Applebloom, with Granny Smith atop her back, raced towards the sleepy town of Ponyville. Which wasn't so sleepy anymore from the gathering group of ponies being handled by the lavender unicorn known as Twilight Sparkle, the resident Librarian and protege of the diarch Princess Celestia. Everyone was in a tizzy, and it looked like she was trying her best to calm the awoken ponies down.

"Why do these things always seem to happen here," she uttered to herself, before addressing the crowd, "Please, everypony, calm down. Me and the girls are going to assess the situation, but we can't do that if-"

"WHAT ABOUT THE FOALNAPPER?!" One of the town's folks blurted out. It seems as if word got out and, like usual, every pony in the town had a conniption over the slightest sense of trouble. One couldn't really blame them, since many strange things seem to happen on a day to day basis, but there wasn't really time to let it get in the way.

"What if he strikes again!?" another commented. More concerned murmurs leaked from the crowd as the question was asked. Things were getting out of hand.

"Everypony, PLEASE! We'll find the culprit, and rescue Granny Smith Apple. Set your mind at ease."

"Ahm already saved!"

There was an audible gasp as everyone turned to face the approaching Apple Bloom whom was carrying the frail old mare. Everyone made a path for the little filly and her grandmother, as she in turn approached the front of the group, where Twilight stood to address the gathering of ponies.

"Apple Bloom?!" Twilight asked in shock, "But, how... when... that's our job!"

"Apple Bloom, you can put me down now..." Granny Smith stated softly with a smile.

"Good, cause ah'm pooped..." the little filly stated, as Granny was set right side up on the ground, and collapsed to the ground groggily.

"What in tar-nation is going on around here?" Applejack stated as she galloped towards the crowd, only to notice that the group was silent, Twilight looked a bit dejected, and Granny was safe with- "APPLE BLOOM! I thought Ah told ya t' stay home!"

"But-" she protested.

"No 'buts', young lady. You disobeyed a direct order and risked yer safety! How do ya think we'd feel if something were t' ever happen to you?"

The little yellow filly remained silent, like she usually does when receiving her sister's scorn. But, like times before, it was Granny Smith to the rescue. "Ahh, don't be so hard on the little youngin'. She saved mah life. 'Sides, I'm sure whatever ruckus y'all caused here would've taken too long to clean up anyway. Let it slide t'night."

Applejack deflated under the overruling of her grandmother, and counted her blessings. Granny was safe, so was Apple Bloom. All that was left was to find the foalnapper, and make him answer for his actions.

"Alright, I'm sure the foalnapper is still in the Everfree," Twilight commented, "Once everyone is here, we'll send a search party after him, and make a citizens arrest."

"Pardon me, sugar cube," Granny interjected, "But, Ah don't think ya know what yer dealing with exactly."

"Oh come on, how bad could it be? Is he some sort of vampony?" Twilight snarked. Then, they heard a long, drawn out, animalistic, moaning sound. A sound that sent chills in the air. A sound that made most little foals hide under their blankets. A sound dripping with pain and sorrow.

"Eh, not quite," Granny snarked back.

"Everypony, go back to you homes, and lock your doors." Twilight ordered, as ponies began fleeing to the safety of their houses. As this was done, Twilight and Applejack approached the youngest and oldest of Apples. "You two aughta go home too."

"Ah don't think that'd be a good idea. He took her from there. Wouldn't take much to do it again. 'Sides, the Everfree cut line is near our home."

"Oh. Good point. Ok, Granny Smith and Apple Bloom, you can go to the library. You'll be safe there. Just make sure-"

There was another lengthy moaning sound coming from the Everfree forest, but louder this time. Twilight, Applejack, her sister and grandmother turned to that direction and noticed pairs of small pink lights in the darkness. By the time they could register that the glows were from something's eyes, they could hear a faint chanting.

"Hearts..."

"Hearts..."

"Hearts..."

The simple, foreboding chant got louder and louder as the moments passed on. An overwhelming sense of dread crept up upon the mares as they began to slowly realize that now would not be a good time to stand around.

"He's comin', and Ah think he brought friends..."

Out of the darkness of the Everfree, silhouettes of ponies long twisted by the machinations of time trudged forth, eyes aflame in pink, and chanting mindlessly that one word.

"Where's Big Mac and the other girls when you need them..."

"GRANNY SMITH!"

There was a moment of shock when they realized the one addressing the old mare in question was one of the silhouettes in the distance.

"COME WITH US PEACEFULLY! I PROMISE NOTHING BAD WILL HAPPEN IF YOU DO!"

"Granny Smith, take Apple Bloom, and go to my Library, NOW!"

With quick nods, the two Apples departed and headed deeper into the town, looking for Golden Oaks library. Twilight and Applejack stood in defense, waiting for the other girls to arrive to help in stopping this mad occurance. If only their opponents were so patient.

-o-v-o-v-o-v-o-v-o-

Jack looked on towards the town. So many years had passed since his departure, and it's shown. Ponyville grew beautifully, like a ripe and lovely pumpkin. He couldn't help but admire the effort the citizens of the town put in to make it prosper so well.

