“Rarity?...What exactly are you wearing?”
“Oh, do you like it, Rainbow Dash? Thought I'd try something a bit daring this year, a sort of stylistic, industrial look.” The marshmallow unicorn off-hoofedly responded, as she carefully adjusted the overly-mechanical seeming goggles resting upon her brow.
“What?”
Rarity, still quite busy adjusting the finer points of her outfit, could scarcely look up as she responded “Very très chic, if I do say so myself. A perfect blend of elegance and style with the rugged inventiveness of our Griffon neighbors, wouldn't you agree? I think before the night is out, I may very well of set off a whole new fashion trend here.”
“Uhhh...you do know that this is supposed to be a costume party? Not some sort of frilly fashion...thing, right?” Rainbow Dash pointedly asked of her unicorn friend, gesturing a hoof towards her own very knightly set of armor. Or rather, the costume that resembled a knightly set of armor.
Rarity ended up giving a small roll of her eyes at that “Well, of course, Rainbow Dash. But that's no reason not to-”
“What Ah don' git, is why you need all those buckles and what not. Can't help but be left thinkin' that you gotta be cinched up tighter than a bale o' hay under all those things.” Applejack noted from her side, before gesturing her hoof towards the unicorn's somewhat overdone outfit “And what's with all these gears you got stuck on your outfit? They ain't even connected to nothin'.”
Now pursing her lips now in mild annoyance, Rarity found herself turning her nose up a bit “It's a stylistic choice...and considering your current wardrobe, Applejack, I might refrain from offering up too many criticisms. Glass houses and throwing stones, and all that.”
“Hah! I think I'm hearing some sizzling, AJ! Cause you just got burned!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed.
“Now darn it! You promised you weren't gonna laugh, Rainbow Dash!”
“Oh, come on! How exactly am I gonna manage to do that with you all gussied up like that?” The hovering pegasus pointed out around her chuckles.
All this lead to the down-to-earth Earth pony casting her own annoyed gaze across her own outfit. It took sometime, as the bright pink and blue gown was covered in enough frills, bows, and ribbons to make a dozen more dresses. It was poofy. It was impractical. It was uncomfortable. And Applejack was stuck in it “...Consarn that dumb bet. Never shoulda let you talk me into it...”
Her sharp ears catching the muttered complaints of her Earth pony friend, Rainbow Dash dropped down a bit lower, before resting a hoof across Applejack's withers “Heh! Yeah, sorry AJ. But a bet's a bet and it's a bit late to try backing out of things now.”
“You just enjoy this while you can, Dash!”
“Oh, I'm gonna. Just don't forget your super-sparkly crown, AJ. You can't be a super-frilly princess without it!”
Frowning mightily at the pegasus' continued laughter, the Earth pony angrily reached a hoof to her back before pulling out the gaudiest piece of jewelry she'd ever found herself burdened with. With a quick motion Applejack forced the goofy looking tiara on top of her head.
“...You know? It really does bring the outfit all together, Applejack.”
“Uh-huh. Thanks.” Applejack sourly replied to Rarity's well-meant observation.
Before the unicorn could offer anymore encouragement to the grumpy farmpony, their attention was redirected to the sound of trotting hooves. Quickly approaching them was the smiling Twilight, sporting a top hat and a rather dapper tuxedo fit for any stage magician's act “Okay girls! I think we're just about- where's Pinkie Pie?”
Quickly darting her head back and forth, the young Princess quickly noted a few more absences “And where's Fluttershy? And the kids? It's almost time to head inside.”
This quickly brought a pause to the various bits of teasing and nitpicking between friends as they tried to figure out where two mares and a small herd of foals could be hiding. There weren't that many places to hide, when one was standing just outside the main entrance of Canterlot Castle; it was something of a design choice. There only remained a steady trickle of ponies that were still heading inside for the festivities, so it wasn't exactly as if one could be lost in the crowd, even when everypony was dressed up for Nightmare Night.
“Sweetie Belle!” Rarity suddenly called out, breaking up the groups attempts to spot the missing ponies “We discussed this, Sweetie Belle! No wandering off while we're in Canterlot!”
“Applebloom! Now come on out now! We're gonna be late!” AJ added in a moment later.
After a few moments of consideration, Rainbow Dash took a moment to adjust her costume's helmet “You think they got foalnapped or something?”
This immediately lead to wide-eyed looks being directed towards that off-hoofed comment from the two resident older sisters.
“Rainbow Dash!” Twilight quickly chastised.
“What? I'm just saying, it could-” The pegasus tried to defend.
“We have no reason to think something like that, Rainbow Dash.” Twilight swiftly admonished, before turning back towards the unicorn and Earth pony mares “I'm sure they just got distracted and-”
“What are you guys still doing out here?”
Snapping her gaze back around to the main gates, Twilight's jaw dropped a bit when she saw her friend, Pinkie Pie, leaning out the gates. Interestingly, her surprise had nothing to do with the fact that her pink friend was dressed as a tree “Pinkie Pie! What are you doing already inside?”
“Waiting on you guys, obviously!” Pinkie cheerfully replied, setting the fake leaves on her over-sized headpiece shaking.
The young princess had to shake her head at that, quickly realizing her error “But- Pinkie when did you get inside? I never saw you go in through the main gate.”
“Oh, that! We went on an adventure!”
