind of my thing."

"Yeah... I can't believe I actually did that," Flutterfright had squeaked to her counterpart. "After all the things I learned in vampire school about abusing mind control... it was so terrible of me..."

"No worries," Fluttershy replied, smiling warmly. "You're not a bad vampire. You've just been listening to the wrong ponies... or ghouls, you call them?"

Flutterfright nodded shyly.

"I can't believe I made you listen to Friday... even we're afraid of that song!" Vinyl Screech grunted, sulking her head slightly.

"Hah, well. You can make it up to me by letting me show you some real music when this is all over," Vinyl smiled.

"Alright, you two!" the real Spike grunted, standing between Trixie and Twilight and wearing a referee shirt. "I want this to be a nice clean fight! No conjuring rap demons and..." He turned towards bone dragon Spike, him hovering a few feet away. "Uhhh... what else shouldn't they be doing?" he whispered.

"They can't use their magic to influence their opponent's zombies..." bone dragon Spike whispered back.

"Ah! Right!" Spike nodded. "No using your magic to influence the opponent's zombies!"

"Right!" Trixie called.

"Understood, Spikey," Soulshard smirked.

"And no calling the referee Spikey!" Spike grunted. "Seriously, you're embarrassing me in front of my counterpart, Twilight..."

"Sorry," she simpered. "You're just so much more adorable than my Spike, though."

Her Spike then gave a slight grumble. "…I can be adorable."

"Stick with me and I'll show you the ropes," the real Spike winked towards him. "Seriously, the more adorable you act, the more gems you get."

"I don't eat gems, though," bone dragon Spike grunted.

"Then what do you eat?"

"Eh, the souls of unborn children. Stuff like that."

The real Spike began backing away from him at that...

"Hahaha!" he cackled. "I'm just kidding, jeez! I don't really eat anything."

Sighing in relief, Spike turned back towards the two competitors. "Alright, are you two ready?"

"Ready!"

"Just like old times, eh Elphaba?" Twilight smiled.

"Hmph," she winked. "Let's just hope you've been practicing since then."

"Twilight! You're up first!" Spike called. "Uh... can't believe I'm saying this but... conjure your dead!"

And at that, Twilight’s horn began to glow, the legion of ghouls letting loose a tremendous cheer.

The Ultimate Showdown (Of Ultimate Destiny)

The Everfree forest was mostly silent now with Slendermare's frolicking having been called off. All except for one mare's voice...

"Say it!" Rainbow Dash growled, currently having pinned down Slendermare in a wrestling move, twisting one of his hind-legs in an unnatural angle. "SAY IT!"

"Uhhh... Rainbow," Scootaloo said, sweat-dropping. "I don't think he can say 'uncle'."

Slendermare gave a frantic nod.

"Well then he better learn how to grow a mouth!" Rainbow growled. "Cus nopony bucks with the foals of this town on my watch!"

"I think he just really likes kids, though," Apple Bloom noted. "In a really creepy... but not creepy-enough-to-be-thrown-in-jail kind of way way." She then moved over towards the Slendermare's side, smiling. "It's alright, Slendy. We all love you too."

The rest of the foals quickly gave smiles as well.

If the Slendermare had eyes, they'd probably be watering.

"You all gotta' be kidding me!" Rainbow Dash grunted, pulling back the Slendermare's leg to the snapping point. "He had you tangled in his freaky shadow tendril things!"

"Yeah but-"

"They're telling the truth, Rainbow," a certain voice called from the deeper woods. "The Slendermare's just really creepy."

Dashie's eyes immediately widened. "What in the hay!?"

☼☼☼
☼☼
☼☼☼

"Rawwwwwwrrrrrr...."

"Braaaaiiinnnnssss...."

"Noooommmmsss...."

A multitude of skeletons rose from the graveyard, (Twilight having made sure to raise only older corpses as to prevent any... awkward reunions). The ghouls in the crowd grinned in delight at the sight, though the living ponies began to back away from the scene, their faces laced with horror.

"Uhhh... other Twilight," the real Spike said, inching away from the undead as they slowly circled him. "Just because I like books about the zombie apocalypse doesn't mean I want to be in one!"

"Oh, whoops!" Twilight said, sweat-dropping. "I think I used the wrong summoning spell..." She then turned towards the zombie horde, groaning, "Come on you guys! I didn't raise you to eat brains!"

With a grunt, a series of green beams lept out from her horn, striking the various skeletons. They immediately shook their heads, as if debilitated, before beginning to form a line before the Lich Queen.

"Mooon Walllking...."

"Hippp Hooopp...."

"Sexxxybaaack..."

"Ah, that's better," Twilight smiled.

"Alright, you know the drill, Twilight!" Spike called, him along with the crowd of normal ponies sighing in relief. "Rapping then dancing. Go ahead and start when ready!"

"Right!" Twilight called, before sending a smile Trixie's way. "Remember, no matter what's said, it isn't anything personal. Alright?"

"No worries, Twilight," Trixie winked. "I'm sure you've been hardened up by all the times I whooped your flank back in the day."

"Oooh you are just tempting fate, aren't you?" Twilight grinned, before turning to Vinyl Scratch, her mounting a DJ booth behind her. "Hit it, Vinyl!"

"Awwww yeah!" she grinned, already bopping her head to a beat as she pulled out a record, twirled it, and lay it on a track. "Yall ready for this? Cus we’re going friggin’ nineties!"

At that, a funky beat began playing from the player, it best resembling early nineties hip hop. As soon as the music hit her ears, Twilight then began to bop her head as well, before taking a deep breath and rapping:

"West Necropolis born and raised,

The graveyard is where I spent most my days,

Chillin out maxing relaxin' all cool,

Summonin' hordes and dancin' under the moon!

Then a couple of guys, caught me in their red eyes,

Recommended me to our crazy goddess of the sky,

From then on out I was under her wing,

So how the heck do you think you're supposed to match this bling?

I got twenty spells alone that could blow your mind,

Necromancy from the very start of time,

So just go home and sulk you little girl,

Cus I'm the fresh queen of the entire dead world!"

As she finished, the crowd, both living and dead, roared in approval.

"Wooooo yeah!"

"Go Twilight!"

"Go get her, girl!"

"Oh no she didn't!" Spike grinned. He then composed himself and turned towards the Lich Queen. "Alright Twilight, dancing time!"

"Right!" she called, turning back towards Vinyl while trying to catch her breath. "Hit it, Vinyl!"

Nodding, Vinyl then stuck another record into the player, grinning as she did so. "Alright, everyghoul and everypony alike! Time for another blast from the past!"

The speakers then began blaring:

"It's time for the percolator!

It's time for the percolator!

It's time for the percolator!"

The line of skeletons Twilight had summoned gave their best equivalent of a smirk towards Trixie's own, hopped on their hind legs, and began to do a simple, yet somewhat coordinated dance mostly involving legwork.

"Hooo boy," bone dragon Spike groaned, glancing at their moves. "I hope you have something better than The Spongebob up your sleeve, Twi..."

After another ten seconds or so, fleshy Spike glanced down at the stop-watch he carried before blowing a whistle. "Alright, Twilight! Time's up!" He then turned towards Trixie. "Your turn, Trixie!"

"Hit it, Vinyl Screech!" she called, the undead DJ quickly nodding and putting on a country-style tune complete with flaying fiddles and banjos.

"That ain't rap!" Applejack complained, before smiling slightly. "It's actually good!"

"You called it, sister!" Applemoon beamed.

Trixie then nodded to herself a few times before singing:

"If it hadn't been for this white-eyed hoe,

I'd be head honcho a long time ago,

So I thought it'd be best for you to know,

That I'm gonna take your entire life's show!

Were the pearly gates not good enough,

You just had to come back and buck it all up!?

Why not just go back to the final nap?

Before you lose more skin off your back!

Your Nightmare Night?! Hah, what a fright!

I showed your town how to do it right!

And the horror didn't come from Flutterfright's shed,

I just knew how to get into their heads!"

The ghouls in the crowd stomped their hooves in approval.

"Hey hey hey!" Flutterfright squeaked. "I swear, there isn't anything bad in my shed! Well... except for the undead termites."

"Awwwww snap!" Spike said, raising two impressed eyebrows. "Now, commence with the dancing!"

"Keep the same song on, Vinyl!" Trixie called, Screechy quickly giving a nod.

Her line of zombies then began to dance in a country-style manner, somewhat resembling square-dancing. Most of the ghouls and ponies this time let loose a brilliant cheer.

"Mmmmm... country dancing for a country town. Pretty smart, Trixie," bone dragon Spike grunted to himself.

The real Spike then blew his whistle. "Alright, alright! Round one is over." He then quirked an eyebrow, bone-dragon Spike whispering something in his ear. "Ah, gotcha," he nodded. "Anyway, to prevent bias we uh... apparently have a non-biased judge."

"Slendemare, where you at?!" bone dragon Spike called in a wannabe-gangster tone.

A wave came from the back of the crowd, a bruised and battered looking Slendermare sauntering through it closer to the battle.

"Woah! What happened to you, Slendy?" Pinkie Slice called, raising an eyebrow.

Slendermare merely held up a hoof as if to say, 'don't worry about it.'

Referee Spike then took a deep breath before saying: "Well, if you're up for judging... did you see enough to make a call?"

The Slendermare shook his head, before pausing for a second, apparently in thought, and then zipping forth one of his tendrils straight through one of the more undead ghoul's skull. The crowd of normal ponies gave a gasp at this.

"Wooooah! Don't worry, everypony!" Lyra Heartstab called, giggling slightly as the tendril penetrated her brain. "It just tickles!" Her eyes then rolled to the back of her head. "Uploading visual and audio data... uploading visual and audio data..." She then made a 'ding' sound. "Upload complete!"

Slendermare then retracted the tendril, Lyra's eyes moving back into position as she rapidly shook her head in a debilitated fashion. The Eldritch Abomination then brought a tendril to his chin in contemplation, before eventually turning Twilight's way and nodding.

"Alright, Ms. Lich Queen, round one is yours!" Spike called, the crowd giving a somewhat mixed reaction.

"Awwww..." Applejack sulked, quickly gaining a look from Twilight. "Er, sorry other Twilight, but I really liked the song she sang to..."

The undead mare rolled her eyes, gave a sigh, and nodded towards Spike.

"Alright, you girls know the drill by now! Round two!" He took a deep breath. "Fight!"

Vinyl Scratch then gave a grin, and while twirling another record shouted, "another hit from years gone by for all you good little ghoulies and gals! Heh. Haven't heard this one since I lived in Manehattan!"

A funky bass beat began to play, the entire crowd quickly moving to its groove.

Twilight then took a deep breath, composing herself before rapping:

"I said a hip, hop, the hippie - the hippie,

To the hip hip-hop, and you don't stop,

The rock it to the bang-bang, but never up jump,

The rhythm of the Boogie Monster's beat!"

"Holy crap! That's friggin' awesome!" Lyra Heartstrings cried.

"Wooo yeah! Keep it up, Twilight!" Applemoon smiled. "Come on Flutterfright, give some support!"

"Um... yayyyyy," she squeaked.

"You see any ole ghoul n' any fool,

Can call themself a scare machine,

But there are certain rules I shouldn't need to school,

You should never take it to the extreme!

See you got the fright but your heart ain't right,

Let me tell you what I've learned across the street.

That while a little scare won't hurt a hair,

You gotta keep it to a mortal beat!"

The mortal ponies, and pretty much half the ghouls stomped their hooves in a terrific rumble, Twilight sighing in relief and smiling upon hearing it.

"Alright, next track, let's do this!" Vinyl grinned, popping in another record.

"Wait Vinyl! I'm not ready yet!" Twilight cried, her horn not done yet fully charging. "Stick to the plan!"

"CAN'T... STOP... THE MUSIC.... LEEERROOOOOYYYYYY NNNNN'JENNNKINNNNS!.!.!.!"

“God damnit, Vinyl!” bone dragon Spike growled as a the speakers blared:

"Soulja ghoul off in this oh!

Watch me crank it, watch me roll!

Watch me crank dat, soulja ghoul,

Then Supermare dat oh!"

And naturally, the line of zombies began doing an only somewhat articulated, yet popular dance.

"Mmmm... come on Twilight, you need to whip out the big guns. Soulja ghoul is something anyghoul can do with a little practice..." bone dragon Spike whispered.

Mortal Spike blew his whistle after a moment or two. "Trixie! Your turn! Show us what you got!"

"Here comes the good stuff (which is surprising coming from me)!" Vinyl Screech shouted, glaring at her counterpart. "Who's ready to take a visit to the Feel Good Inc.?!"

"Hah! Alright! This time I'm not going so easy on you, Ms. Soulshard," Trixie smirked.

As the beat became more and more pronounced, the wicked witch began with:

"Now let's break it down for your little brain,

Cus without a book in front of it it'd go insane.

We're bred for holiday meant to scare,

So why should we hold back, why not take a dare?!

You may be my friend, but since I don't know when,

You've been too soft, when will it end?

How about when Trixie comes and shows you how,

To send a mortal packing from a witch's scowl.

You got no chance if you try to beat my best,

My zombies gonna' show how we do things out west,

They've got hooves of fire and nerves of steel,

I wish I could say to you 'girl, get real!' Haha!"

The crowd continued to groove with the beat, as Trixie smiled and sang:

"Windmill, windmill, father time.

Guess who can say 'Still Alive?'

Take it all in heart and mind,

You’re not even worth a witch’s time!"

Spike then blew his whistle. "You've gone over the lyric time, Trixie! Show us your dance!"

Vinyl Screech nodded before popping another record into her player.

"Take me by the tongue,

And I'll know you,

Kiss me 'til you're drunk,

And I'll show you,

All the moves like Jagger!

I've got the moves like Jagger!

I've got the moves like Jagger!"

Her zombies then began a somewhat complex dance pattern, the crowd roaring in approval.

“Mppph, not bad,” Lyra Heartstrings smiled, Heartstab nodding.

“A bit simplistic if I don’t say so myself,” Octavia said, her counterpart giving a nod of agreement as well.

After a minute or so, Spike blew his whistle once again. "Alright! That rounds done!"

Bone dragon Spike quickly moved to his side, whispering something in his ear again, Spike quickly smiling widely at the finish of it. "Woah, hang on everypony and ghoul! Turns out we have a surprise second judge! Let's hear it for the queen of rhyme herself, Zecora the zebra!!"

