-Preparations Fit For a Princess
This particular fall day was like no other. The skies were a perfect shade of gray, the clouds were hovering nicely near the ground, and the leafless trees seemed to creep about in the wind. It was the perfect day to hold a certain festive holiday. It was the end of October, and Twilight Sparkle was rounding up last minute preparations in town square with all her friends. Nightmare Night was soon to fall upon them, and they had to make sure that everything would be completely, and utterly perfect.
"Um, no. Hang those over there, oh and put that one there!" Twilight was moving her hoof about pointing out certain places to decorate. Various unicorns were levitating pumpkins, and fake spiderwebs setting them in their directed places.
Twilight Sparkle smiled as she saw that her decor was almost perfect. However, something was missing.
"Ah! Where is Applejack with that water bucket of apples?" Twilight looked around for an answer. She was quickly greeted by her orange friend. Her blonde mane moved slightly to the side of her freckle-filled face as she tipped her hat to Twilight.
"Well howdy there! I hear ya' needed mu' apples, and yer' just in luck! I was just about to get that there bucket over here, and Ah'm gunna' fill it with water right away." Applejack motioned towards a wooden bath-like bucket. Twilight turned to see this, and then approvingly nodded her head to the earth pony.
"Sounds good!" Twilight lifted her clipboard with a glow of magic, and checked off something on her prep list.
She looked down to examine her clipboard. Everything seemed to be in order. She had the games, the treats, the decorations, the stage, the performers. Everything seemed to be set, and Twilight looked up in satisfaction. This was going to be her very first Nightmare Night. When she lived in Canterlot she never had the time to actually go outside in a costume, and beg at ponies doorsteps for candy. Even when she was just a filly she preferred to stay inside on Nightmare Night. Nothing about such a silly festival seemed the slightest amusing to her, but now as she saw all the wonderful decorations, and the costumes, she had a feeling in her gut that tonight would be in fact surprisingly fun.
Twilight Sparkle was content that her very first Nightmare Night be officially fun, and perfect. For this very reason is why she is running over preparations, and as always being such a perfectionist about it as well.
Twilight took one last look around town square before heading home to change into her StarSwirl the Bearded costume. She saw that Applejack was doing what she told she would do. She had already placed the water bucket in the center of town square, and was now filling it up with bright red apples from her farm. Twilight was still particularly interested in that game. Apple bobbing is what ponies here called it. Twilight looked at the apples puzzled. What was the point in grabbing apples with your mouth? Was that really fun? Twilight wasn't sure, but she was going to make sure that she tried it out later that night to find out for herself.
Other ponies were fluffing out the spiderwebs, and setting out toy spiders next to them. Another game Twilight assumed. Other than the mysterious games that surrounded her, Twilight saw that the preparations had been almost completely set. She was contently sure that the other small tweaks could be managed by the rest of the ponies.
Twilight joyfully smiled, and then headed towards her Library home. She was excited to try on her new StarSwirl costume. She just absolutely knew it was going to fit her just right!
Spike was scratching his back. He had just managed to slip into his dragon costume. His eyes glowed as he posed in front of the mirror. Twilight fixed her beard straight, and with her magic, placed her hat upon her head. She stood behind the admiring Spike, and took a while to take her costume in. It looked magnificent, and she wasn't afraid to say so. The costume looked almost like an exact replica of the real StarSwirl the Bearded. The fabric was the perfect color, and the designs were exactly in tact. Twilight was so happy to see her first ever costume was a success. She could check that off her "Best Nightmare Night Ever" list.
"What do you think Spike? Do I look like him, or what?" Twilight cheekily smiled at her baby dragon. He looked up into Twilight's purple round eyes, and he smirked.
"You look like an old stallion, who really needs to shave." Spike snickered at his clever comment. He covered his mouth slightly to muffle his laughs.
Twilight arched her eyebrow, but she was not the slightest amused with Spikes foolishness.
"Scoff all you want, but I know that my costume is perfect, and I know this is going to be the best Nightmare Night ever!" Twilight turned away from Spike, and turned her head up with pride for her costume.
Spike rolled his green eyes, and turned back to himself in the mirror.
"Do you think Rarity will be impressed?" Spike flexed his little arms, and grinned at himself.
Twilight giggled slightly, and turned her eyes to the little dragon within a dragon costume.
"I'm sure she will find you very striking."
The night was setting in, and Twilight, and Spike were now in town square with everypony else. There were little fillies, and colts running around in costumes of all sorts. Buckets filled with candy were hanging in their mouths, as they ran around greedily searching for more. So far this night had started off on the right hoof, and Twilight was eager to experience more of Nightmare Night.
A bolt of lightening flashed, and thunder crackled, leaving Twilight, and the other ponies jumping in fright. Above was a certain cyan pegasus atop a black cloud laughing her rainbow mane off.