“That was a short adventure” Tracking one's gaze to the origin of the somewhat snidely delivered remark, would reveal a certain pink filly dressed up as a one of the ponies of the Royal Guard standing just behind Pinkie Pie “And just wandering off doesn't count as an adventure.”
“I dunno, Tiara. That's kind of how it worked out that way the last time we got lost.” Scootaloo remarked after pushing her own way up beside Diamond Tiara. For the pegasus filly's part, only her wings, mane and tail could be seen under her Ghostly Wonderbolt costume, an outfit put together from a foal's Wonderbolt costume picked up from Filthy Rich's Barnyard Bargains and some expertly applied make-up done by Rarity.
“That's obviously different. We almost got eaten on that stupid trip!” Diamond Tiara quickly rebutted.
The little pegasus filly had to consider that for a moment “Well, I guess it wasn't really all that fun...though Mr. Shield's the one that almost got eaten.”
“Not to interrupt, but please tell me Applebloom is still with you.” Applejack quickly interjected.
“And Sweetie Belle?” Rarity added a moment later, still quite worried by Rainbow Dash's ill-thought out remarks.
“Of course! They're right here!” Pinkie quickly exclaimed, before pushing open the doors to the castle a bit further, revealing the aforementioned fillies plus little Silver Spoon “You guys didn't think I'd lose anyone, did you?”
Both AJ and Rarity gave audible sighs upon sighting their younger sisters, before sending mildly annoyed looks in Rainbow Dash's direction.
“What? All I said, was that it could have happened. I'm just calling them as I see them.” The pegasus defended, crossing her forelegs over her chest as she did so.
Twilight couldn't help but exhale in relief, before smiling up at Pinkie Pie “Of course not, Pinkie. Everypony was just a bit concerned when we couldn't find all of you, that's all.”
Pinkie Pie smiled at that “Silly-goose! I've been here the whole time! I couldn't be anywhere but where I am, even if I tried!”
“What? You just got done trying to drag us through half the castle before that guardpony stopped us!” Diamond Tiara quickly objected.
“Huh?” The pink pony replied, before suddenly letting out a loud gasp “You're right! I have been all over the place, and I wasn't even trying! What if I can be anywhere, even when I'm not there?!...Just think of all the parties I could go to!”
While Diamond Tiara was left sending a look of utter confusion towards the arboreally-garbed pony, Twilight quickly took the opportunity to speak up “Pinkie...you do remember what happened the last time you tried to be in more than one place at a time?”
Pinkie Pie was given some pause at that “You're right, Twilight! That was a real disaster!...I'll have to make sure I only use my powers for good then.”
“...Can you just try to stick to being in one place at a time, Pinkie? For tonight?” The young princess implored.
“Okie-dokie-lokie!”
“Are you slowpokes comin' or not?” Applebloom called over, as she adjusted the antennae of her Breezy costume with a hoof.
“Are we getting some candy or not, DT? Or are you gonna spend all night arguing with Scootaloo like an old married couple?” Silver Spoon added a few moments later, leading to a fit of snickering with Sweetie Belle at her side. They cut an odd picture laughing together, with Silver Spoon dressed as the legendary detective Fetlock Holmes and Sweetie Belle wearing a surprisingly adorable changeling costume.
“What?! We're not arguing!” Diamond Tiara shouted back, which just lead to more laughter from her fellow foals. Pursing her lips in annoyance, the little pink filly held her nose up as she marched past them “I'm going to go see if Delicacy has already arrived.”
“Hey, yeah! We still haven't gotten to meet-” Applebloom began.
“She's just trying to get to the candy before the rest of us! Catch her!” Silver Spoon quickly declared, pointing a gray hoof in her best friend's direction accusingly.
This elicited a quick yelp from Diamond Tiara as she began to dart away with the rest of the foals taking off after her, the sounds of their laughter following not too long after.
“Hold on! We should head-in together!...We haven't even found Fluttershy yet!” Twilight tried to call after the small herd of fillies to no avail.
Applejack could only raise a hoof to her face, as she watched her younger sister again disappear. Rarity, already at her side, took a moment to use her magic to adjust the farmpony's fake tiara “I'm fairly sure they're going to be fine, now that we know they're in the castle. Princess Celestia's invitation was quite insistent on the point that children would be welcome. I'm sure she has already made the appropriate preparations.”
“Ya, Ah don' know anypony that can really be called 'prepared' for Applebloom and her little friends.”AJ quietly rebutted.
Rarity gave a smile at that, all too aware of the mischief her own little sister could get into “Well, at the least, we can be reasonably sure that they're safe.”
“Yeah. Not like with Fluttershy. Maybe she really did get foalnapped?” Rainbow Dash interjected.
Applejack had to shake her head at this, still annoyed by how her pegasus friend had gotten her all worked up “Nopony's been foalnapped, Rainbow Dash!...And Fluttershy ain't exactly a foal anyway!”
If she was bothered by the chastisement, Rainbow Dash didn't show it and merely kept on speculating “I don't know about that. I mean, just think about all the dark, shady figures that could just be waiting to snatch her away.”
“Eeep!”
The delicate, squeaky sound drew their collective gaze towards a trembling section of hedge. Quickly approaching the expertly maintained hedge, Twilight brought her magic to bear to push apart the branches revealing the last cowering member of their party.
“Fluttershy?” The princess gently intoned.
Another quiet squeaking noise escaped out from under the wide-brimmed witch's hat the butter-coated mare was pulling down around her face, before a hoof lifted the headwear revealing a pair of blue eyes.
