//------------------------------// // Chapter XI // Story: The Forgotten: Friends // by Jatheus //------------------------------// Stormy and Bluebonnet walked alongside Mestra Amymone on a clear autumn day, her butterflies scouting just ahead of them. School had only ended minutes before, and the trio were on their way home. “Some of us are getting together at my house if you want to come,” Bluebonnet offered. Mestra had been to her house only once, and so far as she knew, that was the only time Stormy had been there since she’d arrived in Hollow Shades. True to her word, Stormy had been taking Mestra around the town in search of any of the forgotten mare’s friends or family. So far, none had recognized her. “I don’t know if we can,” Stormy apologized. “I mean, I would, but Mestra has apparently never celebrated Nightmare Night before, so my mom volunteered me to put on a costume and take her.” “Aren’t both of you a little too old for that?” Stormy sighed, “Yes, but my mom wouldn’t give in. She just kept going on about how Mestra doesn’t have those memories, so we need to help her make them.” Looking up to the mare in question, she added, “No offense.” “Uh!” came an ignorantly cheerful reply. “I’d be pretty upset if I had... charity chores on my birthday.” “At least I get candy,” Stormy rolled her eyes. “On the upside I don’t have to pick berries all afternoon.” Mestra had been excited for Nightmare Night ever since they’d told her about the candy that she could have just for dressing up. She was also glad for the vacation from working in the fields. She had developed sore muscles after the first day, an unpleasant condition that passed eventually. “You need a proper celebration.” Stormy shrugged, “I’m kind of used to it by now. Nightmare Night has always eclipsed my birthday.” Mestra perked up at the use of a word which was unfamiliar, “Eek... clips?” “Eclipse,” Stormy answered, “Like when the moon passes in front of the sun and hides it.” “Well, I think I’ll leave you to it, then.” “You know, you could always come with us,” Stormy observed. Bluebonnet snorted, “And hang out with all the little colts and fillies? No, thanks.” Stormy’s friend turned and walked away. Mestra was almost certain she saw Bluebonnet Lace glance back at them and then take off at a gallop just before passing out of sight. The pair continued in silence until they arrived back at the house. Memories of butterscotch hard candies that her magister would sometimes share tantalized and fostered no small amount of anticipation. Stormy opened the door and went in first. “Surprise!” several voices rang out. Stormy seemed as startled as Mestra felt, her body shuddering from fright. Her butterflies, which had flittered off, were suddenly back in front of Mestra’s face. She waved them away and saw Stormy grinning widely. “You guys!” “Happy birthday!” the group shouted in unison. Misty was holding a cake topped with burning candles, standing at the center of a small group that included Verdant Thicket, Bluebonnet Lace, and a few of Stormy’s other classmates. “Ah?” Mestra called. Stormy didn’t seem to notice, but continued toward the others as Misty placed the cake on the dining table. The others sang a song again using the unfamiliar word ‘birthday’, about which Mestra intended to ask. They all wore brightly-colored pointy hats, and Verdant Thicket put one on Stormy. “Make a wish!” Misty said. Stormy blew the candles out, and the group cheered. “What did you wish for?” Bluebonnet asked. “Come now!” Misty interjected, “If you tell everypony, it won’t come true!” Stormy rolled her eyes. Mestra found herself shrinking into the corner, being ignored by the group. Her butterflies swirled around, taking up their usual position on her mane. Boxes wrapped with shiny paper and topped with ribbons were brought out, and Stormy tore into them. From Bluebonnet Lace, she received a ‘makeover kit’ that contained items for mane and tail grooming, as well as polishing one’s hooves and makeup. From Verdant Thicket, she received a crudely homemade book of ‘kissing coupons’. Mestra wasn’t certain what that meant, but Stormy seemed as embarrassed to open it in front of the group as Misty seemed angered by it. They were quickly put aside. From her mother, Stormy received new saddle bags, similar in color to her old set through which she had worn holes significant enough to lose smaller items. The new bags were large enough for an adult mare, and bore no flowery decorations. It was at the end of the presents that Stormy noticed Mestra standing alone in the corner. She didn’t immediately approach, but made the first cut in the cake. It was only after Misty took over that Stormy crossed the room. “Are you alright?” “Ah.” “Why are you standing over here by yourself?” Mestra felt her brow furrow, “Mestra know not what go on.” “Really?” Stormy seemed surprised, “It’s a birthday party.” “Mestra know not what is a birthday.” The room seemed to grow quiet, and all eyes were drawn to the pair. “Well, I can explain in a bit. For now, come join us,” Stormy said. She removed her party hat and put it on Mestra, displacing her quartet of butterflies. She then hooked one of her forelegs around one of Mestra’s, guiding her to the party. The forgotten mare stepped up to the