The Nightmare Before Hearth's Warming Eve

"Huh, so someghoul left an old book on your bed?" Spike said, lifting a curious eyebrow. "That's... a little weird. I thought this place has been locked up for years?"

Twilight gave a shrug. "I dunno. Must have just misplaced it." She then lifted an eyebrow. "The Elements of Fear though, huh? Interesting..."

"What, you've heard of them?" Spike asked.

Twilight nodded. "Legends, really. They say that in the old days, there were six ghouls who represented the six things that those on the other side fear most. Six very powerful beings whose powers combined once vanquished a powerful lieutenant to the Lich King, Artharius of Winter. When they finally passed away, parts of their souls were placed in six sacred artifacts in case they were ever needed again... the Elements of Fear. Only to be used by those who represented what they did..."

"Mmmmm.... and what were those?"

Twilight took a deep breath, opening the book and glancing at the first few pages. "I can't remember them off hoof, but... ah, they have it right here," she smiled. "They're pretty simple really. Primal, if you could call them that. Fear of Nightmares, Fear of Enslavement..."

"Enslavement?" Spike said, scratching his bony head. "But noghoul enslaves anyone..."

"Do they?" Twilight said, lifting an eyebrow. "Most of the zombies under my command are technically 'enslaved.'"

"Yeah but... they're zombies. They don't have minds of their own!"

"It doesn't matter," Twilight said. "It's the fear of being turned into one of them that counts. When ponies see a zombie, they see something they're utterly horrified at becoming, even if they do become that thing they won't even be aware of it. It what makes necromancy so scary."

Spike shook his head. "Ponies are weird," he muttered.

"No, they're not ghouls," Twilight stated patiently, holding up a hoof. "They haven't studied all aspects of fear like we do." She then cleared her throat. "Anyway, the next is obvious: Fear of Death."

"Yeah, I could see that," Spike nodded. "Though I'd think Rainbow Death would argue against that sort of fear..."

"Again, ponies don't a grasp on things that we do," Twilight said. "Heck, most ghouls don't even know what happens when you kick it. The reapers are forbidden to go into detail about it, though legends speak of two, massive golden gates."

"Alright, heaven!" Spike grinned, before gulping slightly. "Yeah... let's hope there isn't a Hell..."

"You're not going to Hell, Spike," Twilight said, rolling her eyes with a smirk. "You're just an innocent little pyromaniac."

"Eh, that's true. I do try to only burn down stuff I know people don't live in," Spike shrugged. "Last thing I'd want is to see two crying ponies who have had all their stuff destroyed... oh good god, I still remember the one time that happened to me." He gave a slight shiver. "Yeah… at least Hell has fire in it..." He then shrugged. "Ah, well. That probably won't happen til whatever magic was used to keep me from dying wears off. And uh... since you're a necromancer... if that day comes..."

"I'm telling you Spike, you're not going to Hell," Twilight said. "But I will keep you from dying," she added.

Spike sighed in relief. "Thanks, Twi..."

"You're welcome," she chuckled. "Though you'd better hope that I never die then..."

"Pffft, like that'll ever happen," Spike grinned.

"And there you go: ya just tempted fate," Twilight chirped, sticking her tongue out.

"Ah crap," Spike said, chuckling while face-clawing. "Well, that's alright, Twi. I promise, when I'm awake at least, that I'll keep you as safe as I can!"

"Yes, a seven inch long bone-dragon, my noble knight," Twilight chuckled.

"Pffffft, you know that's not true," Spike chortled. "Anyway, what's the next Element?"

"Fear of the Dark."

"Seriously?"

Twilight shrugged. "Do you want to argue with instinct?"

"I'm just saying... that seems so cliche."

"Your point?" Twilight grunted. "It's a cliche because it's an instinct, Spike!"

"Fine, fine..." he sighed. "Carry on my Wayward Necromancer. We're getting off the beaten path again."

Twilight glared at him. "You're the one who, UGH-" She angrily flipped a page, huffing slightly. "Anyway, next is Fear of our Inner Animal."

