Initial D: First Equestria Stage

by SixShooterOutlaw

Chapter 13: Nightmare Night, What a Fright.

It was a chilly autumn evening, a light breeze rustled the leaves on nearby trees.
Pumpkins, bats and ghosts were showing up everywhere in the town of Ponyville.
A sure sign that Nightmare Night would soon be upon the citizens of Equestria.

In the castle of Friendship, the Mane Six and Spike were getting their costumes
ready for a Nightmare Night Ball they were attending in Canterlot with the
Princesses. The Cutie Mark Crusaders were staying in Ponyville, because the idea of
going to a ball bored them and the guys said that they'd keep in eye on them again.

Twilight and her friends were leaving the night before so they could help set up the
castle's ballroom for the ball. They would be leaving on an early train to make sure
they could get there in time.

"Alright" Twilight said to everypony "We have our plan, we're going to leave on the
morning train to be in Canterlot to help the Princesses set up" Twilight looked at
the Crusaders "What are you going to be doing for Nightmare Night?".

"We're not sure yet" Scootaloo answered "But since it's their first Nightmare Night
we want to make it awesome!" she added pointing at the guys.

"Maybe you should have them hear the story of Nightmare Night?" Rainbow suggested
"That's a good place to start".

"We could tell them the story ourselves if we wanted too" Apple Bloom pointed out
"We all know it by heart".

"Well, you have a whole day to make plans out" Twilight told them then she yawned
"But it's getting late and I want to make sure we all get enough sleep" she said
looking at her friends "We have a long day of planning and decorating ahead of us
tomorrow".

The ponies all headed into their bedrooms to get some sleep.

The next morning, the Mane Six and Spike were at the train station waiting for their
train to arrive, the Crusaders and the guys were waiting with them so they could say
good-bye to their friends and see them off. After the train arrived they put their suitcases
on the train, boarded, and the group waved to them as the trai departed the station.

Once the train was out of view the ponies turned to look at each other.

"What do we do now?" Itsuki asked.

"Let's go back to the castle and then we'll make plans" Apple Bloom answered and
the seven of them left for the castle.

Once they were back at the castle, the ponies had some breakfast then started to try
and come up with ideas for how to spend their Nightmare Night.

"How about we do what Rainbow suggested?" Kenji said "It sounds like a great idea".

"Like Apple Bloom said, we could recite it by heart" Sweetie Belle told him.

"Why don't you guys do that?" Takumi asked "If you can do it, why don't you?".

"That sounds awesome!" Scootaloo said "We could make the living room all dark and
super creepy to get the mood just right"

"I have an even better idea" Apple Bloom said.

"What?" Itsuki asked.

"We could go to the Castle of the Two Sisters and tell it there, after that, we could
spend the rest of the night there!" Apple Bloom told them "Granny Smith and Applejack
have told me the place may be haunted" she said with a slightly evil grin "Doesn't
that sound fun?".

"I'm not so sure about that, Apple Bloom" Scootaloo said then she shuddered, the
memory of her recent visit to the Everfree Forest came to the surface, she wasn't
sure if she was ready to go back just yet, especially not on Nightmare Night.

"Oh come on Scootaloo!" Apple Bloom said "It's not like we're going to be heading
there at night, we'll go there before sundown".

Scootaloo still wasn't convinced, she was afraid that they would get lost or that
the Timberwolves would find them in the castle, she knew that there haven't been
sightings of them even close to castle, but she wasn't sure she wanted to take that
risk.

"We'll have lanterns and there are candles there" Sweetie Belle added "It won't be
pitch black there".

"We'll bring all kinds of treats" Apple Bloom told her "I can bring some candy
apples and other things".

Itsuki then added "I'm still a little nervous about the forest too, but this sounds
like fun".

"And we'll stay as a group" Kenji said "So, we'll all be together".

"Come on, Scootaloo" Takumi said to her "What do you think?".

