"Why are we here?" Tiny asked. Nightmare was gone again and she was getting bored of sitting idly and waiting for her.
"Because Mistress said we should come," Shadow answered.
"But we don't do anything!" Tiny cried out.
"Don't question Mistress, Young Miss. If she told us to come it means this is where we are supposed to be." Tiny pouted. Shadow was getting frustratingly predictable, like waves she always sounded the same.
She didn't even have anyone to talk to! Twilight had the Queen and the handlers that led them into this hole had each other. The Prince quickly excused himself immediately after his wife was gone to not remain one on one with Daybreaker. The only one Tiny could talk to was Shadow, and talks with her always looped back to "Mistress". Tiny wondered if Shadow ever thought about anything not related to her. At least when Shadow incessantly made her practice something, Tiny didn't have the time to think about how bored she was.
The only other who didn't have anyone to talk to was Daybreaker. She just sat at the other end of the same table Tiny was sitting at, all alone, quietly looking down at the polished wood. She looked like one of those down on their luck ponies sitting in inns over their last cups. Tiny shuddered a little, remembering their last time together. Would she really dare to come to her on her own? Tiny gave Shadow a careful look, despite only looking down with one eye, Tiny didn't doubt that the changeling's full attention was solely on her.
"Can I go sit with my sister?" Tiny nodded at Daybreaker. Shadow's eye slowly blinked and dashed to Daybreaker, then back to Tiny. Shadow wasn't answering, as if silently asking: 'Are you sure?'
"Certainly," Shadow finally answered. Tiny smiled lightly and hopped down from her chair, if things go bad at least she could be sure that Shadow will help her. Tiny trotted along with the large table, she refused to hesitate like she usually did when she had to speak with her intimidating older sister, Daybreaker seemed like someone who would abhor indecisiveness. Tiny hopped on the closest free chair. Daybreaker turned her head slightly and stared at her for a moment before looking back down at the table. Tiny continued staring back, wondering what her sister was thinking just now. She didn't chase her away immediately, so probably nothing bad.
"You looked lonely..." Tiny mumbled apologetically.
"Amazingly perceptive," Daybreaker mumbled back. "Pushed to the sidelines with the rest of you by that hypocrite because my sister feels guilty. I was the one who was loyal, not her!" This was the first time Tiny ever heard Daybreaker openly express her dissatisfaction over Nightmare's actions. There was also something else that Tiny realized: Daybreaker trusted her!
"Nightmare and Celestia have an al... alliance," Tiny said with trouble. "Celestia wants Nightmare to help her have her throne back and Nightmare said no. Instead, Celestia told her that she will help if Nightmare lets her find her own help."
Daybreaker looked at Tiny in mild bewilderment,
"What would you know of Nightmare's arrangements?"
"I was there," Tiny shrugged. Daybreaker sighed and continued staring at her own reflection on the polished table.
"She talks freely with you in the earshot and me she sends away each time she needs to say something meaningful." Tiny awkwardly bit her lip but said nothing. "You know, when I was your age, I had so many plans for the future. I wanted to bring glory to my name and to have more lands under my rule than one map can show. I wanted ponies a thousand years later to tell their foals the stories about my deeds. Instead, I got this," Daybreaker shrugged in turn.
"My host turned out so strong-willed and uncooperative that I couldn't even have her talk to me. Celestia took pleasure in showing me every day what I could never have, she posed in front of the mirror every morning and stood at her balcony just a stitch longer every evening. She couldn't get rid of me, but she did absolutely everything she could to make sure I had it as unpleasant as I could have. I did all I could to show my more fortunate sister that I am loyal to her and not anyone else and she still mistrusts me!" Daybreaker raised her hoof to bang on the table but then stopped and put it down with a heavy sigh.
"And you? Who was your host?"
"He was an orphan foal with no one to look after him or even a home."
"You told us that already. Who was he really?" Tiny blinked in surprise. "Was he strong, or did you break him with no resistance? How did he treat you? Did you feel remorse over having to do this to him?"
"I didn't speak," Tiny explained. "I didn't even know I could. I waited until he felt bad and asked him to give in."
"So he showed no struggle in the end," Daybreaker said with disappointment. "Pity. When they resist, we can learn much about them and ourselves."
"Didn't you say that Celestia resisted?"
"Yes. Oh, how she resisted," Daybreaker sighed again. "Everything could've been different if that was where she stopped. The hypocrite doesn't practice the kindness that she preaches. I am so jealous of Nightmare. How two sisters could be so polarly different I would never understand."
"Were you friends?"
"With whom? With Luna? No, we weren't. We could have been if there was a little more time," Daybreaker added with rare sadness. "Celestia and Luna are different like Day and Night. Celestia burns like the sun and there is no place in her sight where you can feel comfort. Luna has her light too, but it's soft moonlight. Instead of blinding and burning, she softly welcomes you to any extent that you would like to give in to her."
"You must have liked her."
"There isn't a single creature in the land that wouldn't. I wish I had more time with her, but there will be more in the future," Daybreaker finished hopefully.
"I think I now understand why Nightmare doesn't want to burden herself with leadership any longer than necessary. Nightmare simply doesn't want to trade her happiness for power no longer." Tiny decided not to say anything further. Being silent could say more than words at times.
Tiny enjoyed this little talk with her sister. It turned out that she could be much milder when she felt like it. She wasn't exactly mean... it's just that she had to keep appearances up. She didn't have such presence as Nightmare did, so she had to compensate with aggression. Tiny saw things like that before, like when a worker tried to impress his friends after their shift. She bore witness to many fights that started out of a desire to seem more than they are. Tiny suddenly became curious, would either of her sisters approve of wanting more than is afforded to you?
Tiny glanced back at Shadow and the changeling was staring straight back at her. She probably hasn't moved her head since Tiny trotted off. The changeling slightly nodded to her, must be the display of approval.
The doors to the hall lightly creaked and Shadow quickly turned away to look. Through the narrow opening, a mare pushed in. She had a white, well-groomed coat with a purple mane and tail styled in elegant swirls. She was old enough for much of her hair to gray out, a fact she seemed to be not a bit shy to show.
"Rarity!" Twilight joyously exclaimed. The Princess abandoned her ongoing discussion with the Queen and was at the doors in two large leaps. "It's so good to see you again!"
The mare smiled sweetly,
"Oh, Twilight, you are just like I remember you! You still behave much younger than you are."
Twilight's giddiness changed to confusion,
"What?" Twilight asked in confusion.
"Twilight, dear, we are too old for such shows of affection. You will soon be older than any living pony from our generation."
"Oh, yes. You are right, Rarity. I am sorry. I saw you and I just forgot," Twilight awkwardly excused herself, rubbing the back of her head awkwardly.
"It's quite alright, dear. I am glad to know that you still feel so young." Rarity gave everyone in the room a long look. The Queen gave her a smile. Daybreaker forced herself to follow the example but made no attempt to hide her own dark mood.
"Now who are you, sweety?" Rarity trotted straight to Tiny, bypassing everyone else in the room. "It can't be that you are a young Princess, can it?"
"Miss Rarity, this is Mistress' young sister," Shadow hurried to the rescue. "Let me introduce Miss Tiny."
"Oh, it's lovely to meet you, Tiny! Oh... wait a moment. Shadow, dear, didn't you just say that she was a sister? Oh, well. I suppose I shouldn't be surprised," Rarity gave Tiny an appraising look. "Well, we could do something with you, I suppose. With a dress and a long mane we would make you look like a lady in no time at all... even if an unusually bulky one. Now then, you owe me a really long story, I think!"
"You would need to wait for Her Majesty for that, Rarity," Twilight interjected.
"Why, don't be silly, Twilight! We can have enough firsthoof accounts. I am sure she won't mind if we start without her."
Tiny heard Daybreaker behind her loudly sigh.
"Well, I suppose the first thing Lady Moon would want you to know is that she doesn't intend to re-assume her responsibilities," Sky Star took the word.
"Oh, that, yes. Flurry said as much. It was quite a mood killer, let me tell you. There are many still waiting for her to return."
"Such a strong sense of loyalty you all display. I wonder what one would do to earn it?" Sky Star asked Rarity directly, plunging her into deep thought for a long moment.
"I suppose it rises naturally from experience, dear. Her Majesty is a great mare and can inspire others by simply being who she is. She can be both strong and gentle depending on what is required more. She is kind and generous, while at the same time having an unparalleled knowledge of political workings, in both our and foreign countries. She is also a warrior and a leader of fighting ponies, always having a close connection to them."
"You make it sound like she has no flaws," Sky Star pointed out. "Surely, you must be idealizing her."
Rarity gently smiled,
"Of course, she has flaws, dear. Her flaw is that she is a person. She has feelings and wants. It is empowering to know that in ways that matter the Princesses are no different from the rest of us. They are what any of us can become. In a sense, they are our people's personification.
"Her Majesty is a particularly powerful example to follow because she used to be a terrible villain. Now she uses her experience and talents to protect us, rather than to harm." Rarity stopped in thought,
"Oh! How could I forget! It's Nightmare Night, her holiday! We absolutely must get ahold of her for tonight!" Daybreaker loudly dropped on the table.
"What is Nightmare Night?" Sky Star tilted her head.
"It's-"
"Twilight, dear! Let this be a surprise," Rarity quickly silenced the Princess, smiling slyly. "Now, I want to know everything about what you've been doing! Starting with Princess Daybreaker!"
The mare perked up upon hearing her own name,
"I've been literally living on a large rock. I have no stories to tell you," she answered without hiding her exhaustion.
"Uhhmm... Perhaps not. Shadow, would you tell?"
"I am pleased to report Lady Daybreaker was working on herself," Shadow immediately ratted her out. "The Lady adopted spiritual practices to keep in control of her emotions."
"That is wonderful!" Rarity beamed. "There is never too much self-betterment."
"Her desire to be alone was not honored, however. Soon other sisters came searching for guidance, but the Lady always rebuked them until now."
"Rebuked? Oh, that must have been hard for the poor dears!" Rarity compassionately noted. "Would those ponies who came with you happen to be..?"
"Yes, Miss. Most of them are Her Majesty's sisters. They found us again when we were on our journey and she allowed them to follow her here. They were beyond happy to have a leader."
"That is bemusing. Her sisters weren't eager to obey her before," Rarity remembered. "Something must have changed."
"I believe they are either unaware of Mistress' past or they prefer her over the absence of any direction at all."
"Uhmm... No, I think it is something else entirely. Say, dear, is there anything different about Majesty herself? Besides her being incorporeal that is."
"Mistress seems to be less certain of herself now," Shadow confessed after a short moment of hesitation. "She leads reluctantly and with visible displeasure."
"Displeasure? Can it be so that Her Majesty voices it?"
"She does," Shadow only said and stood still. Rarity squinted her eyes at the changeling. It was many years since she last saw her, but talking to her was something she could never forget. Shadow did not like verbal communication, for the lack of better words. She was tense, her eyes were focused solely on Rarity and she refused to elaborate. Without saying a word, Rarity stepped closer, bringing her head close for the Changeling to reach. "Mistress says she won't retake her throne," Shadow whispered into Rarity's ear with so much held back fear and heartache that Rarity never heard her express before. Rarity gave her a worried look, it was a privilege to be trusted enough to see what the stoic Shadow really feels, but something that could make even her worry for her Mistress must be dire.
"Aawww, don't fret, darling! She's a big filly, she'll find her way," Rarity then offered Shadow a hug, to her surprise she accepted.
Tiny looked at the tender display in amazement. Shadow could, in fact, trust someone who wasn't Nightmare Moon. The embrace soon ended with Shadow letting go. She did not look much different, but she was less tense.
"Shadow, dear, you should also come with us," Rarity said with a wide smile. "Your darling fillies would be absolutely delighted to see you. I'd have you know that they decided to not live separately any longer. They have a cute house behind the city square. The one that has the statue on it. Oh! Did you by any chance bring Spikey?"
"We did, Miss. He remained with the rest of the caravan," Shadow answered.
Rarity literally hopped in place from giddiness,
"Oh, he must be so handsome now! Shadow, do you think he'll like my new style? Too bad I only conditioned my mane once."
"I am sure Sir Spike will be absolutely swept away with your beauty," Shadow complimented, even sporting a very slight smile on her lips.
Rarity continued to chat about nothing in particular for a while longer. Tiny could still gather some useful information from her train of thought. It seems that Crystal City has since become a hub of technology and progress, but most of its advancements remain in the laboratories. Tiny didn't understand why something as simple as an electric wrench couldn't be mass-produced, but it seemed that without someone's direct interest, nothing could advance here. The exception was military technology. The changelings, even though there weren't many of them left, were fiercely militant and continuously put effort into producing weapons and war engines. Crystal ponies did not exactly appreciate their neighbors' violent tendency, but Princess Cadance chose to take no action, opting to apparently simply wait them out. Tiny asked Rarity what that meant, but the mare bit her lip and said that she'll tell that story some other time.
Then the royal mares returned.
Cadance opened a single door and gloomily stepped in, going straight for her throne. Her head was hanging, her mane draped over her neck like a towel. She sat up on her throne and covered her face with her hooves. Tiny looked back just in time to see Celestia and Nightmare Moon coming in as well. There also was a tall mare Tiny didn't know just yet. She immediately began scanning the hall and then centred her look on Tiny herself. She then grinned widely and quickly began trotting directly to her, avoiding even looking at anyone else in the hall.
"Hi, Tiny! You don't even know how long I've wanted to meet you!" She eagerly held out her hoof to Tiny. She looked at the outstretched hoof then glanced back up at the mare, but decided to reciprocate. After they bumped hooves, the mare put her hoof back on the ground and sat on the chair next to Tiny. She then looked at Daybreaker over Tiny's head with a look as if she just remembered she was there. "Oh, hi, Daybreaker. I am Flurry!" Daybreaker quirked her brow and said nothing. Flurry didn't seem to mind and focused on Tiny again, "I wanna talk to you about so much, but first things first: How're your teleports doing?" Tiny's eyes widened in shock at the question but quickly narrowed down to the stare of wary suspicion. "I know this sounds out of nowhere, but I really need to know. Pretty please?" Flurry gave Tiny a disarming smile.
"I did?" Tiny said, still wary of the alicorn towering over her.
"What? You learned teleportation spells?!" Daybreaker cried out behind her. "N-!"
"Please-please, don't tell her just yet!" Flurry quickly silenced the mare by shoving her hoof into her opening mouth. Daybreaker did indeed quiet down and she looked as if her brows were about to run to her scalp. Flurry continued as quickly as she could talk, "I know that you want to explode right now but listen to me both of you! Tiny you need to stop doing your practice. Yes, that's what your sisters would've told you anyway but for a different reason! Well, not totally, it's still dangerous just in a different way. Look you are being tracked. Starlight Glimmer remember? She's really mad at how you dragged her through the dirt in front of her minions and she wants you all-"
"Insolent whelp!" Daybreaker finally managed to push Flurry's leg out of her mouth, having to resort to shoving her roughly. "How dare you to put your filthy-"
"Daybreaker!" Nightmare Moon bellowed. Daybreaker shrank as her imperious sister advanced on her. "Don't you dare to raise your voice on our hosts, this is my last warning to you. What is your excuse?"
Daybreaker suddenly pointed at Tiny,
"She learns teleportation spells!" the mare said with the look of a schoolfilly telling on her classmate cheating at a test.
"No, I don't!" Tiny contradicted without thinking. "How would I do that? It isn't in the textbook," she quickly found a plausible-sounding lie.
"Ah, Mistress! Miss Tiny did no such thing, I have been with her since we arrived at Queen Novo's castle," Shadow suddenly stepped in front of Nightmare Moon. "She was very well behaved and took to her etiquette lessons quite well." The evening was still young and it seemed it was not done surprising Tiny yet. Shadow just told a half-truth to her Mistress.
Nightmare Moon gave everyone a stern glare, stopping on Tiny,
"I better not find out anything about this, young lady. I don't think I need to tell you how dangerous it is for an amateur to dabble in teleportation magic."
"But what about my lessons? You promised to teach me," Tiny asked pleadingly.
"I can't spare time to do so presently," Nightmare Moon rigidly told her off.
"Let me! I'll teach her!" Flurry eagerly volunteered, reminding her that she was indeed still there.
"You?" Nightmare Moon asked in bemusement. "What would you teach her, I wonder? You are hardly an archmage at such a young age."
"Well, I could teach her how to hide that-you-know-what, for one! So that everypony stops confusing her with a stallion. Besides, I am forty-eight!"
"Is that to be considered a mark of responsible age nowadays? Even your mother is only approaching her hundredth year. I would not expect you to fully understand the gravity of your duties until you have ruled a land for at least as much. Sister, would you?"
"Teach her?" Daybreaker glared down at Tiny. "What did I do to earn such a punishment, sister?"
"Tis no punishment, dear Daybreaker. There is simply no one else available. Twilight is needed elsewhere, while you cannot possibly expect Cadance to be of any help. She is your sister, after all. If she displeases you, perhaps you could rectify that."
"But she isn't even an alicorn! Sister, we are wasting our time lugging her with us, much less attempting to educate her in our ways. She doesn't take to your lessons because she can't!"
"Yet she proved you wrong, didn't she? She already started mastering teleportation spells. It is unheard of to even attempt such a feat at her age. Do not understate her potential so."
"But... I..." Daybreaker failed to find further excuses and hang her head in defeat. "Yes, sister," she mournfully agreed.
"Good. Now, we have more to discuss. As I already told Cadance and the Queen, we must prepare to fight. I wished to avoid harming anyone, but it seems that the situation is out of our hooves now. We will need help to find our dear sister again and that would mean that we would inevitably come in contact with more of Ivory Crescent. According to what Twilight could gather, they are as militant as ever, but now there is also a good reason. They themselves are extremely strained as they are forced to clash with the official powers of our homeland. From what Flurry told me, it seems that we should not expect a pleasant time either. We must gather those of my soldiers who are still willing and able to fight for us. Cadance promised to share equipment with us."
"Do you plan to fight a war with only your old guards? Sister, but this is madness. We would be lucky to gather a hundred of them. They are doubtlessly great warriors, but their skills couldn't have remained as sharp as they used to be after this much time."
"That is exactly true, my sister. That is why I intend to avoid fighting head-on. Sometimes, to win one must simply lie and wait. Our weapons shall be stealth and precision, rather than brute force. Perhaps we won't even need a hundred."
"Would I not be of more use to you in the fray instead of back here?" Daybreaker made one last attempt to wiggle away from her unwanted pupil.
"As I said, sister: Stealth. You would attract too much attention to us. I understand your desire to be at the spearhead, but you are far too precious to risk. I would never forgive myself if another one of my sisters died due to my failures. I am your sister and I shall protect you."
"I obey your wisdom," Daybreaker said breathlessly, bowing her head.
"Now, we have much to do. I shall speak to the changelings first. I expect we could be certain that at least some of them would fight for us, even if only out of boredom. They may very well become our most capable troopers."
"Your Majesty!" Rarity finally spoke. "I realize how busy you must be, but could you perhaps spare a moment?" Nightmare Moon quickly turned to look for her.
"Rarity! Oh, dear-dear Rarity! What are you standing there, so quietly, for? I imagined I would have to find you myself! Wait, no, irrelevant! Tell me, how are you doing now?"
"Splendidly, Your Majesty!" Rarity happily smiled. "Oh... I-I am sorry, I forgot for a moment," Rarity lost her smile.
"Don't even mention it. I never knew how pleasant dying could be. You should try it sometimes. Say, what do you do now?"
"Well, I... I have a theater," Rarity needed a moment to find herself again.
"A theatre? Oh, you must be the primary costume designer. Your actors are no doubt dashing."
"Yes... they are. But, Your Majesty, there is something else I wanted to talk to you about. Do you know what day it is?" Rarity smiled widely again.
"It is the... Oh... Oh, my night," Nightmare Moon looked suspiciously. "Rarity, you have plans for tonight, don't you?"
"I may have," Rarity pointedly glanced at Tiny.
"There, darlings! Take your pick," Rarity threw open a door revealing racks of clothes. Tiny could barely catch her jaw in time. The room could possibly make for a workshop for a dozen blacksmiths working side by side, filled to the sealing with racks upon racks of hanging cloth. Gowns, suits, transparent masks, more of what she didn't even know the names of. There were even old-style armors there with colorful feathers atop.
"Rarity, I never doubted your creative eye, but don't you think that is a little excessive?" Nightmare Moon asked, staring at the warehouse-sized wardrobe with the same amazement as Tiny.
Rarity slightly blushed,
"I just can't bring myself to throw these away. We even use some again from time to time."
"And you cannot package them more compactly because you are afraid they might suffer damage. I suppose I should have expected it. Well now... I don't suppose any of you have any desire to participate?" Nightmare Moon turned to her, by now, rather expansive party.
"Totally! Aunty Rarity has the best Nightmare Night costumes!" Flurry giddily grinned.
"Just remember what we talked about, dear."
"No possessed masks," Flurry drearily echoed. "But it would be more fun that vway, I could learn where the meanest party would be," she tried to protest anyway.
"Yes, dear, but you also get lost while wearing them. It wouldn't be nice to have to search for you around the city, would it?"
"That time I lost you because I got distracted! I told you already! Besides, it was only once."
"I... don't want to tell your mother that I lost you the second time, Flurry," Rarity explained straightly.
"I am not ten years old anymore either."
"To your mother, you will always be ten years old, Flurry," Rarity put down a period. "Now, who wants to be a scary wraith?"
"Rarity, would I qualify?" Nightmare Moon teasingly asked.
"Oh, oh! I am sorry Your Majesty! Perhaps we should find a different costume this year instead."
"Rarity, would you, please, stop calling me that? My name is more appropriate now." Rarity seemed to stagger for a moment.
"Nightmare..." she experimentally tried the new name. "Oh, that feels so weird to say."
"Rarity, we are too old for meaningless titles. And I must say, I never had an opportunity to celebrate my own night. I am looking forward to seeing how ponies venerate me these days."
"Oh, yes!" Rarity said with an excited shudder. "We have costume parties, foals go door to door to get candy sacrifices to put at your idol, scary cafe menus, spookhouses and much more! Ponies come up with new ways to celebrate every year! It is so lovely that Princess Cadance introduced crystal ponies to the tradition. I am sure they will be delighted to have you!"
Tiny was still skeptical about the whole arrangement, but some of the things Rarity listed did sound fun to do. She just hoped that she wouldn't look like a fool in her costume.
Tiny ended up choosing the Timberwolf costume. Tiny never saw a Timberwolf in her life and when she asked, she was told that Timberwolves are magical beasts made of wood. To Tiny it sounded ridiculous, but the costume was actually cool. It was very soft and warm, unlike the actual Timberwolf. Rarity told her that she made the costume for a play but it wasn't popular enough to be performed regularly.
Flurry got a dragon costume. It didn't look like Spike though.
Nightmare Moon even got her sister to dress up, although it took much convincing, looking for a costume to fit her and in the end, it would still be a hefty understatement to say that she was unsatisfied. Her costume was one of a large goose, which Nightmare greatly enjoyed looking at.
Twilight didn't come, saying that she was going to get Spike and catch them later. Tiny was actually curious what kind of costume she would've picked.
Shadow didn't show any desire to partake, and it wouldn't have changed anything if she did.
The Queen had herself a griffon beak, which surprisingly made her look rather convincingly from the front.
Finally, Rarity herself didn't wear anything either and only smiled mysteriously when Nightmare asked her about it.
They had to wait a few hours for the evening. Rarity had them all treated to a meal in a cafe next-door to her theater. The staff was only two ponies and seemed nice. Though they were bewildered to suddenly serve nobility dressed in ridiculous costumes. Daybreaker didn't appreciate them, Nightmare gave thanks on her behalf.
As promised, Twilight found them with Spike in tow. Twilight's costume was less extravagant. She wore a purple jacket, like those that Queen's soldiers did, but hers had moon regalia.
"Oh! Twilight, Spike! So glad you made it!" Rarity happily trotted over. Rarity enthusiastically studied the dragon's large body, "Spikey-Wikey! How big you have gotten! Surely, you didn't let your size make you less of a gentlecolt."
"Uhh... Hello to you too, Rarity. Long time no see, hope you've been well and all that."
"Ugh! Too long! Twilight, dear, why did you have to stay at that [dreadful/i] place? So much dust, not a single window, dampness! I am glad you at least managed to save some of your garderobe. Although I must say, it doesn't fit you too well anymore!" Rarity was visibly stricken.
"That is why it makes a great costume," Twilight smiled. "I just wish I had some medals to pin on it, would've been even better."
"Now, Twilight, medals are not for pinning on costumes," Nightmare Moon quickly contradicted. "Awards are to demonstrate our appreciation to soldiers that fight for us. They are no toys and are to be treated with reverence."
"I know, but... I am sorry, I should've known better than to say that aloud. So, can we go now? Ponies already walk about and I really missed Nightmare Night."
"I would have to agree with Twilight. We don't have this holiday in Seaquestria," Queen Sky Star spoke up for the first time in what felt like hours to Tiny.
"Well then, I suppose there is no harm in beginning early," Nightmare caved in. "Let's head out."
"Just one moment, please!" Rarity asked, running off to the restroom. Rarity returned in a few minutes dressed in a luxurious satin dress, adorned with feathers and completed with a mask topped with a similar feather crest.
The following night was both confusing and exciting at the same time for Tiny. It was fun, or something close to being fun. The first couple hours they were looking for someplace where Nightmare and Daybreaker could stay while others go around, that's what Flurry told her later anyways. Apparently, neither one of them wasn't very keen on going around the town. They did have at least some fun though, because when Tiny next saw them, Daybreaker was all red with punch and Nightmare was in the most gleeful mood Tiny ever saw her. She almost regretted she didn't stay to see what Nightmare had made her do. Other ponies seemed to be entirely friendly with the two sisters, coming to make their acquaintance, although Daybreaker was even more irritable than usual and that quickly discouraged them.
The rest of them, excluding Shadow, went after Flurry, who promised to 'Show them what's this Nightmare Night thing all about.' What it was about was them walking through the city door to door singing 'Nightmare Night, what a fright.' Well, it wasn't really a fright, to be honest. Tiny knew the mare to whom this night was dedicated. Nightmare was sweet and only occasionally scary.
Tiny asked Flurry about the rhyme and Flurry said that it was a belief that when Nightmare Moon will return, she would bite you if you won't give her something better. It was long since nobody believed it literally but ponies still kept doing it because it was fun. Queen Skystar said that it was a fascinating tradition. Tiny still felt stupid in her costume and while singing the rhyme, but doing it together helped. Ponies usually focused on Spike, he repeated his name at least a dozen times to different ponies throughout the night. Twilight said that Spike was something of a celebrity in the Crystal Empire, he even opted to go without a costume for that reason, aswell as there being no costume that could be made to suit his bulk in a timely fashion.
"...And then I threw them to the dungeon! Deep and soggy, dark and gloomy. Never to be seen again and their screams echo through the halls for eternity!" Nightmare Moon continued quietly, "My bounty is due again tonight, whom shall I drag underground this time?" Ponies erupted in applause. Nightmare Moon gave Daybreaker, covered in red liquid, a teasing glance.
"Did you have fun?" Nightmare Moon asked the crowd. "Be quick, while the Night is still young, you have time to gather your tribute still." The ponies then gradually dispersed, some staying for a moment later to leave Nightmare some of their candy.
"I see you are having fun yourself, Moony!" Flurry nonchalantly said, coming straight to the ghostly mare.
Nightmare Moon jerked,
"Flurry, not in public." Tiny couldn't help but smile. "But yes, this celebration is enjoyable. Rarity, I hope you won't be too morbid on account of my sister's costume," Nightmare Moon snickered, giving Daybreaker another teasing glance. "And you, have you had fun?"
"Oh, it was great! Sky Star has a great singing voice." The remark made the Queen suddenly gag on her salvia. "Tiny here seems to be a bit apprehensive."
"I dunno, Flurry, I didn't notice her doing anything unusual," Spike scratched the back of his head. "She just seems a little detached most of the time, that's all."
"Spike, she's right there," Twilight whispered loudly.
"I feel stupid," Tiny said, wanting to get on with it.
"Why so, little sister? Didn't you enjoy having candy?"
"Candy is nice. But this costume is stupid, ponies laugh at me!"
Tiny watched the adults exchange a series of looks.
"Sweety, nobody laughs at you," Rarity gently smiled. "Ponies dress in funny costumes not to laugh at each other, but to laugh together, to have fun."
"Yes, little sister. No one mocks you. If anything, you look adorable."
"Can we go back to camp?" Tiny asked, eager to end the conversation.
"Camp? What camp?" it then dawned on Rarity exactly what Tiny wanted to go back to. "No, this won't do! This will absolutely not do! You won't live in tents if I can say anything about it! I will have Cadance provide you with rooms in her palace and I won't take 'no' for an answer!"
"Rarity, she already did," Nightmare Moon quickly stepped in. "That was one of the very first things we were offered. It's just that my sister seems to be a little attached to the road."
"Well, in that case, I suppose I'll see you there. Oh, and don't be strangers!" Rarity then radiantly smiled and headed off in the direction of her theatre, forgetting entirely about the rest of the costumes.