//------------------------------//
// Our first Nightmare Night together 
// Story: Count's Traveling Haunted House 
// by misskoifishpony 
//------------------------------//

The Harvest moon shining over Ponyville was radiant, full, and glowing with calm beauty tonight. Princess Luna especially made the Harvest moon special for her honorary holiday: Nightmare Night. The moon looked like a fresh and ripe pumpkin, sitting peacefully in the sky as if it was in pumpkin patch. The moon was also accented with a couple of streams of grey fog in order to bring splendor to the shadows lurking behind the moon. All of Luna's constellations come out to play tonight, unafraid of any monsters or tricksters that lie below them. All of Ponyville was a buzzed and active on this spooky night. Trick or treaters skipping from one house to the next singing rhymes of ghosts and spooks, the smell of warm pies traveling through the cold but crisp air, and sparkling green lights hanging on the rims of the town hall.

While the rest of the ponies were busy going from stand to the next in the town square, there was one pony waiting in the front of the town hall. And that pony was Twilight Sparkle. Although tonight, she didn't look like Twilight Sparkle. She magically dyed her coat pure white, along with dying her mane a light shade of rainbow. She even slightly curved her mane to give it a wavy and moving effect. She wore golden shoes on her hooves with a matching gold tiara. Tonight, she was dressed her mentor Princess Celestia. Twilight figured she dress up as something every pony would recognize no matter what. She definitely learned her lesson from last Nightmare Night.

Twilight was waiting patiently at the town hall for her friends. They were planning to visit every fun haunted house in Ponyville. But according to Twilight's watch, Spike and Rarity and Sweetie Belle were precisely 10 minutes late.

Twilight sighed and thought How long does it take to coordinate costumes? Rarity already had the costumes prepared, so what's the hold up? 

Twilight didn't mean to think these impatient thoughts, perhaps she was excited to have an actual Nightmare Night. Last Nightmare Night was spent helping Princess Luna, which was something she would never regret. But Twilight wanted to experience all the joyous activities that make this holiday great, especially with her friends. As for the rest of her friends, they still had 5 minutes left.

Meanwhile lurking in the shadows, a colorful rainbow colored pony skeleton smirked at Twilight from behind the Welcome to Ponyville sign. The skeleton pony tiptoed towards her and then decides to hang itself on a pillar next to her. Twilight felt something was behind, so she looked around to find it but only saw her shadow instead. She sighed then rotated her heads towards the pillar to the right of her with her eyes closed.

"Booga-Boooga!" said the come to life skeleton.

Twilight let out a girlish high pitched scream before she hid her face into her hooves. But this was short lived when she heard a very familiar chuckle.

"Rainbow Dash!" shouted a very angry Twilight.

This exclamation only made Rainbow burst laughing even more she flew up around Twilight. Once Rainbow finally caught her breath, she answered "You should have heard your scream. It was so…so…girly! It should just like those school fillies in the corny black and white horror flicks! It's especially funny having that scream coming out of dear and mighty Princess Celestia!"

Her last statement made Rainbow Dash burst out laughing again, while Twilight gave her a very stern and frustrated expression on her face.

Twilight groaned "Well, at least you're not late and that's what counts. Anyway, have you heard from the others yet?"

Rainbow Dash said "Yeah, I saw AJ and Apple Bloom walking from Sweet Apple Acres on my way here. So they should be here soon. Not sure about Rarity, or Fluttershy or…what? What's on my tail?"

She pulled her tail to her face to discover a green little creature wearing a Pinkie Pie mask on its face.

Rainbow asked "Pinkie Pie?"

"I'm right here Silly Billy!" exclaimed the real Pinkie Pie popping up from behind Rainbow's tail. Pinkie Pie was wearing a costume that looked like her pet alligator Gummy.

Pinkie then said while picking Gummy off of Rainbow's tail "Does Gummy look great in his costume?"

Rainbow states awkwardly "Uh…yeah he sure does. The resemblance in just…remarkable."

Pinkie replies while cuddling Gummy "I know right?! This whole idea of dressing up as each other was his idea. Isn't he just the most creative little thing?"

Twilight giggled "He sure is Pinkie."

The three mares soon heard a distant "HOWDY Y'ALL!" coming from the left of the town hall. It was Applejack and Apple Bloom, dressed as a mama timber wolf and her cub.

Once the earth ponies saw their friends, they waved excitedly at them and ran over to the town hall.

Pinkie Pie was the first to say "Wowie-Ca-Zowie! You guys look great!"

Rainbow added "Yeah seriously, your costumes look so awesome!"

Applejack replied "Aww thanks guys. Hope Apple Bloom and I weren't too late."

Twilight then answered "Well not too terribly late."

"Rawr!" Roared Scootaloo as she pounced on top of Apple Bloom.

Scootaloo was dressed as a dark brown feathered griffon. Apple Bloom giggled while Scootaloo was on top of her, she even added her own little roar as they start to wrestle with each other like the vicious mythical creatures they were.

