//------------------------------//
// Rocky Horror Nightmare Night 
// Story: Decretum 
// by BlackRoseRaven 
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Chapter Thirty Two: Rocky Horror Nightmare Night
~BlackRoseRaven

It was Nightmare Night – or, to be more precise, it was three in the afternoon on the day Nightmare Night took place – and Luna was gleefully running around Ponyville, already getting bribes of candy from total strangers and swearing to bring Helheim to anypony who didn't properly appease her on this, the most wonderful night of the year.
Scrivener Blooms was looking after Antares in the library, letting Scarlet Sage run damage control as she scurried after her mother, trying to convince her to at least wait until the evening before she started causing mayhem, and Celestia and Twilight were going over the plans for a special defense system that Greece had come up with, with the help of Cowlick and some of the other engineers. The design was very simple: it was little more than a high-pressure sprinkler system, but if it worked, it would be enough to protect Ponyville with a curtain of water in case any monsters from Clockwork World attempted to attack.
Scrivener Blooms rolled onto his side and smiled amusedly as Antares Mīrus ran across the room, yelling wildly but going completely ignored by the other ponies. Twilight looked a little grumpy at the loudness and hyperactivity of Antares, but Celestia and Greece both looked completely unfettered, and Scrivener honestly admired their ability to concentrate before Antares crashed loudly into a pile of pillows and sheets, sending them flying in every direction before he giggled brightly and shouted happily from beneath them: “Candy!”
“Yes, Antares. But we're only going to let you have a few pieces of candy a day.” Scrivener paused, then corrected as Antares began to wiggle out of the pile: “Well, I'm only going to let you have a few pieces of candy a day. I'm pretty sure your mother doesn't understand most ponies can't actually live off sugar.”
“Sugar.” Antares parroted, and then the foal frowned as he sat up before he shook his head quickly out and asked curiously: “Gymbr?”
“Uh...” Scrivener looked back and forth for the doll, then shrugged when he didn't see it, glancing over towards the table and asking: “Did any of you see Gymbr around or do any poking at him?”
“No, he was right at the edge of the table last time I checked... perhaps he's gone for a walk.” Celestia said after a moment, leaning to the side, and Scrivener snorted in amusement, earning a curious look from the ivory winged unicorn.
The stallion only smiled in return, however, giving her a look, and Celestia caught on a moment later, laughing quietly and nodding. “You're right, it is strange how fast we've all... gotten used to the idea that sometimes Gymbr likes to leave us now and then. But it's also possible that Discombobulation slipped in to take him... he's very fond of the toy, after all.”
Scrivener nodded, looking down as Antares burbled and turned his attention back to the pillows, leaping into the pile as the stallion said thoughtfully: “I'm starting to wonder if 'fond' is the right word or not. I think... it's more that he finds Gymbr... interesting. Or confusing.”
Celestia nodded slowly, then she frowned a bit as she glanced towards the window before wincing as there was a loud bang outside, Greece and Twilight both looking up stupidly before Antares poked his head out of the blankets and said cheerfully: “Mommy!”
“Yes, that's a sure sign of your mother.” Scrivener said tiredly, and there was another loud bang a moment later, this time close enough to rattle the windows before the library door was thrown open and Luna leapt inside, grinning brightly and with two large satchel bags filled with candy as her eyes gleamed in delight.
“Cowlick did not have candy, beloved, but the day is not yet lost, as she has instead promised me a bag of fireworks.” Luna declared cheerfully, and Scrivener groaned and grabbed at his face as Antares scampered towards his mother, before the foal's eyes widened in delight when Luna's horn glowed and lifted a chocolate bar out of the bag, tossing this easily through the air towards her son. “Dig in, my handsome child! 'Tis the most wonderful of nights!”
“No.” Scrivener said flatly, walking past Luna... but Antares hurriedly grabbed the chocolate bar in his sharp teeth and turned to bolt for the safety of the pillows and blankets, Luna gleefully clapping her front hooves together and earning a glower from the charcoal stallion. “Luna! He's going to get sick, and probably a cavity or two if you keep this up. He's a year old. You don't give babies chocolate bars.”
“Baby! No baby!” Antares said staunchly from where he was half-hidden beneath a sheet, and then he bit loudly into the still-wrapped chocolate bar, Scrivener sighing and turning towards the colt as Luna winced a little. “Candy?”
“I... oh, here.” Scrivener grumbled a little as he walked over to his son, Antares looking up at him with a bright smile as the earth pony reached down and pulled the candy away. He tore off the wrapper, then paused before snapping the chocolate bar in half, handing the side Antares had already bitten into down to his son and making him burble in delight as he greedily stuffed it into his mouth.
Scrivener bit into the other half, chewing slowly as Luna huffed at him and mumbled: “Grand hypocrite. But oh, yes, Antares' costume. I regret that I shan't be able to be as mischievous this year as I was before with taking my handsome son out gathering candy... but there shall still be plenty of time later tonight to enjoy a more mature party as well, as I believe is being planned at Sugar Cube Corners.”
“Because you spent all that time harassing Pinkamena and Pinkie Pie, yes.” Scrivener said dryly, looking mildly over at her before he tossed the last of the chocolate bar into his muzzle, saying around it: “And the only reason any of us are going and we allowed you to do this at all is because it's the only way to make sure you'll stay out of trouble for tonight.”
“Oh, there is no way to keep me out of trouble. Thou art all fools.” Luna scoffed, and then she grinned across at Antares as he bounced happily on the spot, chewing loudly on the chocolate bar. “And thou shall be just like me, mark my words, handsome Antares!”
Scrivener mumbled something in response to this, and then Celestia looked up and asked finally: “Luna, not to step on any hooves, but was it really so intelligent to choose a Tyrant Wyrm as your child's costume?”
“Yes. Yes it was. He will match Scrivener.” Luna said kindly, and Celestia stared for a moment before the sapphire winged unicorn grinned widely, bouncing cheerfully towards her older sibling as she asked in an all-too-friendly voice: “And what about thou, my beloved sister? Has thou settled upon a particular costume, or decided to let me choose for thee?”
Celestia slowly blinked at this, cocking her head, and Luna nodded seriously a few times before she grinned widely and said easily: “I have the perfect costume in mind for thee, sister! 'Twill be but a very simple polymorph, too.”
At this, Celestia paled slightly, leaning back and shaking her head hurriedly as she replied awkwardly: “Luna, you... you know I'm not very fond of your polymorph spells. At all. Besides, I have no intent or plans to go out tonight to gather candy, and I figured that someone should stay here, anyway, in case Odin returns from Valhalla or a messenger from the Norns comes...”
But Luna only scoffed at this, then she looked pointedly at Greece, who winced a little before she asked seriously: “Does thou have a costume?”
“I... yes?” Greece said awkwardly, leaning back a little, and Luna frowned at him before the Nibelung hurriedly rose a finger. “It's a pirate costume. Cowlick made me do it because she and Ross are being pirates too, and they wanted to show up with a uh... a 'crew' at the party, I believe.”
“Oh, is that so?” Luna cocked her head curiously, and Greece sighed in relief, nodding before the sapphire winged unicorn grinned slightly. “Then I order thee to go home, put on thy costume, and return here. Thou shalt be looking after the library in the early eve while myself, Scrivener Blooms, Twilight Sparkle, and Celestia take our beloved Antares Mīrus out to discover the miracle that is trick-or-treating.”
