//------------------------------// // II: Nightmare Night Fun // Story: The Misadventures of the Renegades // by reading is magic //------------------------------// ‘The Renegades, travelling on the lifeless road, met a travelling merchant who attempted to take their lands. The assassin was sent by their former homelands, hoping to put an end to their adventure. ‘Fear not! The renegades had bravely faced the assassin and had convinced him to join their side.’ ‘As a sign of the assassin’s support, she had agreed to take them to the nearest village.’ “That sounds about right,” said Frost Bite, floating a quill with the magic of his horn. During their trip, the so-called Renegades remained silent and just sat while the yellow merchant whistled different tunes, most of them sounding familiar to them. Frost Bite swore in his mind that he heard the pony whistle a tune similar to the Queen’s song that she sang during the invasion. Maybe she was there when it happened? Out of nowhere, the mare introduced herself. “I’m Mango Jill, just in case you two were wondering.” The pony named Mango Jill didn’t even looked back, only to the direction they were headed as she held the helm. When Mango introduced herself, Frost Bite was playing with mangoes that had poorly drawn faces on them, treating them like action figures. Frost Bite had Sing Song join the game, though it only annoyed the breezie. After a minute of Mango’s introduction, she started singing. Whatever she was singing, the two didn’t had any idea. Mango noticed this and gave them a sheet of paper that contained the lyrics to the song she was singing. From what they read, the song was about being a mango pony to the core, and sticking together as a family as they venture around Equestria. Somehow, the song didn’t feel that original… So yes, they sang the mango family travelling song for hours until the sun was gone and the moon shone bright in the sky, much to Frost Bite’s dismay. Frost Bite felt like his (fake) cutie mark changed into a mango from all the singing. While Sing Song didn’t mind at first as she liked singing, she got bored and tired from the song itself. The song became a part of their very souls. Before Mango Jill could say ‘One more time!’, Frost Bite managed to ask for a break. Sing Song was so relieved to hear him say the words. “Well, alright,” Mango Jill said and returned to whistling a melody. Tired and exhausted, Sing Song rested in Frost Bite’s mane. Carefully, Frost Bite laid down on the floor and wrote in the journal more exaggeration, boosting the idea of an epic rather than a journal. After writing a bit, Frost Bite observed Mango Jill. Nope, still can’t differentiate genders. He only knew she was a she because of her voice, which meant he still sounded like a stallion even if he looked like a mare. At that realization, Frost Bite felt stupid. Maybe I should’ve done more duties outside the Hive, maybe even talk to some ponies, learn about them, then maybe even ask for a bit of food… Why did I only think of this now? All the days of being hungry… Mango Jill started to sing another song, this time something about her going to the gala. Her lyrics started with being happy to be invited to the gala and soon trailed off to making every pony there to buy mangoes. Frost Bite knew that’s not what you do to a gala. “Uh, Mango?” he called out. “Uh huh?” “How long have you been going to Ponyville?” “Never. Just today.” Frost Bite tilted his head to her answer, making Sing Song shift her position on his mane. “So, I’m guessing these are called mangoes?” Frost Bite asked as he picked one up that he drawn onto. The mango had a toothy grin and wall eyes. “Uh huh. My sister and I own a farm.” “Do you live far from here?” “Uh huh. Been travelling for three days now.” “Wow. Sounds really far.” “Uh huh. We live around south eastern parts of Equestria.” “Uh huh.” “Uh huh.” “Uh huh.” “Uh huh.” As Frost Bite was about to say another ‘Uh huh’, he bit his tongue lightly. He just realized how her tone and how she answered could be infectious. “So what about you, Frosty? Where are you from?” “Oh, I came from the Badlands,” Frost Bite answered. “Uh huh...” Mango Jill said. “I thought no pony lives there. Well, almost no pony.” “R-really?” What did she mean almost? “Uh huh. Been there myself. Worst sale of my life. I