Rainbow Dash quickly darted through the air over to the hiding spot. A moment later, the pegasus was giving a heavy roll of her eyes and a deep sigh “Fluttershy...what are you doing in there?”
Looking a bit sheepish as she looked up towards her friends “Oh, uhm, well, I just- I thought perhaps I might have heard- uhm...”
The shy mare steadily trailed off in her faltering explanation, before falling into embarrassed silence under the wry look her fellow pegasus was sending her.
“Rainbow Dash.” Twilight called, already sure that her manner of approaching the situation wasn't helping, before pushing past her hovering friend further into the bushes. Carefully watching to make sure she didn't catch her rather fancy outfit on any branches, the princess leaned in towards her friend with an offered hoof “Here, Fluttershy. Let me help you out of this bush.”
“I-...I think I might be alright just staying here. Just until the party's done and-” Fluttershy began, already looking for a way to avoid leaving her current sanctuary.
“Come on, Fluttershy.” Twilight implored in as kindly a manner as possible, while withdrawing her hoof “I promise that everything is perfectly safe.”
“I don't know, Twi. I'm not sure anything can be perfectly safe. I mean-Gyah!” Rainbow Dash began before suddenly being yanked down to the ground by her tail “What gives?!”
She was met by an annoyed look by Applejack, the culprit behind her sudden landing “Are you tryin' to freak her out, Rainbow Dash?!”
“What? No!” The pegasus quickly denied “I'm just not gonna pretend something couldn't possibly go wrong! You know? Like how it always does around us!”
“Don't ya think that perhaps she doesn't need to be hearin' that right now?” The farmpony sharply countered.
“Well, I'm not gonna lie to her, Applejack.” Rainbow Dash pointedly replied.
“Ah'm not sayin'-”
“If you two will excuse me?” The two arguing mares were brought to a sudden halt in their discussion, as Rarity pushed her way past the duo.
Leaning into the bushes, while still being conscientious of her own outfit, the marshmallow unicorn approached Fluttershy with an extended hoof much like Twilight had “Come now, dear. Let get you of this messy bush.”
Having grown more and more upset seeing the fuss that she was causing, Fluttershy ended up ducking her head down a bit “I...I'm sorry, everypony. I'm being such a bother and-”
“Nonsense, Fluttershy.” Rarity quickly denied, leading to a brief flinch from the buttery-pegasus. Putting on a warmer smile for her friend “You'd never be a bother, dear. If anything, it should be us making it up to you for dragging you out here.”
“What?”
Rarity gave a firm nod at that “Most certainly. Knowing how uncomfortable you are with Nightmare Night makes it very unfair of us to have pressured you into coming along.”
“Oh, but you didn't pressure me.” Fluttershy quickly tried to deny with a shake of her head, not willing to let her friends take the blame for her being out here.
Rarity smiled at that “All the same, it just means that we would have never of tried to get you to come along if we didn't think it was absolutely safe for you to come along.”
“...Really?”
“Well, of course, darling. Is there any place safer in all of Equestria than in Canterlot Castle?” Rarity confidently offered up.
Twilight suddenly blinked as, she realized the point her friend was trying to make “Rarity's right! I mean, both Princess Celestia and Princess Luna are just inside. Along with who knows how many guardponies.”
“Exactly.” Rarity easily agreed.
“Isn't Chrysalis supposed to here too, though?” Rainbow Dash reminded, which was quickly met with a hoof jab from AJ, leading to an annoyed response “Well, she is!”
Twilight had to resist rolling her eyes before focusing back upon Fluttershy, intent on settling her concerns before they could foment “Queen Chrysalis probably is going to be somewhere around the Castle. But that's alright, remember? She's-...mostly good, now...Sort of.”
Flutterhsy still seemed a bit skeptical at that.
“...At least, I don't think Chrysalis dislikes you, Fluttershy. I mean, she's helped us before.” Twilight offered with an awkward smile.
“Uh, yeah! That was what I was trying to say before AJ started jabbing me in my side.” Rainbow Dash interjected, while sending an annoyed look towards the farmpony “I mean, she's way scarier than Princess Celestia. If anything showed up looking to cause trouble, the Queen of Mean would probably chunk it out a window! Just like that!”
“Well, I suppose...” Fluttershy began to hedge.
“And besides, we're all gonna be in there with you. Right at your side, ready to clobber anyone dumb enough to mess with one of our friends.” The azure pegasus reminded, with such certainty one couldn't help but take her words as fact.
“Huh...can't actually argue with any o' that.” AJ admitted a moment later.
Touched by the support all of her friends were extending her way, and unable to really bring an argument against anything they had to say, Fluttershy started edging out of the bush. Pulling her witch outfit clear of some clinging brambles “Maybe you're all right...I think maybe I was just-”
“And besides, there's probably way less bush-monsters hiding inside Canterlot Castle!” Pinkie Pie suddenly exclaimed, from over Twilight's shoulder.
“...B-bush-monsters?”
“Uh-huh! Horribly mean and hungry bush-monsters, hiding in all of Princess Celestia's bushes, waiting for the perfect moment to strike! Causes they look just like regular bushes, right?” Pinkie cheerfully explained to an increasingly worried Fluttershy and an increasingly bemused Twilight.
Shaking her head of these thoughts the young princess reached a hoof out to her...imaginative friend “Pinkie...I don't think-”
“So, just when you think you're crouching down in a regular old bush, you'd never even suspect that a terrible bush-monster was getting ready to snap.” Pinkie elaborated, steadily sidling into Fluttershy's hiding spot, even as the pegasus cast a worried glance about her hiding place.
