//------------------------------// // Nightmare Night // Story: Becoming Pinkie Pie // by Alaborn //------------------------------// Becoming Pinkie Pie By Alaborn Standard disclaimer: This is a not for profit fan work. My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic is copyright Hasbro, Inc. I make no claim to any copyrighted material mentioned herein. Chapter 4: Nightmare Night “How are things going, Applejack?” Twilight Sparkle inquired. “On the farm? Busy as ever. We’ve got treats to bake and games to prepare for the Nightmare Night celebration,” Applejack replied. Twilight Sparkle looked at her friend crossly. “I’m asking about you. How do you feel?” “Well, ever since the secret came out, all these strange happenin’s have started to feel normal,” Applejack said. “Ah don’t know if that should scare me or not.” “When I talk to you, I still see the hardworking and honest friend I’ve grown to respect over these last few years,” Twilight Sparkle said. “You’re still you, and now that I’m fairly certain this won’t be a repeat of the Pinkie clone incident, we don’t have to proceed, unless you want.” “Ah still do.” “Do you mind explaining why?” Twilight Sparkle asked. Applejack thought for a moment. “Best way to put it is, Ah’m not Pinkie. Pinkie is Pinkie, and she shouldn’t have to share her uniqueness.” Twilight Sparkle nodded. “In that case, I’d like you to join me in the lab.” A scroll materialized in front of her. “I’ve researched the matter, and identified twenty-seven diagnostic spells that would help diagnose one of sixty-three possible causes.” Applejack followed Twilight Sparkle with a groan. “Is that as fun as Ah think it is?” It was just as fun as Applejack imagined. She spent hours in the laboratory, hooked up to Twilight Sparkle’s array of sensors, as the unicorn prodigy performed numerous rituals. Machines recorded results on rolls of paper as Twilight Sparkle made notes of her own. For the most part, Twilight Sparkle cast spells from her horn, but some of the tests involved potions, and others appeared to bypass magic entirely, utilizing various strange machines. Applejack tried to tune out the funny sensations, and occupied her time with knitting a scarf, trying to catch a ball on a string in a cup, and reading a cheesy romance novel. None of these things were originally in the laboratory or on her person. Twilight Sparkle grunted and gasped for breath following one particularly long spell. A prickling sensation crossed Applejack’s coat, and she tasted mint. Twilight Sparkle recovered and recorded some notes on a scroll, before setting it on a tall stack of paper. “Well, that’s all of them,” she said. Applejack offered her friend a glass of water. “Ah think you need this more than me.” Twilight Sparkle accepted the water gladly. “Thanks, Applejack,” she said. “So how long is this gonna take?” Applejack asked. “At minimum, a week,” Twilight Sparkle replied. “But there’s another research project I have going on, a spell I’m hoping to perfect before the Running of the Leaves.” “Then you do that first,” Applejack said. “Ah can handle bein’ Pinkie Pie for a couple more weeks.” “Special delivery!” Pinkie Pie arrived at the farmhouse, saddlebags loaded with colored sugar, dyes, fondant, and other products the Apples didn’t normally use in their baking. And Applejack nearly fainted upon seeing the method Pinkie Pie used to enter the farmhouse. She came in through the front door. The pink mare bounced into the kitchen and unloaded her bounty. A jar of dark blue sugar spilled, right onto the pie crust Granny Smith was rolling out. “Consarn it!” the elderly pony cried. “Wait!” Applejack cried, staying Granny Smith’s rolling pin. She added a bit more sugar to the dough, turning a mistake into a rough picture. “Ooooh! Nightmare Moon! How scary!” Pinkie Pie said, giggling. “But what good is it, when it’s just gonna be covered in apples?” Granny Smith said. “We make it the top crust, Granny,” Applejack replied. “Oh. That does make more sense,” she said. “So what else did you have in mind?” Pinkie Pie asked, poking her snout into numerous unfinished pastries. “Ah’ve been gettin’ all sorts of ideas for Nightmare Night. Like apple tarts decorated to look like jack-o’-lanterns! Nightmare Moon pies! And moon apples!” “Mmmm. Moon apples. Wait, what are moon apples?” wondered Pinkie Pie. “Pass me the chocolate cookies and the silver sugar sand stuff and Ah’ll show you,” Applejack said. After crumbling some