The dark couldn't come quickly enough for Pinkie Pie. She grew anxious, her new powers just itching to be used.
When Luna's moon finally rose into the sky and the sun was far below the horizon Pinkie emerged, ready to prank.
And it would be good.
Fluttershy was first on her list. Pinkie would never normally pull a prank on Flutters but she was in need of some cheering up.
The first thing Pinkie noticed when she floated through the wooden door was Discord. He was sitting next to Fluttershy, his arm round the heavily sobbing pony.
"Why Discord? Why!?" gasped Fluttershy between sobs. Her eyes were red from crying and a minefield of discarded tissues lay around the sofa.
"There, there dear" cooed Discord, he lifted his head and looked directly at Pinkie Pie.
"I'm sure she's just fine." he said with a knowing smile.
"Fine?! She's dead! How can she be fine?!" cried Fluttershy
"Why don't you think about that? I'm just going to pop outside for some fresh air." said Discord, gesturing with his head at Pinkie.
She backed up through the door and waited.
Soon after Discord appeared in a flash and looked disapprovingly at Pinkie.
"I thought better of you Pinkie" said Discord mockingly "Pulling a prank on poor old Fluttershy! The nerve!"
"Wha..?! I wasn't!" said Pinkie
"Oh come off it!" said Discord "I've heard of your little jokes last night. Nice one with the balloon by the way."
"What have the others said?" Pinkie asked
"Well Twilight is in denial. Will not believe a word the others say!" he scoffed "She'll be quite the challenge to scare. Maybe something with her precious book would do the trick."
Pinkie smiled as she reworked her scare for Twilight.
"If you leave poor Fluttershy alone I'll keep your little 'visits' quiet for now. Deal?"
Pinkie nodded and with a wave at Discord she floated off into the dark.
Discord sighed and fake tears fell from his eyes.
"They grow up so fast"
Twilight lay awake, her book flickering in the candlelight. Books always distracted her. She couldn't feel grief when her mind was lost in study.
Twilight didn't believe the other three. They were out of their minds with sorrow. She was the same, she just coped better.
Bump!
Twilight didn't notice, her eyes glued to the words of her book.
Bump!
Slightly louder this time. Twilight chose to ignore it. Probably just Owlicious leaving for his nightly flight.
Bump!
She looked up. Spike was still fast asleep. Just a shutter in the wind.
BANG!
Twilight jumped. That was no shutter.
She slipped off her bed and crept towards the stairs, looking down. She could see a light, its warm glow shivering on the walls.
Slowly she made her way down, each step creaking as she descended.
The light came from a single lantern that sat on the floor, its weak flame flickering. How it got there she didn't know.
She looked around, trying to locate the source of the noises. It didn't take long. Four books lay on the floor around the room, their pages open.
She made her way over to the nearest one, placing it back on the shelf. When all four books were returned she spun around.
To find five more books scattered across the floor.
She frowned but once again returned all the books.
She heard a whoosh! behind her. She turned around to find a single book off its shelf.
Hovering in mid-air.
She looked at it worriedly. There was no magical aura around it, what ever this was she had never met this type of magic before.
Another whoosh! and two more books flew out. Five more after that. Soon books were flying off every shelf, congregating in the centre of the room.
It wasn't long before the shelves were bare. Twilight watched in terror as every book in the library shifted and moved in the ball before her.
The orb began to take shape, book covers and pages formed teeth and tentacles. The monster towered over Twilight, brushing the ceiling with paper.
With a roar the creature dived for Twilight who screamed in response. It's teeth were inches from her face when it lost it's shape, dissolving into a mass of paper that poured over Twilight.
She sat, too stunned to speak. Slowly she got up and with trembling legs, began to make her way upstairs, hoping it was just a bad dream.
But Pinkie wasn't finished.
The books shifted again, a long tentacle reaching out and grabbing Twilight round the barrel and pulling once again to a gaping maw of books.
It let go and she fell.
Falling.
Falling.
Bed.
She bounced slight onto the covers of her bed. Her breathing was ragged and sweat poured from her forehead.
Shakily she got off the bed and made her way to the stairs, peering down into the library.
All was normal. No lights. No book monsters. Nothing.
She sighed. Just a dream.
A single book fell off it's shelf.
Pinkie's giggles mixed with Twilight's screams.
Fun fun fun! Pinkie had never laughed so much!
But now she was all out of friends to prank. She need a new target.
She scanned the streets below as she glided overhead lazily in the moonlight.
Below she saw Doughnut Joe, leaving his store for another night.
She grinned wickedly and began to descend.
Doughnut Joe was no stranger to walking home after dark. Be it from work or the tavern he never felt frightened.
As usual he took a shortcut through a small alleyway. No streetlamps shone here and the alley was enveloped in darkness.
But being the strong stallion he was he didn't care and strode care free into the gloom.
He whistled as he strolled down the alley. A cold breeze blew, ruffling his mane.
He stopped suddenly. A faint shadow had just darted across the end of the alley.
In no mood to be mugged by some ruffian he turned around started back, his pace quickening.
Another shadow ran in front of him. He was trapped! Caught between them.
He looked both ways, waiting for them to approach their prize.
But they didn't. Confused at his pursuers behavior he pelted towards the exit onto the street.
He put on a burst of speed and broke for his home.
Hoofbeats came from behind accompanied by a laugh that he thought he recognised...
His front door came into view. He raced forward, slamming the door shut behind him.
He lent against the door frame, his breathing slowing.
His blood froze in his veins. There was somepony next to him.
He looked to his right and came face to face with the pink pony standing on the ceiling.
"Gotcha!" she said, bopping him on the muzzle.
Several houses nearby woke to the sound of screaming.
Ha ha! She was just too good at this!
When he saw her shadow! And dangling from the roof?! Brilliant!
Tears of laughter fell down Pinkie's face as she once again floated under the stars.
Looking down she saw a grey mare walking through the streets, making her way home.
It was time to get back to work.
Derpy Hooves wasn't as simple as her eyes lead someponies to believe. Beneath her wall-eyed exterior was a hard-working mother, muffins just happened to be a favourite past time of hers.
She was making her way back from the late shift at work when she saw it. It's glorious golden colour shining in the dark.
The majestic muffin was just sat there. Abandoned.
What sort of mare would she be to leave it here? Alone and defenceless?
She approached it carefully, trying not to spook it.
It twitched, sensing her presence. She held out a hoof, beckoning it forwards.
It backed up, crumbs falling from its top. With a jump it scurried away.
Derpy gave chase, following down a side road. It darted round a corner, it's warm aroma tickling her nose.
Nearly..got...it...
SMACK!
Both the muffin and it's unfortunate follower hit the stone wall, bouncing off.
Derpy looked around dazed until she spotted the slightly dented muffin in front of her.
Lifting her prize aloft she began to trot home, her face purple and bruised but smiling all the same.
Pinkie cracked up. She had felt bad at getting the grey mare hurt but she hadn't seemed to care.
Just too good!
She could do this forever.
She stopped. She could do this forever. You can't die once your dead.
A smile spread across her face at the thought of the pranks she could do.
Pinkie had an eternity of jokes to make.
She had better get started.