table, and Stormy passed her a piece of cake. It was red with white icing. The sweetness of it was delightful, but Mestra was far more moved by Stormy’s effort to include her in the goings on. “Were you surprised?” Misty asked. “Are you kidding? I had no idea!” Stormy laughed. Bluebonnet Lace grinned, “We’ve been planning to do this for months.” “Since last year,” Verdant Thicket added. “Well, I think it’s perfect!” Stormy praised everypony. “But how did you manage to get the ingredients for my favorite kind of cake without me noticing?” Misty laughed, “That was a challenge. I know you can sniff out the cocoa if I keep it in the house, so I had arranged to take the day off and went to the store as soon as you left this morning.” “That’s... actually really sneaky, mom.” “I have my moments,” she smiled back. “What for is candles?” Mestra asked. Stormy was quick to answer, “It’s part of the tradition. Sometimes you’ll get one for each year you are older, but eventually that gets kind of tedious.” “Most ponies I know just use a hoofful of candles instead,” Verdant Thicket added. The conversation that followed was light, but ended up drifting to the Nightmare Night celebration. “Never?” Verdant Thicket asked. “Ah,” Mestra confirmed, “not ever has a Nightmare Night.” “That’s why I’m taking her,” Stormy shot a glance at her mother. Misty answered the look, “That’s just how it is, kiddo. To get the day off, I had to volunteer at the salon’s ‘scary hair’ booth in the square, otherwise I could take Mestra.” “Well, I understand,” Bluebonnet Lace said, “I just wish you could do both.” “I know,” Stormy said. “I’ll definitely come next time.” Bluebonnet forced a smile; her eyes betrayed that it held no genuine happiness. “Well, I can do both,” Verdant Thicket declared. “I have to see this, so I’ll come with you two for a bit and then head over to Bluebonnet’s.” This time it was Misty that shot a look at Stormy; it seemed like a warning of disapproval. The young mare locked eyes with her mother and then smirked defiantly. “Sure, Verde, we’d love to have you along for a bit.” Misty let out a sigh and began clearing the dirty dishes and wrapping paper from the table. “Speaking of which,” Bluebonnet Lace took the hint, “I think it’s getting time I head that way to get ready for everypony. Don’t forget, you two still have to get dressed up.” “Oh... that...” Stormy said. As the others departed, Mestra followed Stormy into the bedroom. Laying across the bed were the two costumes that Misty possessed which would best fit. The larger was in the form of a rabbit, while the smaller, which showed signs of modification to make it larger and repair damage, was that of a carrot. Stormy helped Mestra into the bunny costume, which was a better fit for the forgotten mare. Looking in the mirror, Mestra thought she looked at least as ridiculous as her friend, though the reddened expression on Stormy’s face was an indication that she might have disagreed. While Mestra didn’t always have social context to know when she should be embarrassed, she was, in this case, able to easily tell from Stormy’s mood that it might be an appropriate reaction to being dressed as a carrot. It made Mestra glad that she was a little larger and better suited to be the bunny, even if the brown color of the fabric was not entirely complimentary. As the pair emerged, Verdant Thicket and Misty were waiting for them. She stopped cleaning long enough to take in the sight of the pair. A grin was forming on the young stallion’s face. “Not one word, Verde,” Stormy seethed. He put a hoof over his mouth to prevent any vocalizations from escaping. “Don’t be like that,” Misty said, “I think you two are a cute pair!” Stormy made a low growl. Mestra was uncertain whether she should be concerned, but her friend forced a smile and walked to the door, turning to face Mestra. “Are you coming?” “Ah!” the forgotten mare again became excited at the promise of candy. The costumed couple, with Verdant Thicket trailing close behind, left the house and entered the night. The neighborhood had been transformed into quite a spooky place, with eerie green lights casting shadows across the houses and few trees that were growing in yards. Bands of costumed foals ran to and fro, boldly approaching and knocking on doors with a chant. “Nightmare night! What a fright! Give us something sweet to bite!” Mestra was growing more excited by the second as the party made their way to the town square. Stormy had suggested they go directly there, as the games and decorations were always the best, and the quality of the candy would also be much higher. After all, Stormy had argued, they only had so much space in their buckets. The very air felt alive with electricity as Mestra continued forward, blending in quite well she thought, with everypony else that was out and about. Nothing could have prepared the forgotten mare for the ecstasy of unbridled avarice that she beheld when they reached the square. A mass of ponies and foals milled about. Some played games, others told stories, but all had hordes of delectable sugared morsels. Mestra’s hooves began stamping in place all on their own as she turned to Stormy, “Mestra want! Want! Want candy!” “Take it easy!” Stormy let out a giggle, “Follow me.” They