It was that time of the year again, a time when chills became thrills, where everypony looked forward to the darkening hours and eagerly awaited the screams! Throughout Ponyville, everypony lent a hoof, blowing up ghost balloons, hanging cobwebs, carving jack-o-lanterns, and preparing costumes, tricks, and treats. But most important of all...!!!
To have (and get) a good scare!
“Tonight’s gonna be a Nightmare Night to remember!” Midnight looked on, eager to get the festivities started as he walked with Mayor Mare around the square.
“Oh I do hope so, Midnight, and I can’t wait to get into my costume,” Mayor Mare felt like a filly, the holidays always that effect on her, “just you wait and see what I’m gonna be!”
“Thanks for allowing me to be the Host of Ponyville’s Nightmare Night Festival this year, Mayor,” Midnight said as he helped a nearby stallion pull his wagonful of pumpkins free of a pothole, and getting a thank-you in return.
“I have quite an idea for this year, and I hope to make it both fun and scary for anypony who wants to participate.”
“Ooh, sounds thrilling,” Mayor Mare gave Midnight a shrewd smile, “Any hints?”
“I’m saving the surprise for later when I start the festivities,” Midnight gave her a shrewd smirk back when he saw Big Mac, Granny Smith, and his mother, Faerie Tail, all working together to fill a wagon with hay.
“Hey everypony, what’cha doing here?”
“Oh howdy there, Midnight, Mayor,” Granny Smith waved, “Wer’ jus’ gatherin’ hay for th’ Apple Fam’ly Haunted Maze!”
“Happy Nightmare Night, sweetie,” Faerie Tail came over and gave her boy a hug and a kiss, which he warmly reciprocated.
“Happy Nightmare Night to you, too, Mom,” Midnight smiled happily, “It’s gonna be even better this year because you get to be a part of it.”
“Fluttershy?”
They all looked to see Big Mac had found his wife, Fluttershy, shivering under the wagon, “What’re you doin’ out an’ about?”
“Yeah, it’s Nightmare Night, remember?” brought up Granny Smith.
“How could I forget...?!” Fluttershy responded in a fretful voice when she noticed the hay, “Oh, I don’t suppose I could borrow a few pieces of hay from you?”
She pulled herself out from under, “I forgot to stock up on food for Angel and you do seem to have quite a lot.”
“We need it fer th’ Apple Fam’ly Haunted Maze,” Granny Smith repeated before saying in a spooky voice, “Th’ scariest maze tha’ there ever was... Who knows wha’ lurks inside?”
“Oh, I’m sure I don’t!” Fluttershy shivered, when she felt a warm hoof hug her and she saw it was Faerie Tail.
“Now, Granny Smith, I think that’ll be enough,” Faerie Tail gave Fluttershy a maternal smile, “Not everypony has to enjoy the same holidays, and we shouldn’t press them into something they’re not comfortable with.”
“What?!” Granny Smith gave an indignant look, “Ah ain’t even told her of th’ mummified pony! Or th’ bones o’ ponies who ne’er made their way out, or eyeballs- Eep!”
Big Mac put a hoof to his grandmother’s lips, giving her a respectful ‘shhhh’, and then Granny Smith noticed Fluttershy was shivering even more, despite Faerie Tail trying to comfort her.
“Oh, sorry, honey,” Granny Smith apologized.
“Uh, it’s... alright,” Fluttershy rubbed up to her stallion, and he nuzzled his chin on top of her head, “I can’t blame everypony for... their holiday spirit.”
“Well, speaking of holiday spirit,” Midnight spoke up, “The mayor’s asked me to be the Host of the Nightmare Night Festival. Spread the word, Mac - Show up tonight at the opening ceremonies for the Festival, where I’ll make an announcement for a Special Nightmare Night Event! Gotta go, lots to plan, lots to do! Happy Nightmare Night, everypony!”
Midnight fell backwards, his body dispersing into smoky shadowstuff that slithered away, giving Fluttershy the creeps, and plenty of ponies yelping and avoid the shadowy figure of Midnight as he streaked away, quick as a snake.
“I know Nightmare Night isn’t your favorite night of the year, Fluttershy,” Faerie Tail said, “but all the same, I wish you a good night.”