only managed to sell to some weird ponies with bug eyes. I think they might be sick; they even got holes in their legs and all.” Frost Bite’s eyes widened at what Mango Jill just said. Because of that, Frost Bite can’t help but imagine Mango Jill in the middle of the wasteland in a stall, trying to sell mangoes to tumbleweeds and cactus. The Hive was underground, so there was no way any pony can know about it, but the fact that some changelings went outside and bought food made him a bit angry. After all, he thought he was the only one who ate food for nourishment. Before Frost Bite could ask another question, Mango Jill pointed north. “You can see Ponyville from here.” Mango said. True enough, Frost Bite saw the funny-looking houses that almost were together. Further from the small town was the mountains. Atop the mountains was the Canterlot Castle; the very place Her Majesty had tried to take, and failed miserably. Soon, their yellow aircraft floated above the town. Frost Bite looked down and saw many ponies outside their homes, decorating the streets with pumpkins and candles. Tubs of water filled with floating apples and catapults littered the clearings, and little foals ran from one house to another as they carried bags of nightmare to dentists. Most of the ponies were dressed up in costumes and one of them wore some sort of a ninja costume that was yellow. The said yellow ninja tossed a lasso to another pony and entangled him. Then, the ninja pulled with sudden force and yelled, “GET OVER HERE!” Nightmare Night. Frost Bite beamed at the holiday taking place right under him. He had heard of it, but he had never seen it in person (pony?). Stories of ponies dressing up, giving candy to children, playing games, and offering candy to a statue of Nightmare Moon made him excited. What’s the most important part of the holiday for him was, of course, the free food. Sing Song woke up, since Frost Bite had been turning his head alot from looking around. “What the hay…?” Sing Song muttered as she rubbed her eyes. “Are we there yet?” “We are! Look, it’s Ponyville!” Sing Song squinted her eyes as she observed the costumed civilization beneath them. “What a tacky little town.” The balloon moved to the center clearing, where there was another balloon parked in it. As the balloon began to descend and Frost Bite looking down, Mango Jill began to sing ‘My Little Pony, My Little Pony’, followed by a rhythmic ‘ah’. As they land, Mango Jill stopped singing. “Why is every pony dressed like idiots? Is there some sort of holiday?” Sing Song asked as she looked around the new environment to her. “It’s Nightmare Night, Singy,” Mango Jill said as she got off the balloon and tied a rope to a pole, serving as its anchor. “Ponies dress up as anything, usually scary, to fend off Nightmare Moon. Well, according to the tradition. Nowadays, it's just another happy holiday. Oh, I need you guys to get off.” “Huh?” The renegades said together. “Get off,” Mango said with her usual tone. Frost Bite climbed the ledge of the ride and jumped off. Mango Jill went to the left side of the ride, opened a panel, and pulled a bunch of levers. Whirring sounds came out of the balloon base, the balloon deflates, and poles shot out of each corner of the base. The deflated balloon attached itself to the poles, creating a new roof for the basket. The ride had transformed into a shop. “Done.” Mango Jill entered the newly formed shop from its right, where a three steps stairs had appeared. “Wow,” Sing Song said while Frost Bite only had his dropped. “Yeah. I get that a lot.” Mango Jill said as she looked at the duo from the store. “You guys still here?” “Huh?” Frost Bite snapped out of his awe. “Why don’t you two look around? I still have to set up shop here.” “You sure you don’t need the help?” Sing Song asked. “I’m good.” The pair looked at each other, then nodded. They knew what Mango Jill was capable of, even with the weirdness that surrounded her. Sing Song shuffled in Frost Bite’s mane, and Frost Bite turned around only to face a bright pink pony who had even pink messy and curly mane. The pink pony looked at Frost Bite with intense curiosity as the pony’s eyes squinted, head forward, and hooves firm on ground. Frost Bite only then noticed the pink stranger was dressed up as a chicken. “Have we met