"Phew," Apple Bloom said, as she whiped her brow and sat back from the table. "Now that were an intense battle." Before her sat a table covered in models and scenery items, and behind her, on the kitchen divider were trays covered in even more models, with one tray marked as deceased. There were many models on that one, and that was the result of five waves.
In case it isn't clear what has just been revealed, the whole battle never actually happened. In reality, the entire engagement was nothing more than a table top wargame, played out using miniatures on the Apple Family's dining table. This had lasted most of the evening and night, and now they were only just beginning to pack away.
Pear, in the meantime, was busy admiring the miniatures on the trays. "You girls sure did a good job makin' and paintin' these models," she said. "They look so lifelike!"
"Well, we don't do things by halves," Rainbow Dash replied. "We each did a handful to ensure that we would finish them in time. Of course, I wouldn't have so uncool a demise as shown in that session. Shot off the balcony in the first turn? What a poor turn of luck!"
"The third wave was especially bloody," Rumble noted. "I've never seen that many failed armour saves in such a long time! Though the Candymare must have taken very heavy casualties in that battle."
"Speaking of which," Cheerilee asked, looking over the table in mild concern, "how did you get the likeness of Swift Order and the members of the Canterlot City Police Department?"
"We just used generic police miniatures," Sweetie Belle explained. "In fairness, one SWAT unit looks fairly similar to another in this day and age."
"That was an interestin' way ta spend the time," Bright Mac admitted, "but given how late it is, Ah suggest we get off ta bed. See y'all in the mornin' for All Saints Day!"
And so, off they went to bed, with not a trace of candy monsters or any other horrors besieging their dreams, or anything, for that matter.