//------------------------------// // Chapter 1 // Story: To Tread Amongst the Living // by RobertPooner //------------------------------// "Wow girls, there sure are a lot more ponies round these parts this year." states Applejack as she looks around the town center. "W-who knew Ponyville would be this crowded at this time of night, and this *meep* dark..." answers Fluttershy, her voice as usual, barely above a whisper. "Well of course it is!" yells Pinkie Pie barely containing her joy as she hops around her five friends, "Tomorrow is Nightmare Night, the biggest and most scare-tastic prank-tacular night of the year!" "And why wouldn't it be darling, ever since Princess Luna attended last year’s festivities everypony who's anypony is going to be here," chimes in Rarity; clearly barely keeping up her usual air of lady-like demeanor. "I mean, the elegant costumes, the fabulous decorations; it will be to die for!" barely holding back a *squee of excitement. "Yeah yeah, all I care about is that the Wonderbolts are going to be here!" interrupts Rainbow dash as she soars up in front of her friends. "Once I find them they'll have no choice but to see how awesome I am. Once I show them my moves they'll be begging to spend time with me." "Slow down there sugar cube,"Applejack cutting her fan girl moment short, "I hate to be the one to burst your bubble, but how in the hay will ya even know who they are if everypony is wearin costumes?" Her premature victory ending as quickly as it began, Rainbow Dash lands and continues to walk beside her friends dejectedly. "Oh yeah, heh heh, forgot about that..." "Don't worry Dashie, it's Nightmare Night! Free candy, performances, free candy, and pranks! You love pranks! And did I mention FREE CANDY!!” " Yeah I guess, at least we'll all be together tomorrow night right?" Asks Rainbow Dash hopefully. "You know it sugar cube." states Applejack without missing a beat. "I'm going to have to cut our chat short girls, Princess Luna asked me to meet with the mayor to begin organizing all of the events this year," states Twilight; a clipboard magically suspended in front of her face. "After all, there are a lot more acts this year than last." "So I see darling, look at all the shops and stalls set up already."says Rarity. Scanning the town center, stands of all sorts where either being erected or already were in their respective places being prepared for the next night. Nearby, a few ponies are assembling what appears to be an apple-bobbing game, as well as a dunking booth. Beside those, a large area is cordoned off for what appears to be a game involving a catapult with a tub of plastic spiders next to it. Many areas for the amusements though are still vacant awaiting their proprietors to set up their stations. At the center of town, next to the town hall, a large stage had been erected. Long, flowing black curtains were hung on either side decorated with blue and grey fringes. From top to bottom, they were adorned with all manner of Nightmare Night decorations ranging from plastic pony skulls to spiders and even a bat or two. Twilight sounds off to herself as she looks over her clipboard, “Decorations: Check, Marketplace: Check, Games: Not check. Those ponies better move their flanks. And the last on my list is the main entertainment.” Beside the stage, mayor Mare, whom was soon joined by Twilight, sat behind a desk. A small line of ponies stood on the other side, seemingly waiting to sign up to perform. As usual, Ponyville’s two musical mares Vinyl Scratch and Octavia were there, as well as everyone's favorite fillies from the school house, the Cutie Mark Crusaders, accompanied by the Everfree Forests own mare of mystery Zecora. Other ponies in attendance seemed to be of the Canterlot variety judging by their attire. “No doubt trying to be noticed by the princesses,” chuckled Twilight to herself. The last pony in line none of the girls could place. Judging by the size, standing a few inches taller than anypony else in line, they assumed it was a stallion, but the black cloak and hooded cowl shrouded most of his other features, his long black cloak extending along his back stopping just above his flank and tail. As Twilight and mayor mare finished registering Vinyl Scratch and Octavia, the ever excited Cutie Mark Crusaders bounded up with Zecora close behind. "Hey Twilight! Hey mayor Mare!" the three shouted, as enthusiastic as always. "Why hello Applebloom, Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo. And hello to you too Zecora." "Good evening good Mayor and fair Twilight, these fillies and I wish to perform together on Nightmare Night. A creepy spectacle of fright and fear, which will surely surpass my own from last year." "That is quite a bold statement miss Zecora, after all, your performance last year rivaled even the appearance of Nightmare Moon herself." Said mayor Mare as she wrote their names of the roster. "You flatter me with your words so kind you do, but to me they feel to be untrue. Your praise of me I mean not to impugn, but the star that night was Princess Luna as Nightmare Moon." "Well in any case we all look forward to see what you and your assistants will perform for us." "Goodbye Twilight and mayor Mare, we'll see you tomorrow," the three fillies said in unison as they left. After several more minutes attending to the rest of the ponies in line the mayor sat back