Chapter 14:
Scare Master
Tonight was another Equestrian holiday in Equestria, and the holiday itself is Nightmare Night. Something that Twilight and her friends are usually excited about dressing up in costumes in partaking in the very fun activities the holiday has offer. A holiday that the Apple Family helps out with every year in setting up a fair-like attraction with games and a new scary maze for later in the night.
Well, all but one of them, Fluttershy. Every year on Nightmare Night, Fluttershy is just too scared to come out to join in on their friends in partaking in the fun and spirit of the holiday. She would keep herself holed up in her cottage and make sure she is well stocked up so she doesn’t have to worry about needing to go on and get something out at night.
Unfortunately for her this year, she forgot to get carrots for Angel leaving Fluttershy no choice but venture outside to get some and it proved quite difficult for her as she immediately runs off terrified just at the mention of the maze’s attractions.
For Fluttershy, she is usually more scared than at this time of the year but this year was concerning even by Fluttershy's standards as she finds herself scared witless of everything and anything related to the holiday very easily.
She then settled for heading over to Twilight’s castle in hopes she has some lettuce she could give her where she was greeted by Spike wearing a two-headed dragon costume who encouraged Fluttershy to join them in celebrating Nightmare Night with them.
The two make their way to the castle to the room where the rest of the Mane Six are. There are listening to each other tell each other ghost stories and trying to spook each other out.
By the time Fluttershy got up to the room where her friends are it was Pinkie’s turn to tell a ghost story as the room was very dark with only a lantern lighting the place up in the library.
“… And then it got very, very quiet and suddenly they realized the balloons had never been inflated!” Pinkie spoke of her scary story.
All but Pinkie Pie scream at the very frightful thing before laughing of how funny it really is.
“Did I ever tell you about the night that the mannequin came to life and haunted all the costumes?” Rarity spoke up taking a turn at telling a story as she held up the lantern with her magic.
“What happened?” Rainbow Dash eagerly asked much to Rarity’s annoyance.
“I just told you, darling. A mannequin came to life and haunted all the costumes.” Rarity simply answered in a tone that Rainbow should have figured it out by this point.
Pinkie, the only pony who found it scary, squealed in fright and fell onto her back.
“Hi, everypony.” Flutttershy greeted them and made her presence known as she turns on the lights causing everypony to react in surprise seeing her here on this day.
“ Fluttershy, what are you doing here? Is everything okay?” Twilight asked her as she walked up to her and Spike.
“Everything is fine. In fact, it's more than fine.” Fluttershy reassured them. “I've decided to join you in your Nightmare Night festivities.”
Rarity, Applejack, Pinkie, and Rainbow Dash all return surprised looks at Fluttershy’s decision.
“Seriously? You? Out? Tonight?” Rainbow Dash scoffed at the idea only to give a forced grin as Rarity nudges her for her rudeness and lack of support for their friend.
“Every Nightmare Night, I shut myself in my cottage and refuse to come out until morning. But it's just like when I was afraid to sing in front of anypony. If I hadn't given it a try, I never would've found out how much I enjoy it.” Fluttershy explained her reasons why as she takes up new and attempted confidence to join in on the festivities.
“And we'd have missed out on how great you sound.” Applejack said to which Fluttershy blushed at the compliment.
“Fluttershy with us on Nightmare Night? Why, that's positively the most wonderful news I've heard in ages!” Rarity said in delight.
“You can get dressed up in a costume with us and play Nightmare Night games with us and eat candy apples with us!” Pinkie happily said as she hopped around the room.
“Don't forget the best part. Goin' through my family's corn maze!” Applejack said as she wrapped an arm around Pinkie Pie.
“Oh, right. The maze.” Fluttershy said now having her enthusiasm burst with that reminder.
“Uh, only if you're up for it.” Applejack added as she placed a comforting hoof on her shoulder and reminded her she has the option to back out of it if she doesn’t want to after seeing that she unintentionally burst her bubble there.
“Oh, I am! I am ready to take on Nightmare Night!” Fluttershy asserted her confidence that she can handle it this year.
Her friends all cheered for her when Fluttershy tells them she is in this year… while seeing that she is ducking on the ground taken aback by the immediate cheering.
"Just practicing." Fluttershy reassured them with a nervous laugh.
While Twilight knows she is going to have to let her take baby steps into this since this is her first NightMare Night, she can’t help but notice that Fluttershy deep down is very nervous about something, and that there might be something more to it that is buried deep in her mind.
After everything is all settled all six ponies head on over to Rarity’s boutique store so they can get into their costumes.
Pinkie Pie is wearing a light blue t-shirt, purple shorts, has purple eyeshadow in the shape of a lightning bolt over her left eye, with light blue roller skates and a headband with hair knots to give herself an appearance of a roller disco dancer.
Rainbow Dash was wearing a white astronaut costume with green boots and glass space helmet.
Applejack was wearing a lion costume while Twilight herself was wearing a golden armor, with golden shoulder and knee pads, with a golden helmet for the appearance of one of the royal guards of Canterlot.
Rarity was wearing a blue mermaid costume with seashells on her tail-fin.