“That’s very kind of you, Faerie Tail,” Fluttershy thanked, “A good night for me will be a quiet, safe, and warm night with my animal friends. But I hope you all enjoy yourselves and that you have a safe evening. Love you, Mackie.”
“Love ya too, dahlin,” Big Mac let his `Shy get on her way and turned to Granny Smith and Faerie Tail, “Welp, let’s get t’ work too!”
The sun had set, the moon was high! The terrors of Nightmare Night was nigh, and everypony was already out and about, costumed as fiends and horrors, monsters and ghouls, heroes and villains, tricksters and fools. Foals were trick-or-treating, ponies jumping out and yelling ‘BOO’, but the real fun would begin in a minute or two...
[Nightmare Night Ponies]
Colts and fillies of every age
Wouldn’t you like to see something strange?
Come with us, it’s now in sight
This, our town at Nightmare Night
This is Nightmare Night, this is Nightmare Night
Ghosts are screaming as they take flight
This is Nightmare Night, truly it's a scary sight
Trick or treat till the neighbors gonna die of fright
It’s our town, everypony scream
In our town at Nightmare Night
I am the chill running up your spine
Warning of the monster that’s about to dine
I am the one behind your closet door
Hungry and itching for a tasty gore
This is Nightmare Night, this is Nightmare Night!
Nightmare Night! Nightmare Night! Nightmare Night! Nightmare Night!
In this town we call home
Everypony hail to the haunting song
[Mayor Mare]
In this town, don’t we love it now
Everypony’s waiting for the next surprise!
[Nightmare Night Ponies]
Round that corner, mare hiding in the trashcan
Something’s waiting no to pounce and how you’ll
Scream! This is Nightmare Night
Purple n’ Black and slimy green
Aren’t you scared?
Well, that's just fine
Say it once, say it twice
Take a chance and roll the dice
Ride with the moon in the dead of night
Everypony scream, everypony scream!
In our town at Nightmare Night!
I am the stalker who follows you home
Knife raised, waiting for when you’re alone
I am the "who" when you call, "Who's there?"
I am the wind blowing through your hair
I am the mare in the moon at night
Filling your dreams to the brim with fright
This is Nightmare Night, this is Nightmare Night!
Nightmare Night! Nightmare Night! Nightmare Night! Nightmare Night!
Nightmare Night! Nightmare Night!
[Cutie-Mark Crusaders]
Tender lumplings everywhere
Life's no fun without a good scare
[Mr. & Mrs. Cake]
That's our job, it isn't spite
In our town on Nightmare Night
[[Mayor Mare]
In this town, don't we love it now?
Everypony's waiting for the next surprise
[Nightmare Night Ponies]
Midnight Blaze might catch you in the back
And scream like a siren
Make you jump out of your coat
This is Nightmare Night, everypony scream
Won't ya please make way for a very special guy
Midnight Blaze is King of the Werewolf pack
Everyone hail to the Fright Knight, now!
This is Nightmare Night, this is Nightmare Night
Nightmare Night! Nightmare Night! Nightmare Night! Nightmare Night!
[Cutie-Mark Crusaders]
In this town we call home
Everyone hail to the haunting song
[nightmare Night Ponies]
La la la la la la la la la la (Nightmare Night! Nightmare Night!)
La la la la la la la la la la (Nightmare Night! Nightmare Night!)
Everypony had gathered in town square, encircling a pit that hadn’t been there yesterday, and watched in bone-chilling awe as their shadows reached out under them towards the pit. A swirling mass of inky darkness steamed and hissed... as a figure arose from the pit, a Hooded Pony garbed in a shadowy fabric, a horn poking through the brim of his hood when a pair of seams opened in the back, allowing for a large pair of bat-like wings to unfurl as piercing pale blue eyes glowed from within the shadow of the hood, fangs flashing in the moonlight, and everypony applauded as their generous Host stepped forward.
“Welcome, welcome fillies and gentlecolts to another terrifying Nightmare Night!” called out Midnight as he spoke in a voice welcoming yet sinister, the edges of his cloak drifting about like cobwebs in the breeze, shadowstuff trailing out as he walked around, “As your humble host this year, I am proud to declare this year’s Ponyville Nightmare Night Festival officially... open!”