For a few moments, Greece only looked awkwardly up at the winged unicorn, then he sighed a little and slumped, rubbing at his face and mumbling: “There's no point in arguing with you fancy-corn, is there?”
“I would say it may have the opposite effect, and thou shalt end up being a burnt-swine instead of a boatswain.” Luna replied cheerfully, and Greece winced, then fell backwards out of his chair when the winged unicorn lunged suddenly forwards and bared her sharp teeth in a fanged grin. “Unless thou desires to be my delicious dinner!”
“No, no, going!” Greece winced from the ground, waving his hands quickly before he leapt to his feet and ran for the door, and Luna cackled loudly. Antares stared up at her, then attempted to mimic this, and Luna grinned down at her foal with bright eyes before she threw her head back and spread out her forelegs, laughing maliciously as lightning sizzled through her mane and tail.
Antares tried to mimic her and succeeded only in falling over even as he continued to giggle madly, and Scrivener slowly turned away and walked over to the pile of cushions, carefully wiggling under the blankets in a vain attempt to hide as Celestia and Twilight only stared at the sapphire winged unicorn. Then, as Luna finally calmed, the ivory equine sighed and said tiredly: “I hate how you get around Nightmare Night.”
“Oh shut up, Celestia. Every day used to be Celestia Day with thee, how does thou think I felt?” Luna asked crossly, but older sibling only fixed the sapphire mare with a dour glare before Luna flailed her hooves at the air. “This is my special day! 'Tis the one day I implore all of thee to go along with my schemes and fun, truly is this so much to ask?”
“I... I suppose not.” Celestia said finally, then she dropped her head forwards, shaking it moodily out. “Please don't make this experience too painful for me.”
“Oh, shush, doesn't thou want to be there with Antares? Doesn't thou desire to see all the happy foals, collecting candy for themselves and for me?” Luna asked positively, leaning forwards and grinning brightly, and Celestia only looked grumpily up at her before Luna added cheerfully: “Twilight Sparkle is going to be dressed up too! 'Twill all be good fun!”
Celestia cocked her head at this, and Twilight blushed and nodded awkwardly, saying finally: “I thought I mentioned it, but... I'm going to go as... well...”
She blushed a little, and Celestia frowned a bit before Luna leaned forwards, shaking her head with a wide grin. “Nay, nay, leave it as a surprise! And Scrivener Blooms I shall polymorph, and I...” Luna paused meditatively, licking her teeth thoughtfully. “I have not quite decided what I shall go as. I shall perhaps go as myself.”
“Psychopath is always a popular costume because you don't have to dress up.” Scrivener muttered, raising his head, and Luna huffed before flicking her horn, and a pillow flew up and slapped Scrivener across the face, making him wince as his glasses were knocked flying off.
He grumbled as he turned to pick these up, and Luna smiled warmly around the room as Celestia closed her eyes and then shut the book in front of her, saying finally: “Then at least don't take all the poor foals' candy.”
“Oh, as if I would ever take all their candy, even I am not so greedy as that.” Luna grumbled, and then she glanced over at Antares as the baby burbled and happily began to run around in a circle. “Come, my handsome colt, 'tis time to fit thee in thy costume!”
Antares giggled at this, and Luna smiled warmly as Scrivener sat back and watched as Luna scooped the foal up to carry him easily down the hall and towards Celestia's room, where the baby bag and Antares' other things had been thrown to keep them out of the way. Some twenty minutes later, Luna returned with Antares looking irritable, scowling out from the open, snarling jaws of a golden-scaled monstrosity, and Twilight snorted in amusement as Luna gently patted the foal on the back between the three sets of plastic cones jutting up from them. Celestia grimaced at the plastic blue eyes and the cheap-looking gnarled horns standing out of the creature's head, and the rainbow-maned mare couldn't help but comment dryly: “I again can't help but question your choice in costumes, little sister. I believe this would be akin to dressing up as a unicorn paladin after the crusades to... well, what was once the east.”
“Well, too bad.” Luna grumbled, then she looked pointedly over at Scrivener Blooms, her horn beginning to glow even as the earth pony winced and attempted to hide under a blanket. “Oh, get out from there! 'Twill take but a moment, thou art easy for me to polymorph, particularly into this shape.”
Celestia frowned at this, but before she could say anything, Luna closed her eyes and dropped her head forwards, her horn glowing brighter as Scrivener gave a muffled curse from behind the blanket. Visibly, the blanket humped up as Scrivener's body grew a little larger, the male flailing his limbs a little, then falling still as Antares cocked his head curiously, still frowning a bit as he gazed towards the shape of his father before Scrivener said awkwardly: “I'm not coming out. And you can't make me, Luna.”
Luna simply huffed and flicked her horn hard to the side in response, the blankets and pillows flying in all directions in a telekinetic burst strong enough to knock Scrivener sprawling as a long, serpentine tail snapped outwards and hooves and a single claw flailed at the air, and Celestia and Twilight both leaned back in shock. They stared as Scrivener slowly, awkwardly crawled up to his hooves and single claw, looking embarrassed as he rubbed at his half-pony, half-Tyrant Wyrm features.
The sapphire winged unicorn smiled brightly at this, and Scrivener sighed after a moment, dropping his head and looking almost ashamed as he muttered: “This isn't what I really meant when I said we could 'maybe try this again' sometime, Luna. Putting my psyche on display is not cool.”
“Daddy.” Antares said softly, and he bounded over to his father, looking curiously up at him as Scrivener smiled lamely and looked awkwardly back down at his son. Then the foal simply smiled back, and he bounced a bit on the spot before reaching out and hugging his father's clawed limb tightly, making the male laugh a little and relax slightly even as he tossed a nervous glance at Celestia and Twilight.
But Twilight was only gazing at him softly, and Celestia currently had a sour look fixed on Luna, who was blushing a little before she dropped her head embarrassedly when the older sibling asked mildly: “Perhaps you went just a little bit far, little sister. I hope you don't have similar plans for me.”
“No, no, I do not even know what thine inner mind looks like and do not wish to. 'Tis probably some great and terrible monster made of clockwork and fire, not entirely unlike that mechanical golem that Cowlick and Greece so treasure.” Luna replied awkwardly, and then she winked over at Celestia as her horn began to glow, saying kindly: “I have a much simpler change in mind for thee.”
“Wait, wait!” Celestia began, and then she winced when Luna's horn glowed brightly and she dropped it forwards, wincing as blue mist swirled up violently over her. Celestia cursed under her breath, fighting the urge to immediately dispel Luna's magic before she was left sitting back... and Twilight gasped and winced as Antares and Scrivener both looked up, then glared at Luna, who was only smiling amiably once more.
Celestia frowned across at her sister, then slowly looked down at a hoof with her amethyst irises. She frowned at the sight of the larger, blue guards that now covered her shin and hoof, and her black coat- wait, my... oh no.
“Luna.” Celestia slowly closed her eyes as a mane of not rainbow color, but sapphire starlight swirled slowly backwards, electricity sparking through this as Twilight continued to gape at the sight: except for her telltale amethyst eyes, Celestia was now a perfect copy of... “Why did you turn me into Nightmare Moon?”
