Nightmare Night, two hours to midnight.
'Heavens no! The gloominess of this place is literally making my mane tacky!', I said to myself as I was trying to pass underneath a rotten trunk.
My name is Rarity, bearer of the Element of Generosity. I am the most prominent fashion designer in Ponyville - possibly in all of Equestria - and I am strolling through the Everfree Forest. Why would such a lady be here, you ask, especially when all my friends are celebrating the Nightmare Night in the town, playing games and taking part in festivities?
It is because I have banished myself from Ponyville!
Just for this one night, of course.
You see, I wanted my costume to be spectacular. I was still working on it an hour ago, when Twilight brought Princess Luna to Carousel Boutique, asking me to make the Lady of the Night less intimidating. I did a commendable job... well, I might have slightly overdid it. Princess Luna torn the attire off. My pride was hurt, but it was nothing compared to Pinkie Pie and a bunch of fillies that stormed my boutique, shouting some ridiculousness about Nightmare Moon.
Long story short, they trampled my beautiful costume, on which I have been so tirelessly working since last week. And because I simply couldn't dress up as an ordinary mummy or a werepony, I decided to spend this night outside of Ponyville.
Besides, I always wanted to venture into the Everfree Forest at night.
Alone.
I couldn't really explain it, but there was that dose of excitement the girl like me wants to feel from time to time. Ever since I was here for the first time, I constantly felt as if the forest was calling my name...
I didn't really know what I wanted to find here. I just let my instinct guide me.
'I recognize this path!', I looked around. 'Those trees are not scary at all, even without Pinkie singing at them.'
But they were different, I had to admit. Their bark was more reddish than brown and branches were shooting out at odd angles, resembling claws of a Timberwolf grasping a silvery moon. I had some trouble navigating through the forest, so I used magic to illuminate the path, scaring off a group of bats.
Just when I walked out, I found myself by a river. There was, obviously, no bridge nearby and I wouldn't expect any gentlecolts to show up and carry me to the other side, so I went into the cold water. The river was calm, but it was easy to slip, so I proceeded with caution. Just as I was getting to the other side, I felt something slimy at my hooves.
'Oh no!', I squeaked and jumped. 'I have lost enough tails here!'
I dashed forward towards the riverside, climbed up and turned around only to see the calmness of the river. It was probably a fish, was it not? The Everfree Forest was full of wildlife, with some creatures more bizarre and dangerous than the others, but it was reasonable to expect the fish in the river. Nothing dreadful to see here... well, apart from dust and mud ruining my hooficure.
I walked for several more minutes, then I saw it.
The ancient castle of the Royal Pony Sisters.
After travelling for just about an hour I was more than eager to have a break. The only thing between me and those... strangely alluring ruins was an old, wooden bridge, hanging over a foggy chasm. I was reluctant at first, but it was the only way to the other side.
'Step by step, crossing bridge as never...', I hummed to reassure myself. 'It's fine, you're halfway there, Rarity. Just don't look dooOOOOOWN!'
I screamed. Ropes broke and I felt gravity pulling me down.
Just before I was swallowed by the grey fog, I blamed Rainbow Dash in my thoughts for not tying the ropes tightly enough.
Nightmare Night, one hour to midnight
'...llo? Are you alright, madam?'
I slowly opened my eyes. At first everything was blurred and out of focus, including a silhouette of a pony trotting towards me.
'It seems you're in distress, may I assist you?', the well-dressed, transparent stallion said.
Wait, transparent?
'Aaah!', I screamed in terror, trying to crawl away. 'You're a... you're a...'
'Why, yes, I am a ghost!', he stated. 'But does not absolve me of being a gentlecolt.'
I've never seen a ghost before. I read stories about them, but spending time with Twilight made me rather skeptical about such things. But I knew what I saw - the young earth pony stallion wearing an elegant, yet old-fashioned tuxedo and a top hat. He had a very bright mane and tail and was smiling gently. The only thing that made him different than, say, a Canterlot pony was that every piece of his body and attire was transparent and had a bluish glow.
'You're a...', I stopped for a while. 'Who are you?'
'Forgive me, where are my manners?', the stallion said, taking off his incorporeal hat. 'I am Whitetail, at your service, miss...'
'Rarity.', I answered anxiously, then stood up. Ghost or no ghost, it would be very impolite to run away now. Besides. he was handsome. For a ghost.
'Rarity.', he repeated, then pointed his hoof up. 'We're having a little banquet in the castle... perhaps you would like to join us?'
'With pleasure.', I smiled, then joined at Whitetail's side. 'Do you have a mirror? I need a mirror. My mane...'
'Looks fabulous, I assure you!'
It was always nice to be complimented, even under such unusual circumstances.
It occurred to me that I did not feel any pain associated with the fall. I must have luckily landed on those dry crackling branches the bottom of the chasm was full of. Or maybe those were plants? I couldn't tell, the fog was so thick I was unable to see my own hooves and only Whitetail's blue glow was guiding me out.
We walked up the hill and I was glad to finally emerge from the fog.
The castle didn't change much since the last time I was here, or so I thought. Whitetail phased through wooden doors, but I had to use my magic to open them and just when I did, I felt as if I had dived into the ocean.