After their one minute hustle, Rainbow said to Scootaloo "Cool costume kid. I bet even a real griffon can't tell you're a pony underneath those feathers." Then she gave her little adopted sister a playful noogie on top of her head. This made Scootaloo chuckled in glee.

Scootaloo looked around and then asked "Is Sweetie Belle here yet?"

Apple Bloom answered "Not yet. But I'm sure she'll be here soon."

Scootaloo said to Apple Bloom "Do you know what her costume is? I tried asking her about, but she kept telling it was a surprise."

Apple Bloom replied "Not a clue. But I have a feeling it's going to be a real treat if she's keeping it as a surprise."

Applejack added "Same with Rarity. She never mentioned a peep about her costume."

Twilight grumbled "Spike did the same thing with me. Hopefully they get here soon."

Applejack comforted Twilight "Don't worry, um your magnificence."

Then Applejack chuckled into her hoof while Twilight glared at her with an expression saying 'Really? Seriously, that joke?' Applejack defended "Sorry Twi, I couldn't resist on that one. But seriously Twilight, Rarity and them won't keep us waiting too long."

Then all of a sudden, a beautiful gust of snowy wind sweep through the group.

"Sn-snow? This time of year?" remarked Twilight as examined the snowflakes landing on her hooves.

Once the gust died down, the gang was able to see what was causing the snowy wind. They saw Sweetie Belle dressed as Anna from Frozen, particularly her pink and blue wintery outfit. Sweetie Belle braided even her hair into twin pig tails. While Rarity was dressed as Elsa in her sparkling blue gown and cape. Rarity even had the matching messy but elegant side braid. Spike, dressed up as the adorable Olaf, was holding Rarity's trailing cape in the back of her. Spike's costume was so puffy and big that it made him waddle just like Olaf with each step he took.

The gang also noticed that both Rarity's horn and Sweetie's horn were glowing, meaning they were the ones who cast that winter spell.

Then Rarity started to sing with glee "Let it go! Let it go! Let the storm rage on! The cold never bothered me anyway." She added a little giggle at the end, showing great excitement and love for her new role, "Oh my, aren't I as giddy as a school filly?"

Sweetie Belle eagerly waved her front hoof "Hiya guys!"

The gang waved and said hi back. They also crowded around the Frozen trio and complimented them on their costume choices.

Twilight then commented "I also liked the winter wind spell you guys." Rarity and Sweetie Belle both said thanks to Twilight.

Applejack chuckled "It really makes a spectacular entrance for your special costumes that you couldn't tell any pony."

Rarity replied "Well, this whole surprise thing was Sweetie Belle's idea believe me."

Sweetie Belle scolded Rarity "But the whole Frozen ensemble costume idea was your idea. So don't put the whole blame on me."

Apple Bloom asked "So how come you guys were late anyway?"

Spike hold up his claw and said while panting "It was my fault. My costume…it slowed down me. It's a lot heavier than it looks."

Rarity added while patting on top of his soft head "I tried telling Spikey-Wikey that he could have worn a different costume, but he was so insisted on being the Olaf to my Elsa."

Spike sighed "And believe me, it was worth it."

Twilight giggled at this and then poofed up a water bottle for Spike, which he took gladly.

Sweetie Belle asked with giddiness in her voice "So are Fluttershy and Discord here yet?"

Scootaloo responded with the same excitement "Not yet, but they will be. I just can't wait to see their costumes, especially Discord's!"

Apple Bloom questioned "I wonder what their costumes will be."

Sweetie Belle replied "Maybe they dress up as tale as old a time? Perhaps…" she sighed before continuing "beauty and the beast."

Rarity giggled while patting on top of Sweetie Belle's cap "Oh Sweetie Belle, why would Fluttershy and Discord dress up as that?"

Sweetie Belle was about to answer, but then Apple Bloom and Scootaloo quickly covered her mouth. Apple Bloom quickly stated "Haha she was just kidding around." Scootaloo remarked "Yeah just kidding around."

Rarity shrugged her shoulders and slightly chuckled at the CMC's suspicious little behavior. Once Rarity turned around to talk to the other mares, Apple Bloom and Scootaloo finally released their hooves from Sweetie's mouth.

Rainbow Dash crossed her arms and scowled "Well they better get here soon. The Haunted Houses will get lines soon and I hate lines."

Twilight notice this bitter tone towards Discord in Rainbow's voice and said "Rainbow…don't tell me that you still don't trust Discord."

Rainbow replied "Oh no! It isn't that! It's just…Fluttershy never goes out on Nightmare Night. She never goes when I ask her. The only time she did it with me is when she fillies, experiencing our first Nightmare Night on the ground. And now here's Discord, easily convincing Fluttershy to go with him no worries."

Pinkie Pie put her arm around Rainbow's shoulder and said "Aww c'mon Dashie. It is Discord's first Nightmare Night ever with friends. I'm sure that if things go well with Fluttershy tonight, she'll want to celebrate Nightmare Night with us every year!"

