//------------------------------// // Nightmare Night // Story: Stained Crown: The Elements of Disharmony // by EbonyDanger //------------------------------// Princess Luna sat at her dressing table and eyed herself thoughtfully in the mirror as she brushed her mane. The night was young like a fresh blossomed daisy and she had much to do. More then usual. Tonight was a special night. The Nightmare Night Festival in Ponyville. Ever since Luna had appeared at this celebration almost five years ago, she had come back to the town at every Nightmare Night. It should become a tradition. Luna threw her head back and watched her mane floating around her neck and shoulders. It was like syrup and partly transperent. The hair had the colour of the night sky at summer. A rich cobaltblue together with thousands of white dots, sparkeling and shimmering. It was not fully transperent like Celestia's. There was a small space at the mane's edge, through which one could see. It had a violet tone in it. Luna simply was not yet old enough for getting her mane in the shape her sister had. Blimley, she did not had her size yet! There was of course a reason for that. A rather sad one. After Nightmare Moon had corrupted her, Luna's biological growth had abruptley stopped. Alicorns were growing different from the other races. Their physical appearance revealed their magical status. The older an Alicorn got, the stronger and powerful it became. Nightmare Moon had hold Luna's magic down and drained it from her. When the Elements of Harmony had freed the Princess from her inner demon, she had been reborn with very low magical abilities. She hardly had had the sieze of Twilight and her friends and her mane had been strands. Even her coat had been fair blue. Luna had to regain her magic and start the biological growth all over again. If it had not been for Nightmare Moon, she would have had her fully mature form by now. Luna eyed her mane critically. I will have to look scary for tonight. But I cannot disguise myself as Nightmare Moon again. I have done that too often. No, for tonight she had ordered the royal tailor to make her a scary costume. After all this festival was the only festival, where she could have fun being scary and dark. It always eased her mind. But it did not made the guilt vanish. There was a quiet squee and something furry climbed up her leg. Luna gasped softly in shock. „Tibbles, watch it.“ The Princess rose her left frontleg. The animal, which hold on her hoof and wrapped its naked tail around her ancle, could have been a rat, but Luna's good eyes knew it was an opposum. Tiberius had been her pet for some winters by now. He had about the size of a rat and even a similar shape: an angular head and a long, slender body. Gray fur with darker stripes. Tiny, pink ears and adorable beady eyes. And this long, pink, furless tail. Tiberius hopped on her dressing table. He looked at himself in the mirror and licked his paws, before he brushed his own fur. It was a funny habit of him. Trying to mimic her. Luna chuckled and softly caressed his back with her hoof. „Yes, I am excited as well, Tibbles“, the mare said, „But I am not nervous. I look forward to enjoy myself. Do you know, if my costume is done by now? I think, my kleinsmaid mentioned, it should be finished this afternoon. Where is she anyway?“ As if somepony had waited for this question, a soft knock at her chamber's door could be heard. Luna placed the brush on the table. „Come in“, the blue mare called and turned around. The door was pushed open and a lemon green mare in a maid's dress entered. She was pushing a box forward and used her wings as a help. Her eyes were as white as snow and looked oddly blanc. Cloudeye had used to be a worker at the weather factory in Cloudsdale. But after a tragic accident she had lost her eyesight. How ironically! Her former name had been Beautiful Eye. But now due to the look of her eyes the ponies had named her Cloudeye. Luna had taken the blind and unemployed pegasus in her care and had chosen her as her kleinsmaid, one of the very few, who were allowed to enter her private chamber. Unlike Celestia Luna chose her servants under another condition. They should be able to work in complete darkness. But in Cloudeye's case it had also been pity that had made her chosen the mare. „Your costume has arrived, your Highness“, said Cloudeye and placed the packet in front of the Princess. Luna smiled and carefully opened the box. It contained yellow contact lenses, some shading spray, a circular brush, scissors and a pair of false fangs. Depper in the package was a rope and a bottle, full of fake blood. Luna smiled pleased as she unpacked the box. „This is very nice“, the Moon Princess muttered, „Thanks for the deliver, Cloudeye. Thou art dismissed for tonight. Have some fun.