Nightmare Night; What a Fright!

>You insert another cartridge into the chamber.
>You had since long come to terms with the fact that the local populace didn't accept you as one of them; they thought you a monster.
>But that was fine, because at least you didn't have to set foot in town very often.
>And who needs friends anyway?
>You took solace in the fact that they always left you alone in your home.
>Or at least, that used to be the case.
>Just the other night, a group of ponies came around throwing rocks and bottles at your house, smashing your windows.
>And that was the -third- time in a month.
>You've had just about enough.
>Loading the final cartridge into the revolver, you smile to yourself.
>Your old, trustworthy Colt Python, one of your sacred few memories from your home.
>Celestia had allowed you to keep it, on the vow that you would never use it.
>Bah, forget Celestia.
>You don't care what anyone else says; a man should be allowed to protect his property by -any- means necessary.
>Celestia probably even knows what's been happening and chooses to do nothing.
>She must despise you, just like everyone else does.
>Well, you'll show her; you'll show them all.
>The next time those pony fuckers come around, trying to mess with your shit, you're going to be ready.
>You're going to show them why they -should- hate you, why they -should- fear you.
>The distinct sound of hooves rapping against your frontdoor pulls your mind back to reality.
>Ponies are outside your door.
>You start breathing faster, you hadn't expected this to happen so soon.
>Revolver in hand, you descend the stairs from your bedroom.
>As you stand preemptive in front of your door, another series of knocks send echoes throughout your living room.
>Mentally preparing yourself what's about to go down, you feel the adrenaline surge through you.
>Breathing through your teeth, your knuckles turn white as your grip your friend tight.
>Tonight, everything changes.
>Putting on your war face, you answer the door.

>On the doorstep stands three little fillies, dressed up in odd costumes.
>You remember seeing them before, in P0nyville.
>If memory serves, one of them, the white one, is a sister to one of the Elements of Harmony.
>Sweetie Belle was her name.
>The other two, you don't know much about.
>The lot of them looked terrified of you at first.
>But then Sweeite Belle swallowed hard and spoke up.
>Sweetie: "Nightmare Night! What a fright! Give us something sweet to bite!"
>You just stare at her, dumbfounded.
>This wasn't what you had expected.
>You feel your rage begin to dissipate and your heartbeat slow down, as confusion is added to your melting pot of emotions.
>The tree fillies share a quick look.
>Scoots: "I told you this was a bad idea..." the orange-coated filly whispers to her pristine friend
>Sweetie Belle puts on a nervous smile,
>Sweetie: "Uhm... Mr. Anon... We're sorry to bother you, but w-we just wanted to give you a scare for Nightmare Night."
"You... Wha... Nightmare Night?" you blurt out, staring at the little filles with a confused look
>The yellow filly, a look of disbelief on her face, chimes in,
>AB: "Ya'll don't even know what Nightmare Night is?"
>You simply shake your head, still bewildered with this unexpected turn of events.
>AB: "Why Nightmare Night is probably the greatest night of the year."
>AB: "Ya get to dress up in scary costumes and show 'em off 'round town."
>Sweetie: "And there are always lots of fun games to play at the center of town!"
>The faces of the three fillies light up as they regale you with the customs of Nightmare Night.
>Scoots: "And don't forget the candy!"
>AB: "That's right, ya also get candy from everp0ny in town!"
>Scoots: "It's the best!"
>When the fillies embark upon a heated discussion of which type of candy is the best, you raise a hand to silence them.
"I... I guess you want some candy, am I right?"
>The three of them stare expectantly at you, nodding their heads.
"I'm sorry to disappoint, but I don't have any."
>The fillies moan dejectedly.
"I wasn't exacly prepared for this..."
>Sweetie: "Ahh, it's okay Mr. Anon." Sweetie Belle says with a compassionate voice.
>AB: "Yeah, we already have lots of candy anyways." her friend interjects.
>Sweetie: "Everyp0ny warned us that you wouldn't give us any candy, and they told us we shouldn't even bother comming here."
>Sweetie: "But we just didn't want you to completely miss out on your first Nightmare Night."
"You... Came here, for me?"
>Sweetie Belle turns her gaze to the ground, as if she had done something wrong.
>Sweetie: "Well, yeah... I hope we didn't bother you too much."
>You stare blankly ahead of you.
>Thinking back at what you were planning to do... And now this?
>You can't seem to form a coherent response; your mind is in a jumble, different feelings clashing and thoughts racing.
>The awkward silence that you bring about, doesn't last long though.
>AB: "We'd had better get on back, 'for ma sister comes looking for us." the yellow filly exclaims
>Her friends nod their agreement and hastily bid you a good night.
>As they vanish into the dark night, you slowly push the door closed.
>You look at the gun still tightly clenched in your fist, prepped to fire.
>The smiling faces of the cute fillies flash before your eyes.
>You suddenly feel very sick.


>You gingerly levitate the ornate cup to your lips, taking a small, lady-like sip of tea before setting it back down on the table.
>Sitting across from you, Twilight follows your example and takes a sip of her tea as well.
"Well then, Twilight darling, do tell, what was it you wanted to discuss?"
>She lowers her cup to the table and smiles at you.
>Twi: "You see Rarity, I was--"
>Your friend barely gets a few words out before she's interrupted by the ringing of a bell; someone's entered the boutique.
"Why I am terribly sorry Twilight, I'll be back in a jiffy."
>She nods understandingly as you trot t outhrough the door to the front of the boutique.
>Putting on your warmest smile for your potenial customer, you welcome your visitor,
"Welcome to the Carousel Boutique, I'm Rar-- Oh, it's you..."
>Anon, the strange monkey creature stands by the entrance, looking terribly out of place.
>You give him a concerned look.
>What in Equestria is he doing here?
>Anon: "Afternoon, Miss... Uhh... Rarity, was it?"
>Nodding, you force a smile; at least he remembers your name.
>Anon: "I was just wondering if your sister, uhh..."
>Anon: "Sweetie Belle?" He looks at you questioningly as he speaks her name
"Yeees? What about her?" you ask in a worried voice
>Anon: "Is she here?"
"No, no I do believe she's still in school..."
>You catch yourself.
>Oh Rarity you fool!
>Did you just divulge too much information?
>Celestia knows what this -Thing- wants with your precious, little sister.
>Why must you always be so courteous?
"W-why do you ask?"
>You eye him suspiciously.
>He smiles.
>Anon: "Oh, I just have something for her."
>Anon: "Something I should have given her last night."
>Last night?
>You remember Sweetie Belle telling you how she visisted Anon's house with her friends.
>With dread you recall how she told you that he had answered the door with a maniacal face, holding that abominable "revolver" of his.
>Something he should have given her last night?
>You don't possibly think he could mean to...
>Could it be?
>Anon: "Well, thank you for you time, Miss Rarity"
>As soon as the door closes behind him, you gallop to the back of the store, to Twilight.
>She looks surprised as you come barreling into the room.
>Twi: "Rarity, is everything okay?"
"I... I'm not sure, but I think we have a problem..."
>She gets up from her seat and walks over to you, putting a comforting hoof on your back.
>Twi: "What is it?"
"It's Anon... He was just here, looking for Sweeite Belle."
"I think he means to... To..."
>At the mere thought of speaking the words, you feel like fainting, as if saying it out loud would put truth to it.
"He said he had something to give her, something he should have given her last night."
>Twilight shares your concerned look.
"And Sweeite Belle told me that yesterday, when she had been at his house for Nightmare Night, he had been holding his revolver."
>Twi: "You don't think he would...?"
"I don't know for sure, of course, and it would be terribly brash for a lady to accuse someone without proper evidence, but... I think it's best if we find Sweetie Belle before he does."


>With your best friends at your back, you rush down the road towards the school.
>You barrel down the makeshift street, trying to make up for the time you lost gathering the girls together.
>Dirt flies up underneath your hooves, staining your pristine coat, but you couldn't care less.
>If something were to happen to your sister...
>You don't even want to think about it.
>The six of you skid to a halt as you come up on Cheerilee standing outside the school.
>She looks over from her work of hanging up a plaque, smiling warmly when she sees who's come to visit.
>Cheerilee: "Afternoon ladies, beautiful day isn't it?"
"Oh, I'm not too sure about that..."
>She gives you a perplexed look.
"Do you know where Sweetie Belle is?"
>Cheerilee: "Oh, I overheard the little sweetheart and her friends say they were going to their clubhouse."
>Cheerilee: "It's funny, that strange fellow... Anon? Was here just a moment ago, asking after her as well."
>Now concered for her own sister as well, Applejack chimes in,
>AJ: "Ya'll didn't tell 'em nothin', did ya?"
>Cheerille: "Why of course I did..." she says with a smile
>The worried looks on everyone's faces makes her ill at ease, her smile fading.
>Cheerille: "I-is there a reason why I shouldn't have?"
>You share a look with your friends.
>Twi: "Uhh... We'll explain later."
>With those words, the lot of you begin your race towards Sweet Apple Acres, towards the Cutie Mark Crusaders Headquarters.
>It's not very far and you move quickly.
>Still it feels like you're running for an eternity.
>You feel your legs straining, threatening to give in, but you push on anyway, for Sweetie Belle.
>With sweat dripping down your face, your coat layered thick with grime and your mane a disaster, you finally come across the clubhouse, suspended atop a tree.
>The glade is quiet; perhaps -too- quiet.
>You spare no time, practically flying up the steppes before barging through the door.

>Inside, you are baffled to find three smiling fillies sprawled out across a huge pile of candy.
>As your friends flood the room, the fillies stare with quizzical eyes.
>Sweeite Belle: "Rarity? What happened to you? What's going on?"
>You hop over to her and embrace her in a hug.
"Oh, Sweeite, I'm so glad that you're alright."
>Sweeite Belle: "Why wouldn't I be?"
>You chuckle nervously
"Eh-he..."
>Oh, how to explain this to a little filly?
"You remember Anon, right?"
>Scoots: "Of course she remembers Anon."
>Scoots: "How could she not? I mean, just look at all this candy!"
>You stare at the smiling Scootaloo.
"I beg your pardon?"
>AB: "Anon was here a moment ago, ya'll just missed him. He had--"
"Whaaat?!"
"He was here already?"
>Sweetie: "Yeah, he stopped by to give us this huge bag of candy."
>She motions a hoof at the grand candy pile to her side.
"He... He... What?"
>Sweetie Belle: "He said he felt bad about not giving us any candy last night, so he gave us a bunch today instead."
>Sweeite Belle: "I don't know why you're all so scared of him, he's super nice and funny!"
>Scootaloo holds up a hoof full of candy.
>Scoots: "Yeah! Just look at how much candy we have now, can you believe it?"
>The things you thought of him...
>What you feared he would do...
>And -this- is what he did?
>You look over at your friends, they all reflect your shame.
"No... I would never have thought this..."

The End