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// Intermission: Her Mark 
// Story: The Mark 
// by dragonlover2864 
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	One and a half years after I met her.

“Nightmare Night! Such a fright! Give me something sweat to bite!!” A ggroup o young colts danced around me chanting their silly song. 
“If I gave you ponies some candy will you leave me alone?” Nightmare Night was not really my night. Didn’t get candy, was to hold for that. Couldn’t send out my own kid to  get some, was still to young to have children.. Night Glow was my night. I laughed at my little pun and tossed the children the few pieces of candy I had. They ran off and I continued my journey. 
“SLENDY!!!” There she was. Trotting up to me with the biggest smile painted on her face. Night Glow. “Hey dude! Guess what!! My mom is hosting a huge party in town hall. Wanna go? Please??” She smiled even more so.
I laughed. “Alright, alright! Was headed there anyways, you mom IS the best DJ in all of Equestria. Sooo... Whatcha supposed to be?” 
“I’m Nightmare Night! See?” She turned to the side so I could see her dyed fur and painted on cutie mark. She had also died her mane and tail purple. She put in her fake fangs and growled at me “Pathetic foals!!”
I laughed as she spit out the fangs and stashed them in her treat bag. Wait! Treat bag? “You still get candy?”
“Of course! Free candy, why wouldn’t I?” She smiled down at her bag. It was full, and I could tell she was proud of herself. “Well I have enough, so how about we get to the party?” She swished her tail around 
We walked towards town hall and waved at our guardians as we passed them. Vinyl was dressed as a vampire, complete with red contacts.. But she emanated a weird color of red and gold.. Huh... She was standing next to a fancy high-class looking grey pony. Out of place here in Ponyville. I thought maybe it was a costume but the refined silver surrounding her told me other wise. They were talking to Carrot Top about something or another. 
The waved back at us and trotted over. The grey pony spoke first.
“Oh Night! You look so scary! The dye isn’t permanent right? I happen to know a certain princess who might be insulted if it doesn’t wash out.” She meant Princess Luna. 
“Of course! Octavia, this is Slender, my best friend.”
“Why hello,” She stuck out her hoof for me to shake, and  obliged “Night Glow talks about you NON-STOP. It’s nice to finally meet the pony she adores.” She winked at Night Glow who was nearly jumping at her throat to shut her up. I snickered.
“Well, it’s nice to meet you too ma’am.”
“And such manners! You sure know how to pick them, don’t you Nighty?” After dodging   punch from Night, Octavia looked at me smiling. “So are you graduating next year with Night Glow?”
“Yes and I can’t wait to get out of that school. I’m more of a university pony, my self.” At that, Octavia beamed and turned to Vinyl. “Shouldn’t you be getting to your party?” Vinyls eyes lit up
“Oh yeah!! Better get there before the doors open. Good thing we set up this morning. Everything is ready to go.” She smiled.
“Except for you.” Octavia pointedly said. Vinyl huffed and left.
“You two better get going also, if you want to be first in line.” Carrot Top looked at us. 
“It’s okay, Mom said we could go in the back door.” Night Glow started to leave, hinting that I should follow. I said a quick goodbye and followed Night. 
We made it to town hall and slipped in the back door, where vinyl was waiting. She led us to the main room where everything was set up. Spooky decorations covered the walls and three large tables were covered in themed food and candy. Night and I grabbed a cup of “blood” and found a place to sit. 
“Wanna go dance?” Night looked at me with pleading eyes. 
“Well... I suck at dancing...” Her face fell, “Well, I guess it couldn’t hurt.” She made the cutest squeaking noise and led me to the dance floor. 
She danced and twirled, maintaining perfect balance. Vinyl was up by the turntables, with Octavia. Vinyl waved for me to come over.
“I’ll be right back!” I shouted over the music. Night only nodded once.
I walked up to the turntables and Vinyl tossed me some small cylinders. She mouthed something at me and waved me away. I walked back to Night and asked what her mother gave me.
“She squeed and took the things from me. “Oh my gosh! glow sticks!!”
I saw her take the cylinder in her hooves and start to bend it. I began to protest but it was too late. A sickening crack was heard as she snapped the thing. She smiled at me and showed me what had happened. She held up a bright glowing cylinder, the same one I had seen only moments ago. She broke the other and quickly put them on strings. She tied them to her hooves and told me to stand back.
What happened next blew my mind. she began to swing her hooves, the glow sticks trailing in their path. She spun and bucked, looking ever graceful. I stood in awe of her beauty. She was so graceful and perfect. My heart sank as I realized I wasn’t good enough for her. She was perfect and I was broken. But I was smitten. I loved her, that was no secret.. 
She slowly came to a stop and looked at me. “well?”
I was at a loss for words. I knew nothing I could say would sound right.
“Well?? What do you think? Was it bad? Do I need work? Did I look stupid??? Tell me!!” She looked so worried, she didn’t understand how amazing she was. Maybe she didn’t understand that I was no good for her. Maybe just maybe...
Her ranting stopped abruptly. I had leaned in and kissed her on the cheek. I stayed still for a moment. 
“You’re perfect.” I whispered.
I’ve never seen such a beautiful color. Brilliant gold with a blush of light pink. She radiated this magnificent color. It embraced me and we stood there.
Out of the corner of my sight I saw Vinyl say something to Octavia and start making her way towards us. I jumped away from Night Glow with a start.  She was blushing as deeply as myself. I looked at her then down at the ground. 
Vinyl reached us and then eyed me. She kept staring at me. She emanated a calm blueish green. She huffed and turned towards Night, who blushed even deeper.
Vinyl leaned down and said something to Night. Night’s eyes widened and her blush faded
“You mean it?? Is it there????” She began jumping around excitedly. She spun around and around and Vinyl sat there laughing. 
“Night calm down! It’s there, but you’ll never see it if you keeping bucking about like that. Stop and LOOK at it!” 
She stopped and that’s when I saw it.
“My cutie mark!!” It was amazing. It was glowing through the paint on her rump. It was GLOWING. “Wow! It glows!! Has this ever happened to any other pony?” Just wow!! Oh! Slendy look! Isn’t it awesome?! I don’t think I’d have ever got it if it weren't for you...” 
I smiled at her. She was beautiful. She shined even more than her glow sticks. 
And I loved her.