"If only I could have been there with them," he sighed. Shaking his head, he returned to the matter at hand. He wasn't going to leave without Granny. He lost so much after his death already. His aspirations. His family. His dreams. Everything. If he was going to return, he was going to return with the one that mattered the most to him. "It's now or never."

The twisted and rotting corpses on either side of Jack awaited his signal in relative silence. After all, they've waited an eternity, so what was a few more moments.

"Pay attention," Jack announced, "Search for my love. Don't let anyone get in your way. Find whatever you wish to take with you, but MAKE SURE you find Granny if I do not. And NO EATING. Now, go..."

They all groaned in approval, and began shambling towards the town, with Jack slowly following in tow.

"I'm coming, my love," he whispered, forlorn to himself, "whether you like it or not."

-o-v-o-v-o-v-o-v-o-

If anypony else would have remained outside, it would have been utter chaos. The walking dead slowly started combing through the town. This was moments after they broke down Twilight's shield that surrounded the entire town. Not to mention that they've bashed down the secondary barricades that were propped up by Applejack and the other girls, once they arrived. The ghouls, however, overcame the girls and made sure they were pinned down and out of the way. Remaining zombies began wandering through the streets, bashing down doors and windows, crawling through every crevasse they could fit through. All done while droning the single minded chant of theirs in disturbing monotony.

"Hearts..."

"Hearts..."

"Hearts..."

Screams of terror could be heard throughout the town, as any door in the way was broken down, and any pony in the way was tackled by dead frames on a mission. Jack paid no mind to the screaming, to the damage of property, or to the undead's unusual idea of keeping other ponies out of the way. No, he simply searched for what he was fighting for.

It didn't take him long to come across a familiar sight. A giant tree at the end of the town. A tree that he and Granny used to hang out in when they were much younger. It brought a smile to his face for a moment, before he noticed something off about it. The tree was a home now. Not to forest critters, but an actual pony home, complete with windows. Someone actually lived in it. And there, in the window, he caught a glimpse of a bun of familiar white hair. He smirked, and limped towards the entrance. With a gentle rap on the wooden door, he spoke.

"Granny. Come on out. I know you're in there," he spoke softly, playfully. To his disappointment, there was no reply. Normally, he'd be a very patient pony, but the stallion had been patient for a long time now. Decisively, he kicked open the door, and limped inside.

"Granny Smith," he softly called out, looking around the well lit, natural wood library. He cantered up the stairs, checking the bedroom and guest room. Nothing but books and notes, and a little bed for a small creature. Wandering downstairs, almost tripping on the middle step, he checked the kitchen and bathroom. Both were empty aside from what one normally finds in those places. Finally, he noticed a set of stairs leading down. Slowly moving down them, he came across a locked door. With a gentle tap against the door, Jack attempted to address his love.

"Granny. Please come out. I'll forgive you for running out on me if you do."

"Jack, go away!" said Granny smith, muffled behind the door, "Yer crazy if you think ah'll go with you, 'specially since you've been runnin' around and causin' so much mischief."

"Like when we were young?"

"Ah'm NOT THAT YOUNG ANYMORE JACK!" There was a heavy sigh that followed the outburst.

"It doesn't matter to me my love."

"Please Jack, just listen to me instead of pushin' forth headlong into somethin', for once."

Jack smacked his body against the door, trying to break it down.

"Jack, I'm warnin' you."

The stallion ignored her, and kept slamming against the door, attempting to break it down. All he could think of at that point was how close he was to his goal. How close he was to having Granny for real. How close they were going to be in his coffin.

Suddenly, as the love struck zombie went in for another slap, the door swung open. He flew through the door, tripped on a step, and began tumbling down the stairs. Bones broke, muscles tore, and little speckles of pink dotted the stairs on his way down, before he rested at the bottom of the room. With an effort of will and the unnatural magic within, he pulled himself back together, and rose back to his feet. He turned around, and saw Granny and Apple Bloom at the door at the top of the cellar stairs.

"There you are, you minx. Come on," he said with a smile, "Let's go home, where we can spend the rest of our time together, and beyond."

He slowly cantered upstairs, eyes glued to the old mare of his dreams. He was so close now. So close, that he could reach out and touch her again. So close, that Granny smacked him across the face.

There was utter silence, as Granny's hoof was raised in the air, suspended from the sudden strike. A look of irritation and disappointment was plastered upon her face, rather than a look love for a friend or fear of a creature. Apple Bloom was shocked that she had the courage to make such a bold move. Jack was just as shocked as to what happened. Pain didn't register for him, due to his nerves being mostly absent, but the slap across his face was no less effective.

"You... you slapped me!" Jack said accusingly.

"And Ah'd do it again. Donchya DARE think Ah won't!" Granny hissed.

"But, why?"

"You've been an unrulely, uncouth, and downright AWFUL whipper snapper ever since you showed up tonight. Lan' sakes, you took me from mah home, MAH FAMILY, against my will, scared me half t' death, and attacked the town with zombies. By all rights, ah should be even more mad at you!"

