"NO! Stay away!" Princess Luna shrieked as she sat up quickly in her bed. Her ears were ringing, and her vision got fuzzy.
Luna was actually in her bedroom, as the sun was setting. Luna ruled the night, so in order to stay active, she slept through the day. It was at the dusk and dawn of each day when she could meet with her sister Celestia. There would be certain parts of the day important enough for Luna to stay awake to attend.
"Why was I screaming? What happened?" Luna asked herself. Her hooves were shaking, and her heart pounding fiercely.
"The lat thing I remember was-" Luna thought, followed by a short blurb of static as the princess tried to remember. Nothing. Just fear.
Luna got out of her bed, and out onto the balcony of her room. The sun was now a small sliver of orange sky on the horizon, and the stars began to glimmer overhead. Luna spread her dark blue wings, and took off into the night sky.
Luna began to silently glide in the clouds, where the moonlight beamed down onto the village known as Ponyville below. It was quiet. This silence once drove Luna into a state of pure envy and rage, turning her into the monster she once was: Nightmare Moon. The thought of her horrible past made Luna cringe.
"Take it. Take it. Take it all..."
Luna gasped. A dark, malicious voice resonated through her mind. She landed on the outskirts of Ponyville, trying to compose herself. "What was that? That wasn't me, was it?" She wondered.
"Devour. Devour." The voice rang again, almost in a taunting song.
"Who's there? Show yourself!" She cried out, looking around her. Were these just nightmares? "No. It couldn't be. I'm the princess of dreams. The only time anypony had a nightmare was when- ...Oh no." The alicorn shuddered, as the voice grew louder. This time, it seemed to have a physical location. The Everfree Forest.
"Suffocate." The voice hissed.
Luna turned to the trees of the forest, watching the dark shapes and shadows warp around like living beings.
"Come, Luna. Forget your troubles. I will feed your lust for power."
Luna simply stared into the darkness. She felt fear for the first time in hundreds of years. The shadows began to unfurl from their cover, forming dark tendrils of shadow. The princess simply stared into a gap in the tree line, where a single, thin shape stood. The form had a white, featureless head, and other than that, the creature had a black body, as if merging with the shadows themselves.
Luna wanted to run away, alert Celestia, and never worry about it again, but she couldn't. The way the creature spoke of giving her power sparked a small piece of intrigue in her mind. A part of Luna spoke to her, one that she wanted to seal away forever. It was Nightmare Moon speaking to her.
"Why pass up a chance to be the most powerful pony in Equestria once more? No, in all the world! Everything shall be mine!" her dark side mused. The inky black shadows stretched around Luna as she stared blankly into the familiar darkness...
"Consume."
"Absorb."
"DEVOUR."
Celestia knew something was wrong. When she awoke, on routine, the night seemed colder and darker than any night has ever been.
"Luna." she muttered. She hopped out of her bed, and softly trotted down the hallway. She creaked open the door to her sister's room, expecting to see Luna in her bed after watching over Equestria's night. She was wrong. Luna's bed was empty, and the balcony window was open, letting in a cold draft.
Celestia grew worried. Perhaps a telepathy spell would find Luna. Celestia's horn began to hum with her divine magic but quickly fizzled out as something canceled it out. She tried again, exerting more magic. A small stinging sensation forced Celestia to stop, making the area behind her eyes grow hot and strained. Still no sign from Luna.
None of this made any sense. So naturally, when rhyme and reason was lacking, there was one thing Celestia feared. She quickly trotted down the stairs, into the castle's basement. After a long corridor, was a large steel vault door. Celestia used her magic to twist the door's hatch. The metal groaned under the movement and slowly turned to allow Celestia into the room. It was a large, spacey area with a stone statue.
The statue was in the form of a thin, serpent like dragon, with several mis-matched parts. A lions paw and eagle talons in place of hands, the legs of a bull and crocodile, a deer antler to go along with its twisted unicorn horn, and two wings, one of a bat, and the other of an average pegasus.
It's head was a horse's, but more longer and skinny. The statue's body belonged to a long dragon, and at the end, a mule tail. The creature held its arm in front of it, as if trying to hold something away as its face was frozen in a look of fear. There was a special name for this particular creature. A Draconequus. But this particular state had it's own name. One that most ponies would shudder to even think about saying.
Discord. The god of chaos. The spirit of mayhem.
Celestia glared at the statue. She had numerous instances where Discord had gone on a chaos-spree, wreaking anarchy and havoc. But the princess was always one step ahead, using the Elements of Harmony to preserve him in stone, and imprison him further in the castle basement, under constant surveillance. Even stepping into the same room as his statue was a huge risk. But Celestia needed answers.
Her horn glowed once more, and so did the statue of Discord. The Draconequus' arms and head began to move, and loosen up.
"Oh, my. Another interrogation. What is it this time, Celestia?" the statue said, the stone moving like flesh and blood.