“ Cloudeye did not seemed surprised at all that Luna still spoke with her old, Marespearean accent. She used her Royal Canterlot Voice (with a lower tone) for orders to her own servants and they all were perfectly fine. Cloudeye bowed and walked backwards. „I take my leave, your Highness“, she said, before she slipped through the door, „If you need anything, just call for me.“ Luna heard the dull sound as the door closed. She turned her head back to face the mirror. Midnightblue fur, majestic wings, sapphirre eyes and a floating mane. Luna smirked as she started to levitate the shading spray and directed it towards her neck. Time to create a monster. *** „Applejack“, complained Applebloom impatiently, „Come on! We will be late for the Nightmare Night Festival.“ The youngest child of the Apple family was standing in the kitchen and stared at the stairs, which lead to the family member's bedroom. Applejack was still up there, getting into her dress. Applebloom rolled her shoulders and turned her head around. Her own costume tweaked at her hips. She was wearing a pair of fake, black ears on her head in front of the big loop, which hold her ponytail together. There was dark paint all over her face around the eyes and snout. She even had a fake nose with small plastic whiskers. Applebloom's hooves were kept in black socks and around her hips were several ropes, which hold a long cat tail in its place, which was whipping around like wire rope, around which black fabric had been wrapped. Applebloom was going as Ovinnik, a ghost from old folklore, who appeared as a black cat. The ponies believed, he was the guardian of the barns and if anything mispleased him, he placed fire to the house of the farmer. Finally Applejack climbed down the stairs. She had dressed up as a scarecrow, but placed a hollow pumpkin on her head, in which she had scratched a terrible grimace. No wonder, she had taken her time to finish her costume. Applebloom bite her lips to avoid herself bursting laughing. Oh my Celestia, you look hidious, AJ! That pumpkin was too large for the costume. It was a surprise that the orange mare could still walk. Applejack chuckled and her laughter sounded weirdly hollow due to the vegetable hat she was wearing. „Oh, calm down, lil' sister“, she said, „We won't be too late. The festival has not even started.“ Applebloom snatched her basket and while jumping up and down, explained: „But we will be too late for Trick or Treat. All the good stuff will be gone.“ She pulled Applejack at the leg. „Come on.“ Her older sister sighted and, rolling her eyes, followed Applebloom. *** The night was rather pale because of the thousands candles and glowing pumpkins, which stood everywhere. The citizens had decorated their houses either with the symbol of Nightmare Night, the silhouette of Nightmare Moon's head, or moons, stars and other shimmering objects. Applebloom knocked at every door, in which house glowed a light, and sang happily the children's chorus to beg for some sweets: „Nightmare Night, what a fright! Give me something sweet to bite!“ Most villagers laughed and were happy to give some treats: chocolate bars, cookies, lollipops, gummy bears. Applebloom's small basket slowly started to fill. The little filly had to use all her willpower to not start eating everything at once. Otherwise she could not offer anything to the Nightmare Moon stature. They were walking over the major street, when Applejack nodded her chin towards Sugarcube Corner, a building, which looked like a giantic ginger bread house itself. The perfect commercial for all the tasty goodies the backery was selling. „Hey, look“, Applejack said, smiling, „Your friends.“ In front of the door stood four ponies. Two pegasi and two unicorns. One of the pegasi had hidden most of her fair blue fur under a white supervisor suit or professor blouse. She was wearing white horseboots and a pair of goggles stuck on her mane. Next to her stood a small snake on four orange legs. The elder of the unicorns had dressed herself up as a rather beautiful, noble lady, but Applebloom spotted blood all over the fabric. She was accompaigned by a small vampire. „Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle!“, called Applebloom and ran to her friends. They embraced one another in a bear hug. „You made it“, said Sweetie Belle. She took a step back and flattened her cloak. „You look wonderful“, found Applebloom and scanned her from top to bottom. „Thanks. Rarity made the outfit for me, when she was working on her own.