cookies and pouring out the sanding sugar into a dish, Applejack prepared a normal caramel apple, impaling a beautiful Red Delicious apple on a stick, then dipping it in warm caramel. After spinning the apple to coat it evenly in caramel, she dipped it in the silver decorative sugar, covering it completely. Finally, the cookie crumbs were pressed into the front of the apple. “And there you go!” Applejack announced proudly. The final product greatly resembled the moon on a clear night, the darker cookie crumbs shaped into the image of the Mare in the Moon. “Looks tasty, Applejack!” Pinkie Pie said. “Did somepony say tasty?” Applejack turned to see Rainbow Dash poking her head through the window above the sink. That mare had a knack of showing up on the farm whenever she was hungry. Applejack then looked at Pinkie Pie sourly. “Okay. Maaaaybe I mentioned that I was coming over here to help you make treats, and maaaaybe I was loud enough that everypony having breakfast at Sugarcube Corner could overhear me,” Pinkie Pie admitted. “Fine,” Applejack said. She pulled out an undecorated caramel apple and passed it to Rainbow Dash. “On the house.” “Thanks, Applejack! You’re the best!” Rainbow Dash said. She bit into the caramel apple, but became confused when she failed to get any of the apple into her mouth. She attacked the apple again, but still without success. After gnawing for twenty seconds, Rainbow Dash had managed to pulverize the apple underneath, but still it remained in its protective coating. “Wait a minute,” she said, taking a closer look at the apple. “This isn’t caramel, it’s rubber!” She flew into the kitchen, heading for Applejack. By this point, the cowpony was sprawled on the floor, laughing her hat off. “You should’ve seen yourself! First you were all”—she imitated Rainbow Dash’s perplexed look—“and then you were all rawr rawr rawr”—she imitated her furious chewing—“and now you’re staring at me all mad-like!” Rainbow Dash’s irritation couldn’t last in the face of Applejack’s laughter. Soon she and Pinkie Pie joined her in uproarious laughter. Even Granny Smith was caught chuckling. “That was some prank, Applejack. You got me good,” Rainbow Dash admitted. “Anytime, pardner,” Applejack said, rising to her hooves. “Ooh, I never knew you had it in you to prank like that!” Pinkie Pie said. “Yeah, Ah…” Applejack said before pausing. The only pony known to like pranking as much as Rainbow Dash was Pinkie Pie. “Ah don’t think that was me, though.” “Don’t be a silly filly! That was all your idea!” Pinkie Pie said. “Yeah, if you have ideas like that, you should totally hang out with me on Nightmare Night!” Rainbow Dash suggested. A small part of her wanted to do just that, yet it didn’t feel right. “But pranks just aren’t honest!” Applejack protested. “Nightmare Night is all about pranks and frights! And candy,” Pinkie Pie mentioned, tossing some candy corn into her mouth. “Nightmare Night is one night where everypony expects to get pranked! For just one night, it’s totally honest,” Rainbow Dash said. “You know, Ah never thought about it that way,” Applejack said. She looked at Granny Smith and the pastries in progress throughout the kitchen. She gazed out the window to the farm, where Big McIntosh was working, preparing to run the hay ride on Nightmare Night. “But Ah have my responsibilities, just like the rest of mah family.” “But this is a once in a lifetime opportunity!” Rainbow Dash said. “Sorry, Rainbow Dash,” Applejack said, going back to preparing apple pie filling. “Or, all you need is somepony to take your place and sell for you!” Pinkie Pie suggested. “But who? Big McIntosh already has a job, Granny Smith needs to be in bed, and Ah’m not gonna stop Apple Bloom from havin’ fun that night,” Applejack replied. “Well, I know a pony who knows her way around pastries, loves games, knows how to sell, and is ready to help you out!” Pinkie Pie looked at Applejack, smiling. “Me!” Simultaneously, bowls fell from the hooves of Applejack and Granny Smith. “Ah… Ah don’t think that’s a good…” Applejack started. “I promise to sell your baked goods with the honesty and integrity for which the Apple family is known, and I promise to sell the quality of your apples every time a pony goes bobbing for apples,” Pinkie Pie said solemnly. “Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye.” She finished the motions, ending by sticking an actual cupcake in her eye, just before consuming it. Skeptical, Applejack turned