“Oh, I did not turn thee into Nightmare Moon that is, I turned thee into Nightmare Moon that was. Well, thou shalt have to change thy peytral, of course.” Luna pointed at the golden plate resting over Celestia's breast, and Celestia only glowered in return to her younger sibling. “Oh come now, Celestia! 'Tis a perfect costume for thee!”
The ivory winged unicorn glowered moodily for a few moments at her younger sibling, and then she sighed and nodded slowly, her now-black horn giving a soft golden glow as it lifted the peytral plate carefully free from around her neck, Luna looking delighted as Celestia put this gently down on the table and asked tiredly: “So should I practice my evil laugh and start stealing candy from foals?”
“Well, 'twould be nice, aye, but it is also not completely necessary.” Luna said cheerfully, waving a hoof easily before she winked over at Twilight. “Go and put on thine own costume, my beautiful mare. And I shall don mine own, as well.”
Twilight nodded awkwardly, slipping out of her seat and giving Celestia a shrug and a smile as Luna looked cheerfully around the room, then huffed a bit when Antares and Scrivener both glowered at her, saying grumpily: “Now I truly do see the resemblance. See, Celestia? Like father, like son.”
“Yes, I agree. And I hope Antares continues to follow in the hoofsteps of his responsible parent.” Celestia said mildly, and Luna's jaw dropped before she struggled for a retort, but then Celestia calmly stood up from the table and smiled to herself as she strode towards the corridor, asking curiously: “Would you like a cup of tea, Scrivener Blooms? I'm going to put one on for myself.”
Scrivener smiled at her and nodded... and when Twilight returned, she found Luna sulking with Antares curled up in front of her, the foal curled up on a cushion and half-asleep as his mother rubbed gently along his back. Scrivener and Celestia, meanwhile, were quietly talking at the table, but they both looked up and smiled as Twilight embarrassedly came down the steps before the Nightmare Moon-disguised equine rose a hoof and said slowly: “You're a Lich.”
“How'd you guess?” Twilight blushed deeply as she halted at the base of the stairs, reaching up to rub at the false stitching pasted across her face: it, along with the other false stitches that went over her body here and there, weren't pasted on the straightest or the most realistically... but combined with the simple polymorph spell she had done to make her teeth look sharper and the tattered cape hanging around her shoulders to let her show off the Y-shaped stitching over her body, she thought it made her look suitably creepy. But how Celestia had guessed...
Celestia could only laugh faintly, shrugging slowly in return before she rubbed awkwardly at her throat, and Twilight frowned a bit, mimicking the gesture before they both hesitantly smiled a little. Scrivener Blooms studied the two curiously, and then Twilight hurriedly shook her head, walking down the last of the stairs and saying embarrassedly: “It's not... the best costume in the world, maybe, the cape doesn't feel quite right and I don't... I mean, well...”
“I think it's very good. It gives me quite a surprising chill, in any event.” Celestia replied quietly, and Twilight blushed a little and bowed her head forwards even as she smiled a bit. For a few moments, there was silence, and then the now-black-coated winged unicorn shook her head quickly and looked pointedly over at Luna. “But what about your costume, little sister?”
“Oh fine, fine.” Luna huffed, and then she gently patted Antares twice before running out of the room and into the corridor. Even Antares looked up curiously as there was a growing rumble for a moment, then a sizzling sound... and a moment later, a grinning Sleipnir cheerfully ran out of the corridor before striking a pose, Scrivener's jaw falling open and Celestia sipping slowly at her tea and looking as if she was waiting for the punchline of a bad joke as Twilight shook her head dumbly, and Luna declared proudly through her polymorphed jaws: “I am Sleipnir the Mighty!”
“Mommy Sleipnir?” Antares said dubiously, and Celestia choked on her tea, clearing her throat quickly and putting the teacup down before shaking her head out as Luna giggled stupidly, shaking her – Oh god, wait, his? Scrivener thought stupidly – mane of vines quickly out; they were perhaps a bit too long, and glinted with what seemed like sparkles and glitter instead of gemstones... but that was only one of a few minor details that were off. Luna's sharp teeth and midnight cyan eyes and gleeful voice also spoke to her true nature, but apart from that...
“Oh god.” Scrivener grabbed at his head, and then Luna half-lidded her – his? His? – eyes at him, and Scrivener winced and hurriedly ducked behind the table, shaking his head as Antares giggled and clapped a few times eagerly. “No, no, don't even think about it!”
“Scrivener Blooms, I long for a kiss!” Luna called cheerfully, leaping around the table, and Scrivener winced, scurrying to the side before the not-Sleipnir grinned, a distinct, horn-shaped glow spilling through the air in front of him along an invisible spire, and Scrivener winced as he felt telekinetic bands begin to wrap around him...
He was saved, however, by the door being thrown open and Cowlick marching in with a wide grin, a patch over one eye, her bandanna and piercings going perfectly with her rugged costume as Scrivener realized dumbly that she had likely just chosen the thing she needed to do the least amount of work for... and then the transformed pony's eyes widened when Cowlick yanked a rifle off her back, all eyes staring as she shouted cheerfully: “To the bottom of the sea with you, you scurvy bastard!”
Scrivener stared at the rifle before Cowlick fired a round into him, and he was knocked sprawling on his back with a yelp, feeling like he'd just been punched as Sleipnir-Luna staggered backwards with a grunt of surprise, shouting: “What in the name of Helheim did thou just shoot my husband with?”
“Rubber bullet. Hurts like hell, but it ain't lethal.” Cowlick said easily, as Ross and Greece poked their heads awkwardly in, both dressed in pirating gear as well before Luna stared stupidly as Cowlick took aim down the rifle at her. “Besides, was just to figure out which one was you. Now hand over all your candy, or I'll be popping one of these right into your head!”
“Scurvy bastard!” Antares parroted, and Cowlick stared dumbly down at the foal before he giggled brightly, bouncing on the spot, and then Luna glared furiously at Cowlick before flicking her horn, yanking the rifle out of the earth pony engineer's hooves and then bringing it down to whack her firmly between the ears with it.
Cowlick cursed and flopped onto her face, grabbing at her head with a wince as Ross squeaked, and then Luna-Sleipnir huffed and tossed the gun aside, saying dourly: “Cowlick, the only reason thou art still alive is because there are witnesses here and I require Greece to stay in the library. Now apologize to my husband. And Antares, that is a no word. No.”
Antares looked curiously up at his mother as Scrivener sat up with a wheeze, rubbing at a large bruise forming on his chest as Cowlick grinned lamely over at him, but the half-wyrm, half-pony only waved a hoof tiredly, dismissing the need for an apology before Ross finally bounced into the room and asked worriedly: “Just playing, right Cowlick? Just playing?”
“Just playing, calm on down, Ross, ain't nothing bad going on here.” Cowlick replied with a smile, even as she rubbed at her skull and glared at Luna, who glared back before the earth pony mare asked sourly: “So tell me. Does that count as putting your costume on or taking it off?”
“Definitely taking it off.” Scrivener muttered, and Luna gave him a consternated look as Celestia hid a smile behind a hoof and Twilight snorted in amusement. “Well, Sleipnir did have a lot of influence on you. Sometimes I really do think you're just a stallion in a costume.”