before? You feel kind of familiar, and I remember every pony I meet,” the pony said, still holding the stare and awkward pose. “Uh, I don’t think so?” Frost Bite answered. “This is my first time around here.” For a few more seconds, the stare held and then, an explosion of confetti from Frost Bite’s sides came out of nowhere. The pony’s stare shifted to a smile. “New pony! I have to throw you a party! I’m Pinkie Pie and welcome to Ponyville,” the pony said she shook Frost Bite’s hoof. “Thanks, I guess?” Frost Bite replied. “I’m Frost Bite, and this is Sing Song,” he said then pointed to his head. Sing Song waved at the pink smiley chicken pony. “A breezie! It’s been awhile since I’ve seen you guys! Hope you guys get a lot of candy. Don’t worry; I’ll throw your a party just for you two after all this! Pinkie promise you’ll stay for the party? “Uh sure?” “Awesome! Now repeat after me; cross my heart, hope to fly; stick a cupcake in my eye!” Pinkie said as she did motions. Frost Bite repeated her words and motions, but then ended up sticking his hoof into his eye. “AH!” Pinkie snorted a laughter. “Well, still got some candy to collect! Have fun fun fun! Nice meeting you two!” With that, Pinkie Pie gave them a salute and dashed past them, leaving a blur of pink, leaving a confused Frost Bite. “You’ve been here before?” Frost Bite asked, massaging his eye with his hoof. “Some of us did, but not me,” Sing Song answered. Frost Bite, with Sing Song on his head, walked around the festive little town, passing by many ponies in costumes both familiar and unfamiliar to him. There was a knight, a pony wearing a heavy metal diver helmet, a mummy, and lots of others that seemed endless as they walked through the street. Reaching the center of town, Frost Bite saw catapults were set before a distance from the target boards. Some ponies were using them, loading pumpkins and shooting them and aiming for the target. Most of pumpkins missed, and only few barely hit the target. On the other side, wooden tubs filled with water scattered the ground. Frost bite went one of the tubs, and saw some apples floating on the water. Ponies by the other tubs were dunking their heads in the water, and pulled out with something in their mouth. The pony with an hourglass cutie mark had a pear in his mouth. He spat it out and put a scowl on his face. Obviously he hated pears. “Howdy!” A pony called out, walking to Frost Bite’s direction. The pony wore a tattered dress shirt with straws coming out of its sleeves and also wore a hat made of straw. It made Frost Bite thought that maybe he should get a costume too. “Hi?” Frost Bite said to the Southern accent. “You must be new ‘round here. I’m Applejack.” “I’m Frost Bite, and this is Sing Song,” he said then pointed his head where Sing Song was. Song Song waved at the pseudo scarecrow. “Ah thought ya’ll went back home?” Applejack wondered loudly, tilting her head. “I’m old enough to go out on my own, thank you,” Sing Song snapped. “Whoa there, nelly. Ah didn’t mean to offend ya. Anyways, it's Nightmare Night, you two could use a little fun!” Applejack pushed Frost Bite in front of the tub. “Go on then!” Sing Song got off Frost Bite’s head. Face to face with the pool of water, Frost Bite decided to try whatever this game was. He dunked his head, blindly bit something under the water, then pulled his head out. “Ta-da,” Frost Bite said nonchalantly. He took the object from his mouth and saw a colorful apple, covered in patterns of lightning. Whoever painted this was really good, Frost Bite thought. “Ya got the zap apple!? Shucks, no pony ever got in two years!” Feeling proud, Frost Bite raised his prize. “Wow, that’s great! What do I win?” “Nothin’!” “What? But you said this thing is special?” Frost Bite pointed to the apple. “If anythin’, that is the prize, sugar cube. Might tasty zap apples only comes once a year, ya know? Aren’t ya gonna eat it?” Frost Bite looked at the apple again. No matter how he stared at it, the apple still looked like an art piece than anything. For a moment, he imagined a pony carefully painting the apple with precision, making sure each detail was perfect. Maybe that’s why it’s so special? “If you’re not going to eat it, I will!” And with that, Sing Song flew to the oddly colored apple, and took a huge bite. After that, she