The Book of Fearwing

Chapter 3: He's baaaaa-aaaaack

Nightmare Night, the spookiest time of the year in the wonderful world of Equestria, second only to hearth's warming eve. The little colts and fillies about in their costumes, their guardians following with smiles of amusement in response to the enjoyment of their children. Yes, the grand tradition of traversing out into the night for sweets and festivities. Hay-rides, dances, bobbing for apples, the spider toss, and of course, pranks, as demonstrated by miss Rainbow Dash sporting a marvelous shadow-bolt costume. It's just one of those holidays that can't go wrong, which usualy means that something bad is bound to happen that threatens it and then something heart-warming happens that saves the day...heh, but I digress.

It's on this glorious night, that we join three little fillies, who are getting into the spirit. It's that wonderful trio constantly on the quest of self discovery, the cutiemark crusaders. Sweetie Belle grinned, showing her fake vampire fangs. She used her magic to grab a piece of candy. It was a gumball, which she chewed happily. "Mmmm...smack...I said it once...mmph...and I'll say it again." She blew a nicely sized bubbled, which popped in the chill of the night. "I love Nightmare Night."

Scootaloo nodded, making the nose of her wolf costume wobble. "Pranks, candy, and friends, that's the life for me."

Applebloom was sporting a rather nicely crafted resemblence to the Bride of Frankenstallion. "Look over yonder. I haven't seen that house before."

And the young farm pony was right on the nose. Nopony had seen this grim looking mansion before. It was a faded old house, boards cracking, shutters hanging open, broken windows with dim lights shining out. Now, this was a truly creepy sight, not something a pony would approach on a normal day, but this was Nightmare Night and our happy little trio chalked it up to being in the spirit of things. The spider webs in the corners of the porch didn't deter them, they walked up with smiles and knocked on the door. Two taps and the door opened on it's own with an ominous creak. Scootaloo called out a "Hello?", but to no answer. The girls were a bit spooked, but candy was on the line, so they entered. The house was dusty, spider webs in every corner. In the dead silence, the trio could swear there was a low, whispering laugh. To end the suspense, they started their chant. "Nightmare night, what a fright. Give me something sweet to..." Before they could finish, a massive, glowing, shapeless mass phased up out of the floor. Wraped in rattling chains, the three gapping holes that served as it's eyes and mouth seemed to reshape and expand as it let out a ghastly shrieking roar. The poor crusaders had never been so frightened in all their little lives. They bolted for the door as fast as they could, screaming at the top of their lungs.

Now, the trio was so terrified by this collosal specter, that they didn't notice that they dropped their candy bags. They were only on the ground for a few seconds before a swift, dark, blur swooped down and snatched them up. It flew up around the ghost, did a spin around a support beam and landed in front of a big window at the top of the stares. The shape of a pegasus stood up in triumph, perfectly silhouetted against the beautiful light of the full moon. Wings raised and a cape fluttering behind him with the breeze shooting up from the open door, he let out a sinister victory laugh that echoed through the house.

Who could it be? What kind of diabolical, heartless, brute of a pony could unleash such a nightmare upon those poor little fillies? Who I ask you? Who? Heh, I'm just kidding. At this point we should know that it's that ever bold, master of the art of horror, fright, and creepy things in general, Fearwing. If you don't know that, then you haven't read Fright Night, which is weird, because who on earth reads the sequal before the original piece. Boy, don't you just hate it when you end up sitting near one of those guys at the movies, with all their ignorant questions?...Sorry, I do believe I've gone off topic. Where were we? Oh, yes! Now as to how Fearwing got back in the game, let's rewind to early that morning.

Celestia was in the best of moods. The night before, she received a letter from her dear little sister that announced Luna was on her way home. In preparation, a line of trumpet players was set ready for her arrival. Celestia smiled as the blazing sound of horns filled the throne room. Luna came through the door all aglow. She walked down the glorius red carpet on the edge of tears of joy. She couldn't believe her eyes as the guards and staff all bowed with smiles as she passed.

When Luna made it about three feet from the throne, Celestia met her with a warm embrace. "It's so good to see you again, little sister."

