Nightmare Night (Pt.1)
"Ok, so let me get this straight." Spike said scratching his head. "We have been traveling for weeks with out real relaxation, It's Nightmare Night tonight, an amazing festival of fun and dancing; and you're heading down to the town jail?"
"I told you." Sin replied cooly strapping a saddlebag onto his back. "This was meant as a retreat for you and Mac, I actually came here for work." He looked around the Inn room for something. Mac was laying in bed still, he hadn't felt much like moving ever since Sin paid for the suite two days ago, and given him the wonderful gift of comfortable slumber.
"Besides, just because I'm going to work, doesn't mean you two can't enjoy yourselves." Sin added sighing again, he gave up looking for what ever it was he was hoping to find, and sat down on his makeshift bed; a mattress with only a pillow and blanket that the inn keeper was gracious enough to provide.
"C'mon dude." Spike said, in a sarcastic tone. "This town is amazing, they have: Picture shows, story telling, haunted houses, candy gathering, and all the things we had back in Canterlot!" He finished, a huge nostalgic grin overtaking him as he lost himself in the memories of he and Twilight running away from bats and wearing ridiculous costumes to get candy.
After shifting through his saddle bag, Sin stood up and addressed the comment. "Yes, I never quite understood how such holidays worked, but I'm sure the two of you will find something to do." He made his way from the corner over the green dimly lit carpet, to the exiting door of the room. "Is Macintosh dead?" Sin asked dryly looking over to the relaxing stallion.
"I don't know, I threw some crumbs onto his pillow a while ago;and their gone now so I think he's ok." Spike pushed the red stallions side. "Mac, you alive?"
Mac replied with a distant and longing sigh. The only things on his mind were two beautiful blue eyes, and the voice of milk and honey singing a melody of love and companionship. Mac's lips turned up before the thought brought him a brief contentment for his longing and romanticized fantasies. Who was she? Where was she from? What was her name? When can they meet again? The questions piled on and on, each more mindboggling than the last.
"Yea, he's fine." Sin stated before he opened the door. "Mac," Sin called turning back to face him. Macintosh remained silent and lost within his own imagination. Though he found it slightly disturbing that he was in such a state of infatuation that he acted like a love sick puppy, the stallion rationalized it with the fact that he had never seen such a beautiful creature before. He had every right to be in a near comatose state, as far as he was concerned.
Annoyed from the constant unwanted physical contact, the red pony looked down to the offending dragon. After a silent and agitated leer, the dragon quickly pointed his attention to Sin. Mac darted at the pony, wanting to get what ever they wanted to do over with as quickly as possible so he could go back to his day dreams.
"Do not become so hypnotized, Mr. Macintosh." Sin seethed calmly, earning a quirked eyebrow from Mac. The departing pony gave a sly smirk before he continued. "Regrets are are a terrible thing to live with, and rarely do you get a chance to remedy them." He turned his attention back out to the hallway, and walked out with the door closing behind him.
"Can he talk like a normal pony for once?" Spike exclaimed before he threw himself on his bed. Mac furrowed his brow over the concept. Regrets? He didn't have too many, other than not leaving Ponyville before he did. But beyond that, he couldn't very well think of anything that weighed on his mind.
"What ya think he meant by that?" Mac asked the faced down and sprawled out adolescent.
"You know Sin," Spike waved a dismissive hand. "The guy never gives a straight answer for anything. Seriously, how vague can a guy be? I bet he is planning something for Nightmare Night, try to scare us or something."
Mac mused over the thought. Sin never struck him as much of a fun lover, matter of fact; Mac couldn't recall a time when Sin smiled that it wasn't forced. He never showed any signs of humor, aside from a few bad jokes. He couldn't imagine the enigmatic pony doing anything that would compromise his emotionless and robot like image.
"I'm bored." Spike said plainly, shifting in his bed to get more comfortable. Mac looked over to the clock to see it was almost noon. He asked Spike if he would like to go out to find some costumes for the night, which the dragon agreed to almost instantaneously. They grabbed their cloaks and walked out of the room and into the narrow hallway, passing a few doors before they reached the main entrance. They waved salutations and goodbyes to the Inn keeper mare before departing into the busy streets of Hooftrot.
Despite the cold weather, the warmth of so many ponies pushed together had stopped any shivering Macintosh had expected. He almost humored the thought of taking off his cloak, but a sudden draft of wind killed any thought of lightening his clothing. He looked around and observed the buildings in the immediate vicinity; those on his left and right were primarily inns and other housing structures for ponies and other paying creatures. A crossed the street, he saw the giant circular tent that he had noticed when they had first arrived.
