Steve chased after the Lunar Princess with Twilight. She went back in the direction of the statue of Nightmare Moon. They quickly walked through the woods trying to think of what they’d do.
“We can’t get her to talk to them.” Steve said.
“Well, why not?” Twilight asked. “Talking it out usually works.”
“Fear overcomes common sense. When people, er, ponies are really afraid of something, they won’t think logically. That’s why you guys tried to, y’know, kill me.”
Twilight flinched as they walked. Steve of course felt bad for the mare. He didn’t mean it as an insult, but more of an example.
“Hey, it’s okay. You guys were scared. It makes sense.”
“Yeah, but just because there’s a reason we did it, doesn’t mean it was right.” She said.
“You’re right, but, if I remember correctly, you and your friends helped get me out of trouble, so you’ve made it up.”
“I guess you’re right. Still though, sorry.”
“It’s okay.” They arrived back at the statue of Nightmare Moon. Sitting in front of it, was Princess Luna. They approached her slowly.
“Princess Luna.” Twilight said. The Lunar Diarch lifted her head up, signaling she heard her. “Hi, my name is-.”
“Starswirl the Bearded.” Luna said turning around. “Commendable costume. Thou even got the bells right. And…Steve?”
“Hey, Luna.” Steve said, ignoring Twilight as she rejoiced about her costume. “Just came by to check up on some friends.”
“What are thou both doing here?” She asked, getting back on topic.
“Right.” Steve said.
“We just came to welcome you to our celebration. My actual name is-.”
“Twilight Sparkle.” Luna finished. ”It was thou, that unleashed the Elements of Harmony upon us, taking away our dark powers!”
“And that was a good thing, right?” Twilight asked.
“But of course!” She continued to shout. “We could not be happier! Is that not clear?!”
“Well you kinda sound like you’re yelling at me.” Twilight said.
“But this is the traditional Canterlot voice! It is tradition to use the Royal ‘we!’ And to use this much volume when addressing our subjects!”
“Tradition, of fucking course.” Steve muttered quietly, so no one could here him.
“Y’know, that might explain why your appearance was met with…mixed results.” Twilight stated.
“No shit, Sherlock.” Steve said. “How do you think we fix it, genius?” The unicorn mare glared at him.
“I think, if you just changed your approach a bit, you might be met with a warmer reception.”
“Changed our approach?!” Luna asked, loudly.
“She means be quieter.” Steve stated bluntly.
“Oh. We have been locked away for a thousand years. We are not sure if we can.” Luna replied. Steve sighed and facepalmed.
“I’m gonna get a drink.” Steve said.
Steve watched as the ponies ducked and cowered while Luna came back. She went off to have some “voice lessons” with Fluttershy. Steve went to the liquor shop and grabbed a drink, which was on sale for Nightmare Night. He didn’t really drink much, usually just a bottle. The last thing he wanted was to be found drunk in an alleyway.
Luna said something to Twilight that Steve couldn’t hear. Well, at least her voice is quieter now, he thought to himself. They were approaching Applejack. Steve looked over at Applejack, who caught a foal, Pipsqueak, before he fell into the apple bobbing bucket. She turned around and was caught off guard by the Lunar Princess. She dropped and began cowering, just like the other ponies. Steve took a sip of his beer before approaching the three.
“Uhh, ahem, Applejack,” Twilight started, “the princess is looking for a little advice on how to fit in around here.”
“Fit in? Really?” Applejack asked. The only response she got was a growl from Twilight.
“I believe I can help with that.” Steve said. The three glanced over at him.
“Hello, Steve.” Luna said.
“Howdy, partner.” Applejack said, getting up.
“Sup. As I was saying, I can help.” Steve continued.
“Really?” Luna asked.
“Yeah, it’s easy.” He told her.
“You just need the right attitude.” Applejack said.
“Loosen up a bit.” Steve told her.
“Be positive.” Applejack added.
“Play some games.” Steve added.
“Have some fun.” They both said in unison. They looked at each other, with a surprised face, and blushed a little.
“Fun?” Luna asked. “What is this fun, thou speakest of?” The three just pointed at a spider tossing game. Luna walked over and examined the spiders. “Pray tell, what purpose do these serve?”
“Try to land the sp-s-sp-spiders on the web.” A pony explained. Luna picked up a spider, and gave it a toss. It landed a good foot short and bounced a little closer. Luna looked back at them.
“You can do it, Princess!” Applejack encouraged. She tossed it again, but this time, it landed right in the middle of the web. Luna gasped in awe.
“Your princess enjoys this fun!” She exclaimed. She turned back to them. “In what other ways may we experience it?”
Steve watched as the Lunar Diarch loaded a pumpkin onto a catapult. The game was pretty easy to understand and play, though that was probably because Steve had years of military experience, so aiming and plotting a trajectory wasn’t anything new.
“Let her rip!” Steve yelled.
“Fire away, Princess!” Twilight exclaimed. Luna did just that. The pumpkin soared through the air and landed right on the middle of the target.
“Ha ha! The fun had been doubled!” Luna yelled. The ponies, as well as Steve, rejoiced. Luna turned to Applejack.
“Why don’t we try bobbin’ for apples?” Applejack asked. “We’ve got the best apples in Equestria here, Princess.”
“I ask that thou call us-me Luna, fair Applejack.” Luna said. She turned to the rest of the townsponies. “Hear me villagers! All of you! Call me Luna!”
Steve heard a couple of murmurs, but they sounded like they were positive. Luna, Twilight, and Applejack walked off to bob for apples. Steve another sip from his drink before he followed. He walked behind them, not focusing on their conversation. He saw a foal, Pipsqueak, bobbing for apples, again. Just like last time, he lost his balance, but this time he fell in. Luna took off after him and tried to get him out of the water.
“Hey, gals,” a familiar voice said from behind, “anypony seen Pip? We lost him the last time we had to run for-.” Pinkie Pie stopped and clucked like a scared chicken. “Ah! Nightmare Moon is gobbling Pipsqueak! Everypony run!” She, along with the rest of the kids, took off in a screaming mess.
“Heeeeeeelp!” Pipsqueak cried as he broke free of Luna’s grip. “My backside has been gobbled!”
“Tis a lie!” Luna yelled back. “Thy’s backside is whole and ungobbled, thou ungrateful whelp!” She struck her hoof down and lightning struck behind her. The surrounding ponies backed away in fear. “Fare villagers. Please do not back away. Let us join together in…fun!” She desperately cried out. She tossed a spider at the ponies in an attempt to encourage them. It didn’t work. “Not enough fun for you? What say you to this!” She yelled as a beam of magic connected with the spider.
It grew larger and came alive. Ponies screamed and ran from it. Then, Luna animated all the spiders in the bowl. They knocked the bowl over and began crawling at ponies. Several of them crawled onto the spider web at the spider tossing game.
“Huzzah! How many points to I receive?” She asked. The response she got was a continuation of the running and screaming. Ponies crashed into barrels, stands, and decorations. Luna tried her best to stop them, but to no avail. Steve just stood and drank casually.
“Bespell!” Luna yelled. Causing everypony to drop and cower like before.
“Princess, remember! Watch the screaming.” Twilight tried to remind her.
“No, Twilight Sparkle! We must use the traditional Canterlot voice for what we are about to say!” She rose as the wind picked up. “Since you choose to fear your Princess, rather than love her, and dishonor her with this insulting celebration,” she said as dark clouds filled the sky, “we decree that Nightmare Night shall be cancelled, forever!!!” She yelled as lightning struck behind her. Steve walked into the crowd of ponies.
“That’s bad.” Steve whispered to himself.
“You think?!” Twilight angrily whispered back.
“What? I was talking about how I finished my beer. What happened here?” He said with a smirk. Twilight shook her head and looked back to Luna. The night just took a huge turn for the worse.