//------------------------------// // Chapter 21: Nightmarest of Nights. // Story: Harmonic Gift From The Stars // by DTavs exe //------------------------------// There was a mildly cold breeze that afternoon in Silver Shoals and two alicorns were enjoying a sunbath on the shore, no meetings, no paperwork, no threats to their ponies, just calm and relaxation. The youngest removed her sunglasses and let out a sigh, “dear sister,” she said and the oldest moved her head to face her little sister, “I’m bored.” Celestia also removed her sunglasses and there was a bit of a slur in her voice, “bored? How can you be bored? I thought you liked all this… slooow and safe activities.” “I do, but… I don’t know. I feel like I’ve done everything I could on this place and it’s getting monotonous.” “Luna, It’s only been a few weeks, I was expecting you to be enter-entertained with this place for at least a century or two.” “I know, I know and I love it, the peace and tranquility is everything I was hoping for. But I think I want some change, I want to break the routine as well. Can we go someplace else Tia?” “I don’t think so Lulu, Imma really comfortable right now and I have already scheduled several um… activities that I want to do here for the next few weeks,” Luna looked down disappointed, Celestia hated watching her sister like that, “hey, that doesn’t mean you can’t go out, ‘member, we are… no… we have all the time in the world. We don’t have to do everything together.” Luna’s eyes open wide in realization, “you are right, but where could I go? What could I do?” Celestia rubbed her chin contemplating her sister’s possibilities, almost getting distracted on a cloud, “well Nightmare Night is in a few days, isn’t it?, the running of the leaves already passed… I think, OH! Los Casquillos the ‘El Dia de los Muertos’ will be soon, no wait... it’s too far, you wouldn’t make it on time… so why don’t you visit Ponyville for this Nightmare Night, didn’t you tell me you had a lot of fun a few years ago when you went there?” Luna’s face gave out a smile, so bright it illuminated the entire world, “Tia you are a genius,” Luna jumped on top of Celestia making her drop her drink, “if I leave now, I’ll be there by the morning before Nightmare Night and I could take the scenic route!” she hopped off her sister and ran to her cabin to pack. Celestia watched her leave, annoyed for losing her her drink, she screamed at her, “before you go, tell them to send me another bahama mama!” but it was too late she was gone, she groaned and put the cup on the ground next to another eight similar empty cups, “maybe I had too much… nah, I’ll go get another one… as soon as I remember how to walk.” ~♥~♦~♣~♠~ At Canterlot Castle, Princess Twilight Sparkle was working on some documents, signing and sealing with the help of Spike, suddenly a white coated unicorn with brown mane and tail, entered the room carrying a folder. ”Good afternoon Princess Twilight Sparkle, I came as requested.” ”Come on Raven, why won't you just call me Twilight, we have known each other since you started working for Celestia.” Raven fixed her glasses, ”I appreciate the sentiment, but I must refuse, I take my position as the Princesses... I mean Princess Aid very seriously and meanwhile we are on the clock I'll prefer we keep a professional behaviour,” she gave an honest smile. Twilight and Spike giggled at each other, ”ok, you remind me of another mare I met, Ms Harshwhinny I believe her name was,” Twilight said meanwhile Spike nodded. Raven fixed her glasses again, ”oh yes, the Head of the Equestria Games and Equestria Games Inspector, she is my older sister and my inspiration.” Spike scratched his head, ”well that makes sense.” ”Don't worry, even if I aspire to be as competent as her, at least, I enjoy myself in my downtime, I wish that she would take some time for herself as well.” At that moment Spike puked a scroll, he quickly grabbed and passed it to Twilight, ”hey it's Luna and she will spend Nightmare Night at Ponyville.” ”Oh boy, we need to go, you haven't visited Ponyville for a moon already.” ”I don't know Spike, we have a lot of work reorganizing all this paperwork left by Celestia and Luna after their retirement.” Raven cleared her throat to catch their attention, ”actually Princess Twilight, we are a few days ahead of schedule… um… actually we are a week ahead, so you can take a day or two.” ”Really?” asked the purple drake. ”Of course Mr. the Dragon, with Princess Twilight's new method of organizing, we are moving really fast and efficient,” Raven said checking her notations and schedules, it also helps that she doesn't take seven cake breaks every day like Princess Celestia used to she thought, ”in fact, after you are done with those last documents you can take the rest of the day today as well, I can take care of the last meeting with the nobles, is just to discuss the design of the tapestry of the new wing of the castle after all.” Both Twilight and Spike watched Raven confused, ”are there really meetings just for that?” asked Spike. ”Indeed, in fact there is a meeting tomorrow about the design of the bushes in the royal garden, Princess Celestia and Princess Luna usually skipped these meetings as well.” “Alright, it’s decided then, Spike, write Starlight a letter, we’ll spend Nightmare Night in Ponyville.” Spike quickly pulled out a scroll and a quill and wrote a letter, then blew it with fire transporting it to its destination. ~♥~♦~♣~♠~ That evening, the town of Ponyville run amok, the desperate screams of children filled the air, they were being chased by Nightmare Moon who’s laugh brought fear into the hearts of everypony. “She is gonna gobble us up!” screamed a pink mare wearing a white and pink costume with a heart on the chest and her mane done in pigtails. She ran and a group of foals followed screaming with Nightmare Moon flying after them. On the main plaza, everypony were enjoying the many games, food stands and music entertainment. Applejack was, as every year, taking care of the apple bobbing game, she was dressed as a tin mare with all sorts of metal pieces around her. “Applejack Darling, you need to let me put some silver makeup, or the disguise won’t be complete,” Rarity dressed as a huge heart, said while trying to apply some of the stuff on Applejack’s face, while the cowpony dodged Rarity’s hoof like the plague. “No way, that smells like Granny’s flank pain remedy and is a mess t’take it off,” Applejack kept dodging Rarity who gave up and pouted, “come on, sugarcube, hey look at that, here comes Rainbow Dash with the getup you made for her for losing the bet.”  Rarity turned to see the rainbow maned mare wearing a red gown, her maned styled long and soft covering one of her eyes, her face adorned with red lipstick and black mascara. “Rainbow Dash! You look divine! Are you wearing fishnets and stiletto shoes as well?” Rarity asked and the pegasus face showed that she was not enjoying this, she rolled her eyes and lifted her dress showing the undergarments and shoes. Rarity ran and pulled the dress to cover Dash’s modesty, “darling, that’s too unladylike, you lost the bet and you promised you will wear my ensemble.” Rainbow rolled her eyes, “ugh, yeah but how is THIS a costume? Is just a fancy dress and makeup.” “I don’t know how is that relevant, a bet is a bet,” Rarity waved her hoof at Rainbow Dash, “besides you are enjoying it, don’t lie to me I asked to wear the dress, not the makeup or hair.” Rainbow blushed bright red and then pouted, accidentally forming a heart with her lips, “is just that it fit the dress…” at that moment a flash of light startled the group, Twilight and Spike teleported above them slowly falling in front of their friends, Twilight was wearing a red and black jester full body outfit and Spike a police suit. “Twilight!” the group said in unison hugging their friend. Spike crossed his arms, “hey what about me?” The girls laughed and Applejack adjusted her metal hat, “oh come on sugarcube, you were here yesterday havin’ lunch with Gabby, the day before helpin’ her on her routes and the two days ago y’all went to the lake and bfbfbfbf” Spike flew and covered Applejack’s muzzle with his claws, while Rainbow and Twilight giggled and Rarity blushed nodding in agreement. They could hear the flapping of wings over them, they looked up and there it was, a black alicorn wearing dark armor and carrying an unconscious pinto foal on her mouth, she landed in front of them and the group greeted her, she slowly put the sleeping foal on her hooves and spit the fake fangs she was wearing, “this is fun, hi Twilight, are you here to have some of the fun as well?” “Yeah and I was hoping that we might be able to listen to a song afterwards.” Luna gave the little colt to his mother that just arrived, “that’s a great idea, I have been wanting to hear another song from our friends from the stars.” “Awesome, then I need to taste some of those cupcakes the Cakes and go some games before we go, why don’t we meet at the castle in two hours?” everyone agreed so Rainbow dashed to the Cake’s stand, she was far from the others and close to the stand but tripped on a rock, she went down, her wings trapped on her gown she wouldn’t be able to stop the fall, she could only close her eyes and wait for a world of pain, but it never came, she opened her eyes and she was being held by a tall pony wearing a full body plate armor and helmet, she could only see the pony’s eyes, they were beautiful purple and looked directly at hers, his eyes burned her and at the same time she felt safe being held by this knight in shining armor, she couldn’t avoid blushing a bit. The armored stallion helped her up, “hey th-thanks, ow I think I twisted my hoof, I’m Rainbow Dash, care to help me handsome?” what the hay did I just say? She thought. “Bfbbf bfbfbb fbfbf” the stallion tried saying something but the helmet made it impossible for anything to be understood. “Say what?” “Bfbfbfbff,” the knight tried to remove the helmet but it seemed to be stuck, Rainbow laughed and he groaned. “I guess I’ll do the talking then, hey I was going to go to the Cake’s for some grub, care to come with me? I mean my hoof still hurts and I’ll need some… help.” she asked and the stallion saluted offering his hoof, they spent a bit over two hours enjoying the festivities right next to each other, from the food court, to the dancing floor which he had to help her to not hurt her hoof more and to the ferris wheel where they enjoyed the view from the top. Until it was time to go to the castle, they were at the entrance, “hey, I had a lot of fun tonight, I need to go inside, we will do some… research, wanna come in? I bet I can find inside the castle something to remove that helmet and maybe we can finally… talk.” The stallion’s eyes filled with joy, he walked in but then a flash startled the couple and Discord appeared out of thin air, “OH