It was one of the pony's most beloved holidays tonight A night called Darkhorse night and Barbara was waiting at the bottom of the stairs for the two unicorns that lived with her already dressed in her dragon costume. "Ugh, come on, Dusk, Cupid. We're gonna be late for the Darkhorse Night festival." Barbara says as she complained about how long the two unicorns were taking.
Just then Dusk came out from their bedroom where he was changing into his costume and he shows off his costume to Barbara. "Huh? Are you that one kooky grandpa from Ponyville Retirement Village?" Barbara says as she tries to guess Dusk's costume.
"I'm Star Swirl the Bearded!" Dusk says as he corrects Barbara on who is costume is while Barbara just looks confused. "Father of the amniomorphic spell?" Dusk explains to her, but she still is confused. "Did you even read that book I gave you about obscure unicorn history?" Dusk asks as he looks at the baby dragon.
"Uh.." Barbara Stammers, but gets stopped by the knocking at the door "That sounds important." As she runs off, twisting Dusk in his costume. " "Ohh wow you got yourself in a bit of a bind don't you?" Cupid says as she walks down the stairs into the room only for Dusk to look at her costume.
Cupid was dressed as a fairy Princess minus the wings. Dusk just stares at Cupid with a awed expression on his face. "I do like your costume, though Dusk it's so you." Cupid says as she compliments Dusk on his costume. "And you look amazing Cupid." Dusk complements her, making them both blush. Him being so bold with his words and her from being flattered at his compliment.
Barbara opens the door, ignoring the scene behind her, and only to yelp at what was at the other side. "Darkhorse Night! What a fright! Give us something sweet to bite!" A bunch of fillies say as the door opened. "Hi, everypony. Great costumes. Happy Darkhorse Night, Granny Smith." Dusk says to the ponies who were outside their library as he and Cupid went to the door.
"I should have been asleep five hours ago." Granny Smith tells the two unicorns as she wants to be in bed already. Dusk hands out candy to the other kids and one young pony manages to get to the front after the others have had their candy handed to them. "Pipsqueak the pirate, at your service. It's my very first Darkhorse Night." Pipsqueak says as he wheels his rubber sword dressed as a pirate.
"Since you moved here from Trottingham?" Dusk asks Pipsqueak. "No, my very first Darkhorse Night ever!" Pipsqueak corrects the older unicorn. Just then, a pink stallion pops up from behind Pipsqueak letting out a chicken squawk. "Enough chitchat! Time is candy!" Bubble Berry says as he reaches the door of the library. "Bubble Berry, aren't you a little old for this?" Dusk asks his pink stallion friend.
"Too old for free candy?" Bubble says with a shocked look on his face, and giving another chicken squawk. "Never." Bubble Berry says with a serious look on his face. Dusk groans and puts a piece of candy into Bubble Berry's candy bag making Bubble look happy.
Dusk jingles one of the bells on the top of his costume's hat in front of Bubble's face, making him look at Dusk, who is showing off his costume. "Do you like it?" Dusk asks Bubble how he feels about his costume. "Yeah! Great costume, Dusk! You make a fantastic weirdo clown!" Bubble says, and he pecks at the bowl of candy leaving little to none left in the bowl.
"A clown?" Dusk says, as he is upset by Bubble's words about his costume. Barbara and Cupid lead him both outside of the library to enjoy the festival that is being held tonight. "Look at the borders on these robes. These are hoof-stitched!" Dusk says to the two females as he shows off the rope of his costume. "Yeah, I know Dusk. I had to show you how to do it. Considering you wouldn't let me help you on your costume you wanted to do it all by yourself and you did a fairly good job." Cupid says to Dusk as he knows this is true because it asked for her assistance.
"It's a great costume! Huh! Grandpa!" Barbara says as she teases dusk, making Dusk growl at her angrily and Cupid puts her hoof on his back trying to help him calm down.
The trio walked through to the Darkhorse Night festival that is going on in Ponyville. "Star Swirl the Bearded is only the most important conjurer of the pre-classical era." Dusk rants as he, Barbara and Cupid are walking through the festival. Macareina is seen pulling a cart with ponies in it and the ponies cheer in excitement.
"He created more than two hundred spells! He even has a shelf in the Canterlot library of magic named after him. Maybe I should start up a pony group to teach ponies about history. I bet everypony would love it! Don't you, Barbara, Cupid?" Dusk asks the two. "Mm-hmm!" Barbara hums in agreement as she is eating candy. "I love it!" Barbara says with a mouthful of candy making Cupid roll her eyes at her.
"Well, it would be a great idea to do if plenty of ponies are interested." Cupid replies to Dusk. Dusk suddenly stops making Barbara bump into him, dropping her candy. "Hey look, we're here already! Should we get something to eat?" Dusk asks Barbara and Cupid, but Barbara burps as she is full of candy. "Yeah, I think Barbara is good." Cupid said chuckling at Barbara.
