That was when he woke up. He had fallen off the bed, tumbling onto the floor of Pinkie's room. His head cleared of the nightmare, rubbing his wings, which had stung less, and looked out the window.
Dawn was just on the horizon, the night's frost still apparent on the ground as the sun began to rise. Yugi had looked around at his surroundings. Twilight must've brought him back here long after he fell asleep. But where was Pinkie…?
He soon answered his own question. Pinkie Pie was curled up near a long table, within a pink sleeping bag. She was snoring; bouncy mane all tussled as a party hat remained on her head. Deciding not to wake her, he grabbed the blanket from off of her bed, and gently pulled it over her, deciding to go out to clear his head.
Ponyville was very still and quiet—barely anypony was out, except for Yugi himself. He felt his bandages a little; the aches from touching his wings were barely felt anymore. Maybe…maybe he should try it out…
Carefully removing his bandages, he slowly began to extend his wings. They were of a decent size—neither big nor small, but just a normal size for him. Maybe…just maybe…he should attempt to fly. Taking in a bit of air, he began to flap them carefully.
Just by a little bit, he got off the ground, hovering over it by a few inches. Yugi now and then winced—being unable to stretch them for the past two days had him feel some sore cramps. However, he smiled a tiny smile at his slow progress.
Slowly, he flapped up higher, before speeding up in elevation, and was soon just above the rooftops of the village. Taking in a breath of amazement, he began to fly around, flying high into the cloud cover and enjoying the feel of the wind in his face as he began to think.
What was that dream all about? Did I know that pony? And that Unicorn…Yugi shivered, and dove through a cloud, feeling water droplets drench a bit of his fur. Were they…were they hurting him? What was it that they were doing? And WHO was that pony? A relative? A friend? …ugh…I wish I could remember…
Yugi flew up again, flying around a small cloud before landing on it. Did I lose my memories…the moment we got separated? That Dream…was it a memory? That Pony….if he's okay…maybe he's the key to my memories….I just have to find him, is all. Seems to be the best choice, right? But…I don't even know his name…
Yugi held his head. "Maybe you should tell Twilight everything, as soon as she's awake." He told himself. "She can help."
He looked to the sky, sighing. "…I hope she can help."
This is exactly why he HATED portals. The Ditz-for-a-partner had opened his in what was (to him, basically) the Cold North.
And all he had was a cloak to keep him warm. Puckin' figures—he always get the worst of luck as of late. At least he had a little benefit with his form having changed into a Horse—gods, he missed having warm blood.
But being in the frigid, cold north had added to the list of annoyances that tried his patience. If she had waited for him to catch up (not that he had much to do), or just expressed a little patience, He wouldn't be up in a frozen, barren wasteland with no residents of this world in sight.
Hell, this whole wild goose chase by coming into this world might be all for nothing. He had specifically told her that he was secured by Dartz—under proverbial lock and key. But did she listen? No—she insisted that he was in another world. He hated to sound pessimistic, but he basically had front row seats (very bitterly so) to the soul-sucking magic light show. If he finds out he was right, and they had come into this world all for nothing, he was going to personally roast the little No. 2 Mook.
He was having a very bad day, but he looked on the bright side. It wasn't like it was to get worse.
Of course, the minute he tempted fate, in comes trouble in the form of a blizzard and a large black cloud of dark magic. With eyes of green and red.
"I HATE my Luck sometimes." He grumbled under his breath, and turned to run from the large billowing smoke cloud that began to pursue him. He was in no mood to fight and definitely not in the right condition to begin so, and with nobody in sight; he wasn't going to risk being frozen into a nice living statue.
The darkness was already on his heels. He huffed, finally turning to face the cloud, drawing his sword from underneath the cloak, and with all the pressure he could muster, drove it straight into the frozen ground, sending up a wave of magic energy at the cloud.
The being within it snarled and hissed in rage and pain, recoiling from the blast as he kept running, sheathing his sword once more and leaving the Cold North.
He was too much in a rush to notice the prism-like light that faintly shined from the large crack that he made, slowly glowing larger…
Things in the world we knew have been rather odd and rough. The newscasters had been raving about the beginning of the end of the world—people collapsing in the streets, strange lights in the sky, freakish, severe storms appearing much more frequently. There was an issued curfew; no one was allowed outside after dusk, for their safety.
For Domino, it was absolutely strict. If people didn't stay inside due to fear, the curfew (and the cops) was enough to force the citizens inside. For the young populace, it meant paranoia and boredom.
But Not to the more active Bronies. So they couldn't really go out anymore due to the curfew and these strange goings-on to play games (especially for Bronies that were Duelists) or hang with friends physically. They had their TV, their food, their internet—and of course, their Ponies.
My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic Had been catching on in real hot popularity as of late. It was now in mid-break, with season three to air later in a couple of months. For now, they watched the episodes of season one and season two, enjoying the colorful little ponies and speculating on all sorts of ideas and thoughts from the show, as well as talking about other daily events with their friends.
However, the Show was about get a major-bombshell for all fans (EPSECIALLY Fans from and within Domino City) on this particular day.
Today, it was supposed to be a normal re-run—Of the Episode Luna Eclipsed. They had noticed, oddly, when they checked the information on the guide for this rerun, that the information and synopsis had nothing but Question Marks within it, all save for the title, but they had passed it off as interference from the storms.
But no storm caused what had played in its Cold Open, much to the massive surprise of Domino City, and soon, all the world.
