“Commander?”
Kyle’s ears perked up as he heard his title spoken from the other side of the room. He removed his gaze from the stack of papers on the desk in front of him and looked up to see Filwin Springfizzle staring at him from the open door. He pushed himself more fully upright and grunted as his neck popped. The endless flow of papers for him to review and sign had left him hunched over his desk for far longer than he would have liked.
So Filwin’s entrance wasn't exactly unwelcome. Anything to give him an excuse to draw himself away from the load of work on his desk. “Filwin, please, come in,” he said with a warm smile.
“My apologies, commander, but I’m afraid I've little time to chat.” Kyle’s smile faltered slightly, but Filwin didn't seem to notice. “I've just come to inform you that you have a visitor, sir. Princess Twilight Sparkle wishes to see you. If you’re not too busy, that is,” She added with a slight grin
“Twilight? Of course, please, send her in.” Filwin stepped back outside, allowing Kyle a moment to move the stack of papers off to the side. Whatever Twilight wanted, it was certainly a higher priority in his mind than any papers from Stormwind.
A few seconds later, the door swung open again. Kyle heard a faint ‘thank you’ before Twilight stepped into the room, shutting the door behind her. Her hooves clacked loudly against the hardwood floor as she walked towards the desk. She pulled the chair back and pulled herself up into it, sitting directly across the desk from Kyle.
“Commander,” she greeted.
Kyle inclined his head slightly. “Princess.”
A small frown formed on Twilight’s face. “When are you going to stop calling me by my title?” she asked.
“When you stop calling me by mine.”
For a long moment, the two locked eyes across the desk. Neither moved. Neither blinked. Each barely dared to breathe.
Against his will, the corners of his mouth began to turn upwards. Across the desk, Twilight began to have the same problem. She tried to hide her smile by looking away, but this only served to humor Kyle even further. He finally broke and laid his head down on the desk, laughing silently. He heard a small snort, and glanced up just in time to see Twilight shaking her head in amusement.
“That’ll teach me to challenge you to a staring contest eh?” Kyle laughed. He took a moment to recover himself and sat back up in his seat. “So, what’s up? Is Discord any better?”
Twilight’s shoulders tensed up ever so slightly. “He left Fluttershy’s cottage a couple of days ago.”
Kyle nodded. This was good news for him - the sooner that pain-in-the-ass Old God was away from Ponyville, the better. “Good, good,” he murmured. “So what else is going on?”
“Well, we haven’t seen you since Rainbow’s Birthday-Anniversary the other day…” Twilight began. “And you never RSVP’d for tonight, so Pinkie Pie wanted me to see whether you were coming or not.”
“Tonight?” Kyle asked. “What’s tonight?”
Twilight frowned. “Didn't you get the letter? I could have sworn I gave that to you weeks ago.”
“Letter? What let…” Kyle’s eyes lit up, and a sheepish smile slowly formed across his face. “I, uh… I think I remember that letter…” he admitted. “I just… set it aside for later, and uh… later never really rolled around. Sorry”
Twilight rolled her eyes, but smiled. “It’s alright,” she said. “It’s not really a big deal. Pinkie sends out invitations for the Nightmare Night party every year, but everypony knows about it and everypony’s invited. Even if you don’t RSVP, she’s going to let you in.”
“But then why send out invitations if -”
“How long have you been here?” Twilight snorted lightly. “It’s Pinkie Pie. Don’t question it.”
“Right, right... “ Kyle glanced over towards the calendar pinned against the wall to his left. Sure enough, every day leading up to October 31 was crossed out. “There’s uh… there’s not going to be another goof-off, is there?” he asked. “I don’t feel like dodging giant pinatas falling from the sky tonight.”
Twilight laughed. “I doubt it. Pinkie’s the only party Pony in town anymore. So how about it? Can you come tonight?”
Kyle closed his eyes and rubbed his chin. He wanted to go, of that there was no question. It had been several days since he had been into town last. Several days since he had last seen his friends. And with the construction of Ironwall nearly completed, many of the more tedious bits of paperwork such as extra supply requests were eliminated from his schedule.
But that didn't mean that there wasn't a lot to do still. Engineers and architects from Stormwind were checking in nearly daily to inspect the latest building that had been constructed, and also to collect any new research that had been done. In addition, he was now attempting to broker trade deals with both the Minotaur tribes and the Griffonian Empire - no small feat when oceans and deserts stood between them. On top of it all, additional troops were now moving into Ironwall to replace the workers that had once filled the barracks. Introducing them to this new world was not only far more difficult than Kyle thought it should have been, but a task that he quickly discovered that he would have to do personally.