Rolling her eyes and giving a humble smile, the Everfree Forest's lover quickly made her way through the crowd, both ghoul and pony alike cheering.

"Hi Zecora," Flutterfright squeaked.

"Hello there, Flutterfright! It's nice to see you on the side of light!" Zecora beamed.

"Z-Zecora," Soulshard gasped. "Um... uh... nice to see you again!"

Twilight quickly received a smile. "You as well, my undead friend. I do hope my potion helped you make amends."

"A-Actually... I did figure something out," Twilight said. "If I can just come out of this rap battle in one piece... maybe I can-"

"Ugh! Come on, Twilight! Let's keep this going," Trixie grumbled.

"Fine fine," she said, rolling her eyes.

"Judges, what do you have to say?" Spike called, Zecora and the Slendermare quickly huddling together.

After a few minutes of muttering (well... Zecora muttering), Slendermare eventually gave a nod of agreement.

Zecora then gave a sigh, turning towards Nightmare Twilight with a slightly disappointed frown. "While your rhymes were good at heart, Ms. Twilight, I'm afraid that in this battle one is meant to smite. Which is why for this round, we must give this other Trixie the crown!"

"Awwww," bone dragon Spike pouted, before muttering to himself, "come on Twilight, where's the fourteen pounders?! I know you can make em’ dance if you want to... you just gotta leave your friends behind... cus if they can't dance and..." He then squinted an eyebrow. "Wait... that doesn't make any sense..."

"Alright. Last and final round! Whoever wins this becomes the queen of... ghoul land or whatever it's called."

"It's called the Nightmare Realm!" someghoul called from the crowd.

"Right, right... sorry," Spike groaned, rolling his eyes. "Alright, round three! FIGHT!"

"Awwwwww yeah!" Vinyl Scratch called. "I hope Pinkie Pie isn't here, cus this one could make anyone hyper!"

"Heeeeey!" Pinkie growled. "I'm not hyper! I just really really like eating a lot of sugar! I mean, it's so sweet and good and with a little coffee on the MPH MPH MPH MPH MPH!.!.!"

She was silenced by Applejack throwing a hoof over her mouth.

At that, quirky, quick-paced nineties techno-beat began blasting out of Vinyl's speakers, Twilight at the start of it immediately singing:

"I'M THE SCATMARE!"

The crowd gave a roar of approval.

"WOOOO YEAH! Scatmare Dawn?! Heck yeah!" Pinkie bounced, flinging off a horrified Applejack's arm.

"Everybody dances one way or another,

So check out my message to you!

As a matter of fact,

Don't let nothing hold you back,

If the Scatmare can do it so can you!

However I should probably tell ya,

That I've had some help from,

One of the greatest dancers around.

A certain guard who could clear the yard,

Moonwalker, the dancer of the crown!"

And then she began to scat with a mouth propelled by a motor... and all was right in the world.

"Woah," mortal Spike said, his eyes widening. "Now that... that is... I don't even know but I like it!"

"Alright Vinyl, phase two of operation save my skin!" Twilight called, Vinyl giving a nod, grinning the widest she had all night, and placing another record into the player.

"Oooh baby, I'm afraid yall ain't ready for this!"

"'Cause this is thriller, thriller night!

And no one's gonna save you from the beast about strike!

You know it's thriller, thriller night!

You're fighting for your life inside a killer, thriller tonight!"

Every mouth in the crowd dropped at the sight of the undead performing a number expert, intricate dance moves: Moonwalking, the Thriller Dance (alright, maybe not so expert), and pretty much everything the pop singer slash guard had under his belt.

"Oh lord, game over, man! Game over!" Vinyl Screech cried.

"Yeah Twilight! Way to turn up the heat!" Applemoon screamed.

"Keep it up, darling! I dare say, you ain’t no lover but you're certainly a dancer!" Scarity cried.

"I hope I get to knock out Trixie after this," Pinkie Slice grinned.

"Huh?" mortal Pinkie said.

"Cus the only place she'll be winning is in her dreams! YEEAAAAHHH!"

"No! CURSE YOU MOONWALKER! CURSE YOU!” Trixie cried. “Why do you have to be so good?!"

The Lich Queen's zombies continued to dance. However, right as they finished a certain ghoul in the crowd made his presence known:

"OH FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THAT IS HORRIBLE! ENOUGH!.!.!"

A series of cries could be heard, Vinyl quickly shutting off Thiller. For in the center of the crowd, a single, random ghoul could be seen losing its fake form, its fur and skin molding into a tar like substance. Its mass quickly grew to about two stories tall, the ghouls and ponies around it scurrying from it, screeching.

Then came the eyes... the sickening eyes... popping from the monster at every orifice along with its grinning jaws.

"Alright... you ghouls were one thing, but that just ain't natural!" Applejack cried, her eyes saucers as she galloped away from the abomination.

"W-W-What is it?!" Fluttershy squeaked to her counterpart.

“You don’t want to know…”

"Holy crap?! Is that-"

"Blackblood!" Twilight growled. "What are you doing here?"

He gave a scoff. "Well, I was supposed to be carrying out phase three of my plan, but SOMEGHOUL had to go and buck it all up!"

"W-Wah?!" Trixie gasped. "W-What are you talking about?!"

"Uggggh..." Blackblood groaned, rolling his eyes. "Don't you get it?! You were just a pawn in this whole thing! I thought you'd kill Twilight, not challenge her to some stupid rap battle! How was I supposed to know you'd be friggin' friends with her though?!" He then took a deep breath. "What was supposed to happen was that as you made your escape, after KILLING her, I would have slit your god forsaken throat!"

"B-But why?!" Trixie cried, her eyes beginning to water.

At that, Twilight quickly moved to her side, setting a comforting hoof on her shoulder.

"Because," Blackblood said, his mouths a-grinning. "That's all I would have needed for Nightmare Moon to finally appreciate me! Killing the murderer of her prized student?! It would have been in the bag! Maybe I would have finally gotten what I wanted... maybe I would have even been able to court her! But you and your... your STUPID. LITTLE. FRIENDSHIP blocked my path! I thought you were more cold-blooded than that, but apparently I was wrong!"

"You're one sick son of a bitch, Blackblood!" Soulshard growled, Trixie now visibly crying. "And did you really think Princess Nightmare Moon would have let you date her?! She wouldn't do that for the moon!"

He then turned towards the crowd of both ghoul and normal ponies, his many eyes filled with manic-laced hatred. "Maybe not the moon, but the entire other world, maybe! HAHAHAHAHAHA!" He then grinned wickedly yet again. "I'm afraid the tracks have turned, my little ponies, I'll have to take a different route! And unfortunately, that means every last mortal on this planet is BUCKED! Time for a taste of Null Space! Cus I'm big black motha from beyond the stars! And I AM... BAD!"

Big Black Motha

The entire town of Ponyville, both ghoul and pony, stared wide-eyed up at a two story tall Prince Blackblood, now sitting in the center of the graveyard. Each one of his eyes was fixated upon every living... or formally living entity, looking like a hunting lion's would when staring down at pray.

"Hahahaha! First, I'll start with this crappy little bumbuck town, roll over the country side, and then swallow the gods of this land whole!" he cackled.

"Princess Celestia would never let you do that, you- you... whatever you are!" Applejack cried, twirling about (at a safe distance) to face the beast of null with a snarl.

Blackblood merely scoffed. "See, you have no idea what you're even dealing with! How can you hope to defeat such pure, unleaded mystery?!"

"OK, that's enough," Spike the bone dragon finally growled, hovering before the beast, his red eyes glaring. "Here I was, trying to have a nice Nightmare Night; was just going to chill with Twilight, scare a few ponies, then go back to sleep. But nooooo, you are your pure, unleaded douchery just had to mess that all up!"

"Easy, Spike!" Soulshard cried. "He's right... noghoul knows much about him. I actually only have about two books on creatures from Null Space.”

"Whelp, I see bout' fifty weak spots," Spike said, gazing at the beast's multiple eyes.

"HAHAHAHA! Oh this is good! What are you going to do? Claw my eyes out?!"

"Really did your homework for this, haven't you?" Spike said blankly. "Time to turn up the heat! Beeya!"

At that, a loud whirring sound could be heard, green energy beginning to twirl out of the ground and into the tiny dragon. Soon enough, 'tiny' wouldn't become an accurate description for the lizard. He began to expand in size, the one foot long meek looking creature quickly becoming a fifty foot long beast of the night, green mist swirling around his rustic features.

As ponies and ghouls alike looked up at him in awe, Blackblood began to back away from him... slowly.

"Alright, Blackblood, last chance to surrender...” Spike called, before squinting an eyebrow. “And... you're probably not going to take it, are you?"

"Genre savvy! Looks like you taught him well, other Twilight," Pinkie Pie beamed.

"Heh, actually works different in my dimension. I don't actually teach him anything," Soulshard simpered.

"Spikey... Spikey," Blackblood said nervously. "How about a little heart to heart, freak to freak?" He then simpered. "Don't you see? With our powers combined, we could rule both pathetic rocks together! You could have all the gems or whatever it is you want!"

Spike brought claw to his chin. "Mmmmm... tempting offer. I mean, I definitely seem like the kind of dragon who wants power, don't I?"

Blackblood gave a quick nod.

"And gems... man I sure do love gems..."

Blackblood's mouths began grinning.

"I knew you'd like the offer!"

"Uhhh... other Spike, what are you doing?" the real Spike said.

"Well, he makes a convincing offer. I mean, if I take over the world... or worlds, I guess, noghoul will bother me when I sleep anymore! No more annoyances... no more 'Spike, open the portal,' 'Spike, close the portal', I have such a hard life..."

"That you do, Spike, that you do," Blackblood nodded. "But you can sleep as much as you want by my side!"

"S-Spike," Soulshard cried, still comforting a crying Trixie. "Don't do this! You’ve never-"

Ignoring her, Spike gave a chuckle. "But before we seal the deal, though, I have a question for you."

"Anything, ask away!" Blackblood said.

Spike merely gave a smirk.

"Need a light?"

Blackblood's eyes widened in horror. "W-What?!"

FOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!.!.!.!.!

With a tremendous roar as a multitude of air ignited, a thick pillar of flames shot forth from the bone dragon's mouth, a fire twister of death streaking towards the abomination.

Gasping, Blackblood quickly swung forth nearly twenty tendrils, creating a wiggling of shield of black in front of him. With a thunderous crash, the flames smacked against it, quickly beginning to melt through its now literally shrieking form.

"Burrrn baby burn, burrrn baby burn!" Pinkie Pie chirped.

"You're such a walking cliche, Blackblood, actually trying to convince me to join your side! Well, you're going to learn really quick that any friend of Twilight's..." He nodded towards Trixie. "Is a friend of mine." At that, the flames coming from his jaw intensified. "And I know a certain reaper who's just dying to meet you! Never a bad thing to get points in Rainbow's book, I always... well actually I never say. But still!

"N-No!" Blackblood shrieked, the heat against his tendrils becoming unbearable. "I am not going to be beaten by a pathetic bone dragon of all things!"

"A bone dragon who's currently kicking your flank," Applejack muttered.

"Keep it up, Spike!" Twilight cried.

"Melt him to the core!" Trixie finally growled, gritting her teeth.

"NO! NO! NOOOOO!.!.!" Blackblood shrieked, the flames finally beginning to melt through his wiggling shield.

Spike gave a glare. "And now... the fat lady sin-"

"STOP RIGHT THERE, DRAGON FIEND!"

At that, the entire town gave a gasp, turning towards a certain green tunic wearing pony that had just entered the scene of the graveyard.

Spike shook his head incredulously, actually giving a nervous laugh. "Oh crap... whyyyyyy are you still alive?"

The figure gave a smirk. "Hahaha! You have clearly underestimated your greatest foe, you vile beast! For I am the Hero of Time! Celestia's chosen champion. I. AM...."

"Horsey Douchebag Link!

He lives in time!

Come to slay,

The fearsome dragon (again)!

Gonna whip out his bombs,

And then you're gonna be gone,

Cus you've went, and messed,

With the best!

Hallelujah!"

"Much improved, System 43.0," Link said, smiling widely at his four loyal bards... or ancestors of them, at least.

"Wait Link!" Twilight Soulshard cried, galloping over to him. "He's not a bad dragon! He's just REALLY stupid sometimes and likes burning down things he shouldn't!"

"Thanks, Twilight..." Spike grunted.

Link's heroic eyes widened in horror, him quickly whipping out the Master Sword and waving it at her menacingly. "He's working with the undead now, too?!" He then turned towards Spike, nearly completely ignoring Blackblood. "What horrible deeds will you not commit, dragon?!

"She's telling the truth!" Applejack gasped, galloping in front of him. "And when I say that, I mean it!"

The horror in Link's eyes intensified. "And he's using his vile mind control again!"

"Oh for the sake of the night! I don't even know how to do mind control!"

"You lying scum!" Link said, whipping out a series of bombs, grinning. "You'll pay for that insolent tongue of yours! Remember these?! Time to suck bomb, dragon fiend!"

"Oh, hellfire..."

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!.!.!

And Spike was blown into a million bones... again.

"Hahahahaha!" Blackblood grinned, turning his eyes upon the extremely thick Hero of Time. "You stupid fool! You've gone and taken out the cavalry!"

"Well... technically 'the cavalry' would be the reinforcements," Twilight corrected, before snapping out of nerdy mode and glaring at the heroic pony. "Night damnit though, Link! The big black goo monster is the bad guy!"

Link gave a scoff. "Bah! Like I should believe anything you say! You're probably just battling him so you can take over-"

"She's not!" Pinkie Pie said, bouncing over towards him.

Link ignored her, still glaring at Twilight. "First, I'll slay you, and then-"

"Hey, listen!" Pinkie grunted, annoyed.

At that, Link shut his mouth, turning towards the pink bouncing pony... slowly.

"W-What did you just say?"

Pinkie quirked her head. "Hey, listen?"

Soulshard's eyes widened.

"PINKIE! Keep saying that! It's his only weakness!"

Pinkie quickly gave a nod, bouncing about the green tuniced hero. "HEY, LISTEN! HEY, LISTEN!"

"No..." Link gasped, backing away from her. "C-Celestia said she wouldn't have a reincarnation! NO!"

