Suddenly, there was a knock at the door.
Fluttershy eeped. Whoever that was who was knocking at the door, she was terrified of what could stand there, waiting for her to open up. But she knew she had to see who it was at least.
She lightly opened the door, only to be met with a stallion dressed like a hunter wearing a skeleton dragon mask. Just when he greeted her with a "Hey!", Fluttershy screamed and shut the door again.
"G-g-go away! No candy here! Visitors not welcome at Nightmare Night!", she yelled at the door.
However, whoever was at the door, tried again: "Fluttershy, it's me, Rush!"
Fluttershy opened the door again and saw Rushing Wind's face. "Oh, it is you.", she said and invited him in. "Sorry for my reaction. I just saw a scary mask on you, just like I saw with several salesponies all day... They all had a scary mask on their faces."
"Figures. I saw them as well.", Rushing Wind said.
"Oh, you've been in Ponyville too?", Fluttershy asked, a bit curious, "What were you doing there?"
"Well, I intended to keep this as a surprise, but I guess I can't stop you." Rushing Wind opened the saddle bag that he had with him and took out a costume. He handed it to Fluttershy. "Here, try it on.", he said.
Fluttershy indeed was surprised. Out of all her friends, she least expected Rushing Wind to give her a costume out of nowhere. Whatever the reason was, she took the costume and tried it on. Looking at herself in the mirror, she noticed one thing from the get go.
"Oh my... I look like Saddle Rager!", she said, her eyes widening at this sight. Her thoughts flashed back to the time when she and her friends were trapped in Spike's Power Ponies comic book. She and Pinkie Pie were held captive by the Mane-iac, but her friends rescued them, and together, they managed to defeat the Mane-iac and destroy her evil plans.
"That's the plan. And I feel like this costume really suits you.", Rushing Wind said, "Also, I read the comic myself, and Saddle Rager usually is calm as well, but when you make her angry, you get it back bigtime."
Fluttershy giggled. Rushing Wind perfectly described her with this statement. "Thank you, Rush. This is really amazing. Say, did Rarity make this costume?"
"Yes. And it's really dead-on accurate.", Rushing Wind responded.
Despite being flattered, Fluttershy had the feeling that something was up. A costume gift out of nowhere, Rushing Wind paying her a visit at Nightmare Night... She just had to ask.
"Say, Rush... What's this about?"
"I knew you'd ask sooner or later, so might as well go for it.", Rushing Wind said before he took a breath and asked, "Do you want to come with me for Nightmare Night?"
Fluttershy startled. "Out there? Into the dark night? At Nightmare Night?" She shook a lot just thinking about going outside when everything looked scary.
Rushing Wind walked over to her and calmed her down. "Look, Fluttershy. I know that Nightmare Night looks very scary. And believe me, the first time I saw Nightmare Night, I was scared too. But trust me, those demons I fought in the other world were far scarier compared to Nightmare Night.", he explained, "And nowadays, I don't find Nightmare Night to be that scary, but rather fun."
"Fun? What's supposed to be fun at Nightmare Night?", Fluttershy asked, still terrified, "Scary, yes! Fun, no!"
"You know, Fluttershy... Nightmare Night isn't really that much about scary stuff. The other part is about having fun with your closest friends. Playing party games, pranking each other just for fun, telling ghost stories when midnight strikes, you name it."
"I... I don't want to...", Fluttershy said.
"Don't worry. I'll protect you, Fluttershy. Nothing harmful will get close to you. Pinkie Promise.", Rushing Wind said before showing off the Pinkie Promise to her.
This calmed Fluttershy down a lot. "Well, if you say so... I don't mind going with you.", she said, a smile forming on her face.
"Now come on, let's collect some treats all over town before heading to Sweet Apple Acres. Our friends have a big party there, and I told them I was gonna be there.", Rushing Wind said.
"Okay...", Fluttershy said and followed Rushing Wind outside. When she looked at the dark night sky, she gulped. She was actually doing this, going out for a second Nightmare Night. But this time, she had someone with her who gave her courage. The courage to just go ahead and do it, no matter what happens. And judging by what Rushing Wind told her, this could indeed be a fun night...
Ponyville, Night...
Fluttershy and Rushing Wind trotted through the streets of the nightly Ponyville. As Fluttershy looked around, she noticed all these really spooky decorations around the town. Rushing Wind told her not to worry, as there's nothing to be afraid of in Nightmare Night except for your own fantasy.
This in turn also kept Fluttershy calm when she saw some of these very spooky costumes that other ponies were wearing. She used to be scared by this sight, and she still is a bit to this day, but after what Rushing Wind said to her, she knew that this was the classic deal every Nightmare Night.
For almost half an hour, Fluttershy and Rushing Wind went through Ponyville, visiting other ponies and collecting treats from them. One of them even gave Fluttershy a big chocolate bar.
Now on their way to Sweet Apple Acres, Fluttershy and Rushing Wind had a little chat.
"You know, Rush... I never thought that this would be so much fun. You were right all along. Nightmare Night isn't just scary, it's also a lot of fun!", Fluttershy said, filled with joy.