“And just like that...CHOMP!...Out come the teeth.”
“Waaahhhhahahaaaa!”
A moment later, Fluttershy had leaped clear of the hedge and made a quick beeline for the entrance to the castle, with no mind for the branches tearing at her witchy-outfit.
Everypony let their collectively reproachful gazes land upon the pink Earth pony.
“...Pinkie, why would you say something like that?” Twilight finally asked.
“It's the backstory for my costume, silly!”
“What?” The princess blurted out, saving everypony else presence from having to do so.
“Uh-huh! I'm totally dressed as the legendary tree-knight Sappy, who has traveled far in her journey to rescue Princess Celestia from the meany bush-monsters!”
After several moments of bemused silence from the group of friends, AJ raised a hoof up “Okay. Ah admit, Ah didn' pick up on any of that from your costume, Pinkie Pie.”
“I'm thinking about writing a book!” The party pony enthusiastically declared, before bouncing after Fluttershy, completely oblivious to the confusion and disapproval of her friends.
“Come on guys! Before Fluttershy eats all the candy!”
Applejack gave a loud sigh, before adjusting her overly-poofy dress once more “Well, Ah guess that's one way to get the cows out ta pasture.”
A few minutes later...
“I absolutely promise you, Fluttershy, there are no bush-monsters anywhere near Canterlot Castle.” Twilight helpfully reassured her still quite shaken-up friend, before gesturing to their surroundings “I mean, I've lived here for years and never run into anything like that before.”
Fluttershy merely gave another shaky nod at that, as she worriedly watched another costumed party-goer pass their group in the hallway.
“Plus, wouldn't a monster that looks like a bush standout a bit? You know? Like anywhere that doesn't have bushes?” Rainbow Dash thought aloud “It'd be kinda weird if we just saw random bushes everywhere, right?”
“It probably doesn't bear overthinking, dear.” Rarity pointed out, even as she once more found herself adjusting her somewhat overdone outfit.
Twilight didn't pay any mind to their thoughts, still focused on calming her skittish friend down “Trust me, Fluttershy. You are perfectly safe here. There's no safer place than at Princess Celestia side.”
“I suppose...” Fluttershy conceded with a light nod, even as her gaze wondered over the spookily decorated castle, with its eerie lighting, spooky wall-hangings, and presumably fake skulls and spider webs.
“We can even ask her about this whole bush-monster business, and she can tell you that there's nothing to worry about.” The purple princess pointed out, as they entered the main foyer. Which was rather well-timed, as one could quickly spot the Sun Princess waiting at the base of the stairs “There she is! Princess Celestia!”
Turning her attention from the latest group of guests to be headed up the stairs, the Princess of the Sun seemed to light up at hearing Twilight “Ah, Twilight! I've been so looking-oh!”
Celestia came to a rather abrupt halt in her greeting, as her student quickly wrapped her hooves around her in an affectionate hug “I see we're doing hugs.”
Blinking a bit at the awkwardness her actions seemed to cause, Twilight pulled back a bit “Oh...Was that- it's just with everything that's been happening lately-”
She was met with a reassuring smile and an affectionate hoof from her mentor across her withers “It's quite alright, Twilight. I was just a bit caught off-guard. I've been greeting so many nobles this night, I suppose I was getting too used to the formality of it all...”
A quick glance and Celestia was leaning in conspiratorially and with a slightly mischievous grin “Some of them can be a bit stuffy, as I'm sure you well know.”
Twilight, far too busy accepting this explanation, failed to notice the knowing looks shared by the two nearby guardponies.
“And I see you brought all your friends with you!” Princess Celestia exclaimed, as she turned her attention to Twilight's costumed comrades.
The young princess rose a hoof to her lips in concern “That's alright isn't it? The letter said-”
“Of course your friends are welcome, Twilight. We have a very special night planned for all of you; we couldn't have started without all of you here.” Celestia quickly cut-in.
“Uhm, speaking of all of us, Your Highness?” Applejack interjected with a raised hoof, her normal sense of reserve around the Sun Princess overcome by her worry about her little sister's whereabouts “Sorry to interrupt, but Ah don' suppose Applebloom and her friends came through here?”
Princess Celestia gave a single elegant nod at that “Indeed, I sent them along just a few minutes ago. We made sure to come up with some fun activities for the young ones and you can rest assured they're in good hooves.”
“Oh...Well, that's good then.” AJ admitted after a moment, finally able to relax a bit now.
“In fact, if you will all come with me we can get started.” Celestia added with a smile.
Before the Sun Princess could even finish turning towards the waiting stairs, she was brought to a pause by a distinctly timid yelping noise.
There, crouched down and pressed up against Rarity's side was Fluttershy with her hooves forcibly pulling the wide-brimmed hat of her costume down around her eyes. This left the ghoulishly-costumed castle servant, the presumable cause of this latest bout of cowering, uncomfortably confused as they walked past the group.
“Is she alright?”
Twilight glanced between her fretful friend and her mentor “Oh, uhm-...just a moment.”
Taking a few steps closer to Fluttershy, Twilight found herself leaning down towards her friend with as reassuring smile as possible “Fluttershy?”