"HEY, LISTEN! HEY, LISTEN!"

"P-Please! Make it stop!" Link cried, gripping his head. "M-Make it stopppp!"

Applejack gave him a smirk. "There's only one way to make her stop, you know."

"I-Ill do anything! ANYTHING!" Link cried.

"HEY, LISTEN! HEY, LISTEN!"

"Help us kill the big black tar monster!" Applemoon growled.

Link gritted his teeth. "B-But not you?!"

"It's the only way," Flutterfright squeaked, nodding.

"HEY, LISTEN! HEY, LISTEN!"

Finally, with great trepidation (and with a great pain searing through the hero's eardrums), Link gave a defeated sigh. "Fine... you have my support... j-just shut her up!"

Applejack then gave a nod towards Pinkie, the hyperactive mare nodding back before shutting her mouth with a satisfied smile.

"Ugh... I don't care if he's working with us... screw that guy. Screw that guy. Screw that guy..." bone dragon Spike's skull rattled.

"Hahaha!" Blackblood cackled. "Even with the Hero of Time's support, you've just lost your heavy artillery! Just make it easy on yourself and lie down so I can get my fix already!"

“Uggggh… I can’t wait to shut those loud mouths of his up,” Pinkie Slice groaned. “And I thought I talked too much…”

“Hah, well they say talk is cheap, but that talk ain’t mine!” Blackblood grinned.

At that, a voice made itself known, coming from the direction of Everfree.

"I wouldn’t pay a penny for it,” it said. “Cus while Spike may be gone, guess who’s back, Blackie!?”

"You?!" Blackblood growled, turning towards a black cloak wearing figure. "B-But you're supposed to be..."

"Silly Blackblood! Death is for kids!" Rainbow Death smirked, twirling her scythe. "And today, for the first time, Eldritch Abominations, too!"

"Haha! I can't believe my friggin' counterpart is Death of all things! This is so awesome!" Rainbow Dash beamed, taking up position besides her. "But not as awesome as the fastest flier in Equestria..."

"And the fastest reaper in Edeathstria..." Deathie continued.

"Working together!" the two grinned.

"Ahem..." another voice called, the origin of it running over to join Rainbow Dash.

"Oh and uh... Twilight's here too," Rainbow simpered.

"Twilight!" the real Spike cried, quickly scurrying over towards her and giving her the hug of her life.

"Hey, Spike!" she said, smiling warmly, before chuckling slightly. "Heh, I hope your claw's not cramped, because I have quite the story that needs to be written down."

"Yeah, yeah... and I've got an ending for it." Blackblood grunted. "'And then they all were eaten by Blackblood happily ever after.'"

"T-Twilight... I-I'm so sorry for what happened," Trixie stuttered, ignoring the Eldritch Abomination, sauntering towards the mortal mare and wiping away a few tears. "I don't know what was wrong with me..."

"Don't worry about it," Twilight Sparkle said, holding up a hoof. "Once your serum wore off, I knew everything you told me was a lie."

"And our counterparts had the sense to not try to scare us silly," Applejack said, smiling towards Applemoon, the latter sulking her head slightly.

"S-So you forgive me?" Trixie said, her eyes widening.

"No harm, no foal," Twilight said, Trixie quickly sighing in relief.

At that, another voice made itself known.

"Um... Twilight Sparkle, is it?" her counterpart said, sweat-dropping as she approached her. "I uh... think I owe you an apology as well. I did start this whole mess, after all…"

"Twilight Soulshard," the real thing smiled. "It's nice to finally meet you! I hear we have a lot in common."

"R-Really?" Soulshard said. "You mean... you're not angry at me either?"

"Your friends explained things to me, and I pushed the pieces together," she replied. "And I have to say, you keep as good of company as I do."

Death gave a slight blush as the Elements of Harmony smiled.

Twilight then gave a smirk. "Though you know, you could have simply just have explained yourself to me. There's room enough in my treehouse for guests."

"I-I..." Soulshard gulped. "By the night... I've been acting like a total idiot lately, haven't I?"

Sparkle shook her head. "Believe me, I know what it feels like to want a change of pace occasionally. I don't blame you for anything." She then smirked slightly. "Besides, how often do I get to have a crazy adventure?"

"Eh, about once every three weeks," Rainbow Dash grinned.

Twilight quickly gave her a blank look. "A crazy adventure in a parallel world."

"W-Well... I'm glad things didn't go bad for you... I'm so sorry about Blackblood... I had no idea he would-"

"Like I said, not your fault," Twilight said, before leaning closer to her. "Though I have to say, your mentor... is she..."

"Yes, she's quite insane," Soulshard said, before quickly giving a grin. "Not that that's a bad thing, though." Soulshard then smiled, holding out a hoof. "So... friends?"

"Friends," Twilight said, gripping her hoof with a shake as the group gave an 'awwwwwwww.'

"Enough, already!" Blackblood growled. "I'm sorry to break up this tearful meeting, but don't you all have some dying to do?"

Twilight Sparkle quickly turned towards him, giving a glare. "Not so fast, Blackblood. Now that we're all together, nopony can beat the power of friendship! Girls, assemble!" she called.

"Right!"

"You got it, Twi!"

At that, the six Elements of Harmony began forming a battle line, the purple Element of Magic in the center. "What are we, girls?!"

"Honesty!" Applejack called.

"Generosity!" Rarity smiled.

"Wind- I mean, uh, Loyalty!" Rainbow Dash grinned confidently.

"K-Kindness," Fluttershy peeped.

"Laughter!" Pinkie bounced, giggling.

"Magic!" Twilight smirked confidently. "And with our powers combined, we are the Elements of Harmony!"

The Elements of Fear then formed around her undead counterpart. "And we... are the Elements of Fear!"

"And I am the Hero of Time!" Link said, grinning.

"And we... ARE... THE DOCTORS!" the Doctor and his counterpart smiled, joining the scene.

"And this... is my little friend, HAHAHAHAHA!" Dr. Whoovenstein cackled, wielding a jury-rigged Dalek laser cannon.

"And I am Trixie Elphaba!" Trixie growled, gaining a smile from Soulshard. "And when you mess with the west, you'll die like the rest!"

"And I am Spartacus!" Spike called.

The crowd gave him a look, to which he shrugged at.

"Had to be done."

"Correction! You're all dead!" Blackblood roared, stamping a childish hoof as he said: "Dead dead dead dead DEAD!"

Death's eyes narrowed. "That's my call to make, buddy. And I'm afraid you've made the black list. No pun intended."

"Ooooh you've got to be kidding me," Blackblood said, rolling his many eyes. "Go ahead, Death! I've been getting pretty hungry! Another appetizer would be nice before the main course!"

"Hah! Nice try, but I left my lockets at home for once," Deathie smirked. However, her tone quickly turned deadly serious: "All except... one."

She quickly whipped out a cross-shaped locket, twirling it slightly as she glared towards the abomination, the rest of the group glancing at it curiously.

"Oooo, what's that?" Rainbow Dash said, quirking her head slightly.

"Let's just say," Deathie smirked. "I ain't afraid of no ghost."

"Yeah, but you'd best learn to be afraid of me!" Blackblood roared, glancing at the ghouls of the audience. "You all call yourself scary?! You don't know the meaning of horror! I am a creature from beyond time and space! I could make Lovecraft himself cringe! I-"

"You are a disgrace to our kind."

"What?!"

Blackblood's eyes widened as he glanced down upon Lyra Heartstab, one of the Slendermare's tendrils piercing her skull yet again.

"You think of yourself as a being of fear? You know nothing about that which you dribble about," he said in a robotic-like tone, using the undead mare as a ventriloquist dummy. "True horror relies on subtlety, on mystery… on your prey knowing there might be something in the dark… but not knowing for sure. It’s something you lose every time you open your big fat mouths. It is no wonder you chose to try to rule those around you instead of joining them in their ways: you simply do not know how."

At that, he retracted his tendril, Lyra shaking her head in an exasperated manner yet again. Giving a nod towards Twilight Soulshard, he joined the line of heroes.

"H-He... spoke!" the undead mare gasped.

"You see, Blackblood? Even your brother from another freaky Null Space mother won't give you the time of day," Death growled. "And I don’t care what it takes! You're not leaving this world alive! You didn't come in peace, so you're going in pieces!"

"Oooooh, you really are a card, aren't you?" Blackblood smiled, before suddenly lashing out nearly fifteen tendrils, each with wide-open portal-filled mouths encrusted into them. They quickly snatched any random ponies or still somewhat alive ghouls they could find, gripping them like black, disgusting pythons.

"Twilight! Help us!" Lyra Heartstrings cried. "I d-don't want to- AAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH!.!.!"

A series of ear piercing screams emanated about town from thirty ponies and ghouls as the life drained from their faces.

"N-No!" Twilight Sparkle gasped.

"Easy, there," Soulshard said, gulping. "If we can just eliminate Blackblood, their souls should return to their bodies... I hope."

Deathie gave a nod. "Yep! You’ve done your homework, Twilight.” She then grinned towards Blackblood. “And this is going to be the best. REAPING. EVER!"

Blackblood rolled his eyes. "Oh lordy! How many times do I have to tell you... You've got no chance! I guess I'll have to try another thing to get it through your tiny brains!"

He then took a deep breath, before:

"Better wait a minute,

Better hold the phone,

Better mind your manners,

Better change your tone!

Don't you threaten me, girl!

You've got a lot of gall!

We're gonna do things MY way,

OR WE WON'T DO THINGS AT ALL!"

"Oh crap!" the town cried.

"OH YEEEEES!" Blackblood screamed with delight, his mass expanding ever more-so as he devoured the life of those he held.

At that, a series of plumps could be heard as he dropped the limp hosts’ of those whose souls he had just consumed, quickly sending a new series of tendrils both towards the battle line of heroes and towards any other bystanders he could find.

"Ohhhh nelly!" Applejack cried.

"EEEEEP!" Pinkie Pie shrieked as tentacle actually managed to grab her.

"PINKIE!" Twilight Sparkle cried.

"Ya don't know what you're messin' with,

You can't even begin!

Well let me go and tell ya then,

I AM THE MEANING OF SIN!"

"AAAAAGGGGGGGGGGH!.!.!" Pinkie shrieked, struggling against the toothy tendril with all her might.

"Uh uh! No more dinner for you," Deathie growled, surging forward like a thunderbolt only for-

"OOOF!"

-A gooey limb to smash into her, batting her like a baseball across the graveyard.

The life then began fading from Pinkie, only for...

"HIIIIYAAAAA!"

Link to sail downward, the Master Sword shimmering and held vertically as his tunic danced in the wind.

SHIIIIIIINNNNNNGGGGGGGGG!.!.!.!

The sword ripped through the tendril, it letting out a horrifying shriek as it plopped to the ground, bleeding, and loosening its hold on Pinkie. A teal, screaming soul resembling Lyra Hearstrings sailed out of its mouths and towards her body...

"Oh no you don't!" Blackblood roared, his many mouths opening again. It almost looked as if the soul was struggling to swim against a current as it roared back into him.

"By Celestia! He's like a vacuum cleaner from Hell!" Spike cried.

"Time to send him back, then!" Deathie growled, charging towards his main mass with renewed vigor.

Blackblood merely grinned at her efforts. "HAHAHAHAHAHA!"

"Ya don't know what you're up against,

No, no way, no how!

You don't know what you're messin' with,

But I'm gonna tell you now!"

As Deathie twirled her scythe like a propeller, ready to tear into Blackblood's central mass, a tendril sailed out of nowhere, slamming her into the bottom of a freshly dug grave.

"Hehehe... HAHAHAHAHA... HAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!"

A series of sharpened-tipped tentacles then sailed towards her...

The crowd's eyes widened...

Deathie gave a gasp...

And right when they were about to hit, Blackblood paused, and instead of piercing the pegareaper, he gripped her and brought her before the largest mouth on his body, a taunting grin upon it.

"Get this straight!

I'm just a big black motha from outer space,

AND I AM BAD!

I'm just a big black motha from outer space!

And you've got me mighty mad!

I'm just a big black motha from outer space,

So get off my back, 'n get out my face,

'Cause I'm back in black!

And I AM... BAD!"

He then began giggling as he slammed Rainbow against the ground repeatedly.

"Big black douchebag from outer space!" the town chanted.

"Big black MOTHA!" he growled.

Big black douchebag from outer space!"

"OH THAT'S IT!"

Growling, he tossed Deathie like a ragdoll into the same open grave before gripping even more random ponies.

Twilight and her counterpart's eyes widened at this.

“Come on! We can’t let him grow into an even bigger douche!” Twilight Soulshard cried.

“How good is your aim?” her counterpart asked.

“Not bad, I think.”

“Well then… let’s put it to the test!”

Screaming war cries, their horns began glowing brightly before a series of purple beams of light were sent sailing into every single one of his gooey, sickening tendrils.

"ACK! NO! STOP! OUCH! THAT FRIGGIN' HURTS!" Blackblood cried, his limbs dropping those he had grabbed from nearly fifty feet in the air.

"Oh shoot! Catch me catch me catch me!" Vinyl cried.

"Heeeelllp!" Mayor Mare screamed.

Nodding, the Slendermare quickly sent out a series of his own shadowy limbs, catching everyghoul and pony that were in freefall, and lowering them safely to the ground.

"Thanks Slendermare!" the town cheered.

"Slendermare, Slendermare, friendly neighborhood Slendermare!" Pinkie bounced.

If the Eldritch Abomination had a mouth, he'd probably be smiling.

Sighing in relief, both Twilight's then turned their birthrights back upon the glaring, not-so-friendly Blackblood.

He merely laughed upon seeing this. "Hahahaha! Do you still not get it, child of light?!"

"Don't talk to me bout the real Nightmare Moon,

You think she's bad! Hah! You got no clue!

Don't talk to me bout’ no Flim and Flam,

I'd smack em' down before the BING BANG ZAM!"

"Incoming!" Twilight Soulshard yelled, two spiked tendrils sailing towards her and her counterpart's way.

"You see I ain't no Discord with some hypno glare,

Or King Sombra with his mighty stairs!

You can keep the Changelings, keep their Queen,

Next to them I make em' all look green!"

Twilight Sparkle gasped, ducking as the tentacle sailed over her and pierced a gravestone. Grunting, Blackblood then ripped it from the ground, twirled it in the air, and sent it screaming down towards the child of light.