Luna had to overcome the lump in her throat. "Tia, this is wonderful. You're making me feel like I just got back from another thousand year stay on the moon."

Celestia just nuzzled her sister more. " I know, it's only been 3 weeks, but I just missed you so much." They pulled away and keept smiiling. "So, what did you think of the big welcome."

The lunar princess turned to admire the turn out as they left to continue their duties. "It was wonderful, but..."

The elder sister raised an eye-brow. "But?"

Luna looked around the room. "I saw you, the staff, the guards, but I didn't see..."

She was interrupted and ambushed when an overjoyed shout came from above. "Luna!" Fearwing tackled her and they rolled across the floor and into a marble collum. Once they stopped, Luna was assaulted with swarms of kisses. Fearwing gave her one more big kisss and nuzzled her cheek tenderly. "I missed you so much! I got so bored. Edgar and Vincent left to visit relatives down South and I've been racking my brain trying to figure out what to do. The other day, I just started circling my house. I was flying for hours, then I tried going into town, but lost control and crashed in Fluttershy's yard. I broke a bird house she just finished on the way down and that made her cry." He seemed down. "That made me feel bad. Making Fluttersh cry is like kicking a puppy, yelling at kittens and back-hoofing a bunny while it sleeps all at the same time."

Luna smiled at him. She thought Fearwing was so adorable when he regreted something. "That bad, huh?"

The look in his eyes projected his stress over it. "I was appologizing for 5 days. She finaly opened the door, and we made up over tea." He hugged her tight. "Please don't leave me again."

She smiled, kissed his forehead and gently brushed his mane with a free hoof. "You really can't function without me can you?"

Fearwing let out a sigh and rested his head against hers. "No." He smiled and she gave him another kiss. "When Tia told me you were coming back today, I started planing a big welcome back surprise, but I got excited and jumped too early. Which reminds me," He stepped back from the embrace and looked toward where he shot down from. "You can come down now, Pinkie, it's off."

The voice of the energetic earth pony answered. "Awwww, but Gloomy, I just finished setting up the..." There was a loud pop and the sound of noise makers. Pinkie was fired from her party cannon with a cloud of balloons,streamers, and a large white banner. All of this collided with Celestia, which knocked her and pinkie and all the party decorations next to the reunited couple. A dazed Pinkie and Celestia poked there heads out from under the banner. Luna reached over and pulled the banner out to length. It read 'Welcome back Luna' in big red letters. Everypony laughed, with a feeling like everything was back as it should be. However, Luna remembered one little detail

"Oh, I almost forgot. Fearwing, I have good news." She said with a smile.

Pinkie got excited. "Ah-ha! I knew it!" She zipped over and put a hoof around Fearwing's shoulder. "Didn't I tell you bro? She brought presents."

He nudge her in her side. "Pinkie! Yeesh, it's my girlfriend coming back home, not a visit from Grammy Pie."

Luna laughe a little. "Hmhmhm, well, Fearwing, you might want to get excited yourself. " She took a noble stance. "Fearwing Shadowhoof, as of this moment, your part of our deal has been fulfilled."

Fearwing's ears perked up. "You mean?"

The Lunar princess was looking forward to this. "That's right. As of now, you once more have free range to spook, startle, scare, and straight out terrorize to your heart's content."

He was speechless. Fearwing had a look of astonishment on his face, as he lowered into a bowing slump. His fore head touched the floor and he was quiet for the longest time, causing those closest to him concern. Then, a big, sinister grin spread from one ear to the next. He then broke his silence. "Heh..." This caught their attention. "Hehehehehehhh..." His wings shot open and posed for a grand take off. "Hehehehehehahahahaaaahhh." Fearwing flapped his wings and he rose above them at an ominous pace. Once he was high enough, he switched his stance into a triumphant pose, facing the ceiling, his laugh booming through the palace. "Mwaahahahahahaha!" He kept laughing and circled the room at a quickening pace, causing a gust of wind that scattered the party supplies and loose papers all over the throne room.

Luna, Celestia, and Pinkie had to look away as the wind picked up, but their eyes were instantly drawn to the sound of a loud crash. Fearwing and charged right through a stain-glass window, leaving a bat-shaped hole where one could onc see and image of Celestia in front of a rising sun.