“I... often think... the opposite of thee.” Luna retorted lamely, then she huffed when Scrivener only gave her an amused look. “Oh shut up, Scrivener Blooms, thou knows precisely what I meant.”
“You're still pretty.” Ross supplied kindly, and Luna sighed but nodded in agreement before she looked thoughtfully over the unicorn as he smiled brightly, bounding forwards and gazing almost reverently over the gathered ponies. “Look at everypony, Cowlick! They're all dressed up... they never let us do that at the center, no oh no, and they didn't ever let us do that in Manehattan either, did they? They didn't!”
“Nope, they had real sticks crammed up their...” Cowlick cleared her throat as Antares' eyes turned towards her, grinning lamely before she blinked and leaned down, then groaned and slapped her forehead, giving Luna a sour look as Greece strode carefully into the library and gently closed the door behind him, as if trying to remain stealthy. “Dammit, Luna, is he supposed to be a Tyrant Wyrm? Why didn't you just dress up as... I dunno, Fafnir or Valthrudnir?”
“The thought did occur.” Luna said seriously, and Cowlick gave her a glare before Luna winked and leaned forwards, waggling her eyebrows. “But I have been practicing for weeks to dress up as my brother! 'Tis a very accurate costume, by the way.”
“Sister, please. Cowlick has a gun.” Celestia said tiredly, and the engineer grunted in agreement as she swept this up, then flicked the safety on before shoving it back into the rope and rawhide holster on her back. “Speaking of which, Kilby Kwolek, Greece and I could use a little bit of help in-”
But Cowlick only held up her hooves, smiling slightly as she interrupted courteously: “With all respect, Baroness Celestia, I've been working my flank off in the engineering labs for the last few weeks, and if you already have Greece working with you on what I'm guessing is the giant sprinkler system, then you're good to go. For tonight, I personally am much more interested in grabbing up candy, and am officially off the clock.”
Celestia nodded hesitantly after a moment as Luna grinned widely, and then Cowlick winked over at Greece as he awkwardly adjusted the pirate hat he was wearing before he tugged nervously at the bandolier going across the rumpled shirt over his chest. “Excellent, then, glad we're all understanding each other, right Greece? I promised Ross I'd let him run around a little, though, and since you guys aren't being any fun, I'm going to go see the early birds, the little kids. Wait, you wanna come with us, Luna?”
“Oh, 'tis no fun for foals to gather candy in the afternoon, we must at least wait until sundown!” Luna scoffed, nodding firmly a few times, and Scrivener shrugged meditatively before the Sleipnir-disguised pony rose her head and said firmly: “Were it up to me, the whole day would be spent in darkness, just to maximize the chances for delight and mischief!”
Twilight shook her head with amusement as Scrivener grumbled something, and then Celestia sighed and said dryly: “And here I thought I was supposed to be Nightmare Moon today.”
“Oh shush, Celestia, lest I pummel thee. Or worse, do what Sleipnir would have done and laugh, make a joke at thy expense, then throttled thee in a playful headlock.” Luna retorted, and the currently black-coated winged unicorn nodded moodily before Luna smiled over at Greece and Cowlick. “Then go with my blessing, friends, but do return quickly. And do not shoot any foals Cowlick, nor threaten them with thy rifle.”
“Oh, I ain't that bad. I'm gonna try and shoot Pinkamena, though, and maybe Dash if he's flying around and dressed up as a Shadowbolt for the umpteenth year in a row. Dude has no creativity.” Cowlick winked, and Luna snorted in amusement before the earth pony mare nudged Ross firmly. “Come on, handsome. You remember what to say?”
“Nightmare Night, what a fright, give us something good to bite!” Ross replied eagerly, nodding a few times as he gazed warmly at Cowlick,  happily trotting after her as she turned to leave. “I haven't done this before, never not ever... this is so exciting, Cowlick!”
“I know, I know, keep your pants on, Ross.” Cowlick said kindly, and then she laughed when Ross looked curiously over his shoulders at the puffy pantaloons he was wearing. “Not like that! Metaphor, handsome, metaphor. Remember we've been workin' on that?”
Ross smiled at her as they left the library, and Luna looked after the two with a quiet laugh before she grinned slightly over at Scrivener Blooms. “'Tis strange. They remind me greatly of us, in a few odd ways. Although of course thou art far more unpleasant and disagreeable than friendly and ingenious Ross, and thou certainly requires much more attention and care. Why can't thou do math and be nice, Scrivy?”
“Oh, I don't know.” Scrivener replied dryly, raising his claw and flexing it slowly as he looked moodily down at this. “Might have a little something to do with this. The whole 'murderous psychopath' angle I sometimes play and everything.”
Luna grunted in agreement as Twilight gave the stallion a soft look and Celestia smiled a little in spite of herself, then Luna shook her head quickly and grinned over at Greece, who was studying her awkwardly. “What? Does thou not like my costume?”
“No, no, fancy-corn, it's uh... just... odd.” Greece said awkwardly, leaning back and lamely rubbing at his own buccaneer outfit nervously. “This whole... Nightmare Night concept is odd, as a matter of fact. Why are we dressing up to celebrate and honor the very things we uh... well...”
“Revile?” Luna asked sourly, looking grumpily across at the dwarf, who cleared his throat and shrugged embarrassedly. “Because, 'tis fun. And I will be honest; this year, real demons, Nightmares, and so-called monsters will be wandering through Ponyville alongside the costumed revelers... it shall be a good exercise for all the ponies. Fear not, though, I have already discussed this with Celestia, who went about the tedious task of discussing it with Mayor Mare and the proper authorities.”
Twilight Sparkle nodded awkwardly, and Celestia glanced up hesitantly, looking for a moment as if she wanted to point something out, but she was interrupted when the library door flew open and Scarlet Sage staggered in with a wheeze, looking tiredly back and forth before staring at her Sleipnir-disguised mother, who looked back before grinning brightly and asking: “Does thou have thy costume ready? We are all in costume!”
Scarlet Sage looked slowly, awkwardly around the room, and then she winced a little before turning her eyes forwards and saying lamely: “Uh... Mom. What am I supposed to even dress up as? I know that Nightmare Night is really important to you and everything but...”
“You can be anything you want to be, just turn yourself into anything you think that you could ever be.” suggested a kind voice, and all eyes turned to watch as Discombobulation calmly strode in through the archway leading towards the back room, a calm smile on his face, a cup of tea in one hand and a casual blue suit on his body. “Be free with your tempo, be free, be free... surrender your ego, be free, be free to yourself.”
“What?” Scarlet Sage asked lamely, and then she frowned a bit when the Draconequus shrugged and slowly sipped at his tea. “And what about you?”
“Oh, this costume works for many things. Right now, you see, I'm a psychic. Well, not really a psychic. More of a tortured fraud with a certain knack for reading visual cues and spitting out the right pieces of information, it's the management's favorite obsession right now.” Discombobulation replied seriously, gesturing absently upwards with his teacup before he absently tossed this aside, and it vanished in a puff before he flicked his other hand out, a cane appearing in it that he easily leaned on. “Now I'm an immensely talented but horribly-distempered doctor. Do you see a theme developing here? I have to say that I certainly do. Oh, the things we long for but can never have...”