to her grandmother. “Whaddaya think, Granny?” “Why, even I know to trust a pony who makes a Pinkie Promise!” Applejack harrumphed. “Well, Ah suppose so. But Ah’m still gonna handle the bakin’.” “So, uh, you want to prank with me on Nightmare Night?” Rainbow Dash asked. “What the heck. Might as well make use of all this craziness.” The next morning, Applejack was back in the orchard, harvesting fresh apples for the afternoon’s baking. Without the strange feeling of being watched bothering her, she actually felt lonely. There was plenty of time between kicks to think of ideas for Nightmare Night, but nopony to talk with about these ideas. Late in the morning, Applejack noticed a rainbow streak in the sky. She smiled as it headed straight for the farm. Seconds later, Rainbow Dash skidded to a halt, kicking up a cloud of dust. “Howdy, Rainbow!” Applejack greeted her. “Care for a peppermint stick?” Rainbow Dash reached out to the box of candy Applejack offered her. But rather than pull out a candy, her hoof was caught as a metal mousetrap snapped shut. Applejack guffawed. Rainbow Dash wiped the surprise from her face. “Eh. That one’s overdone. Every foal knows it.” “Still caught you, didn’t it?” Applejack countered. “Yeah, yeah. So I thought I’d stop by on break and….” “Break from what? Sure don’t look like yer workin’,” Applejack interjected. “…stop by and hear about your ideas for Nightmare Night,” Rainbow Dash finished. “Are you going as a scarecrow again?” “Ah’m gonna give that one to Pinkie. It’s tradition, you know. As for me, Ah’m goin’ as the coolest pony in Ponyville.” Applejack smiled deviously. “If you need a wig, talk to Scootaloo,” Rainbow Dash suggested. “As for me, a little yellow dye, a few clothes from Rarity, and I’m set. How about pranks? Got some more good ideas?” “Well…” Applejack said, and then paused. “Ah want you to tell me the honest truth, Rainbow. Is this all just some big prank that you and Pinkie are pullin’ on me?” “What? No! Why would you think that?” Rainbow Dash replied. “It sure was mighty nice of Pinkie to offer to sell pies and help ponies bob for apples, but you expect me to believe she’s gonna give up free candy and frightenin’ foals?” Applejack said. “She’s our friend! Friends do nice things for each other!” Rainbow Dash immediately said. “Look, there’s no trick, Applejack. If Pinkie Pie is planning some big prank, it’ll be a surprise to me, too.” “Ah believe ya, Rainbow. Still’s mighty nice for Pinkie to give up free candy.” “It’s very generous of her,” Rainbow Dash said. Applejack smirked. “Think she’s turnin’ into Rarity?” “That would be the worst… possible… thing!” both mares said in unison. They collapsed to the ground, laughing until they had trouble breathing. Applejack was first to recover, and got to her hooves, helping Rainbow Dash up. “As for Nightmare Night, mah first thought was to make like Rainbow, and wing it,” she said, smiling. “But let me tell you what Ah have in mind for somepony bobbin’ for apples….” Nightmare Night. What a fright. For Applejack, it had long ago ceased being frightening, as it was little more than another opportunity to give back to the community and sell a few tasty treats. For the first time in—had it really been nine years?—she was attending the festivities as an ordinary partier. Ponyville always looked different at night, and it was even stranger to see the small town awash in activity after dark. Ponies, mostly in costumes, walked through a market square that was as busy as any day in the height of summer. Multicolor lanterns cast enough light that it was easy to see, but these lights left long shadows and patches of darkness between buildings. It was the perfect atmosphere for the evening. The darkness also provided a great place for a pony to hide, particularly for ponies in certain kinds of costumes. Applejack kept her eye out for Rainbow Dash. She was fairly certain the mare would be dressed as her new literary hero; she didn’t need any Pinkie Sense to make that guess. After a few minutes of searching, Applejack found her target. Rainbow Dash flew aboard a storm cloud, sticking close to the ground. Some large amount of yellow dye changed her coat to resemble that of the pegasus adventurer Daring Do. Similarly, gray dye concealed the colors of her mane and tail, creating a mane of different shades of gray that closely resembled the common representation of the character. An olive vest and tan pith helmet completed the costume. While