The royal sisters sat there staring at the hole, eyes open and mouths agape, while Pinkie smiled as if nothing happened. "Awwww, big bro's having a good day."

Luna seemed a bit monotone. "What have I done?"

Celestia tried to put a positive spin on it. "Oh, he's just happy to get back at what he does best and tonight is Nightmare Night after all. I mean, how much can anpony really get into a holiday.

(Back to the present)

Fearwing was as happy as could be. Dressed in a fine suit of black and red with a puffy white shirt showing through the open collar. He had a black cape and a white porcelain mask that covered half his face. For this special occasion, he even cleaned his mane and brushed it straight. This wondrful time made him feel like singing, so he did.

"Oh, I adore Nightmare Night, oh yes I do!
For all of the screams and all the things that go boo!
Just as quick as a little snap,
I've set up another trap.
To scare the pony-folk, like you know I love to do.
My sister is impossible, they say,
But will I give up? No way!
My malicious fright routine
Multiplies by seventeen!

Thank the season, Luna finally let me off the chain. Meheheheheh.

Oh, I adore Nightmare Night. Oh, yes I do.
Oh, I adore Nightmare Night. Oh, yes I do!"

Fearwing was so distracted in this first outburst of song, that he didn't notice his little flight pattern was backing him up into the ghost, which swayed to his voice. When fearwing went in, the sheet too his sight and the chains restricted his wings. He fell to the floor and took his montrous spook and it's pilot with him. They hit the floor with a loud thud, followed by the crash of the chains. They dug their way out and a grey, blond, wall-eyed pegasus rubbed her head and turned to our dark friend with an apology. "Oh, I'm sorry . I should have watched where I was going, but I got caught up in the moment."

Fearwing straightened his mask and brushed off his cape. "No need for sorry, Derpy, you did a spectacular job."

She smiled with a hopeful look in her eyes. "Really?"

He nodded, returning the smile. "You bet. Up top!" The two reached up in a celebratory hoof-bumb. "I don't get why you've got such a bad rep, you're awesome."

Derpy dragged a hoof along the ground thinking about the coment. "Well, they just don't get me. They take one lok at my eyes, or see me thumble with a package and they judge me before they even know me."

Fearwing raised her gaze so they were face to face and brushed her mane out of her eyes. "Nonsense. You're the only mail-mare that remembers where my house is, you bake the best muffins in town, you understand how the town works more than most ponies and to top it off, you're a single mother. If they had an award for mare of the year, it'd go to you."

She blushed and without thinking, gave him a hug. She held back her tears, but sniffed a bit as she grinned her biggest. "You're the best friend a pony could ask for."

He returned the hug. These were the moments he cherished. Fearwing was at last making close friends, instead of just scaring ponies away. A familiar voice interupted them. "Can I get in on the hug or are you two having a moment?"

Fearwing turned his attention to Trixie, who was wearing a skin-tight, purple, latex outfit with a matching mask that she wore over her eyes. He laughe a little. "Of course. Come here you." He pulled the blue unicorn in for a big group hug. "You, with the glowing, and making the floor intangible. Who's the best at illusion magic?"

Trixie gave a little smile. "Me."

He ruffled her mane. "That's right you."

They all puled out of the hug and Derpy started for the door. "I had a lot of fun, but I've gotta go guys. Dinky and me are gonna meet at the Cakes' party."

Fearwing nodded with a smile, then tossed her one of the treat-bags he got from the crusaders. "Give her this and tell her I said hello."

She waved one last goodbye, then closed the door. Trixie looked at the lump that was once the source of horror. "It's getting late, maybe we should start the clean up." Fearwing nodded and the two got to work. Trixie let her magic get to work winding the chains into a nice coiled pile, while fearwing hovered above the floor, folding the sheet. Trixie decided some conversation would help pass the time. "Soooo, tell, how are things going with you and the princess?"

He raised an eyebrow. "Heh, which one? I know both."

She flashed him a slick smile and an accusing look. "You know who I'm talking about. Dish, the great and powerful Trixie demands gossip."

Fearwing smiled and swayed in the air with his heart. "Ah, What more is there to say than she is the love of my life. The wind beneath my wings has no feeling without her. When she came into my life, she opened a door that turned my whole life around in the best of ways."

Trixie took her mask off and looked at him with a mix of confusion and slight saddness. "But you loved being a loner. When ever somepony got lost in the woods, you'd scare them out of their minds and send them running right back to Ponyville. When everypony else was joining together as one in the spirit of friendship and good-will, you were the one who wanted to go it alone, to be your own stallion."

He stopped folding. "Yeah, but, and understand that you're the only one I'll admit this to, I was so lonely. I missed everything. Not my parents and the rock farm, that can burn for all I care, but my sisters, Ponyville, society in general. I'd often think about going with you on your travels, giving the public a show of magic and monsters the likes of which they'd never seen before, but...I don't know, I guess I just couldn't work up the nerve to get out of the dark place I put myself in. Then one night, out of nowhere, I find this vision of darkness. A fountain of repressed anger and ambition, a beacon of desire for the love she deserved."

She pieced together where he was going. "Nightmare Moon."

Fearwing finished putting his ghost away. "I offered her my friendship. Where others were afraid, I was wrapped with intrigue. For the first time, I found somepony like me."

Trixie walked up to him with a warm smile and a carring look in her eyes. "And now that you two have been shown friendship and love, the true beauty trapped in the dark has been set free."

He smiled as he snuggled up to him. "You really do have a flare with words. Yeah, I feel like alot of weight has been lifted off my shoulders, but I like to think I've balanced that with my old fright happy self. I have all these new friends and I kept the old ones."

She gave him a little kiss and they nestled down together. "You sure do."

Fearwing seemed puzzled. "Hey, Trix, what exactly do you and I have? I mean, Luna's my girl-friend and I love her with all my heart, but then you and me get all close like this and you tend to..."

Trixie blushed a bit and silenced him. "I will admit, I'm atracted to you. If things had been different, I'd have begged you to come with me on the road. I will let you and Luna be together, but I'll be waiting for my chance. Until then...well, you know I like to put on a show."

Their moment was interupted by a knock at the door that made them stand up in an instant. A familiar voice came with the knockng. "Helloooo, anypony home?"

Fearwing rolled his eyes. "Speaking of weird relationships." He flew over and opened the door. "Rarity! You made it. Ooohh, you look stunning."

The white unicorn walked in a black silk dress with a spider web pattern and a high collar with a red inside. She wore her mane down, dark eye liner and crimson red lip-stick. She topped it off with the bat earings Fearwing gave her when they first met. "You think so? I just figured I'd just throw something together for the holiday. Nothing much." She lied. She was trying to look good for him. "I trust you enjoyed yourself this evening."

He gave a big smile and his eyes widened in excitement. "It was awesome. A symphony of screams from mares, stallions, and foals alike. I pulled in my favorite tricks for this night. I must have nabbed two barrel fulls of candy." In his reminiscing, Fearwing lost control of his wings and started drifting up. "I got to use the gargoyles, the inflatible goblins, the spring loaded gorgons...Sigh...I love what I do. I have to remember to be super sweet to Luna for letting me get back to work."

Rarity's eyes widened. "Oh, that reminds me. She came to Ponyville tonight."

Fearwing smiled at the surprise. "Ah, she took my advice then. It's like I said get out there and say hello, show them the wonderful, smart, fun princess I know. I bet she's already won the hearts of the entire town."

Rarity seemed sad to bust his bubble. "Well..."

The Everfree forest was particularly creepy on this night of terror. After hearing the events that took place while he was falling off the wagon in style, Fearwing went searching for his girl-friend. Rarity told him that Twilight was able to help sort things out and bring Luna into a light that was a little brighter than the one she was in, but he had this sixth sense that told him he was needed. Word from the townies told him She went out into the woods. He flew at a slow pace in his search.

He loked left and right, hoping to catch a glimpse. "Luna? Luna? Here Luna, Luna, Luna." He stopped and looked puzzled at his own words. "Why did I do that like I was calling a dog? Steady, Fearwing." He kept going and dove below the tree-line to continue. "Your just adjusting to the whole being-a-coltfriend-thing and your concerned for your mare. It's understandable." He searched al over and called again. " Luna! Sweet-heart? Doll-face? Love dove, Sugar bee,...Shmoopy? I could keep going with the pet-names, but I really don't want to, cause it's getting kinda weird." He reccognized where he was. "Huh, I know this place. Shouldn't there be a statue right over..."

