//------------------------------//
// Costumes 
// Story: To Call the Moon My Own 
// by That_Random_Pony 
//------------------------------//


Nightmare Night was only a week away, and decorative skeletons and pumpkins were scattered through Ponyville. Everypony was excited for the holiday filled with sweets and frights, and Tony was too, seeing how this was his first time. Halloween wasn't something he was too interested in, as Eishla had occupied him with gem carving and Kital songs. She gave him money each year to go, and Dan also encouraged him, but he preferred to stay home and help his caretaker.

The only reason he was going to dress up was because he volunteered to take the CMC around Ponyville instead of Granny Smith this year. She insisted she could take the trio of fillies, right before she fell asleep. The only thing he needed now was a costume of his own. 

"Order up!" Pinkie rang her bell, which she bought specifically for him, and hoofed him a platter of Chocolate Gobblers. 

He dropped the sweets off to the couple with a smile and a nod before going back over to the counter. "Hey, Pinkie. What are you gonna be this year?" Tony asked.

"Hmm… eh," she shrugged. "Don't know! I always go to the costume shop the day before! Or if there isn't anything, I just go to Rarity! She makes pretty good costumes too! And they don't smell funny like regular ones!"

"Hmm… maybe she could make one for me, then. I don't think there are costumes in my size," he chuckled. "Could you help me take Scoots, Applebloom, and Sweetie costume shopping?"

"Sure!" Pinkie smiled. "But when we're done. We still have a couple more hours!"

The bell at the door chimed as another customer came in. Tony recongized the blue stallion making his way to one of the empty tables, and promptly made his way to him. "Evening, Tony," Crescent nodded.

Tony nodded back. "What would you like?" 

"Just a cup of coffee, thank you," he grinned. "No sugar." 

Tony missed the small smirk and slipped Pinkie the note. She saluted and poured the mug quickly, using the heat-enchanted holder to pour it nice and steaming. She passed it back and smiled, as did he before bringing it to Crescent.

"So is there anything else?" Tony asked. Crescent sipped his drink and shook his head.

"I was wondering how that azure gem I sold you was doing," he chuckled. "I'm assuming you put it to good use?"

"Most of it," Tony laughed. "But it was a great help. Where did you get it again?"

He could've sworn he saw a smirk appear for the briefest of moments. "In the Badlands," Crescent said. "A handful of 'em actually. Sold them off except for the one. They were all put in these weird structures."

Tony nodded, his grin fading fast. "Guess you got lucky, huh?"

Crescent shrugged. "Maybe." He finished his drink and stood, hoofing over two bits. "I'll see you around."

Tony nodded, certain he actually smirked this time. Crescent wasn't just some creepy merchant, that much was clear. He'd made one fatal mistake.

No pony ever said handful. 

Better look out for any trouble with him. I've already underestimated the ponies once… don't wanna make the same mistake.

                                                                                     



Tony carried Scootaloo on his head while Sweetie waited for her turn, but Applebloom just shuffled alongside him. "Have any idea what you girls wanna be?" Tony asked.

"Maybe," Scootaloo shrugged. "I wanna be a werepony this year."

"Ah'm thinkin' about a Spider-Mare costume!" Applebloom shoutd gleefully.

Sweetie Belle looked at the floor in thought as they moved along. "A pirate… no… a clown!"

"Too creepy," Scootaloo shivered.

The filly frowned as she went back to thinking. "Hmm… I know!"

"What?" Tony asked. Sweetie smiled and continued to shuffle along, remaining silent until she realized it was her turn.

With the unicorn filly now on his head, they made their last turn and stood in front of Nightmare's Wardrobe. Chuckling to himself, he nudged Applebloom inside and followed through. Sweetie slid down his arm and joined the other two Crusaders who were awed by the hundreds of costumes, both scary and silly. 

"Evening you four!" Tony turned to greet the owner of the shop: a yellow and green mare with a set of bat pony ear muffs over her own. "Come shoppin' a bit late?"

"Yup!" Applebloom smiled. "Where's Pinkie? Ah thought she was comin'?"

"I'm up here silly!" They looked to the ceiling where Pinkie was curled up in a large butterfly costume. "I'm a cocoon!"

"How'd ya get up there?" the farmfilly asked. Pinkie shrugged and jumped down smoothly.

"C'mon! There's a hundred other costumes!" Pinkie squeed. "Let's go!"