"I'm not sure guys.." Scootaloo told them, then Iketani placed a hoof on her shoulder.

"I'll be with you the whole time" Iketani said to her reassuringly.

"R-really?" Scootaloo asked hopefully.

"I promise" Iketani replied.

"Alright then!" Scootaloo said enthusiastically "Let's do this!".

It was the day of Nightmare Night and the Cutie Mark Crusaders were busy getting all
the things they'd need for their night in the Castle of the Two Sisters. They got
sleeping bags, lanterns, snacks and flashlights, they were bringing the sleeping bags
just in case they got tired but they doubted they'd need them.

Scootaloo also snagged a book of different legends and myths, the one that included
the legend of The Mare in the Moon, even though see knew her friends knew it wasn't
a legend she thought telling that tale would be a perfect beginning for the night.
They all decided to meet up on the edge of the Everfree Forest, once the Crusaders
got there they began their adventure to the castle.

It was almost time for the sun to set once they arrived.
They entered the old castle and made their way to the main room and set
their stuff down.

"Alright, everypony" Apple Bloom announced "What are we gonna do first?".

"How about we start with the legend of Nightmare Moon?" Scootaloo suggested "It just
makes sense to start with that one".

"Okay then, here it goes" Apple Bloom said as she opened the book, found the story
and began reading it.

After awhile they had told the tale of the Mare in the Moon, the story of why they
celebrate Nightmare Night and of course, the story of the Pony of Shadows which if
the legend is true, haunts the very castle they were currently in. Scootaloo told
some stories that Rainbow Dash had told her about the ghosts of some of the castle's
staff members that may also haunt the castle, she also told them about the Olden Pony
and The Headless Horse and she told them a few she had read about after that.

"Wow, I didn't think Equestria would have that many ghost stories" Itsuki said with
a slight shudder "Some of them are really creepy".

"I know right?" Scootaloo replied.

"So, does anypony wanna explore the castle?" Apple Bloom asked "I thought that it
might be a nice little addition to the night".

"That sounds like a good idea" Itsuki replied.

"But let's stay as a group, it'll be much safer that way" Iketani suggested.

The ponies took some flashlights and headed down a long, dark hallway, the only sounds
were the sounds of their hoofsteps reverberating off the walls, they journeyed farther
down the hallway when suddenly there was a distant sounding crash.

"What was that?!" Kenji asked.

"I don't know" Apple Bloom answered.

"M-maybe it was a ghost!" Itsuki said sounding panicked.

"There aren't any ghosts, they're just things in stories" Apple Bloom assured him.

Then there was a loud blast of organ music. that made the ponies scream and go
running down the hallway!

But what they didn't know is that they went in different directions.

Iketani and Scootaloo sat in an unknown room trying to catch their breath.

"Are you alright, Scootaloo?" Iketani asked.

"Yeah" Scootaloo answered then she looked around the room "Where are we? And where is
everypony else?".

Iketani looked around and saw suits of armor and various weapons "it looks like some
sort of armory, but you're right, where is everybody?".

"I guess we got separated when we panicked and ran" Scootaloo said.

"Let's go and see if we can find them" Iketani suggested and the two ponies started
to head to the room's entrance. Then, the sound of metallic hoofsteps sounded from
behind them, they turned around and saw that there was a suit of armor standing there!

"Is somepony there?" Scootaloo asked.

Iketani looked at it then shook his head "Very funny guys" he then used his magic to lift up
the face-plate but there was no one in the armor.

Both of them screamed and took off out of the room.

Down in the library, Apple Bloom, Takumi and Itsuki were walking around looking for their friends
when they came across what looked to be a ghostly apparition of a unicorn mare in a gown
looking through the books.

"Umm, A-Apple Bloom I-I thought you said ghosts weren't real?" Itsuki asked.

"I thought they weren't!" she replied.

"Tell that to her!" Takumi exclaimed.

"Oh come on guys!" Apple Bloom rolled her eyes "I don't know about you two but I ain't afraid
of no ghost!" she said as she went to walk past the ghostly figure. It apparently heard her and
it turned and made a terrifying face and roared at them, "Okay, maybe I am!" she yelled and the
three of them went running out of the library.

In a different part of the castle, Kenji and Sweetie Belle were walking into a dark room. As they entered,
the candles on the wall started lighting on their own, casting an eerie glow. Then suddenly, on the back wall, was
aglow with many candles of all shapes and size, illuminating a small, round table with a small crystal ball
and a stack of what looked to be tarot cards. Behind the table sat a dark, hooded figure.

"Umm, why do I get the feeling we shouldn't be here?" Kenji asked.

"Maybe it's the creepy hooded figure?" Sweetie Belle replied.

"Come cloooser" a deep, slightly raspy yet feminine voice sounded from across the room, "Do
you wish to see what lies in your future? Or maybe you have a question about the present?".

"No, we're fine. thank you" Kenji answered and started heading for the door when Sweetie Belle
galloped up and stood in front of him.

"Maybe we should ask her where are friends are" Sweetie Belle suggested.

"You go ask her!" Kenji told her "I'm not going near her!".

Sweetie Belle rolled her eyes and sighed "Fine" she walked over to the table and set her hooves
on it "Excuse me, me and my friend here have a question" she told the hooded figure.

"What is it, young filly?" the figure asked.

"We came to the castle with a few of our friends but we all got separated, could you maybe tell
us where they are?" Sweetie Belle asked.

The figure looked at the crystal ball and said "If your friends are here, they may be lost forever
in the halls of the castle I fear".

"Lost forever?!" Sweetie Belle repeated in a scared squeak.

"Yeesss, and you two shall join them soon as well!" the figure then yanked off her hood and
revealed a creepily painted face that made her look like a skeleton, her eyes were an eerie,
unearthly shade of red and she gave off the most chilling, wickedly evil laugh.

The two ponies screamed and took off right out of the room.

In an another part of the castle, Iketani and Scootaloo were taking a breather after their run
in with the haunted armor, they were in a hallway with torches lining the side walls, portraits
adorned the walls as well. The two ponies decided to walk down the hallway in a quick trot,
they kept going until they saw a ghostly figure dressed in a suit.

"A-are you seeing this?" Scootaloo asked nervously.

"I think so" Iketani responded.

The ghostly apparition begin to glide towards them, holding a tray. As the figure approached the
pair noticed that it's head was missing. They stared, frozen in fear, as the specter lifted the lid and
revealed it's missing head! It's features seemed lifeless, it's eyes black voids.

The head then said, in a hollow, echoed voice "Welcome to the Castle of the Two Sisters, we hope you'll
enjoy your eternity with us." It then laughed a deep, devilish laugh.

The duo then looked at each other and ran as fast and far away as they could.

Apple Bloom, Takumi and Itsuki were running through the halls, when they suddenly found themselves in the
castle's kitchen. The trio then witnessed a phantasmal chef running back and forth through the room. As
the spirit drew near, the group realized it was muttering to itself with a crazed look in it's eyes and
wielding a cleaver. They began to back away slowly, when Itsuki tripped on a discarded pot. The chef's head
snapped in their direction and in an instant the being was inches from Itsuki, the clever clenched firmly
between it's teeth.

Itsuki then said "Gu-gu-gu-guys, a little help here."

Takumi and Apple Bloom, unsure of how to help their friend stared in shocked bewilderment. Something then clicked inside Apple Bloom and she grabbed Itsuki and Takumi and dragged them out as fast as she could.

Kenji and Sweetie Belle had been running hard, so they need to catch their breath. They started
to look around the room.

"I wonder what this room was for?" Sweetie Belle asked.

"Judging by the cradle and all the toys, I'd say a nursery" Kenji deduced.