“ Applejack followed Applebloom before she stopped and eyed Rarity with a lifted eyebrow. „What in the hay are you supposed to be?“, she asked critically, „Another vampire?“ Rarity gasped and angrily lifted her head. „Really Applejack“, she demanded to know, „Isn't it obvious, that I am representing a historical figure? I am Elizabeth Colthory, the Blood Lady, who killed many young mares for she thought their blood would refresh her skin.“ Rainbow Dash and Applejack shared disgusted glances. „Oh, that is terrible“, found the farmer and curled her lips. „Yes, it was“, Rarity said and puffed up her mane, „She must have had a dreadful sense of fashion. And what are you, dearest Applejack? A scarecrow with a pumpkin head.“ Applebloom snickered, because she could tell from the way Applejack's tail was twitching, that she was embaressed. „Yeah, Ah run out of ideas.“ Rarity whistled. „Nevermind.“ She smiled. „And what are you, Rainbow Dash?“ Rainbow hit her chest with a hoof and smirked proudly and partly sinister. „Not what, who“, she declared and explained with an enthusiastic gesture, „I am Doctor Horrible!“ All ponies lifted their eyes. Applebloom shot a questioning look at Scootaloo. Who is that suppose to be? Rainbow Dash was clearly upset, that nopony could tell her costume. She flew at one spot and explained: „The newest villain in the latest Daring Do book. Daring Do and the Freezeray. Doctor Horrible steals the Platium Spectra to enpower his Freezeray, so he can rule the world. He is a wicked mastermind, a crazy psychopath with a weird love interest. Which is the reason, why he is evil. Of course Daring Do stops him and even uses the Freezeray on him, before potential damage can be done. The whole story is just super excited and totally awesome!“ „Aha“, responded everyone. Applebloom looked at her friends. „Have you already knocked?“, she asked. Scootaloo shook her head. „But our baskets are already really full.“ She picked up hers and shook it. Sweetie Belle smiled with closed eyes. „We have so many sweets. I bet, we can eat all night.“ Applebloom knocked against the door and even before the three could sing their chorus, it was open with a fast, enthusiastic movement, making it slam against the wall. In the doorway stood a pink earth pony, dressed up as a duck. Around her neck hang a basket. „Oh, there you are!“, called the mare, who was about Rarity's, Rainbow Dash's and Applejack's age., „Come on, let's go and get some candy.“ As she handed the Cutiemark Cursaders some sweets and stuffed a bar into her basket, Rarity asked choked: „Pinkie Pie, aren't you a little bit too old for this?“ Pinkie looked up and asked shocked: „Too old for free candy?“ Her eyes narrowed and she put her ears back. „Never!“ Applejack sighted. „Rarity, don't question it. That is Pinkie Pie.“ Applebloom laughed. „Come on. Ah think, we can still get some sweets.“ Her friends nodded and the three foals started to run in the direction of the library. Pinkie Pie shrieked: „Wait for me!“ and ran after them. Luckly the Cutiemark Cursaders had already so many sweets in their baskets, that they were slowed down a bit. The library was laying in a giantic, old oak. The darkbrown wood was covered in scars from the ages. But the house had a few windows, in which shone light, and a door. The green leaves rustled in the wind. Scootaloo hammered against the door. Sweetie Belle and Applebloom stepped by their side and waited eagerly. The door went open and a purple unicorn stepped out. She was wearing a long cloak, made of brown jute. The hood had been pulled in her face. A small rope was wrapped around her neck and under the cloak the ponies could see a leather saddleback, stuffed with quill, ink bottles and parchment roles. Their voices rang in the air as the three Cutiemark Cursaders sang: „Nightmare Night, what a fright! Give us something sweet to bite!“ Twilight Sparkle laughed. „Hey girls“, she said, „Looks like you were diligent, collecting sweets all evening.“ She used her magic to drop lollipops and candy bars into the baskets. „Thanks, Twilight“, responded Applebloom and the others nodded to show their gratefullness. Suddenley Pinkie Pie brusted through the trio and shouted: „I want some too!“ Twilight sighted and rolled her eyes, before she gave the pink mare her ration, who awaited it with huge, happily glowing eyes. „Twilight, yah look really nice“, said Applejack. Immediatley the unicorn started to pose. „Like it?“, she asked. „Oh, yes“, responded the farmer, „You make a fantastic pilgrim.“ „Pilgrim?“, repeated Twilight and sounded offended, „I am....“ „Maredulas!