The radio broadcast had gone live not long after. The Queen of the Night had thrilled with her typical mix of sardonic comedy and chilling delivery, the various special guests had read parts in several stories and done musical performances, and Princess Luna had capped the show off with an appearance, and a proper march through the town to ‘terrorize’ the foals. And when last they had seen Shiver Shakes, the midnight mistress had been talking him into accompanying her back to Applewood.
But for the Cutie Mark Crusaders, the night had only just started. After Shiver’s cutie mark had appeared, it had been a mad dash home for the three to slip into their costumes and set to trick-or-treating with ruthless efficiency to make up for lost time.
Now, much later in the night, after the larger town festivities had wrapped up, they happily sat to the side in the carousel boutique, organizing the heaps of candy they had collected, and watching Rarity and the rest of her friends (sans Fluttershy) drink and tell each other ghost stories.
Applebloom sat back on a small mound of banana taffy, her fake yellow head-fin drooping back and nearly falling off her head. “Well girls, ah reckon this has been a darn worthwhile Nightmare Night!” she mused contentedly, a lollipop sticking out of her muzzle.. “Ah’d say we even learned a lesson or two!”
Scootaloo looked up from where she was laid out, idling between popping chocolate buttons into her mouth, and fiddling with the red-glass gemstone hanging around her neck. “What, like how much taffy it’s possible to eat?”
“Well yeah, but ah mean a real lesson.”
The largest heap of candy rustled, and Sweetie Belle popped out, blue sea-pony tail poking up behind her. “Cheese Sandwich can list everything in the hardware store on a single breath?”
“No, ah mean lahk, the big lesson we learned today!”
The other two pondered vacantly, before Sweetie Belle put it together. “Oh! No matter how hopeless life may seem, we’re still capable of living and loving, no matter how late we may feel to the party, so there’s no sense in giving up so long as we still draw breath!”
Applebloom cocked an eyebrow. “Well, ah can’t say that’s wrong, but ah was thinkin ‘harassing ponies against their will and imposin’ yer own idea of livin on introverts in the name of ‘helpin’ them is a good idea that always works out great fer everypony involved and definitely does not heavily violate boundaries.’”
“Ooooooh!” “Duh!” The other two grinned.
On the other side of the room, Pinkie Pie threw up.