(A/N: Oh? Oh Hi! Um…well, I guess you must be the audience. Well, I guess I should tell you what Rainstone said. Sometimes there will be chapter stories based off of episodes from My little Pony: Friendship is Magic, especially between the Season 2 and Season 3 episodes. The noted warnings she told me was: 1—not all the chapters will happen in order of airing, but all featured episodes will happen in order of season, as to not mix up everyone. 2—the "Question Mark" episodes that Domino City and the whole world get to see are very special. Chapters labeled "SE" meaning "Special Episode" means they're an altered episode or an entirely new one In-Universe! She told me to tell you this in case you get confused and lost at some points. Thanks for listening! –Yugi)
It had been a few months, and soon, Nightmare Night had arrived in Ponyville. Yugi had arrived back in Sugarcube Corner—finished making his rounds of delivering orders to the customers of the bakery and sweetshop—just in time to change into his costume. For the past few months, Yugi had begun doing small jobs—especially with helping the Cakes and Pinkie Pie with delivering local orders—in order to get to know the ponies better and to earn some bits.
He had grown adjusted to life in the town during this time—though he still had no memories of what his life was like before, but Twilight said she would try her best to help him, and she had tried (and was still trying). However, tonight was going to be fun; he had never celebrated Nightmare Night before, and he wanted to attend the festival.
He had already missed Pinkie Pie—she had gone out early, dressed as…of all things….a chicken. As he reached into the saddlebag containing his costume, he had saw a modified form of the dark purple cloak she had in her Boutique, with a pentagram jeweled brooch (amethyst, from its color) to fasten it, and a note from the Fashionista herself:
"Yugi, Darling:
I thought I would throw in the cloak to add a more mysterious look to your costume, and also to help you keep warm if it gets cold tonight. I'm afraid I won't be joining you all for tonight's festivities, but I hope that you have a splendid time! Do tell me what the girls think of the costume when you can! XOXO –Rarity
P.S.: I'm sorry that I couldn't do the hat right…I hope the headband accessory and the staff makes up for it—the staff's gem is made from a real emerald! Only the best for such a challenging costume!"
Yugi had smiled, and pulled out the costume, putting it on, along with the cloak. Looking in the mirror, he admired Rarity's work. Modified here and there for his body, but nevertheless, it was well done, with love and care…and it had turned out AMAZING.
Putting on the headband and cloak, and grabbing the green staff that leaned on the wall nearby, he had went to see Twilight.
Spike paced within the main foyer of the library, waiting for Twilight. However, Twilight had been taking longer than usual putting on her costume.
"Come On, Twilight! We're gonna be late for the Nightmare Night Festival!"
Twilight had stepped down the stairs, dressed in a blue wizard's hat and cloak, adorned with patterns of moons and stars and bells that jingled, with a yellow band acting as the cloak's fastener, and to complete the ensemble, she wore a long, white fake beard.
Spike scratched his head in confusion. "Are you that….One creepy grandpa from the Ponyville Retirement Village?"
Of Course, Twilight was not amused. "Spike—I'm Starswirl the Bearded!"
No response.
"Father of the anamorphic spell?"
Still no response.
"Did you even READ that book I gave you on Obscure Unicorn History?"
Spike had begun to answer very nervously, when there was a knock at the door.
"Uh…that sounds Important! I'll go get it!" with that, Spike dashed for the door, answering it to reveal a Pony in a dark purple cloak with light purple accents and a pentagram brooch made from a gemstone, a light green staff held in his left forehoof.
"Woah! Uh, um—"
"Evening, Spike! Sorry, did I come too early?" a Light, slightly squeaky but definitely Male voice spoke from under the hood, his right hoof—covered by a dark gray Hoof-glove—reached for the hood and pulled it down, revealing wide violet eyes and a short, fluffy, red-and-black mane with equally fluffy bangs that were a golden yellow—the bangs being held up slightly by a dark purple Diadem-like headband with a light green gem at its center.
"Uh, no—wow, Yugi, I really didn't recognize you under that cloak! So…um, is that the costume Rarity made for you?"
"Oh…well, actually, the cloak is a part of it, but if you let me inside, I'll show you the actual costume."
"Oh, sure!" Spike said as he stepped out of Yugi's way to enter. Twilight had untwisted herself from the position that Spike's dash to the door had given her, and saw Yugi come in. "You look Great, Twilight…but….sorry if I sound a bit lost…who are you dressed up as?"
"I'm Starswirl The Bearded, of course!"
"Starswirl…the Bearded? Oh! That Unicorn Spellcaster I read about in that book you gave me for history study?"
Twilight had given Spike a pointed look at Spike. "That would be right! So…what are you dressed up as? A Spellcaster as well?"
"Somewhat." And Yugi pulled off the cloak, revealing what was underneath. It was a Mage-like costume with a bit of a modern look, plated bits of dark purple armor worn on his shoulders, forlegs and hindlegs, with a darker purple cloth acting as the main cover up of his body. His cloak still fit snugly, blending with the hood on the main part of the costume, and the staff still held in his left hoof as he stood on his hind legs. On his hooves were hoof gloves, adding a bit of a modern touch to the edgy yet peculiar look of the costume. On his waist was an added touch of small black saddle bags and a belt that matched the costume's fabric. Wobbling on his hindlegs, he got back on all fours, holding the staff within his mouth as he got back down.
"Oh, wow! Yugi, this is amazing! …but who are you, this time?"
"Well, I wouldn't expect you to know who it is—I have no idea either, but it's The Dark Magician."
"The Dark Whatzit?" Spike said, looking at Rarity's handiwork on the costume.
"Magician, Spike. It's quite amazing, even though I've never heard or read of that kind of Pony before."
