Cultural Exchange: Nightmare Night
“Come o-o-on!” Amber whined. “It's Nightmare Night!” She had been looking forward to this ever since the CMCs had asked if she and Sara would be coming. They'd even made plans on what to do and what costumes they each wanted.
That's the point of the cultural exchange.” Sara argued. “To understand them better by learning more about their culture and holidays.
Lucca gave them a sidelong glare as she looked up slightly from her workshop table. She knew this had nothing to do with the cultural exchange and everything to do with candy and games.
Honestly she wanted to let them go, they had difficulty enough making sincere friends and the CMCs were as genuine as it got for them. “Sorry, but it's a full moon.”
Amber began to pout and huff. Not one of her more endearing habits.
“Sorry but we just can't allow it.” Lucca said evenly.
Sara shook her head as she and Amber trudged towards the door.
Lucca sighed and shook her head. “I'll talk to your father and see if there's something we can do.” She really felt like the bad guy in this conversation as her daughters slowly walked out of her workshop.
***
It wasn't until dinner that they talked again, yet to the girls disappointment there was no mention of Nightmare Night. Sara was certain that they'd just ignored her and were going to leave it at a no without any real reason.
“Girls.” James said as he and Lucca cleared the table. “Your mother tells me that you two are still asking to go to Nightmare Night even though we've both said no.”
Amber recoiled as her father spoke, she knew that tone meant his patience was wearing thin and if they pushed they would likely get in trouble.
“But it's not fair to deny you completely just because it's a full moon. That's not your fault and it does feel like a punishment to deny you just because of that.”
Sara's heart began to race as she started to guess what her father was about to say.
“You can go over today and play with your friends,”
Amber began to squeal to herself as she listened.
“but you have to be back before nightfall.”
“Come on!” Sara nearly shouted. This was almost as bad as a no, they would still miss Nightmare Night.
“Just because it isn't fair doesn't mean that it's going to change.” Lucca said firmly. “And we're not done yet either.” Amber and Sara slouched and pouted as they half listened to their parents. “At sundown you will come home were you can have snacks and play games with your friends if they want to come over.”
“Mom!” Sara whined. “It'll be day here. We can't celebrate Nightmare Night during the day.”
“I know.” James calmly said. “I got Pinkie Pie to agree to help me set up a Holosuite that will mimic Nightmare Night where you can have all the fun and, yes, candy you want.”
“It won't be the same.” Amber scoffed.
“It's the best we can do and the only offer you're getting.” James said, his tone once again warning his patience.
“Okay.” Both Sara and Amber said, unenthusiastically.
“If you don't want to we can still just say no and that will be the end of it.” Lucca threatened.
“We'll take it. We'll take it.” Sara said quickly.
“Alright, then you two go get ready. In a couple hours we'll get you in the Enertron then to Ponyville.” Lucca explained.
***
After transforming into their pony forms to blend in better, Lucca and James stood with their daughters outside Cheerilee's school as the last bell rang. In the hours since their compromise Amber's and Sara's mood had significantly improved and they smiled wide as the herd of foals stampeded past. Eager to get on with their own plans for Nightmare Night.
The CMCs walked out together as they talked about what they were going to do tonight. Amber immediately broke away from her parents and ran over to hug Apple Bloom.
“We were worried y'all weren't coming.” Apple Bloom said as Amber let her go.
“They can stay during the day, but they have to be home before moonrise. Lucca calmly said.
“But that's when the fun begins.” Scootaloo said not understanding why they'd have that kind of limitation.
“Yeah, they'll miss out if they have to leave so soon.” Sweetie Belle argued.
“My family's got the haunted corn maze all ready. It's going to be amazing this year!” Apple Bloom said, hoping she could convince the adults.
“Unfortunately they still can't stay.” James calmly said. “But we will have something fun set up too if you want to come by after nightfall.”
“Ugh.” Sara moaned. “We'll talk about it.” She was already frustrated about everything as it was, now she just wanted her father to shut up. He was just too old to understand.
“Okay. I'll see you girls later.” James said as he looked to his daughters. Lucca hugged Amber before they walked off.