"Hah! Only the ladies should be afraid of that... at least with me," Spike winked.

"You're really making me want to keep you from dying," Twilight said sarcastically. "You're a BONE-DRAGON for heaven sake!"

"You realize you just said 'Bone-Dragon', right," Spike grinned.

"Oh good lord," Twilight said, facehoofing. "You've been listening to too many adult radio shows lately. I remember when you used to act all innocently..."

"Pffft, I've never been innocent," Spike smirked. "Also, I'm a thousand years old, even if I've spend like 98% of those sleeping... I’m far from being a baby."

Twilight gave him a blank look.

"Yep, totally going to Hell, aren't I?" he said, smiling sheepishly.

"In a pint-sized hand-basket," Twilight grunted. "Right, last but not least is... Fear of what Lies Beyond Death. I suppose that Element was a ghost..."

"Mmmm, doesn't that go hoof-and-hoof with Fear of Death, though?" Spike asked.

"Argue with the book all you like," Soulshard shrugged. "Whoever wrote is probably long dead..."

"Haha! I see what you did there," Spike smirked. "And I liked it."

"Thanks, Spike," Twilight smiled. "You get a few points in your 'Not Going to Hell' points fund."

"Yeah, baby!" he smiled, before glancing at her curiously. "But yeah, that’s six. Guess that’s all. So, what's next on our to-do list, anyway?"

"Mmmmm... I'm supposed to gather the town together in order to discuss my plans for Nightmare Night, but I think it's best that we let it sink in that I'm the new leader, considering how those werewolves acted earlier."

"So basically, next on the list is bum around?" Spike said, smiling brightly.

"Yep," Twilight nodded, before giving a yawn. "I am kind of tired, though..."

"Oh, come on, seriously?!" Spike blurted out. "We should be hanging out! There's gotta be something nearby that I can burn..."

"Spike..."

"B-But you said it yourself, Twi," Spike whimpered. "You won't live forever... and well..."

"Spike..." she said, this time genuinely touched.

He gave a cough. "I mean uh... I need to totally get you on my side so you can cast more 'Not Going to Hell' spells on me!"

"Sureeeee," Twilight said, rolling her eyes. "Not like Spike the terrifying bone dragon is a big ole softy on the inside. Nope... totally couldn't be that."

"Do you want me to light you on fire?" he grunted.

"Isn't that sort of contradictory to the whole 'Not Going to Hell' thing?"

Spike's eye began to twitch. "Damn you."

"Already done!" Twilight smirked. "I am an expert on Black Magic."

"Then double-damn you, damnit!"

"Mhmm... good night, Spike," Twilight said, rolling her eyes as she flicked off a nearby lantern.

"Yeah, yeah..." Spike sighed. "Let's not have fun! Let's just sleep... totally cool... totally cool..."

A few minutes later, a snoring sound then overtook the library as Spike gave an annoyed moan. He then began to scamper about it, exploring every inch of it out of boredom, really, every single crevice and pocket within. Eventually, however, he came about a somewhat obvious crawlspace with a dusty crate inside it.

"Huh... wonder what this is?"

Curiously, he creaked it open. Immediately, all the light in the immediate vicinity seemed to actually be sucked away, leaving him in darkness save for his glowing eyes. And even those had a slightly distorted look, as if the light from them was being ‘dragged’ to the crate.

"Uh- What the hell?" he said, raising an eyebrow.

Slowly, he peaked inside the box, noticing there were six small rocks at the bottom of it, glowing brightly, though not revealing the interior of the crate. It was as if they had taken most if all the light within for themselves, save for the light needed for them to be seen.

"Oooooo," Spike oozed.

☼☼☼

Twilight gave a yawn, her eyes fluttering open what seemed to be a few minutes later. Confused, she sat up, noticing she seemed to be in some sort of industrial setting... a boiler room of a large basement, perhaps, pipes lining the walls.

“Mmmmm…. Where am I?”

There was a beat of silence, before a gravelly, though familiar voice echoed forth:

"Twilight... Soulshard."

Twilight raised an eyebrow. "Huh? Who’s that?”

