//------------------------------// // Nightmare Night Special // Story: Apples and Cherry Blossoms // by Archangel2401 //------------------------------// AKUMU NO YORU All around Ponyville the air was crisp, full of the scent of pumpkins and candy. Every storefront was decorated with candles, cobwebs, ghosts, and bones. Every jack-o-lantern was carved and lit. Everypony was enjoying the atmosphere and the spirit of the holiday. Everypony was ready for Nightmare Night. Well, almost everypony. Hiroki's Red Apple Restaurant was not really decorated in the spirit of the holiday, though the ancient Sakura tree had allowed ponies to hang ghostly decorations from a few of it's branches. "Granny Smith was plum tuckered out after candyin' so many apples, plus she and Big Mac are watchin' over the haunted maze, and Applejack's lookin' after the apple bobbin' game in the middle of town..." began Apple Bloom. "Rarity still can't decide what costume to wear and Fluttershy's locked herself in her cottage for the whole night..." pouted Sweetie Belle. "Pinkie Pie's already looking after another group, Twilight and Spike are busy keeping the festival organized, and Rainbow Dash is out pulling pranks on ponies..." sighed Scootaloo. "So what we're really tryin' to say is-" continued Apple Bloom as she, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo all clopped their hooves together and bowed deeply. "-please honorable Hiroki-sama, won't you take us Trick-or-Treating?!" asked the Crusaders in unison. The samurai issued a double-blink, looking bewildered at the three fillies bowing and calling him 'sama'. His carving knife slid down and he winced as he mistakenly nicked himself after his attention was drawn to Applejack. She looked simultaneously proud and embarrassed at her sister's antics. It was nice to see her asking so politely, but the kowtowing was a little much. When her eyes met Hiroki's she offered an apologetic smile. "I hate to ask, it's just we're so wrapped up with the festival n' all. I remembered you said you might be free n' the youngins could do with a chaperone..." said Applejack with a fleeting look of guilt. "Ya' don't gotta stay with 'em all night, just long enough so they can go trick r' treatin'! Big Mac n' I can keep an eye on 'em once they're all done." The Crusaders all looked reproachful at being addressed as 'youngins', though none more so than Apple Bloom. "We're not babies..." she muttered under her breath. "So you wish me to escort them from house to house demanding sweets, otherwise they partake in mischief?" inquired Hiroki, raising an eyebrow. "Baka..." scoffed Koga from his place up in the rafters, laid out across the central beam. One eye opened as he turned his head to peer down at his friend. "You've been in Equestria long enough. Longer than I. You should have picked up these things by now." Hiroki narrowed his eyes as a thought occurred to him. He wasn't opposed to looking after the young ones, but why were they asking him? He gave Koga an accusatory stare. "This was your doing, wasn't it?" The ninja slipped down from the rafters, landing silently on the wooden floor across the dining room. He held his composure for roughly five seconds before he grinned and sniggered with amusement. This soon turned into outright laughter and he didn't bother trying to not to look too pleased with himself. "Trick-or-Treating is customary during the holiday celebrating the legendary Nightmare Moon. By disguising oneself in a costume you hide from her searching eyes. You give candy as an offering so the Nightmare does not come for you. You wouldn't want the Nightmare to come for these little fillies would you? Besides, it will be good for you to experience the festival." When Koga addressed them all three Crusaders looked up at Hiroki with pleading eyes and nodded in agreement. It was a blatant attempt to illicit guilt and manipulate him with the notion that he would actually have to protect them from Nightmare Moon, else she would get them. He wasn't sure if he should be more irritated at Koga's interference or the fillies for following his lead. Either way it was a clever move so eventually he let out a sigh and his shoulders sank upon relenting, but he nodded in agreement. The Crusaders all lit up with excitement and a much grateful Applejack leaned over to kiss Hiroki on the cheek, which in turn caused the color to rise in his face. "Thanks a million sugarcube, I owe ya' one. Though iffin' ya' don't mind me askin', how come you weren't plannin' on joinin' in on Nightmare Night at first?" "Hiroki-dono is fearless." Interjected Koga before Hiroki could answer, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "He does not frighten easily and thinks Nightmare Night is unworthy of his time." "I don't recall ever saying any of those things..." said Hiroki with his brow furrowed. "...I only suggested that my presence might diminish the experience for others." "Heh, that sounds like a challenge. Who knows, maybe we'll can find somethin' that'll spook ya? I'll be seein' ya'll later tonight. You girls behave yerselves!" Applejack snickered and tipped her head, giving a cheerful smile before turning and cantering out through the front door. "You've gotta costume right? You've gotta have a costume!" said Apple Bloom, promptly changing the subject in their direction. "Yeah, costumes are mandatory! Something cool!" said Sweetie Belle. "Or something scary." added Scootaloo. "Or something cool and scary!" Hiroki's face fell inch by inch as the three fillies skipped circles around him and fully comprehension of the situation dawned on him. He was going to have to act as their guardian, take them door to door in search of candies, and otherwise perform tricks on ponies... all while dressed in a costume? His steely viridian gaze slowly locked onto Koga and he gave the ninja a flat look. Koga on the other hoof looked absolutely delighted at how things were unfolding. That jerk... "Don't look so sour, Hiroki-dono." Koga inched close enough to whisper, lowering his voice to utter a few words of wisdom. "This kind of trickery is all in good fun. Perhaps put those skills your mother taught us to good use, hm?" "Shut up." replied Hiroki flatly, elbowing Koga for good measure. There was a great debate between them over what sort of costume would best suit him. Cool or scary? It wasn't easy, seeing as how Hiroki's calm demeanor didn't exactly lend him credence that he was scary enough to pull off most of their costume ideas. Most of the monsters he could recall from Neippon were far too terrible for a peaceful, fun-loving place like Ponyville. Or they were too nonsensical. He vaguely recalled a story about a rather pathetic lantern demon and imagined just how ridiculous he'd look wearing nothing but a lampshade over his head. Koga was of no further help and trying to match the fillies costumes in some way was likely to be a great pain. What was it Okina used to say? Impossibru! Wait. That mule always kept going on with stories... maybe I'll draw from one of them? That's it. Who'd have thought the old monk's crazy gibberish would actually be useful one day? "Do not worry, I have an idea of what to do. You three go prepare and I will do the same." Hiroki smiled at them all as they cantered off to ready their Nightmare Night costumes. He looked over his shoulder at Koga. "What about you?" The ninja snorted. "I play tricks every day of the year. I think it will be most entertaining for the master to sit back and watch others today." "Suit yourself." Hiroki waved his hoof dismissively and disappeared upstairs to ready himself. "Nightmare Night, what a fright..." Some time later the Cutie Mark Crusaders all stood outside of the door to the Red Apple Restaurant sporting their costumes. Sheriff Apple Bloom, The Mysterious Mare Do Well, and Scootaloo of Spurwood rapped their hooves against the door and all chanted in unison. "Nightmare Night! What a fright! Give us something sweet to bite!" "Come in..." drawled Hiroki, his voice nothing but a rasp. The door to the restaurant slowly creaked open and mist billowed out through the doorway. A single blue ball of fire was there to greet the three fillies. It puffed, flickered, and danced before their eyes before it blinked away, disappearing from sight. It reappeared at the other end of the dining room beside the form of Hiroki clad in the blood red samurai armor that usually rest against the wall as nothing more than a displace piece. "Hiroki, are ya' ready?" said Apple Bloom, leading her two friends across the room. The closer they got to him the more imposing his armor became. Layered strips of steel covered his form from head to hoof and even his visage was covered by a mask made to look like a dragon's face. Koga watched from his place in the rafters, keen to see just what Hiroki had in store for the young fillies. "Wow, that looks pretty cool." said Scootaloo, gazing up at the armored samurai. "It actually looks a little scary too. Are those fangs?" asked Sweetie Belle as she also looked up. "...Hiroki?" She touched a hoof to his leg and gave it a gentle shake, causing the armor to rustle a bit. It sounded hollow. Exchanging nervous glances, Apple Bloom approached and shook Hiroki's leg harder and harder. His armor continued to rattle and wobble until finally the kabuto helmet