“Hoo-wee, we're gonna have the best time!” Applejack excitably said as she raised her front hooves up in the air as Fluttershy stepped out of the dressing room, having settled for a simple long elegant black dress. The others studied her wardrobe choice and were quite confused of what exactly her costume is.
"Hey, Fluttershy, where's your costume?” Rainbow asked her.
"I'm wearing it." Fluttershy simply answered while smiling sweetly. But the others were still not quite on board on what exactly she is going for.
"I get it! You're a robber escaping into the night!" Pinkie Pie gasped of what she thought the answer as she skated around but Fluttershy shook her head. "You're a ninja escaping into the night!" Pinkie asked again, while doing karate posesas Fluttershy shook her head no again. "You're black licorice escaping into the night!" She exclaimed as she skated right up to her face.
"Close. I'm going to a masquerade ball. Without the mask." Fluttershy answered as she pushed Pinkie out of her personal space as skated in reverse and onto her back as she fell.
“Oh, that's great! Isn't it great?” Twilight honestly and sweetly replied while nudging Rainbow to show some support.
“Oh, yeah.” Rainbow Dash awkwardly complimented.
“So creative.” Pinkie Pie complimented as awkwardly as Rainbow Dash.
“Great costume.” Applejack complimented in the same tone.
Even though they knew Fluttershy would want to try something too fancy, they all felt she should have been more creative with her choice of costume than something simple but nevertheless continued their support for Fluttershy.
Once everypony has settled in their costumes they all head over to Sugarcube Corner to partake in the fun Nightmare Night has to offer.
First, they played pin the tail on the pony Nightmare Moon.
Rarity wearing a blindfold during her turn managed to pin one on her neck. Once Rarity took off the blindfold, Pinkie put another one over Rainbow Dash’s eyes since it is now her turn at take a shot at the game.
“I figured I'd save the really scary games for next year when Fluttershy's more used to it.” Pinkie told her friends.
When Fluttershy hears those words she blushes in embarrassment feeling bad and feeling her friends are really missing out on the real fun because of her to which Twilight takes notice of and places a comforting hoof on her back to reassure her no harm is done with her joining in on the fun as Pinkie Pie spins Rainbow Dash really fast.
“Round and round and round you go, where you stop nopony knows!” The Mane Six minus Rainbow chant as she spins around.
“Okay... go!” Pinkie told Rainbow as she stops spinning.
Rainbow then does a flip then a spin then gets up on two hooves as she places the tail on Nightmare Moon’s mane on the top of her head.
“Good luck beating that, Fluttershy!” Rainbow Dash challenged Fluttershy to top that as she put her helmet back on. But Fluttershy seemed very hesitant in partaking in that activity.
“Well, um, it's just that if I'm blindfolded and somepony were to leap out in front of me, I'd never have the chance to defend myself.” Fluttershy nervously explained her hesitation.
“That's fine, darling. You don't have to do anything you don't want to.“ Rarity assured her it’s no big deal as she pushes Pinkie aside.
“We're just glad you're here.” Twilight added as she placed her comforting hoof on Fluttershy again.
“We don't have to finish that game. I have another one I know you'll love! Bobbing for apples!” Pinkie added as she skated over to get a bucket of apples and placed them in a bucket of water. But even with another easier activity Fluttershy is still hesitant to partake in that activity.
“Fluttershy, what's wrong?” Twilight asked having taking notice of it.
“It's just that, um... What happens if, when my head is deep down in the water, some kind of scary monster appears? How would I even hear to know I was under attack?” Fluttershy nervously explained again as she briefly looked in the bucket of water causing Pinkie to give her a surprised look as if she is seeing something scary in the water.
“Something seems very off here.” Twilight thought to herself as she scratched her chin seeing that Fluttershy is still acting abnormally scared this year.
“Time for candy!” Pinkie happily announced.
“It is?” Fluttershy asked as she presented the candy bags with comically designed faces on the bags on the counter.
“I made candy bags. Each bag has been made with each of you in mind, complete with each of your favorite candies!”
Everypony walked up to the counter so they can receive their Halloween gifts.
“Ha! Awesome!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed as he received his bag as Fluttershy is still hesitant to even enjoy Halloween candy.
“Here. Take it. Take it! What are you waiting for?” Pinkie Pie again offered her bag of candy.
“Well, it's just... What if when I'm eating one of these chewy taffies, my mouth becomes glued shut and I can't scream for help?” Fluttershy nervously wondered as Pinkie pushes aside the bag of candy as the others watch her very awkwardly and confused as Twilight puts her candy bag aside. “Oh, goodness. We've only just started to celebrate Nightmare Night together, and I'm already taking all the fun out of it, aren't I?” She then spoke feeling guilty feeling responsible for sucking the fun out of NightMare Night out of her friends.
“You're not taking out all of the fun.” Pinkie told her otherwise as she made her way to the door.
“Just, like, ninety per—“ Rainbow bluntly commented as Twilight flings a piece of candy at Rainbow complete with a glare for her insensitivity again. “ ...Some of it.” Rainbow corrected herself.
“I really wanna do this. But there's just so many things that terrify me about tonight. I couldn't possibly predict what might upset me.” Fluttershy honestly expressed that she really wants to join in on the fun as Twilight thinks of an idea then smiles when she thinks of something.