"I got Eldritch style, major moves,

I got the stuff, and I think that proves,

You better move it out! It's Lovecraft's day!

You got the point? It's time to EAT THE GRAVE!"

"AACK!" Twilight grunted, barely rolling out of the way as the gravestone slammed into the hardened ground, shattering into a million bits.

"Haha! Here comes the sequel!

I'm just a big black motha from outer space,

And I AM BAD!

I'm just a big black motha from outer space!

And you've got me mighty mad!

I'm just a big black motha from outer space!

Give up your souls!

Get out my face!

Cus I'm back. In. Black!"

He gripped both Twilight's with his tendrils.

"Better hit. The. Sack!"

He then gripped both Doctors and Link....

"And I ain't. No. Gack!"

And finally, mostly everyone else in the battle.

"But I....”

Pinkie’s eyes widened.

“AM....”

Fluttershy screamed for mercy.

“BAAAAAAADDDDDDDDDDDDD!"

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGH!.!.!"

Those ensnared screamed for their lives, their eyes slowly rolling to the back of their heads.

"F-Fight it," Soulshard cried towards her counterpart. "Don't... let him... take..."

Her head then went limp.

"Soulshard!"

"DAMNIT ALL!" Deathie called towards the woods, climbing out of her grave. "Rotten Belle! We need our ace in the hole!" Her black eyes then shot a glare that could kill towards the abomination. "You're going to pay for messing with MY TWILIGHT!"

"Wait-what?!" Blackblood called. "What ace are you talking about!?"

"Ooooh Blackblood," Rotten chimed, sailing in from the woods and levitating a certain, jagged sword towards the battle. "You seem to have forgotten about someghoul."

"See Blackblood," Deathie smiled. "You may like to think you're the toughest Eldritch Abomination around. But do you want to take a guess as to who this sword originally belonged to?"

Blackblood gave an amused smirk. "And who might that be?"

"Someone very much like us... someone who fed on souls," Deathie grinned. "The original Lich King, Artharius of Winter. Defeated nearly a thousand years ago because of his arrogance."

The Eldritch Abomination rolled his eyes. "Hah! Whatever! I may be arrogant, but did you ever think that that was because I'm currently winning!?"

"... Hang on though, I'm not done," Deathie smirked. "You see, he actually had a right to be somewhat arrogant. He was actually sort of a badass. Even his sword was pretty cool, for Frostmourne isn't normal by any stretch of the imagination... no, it, like the Lich King was powered by souls."

"So what?!" Blackblood growled.

"Whelp, let's just say this: congratulations, Blackblood. There's something out there that sucks even more than you do!"

His eyes widened. "WHAT?!"

With that, Rotten tossed the sword Deathie's way.

She then gripped it and grinned, now dual wielding both it and her scythe at the same time. At that, she kicked herself into the air, flapped her wing madly, twirled herself vertically and…

SHIIIIIIIIIIIINNNNNNNNNNNNNNG!.!.!

Severed a tendril.

Two screaming souls soon found their way from it. However, instead of being re-eaten by Blackblood, they twirled in a mighty spiral towards the sword of doom.

"The ultimate soul magnet!" Deathie said proudly as they were sucked in, the sword glowing a light bright blue afterward. "Cus Frostmourne always hungers!"

Blackblood sweat-dropped, his mass shrinking ever-so-slightly as those held in his grip found their souls entering their bodies once more, his suction lightening. "Oh crap."

At that, the clopping of frantic hooves could be heard approaching Rainbow.

"Nicely done, Death," the Doctor smiled, him having been held by the tentacle Rainbow had just sliced off. "Always nice to see you again, by the way."

Death rolled her eyes with a hint of a smirk. "You too, you cheating bastard.”

The Doctor merely chuckled in return, whipping out his sonic screwdriver.

"Uhh... Doctor. What is that?" Deathie said, cocking her head.

"A screwdriver."

She squinted an eyebrow. "Seriously!? What are you going to do, unscrew Blackblood's cupboards?!"

"It's a sonic screwdriver."

"So... it's gotta go fast?" Pinkie Slice called, still struggling against her tentacle.

"Oh by the night that was the worst pun ever," Deathie muttered to herself.

"Whatever it is, YOU'RE NOT GETTING A CHANCE TO USE IT!" Blackblood roared, quickly sending the Doctor flying with a well-placed tendril hit, his screwdriver clattering to the ground.

"OOF!" he cried, slamming into a nearby gravestone and collapsing upon his side.

"Doctor!" both Derpies then screamed, rushing to the sidelines and standing by him defensively.

"Rainbow... activate it," Dr. Whooves struggled to say, trying desperately to raise himself to his hooves. "B-Button on the side..."

Squinting an eyebrow, Rainbow Death dropped to her frontal hooves, gripping the device with her mouth while examining it with her wing.

"Uh-uh-uh!" Blackblood growled, sending one of his more massive tentacles downwards to crush the grim reaper.

Deathie gave a gasp, rolled out of the way, and lept upon her hooves, her wing eventually finding the button the Doctor spoke of.

"Ah, there we go!"

She immediately regretted doing so, for soon after a loud, piercing screech emanated from the device, everypony in the immediate vicinity's screams quickly joining in with the sickening sound. However, despite this, the one who was most affected appeared to be Blackblood, his gacky form fluctuating violently.

"WWWAAAAAAAGHHHHHH!.!.!" he cried, his tentacles loosening just enough for the combatants to make their escape.

At that, the sonic screwdriver stopped shrieking, its glowing form quickly becoming dull.

"Nice one, Doctor! Sorry about your battery though!" Death called, before turning towards Rainbow Dash. "You good?"

Dashie quickly gave a nod. "Wing's hurting a little bit, but nothing I can't manage. Let's hit the plan!"

Deathie then gave a grin towards Blackblood. "Alright Blackblood. Wanna know what you should do when there's two Rainbows up against you?"

"W-What's that?" he said, gasping.

Death narrowed her eyes. "You run like a bat out of hell."

She then turned towards Rainbow….

"Catch!"

And tossed her scythe her way, Dashie catching it with a curious glance.

Blackblood gave a gasp, glancing down upon his newly rejuvenated enemies.

Dr. Whoovenstein gripped his Dalek laser cannon, his eyes filled with manic-laced bloodlust.

Rarity levitated Tom the Boulder, ready to send it flying, her eyes narrowing.

Twilight Sparkle stood by her unconscious counterpart's side, guarding her defensively.

Trixie marched towards the scene with a contingent of zombies, all armed with Ponyville's gun supply.

Link twirled the Master Sword, smiling confidently.

Rotten, Scootaweb, and Appledoom growled, entering a combat pose.

Pinkie Slice summoned a series of sharpened weapons from dreamspace, handing them out to anypony unarmed.

Pinkie Pie armed her party cannon, grinning like a maniac.

Slendermare simply stood there... menacingly.

Flutterfright and Fluttershy moved a series of storm clouds into position, right over Blackblood.

Scarity levitated a series of gravestones.

And Rainbow Dash and Rainbow Death stood side-by-side, the latter giving a grin. "Welcome to the jungle."

"Awwwwww yeah!" Rainbow Dash smirked.

As Blackblood's eyes widened in horror, the chaos commenced, Rainbow Death beginning it with:

"Welcome to the jungle! We've got fun and games!"

SLIIIIIIIICEEEEEEEE!.!.!

She and Rainbow tore through a nearby tendril.

"We've got everything you want! Including your disease!"

They landed in front of an armed line of zombies, aiming thirty rifles towards the beast of null.

"FIRE!" Trixie cried.

RAT-TAT-TAT-TAT-TAT-TAT-TAT-TAT-TAT-TAT!.!.!

Thirty rounds whizzed through the air, aimed precisely for the beast’s eyes.

"AGGGGGGGHHHH!"

"We are the ponies who can find, anything we need!"

The two Rainbows then zipped forward, aiming for Blackblood's central mass as souls sailed into Frostmourne from the tentacles severed.

ZAAAAAAAAP!.!.!

A series of blue lasers flew by them, cutting down any tendril that tried to block their path.

"Hahahaha! EXTERMINATE! EXTERMINATE!" Dr. Whoovenstein cackled maniacally, firing his laser cannon with glee.

"To send your black flank packing while we show you how to scream!"

Dashie twirled her scythe, grinning.

Deathie narrowed her black eyes and raised Frostmourne, now glowing as bright as the sun.

"In the jungle! Welcome to the jungle of this Nightmare's Eve!.!.!"

"RAAAAAAAUUUUUGHHHHHHHHHHHH!.!.!" Deathie roared, sending Frostmourne careening into Blackblood's central mass.

The entire battle haulted, the entire town staring up at Blackblood as every single inch of him froze in place.

A beat of silence...

A gust of ghostly wind...

And then…

"I just wanted..." he finally whispered, struggling to speak. "I just... wanted..." There was a pause, before he spoke his final words: "I love you... Nightmare... Moon...."

His entire form then collapsed into a pool of goo, forever still.

Then, a second later, a howling sound louder than the strongest wind came, a hundred souls of nearly all colors sailing out of the pool. Some flew into the limp bodies of the townsfolk who they were stolen from, while others simply flew... on. One in particular sailed from the pool directly into Deathie's cross-shaped locket.

She then gave a sigh, snapping it shut. "Ain't no rest for the wicked.”

However, at that, another soul caught Death's eye, one very familiar, very lavender, and very much resembling Twilight Soulshard... sailing away.

"T-Twilight..." Death gasped, collapsing on her flank.

Poor Soulshard

On the lonely planes of death, Twilight Soulshard sat plump and sulking, occasionally glancing at the golden gates before her apprehensively. They hadn't opened... yet. But they would sometime soon. It was something she could simply feel. However, despite paradise awaiting her on the other side, a lump still sat still in the Lich Queen's throat.

"They're all going to die now..." she sighed softly. "The living that won't be able to enjoy their gift to the fullest... the children of reality. How lucky is it to be those who aren't essentially dreams? Destiny never fully laid out for them... and now, me trying to defy my own has... led to this."

She took another deep, shattered breath.

"What have I done...?

What have I done...?

How could I be so blind?

All is lost, and where was I?

Trying to live a living lie...

As Lovecraft's child crept by my eye...

What have I done...?

Now I've gone and left them all,

For blackened chimes to make their call...

And in years to come they'll find,

The remains of a selfish sigh..."

At that, her eyes widened, a cold, though sympathetic hoof strung across her back, black smoke dissipating near her.

Two black eyes.

"But you never intended all this madness, never!

And nobody really understood, how could they?

All you wanted was to taste something great!

And for once I truly can say, 'it's never too late!'"

"Rainbow..." Twilight sighed, glancing at her with teary eyes. "I was wondering where you were."

"I don't make a promise I can't keep," she smiled. "But... take a look around..." Her smile widened. "We're alone up here."

Twilight's eyes widened. "Does that mean-"

Rainbow's smile turned into a wicked grin. "He's in a much less... hospitable situation than he was before." She then gave a sigh, however. "Can't say I didn't feel bad for him in the end, though. I have a feeling he was always a bad apple... but love... love can drive you off the deep end."

"Well then," Twilight said, taking a deep, satisfied breath. "With that in mind... I think it's time."

"Heck yeah!" Rainbow grinned. "We're all waiting for you back in Ponyville you know..." She gave a chuckle. "May be a bit sappy, but a happy ending never hurt anyghou-"

"That's... not what I meant, Rainbow," Twilight said whimsically. "I meant... I'm content."

"-Wah?"

At that, the two golden gates began to creak open, the blinding white light of the afterlife illuminating the darkened planes of death. And standing between the two was a figure cloaked in white, one resembling a living form of Twilight Soulshard.

She merely smiled upon seeing her other half.

Behind her stood docks of wood and gold, beautiful, old-fashioned sail ships in every one of them, with a brilliant, blue bay stretching out from it and towards a setting sun.

"It's the other half of my soul," Soulshard whispered, glancing away from Rainbow as she did so. "I think... it's time we be reunited."

"W-What?!" Death cried. She then began shaking her head frantically. "N-No. Nononono! You can't... it isn't supposed to end like this!"

"What's the point of it all, Rainbow," Twilight said sorrowfully. "I thought I discovered it on the other side... perhaps something that would allow me to believe that we could change. But what if I'm wrong? What if I'm just... stuck in this tedium for eternity? I couldn't just die if I wanted to... Blackblood has given me a unique opportunity..."

She then turned to Rainbow, giving her a warm, tearful smile.

"Sis semper in via caritas," she whispered. "May you always love the journey."

At that, she turned and began walking towards the gates, her other half gazing at her curiously.

"Why do you weep? Isn't this what you wanted?" it asked, gesturing her forward towards the docks leading to eternity’s cry.

Twilight gave a long, heart-felt sigh. "I'm just... not completely sure..."

"Mmmm... I can't blame you I suppose,” she said sympathetically. “I don't think anyone truly is.” She then raised a hoof. "Remember, though, death is just another part of the path... one that we all must one day take."

She then gave a smile, before singing in a heavenly, angelic voice:

"What can you see,

On the horizon?

Why do the white gulls call?

Across the sea,

A pale moon rises,

The ships have come to carry you home."

Rainbow stamped a hoof, narrowing her eyes. "No!" She then began galloping towards Twilight. "Not happening!"

Twilight's other half took a disgruntled breath. "It isn't your part to interfere, Deat-"

"I don't care!" she roared. "Who's to say what's natural and what's not?! Not me, not you, not god, not anyone! The universe may be filled with chaos, chaos we can't defy and paths set by chance at the beginning of all lives, yet we still continuously struggle against its currents... and do you know why?" She slammed a hoof against the ground. "Because those who live within it have the power to chip away at its foundations! We may be ants trying to turn a mountain into a statue, but at least we still can try to make a difference! It's why I chose to punish the wicked! It's why I'm choosing to..." She took a deep breath. "To not let you go... Twilight."

Twilight shook her head, gazing upon her as tears flowed from her face. "R-Rainbow..."

"I am the youngest reaper in history, you know. Guess it’s a good thing, because I'm stuck like this until I lose the scythe...." Death sighed. "I turned down an opportunity to be in the Shadowbolts. You know why? Because... I just happened to be born with this hunger... for... well... you know. However, I wanted to seethe it the honorable way, instead of... Blackblood's way. I... had a small part to play in my destiny, even if it was still essentially set in stone." She then narrowed her eyes. "But you know what? Even if destiny is set for us, that doesn't mean we can't enjoy the long and winding road!"