“, interrupted Rainbow Dash her and jumped into the air, „From the Horse of the Ring trilogie.“ Twilight responded sharply: „No, actually I am Clover the Clever.“ The others mumbled: „Hadn't she had to do something with the tale of Hearth's Warming Eve?“ „Even more!“, explained the unicorn enthusiastically, „Clover the Clever was Starswirl's apprentice. She created the Fire of Friendship. She solved the Riddle of the Sphinx. She studied wild nature and its magic. She cataloged 1500 plants and animals and gave them their name's in the acient language. Because of her we know that cockatrice's are relatives of dragons. She even made the theory, that a cockatrice is the link between dragons and phoenixes.“ Scootaloo whispered: „We should better go to the festival, before we get an one hour lecture on Clover the Clever.“ Sweetie Belle, who was chewing on a gummy bear, agreed with a fast nod. Applebloom snatched Applejack's sleeve and pulled at it. Her big sister seem to understand the hint, because she said: „We should go to the festival.“ And the mane six and the Cutiemark Cursaders set off. *** Ponyville had two market places. One in the center of the town and one near the Everfree Forest, just a few miles away from Fluttershy's cottage. This place was, where the Nightmare Night Festival took place. It was a Ponyville tradition. Several stands have been build, where one could buy pumpkin pie, cherry punch, apple cider, sweet bones and other snacks. There were many activities for childrens and adults alike: Snapping apples, Hit the Spider's web and Flying Pumpkin. All those things were really fun to participate, but they all had a touch of terror and fright in them. Of course not too much. Only enough to make you shiver in excitement. Applebloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo were pushing themselves through the hordes of ponies, which stood in front of a small stage. They knew, Major Mare would held a speech. But that was not really interesting for the young fillies. No, they waited for Zecora, the enchantress and storyteller, who lived in the Everfree Forest. „Fillies and Gentlecolts!“ Major Mare stood in front of a lectern, the microphone almost touched her snout. She was wearing a silly ballerina costume: a thight, bright pink dress with a big, overhanging skirt with too many frill. „Welcome to the Nightmare Night Festival. I hope, you all enjoy yourself.“ „And now I would like to ask our fillies, who have collected their sweets, to follow Zecora, so they can give their treats to the Nightmare Moon stature.“ Mayor Mare leaned forward, made big, girly eyes and added in a clichéed spooky voice: „You do not want Nightmare Moon to gobble you up, do you?“ Scootaloo whispered into her friend's ears: „That spooky voice would have worked better without her ballerina costume.“ Sweetie Belle nodded, snickering. Applebloom pointed at the stage. „Hey, look everypony!“ Green, sparkeling smoke filled the plattform and out of this fog stepped Zecora. She was wearing a traditional mask from her homeland: a wooden, twisted face, around which was a mane out of fur. Zecora had a smoky, calm, but underlying scary voice. „Follow me and very soon you'll hear the tale of Nightmare Moon.“ She waved her long, black robes, which followed her moves, rustleing and whispering. Immediatley everypony, who had a basket with sweets, ran after the mare. Zecora led the children into a valley at the edges of the Everfree Forest. There alone and threatening stood the stature of a mare, who had risen to her hindlegs. Her bat-like wings were spread, her front legs kicked around. Her eyes were narrowed and she had a wide, wicked grin, revealing sharp fangs. The stature was attired in an armour. She wore a silky helmet and a necklace around her neck. Also large horseshoes. The children dropped parts of their candy on the floor, gathered around Zecora and waited. Although Applebloom had heard the tale ahundred times, she never got tired. Zecora had a way to fascinate everypony, young and old, with her marvelous storytelling. Zecora softly blew more of her magical, green dust in the air, which enwrapped itself around the ponies, shapeshifting, as the zebra's calm voice filled the ear's of her listener's with living pictures: „Listen close my little dears, I'll tell you where you got your fears. A Nightmare Night, so dark and scary. Of Nightmare Moon, who makes you weary. Every year we put on a disguise to safe ourselves from her searching eyes. For Nightmare Moon wants just one thing: to gobble up ponies in one quick swing! Hungrily, she soars through the sky. If she sees no pony, she passes by. So if she comes and all is clear, Equestria is safe for another year.