“Unless... you were the one doing the scaring!” She offered.
“Her scaring us?” Rainbow Dash scoffed and laughed at the idea. “Oh. You're being serious.” Rainbow Dash asked in a surprised tone seeing the glares she is getting from her friends for her constant mean remarks towards the shy peagsus.
“The thing you hate is being scared, but if you're the one doing the scaring, then...“ Twilight further explained as she raised a hoof so Fluttershy will get an idea.
“Then I can help you all have fun and I can still be a part of Nightmare Night!” Fluttershy then smiled as she got what Twilight is getting her to acknowledge.
“So you like that idea?” Twilight asked.
“I think I do! And I don't want to get ahead of myself, but I think I have the perfect idea for how I'm gonna do it!” Fluttershy agreed thinking she already has an idea.
“Really? Oh, this is so exciting!” Pinkie cheerfully spoke as her friends gave her encouraging smiles.
“Meet me at my cottage in an hour.” Fluttershy told her friends in a spooky voice as she evilly smirked as she backed her way out of the door before changing back into her normal voice while popping her head back inside briefly. “Oh, I'm excited to see everypony soon!”
As soon as Fluttershy left, Twilight still can’t help but wonder how strange Fluttershy has been acting during the party.
“Something’s seems very off with you, Fluttershy.” Twilight wondered to herself. “And I think I need to find out why.”
After waiting an hour the five ponies all make their way to her cottage where Twilight knocks on the door where it slightly opens.
“Welcome to Fluttershy's tea party!” Fluttershy’s voice in attempt to sound eerily spoke as the group sees a darken room with tea cups on the table.
“Did she just say "tea party"?” Rainbow asked Twilight if this is Fluttershy’s idea of scary in a “You’ve Got to be Kidding.” tone.
“It sounds like it's a scary tea party?” Twilight responded trying to be hopeful and supportive of it as Rainbow sighs correctly feeling this is not going in the direction they had hoped she promised as they all make their way inside.
“Have a seat.” Fluttershy’s voice spoke again as they make their way to their seats. “Don't be scared of what awaits you. Go on. Pass the sugar.” Rarity used her magic to do so with the cup meant to carry the sugar only to see there is none as Applejack flips the cup upside as nothing came out. “Oh, no! There is none! You're a terrible host! Rarity, put your coat on!”
“Why would I do that?” Rarity skeptically questioned.
“You need to cover up because no one has complimented your dressssssss!” Fluttershy answered as Rarity rolled her eyes in annoyance rather than freaking out. “Pinkie Pie, look to your left and ask your best friend to pass the cucumber sandwiches!” Fluttershy told Pinkie as she looked are confused.
“Huh? I can't. There's nopony there.” Pinkie responded still very confused.
“That's right. Because she didn't care to show uuuuuup.” Fluttershy responded back.
“What?” Pinkie asked still confused.
“A friend who didn't come through. That must scare you to the coooore. Quick, everypony, look behind you!” Fluttershy spoke as something dangles from the ceiling.
“Uh, what are those?” Rainbow Dash asked as they all see cardboard drawings of ponies.
“They're unplanned guests. Your woooorst nightmare. You don't have enough food for them!” Fluttershy spoke as a toy kitten bounced across the table while Rainbow continues to be very unimpressed with this sad display. “Oh, no! There's a tiny kitten that needs a home! But you are over-scheduled right now. You don't have time to help!” Fluttershy continued as everypony eyes each other very confused at the weak attempt until they spotted Fluttershy hiding behind the couch. “I said, "You don't have time to help!" This should appear to scare you!” Fluttershy attempted to keep up the act as she spoke through a tin can until she gave up and popped her head back up. ”Why don't you look terrified? You showed up to a party and everypony was extremely disappointed in you. Can you imagine anything more upsetting?” Fluttershy wondered why her idea didn’t work.
“It was a really good try, darling, but the scares at Nightmare Night are of an entirely different nature.” Rarity kindly complimented her efforts while telling her that it takes much more effort into really scaring somepony.
“It was really creative, though. I never would have thought of... all this.” Twilight complimented her for her efforts as one of the drawings falls from the ceiling.
“Oh, I'm just not cut out for this. Just go on without me.” Fluttershy sadly lamented in defeat that she is not a pony who can get into the holiday spirit.
“Oh, no. We couldn't possibly.” Rarity insisted otherwise.
“You have to. This is the night you look forward to all year.” Fluttershy responded not wanting to spoil the fun all because of her timid nature.
“We could... stay here?” Pinkie offered still insisting that they wouldn’t leave her.
“It's okay. I really want you all to have fun.” Fluttershy again insisted as she made her way to the door and opened it for her friends to leave. “This is how I spend every Nightmare Night. Please go. I'll be fine.”
With much hesitation, the others finally did what Fluttershy asked of them.
“Eh, it's funny. I actually thought she had an idea for something really scary for a second there.” Pinkie noted to Applejack as she gently pushed her outside.
“She definitely tried her hardest.” Applejack noted that she did put effort in trying.