toppled off and hit the ground with a clatter. Something else rolled out, but they couldn't see what. "He... h-he's not in there?" mumbled Scootaloo. The blue flame flashed brightly to further illuminate the samurai armor, bathing it in ghostly light. it was empty. No, not entirely empty. Inside was a skeleton. The Crusaders all gulped and slowly turned to peer down at the fallen helmet. Beside it lay the skull of a pony, jaw hanging wide open. The bone cranium suddenly rolled over so that it's empty eye sockets stared up at the young fillies. "So sorry." spoke the skull, it's jaw chattering. "I seem to have lost my head... do lend me a hoof will you?" This caused all three Crusaders to scream and jump to the side so they could dive behind the counter. The suit of armor slowly lumbered upright and it seemed to be having trouble standing properly. It wobbled to and fro, bending over to try and get it's head back on. Bone creaked unpleasantly as the skull was set back into place on the spine and the helmet was pulled over it. The skeletal warrior then sauntered over to the counter, head listing this way and that way, legs buckling under it's own weight. "What troubles you little ones? I thought we were going to have fun!" wailed the skeleton. It suddenly jumped up onto the counter, pausing long enough to allow Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo to dart out from behind it, scampering and yelping across the dining room before it jumped back down on the other side. The armored skeleton lumbered into the wall and shuddered before turning around to stare at them from behind the counter. It rattled one final time before its arm came up to lean over the edge as though it were waiting for customers. The blue flame flashed again and lit the room well, the light glinting against silvery threads that ran from the armor up into the rafters. As the Crusaders all turned their heads to look up, they spotted Koga sitting beside another figure clad in black, holding the other end of the wires. He'd been moving the armor like a marionette. Eventually he dropped down to greet them properly. He was clad in a black kimono, matching hakama, and sported a kabuki mask that gave him the likeness of a fox. A fan was tucked into his obi and a shamisen strapped to his back. He clopped his hooves together twice in a ceremonial manner, causing the blue flame and the near invisible wires to vanish. Upon removing the mask, the stallion's face was revealed to belong to Hiroki. The Crusaders all let out a collective sigh and instantly switched from being terrified to entertained. Such is the way of Nightmare Night. "That was awesome, making your armor look like it was haunted!" said Scootalook, fixing her green cap. "You should've helped out with the haunted maze this year!" "That did not occur to me..." Hiroki shrugged. "Alas, perhaps next year. Are you ready to go Trick-or-Treating?" "Yeah, Cutie Mark Crusaders, assemble!" hollered Apple Bloom. "Together we are-" "The Mysterious Mare Do Well!" said Sweetie Belle, adjusting her wide hat and swept her cape behind her to strike a heroic pose. "Masked avenger and crusader for justice!" "Scootaloo of Spurwood Forest!" continued Scootaloo, flicking her cap back and drawing her toy bow as she took held a dynamic pose. "Legendary outlaw who robs from the evil rich and gives to the poor!" "And I'm the Mare with No Name!" concluded Apple Bloom, pulling her hat down to cover her eyes and tugged her vest tight around her shoulders so the golden star pinned there gave a brilliant shine. "Sheriff Apple Bloom, ready to hit the dusty trail!" "No name? Sounds like she used her own..." muttered Koga, snickering quietly. It caught the attention of Hiroki who looked up and gave Koga a flat stare as if once again telling him to shut up. "Yeah! So what're you supposed to be, some kinda clown or somethin"? inquired Apple Bloom as she tugged lightly at the hem of Hiroki's hakama. "I am one of the Kitsune-Yōkai. said Hiroki, brandishing a fan and snapping it open. He tugged the fox mask back down and waved his fan, hiding half his face with it. Upon receiving blank stares he grumbled, shoulders sagging. "A fox demon. They play tricks and cause mischief through illusion and deceit. Is this not appropriate for Nightmare Night?" "Of course it is, you look great!" said Sweetie Belle, elbowing Scootaloo before she could say otherwise. "So terrifying!" Koga snickered louder and this did little to reassure Hiroki. The samurai sighed again, shaking his head and looked more deflated than ever. Still he straightened himself properly and waved for the Crusaders to lead the way, strolling over to hold the door