"Rainbow Dash, you nearly gave me a heart attack." Twilight scornfully looked up to her rainbow friend. She slowly tapped her hoof on the ground awaiting an apology.
"Whoops! Guess I better be careful before I scare an old mare." Rainbow Dash snickered, and quickly jolted away on her cloud in search of other ponies to frighten.
"I'm not old!" Twilight called after her, but she was certain that she was not heard.
Twilight shook Rainbow Dash from her mind, and concentrated on the other wonders that were going on around her. Twilight's eyes were caught by Applejack. She was manning the apple bobbing station. Perfect! Twilight would be able to try out this unusual game.
Her hooves started to trot over to the farm pony. A smile plastered upon her muzzle as she arrived at the bucket. A few fillies were trying to clamp onto an apple, and they finally did. Applejack congratulated them as they hopped away excitedly.
"Howdy again, Twilight! What can I do fer ya'?" Applejack's toothy smile glared at Twilight. She couldn't help but smile back at her friend.
"This is my first Nightmare Night, and I was wondering--"
Yer first Nightmare Night? Gee, Twilight I never knew!" Applejack interupted.
Twilight cleared her throat, and continued.
"Yes, yes. As I was saying, I would like to play this game. How do you play?" Twilight lifted her hoof, and hovered it over the apple barrel. Applejack's eye widened, and they quickly set upon Twilight's.
"Well, golly. All ya' gotta' do is try, and get an apple in yer mouth. Pretty easy, actually." Applejack tried to hide a teasing grin. Twilight knew that it must be silly that she had never played these games before, but she didn't care. She had to get her first tries over with, so next year she could say that she knew what they were, and how to play them.
"Sounds easy enough!" Twilight craned her head above the barrel. She could see her reflection nicely in the calm water. She took a moment to admire her hat, and then started to lower herself carefully into the bucket.
'I must perfectly aim for this certain apple, and I shall surely be able to grab it!' Twilight thought to herself.
She dipped her head into the water, and lifted it quickly. No apple. She lunged her head back into the bucket. She bit around, and then retreated. Still no apple. Twilight beginning to become frustrated thrust her head for an apple. She was absolutely sure that she had finally latched onto an apple. It was placed between her teeth, and she got ready to pull her head out of the bucket, and claim her victory!
Thunder boomed once again. Twilight jumped up, and her apple dropped from her mouth. Her mane was soaked, and her bangs hid her angered eyebrows. She was so close to getting that apple! So close!
"Rainbow Dash!!!" Twilight yelled out. She knew this had to be the hoof work of the mischievous, shadowbolt dressed, pegasus.
Twilight moved her bangs up with her hoof so she could look around for the cyan pegasus. She wasn't there. She looked all around in the sky, but there was no sign of her anywhere.
"Um, Twilight, you might wanna' see this." Applejack called over to her now closer to the center of town square. Twilight shook her head dry, and straightened out her costume before trotting over to Applejack.
"What is--" Twilight stopped herself. She stood among everypony. They were all cowering in fear. Applejack, and herself; however, were standing face to face with a black carriage, pulled by two dark royal guards. Behind them, seated in the chariot was none other than the princess of the moon, Princess Luna.
"My fellow subjects! Please do not be alarmed! Tis only I, your beloved princess! We would like to accompany you in this night of nightmares!" A loud booming voice echoed through everyponies ears. They shivered in terror, and they covered their eyes from the princess. Twilight could now see that Applejack herself was bowing awfully low to the ground.
"We would like to experience fun as well!" Luna's over exaggerated voice made all the Ponyville ponies more frightened.
Twilight looked over to her princess, and walked over to her. Applejack glanced up, and in a harsh whisper called for Twilight to come back, but Twilight ignored her, and continued to walk to the princess.
"Welcome Princess Luna. We were not expecting a visit from you tonight, but we are honored that you decided to come, and join us on our Nightmare Night." Twilight bowed her head slightly, and looked up into Luna's deep blue eyes. Her mane was flowing, quite like Princess Celestia's always did, and she looked effortlessly beautiful.
"Shall you show us to this fun?" Luna boomed into Twilight's ear, but she seemed to not notice her ears ringing.
"Of course, princess." Twilight led the night princess to a few of the party games set out, leaving the cowering ponies puzzled, and fearful. They muttered under their breath questions about whether or not Princess Luna was frightening. They were still unsure of what to feel about her unexpected visit, but nonetheless they went back to playing games, and searching for candy.
'What is she doing here?' Twilight asked herself silently. She looked over to Princess Luna who was now poking at a stuffed spider with her hoof. A nearby mare fearfully gave Luna directions on how to play.
The blue princess picked up the spider, and she carefully tossed it onto a fake web. It landed on the center. Twilight looked over to her in admiration. Her eyes twinkled as she noticed Luna's excitement.
"Your princess enjoys this, fun! In what other ways may we experience it?"
Twilight smiled as she led the beautiful princess of the night to another game.