//------------------------------// // Nightmare night special // Story: The Hero of Time in Equestria // by Mikoyose //------------------------------// (Sorry for posting this late, took a while to figure out what to do and school, and cake. Sorry) Link was sleeping in the extra bed within Twilight's home, trying to out-sleep Spike. Twilight, meanwhile, was going through her checklist, "Okay make better costume than last year." she looked over at her new costume. "Check! Candy for the fillies and colts, and Pinkie." She looks at a bowl filled with candy checking that off the list, "Check!" She trotted upstairs and looked in on Spike and Link. "Spike and Link asleep. Check! Tonight is going to be a great Nightmare Night!" She said loudly before cantering back down the steps to make sure everything was ready for the festivities that would happen in a few hours. She went to Town hall first, The Mayor had gone over the games and the usual storytelling from Zecora was ready she was wearing her clown costume again. Twilight smiled and continued on to her friends to see how they were doing, and what they were going as. First up was Rarity, Twilight knocked, Rarity didn't answer. She knocked again, no answer. She was about to enter when she saw a small note on the window. She grabbed it with her magic and read it. Dear Twilight, I must apologize but I am not able to join you or the others in tonight's festivities. Hoity Toity has asked me to create a new line of dresses for the next Gala. He asked earlier today and I just had to accept. I apologize profusely for this. P.S can you apologize to Link for me as well? Thank you dear. Your friend, Rarity Twilight sighed, sad that Rarity was going to miss another Nightmare Night. She left Carousel Boutique and went towards Sugarcube Corner. Pinkie was already in her costume, she was going as a cotton candy cloud, she even had balloons tied to her back to keep her floating. "Hi Twilight! Are you going to go Trick-or-Treating with me this year?" she asked from above the counter. Twilight shook her head, "No I'm too old to do that. And so are you." The lavender mare explained. Pinkie gasped, "I told you last year Twilight I'm never too old for free candy!" she huffed. Twilight didn't complain and watched as Mr. and Mrs. Cake were putting costumes on their foals. Pound was wearing a Wonderbolts costume and Pumpkin was wearing a princess outfit, she was chewing on the hem. The Cakes were dressed as Frankenpony and his Bride. Twilight left as Pound began flying around and into the kitchen. She flinched as a loud crash was heard followed by Pinkie, "It's okay everypony! He's okay!" Twilight sighed in relief and went to Sweet apple acres. Applejack was wearing a mummy costume. "Howdy Twi. What're you gonna be fer Nightmare Night?" she asked the unicorn. "Well I don't want to go as Starswirl again so I was going to go as a book." she said with a wide smile. Applejack cocked an eyebrow, "Really? A book? Well it's your choice. What's Link goin' as?" she asked. Twilight opened her mouth to answer but stopped when she realized, "I don't know. He didn't say." Twilight left to speak with Rainbow dash and Fluttershy, to see if Fluttershy would come out for this Nightmare Night. ----------------Library-------------- Link snorts and falls off his bed, "AAH!" He stands up and looks at the still sleeping dragon. "Well I won't be able to go back to sleep now." Link said. He put his equipment on and checked it before going downstairs and into the kitchen to get something to eat. ---------------------Fluttershy's cottage--------------------- Rainbow Dash was standing in front of the cottage wearing a Daring Do outfit, "Come on Fluttershy, it's not going to be scary." She reasoned to the door. "I'm not coming out, it's too scary." a meek voice answered. Twilight trotted up to her friend, "Twilight! Just the mare I need, you have to help me get Fluttershy out of her cottage for at least this one Nightmare Night." Rainbow Dash said to the approaching unicorn. "I'm not going!" Fluttershy shouted from within her home. Twilight thought for a second before saying, "Well Link's going to go, you could stay close to him if you want." She reasoned. The response wasn't immediate, they waited for a short while before she answered, "No it's still too scary." her answer was a little softer this time. They sighed and continued to persuade Fluttershy. --------------------------Library--------------------------- Link had eaten a few apples and some more fruit