Daring Do had eyesight that was the stuff of legends, Rainbow Dash missed the cloaked figure in the shadows. With a quick leap, Applejack landed next to Rainbow Dash. “Ah!” Rainbow Dash yelled in surprise, nearly losing her pith helmet. She turned to face the interloper, and scowled. “Oh, no, you didn’t,” she said. Applejack laughed as she removed the hat and mask of her Mysterious Mare-Do-Well outfit. “Ah did say I was goin’ as the coolest pony in Ponyville, sugarcube” she said. “’Sides, I already had this costume at home.” “Is that cloudwalking spell going to last all night?” Rainbow Dash asked. Applejack looked down, and realized she was standing on a cloud, without having received such a spell. “Twitchy tail!” she yelled, the appendage flopping crazily, just before she fell to the ground. After picking herself up, she muttered something about stopping by Twilight’s. “See you back here?” she said. “Sure thing!” Twilight Sparkle smiled as she opened the door to the library. “Well, if it isn’t the Mysterious Mare-Do-Well, savior of Ponyville and friend to all!” she said. “Thanks, Twi,” Applejack replied. She examined Twilight’s costume, a long green dress in nature patterns, with a darker green shawl and gold corded necklace. “Lookin’ good, even if your outfit’s got me stumped again.” Twilight Sparkle frowned. “I’m Clover the Clever! Everypony should recognize me!” Applejack assessed her friend’s outfit. “But Ah thought Clover wore that simple brown cloak, tied off with a rope.” “No, no, no!” Twilight Sparkle stomped her hooves. “That’s just her presentation in the Hearth’s Warming Eve pageant. While I can understand that representation, to highlight the humility that tempered the wizard’s brilliance, she was still an advisor to the Royal Court.” Twilight Sparkle paced around the room, looking much like a professor addressing her class. “As a respected wizard and advisor, and hailing from a time when clothing was much more common and formal among the nobility, it should be expected that Clover would follow the lead of the nobility. Besides, as one of the founders of modern Equestria, there are dozens of portraits of her surviving from classical times. A visit to any museum in Equestria would show a portrait of Clover the Clever, looking much like this,” she lectured. “I even have thirteen different varieties of clover represented in the patterns of my dress! Doesn’t anypony study unicorn history anymore?” “Uh, Twi?” Applejack finally interrupted. “What? Oh.” Twilight Sparkle looked past Applejack, seeing nearly a dozen foals waiting patiently for candy. She quickly remedied the situation by levitating candy into each pony’s bag. The foals mumbled thanks before departing in haste. “So what brought you here?” Twilight Sparkle asked Applejack. “Ah was hopin’ to get a cloudwalkin’ spell for the evenin’,” Applejack replied. “Now that I can do,” the unicorn replied. A magenta glow from her horn formed into a mist that coalesced around Applejack’s hooves. “But why do you need a cloudwalking spell to run your booth?” “Ah’m doin’ somethin’ a little more fun tonight,” Applejack said with a smile. “So, are you all set?” Rainbow Dash asked. Applejack jumped onto the cloud again. “Sure am! Look, Ah can even look down and see Ah’m on a cloud, and Ah don’t fall!” “Okay. Wait, what?” “Ah… really don’t know.” Thinking about what she had done earlier, she felt something unlike Pinkie Sense. There were similarities, but this power somehow felt older, like a foundation upon which Pinkie Pie’s abilities were built. “Never mind that. What do you want to do first?” Rainbow Dash asked. “First things first. Ah’m gonna be responsible, and check on Pinkie,” Applejack stated seriously. But Rainbow Dash noticed a smile trying to break out of the stern visage. With that, she pushed the cloud across the market square. It didn’t take long to find the Apple family booth. Pinkie Pie, dressed as a scarecrow, greeted them animatedly. “Welcome to the Apple family booth! Buc-KAW! We’ve got tasty treats for you! Moon apples, apple tarts, and moon pies! SQUAWK! And you can bob for the tastiest apples in Equestria!” “Uh, Pinkie, yer not a chicken this year,” Applejack said. “I know that, you silly filly!” Pinkie Pie chirped. “Since I’m a scarecrow, I’m talking like a scarecrow!” “But that’s not what scarecrows sound like!” Applejack protested. “So, how do they sound?” Pinkie Pie countered. “Uh….” That stumped Applejack. “Oh, Pinkie, yer so random,” she