The room was not only full of incorporeal ponies, but also had decorations made of the same blue, glowing fabric resembling Whitetail's body. There were ghostly tables and chairs, musicians playing ethereal instruments and servants holding immaterial plates of blue apples, oranges and grapes. I could imagine how amazing this ballroom used to be. Everything these ghosts had recreated fit perfectly - for every shred of a physical tapestry or a broken column there was a glowing extension.
'May I know what is the occasion?', I asked my companion, who was seeking for something in the crowd.
'We are celebrating the defeat of Nightmare Moon!', he replied with a practiced smile. 'Come, the storyteller pony is about to begin his tale!'
I followed Whitetail deeper into the ballroom and sat by the stage. I saw other ponies getting up from the tables and gathering around. The musicians took their ghostly instruments and came down from the stage. Soon, a bearded pony had appeared in their place and all murmuring subsided as he began his story.
Life is a cycle, of day and a night
Per minute of joy, there is one of fright
But for us, ponies, the night came too soon,
Come, hear the story, of Nightmare Moon
She once was a ruler of our beautiful land,
Wherever she went, she acted with gland.
But whatever is right, can soon become wrong,
And whatever is good does not last for long.
Nightmare has come and poisoned her heart,
And from her sister it tore her apart.
She vowed to bring the night time eternal,
And make our world cold, yet truly infernal.
Her sister decided, Celestia her name,
Once and for all to stop all that pain.
She took down the sibling, but with lot of tears,
And send her to the moon, for a thousand of years.
And this was the story, I shall end it soon,
Of rise and a fall of Nightmare Moon.
Join us and celebrate, filly and foal,
For you are now safe, and so is your soul.
Transparent ponies began to stomp their hooves in appreciation, and so did I.
'It was beautiful!', I shouted to Whitetail over the general cheering. 'I already knew the story about Princess Celestia and Nightmare Moon, but the way he told it was...'
'Amazing, was it not?', said somepony behind us.
I turned around and saw a ghostly mare. She had a large number of leaf-resembling ornaments in her mane, which was slightly darker than the rest of her body. The mare was wearing tiny glasses and looked much older than other ghosts.
'Are you going to just stand here,', she said to Whitetail, then gracefully raised her hoof and pointed towards me. 'Or perhaps you could introduce me to your lovely companion?'
'Of course,', the stallion frowned. 'Let me present, our guest of honor. Rarity, please meet duchesse Arietta de Foret. She is my...'
‘I am so glad that you finally found such a charming mare! You make a wonderful couple, you know?’, Arietta interrupted.
‘Mother, please,’, Whitetail said. ‘You are embarrassing me.’
So duchesse Arietta was Whitetail’s mother. Well, if the rules of high society apply to ghosts as well, it is important to stay on good terms with her.
‘It is an honor, madam.’, I bowed my head at the mare.
‘Such a lovely, well-bred mare!’, Arietta seemed content. ‘You look absolutely charming, dear.’
‘Wading through the Everfree Forest must have completely disarranged my make-up.’, I replied. ‘So I suppose a mirror would say otherwise,’
‘At least it would say anything!’, the duchesse sighted sadly. ‘I’d give everything to see my reflection in the mirror once again. And you may call me vain!’
‘There is nothing vain in a desire of looking good!’, I assured.
‘Well, being bodiless has several disadvantages... the food does not taste anymore, everything smells so feeble and weak, whenever you go you are…’
Although Arietta obviously wanted to continue, Whitetail rolled his eyes, took her hoof and turned her attention away from me.
‘Mother, is it uncle Strong Back there? I think he really needs your advice about… something.’, he said, then whispered quickly in my direction. ‘I’m sorry, she’s talkative. I will catch you later!’
The stallion pulled Arietta through the crowd, leaving me in a middle of the ballroom with nopony to turn to. But it was not an issue for me! I had a gift of entering a party, knowing nopony, then leaving the party, knowing everypony.
So I went into the crowd.
I spent the next hour chatting with the ghosts – and, searching for a mirror, of course. I pondered upon Whitetail’s name and I learned that nopony heard of such place as White Tail Woods, which suggested it hasn’t been yet named in their time.
It felt really odd to be on the ghostly party. I could not eat or drink their treats, neither could I sit on the chairs, as I was phasing through everything built of the blue, glowing matter.
I saw Whitetail approaching me.
‘Please, forgive my mother.’, the stallion said. ‘She doesn’t know when to stop.’
‘It’s fine, really.’
The musicians began to play the fast-paced waltz, and ghosts started forming pairs.
‘Would you like to…’, Whitetail began. ‘Would you care…’
‘I’d love to.’, I replied, then we trotted to the dance floor.
The stallion smiled and bowed, to which I responded with a lady-like nod.
And I danced, a pony amongst the ghosts.
Nightmare Night, half hour to midnight
The ethereal clock struck the hour – it was half past eleven. I decided that it was time for me to leave. Partly because it was getting late, partly due to the lack of mirrors. It was a torment, really.
‘I had a great time, but I really should be going.’, I said to duke Whitetail.