"Welcome to my world...."

"Ugh... what world?" Twilight grumbled, raising herself to her hooves.

"Tell me, Twilight... have you ever had a bad dream? One that you simply couldn't... leave?"

"Occasionally... though none this lucid," she grunted. "Again, where am I?"

“Hehehe…”

The voice stood silent for a moment, before beginning to sing:

"Say your prayers, little one...

Say goodbye to your sun...

And your version of fun...

They’ve tucked you in,

Warm within,

Kept you free from sin,

Til the Sandman comes…

Sleep with one eye open,

Gripping your pillow tight..."

"OK... you like Maretallica," Twilight groaned.

Suddenly, Pinkie Slice appeared right before her, glaring daggers. "Ugh! Common! I totally had this all worked out! You were supposed to be super-duper afraid by now!" She suddenly put on pleading eyes. "Pleeeease tell me you were just a teensy bit scared. I had my whole Nightmare Night fright planned for days!"

Twilight gave a sigh. "Well, I was a little, maybe...”

“D-Do you mean it?” Pinkie whimpered.

“Yes…” Twilight moaned.

"YEEEEEES!" Pinkie beamed, dancing all about. "Awesome awesome awesome! If I can scare you, I bet I can scare those teens on Elm Street this year again, too! They've kind of been getting used to me, lately...."

Twilight gave a little cough. "Well, I'm sure they would be... but uh...”

“Would be?!”

“Yeah…  that’s what I wanted to talk to you about earlier... Princess Luna is sort of back, and she can go into dreams... and she's sort of made a decree that you're not to be scaring anyone under the age of eighteen. Do it at your own risk…"

Pinkie's eyes widened in horror. "W-Wah?! But teens love being scared!"

"Sorry," Twilight said sympathetically. "It's her rules. I just thought you should be warned…"

"Awwwww," Pinkie pouted, before letting forth a sigh. "Well, it was kind of getting old scaring them over and over... I suppose it's time to move on."

"Well... I'm glad you're cool with it, I guess," Twilight smiled. "Sooo... anyway, stupid bureaucratic stuff aside, I feel like I have a while til I wake up. Anything to do for fun in dream land?"

"We could go practice scaring," Pinkie shrugged.

"Sounds good to me!” Twilight beamed.

“Alright, then!” Pinkie grinned. “Come on, I’ll go create some practice ponies or something! Follow me!”

She then began to trot someways away, Twilight following her with a curious look on her face.

“Hmph… fear of Nightmares, huh?” She then shook her head, chuckling incredulously.. “Na… that’s just stupid...”

☼☼☼

The next morning, after what seemed to be an all night practice session of fear, Twilight awoke to the sound of Spike's voice. With the hope of getting more sleep, she kept her eyes shut.

"Yo, Twilight!" he called, nudging her slightly. "You gotta check this out!"

"Mmmm... did you make black coffee?" she muttered.

"No, but I found something cool!"

"What could you have possibly found in a dusty old library that's cool; well, aside from some good books of course?"

"Ugh, it's nothing for eggheads!" he grunted. "It's... shiny."

“So it’s for bone dragons with ADHD?”

“Haw-haw. No, seriously. Take a look.”

Twilight's eyes fluttered open, and immediately she noticed there seemed to be not a single shimmer of light about her... save for six glowing rocks the bone-dragon was showing her, set inside a small, wooden crate.

"Huh, those are interesting," Twilight said, lifting an eyebrow. "Is it just me, though, or is it really dark in here? Not that I mind."

"It's the rocks!" Spike grinned. "I think they have some sort of light-sucking ability."

"Huh," Twilight said, lifting an eyebrow. "That is possible. I've heard of artifacts like them before... but they are quite rare. Odd that I can still see them, though. Though I do have sensitive eyes…" A beaming grin came upon her. "STUDY PROJECT!"

"Er, yeah... what do you think they were doing here, though?" Spike asked.

"I dunno... but that's a mystery for another hour," Twilight shrugged. "Come on, it's time we get this show on the road!"