“What art thou talking about? These things aren't terrifying! Thou needs to be something scary!” Luna said grouchily, glaring over at the Draconequus.
“They're very scary if you don't have health insurance, if you committed a crime, if you have secrets to hide, or worst of all, if you're sensitive and easily hurt by harsh words.” Discombobulation replied seriously, and then he pointed the cane at her, adding mildly: “It's much better than your costume, by the way. Costumes are supposed to be fictional characters or extremely offensive real people.”
“Bah, Sleipnir was a hero! And furthermore, he qualifies as both a pony few believe exist, and more importantly, as a pony who was extremely offensive. Why, he chased thee down a rabbit hole, did he not?” Luna winked, licking her lips at this. “Although perhaps that was naught but terror driven more by secret lust than anything else.”
“Thank you, but we were questioning the sexual preferences of our fellows in Ginnugagap long before it was the cool and hip thing to do.” Discombobulation replied dryly, then he spun his cane easily at his side before leaping up and clicking his heels together, vanishing in a puff of neon smoke. Still, his voice echoed around them a moment later, even as the mist cleared: “And we all fell down the rabbit hole a long time ago, Scrivener Blooms... perhaps where I really went was back up to the surface, not down into the depths.”
Twilight grimaced a little as she glanced up moodily, and Luna huffed a bit before firmly shaking out her glittering mane of vines, returning her attention to where Scarlet Sage was now curiously looking over both Celestia and her father. “That is not thy mother, I am. Even if right now I likely look more like a father than a mother, but looks are of no consequence. Besides, Sleipnir was always much more a maternal figure than a paternal one, I kid thee not.”
Celestia only sighed a little as Scarlet Sage smiled a bit, glancing towards Twilight even as she asked curiously: “Why did you polymorph them, Mom? You're... you're not going to polymorph me, right?”
“Not if thou has a suitable costume.” Luna replied mildly, and the Pegasus winced a little, making Luna grin widely before she glanced down as Antares burbled and twitched a little on the cushion. “Yes, child?”
Then Antares loudly threw up, and Luna stared in horror as Scrivener sighed as the toddler began to whimper, the male mumbling and heading towards the kitchen as Twilight and Celestia both winced. “I'll get the stuff to clean up... Luna, help him sit up. And no more candy, at least not until tonight.”
“Damnation.” Luna grumbled, carefully helping Antares up as she rubbed a large hoof soothingly over her son's back. Scarlet Sage and Celestia strode over to look down at the foal with concern when he whimpered again before beginning to cry quietly as Twilight hurried off to help Scrivener.
It didn't take too long to calm Antares down, although he kept spitting to try and clear his mouth out until Scarlet Sage finally fetched him a glass of water and helped the foal rinse it. Then he spat it out onto Twilight's floor, and Luna sighed as she gently chastised him, looking embarrassed even as Twilight smiled awkwardly and Scrivener grumbled and cleaned the mess hurriedly up.
Greece lingered nervously with Celestia, neither knowing quite what to do, but when everything calmed down, the Nightmare Moon-disguised equine was glad to help look after Antares while Luna went to clean herself up, grumbling that if she really was Sleipnir this kind of thing would never happen.
In the kitchen, she found Scrivener emptying the cleaning bucket out, and she smiled embarrassedly at him before he shrugged and smiled a little in return, saying finally: “Please just take this as a sign that not everything that ponies say about taking care of kids is nonsense, alright?”
“Alright, alright. No more chocolate or candy until poor, sweet Antares is feeling better.” Luna grumbled, holding up her hooves and nodding with an apprehensive smile, and then she sighed a little, gazing meditatively over Scrivener before she asked finally: “Does thou think Sleipnir would make a better parent than I?”
“I... where did that come from?” Scrivener snorted in amusement, then he paused before adding dryly, glancing towards the sink: “Also, Sleipnir is up in the Vale of Valhalla. Or castle of Valhalla. Or whatever the hell Valhalla really is. My point is that it's hard to be a parent when you're dead.”
“Yes, but... it is different. Thou knows it is different, that he gains special privilege as Odin's son.” Luna said quietly, almost desperately, and Scrivener looked at her with surprise, making her blush a bit as she glanced away and hesitated for a few long moments before she finally said softly: “Yes, Scrivy. I wish for it. Every day, I wish that he could... return to this world. Be granted asylum here, a second chance... did not so many others get a second chance? Why cannot he? 'Twas... 'twas not fair that he was taken away...”
Luna closed her eyes, lowering her head forwards, and Scrivener softened, looking at her for a few moments before he finally smiled faintly and reached up, touching her shoulder quietly as he answered her former question gently: “Sleipnir would be a good father... but you are a good mother. Kids need... good mothers, I think.” Scrivener smiled a little. “Besides, look at who would be the potential mother.”
Luna laughed at this, shaking her head slowly as she said softly: “I look forwards to seeing Pinkamena tonight. As a matter of fact...” She grinned slightly, winking at him as she brightened visibly. “I have plans, as it so stands, to sneak into Pinkamena's treasure trove... like all demons, she is something of a hoarder.”
“I thought that was dragons.” Scrivener said dryly, and Luna huffed, looking at him pointedly. “Well, I know Pinkamena's demonic affiliation is not with greed...”
“She is the opposite of narcissistic or materialistic, whatever else it may seem, aye.” Luna said with a slight smile, looking entertained. “Come now, Scrivener Blooms! 'Tis obvious!”
“Yes, well, it never seemed polite to guess at.” Scrivener said dryly, turning to head back down the corridor as Luna trotted along at his side, her mood visibly lightening even as the stallion continued mildly: “And either way, you shouldn't just decide to break in and rifle through another pony's things... especially when those private things have to do with your brother. What if you find something you don't like?”
The Sleipnir-shaped pony looked thoughtful at this as they emerged back into the library, and then she glanced over towards Celestia, asking curiously: “Sister, what should I do in the event that I discover something unpleasant in Pinkamena's letters to my brother?”
“I would recommend simply not looking at them.” Celestia said tiredly, as Scarlet Sage shook her head slowly and Twilight only smiled wryly from where she was quietly reading a story to Antares. “But as I'm well-aware you won't listen to reason, sister, I would say to keep in mind all the things you've done yourself over your lifetime, as well as the fact that essentially no matter what we say or do to Sleipnir, he's still always going to be... Sleipnir.”
“That is the way of our brother, aye.” Luna agreed thoughtfully, and then she glanced pointedly at Scarlet Sage. “Costume?”
“Mom, seriously.” the Pegasus complained, but when Luna only continued to look at her, she sighed tiredly and rubbed at her forehead slowly. “Alright, alright. I'm going over to Red's, then. She was kind of worried this would happen so she said she would put something together for me just in case.”
“Thou had best not be going over there simply to make out with her. I shall know if this is the truth.” Luna said blandly, and Scarlet Sage turned beet red, staring stupidly at her mother for a moment as Celestia slowly dropped her face against a hoof and Twilight stuttered in her reading. Even Scrivener creakily looked at Luna, but the Sleipnir-disguised equine only gave a wide, cheerful grin, saying kindly: “I accept and love thee, daughter. This is my way of showing acceptance and love. Furthermore, thou should know that 'tis very obvious that-”
“I'm going now.” Scarlet said in a strangled voice, turning hurriedly around and bolting out the door, and Luna looked thoughtfully after her before Scrivener grumbled under his breath, his single large wing stretching out and flapping once before he joined the others at the table. Luna began to turn towards them, and then Antares scowled at her, followed by most of the table, so instead she whined loudly in her throat before huffing and spinning around to storm over to Greece, obviously intent on causing as much trouble as she could get away with.