As Twilight is leaving she decided now is a good time to get to the bottom of this.
“You girls, go on ahead.” Twilight told the others as she prepared to teleport back inside Fluttershy’s cottage. “I catch up with you at the maze.”
With a flash, Twilight teleported back inside Fluttershy’s cottage just as Fluttershy closed the door after her.
“Ah!” Fluttershy screamed in surprise.
“Sorry. Didn’t mean to scare you there.” Twilight immediately apologized.
“It’s okay.” Fluttershy glumly reassured her she’s used to that as she looked away. “I mean, I did try my hardest.”
“We all know you did.” Twilight gently returned. “But I got to ask you something.”
“Like what?” Fluttershy wondered.
“I know that you usually not a Nightmare Night pony but I’ve noticed that you have been a little more scared than usual.” Twilight answered as she placed a hoof on her chin as she thought of the right words to describe her concerns for her friend.
“What do you mean?” Fluttershy asked of what she meant by that.
“Well, it’s just that you usually enjoy this kind of fun when it’s during the day.” Twilight honestly explained. “Such as the games and activities at the Ponyville Foal and Filly Fair day. And you usually enjoy Pinkie’s goodies on a good day. But tonight you’re super worried over the tiniest little thing.”
“Oh, have I?” Fluttershy asked as sees what she means. “Wait! How do you know I enjoy the Foal and Filly Fair?”
“From my time as Midnight Sparkle.” Twilight answered as she looked aside when mentioning it before quickly getting to her point as Midnight’s name sent a chill through Fluttershy’s spine to which Twilight took notice of. “Aside from that, my point being is I feel that there is something more to this that you’re not telling anypony. Did something in particular make you take a big step backwards back when I was Midnight?” She asked wondering and figuring what she did as Midnight caused her to hide something traumatic.
Fluttershy nervously gulped as she hesitated to explain why but then decided to press forward seeing that best friends are open with each other about other’s secrets.
“Well um, you see…” Fluttershy nervously explained as she looks aside ashamed to come forward. “The reason why I have been super scared today is because of you.”
“Me?” Twilight asked somewhat surprised. “You mean back when I was Midnight?”
“Yes.” Fluttershy meekly answered. “From when you turned me into Flutterbat and got me to nearly kill my friends and replayed that awful memory to me.” Fluttershy trembled as tears started forming around her eyes.
Twilight after hearing this now knows what she is talking about as she thought back to when they were watching over the Apple Farm. In order to teach Applejack a lesson she tricked Fluttershy into performing the stare against the bats and used a spell to reflect their desire for apple’s and pony blood onto Fluttershy and drove them into nearly killing them until she decided to undo the spell herself. Then when she took over Equestria she forcibly replayed the memory of Flutterbat leaving the timid peagsus terrified and left a sobbing wreck.
“Oh, Fluttershy.” Twilight spoke in remorse seeing that she is responsible for her trauma. “I’m so sorry."
Twilight then embraced Fluttershy in a hug as she sobbed her heart out in her chest.
“I was so terrified!” Fluttershy cried out in tears. “I felt so helpless!”
“It’s all right, Fluttershy. The nightmare is over.” Twilight reassured her Midnight Sparkle is all in the past now.
“You… You were right.” Fluttershy weeped. “I’ve been scared this whole time I’ve never felt like this before and I don’t know what to do.”
“Admitting your fears is the first step to overcoming them.” Twilight further comforted her as she continued to cry in her chest. “And it is always great that you have someone close to you to so you can open up about it.”
“I just wish I could be able to enjoy Nightmare Night like the rest of you instead of holing myself up in my cottage every year.” Fluttershy wished there was some way she could overcome this as she tried to wipe away her tears.
“Maybe there is…” Twilight offered with an encouraging smile. “And I think I know how to pull this off if you are interested.”
“Really?” Fluttershy asked in surprise. “But you don’t really have to.” She tried to insist she doesn’t have to help her out.
“I’m afraid I do since this is my fault that you’re traumatized like this. “ Twilight refused with a raised hoof to let her know she doesn’t have a choice in that matter. “After all, if it means a perfect opportunity to make it up to you. I’m taking it.”
Fluttershy would then warmly smile seeing that Twilight really wants to help her through this as Angel Bunny hopes on over with an idea too with a mischievous smile on her face.
As Fluttershy and Twilight listen to what Angel Bunny has to offer, Twilight would then smile to herself in a devious manner as she formulates a scare prank up her hooves.
“Oooh! That will definitely scare them straight!” Twilight said impressed with the bunny’s devious prank suggestion. “I like the way you think!” Twilight added while patting Angel on the head. “So with that decided, here’s what we’re going to do…” Twilight instructed Fluttershy and Angel as she continues to slyly smile with what is about to happen.
Unbeknownst to them the mist of dark magic secretly is observing them from the nearby window eavesdropping on their conversation as the mist listens intently with a plan of its own.
Later that night, Twilight caught up with Applejack and the others just as they arrived at the corn maze.
“Hey, I’m here. Sorry I’m late.” Twilight told them as she approached them.