The fillies galloped after Pinkie and looked through each of the different costumes. Tony was sort of surprised that they had such grizzly costumes, like a bloodied hockey mask and a hoe. There were a few other things for fillies and colts, which were similar to human designs for children. Pinkie popped out of a candy bucket and gasped at the number of candies for sale. While Tony was still trying to figure it out, Scootaloo jumped in front of him and roared as best she could.

He'd heard better… and done better.

"Found it so soon?" Tony laughed.

"Aww. Don't you ever get scared?" Scootaloo questioned.

"If you've seen what I've seen, nothing scares you anymore," he grinned. "Seen Applebloom?"

The orange filly took off her wolf mask and sighed. "Think I saw her over in the Superhero place," Scootaloo said. "C'mon! I wanna surprise her!"

She snuck as best as she could behind him, then decided to cling to his back so she wouldn't be seen. Tony snickered, watching Applebloom throw a hoof out and make sound effects akin to "pshew!" 

"Tony! Look what I found!" She did a small spin and showed off her new outfit; Tony imagined the small smirk under her mask. "Neat, right?"

"GROOOWR!"

Applebloom's head position made him think she wanted to facehoof, but she only sighed. "Scoots, ya do this every year," she giggled. "Ya ain't scarin' nopony."

"Aw, you either?" Scootaloo groaned. "That stinks. Hey, where's Sweetie? Maybe I could get her! It always works!"

"Where is she anyway?" Applebloom questioned.

"Let's go find her before-"

"RAAAAHH!" 

"AHHHHH!"

Tony laughed as Applebloom fumbled backwards and tripped, knocking her and Scootaloo over. The sound of giggling made their screams die down, and Sweetie winked playfully.

"Like my costume?" she giggled. She smiled from inside a manticore getup, where her face was visible inside the creature's mouth. "I was hoping they had it!"

Scootaloo and Applebloom panted quickly, getting up and nodding. "Y-Yeah… pretty realistic," Scootaloo panted. 

"Did I get you?" Sweetie smirked.

"Both of us," the farmfilly chuckled. "Ah think we're done. Now where's Pinkie?"

Shrugging, Tony waved for them to follow and came upon the pink mare growling with a bear costume on. He kneeled down and whispered to them, sly smiles sprouting all around. Tony hid behind the racks of costumes, watching as the Crusaders crawled up behind Pinkie. They got onto their hind legs… aaaand…

"BOO!"

"AHHH!" Pinkie zoomed to the ceiling, grabbing onto the light and swinging violently. She peeked an eye open, then both shot open as she watched the four of them laughing. "Haha! You got me!"

"Sure did," Tony laughed. Pinkie's smile caused him to quiet down and gulp. 

"Gonna getcha back on Nightmare Niiight!" Pinkie sang as she bounced to the front of the store. With a gulp, Tony ushered the fillies along.

The mare behind the counter tossed away her magazine and smiled warmly. "Will that be all?" she asked.

"Yes." Tony grabbed the bag of bits, but Pinkie smacked his hand away.

"What about you?!" Pinkie exclaimed. "You have to get a costume! It's almost Nightmare Night!"

"She has a point," the mare behind him said. "If you're going trick-or-treating with your fillies it'd be a fun time to dress up!"

The five of them laughed softly. "They're not mine," Tony laughed. "But… if anything… is there any costume in my size?"

The mare thought silently, humming as she stood up and trotted to the back of the store. "Hold on… I think I saw something… back here. Where are you?" He heard several loud clangs and the sound of boxes tumbling around. "A-ha! Here we go!"

Tony's grin faded and he shook his head. "No."

"Aww, why not?! It'd look so cute on you!" Pinkie giggled.

"No," Tony repeated. "I am not dressing up as that."

"Tony! Come on! Jus' this once!" Applebloom pleaded, half-snickering. "Ah promise we won't do nothin' bad!"

"Yeah! It'd be awesome!" Scootaloo laughed. 

"Please please please pleeeeease?" Sweetie asked.

"N. O. Spells: no," Tony emphasised on the last bit. "I've seen some dumb costumes, but this is just… no."

The fillies and Pinkie huffed, and the Crusaders formed up as they moved forward. It was too late, and once again, the eyes were set upon him. He looked into each of the slowly growing eyes, the quivering lips, and the twitching noses. Pinkie joined in, but she was outmatched by the adorable little fillies.

"Come on now. You can't say no to those faces," the clerk giggled. 