"Yeah, I suppose. Rarity said she wanted to give it a modern look and feel so that I'd feel comfortable in the costume, given that I'll be walking around in it all night." Yugi said, smiling. "I think she did great…wish I had her kind of talent, though."
"Well, it's certainly impressive that you remembered the design. But enough about your memories for now~ Tonight's Your First Nightmare Night!"
There was another knock at the door. "I'll go get it this time." Yugi offered, and went to the door, opening it.
Three young fillies had answered in sing-song, dressed in costumes and wearing satchels of candy around their necks.
"Nightmare Night, What a Fright, Give us something sweet to Bite!"
"Awww, aren't you fillies cute?" Yugi couldn't help but fawn a little. Twilight had joined him at the door.
"Evening, Everypony! Great Costumes! …And Happy Nightmare Night, Granny Smith!"
"I should've been asleep 5 hours ago!"
Using her magic, Twilight began to hand out pieces of candy to the small fillies, when one had darted out ahead—dressed as a pirate and waving a small rubber sword. Yugi instantly recognized him as Pipsqueak, one of the Colts that had moved in from Trottingham, and like him, celebrating his first Nightmare Night. While Pipsqueak was talking to Twilight, the little filly girls began looking all around him.
"Wow! What a pretty costume! Are you dressed up as a prince?" the Princess dressed filly asked.
"No he isn't, he's dressed like a knight!" responded the Astronaut filly.
"I think it's amazing~ did Miss Rarity make it for you?" peeped up the Ladybug Filly.
Yugi blushed. "Yeah, she did, but—"
A Loud squawk and a shove snapped Yugi to the attention of a large chicken—or to be more accurate, Pinkie Pie. "ENOUGH CHIT-CHAT! Time Is Candy!"
"Aren't you a little too old for this?" Twilight and Yugi had responded in tandem.
"Too Old for free candy?!" Pinkie Pie gasped, "NEVER."
Rolling her eyes, Twilight put a piece of candy into Pinkie Pie's bag, the Chicken-costumed equine smiling.
"So, do you like our costumes, Pinkie?" Twilight said as she poked up her hat a little as Yugi shifted his hooves.
"Oh yeah! Great Costume, guys! You both make an awesome Weirdo Clown and Weirdo Knight duo!"
Yugi had turned several shades of red from that remark. Weirdo….KNIGHT?!
Pinkie Pie, meanwhile, had pecked away at the bowl, robbing it of all its candy. As they left, Twilight had looked rather annoyed.
"CLOWN?! Look at the borders of this cloak! They're hoofstitched!"
"Well…I still think you did a wonderful job." Yugi responded.
"Yeah, it's a great Costume, Grandpa."
Yugi had facehoofed. Spike was not helping. At all.
Yugi had decided to try some trick-or-treating before joining the main festival. Deciding not to carry his satchel around his neck, he used his staff to carry the strap and hold it out, carrying the staff in his mouth (he had opted to say a muffled "Sweets-To-Bite" phrase rather than do the full chant, on the account that his tongue was busy holding the staff within) with the gem faintly glowing from the moonlight.
As he headed to the festival, he looked at the night sky, seeing stars now and then shooting across the sky. He swore though…that now and then, he saw green stars shoot by. He shook it off and joined the festivities, quietly observing before joining in on the fun—he liked the spider toss and apple bobbing the best; though all that came to a stop when Derpy Hooves popped out of the barrel (in a…paperbag costume) and drained the whole tub of water.
Yugi could hear thunder blast from above—coming from Rainbow Dressed as a Shadowbolt. A prank to be had, he assumed. However, he looked to the stage as the Mayor came up….dressed as a clown. With a rainbow wig to boot.
"All the little Ponies who have been out collecting sweets should follow our friend Zecora to hear the legend of…." The Mayor's voice then began to sound with the usual corny scariness, "Nightmare Mooooonn!"
The Costume mostly killed the scariness, but he had gotten curious…who was Nightmare Moon?
In a puff of green cloud, a Zebra appeared, wearing a tattered black robe with a wig that had fake spiders (he assumed), smiling at the crowd that watched.
"Follow me, and you shall hear soon, about the Tale, of Nightmare Moon."
Yugi had never been in the Everfree Forest before…though he made a mental note to himself not to come here at night or alone. The forest had reminded him too much of the dark forest he had seen in his dreams. He and the crowd had stopped at a statue of a large, intimidating Unicorn with Wings (An Alicorn, he remembered Twilight saying), rearing and pointing an armored hoof at them. The menacing look on the Alicorn's face had scared him a little, but he didn't show it other than his ears flattening.
"Gather around, my little dears, I shall tell you about your fears. Of Nightmare Night, So dark and Scary, Of Nightmare Moon, who makes you weary."
In the middle of this, Zecora had used a strange green dust to create a green, misty version of the Alicorn statue, which flew around and dived at the crowd. Yugi had flinched a little—seeing as how the mist now surrounded them.
"Every year, we plow the skies, to watch for Nightmare Moon's Watching eyes. For Nightmare Moon wants one thing—to gobble up little Ponies in One quick Swing!
"Hungrily, she scours the skies; if she sees nopony, she passes by. If she comes, and all is clear, Equestria Is safe for another year!"
"Miss Zecora…if we wear costumes to hide from Nightmare Moon…then why do we still have to give up our candy?" Pipsqueak had asked.
"A Perfect question, My little friend; for Nightmare Moon, you must not offend. Fill up her belly, with a treat or two…And she won't return to come and EAT YOU!"
The next misty illusion of the frightening, fanged Alicorn had sent almost everyone into a panic. Yugi had jumped from being startled, feeling a prickly sensation run up and down his whole body. As much as it seemed to be fear quaking through him…something had told him that it wasn't fear, but the sense that something big was their way.