With all of these new jobs piling up, it seemed like there simply wasn't any time for him to go to a party.
But then again, he was the Commander. He made the rules around here.
“I’ll be there,” he finally replied. “I’ll have to move a few things around in my schedule, but I’ll be there.”
Twilight smiled widely, and a small squeak escaped her. She quickly clasped her hooves up to her mouth and blushed as she looked away. “Great!” She said through her mild embarrassment. “I’ll go tell Pinkie that you’re coming.” With that, she stood up and made her way out of the room, closing the door behind her.
Kyle sighed and leaned back in his chair. Surely he was going to regret this decision tomorrow, when all of the work he’d set aside would come back to haunt him.
But that was future Kyle’s problem.
“Filwin!” he called out. A second later, the door opened, and the familiar pink-haired Gnome poked her head into the room. “Something’s come up. We need to clear my schedule for tonight…”
-----
It was amazing, Kyle thought, what a difference a few days could make.
The air was crisp, but not as chilly as it had been for the past week, and was already filled with the buzz of activity as he approached the town limits. Shrieks of laughter and surprise rang through the night. The smell of cotton candy and hot chocolate wafted through the air, as well as the unmistakable scent of pumpkin pie.
The celebration was already underway as he walked into town. Packs of young colts and fillies roamed the streets with bags and buckets clenched between their teeth, travelling from house to house. Each one of them was dressed up in a costume, much like the youths of Azeroth would do. He spotted Spike running around with a dragon costume, which caused him to snort at the sheer ridiculousness of it. He also caught a glance of Scootaloo among the crowd, though it was hard to spot her behind her Wonderbolt costume - only her magenta mane identified her.
He himself had had little time to prepare a costume, and so he had improvised. Borrowing from the armory in Ironwall for the evening, he had dressed himself as a stereotypical rogue in light leather armor. Add in a red bandanna across his nose and mouth, and he looked the spitting image of a Defias bandit, complete with the twin daggers hooked at his belt. Only the lack of a cogwheel tattoo across his hand broke the illusion. Though his days as an actual Rogue were thankfully long behind him, and his control of the shadows now but a memory, Kyle felt a sense of nostalgia wash over him as his hand brushed the hilt of the daggers.
The last time he had been into town, streamers and banners had been strung over the streets to celebrate Rainbow Dash’s birthday and anniversary of coming to Ponyville. Banners were still strung over the streets, but now displayed the familiar black-and-orange colors that Kyle had come to associate with Hallow’s End. Or in this case, Nightmare Night.
The entire town had been decorated for the event. In addition to the banners, carved pumpkins filled with candles decorated the streets and doorsteps of the houses, while the town hall had been redecorated as a giant candy corn. Various stalls had been set up around the center of town for different games or activities. Kyle recognized a few, such as apple bobbing and face-painting. Others, such as the spider toss, were less familiar but still recognizable.
Kyle was hardly the only non-Pony around as he moved through the crowds. Those soldiers with the most seniority had taken the evening off from duty in Ironwall, and many of them strode through the crowds, wearing their armor as a costume of sorts. Kyle even spotted a druid who had elected to wander around town as a large cat, much to the amazement of those around her. Others from Azeroth who were unaffiliated with Ironwall but had still moved to Ponyville were also out and about, enjoying the Equestrian spin on a familiar holiday.
It appeared that even the Princesses were getting involved in the celebrations. Though he could see neither Celestia nor Luna in the town, the latter’s mark on the holiday was clear in the sky. The moon, normally full and bright, now had a dark image seemingly formed out of craters etched onto the surface. It was a rough picture of a Pony’s head with a dark, flowing mane and a long horn, with a single white eye visible.
Kyle didn't have to be told what Pony it was supposed to be.
It didn't take long for Kyle to spot Twilight in the crowd, standing among her closest friends. Not only did she stand slightly above the rest of the Ponies around her, but she was sporting the same costume that Kyle had seen her in at the Starswirl the Bearded Museum. He’d be able to see that massive pointed hat from the other side of town. He slowly began to make his way through the crowd towards her.