The last ounce of resistance slipped from him, and he sighed in defeat. "How much?"

"WHOO-HOO!"

Tony chuckled bitterly as he gazed at the costume, unwilling to accept that of all references to the humans, this was it.

It'll probably give Luna a good laugh… or two… or seven.

"So how much will that be?" Tony sighed with a smile.

She checked the price tags of each costume and printed out a receipt. "Eighteen bits, please. The big one's free," she laughed. 

The man handed them over with a small shake of his head, carrying the costume under his arm while his other carried the fillies. "I'll take these, then," he smiled. "Goodnight."

"Have a nice scare!" the mare called as they went through the door. 

The fillies climbed onto various parts of his body again, Applebloom taking her turn on his head. "Thanks fer buyin' the costumes, Tony," Applebloom said, nuzzling him.

"Yeah. You're the… best," Sweetie yawned. Tony glanced up to the rising moon, turning to see Pinkie thinking the same thing.

"Need more help?" she asked.

"I got 'em. Just head on back and keep an eye on the two," Tony nodded. 

Pinkie saluted with a smile then bounced off to Sugarcube Corner. Tony took the three sleepy fillies to their homes, starting with Applebloom. He said goodbye and went off to lay Scootaloo beside Rainbow on her usual cloud. Sweetie was nodding off once again on his arm, using the crook of his elbow to get comfortable. Even though her horn was poking into him, she still looked adorable sleeping. He knocked on Rarity's door, and he chuckled at her horrified expression when she saw his and Sweetie's costume. 

"Pinkie Promise you won't say anything about mine," he quickly said. 

She went through the motions and took Sweetie in her faint blue aura. "Did they pressure you into buying that… thing?" Rarity questioned, disgust evident in her tone. 

Tony nodded. "Yeah. But hey, if it's funny for them maybe it'll be a good laugh for everypony else," he smiled. "Might even get a laugh out of Luna."

Rarity giggled and laid Sweetie on the comfiest couch in her lower staircase. "So… I don't mean to pry, but do you have anything planned for Nightmare Night with you special somepony?" She asked with a teasing smile.

"Other than enjoying ourselves, I'm not sure," Tony admitted. "Maybe the haunted house near Town Square? A good scare maybe?"

Rarity smiled a bit brighter at that. "She certainly enjoyed herself last year with the mischief," she said. "I should put Sweetie to sleep. Thank you again. And I still cannot believe you bought that."

"Jro pikat ingarik gunask jra ugetto dolt"

The door closed on Tony's dumbfounded face, and as he started for home he dove into his thoughts. The voice… it belonged to Nimani. She said the same exact thing as Rarity… but when? Did he go trick-or-treating with her? Or was it just dressing up? He groaned in frustration, images of her flashing through his mind in an… arousing pirate costume. More pictures of… him as a captain. She… she gave him a kiss on his cheek, then…

Bonk!

"Shit." Tony rubbed his forehead, glancing to the opening door and seeing a smirking Nera'ak by the name Spike.

"You've got hands for a reason," he laughed. His eyes lingered on the costume, and he fell on his back laughing. "Did you seriously buy that?! Even… even Pinkie hasn't worn it!"

Tony shook his head and went into the basement, hiding it behind one of Twilight's various machines. When he went back upstairs, Spike was still cracking up with tears falling down his cheeks. "Yeah, yeah. Get to bed, already," Tony chuckled.

He followed his own advice and went into his room to change. His feet cracked in euphoria as they were freed from their leather confines, and he pulled off his sweater and shirt to put on a thermal. He went under the covers, staring into the night through his balcony door. Sleep was on his mind, but the memories surpassed that. They just wouldn't go away, let him be happy now that he finally found someplace to stay. What was Discord trying to do? Seperate him from Luna? Survivor's guilt?

"It's easier than you think." Tony bolted upright and charged a beam right at the draconequus's face. "Just so you know, it could bounce off me or pass through me or teleport somewhere or-"

"Speak," Tony barked. "Now."

Discord chuckled, stroking his beard calmly. "Ah, I knew you were a perfect match for her! So harsh and to the point with somepony you don't like!" he laughed. "But, all playfulness aside, I'm not trying to torture you or drive you insane. That's actually a fun idea-!"

"Discord, the point, now," Tony said. 

"Yes yes yes, fine. I want to help you," Discord smirked. "Now it may not seem that way, but you've acted as if you've forgiven everyone and everything that's happened, but you still have one last piece to complete."