finally said, admitting defeat. “So, did you pull any super duper awesome pranks yet?” Pinkie Pie asked. “Not yet. Ah wanted to make sure y’all were all set first,” Applejack said. “Everything’s great!” Pinkie Pie replied. “And look, there’s another sale!” Pinkie Pie dropped two bits into the chest and popped an apple tart into her mouth. Applejack smiled. There was a good chance Pinkie Pie would buy any food she failed to sell. It would be a good night. Then, she remembered something she wanted to do here. She turned, and whispered to Rainbow Dash. The rainbow-maned mare smiled. “Ohmygosh! Is that a giant cake in the shape of Princess Luna?” Rainbow Dash exclaimed, pointing off to the distance. “Where? Where?” Pinkie Pie turned around, rapidly turning her head and scanning the market square. Meanwhile, Applejack hopped down, slipped an elastic cord out from under her hat, and dipped into the apple-filled tub. Once Applejack finished, she jumped back onto Rainbow Dash’s cloud. Taking the cue, Rainbow Dash spoke again. “Sorry, Pinkie, I guess it was just my eyes playing tricks on me.” “Awww,” Pinkie Pie replied dejectedly. Her spirits lifted when she saw an earth pony colt approach the booth. He was dressed as a sportspony, carrying a mallet, smaller than the croquet mallets she was most familiar with. “Welcome to the Apple family booth! SQUAWK! We’ve got tasty treats for you! Moon apples, apple tarts, and moon pies! Buc-buc-BUCKAW! And you can bob for the tastiest apples in Equestria!” “I’d like to bob for an apple!” the colt said, passing Pinkie Pie one bit. Applejack nudged Rainbow Dash as the colt dunked his head in the water. Both mares poked their heads over the edge of the cloud. The colt sunk his teeth into a juicy Red Delicious apple and lifted his head. But something was fighting him! Applejack and Rainbow Dash laughed as the colt struggled with the apple, which had the elastic cord wrapped around it and attached to the bottom of the tub. Finally, the struggle was too much, and the elastic cord snapped back, pulling the colt into the tub. Applejack hopped down and helped the colt out of the tub. “Happy Nightmare Night!” she said to the sopping wet colt. “Guess you’re all set to play water polo now!” “Thanks for the rescue, Mysterious Mare-Do-Well! And let me thank you in the best way I know how.” The colt grinned and shook off the water, getting Applejack all wet. Applejack couldn’t help but laugh. She pulled an apple out of the tub and tossed it to him. “And you enjoy your Nightmare Night.” Pinkie Pie scowled at Applejack. “That’ll be one bit for the apple, Miss. Don’t make Aunt Pinkie scold you!” Applejack grumbled at having to pay for her own apple, but she was proud of Pinkie Pie for taking such good care of the booth. The evening’s fun started with Rainbow Dash and Applejack passing out candies to passing foals. These candies featured all the prank classics, including dirt-flavored jellybeans, hot pepper lollipops, “gassy taffy”, and of course peppermint sticks from the box with the spring trap. Several rubber caramel apples were given to unsuspecting parents. Once these supplies were exhausted, the two mares searched the crowds for ponies in need of a shocking surprise. A pegasus stallion, one of the ponies on the weather team, was Rainbow Dash’s first target. She coaxed lightning out of the storm cloud, singing his flank. As soon as he looked up, she delivered two more bolts to the ground by his forehooves, forcing him to jump. “Daring Do, history’s greatest adventurer, does not take kindly to somepony hiding her book and placing a cheesy romance novel in its dust jacket!” Rainbow Dash called. “Admit it, Dash, you enjoyed Fillydelphia Heat,” the stallion retorted. “Not cool, Cyclone! And just you remember what happens when you try to get me. I will not be outpranked!” Rainbow Dash claimed. “Just you wait, Dash, you never know when I might strike again,” he replied. As the stallion left, Applejack nudged her friend. “Is this normal for your job?” she asked. “What? Pranks? Oh, sure. I enjoy a good prank, and I run a weather department with a focus on fun. Collecting moisture from the weather factory, moving clouds, generating rain… all important, but none of these tasks are interesting. So it makes everyone happy if we play a game of dodgebolt before we set off a storm,” Rainbow Dash explained. “Dodgebolt? Ah don’t wanna know,” Applejack said, though she had her suspicions. “I guess things