‘No! Please, stay with us at least until midnight!’, he replied firmly.
‘I’m afraid that’s not possible…’
I took a step towards the door, but the ghostly stallion blocked my path.
Something was wrong. The music stopped playing, the ponies ceased talking and I felt the stares across the ballroom.
‘I insist.’, Whitetail made it clear. His voice was no longer soft, it sounded harsh and metallic.
The ghosts began to slowly walk towards me and Whitetail.
‘You cannot hold me against my will!’, I shouted, feeling insecure. ‘You’re just incorporeal spirits, we both know that!’
I trotted against a line of ponies that formed between me and the exit. When I was about sink through the glowing ponies, I bounced off.
‘What, by Celestia, is going on!?’, I said. The uncertainty turned into anger and fear. ‘Since when you are… corporeal?’
Duchesse Arietta laughed.
‘Oh, sweet and naïve Rarity!’, the spectral mare exclaimed. ‘Did you really think that we would ever let go our guest of honor?’
‘We enjoy your company so much that you will stay with us,’, Whitetail took of his top hat and made a dramatic gesture. ‘For eternity.’
‘Try it, punk.’
I quickly looked around and found a weak spot in the tightening circle of ghostly ponies. I ran for it, then jumped on the long table. I didn’t understand how, but it seemed that I could now touch the ethereal matter as if it was fully physical. Why did it become so tangible?
I reached the end of the ballroom and opened the nearest doors with my magic, then slammed them forcefully.
‘Bring her to me!’, shouted the duchesse.
I never thought I could run so fast. I galloped across the courtyard, leaving the ghosts behind. I wasn’t sure where to go, so I dashed around the partially destroyed marble fountain, only to keep the distance. I looked behind and saw dozens of ghosts phasing through the walls and doors of the keep. They were chanting something dire and unsettling.
‘This is unfair!’, I yelled. ‘Can’t you decide!?’
I leaped through a large, broken window back into the building. My heart was beating faster than ever before. Where to now? With the ghost pursuit behind, there was only one way – forward. I ran through the corridor full of watercolor drawings in ornamented frames.
Suddenly, dead end!
Almost, as there was a stairway to my left. I saw a blue stampede, cutting my way out at the other end of the corridor.
Up we go, then!
The spiral staircase led me to the top of the castle’s tower.
That was a real dead end, as there was only one stained glass window with the view of the foggy chasm way below. There was also few items in the chamber, covered with silk veils.
I sat in the middle of the room and cried. Sure, I always wanted to be part of high society, but this one time, I’d rather be rejected.
The ghost pack led by Whitetail and his mother was getting closer. Hoof beats were louder and the chanting became clearer.
JOIN US AND CELEBRATE, FILLY AND FOAL
FOR YOU ARE NOW SAFE, AND SO IS YOUR SOUL
It was terrifying how words of the beautiful story were turned into a nightmarish moan.
Whitetail got to the top first. He raised his hoof and the ghosts stopped their chant.
‘Tell her.’, Arietta ordered.
‘There is no escape, Rarity.’, he said, taking off the hat and holding it at his chest. ‘But since you got here, you deserve some answers. There is an intact mirror under this veil.’
It sounded peculiar, as every-ghost-pony claimed there was no mirror in the whole castle.
I walked towards the stand, grabbed the silken veil and looked in the mirror.
There was no reflection of mine.
I glanced behind and saw the group of ghosts. I stared in the mirror again and saw the chamber as it were, yet completely empty.
‘I… I don’t understand…’
‘You see,’, Whitetail approached and whispered to my ear. ‘You are already part of us. There is nothing to be afraid of, Rarity…’
I refused to believe. I didn’t want to accept it, but what I saw – or rather didn’t see – was perfectly real. Or it wasn’t. It was difficult to tell.
Whitetail took on his top hat and went back to the ghostly crowd.
‘Join us and celebrate, filly and foal,’, he said softly, then reached his hoof towards me. ‘For you are now safe, and so is your soul.’
Maybe it was. Since I was, apparently, a ghost, my soul was all I have left. My mind was shattered due to this craziness, and my body… well, ghosts did not need bodies, right?
My body?
Then I realized.
I looked towards the window. I could easily reach it in one, two jumps tops. Ghost couldn’t die as a result of a fall, could they? But what if this is all just a trick and I am still a pony, flesh and blood? I’d surely end crashing myself at the bottom of the chasm. There was a long way down, but I had to act fast!
I had no idea what to do.
Nightmare Night, few minutes to midnight
They say that Nightmare Night is a time when walls between the physical world and the realm of wicked phantasms are weak and fragile. They also say that sometimes a pony might even cross boundaries between those two, although such phenomenon is a rarity. But if said pony did and not returned to her physical self by midnight, she would be trapped in the ghostly realm… forever.
Rarity’s body was lying at the bottom of the foggy chasm, surrounded by bleached skulls and bones of those who tried to reach the ancient castle of the Royal Pony Sisters but failed. One would very easily miss her white coat in this dreadful image, but her beautiful purple mane and tail clearly stood out against the background. Her eyes were closed, as if she was peacefully sleeping.
But her breath was fading.
Author's Note
Thanks for reading!