“Sounds good to me, what are we doing first, though?”

“You’ll see, come on!”

She began scurrying from the loft, giving the rocks one last look. “Hmmm… a bit coincidental…” She quickly shrugged, however. “Eh, whatever.”

☼☼☼

Later, Twilight had assembled most of the town in the center of it, smiling brightly. Her mood, as she had found, was vastly improved from yesterday, likely because the town was showing her a bit more respect, or maybe it was just because she had just drank a batch of black coffee. It could have been either-or. Though still, she could sense a hint of excitement in the air that only came one time a year.

"Right, ghost and ghouls! Six days until Nightmare Night!" Twilight beamed.

"Who's feeling it, baby?!" Spike cried.

"WE'RE FEELING IT! BEEEEEYAAAA!" the town Dean Screamed back.

"BEEYYYYAAAAA!" Spike mimicked, grinning.

"Anyway, insanity aside," Twilight coughed. "Though I know me being forced as the organizer of this event is sort of... out of left field, I'm hoping you'll all understand that I am not trying to turn this event into some crazy power trip for my own sake. I'm hoping that together, we can simply make it a more organized affair and..." She smiled slightly. "-Bring down the thunder to the other side like nothing before."

There were a few murmurs of approval at that, though the town didn't seem entirely convinced.

"Anyway, does anyghoul have any ideas they'd like to bring forth in general for Nightmare Night?" Twilight asked.

There were a few more murmurs, before three pint-sized fillies crept forth, an arachnid-pony, a ghostly unicorn, and a lycan who looked suspiciously like Applemoon.

"Erm, yes!" the arachnid-pony chirped. "As leader of the Putrid Mark Crusaders-"

"What?!" the lycan growled. "Leader?! Who died and put you in charge!"

"Rotten-Belle did," the spider grumbled.

"I just died! I didn't hand you the reigns!" she groaned. "Not that I was ever leader in the first place."

"Fine, fine," the spider mumbled, rolling her many eyes. "As representative of the Putrid Mark Crusaders, I would like to request that fillies and colts be allowed to join in the fun on the other side, as a better chance to earn our putrid marks!"

The fillies and colts in the crowd let loose a brilliant cheer at that.

“Yes, please!”

“It’d be so awesome! We could totally make em’ scream!”

Twilight gave a cough at that. “Er… girls…”

"Pleeeease, Miss Twilight," they begged.

She took a deep breath. "I'm sorry... but the other side is a bit dangerous."

There was a general mutter of disapproval.

"I'm sure you can still get them like we always have," Twilight said, a sorrowful smile on her. "I just don't want to see any of you getting hurt." Twilight then let loose a sigh. “I’m afraid it’s a no-go. Your safety is not worth a Putrid Mark.”

"Dawwwww! Seriously?!"

"Yes, seriously," Twilight said sternly, narrowing her eyes.

"Meh, worth a shot at least," the spider mumbled.

Twilight saw Applemoon smile at her at that. "Ya see, y'all, she's perfectly competent. She can pull this off!"

"Thank you, Applemoon," Twilight beamed back at her. "But yes, any other ideas?"

There were a few more murmurs, noghoul stepping forth... all except one. One Twilight had least been expecting to still be there.

"Hehehe... I certainly have an idea," a gritty voice called from the back of the crowd, this belonging to the same damned creepy wolf priest from earlier.

"Er, yes..." Twilight coughed, clearly not wishing to speak with him again. "Go ahead. You have the floor."

"Thank you, Miss Soulshard," he smiled. "Cus ideas... I have plenty.” He then began to glance about the crowd. “How about you all admit your nothing but a bunch of sinners? Part of a stagnant, misfit holiday with no purpose other than to bring turmoil?"

The group gave a series of gasps, the crowd turning and giving him their full attention.

"Whoops, did I say that out loud?" he smirked.

"Hey!" Rainbow Death roared, suddenly shooting before him like a black comet and glaring daggers into his own, brilliant blue eyes. "You take that back! What kind of arrogant jerk do you think you are?!"

"Well, he does have a point," Vinyl Screech admitted.