are different on your farm?” Rainbow Dash asked. “Yeah, not a lot of pranks, given it’s just family,” Applejack said. “It’s also important work, but Ah admit it’s hard to make it sound interestin’. Ah love it—apples are in my blood—but it’s not excitin’ like savin’ the Crystal Ponies or somethin’. Ah guess we use competition to liven things up.” “Really?” Rainbow Dash replied in interest. “Yeah. Back when Ah was a filly, Big McIntosh promised to buy me a toy Ah wanted if Ah could outbuck him. Ah never did, but that taught me hard work felt good. Maybe not in the middle of it, but at the end of the day, nothin’s better than knowin’ you worked real hard.” Applejack sighed wistfully. “Ah can still remember the first day I beat my brother. Ah was two days shy of fourteen. He had a cold, but a victory’s a victory.” “And speaking of competitions,” Rainbow Dash started. “You are goin’ down next week!” Applejack stated. “You’re welcome to try, workhorse,” Rainbow Dash retorted. She smiled. “Look! I think I see a pony who needs a shocking surprise!” Applejack followed Rainbow Dash’s gaze, and saw her brother, pulling his hay-filled cart, with some young fillies enjoying the ride. In his black suit, he played the wagon driver from Tartarus, the mythological figure known to drive ponies to their doom. He worked in silence; nopony knew if this wagon ride would be their last. But something was different this year. A mummy was keeping Big McIntosh company as he tended to his rounds; the two ponies were walking side by side. Applejack remembered a couple of mummies from past years, but never one with canary yellow wings sticking out of the wrappings. Applejack grabbed Rainbow Dash’s pith helmet and pulled it over her eyes. “Don’t you dare surprise those two,” she ordered. “Okay, okay,” Rainbow Dash said, returning her helmet to its rightful place. Checking out the scene again, the pegasus rubbed her eyes. “Is that…? No way!” “Ah’ve gotta get that story out of my brother after we’re done!” Several more ponies got shocked before the night was over. Applejack was glad Rainbow Dash was having fun, but she wanted another big prank to end the night. Suddenly, she was inspired. “Look, there’re a couple of ponies who need to get into the spirit of Nightmare Night!” Applejack said. She pointed, and Rainbow Dash spotted the pair of unicorns. They were dressed up, but not in costume. “Let’s give ‘em a little fright,” Rainbow Dash said, and got ready to discharge another bolt from the cloud. “No, wait, let’s do something special,” Applejack suggested. Rainbow Dash flew the cloud close enough so that they could eavesdrop. “Dirt roads. How quaint,” Jet Set scoffed. “I can’t believe we’re here, getting our hooves dirty,” Upper Crust replied. “I do enjoy slumming, but this is ridiculous!” “Princess Luna did speak highly of this celebration. I had hopes, but I’m disappointed. There’s just no atmosphere,” Jet Set complained. “So, they want atmosphere, eh?” Rainbow Dash said, smirking. Her wings unfurled, and she took off. Flying in a circular pattern, she began to form a small whirlwind. Then, with a kick and a solid blast from her wings, she directed the wind down the street, at speeds normally only seen in fierce thunderstorms. The sweater tied around Jet Set’s neck by its sleeves flew up, covering his face. It snagged on his horn as he tried to remove it. The wind blew away Upper Crust’s hat. She struggled to catch it and move it with her magic as the wind persisted. Meanwhile, the wind was knocking her perfect manestyle out of order. “Ah think we can add a little to this fun,” Applejack said, pointing to the cloud. Rainbow Dash pressed her hooves into the cloud. Rain started to fall from the cloud. Caught in the gale, it flew sideways, soaking the snobbish unicorns. “This weather has suddenly turned dreadful!” Upper Crust complained. Rainbow Dash smiled, and kicked the cloud. Lightning struck just behind the unicorns. “We must seek shelter immediately, dear!” Jet Set said. The unicorns retreated into the nearest building, a local business. Fortunately for them, the door was open. A minute later, the wind died down. Rainbow Dash gave several light taps to the cloud, shutting off the rain and preserving its form for them to sit on. “I hope they enjoyed a little piece of Ponyville’s atmosphere!” Rainbow Dash said. “But too bad for that shopkeeper!” “Ah think things are gonna work out all right for her,” Applejack said confidently. And with