"LET'S JUST DUMP THE CANDY AND GET OUT OF HERE!"
That's when the wind stirred up, the clouds enclosing around the full moon. In a flash of light, a carriage carrying a cloaked figure had appeared, heading down towards the small crowd of fillies and colts, being pulled by two Pegasi with bat wings and ominous, dark blue armor.
Pinkie had panicked. "AHHH! IT'S NIGHTMARE MOON, RUUUUNNN!"
Everypony had ran away, Twilight going after them in order to reassure their fears.
But Yugi had not moved. As much as his body and mind screamed for him to run away, his legs wouldn't move or budge. As soon as the carriage had landed, lightning flashed in the sky, illuminating a flash of the figures eyes and a grin.
Yugi's legs had suddenly given out under him, and he shut his eyes. Regardless of costume, he was the only Pony left. Somehow, his body had refused to let him run, and now all that waited was to be eaten by Nightmare Moon.
It was all over.
Or so he thought. No attempt to attack him was made, but the figure had stepped near him, her hooves inches away from his snout.
His body had stopped shivering, and he looked up…into a pair of turquoise eyes, which seemed to shine in the moonlight. Her mane was a dark blue hue…and it wavered, sparkling with bits of light, like the night sky made up her whole mane. Her body's fur was as dark as the night sky, and she wore a black crown on her head, and her hooves were tipped with…royal-looking slippers, he supposed?
But it didn't matter too much. He got lost in the Mare's appearance. She was JUST his size, if not a bit bigger, and her body radiated a kind of grace and serenity that the night possessed.
They had both blinked at one another, silence reigning over the two. That was when she spoke.
Or moreso, blew his eardrums out with the volume of her voice.
"DEAREST GENTLECOLT, MAY I ASK HOW THOU HATH FOUND SUCH A SUITABLE DESIGN FOR A COSTUME BASED UPON A MONSTER NAUGHT FROM OUR DIMENSE? IT HAS BEEN MANY A YEAR SINCE WE HATH SEEN AN INTERPRETATION OF THE MAGUS OF ILLUSION FROM ANOTHER DIMENSE!"
Yugi had rubbed his ears, his mane blown all askew from the loud force of her voice. "Wait…you…know what I'm dressed up as?"
"VERILY SO, BUT ONLY A CHANCE GLANCE AT OLD TOMES LONG PAST—WE HATH NE'ER SEEN THE MAGUS OF ILLUSION IN OUR LIFETIMES—TO US, IT IS MERE MYTH LOST T' THE SEAS OF TIME."
So The Dark Magician—err, the Magus of Illusion—was some sort of mythical creature nopony else has heard of? Odd…
"SPEAK TO US, YOUNG GENTLECOLT—WHAT IS THOU NAME?"
He had winced. "Um…err….Thy Name is….Yugi?"
"YUGI IS THOU NAME?"
Oh great…was she going to make the sheep joke as well?
"'TIS AN INTERESTING NAME—THOU MUST HAVE AN EXPERTISE IN THE NATURE OF PLAYING GAMES, DOTH YOU NOT?"
"huh?"
"THOU NAME, YUGI, IS A WORD IN THE COUNTRIES OF THE EAST THAT MEANS "GAME" IN THEIR TONGUE—THOU MUST BE THEN, AN EXPERT PLAYER, OR IN THE BUSINESS OF GAMES!"
Yugi had blinked. My Name means "Game"? But how can that be? He enjoyed playing games here, as it was a small hobby to keep him entertained…But he never got a Cutie Mark playing one.
"Actually…if I am to be honest…I don't know. You see…I don't really have any memories of anything, and I don't have a Cutie Mark." Yugi said, sweeping a bit of the fabric of his costume to the side to show the Bare flank beneath. "I don't know what my talent IS. I'm not even entirely sure if Yugi is even my real name!"
"THOU DOTH NOT 'EMEMBER ANYTHING AFORE THIS NIGHT, DEAR GENTLECOLT?"
"No, nothing." Yugi said, frowning. "I wish I could, though. It would help answer questions on my mind.
"WELL, YOUNG GAME, I WISH THEE LUCK IN FINDING WHAT HATH BEEN LOST TO YOU; I MUST GO AND GREET THE CITIZENS OF PONYVILLE THIS FINE NIGHT—AS A REINTRODUCTION TO OUR FAIR SOCIETY IN THE MODERN ERA!"
Yugi swore his ears were going to bleed. The cloaked mare had hopped back onto the carriage, riding towards Ponyville as Yugi sat down, recovering from the loud, booming voice of the royal-looking mare.
Well…it couldn't get any worse tonight…could it?
Unfortunately for Yugi, It DID get worse, as he soon caught up with Twilight. The Mare—as he soon found out to be Princess Luna herself—had been failing horribly of trying to make friends out of the townsfolk due to her old fashioned ways—booming voice and all. Pinkie Pie was not helping, either—when it seemed like she was making progress, something would slip and make it much worse.
To the point that he had walked into a disaster area when he had tried following Luna. Townsponies were panicking, running all over the place. The Festival of Nightmare Night had become a total mess.
It wasn't until Luna's booming voice had stopped the chaos, if only making the Ponies cower in silence.
"Princess, remember! Watch the screaming!"
"NO, TWILIGHT SPARKLE, WE MUST USE THE TRADITIONAL ROYAL CANTERLOT VOICE, FOR WHAT WE ARE ABOUT TO SAY!"
Yugi watched as storm clouds gathered, his fur prickling with strange energy as Luna rose into the air, eyes glowing with absolute raw power.