Once the five girls were alone they began to walk back to town and talk amongst eachother.
“I'm sorry your parents won't let you celebrate Nightmare Night with us. Did they say why?” Sweetie Belle asked.
“They said because it's a full moon. We're not allowed to see the full moon.” Sara grumbled. “It's just stupid.”
Apple Bloom gave them a sympathetic smile. “Well, even if you can't join us tonight, we can still have some fun.”
“Let's go get our costumes!” Scootaloo said happily.
“Yeah, Rarity finished them just this morning.” Sweetie Belle said leading them towards the boutique at a run.
***
Ponyville was buzzing with activity as ponies decorated and set up games. Foals of all ages ran around in their costumes getting a preview of what fun they were going to have that night.
“So your parents say you can't see the full moon?” Apple Bloom asked. The excuse sounding particularly ridiculous to her. She wore carefully tattered clothes with bits of straw sticking out of the holes and from under the straw hat.
“Ugh. Yeah.” Sara moaned, her costume had been more simple. She wore an orange gi and Rarity had used a golden colored hair spray to spike her hair, hiding her small horn amongst the rigid style.
“But why?” Scootaloo wore shoes designed to look like vicious wolf paws and make up that gave her a feral appearance, and while she wasn't wearing them at the moment she had a set of sharp looking teeth to complete the werewolf look.
“All they said is that we can't look at it. They've never said why.” Amber's costume covered the most of her, a light gray ninja costume with a headband over the hood though her wings were left exposed.
“Why wouldn't they tell you? It doesn't make sense.” Sweetie Belle wore a slim blood red dress with an elaborate broach and a set of fangs.
“Oh! I know.” Scootaloo eagerly said. “What if at sundown we go back to your place and make sure your dad sees us. Then we can sneak back and enjoy Nightmare Night the right way.”
Amber smiled wide at the suggestion and even began to laugh excitedly before the obvious problem occurred to her. “But the full moon …” She timidly said.
“You can't look at it right?” Apple Bloom said with a smile. “So you'll just wear blindfolds. It's better to have fun even if you can't see it. Hay, some of the scares in the corn maze might be even scarier if you don't see anything.”
“They're just superstitious.” Sara scoffed. “You can wear one if you want, but I'm not scared of the moon.”
Amber began to shift uncomfortably. She didn't want to be scared, and with Sara's attitude she felt even more embarrassed.
Sweetie Belle didn't miss her discomfort and quickly came up with a solution. “We can think of it like an experiment. Sara won't wear a blindfold and you can and we'll see if anything happens.”
Amber visibly relaxed at the suggestion and nodded.
“Let's go get cupcakes!” Apple Bloom happily suggested.
***
After spending the rest of the day playing what games were set up and seeing everything they could before the celebration actually began they came up with a plan for sneaking back to Ponyville.
They would go back where they'd have James lead them to the holosuite where after waiting for a short while they'd sneak back through the castle. Apple Bloom would keep an eye out for James and keep him distracted if he came by, using the corn maze as a reason to return if she had to once everyone had gotten away.
Once back in Twilight's castle Amber would pull down the headband to act as a blindfold where they would then lead her to the wagon attached to Scootaloo's scooter.
Their plan went off perfectly and soon they were on their way to Sweet Apple Acres as the moon just barely began to raise. All they had to do was avoid Twilight and Lucca and they wouldn't have any problems.
They stopped in at the barn where they stashed their treat bags before they began to walk towards the corn maze.
“I wonder how scary it'll be with a blindfold on.” Amber said, even though she was nervous about being here she couldn't keep the excitement from her voice.
“You could always take it off.” Sara teased.
“But mom and dad told us …” Amber began to say before Sara cut her off.
“It's the moon! What could possibly happen if we look at the moon!” Sara snapped.
“Yeah.” Scootaloo giggled. “It's not like you're werewolves.”
“But …” Amber tried to say again.
“Fine!” Sara shouted. “I'll show you there's nothing to worry about you scaredy cat!” Without another word she turned and stared directly at the full moon.
“You feeling alright?” Scootaloo jokingly asked. “No wolfish urges?”