"Dusk, Cupid! Look at our haul! Ah! Can you believe it?" Bubble Berry says as he shows the two unicorns, how much candy he has gotten. unknowing that a certain Pegasus is planning on pranking him. "And then, we went to Cheerilee's house, and got a bunch more goodies. Didn't we, Pip?" Bubble asks Pip as he was talking to his unicorn friends.
"Sure did!" Pip agrees with the older Earth Pony Stallion. Unknowing that Rainbow Blitz was going to scare them with a thunder cloud. "And then, we had to stop and wait for Granny Smith, and—" Bubble was saying, but then got cut off by a thunder clap scaring him and the children that was with him and they all ran away.
Rainbow Blitz was laughing maniacally at the prank he had just pulled on the others. "Rainbow Blitz, that wasn't very nice." Cupid scolded her pegasus friend. "Lighten up, princess. This is the best night of the year for pranks!" Rainbow Blitz said shrugging off Cupid's scolding. "Look what you did to Barbara!" Dusk says, as he points at Barbara who is choking on her candy from the fright that she got from him.
"It's all in good fun." Rainbow Blitz says not really seeing the problem. And then spots another group of Ponies. "Oh! Oh! There's another group over there!" Rainbow Blitz says, as he goes to take his thundercloud and over to the group ponies.
Dusk looks at Barbara and puts her on his back and starts walking. Just then he hears Rainbow Blitz strike his thunder cloud the cloud causing a thunder clap to sound out and the ponies to scream.
Dusk, Cupid and Barbara find their way right next to AppleJack and the apple bobbing station he has set up. "Happy Darkhorse Night, AppleJack!" Dusk and Cupid say to the Orange Earth Pony Stallion, who is dressed like a scarecrow. "Howdy, Barbara! Hey, Cupid, Dusk! Nice costumes." AppleJack compliments his friend's costumes.
"Thanks! I'm a dragon." Barbara says as she takes the compliment for herself. "He means Us, Barbara." Dusk says to Barbara as he tells her who AppleJack's compliment was for. "Cupid you make quite the pretty princess." AppleJack says to Cupid. "Aw! Thanks AppleJack. My costume was actually supposed to be a fairy princess, but the wings were too uncomfortable for me to wear around my front" Cupid thanks AppleJack as she explains her costume.
"And Dusk with that beard, I reckon you're some sorta country music singer." AppleJack guesses Dusk's costume as he messes with Dusk's beard, but is completely wrong. This makes Dusk growl angerly and Barbara chuckle at Dusk while Cupid tries to comfort him.
"While y'all are here, ya' feel like bobbin' for an apple?" Applejack asks his friends as. he shows them the apple bobbing station he set up. A couple of ponies were sat there trying to bob for an Apple However, Derpy Hooves pops out from the barrel pulling out the cork causing the water to drain making the ponies look sad at this.
A crowd of ponies were around the stage cheering and applauding the two unicorns and the dragon head over to the stage to see what is going on. "Thank you, everypony, and welcome to the Darkhorse Night festival!" Mayor Mare says to the ponies attending the festival as she ids dressed as a clown. "Now, all the little ponies who have been out collecting sweets should follow our friend Zecora to hear the legend of... Dark Horse Knight!" Mayor Mare says as she does a spooky voice and tries to laugh evilly. "Her spooky voice might work better if she wasn't dressed like that." Barbara whispers to the two unicorns, making them laugh quietly.
A poof of sparkly lime green smoke happens on stage and Zecora appears on stage "Follow me, and very soon, you'll hear the tale of Dark Horse Knight." Zecora says as she is dressed as a witch with a white wig with fake spiders in her 'hair'.
"Listen close, my little dears, I'll tell you where you got your fears of Darkhorse Night, so dark and scary." Zecora says As the group go to statue of Dark Horse Knight, as she blows more of her lime green sparkly smoke. "Of Dark Horse Knight, who makes you wary." The sparkly smoke takes the appearance of Dark Horse Knight scaring the ponies as the smoke of Dark Horse Knight comes closer to them and crashes to the ground making them all gasp.
"Every year, we put on a disguise, to save ourselves from his searching eyes." Zecora says as eyes appear between two young ponies make. them run away and scream in fear. Only for it to be Zecora herself.
"But Dark Horse Knight wants just one thing: to gobble up ponies in one quick swing!" Zecora says, as Pipsqueak runs into the statue of Dark Horse Knight making him back up in fear only to bump into Bubble who stuck his in the ground like an ostrich. When Pip bumped into him it made him jump out of the ground in fear and they both screamed and ran.
"Hungrily, he soars the sky. If he sees nopony, he passes by." Zecora says as the smoke of Dark Horse Knight searches for a pony to gobble up. "So if he comes and all is clear, Equestria is safe another year!" Zecora says as the smoke of Dark Horse Knight flies in the sky and disappears leaving green sparkles in it wake.
Pip tugs on Zecora's costume. "Uh, Miss Zecora, if we wear costumes to hide from Dark Horse Knight, so he won't gobble us up, how come we still need to give him some of our candy?" Pip asks Zecora.
"A perfect question, my little friend. For Dark Horse Knight you must not offend." The chorus says, as she blows another puff of lime green smoke making another smoke version of Dark Horse Knight. "Fill up his belly with a treat or two, so he won't return to come eat you!" Zecora says as the smoke version of Dark Horse Knight stalks the group of Ponies, and then jumping onto them, making a puff of lime green, sparkly smoke to come out.
"Everypony! Just dump some candy and get out of here!" Bubble Berry says as he runs over to dump some of his candy over by the statue of Dark Horse Knight The fillies and the colts do the same thing as the grown stallion.
Just then, the wind picks up and starts howling. Causing ponies to look around in worry. Just then, in a bright flash in the sky, a carriage that is being pulled by two pegasi emerge from the flash of light. This makes all of the ponies whimper in fear and terror and they back away from this.
The carriage flies over Barbara Dusk Cupid and a little filly hovering in the air above all of the ponies. "[gasp] It's Dark Horse Knight! Run!" Bubble says as he and the others scream and run away from the dark Prince. Only Dusk and Cupid are just standing there looking the stallion in the carriage. Thunder flashes in the background, making his eyes appear white, as well as his smile.
The group of screaming ponies back into the festival causing the others to look at them wondering why they are screaming. Only to see that clouds covered the sky and a carriage being pulled by two pegasi hover in the air of the festival.
The stallion in the cloak jumps off of the carriage and lands in the middle of the festival. The stallion flips the hood of his cloak off of his head revealing to be none other than Prince Artemis Thunder crashes and all of the ponies cower in fear of the Prince of the Night.
"Prince Artemis!" Dusk said awestruck and tried to go greet the prince of the night but was pulled back by Barbara who was scared of him making the two unicorns look at her. Dusk was going to say something but Barbara put a claw on his mouth silencing his words.
Prince Artemis walks to the cowering citizens and stops infront of one who was dressed as a witch Prince Artemis smiles making the ponies cower even more in fear.
"Citizens of Ponyville! We have graced your tiny village with our presence, so that you might behold the real Prince of the Night! A creature of nightmares no longer, but instead a pony who desires your love and admiration! Together we shall change this dreadful celebration into a bright and glorious feast!" Prince Artemis declares as his booming voice scares the ponies away from him.
Thunder crashes behind him making him look scary. "Did you hear that, everypony? Dark Horse Knight says he's gonna feast on us all!" Bubble was the first to speak up and his words caused all of the foals to run away from Prince Artemis screaming.
Prince Artemis in a normal tone of voice hears this and is shocked. "What? No, children, no! You no longer have reason to fear us! Screams of delight is what your prince desires, not screams of terror!" Prince Artemis says as he stomps his hoof on the ground, causing a crack from where he stomped making the pony in front of him scared of him.
"Madame Mayor, thy Prince of the Night hath arrived." Prince Artemis says as he holds out his hoof for the Mayor to take However, the mayor is terrified and continues to cower. Prince Artemis is confused and goes to pony next to the mayor only to get the same result.
"What is the matter with you? Very well, then. Be that way. We won't even bother with the traditional royal farewell." Prince Artemis says as he goes to leave the festival. "I'm gonna go talk to him." Dusk says as he goes to follow Prince Artemis only to be stopped by Barbara pulling his costume.
"You can't talk to him! He's Dark Horse Knight!" Barbara says as she is scared of Dark Horse Knight. "No, he's not. I saw the Elements of Harmony change him back to good. But it seems like he's having some trouble adjusting after being gone for a thousand years." Dusk says to Barbara as he and Cupid both go after Prince Artemis. However, Barbara is still frightened about the prince.
Dusk and Cupid both head over to find Prince Artemis, and they find him at the statue of his former self. "Prince Artemis? Hi, my name is-" Dusk tries to introduce himself, but gets cut off by the Prince of the night.
"Star Swirl the Bearded. Commendable costume! Thou even got the bells right." Prince Artemis complements Dusk's costume as he is very few who knew who he was going as making Dusk happy. "Thank you! Finally! Somepony who gets my costume! Uh, I just came to welcome you to our celebration! My actual name is-" Dusk says after he gets distracted and sees the princes sad face he and he is cut off by Prince Artemis once again.
"Dusk Shine." Prince Artemis says as he starts flying into the air, speaking in a booming voice. "It was thou who unleashed the powers of harmony upon us and took away our dark powers!" Prince Artemis spoke in a booming way as wind whipped around the three ponies as clouds covered the moon.
"And that was a good thing, right?" Dusk asks as he is unsure he was happy about it. "But of course. We could not be happier. Is that not clear?" Prince Artemis says slightly confused as he speaks in his normal voice.
"Well, you kinda sound like you're yelling at us." Dusk tells Prince Artemis as he tries to explain how he's coming across. " Yeah, it doesn't sound like you're happy about it at all." Cupid said sheepishly as she looks at the Prince of the night.
"But this is the traditional royal Canterlot voice! It is tradition to speak using the royal "we", and to use." Prince Artemis says in his normal voice before speaking in his booming voice. "this much volume when addressing our subjects!" Prince Artemis's booming voice messes up Dusk and Cupid's costumes and they fix them as the prince is finished talking.
Dusk fixes his beard and hat as Cupid fixes her crown. "You know, that might explain why your appearance was met with... mixed results. I think if you just changed your approach a bit, you might be met with a warmer reception." Dusk says after he finishes fixing his costume and he gets close to Prince Artemis.
"Change our approach?" Prince Artemis says in his booming voice. "Lower the volume?" Cupid asks Prince Artemis. "Ohhh. We have been locked away for a thousand years. We are... not sure we can." Prince Artemis says as he speaks in his normal voice, unsure if he could change his volume.
"How about we ask one of our friends to help Prince Artemis with his voice. Butterscotch has a really soft and sweet voice. I bet he could give you a few pointers." Cupid suggests to Dusk and Prince Artemis.
"That's a great idea Cupid. Butterscotch does have a really soft voice, and I bet he would love to help you." Dusk says to Prince Artemis. "We will give it a try." Prince Artemis says, not really certain that this would work.
And the two unicorns and the alicorn head off to Butterscotch's cottage. "We must admit your costume Cupid is very lovely." Prince Artemis complements Cupid. "Why thank you Prince Artemis. I'm supposed to be a fairy princess. However, the wings were just too uncomfortable for me to wear." Cupid says to Prince Artemis. Dusk sees how friendly Cupid and Prince Artemis are and gets slightly jealous about how close they seem.
"You two seem very close despite this being the first time that you two are meeting." Dusk says, and this makes Cupid giggle at him. "We've meet before Dusk." Cupid says to Dusk making him shocked. "What where and when?" Dusk asks her.
"We met the night at the Grand Galloping Gala. We were just both looking around the castle, and I bumped into him. We decided to, you know, get to know each other." Cupid says to dusk. "And it was quite the night. We are glad to have met such a fair maiden." Prince Artemis says and his words make Cupid blush Dusk sees this, however, and he is not happy about Prince Artemis trying to make a move on the girl he loves. However, he does not say a word about it, he decided to push the feeling down and just continue with the night.
The three make it to Butterscotch's cottage. "Don't worry, Prince. Butterscotch can give you some great pointers. He's delicate and demure with the sweetest little voice." Dusk tells, Prince Artemis and he knocks on his Butterscotch's door.
"Go away! No candy here! Visitors not welcome on Darkhorse Night!" Butterscotch yells at the ponies at his door. Prince Artemis does not look amused at this, making Dusk chuckle sheepishly. "Butterscotch, it's us, Dusk and Cupid!" Dusk calls for his friend Butterscotch telling him that it's just his friends.
Butterscotch slightly opens the door to see Dusk and Cupid's face. "It is you. and Cupid Ah, and Dark Horse Knight." Butterscotch and then he gasps, seeing Prince Artemis. "Dark Horse Knight?" Butterscotch says as he sees him yelping and slamming his door shut.
Dusk nervously laughs. "Wait right here." He says to Prince Artemis as he goes into the butterscotch's cottage. As Dusk goes in the cottage Cupid and Prince Artemis hear a large array of noises, as well as slamming coming from inside the cottage.
As the noises finally subside, Dusk pushes Butterscotch out of his cottage and in front of and in front of Prince Artemis. "Butterscotch... you remember Prince Artemis?" Dusk says as he pushes Butterscotch out of his cottage in front of Prince Artemis holding him in place.
"Charmed." Prince Artemis says in his booming voice And he holds his hoof out for the shy pegasus. However, Butterscotch zooms back into his cottage, making Dusk having to bring him back out holding him in place with his magic. "Likewise." Butterscotch says to Prince Artemis timidly.
"Dusk Shine and Cupid hath spoken of the sweetness of thy voice. We ask thou teachest to us to speak as thou speakest." Prince Artemis says as he continues speaking in his booming voice. "Okay." Butterscotch says in a quiet voice as he lays on the ground in a fetal position.
"Shall our lessons begin?" Prince Artemis asks Butterscotch in his booming voice. "Okay." Butterscotch says as a whisper.
"Shall we mimic thy voice?" Prince Artemis asks Butterscotch in his booming voice. "Okay." Butterscotch says as a whisper.
"How is this?" Prince Artemis asks Butterscotch in his booming voice. "Perfect, lesson over!" Butterscotch says hurriedly, and he tries to get back into his cottage. But Dusk shuts the door in his face causing Butterscotch to slam headfirst into his door.
"A little quieter, prince." Dusk says to Prince Artemis as he stands right next to Butterscotch's cottage with Butterscotch on the door. "How is..." Prince Artemis says starting off with his booming voice. "this?" Prince Artemis asks as his voice may not be booming, but is quite loud.
"Better. Right, Butterscotch?" Dusk asks Butterscotch as Cupid is trying to help him off of his door. "Yes." Butterscotch says after his nervous and dazed laughter.
"How... about... now?" Prince Artemis says in a loud voice, but not quite. but not quite as loud as before. "Now you're getting it." Dusk and Cupid say to Prince Artemis quite proud of his accomplishment.
"And... how about now?" Prince Artemis asks as he now is speaking in a normal speaking voice. "Yes! Well done." Dusk says to Prince Artemis as he is now able to speak in a normal voice. Butterscotch is heading towards his cottage, trying to get inside but is stopped by blue magic surrounding him and dragging him over to Prince Artemis.
"I thank thee, dear Butterscotch! Our normal speaking voice shall surely win us the hearts of thy fellow villagers." Prince Artemis says in his booming voice, giving Butterscotch a hug as he is grateful for his help.
However, this poor timing on the prince because Bubble Berry and the foals he was walking with came up to Butterscotch's cottage for refuge. "Butterscotch! You've gotta hide us! Dark Horse Knight is here and..." Bubble Berry was saying, but then sees Butterscotch being held by Prince Artemis.
Because of the dazed, look on Butterscotch's face Bubble Berry assumed that Dark Horse Knight had done something to Butterscotch. "Ah! He stole Butterscotch's voice so he can't scream when he gobbles him up!" Bubble Berry says after he squawks making the foals behind him scream and they all run off.
Prince Artemis seeing this called out to the children. "Nay, children, wait!" He said in his booming voice, but then corrected himself back to his normal voice. "I mean... nay, children, no, wait." Prince Artemis says with a saddened look on his face. "Come on, prince. Time for plan B." Dusk says the Prince Artemis with a determined look on his face.
The Dark Horse Knight Festival. was in full swing. Ponies were having fun launching pumpkins into the air and landing them onto targets and other ponies were dancing to music. However, when Prince Artemis Cupid and Dusk came in to the festival, everyone just stopped and stared at the prince.
"It is of no use, Dusk Shine and Cupid. They have never liked us and they never shall." Prince Artemis said with a disheartened look on his face as ponies around him squeal and hide in terror from him. "Our friend AppleJack is one of the most likable ponies around. I'm sure he'll have some ideas." Dusk says to Prince Artemis, hoping that AppleJack will be able to help.
Pipsqueak was over by the bobbing for apple's table and almost fell in the bucket. However, AppleJack was there to save Pipsqueak from falling into the water. "Whoop. Careful there, partner." AppleJack says to Pipsqueak as he sets him down on the ground.
AppleJack turns around and then comes face to face with Prince Artemis. However, he was still afraid of the Prince of the Night and cowered in fear in front of him. "Uh... AppleJack, the prince is looking for a little advice on how to fit in around here." Dusk says to AppleJack as Cupid glares at the Orange Stallion.
""Fit in"? Really?" AppleJack asked confused Dusk gave AppleJack a glare and annoying grunt towards him. AppleJack gets up from his cowering position and stands in front of the Prince.
"I mean... that's easy! All you gotta do is have the right attitude. Loosen up a bit, be positive, play a few games, have some fun." AppleJack says to Prince Artemis.
"Fun? What is this "fun" thou speakest of?" Prince Artemis asks AppleJack and the three ponies look at him. And they all point to a game that was over by a that every pony could play. "Pray tell, what purpose do these serve?" Prince Artemis asks.
"Try to land the sp-sp-spiders on the web." A cowering mare says to him as she points at the web at the other side. Prince Artemis picks up a blue spider and throws it towards the web. However, it doesn't land on the web. Prince Artemis looks back at the other three ponies behind him, confused. "You can do it, prince!" AppleJack says to the prince encouraging him.
With a determined look on his face, he grabs another spider and throws it onto the web, this time managing, getting it into the center of the web. "Ha! Your prince enjoys this "fun"! In what other ways may we experience it?" Prince Artemis asks the other three ponies behind him and they all look at each other with knowing looks.
They head over to a pumpkin chucking station where Prince Artemis places a pumpkin into a small catapult. "Fire away, prince!" Dusk says to Prince Artemis and Prince Artemis launches the pumpkin into the air landing directly onto the target. "Ha ha! The fun has been doubled!" Prince Artemis says as he is absolutely overjoyed that he is having a good time. And all the other ponies are no longer cowering in fear of Prince Artemis and they all cheer for him.
"Why don't you try bobbin' for apples? We got the best apples in Equestria here, prince." AppleJack says to Prince Artemis. "I ask that thou call us... me... Artemis, fair AppleJack. Hear me, villagers! All of you! Call me Artemis!" Prince Artemis declares as every pony in Ponyville all voice their agreement in calling him by his name.
"Show me to these bobbing apples." Prince Artemis asks Applejack as they head over to the Apple bobbing station Prince Artemis sees over at the apple bobbing station that Pipsqueak is over by it and he fell into the water. When Artemis sees this, he leaps into action trying to save Pipsqueak.
Bubble Berry comes up from behind Applejack Cupid and dusk. "Hey, guys. Anypony seen Pip? We lost him the last time we had to run–" Bubble Berry asked, but then squawks when he sees Prince Artemis picking up Pipsqueak from the barrel. "Aaah! Dark Horse Knight is gobbling Pipsqueak! Everypony run!" Bubble Berry says as he freaks out over the misunderstanding making all the young ones run with him afraid.
Pipsqueak struggles to get out of Prince Artemis's grasp. "Help! My backside has been gobbled!" Pipsqueak yells as he runs away from Prince Artemis. However, Pipsqueak's words made Prince Artemis upset. "'Tis a lie! Thy backside is whole and ungobbled, thou ungrateful whelp!" Prince Artemis shouts as he stamps his hoof on the ground. Thunder and lightning appearing right behind him.
Every pony looking at Prince Artemis are sudden afraid of him again. Prince Artemis sees this and tries to fix what he had done. "Fair villagers, please do not back away. Let us join together in... fun!" Prince Artemis says, as he tries to fix his mistake, However they were too afraid of him to see that he regretted his actions.
Prince Artemis sees the spider from the spider throwing game and he tries to win them back over by throwing it at them However, this does not seem to work. "Not enough fun for you? What say you to this?!" Prince Artemis says, as he uses his magic to turn the fake spiders into real spiders.
However, this has the opposite effect of what he was trying to do. And he caused fear and panic instead. "Huzzah! How many points do I receive?" Prince Artemis says, with a slightly crazed expression on his face. A mirror with a living spider on her head screams and this causes every pony else to scream in fear.
"Do not run away!" Prince Artemis says as his voice is starting to get louder. However, every pony there is still freaking out and running around afraid causing a panic. "As your prince, we command you!" Prince Artemis says as he tries to get everyone to calm down his voice getting louder.
As the panic continues and destruction happens across the festival. "Be still!" Prince Artemis says in his booming voice causing lightning to crash in the sky and thunder to rumble throughout. every pony finally stopped panicking and started cowering in front of the prince.
"Prince, remember! Watch the screaming!" Dusk says as he tries to get Prince Artemis to remember why ponies were afraid of him in the beginning. Prince Artemis turns around to face Dusk with white glowing eyes.
"No, Dusk Shine! We must use the traditional royal Canterlot voice for what we are about to say. Since you choose to fear your prince rather than love him, and dishonor him with this insulting celebration, we decree that Darkhorse Night shall be canceled! Forever!" Prince Artemis says as thunder and lightning crash around him while winds blow all around and clouds blocking the sky.
Dusk and Cupid both look at Prince Artemis with shocked, but saddened expressions on their face as he makes the decree.
AppleJack sighs as he looks at this scene in front of him. "Shoot. We had everything goin' our way. Artemis was happy, everypony in town was happy, now look at 'em." Applejack says as he looks at the town. ponies crying, upset about their holiday being canceled.
Dusk lifts up his hoof to see an image of Dark Horse Knight that had fallen onto the ground. "It's not over yet." Dusk says, with a determined look on his face, making applejack and Cupid look at him. "What are you gonna do?" AppleJack asks Dusk. "I'm going to do what I do best. Lecture him!" Dusk replies to AppleJack. "Dusky, you're one of my best friends, but I don't think a lecturer is what's needed here. But you do what you do best, I guess." Cupid says, and she and Dusk go to find Prince Artemis.
As the two unicorns look for Prince Artemis, they finally see him crossing a bridge with his head down, ashamed of himself. "Prince?" Cupid and Dusk ask Prince Artemis.
"Leave me be, Dusk Shine, Cupid." Prince Artemis says with his voice sounding like he is going to cry. "Prince, I'm sorry it hasn't worked out how we wanted. But you have to believe me when I tell you that Darkhorse Night is one of the most popular celebrations we have." Dusk says to Prince Artemis.
"Yes. I can tell. By all the adoring shrieks of the children as they run away." Prince Artemis says upset, but he is deeply saddened by everything that has happened. "Prince..." Cupid says the saddened as Prince Artemis walks away from the two unicorns and Dusk starts forming a plan to fix everything.
As every pony in town is crying and saddened, bubble Berry is still acting like a chicken. He spots a piece of candy and clucks happily and goes over towards it. He pecks the wrapper away and eats the candy that was inside. As he finishes the candy, he sees a trail of candy and one by one pecks added and eats each piece of candy.
When he was going to eat another piece of candy, Dusk tackles the pink stallion to a wall covering his mouth with his hoof. "No! No shrieking. No squealing or screaming either. Okay?" Dusk says to Bubble Berry firmly as he holds him to the wall. "Okay." Bubble lets out a muffled sound of agreement and Dusk gets out of his face.
"There's something I want you to see. And I promise that it's safe, but you really, really, really can't shriek. Do you promise not to shriek?" Dusk says the Bubble Berry and he hums in agreement.
Dusk backs away from Bubble and Prince Artemis comes up from the shadows. Bubble Berry was just about to shriek, but then covered his mouth to avoid breaking his promise. "Bubble Berry, you remember Prince Artemis, right?" Dusk introduce Prince Artemis to Bubble.
"Ah. The ringleader of the frightened children. Hast thou come to make peace?" Prince Artemis says with a hopeful look on his face, holding out his hoof bubble sees the look on Prince Artemis's face and smiles going to shake his hoof. However, lightning crashes from behind Prince Artemis making him look scary.
"Dark Horse Knight!" Bubble screams as he squawks and runs away leaving a egg. "Rainbow!" Cupid, scolds, rainbow blitz as he had scared bubble again. However, the rainbow maned pegasus was just laughing at his prank.
Bubble Berry ran throughout the alleyway but Dusk teleports right in front of him, causing them to tumble around and Dusk lands on top of Bubble. "He's changed, Bubble! He's not evil or scary anymore! And he definitely doesn't want to gobble you up!" Dusk says as he pins Bubble Berry to the ground.
"Well, duh." Bubble Berry says it like it's the most obvious thing in the world. "Huh?" Dusk says confused at Bubble's answer. "I know that. Sheesh, Dusk. I'm almost as big as him, how's he gonna gobble me up?" Bubble tells Dusk as it's the most obvious thing in the world, "So why do you keep running away and screaming?" Dusk asks his pink stallion friend.
"Sometimes it's just really fun to be scared!" Bubble Berry says to Dusk. and he gives Dusk an idea. "Fun? Bubble Berry, you're a genius!" Dusk says to his pink friend as he gets an idea. "No, I'm not. I'm a chicken." Bubble Berry says the Dusk as he squawks like a chicken again.
Dusk runs over to where Cupid and Prince Artemis are at only to see the scene that they are in. Cupid just sitting right next to Prince Artemis who is lying on the ground. They look like they are having a deep conversation. And Cupid puts her hoof onto Prince Artemis's back and laughs.
Dusk sees and frowns. He gets that feeling of jealousy once again. After seeing how close the two are. He tries to ignore the feeling as best as he can and walks over to where the two are. "Prince Artemis! I've finally figured out why you're having so much trouble being liked!" Dusk says, as he approaches Cupid and Prince Artemis.
"Dusky! Couldn't there have been a nicer way to put that?" Cupid asks dusk as she slightly scolds him, making his ears fold back underneath his hat. "Forgive me if I withhold my enthusiasm." Prince Artemis says, with a dead pan expression on his face.
"Come with me. I'll explain everything on the way." Dusk says as he leads Cupid and Prince Artemis over and explains his plan.
Back Back to Ponyville, the towns ponies are cleaning up the disaster of their festival. "Gosh. I never thought my very first Darkhorse Night would be my very last." Pipsqueak says saddened at the fact that it was his very last Darkhorse Night. "Come, little Pip. Now don't you fret. Darkhorse Night's not over yet. We still have candy left to give, so Dark Horse Knight might let us live." Zecora says to Pipsqueak and the other foals that were also sadden by how the holiday went.
"Yes. Come on, little ponies. What's Nightmare Night without the annual candy offering? You don't want Nightmare Moon to gobble you up, do you?" Mayor mare says to the foal dressed as an astronaut causing the foal to lean away from the mayor who was doing a spooky voice.
"Aw, the rainbow wig just kills it for me." Barbara says as she stares at the mayor holding a set of skull string lights in her claw. "Come on, kids! Doesn't that sound like fun?" Applejack asks the foals and they look unsure about it being fun.
The group heads back over where the statue of Dark Horse Knight And they jump a pile of candy at the base of the statue. "Goodbye, Darkhorse Night. Forever." Pipsqueak says as he places his bag of candy at the base of the statue.
Then suddenly there was a loud zap that startled him and the wind was picking up.
"Citizens of Ponyville! You were wise to bring this candy to me. I am pleased with your offering. So pleased that I may just eat it... instead of eating you!" Prince Artemis says as he is in the form of Dark Horse Knight. The sight of Dark Horse Knight scared all the ponies so badly that they ran away screaming.
Dark Horse Knight turned back into Prince Artemis and he spit out the fangs that were in his mouth. "I am not certain that did what you meant for it to do, Dusk Shine." Prince Artemis says, as he is not entirely sure that this will work.
"Just wait." Dusk says the Prince Artemis. And Prince Artemis jumped down from the pedestal he was standing on. "For what? For... for them to scream some more?" Prince Artemis says, but then interrupted by a tug on his mane.
"Um... Prince Artemis. I know there's not gonna be any more Darkhorse Night, but do you suppose maybe you could come back next year and scare us again anyway?" Pipsqueak asks Prince Artemis as he got his attention. And Prince Artemis looked at the other foals that were in the bushes, just watching.
"Child. Art thou saying that thou... likest me to scare you?" Prince Artemis says as he looks at Pipsqueak bewildered that he actually liked being scared by him. "It's really fun! Scary, but fun!" Pipsqueak says to Prince Artemis, as he really did enjoy being scared by him. "It... is?" Prince Artemis says in disbelief.
"Yeah! Darkhorse Night is my favorite night of the year." Pipsqueak says to Prince Artemis. Prince Artemis looks flattered at this. "Well then. We shall have to bring" Prince Artemis starts. "Darkhorse Night back!" Prince Artemis finishes his booming voice, he pushes Pipsqueak back.
"Whoa! You're my favorite prince ever!" Pipsqueak runs up to Prince Artemis's front legs and leans on them. And then he runs back to his friends. "He said yes, guys!" Pip squeak announces to his friends and they all shout 'Yay!' at the news.
"See? They really do like you, prince." Dusk says to Prince Artemis as he is in disbelief that ponies actually like him. "Can it be true?" Prince Artemis says in disbelief. "Oh, most wonderful of—" Prince Artemis shouts in his booming voice with lightning crashing behind him. but he stops himself looking sheepishly. "I mean... Oh, most wonderful of nights." Prince Artemis says as he finally has a smile on his face for tonight.
Dear Prince Solaris,
When you first sent me to Ponyville, I didn't know anything about friendship. I met somepony tonight who was having the same problem—your brother, Prince Artemis! He taught me that one of the best things you can do with friendship is to give it to others, and help them find it themselves! And I'm happy to report that all of Ponyville has learned that even if somepony seems a little intimidating, even scary, when you offer them your friendship, you'll discover a whole new pony underneath. And even if my Star Swirl the Bearded costume didn't go over, this still turned out to be the best Darkhorse Night ever!
Dusk says as he finishes his friendship report bringing a piece of candy corn into his mouth with his magic not noticing that Rainbow Blitz was right behind him with his thunder cloud trying to prank him.
However, before Rainbow Blitz could strike his thundercloud a bolt of lightning zapped him. Making rainbow blitz scream and fly away. Dusk look turns around to see Prince Artemis lying on a Thunder cloud.
Prince Artemis lowers the cloud down to where the two unicorns and the baby dragon were. He gives Dusk a wink, and then he starts laughing which causes every pony to laugh with him.
Dusk stops laughing for a moment when he hears Cupid laugh and he just looks at her. Prince Artemis stops as well and sees Dusk looking at Cupid. Prince Artemis now understands what his brother was telling him about Dusk and Cupid.
"May I speak with you privately Dusk Shine." Prince Artemis asks the purple unicorn, making the two look at him confused. Dusk nods his head and walks with Prince Artemis out of earshot of the two females.
"So my brother had told me that you fancied Cupid. And from your gaze at her tonight, I could say that he was correct in that assumption." Prince Artemis says the dusk, making him blush, bright pink. "And so my question is to you, why do you not ask to court her?" Prince Artemis asks Dusk on why he does not ask out Cupid.
"It's complicated. [sigh] Me and Cupid have known each other for a long time. And I'm worried that even though I like her a lot, I would ruin what we have. Plus, she seemed to have such a great time with you tonight." Dusk says, as he reveals that he was jealous about Prince Artemis to Prince Artemis.
This makes Prince Artemis Chuckle. "You have no reason to be jealous of me. Do you know what she talked about when we were spending time together at the Grand Galloping Gala." Prince Artemis asks Dusk and he shakes his head not knowing.
"All she could talk about was you. She adores you. And I don't think any other pony would ever take your place in her heart. And I see her more as a niece. or a pony that I once knew. So you have need to worry about me trying to take her from you." Prince Artemis says to Dusk, reassuring him that he has no feelings for Cupid.
Upon hearing that Cupid talked about him when she was spending time with Prince Artemis, it made him feel happy. "You should not be afraid to tell her how you feel. I have a feeling that she feels the same way you do." Prince Artemis says the Dusk Making him hopeful for his confession.
"You know what? I'll tell her on hearts and hooves day. It's her favorite holiday. I have to plan how I tell her how I feel. I think I know what I want to do, but I'm not entirely sure. So I gotta plan this out just right." Dusk says to Prince Artemis, making him smile. "Well, I wish you luck on your confession. Now then, let's continue celebrating Darkhorse Night tonight." Prince Artemis and Dusk head back over to the two females and they continue to celebrate Darkhorse Night.
Oh, what a wonderful night indeed~
