The day of Nightmare Night was soon upon Ponyville, and the town square was alight with locals working to set up the festival. Streamers of paper ghosts were strewn around the lampposts, fake cobwebs were set up in every possible area they could be hung and appreciated, and plastic pony skeletons were propped up in amusing poses against walls and on tree branches.
In the marketplace were creatures setting up their stalls to sell holiday goods. The likes of face painting, small toys and games were put together around the square. Spellbound was amongst them, having arrived in the early afternoon to display a variety of snacks and sweet treats she planned to sell. She had her classic cookies, brownies and cupcakes styled after spiders, bats and rats, all favourites amongst trick-or-treaters, but this year she wanted to try something new. Something different. Hence why she had a batch of brand new candies set out separate from her usual fair, and behind her was a cauldron, smaller than the one she used for work, filled to the brim with a fizzling liquid.
“Dare you try the mystery treats? Two bits each,” she murmured as she wrote as much on a sign and set it with her new snacks.
“As long as none of them are pumpkin flavoured,” she heard, turning to see an orange earth pony mare working the stall across from her. She had plenty of pumpkins and pumpkin snacks of her own set out on her own counter, and was even advertising personalised carving.
“Certainly not, Pumpkin Spice,” said Spellbound with a smile. “I know better than to intrude on your patch, as it were.”
All she needed now was a name for her stall. She stared at the plain board above the counter, tilting her head and tapping her chin. After what felt like hours of thinking and mulling, her scrunched face softened and, with a glow of her horn, set the name on the stall with a flash.
SPELLBOUND’S TRICKS AND TREATS
“Perfect!” she chirped, smiling proudly at her stall.
The festival’s director, Petal Wind, trotted over to look for herself. “A lovely stall, and in the spirit as well. If you’re all done, would you mind giving a little hoof just to tie up some small things before we officially open?”
“It would be my pleasure,” said Spellbound.
“And, please behave yourself tonight,” Petal added, with the voice of somepony who was very much in the know.
Spellbound’s smile didn’t waver. “I shall try my best.”
At sunset, the Nightmare Night Festival was opened and in full swing. Creatures dressed up in costumes wandered around the stalls and attractions if they weren’t going door-to-door for treats to pay Nightmare Moon not to curse them. Of course everycreature knew the legend was just that, but tradition was important in Ponyville. Tradition also meant everycreature was also in a costume fitting the event, apart from Spellbound - her black cloak and crooked hat fit the criteria, but they were simply what one would call her work clothes.
Many guests were enjoying the games and showing off their costumes, and as Spellbound had hoped, her promise of a mysterious Nightmare Night experience had brought in quite a crowd. Her classic snacks sold as well as usual (which she had left unenchanted, just for tonight), but she was delighted to see that bits were practically being thrown at her for her mystery treats.
“Thank you, my dear,” she said once again. “Please enjoy!”
Because I certainly shall.