“ During the tale the Cutiemark Cursaders had clamped to one another, shivering in excitement. Applebloom had closed her eyes during the tale and tried to picture everything. From Nightmare Moon's massive wings, the sweat in her fur to the wide opened maw, full of sharp teeth and a long, red tongue, which would wrap itself around her to pull her into the hungry mouth. Oh no, I would not get myself eaten! I would defend myself! Maybe Applebloom would use a few sticks. Or she would wrap the slender mare in the map of Equestria, which hang in Cherrylie's classroom. Then she would throw the packet in the river, so Nightmare Moon could not harm anypony anymore. Maybe she would even gain her Cutiemark from this act. Of course these were all fantasies, but Applebloom enjoyed it to dream every now and then. Now the fillies searched the sky with their eyes. They knew after the tale Princess Luna usually came always in another way to scare her beloved subject. But neither Applebloom, nor Scootaloo, nor Sweetie Belle could find the Princess. Finally Pipsqueak, who was a big fan of Luna, asked Zecora: „Ehm, Mrs Zecora, do you know, when Princess Luna will come.“ The zebra pulled back her mask partly and looked up at the sky. Her eyes shimmered amber in the moonlight. „I am sure, the Princess of the Moon will here anytime soon“, she said, „Until she arrives in all her glory, who would like to hear another horror story?“ With loud cheers the fillies gathered around Zecora, who sat down and rose her voice: „Far away in a distant land, there is a place no one dares to enter for it is haunted by a mischievous mare. And when the moon shines, you might meet your end. Her shoulders bear leather wings. Her cry sounds like the song, the devil sings. Her coat is as black as coal. If you hear her howl, it is already to late. You are about to meet your fate. For she will take your soul! Her teeth are sharp like daggers, cooled in snow. Do not follow, where she leads you to go. For then she will have her feast. Beware of the Neverland's Beast!“ Again Zecora's storytelling had caused a true fright by the fillies. They screamed in panic and Pipsqueak and Pinkie Pie ran around hectically. It was in all those noises that Applebloom heard a noise. The crunching of a branch. „What was that?“, asked the yellow filly anxiously. Her body stretched and she pirked up her ears. Again the snapping branch. Something was moving. A bush rustled. Way too loud for a small rabbit to hide behind it. What is going on? A low howling sound echoed through the valley. Everybody froze. Sweetie Belle asked: „What was that?“ Scootaloo chewed at her hoof and put her ears back. „I do not want to know.“ Fear tickled Applebloom's back with black fingers. Zecora's tale is just an old mare's story, isn't it? Her eyes were wide as she stared at the bush. It rustled stronger and the howling repeated. Yellow eyes flashed between the leaves. Applebloom's ears started to twitch nervously and out of the corner of her eyes, she saw Scootaloo, hopping on the spot nervously. They all wanted to get away, desperately. But curiosity was the curse, which hold them in their place. Finally as the tension reached its highest limit a growl could be heard. Applebloom's heart stopped beating for the glisple of a second, before it started to beat even faster. Why are we still standing here? Out of the bush shot something large, dark, leather wings bashing the air, and snowwhite teeth shimmered in the moonlight. Pinkie Pie's loud, shrill cry caught everypony: „It is the Neverland's Beast! EVERPONY, RUN FOR THEIR LIVES!“ The children shrieked in high-pitched sounds and ran off. Applebloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo followed at once. The Neverland's Beast had opened its wings and roared out of its lounges. Mane and tail were a mass and Applebloom thought, she spotted blood at the corner of the monster's mouth. They all hide behind a large tree. Sweating and nervously Applebloom and her friends peeked around the truck. The Beast stood next to Zecora, only inches away. „Zecora!“, shouted Sweetie Belle, „Run!“ But the zebra did not even seem to think about that. She just stood there and started to laugh silently. The Neverland's Beast folded its wings, before it smiled and laughed as well. Applebloom's yaw dropped. I know this laughter. It was soft, deep, sparkeling like a small stream, floating over stones. And it clearly sounded amused. The farmer's surprised face changed to relief and joy as the realisation hit her. This all had been a carefully planned prank. „Princess Luna!