However Sara didn't hear anything Scootaloo had asked. The moment her eyes locked on the moon her mind went blank and the only thing she did hear was the thundering of her own heart. Her breath came in heaving gasps and her tail thrashed violently.
“Sara?” Amber timidly asked. “This isn't funny!” She tried desperately to stay calm but was unable to keep her worry from her voice.
“What's happening?” Sweetie Belle asked as she walked around to see Sara's face.
Sara's expression was blank and her eyes glazed over as she continued to stare at the moon. Suddenly the change itself began. Her muzzle began to elongate further, her teeth growing as it did. Seams popped and fabric tore as she grew larger, the gold flaking away from her hair as coarse dark fur grew out over her entire body.
“Sara!” Amber's blindfold grew wet with tears as she grew even more scared, not knowing what was going on.
“She is a werewolf! Run!” Apple Bloom shouted as she and Sweetie Belle jumped in the cart alongside Amber.
Scootaloo furiously beat her wings, taking them away from the transforming girl fast as Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle made sure Amber's blindfold stayed tight over her eyes. They needed to find Lucca and Twilight, they'd know what to do.
While they were wrong it was not by much. Sara had soon grown larger than the barn as true to her sayian heritage she transformed into an Oozaru.
Screams of terror erupted from the corn maze, but not from any imagined danger.
***
Lucca was focusing on the game at hand. Twilight had started by telling her about the history of the celebration but thankfully had now moved on. She held up the toy spider in her hoof and got a feel for it as she estimated just how hard she'd have to throw it. She could win this. With a grin she let the spider fly.
Before she knew how her toss had gone she clearly heard Amber crying and calling out for her. “Amber? What are you doing here?” She asked as she ran to meet her daughter.
Once she knew her mother was close she began to calm down slightly. “I'm sorry mom!… I'm so, so sorry! Sara … she …” Her voice began to break down again as she sobbed even harder.
Lucca looked in the direction that the girls had fled from and saw the gargantuan ape looming over the orchard in the distance. “Sara.” Lucca whispered as her heart ached. She looked to CMCs as her tone shifted to firm but not angry. “Girls, get to safety.”
Twilight stared wide eyed at the Oozaru at the distance. “What is that?!”
Lucca looked to Twilight and as she spoke the despair in her voice was evident. “Take care of everyone, I'll handle this.”
Before Twilight could say anything Lucca had run off towards Sweet Apple Acres.
***
Once on the farm Lucca detoured into the barn itself as she needed an ax. Yet despite the Apples needing to fell trees on the farm an ax was surprisingly difficult to find. By the time she had found an ax she was no longer the only one who felt the need to deal with the threat her daughter now posed.
She watched as Rainbow Dash barely dodged a wide swat while Pinkie Pie bounced around Sara's feet waving her hooves as though she intended to box her toes. A burst of light caught Lucca's attention as Twilight launched a spell that struck Sara's shoulder. If Sara noticed the attack she didn't acknowledge it.
Lucca could have handled this if the girls weren't in the middle of it. While she wasn't strong enough to fight Sara, she would have been agile enough to get around and cut Sara's tail off. But only if she didn't have to be concerned about who was doing what and where.
“Get back Lucca.” Applejack shouted as she ran up behind her. “Rarity's looking for Sara now, we'll handle the monster.”
“No!” Lucca shouted back. “That is Sara!”
Twilight stopped abruptly and came to land near Lucca. “What?!”
Lucca shook her head, they didn't have time to sit through the explanation but it would be even worse if they went forward not knowing what was going on. “It's why James and our daughters weren't supposed to be here tonight. If they see the full moon they turn into these giant apes.”
“Well how do we turn her back?” Twilight asked desperately. “Is it a spell?”
Lucca solemnly shook her head as she magically lifted the ax. “We have to cut her tail off.”
“What?!” Applejack, Twilight and Pinkie Pie shouted at once.
“Look. If you want to help … just pull her tail taut so I can do this cleanly.” Lucca said, her voice showing just how close to tears she really was.
“Little help with the giant monster please!” Rainbow Dash shouted as she dodged another swat. Sara roared in frustration and continued to track the speedy pegasus.
“There has to be another way.” Twilight said desperately.