Mac began pushing his way threw the diverse crowd of goblins and ghouls to reach his destination. A few insults and "excuse me's" later, he and Spike stood on the corner of the street looking up the the gargantuan. 'It had to be at least twelve stories tall' he thought observing the domed tip. The stallion looked around to see all manner of ponies dressed in more refined costumes: Some vampires, wearwolves, bloodied up school fillies, they had it all. Though the blood was a bit much for his own taste, he still found a sense of admiration for the dedication some ponies put into their costumes.
"Wonder what's going on here?" He heard his companion ask looking up at the gigantic white coverings.
"Ah figure we'll find out soon enough." Mac replied before he began shoving through the crowds again, Spike right on his tail.
"Cool dragon costume!" called a passerby dressed as a skeleton.
"Uh... Thanks?" Spike yelled over the noise driven crowd.
A sudden wiff of cooked vegetables assaulted Macintosh's nostrils, causing his stomach to growl in hunger. He had been sitting on the bed thinking of that brunet mane beauty so long, he had noticed that his body was craving sustenance. He followed his nose over to a stand where a crowed was literally throwing bits at the merchant; who in turn, threw out sticks laced with assortment of vegetables.
Mac tried to gain access to the merchants food, barley able to withhold slamming his hoof down on a blue cloaked wizard that rammed into him for his own ventures. After a few hopeless moments of fighting, the red stallion gave up and let out a sigh of defeat. He wondered over to a curb and decided he would have to wait until the crowd died to down to get the delicious food that he desired.
"You know." Mac heard a confident voice call in his direction, he looked over to find Spike with four steaming hot sticks stacked with tomatoes, onions, peppers, pineapples, and folded lettuce. "It does pay to be small from time to time." Mac's mouth quivered from the morsels in front of him, a small patch of drool escaping the corner of his mouth. After the dragon offered, Mac gulped down the first of the stacks uncaring for the searing flame that it brought to his tongue.
Spike recoiled and watched with wide eyes as the stallion gave a satisfying sigh. "Geez Mac, What did it taste like?" He asked sarcastically.
"Ah donno," Mac blushed at how quickly he engulphedthe morsal. Spike gingerly held the second stick of vegetables to Mac, teasing as if he were afraid he would have his arm bitten off. Big Mac rolled his eyes slightly and used his front leg to pinch the wooden stake and hold it for him to feast.
"Mmm," What is this stuff?" Spike asked finishing the last of his own. "Dear Celestia, i have got to find the pony responsible for inventing this and thank him."
"It's called a shish kabob." A voice called from behind.
Mac's heart skipped a beat, he knew that voice, he may have only heard it once; but such butter to his ears was unmistakable. The two looked over to find a brown maned yellow coated pony with a barrel cutie mark looking right at them. The smile on her face made Macintosh all but melt where he stood, a firm prodding in his side gained his attention, he looked down to spike giving him a knowing look. "A shish kabob huh?" The dragon mused over the four now bare stakes. "Man, I gotta get the recipe for this stuff." He walked away from the two, presumable to throw away the food holders gone chopsticks.
"He's go a pretty cool costume." The mare said looking at Mac. The stallions infatuated smile turned grim. A jet of ice cold fear shot up his spine from the base of his tail to his skull. She was talking to him now, what should he say? What could he say?
"E- Eyup."
"My name is Annabell, but my friends call me Anni. What's your name?" She asked with an interested smile.
Mac stood frozen. His heart was beating a mile a minute, and he searched his ever racing mind to figure out what his 'name' was. 'Macold? No' His knees began to tremble, fearing he was making a fool out of him self with each passing second of awkward silence. 'Macdonald? No that's not it either... Name, name, name...'
"Name's Macintosh." Mac said holding out a hoof, "Friends call me Big Mac." He said, a bit of confidence boosted through Macintosh's body. He was surprised at how well he had managed to introduce himself considering how nervous he was. The mare took his hoof and motioned her delight at his acquaintance.
"So, ya'll come here see the show?" She asked with a friendly smile.
Mac looked back to the giant tent down the block. He looked at Ani with a curious look. She laughed and nodded her head. "Yep, that there is where we will be givin' the Nightmare Night show of the century tonight." Se exclaimed before her eyes went into a fantasizing daze. "We've been practicin' for this show all year. N' we gotta dragon no less."
Mac's eyebrows shot up. "A dragon?"
"Yep," She smiled before it faltered a bit as she thought. "Ya see we, the ponies I travel with and myself, were walkin along the outskirts of Manehatten, we had a job for entertainin folk at some party. Ya know, makin' it more lively and what not. Any way, as were makin' our way from the city back to the road, we found the big guy sprawled out by a creek. Poor thing was famished, so we brought him some Gem stones and nursed him back to strength."
Mac was about to speak, before Spike interrupted. "You have a dragon here?" He asked a little surprised.
"Sure do." Ani exclaimed happily, beaming down. "Ya know, I have to say; that is the best dragon costume I have seen yet. Shoot, you could pass for his son if you didn't know any better."