HELLO! You two, no time to talk I taking this knight with me,” he said while grabbing the stallion with his tail and storming out of the castle. Rainbow tried to run after them but her hoof was still hurting and her wings still trapped in her gown, “DISCORD, WHERE ARE YOU TAKING MY… um MY HELPER!” she screamed but it was to late, they were gone, she sighed but then blushed remembering the time she spent with him and how much they… well how much she talked to him about her, she even gave him her address, he surely will be able to reach her… unless Discord sends him to another dimension… nah, maybe she can ask Discord who that stallion was, she walked to the studio where she met her friends. “HI DASHIE, you are late, what took you so long?” the party pony asked her friend. “Oh well, some stuff happened, I almost fell and a stallion helped me.” “Oh what a gentlecolt, um… darling are you blushing?” “What? No…” “Yes, you are, Rainbow Dash, did you find yourself a boyfriend?” Rarity accused Rainbow meanwhile everyone else giggled. “WHAT? NO WAY! He is not my boyfriend, he is just a pony who helped me and happens to be a boy as well… AAAAH just put the damn song,” she sit on a pillow with her hooves crossed and a blush on her face. Luna raised her hoof, “may I press the button?” “Wait where are Starlight and Fluttershy?” Twilight asked. “Oh Starlight went drinkin’ to celebrate Trixie’s birthday, I reckon they are probably wasted by now and you know Fluttershy, she never comes out of her shack for Nightmare Night, sugarcube.” “I guess they won’t be joining then, go ahead Luna, you can press the button,” the night alicorn pressed the button and the sound of door opening and some steps startled the group. “Oooh creepy.” Luna began moving her head to the music, “this music is not like the last time, but I like it.”  Rarity felt uneasy about the lyrics of the song, she grabbed Applejack’s hoof “this song is quite fitting for today’s celebration, don’t you think Applejack?” “Yeah and is it just me or his voice is really special, sugarcube?” Luna nodded, “Indeed fair Applejack, his voice is rather soothing even if he speaks of such terrors that could crawl in the dark.” “Yeah and the music is sooOOoooo good, it makes me want to dance like a zombie.” Pinkie jumped on the back. Twilight watched her pink friend, “how would a Zombie dance Pinkie?” “Um… I dunno, maybe with their hooves up and from side to side,” she said while lifted her hooves and moved side to side twice and then walked on the side her hooves pointed and then repeated it back clapping her hooves up and moving her head to the song’s rhythm. Spike jumped applauding, “that looks like fun,” he then joined Pinkie dancing like a zombie adding more moves, then one by one her friends joined dancing to the music until one tripped and everypony went tumbling and made a pony pile on the pillows.  They laughed and kept enjoying the song until a different voice began talking over the singer. Pinkie then felt a tingle on her spine, “that other voice is not soothing at all.” Luna paid attention to that voice, “well I still like it, the way he describes the terrors in the dark is quite appealing.” and then that same voice laughed in a sinister way “even his laugh is synonym of darkness, I must say I enjoyed this song.” “It was quite interesting, very thrilling if you *yawn* ask me.” “It’s really late, why don’t we have a sleepover? I wanted to have one with you for the longest time,” Luna asked and everyone else agreed so they decided to stay and prepare for the slumber party. Later that night, Rainbow was looking at the window from her sleeping bag, wondering if he will ever met that stallion again. ~♥~♦~♣~♠~ On the town outskirts a draconequus carried an armored stallion on his tail, he reached a shack and opened the door, when up the stairs and dropped the annoyed stallion in front of a mare, “there you go, I found him and carried him as you requested Fluttershy.” “Thanks Discord, I was wondering where he has been, you said you wanted to check the Nightmare Night fair and then come back quickly.” “BBFBBFFBB!” the stallion muttered. “Discord, I think his helmet is stuck, can you help him?” “Gladly,” he grabbed the stallion helmet and pulled making him scream in pain until the helmet gave up and was finally pulled from his head showing a green coat and blonde mane. “OUCH YOU BEAST THAT HURTS!” “Discord! I meant with magic!” Fluttershy scolded Discord, jumping to rub her brother’s head. “Oops my bad hahahaha.” “Shy you need to keep you boyfriend on a leash, he just ruined the closest I’ve been to make Rainbow Dash like me again!” “Is that right Zephyr?” “Yeah, you should have seen it, she was so beautiful in that dress, shining with the moonlight and when she looked at me, it was a look I haven’t seen in YEARS and I only had to not say a single word HAHAHAHA… oh now I made myself sad.” Fluttershy hugged her little brother, “don’t worry Zeph, I’m sure that if you keep trying and become a good and competent stallion, you will eventually win her heart.” “You really think so?” he asked and she nodded, “aight! But for the time being I’m exhausted *yawn* let go catch some z’s” he plummeted on the bed and fell asleep immediately while her sister giggled. “Um, Discord,” she asked the draconequus who snapped his claws and teleported the stallion to the living room couch, then closed the door of the room and turned off the lights.  To be continued forever