“Nothing to worry about Twi.” Applejack reassured her it’s no big deal as she leads the others to the maze entrance. “You came here at perfect timing as we were just about to enter this here maze.” He then turned to the rest of their friends. “Everypony's linin' up for the corn maze, y'all! Let's go!”
“Oh, yeah!” Spike exclaimed in excitement. “I can't believe we're finally doin' this!”
The group was then stopped by a pony wearing a horse’s head causing the group to scream in shock then laugh of how funny it is as the pony gestured them to enter the maze.
“It's a good thing Fluttershy isn't here because she would never be able to handle this!” Rainbow Dash said feeling pleased as they entered the maze.
The group would then make their way through the maze as Twilight spots Fluttershy from a distance on a tree. Twilight winks at her to give her the signal to put the scare prank in motion as Fluttershy flies off to do so.
They then hear a pony approach them from behind catching them by surprise which turned out to be Big Mac in a mummy costume.
“Boooo... Eeyup.”
The group laughed as Big Mac walks off a little disappointed that it didn’t get any good scares.”
“Maybe next time.” Twilight gently told him before catching up with the others again.
As they walked they heard crunching sounds as they walked.
“What. Is. That. Sound?” Rarity asked startled.
“It looks like... bones!” Pinkie exclaimed in fright as they all scream in fright.
“Looks like a bunch of dried sticks painted white to me.” Rainbow Dash noted as he observed them closely.
“Hey, try to keep up the illusion, would ya?” Applejack told Rainbow that this part of the attraction as the moved forward.
Next they approached and walked through a dark tunnel where they could hardly see anything in there.
Rarity used her magic to create a nightlight as they see hanging fake eyeballs hanging around leaving the group spooked once again.
As the others laugh it off as they run out of the tunnel, Twilight stuck behind following from a distance as a mysterious shadow catches her by surprise and pulls her back in the darkness.
“What? Whoa…!” Twilight exclaimed as she dragged back inside the tunnel leaving the others surprised by her disappearance.
“Agh! What was that?” Applejack wondered as she spun around and saw nothing around her. “Where did Twilight go?!”
“Don't you know?” Spike wondered just as worried.
“Uh, o-of course I do. It was, uh...” Applejack tried to reassure them as they regrouped as three ghosts appeared right in front of them. The group immediately dashed away and ran for their lives screaming trying to outrun them.
As the group tries to outrun the ghosts Rarity tripped because of her mermaid costume. Spike quickly came to her aid and helped her get back on her hooves.
“Fluttershy had a point with the layers on the dress.” Rarity came to see why Fluttershy didn’t want to wear anything like that during Nightmare Night.
The group would then make their way to through the maze where they all end up falling through a hole in the ground.
As the ghosts approach the hole Twilight flies over smiling as she sees the plan is working so far. She then flies in towards the hole to prepare for the next part of the prank.
“What is this? Is it a tunnel? Where does it lead?!” Rarity wondered as she looked around as the hole closes up courtesy of Twilight’s magic.
Rarity then used her horn to create a nightlight again seeing that they are surrounded by complete darkness.
“Which way are we supposed to go now?!” Rarity asked Applejack wanting to know what is going on while scared out of her mind.
“Uh, I don't know! I don't know what's goin' on!” Applejack answered just as confused and scared
“What do you mean? Didn't you help plan this?” Rainbow asked confused by her reply as she struggles to move the boulder blocking the hole.
As Applejack nervously backs up she sees somepony in a creaking chair.
“Whew. There's Granny Smith. Not that I was ever scared, 'cause I wasn't.” Applejack sighed in relief seeing a familiar face while denying that she is scared. “I'm a pretty good actress when I wanna be. Granny?“ She asked what she thought was her grandmother but was really a skeleton as its head fell off.
Applejack immediately panicked and ran for her life with the others following suit screaming as they ran away.
“Applejack, didn't you know about any of this?!” Spike asked in a panic.
“Alright, I got to admit I didn't know about any of this, but maybe they're just tryin' to make it interestin' for me, too! I'm sure Granny Smith or Big Mac is behind this.” Applejack admitted while thinking Granny Smith and Big Mac has made some last minute changes to the maze.
“Are those peeled grapes or eyeballs starin' at ya from beyond the grave.” Granny Smith’s voice spoke from above as she cackled.
“Eeyup.” Big Mac said as the Cutie Mark Crusaders playfully screamed.
“That's what we were supposed to do!” Applejack exclaimed seeing that they didn’t plan on any of this as he sweated and chittered her teeth. “I don't know why we're down here! This is really scarin' me now!”
Pinkie Pie would also join by Applejack’s side as she chattered her teeth in fright too as they hear footsteps approaching them.
Emerging from the shadows was a giant green skinned monster with red scales chasing her.
“How did that get down here?! Pinkie exclaimed the absurdness of that happening as the monster roars loudly.
“RUUUUUUUUUN!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed as she and the others ran off ahead and away as fast as they can with Spike quickly grabbing onto Pinkie’s tail to drag her along with them seeing that she is frozen in fear of the giant. They ran until they ended up crashing into a spider web.
They all struggled to break free finding themselves stuck to the sticky web to no avail from their attempted struggles.
"I can barely move!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed as she struggled to free herself. "It's like glue!"
They heard the roaring of the beast coming closer and closer, its mouth wide open ready for the attack as he approaches them fast. Unbeknownst to them Twilight watching from the shadows as the creature approaches them fast, used her magic to instantly teleport her friends out of the web, leaving the beast to get tangled up in it instead. The beast broke apart the web, roaring back at them as they ran out.
They finally managed to finally exit from the tunnel once they saw the nighttime sky in front of them. They all managed get out and find themselves on the edge of the cliff with the maze down below the hill.
Unfortunately for them it was not over yet as they heard cackling from above a nearby tree.
The creature was revealed to be a half bat-half woman creature with dark yellow wings ears and glowing red eyes and a black dress with spider webs. The creature hissed, revealing her long sharp fangs before zooming down and ripping the dragon head from Spike’s costume off.
The creature hovered before them, her wings flapping and her silhouette could be seen perfectly with the moon right behind her leaving the group backing up in fear as they bumped into someone else it was another creature that looks just like her except with dark purple fur and a black mane and wings much like Midnight Sparkle as she evilly cackled too.
They all huddled together completed terrified as they see two flying bat-like creatures hovering over them ready for the kill.
The other creature roared in the air before going in for the kill as they all screamed in terror and braced themselves for the worst but to their surprise it missed them as it turns away at the last moment and flies back up into the air.
The yellow bat-like creature's frightening expression softened upon looking down at their terrified faces.
"Oh, my!" Fluttershy said with remorse as she flew down to the ground and stepped out into the light to reveal herself. "I'm so, so sorry. Can you ever forgive me?"
“Fluttershy” Applejack asked in surprise.
“It was you the whole time.” Rainbow Dash asked in the same tone. “I can’t believe it.”
“That... was...” Rarity said with her eyes wide open with a smile on her face.
“THE BEST THING EVER!” Pinkie shouted completely amazed out of her mind with a squee.
“It was way more terrifying than the most terrifying thing I could have thought of!“ Rainbow Dash said just as amazed as Pinkie as she twirls around Fluttershy.
“You out-nightmared the scariest part of the corn maze!” Applejack complimented.
“How did you do all this?!” Rarity asked.
“After you left, I realized that I wasn't ready to give up on Nightmare Night. So I asked Granny Smith if I could try to make the maze even scarier for my friends.” Fluttershy explained as she walked opposite from them before turning her head back to them.
“You came up with all of this?” Rainbow Dash asked in surprise
"I had some help." Fluttershy said as she revealed the ghosts that chased after them earlier appeared were really Fluttershy's bird friends hiding underneath glow in the dark bed sheets. Angel wearing a Dracula cape hoped onto her shoulder. "Angel was the scary figure that kept scurrying after you in the maze."
Angel bowed before them as a spider climbed over Fluttershy's shoulder "Fuzzy Legs made the sticky wall that made it difficult for you to see and move." The spider gave a salute, to which Applejack saluted back in return.
“Harry was the especially scary monster.” Fluttershy said as Harry arrived on the scene and revealed himself as he removed his mask.
“But what about Twilight?” Spike asked wondering about her after she disappeared.
“Helping Fluttershy from the shadows.” Twilight answered as she revealed herself as she lowered down to the ground.
“So it was you who came with this plan.” Applejack asked in surprise at this revelation as the mare transforms back into her brighter colors in a flash.
“Not just that. Although Fluttershy came with the ideas and I formulated them together to make this prank work out.” Twilight admitted with a shrug. “And even I was impressed with the ideas she came up with. I backed out during the tunnel of eyes because of course my unfazed reactions would spoil the act.”
“True.” Rarity agreed with that notion without second thought.
“After disappearing I took the liberty of watching over all of you as the plan unfolded, from closing the hole you all fell into, to freeing you all with my magic from the sticky web, to of course being one of the vampire bats.” Twilight explained her role aside from putting together the plan.
“Wow! That was inspired!” Rarity complimented. “For once your devious antics were scaringly thrilling!”
“You have to do this every year!” Pinkie recommended as the others nodded and spoke in agreement.
"We could celebrate Nightmare Night together every year." she said as she removed the fake. "But the truth is I really don't want to."
"You don't?!" Pinkie asked surprised by her response as sat on her tail.
"But you've done it." Rarity said as she briefly and lovely looked at Spike. "You found a way that we can all have a fabulous time together."
"Yes, but I've also realized something.” Fluttershy said as she took off her bat wings. “You all may love Nightmare Night and I may be good at being a part of it, but it's no fun for me to see my friends feel like they're in danger, even if I know they're not. I really don't like it. It's just not my cup of tea."
"Spoooooooooky tea?" Pinkie Pie jokingly and spookingly asked as she held a flashlight over Fluttershy’s eyes.
"No. Just regular tea.” Fluttershy kindly responded as she turned off the flashlight and gently pushed Pinkie away. “We do lots of fun things together, but I'm afraid this just isn't gonna be one of them. Actually, I'm not afraid. I'm perfectly fine with it."
"Then we are, too." Twilight reassured her that she and the others respect her decision as Harry scoops them all up for a group hug. “I’m just glad I was able to help the best I could.”