"Even more-?"

"You were mah friend, Jack. It crushed me when ah found out what happened t' ya. Honest it did. Life weren't the same without you. But ah moved on. Get it through your skull! AH MOVED ON! Any sensible pony would've done the same. Ah would've wanted you t' do the same too if the event were reversed. Maybe yer doin' all of this 'cause ya have some unfinished business, but terrorizin' ponies is NOT the way to go. And tryin' to steal me durin' the night isn't either."

Jack fidgeted under Granny's scorn.

Granny's face softened a bit as she continued, "Ah know ya have feelin's for me, and t' be honest, ah had feelin's for you to. But that life is over. It's been over a long time, now."

Jack averted his eyes slightly, before finally swallowing his guilt and shame and looking her in the eyes. "I'm... I'm sorry Granny. I just wanted to be with you. I waited so long to see you again, that I just didn't want to let you go. Leaving Ponyville to see that Canterlot elitist about the business proposal was the worst idea I ever had. Not just because I died, but because I left you behind. I was even thinking about on the way there. Actually, that's kinda how I died... I tried to turn it around, it got stuck, and... well, you probably know the rest."

"Oh, Jack," Granny said with pity.

"Can... can I at least stay with you the night. Maybe cuddle up to you next to you near a fireplace."

Granny shook her head slowly. "No. You've overstayed your welcome, and you need to clean up the mess you made. One kiss is all you get."

"How about a nuzzle?"

"One kiss."

"A gentle hug?"

"One kiss, on the cheek, and that's the only offer you get mister."

Jack stood there in silence. "You got way better at haggling over the years it seems."

"Ah did," Granny said with a smile. She then leaned forward, and gently kissed the part of his cheek that was not yet decomposing. Jack smiled in response. "Now, go. Ya got lotsa things t' do out there."

"Before I do," he said, before he leaned down, looking at the little filly that stood beside Granny, whom shrunk away slightly when the undead pony focused his attention on her, "Hey. Uhm... I'm sorry I took your grandmother, and scared you. Won't ever happen again, I promise." Apple Bloom continued to stare up at him, unsure of what to make of the situation. "By the way," he continued, "That was a nice kick you did back at the forest. Keep working on it."

Apple Bloom smiled at the comment, and made a mental note to keep studying Hoof Fu in the future.

"Lead the way, Granny..."

-o-v-o-v-o-v-o-v-o-

It took an hour to round up all of the zombies in Ponyville, but with the combined effort of the Apples, the Elements, and Jack, they were all lead back to the Everfree forest. Amazingly, while property damage was pretty large, all of the zombies really just wanted a hug. It still scared and traumatized the pants off of the citizens, what with the rotting, gore ridden bodies and all, so it really wasn't any better in the grand scheme of things. Many of them needed to have a long, hard shower for the night to scrub off the mix of rot and dirt that stained their coats. Others would need to book psychiatric therapy appointments for the next couple months. But all in all, everyone was still alive and kicking.

At the edge of Everfree, the group stood, watching the shambling corpses return to the darkness to be laid back to rest. Jack turned towards the group he was with, and bowed his head. "I'm sorry I caused so much trouble," he started, "But I won't bother you anymore. That's a promise."

"Ya better not," Applejack quipped with a deadpan expression, "Ah'm gonna have nightmares fer weeks because o' this, and ah don't think ah could handle you comin' back and doin' it all over again."

"Yeah," Jack replied, before looking towards Granny, "Well... goodbye Granny Smith. I'll see you on the other side."

"Take care, Jack." Granny said with a smile, a small tear rolling down the side of her face. With that, Jack turned around and disappeared into the forest. Everyone sighed in relief, as the air around them began to calm.

But, there was still something wrong. Something missing. The group couldn't shake the feeling that it wasn't over. As they made their way back to Ponyville to let the citizens know that all of the zombies were gone, they were approached by two sets of hoofsteps. One small, one large.

"Hey guys! Hey Apple Bloom!"

The group turned around, and started screaming. Standing there, forelegs wrapped tightly around a zombie, was Scootaloo.

"Have you met my great, great grandfather?"

-o-v-o-v-o-v-o-v-o-

With unfinished business resolved, and a long separated love finally laid to rest, we all walk away with the lesson that it's not always a good idea to dwell on the past. Sometimes, it's just best to let dead ponies lie. And, not to beat a dead horse, but messing with the rules of nature, especially if you've done it once already, is a catastrophic no-no. Even if you don't mean to cause so much trouble. I hope you enjoyed tonight's story. Come back again, to the Apparition Amphitheater, when you want a spooky fix. Maybe I, or my colleagues, can satisfy your macabre hunger. Until next time, my dear sweet children of the night. Beware.

The strange figure on the stage cackled wildly as the lights began to turn off one by one, leaving the theater dark, and once again, vacant. The moonlight, still fresh in the sky, shone down unyielding, watching over the open and gothic structure.

Author's Note

The final Part of Night of the Loving Dead! I hope you had as much fun reading as I did writing.

Happy Halloween and Nightmare Night, everyone!