"SINCE YOU CHOOSE TO FEAR YOUR PRINCESS RATHER THAN LOVE HER, AND DISHONOR HER WITH THIS INSULTING CELEBRATION, WE DECREE THAT NIGHTMARE NIGHT SHOULD BE CANCELLED….
FOR-EV-ER!"
And in a flash of light, Princess Luna had disappeared, the wind dying down, and the crackling that Yugi's fur had made had stopped, smoothing out the fur once more.
Everypony, as he observed, was absolutely with the decree. The Small Pegasus had frowned at all this.
"…why do they fear her?"
"Huh?"
"Why do they fear Princess Luna?" Yugi asked once more.
"I'm…not sure. I mean, Nightmare Moon, I could understand, but—"
"What's the connection, Twilight?" Yugi asked. "Please. Tell me."
"…I thought you said you read up on your history."
"I did. But not about this. Luna seemed like she'd be ok…okay, she's a little loud…but she wasn't a bad pony. So why are they scared? She's nothing like Nightmare Moon."
Twilight sighed. "Yugi…she WAS Nightmare Moon."
Yugi's jaw seemed to drop a little in shock. "bu-but—"
"I can't explain all of it to you…but, Luna was once Nightmare Moon. While the legend they say about her during Nightmare Night is an old tradition….it isn't exactly true. A long time ago, a thousand years to be exact, both Celestia and Luna had their respective jobs in the terms of night and day….but, while Ponies played in Celestia's daylight, Luna couldn't understand why they had shunned and slept through the nighttime she creates. She had gotten jealous and grew bitter with darkness, according to legend, and turned into Nightmare Moon, wanting to cast the entire world into Eternal Night."
"…but it didn't happen, did it?"
"No. it didn't. Against her will, Celestia had to use the elements of Harmony on her to…"
"to what?"
"Well…Imprison her within the Moon."
Yugi had gained a look of disbelief and anger. "FOR A THOUSAND…..YEARS?! ALONE?!"
Twilight winced. "I know it sounds harsh…but it's the truth. If there was another way, Celestia would've taken it. She cares about her sister very much, it's just…"
Something clicked in Yugi's head. Flecks of gold, shimmering in the dark, but had no shape. Within these flecks, lied something that was sealed in them.
Alone. Alone for many, many years.
"I've got to talk to her, Twilight."
"Are you sure?"
"Positive. Just give me a signal when you need me…try to convince Pinkie Pie that there's no need to be afraid. I'm going to try to fix this."
"Ok…just be careful."
Moving the cloak out of the way and carrying the staff in his mouth, Yugi took to the air and began flying around, looking for Luna.
He found her on the outskirts of town, sitting all alone. Making his move, he landed.
"Princess?"
The Princess turned her head, looking at Yugi with a frown. When she spoke this time, she didn't speak as loud and booming as she had before.
"….Hath thou come to just scream and run in terror from us too?" Luna said, a tone of depression ladling her voice. All confidence in her seemed to have left the Princess of the Night, to which Yugi could sympathize.
"…No. Princess Luna, I'm not scared of you, at all. In fact, I don't understand a thing about how everypony else is scared of you."
Luna laughed bitterly. "We cannot comprehend such atrocious behavior either….but, we figure we are just not considered kind, anymore. The fair Ponies, our dear public…they must see us as a wretched beast. And we only have ourselves to blame. It is alright, little Game. You doth not need to pretend your bravery. We know that thou must be as scared of us as all the rest are."
Yugi stood his ground, and suddenly Luna's attention was caught. Yugi was now radiating his own aura of confidence.
"No. I'm not afraid of you. I actually WANT to be your friend, Princess. I know what it feels like…being alone, for a long, long time. I don't know HOW I do, to be honest. But I do know what it feels like to have no friends. I know what it feels like to be unappreciated, or to be scorned and insulted….I really…don't know why, but I completely know it."
Yugi had moved, setting his staff down and sitting up close to the Princess. "….so…you were sealed in the Moon, for a thousand years?"
"Aye, we have." Luna spoke, frowning. "Twilight hath told you?"
"Yes…." Yugi said, looking at the moon. "….Sort of unfair, isn't it? For a thousand years."
"It seems so…but…as we have come to understand, our sister had no other choice. We could not be reasoned with, nor could we see the error of our judgment and ways." Luna looked into Yugi's eyes directly. "As we see fit…The pain of a lengthy separation was enough to show the error of thy ways...but it seemed that it would only take the Elements of Harmony to return ourselves back to normal, if not without a loss of power."
Yugi winced at that. A Lengthy separation. He had to think of that Unicorn from his dreams, the one that got swarmed by those strange monsters.
"Little Game…thou hath no memories of your life before all this…but yet you comprehend the pain we feel?"
Yugi nodded. "Princess….No…Luna, I really don't know or remember my life in full detail…but I know what it's like to be alone, with no friends. I can understand a lot of it. But…It's not forever. Sometimes, you have to keep trying—so what if they cower? Don't give up! But….don't push it, either. Somewhere out there are friends that'll stick by your side no matter what….but you have to keep trying. Giving up solves nothing."
Luna blinked. "….Thou speak with wisdom beyond th' years, Little Game. Surely thou must have friends of your own by now?"
"well…just Twilight, Rainbow and Pinkie Pie for now…but…I wouldn't mind being your friend."
That's when Yugi extended a hoof for Luna.
"So thou wish to make a friendship with us…?"
"I do."
Luna had slowly reached for Yugi's hoof, Yugi and Luna not seeing the black thundercloud looming near them.
