“My students have been all aflutter about their costumes. It’s almost all they talk about right now, the little dears.”
“That’s... nice, mama.”
“And, well, can you blame them? Nightmare night is a good excuse for them to meet their neighbors and eat more candy than their little stomachs can handle. I know it drives the parents off the wall, but it’s all in good spirit, don’t you think?”
“I actually... well, I really, really don’t like Nightmare Night all that much, mother.”
“Whyever not, sweetie?”
“Well, the children are loud and noisy and grabby, and they always startle me with their little chants, and they won’t leave me alone, and Rainbow Dash always takes it as an excuse to do all her best pranks, and nopony is who they actually are, and it’s all a bit... overwhelming.”
“Well, that’s the whole point of Nightmare night, Little Wing. You get to pretend to be somepony you’re not. It’s the one night of the year when you can try to be different, when you can take silly risks and go wild, and nopony will judge you for it. Because they’re all going just as crazy, being just as free.”
“......Um, I guess I can see that.”
“Think about it, Little Wing. It’s the one night when you don’t have to be sweet, timid little Fluttershy. You could be a warrior princess, or a manticore slayer, or even Sapphire Shores. It could be fun, being a sexy, confident mare for a little while. And the next morning, you’d go about your business as normal and nopony would mention it again. See what I mean?”
“Yes. That could be … fun, I think. A lot of fun, really.”
“So, Little Wing, what are you going to be?”
“I didn’t think much about it, mama. I was kinda planning on sitting alone in my house and hoping nopony came by to visit...”
“If that’s how you want to spend it, I won’t stop you, sweetheart. Whatever makes you happy.”
“Well, actually... umm...”
“Yes, Fluttershy?”
“Could you maybe help me put something together tonight? After supper?”