open for them. They scampered out into the early evening, laughing and chattering amongst themselves about how much candy they were going to get. This left the ninja alone in the rafters again and he stretched out luxuriously across the central beam so he could enjoy the peace and quiet a while longer. Though he was alone there was suddenly a nagging feeling that he was being watched. Koga looked around the restaurant and heard the rattle of armor. Turning his head to stare at the armor-clad skeleton, the kabuto helm was staring straight across the room at the door. He narrowed his eyes and turned away... only to hear the armor rattle again. It was watching him. Koga brandished a kunai and hurled it across the room at the suit of armor. It lodged into the wall behind it, severing another silvery strand that had somehow been tied between he and the helmet. Because of this when he moved the armor moved as well, furthering the illusion that it was haunted. "Hmph... very clever." Koga felt a competitive surge rising in him and a malicious grin curled across his mouth. "From this day, until the end of the day, vengeance will be mine." As far as Hiroki could tell Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo appeared to be greatly enjoying themselves as their Trick-or-Treating continued, despite the fact that it didn't seem like he was really doing much. They knocked on doors, chanted their mantra of Nightmare Night, and kept filling their treat bags with more and more treats. It was a little disconcerting to see ponies staring at him like they had when he'd first arrived in Ponyville, but he had to remind himself that it was likely due to the fact they found his costume peculiar. As far as he kne none of them had ever seen kitsune yokai before. Though as long as his charges were having a good time and he kept them out of trouble, all was well. He guessed they'd been at it for a little over two hours and he felt like they'd knocked on every house Ponyville and their treat bags looked ready to burst when Apple Bloom said they should go back to the center of town where the festival games were all set up. The Crusaders all thanked Hiroki and hugged him before they scampered off to play games and visit with their other friends. He let out a sigh through his kitsune mask and felt his shoulders relax. When he gazed around he noticed his own friends all talking and laughing together, save for poor Fluttershy who'd apparently locked herself in her cottage. Rainbow looked up after bobbing for an apple and spotted him, waving him over. "Konbanwa. Good evening." Hiroki sauntered over to the group, bowing his head politely. "Hiroki, good evening! Happy Nightmare Night!" said Twilight and gave him a bright smile. "Nice costume. You must be-" "Oooh! I know what he is! Judging by those red markings on his face, he's a peppermint!" exclaimed Pinkie Pie, grinning inanely through a mask of her own. "Ah... not quite..." replied Twilight, snickering and rolling her eyes. "He's kitsune yokai, a fox demon! They're seen as tricksters in Neippon legends, but can also appear as loyal friends and brave guardians to others." Impressed, Hiroki nodded his head in affirmation. "I thought a trickster was appropriate for your Nightmare Night." "Now now darling, it's also your Nightmare Night, isn't it? Though that really makes it our Nightmare Night." chimed in Rarity. "Did Isamaru not want to come out? I don't see him with you." inquired Spike. "I asked him to go watch over Fluttershy, since little Sweetie Belle said she took to locking herself in her cottage." Hiroki shrugged. "So many unfamiliar shapes from costumes might put him on edge." Hiroki cast his gaze through the narrow slits of his kitsune mask, peering around at his friends one at a time. Some of their costumes were easy enough to understand, while others went straight over his head. He'd been through several cities in Equestria, but it would likely be a long time before he managed to get a grasp on everything. If he ever did. Twilight Sparkle's costume was iconic enough. Some form of it was seen every year during Nightmare Night, and further still in books that filled the shelves of Equestrian libraries. She was clad in a black robe and wore a wide-rimmed pointed hat. A spellbook hung at her side and a gnarled broomstick was across her back, tucked between her wings. Even Neippon had fiendish enchantresses like this. 