approached a house that had an old oak tree in the front yard. Mestra remembered it from the first day that Stormy had taken her to search for her family, an endeavor that had proven fruitless thus far. The forgotten mare pushed those disappointments from her mind as she licked her lips, salivating at the promise of coming sweetness. Stormy knocked on the door. It swung open to reveal an older stallion covered in a long black cape, of which the interior was lined in red. His mane was slicked back flat against his head. He waited a moment expectantly. Stormy nudged Mestra, who then remembered the chant. “Nightmare... night! The... fright... give the... sweet to bite!” He made a smile, revealing elongated and sharp vampire teeth. The stallion lifted a small container to the pair. Stormy held up her candy bucket, prompting Mestra to do the same. Several pieces of candy were dropped into them. The forgotten mare felt her jaw drop in disbelief. Even though both Stormy and Misty had both affirmed that this would happen, she had never completely trusted the veracity of their claims. When she’d been living with her magister, she would at most have been given one piece of candy, perhaps two on rare occasions. “Thank you!” Mestra gushed, eliciting a laugh from the stallion. As they turned and walked back to Verdant Thicket, who had waited by the road, Mestra dug into her bucket, trying in vain to identify the various types of candies that she had gained. There were five in total, all of which were hard like the toffees with which she was familiar. Some of them bore differing colors within the clear wrappings. She looked back to Stormy, who had a joyous smirk on her face, “Mestra like!” “Do you want more?” “More? Mestra get more?” The smirk widened into a grin, “Of course! Just about every house you come to will give you at least that much.” Mestra felt her own eyes widen with delight to the size of saucers, “Ah!” Verdant Thicket and Stormy laughed. The other two were walking far too slowly for the now overexcited mare to wait, and Misty’s arrival brought them to a halt briefly as she spoke with Stormy. Unable to stay herself, Mestra left the others and charged ahead behind a group of colts and fillies, joining them in their chant at the next house, this one decorated with spiderwebs and other ghoulish adornments. They received marshmallow treats made of puffed rice and drizzled with chocolate. As much as Mestra wanted to dive into her little cache, there were still dozens of houses in the square, and she still had plenty of room in her bucket. At the next house, the forgotten mare had to walk past an inflatable effigy of Nightmare Moon. It was surprisingly lifelike for how large it stood, making her take a wide course around it. Upon receipt of fare from this house, the chorus of little ones seemed disappointed, and Mestra herself felt almost cheated when they dropped a fresh carrot into her possession. She examined it as she walked, wondering why such a lackluster offering would be made. She looked up too late to realize how close she had come to the Nightmare Moon sentry. She was just about to back away when a figure sprang from behind it with a loud roar. The gaggle of foals scattered in all directions, and Mestra herself fell to the ground, tripping over her own hooves and landing flat on her back, her little butterflies vaulting into the air just in time. Scrambling backward with her eyes shut, Mestra’s ears picked up laughing even over the sound of her own frightful scream. Her heart raced as she summoned the strength to look up. Verdant Thicket stood near the inflatable Nightmare Moon, cackling at the prank he’d played on the hapless group. Mestra was about to say something, but found herself unable to do so, succumbing to a violent fit of hiccups instead. She wanted to laugh, but tears came out instead. Stormy charged into the yard like an angry bull, blowing by the frightful figure, rage emblazoned across her face. “Verdant Thicket, you ass!” she lashed out with a jab, striking the stallion on his shoulder. Turning to her prone friend, her expression softened, “Mestra, are you okay?” “A-“ she hiccuped, “ah.” Verdant Thicket let out something like a giggle and mumbled a half-hearted apology, “I was just fooling around. It’s Nightmare Night. Also, you hit pretty hard for a carrot.” Stormy shot him an infuriated look. Without another word passing between them, the stallion shrugged and left. “Come on, let’s get your candy picked up and back into your bucket,” Stormy said with a forced smile. It didn’t take them long to get Mestra sorted out, but the hiccups continued for quite a while. After getting candy from a few more houses, they played a few games, attempting to toss fake spiders onto webs and bobbing for apples, but the forgotten mare was so excited to get into her candy that her heart wasn’t in the games. Stormy took her to make a customary sacrifice to the Nightmare Moon statue, this one a wooden carving, that had been set up near the school house. Mestra was a little sad to leave behind a few choice bits of her candy, but felt it worthwhile if it would keep Nightmare Moon from gobbling her up. The pair then returned home, ready to feast upon the gratuitous bounty of sweets that they had obtained.