"I told you.", Rushing Wind said and winked.
"And this costume, it's amazing!", Fluttershy said, "There's nothing on this costume that can impede my running if I have to get away quickly, and this mask still allows me to see fine left and right. I remember Rarity's costume last Nightmare Night, where she dressed up like a mermaid. That tailfin can easily let you trip."
"I would imagine. And imagine there was something evil chasing you girls. Rarity would have been done for.", Rushing Wind said.
"Yeah...", Fluttershy said, shaking off this dark thought in an instant. "Say, do you remember the Nightmare Night when Luna returned?"
"I don't. And to be fair, I don't know much about the origins of the two major Princesses.", Rushing Wind said.
"I remember, when I first saw Luna, on a day like Nightmare Night even, I was pretty scared because we all used to know her as Nightmare Moon.", Fluttershy said.
"Luna's evil form, huh?", Rushing Wind asked.
"Exactly! And back then, she used to yell at everyone with her so-called Equestrian voice, but I taught her to be a little quieter... However, against my stated will...", Fluttershy said, shuddering at the thought.
"But it all ended well, right?", Rushing Wind asked.
"Yes. Everypony befriended with Luna, and this was the time when she truly returned to Canterlot, ruling Equestria alongside her sister, Princess Celestia.", Fluttershy said.
"Sounds like all of you had fun.", Rushing Wind said.
"Yeah, we did...", Fluttershy said, "Just like we have now, Rush."
Rushing Wind giggled. "Yeah. Just like us."
Fluttershy was thankful to have a friend like Rushing Wind at her side. Someone who understands her, likes the history of Equestria, but most importantly, someone who truly believes in her like Rainbow Dash, one of her closest friends, did. And now, this friend is helping her to enjoy Nightmare Night to the best she can.
Together, they now head for Sweet Apple Acres, which isn't far out anymore...
Sweet Apple Acres, later that night...
"Where are they?"
Rarity was beyond impatience. The clock was ticking away and Rushing Wind still didn't show up as he told her.
"Dont'cha worry, Rarity. I'm sure Rush will arrive soon.", Rainbow Dash said.
"Yeah. He would never let any of us down, right?", Applejack said.
"I can't wait to show him my new party game for Nightmare Night!", said Pinkie Pie in excitement.
Just then, there was a knock at the barn door. Applejack opened it, and Rushing Wind entered.
"Hey, girls!", Rushing Wind said.
"Hey, Rushing Wind.", the Mane 6 greeted him, happy to see that he made it.
"Sorry for the delay.", Rushing Wind apologized.
"That's alright, darling. The good thing is that you're here.", Rarity said.
"Yeah. I knew you wouldn't miss this party.", Twilight Sparkle said.
"I know.", Rushing Wind said, "By the way, I got company with me."
He went inside and allowed Fluttershy to enter. The girls gasped, especially Pinkie Pie had her mouth wide open.
"Fluttershy?", Rainbow Dash said, slightly surprised to see her out of all ponies here.
"Hi, girls!", Fluttershy said.
"Now that does surprise me to see you here, Fluttershy. What made you?", asked Applejack in curiosity.
"Rushing Wind wants me to have the night of my life at Nightmare Night. And he's showing me that it's not all about the spookiness of this day.", Fluttershy said.
"Oh, so that's why you wanted this costume, you sneaky pony, Rush!", Rarity said before turning to Fluttershy, "But may I say you look stunning in this outfit!"
"Oh, heh... Thank you, Rarity.", said Fluttershy.
"Now, what do you say? Shall we party or not?", said Rushing Wind.
"Absolutely!", Applejack said.
"Yeah! Let's get this party started!", said Pinkie Pie before going over to the gramophone and turning the music back on.
And then, the party began for real...
11:57 PM...
Fluttershy and Rushing Wind enjoyed themselves a lot at the party. They shared the treats they collected on their trip with the other ponies, they had a lot of fun with Pinkie Pie's party games, and the most favorite part for Rushing Wind was dancing to the songs that Pinkie Pie played at the party.
It was close to midnight, when Twilight Sparkle decided to speak up.
"Everypony! May I have your attention?", she said loudly.
Rushing Wind and the Mane 6 shifted their focus to Twilight.
"What is it, darling?", asked Rarity.
"It's almost midnight, so it's about time I finally tell you a ghost story!", Twilight said.
"Ooh, I love ghost stories! What is it about?", Pinkie Pie asked.
Twilight narrowed her eyes. "About a magic demon named Rathmas, who appeared at Nightmare Night in the past.", she said.
While everypony was excited, Fluttershy became unsure again. "Um, Rush? Do I really have to stay?", she asked the grey stallion.
"Don't worry, Fluttershy. Ghost stories aren't real. They're just meant to send a shiver down our spines.", Rushing Wind said.
"Well, if you say so...", Fluttershy said. She really was in luck to have a friend like Rushing Wind. Everything that scared her about Nightmare Night, it all became like second nature, something to celebrate and not to fear.
And now with the ghost story, this could become the best night of her life indeed...