'The Black Witch'. Pinkie Pie's was a bit strange. It appeared as though she'd attempted to dress herself as a ninja, though no self-respecting shinobi Hiroki knew would ever be caught wearing bright red. There were black markings up her sides and along her legs, as well as great black circles that surrounded the white eyes of her red mask. He missed what she called herself because she kept talking about chimi-cherry-changas... whatever those were. Rarity had evidently decided upon a costume and had wrapped her hair up into two buns, one set on either side of her head. A white gown was draped over her frame. The sleeves were a tad loose around her legs while the chest was a bit tighter and the whole ensemble was complete with a silver belt that wrapped around her waist. She described her costume as a 'Star Princess'. Coincidentally Spike flexed when it became his turn, saying his costume went along with Rarity's. Some kind of a star cowboy...? Rainbow Dash looked more rough and tumble than usual. She wore a gray tanktop and brown pants with bandages wrapped around each of her legs. A golden icon in the shape of a compass hung from her neck and she wore a belt one might see on explorer. She looked grimy as though she'd been rolling around in the dirt. Hiroki thought carefully on what exactly she was trying to be and she eventually lost her patience and groaned, calling herself a Tomb Raider. It must have been something similar to that Daring Do heroine she liked to read about. Hiroki mused only briefly about what Fluttershy would have disguised herself as, had she decided to brave going outside. From her way with animals he imagined her to be a Pet Detective of some sort and the thought brought him to the point of chuckling. The last of his friends to be seen was Applejack and when he caught sight of her he found himself uttering a prayer to the spirits. She wore boots carved from tree bark that ran from her hooves all the way to her thighs. Each was decorated with thorns to make it look like she had claws. She wore an outfit that was made to look as if it too were carved from wood, though upon closer inspection it was only cloth. Armor was hard enough to move in, let alone solid pieces of wood. A mask covered the top half of her face and two false ears topped her own that gave her the look of a wolf. "What, aintcha never heard of the 'Big Bad Timberwolf'?" Applejack gave Hiroki a toothy grin and winked a luminous green eye at him. He considered himself fortunate that his face was covered, lest any of them see the way she'd brought out a blush from him. They all showed Hiroki the various games and attractions that Nightmare Night had to offer. The spider toss, pumpkin' chunkin', and apple bobbing to say the least. Twilight was most interested to hear what she could about kitsune and their methods of trickery and eventually convinced him to perform a trick on somepony. He explained how he'd used an illusion to lure Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo closer to his armor 'scarecrow' he'd left in the restaurant and that kitsune would often do the same, though to more dire effect. 'Foxfire' was a technique that produced a ball of flames that was very similar to light from a lantern and would lure weary travelers from safe paths. Kitsune would sometimes trick unwitting ponies into stumbling upon bogs or lakes, sometimes even to lure them to their clutches as a form of seduction. Twilight thought it sounded an awful lot like the 'will-o-the-wisp'. Against his better judgement he scrawled a few kanji into the dirt with one hoof and muttered what sounded like an incantation under his breath. The symbols gleamed briefly before disappearing and a ball of blue flame appeared between Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie as they were tossing spiders. Pinkie Pie was focused on her throw and didn't notice. The ball of blue flame danced and flickered against the night and began to flutter away. Rainbow Dash found herself mesmerized by it and crept after it one hoof at a time. The ball of light twirled and puffed enticingly as though able to see itself reflecting in her deep-pink eyes. Twilight watched carefully as it circled around her and continued to twirl further away. She followed still until the flame disappeared abruptly, leaving Rainbow to stumble face first into one of the large barrels full of water and bobbing apples with a boisterous splash. Everypony who'd seen it laughed and clopped their hooves in amusement as Rainbow Dash sputtered and pulled herself out of the barrel. "Hey!" she shouted, initially looking cross. As though to set things right, the blue flame appeared again and danced more dimly against the night air. It tickled over Rainbow Dash as though trying to dry her off and her cross look didn't last. She eventually found herself lost in the spirit of things and laughed heartily. "All right, that's a pretty neat trick." They