and stretched, obviously pleased that her job that night was coming to a close. "Well Twilight, it appears that we only have one pony left," the relief evident in the mayors voice. That is until the cloaked stallion approached the two mares. Peering up at him, they noticed that his features were almost completely hidden within his dark cloak, with the exception of his piercing green eyes, The edges of which almost appearing to flow outward with a faint green, cloudy smoke. The stallion’s eyes staring not at, but through both of the mares at the table. Their gazes locked to them for what felt like a lifetime, but luckily for them, was truly only a few awkward seconds.Twilight quickly snapping herself out of her trance managed to break the silence between them. "Umm....h-hello sir, are you here to put your name on the roster to perform tomorrow..." "Yes, that is what this stand is for is it not?" Questioned the strange stallion. The mayor finally breaking her uncomfortably long stare with the stranger spoke up, " Indeed it is, what is your name sir?" "My name is Albus Noctis, but you may call me Nox" said the hooded pony as he gave a smile to Twilight and the mayor. His bone white, almost sharp looking teeth, casting an uneasy smirk at the two. "A-alright Mr. Nox, you'll be our final act for the night so be ready and at the stage just before midnight," said a still shaken Twilight. "Then until tomorrow, have a pleasant evening ladies," and with a slight nod of his head he turned to leave, his black cloak trailing behind him. Twilight quickly craned her neck to see if she could spot this strangers cutie mark. What she saw begat more questions than answers. It appeared to be two purple circles, one laying inside the other, with an odd eight pointed star which extended out from the middle of the inner most circle just past the outer most. This all in a glaring contrast to his snow-white coat at his flank. Twilight thinking to herself, "I know I've seen that symbol somewhere before, but where?" She made a mental note to look into this later. With the last perspective performer added to the list, Twilight quickly trotted to back to her friends who were currently engaged in dealing with the three excited fillies of the Cutie Mark Cusaders. "I can't wait ta show you our act sis." said Applebloom, bouncing beside her big sister Applejack. Right on her heals, Sweetie Belle says with an air of excitement, her voice squeaking with delight, "Wait until you see the costumes I made for the show Rarity, you’re going to be so proud of me." *squee Rarity, recalling her little sisters last foray into the costuming arts gave an uneasy assurance, "I..I'm sure they will be fabulous Sweetie Belle." Seeing Twilight's return, the girls quickly walk up to their purple friend. "Hey Twilight," says Rainbow Dash flying up beside her friend," who was that weirdo in the back of the line?" Twilight responds, while uneasily scuffing her hoof uneasily in the dirt in front of her, “His name is Albus Noctis, and I don't know Dash. I've never seen him before." Pinkie, seemingly appearing out of nothing right behind Twilight, "Oh-my-gosh-is-he-a-new-pony?! He-must-be-because-I've-never-seen-him-before-and-I-know-every-pony-in-Ponyville-and-if-he's-new-to-Ponyville-that-means-I-get-to-throw-him-a-par...mmmhfff." Applejack quickly silencing her Pink friend by placing a hoof in her mouth. A small voice barely above a whisper comes from the edge of the group of friends, " I...I don't know Pinkie." Says Fluttershy, her voice seemingly more uneasy than usual. "He seemed really *meep scary...." "There is something strange about that feller, I mean, who has their costume on a whole dern day before Nightmare Night." adds Applejack. "Now girls, remember what we learned about judging a pony before getting to know them.” states Twilight with an air of motherly authority, "but I agree that there is something a bit....off about him." "Now is not the time to be, how does one say it, willy nilly about this.” Rarity doing her best to bring this conversation to a close. “We all need to get back and prepare our costumes for tomorrow. After all, both of the Princess's will be in attendance this year and I will not stand for my ensemble to be anything but perfection." Saying their goodbyes, the six ponies each departed toward their respective homes. For the entirety of her sojourn home, Twilight could not shake the feeling that she has seen that strange stallions cutie mark somewhere before. As she crosses the threshold into her library home, she calls for her ever present dragon assistant. "Spike," yells Twilight, "I need you to pull out a few books for me." Scampering out as fast as his little purple legs could carry him, he responds with a mock salute to his surrogate mother. "Yes ma'am." *Three long hours later* Twilight, still confounded by the stallions strange cutie mark, is quite literally immersed in her large stacks of research materials surrounded on all sides by books piled twice as high as she is. Thinking to herself, "Where did I see that mark before? I know it has to be somewhere." Pulling the last book from a once large pile of tomes on her desk, she finally sees the symbol she's been searching for; fully emblazoned upon its cover none the less. Her heart rises in her throat as she reads the cover out loud. "The Art of Necromancy : Walking With the Dead."