"You know very well why." Celestia grumbled.
"I'm afraid not. Do tell." Discord replied.
"Luna is missing."
"...and?"
"Don't play dumb with me! I can't find her with my magic and the only one able to cancel my magic is you!"
"Woah, woah. Calm down, sun-flank. Obviously, I couldn't. I was here the whole time, and you always made sure of that."
"Then who else is responsible? Who else is capable of such nonsense and mystique?"
Discord paused, scratched his stony chin, and chuckled.
"You know something, don't you?" The princess growled.
"The question, my dear Celestia, is not who. But what is causing all this nonsense and mystique. And the answer..." Discord chuckled even harder.
"What is it?! Answer me, dammit!" Celestia shouted.
But before she could react any further, the vault door slammed shut behind her. The sound of the metal gears turning signified the locks had closed completely.
"As I was saying, the culprit you seek is something not even I would mess with. It would be best to stay out of it's way. Or, in your case, in here!" Discord cackled.
"DISCORD! If you don't let me out, I'll-" Celestia cried.
"You'll what? Turn me to stone again? I'm not doing this. It is. Have fun." The Draconequus chuckled, returning to his original rigid position, the stone hardening once more.
Celestia's horn glowed, preparing a teleporting spell. Nothing happened. Her forehead stung, and her eyes burned. She readied a demolition spell, to blow the door of it's hinges. The same result. Celestia tried to cast any spell, even the most basic magic. Still nothing. A stinging forehead, and burning eyes.
Celestia soon tired herself out, and dropped to the floor as shadows enveloped her vision.
The orange glow of the sunset washed over the Everfree Forest, with the starry sky not too far away. A light trail of smoke snaked over the canopy, originating from the forest floor.
“Toss some more wood on the fire, Spike.” Twilight Sparkle said, nailing the last stake into the ground. She took a look around the campsite, that she and her friends had set up. Four tents, all circled around a fire. One was smaller than the other three, hastily built by fillies.
The purple dragon dumped an armful of sticks onto the fire, watching it grow warmer and brighter.
“That should be good for a while.” Spike said, brushing the dust off his hands. “What’s left?” He asked Twilight.
The mare pulled out a checklist with her magic, scanning over the list. “Tents, check. Campfire, check. Fluttershy and Pinkie are fetching the water...”
The brief moment to organize was interrupted by the rustling in the bushes, only to be followed by three bouncing fillies.
“Can we stay up late, Applejack?”
“I’m hungry! Can we make some s’more’s?”
“S’more of what?”
The older mares that followed the small pack was Applejack, Rarity, and Rainbow Dash, the latter the only one enthusiastic of the fillies’ energy.
“Welcome back. Enjoy your walk?” Twilight asked.
“Don’t even start.” Applejack answered. “They’re too hyped up.”
“Lighten up, you two.” Rainbow chuckled. “They’re just lookin’ for a little fun. Hey, Twi, did you bring that book of ghost stories?”
“Yeah.” The unicorn responded. “I’ve got it right here.” She said, levitating a hefty tome from her bags. The book was bound with dark leather, while the pages were nearly bleach white, and written with fine ink.
“Sweet. How ‘bout we give this a whirl once it gets darker?” Rainbow said, holding the book in her hooves.
“Rainbow Dash, you’re not serious, are you?” Rarity interjected. “Telling a bunch of fillies scary stories right before their bedtime?”
“Whats the matter, Rares?” Dash teased. “Are you too scared yourself?”
Rarity’s brow furrowed. “I am not scared. I’m just thinking for my sister.”
“Prove it.” Rainbow challenged. “You read the first story.” She said, pushing the book into Rarity.
“Fine. I will.” Rarity answered sternly.
“Will what?” A soft voice replied from the bushes. Both Fluttershy and Pinkie emerged from the woods, both carrying canteens of water at their sides.
“Rarity’s gonna read some ghost stories!” Sweetie Belle chirped, bouncing excitedly in the air.
“Just one.” The fashionista replied.
“And then Rainbow can read some!” Scootaloo added.
While Fluttershy’s expression was bearing nervousness, Pinkie’s possessed excitement.
“Ooo! Ghostie-Whostie stories!” The pink pony cheered. “Who’s got the s’mores?”
<><><><><><><><><><><><>
The sunlight had faded quite early, and the flickering glow of the campfire kept the campsite lit up.
“Go on, Rares.” Rainbow urged. “Read us somethin’.”
Rarity hmmfed, and leafed through several pages. She stopped at a particular chapter, taking a deep breath.
“The Fear Of The Dark.” Rarity began.
“We all know the feeling. When the light fades and shadow envelops us, distorting what is real, and what is not. When nothing is in our sight, we feel something there. When we hear nothing, we know something is there. As we turn around, our imaginations poison us. We expect a ravenous, bloodthirsty beast to lunge out, or a ghastly, ghoulish pony covered in blood to just stand and smile...