“Oh!” Startled from her futile attempt at making herself as small and unnoticeable as possible, Fluttershy looked up with a big, watery eyes. Realizing how she was inconveniencing her friends once more, she ended up hanging her head again in shame “Oh, Twilight. I'm terribly sorry-”
“None of that now, dear.” Rarity quickly admonished, even as she let her roof rest upon the pegasus' shoulder.
Nodding in agreement with her unicorn friend, Twilight used a hoof to guide Fluttershy back into a standing position “Come on, Fluttershy. You remember Princess Celestia.”
“Of course, I do. But-” Fluttershy quickly agreed.
“Is everything well?” Princess Celestia interjected, having approached a bit closer without being noticed.
Frowning again in embarrassment and worry, the butter-coated mare couldn't help but button her lips tightly. Seeing this, Twilight quickly tried to take the lead for her friend “Uhm, Princess Celestia? There wouldn't happen to be any...bush-monsters around Canterlot Castle, would there?”
“Bush-monsters? Wh-where would you get a notion like that, Twilight?” Celestia asked, clearly confused by the question.
Twilight was briefly tempted to gloss over that, before deciding to just forge ahead “Uhm, apparently, Pinkie Pie's writing a book about horrible bush-monsters that live around the castle and-”
“What are you talking about, Twilight? I'm not writing a book on bush-monsters.” Pinkie Pie exclaimed with bewilderingly earnest confusion directed towards the young alicorn.
Rainbow Dash had to shake her head at this, before taking over for everypony “Uh, Pinkie. You were just going on about how you got the idea for your costume from the book you want to write about weird plants fighting each other.”
“Oh, my book isn't about that! That's just the idea for my costume!” Pinkie helpfully corrected.
Tilting her head as she tried to process this information, Twilight found herself gawking at her excitable friend “But...if you're not writing about bush-monsters or tree-knights, then what kind of book are you writing?”
“It's a cookbook!” Pinkie proudly proclaimed.
Rarity visibly considered this revelation, raising a hoof to her chin as she thought about it “...That would actually make sense for Pinkie Pie.”
The eponymous pink pony nodded at that “Right? It's going to have all kinds of down-home Pie family-farm recipes!”
“Doesn't your family live on a rock farm?” Rainbow Dash pointed out.
“Uh-huh! I got the idea from all the neat Apple-family recipes that Applejack is always going on about.”
Shaking her head, to clear away any thoughts of this bizarre tangent, Twilight focused back upon her mentor “Anyway, the castle is perfectly safe right? Fluttershy doesn't have anything to fear being here, right?”
“Of course, Twilight.” Princess Celestia easily agreed.
Pleased, Twilight turned back to her friend “See Fluttershy, there's no such thing as-”
“There shouldn't any manner of bush-based monsters within a thousand miles of here.” Princess Celestia continued on.
Twilight blinked at this “What? Wait...There is such a thing as a bush-monster?”
“Well, there are some creatures that could be described as such.” Celestia gave a mild shrug.
“Th-there are?” Flutterhsy quietly asked, with a tremor in her voice.
“There are many strange creatures in the world, my little pony. Many of which are quite dangerous...but few of which would have any reason to be here. Of that, you can be sure.”
“Oh...so?”
“You're perfectly safe here, Fluttershy. I'll see to it personally, if need be.” Celestia finished with a kindly smile, which was slowly returned by the pegasus. Glancing about a bit, the pale alicorn leaned in a bit conspiratorially “And, would you like to know a secret about Nightmare Night?”
Her fears finally overcome by her curiosity now, Fluttershy gave a tilt of her head at this “What is it?”
“Well, the reason everypony is supposed to put on scary costumes this time of year?...It's to scare away all the really scary things that are out there.”
“Really?” Fluttershy asked.
“Yes, indeed. The scarier, the better. Even the scariest of monsters might think twice, if they're not sure whether it's a mere pony they seek to prey upon...or a terrifying witch luring them into a trap.” The Sun Princess explained with a wink towards the pegasus' outfit.
“I'm...terrifying?” Fluttershy asked, as she cast a doubtful gaze upon herself.
“I'd say there's scarcely a monster out there that would come after you.”
Considering this for a moment, the mare hesitantly adjusted her hat “Uhm...that's good?”
Celestia gave another nod at that, before turning back towards the stairs.
“Now if you would all follow me, we can head towards the main event.”
A few minutes later...
“Wait! Come back! I need you for eating!”
Twilight watched in utter bemusement, as a certain pink pony bounced after a flying bowl of candy, while wearing a tree costume.
Lifted up by magic, the dish was quickly floated up beyond Pinkie Pie's reach, as a matter of fact. This fact was proven again and again as pink hooves failed to even touch the bowl at the height of the Earth pony's impressive bounces.
Letting out a quiet chuckle at this, Princess Celestia used her magic to float the bowl over to herself “I'm terribly sorry, Pinkie Pie, but these candies are strictly reserved for the foals tonight.”
“Awwwwww! Really?” Pinkie mournfully intoned.
“I'm afraid so. These bowls of candy are going to be playing quite the large role in entertaining the little ones.” Princess Celestia explained, as she used her magic to levitate the bowl back to its pedestal, where it could continue to sit between the two costumed guardponies.
“Oh! But I'm kind of little, right? I mean I'm much skinnier than you, Princess Celesatia. And shorter too! I'm practically a foal already! And everypony's always telling me how immature I can be!” Pinkie excitedly pointed out, as she continued to eye the bowl of tantalizing candy.