“Yeah, we ain't gonna help cut part of your daughter off.” Applejack said, disgusted that dismemberment was the first solution to arise.
“Believe me I don't want to do this, but blowing up the moon isn't exactly an option.” Lucca snapped.
“Blow up the moon?!” Twilight asked just as horrified.
“Those are our options! Remove her tail or the moon!” Lucca was furious that they were still talking about this. Her daughter was on a rampage and if she hurt someone while she was like this it would destroy her.
Twilight's mind raced as she put considered just what Lucca had said. “So if the moon weren't in the sky she'd turn back to normal. We can do that! Just give me some time!”
“Help!” Rainbow Dash shouted as she was winged by a swat only to be caught by Pinkie Pie just before crashing into the ground.
“Princess Luna can set the moon. If that happens will Sara change back?” Twilight asked.
“Yes.” Lucca said, only now remembering that dreams were only part of Luna's responsibilities. “But how long will that take? She's likely to kill someone while she's like this and I can't tell her that she did that.”
“Just give me a chance.” Twilight pleaded.
Lucca nodded. “You have until I cut her tail off. That's the best I can do.” In a burst of light Twilight vanished. Lucca turned back to Sara and watched her moving towards Ponyville. “Please hurry.” She added in a whisper.
“What's going on?” Rainbow Dash asked as she approached Lucca.
***
Twilight appeared on the balcony overlooking Canterlot. Memories of her childhood, some even in the castle itself, came flooding back. She couldn't get lost in memories at the moment, there was something important she had to do.
Princess Luna looked regal as ever as she looked out over the city, her starlit mane flowing in a breeze that did not actually exist.
“Princess Luna!” Twilight called as she ran forward. “You need to set the moon! Sara's turned into a monster and right now she's heading for Ponyville and the only other way to change her back is to cut her tail off and Lucca's ready to do that now! You have to hurry!” As she got close she slowed to a trot. “ … uhm, please.”
“What?” Luna asked as she began to process the onslaught of information.
***
“So what are we going to do?” Rainbow Dash asked as they ran behind Sara. “We can't just cut her tail off.”
“We have to!” Lucca said, growing more frustrated as she had to explain the same thing over and over again. “Let's just pull her tail taut so the cut will be clean and hurt her much less.” Lucca's stomach turned as she listened to what she was saying. She should be siding with these girls, doing everything she can to not hurt her daughter. But here she was holding the ax that would do the deed and maim her daughter.
Pinkie Pie had run ahead of the group and set up her party cannon on top of a nearby building hoping to distract her.
As they got closer Applejack realized that as horrible as it was Lucca was right. They were about to cross into town where even now ponies were seeking cover. Cover that Sara was about to destroy with dangerous results. “Yer right.” She said as she ran along, pulling her lasso and beginning to twirl it. “All y'all help me so we don't hurt her too much.”
“You're kidding, right?” Rainbow Dash asked, astonished.
“I ain't.” Applejack said. Years of rodeo competition and practice made it little challenge for her to lasso the swinging tail. Almost immediately Applejack was lifted from the ground, Rainbow Dash hurrying to catch her and bring her safely to the ground.
As they worked Sara got in range of the party cannon and Pinkie Pie fired temporarily blinding Sara with confetti and streamers. Applejack and Rainbow Dash used the moment of distraction to tie the rope to a nearby boulder and take place pulling her tail.
As Sara's tail was pulled straight a paralyzing shock was sent up her back, forcing her to a knee. The significance of this was not lost on Lucca.
Sara was unable to move while they held her tail.
“Lucca!” Applejack shouted. “Hurry. Once she gets moving again I don't think we'll be able to stop her!”
Hope filled Lucca as she realized there was the chance to save the ponies of Ponyville without hurting her daughter. “Just hold her!” She called as she dropped the ax. “I didn't realize that pulling her tail would still work.”
“What?” Rainbow Dash asked as she strained to hold on, feeling each twitch of the tail through the rope.
“She can't move as long as we keep pulling her tail. If Twilight can get Luna to set the moon all Sara will have is a headache.” Lucca explained.
“If we can hold her that long.” Rainbow Dash said.