that was in the kitchen before walking to the exit and opening it. He looked down at three small fillies, one looked like a zombie, one like a skeleton and the last one like a mummy. They shouted together, "Link! You're awake!" the laughed and Link moved aside to let them inside, looking confused. "Why are you dressing up like monsters?" Link asked them. They looked at him as if he had asked how to breathe, "It's Nightmare Night that's why!" Sweetie said, she was the mummy. "Haven't ya'all heard of Nightmare Night?" Applebloom asked, she was the skeleton. "Yeah everypony knows about Nightmare Night!" Scootaloo said, she was the zombie. "Well I'm not a pony." he said with a small chuckle. The three blushed, "Right. Sorry Link." Applebloom apologized for the three. "Well Nightmare Night is a night once a year when we dress up to get free candy!" Scootaloo said buzzing her wings as she said so. "There's also a story Zecora tells." Sweetie said. Scootaloo looked out the still open door and saw the other ponies beginning to leave their homes. "We're going to be late! Link put on your costume and let's go get candy!" the pegasus said impatiently. The other two agreed. Link thought it over and pulled out two masks, the Gibdo mask and the Captain's hat. He looked at them both before deciding to stick with the Captain's hat, a mask seeming to be made of bone in the shape of a skull with an upper body leaning back over the head from it's place on the forehead. Link's eyes glowed red due to the mask. The fillies looked at it, Link took a step towards them and they stepped back involuntarily. "Is it too scary?" Link asked reaching for the mask. The fillies shook their heads, a large smile across each of their faces, "That is awesome! Okay now let's go get some candy." Scootaloo said running out the door. The other three followed, Link was stopped by Applebloom, "Are ya gonna use the poison joke? Or not?" she asked him. He rubbed his head, "Do you want me too?" he asked them. Applebloom looked at the other two fillies, Sweetie shrugged and Scootaloo watched the other fillies and colts already moving from home to home. "I don't care! Hurry up and use it or don't we're missing out on the candy!" she said, walking in place impatiently. Link decided to just wear the mask. He and the Crusaders ran to get their candy. -------------------Fluttershy's cottage------------------- Rainbow Dash and Twilight gave up trying to persuade Fluttershy and walked back to the town in time to see the fillies and colts already hauling a small hoard of candy, Pinkie included. Rainbow dash flew up onto a nearby cloud and flew to scare the trick-or-treaters like she had done last year. Twilight rolled her eyes at Rainbow and went to retrieve her own costume when two red eyes popped up before here eyes. She screamed and fell back, "GAH!" Link took off his mask and kneeled next to Twilight, "Are you okay?" he asked her, she looked at him then to the mask a single thought crossed her mind, "Hey Link can I borrow one of your masks? Just for Nightmare Night?" she asked him. He nodded and pulled out the Gibdo mask, he held it out for her smiling. She took it in her magic and hesitated to put it on, "Um this won't hurt will it?" she asked nervously. Link shook his head and put his own mask back on. She put the mask on and was surprised that she could clearly see through it. She followed Link and the Crusaders around town, the games were set up. Link stared at the games and costumes in wonder, he stopped by a bowl filled with toy spiders and saw a pony throw one towards a spiderweb. The pony missed and swing his hoof in frustration, Link looked at the spiderweb then to the spiders. He approached, grabbed one, and tossed it. The spider landed in the center of the web, Link smiled, a hoof tapped his shoulder and he turned. It was Applejack, she pointed to the pumpkin catapults. Link ran to them, Applejack explained the rules of the game. Link nodded when she finished and analyzed the targets in the distance, he stepped up to to the bottom of the catapult and tried to put his weight on it, the catapult didn't move. He heard laughing and looked up to see Rainbow dash laughing at his feeble attempt. He frowned and took off his mask to replace it with the Goron mask. Once in Goron form he lifted the pumpkin out of the catapult and hurled it through the air, it hit the target dead on. He looked back up to Rainbow Dash with a smirk on the brown face, her jaw looked like it would fall off. He looked around, the