"Yeah, we are just a big ole merry band of misfits," Pinkie Slice chirped.

"Hehehe... should have guessed y'alled be proud of it," the priest sighed. "Didn't think words would mean anything to ya...."

"You’re right! They don’t!” Rainbow Death snapped. “If you don't like the holiday, then why are you here? Go to the other side and try to fit in or something! Don't just sit around and criticize!"

"Missy, do you even know who I am?" he said, grinning.

"Nope, and I don't care, either," she huffed. "But you were pretty easy to size up. So let me ask you this: do you know who I am?"

"Easy enough to figure out," he said, waving about a whimsical paw. "Let me guess: the Great Guardian of the Golden Gates, the Pony in the Dark Cloak, Death herself?"

"Yeeeeeep," Rainbow Death said, with a hint of a proud tone. "So, do you really think it's a good idea to piss me off?"

"Nope, I wouldn't think so, darlin', seems like a dumb thing to do," the wolf nodded in agreement, Rainbow Death lifting an eyebrow. "But either way, with or without your interference, this holiday is getting put... on ice."

Suddenly, a vast, bitter wind began to blow from him in all directions, a torrent of snow and ice soon following, colder than anything Twilight had felt in her life. Immediately, most of the ghouls near him, save Rainbow Death, were turned to frozen statues.

"W-What the heck is he doing?!" Applemoon called, her thick fur coat apparently blocking most of the torrent.

"I don't know, but he totally just made a freeze pun!” Spike roared, his eyes narrowing in determination. “And that reminds me of that one horrible Batmare movie!"

"He's right! Oh, it. Is. On!" Scarity growled.

"You hear that?! Time to show you what happens when ice meets fire!" the bone dragon roared.

The town gave him an 'are you serious?' look.

"It uh... melts," he added with a cough.

Suddenly, the tiny bone dragon began to grow in size, the green mist within him twirling about his features, and his red eyes glowing like piercing embers.

"SPIKE, NO!" Twilight called.

Suddenly, a beam of frost was aimed at him from the two forward paws of the priest, him now standing on his hind legs, and without warning, the dragon's form became as frozen as the rest of the ghouls nearby, clashing to the ground.

Twilight's eyes widened, her teeth gritting as her horn began to glow a brilliant purple. Suddenly, a wave of heat emanated from it and towards the bone dragon, only for-

"Ms. Soulshard, watch out!" one of the Crusaders screamed.

Twilight barely caught it in the corner of her eye. A beam of frost was twirling towards her. She gasped, winced in concentration the best she could, and teleported out of the way.

"Sorry to do this, Miss Soulshard," the wolf called. "I know you're not like the rest of them. I can sense it in you... heard it from your lips, actually…  a determination for progress... on being something besides a being of fear... shame your brains are wasted on such a silly cause."

He fired another beam of ice at her, grinning wickedly, Twilight barely managing to teleport out of the way.

"Hey! Noghoul sticks it to the man except me!" Rainbow Death called, echoing forth a war cry and sending her scythe sailing towards the wolf...

The priest gasped and aimed his freeze-ray at her, only for Rainbow Death, with a swift flap of her wings, to fly downward at the last second.

"Mmmm, now that's what I call agility," he smiled, as her scythe barreled towards him.

CLANNNNNNNNNGGGGGGGGG!.!.!

It struck a sword made of solid ice the priest had summoned out of nowhere. "Here's my touché."

Rainbow's eyes widened. "Just what in the hell kind of ghoul are you?!"

"Who says I'm a ghoul?" he winked.

Suddenly, his mouth opened wide, and with a titanic howl, a gust of freezing wind blew forth from it, sending Rainbow sailing backwards and seemingly momentarily paralyzing her. Her frozen form hit the now snowy ground with a light thud.

"Oooooh nelly," Applemoon gulped, glancing at Pinkie and Flutterfright. "Come on, we're supposed to be leaders! Let's see what we can throw at em'!"

“Oooo, ooo, snowballs?!” Pinkie bounced.