Lucca rushed to the rope and joined the two ponies already doing everything they could to save the town and her daughter. “I'll hold her for a while. You can take a rest if you need to, especially if Pinkie Pie can help too.”
Rainbow Dash scoffed. “Are you kidding me? We've got the chance to save the day and your daughter's tail. I'm not letting go!”
“None of us are!” Applejack said as Pinkie Pie joined the three pulling on the rope.
The next minute and a half passed slowly as they each glanced anxiously at the moon waiting for any change.
When that change finally came it was sudden as the moon appeared to fall behind the horizon. Sara's change was not as quick though the rope suddenly fell free as Sara shrank. Rather than return to the unicorn form she had transformed from she reverted back to her true form. Collapsing in the dirt as she did.
Lucca magically lifted her daughter as Twilight rejoined them in a burst of light. “I'm sorry we ruined Nightmare Night.” Lucca said as she began to walk away.
“We'll be alright.” Twilight said. “What about Sara?”
“Thanks to all of you she will be.” Lucca quietly said.
***
Sara's throbbing head eventually got the better of her as she woke up, the only thing that hurt worse at the moment was her tail.
She knew something was wrong as she took stock of herself. Beyond the unexplained pain she seemed to only be wearing a long night shirt and there were fleeting nightmarish memories drifting through her head.
She looked around her bedroom, the evening sun lighting up the light blue walls, stopping just short of the corner where she had shoved her bed years ago. On the nearby wall a poster of Rainbow Dash and her friends hung, another nightmare briefly flitting through her mind as she saw it.
By the large bay window was the chase lounge on which her mother currently sat, a blanket casually tossed across it showing it's occasional use as a second bed. Between her armoire and bed was her writing desk, cluttered with schoolwork and components for projects.
Next to her bed her nightstand held a large glass of water and a dose of pain killers. No doubt placed there by her father who now sat at the edge of her bed.
She groaned as she tried to sit up getting the attention of her parents.
“Hey there.” Her dad said as he placed his hand on her leg. Only now did Sara realize just how sore she was.
“Wha-what happened?” She asked as an image of ponies fleeing her flashed in her head.
James sighed as he nodded. “Nobody blames you for what happened.” He quietly said. “It's my fault, I never told you what would happen if you saw a full moon … I didn't want you and Amber growing up thinking that you were monsters.”
Sara turned pale as she thought about what she had assumed was a nightmare.
“Nobody's hurt, it's just some property damage.” James said, reading his daughter's expression. He took a breath and sighed. “You, your sister, and myself transform when we see a full moon. It's a trait we have as saiyans. We not only get larger, we get stronger and mindlessly violent. That's why the three of us couldn't join in on Nightmare Night.”
“Hey.” Lucca quietly said as she stood and walked over to the bed. “We can talk more about this later.” She leaned over and kissed Sara's forehead. “Get some rest now, okay.”
***
The next week found Sara and Amber once again with the CMCs as they walked through a dark forest. The pale light of a crescent moon breaking through the leafs of the trees. Amber walked ahead with the CMCs, Sara lingered behind. Even though the CMCs were happy to see her again and wanted to join them for this game Sara felt as though they were still afraid of her.
“Come on Scootaloo.” Apple Bloom said with a smile at her friend. “It's all an illusion.”
“I'm not scared.” Scootaloo said, completely unconvincingly. She yelped at the sound of a wolf howling in the distance. “Okay, maybe I'm a little scared.” She admitted. “It's a very convincing illusion.”
Amber looked back at Sara, she'd never seen her this hesitant and unsure. “It's okay Sara.” Amber said with a smile. “Even if this weren't an illusion it's only a crescent moon, we won't transform.”
Sara forced a smile and moved closer to the group. She didn't want to make things worse.
A clearing opened up ahead of them. In the center was a large round table with a guttered candle providing a surprising amount of light. On the table was etched the name of the game they were playing: One Night Ultimate Werewolf.
As they took their places a deep voice explained the rules and a card materialized before each of them. They checked their cards to find out their role before a gust of wind blew out the candle bathing the area in impossible darkness.
Sara could still see her card: The Werewolf.