“, called Applebloom and the children came out of their hiding place and surrounded the Princess of the Night. Luna had dyed her coat into a dark greyish tone. She was wearing yellow contact lenses and a pair of fake fangs. The mare had painted a few drops of false blood on the corners of her mouth and on the teeth. Her mane, former transperent and floating, now was a mass of thick, fetty strands. Her tail looked like the one of a wild cat. Princess Luna laughed and lifted an hoof. „Happy Nightmare Night, my youngest subjects!“, she called. Cheers surrounded her and Scootaloo said: „That was awesome! I really thought, you were the Neverland's Beast for a couple of seconds.“ Pipsqueak wrapped his frontlegs around Luna's neck and hugged her thightly. „Best prank ever!“ The Alicorn chuckled. The fillies took their baskets and handed her some sweets. Luna said: „I think, we should go back now, shouldn't we?“ Applebloom laughed and the Cutiemark Cursaders ran around the Princess as they slowly walked back to the festival. The other children started to amuse themselves and head to several amenities. The three fillies guided Luna to the mane six, which were waiting at Applejack's Snatching Apple stand. „Hello, Princess“, said Twilight. „Good evening, Twilight“, responded Luna with a smile, „How is everypony?“ „Just awesome!“, called Rainbow Dash, who snatched a small thundercloud, „I go and prank some ponies. See you!“ She dashed off, although Twilight called after her: „But be careful!“ In the meantime Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo and Applebloom were telling Rarity and Applejack Luna's prank. The white unicorn whistled. „Haven't you gone a bit too far with that one, Princess?“, she asked. Princess Luna shook her head. „It was all for good fun and I was really careful. I do not want to scare my subjects for real.“ „But you have to admit, her costume is awesome!“, yelled Scootaloo, „Not like Twilight's farmer thing.“ „Hey!“ The call came from Twilight, Applejack and Applebloom. Do you have anything against a good farmer, Scootaloo? The orange pegasus flinched at the angry glances and turned pink around her snout. „I am sorry“, she mumbled and flapped her tiny wings, „I did not meant to offend anyone.“ Twilight responded: „Well, I am not a farmer, but...“ „Clover the Clever“, determinded Princess Luna, „A commandable costume. You even got her belt right.“ For the first time in this evening the unicorn looked proud. She threw her head back and said pleased: „Finally! Somepony, who gets my costume.“ Luna explained: „We knew Clover during the Ancient Times. Because we were friends with Princess Platinum, we knew her as well.“ Rarity's maw dropped in surprise. „You...you were friends with Princess Platinum?!“ „Well, yes. We teached her the Royal Canterlot Voice.“ Scootaloo mumbled: „I am bored. Can we do something funny? Maybe snatching apples?“ Applejack laughed. „Well, just watch out, yah three do not fall into the pond.“ The three Cutiemark Cursaders gathered around the barrel, in which swam red apples in clear water. Applebloom felt a grumbling sound in her stomach. A good apple would be just fine now. The yellow filly closed her eyes and pushed her head into the water. It felt cool and soft around her. Applebloom snapped under water, until her teeth scratched over an apple. She brusted out of the water and eyed the fruit, tried to locate it. Ah get yah now, apple! She took another deep breath, closed her eyes and dove in. Her mouth opened and her teeth digged themself into the apple with a low crunch. Applebloom pulled back her head. Mmmh. The rich flavour of the fruit filled her maw. Aromatic, juice and a bit soar. The yellow filly placed the apple in her hoof and took another bite. Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle were still snapping after their apples. Even Princess Luna had lowered her head to get one of the tasty fruits. Unlike the Cutiemark Cursaders she did not have to stand on her hindlegs to reach her meal. Applebloom kept eating her apple and asked: „What are we going to do now? Would you like to join us Luna?“ The Princess chewed her piece of apple, before she swallowed. „I would love to“, she said then. Scootaloo responded: „I would like to play Hit the Spider's web. Who is with me?“ *** The stand was near the Snatching Apple barrel. Between two sticks somepony had strained a fake plastic spider web. A few feeth in front of it on a table stood a bowl full of sticky toy spiders. Scootaloo snatched one of them. Then using her tiny wings as an aid to get more sweep the pegasus jumped into the air, rose an hoof and slammed the spider against the web. The toy hit a few inches away from the middle and stuck there. Scootaloo landed on the ground with a proud smirk. She turned to her friends. „Top that.