Behind every shadow, a watching monster. Behind every screech, a plea for help. When you stare into the void... the void stares back.”
Rarity stopped reading as a lump formed in her throat, and looked up from the pages. Fluttershy was shaking, huddled behind the log she sat on, while the others simply stared and shifted uncomfortably.
“That was pathetic.” Rainbow chuckled nervously, breaking the silence. “That wasn’t even a real story.”
“You told me to read something, and I did.” Rarity said. “Now, it’s your turn.”
Rainbow took the book, and skimmed through a few chapters. “Lame. Lame. Lame. Ah, here we go.”
“The White Hoof...”
“Deep in the darkest, dankest forest of Equestria, lies a group of hungry, tired ponies. The ponies decided to set up camp, and spend the night in the woods. Under the light of the full moon, the-”
Rainbow paused, as a breeze ripped through the forest, howling against the branches. The forest filled with a white noise, silencing the ambience of the nightly birds and crickets. The fire flickered sharply in the wind, dulling its color for a brief moment. “Jeez, it got cold fast.” She muttered.
“I...I think I’m done...” Fluttershy whimpered, crawling back toward her tent.
“Yeah... I’m gonna wrap it up too...” Twilight added.
“Are you serious?” Applebloom whined. “She barley started!”
“It’s gettin’ late, sugarcube.” Applejack answered, looking down at her sister. “Let’s get you three inta’ yer tent.”
“Pfft. You guys are a bunch of pansies.” Rainbow frowned, watching her friends retreat to their tents. “At least you can take a story, right, Pinks?” She asked, turning to Pinkie.
But the pink mare didn’t answer. As Rainbow turned to face her, Pinkie was staring blankly into the woods.
“Pinks? You there?” Rainbow asked, waving her hoof in front of Pinkie’s face.
“Whuh?” Pinkie Pie stuttered. “Did you say something?”
“What’s with you? You’re kinda spacey.” Dash said, then rolled her eyes. “Well, you’re kinda spacey anyway...” she muttered.
“Sorry. I just thought I heard something.” Pinkie answered. She started trotting over to her tent, as if nothing had concerned her in the first place.
Rainbow’s brow furrowed, as she herself focused on the spot Pinkie was staring at. Before her own mind locked in place, she turned back to the camp.
<><><><><><><>
The camp was quiet, the only sound and light being the crackle and warmth of the campfire, where Twilight and Rarity would stay watch. They sat around the flame, making sure the fire wouldn’t burn itself out or lose control. In the perpetual silence falling over the camp, Twilight spoke first.
“It’s rather dark...” She said.
“Of course. It’s night.” Rarity answered.
“Well, yes, but it was supposed to be a full moon tonight.” Twilight stated. “But there isn’t any moonlight.”
Upon looking around, Rarity realized Twilight was right. The forest floor was clear of any natural light, and looking up in the sky, where the moon was should have been, was a black circle. It was a tad unnerving, seeing as how the surrounding sky was only a dark shade of blue, only lit by the stars.
“It’s so strange. Why would the moon... stop shining?” Rarity asked softly..
“Actually, the moon doesn’t produce light.” Twilight began. “It simply absorbs a fraction of sunlight on its surface, and the light that reflects, known as an albedo, hits earth as what we call moonlight.”
Rarity sighed. “Twilight, you know what I mean. What if something’s wrong?”
“If something’s wrong with the moon, I’m sure Princess Luna’s taken notice.” Twilight said.
The sound of a branch snapping made the two unicorns jump. Rarity quickly looked behind her to find the source, but there was nothing.
“Must have been a squirrel...” Twilight muttered.
Rarity turned back toward her friend, and froze. Her pupils contracted, and her mouth slightly hung open.
“Rarity? What’s wrong?” Twilight asked. Rarity didn’t respond. Twilight looked over her shoulder, to where Rarity’s eyes were fixed.
Eyes. A set of two white, blank, streamlined eyes staring back at the mares from the depths of the woods. The dim light of the campfire reached out far enough to contrast the outline of the owner. A tall pony, with a long horn. The pony’s mane seemed to writhe behind it, and almost glittered. Its lips bent into a wicked smile, its grin shining as bright as the eyes. Everything went silent. Twilight felt her lungs sting. She felt like she hadn’t breathed in centuries, and her face and forehead burned with a headache. Her stomach did somersaults inside herself, and her knees shook. Her vision momentarily blurred and a putrid taste backed onto her tongue. She couldn’t distinguish a single conscious thought from an urge to buckle over and vomit. After what seemed like an eternity, the white eyes and smiled faded, turning back into the inky shadows.
Once Twilight felt her sickness fade, she clenched her forehead. Looking over, she could see Rarity paralyzed, and eyes wide open.
“We have to get out of here.” Twilight said, with the most urgency she ever spoke with. “Now.”
Author's Note
Happy Totally-not-a-day-late Halloween!