"I actually AM a dragon." Spike explained. To this Ani's eyes eyes shot up. At first she tried to push it off as him trying to pull her leg, but the reptile continued to insist he was in fact a dragon, belching out a few green flames to lay indisputable evidence; though drawing some uneasy attention from the passing crowd.
Annabell stood with her mouth a gape, Mac found it rather difficult read if her feelings were more towards infatuation, or terror. Finally, after the information had been processed, the mare spoke. "You're a might bit small to be a dragon." She said her brow furrowing.
"Well, I am a baby dragon after all." Spike said, scratching the back of his head. "So, technically, I'm about the right size."
Annabell nodded her head, an acknowledging structure on her face. "Well, pleased to meet ya dragon. Oh where are my manners, my name is Annabell."
"Spike." The purple dragon said, giving a bow. "So where is this dragon you were talkin' about?" He asked eagerly.
"Oh, were doin' a show with 'im tonight." She smiled and pointed over to the tent. "And after that, were all gonna go dancin' with the rest of the town." She clapped her hooves together, obviously more enthralled by the dancing than the show.
Mac watched the mare smile in delight, his heart melted as the smile she wore grew. She was happy, and he liked that, but he couldn't quite figure out what was so great about dancing. Personally, he hated it, but if she liked it; he figured he might give it a try. "Sounds like ya'll gotta full night." he added with a shrug.
"You betcha. Say." She rubbed her hoof against her chin eying Mac. "Why don't ya'll come on by 'n watch the show? I'm pretty sure I can get you both in with out havin' to pay."
Spike gasped gleefully, "Buck yea, that would be awesome!"
Annabell's eyebrows shut up. "Well, don't ya have quite the mouth?" She smiled awkwardly.
Spike scratched the back of his head, his cheeks beginning to pink. "heh, sorry."
"Nothin' to it." She smiled reassuringly. "Now the show begins at seven, Go 'round back; and ask for me. You'll see a big pony out back, but he shouldn't cause ya to much trouble."
After the the confirmed the plans, Mac and Spike waved Ani off. She waved back, more to Mac than Spike, and trotted off back within the crowd from whence she came. As she left, the two noticed that the activity in the streets were starting to die down after the Lunch hour, and decided to take the opportunity to see what the town had to offer. As they passed by a costume shop, Mac felt a little nudge from the dragon. "Smooth, lover colt."
Mac's ears laid back slightly as he blushed again. "Ah, uh,"
"Hey, hey; it's cool." Spike teased. "I'm sure you two will be locking lips in no time."
Mac gasped and stared at the reptile with wide eyes. The red of his face put the rest of his body to shame. He was about to scold Spike before the purple hatchling burst into a fit of giggles. "Oh man..." he laughed again. "You-- you should see your face."
Macintosh dead paned, his eyes narrowed onto the laughing dragon. Spike pressed his lips together in a futile attempt to stifle the giggles. The more Mac tried to be angry, the bigger the grin on his face became. He had no Idea why, but he just couldn't be mad; after all he was hoping it would end on something like that.
After Spike got past the hyperventilation of his abundant laughter, the two continued to explore the haunted housed, Nightmare Night decorations, and what ever else the town had in store for them.
---
"Senator Windmane." Called a brown Unicorn trotting up. "Mister Senator, A word if you wold."
A large male Pegasus turned to greet the unicorn with an all to forced smile. His dark blue coat slightly covered by a darker blue suit jacket, and his teal mane pulled back in a ponytail. "Ah, Good evening Senator Thornberry." He watched as the pony closed in, her hooves echoing on the wooden floor of the vast lobby area.
"I was just wondering." She said standing infront of him, her brown face smiling slightly. "If you would mind accompanying me to the Nightmare Night ball in the Centaur palace tonight."
Though Windmane had spent many of his years in Politics, thus experiencing the highs and lows that came with it in regards to 'friendship', he had known Thornberry all of his political career from when he first started his campaign years ago. He smiled gently at the unicorn and hung his head. "I am sorry Madam Senator, however, i must prepare for my debate with Senator Stuborn. I have prepared this for weeks, and if I don't have every loop hole closed on why it is best not to have the pegasus interfere with the typical weather patterns over the Donkey state; The Syndocrats will be unified in their backing of the Donky's just to make me look bad."
Thornberry pouted for a split second than quickly perked up. "Of course." She furrowed her brow as she gazed to the floor, Windmane couldn't help but feel a twinge of guilt; he always knew she had feelings for him, but with the way things were going for the Federation, he just didn't have time for such distractions. "What about Senator Abstract?" her eyes beamed at him with hope. "Couldn't he go over the notes for you? At least for one night?"
"I'm afraid not." Windmane shook his head, his gaze downcast to the wooden floor before him. "Abstract has always been a good pony in his state, but his understanding of free will and slavery isn't articulated as it needs to be in order to hold his own on the floor. Remember the debate he had with Sychon over the Gem mines?"