“ Applebloom smiled and shared a estimating glare with Sweetie Belle. Who would make this race? The unicorn offered: „You go first. You do not have any aid like magic or wings.“ Applebloom showed her muscles. „I have my strength“, she said with a smile that could make a bandit proud. Sure she was not as strong as Applejack, leave alone Big Macintosh, but she still was an Earth Pony. Applebloom took a spider and turned around to face the web. Let's see. The mare placed the toy on her hoof. She rose to her hindlegs and started to swang her arm back and forth. Her eyes narrowed as she aimed her target. The middle of the web, if everything went smoothly. Then with a low „Niiyyaahhh!“ Applebloom throw the spider. It flew through the air, before it stuck its legs into the fabric – a few inches closer to the middle then Scootaloo's. „Tada“, the farmer's daughter responded and lifted her chin proudly, „So much to no aids.“ Sweetie Belle squealed: „I can do that better.“ She closed her eyes. Young unicorn's magic were not as strong as the one of a teenager yet, because it was not mature enough. But Sweetie Belle still hold enough power to grab a spider in the embrance of her green light. Unlike Rarity, who would now stay calm and foccussed, before throwing, while standing there, Sweetie Belle yerked her head backwards – the toy followed the movement, entrapped in green magic – rose to her hindlegs and swang her head forwards, throwing the toy this way. The spider flew and flew and hit another stallion at his backside. He turned around and snorted angrily. Sweetie turned pink around her cheeks and mumbled: „Sorry.“ Luna stepped forwards. „Now thy Princess of the Night has her turn“, she declared. The Cutiemark Cursaders took a few steps backwards and looked at the Alicorn. The mare took a spider in her hoof. She narrowed her eyes and foccused the web. Applebloom and her friends shared excited glances. Come on, Princess, you can do it! Luna threw the spider in a fast and concentrated movement. She did not even raise to her hindlegs or used her magic. The toy hit the web in its middle. „Huzzah!“, called Luna with a pleased smile, „The fun has been doubled! And I win.“ The three fillies cheered and clapped their hooves. „Bravo Princess!“ At that moment a grey pegasus with a yellow mane and weirdly twisted eyes crashed into the net. She had been looking around and did not paid much attention to her environment. Now the pegasus entangled herself in the web and made it crash down. „Derpy!“, called Twilight, who had followed the Princess, „Watch it.“ She rushed forwards and used her magic to disjoint the strands of the net. Derpy carefully climbed out of the net. Her twisted eyes gloomed in worry and she dropped her ears. „I am very sorry everyone“, appologiced the grey mare, „I have been looking for Dinky Doo.“ „What is the matter with her?“, asked Twilight and rose a brow. Derpy Hooves sounded like she was about to panic. The pegasus was flapping her wings and flew in front of the Princess, the unicorn and the Cutiemark Cursaders. Gesticulating, she explained: „I cannot find her anywhere. It is like she is gone. Vanished from the ground. I am really scared. What if something happened to her?“ Applebloom asked: „It is Nightmare Night. What if she is just having some fun without you?“ Princess Luna added: „Young Applebloom has a point. This is a celebration to be scary. Maybe she is just pranking you a bit and will come out soon? Or she is eating pumpkin cream?“ Twilight laid an hoof on Derpy's leg. „Don't worry, Derpy. We will keep an eye open for her.“ Derpy rolled her eyes again and her ears twitched. „Oh, I hope, you are right!“ The pegasus flew off and called after the small filly. Luna watched her flying off. Her wings were partly opened and her ears put back in worry. „I really hope everything is alright“, she whispered. Applebloom looked at Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle. Her friends lifted their shoulders and shook their heads as signs for not knowing where she was. The fact that Dinky Doo was missing left a bad taste in Applebloom's mouth. She caught herself looking around in hope to find the greypurple unicorn. Had Applebloom looked behind Luna, she would have seen that the Alicorn's shadow had grown unnaturally long and shapeshifted. A mare stood there, opened wings and a horn on her head. She was nothing more then a shadow, but her cyan eyes stared hungrily at Applebloom, before in a fast movement she merged with the darkness around her once more.