stayed still. “uh, Sing Song?” Frost Bite shook his hoof a bit, moving the apple. Sing Song moved a bit, then started biting furiously around the fruit, like a lawn mower on an untended front lawn. The fruit was devoured after she moved seamlessly around the apple, and Frost Bite was left with an apple core and a breezie with a full belly. “Oh, it’s that good.” Frost Bite commented. “Well, ain’t that somethin’,” Applejack said. Frost Bite placed Sing Song back to his mane, letting her rest. “I guess that’s that. I’ll go look around, maybe play a few games.” “Sure, hope ya’ll enjoy yerselves!” Frost Bite walked away from Applejack and the tubs, and approached the pumpkin catapults. Ponies were already playing, sending the orange fruits into targets. Laughter and cheers permeated every time a pumpkin smashed into the targets. Frost Bite approached a pony playing one. “Hey, can I try?” he asked the pony covered in what seemed to be tissue paper. Frost Bite thought she might had a problem at a restroom and left with the tissue rolls. “Huh?” The pony turned around. “Sure, let me just send this one.” The mummy pony released the pumpkin, the fruit sailed the air, and it crashed in the ground, missing the target by only half a meter. “Aw, shucks,” said the mummy. “Maybe you’ll have a better chance.” With that, the pony stepped aside for for Frost Bite. Frost bite stepped before the catapult. He suddenly remembered: back in the Hive, they used a bigger version of the contraption. At least this time, it was not him who would be flying through the cold night air; it would be a pumpkin. The mummy pony pulled the catapult and loaded the pumpkin. Frost Bite remembered how the pony launched the pumpkin, so he stepped forward and aimed the catapult. With a bit of moving left and right, Frost Bite then checked the pumpkin if it was sitting nicely by looking down. He saw the pumpkin was nestled just fine, waiting to be launched. He pushed down a pedal, and launched the pumpkin. The fruit flew higher than it should had, and strangely, the pumpkin seemed to be screaming, and the scream became weaker as it sailed farther away from him. Oh well, he thought. Maybe I’m not cut out for it. “Wow, you’re terrible at this,” the mummy commented. “Tell me about it,” Frost Bite replied. “Right, Sing Song?” Frost Bite didn’t hear any reply. Maybe she’s too tired? Frost Bite thought that was the case and thanked the mare for letting him try. Off to explore! Walking around town made Frost Bite feel happy; no doubt the joy of festivities was very infectious. However, he did felt left out since he was the only one not wearing a costume. Fillies and adults alike wore them in spirit of the holiday. A light bulb popped out of his head and not literally because that would have been truly scary. He went to an alley, hidden from the rest, then undid his disguise. His true form emerged. “Hey, Sing Song, you don’t think they’ll know that I’m actually a changeling, right?” No response came from his head. Oh well, it’s not like they will know, he thought. He went out of the alley and approached a clearing where there was a stage in front. Ponies were dancing and singing at the stage, probably related to the holiday. The audience was cheering and also danced to the rhythmic performance. “Whoa, your costume looks so real!” a voice boomed from Frost Bite’s right. He turned and saw a small orange pony in a wolf costume. Truly adorable. “Uh, thanks kid. It’s personally made and stuff.” “Even the holes are real!” the wolf kid said as she poked Frost Bite’s hooves. “Ahahaha, yeah, just some accessories to make it look real!” Frost Bite pulled away from the kid’s poking. “Are you a dressmaker or something?” “No, I mean yes! Yeah, I do like making costumes.” “That’s awesome!” said the filly. “My friends and I tried making some, but it didn’t end well so we had to get Rarity to make them. I know my costume is pretty awesome and all, but yours just takes the cake! Even the wings look real!” “Your costume looks fantastic, don’t sell yourself short. Changelings aren’t that awesome.” Frost Bite scratched his head. “I bet you and Rarity can make the best Nightmare Night costume ever! You should meet her!” The little pony pulled Frost Bite into a small run. They zipped through the crowds and into a clearing before the