took to sharing a few spooky stories as well, though when it came time for him to share Hiroki had to think hard. There were plenty of legends of demons and monsters, but again he thought most would be too unnerving. Eventually he decided to share with them one of the stories that had been passed to him by the monk Okina when he was just a colt. "No way... the old pony thought as he lifted the lid to his sweet box again and again, each time one of his sweet dumplings having disappeared. It's not possible! the old pony said. Each time there was one less dumpling, vanished without a trace. An evil spirit is haunting me! he cried as one by one the dumplings vanished until... there were none left. Little did he know that they had... stuck to the bottom of the lid." Hiroki was forced to pause as Pinkie Pie let out a shriek and clung tightly to Rainbow Dash. "No... no! Noooooo!" she gasped. "Oh come on Pinkie Pie, of course -you'd- think that was scary..." sniggered Rainbow Dash. "You must let me finish..." Hiroki cleared his throat to continue. "...the old pony was so terrified that his heart gave out and the poor soul died of fright. At his funeral before they were to carry his casket away, it was left at the shrine to allow others to pay their respects and bid his soul farewell... Tis' the last time we'll see him they said. The priest agreed... and so he went to open the casket... open it he did... but the old pony was gone! The priest shrieked in fear as he looked down to see the old pony was stuck to the bottom of the lid!" There was a collective gasp and cries of terror filled the air, followed soon with the sounds of laughter. Things were beginning to slow down around the main festival. There weren't any colts or fillies around, all of which had gone home to go to bed and even adults were starting to disperse. Hiroki had stuck around to watch the rest of his friends partake in the food and games, even witnessing a grand entrance by the dreaded Nightmare Moon to send a few scares through ponies before the night was over. He'd taken to sweeping up discarded litter as the crowd continued to diminish one or two ponies at a time. Applejack trotted up to Hiroki and bumped his shoulder. "Hey partner! That's awful nice of ya', but we got volunteers already signed up to do this. You don't gotta putz around cleanin' up after us." she said, giving him another toothy grin and beckoned him to follow. "Besides, I've got somethin' better." Hiroki lay the broom he was using against a nearby table and follow he did. Applejack led him past the outskirts of Ponyville and towards Sweet Apple Acres, the stalks from the Apples' corn maze visible from a good ways out. They passed a few ponies leaving, including Koga who had apparently managed to pry himself from his resting place in order to experience the haunted maze for himself. "Commendable, most chilling!" said the ninja, though it sounded more than a little patronizing. "I think you'll have no trouble scaring the pants off Hiroki, fair Applejack." Koga cackled loudly, causing Hiroki to narrow his eyes with suspicion. He turned peer at Applejack who was now doing her best to smile and look innocent. The samurai furrowed his brow and let out a sigh. To think Koga would stoop to enlisting her aide just to wound his pride... "All right, so I brought ya' out here to see the maze. It'll still be fun. Isn't it at least a little spooky? Dark night like this n' all? C'mon!" Applejack sped up as they approached the maze and disappeared past the entrance, causing Hiroki to canter after her in order to keep up. He spotted Big Mac talking with Cheerilee and hastily bowed his head politely as he passed them. He was hardly claustrophobic, but the air was thick and the ears of corn proved effective at creating twisting corridors he now had to traverse. Had he been carrying his katana he could have made short work and carved himself a path, but he had to remind himself that wasn't in the spirit of the game. He'd simply have to remain calm and trust his senses and follow Applejack's lead. Hiroki followed Applejack along the path forward, left, forward some more then right until they came upon a gnarled fake tree that had been set up. The obviously fake skeleton of a pony was hung from a noose, dangling to mark the entrance to Granny Smith's 'Boneyard'. The pair entered the corridor, twigs snapping hither and yon beneath their hooves. She looked down and grinned, expecting to see white twigs that looked like bone. It spooked the little fillies for sure, but it was still a good illusion. As the mists dispersed she froze in terror at seeing they were walking over a path of what looked