It wasn't long before a knock came at the door, and Luna cheerfully bounced over to answer it even as Twilight began to stand up. The Sleipnir-disguised pony cheerfully stared out at the foals beyond standing with their parents, dressed up in costumes that varied from a bedsheet with holes cut into it to a surprisingly well-done replica of a Phooka. For a few moments, Luna looked over them all, then she cleared her throat before Scrivener winced and covered his ears, then Luna leaned forwards and shouted cheerfully in an echoing, powerful voice: “And what do thee desire, my beloved friends, upon this most glorious of nights?”
The foals were almost knocked over by the force of the sound as the parents skidded backwards, staring in shock before the children held their bags out, and Celestia sighed as she pushed away from the table, heading over to the doorway and saying flatly: “Luna, really, you-”
“Nightmare Moon!” shouted one of the foals, and the ponies all squealed before they bolted away as Celestia leaned awkwardly out the door, staring stupidly. Luna grinned brightly, looking almost excitedly out through the open door before she looked back at Celestia, then she fell over, cackling gleefully at the look of surprise and confusion on the black-coated winged unicorn's face.
Then Celestia sighed, reminded herself of the costume she was in, and Luna shook her head out before grinning brightly as she stuck her head back outside to look up at the reddish sky above, saying excitedly: “Look, look! The sun is finally setting, 'tis almost time for the real delights to begin! Oh, I have such a wonderful evening planned!”
The others looked apprehensively at the disguised winged unicorn as Greece only sighed in relief, walking over to the table and smiling across at Twilight Sparkle as she said awkwardly: “You know, uh... if you wanted to go out, I can stay here...”
“No, no, by all means. Have fun with the fancy-corn, I encourage it. I am very glad to stay here and hand out candy.” Greece replied with a smile and a wink, and Twilight glowered at him as Scrivener gave the dwarf an amused look in spite of himself. “Besides, to me, this is all very strange anyway. Again, it seems almost like worship of the things we once fought against...”
“As if that is any different than what occurs with any conquering civilization.” Luna scoffed, and then she grinned brightly, looking out the door and waving wildly as Fluttershy awkwardly walked by with a group of Phooka in tow. “Fluttershy! Where is thy costume?”
Fluttershy blushed at this, looking in confusion towards the library before she stared in disbelief at the stallion, but then Luna laughed and one of the Phooka slipped closer to the blonde-coated Pegasus and seemed to whisper to her, and the mare nodded hurriedly after a moment, smiling a little as she turned and quickly made her way towards the building.
Luna pranced backwards, and the Pegasus carefully stepped into the library, the group of Phooka following after her and looking curiously back and forth. Greece looked awkwardly at the half-beasts, but Twilight only smiled and not even Celestia looked concerned any longer by their presence, as Antares burbled happily at the sight of the strange creatures.
“Oh wow, I can see you've all really gone all out for Nightmare Night...” Fluttershy blushed a little, studying Luna for a few moments before she smiled a bit, glancing quietly back towards the table and adding embarrassedly, as her eyes roved slowly over Scrivener: “This isn't really my favorite holiday, but... well, you did ask me to bring the Phooka in...”
“Oh, Fluttershy, that is only because thou art not wearing a mask!” Luna said empathetically, and Fluttershy looked confused again before the Sleipnir-disguised pony grinned widely, her eyes glinting mischievously as her invisible horn lit up with a distinct radiance, and the Pegasus paled a bit, beginning to shake her head wildly before Luna declared: “A costume perfect for thee!”
With that, Luna flicked her horn firmly, and Fluttershy squeaked as Twilight winced, a dark glow consuming the Pegasus for a moment before she blinked wildly and looked hurriedly back and forth, her wings fluttering nervously at her side before she looked over her shoulder in surprise at the smoke and ash that seemed to whisper up from the now dark-colored wings.
Luna grinned brightly as she looked quickly back and forth, then dashed towards the stairs as Fluttershy only stood dumbly before she returned a few moments later with a small mirror, holding this up so the Pegasus could see herself as she asked cheerfully: “What does thou think?”
“I...” Fluttershy's eyes widened, the Pegasus staring in shock at the sight in the mirror: her mane and tail seemed sooty, smoky, and her coat had turned a mix of black and gray that seemed to shift unnaturally on its own. Her eyes all but glowed as her wings fluttered weakly again, then settled against her sides as she realized she looked almost exactly like the Phooka. “I...”
“I apologize that it is not the best polymorph, 'tis more... optical illusion than anything else, but I have used up much energy already today and this should last for the short term. 'Tis more illusion than anything else, 'twill gradually fade on its own.” Luna smiled slightly, leaning forwards as Fluttershy only continued to stare at her blankly for a few moments. “Do not fear, Fluttershy. For tonight, pretend, just pretend... thou art a brave and mysterious Phooka. The leader of the pack. See how many thou can convince that is what thou art.”
“I... oh, I could never...” Fluttershy started awkwardly, and when Luna grinned, the Pegasus shifted nervously, blushing through her now-dark coat. “Thank you, but really, I was just going to bring the Phooka through town like you asked and then head back out to my cottage...”
“Well, now thou art a Phooka and thou can wander with them. Pretend, Fluttershy. The costume hides thy identity perfectly. Thou may enjoy thyself tonight with thy friends here to protect thee.” Luna winked at the polymorphed Pegasus, before she looked pointedly over at the table and asked: “She makes a very convincing Phooka, does she not?”
There was a round of agreement and mumbles, before Twilight finally looked up and said finally: “I... we'll see you at Sugar Cube Corners one way or the other tonight though, right?”
Fluttershy nodded embarrassedly, looking almost imploringly for a moment at Twilight... and then the Lich-costumed mare smiled faintly before she said softly: “You look very good. And the Phooka will take care of you tonight and keep you safe.”
“I'll... try then.” Fluttershy smiled a little over at Twilight, nodding apprehensively before she hurriedly turned, adding embarrassedly: “But I should really go...”
“Then go, and with the blessing of the night!” Luna shouted cheerfully, and Fluttershy winced a bit before she and the Phooka were almost bulled out of the library as Luna strode quickly forwards, winking at them. “Go, go, go my children of darkness, spread into Ponyville, delight the foals and families with terrors of the dark!'
Fluttershy and the herd of Phooka were pushed out into the deepening darkness, and Luna laughed loudly as she stood in the doorway before looking excitedly up at the sky as dusk continued to grow deeper. “Look, look, 'tis so close now! Antares, Scrivener, all of thee, get ready to go out!”
Luna was ecstatic and energetic as she bounced around the library, and Antares couldn't help but giggle and then attempt to bounce around after his mother. Twilight took the moment to make sure Greece knew where the extra boxes of candy were hidden after she set out a large bowl of treats, and Celestia simply glared at Luna when she began to scurry towards this. “You'll get plenty later tonight, little sister. I hear they're going to do the candy offering just for you.”