town hall. Other little ponies gathered there, carrying small bags and comparing loot to each other, while others were eating theirs. “Hey, girls!” the orange pony called out. “Check out his costume!” Two ponies turned their gaze upon Frost Bite and their faces became plastered with wows. “That’s some costume!” the white unicorn pipped, wearing a cape and fake fang, and her mane slicked back. “For a second there, Ah thought we were under attack!” the yellow pony exclaimed. She had a ridiculous hairdo and some stitches around her body, drawn with markers. One can only hope they were not permanent. Frost Bite realized he heard of the kid’s accent before. “Nice to meet you, uh, kids,” Frost Bite said as he scratched his head. “Oh. yeah, I forgot to ask for your name! I’m Scootaloo!” “I’m Sweetie Belle,” said the vampire. “Ah’m Applebloom!” said the pony covered in marker writing. “And we are,” the trio said then paused. “The Cutie Mark Crusaders!” Their little announcement made Frost Bite’s ears twitch in agony since their combined volume was something not to be trifled with. Frost Bite felt like they caused trouble as they had fun. “I’m Frost Bite.” “We should go get more candy from the houses!” Scootaloo said. “But we already did that,” Sweetie Belle stated. “They’re not gonna give us candy again, dodo.” “Yeah, kinda rude to keep askin’ for more,” Applebloom said as she took a chocolate bar from her pumpkin bucket and peeled it. “Fine. Let’s just introduce her to Rarity! I bet they can make something awesome together!” “Yeah!” the trio screeched together. The Crusaders dragged Frost Bite throughout the crowds, and this time faster than when Scootaloo did so. They arrived at a booth, where a white unicorn sat before it. The said unicorn wore layers of clothing embedded with gems and a veil covered her face. On the booth, tarot cards were scattered. “Rarity!” Sweetie Belle called. “Rarity, look what we found!” Don’t they mean ‘who they found’? “Darling, you do know I’m pretty busy at the moment—”The one named Rarity stared at the pony the Crusaders dragged. “My that is one well-made costume! Quite the craftsmanship, I must say.” “Uh, yeah, thanks.” “Hey girls!” a new voice said. Frost Bite saw a purple unicorn, no, pegasus approached them. “Oooh, that is one detailed changeling costume!” “Indeed!” Rarity replied. “I must say this pony sure know her ways in costume design. What is your name, dear?” “I’m Frost Bite, and this is Sing Song!” He pointed to his head. The ponies only stared at his head. “Darling, you gave your horn a name?” Rarity asked. “What, no. Sing Song is a breezie; she’s resting on my head.” Scootaloo tapped Applebloom and Sweetie Belle. “Looks like we snatched up a loony,” she whispered to them, though it was loud enough for others to hear. “I’m not crazy! Come on, Sing Song, wake up!” Frost Bite started to fumble through his mane, looking for his tiny companion. His hooves failed to find any signs of life. “Where did she go?” “You have a breezie friend?” Sweetie Belle asked. “Yes, and she was just sleeping on my head a while ago! Did she fall somewhere?” Frost Bite started to look under the booths. “You know, you do look like a real changeling,” the purple pony said. “Twilight, accusing ponies isn’t going to help find his lost friend,” Rarity said as she raised an eyebrow at her friend. “Not to worry, I’m pretty sure he’s not a changeling; still won’t hurt to check, right?” As Frost Bite checked every nook and cranny of booths, Twilight the unicorn/pegasus casted an aura around him. Frost Bite noticed the magic and turned to Twilight. “Uh, what are you doing?” A look of horror registered on Twilight’s face as she dispersed the spell. “Twilight? You alright?” Sweetie Belle tapped Twilight. “He’s a changeling,” Twilight said. “Very funny, Twilight,” Rarity said as she rolled her eyes. “I’m pretty sure Frost Bite appreciates that.” “GIRLS! I AM NOT KIDDING THIS PONY IS A CHANGELING NOT A PONY IN COSTUME!” Twilight exploded as she pointed a serious pointing hoof at the intruder. With that, ponies stopped and started to stare at the changeling Twilight called out and pointed at. Apparently, Twilight’s screaming made all the ponies celebrating pause and join the staring contest as well. “Oh, where are you… Uh, why are you all looking at me like that?”