like... real bones. "H-Hiroki! Stop! Look!" she yelped. "Hm?" He stopped and followed her gaze down a the path littered with bleached bones. "Oh, yes. Please watch your step." "A-aren't you scared? ...even a little? Y-yer walkin' over the the remains of ponies who didn't make it out!" she said, convincing herself that Big Mac must have upped the ante, as it were. It didn't stop her from trembling as she struggled not to break any bones while they creaked under her hooves. "It would not be the first time I have had to walk over the remains of the fallen." he said simply. Looking back, Hiroki gave a concerned frown. "Are you all right? We can go back if you wish..." "Nothin' doin', I'm fine!" replied a testy Applejack. Somehow his infuriating calm and the joyous expression imparted by his kitsune mask strengthened her resolve, even if it was starting to annoy her. They came across several more terrifying phenomenon, each more disconcerting than the last and each time Hiroki brushed it aside as though it weren't real. Of course it wasn't real... at least, Applejack was pretty sure it wasn't... had Big Mac changed the maze without telling her? The pair encountered a creepy looking filly who was covered in bloody bandages that darted around a corner just as their eyes caught sight of her. Applejack yelped. "Ah! D-did you see that?!" "I did. Very odd." said Hiroki calmly. "Th-that's it? Just odd? Just now that youngin'-" "Yes, that is why I said it was odd." Hiroki turned forward to continue, leaving Applejack standing there flabbergasted. "Oh come on!" she shouted as she heard voices whispering from all around them, causing her to hide behind Hiroki. This wasn't anything like what she thought Big Mac and Granny Smith had planned this year. With Fluttershy at home, this -had- to be the real thing... right? "What about these voices?" "Voices alone can do nothing." said Hiroki simply. "I don't suppose that bothers you either?!" Applejack bucked anxiously as a ghostly severed head sped past them through the air. "It is not attacking us." said Hiroki, still annoyingly cool and collected. His insufferable calm was really starting to get to her. Applejack was growing less scared and more agitated that he could be so dismissive of such terrifying phenomenon. Any one of these would have been enough to send their other friends screaming and galloping the other way. How could Hiroki act so cool?! "And that?!" shouted Applejack as she pointed out the filly they'd seen earlier at a crossroad in the corn maze. "Even if it were real she is still only a child." Hiroki shrugged, turning to stare the alleged specter down. The bandaged young filly was dripping red everywhere, the white linen's stained and blue lights flickering behind her eyes. She seemed to be uttering 'Go home, go home...' At this point, Applejack finally growled in frustration and began to stomp forward. Blue lights... blue lights. It was foxfire. The lights were going to mesmerize her, they were luring her right into a trap. "Applejack, wait-" began Hiroki, before he was abruptly cut short. In an instant the ghostly filly's bandages shredded and it transformed, growing ten time's it's size and bloating with muscle. All four of it's limbs bulged, making it look like there were boulders stuffed into each of it's forearms. It's coat disappeared to bear fiery red skin, a single horn protruded from it's head, and that blue fire flashed behind it's eyes. The beast bared wildly misshapen fangs and brandished a spiked iron club, swinging it over it's head. An ogre-yokai?! How had one of these foul things gotten here of all places? Hiroki moved to draw his sword, only to realize he had left it behind when his hoof touched the shamisen he was carrying in it's place. Applejack froze, staring up at the bloated monster just as it raised it's club in preparation... and then it gave a might swing, bringing the iron club down. Hiroki shot forward to intercept it, but he wouldn't make it in time. Instead of hitting Applejack, the club smashed into the ground in front of her, causing it to cave in and sending her tumbling into a pit below. This left Hiroki's target free and clear so he leapt and turned his charge into a flying buck-kick, slamming his hoof into the ogre only to see it vanished in a puff of smoke. A small, crudely carved figurine appeared in it's place, falling to the ground. He recognized the object almost immediately as one of Koga's miniature idols he used for some of his ninjutsu techniques. He should have known from the start this would happen... "Applejack!" he suddenly whipped around, looking at the hole in the ground. He made haste to climb down into the pit