//------------------------------//
// Prologue 
// Story: Nightmare Night: The Rest of the Time 
// by sgamer82 
//------------------------------//

	“More tea, Discord?”

“Why, don’t mind if I do, Fluttershy.”

It was an odd pairing to be sure.  A demure yellow pegasus and the outgoing mishmash of creatures that was a draconequus.  Yet Fluttershy’s kindness had created a friendship where none had ever existed before and, in their own ways, both were better for it.

“These little visits of ours have been quite the treat, I must admit,”  Discord said. “If nothing else, I’m genuinely grateful that you let me indulge in my chaos unhindered while I’m here.  Celestia and Luna can be such bores about that.  Hardly any fun at all.”

“Of course.  Just please remember-”

“Everything back exactly how it was when I leave.  Of course, my dear, of course.”

Given that the walls and floor were decorated in a rainbow-themed checkerboard pattern, with cushy armchairs for the occupants rather than Fluttershy’s rustic cottage, this might seem quite a feat.  Discord, however, could undo his magics as easily as he could cast them.  Fluttershy, for her part, understood that it rankled on him to do so, which was part of why whenever he visited (which could happen almost anytime, Discord was not one for schedules) she made sure to clear all the animals out of the house and let him go wild.  The only compromise was putting everything right back, even if he didn’t enjoy doing so.  Despite Discord’s acceptance of that condition, that there was always at least one knickknack or two out of place.  Fluttershy had accepted it simply wasn’t in Dicscord’s nature to put things back exactly as they had been.

The two drank in silence for a few moments before Discord spoke up again.

“By the way, I’ve been hearing that this coming night is quite a special one?  Being trapped in stone I haven’t kept up on all the holidays and news as well as I should have.  Not easy to get around and hear the gossip y‘see.  So what’s the, what is the phrase, hullabaloo?”

“Oh… Oh!” Fluttershy gasped as she looked at the calendar. “Oh dear.. it’s… it’s Nightmare Night.”

“Nightmare Night?”

“It’s… it’s a terrible night.”

“Ohh, tell me more!” Discord said excitedly, not noticing how Fluttershy had begun to tremble.

“W-well… it’s supposed to be a night about Princess Luna… I mean Nightmare Moon… I mean Princess… you get the idea.  Everypony dresses up in scary costumes and goes door to door.  They’re supposed to just ask for treats, but some ponies like to play tricks too.”

“Really?” Discord replied. “Tricks you say?”

Fluttershy let out a sudden squeak.  Discord finally noticed how she was not enjoying this thread of conversation.

“I take it you don’t enjoy this particular holiday?”

Fluttershy shook her head.

“Yes, I can see how it’d be quite frightening for a sweet pony like you,” Discord said in a singsong voice.  He then sat straight in his chair.  With a snap of his claws Fluttershy’s cottage returned completely to normal.

“I’ll tell you what.  Since we’re such good friends, I’ll put a protective barrier around your house that will last from when the moon rises until it sets!”

“You would do that for me?” Fluttershy asked.

“Of course!  That way you can spend a quiet night at home with nopony to pester you or scare you.”

“That sounds wonderful.  What will you do?  Did you want to stay here?”

“Oh I must decline.  This night sounds like my kind of fun!” Discord proclaimed.

“Discord…” Fluttershy’s voice took on a sudden edge.

“Oh worry not, my dear.  I have no intention of causing major havoc.  Just a small spell or two, a couple of pranks.  Everything back exactly how it was when I leave.  Pinkie Promise!”

To make this point an actual cupcake appeared in the air and flew into Discord’s eye.  Discord’s tongue came out of his mouth, wrapped itself around the cupcake and ate it whole.  Fluttershy seemed to be placated by this promise.  She definitely liked the idea of spending Nightmare Night undisturbed.

So we both win, Discord thought. Fluttershy gets her quiet night at home, while I get to have some fun of my own.  And I know just the way to do it, too.