Twilight narrowed her eyebrows, shaking her head. "W-What are you saying, exactly?"

Death took another deep breath. "I've... seen a lot of ponies and ghouls die happy. Some were rich tycoons, satisfied that they had gotten to where they were without making their consciences weep. Some were the very poor who, though through trial and error, had simply found their inner light. And many others... well let's just say, I wasn't the only one standing by them when they passed. And now..." Her own eyes began to water slightly. "I... don't want to face death alone either: not anymore."

Twilight began to blink rapidly in disbelief. "Rainbow... are you trying to say-"

She quickly nodded. "I... I'm no good at this kind of stuff... emotional stuff. It... just isn't natural for me." She then gave a somewhat sheepish grin. "But like I said, destiny can suck it! I just... want to ask you one thing though... before you go... and well... you've probably already figured it out, haven't you?"

At that, Twilight halted before the gates, staring Rainbow down intently as Death's black eyes continued watering for the first time in her life.

And then... her own eyes widened in realization.

"I think... I think... that you might be onto something there, Rainbow."

Death quickly nodded, gulping slightly.

At that, Twilight turned to the other half of her soul, giving her a nod as she smiled lightly. "I'm sorry... but I think I might like giving this... Half-Life of mine another shot." She then turned back to Rainbow. "Because... even if my new ideas for our side of the gates don't work out... maybe there's one thing I can truly control."

She then smiled warmly before beginning to trot over to Rainbow's side.

The gates then began to close, her other half walking towards the shipyard with a slight smirk on her face, shaking her head incredulously.

"One day, that ghoul..." she whispered.

"You're sure about this, Twilight?" Rainbow asked, smiling warmly as she trotted alongside her, away from the golden gates.

Twilight smiled in return, wiping away the last of her tears. "Yeah, because you wanna know what?"

There's nothing you can do that can't be done,

Nothing you can sing that can't be sung,

Nothing you can say but you can learn how to play the game,

It's easy!"

Death gave a grin.

"There's nothing you can make that can't be made,

No one you can save that can't be saved,

Nothing you can do but you can learn how to be you in time,

It's easy!"

The two then actually began to skip.

"All you need is love!

All you need is love!

All you need is love, love!

Love is all you need!"

And with a black puff of smoke, they were gone.

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Rainbow appeared back in the reality, sitting by Soulshard's side within the graveyard, whose eyes began fluttering open. A group of almost every ghoul and pony had gathered around them, gasping at the sight.

"R-Rainbow... did you..." Twilight Sparkle stuttered.

Death merely smiled. "Everyone who deserves to live lives, Twilight. Everybody lives."

"Hey! That's my line you cheeky ghoul!" the Doctor grunted, though he quickly smirked afterwards. "But it's a bloody good line at least."

"H-How did you manage to-" Flutterfright said.

At that, Soulshard began standing up, shaking a debilitated head. "She just... reminded me of a song I heard a long time ago. Didn't really regard it as much more than dribble from the other side at the time... no offense... but now... I think I get its meaning... at least somewhat."

"What, that all you need is love?" Twilight Sparkle winked.

Death's eyes widened. "How did you-"

The mortal pony shrugged. "Eh, just the way you talked about her... it gave a good few clues."

"Oh you... you friggin' smartass pony!" Death chuckled, before rolling her black eyes and turning back to Soulshard. "But yeah... Twilight... to make it official and everything: do you wanna be my special someghoul?"

Twilight merely smiled. "Of course, Rainbow! I don't think I've had more fun doing what I was born to do than with you! I just wish you had let your feelings for me come out sooner..."

"Yeah... well," she grunted, dragging a hoof across the ground. "You know me... I suck with this kind-"

At that, Twilight wrapped her arms around her.

Death quickly blushed. "W-Well... I guess you don't always have to be Cassanova."

"Awwwwww...." the town cooed.

"So sappy... so night damned sappy..." bone dragon Spike's skull rattled. "But so sweet..." he whispered.

"But wait, er... other Twilight," Applejack called, raising a hoof. "What was that you were saying about having an idea, earlier?"

"I too would like to hear what you have in mind," Zecora smiled. "Will it help deal with the eternal rhyme?"

At that, Twilight released Rainbow from the hug, turning to face the ghouls in the crowd. "Well... earlier, Applejack here had said something along the lines of that 'Nightmare Night was no longer just about scaring.' And before that, I saw Ponyville having fun doing stuff like bobbing for apples and tossing spiders and well... that got me thinking." She then smiled slightly. "Since we are essentially the essence of Nightmare Night... and if Nightmare Night is now about fun and scaring..."

"Then maybe..." bone dragon Spike's skull rattled. "Maybe there's more to our true nature than what we think there is?"

Soulshard turned towards the living ponies in the crowd, a thankful smile on her lips. "I'd like to thank you... all of you. Without your changes to this holiday... we'd be stuck doing the same thing over and over..."

"Nothing better than giggling at the ghosties," Pinkie Pie bounced.

"And even so, I still think you'd be able to change on your own," Twilight Sparkle smiled.

"I don't know, though... I've never had any sort of fun doing anything besides scaring," Octryptia said skeptically. "Are you sure about this, Twilight?"

She quickly gave a shrug. "Nope, but you know what? I don't really care that much anymore." She smiled at Rainbow. "I've got something else to keep me occupied."

Rainbow quickly returned it. "Heh... and what's not to love?"

However, she then narrowed an eyebrow.

"You know, something's missing though..." Her eyes soon widened. "Wait a second, where's Nightmare Moon?! Didn't you go get her, Rotten?"

"I don't know," the ghost said, shrugging. "She said she was going to get the 'fourteen pounders' once we got to this side, whatever that means-"

At that, three thuds could be heard nearby as Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, and Nightmare Moon landed in the graveyard. Though the entire group stared at them wide eyed, they seemed to have other things in mind besides addressing them...

"Uggggh! I knew we'd be late!" Luna groaned, surveying the scene before glaring at her sister. "You just had to get your coffee, didn't you?!"

Celestia returned the glare. "Oh that's rich! This coming from Ms. 'I Slept Through the Changeling Invasion'!"

"I had my ear muffs on! And only because of all of the racket you usually make during the day listening to your stupid Justin Beiber albums!" Luna growled. "I couldn't hear them knocking at the door!"

"Oh by the night!" Nightmare Moon groaned. "Will you two STOP ALREADY!? You realize where we are, right?!"

At that, the two sisters went wide eyed when they noticed pretty much the entire town of Ponyville were staring at them.

"Oooh, uh..." Princess Celestia said, smiling sheepishly. "Hello, my little ponies. It is nice to see you all!" She then glanced at her faithful student. "And you as well, my faithful student."

Luna gave a cough. "Um... happy Nightmare Night?"

The town continued to stare at the trio blankly.

"Uhhh... why is Nightmare Moon standing beside the princesses?" Pinkie said, cocking her head.

"It's... a long story," Princess Celestia sighed. "It seems by now you're all well aware of the Nightmare Realm? Well... we have been too for some time. To put it bluntly: this is a different Nightmare Moon, one more crazy than evil."

"Yeah, and you two still never send me holiday cards," Nightmare Moon grumbled. However, at that she gave a warm smile her own faithful student's way. "Hello there, though, Twilight!" She then glanced at the pool of black gak sitting nearby. "I see you've been up to some interesting escapades..."

Twilight gave a sigh. "You could say that..."

"By that she means we kicked Blackblood's gooey flank!" Rainbow Death grinned.

"It's been a long time coming," Nightmare Moon sighed. "I'd say he earned it in the end." She then raised an eyebrow. "What was that punishment you had in mind for him, by the way, Death?"

"Ooooh... nothing special," she smirked, opening her locket and bringing it before her face. "How ya doing in there, Blackblood?"

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Blackblood stood in an endless void, plopped down upon his flank, bored, as a song echoed all around him continuously:

"I want my baby back baby back,

Baby back baby back baby back,

Baby back baby back baby back...."

"How ya doing in there, Blackblood?" a voice echoed from the heavens.

"Hah! This is the best punishment you could think of for me?" he grinned. "This is nothing!" He then squinted an eyebrow, however. "I do have to wonder though... when are they going to say ribs?"

"Never. They never say ribs."

His eyes then widened in horror. "W-What?! NO! NOOOOOOOOOOOOO-"

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The locket snapped shut.

"Ouch. Sucks to be him," Rainbow Dash said, her eyebrows raised.

"Make that double-suck!" Pinkie Pie bounced, grinning. "Cus I have a way to test out if the ghoulies can have fun... PONYVILLE STYLE!"

"Huh?" the town asked.

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"EPIC POST-NIGHTMARE NIGHT PARTY EXTRAVAGANZA OF EPIC AWESOME!" Pinkie roared, finishing the final touches on the town's decorations, her cannon smoking.

"WOOOOO YEAH!"

"Awwww yeah!" Vinyl Scratch grinned, plopping a record into her player. "And I got just the song for this! Let's hear some Lil' Jon!"

"What?! That's a weird way of saying 'Dave Mathews Band!" Vinyl Screech argued.

"Oh come on, yo! Dave Mathews Band isn't that great for parties..."

"I know! Isn't it horrible?!" Vinyl Screech grinned.

Vinyl Scratch narrowed her eyes. "We're listening to Lil' Jon."

"Dave Mathews Band!"

"LIL' JON!"

"DAVE MATHEWS BAND!"

"Yo dawgs! Cool it!" a quartet of voices called.

"Holy night!" a random ghoul called.

"Is that?!"

"Oh my gosh!" Pinkie Slice beamed. "It's the Baha Ghouls! I thought they died like ten years ago!"

"Well, technically we did," one of their members coughed. "Doesn't mean we ain't still kickin' beyond the grave though! Now, I hear yall wanna try the other side's style of fun out, right?! So how bout we kick off the night with a blast from the past!"

At that, a group of ghouls wearing nineties gear summoned a stage complete with instruments out of nowhere, quickly beginning the party with:

"Who let the dogs out!

Woof, woof, woof, woof, woof!

Who let the dogs out!

Woof, woof, woof, woof, woof!"

At that, Vinyl Scratch nodded towards her counterpart. "Eh, that works too!"

Screechy nodded in agreement, grinning widely. "That's nineties, baby!"

"Awwww yeah!" Pinkie Pie grinned, hitting a summoned dance floor with vigor she rarely showed. That meaning she was essentially a blur upon it.

However, she quickly paused for a second, noting an awkward Pinkie Slice standing at the sidelines.

"Hey, don't be shy! Go ahead and join in!" she beamed.

"I-I don't know," Slicey grumbled. "Dancing isn't really my thing..."

"Oh come on! You can dance if you want to, just never leave your friends behind!" her counterpart beamed.

The rest of the Elements of Fear, save for Rainbow and Twilight blinked.

"Why not give it another shot, dears," Scarity eventually smiled. "For Twilight?"

"I-I don't want to look like a fool, though..." Applemoon peeped.

However, at that, the Slendermare entered the dance floor, motioning for them to follow with a tendril. Lyra Hearstab quickly joined him, letting him use her as a puppet once again.

"Noghoul on this dance floor is going to look like a bigger fool than me. Come and embrace change, for we are more than our natures suggest."

"You know... Slendermare isn't like Blackblood at all, and they're from the same place..." Flutterfright squeaked. "Maybe..."

"Ah screw it! Come on!" Pinkie Slice grinned, trotting onto the dance floor to join her counterpart as Slendermare tried his best attempt at a break dance.

It ended with him crashing down onto the ground.

"Hahaha!" Pinkie Pie giggled. "Come on Slendy, you can do it! All of you can!"

"Heh! You know what, this is actually kind of fun!" Applemoon beamed, actually starting to get into the groove a bit. "I guess dancing is for more than just zombie duels!"

"You said it sister!" Pinkie Slice grinned, now starting to emulate her counterpart to a decent degree.

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And as the night drew on, my kind took into their hearts....

As more and more ghouls and ponies began to enter the dance floor, some began to try out the games set up for Nightmare Night around town as well.

"So... I just... toss the spider onto the web? And this is fun?" Death said, cocking her head.

"Indeed! It is a most enjoyable activity of this holiday!" Princess Luna grinned.

"Betcha can't beat my two web hits, Death," Twilight Soulshard winked.

"Ooooh now you're just pressing my buttons," Death grinned competitively, tossing a spider.

"Wooo yeah!" Nightmare Moon cheered beside her, landing a spider on the web. "Beat that, Luna!" she smirked.

"Thou shall not beat thy high score!" Luna growled. "Prepare for the sour taste of defeat, thy vile being!"

"Hey, I thought we were past that," Nightmare Moon frowned.

"Oh, my apologies," Luna peeped. "Still not used to this... it is... somewhat awkward for us."

"Heh, yeah. That's understandable," Nightmare Moon smiled. "But you know what would be totally funny?"

"What?"

"IF WE STARTED MAKING OUT!"

Luna's eyes widened in horror, backing away from the crazed princess.

"Haha, just messing with you! Still would be funny, though!"

"... Get me about 200% more drunk, and maybe we'll work something out," Luna said, gripping a mug of hard cider beside her and taking a sip.

Princess Celestia began shaking her head incredulously. "Someone get me more cider... please. This is going to be a long night..."

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That everyghoul and pony could have a fresh start...

"Ugh... I'm so sorry about all of this," Link said, starting to piece together bone dragon Spike. "I just saw you burning stuff in Canterlot and..."

"Hey, no worries," Spike said. "I'd probably have thought the same thing in your place... though I only burn down stuff I know nopony lives in, you know." He then gave a sigh. "I think I'm done with that, though."

"Hey... you can always burn down the Water Temple if you can manage to get inside it! Seriously, that place is so confusing!" Link grinned.

"But it's underwater," Spike said, raising an eyebrow.

"Eh, we'll figure something out."

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Both young and old, the wise and the green...

"Hahaha, Derpy! I just remembered! I can dance!" the Doctor said, boogying on the dance floor with his assistant and counterpart on his side.

"Mmmm, haven't done this since I graduated from Bogmorts!" Dr. Whoovenstein beamed.

"Dawww... I love it when you get all nostalgic," Derpy Stitched smirked.

“Yeah well… “ he said, glancing at the stage. “They have some drums I could live with.”