after her. She'd bumped her head on a slab of rock and lay there for several moments, looking up in a daze. Applejack saw Hiroki's face, his eyes wide and his teeth bared as he was looking her over. Was that... fear? As she squirmed to right herself she felt something wet oozing beneath her. It felt warm to the touch and when she brought her hoof up she could see it flecked with something red. "I-is that my... my..." she muttered quietly, her green eyes going in and out of focus. Was that her blood? It was everywhere. She wasn't sure she could spit it out until her hoof brushed against something. A metal can. "...that's my paint bucket. From the barn..." Hiroki helped her sit upright and let out a slow sigh of relief when it turned out she wasn't hurt. Paint... he'd get Koga for this if it was the last thing he did. Since she was still a little out of it, he took it upon himself to pick Applejack up and carry on his back so that she wouldn't have to walk. After climbing back up out of the hole the mists had cleared enough to show that they were actually at the end of the corn maze. At least the ninja had waited until the end to throw him curve ball like that. "I'll take you home..." said Hiroki, turning towards the farm as Applejack held on to him. "Thanks... guess that was scarier for me than it was for you... sorry iffin' it was kind of a let down..." Applejack also sighed, flushing with embarrassment at her lack of composure. She was supposed to know the ins and outs of that blasted maze. "I suspect Koga changed things... to frighten me for you." he replied, lowering his head. "But none of his tricks worked... I was the one actin' like a scaredy cat. The whole time you were cool as a cucumber... right up until I fell." Hiroki stopped. It took her a moment before she caught on. When she fell. "...were you scared... when you thought I was hurt?" After a moment he continued to walk towards the house, seemingly refusing to answer the question. Applejack frowned and lay her head against Hiroki's back until she felt him nod once and he uttered a quiet, "Yes." Applejack felt a smile draw across her face and she pressed her cheek to the back of his head, giving him a hug by squeezing from behind. Hiroki sighed after having to admit he'd been fearful, but when he felt her hug he found a ghost of a smile fleeting across his face. "Nightmare Night," he said. "What a fright." "Give me something sweet to bite." finished Applejack, grinning her toothy Timberwolf grin. Koga watched from a distance, having taken residence in one of the closest trees that would allow him to see into the maze. Each time one of his illusions were triggered he snickered again and again as Applejack grew increasingly frustrated with Hiroki's apparent lack of fear. Of course he was sharp enough to see what was going on, though Koga hadn't exactly bothered to make it too subtle. Oni and yurei were of Neippon and there no other ponies around who could use his style of ninja magic to bring them to life. He'd counted on scaring Applejack to the point she'd walk right into the final trap and in turn, frighten Hiroki when seeing her 'hurt'. "Don't take it too hard Hiroki. A little fear is good for you." snickered the ninja, a smug grin tugging at his muzzle. "How about a lot of fear...?" came a voice from behind. "The night is still young... stand to and show me your courage!" Koga turned spun around to find himself face to face with none other than Nightmare Moon. Her wings spread wide, her eyes narrowed malevolently, and her fangs bared in a predatory grin as she stared him down. His yellow eyes widened with fright and he let out a sharp yell, nearly falling from the tree as he fumbled over the right words to use his magic and teleport away in a puff of black smoke. She cackled happily after scaring the ninja away and took his place on the heavy tree branch, peering at Hiroki and Applejack before her head turned skyward. Her starlit mane billowed behind her and she took a moment to shapeshift from Nightmare Moon to her normal self. Upon looking back to the samurai she smiled and bowed her head. "True courage is not the absence of fear, but the mastery of it." He head definitely heard that unholy laughter on the wind, though still he trudged on with Applejack on his back. Hiroki looked over his shoulder to see the silhouette of Princess Luna against the full moon and felt a chill run up his spine. Princess Luna... not Nightmare Moon. A curious smile tugged at the corners of his mouth and he found himself bowing his head respectfully to the Princess of the Night. "Yoru no mottomo odorokubeki..." - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -