"We're sooo happy you are here, especially since Nightmare Night is just around the corner!"
The pink pony, Pinkie Pie, was bouncing up and down in place from sheer excitement about this "Nightmare Night" fiasco. Unaware of what it was, I tilted my head and gave out a confused grunt.
"What's "Nightmare Night?"" I asked, motioning my hooves as I said the name.
"Seriously?" Asked Pinkie Pie. "You don't know what Nightmare Night is?"
I shook my head no.
"Now, now, Pinkie," Twilight started, "he is from another world. Perhaps on his world there is no such thing."
Pinkie Pie looked down in disappointment, completely forgetting that I was not of this world and did not know the ways of Equestria.
Or at least all of them.
Twilight smiled, forgiving Pinkie Pie of her actions, as did I.
"Nightmare Night happens once every year, Robert," Twilight started.
"It's the perfect time of the year to play pranks on everypony!" added Rainbow Dash.
Twilight shot a mean look at Rainbow Dash, knowing quite well that that wasn't the true reason to celebrate Nightmare Night.
"Actually," Twilight hissed, "Nightmare Night is a night where young fillies and colts go-"
"And me!" Pinkie Pie quickly added, cutting Twilight off.
"And...Pinkie," Twilight paused, "but they go out and collect candy for Nightmare Moon, offering it as a means of peace so that Equestria will be safe for another year from the wrath of Nightmare Moon."
That sounded oddly familiar the more I thought about it. Nightmare Night, Nightmare Moon? Those definitely sounded familiar, like I've heard them before. I know I've heard Nightmare Moon before but Nightmare Night is a bit hazy in my memory, to be honest.
"You said children go around and collect candy?" I asked after a thinking for a while.
"That's right," Twilight answered.
"And the children take the candy they've collected and offer it up to a statue of Nightmare Moon in the Everfree Forest as a sign of peace," I continued, "right?"
"Right."
"That sounds like a holiday we celebrate back home called Halloween." I replied.
"Hal-O-Een?" The group of six ponies simultaneously asked.
"Halloween," I started, "is a holiday celebrated on the last day of October where little children dress up in costumes and go around collecting candy."
"And do they offer the candy they've collected to somepony?" Fluttershy quietly asked.
"No," I answered, "they keep whatever they collect for themselves or to share with someone else."
"Sounds..." paused Rainbow Dash.
"...peculiar." finished Twilight.
"How so?" I asked, a hint of curiosity showing in the sound of my voice.
"Well," started Twilight, "doesn't it sound a bit weird that nopony makes any kind of offering?"
"What do you mean?" I asked, not sure of what exactly Twilight was getting at.
"Well," continued Twilight, "if nopony makes an offering, doesn't anything happen?"
I had to sit there and actually think about that logic. I mean, if they don't offer up candy to Nightmare Moon, she will come back and "gobble up" the children. However, if they offer up their candy, Equestria will be safe for another year, at least according to Zecora. However, since we didn't offer candy to anyone (but trick-or-treaters, obviously), nothing bad ever happened that I can recall.
After some extensive thinking, I finally shook my head and answered, "Not that I can think of...no."
The other six sat back and glanced between each other. Twilight "shrugged" her front hooves and let that comment slide - for now, at least.
"Anyway," started Rarity after some tense silence filled the room, "I always look fabulous in my costume on Nightmare Night."
"I look awesome!" Rainbow Dash chimed.
"I look silly!" Pinkie Pie shouted.
"I look magical." Twilight added.
"I don't do Nightmare Night..." said a very quiet Fluttershy.
That last comment stuck to me like a bug to a spider web would. I asked Fluttershy why she wouldn't partake in Nightmare Night.
"Visitors aren't welcome on Nightmare Night!" shrieked Fluttershy.
"But...why?" I repeated.
Fluttershy gave me a cold stare and I immediately dropped the subject. Instead, Twilight asked me how I look on Nightmare Night, though I knew that she meant Halloween.
"Personally, I haven't taken part in Halloween for a while." I admitted. "Although, the last year I did something, I dressed up as a bloodthirsty zombie."
"Awesome!" Rainbow Dash screamed.
I smiled a bit to know that one of my favorite ponies accepted and liked what I did last on Halloween.
"So, what are you going to do this year?" Pinkie Pie asked, signs of curiosity showing in her voice.
"I'm going to dress up as one of my idols back home." I replied.
"Oh?" Rarity questioned. "And who might that be?"
I smiled and looked up into the sky - or in this case, the ceiling. Glancing back down at the six ponies, I told them who exactly I was talking about.
"Slash."
"Slash?" The six simultaneously said.
"Yup," I replied, "Slash."
"Who is that?" Twilight questioned.
"Back home, Slash was a skilled guitarist who played in a rock band called Guns N' Roses. Growing up, he was the real reason I taught myself how to play guitar." I paused for a quick second before picking up again. "I've always wanted to dress up like him and be just like him."
"So what's stopping you, darling?" asked Rarity.
"He has like this really curly black hair that this emerald green name can't touch," I answered, "plus he also has a top hat that's almost impossible to find."
"Perhaps I could be of assistance, Robert," offered Rarity.
"You'd do that for me, Miss Rarity?" an astonished self just asked. "Some...pony you just met?"
"But, of course, Robert," answered Rarity, "after all, that's what friends do for each other."
I felt touched by those words. I had been here for not even a day, and these six ponies consider myself to be one of their friends.
That suicide was possibly the best decision I've ever made.