//------------------------------// // 6. A Nightmare Carol (Carrot Top) // Story: Are You Afraid of the Dark? // by trixiesshow //------------------------------// While another round of drinks had been properly poured the conversation passed on for awhile. Twilight had told the history and process of making Whisky, which surprisingly everypony was very interested in. This especially struck Trixie who had gotten that crazy look in her eye. She clearly envisioned herself and Sparkle being able to manufacture unlimited amounts of bourbon. Her mood faltered when she heard how long the whiskey has to sit though. “Yeah.. I'm not that patient, I need my bourbon within at least three hours of getting any paperwork related to Rainbow Dash.” Trixie spoke as she quickly let her dream die. Sparkle nodded slowly at Trixie and then promptly ignored her, “Hey Carrot Top, you haven't told a story yet!.” She was trying her best to include everypony. “Mmhmm, and I was doing a good job until you pointed it out.” Carrot Top responded flatly Friendship is complicated. “Oh come on Carrot Top!” Cheerilee nudged her friend, “Everypony else.. Except Trixie.. has told a story.” Cheerlee said as she shot a sideways glance at Trixie. “I've told you guys over and over, I'm going last! Haven't you ever heard the adages, best for last. Last but not least. First come first served. Don’t let the cat out of the bag. Adding fuel to fire. Strike while the iron is hot....” Trixie continued with no particular direction, though her eyes did keep wondering back to the fire.. “Well Trixie has had enough,” Lyra managed to say to the group whilst simultaneously looking only at Trixie. “Shut up, you're ruining Carrot Top's story.” Trixie fussed back. Sparkle attempted to help her friend as she leaned over and whispered, “Uh.. Trixie, she hasn't started yet.” “Shh, I knew that.” Trixie yelled back probably louder than intended. Carrot Top glanced at everypony, she seemed almost lost. “I don't really know any stories you girls would find scary. I've been thinking all night and nothing has come to mind.” Cheerilee offered her help, once again the teacher in her shown through. “Well hasn't there ever been a story that particularly shook you? Maybe you could just bring that out and share it with us.” Everypony nodded and Carrot Top gathered herself. “Well there was this one story from when I was a filly..” Nopony spoke so Carrot Top took it as her cue to continue. She took a deep breath and steadied herself. “Once upon a time there was a mean pony. He always thought only of himself and never gave to anyone. He was hopelessly selfish. We'll call him Trixor,” “Hey!!” “Hush Trixie!!” “One day Trixor came into his workplace.. He's the boss, did I mention that? Yeah, so he's getting ready to leave work only to read his last memo of the day. It's from his best employee, a selfless colt who always does his best to give everything he has for the benefit of others. We'll call him Cody Thomas. Well Trixor reads the note and it says that Cody is asking for time off. Cody has never once asked for a day off, but Trixor gets angry nonetheless. Scary angry! He walks out and smashes the flower pot on Cody's desk. “Cody!” he yells, “You want tomorrow off?” “If quite convenient, Sir” The polite and respectful Cody responds. “You want a day's wages for no work?” The ridiculous Trixor asked, albeit rhetorically. “Well it is only once a year sir.” The encouragable and brave Cody stood up to his boss. “A poor excuse for picking a man's pocket every... year... on this.. the day of Nightmare Night!! OOOooo!” Trixor said as he headed for the door. “I don't see how that's relevant since Nightmare Night isn't an officially recognized Equestrian business holiday sir. Also the noise and waving of your hooves seemed inappropriate” The industrious and honorable Cody pointed out to his cruel boss. “Quiet Cody!! But I suppose you must have the whole day. Cursed paid vacations.. Be here all the earlier next morning!” Trixor yelled as he slammed the door behind him. “That night Trixor ate dinner alone because no pony loved him and he'll probably die alone. Anyway, his old work partner comes swooping in!! Oh and he's dead, so this is a ghost, keep that in mind. His friend comes sweeping in, “Trixor!! I've come to haunt you cause your miserable and mean and ask WAY too much from Cody.” and then he shook his chains nd then the walls started to ooze green slime!!..” “Alright, Carrot Top. We're satisfied, you can stop.” Cheerilee cut her off. “So the atmosphere is good? I can move on to the next part?” Carrot Top beamed. She was clearly pleased with the sufficiency of horror in her story. While everyone did share her smile, it wasn't for the same reason. “No, I mean stop the story. You've successfully wobbled out of control attempting to make this tale scary. Quite an uphill battle considering that it's a Hearth's Warming Eve story.” Cheerilee barely finished before slowly breaking out into laughter. “Oh..” Carrot Top's smile dropped but only for a second before she went on, “But that story IS scary! I couldn't sleep at all the first time I heard it!” “Did you also happen to hear it ON Hearth's Warming Eve? Because no filly sleeps on Hearth's Warming Eve.” Trixie added without the eye roll she so badly wanted to include, but quickly reassured her friend, “You are the element of generosity though, it makes sense you would have been deeply disturbed by that story. Especially since that's the lesson of it and it was really well written.” Carrot Top laughed, “Oh yeah, I suppose that's true. I never thought of that.” She furrowed her brow and continued, “Scary stories are hard to come up with though. That story scared me half to death but fear is so subjective.” Lyra nodded, “It's kind of like music, there just isn't a perfect good.” Sparkle looked over at Lyra and added her two cents, “Aristrotle's teacher Polo might have some strong feelings about that statement.” They all stared at Sparkle. “Polo's 'The Form of the Good'?” Unspoken between them was an understanding that this was the best way to respond to her. And as a bonus, the lack of debate clearly drove her nuts. By this point they'd even gotten the timing down too. 5, 4, 3, 2... “UGH!! Fine! I'll hush!” Sparkle groaned on cue, though it was obvious her annoyance was more for show than anything else. “Anyway” Lyra continued, unphased by Sparkles interruption, “Don't worry about it, I'm sure you'll think of a great scary story before next time.” Carrot Top grinned, “Actually, I already thought of one. It's about this horrible green monster with a head that's not screwed on right that lives just outside of a village, who sneaks into their houses one night..” Trixie patted her friend on the withers with a smile. “Hold onto it for next year, Carrot Top..”