Learned that their nature was more than it seemed...

"Go Slendermare! Go Slendermare! It's yo birthday! It's yo birthday!" a group of ghouls and ponies cheered, the Slendermare now break dancing like a champion.

"Haha! Oh my gosh I don't remember the last time I didn't feel like torturing myself with bad music!" Vinyl Screech grinned, her and her counterpart actually dancing on the stage with the Baha Ghouls.

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And it wasn't just my Twilight who learned a thing or two...

"So, now that I'm here, do you have anything you wish to report to me?" Princess Celestia asked the living Twilight.

Twilight gave a warm smile, gazing upon her counterpart and Death as they merrily bobbed for apples. "You bet I did! I learned that sometimes all one needs to do is make small modifications to one's life to find happiness... instead of going all out and trying to change everything." She then squinted in thought. "However, first you might have to fight a giant tar monster... and be dragged to the brink of death... to get the-"

"Ahem," Celestia smiled. "Very nicely stated, my faithful student."

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About how to make one lose their gloom...

"Darksong Shadowbane, the most feared creature in all of Edeathstria... is sorry he couldn't help your faithful student in her time of need..." Darksong sighed, glancing at Nightmare Moon.

"Hey, don't worry about it. You just remembered that spell on how to keep the portal open for a decent amount of time like ten seconds ago, right?" Nightmare Moon asked.

"Yes... but Darksong still feels like a failure for not remembering it sooner," he groaned. "He also helped this whole mess begin... he should have told you about your student's intentions...."

"It seems like you simply wanted to see her happy," Nightmare Moon beamed. "And for that, you have my thanks!"

"R-Really?"

Nightmare Moon then grinned. "How about a dance, Darky? You and I. Two overpowered Alicorns kickin' up the night!"

"Darksong- I mean uh, I would be honored!" he quickly smiled, hearts forming in his eyes.

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And even those who had made mistakes,

Found that one could always re-conciliate...

"I don't deserve to be here," Trixie sighed to Twilight Soulshard. "I should just go back to my castle in the west... and sit there. That's what I deserve."

"Hey, like I said," Twilight smiled. "Loss can cause a lot of confusion... but what matters is that you pulled yourself out of it, and did the right thing in the end."

"Yeah!" Death grinned. "Without your help the ghouls around town would probably still be scaring the heck out of everypony! Also, nice use of necromancy during the battle with Blackblood, by the way."

"With that in mind, I have a gift for you," Soulshard smiled. She then turned towards Nightmare Moon, her currently dancing alongside of Princess Luna. "Hey, master! Since my studies are nearly complete... would it be alright for you to take on a second student?"

Nightmare Moon gave a shrug. "Sure, now that Blackblood won't be bugging me thirteen hours a day, maybe I can fit that on my schedule!"

Trixie's jaw nearly fell off her face.

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Though things seemed to be well at the time,

Certain parties still watched warily from the sides...

From the outskirts of town, two ponies watched the festivities through binoculars, their eyes gazing at it incredulously.

"Well, what do you think, Captain?" one asked.

"I think I was right," he grunted. "This is the century everything changes." He then smiled slightly, however. "But I believe we're ready, though. Besides, with the Doctor sticking around for once, how could we ever fail?"

The first raised an eyebrow. "But what of Target 23?"

Figure two gave a sigh. "I'm not sure... we'll just have to cross that bridge when we come to it."

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However, for now, it was a time to celebrate,

For change was coming to the other side of the gates.

As my student predicted, that when put to the test,

We were much more than creatures of fear and unrest!

Twilight, Death, and Nightmare Moon sat in the latter's private quarters on the other side of the gates, along with two other individuals... one month later.

"Heh! You wouldn't believe it, but I actually got Pinkie to watch Nightmare on Elm Street with me the other night!" Twilight grinned. "And she wasn't rooting for Krueger!"

"Woah!" Death said, her black eyes widening. "Heh, I guess we should have had a second slumber party. Maybe that would have saved a lot of trouble if we just gotten used to the other side's style of fun."

"And I'm glad you figured it out though, my apprentice," Nightmare Moon smiled. "Me and Darksong have been having a blast at the new night clubs just set up! Though I have to ask, how is Bogmorts coming?"

"Slowly..." Twilight groaned. "Though I think it should be ready to take in students at least sometime near the end of winter."

"Eh, well. We can talk about that later," Nightmare Moon winked.

She then glanced down upon her paper and quill, the tale of The Nightmare Before Nightmare Night being written down.

"So, what do you think should be the ending?" she smirked towards Twilight.

"Hmmm... I'm not sure..." she sighed.

"What about our honored guests, any ideas?" she said, turning to the two humanoid figures.

One of them gave a shrug with a wide grin. "It's your story, my dear."

"Hmmm," Twilight pondered. "How about this?"

She then scribbled something down.

And for now, they all lived horribly after ever!

"Haha! Classic," Death grinned.

"So, what do you two think?" Nightmare Moon asked, glancing back at the two figures.

"Not too bad, my dear Night Princess," Jack Skelington smiled, straightening his tie. "Not bad at all."

"Simply wonderous!" Sally said. "Though it did bring about a bit of Deja Vu..."

"Oh?" Nightmare Moon said, raising an eyebrow.

"It just reminded me of something that happened to myself a long, long time ago," Jack sighed nostalgically.

"Well, don't be modest! Let's hear it!" Deathie grinned.

"It's a pretty long story," Sally said, raising a finger.

"Oh come on! I bet it'll be better than the shlock we wrote down," Twilight Soulshard smirked, her eyes twinkling.

Jack took a deep breath. "Well, if you say so... here goes nothing. This is the story of The Nightmare Before Christmas." He then smiled slightly before beginning with:

"It was a long time ago, longer now than it seems...."

This is Nightmare's Eve

Twas a long time ago, longer now than it seems,
In a place that perhaps you've seen in your dreams.
For the story that you are about to be told,
Took place in two far away worlds of old.
Now, you've probably wondered where holidays come from.
If you haven't, I'd say it's time you've begun.

A heavy mist settled over the Everfree Forest, making it quite difficult to navigate for the ten or so frightened fillies and colts led by Pinkie Pie: not that they minded it. Could there be a more fitting setting for getting into the mood for the spookiest holiday of the year? Maybe, but only if the trees were filled with cobwebs while a thunderstorm brewed overhead. Well actually, there were a lot of the former as they neared the hut of the town's resident zebra, albeit fake ones... she hoped.

You see, Zecora loved Nightmare Night more than anyone else. Pinkie guessed that it was probably due to the fact that she could really cut loose with her potion skills, as evidenced by the way she suddenly appeared before the group with a puff of green smoke, startling them into a scream.

"EEEEEEP!" Pinkie cried, quickly darting behind a tree, her younger companions following in her lead.

Also, she probably just liked scaring people, though the pink pony guessed she liked it so much because she was doing so voluntarily now, and she was super good at it, too.

"Zecora!" Apple Bloom smiled after her heart finished leaping out of her chest, peeking out from behind her tree.

"Hello again, my little friend, I hear it's that time of year again," the zebra smiled back.

"Yep! Can you tell us one of your spooky stories!?" Pinkie pleaded. "Please please please please please!"

"I have something better than that, dear mare, but for that you must enter my lair," she said, putting on the best wicked grin she could muster.

"Ooo! Ooo! What is it?! Did you grow a giant spider?! Or maybe a giant octupus?! Wait! I bet it's a giant spider-octopus!"

"For that you have to come and see, if this group is filled with brave colts and fillies."

"Come on Zecora!" Scootaloo cried, grinning slightly. "Could we get a little hint?"

The zebra merely gave a chuckle at that, shaking her head and leading the way to her hut, singing as she moved along:

"Fillies and colts of every age,

Do you want to see something strange?

Come with me and you shall see,

A world beyond your wildest dreams."

After a minute or so of walking, Pinkie entered her hut, thoroughly excited, though naturally a bit wary. The first thing she noticed was that Zecora was brewing something in her center pot.

"Ooo, what's that?" Pinkie said, actually refraining from darting over to it, instead moving to it in a cautious manner.

"Take a look, though you must give heed, for there is a no more curious sight to see."

With that, the group moved closer to the pot, though peering into it Pinkie saw not a bubbling green brew, but an image of Ponyville through what seemed to be water... though it was slightly off. The air was thick with fog, sort of like the Everfree Forest, but through it she could see buildings somewhat resembling the town's, though dissimilar in many ways. For one thing, Twilight's treehouse had lost its leaves, and now was just a dormant, dead husk. Sugarcube Corner was missing most of its candy, save for candy corn, and the Carousel Boutique seemed to be covered in cobweb, had a black and red coloring scheme, and the usual ponies on the carousel were replaced by bat-winged pegasi resembling Princess Luna's night guards.

Zecora took a step towards them. "Gaze closer for a better look. Turn the page of this twisted book."

"Zecora, w-what is this?" Pipsqueak asked, more frightened than curious.

The zebra gave a smile. "A realm beyond the veils of space, where our counterparts show their grace."

"C-Counterparts?" Pinkie asked.

"Again, lean closer my pony friends, and then your questions will meet their ends," Zecora pressed.

At that, Pinkie squinted an eyebrow and did that, the fillies and colts following in her lead only for-

"BOOGA BOOGA BOOGA!"

A black eyed, pale-furred version of Rainbow Dash to fill the view, her distorted, dark voice echoing about the hut.

"EEEEEEEEEP!" the group screamed, scurrying away from the pot.

"Whatwasthat?! Whatwasthat?! Whatwasthat?!"

"Oh my gosh! Rainbow Dash has been turned into a monster!"

"Everypony run!"

The group then barreled out of the hut and towards the exit of Zecora's domain.

The zebra let out a sigh at that, as the alternate Rainbow Dash rolled on the dead grass of the other realm in laughter.

"Oh my gosh! Did you see the look on their faces?! That was freakin' hilarious!"

Zecora gave a grunt. "It was a good scare, Rainbow Death, though it seems now I must clean up this mess. I do not want Ponyville truly fearing me, again an outcast I do not wish to be."

"Bah, it wasn't even that great," she said, still chuckling slightly. "I came up with that in like five seconds. It just shows how soft your world's getting. They no longer know the meaning of fear!"

Zecora gave a nod in agreement. "I'm afraid to say what you must hear, the truth is that true horrors they cannot endear."

"Exactly!" Rainbow said. "If they can't take something like that, what are they going to do when they go up against the real horrors of life? Like death, or eating alfalfa, or filling out W-2 forms, or accidently walking in on their parents-"

"I do believe I understand, and perhaps you would consider constructing a plan." The zebra then lifted a hoof. "Though it would be prudent for me to say, the group our Pinkie leads likes being afraid."

"Bah, they weren't faking it," Rainbow Death grunted, twirling the scythe she carried absent-mindedly. "That was true horror in their eyes! Don't try to take away my shadow swag!"

"Um, Rainbow," a voice called from behind the death-like mare, it coming from a red-eyed, pale-furred, and fanged version of Fluttershy. "They're about to begin the ceremony."

"Ugh," Rainbow groaned. "I'm coming, hang on; I'm just talking to our friend here on the other side. Say hi!"

Smiling slightly, the yellow undead mare gave a light wave.

Zecora returned it. "Hello to you, dear Flutterfright, I hope you're having a fun night?"

Flutterfright gave a slight, shy nod, her fangs glistening in the moonlight.

"Whelp, seeya later Zecora. It's time to begin the fun! Because you know what this week is, right?" Deathie said, winking.

The zebra raised an eyebrow, and at that the entire town burst into song as she continued to watch in awe:

"Far beyond the veil of space,

Lies a timeless haunted place,

And once every year we give great care,

To grip a world in the greatest snare!

This is Nightmare's Eve, this is Nightmare's Eve!

Pumpkins scream in the dead of night,

This is Nightmare's Eve, everypony make a scene,

Trick or treat till the neighbors gonna die of fright!

It's our town - everyghoul scream,

Cry to the moon on this midnight eve!"

With that, a large gathering took place near a ghostly, twisted version of Ponyville's town hall, its white, lovely pillars replaced by dark, slithering green ones dripping with liquid of the same color, and at the top stood a dark figure of a unicorn, its face and body hidden by a cloak save for a horn that was currently conjuring a thunderstorm above. Twirling around her flew a transparent version of Rarity, a surreal, ghostly glow hovering about her form.

"I never bothered giving life a chance,

I've heeded to the next one's dance,

And to this world beyond above,

I shall give my own form of love!"

"This is Nightmare's Eve! This is Nightmare's Eve!

Bow down to the goddess of the blood-soaked streets!

This is Nightmare's Eve! Red n' black, slimy green!

Fly off to their world with a banner of shrieks!"

A grinning, surreal version of Pinkie then entered the scene, her fur nearly entirely burnt off her to reveal sickening, charred skin. Squinting, Zecora could barely make out a strange glove she was wearing which held five long, silver claws.

"One and two I'm coming for you,

Three and four better lock your door,

Seven and eight gonna stay up late,

The dreams of all are mine to make!"

With that, a bolt of lightning struck near the town hall, revealing a grinning, wicked smile of the hood wearing unicorn. She herself then conjured a bolt, it striking the ground below, and from it rose a multitude of decaying corpses.

"This is Nightmare's Eve, this is Nightmare's Eve!

Nightmare's Eve! Nightmare's Eve! Nightmare's Eve! Nightmare's Eve!

In this town - we call home,

Everyghoul hails to the Lich Queen's song!"

At that, the song ended, a single sound of clapping hooves being the only thing heard over the thunderstorm, it coming from the cloaked figure. Lifting her hood, a rotting version of Twilight's face could be seen, white eyes glowing in the dark.

"That was so wicked, everyghoul!" she beamed, smiling merrily. "You guys really went and made it ghastly this year!"

"Thanks, Twilight!" the dream demon version of Pinkie beamed.

Rainbow Death gave a grin. "Heh, well it only comes once a cycle."

"And we wouldn't give making it horrible for the world, my dear," ghost Rarity smiled. "You definitely deserve it."

"Thanks, Scarity," Twilight smiled, before sighing slightly and levitating herself down to the ground, the storm still brewing overhead. "Still, I don't think I've earned it..."

"Nonsense, sugar, noghoul works harder for Nightmare Night than you," a version of Applejack with long, orange fur called, yellow eyes twinkling.