The conversation the group had been having slowly died down as Kyle approached. Kyle took a moment to look over the group’s selection of costumes. Like Scootaloo, Rainbow Dash was dressed up as a Wonderbolt. Fluttershy had chosen to be a butterfly, while Applejack was outfitted as a scarecrow. Rarity’s costume was that of a vampire-pony, judging by the mane, fake fangs, and cloak.
“Glad you could make it,” Twilight smiled as Kyle walked up to them. Her eyes traveled up and down his body. “So, what are you dressed as?”
“A Defias rogue,” Kyle explained. “They’re bandits and pillagers who stalk the roads in Elwynn and Westfall, attacking any travelers they can find.”
“Oh my…” Fluttershy murmured, ducking her head down ever so slightly.
Kyle glanced back over the group, not noticing Fluttershy’s reaction. “Hang on... “ he murmured. He did a quick head count, and sure enough, one of their usual group was missing. “Where’s Pinkie Pie?”
“Here I am!”
Normally, Kyle would have reacted to a voice yelling in his ear with some yelling of his own, maybe a punch or two. However, his time in Ponyville had taught him to expect the most unexpected things from the hyperactive pink mare behind him. Even so, it took all of his willpower to not take a swing at her as he nearly jumped out of his boots.
Twilight and her friends started giggling as Kyle closed his eyes. He took a deep breath and slowly shook his head. “I should have seen that one coming,” he murmured. He turned his head to see Pinkie bouncing past him. She was dressed up in one of the most ridiculous costumes that he had seen that evening - an oversized chicken, complete with a beak strapped across her snout.
“Oh I was hoping you were going to be here tonight!” she squealed happily. “It took so much work to plan everything to include all the new Humans and Elves and Dwarves and cute little Gnomies, but this year’s party is going to be the bestest party EVER! I was worried you weren't going to make it! Why didn't you RSVP? Twilight said she delivered the letter but -”
Kyle held his hand up to cut the talkative mare off. “I got the letter,” he said. “But you know, there’s a lot of paper moving in and out of my office every day, it’s easy to lose something…”
Kyle’s voice trailed off as Pinkie’s body went stiff. She reared up on her hind legs and poked her snout high up into the air. A faint sniffing sound could be heard from behind the beak across her face. Her tail twitched erratically, and her ears began flopping against the side of her head. Her eyes shot wide open. “Oh my goodness!” she yelled. “There’s somepony new in town! I gotta find them!” She let out a loud BAWK! and shot away.
All Kyle could do was stare as Pinkie barreled down the street and swung around the corner, disappearing from sight. “What was… You know what? Never mind,” he sighed. “I've stopped trying to figure her out.”
“Probably a good idea,” Rainbow Dash agreed.
“So, whats the deal here tonight?” Kyle asked, looking towards Twilight. “Is there some big main event or something?”
“There’s the offering of candy to a statue of Nightmare Moon near the forest, but other than that it’s just a sort of ‘mingle and have fun’ thing.”
“Speakin’ of,” Applejack added, “the foals oughtta be gettin’ ready t’ go make that offerin’, if ya wanna go check it out.”
“Might as well. I was hoping to catch Scootaloo anyway. Sounds like that’ll be as good a spot as any.”
“You still trainin’ her t’ be a Monk like you?” Applejack asked. Kyle nodded in response. “Thought so. I caught her chasin’ a couple o’ Timber Wolves away from the farm the other day. Said she’d found ‘em on her way t’ see Applebloom, tryin’a get at Daisy and the rest o’ the cows. Didn't have a scratch on her, and them wolves looked more scared than a mouse in a house full’a cats.”
Kyle closed his eyes and shook his head in amusement. “Well at least her skills haven’t gotten too rusty while we've been brushing up on other things…” he murmured. He opened his eyes to see Rainbow Dash and Applejack were already turned away and talking. Turning his head, he saw that Twilight and Rarity were walking away towards the center of town, while Fluttershy had become fascinated by a passing druid transformed into a large cat.
A pair of fillies ran past him, headed towards the edge of town. Each one had a small plastic, pumpkin-shaped bucket clenched between their teeth, filled nearly to the brim with brightly colored candy wrappers. It seemed that it was time for the offering to the statue of Nightmare Moon. He turned and followed the pair away from the center of town towards the Everfree Forest.