“I meant we should turn up the heat!” Applemoon grunted.

“Well, that’s obvious! It’s getting pretty cold-“

“METAPHORICALLY PINKIE!” Applemoon cried, face-hoofing. “Let’s kick his sorry flank!”

"Ooooo, right on, then! Let's knock him out so I can show him a bit of... my world... hehehe," she grinned, summoning a massive battle-axe out of dream space.

"I-I don't know about this," Flutterfright squeaked. “I-I’m not suited for fighting! I’ll crack before I can even lay a hoof on him!”

"Come on, Flutterfright! For once, let your instincts take control then!" Applemoon growled.

"L-Let my instincts take control?!" she squeaked. "A-Are you sure about this?!"

Applemoon glanced towards the priest, who was now busy firing ice ray after ice ray at a rapidly teleporting Twilight.

"YES!"

Flutterfright gave a shaky nod, and suddenly, a voice from hell came out of her previously placid mouth. "Feeeeeeeeeeed...."

"Thata girl!" Applemoon beamed. "A FIGHTIN' WE WILL GO! BEEYA!"

The three then took off into a gallop, barreling towards the priest.

The priest gave a growl, turning at the last moment as-

CLANNNNNNNG!.!.!

His sword of ice kissed the steel of Pinkie's battle axe.

"HIIIIYAAAAA!" Applemoon roared, leaping into the air and coming down upon him with claws preparing to maw.

The priest narrowed his glowing blue eyes, letting out another howl followed by a blast of icy wind, sending her flying the same way Rainbow Death had been.

"MISERABLE CHILD OF WINTER!.!.! YOUR BLOOD IS MINE! HAHAHAHA!.!.!" Flutterfright cackled, her eyes flashing a bright red for a second as multiple images of her appeared around the priest, grinning at him.

"Ooooo, illusion powers!" Pinkie beamed, reeling back her battle-axe and sending it down at the priest at another angle. “Cool!”

CLIIIIIIIINNNGGGGG!.!.!

"SHUT UP AND KILL HIM, DREAM DEMON!" the multiple Flutterfrights snarled.

"Mmmm, I must be getting old," the priest chuckled, glancing at the vamponies who danced around him. "My eyes are seeing quadruple."

"Allow me to END YOUR MISERY, THEN!"

"Fraid my time ain't up yet, sweet thang," he smiled, and to the vampire and dream demon's astonishment, he soon began to twirl about on his hind legs, his speed becoming as fast as a twister. A fierce wind soon kicked up about him, as quick as he was twirling. "You called down the thunder, now reap the whirl wind!"

"You jerk! Cheesy puns are my job!" Pinkie cried, as her and a now singular Flutterfright found their hooves lifting off the ground. Soon, they were sent into a tornadic spiral before the priest suddenly halted. No longer caught in the winds, the two careened into the side of town hall.

"Four down, two to go," the priest chuckled.

"Two to go?" Twilight lifted an eyebrow, now noticing Scarity was floating beside her. "Ah."

"Noghoul ruins Nightmare Night on my watch!" Scarity spat, glaring daggers at the priest. "Come, dear Twilight. Let's show this ruffian why you are the student of Nightmare Moon!"

"R-Right," Twilight gulped, trying her best to remember if she actually knew any offensive magic of any sort.

Scarity lifted an eyebrow. "You do believe we can deal with him, right?"

"Er- Yeah! Of course!" Twilight coughed, narrowing her eyes with a false sense of determination, before turning her head back towards the priest-

"Surprise, darlin'."

• Who had suddenly somehow appeared right in front of her.

"WAH?!" Twilight gasped, stumbling back.

"Hehehe... oh my... did I give you a chill?" he chuckled. "Aren't you cold, little child of darkness? Aren't you cold...?"

"Quit taunting her!" Scarity snapped, narrowing her eyes as she began levitating a shard of ice into the air.

The priest merely glared at her, sending another icy howl her way... which somehow actually managed to dissipate her ghostly form.

He then turned back to Twilight, her mouth parted.