Rainbow Dash had stomped down, now catching Yugi's attention. Yugi was not spooked…but the Chicken Pie behind him WAS, much to his own dismay. Yugi had given a quick "just-one-second" smile to Luna before chasing after Pinkie, Twilight blocking her way as Yugi tackled her.
"Pinkie! She's Changed! She's not Evil or scary anymore! Don't you remember the first time we met her?"
Pinkie looked at Twilight and Yugi. "Well, Duh, of course I do!"
Yugi blinked. "….what did you say?"
"Of course I remember Princess Luna! Did you really think that I thought she would gobble me up or trying something funny? Besides, I'm as big as her! How is she gonna gobble me up?"
"Then why do you keep running away and screaming?"
"Sometimes, it's really just fun to be scared!"
Something snapped in Yugi's head.
"Fun…to be scared?"
Pinkie nodded.
"You were pretending to be frightened because it was…..Fun?"
Pinkie nodded again.
Twilight had suddenly noticed the bit of smoke coming off of his mane and tail, his violet eyes turning a bright shade of red.
In a shrill whistle, Yugi's mane and tail had BURST into bright blue flames, all of his costume being forcibly blasted off.
"THAT. IS NOT. FUNNY, PINKIE!"
Pinkie had winced, her curly mane slightly deflating into a more wavy shape.
"HOW WOULD YOU LIKE IT IF I SCREAMED AND RAN AWAY FROM YOU JUST BECAUSE IT'S FUN TO DO SO, AND NOT TELL YOU SO, HUH?! SHE WAS JUST TRYING TO MAKE FRIENDS, AND YOUR LITTLE 'JOKE' DID NOT HELP! AT ALL!"
"W-Well jeez, Yugi, I didn't think—"
"WHAT?! THAT YOU WOULD BE HURTING HER FEELINGS?! SHE DOESN'T UNDERSTAND A BLESSED WORD ABOUT ALL THIS! ALL BECAUSE YOU THOUGHT IT WOULD BE FUN TO ACT SCARE—"
He stopped, seeing what was wrong with Pinkie. She had looked extremely terrified and upset, and it was no game of pretend. The flames died down, his eyes returning to normal, and suddenly guilt and shame washed over him.
"…I….I'm Sorry, Pinkie. I didn't mean to scare you. It's just…It was really mean of you, to do that and not tell her you're not scared of her."
Pinkie had blinked, and her bouncy curl to her mane returned. She soon began to laugh. "Silly Yugi! Of course I was gonna tell her! But I was gonna wait just a little longer! But I didn't know I hurt her feelings by not telling her soon enough…" Pinkie said, frowning a little.
"I wanna be friends with Princess Luna too! …I just thought she'd understand it was all a joke at first."
Yugi crossed his hooves, giving a pointed look.
"Well, ok, ok! But really, it IS fun to be scared! That's the whole point of ghost stories and events like Nightmare Night! Even if it isn't scary, it makes it much more fun if you pretended to be!"
"Now how would that make any—"
Bing. It made sense to Twilight now.
"Pinkie Pie, you're a genius!"
"No I'm not! I'm a Chicken!"
"Wait…what are saying, Twilight?"
"It's Fun to pretend to be scared! I know how we can fix this, Yugi! We just have to talk to Luna about it."
After Yugi (with Pinkie's help) recollected and donned his costume once more, all three went to Princess Luna.
"Princess Luna! We've figured out why you're having so much trouble being liked!"
"Forgive me if I withhold my Enthusiasm." Luna had said flatly.
"Come on, come with us! We'll explain everything on the way!"
Luna had given Twilight a quizzical look, but she had followed along Yugi's side, Pinkie bouncing next to them.
"Princess?"
"Hmm? Yes, Pink one?"
"…I'm sorry if I hurt your feelings with running away and screaming. I didn't mean it—it was just to have fun! And I was gonna tell you too…"
Luna had blinked, but gave Pinkie a small smile when she looked to Yugi and back to Pinkie Pie. "We Understand…But Thou should tell us if thou will be playing such jokes—our sister says we cannot comprehend this thing one calls….'sarcasm'? Nor can we tell if such an act is pretend, at least in this day and age."
"Oooh! You really must've missed out! Don't worry, Princess! With this, we can make it right! I'll be right back!"
"…now what exactly is this is the question that we now pose…"
"I…think I know what Twilight has planned."
Twilight knew hanging onto a pair of fake vampire fangs would come in handy tonight. Luna had blinked confusedly at the Unicorn.
"You want us….to temporarily disguise ourselves as Nightmare Moon….to scare the children?"
"Yes, that's the plan! You see, they're not really scared of you for who you really are…but it doesn't stop one from pretending for the sake of fun! Trust me, if you can do this, they'll like you."
"We…are not so sure this will work."
Yugi put a hoof on Luna's back. "Don't worry…I'm sure it'll work."
Luna had smiled a bit, and put the fangs in her mouth. "Thush thish akkessory neeth to be in ou' moufs?"
Yugi reached for Luna's mouth. "Wait, hold on, you have them in backwards…may I?"
"Aye, yew kan touch the wayol mouf."
Luna had opened wide, the fangs falling out, and with a quick turn around and a proper fit in, he put in the fangs right.
Luna had moved her jaw up and down, the vicious looking fangs poking out of her mouth. She couldn't help but suppress a giggle. "These false teeth….are very amusing. We are greatly amused, indeed! What would I not give to give our sister a wee joke scare with them; thank you, Little Game."
Yugi smiled, slightly squeaking. "You're welcome~"
The bushes rustled. "Ahh! Quick, hide!" Twilight exclaimed, all diving into the bushes as Yugi and Luna were dragged along.