“Yes, but 'tis not the point!” Luna complained, and then she huffed a little, stomping her hooves childishly, and Antares attempted to mimic her as Scrivener rolled his eyes before the Sleipnir-shaped pony grinned brightly as she looked towards the windows, saying eagerly: “But come, come! 'Tis finally time now... Antares Mīrus, this is thy first big night, to trick-or-treat and enjoy, and it shall be wonderful, wonderful indeed!”
“Wonderful!” Antares shouted gleefully, seeming to catch on to his mother's mood, and Scrivener couldn't help but smile as Twilight approached with an amused look to drop her head against the stallion's shoulder and regard both grinning Luna and excited Antares. “Candy?”
“Aye, all the candy thou can desire.” Luna said firmly, and then she headed easily over to the table, sweeping up a satchel to toss it over her side before she quickly dug a large white sack out of it, tossing this to the foal, and he giggled when this landed over his face, grabbing at it and looking at it curiously before trying to stick his head inside it as Luna explained: “'Tis for the candy, Antares. 'Tis very important, thou must say: 'Nightmare Night, what a fright, give me something good to bite.'”
“Bite!” Antares shouted happily, and Luna nodded encouragingly. “Fright-bite! Night-bite!”
“'Tis good enough.” Luna said comfortably, then she grinned over at Celestia, Twilight, and Scrivener, adding firmly: “Besides. All of us shall aid thee, handsome Antares, is that not right my family?”
“Where's Scarlet Sage? We need more ponies to absorb the humiliation.” Scrivener muttered, looking back and forth, and Twilight snorted and nudged him firmly.
Luna looked thoughtful at this as well, but then she simply shrugged, adding mildly: “Well, I am sure she shall catch up with us sooner rather than later. She knows that I would be furious should she miss Antares' first Nightmare Night.”
Scrivener only looked at her pointedly, and Luna sighed after a moment, meeting his eyes as thoughts and emotions twisted between them before they both nodded once, and the Sleipnir-disguised pony smiled a little and bowed her head forwards, saying finally: “Very well, though. Come, Antares. Greece, keep good watch. And do not simply give away the candy! Make the foals work for it.”
Greece smiled a little and waved awkwardly at the group as Luna strode towards the door, Antares burbling as he happily ran along at his mother's side, and Scrivener shrugged a bit as he fell into pace behind her, tossing a quick nod to the dwarf. Celestia and Twilight followed last, the violet winged unicorn halting for a moment in the doorway to turn around and add awkwardly: “Oh, and if you run out of candy, and then you run out of extra candy, there's a third supply box up in my room, but-”
“Twilight!” Luna called loudly, and Twilight blushed and winced, then waved quickly to the dwarf before slipping out the door and closing it behind her, and Greece wheezed in relief as he opened his book with a smile and a shake of his head: try as he might, and likeable as they were, he didn't think he'd ever fully understand ponies... especially not the fancy-corns.

Antares was ecstatic: more than just being given candy from strangers, the foal marveled at all the ponies in costumes. Even some of the Nibelung were dressed up, seeming to enjoy the strange pony holiday as they poked at each other's costumes now and then and chortled like children.
Luna grinned widely as they approached a house, and she nodded firmly to Antares when the foal looked up at her with shining eyes before he set himself, charged forwards... and rammed head-first into the door, knocking himself back on his rear and blinking a few times before giggling as Scrivener sighed and dropped his face into a claw, but Twilight and even Celestia both laughed. “He's definitely your son tonight, Luna.”
“I know, 'tis wonderful!” Luna exclaimed brightly, and then she grinned widely as the door was opened by a smiling Cheerilee, whose expression quickly turned to one of surprise and amazement at the group in front of her and beaming Antares.
“Nightmare Night, what a fright, give us something good to bite!” Their voices rang out in unison, even Scrivener smiling despite trying his hardest not to. But then again, Celestia was smiling too, and had said it just as clearly as the others, as Antares burbled gleefully and flailed his hooves before managing to raise his bag of candy and open it almost imploringly.
“Well, what a surprise and... and an honor. Baroness Celestia, and... oh my, Luna, is that you?” Cheerilee stared at the Sleipnir-shaped pony, who grinned brightly and nodded rapidly as she struck a pose, before Cheerilee awkwardly turned her eyes down to Antares, smiling warmly as she added: “And you, Antares, can't be only a year old... already up on your hooves and running around like this? Oh, here, let me give you enough for you to share with your family...”
The mare leaned back inside, smiling warmly before she pulled out a bowl of candy, tossing a hoof full of candies into the bag, and Antares giggled happily, gazing over Cheerilee before Luna asked curiously: “Where is thy costume? I do not see thee in a costume. Thou art a schoolteacher, shouldn't thou be setting an example for the foals and be in costume?”
Cheerilee only laughed a little at this, however, looking up and saying awkwardly: “Oh, well, I'm just going to spend the night here at home, so I figured...”
“What? Nay! Twilight Sparkle, invite thy friend to our party, do it now!” Luna ordered imperiously, and Antares glanced up at the adults before he cocked his head curiously before his eyes roved down and stared past Cheerilee at a large box of chocolates sitting on the floor, burbling at the sight of this before he began to slip carefully forwards. “Oh, very well, do not give me such a surly look. I shall do it myself. Cheerilee, thou art invited to Sugar Cube Corners for the most wonderful of parties on this most wonderful of nights.”
“I... will... try to make it.” Cheerilee said lamely, and then she blushed, adding hurriedly: “But I don't have a costume-”
“Oh, everypony has a costume of some kind somewhere.” Luna retorted crankily, and then she grinned and leaned forwards, half-lidding her eyes. “If I may make a suggestion, I would say be a naughty schoolgirl. 'Twould be most fitting, would it not?”
Cheerilee blushed deep red at this, then spluttered a goodbye before slamming the door shut as Luna threw her head back and laughed, then grinned down at the bag of candy... before paling as she realized Antares Mīrus was gone. She looked wildly back and forth, and then the door to the small house opened and the lavender earth pony awkwardly held out Antares, who was clutching the mostly-empty box of candy against his chest and scowling horribly at Luna.
Luna grinned lamely as she reached out and gently plucked her son up, and Cheerilee quickly retreated back into her house before the Sleipnir-costumed pony said awkwardly: “Well, 'tis thine own fault! And none of thee noticed him wander into the house!”
“I did.” Celestia said mildly, and Scrivener Blooms looked over his shoulder at her in surprise as the Nightmare Moon-disguised equine shrugged and said meditatively: “I'm hoping that little sister will take a lesson from this, although I know that may be hoping for a little too much, but... all the same.”
“I... I take lessons from many things!” Luna argued, and then she mumbled: “The lesson I have chosen to understand, however, is that thou art evil, Celestia. Thou art evil and cruel. Letting me think I had lost my precious little Antares...”
“No.” Antares said huffily, and Luna rolled her eyes as she put her son down before Antares shoved his face into the candy box... then yelled and panicked a little when his face became stuck, shaking his head violently back and forth as he flailed his hooves. “Hurt! Hurt!”