“Pinkie!” Twilight interjected.
“Twilight!” Pinkie mirrored back in the same tone.
Raising a hoof to her brow, before accidentally brushing it against her tophat “That wasn't a very polite thing to say.”
Tilting her head in apparent confusion at this, setting the piles of leaves atop her head a shaking, Pinkie sent a questioning look the young alicorn's way “Huh?”
“I think what Twilight's trying to say is, that Princess Celestia is looking very lovely this evening. And is in no way out of her proportions.” Rarity tried to supply for her princess friend, even as Fluttershy endeavored to stick close to her side.
“Well, duh! Princess Celestia always looks that way!” Pinkie countered with a gesture of her hoof.
Before Twilight could go on trying to explain why one doesn't go about calling the Princess of the Sun fat, she was brought to a pause by the aforementioned Princess' amused chuckling “Princess Celestia?”
Dropping to a slightly out of breath giggle, Celestia waved her student's concerns away with a hoof “It's quite alright, Twilight. After all, there's no getting around the facts.”
“Oh, well-...I suppose, it is empirically true that you are-” Twilight thoughtfully began.
“Yeah! And Princess Celestia is looking a bit chubbier than usual!” Pinkie cheerfully added, to which the young princess immediately winced.
But, again, the only reaction this garnered from Princess Celestia was some mild amusement “Yes, well, I suppose I am getting a bit soft in my old age.”
“...What exactly counts as old for an alicorn anyway?” Rainbow Dash muttered to Applejack, as they watched from the sidelines.
“Question for the ages, Ah'm sure.” AJ replied with a shrug that ended up jostling her froufrou outfit.
Princess Celestia took a moment to clear her throat before addressing Pinkie Pie once more “In any event, if you really can't wait for some treats, you can always head down to the dungeons, I suppose?”
“The dungeons?!” Twilight blurted, taken a bit aback by the casually delivered line.
“Yes, Twilight. We've got quite a few treats and snacks laid out down there. I can even arrange as escort so she doesn't get lost.” Princess Celestia calmly elaborated with a gesture towards the two waiting guardponies.
“Oh, well-”
“Treats and snacks?!...And an escort?!” Pinkie excitedly exclaimed, before quickly grabbing one of the two stationary guardponies and beginning to drag him away “To the dungeon!”
“Pinkie!” Twilight futilely held a hoof out after her friend, as she disappeared around the corner with the surprised stallion.
Princess Celestia quickly came alongside Twilight “There's no need to worry. Everything has been arranged to be quite safe down there. It's just another part of the celebration really.”
“But...didn't you want to, I don't know, introduce us or something?” Twilight reminded, thinking back to the invitation's call for all six of them to attend the party.
Again, Princess Celestia simply seemed amused “Twilight, I hardly think any of you need an introduction. It will be fine.”
“Well, if you're sure.”
“I am. Now let's be off so we can get to the main event of the evening.” The Sun Princess suggested before taking the lead once more.
“So, just why is it that Princess Celestia needs a dungeon?” Rainbow Dash again asked Applejack.
“Eh, probably just came with the castle, Ah'm figurin'.” AJ offered.
Raising a hoof up to shift her fake helmet around a bit, Rainbow Dash pondered that for a moment “Yeah, okay...But, why would you have a bunch of snacks in the dungeon?”
Before the Earth pony could offer up any more insight into the matter, Celestia's voice carried back to them “There's no need to worry. Everything will start to make sense shortly.”
“...Well, that's not ominous.” The hovering pegasus noted.
“And here we are!” Princess Celestia cheerfully declared, as she stopped in front of a large set of double-doors. Each of the Royal Guardponies on either side of the door, gave a somber nod to all those present, lending the whole moment a touch more formality than was expected. The Princess of the Sun, as radiant as ever, nodded in turn to both of them with a smile and turned back to Twilight and her waiting friends “I hope you're all ready for an exciting night.”
“But-...not too exciting, right?” Fluttershy hesitantly asked, earning a sympathetic pat and an understanding look from Rarity.
“Oh, we'll have to see about that.” Celestia responded with a warm smile, before turning back to the waiting doors. Twilight's own ears gave a light twitch, at the sound of magic at work, before it was overtaken by the heavy doors opening. As well-maintained as they were, there was nary a squeak from the hinges, but just the sound of the displaced air was noticeable and made the entryway to the throne room seem even larger.
And darker. It was very dark. That was a decidedly apparent facet of the room ahead.
Twilight managed to spare a glance for Fluttershy, as the yellow pegasus let out a tiny sound of concern, before looking back to what she could see of the waiting throne room. Which, again, wasn't much; there was scarcely more than the dimmest bit of moonlight shining through the many windows of the normally grand room. And what little light did reach into the room did nothing to reveal its contents, outlining the barely distinguishable mass of shuffling forms along either side of the large room.
It was eerie, to say the least. A small amount of light shone from the hallway, revealing the lack of the usual red carpet leading into the chamber. Which was just as well, given that she couldn't even see the throne that the carpet normally lead up to.
“Uhm...Princess Celestia? What kind of event did you say this was going to be?” Twilight quietly asked her long-time mentor. She'd expected some spooky decorations and costumes, so this was decidedly more ominous.
“Come on and see for yourself, Twilight.” Princess Celestia offered in an almost inappropriately light tone. Casting her gazes towards the purple princess's gathered friends, she gave a reassuring smile, before welcoming them in with a gesture of her hoof “I promise, everything is perfectly safe.”