Tony swung his legs over the side of the bed and stared down Discord. "It would've been better if you just let me forget," he remarked. "Now I can't go a few days without thinking of Nimani. How is this going to help?"

Discord's body disappeared until only his mouth remained mid-air. "In time, dear prince. In time."

He wanted nothing more than to blast that smug grin into nonexistence, but he risked blowing a hole in his room and burning down the tree. Laying back down, he placed his left hand over his chest and muttered a small chant.

Mother of Creation, Mother of Limir, Mother of Ichima, please, guide me through this maze of emotion, these fragments of a past I can no longer recall. I wish to make Limir as happy as can be, but I have to have my own peace and happiness to do so. Rekotshko.

Sleep came swiftly, and along with it came his past.

                                                                                      



"You should get this one!" Nimani giggled as she pointed to a dragon costume. "A reminder of home!"

Tony shook his head with a laugh. "C'mon, kid, pick something!" Dan chuckled, throwing his arm around Tony. "Get this one!"

He punched Dan in the shoulder, as he was pointing towards a dirty nun costume. "Why don't you?" he quipped. "Look, I'm gonna be… occupied with some stuff tomorrow and I don't see the point."

Dan chuckled and patted his back. "Um, candy for one, cute girls as a second." He winked at Nimani, who giggled lightly. "And, it's Halloween! Come on, just this once! I promise I won't egg any houses if you do it."

That was Dan's favorite thing to do on Halloween. It was the one day of the year he could cause mischief and not get blamed. "You promised," Tony said sternly. "So if I see one egg, I'm gone."

"Don't worry," Nimani smiled, grasping his hand. "I'm sure you won't."

The drawl in her tone made his interest pique, but Dan dragged him to a store manager. "Number 52," Dan said. "And 63."

"One second," the man nodded. He disappeared for a few minutes before bringing out the two costumes. "Have a good night."

"Thanks," Dan nodded. "Come on, kid."

Tony shook his head at the image of a pirate captain, but Nimani laughed beside him and rested her head on his shoulder. "Don't worry, Reku'un," she said softly. "You'll look as handsome as ever."

"Jro hute nolo (I hope so)" Tony muttered. Nimani hugged him with a small smile.

"Jra turk ot vikaten ursh, Reku'un. Igoat, dor jro? (You have to lighten up, Reku'un. Please, for me?)" Nimani asked. Tony smiled, then gingerly grasped her left hand with his own.

"Yuntaket dor jra. Brak Dan (Only for you. And Dan)" he chuckled. She kissed him sweetly, then went off to get her own costume.

Two days passed, and Tony stood outside of Nimani's home with Dan, both in their costumes. The door opened, and Tony's jaw dropped, along with a small burst of energy passing over the area. The Signa female giggled as she strutted down the stairs in her sensual pirate costume. The pink stockings came up to around the middle of her thighs, and the upper portion perked her girls up slightly. Dan admitted mentally that she looked very nice, even if Diane was right next to him in an equally seductive nurse's outfit. 

Maybe we could role play later!

Dan laughed, getting a weird glance from Diane. "What?" She laughed.

"Nothing," Dan snickered. "Come on let's go TONY!"

The houses and people around them blurred until only the three of them remained. The gashes and cuts along his body were accompanied with a broken arm. Nimani changed from her costume to torn, bloodied clothes that showed her bleeding abdomen, and Dan's straight-jacket morphed to a ragged shirt and pants. They grasped a hand, Dan on his right, Nimani on his left, then fell to the ground, which was now several miles below them. Wind hammered his bleeding side, and he heard gunfire behind him.

He looked down to Nimani, who shook her head with tears in her eyes. "Let go."

"I'm not letting go! Either of you!" 

He yelled back and forth with Nyla, and Nimani forced herself free. Tony screamed as she fell, then pulled Dan on and pushed off of Nyla as he dove after her. He grabbed her with both arms, meeting her blue eyes. She grabbed his face and kissed him passionately, both falling to their imminent deaths. Tony grunted, then screamed as Arthanian bullets pierced his back. He glimpsed at Nimani, but something was wrong. Her grip on him loosened, and her eyes dilated foggishly. He gasped quietly, but it was all clear to him.

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

He screamed the entire way down to the Earth, slamming into it with tremendous force. More shrouded images of dead soldiers, a field of black blood and roars. At the center of it all, was him. Crying, screaming, and fighting.

For Nimani.