Four weeks... it had been four... grueling... weeks since the Mane 6 and Sparky had gotten back from their previous Unity Quest in London.
And while it was great to finally have a break from the adventuring and get over the terror they had to endure during their encounters with Professor Ratigan, many of them couldn't help but wonder what Paradise Moonray might be planning next if they stayed away from the quests too long.
Misty wasn’t as worried, though… she knew that with the stories that Alphabittle told her about Paradise when they first met and with the necklace Alphabittle once gave Paradise, she was convinced that she would be able to convince her mother to stop this evil plan, and they would once again be a happy family.
And as long as the others knew that Misty was sure about her plan, they were sure that they would succeed too.
But something was coming up that Pipp knew would temporarily distract her friends from their troubles... the first ever Nightmare Night party in Zephyr Heights that would involve all three different pony kinds!
Queen Haven had been working with Alphabittle and Sunny for weeks to include all the traditions of each pony kind, including to make your own crystal lights, finding the Golden Pumpkin and a night full of dancing and fun.
Finally, the big night arrived, and Pipp gathered all her friends, including Rocky and Jazz (who were gonna get a ride to Zephyr Heights from them) met up at Mane Melody to get changed into their costumes.
Misty adjusted her magician hat on her head, looking at herself in the magic mirror. “Does my magician costume look okay?”
“It looks amazing, Misty!” Izzy said, wearing a costume that seemed to include all kinds of gourds. “This Nightmare Night party is gonna be so much fun!”
“It sure will!” Zipp said, wearing her superhero outfit. “Mom always goes all out for the ones she did before, and now that all three pony kinds will be there, it’s gonna be the best one yet!”
“Yarr!!” Hitch exclaimed in a pirate tone of voice, causing Misty and Izzy to shriek and then giggle. Hitch, realizing he scared them, frowned. “Oh… sorry, guys,” he apologized. “I didn’t mean to scare you.”
“No need for apologizing, Hitchie-poo!” Izzy brushed it off. “Getting scared on Nightmare Night is fun!”
Pipp then came out of the changing room, wearing a white robe, with white paint on her wings and a hoofmade halo above her head. “Ta-da!” she exclaimed. “What do you guys think?”
“Pipp! You look absolutely stunning!” Jazz said in her witch costume. “What made you get the idea for an angel costume?”
“I just thought about how I dressed spooky last year, and I wanted to dress ‘sweet and friendly’ this year, so an angel seemed really fitting.”
“And look at Sparky’s parrot costume me and Hitch made for Sparky!” Rocky said, holding up the baby dragon in the parrot costume as he was dressed in his skeleton costume. “He’s gonna be one of the hit attractions tonight, let me tell you.”
“Hey, where’s Sunny?” Zipp asked. “We have to leave for Zephyr Heights in 10 minutes and we haven’t seen her costume yet!”
“Coming!” Sunny’s voice echoed from the second changing room. “Just… just give me a second!”
A few seconds later, Sunny emerged from the changing room with a fake mermaid tail that is blue with aquamarine swirls on it, along with a starfish barrette in her mane, and her signature saddlebag, and upon seeing her, her friends gasped and murmured in awe. “Sunny… that is an AMAZING costume!” Jazz smiled. “How come you didn’t tell us what you wanted to be before now?”
“Honestly, I wasn’t all that sure,” said Sunny with a shrug. “But when I remembered a story my dad told me where my mom wore a seapony costume a lot like this, I wanted to do it in her honor.”
“Well, we’re glad you’re finally changed,” said Zipp. “Come on, everypony, to the Marestream! We have a Nightmare Night party waiting for us in Zephyr Heights!”
XXXXXXXX
The party in Zephyr Heights was really going into full gear by the time the Marestream finally got to the palace, and Queen Haven was watching the scene from her throne, dressed in a royal mask and royal gown. All that she needed for the party to be perfect was her darling daughters.
“Mom! We’re here!”
Queen Haven’s head snapped up when she heard Zipp’s voice, and saw them entering the throne room with Zoom and Thunder. “Oh, my angels! You’ve arrived!” she said, flying over to hug them. “Happy Nightmare Night, one and all!”
“Happy Nightmare Night, Queen Haven!” smiled Misty. “Wow, you look spook-tacular!”
“Oh, thank you, dear!” Queen Haven smiled. “Everything is set up and ready to go, and I was hoping that Pipp, Jazz and Rocky might perform that little song they wrote 2 moons ago! How did that song go again…?”
“Monster Party! That’s my favorite song that the three of us sing together!” Jazz said before bowing. “We would be honored to perform it at the party, your highness.”
“Wonderful!”
With this in mind, Queen Haven flew to a nearby microphone and got the attention of the ponies in the room. “Attention, everypony! I want to thank you all for coming to what will be the most spectacular Nightmare Night party Zephyr Heights ever hosted! And now, please put your hooves together for my darling daughter, Pipp Petals and her friends, performing a classic Nightmare Night song!”
Pipp, Jazz, Rocky and the other ponies were met with thunderous applause from the crowd, and when it died down, Zoom turned on the song from the speakers, and the group began to sing.
Pipp: There's something kinda creepy
Happening tonight
Jazz: So call your favorite ghoulies
Sunny: And get your costume right
Rocky and Hitch: They may look freaky
But I promise, they won't bite
Pipp: As they say the place is haunted
But the dancing's a delight
All: It may look scary
But don't be afraid
Cause nothing's what it seems
At a monster partay
It may look spooky
But don't have a fright
Cause at this monster party
We will rock all night
Bah-dah-dah-dah-dah
Bah-dah-dah-dah-dah
Cause nothing's what it seems
At a monster partay
Sunny: Frankenstallion's spinnin'
Makin' everypony move
Hitch: And the mummy pony's
Really bustin' loose
Pipp: The wizards and the witches
Got nothin' to prove
Zipp: They just keep on rocking
Misty: To the monster groove!
All: It may look scary
But don't be afraid
Cause nothing's what it seems
At a monster partay
It may look spooky
But don't have a fright
Cause at this monster party
We will rock all night
Bah-dah-dah-dah-dah
Bah-dah-dah-dah-dah
Cause nothing's what it seems
At a monster partay
Bah-dah-dah-dah-dah
Bah-dah-dah-dah-dah
Cause at this monster party
We will rock all night
Yeah, at this monster party
We will rock all night!
Once the song was over, all the participants at the party cheered wildly as the ponies took a bow for their performance. “Wonderful, just a wonderful show, my darlings!” Queen Haven told the group. “Now, everypony, continue to have yourselves a good time! The party will last as long as you can!”
The attendees cheered and resumed the activities they started, and as the ponies got to talking again, Jazz gasped when she was suddenly caught offguard. “Guys! Your cutie marks are glowing!”
Zipp sighed, realizing she was right. “I guess we better head back to Maretime Bay.”
“It’ll take you a while,” Rocky frowned. “Should we come with you?”
“No, you guys stay and enjoy the party,” Sunny said. “By the time our mission is over, we’ll be back to pick you guys up.”
“All right, my darlings,” Queen Haven said, hugging Pipp and Zipp. “Please be careful. Paradise may be Misty’s mother… but it certainly seems like she’s under the wrong influence.”
“We will, Mom,” Pipp said with great sincerity. “Count on it.”