ponies stared at the orange splattered target, then to Link and cheered. He rubbed the back of his, now white, hair before taking the mask off again. Spike patted Link on the back, he was wearing the dragon costume again this year. Thunder cracked loudly in the sky as it filled with clouds. Luna's bat-pony driven chariot appeared and it landed at the edge of the crowd. They bowed to her as well as Link, "Princess Luna! You came again this year!" Twilight said as she stood up and greeted the Princess of the night first. "As I promised the children, we-I have come again this year!" she said with a smile before turning to the closest ponies and shouting, "TO MAKE THIS CELEBRATION THE BEST YET AGAIN!" she spoke in the Royal Canterlot Voice, scaring the ponies, besides Twilight and Link. Link smiled and waved at her, she returned his smile and approached the two, "Those are very scary masks, Link and Twilight." she complimented them. They thanked her before continuing on with their activities. The night went on as it had the year before, Luna scaring ponies, said ponies laughing with her and her playing the games they had. This year however Link was playing with Luna on a new puzzle game they had. In the game the player had to navigate a small marble through a maze filled with holes. Link was using his hands and quickly moving the ball through while Luna used her magic to do the same. They reached the end at the same time. They then moved on to a harder maze, they ended at the same time again. They continued on like this until they reached the hardest maze that was there, a very tiny path held the ball while holes surrounded it, two walls blocked the goal with barely enough room for the marble the path also turned sharply and dipped and rose as well to add to the difficulty. The two of them focused on doing the maze while the ponies gathered around them and watched as the marble slowly moved along the path, down the hills and back up them, moving quickly then stopping and occasionally falling back down the hills. Link had taken off his mask to focus better. They both began to sweat as the ball continued it's slow travel along the thin path. The crowd gasped when the ball nearly fell off the track for either player. The tension grew as the ball reached the final stretch, both players tilted the board forward to speed the marble up. Link's went in the goal and Luna's barely hit one wall and fell off the track. She stared at the maze in shock, Link looked at her and smiled, "That was fun." he said innocently. She looked at him and laughed, "Indeed it was Link." the ponies laughed and cheered for both players. "You were this close too!" Link added, holding his index finger and thumb a millimeter apart. She agreed and they laughed for a short while before the ground shook slightly. Stalchild began clawing their way through the dirt, their stained claws breaking through the ground before their bony bodies followed. The ponies stared and turned to Luna, hoping it was a trick, she was shocked to see these things as well. Link drew his sword and the ponies panicked. They ran into their homes, dragged their children in as well along with their welcome mats. Link, five of the Elements of Harmony, and Luna stood at the ready to fight them. They were about to charge when Link stopped them. He put his sword away as they advanced, "We must dispose of them immediately Link! Lest they harm our citizens!" Luna shouted. Link nodded and put on his Captain's hat again, the Stalchild immediately froze up and saluted, "It's the legendary Captain Keeta! Atten-shun!" the leader of the Stalchild commanded, as he spoke his jaw clacked from teeth hitting teeth, the rest ran into their formations and saluted. "We are at your command Keeta! For the war!" they all shouted, their jaws making the same clacking noise. Link stood before them and stood straight before speaking with as much authority as he could, "I am not Keeta." He began, getting shocked answers from the monsters. He held up his hand for silence, they stopped talking. "I may not be Keeta but I am his second in command!" Link continued, getting more talk. Again he held up his hand, they stopped speaking again, the ponies looked out their windows at them. "He ordered me to tell all of his loyal soldiers that the war is over! You may rest in peace knowing your honor has been restored!" Link said, the skeleton's jaws dropped making a loud clacking. They looked at each other before saluting Link again, "Understood sir! Permission