Rainbow smiled at Pinkie "You're right. Maybe bringing along Discord might not be a bad idea?"

Then Rainbow saw a head stone planted in the ground for decoration a couple a foot away from the town hall and decided to sit there, and wait patiently for Fluttershy and Discord. However, she interrupted by an unsettling grumble from underneath her.

She quickly got off from the spot, and crawled towards her friends by the town hall. The gang immediately notices this and soon they start to feel the unsettling grumble and earth quake coming from the head stone decoration. The ground began cracking a haunting bright green color and a mysterious invisible force began craving BJ on the head stone. They were starting to panic and embraced each other, just waiting for the monster about to pop up from the ground. Soon the cracking by the head stone created a large gap in the ground which triggered a medium sized explosion. The explosion made pieces of grass, stones, and dirt to fly everywhere. All of the girls screamed at the top of their lungs as they witnessed a tall and long creature coming out of the ground with his arms open wide, reeling his head as if he was going to howl.

But instead of a howl, they were meet with a familiar laugh. "Oh my! Haha you should have seen your faces! It was so…I don't even know how to describe how good it was!"

It was Discord dressed up in a white, black, and purple striped suit with paint smeared all over his face, making himself look like Beetlejuice himself.

"Discord!" shouted a concerned Fluttershy rapidly crossing the bridge with Stellar Eclipse following right behind her.

Fluttershy was dressed in a sleek and medieval looking red dress with puffy sleeves, along with a short cape tied to the back of her neck. She made her long mane into a large yet formal bun on a top of her head and decorated it with a silver and red jeweled tiara in the front of the bun. But the most distinct feature of Fluttershy's costume was the fact that she looked like her Flutterbat self again. Her coat was a darker shade of yellow, her mane was a darker shade of rose, her teal eyes were bloody red, her wings were leathery and spikey instead of soft and feathery, and she had tiny little fangs. This all made her look like a regal but deadly vampire queen.

While Stellar Eclipse was dressed as a white and blue cyborg on the left side of his body, with a robotic red eye for his left eye, and his chair matching the color theme of his costume. Fluttershy and Stellar finally made it to the head stone, and once they got there, Applejack screamed "It's…It's Flutterbat! Twilight! Twilight!"

Twilight crouched down into an attack position, her glowed her horn ready to do the spell to reverse Fluttershy's new state and says "I'm on it!"

Fluttershy then called out to Twilight "No, no, no Twilight! It's okay, I'm still Fluttershy. I mean, I look like Flutterbat but I'm still Fluttershy underneath."

Discord remarked while landing on the ground "Do you like it? I designed the whole outfit and spell myself! When I heard about that whole Flutterbat fiasco from Fluttershy, I just couldn't resist."

Rarity said "So this costume was your idea?"

Discord added cheerfully "Indeed! Isn't marvelous?"

Rarity nervously answered "Um…indeed marvelous."

Rainbow huffed and turned away from Discord "Yeah well, either way, I'm not scared of any Flutterbat or Discord!"

Discord smirked and raised his eyebrow at Rainbow and said "Oh really? Is that so?" Discord then thought to himself Sometimes she is just too amusing! 

Fluttershy went up to Discord and said "Discord, I think maybe your little," she cleared her throat before stating, " 'surprise" might have been too much for them."

Twilight comforts her friend with "Relax Fluttershy, Discord was only doing what ponies are supposed to do on Nightmare Night. Not too long ago, Rainbow Dash spooked me. And…I got quite a kick out of it. Trust me Fluttershy, it can be fun getting scared."

Discord said cheerfully "Oh I like this holiday already!"

Stellar Eclipse said to Fluttershy "She's right Fluttershy. I mean I thought it was pretty funny."

The cutie mark crusaders added "Me too! Me too!"

Fluttershy smiled at her friends' comforting words, but then remembered something important "Oh where are my manners? Every pony, I would like you to meet Stellar Eclipse."

All the ponies gave Stellar a friendly greeting, while Rainbow went up to Stellar "What's up Stellar?"

Stellar responded "Nothing much." Then they gave each other a brohoof in a calm and nonchalant way. Stellar played along with Rainbow's "cool" manner, Fluttershy told him that Rainbow loves to act this way especially around other stallions just to prove how awesome she is.

Fluttershy then said to Eclipse "Stellar, I want you to meet…"

She points to Applejack "Applejack, she's Apple Bloom's older sister".

Then she points to Rarity, "Rarity, she's Sweetie Belle's older sister."

After that, she points to Pinkie Pie "This is Pinkie Pie and…"

Pinkie Pie then adds while holding up Gummy "And Gummy! Don't forget Gummy!"

Stellar chuckled at that. Fluttershy then points towards Twilight and Spike "And this is Twilight and her number one assistant Spike."

Spike put his claw out to Eclipse and said "Nice to meet ya!" Stellar shook Spike's claw and replied "Nice to meet you too, and it's nice to meet all of you."