"Maybe," Twilight grunted. "But this year, I want to truly earn your praise!" With that, she took a deep breath. "I'm sick of tired of Nightmare Night just being treated as a corporate holiday on the other side, with people spending instead of scaring or caring! Yuletide the gift pony might be fine with this, but I'm not, and neither is the Spring Bunny I believe. I've actually heard rumors that he is about to call it quits!"

A series of gasps could be heard at that.

The Lich Queen narrowed her eyes. "However, we're not doing that, nor are we going to give in, are we?!"

"Heck no!" everyghoul cried. "Not this town!"

Twilight nodded with a smile. "Our purpose has and always will be to show the Equestrians that there is always something more to fear, yet lately we've been abiding by... certain limitations." She then struck a hoof on the ground, a determined gaze setting upon her. "I say no more! This year, WE WILL SHOW THEM THE MEANING OF HORROR!" she roared, her voice giving way to a demonic distortion, the town letting loose another brilliant cheer.

"Ooo! Ooo! Are we going to read to Ponyville one of Princess Trollestia's Queen Chrysalis clop novels?" Pinkie grinned.

"No," Twilight groaned.

"How about one of Lyra Heartstab's human in Equestria fics?" a version of Colgate wearing a cracked hockey mask and wielding a giant tooth brush said, this one carrying spikes instead of bristles.

"Hey! You said you liked them!" Lyra growled, her wearing a strange, pale-faced mask and twirling a bloody kitchen knife.

"Yeah, the first ten..."

"No!" Twilight shouted, gaining the town's attention yet again. "No, this year we're going to show Ponyville our special talents... to their full extent, and only reverse them at Nightmare Night's end!" she declared. "There's nothing more frightful than a real zombie apocalypse," she said, nodding towards a small undead army gathered around her. "Or a real vampire on the loose, biting everything that moves!" she continued, gesturing towards a blushing Flutterfright. "And the six Elements of Fear will lead the way: assimilation and enslavement, our inner animal, what lies in the night, our dreams turning against us, death itself and what lies beyond it!"

"Oooh, this is going to be so grotesque!" Rainbow Death grinned. "Do I actually get to kill somepony this year? My list has been kind of short lately thanks to all those new healthcare reforms Princess Celestia has been establishing..."

Twilight shook her head. "Nopony dies except via heart attack, and you're going to revive them if they do."

"Dawww, you take the fun out of death, you know that?" Rainbow pouted. "Though doesn't being turned into a zombie technically count as dying?"

The Lich Queen gave a smile, turning towards her small undead army. "I don't know, how are you guys feeling?"

"Na-Na-Na-Na. Feelin' alive. Feelin' alive.

Na-Na-Na-Na. Feelin' alive. Feelin' alive."

"There you have it. They're alive!" Twilight said.

"You made them say that!" Rainbow argued.

The Lich Queen gave a slight chuckle. "Mmmm, maybe, but if they were dead could they do THIS:"

"Cus this is Thriller! Thriller night!" they sang, putting on a well choreographed dance.

"Now that is what I call a dance number," Scarity said, raising her eyebrows with a smirk.

"Yes, though the zombies I'll be making are more of the mindless variety," Twilight said, before giving a sigh. "And yes, they'll be technically dead, but they'll be changed back at the end of Nightmare Night!"

Someghoul laughed in the crowd, her being a sideways baseball cap wearing Vinyl. "You know what, this does sound freakin' dastardly, though I've been scaring ponies the good way before it was cool: with Dave Mathews Band." She then popped a record into a player she happened to be standing near, and Zecora soon had to cover her ears.

"When you hold my hand time stands still,

When the love in my pain fills my heart,

It's your love that heals."

"OH GOD ITS SO CLICHE!" a horror pony shrieked.

"Turn it off! Turn if off!"

"No! Kill it! Kill it with fire!"

"Bahahahah!" Vinyl cackled, before a demonic, horned version of Spitfire actually lit the record player on fire with a mane that seemed to be literally composed of black fire. "Hey! That was expensive Blackfire!"

"Worth it," she smirked. "We're not in heck yet, you know."

"Mmmm... I don't know," Flutterfright squeaked, raising a hoof. "Don't you think we're going overboard? If you don't mind me saying..." She then turned to another pony. "Don't you think so, Applemoon?"

"Yeah, scarin' folks is one thing but we might cause mental scarring or somethin'", the werewolf version of Applejack said, her spiky teeth glistening. "I aint one of those devil-lovin' mind-readin' blood-suckin' psychologists though." She simpered towards Flutterfright at that. "Er, no offense."

"None taken," she eeped.

"I understand this, but desperate times call for desperate measures!" Twilight grinned.

"Yeah, quit being such pansies and start acting like you live here!" Rainbow growled.

The town roared in approval.

"She's right! Let's do this thing!"

"Down with corporate Equestria, man!"

"For our holiday!"

"Oh this is going to be bloody sickening!" a grinning, grey version of what Zecora assumed was the Doctor cackled. "Here comes the drums! Hahahahaha!"

Twilight gave a broad smile of approval before turning towards another pony in the crowd. "What do you think, Slendermare?"

A bizarre, faceless mare of a pony with smoky tendrils licking off its back gave a curt nod.

The Lich Queen then narrowed her eyes, her smile turning to a wicked smirk. "Then it's settled! Let's make this happen!"

At that, a horrible bout of laughter came from above, the entire town gazing towards the heavens, glee forming in their eyes.

"These are desperate times indeed, Twilight Soulshard," a powerful, Royal Canterlot like voice called from above, a dark figure descending from the heavens. Zecora's eyes widened at the sight. Landing with a thud near Twilight appeared to be an alicorn, one looking just like Nightmare Moon. "You have done well rallying this town towards your idea, my dear apprentice. In fact, I might just have every town in Edeathstria do the same thing this year everywhere on the other side. Together, we shall make this Nightmare Night one to remember!"

"Thanks, master!" Twilight grinned, before turning back towards the town. "Alright, people! We only have one week! Let's do what we were born to do!"

"Hoorah!"

"You got it, Twi!"

"Let's show those other holidays how it’s done!"

Smiling, Twilight turned back towards Nightmare Moon. "Hey master..."

The moon goddess returned the smile. "What is it, dear?"

"Wanna share a creepy laugh together? Like old times?"

"Uhhh... I don't really have ti-"

"Pweeeeze," the Lich Queen pleaded with puppy-dog eyes.

Nightmare Moon sighed, giving her a loving smirk. "Very well. After three! One, two-"

"BUAHAHAHAHAHA!" Twilight laughed alone.

Nightmare Moon gave her a look, facehoofing. "My student, you were supposed to wait a beat after three and then do it, not on three."

"Oops, sorry," the Lich Queen said, smiling sheepishly.

"It's alright," the dark alicorn sighed. "Now, let's do this again, shall we? One, two, three..."

"BUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!"

And the town burst into singing again:

"This is Nightmare's Eve, this is Nightmare's Eve!

Strike terror in the hearts of those who won't believe!"

At that, Zecora began to pace her hut, a wary look on her face.

"I must say that this does not bode well," the zebra gulped. "It seems Equestria may be bound for hell."

Sweet Home Necropolis

With my student having the time of her life,
The other Twilight was fairing far less nice.
And now the time had come for me to enter the fray,
And what a foalish part I would play.

Necropolis. If there was ever a more over the top place Twilight had seen in her life, it was definitely that. It could be described as a massive, hexagonal prism, though a bit roundish on the sides, almost like a beehive. Unlike Canterlot, it did not rest on any mountainside. Instead, it floated high in the air, suspended above a sea of green liquid and what she guessed was blood, one continuously filled by artificial waterfalls that dumped the liquids from the city's sides. Even at a distance of about a half a kilometer away, Twilight could still hear horrid cries and evil laughter emanating from its walls.

Twilight gave a gulp. "W-Well... I can't say I expected anything less from Nightmare Moon.”

Rotten-Belle turned towards her at that, a smile on her face. "Isn't it simply ghastly?!"

"It's as horrible as I remember!" Scootaweb beamed. "Awww man, I wonder if the blood geyser is still working!"

"And the Shrieking Shack!" Apple Doom grinned. "I hope we'll have time to visit!"

"Oooo, I should buy a new spellbook for Scarity while I'm here! She always loved that one little shop on the eastern end," 'Sweetie' smiled, before giving a slight sigh. "It sure is good to be home..."

Scootaweb raised an eyebrow. "I didn't know you used to live in Necropolis."

Rotten gave a nod with a nostalgic smile. "Yeah! I can't wait to show you guys around." She then turned to Twilight, her smile sticking. "And you too, if Nightmare Moon is alright with you."

Twilight gave a shiver at that, a vision of Nightmare Moon chucking her off the far walls coming into mind. "Me begging you not to bring me to her isn't going to work, is it?"

The trio shook their heads.

"Nope!” Scootaweb said.

“Sorry, but we're going to get our putrid-marks out of this!" Rotten added. "And our Twilight would totally want us to bring you here, anyway. It was her idea! Besides, I wouldn't miss this for the world!"

With that, she took another step forward, leading the way to a long, rickety bridge that was the only way Twilight could see up to the place, singing:

"Big wheels keep on turning,

Carry me home to see this sin,

Singing songs about the dead lands,

One I'd die twice to have again,

And it’d be on a whim!"

"Well I heard the reaper sing about her,

While Twilight here puts her down,

Though I hope she'll soon come to remember,

That this gal don't need her around, anyhow!"

"Sweet home Windy City,

Where the skies ain't never blue!

Sweet home Windy City,

Here I'm comin' home to you!

Let's make it true!"

"Awww man, I wish I brought my stupid guitar with me," Scootaweb pouted. "I learned how to play that awesome solo a few weeks ago."

"Maaaan," Rotten grunted. "If only we had someghoul who could play the honky tonk solo too... it'd be so awesome!"

Twilight gave a slight chuckle at that.

"What's so funny?" Rotten asked, giving her a slight glare.

"Oh, nothing," she said, shaking her head. "It's just I can say both of our worlds have at least one thing in common."

"What's that?" Apple Doom asked curiously.

Twilight gave a slight smile. "Both places have a love for music!"

The crusaders gave her a nearly offended expression.

"Nuh uh! Only creepy music!" Rotten grumbled.

"Yeah, if it doesn't send shivers down our spines it isn't worth anything!" Scootaweb grunted.

"Speaking of which, Vinyl just got a new record with that Friday song on it! She said she's going to play it before Nightmare Night begins," Apple Doom grinned.

"Oooooooo," the other two oozed, their eyes wide and twinkling.

"Come on girls, let's go deliver our gift!" Apple Doom beamed, leading the way up the nearly quarter-mile precarious wooden bridge to the city.

"Sweet home Windy City,

Where the skies are never blue!

Sweet home Windy City,

Here I'm comin' home to you!

Let's make it true!"

☼☼☼
☼☼
☼☼☼

"For the last time, Prince Blackblood, I'm not giving you any more souls to eat!" Nightmare Moon growled, shooting daggers down upon a black figure that stood in her throne room.

It gave a disgruntled huff in response. "But your majesty, surely you can see the benefit in keeping one of your most important advisers fed-"

"No. Means. No!" she shouted. "Rainbow Death's already on my flank about the last two I gave you, and those were sinners from the other world! If she finds out what else you've been gorging yourself on, you are so screwed you might as well pack up your bags and head back to Null Space!"

The figure gave a gulp. "S-She already knows! A-And you know very well I can't go back there! Surely, the wise Princess Nightmare Moon could find a way to-"

Nightmare Moon gave another sigh. "Noghoul likes a brown noser, Blackblood. I'm sorry, really. I sympathize with your position, but you wouldn't be in it if you didn't act like such a glutton in the first place and conserved what you had! You don't see the Slendermare asking for souls, now do you? That's something I just can't and don't want to give you. You're going to have to find some on your own... and do it discreetly." Her eyes then narrowed. "And if I find out you've been eating anymore souls of the innocent, I'll kick your gooey flank myself." After that, she waved a dismissive hoof. "Besides, Death tells me you don't even need them. She says they're like a drug to you, not a food source, and she's never lied to me before."

"She's lying to you about this," he growled. "But I will... do as you ask, your majesty," he sighed, before sauntering towards the exit of the throne room.

"By the night," she groaned, turning towards her royal aid when she was sure that he was gone. "Is there anyone who isn't Blackblood that wants to see me, today?"

"Actually, yes," the aid said, him a chupacabra like creature with glowing, red eyes. "Three young ghouls who say they have a gift for you."

At that, Nightmare Moon bounced slightly on her throne, clapping her hooves as her mood turned one-eighty. "Oooo, presents!" she smiled. "I love presents!"

The chupacabra gave her a chuckle. "Speaking of which, how's the new broomstick I got you working out?"

"Fast as a speeding bullet," Nightmare Moon smiled. "The Nimbus-2000, what a beast! I don't know where you found one of those babies."

The chupacabra dragged a claw across the ground, simpering in embarrassment. "Eh, you know me; I find a lot of stuff out at the tar bars."

The moon goddess gave a slight grin. "Ever resourceful." She then quirked an eyebrow. "Now I feel guilty, though. Anything you want for Nightmare Night? No offense, but I'm not really certain of your personal tastes."

The chupacabra shrugged slightly. "Meh, don't worry about it, I'll think of something." He then chuckled slightly in embarrassment. "Oh by the way, I forgot to give you the name of the person who gave our guard the message: it's Scarity's sister, Rotten-Belle."

The moon goddess raised an eyebrow. "One of the Element's sisters is here to see me? Well, that's kind of weird." She then gave a shrug as well. "Ah well, go ahead and see them in."

"Already done... they should be here right..."

"My lord, your guests have arrived," one her elite guards, them looking very similar to her counterpart, Princess Luna's, shouted form the hall.

With that, three young ghouls entered, them who the night princess immediately recognized as the spider queen Shelob's daughter and the sisters of two of the Elements of Fear.

"Hail to the night!" the three shouted, their voices laced with awe at being in her presence as they gave three tiny bows.

Nightmare rolled her eyes, giving them a slight smile. "No need for formalities, girls. What's up?" She then quirked an eyebrow, noticing what Scootaweb was dragging behind her. "Wait a minute... is that my student?!" she gasped, immediately fluttering over to the trio, nervous looks coming on their faces. "Uh, girls... why is Twilight wrapped up in web?"