As Fearwing drew closer to the empty base with the plaque that read, 'Nightmare Moon', The infamous queen of the night appeared before the black Pegasus. "Rah!" Fearwing yelped and fell to the ground as the dark alicorn stepped down and stood over him. "You!"

Fearwing tried to back away, but she just kept moving, keeping their faces just half an inch apart. "I knew it." Said Fearwing in a panic. "This whole mess made you fall back into that same state of depression and rejection and rage. It made you Nightmare Moon again."

She glared at him. "How, very perceptive. Your so called advice, that was to stop those six interlopers, failed miserably."

He was sweating. "N-now, to be fair, I-I said it should work, I never really guaranteed..." She snarled at him. "I'm gonna shut up now."

Fearwing was forced to stop as he reached a tree. They were now nose to nose, as Nightmare stared daggers at him. "For your failure to the true princess, you will be punished to the full extent of our might." This made Fearwing's eyes go wide. Nightmare made sure she was nice and close and with venom in her voice, said "Now, prepare yourself," She then flashed him a sweet smile. "shmoopy." She gave him a kiss, then stepped back. Her horn glowed and she was enveloped in a white light. In a few seconds, she shrank and when the light cleared, she was sweet, fun-loving Luna again.

Fearwing exhaled deep and held a hoof over his heart. "Nyah...you...you."

Luna smiled grandly and did a little victory dance. "I so totaly got you! I got you, I got you, uh-huh, uh-huh, uh-huh."

He sat up and tried to compose himself. "What? Nah, it was just a little surprising is all."

She didn't want to hear it. "Oh no, that look on your face said it all. I got you good. Admit it."

Fearwing regained his casual stance. "Maybe, if we weren't all alone out here and you had a way to prove it." She bopped him in the side and the two shared a laugh. "Okay, hehehehe, maybe you did get the jump on me."

Luna nuzzled him. "I'm glad I found you. I feel like I need a hug."

He did just so. "I heard what happened. Poor baby, you just wanted them to love you like they love your sister and they turn you away."

She rested her head on his shoulder. "It was awful. They hated me, treated me like I was a monster. The way they looked at me..." She sniffled a bit and the tears started to well up in her eyes.

Fearwing wraped her in his cape and snuggled close. He dried her eyes. "Hey, come on. It couldn't have been that bad."

Luna pulled back and raised a hoof for emphasis. "The little ones thought I was going to eat them! They ran, they screamed, and Pinkie led them the whole time. It took her one second and she jumped to some wild conclusion that incited a horrified retreat."

He wasn't too surprised. "What did you expect? It's Pinkie. She was probably all hyped up on holiday sugar and if she was wearing the chicken suit, that doubles."

She relaxed and leaned back into him. "Well, the night did get better. It turns out that the children like to be scared on Nightmare Night. I indulged them a bit on Twilight Sparkle's suggestion and it worked wonderfully. Hmhmhmhm, One of them even said I was his favorite princess ever."

Fearwing was happy. "There's a smile. I'm glad things worked out and I'm sorry you had a rough night, but did you have to cancel Nightmare Night? I meann seriously, Luna. This is my holiday!"

Luna looked aggitated, then hurt. "Don't shout at me, I was sad. I didn't know what else to do."

He placd a wing around her. "I know, I'm sorry I snapped. Hey, How about you and me go to the Cakes' party. We can show everybody the real Luna. Maybe get our dance on."

She dried her eyes again and looked at him with a little smile. "Okay. Do you think there'll be cookies?"

Fearwing took her by the hoof and they took to the sky. "Sure they will, Luna. And there will be cakes, and pumpkin-pies and ice-cream and punch and hot chocolate."

Luna smiled. "I'd like that."

The two went off to salvage the rest of their night. Well, mostly it was to save Luna's wounded ego, Fearwing rocked it like a hurricane, but it was still a sweet ending to a great night.