“Uh, right. Of course. Why wouldn't it be?” Twilight awkwardly asked aloud, to nopony in particular. Giving a crooked smile for her friends, the young alicorn took a moment to tip her tophat back a bit “I mean...'Tis the season, right? Girls?”
“Uhm, why yes! Rightly so, Twilight. This all seems...harmless enough.” Rarity quickly chimed in with a bit of forced levity. The fashionista seemed ready to take a step forward, only to be reminded of Fluttershy, who was now clinging to her side tightly. Giving an uncomfortable chuckle, she lightly adjusted a few pieces of her complicated outfit for a moment “And...we certainly can't keep the festivities on hold on our account.”
“Oh, come on!”
Everypony, save Princess Celestia and the two guardponies, gave a start at the sound of Rainbow Dash's loud exclamation. Having gotten their attention now, the speedster gave a roll of her eyes before moving to Twilight's side with a quick flap of her wings. Setting down easily, she turned back to the gathered group of friends.
“You guys aren't buying this, right? You couldn't have a more obvious set-up for a Nightmare Night prank if ya put a big sign out front!” Rainbow Dash pointed out to the others, with a gesture of a blue hoof towards the doorway. Leaning back a bit and tilting her nose up slightly “I mean, I would figure after all the times I've pranked you guys, you'd be able to see something like this coming a mile away...Err, no offense.”
Twilight had to let out a huff at that, her earlier anxieties admittedly defused by her friends antics “Rainbow Dash...”
For Princess Celestia's part, she merely lowered her hoof and gave a hearty chuckle at Rainbow Dash's words. Touching a hoof to her mouth briefly, as she composed herself, Celestia gave a light shrug towards the brash pegasus “I suppose you can't blame a princess for trying. I should have known that one of Ponyville's #1 pranksters would see right through me.”
“Heh, really? Well, it's not like it isn't a good first try. I mean, I could give ya a few pointers, if you wanted for the next time.” Rainbow Dash preened a bit at Princess Celestia's words.
“Oh, really? Well, I hope I'll prove a fine student then.”
“Now there's somethin' that's real scary, Dash. You teachin' Princess Celestia how to go about prankin' everypony? Ah'm already shudderin' at the thought.” AJ noted, as she trotted up to join Twilight, careful to mind her hooves around her impractical outfit.
“Eh, she'll probably use my teachings for good anyway.” Rainbow Dash flippantly countered.
“No promises.” The Sun Princess easily chimed in with a smile for the group of friends. Turning back towards the doorway again, she gave a nod of her head to gesture for them to follow her in “Anyway, while I'm a bit disappointed that I was seen through so easily, there is still a surprise that I'm sure you're all going to enjoy.”
“Sorry about that, Princess Celestia.” Twilight intoned on behalf of her unrepentant friend, even as she trotted after her mentor.
“Think nothing of it, Twilight. It's all part of the night.”
Seeing that and already having the mood disrupted by Rainbow Dash's antics, the rest of the small group shared a look with one another before trotting after the two alicorns. Even Fluttershy only lagged behind a few steps, though that could have just been an attempt to stay with the group.
To their shared surprise, the Sun Princess came to a pause not too far into the room. Even more curious, she'd yet to bother with using her magic to light their way any further into the room, despite them reaching the edges of what little light was coming from the hallway.
“So, uhm...What's the surprise, Princess Celestia?” Twilight eventually asked, looking up to her mentor curiously. Clearing her throat briefly, the young princess couldn't help but glance into the surrounding darkness; she could see dozens of shapes milling about beyond where her eyes could see, but little more than that.
“Uh, is anyone gonna come out? You guys know we're already on to you, right?” Rianbow Dash haltingly called out to the unseen masses.
Swallowing down a touch of growing anxiety, Twilight looked back up to her mentor's face, the little bit of her serene smile she could see still eerily frozen in place. A bit worried now, she moved a purple hoof to maybe prod the Sun Princess into responding, despite the impropriety of it “Is everything-”
And then she was plunged into darkness.
As were Twilight's friends, if she was to go by the sounds of surprise and confusion coming from behind her. And of course, the shrill little squeak of fear that could have only come from Fluttershy. Resisting the urge to pointlessly whip her head about to gaze into the darkness, the purple princess steeled her nerves, before bringing a magical glow to her horn.
Princess Celestia was gone.
Leaving behind nothing but a bare floor where she once stood, Twilight quickly glanced around for any sign of her mentor. She scarcely noted the many masked and cloaked figures her horn ever so briefly illuminated, as she tried to make sense of this “Princess Celestia? Princess Celestia?!”
The young alicorn's attention was brought back around to the rest of her friends, as a small white light lit up from the tip up Rarity's own horn. Giving a gentle pat on the head of the trembling, yellow pegasus that was clinging to her side, the fashionista looked back towards the front “Uhm, Twilight...I don't suppose you happen to know what's going on?”
The small group of friends crowding around each other now, as they collectively cast their gaze out to the mysterious figures surrounding them, it was AJ that next spoke “Oh, why don'tcha just ask Rainbow Dash here. Since she's such a huge expert on pranks.”
“I mean-...This is still a pretty obvious set-up. Definitely still a prank...Yeah...” Rainbow Dash responded a bit shrilly, even as she adjusted her costume's helmet to peer outwards.