-----
A pair of glowing, blood red eyes glowered towards the Human as he turned to follow a pair of small Ponies out of town. Zinju reached into the small pocket in his robe and felt around inside. A set of small, crystal-like spheres met his hands, but he wasn't interested in those. Not yet. Instead, his fingers grasped the small sheet of parchment. He pulled it out and quietly unfolded it. Even in the near-absolute dark of the back-alley he had hidden in, he could see the message inscribed upon the parchment. His eyes traveled back and forth across the note, making absolute certain that he had not misread his instructions.
Of course he hadn't. He’d already checked that parchment half a dozen times just waiting for that damned Human to show up. He stowed the parchment back within his pocket. His fingers once again brushed against the hard spherical objects, but still he left them alone. The time had still not yet come.
But soon.
This was the perfect night for him to make a move, he mused. And so he had thought when planning this. With everyone dressed up in their various costumes, it would not be too suspicious to see a troll wandering around. After all, as he remembered from the past, sometimes mages would use their magic to disguise themselves as an exact copy of another race for Hallow’s End. So long as no one noticed that he did not, in fact, have an illusion spell cast over him, he would be fine. All he had to do was keep his hood up and act like he belonged, and no one would suspect him until it was too late.
“Hi there!”
Zinju spun around towards the voice that rang out from behind him, piercing the silence of the alleyway. His eyes were met with one of the most ridiculous sights that he had ever seen. An obnoxiously pink Pony with an even more obnoxiously pink mane stood before him with the biggest, dumbest grin imaginable upon her face. And what’s more, she was dressed up in what appeared to be a giant chicken outfit, with a yellow cone strapped across her nose to act as a beak. Honestly, the sight was so comical that he almost laughed.
Almost.
His humor at the sheer ridiculousness of this stupid Pony was quickly replaced by irritation and a hint of dread. This was one of the same mares whom he had seen conversing with the Human. And she had now found him. He wasn't ready. He had been seen and called out before he had made his move. He glanced over his shoulder towards the main street. Thankfully, it seemed like no one else had heard her, and so he returned his attention back to the mare.
For a moment, Zinju was tempted to simply eliminate this stupid Pink Pony. “After all,” he mused, “they’ll all burn soon enough.” But no, he couldn't do that. Not here, not now. If he used his magic now, he’d be caught immediately. He still had to maintain a low profile. At least for a few more minutes.
Which meant shaking this mare off of his trail.
“Greetin’s mon,” he forced himself to sound relaxed. “Watcha doin’ back here, den?”
“My Pinkie Sense told me that there was somepony new in town!” The mare’s hyperactive voice was like nails on a chalkboard to his ears, but he did not allow himself to scowl as she continued. “So I went looking for them, and I found you, and I haven’t seen you around before, so I guess you must be the new Pony in town! Well, not Pony, you’re not a Pony. Or a Human. Or Dwarf. Or one of those cute little Gnomies…” The mare’s smile faltered slightly, and she leaned up towards him. “Come to think of it, I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything like you before. What are you?”
Zinju simply blinked for a moment. The mare talked much too fast for his liking - it was difficult to keep track of what she was saying. Finally, his brain caught up with his ears. “I be a Gnome, mon,” he lied. Much as it pained him to say those words, the pink mare seemed to have an affinity for the annoying little ankle-biters. “But it’s Hallow’s End, ya? Nightmare Night, ya call it? Dis be my costume fer tonight.”
“Oooo!” The Pink mare squealed loudly, and Zinju quickly glanced over his shoulder to make sure no one had heard her latest outburst. “That’s a really great costume! Whatever it is,” she added. “How’d you make yourself so much taller?”
“Magic, mon.”
Zinju glanced behind himself once more. By now, the Human had vanished from sight. Zinju had overheard his plan to go towards the forest, but he still wished to keep a close tail on the Human. After all, plans could change. “Look mon, I gotta be goin’,” he said quickly. “Don’ be tellin’ no one dat ya saw me, hear?”
“Why not?”
Zinju barely suppressed a growl. He didn't have time for this. “I got a surprise for dat Human dat jus’ left,” he hissed quickly. “And I don’ want no one spoilin’ dat surprise. Got it?”
“You’ve got a surprise for Kyle?!”
“Ya mon. Now keep it quiet.”
The pink mare drew a hoof across her lips, made a locking motion, and did an exaggerated throw of an imaginary key. “Tanks mon,” Zinju sighed quietly. “Trust me, dis surprise is gonna be worth keepin’ a secret.”
“Is it a good one?”
Zinju chuckled darkly as he turned away towards the street. “He ain’t never gonna forget it.”