“Oh, thou art not hurt, calm now, child.” Luna chided gently, reaching down and carefully tugging the box off his features, and the foal looked up with a blush before Luna leaned over and poured the last of the box's contents into Antares' bag and then simply tossed the empty container aside into the bushes, earning flat looks from the other adults. “Oh, 'tis not littering, really. 'Tis... giving it back to its rightful owner. But come, then. Let us continue, the night is still young!”
Luna smiled as she turned around, prancing out into the busy road, and Antares happily picked up his bag of goodies before sprinting after her, Scrivener smiling and shaking his head as Twilight asked mildly: “So how long do you think this is going to go on for? We've been out here an hour and neither of them seems to be slowing down. We have to have hit almost every house in Ponyville by now.”
“Yes, well, Luna won't be satisfied until she's gotten candy from every pony in Ponyville.” Scrivener replied mildly, and then he looked up to see Luna had halted with a wide grin before the half-wyrm, half-pony shaped male laughed and halted, both Celestia and Twilight gazing warmly up as well. “Well, look what we have here.”
Scarlet Sage blushed deeply as she walked towards them, her head sticking out from a dirty cloak next to Apple Bloom, who was grinning brightly. They moved in an awkward shuffle, looking like a single, two-headed pony: a simple but very effective costume, since they were both somehow balanced with their sides pressing together so it looked as if they only had four legs.
Antares was gaping up at this sight as Scarlet Sage's single visible wing flapped, and Apple Bloom winked out from beneath her frazzled mane and the makeup she had splattered both herself and Scarlet with, saying easily: “Don't you worry, little fella, you'll get your sister back by tomorrow. But for tonight...”
She winked again, and Antares burbled and flailed wildly, staring in shock from beneath his Tyrant Wyrm costume before Scarlet Sage laughed and shook her head, reassuring quickly: “It's okay, Antares, don't worry! It's just an outfit, see?”
Scarlet Sage wiggled a bit, and then poked her other front hoof out through a slot in the cloak, and the baby looked relieved by this as Luna commented cheerfully: “But 'tis quite impressive all the same... although it could certainly be better, aye: why, I could meld thee both together if thou desired, just for the night! Unless the spell went wrong of course, but... bah, that rarely happens, here, let me...”
Scarlet Sage and Apple Bloom both stared in horror as Luna grinned and leaned forwards, invisible horn lighting up before Scrivener reached up and firmly squeezed her horn with his claw, dragging her head back down as Luna gave an awkward little squeak. “Alright, alright, enough. But I'm glad you could join us, Scarlet Sage... and of course it's always good to see you too, Apple Bloom... but I thought you'd be spending the night with your own family, or at least Scoot and Sweetie.”
“Nah, they feel they're too cool for candy gatherin', and I'm sure I'll catch 'em at Sugar Cube Corners. And big sis and Dash are back at the farm with Avalon, since she's too young to trick or treat or anything.” Apple Bloom winked down at Antares, who giggled and flailed a little happily. “Not like you, huh? Real lucky, you know that?”
“Lucky.” Antares smiled and nodded warmly, gazing affectionately over Scarlet Sage and Apple Bloom before he burbled excitedly and pointed at a house ahead they hadn't yet been to. “Bite! Bite!”
“Bite?” Apple Bloom looked confused, but then Scarlet Sage grinned and whispered to her quickly, and the earth pony nodded and laughed a few times. “Oh, I get it! Sure, though... come on, Scarlet Sage, let's turn this thing around.”
Scarlet Sage smiled, the ponies visibly leaning against one another as they carefully began to walk around in a slow circle, giggling a bit between themselves as Luna gazed affectionately at their teamwork, then grinned over at Scrivener, who snorted and shoved her firmly. Luna huffed, then firmly bodychecked him, knocking the stallion flat as Antares giggled brightly at his parents' behavior before he turned and scrambled quickly past the two-headed pony to run towards the door and join the other foals approaching the house.
Celestia smiled, and Twilight laughed when the door opened and the foals called out brightly... and then they both stared, along with Luna and Scrivener, as the pony ran out of his own house with a horrified look at the sound of a mechanical howl. A moment later, a tall, gangly creature in a hockey mask charged out of the house, a chainsaw squealing away in his hands and vomiting up smoke as he swung it wildly back and forth, the foals yelling and panicking as Scarlet Sage and Apple Bloom fell backwards.
But Antares was still only sitting, flinching from the sound before he glared up at the figure as it stopped in front of him, raising the chainsaw, and then Antares pointed up at him and said firmly, as Luna realized dumbly that the only thing it would be was a Draconequus: “No. No. Disco-Bob, no.”
The chainsaw cut out, and the Draconequus heaved a theatrical sigh as he let his arms slump, Discombobulation saying moodily from behind the mask: “Here I am, trying to get into the proper Halloween Town spirit, and you go and completely ruin things. You combo breaker me, and I could have had a killstreak of at least half a dozen foals. Just how can you be so cruel, Antares Mīrus? And I'm quite certain you're not supposed to be in the 'no' phase until you're at least three years old, by the way. You are illogical.”
“Discombobulation! Why would thou do that?” Luna shouted incredulously, as Scarlet Sage and Apple Bloom struggled to get up and the others only stared. Then the Sleipnir-shaped equine glared and charged forwards, before wincing when Discombobulation hurriedly backed up but held up the chainsaw between them defensively. “That is not... why would... no!”
“Did I go too far? Was it too much? Too over the top? I'm not very good at this whole 'prank' thing, it's all quite a conundrum.” Discombobulation replied mildly, even as he pulled the mask up before rubbing absently at the machine in his grip. “I mean, they're done with the specific purpose of insulting or scaring someone, yet it seems it's possible to do so in a 'friendly' way, just as it's possible to be 'too extreme,' as I apparently was. Personally, I thought the chainsaw was a nice touch. Wasn't it a nice touch?”
“No.” Antares and Luna said at the same time, both glaring at the Draconequus, and he huffed at them grumpily and scowled in return before raising the chainsaw hurriedly again when Luna took another step forwards.
For a moment, Luna only glared at him as the Draconequus swung the chainsaw back and forth at roughly head-level with the Sleipnir-shaped pony, as he said pointedly: “Don't make me prune your hedges, Scrivener Blooms. Which is funny because... you actually have plant life growing out of your head. Your brother must have been particularly good with birds and small animals and other nesting animals.”
“We would never allow him to keep pets in his mane.” Celestia supplied calmly, and Discombobulation looked up in dumb surprise at this before the Nightmare Moon disguised equine nodded kindly, then simply flicked her horn, and the chainsaw in Discombobulation's hands glowed brightly before falling apart, as Celestia added gently: “The more complex an object, the more energy you put into making it, and the easier it is to interrupt that supply.”
“Oh, yes, supply and demand. A very useful lesson in economics, a dreadfully boring subject.” Discombobulation nodded seriously a few times, and then he slowly put his hands behind his back as Luna grinned widely at him before he leaned forwards and said casually: “Whatever you do, Scrivener Blooms, don't look behind you.”
Luna frowned at him, then she snuck a glance over her shoulder; immediately, Discombobulation staggered around in a circle and sprinted away, and Luna shouted in frustration as she ran after him before she was followed by a yelling Antares as Scrivener Blooms remarked dryly: “I'll have to remember that trick.”