Thornberry's ears perked down again as she cringed. "Yes, I do recall the humiliation he endured at his forgetting of the treaty of Xoni." She sighed and looked at the pegasus with concerned eyes. "Windmane, you have to take break from this. You've been working everyday for the past month, even on days where the congregation isn't in session. It's wearing on you."
Windmane gave her a genuine smile. "Thorn, I have no choice. I am the best the Boltinians in the arena of debate now."
They both stood in silence as the words hung in the air. Dancing shadows caught the pegasus attention, and his gazed shifted to watch as his shadow was manipulated by the torchlight. His mind wondered, as it always did, and he began to see the irony at how life was alot like the shadows of a dancing flame. No certainties on it's exact shape, no real telling how bright or dark a particular time would be, and something that sent a chill up his spine; no guarantee that there would be a second shadow there to bask in the light.
"Ever since Islander left." Thornberry began sadly. "You've been taking more and more responsibilities in fighting unjust laws." He voice cracked at second to last word. She took a calming breath and looked the pegasus in the eye. "I am greatful to him for endorsing me for his seat in the Senate, and the opportunity to serve after my time as mayor of Georgeton, but I can't help but feel I'm letting him down, letting the Coalition down and... Letting you down."
Windmane placed a comforting hoof on the Unicorns shoulder, his eyes showing compassion and kindness. "Don't be so hard on yourself Thorn," He gently kissed her forehead and watched her eyes dart a way before a faint red blushed her cheeks. "Islander left because he didn't play partisan politics, even though we all tried convincing him to. He didn't adhere to the Boltinian belief of controlling the earth, or the Syndicrats belief in controlling trade and the sky. He just wanted the government to stay out of everything."
The blue pegasus gave a large sigh before his face turned downcast. "I guess i never realized how much of a role he played in keeping order in the Senate. As much as he was hated by both parties and the Arbiters, they still held a respect for his words and rhetoric." He furrowed his brow in deep thought. "I wish it could have been different, we were good friends and all. But, I just couldn't side with him when he claimed that the congregation should do nothing to impede the Minotaur's killing ritual."
"Hey, don't be so hard on yourself." Thornberry called, nuzzled Windmane's neck, her foreleg find it's way around his back. "Just because you two were friends doesn't mean that you had to cast away your own beliefs."
After a long embrace, Windmane smiled and returned the unicorn's nuzzle. "I know your right, my mind has been," The pony observed the dancing shadows again, images of the light growing dimmer and dimmer clouding his mind in fear of darkness. "clouded lately. Perhaps a break would do me some good."
Hope shot through Thornberry and she gave a full hug to the stallion. "I'm glad to hear you came to your senses." She whispered in his ear happily. After the embraced ended, the two walked out of the chamber into the busy streets of the Capital city, Unity. Where they would make their way to the Centaurian palace to enjoy and indulge that which the event had to offer.
---
"Were you put on this earth to serve another?"
"Why in the name of Cerberus do you care?" Barked a cold voice, it echoed wildly off of the stone cell in which he sat.
"To be frank, I don't." Sin replied blankly. "As far as I really care about you personally, you deserve to sit in there and rot for your subservience to authority."
"BUCK YOU, YOU ASS!" It yelled, a loud thud erupting from within the iron clad window. "What in Luna's night is with you? You come her to offer me freedom, and than turn around and say you couldn't care less?"
"I personally don't care for you as an individual currently." Sin corrected, his hidden eyes casting their judgment. "However, I have heard from a reliable source that your imprisonment was overtly out of racial differences." He waited for a response before he continued.
"Yea, so? You pretty much said I belonged in here." The angry voice called.
"I'm not here to offer you freedom. No one can offer you what is yours at birth, and can only take it away later on." Sin seethed. "I'm here to give you the tools needed for you to free yourself. I care not for you past what you care for yourself." He heard a sound from his left and shot his head over to find a guard had exited the tall grey building and begun his patrol around the perimeter.
"Why should I trust you?" The voice growled, the anger subsiding to skepticism.
Sin scoffed, giving his final words before he knew the guard would spot him. "I came to give you a second chance at a free life, what you do with it is up to you." The dark stallion moved quickly but quietly away from the window, and escaped the shadows of the compound, careful to avoid any light that would give his presence away. After a few moments of dodging ponies and griffons he made his way to a dark alley right in front of the jail entrance and sat down with his eyes fixated on the door.
"Alright minotaur," Sin whispered to himself. "Let's see what you're worth."
(Alright, no i know this is a little longer than most; but i'm going to try the: different things going on in the same story, style I have come to like. ALSO, and I actually do need opinions on this... I was planning on adding another individual to travel with the group. A little bit of a nut job who takes his love of freedom a little to far. What do you think?)