that, they departed the vicinity of Carousel Boutique. As the evening ended, ponies of all ages congregated in the market square. The new addition to Ponyville’s Nightmare Night celebration had been the talk of the town. Rather than leave candy at the statue of Nightmare Moon, Princess Luna had promised to return, using the guise of Nightmare Moon, to frighten the town once more. But nopony knew when she would show up. Suddenly, a dark cloud formed over the market square. Bats squealed as they flew around the cloud. The wind picked up, and light seemed to disappear into the darkness of the cloud. The crowd gasped and stared, mesmerized by this display of power. Pinkie Pie was one of two mares unimpressed. She stuffed her scarecrow costume with tarts, but looked to the other side of the market square. Applejack was the other unimpressed mare. “Eh. That’s not her,” she said. As the dark display continued, a shape rose from behind the crowd. Princess Luna quickly placed some fake teeth in her mouth, and then cloaked herself in darkness. She poked the back of the pony in front of her. The unsuspecting mare turned around. “BOO!” Princess Luna bellowed. The mare in front of her jumped back in fright. The sounds of screams and dropped bags of candy were then replaced by laughter and conversation. All the foals surrounded the night princess, holding forth offerings of candy. “Welcome, my subjects!” she declared. “Your actions and offerings tonight have pleased me. You shall be safe from Nightmare Moon for another year!” All around, ponies cheered. Applejack whooped and hollered. Rainbow Dash, however, was maneuvering her storm cloud. “I’ve been waiting all year for this,” she said, smiling. But before she could kick the cloud, she noticed a small cloud hovering under Princess Luna’s wing. The night princess smiled and turned slightly, looking at the cloud, then at Rainbow Dash. She lifted her wing, revealing the cloud in all its glory. Lightning crackled over its surface. It looked like a thousand storm clouds condensed into one. Princess Luna’s hind leg rose towards the cloud. “On second thought, this can wait another year,” Rainbow Dash concluded. Not wanting the night to end just yet, Applejack and Rainbow Dash joined Twilight Sparkle and Pinkie Pie in the library. Still in costume, it was the perfect way for Nightmare Night to continue. “I still have two tarts and three moon apples left!” She obviously wasn’t counting the eleven tarts and five apples sticking out of her costume. Pinkie Pie offered a basket with the leftovers to Applejack, along with the chest holding the night’s revenue. “Ah thank you again for helpin’ us out, Pinkie,” Applejack said. “But this night just doesn’t feel right until Ah do it myself.” She opened the basket and held out the two kinds of goodies. “Ah’ve got delicious apple tarts and Mare in the Moon caramel apples! Two bits each! Who’ll buy the first treat?” “Me! Me!” replied Pinkie Pie. “I’ve had taste for apples all night,” Rainbow Dash said. She blushed as Pinkie Pie snickered at the double entendre. “Apple treats!” the pegasus corrected herself. “I’ll take a tart and a caramel apple.” “That’ll be four bits,” Applejack said. Rainbow Dash hoofed over the coins, and claimed her prize. “None for me, thanks,” Twilight Sparkle said. “Wow, Pinkie Pie passing on Nightmare Night festivities? I never expected that!” “Oh, I did it to help a friend, and that’s always fun!” Pinkie Pie replied excitedly. “Did you have fun, Applejack?” “Ah did. It was nice to spend one night just embracin’ this little surprise of yours that’s in me,” Applejack replied. “Oooh, a surprise of mine? Where? Where?” Pinkie Pie said, looking all around the library. As Pinkie Pie started checking under furniture, Twilight Sparkle continued the conversation. “I had a lot of fun tonight, even if Princess Luna was again the only pony to recognize my costume.” “Ah didn’t even see you talkin’ to her,” Applejack said. “Oh, I was,” Twilight Sparkle replied. “She was in a variety of disguises all night, enjoying the party just like a regular pony, before she made her grand entrance.” “You gotta tell me next year!” Rainbow Dash said. “I missed my opportunity to prank her, again!” “Maybe you’ll have to keep your eyes open,” Twilight Sparkle said. “And how about you, Rainbow Dash? How was Nightmare Night?” “Well, I didn’t get Princess Luna back for shocking me last year,” she replied. “But other than that? Best Nightmare Night ever!”