The festival-goers all cheered and whooped and howled and shrieked with excitement when Midnight raised his leathery wings to beckon silence. Once the square was as silent as a tomb, Midnight declared, “Furthermore, I announce the first ever Ponyville Nightmare Night Festival Scavenger Hunt! I invite anypony brave or foolish enough to embark on a journey that will take you to all kinds of scary haunts and spooky places here and there across our little town, as you search for clues and hints to find a very special prize... What is this prize, you may be wondering?
“Well, you’ll have to be the first to complete the Scavenger Hunt and find out! However!”
He let the word hang in the air for a few ominous moments before saying, “Be warned... The quest to find the Prize is not for the faint of heart. Indeed, before this night is over, those of you who dare to take this challenge may find yourselves facing terrible danger!”
Nopony really noticed, but as Midnight continued to talk about his scavenger hunt, a spooky fog was rolling in.
“For on this Nightmare Night, there are rumors of something stalking the outskirts of our quiet little town, something big! Something scary! Something... hungry...!”
Midnight smiled in satisfaction to see several ponies, not just foals, were beginning to shiver, “A BEAST! With fur as black as pitch, eyes that will pierce you with icy terror, razor-sharp claws, and a mouth full of vicious fangs, looking to devour ponies when they’re lost and least expect it...
“If still you dare to brave this foolhardy task, have a word with Mayor Mare,” Midnight pointed to Mayor Mare, who was sitting at a fold-up table with a sign-up sheet and dressed as a mime.
“She will provide the first clue of the Scavenger Hunt. And so, I bid you all good night, and good luck to any who seek to claim the Prize, for let me tell you - It is absolutely worth it!”
Midnight threw his head back in barking maniacal laughter, as a fearsome wind and shadows stirred up and enveloped Midnight like a dark cocoon before dispersing, and Midnight had vanished! His evil laughter however continued to echo, as everypony held their breath... before erupting into more screaming cheers as several ponies were already lining up for the sign-up sheet to participate in the Scavenger Hunt.
“Whoa-ho-ho!” Soarin laughed, dressed up as a Lunar Guard, wearing fake bat wings and contacts to give himself yellow eyes with slit pupils, complete with the armor and helmet, “Midnight really knows how to put on a show! I bet that prize is really something!”
“Well, you can be sure that Ace Thunder, Private Eye, is on the case,” Thunderlane said, dressed up as a Hardboiled Detective, complete with a trench coat and fedora.
“Sounds like a challenge worthy of Leoneighdo Da Ponci, Master of the Itailian Renaissance,” declared Blueblood, wearing a costume that made him look like the famous historical polymath.
“Eeyup, lookin’ forward to it,” Big Mac said, dressed up as a mummy with a golden mantle around his neck and shoulders, “Bu’ first Ah gotta help Granny Smith a bit at th’ Haunted Maze.”
“Well, looky here!” Cheese, dressed up as Mariachi musician, complete with his accordion and a big sombrero, held up a piece of paper shaped like a spider, “According to this clue, the first stop is the Haunted Maze!”
“Let’s see that,“ Blueblood took the clue and his friends gathered as he read, “‘Twists n’ turns, don’t lose your way in the Haunted Maze this night. Before you enter, be sure to pray, the clue is in plain sight’.”
“Sounds straightforward enough,” Thunderlane commented.
“Ah, but I’ve a feeling Midnight is going to make this rather tricky, gentlecolts,” Blueblood looked boldly determined, “Tally ho, a hunting we’ll go!”
Yes, it seemed like the promise of a Nightmare Night to remember, as everypony set out to enjoy themselves this Nightmare Night. But as the fog rolled in, everypony in Ponyville was blissfully unaware that they were being watched. For on a distant high ledge, there stood a monstrous creature, its large mass concealed by a pelt of fur that made it invisible in surrounding darkness, its fangs dribbling with salivating hunger, its eyes narrowed upon all these tasty treats, its belly rumbled but its growls were savage before the Beast rose its head to the silvery moon and let out a bone-chilling howl!
It was time to hunt...