Sure enough, the children from town were gathering at the statue, leaving what they believed to be the last candy offering for the Last Nightmare Night.
Pipsqueak was the last to make his offering. "Goodbye, Nightmare Night…Forever…"
That's when the wind began to howl.
"CITIZENS OF PONYVILLE! WE ARE GREATLY PLEASED WITH YOUR OFFERINGS! WE ARE SO PLEASED THAT WE SHALL EAT IT…INSTEAD OF EATING YOU!"
Sure enough, everyone ran screaming, disappearing into the bushes. "Nightmare Moon" had watched them go, turning back to normal and spitting the fangs out.
"That…actually was quite amusing. But we are not sure if that had worked."
"Just wait."
"F-For what? For them to scream some more?"
That's when Luna's mane had been tugged. Looking down, she saw Pipsqueak and the other small children, peeking up at her.
"Um…Princess Luna….I know there's not going to be anymore Nightmare Night…But suppose, maybe, you can come back again next year, and scare us again anyway?"
Luna blinked, looking to Yugi and Twilight, who nodded gently in assurance.
"Child….art thou saying that you…Liketh me to scare you?"
"It's really fun! Scary, but fun!"
"It…is?"
"Yeah! Nightmare Night is my favorite night of the year because of it!"
Yugi could see the happiness in Luna's eyes.
"Well….then, we'll just have to…BRING NIGHTMARE NIGHT BACK!"
Pipsqueak was blown back a little, but Yugi had caught him with his hooves. He couldn't help but notice the smile on Pipsqueak's face.
"She's my favorite Princess, ever!"
The little fillies and colts agreed with Pipsqueak, chittering and squeaking in delight and happiness.
Luna had smiled, her eyes dancing with absolute Joy. Looking up, her gaze met with Yugi's, and he smiled back, just as happy…
But her smile. That gentle smile…it had reminded him so much of someone…but whom?
A twig snapped in the distance, snapping him out of the held gaze. Quietly, Yugi had sunk low into the bushes, sneaking towards the source of the sound…and listened carefully.
"Well, well, look what we've got here…"
"Fillies! And Colts! And even an Alicorn!"
"heheh, boys, we are gonna eat good tonight!"
Yugi muffled a yelp of surprise, seeing the group before them. They were a group of scruffy looking creatures—griffins he supposed—dressed like outlaws…
And probably WERE outlaws. Planning, of all things, to eat his friends and the children!
"Little Game, What art thou doing?"
Yugi jumped, covering Luna's mouth. "shh! We're being watched!"
"By whom, pray tell?" Luna continued…but not from her mouth. Yugi could hear her voice within his own head.
"….How are you able to do that?"
"Why, 'tis th' oldest spell in th' book! We have learned how to talk quietly within th' heads of whom we choose with it. Now, pray tell, what troubles our friend?"
"There are bandits right there. Griffin ones. They're planning to surround and eat the kids!"
"Pony-eating bandits?! Aye…that is very troubling. But if we try to impede them, they may overpower us all in quest to appease their appetite…."
Yugi scrunched his brows in thought. Then he got an idea.
"Princess…Get Twilight, and tell her I want her to try a spell out on me. Also….I want you to teach me, real quick, how to use the Traditional Royal Canterlot Voice…."
The children began to get scared the minute they heard evil, hungry-sounding cackles. Twilight had stayed close, as well as Luna, as Griffins came out of the bushes.
"Well, well, well! Look what we have here! Some cute liddle trick-or-treaters and a princess to top! Looks like we've got appetizers, a main course AND dessert!" said one with three scars over his right eye.
The Griffins all laughed again, the children huddling up and shaking in fear. Luna, however, stood defiant, but wary. Something about these Griffins seemed off to her.
"You shall not bring harm to these young children under our watchful eye!" She said, stamping her hoof down. "If thou wishes to fight, then do thy worst!"
The Griffins laughed again, a faint, eerie green glow shining from around their necks, as their eyes turned a strange shade of red. "Oh, I wouldn't be sure about that, Princess. We have power. Power enough to take out the Princess of The Night herself!"
Luna refused to tremble or cower, but the magic she sensed brought her a bit of rising alarm. Something about it seemed familiar…too familiar. But, for the life of her, she couldn't remember why or what exactly.
Regardless, Luna and Twilight stood their grounds, summoning magic to them. Luna had been the first to launch a dark blue ball of energy at the leader Griffin, but the leader griffin had blocked it, summoning a green fireball within his talons. With a smug smirk, he launched it at Luna, to which Twilight had barely managed to block with a shield spell.
"What kind of magic is THAT, Princess?"
"We are not sure….It is familiar, but we swear, we have not felt or seen th' likes of it before…"
Luna this time blocked another shot of green fire with her own shield, the children beginning to scream. The griffins were closing in, and they were all terrified.
"Where are thou, Little Game…?" Luna muttered under her breath, blocking another fireball before her magic sputtered.
Were these fireballs draining her of her Magic?!
It wasn't long before the crazed Griffins charged at them all, swiping at them with sharp talons and evil glints within their eyes. Luna reared and rammed at one, sending the griffin sprawling into a tree. Twilight continued to use her magic to shoot down others in the sky, but as they began to rush her and Luna, she found it very difficult to manage a clear shot at one before being attacked by three more.
They were moving incredibly fast, and were using strange Magic as well, which it made it hard to predict their attacks. "Princess, if we don't retreat soon, they're going to overpower us!"
"Just wait, Twilight Sparkle! These Ruffians are no match for the Spirit of The Night that we command!"