Just then a phantasm of young mare hovered into the room. She floated over to the cradle and
began, rocking it and humming an eerie lullaby.

"I wonder why she's here?" Kenji asked

"She looks like a nanny." Sweetie Belle whispered

The figure then looked up at them and whispered "Hush, you'll wake the baby".

"I don't see a baby." said Sweetie Belle.

"Are you really arguing with a ghost?" asked Kenji

The ghostly being then leaped towards them and screamed in a blood-curdling screech "I SAID
HUSH, IF YOU CAN'T BE QUIET, I THINK SOMEPONY NEEDS A TIME OUT! A PERMANENT TIME OUT!"

Sweetie Belle and Kenji barely dodged her advance and took off.

The ponies ran around the castle like crazy, running from the insane ghosts that haunted the castle,
while haunting organ music echoed through the building.They kept running until they all managed
to meet up in the castle throne room. The two tall torches that stood beisde the two thrones
lit up in a deep, unnatural blue.

"What's happening?!?" Itsuki wailed.

"I-I have no idea" Apple Bloom answered.

Then an ominous laugh filled the room, the ponies looked everywhere for the source of the laughter,
but no one saw anything.

"Where did that come from?" Scootaloo asked sounding shaken.

What happened next made everypony's eyes grow wide with fear.

A dark, shadowy mist manifested in the center of the room, then it made it's way to the thrones.

"THE PONY OF SHADOWS!!" Everypony screamed.

Then the mist changed shape, it twisted around until it formed what looked to be a shadow
version of Nightmare Moon. It had glowing white eyes and it let out another evil laugh then set it's
sight on the group of ponies, they all screamed, a high pitched one rang above them all.

"Oh, my little ponies" it said in a sickeningly sweet tone "you have come to join us".

"No we haven't!" Kenji shouted.

"What you don't know is the minute you set hoof in here you joined me" it replied as it flew
down and started walking towards them, "I guess I'll start with the foals. starting with the little Pegasus" she said
grinning evilly at the three little fillies. Scootaloo hid beside Iketani and once he saw how scared
Scootaloo was, got a determined look on his face.

"YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH ME TO EVEN GET NEAR HER!" Iketani yelled.
have just one thing to say to you!!" she responded, she got closer to the ponies,
with a mischievous smile on her face, whispered "Gotcha".

"What?" Kenji asked "What's going on?" as everyone's looks of fear turned into ones of confusion.

A bright light shone around Nightmare Moon and she transformed into a different pony, a dark
blue Alicorn. It was the Princess of the Night herself, Luna.

"Surprise" Luna said "Happy Nightmare Night everypony!" she looked at the group of ponies, "I
hope we didn't scare you too much".

"'We'?" Scootaloo asked.

Then the other 'ghosts' walked into the room, a glow surrounded them and they changed into six
very familiar mares.

"You guys were all playing a prank?" Iketani asked "What about that ball you were going to?".

"It was a cover" Twilight explained "how else do you think we could pull this off?".

"That's why I suggested the Nightmare Night story" Rainbow told them "I knew you would want to
take it to another level than just telling it".

"So you guys all did this?" Itsuki asked "AWESOME!!" he shouted, then he fainted.

"Eeyup" Applejack replied.

"Soo, which one of you screamed like a little filly" Rainbow asked.

Murmurs of "no"s and "It wasn't me" went around the group, all except for one pony who was
turning a deep shade of red.

"You?!" Rainbow explained "Everything I've heard about you and you scream like that, Takumi?".

"Umm" Takumi responded, still blushing.

"So, if you guys were all playing ghosts, who was playing the creepy organ?" Iketani asked.
Just then, a hooded figure walked up behind them and tapped Iketani on the shoulder, nearly
making him jump out of his skin, the group nearly had another freak out when the figure removed
it's hood".

"Gotcha" The Princess of the Sun said mischievously.