"S-She's not your student!" Scootaweb immediately blurted out.

At that, Nightmare Moon quirked an eyebrow before taking a closer look, immediately noticing that who they had in the web was far from dead. "By the night... that's not her! What in the world…"

"Nope!" the three beamed, their fear immediately lessening. "It's actually a gift from your Twilight!"

The living Twilight took a deep gulp at that.

"So wait, that's the living Twilight from the other side?!" Nightmare gasped, shaking her head in disbelief. "W-Why did my student..."

Scootaweb gave a slight huff. "Dawww... we thought you'd be pleased with this..."

At that, the moon goddess' look of incredulity slowly morphed into an evil grin. "Ooooh, I'm more than pleased girls."

"You are?!" the three grinned.

"Hehehe," she cackled, loving the look of fear that was coming upon the mortal mare's face. "Go ahead and unwrap her. I don't want my guest... immobile."

With a cheeky smirk, Scootaweb immediately did as she said, leaving Twilight Sparkle on the ground, her shivering in a little ball of fear.

"On your feet, Element of Magic," Nightmare Moon growled, glaring daggers at her. "You have a lot to answer for!"

At that, Twilight slowly rose to her hooves, her heart thumping like no tomorrow in her chest. "L-Look, Nightmare Moon... I know you're not the same Nightmare Moon as the one in my world... I don't want any trouble, can you please just-"

"Twilight Sparkle!" she roared, hovering above the ground with glowing, white eyes, her voice giving Princess Luna's Royal Canterlot a run for its money, it actually blowing the three crusaders back some. "I have long since waited for this day! Retribution is at hand for your transgression against my counterpart!" She then gave an evil cackle, turning towards the three crusaders. "What do you think is a good punishment, girls?!"

"Crucify her!"

"Stick her six feet under!"

"Make her listen to Justin Bieber!"

"All good suggestions," Nightmare Moon mused, taking menacing steps towards the mortally terrified mare. "Yet I think I know the best punishment there could be!" She then gave her a wicked grin. "For your sins against my counterpart, I have no choice but to..." She gave a warm, hearty chuckle. "Send you back to where you belong. Possibly with a gift basket."

Twilight's jaw nearly dropped. "W-What?"

"You mean in a pine box, right?" Scootaweb said, blank-faced.

"Nope," Nightmare chuckled. "I don't know why my student thought I'd give a crap about what her and her friends did to my counterpart, but I'm not her." She then turned back towards Twilight. "Sorry about that, I just couldn't resist a good scare. It is what my world is all about, after all." She then did a little gleeful dance, it best resembling moonwalking. "And I still gots it, too!"

"So... you really aren't the real Nightmare Moon," Twilight said, still panting. "B-But how is this-”

"Possible?" The moon goddess cocked her head. "Well, it is her holiday, after all, why wouldn't a version of her be here?"

At that, Twilight shook her head incredulously. "I don't understand... what are you?"

Nightmare Moon gave another hearty laugh before heading back over to her throne. "Now why would I want to go and spoil a mystery like that for a mind like yours? Wouldn't that take the fun out of figuring it out for yourself?"

The lavender mare glanced away from her at that, taking a deep breath. "I guess you really can't judge a book by its cover, can you?"

The moon goddess gave a shrug. "Nope, but don't worry about it." She then glanced towards the three crusaders, quirking an eyebrow. "Seems like you three have some apologizing to do. Dragging her here in a web, saying that she's going to be crucified? What makes you three think I would have wanted that? My Twilight didn't say so, did she?"

At that, the three glanced away from her, their faces laden with guilt. "T-Twilight didn't actually say that she wanted us to bring her to you... she actually just said to show her around."

Nightmare Moon rolled her eyes. "I don't think she meant with free web transportation... and where is she, anyway?"

"We’re not sure," Apple Doom said. "She just told us she wanted us to ponynap Twilight. W-We thought you would have wanted us to ruff her up a bit before bringing her here..."

"So you could have your revenge or something," Scootaweb continued.

"Ack, you kids have been watching too many cliche movies these days," Nightmare Moon groaned. "Scaring is caring is this realm, not... total douchebaggery. That's Prince Blackblood's job."

"Though I have to say your scaring could give a pony a heart attack," Twilight grunted between gritted teeth.

Ignoring the comment, the moon goddess continued with, "alright, so my student didn't say what she was doing." She then tapped her chin with a hoof. "Hmmm... curiouser and curiouser. I'll have to send her a letter later..." With that, she turned back towards the three crusaders. "Anyway, I want you three to return her back to her world, ASAP."

Appledoom gave a sigh, a frown forming on her face. "I guess this means we're not going to get our putrid marks, after all.”

"Yeah... this trip was a huge waste."

Nightmare Moon gave another laugh at that. "And so the mystery is revealed. That's what you brought her here for?!" She then gave a deep sigh. "Girls, I can't help you find your lot in life. That's something you have to find for yourselves." Noticing the look of utter disappointment on their faces, Nightmare then gave a slight smile. "Though if you three were smart enough to actually be able to kidnap the Element of friggin' Magic of all ponies, I'm sure that what you seek isn't too far down the winding road."

The three perked up immediately. "Really? You think so?!"

"Of course," she beamed. "However, first things first."

At that, the trio gave bright smiles. "Right, we'll bring her back home immediately!"

They then turned towards the purple mare. "We're really sorry about this, Twilight..." Rotten said, screwing a hoof into the ground in shame.

"Yeah... it wasn't anything personal."

"Can you ever forgive us?"

At that, the purple mare took a deep breath. "Well... there wasn't any permanent damage done..." She then gave a slight smile. "And who doesn't like to be scared when Nightmare Night comes about?" After that, she turned towards Nightmare Moon, her tone heading down the serious road. "Before I leave, however, I think it'd be important to tell you that I think I know where your student is..."

Nightmare Moon quirked an eyebrow. "Oh, where's that?"

"It's just an assumption," Twilight said, raising a hoof. "But I think she wanted to take my place on the other side for some reason..."

"Hmmm," the goddess pondered, surprising Twilight by not outright rejecting the idea. "It's possible. She has expressed interest in visiting the other side of the gates before. But taking your place? No offense, but that sounds a bit farfetched. But just in case..." She turned towards one of her bat-winged guards. "Hey Moonwalker, can you do me a favor and grab Blackblood for me? I think I know how to get him out of my mane for a bit."

"Yeeeehahhh!" he sang, throwing a salute before moonwalking out of the throne room, Nightmare Moon clapping her hooves in glee as he left.

"Ooo, sing the song, too! Pleeeeeeeease!"

Moonwalker smirked as he continued to moonwalk.

"Cause this is thriller, thriller night,

And no one's gonna save you from the beast about strike!

You know it's thriller, thriller night,

You're fighting for your life inside a killer, thriller tonight!

SHAMONEIGH!"

"And THAT is a guard for you!" Nightmare Moon grinned, her chupacabra aid glancing at him with a slight bit of envy. "He even taught me how to moonwalk. I love him!"

"Uhhh, girls," Twilight whispered to the PMC. "I think your princess might be a bit insane."

"I know!" Rotten-Belle whispered. "Isn't she simply wicked?!

The mortal mare gave a slight smile. "She... isn't what I expected, that's to say the least. Though who's this Prince Blackblood?"

Apple Moon and Rotten shrugged, though Scootaweb opened her mouth. "I've heard Rainbow Death talk about him-"

"Wait, what?!" Twilight said, quirking an eyebrow. "Rainbow Death?!"

"Long story short: she's Death," Rotten-Belle explained. "The grim reaper for both worlds."

Twilight's mouth nearly fell off her face at that, though she quickly composed herself and gave a slight chuckle. "I need to remember not to tell Dashie about that... her ego is already big enough not knowing that her counterpart is death itself."

Scootaweb gave a shrug at that. "Anyway, Deathie hates Blackblood. She says he's always stealing souls away from her. That he doesn't even belong here."

Twilight quirked an eyebrow. "What is he exactly? Where should he belong?"

"They say he's an Eldritch Abomination from Null Space," Scootaweb explained. "You know, the space between spaces? Apparently, Cthulhu and the other monsters there thought he was too douchey for even their standards and actually kicked him out! Exiled him! Deathie’s always saying he desires nothing but power and souls.”

"Wait, what? Cthulhu is real?!" Twilight gasped. "I guess those Lovecraftian novels I read weren't just stories..."

"Yeah," Rotten nodded. "You know, I heard he was kicked out the same time the Slendermare was, another Eldritch Abomination."

"What was that for?" Twilight asked.

The three shrugged. "Noghoul knows for sure."

"I do!" Nightmare Moon grinned, her apparently ease-dropping. She then gave a slight chuckle. "It was actually kind of funny..."

☼☼☼
☼☼
☼☼☼

The massive tentacle-mouthed monster that was Cthulhu stood menacingly before the city of Necropolis, him so tall he could peer at the highest towers of its top. In one of his hands, he held Nightmare Moon before his eyes, and in the other, the Slendermare, his black tendrils licking at the cool night's breeze.

The moon goddess quirked an eyebrow. "So uh... wait, you want me to let the Slendermare live here?"

Cthulhu gave a frantic nod, his tentacles swishing about. "Yes, please... I'd really appreciate it. I'm sure he'll be a great asset to Nightmare Night if you can keep him on a leash. A really thick one... with a shock collar."

"But... why?" Nightmare Moon asked.

At that, Cthulhu gave a deep sigh. "Ugh... I'm going to hate myself for admitting this... but..." He then leaned closer to the moon goddess. "He freaks me out," he whispered.

Nightmare Moon gave a laugh. "W-What?! Sorry... but are you serious?"

"Ugh," Cthulhu groaned. "It's not funny! You have no idea what it's like to live within the same dimension as him." He then took a deep breath. "For the last month or so I've found him standing outside my castle in R'lyeh peering up at my bedroom window every god-forsaken morning!" He then gulped, glancing at the Slendermare with terror. "He just stands there... MENACINGLY! Please help me," he whimpered. "What sort of horrible minds could conceive of such a beast is beyond me!"

"Yeah... what sort of horrible minds," Nightmare Moon chuckled. "But yeah, I'll take him off your freaky fin-like hands for you. As a matter of fact, everyghoul here likes being scared, you big sissy!"

She then stuck her tongue out at the Eldritch Abomination, him blushing fiercely.

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"Oh I'm so never going to ever let him live that down," Nightmare Moon grinned, before tapping her foot impatiently. "Now where's Prince Blackblood..."

"Yeeehahh! Here he is!" Moonwalker called, leading the menacing looking being into the throne room.

Out of everything Twilight had seen in the Nightmare Realm, nothing could compare to him. He was an Eldritch Abomination in every sense of the word. His body was pony-shaped, but that's about the only thing he held in common with her kind. It seemed to be made entirely out of black goo, and sticking out of that goo was a series of eerily pony-like, blood-shot eyes. However, they were not alone. Accompanying them were a number of jagged, sharp-toothed mouths, their teeth dripping with saliva.

He was sickening to say the least. However, the throne room guards didn't seem to be that frightened by him...

"Here he is!

The biggest douche in the universe!

There is no other douche,

Bigger than him!"

"Ugh, must they sing that offensive, childish song every time I enter the throne room?" Blackblood groaned.

"Yeah, that's completely unprofessional and rude, guys! Whose idea was that anyway?" Nightmare Moon said, nodding her head in mock-stern agreement before she blinked over to Twilight's side. "It was my idea," she whispered, giggling.

Twilight rolled her eyes as the insane princess turned to face the abomination. "Anyway, hello again, Prince Blackblood. Sorry to call you back here so soon after you just left. However, I'll cut to the chase: I have a mission for you."

"A mission?" he said, cocking an eyebrow, his twenty or so eyes lusting for approval.

Nightmare nodded. "Yeah, I need you to escort this other worlder back to the other side of the gates. Now, you can shapeshift right?"

Blackblood nodded, quickly mimicking her appearance before changing back. "For a limited time, yes."

"Perfect," Nightmare smiled. "Anyway, my student might be over there, right now... doing stuff.” She then turned towards Twilight. “And this… this is her counterpart."

Twilight gave a nervous wave.

The dark goddess then turned back towards Blackblood. "I want you to retrieve my student by any means necessary. I don't want her wondering around there, if she really is. She could get hurt, and I could never live with myself if I didn't do something to stop it." Nightmare Moon then turned towards the 'real' Twilight. "Could you do me a huge favor and help him with this?"

Twilight nodded with a slight smile. "I'll help him retrieve her." She then gave a chuckle. "You know, you remind me a lot of Princess Celestia."

The moon goddess quirked an eyebrow. "Thanks, I guess."

"I will carry out this mission to the best of my abilities!" Prince Blackblood said, his many mouths grinning. "You have my word, your lovely subject will be returned to your waiting, caring hooves."

Nightmare Moon rolled her eyes. "You really need to work on the fine art of kissing flank, Blackblood. Don't make it so obvious." She then turned back to the PMC and Twilight. "Anyway, I'm really sorry about all this, Twilight, but hey, it's not every day a mortal gets to visit the Nightmare Realm. How did you like it?"

"It's... something to write home about, that's for sure," Twilight said.

"You really deserve something more than memories though," Nightmare Moon pondered, before turning towards Blackblood. "Can you get Darksong to give her a few of our spellbooks as souvenirs?"

"Certainly," he grinned.

"Awesome," she said. "Whelp, it was nice meeting you, Twilight. However, you'll have to excuse me. Nightmare Night only comes once a year, and I've got a lot to prepare for." She then smiled slightly. "I'll see you... out there."

With that, the quintet said their goodbyes before exiting the throne room, Nightmare Moon smiling as they left.

"Aren't you little worried about sending her to the other side with him?" her chupacabra advisor asked.

Nightmare Moon shook her head. "Princess Celestia's student should be able to handle him if he tries anything, and he knows what will happen if he touches a hair on her mane."

"If you say so," he sighed.

"Don't worry, he won't pull anything," she said confidently. "Trust me on this. He may be a douche, but he isn't that stupid." She then gave the doors a wary glance. "I hope."

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As the five-pony and ghoul party walked down the blood-soaked streets of Necropolis, the many mouths of Blackblood grinned wickedly for a brief second, a pondering forming in his ponderer.

"This is going to be... perfect," he cackled quietly.