“And I appreciate that.” Fluttershy sweetly replied, thankful of Twilight’s efforts to make up for scarring her back when she was Midnight.
At that moment that dark magic mist appeared from behind and stealthily passed through Fluttershy’s body causing her to feel surge of magic flowing through her body.
“Oooh…” Fluttershy said as she wobbled a little as the dark magic mist quickly ducked out of sight before being spotted.
“Fluttershy, you okay?” Twilight asked in concern as she caught her by the arms before she could fall over.
“Yeah I’m fine. Just something went right through like some strange magic.” Fluttershy answered as she struggled to stand back up and her normal ears turned into real bat-like ears to which Twilight took notice of now looking worried for her as she has a bad feeling of what’s about to happen as Fluttershy got up to her feet and licked her teeth which caused her feel her fangs as she starts to feel something is wrong.
“Oh? Huh?!” Fluttershy wondered as she is starting to get anxious as she looks at her fangs then feels and sees her ears and wings have transformed. “What the?! What’s going on?!” Fluttershy asked in a panic as she looked at her reflection in Twilight’s armor so she can see what she is transforming into. “AAAHHH!” She screamed as she flew around in a panic. “This wasn’t supposed to happen! Help! Help! Somepony help!” She cried out as tears fall from her eyes. “I’ve been framed! Help!” She then flew down to Twilight on her knees begging for help. “Please you gotta help me! Get this magic out of me! Do anything!” She pleaded as the dark magic pulled her away from Fluttershy as she cried out in pain as the vampire-bat transformation is taking its full hold on Fluttershy as she hissed her fangs out and flew in with intent to kill them all.
Fluttershy now Flutterbat again then flies in to actually try to kill them as they all watch terrified but just narrowly avoided being bitten by her and she hovers around them again but before could bite them as she flew down towards them again Twilight quickly flew in tackled her to the ground and after tumbling around for a few seconds used her magic from her horn to restrain her as Flutterbat hissed at her.
“Fluttershy, what has gotten into you?! Stop!” Twilight exclaimed as she continued to restraint her until she gets a grip. “This is not part of the plan!”
“Twilight?! What is going on here?” Applejack asked in confusion and fear of what’s happening.
“I don’t know!” Twilight replied just as uncertain and more fearful for Fluttershy’s life as she focused on keeping Fluttershy from escaping her grasp. “For one thing I did not expect Fluttershy to turn into Flutterbat all of a sudden.”
The dark magic mist that blasted flew in and whipped Twilight aside knocking her down causing her to lose her grip on Flutterbat as she over and towards the corn maze.
“She’s heading for the corn maze!” Spike exclaimed in horror.
“But that’s where Granny Smith, Apple Bloom and Big Mac are!” Applejack exclaimed just as horrified.
“Squirt!” Rainbow Dash screamed remembering that Scootaloo is down there too.
“Sweetie Belle!” Rarity screamed at the thought of her sister in danger.
“We gotta stop her!” Twilight exclaimed as she and Rainbow Dash flew ahead after Flutterbat to stop her as the others followed after her.
Flutterbat would make her to the corn maze where should hover over every pony in the corn maze with her appearance hidden in a silhouette behind the moon’s shadow.
“What is that?!” Apple Bloom said in fright seeing her appearance.
“Is it part of the scare?!” Scootaloo questioned just as frightened as Flutterbat looks at them ready to literally seek out their blood with her scary glare and fangs opened up.
“Run!” Sweetie Belle exclaimed as she ran off ahead with the others following right behind her.
The girls all bolted in separate directions hoping that Flutterbat doesn’t bite them. Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle were able to shake Flutterbat as they quickly turned in different directions to throw Flutterbat off their trail, Apple Bloom wasn’t so lucky as she wound up running into a dead end as Flutterbat flies over her.
Never has Apple Bloom been so scared in her life until now as she quivered in fear.
“Somepony Help!” Apple Bloom screamed out seeing she has nowhere to go.
Flutterbat then flew in towards Apple Bloom as she covered her eyes embracing herself for the worst until Applejack quickly jumped in front of her and kicked Flutterbat away right in the face sending her flying away into another part of the maze.
“You okay Apple Bloom?” Applejack asked her sister as she embraced her in a hug.
“I’m fine now thanks to you!” Apple Bloom thankfully told her big sister. “Why did Fluttershy try to kill me?”
“I’ll explain later but right now we got focus on bringing her down before she does more harm!” Applejack responded as she navigated through the maze with Apple Bloom following her.
Flutterbat after being recovering from a different part of the maze then hisses when she sees Sweetie Belle who immediately runs in the opposite direction to get away from her as Flutterbat flies after her.
Flutterbat is able to close in Sweetie Belle as she readied her fangs for the bite on the helpless little unicorn but is then greeted to a magic blast to the face by Rarity who fiercely stands in front of her.
“You leave my Sweetie Belle alone!” Rarity yelled at Flutterbat as she sent Flutterbat flying away with another magical blast.
Rarity would then tightly hug Sweetie Belle as they both cried tears of relief.
“Thank you for saving me, Rarity.” Sweetie Belle sobbed in Rarity’s chest.