"Ha! Spirit of The Night! Let us see it then!" The Leader Griffin said, charging another fireball within his talons.
That was when the sky darkened, and the thunder boomed and flashed. In Confusion, the Griffins had stopped their attack, looking around in confusion.
(A/N: For Full effect, imagine the following loud lines being spoken by Dan Green, as deep and as LOUD as you can imagine—possible hamminess included, with the touch of the Royal Canterlot Voice)
"WHO DARES THREATEN OUR PRINCESS?! SPEAK NOW, WHO!?" A voice had BOOMED, lightning flashing through the darkened sky.
"Who's there?! Show yourself!"
"MWAHAHAHAHA! I CANNOT BE SEEN…ONLY FELT WITHIN THE FORCES OF THE NIGHT WIND, THROUGH THE BLESSED LIGHT OF THE MOON AND STARS, AND THROUGH THE VERY DARKNESS OF THE NIGHT ITSELF! FOR I AM….THE SPIRIT OF THE NIGHT!"
The Leading Griffin blinked in disbelief. "The Spirit of The Night? Ha, preposter—"
"SILENCE! YOU ACCURSED FOOLS HAVE THREATENED OUR VERY PRINCESS, THE MARE THAT BRINGS FORTH THE HEAVENLY BODIES OF THE SKIES ABOVE INTO VIEW WITH HER BEAUTIFUL NIGHT! WE SHALL SEE FIT TO PUNISH YOU—TO TAKE OUR REVENGE FOR SUCH AN INSULT TO THE NIGHT'S VERY NAME!"
The wind howled as a blackish blue vapor had appeared in the sky, twisted and snarled, with glowing eyes peeking from their formless shape.
"FOR DISTURBING THE PEACE OF THE NIGHT AND SWEARING TO DEVOUR THE INNOCENT….WE SHALL SKIP OUR OFFERINGS…"
Then a long, fang-filled mouth stretched into view.
"AND DEVOUR YOU INSTEAD!"
The vapor charged at the Griffins, roaring. The glow from around their necks had snuffed out, the Griffins panicking and retreating from the snarling monster within the mist as it chased them, kicking up obscuring clouds of black smoke.
The Leader Griffin, terrified just like his men, retreated immediately, losing all courage and arrogance against this terrifying spirit. A stone snapped off from around his neck in his retreat, and soon he and the griffins had disappeared deep into the forest.
The vaporous spirit had landed, looking around.
"Ok, Guys, the coast is clear!" the spirit said, speaking in a deep, refined baritone. The clouds cleared, a few Costumed Pegasi appearing, among them was Derpy and Rainbow Dash.
"Did we do good, Mr. Yugi?" Derpy spoke, still hopping on a cloud and producing lightning bolts with every crumple of her paper-bagged hooves.
The vapor cleared from around the aforementioned pony, the small Pegasus spitting out the false fangs within his mouth. "Yeah, you did well, Derpy. Thanks for helping!"
Derpy gave a pleased smile, still bouncing upon the cloud. "I'm So happy you said that, Mr. Yugi!"
ZAP! A Lightning Bolt had struck both her and Rainbow Dash, charring them just a bit. Rainbow Dash had facehoofed, and grabbed Derpy, making her stop before she bounced any more on the thunder-filled cloud.
"Princess Luna, Twilight, thank you for holding them…" Yugi coughed, clearing his throat of the spell that was cast on him. "Thanks for holding them off long enough where I can set it all up." He spoke at a quieter, hoarser tone, his voice once again normal.
"You're welcome, Yugi." Twilight said, soon the sound of worried townsponies and parents began to come into earshot.
Twilight went over to the stone that had fallen off of the Leader Griffin, Yugi following behind. Using her magic, she carefully picked it up to inspect it.
"What is this? Some piece of an emerald?" Twilight said, squinting. "A bit light colored to be an emerald...could be glass or…"
"Here, let me see." Yugi said, holding out his hoof. Twilight had then put the stone within the hoof.
She didn't expect him to scream, just like he didn't expect the stone to light up.
Yugi dropped the stone, hissing in pain and in a panic, stomped on the stone, crushing it into dust. It BURNED him, leaving on a small burn-mark on his hoof. He had no idea WHY it burned him, but it did—and it was not an experience he wanted to feel. He winced, holding his hoof a bit as the pain throbbed.
Luna had walked over carefully, looking at Yugi's hoof and quietly focusing, her magic surrounding it and healing the burn as soon as it could. The pain was still there, but it was slowly turning into a dull ache for Yugi.
"What the hay-bale….was that?" Yugi said, moving his hooves.
"We are not sure…but it is no magic that is familiar to its kinship. We shall…try our best to investigate this strange aura."
Yugi had yawned. "o-okay, Princess..."
Twilight steadied Yugi, noticing how his violet, owlish eyes had begun to flutter shut. Luna put a forehoof to her chin.
"Perhaps thou should likely rest."
"Here, in the forest…? But, what if they come…back?"
"Do not fear, my friend. We shall handle them if they dare to threaten the citizens."
"Okay, Princess…" Yugi said, dazed. He had never felt so tired before…. "When will I…see you again?"
"Sleep, Little Game. You are our friend now….perhaps we shall see you within thy dreams…rest, and let your weariness cease."
My dreams…
Yugi had finally fallen asleep, the last thing he heard was from Twilight, speaking:
"Princess…I know Zecora gave Yugi some of the powder, but…did you turn it that dark a blue….?"
(A/N: as per the usual order, I do not own MLP or Yu-Gi-Oh! Some reviews so far would be appreciated. The next chapter will be short and will come up quicker if everything works right.)