"H-How did you do that? Magic like that is-"

"Easy enough to conjure," he shrugged. "Now then... back to business. With you six out of the way, the rest of this world shouldn't be too hard. Though still, you haven't answered my question. Aren't. You. Cold?"

"Yeah, not that I'm around some sort of crazy ice demon or anything!" she spat. "And what do you mean? Why are you targeting the six of us?"

"Oh, you mean you don't know?" he cackled, his glowing blue eyes widening in delight. "This is going to be easy..." He took another step forward, Twilight holding her ground. "You know, I'd definitely be cold if I were in your shoes, metaphorically speaking, of course."

"Uggggh... just spit it out. What do you really mean?!" Twilight growled. "You can't be speaking literally."

"Now she's getting it..." he smiled. "You see, your purpose, like mine, is singular: unfortunate though it may be. Though I wonder how it would feel if that purpose might as well be only to exist..." He actually frowned at that, taking a deep breath. "It makes me sad, really, and I'm not just saying this to spite you. I genuinely feel bad for you all, just like I genuinely feel bad for the real world as well."

Twilight lifted an eyebrow. "The real world?"

"Yes, the real world," he said solemnly. "I've watched it for many years... and despite the idealistic nature of Princess Celestia and her perfect little country these days, it's still a world wrapped with conflict and hate, no matter how many times they're punished for it by my kind. Sure, they're perfectly safe right now... but one day... one day that might end." He paused for a second, actually shivering. "I have seen into null space. I have seen the universes that have come and gone before the current one. Some with many worlds, some with single worlds surrounded by branching pockets... like the ‘real world’. And on every single one of them... do ya wanna know what happened to them? When those with brains on em’ started getting a little too brainy?"

"Y-You're insane," Twilight gasped. "Absolutely-"

"I said- do you want to know what happened to them?"

Twilight paused.

The priest smiled, before spreading two paws apart in what seemed to be an effort to create an image of an explosion. "Kaboom... and they did it themselves, too."

Twilight's eyes widened.

"That's why my kind came about... to prevent this sort of thing from happening again. And that's why I'm here. All your holiday does is create fear and superstition; witch hunts, vampire hunts, because you're constantly teasing them that their fears may just be real... and that's why I'm going to end it..." His eyes narrowed. "Now."

"Who the... who the hell are you?" Twilight gasped.

"Me? Oh just an old, travelling priest, miss…" he chuckled. "With one goal: I am the punisher of the wicked in life. And for that I'll be the breeze that blows cold at night. And you know, though I hate to say it, but even you, Twilight Soulshard, are a sinner. Oh yes… you are indeed. In fact, you and your kind are guilty of one of the seven deadliest, in addition to your already mentioned ones: that being Sloth. So even if you weren't hurting, you still wouldn’t be helping. That makes you a disease. And every disease... has a cure." He suddenly threw back his head, beginning an eerie, creepy chuckle. "Hehehe... pleased to meet you, darlin', can you guess my name?"

"Hey jackass, noghoul cares!" a voice called from the side, Rainbow Death, Pinkie, a still instinct-heeding Flutterfright, and the rest of the town leaders at her side, including a reformed Scarity.

"Yes! And we are not about to let you ruin our holiday for your insanity!"

"Bleh," the priest groaned, showing true agitation for the first time. "You... are just like another holiday that came before this one. Caring only for your damned selves and your 'point of existence'. But soon, you will be just like they are: leftovers... memories.”

"I don't think so," Twilight smirked, the gears in her head turning fiercely. "Because I think I just figured out why you fear us..."

The priest turned his attention back towards her, grunting forth, "I don't fear anything."

"Oh, I think you do... because that's why you came here... to eliminate the one threat there was to your existence, in this realm at least."

"What are you talking about, Twilight?" Rainbow Death called.

"He fears us because of what we are... because of what I read in a conveniently placed book in the library."

"Spit it out! Quit beating around the damned bush!" Flutterfright snarled.

Twilight merely chuckled. "Flutterfright... a being who hides in darkness... who makes it something to be afraid of... the reason why it's an instinct to stay away from it..." she said to herself. "Rainbow Death, Death herself. Applemoon, she who gives into her inner animal every full moon..."