“I’m just glad you are safe now.” Rarity also returned as she sobbed in return.
Flutterbat would then after recovering from the attack fly over to where Scootaloo who immediately dodges her as she flew in to attack her. With little time to run or attempt to escape Scootaloo could only charge forwards as she jumped up onto and off of a charging Flutterbat as she tries to escape but find herself quickly cornered by Flutterbat who immediately flies right in front of her.
Scootaloo is really scared out of her mind right now seeing she has no way of escaping her as Flutterbat circles around her. Flutterbat then flies in towards Scootaloo ready to attack only to be tackled by Rainbow Dash at top speed.
The two peagsus ponies would then tumble onto the ground where they faced off each other as they flew back up in the air.
Even though Rainbow Dash was bitten with a deep bite they last time they faced off, Rainbow wasn’t about to let the pony she views as a sister get bitten and hurt by Flutterbat.
Flutterbat would then make the first move by flying in to bit Rainbow as she dodges the attack. Flutterbat would quickly turn around to try to fly in to attack again yet Rainbow manages to evade the attack no problem. Flutterbat tried again as she narrowly bit Rainbow that time just an inch from her wing.
Flutterbat would then try to make a move on Rainbow as she immediately flew in to try to bite her again but Rainbow Dash thinking fast takes off her helmet and hurls it right at Fluttershy’s head leaving her head stuck inside of it as she crashed and created a small burrow in the ground.
As Flutterbat struggled to remove the helmet, Twilight uses this opportunity to magically levitate Flutterbat as she removed the helmet from her head and focused her magic so she can perform a reverse spell on her in order to remove all of Fluttershy’s vampire-bat abilities for good.
It took a strenuous effort as Twilight grunted a little as she focused really hard on her magic but she managed to pull it off and return Flutterbat back into Fluttershy as she fell back to the ground feeling exhausted as Rainbow Dash catches her before she could hit her head.
The Cutie Mark Crusaders and the rest of the Mane Six all regroup where Rainbow comforts a sobbing Fluttershy of what she had almost done again as if nearly scaring her friends half to death wasn’t bad enough she nearly killed them as Flutterbat again.
“How is she?” Applejack asked Rainbow as Fluttershy cries her heart out.
“She’s fine and has all of her Flutterbat traits removed for good. But she still very shaken up about what had just happened.” Rainbow Dash answered as she embraces Fluttershy in a hug she definitely needs.
“I don’t get it.” Rarity wondered very confused by this frightening scene. “She was fine after the first time. How could she have transformed back into Flutterbat all of a sudden?”
“Would you have any idea, Twilight?” Applejack asked her as she looked in the opposite direction completely focused on something on the ground. “Twilight?”
“I honestly don’t know.” Twilight answered with a sigh. “But I swear I didn’t force this upon her again like last time.”
“Are you sure you’re telling us the truth here?” Applejack suspiciously questioned her as she turns to face her.
“Yes I am.” Twilight assertively responded. “Otherwise everypony here would be dead by now. While my past self would have done this, I on the other hoof would never even think of wishing death upon every pony.”
“Then why did Fluttershy turn into Flutterbat all of a sudden?!” Pinkie accusingly asked her as she got in her face.
“Because back when I was Midnight there were some possibilities that there were some tiny bits of dark magic allowing Fluttershy to keep her vampire-bat like traits that were not removed from when I first performed the reverse spell on her until now that this.” Twilight calmly answered as she pushed her hoof aside and out of her face. “At least Flutterbat is finally gone for good this time.”
“But now she is a sobbing wreck because of it.” Rainbow angrily told off Twilight. “And now she is going to spend every Nightmare Night holed up in her cottage because of you!”
“While I know that nothing excuses my actions as Midnight, at least I am doing the best I can to make up and atone for my mistakes since I went as far as helping Fluttershy with the scare prank because of what happened back then traumatized her.” Twilight somewhat defensively replied and acknowledged not even denying her indirect role in this. “As for Flutterbat reemerging, some nearby dark magic acting on it's own had caused this to happen. And that’s the part I am trying to figure out how that’s even possible since I purified myself of it when I reformed.” She added as she turned away and focused her attention back at the symbol in the dirt. “I can’t help but feel something strange in the mist that is behind all of this.”
The others minus Fluttershy who is still sobbing now believing Twilight’s innocence knowing full well Twilight would never do something like this give each other questionable looks trying to wonder the true culprit behind all of this.
“But who if you didn’t?” Fluttershy asked in-between sobs as she looked at Twilight as she examines the ground which has writing and a strangely marked symbol.
“That’s what I need to know and find out?” Twilight answered as she too doesn’t know the answer to that question either. “But from the looks of this writing and symbol I got a feeling there’s a sign of terrible evil lurking around Equestria somewhere.”
The writing itself showed a symbol of a big star with the message:
“Until next time as this is only the beginning…”
Twilight read as the others got a good look at what Twilight was seeing leaving many ponies worried and wondering what it means.
While everypony observes the writing and symbol on the ground the mist of dark magic would then fly off to another part of Equestria. Clearly whatever this mist of dark magic has a mind of its own with no way of knowing when it will strike next.