“It's alright, girls. I'm sure- I'm sure this is all part of-...whatever is supposed to be happening.” Twilight called back, even as she slowly retreated towards the rest of her friends. Her horn held down just a touch defensively, Twilight had to remember to adjust her hat as it tilted forward awkwardly “I'm sure that Princess Celestia is-”
“YOU DARE REFER TO US AS A MERE PRINCESS!?!?!”
Twilight, and indeed all of her friends along with her, stumbled backwards from the sheer force of the words, that even now echoed through the great hall. Their little group now hugged against one another in a mixture of shock and confusion, there was little comfort taken in how the teeming masses of shadowy figures also seemed to turn at the bellowed question.
“P-Princess Celest-”
“YOU SHALL REFER TO US BY OUR PROPER TITLE...!!!” Came the booming voice once more, shutting down any attempts on Twilight's part to speak up. A bit dumbfounded and staring now, the group of five friends held their tongues as the voice continued “WE SHALL ONLY EVER BE REFERRED TO AS...!!!”
As if on cue, two massive braziers that had been set on either side of the entryway lit up with sudden bursts of light, that soon resolved into dancing orange flames. But they could scarcely take in anything more of the room by the two new sources of light, before another set of braziers lit up, side-by-side and further into the chamber. And then another. And another. Each set leading closer and closer to where the thrones should be waiting. In time with this, wall-mounted sconces saw their own torches lighting up along the walls of the massive chamber, swiftly meeting the braziers at their shared endpoint.
“...YOUR ETERNAL QUEEN!!!” These brief few moments of taking in this bewildering sight were cut short, as an even greater fire burst up behind the great throne at the far end of the chamber. Briefly casting the throne and its occupant as silhouettes, the flames died down to a dull roar, revealing the dark figure that looked out over the filled chamber.
“...Our Eternal-” Rarity began to repeat aloud.
“YES!!! YOUR ETERNAL QUEEN!!!” Princess- or rather, Queen Celestia outstretching a hoof as she reiterated her dramatic declaration. Her normally colorful mane replaced by hair seemingly made of fire, the eldest alicorn was now clad in blackened armor that was covered in what was probably an impractical amount of spikes “AND WE SHALL SUFFER NO MORE BACKTALK FROM TREASONOUS REBEL SCUM!!!”
Twilight, still confused and increasingly worried by all of this, took a step forward “Treasonous?!? How can we be-”
“Oh, my dear, sweet student...”
The group of costumed friends turned as one, save Fluttershy, towards the voice to find “P-Princess Celestia?!?”
There, greeting Twilight, was the same serene, warm smile she'd seen on her mentors face countless times before, on the face of Princess Celestia. But, even as bewildered as she was, it took the young princess only a moment to put it all together “No. It's-”
“...are you ever going to not fall right into my clutches, Twilight Sparkle?” The white alicorn asked, her beautiful, kindly smile turning into a sneering, smug grin that seemed utterly out-of-place.
“Chrysalis!”
Still smirking down at the group of confused ponies, the faux Princess Celestia gave a shrug, before being engulfed in the recognizable green flames of a changeling's unique brand of magic. And as surely as Twilight had deduced, there stood the Queen of the Changelings herself, Chrysalis.
“What is the meaning of all this, Chrysalis?!” Twilight immediately exclaimed, stomping her hoof to punctuate her demand.
“All in due time, Twilight Sparkle. Soon you will-”
“Hold on a gosh darn minute! Ah thought you were supposed to be on our side now! What in tarnation is this all about!?” AJ abruptly interjected, trying to step forward herself, even as she struggled for a moment with her overly frilly costume.
Chrysalis paused for only a moment, before rolling her eyes, her smirk still intact “Oh, come now. Surely you don't expect me to reveal every portion of my evil scheme right out of the gate, do you?”
“This isn't funny, Chrysalis!” Twilight snapped, giving a flap of her wings to approach the Changeling Queen, to meet her eye-to-eye “Why is Princess Celestia-”
“If you want your answers, Twilight Sparkle...” Queen Chrysalis began, tilting her head towards Twilight and her friends. A moment later, Twilight had to resist the urge to let out a yelp, as a distinctive green aura wrapped around the coattails of her costume and dragged her back down to join her friends “...you'll need to play by my rules.”
“ENOUGH OF THIS CEASELESS PRATTLE!” The fiery figure sitting upon the throne suddenly declared, drawing the collective attention of everyone present. Extending a hoof clad in black, spikey armor the 'Eternal Queen' stood “NOW, MY LOYAL SERVANT! REMOVE THESE TRAITORS FROM MY SIGHT!!!”
“Of course, my Eternal Queen!” The group of friends had to whip their heads between the two imposing figures they were caught between, to catch sight of Chrysalis offering up an over-done bow towards 'Queen Celestia'. Turning back to Twilight, the changeling gave a toothy grin as she leaned in “I do hope you enjoy the little game I've arranged for you and your friends, Twilight Sparkle...Mmmwahahahahaha-Mmwahahaha!!”
Momentarily taken aback by the, admittedly impressive, evil laugh that Chrysalis seemed to be leaning into, Twilight and her friends could scarcely react, as they were surrounded by dancing green flames “Wait! Chrysalis! What is-”
Twilight's voice and the maniacal laughter were cut-off in an instant, as the green flames converged and engulfed Chrysalis and the group of costumed heroes. As the green fires dissipated, there were no traces left of Twilight, her friends, or the changeling that had abducted them.
“...I say, they are putting an impressive show on this year.”