to rest!" they said in unison again. Link stood before them, he smiled under the mask and returned the salute. The skeletons each literally fell apart, the bones burning away. The ponies exited their homes upon seeing this, the six ponies behind him stared slack jawed at what had just transpired. "We are grateful for defeating those monsters Link." Luna said. Link bowed to the Princess. Things went on as if the monsters had never risen, and Link told the ponies gathered how this same mask would make mummified corpses, known as Re-dead, dance before him, why he still didn't know but it was useful for keeping them from screeching and attacking him. "Why couldn't those skeletons be Re-dead? I want to see them dance." Pinkie pouted, Link laughed and they continued playing games for a while. Eventually they all gathered near Town hall for Zecora's story of Nightmare Night. Link listened intently as Mayor mare spoke, "Welcome to the Nightmare Night festival everypony! And Link." she added when she saw Link. "Now all the little ponies that have been out collecting sweets should follow our friend Zecora to hear the tale of." she paused for dramatic effect. "Nightmare moon!" she finished with an evil laugh. "The rainbow wig ruins it." Link muttered. "I know right!?" Spike agreed. Mayor Mare stepped aside to let Zecora on stage. A cloud of green smoke appeared and the zebra, dressed as a witch, walked out of the colored mist. "Follow me and very soon you shall hear the tale of Nightmare moon." she said in her usual rhyming way. She lead the way into the Everfree forest, Link and the rest following. When they reached the site of the Nightmare moon statue Zecora spoke again, "Listen close my little dears, I'll tell you where you got your fears." she said gesturing towards the statue. She leaned in close to the nearest fillies and said, "Of Nightmare night so dark and scary!" she reached into a cloak and pulled out green dust. She blew it into the wind where it turned into a being similar to the statue, "Of Nightmare Moon who makes you wary." she continued. The fake Nightmare Moon dove at the fillies and turned into the green fog around them. "Every year we put on a disguise. To save ourselves from her searching eyes." She continued, a pair of eyes appeared in the mist, a smile along with them when they looked upon the eyes. They screamed and ran, Zecora came out of the mist where the eyes were as she continued, "Nightmare moon wants just one thing. To gobble up ponies in one. quick. swing!" she continued. Pinkie was hiding inside the cloud costume. Zecora pulled out more dust and threw it in the sky, again it coalesced into the Nightmare Moon, "Hungrily she soars the sky, if she sees no pony she passes by." The cloud of smoke drew near the small ponies and the smoke being raised a hoof above her eyes to search for ponies. The cloud moved away, "So when she comes and all is clear, Equestria is safe for another year!" Zecora continued as the cloud flew in front of the moon and the Nightmare Moon disappeared. She watched the being disperse before finishing, "Remember, fill up her belly with a treat or two and she won't be back to eat you!" she blew more dust, the Nightmare moon stalked towards them before diving at them with an open jaw. Link instinctively raised his shield and a few of the ponies hid behind it as the Nightmare Moon disappeared. "Quick everypony leave your candy!" Pinkie yelled, running in place above the rest trying to reach the statue. Twilight rolled her eyes and used her magic to help Pinkie reach the statue while the others dropped some of their own candy before the statue. The thunder crashed again and the statue came to life, it was a dark pony wearing dark blue armor, and a star filled mane. She spoke with the Royal Canterlot Voice, "CONGRATULATIONS PONIES! NOW YOU WILL LAST ONE MORE YEAR!" she said with an evil laugh. The small ponies shrank down from her voice and presence. Link stepped forward but saw the evil being change into Luna, she was still laughing. Link looked at her confused but just laughed with the others. "Now let's party!" Pinkie said, somehow moving ahead of the others on the way back to Ponyville. When they returned Link told them a few stories of his own, what he had done and seen in Hyrule and a few legends made to scare children into listening to their parents, his stories scared them but they had forgotten them quickly when they continued to get candy. (again a bit late but it took a while to figure out what to do. Sorry.)