"So?" she said, shrugging. "I'm just like any other werewolf!"

"But you are one of the most powerful in Terrorsville, right?"

Applemoon gave a nod, raising an eyebrow.

Twilight then smiled brightly. "Have you girls ever heard of the Elements of Fear?"

The six shook their heads in confusion.

"Whelp, gather around me!" Twilight called. "Because I think I know just who might be able to use them!"

Warily, the six did just that, the priest rolling his eyes.

"Big deal, you still don't have the actual artifacts on you!"

"Do we?" Twilight smirked, before pointing her horn at the black tree-house and shouting, "ACCIO ELEMENTS OF FEAR!"

Suddenly, six small, glowing rocks swooped out from it, and immediately, all the light in the area, including that from the piercing moon above, was sucked away, leaving them in total darkness, save for the glow of the rocks themselves.

The priest's eyes widened.

"W-What?! NO! Impossible!"

"I see you can fear after all," Twilight taunted. "Afraid of the dark, Windigo?"

"W-What? What's a Windigo?!" Pinkie asked.

"A spirit of winter, Pinkie," Twilight explained. "Though it's strange... I thought that they'd want hate and fear, it's what they feed off after all."

"We do... but that's only an incentive to carry out our form of punishment to sinners like you," the priest snarled. "However, it's time to take my little secret to the grave."

"I wouldn't speak too quickly," Twilight called through the darkness. "You were right, you know. We are stagnant beings... in a stagnant holiday who carry out the same thing over and over." At that, a newly formed smile practically beamed through it. "But you know what, I love it! And I'm glad to be leading it! For the first time for a while, I've actually been having fun."

"Heh, I knew you'd be a decent leader. Actually enjoyin' your line of work," Applemoon smiled.

"More than that," Twilight said. "I think the six of us could actually become friends in time. Which is why we're not letting this jerk take our holiday!"

"Let's end his pathetic existence already, then," Flutterfright snapped. "I will feast on his corpse..."

"Er, she is going to snap out of that, though, right?" Twilight sweat-dropped.

"Oh yeah, just give her a bit," Applemoon smiled. "She's been like this before..."

"Well then, what are we waiting on?! Let's finish him!" Rainbow Death called.

With a nod, Twilight's horn began to glow brightly, despite the light-sucking power of the Elements, and soon enough, they were glowing brighter as well.

"I-I can't believe that this actually worked," Twilight gasped.

"Awwww yeah!" Rainbow Death smirked.

"Prettttty," Pinkie oozed.

At that, Twilight expected the Windigo to gasp. To cry 'NO!' But instead, he actually chuckled.

"Hehehe, well done, Twilight, well done..." the Windigo said, actually clapping. "I guess this is it..."

Twilight quirked an eyebrow.

"You seem unusually resigned."

He merely shrugged. "That's because..." he said. "I have a feeling we'll meet again someday."

"I highly doubt that," Twilight growled. "I don't know what these Elements do, but I'm sure it's nothing good for you."

Suddenly, the priest then burst out into a bit of insane laughter.

"Hehehe... HAHAHAHA!"

Twilight raised an eyebrow. "Now what's so funny?"

There was a pause, before the Windigo said in a low tone,

"You were right about two things."

And out of the darkness came a shard of ice. Twilight felt a piercing pain in her chest... and the ceasing of her pulse. Her eyes widened. She gasped for air, but could find none. Noghoul seemed to notice.

The Elements activated at the same time, created a glowing portal behind the priest.

"WAUUUUUGGHHHHHHHHHHHHH!.!.!"

Within a second, he was sucked into, screaming. It closed almost immediately afterward. The Elements ceased their glow, and a normal lighting came.

The last thing Twilight remembered from this moment was her friends crying out and rushing to her side, glancing with stunned expression down at her as she took her dying breath.

"NO! MISS SOULSHARD!"

"HELP! SOMEONE HELP HER!"

"Common sugar... hang in there..."

Then came the blackness.