"So what's everypony's Nightmare Night costume? I'll start! I'm dressing up as a scary witch. Not a cute witch! Mom would never let us go full spooky at home so I'm makin' up for it!" Pipp says as the group is gathered around a large tree and a bunch of pumpkins.
"And I'm gonna be a Vampony! The awesome kind." Zipp says.
"And I'm gonna be a magician! Just a regular magician." Misty says as she pulls out hat and stuffed animal and hugs the stuffed animal.
"Aww!" The group says.
"What are you gonna be Alexis?" Misty asks as she smiles.
"Oh um well I'm gonna be a gypsy." Alexis says.
"Cool!" Sunny says.
"Good gourds! Ah! That's what I'm dressing up as. My favorite gourds! Because they're all too precious to just pick one. And Hitch stop sneaking around and tell us what you're gonna be!" Izzy says as the group sees Hitch sneaking around.
"I'm gonna be a pirate with my trusty parrot Sparky!" Hitch says as Sparky jumps out dressed as a parrot and gurgles.
"You're the cutest parrot I've ever seen!" Sunny says as the group fawns over how cute Sparky is.
"You're really nailing this whole parrot thing! Great job buddy!" Hitch says as Sparky goes over and gets on his back while gurgling.
"We're running out of time to get ready!" Sunny says as her phone beeps.
"Let's go get spooky! Woo!" Pipp shouts happily.
*Timeskip*
"So what are everypony's favorite Nightmare Night traditions? I'll start. Mom always said Princesses are sophisticated not spooky! But I've been flexing my scary side ever since I got here." Pipp says as she scares Izzy with a ghost on a pumpkin before the group laughs.
"Wow, you really got me there!" Izzy says happily as she laughs.
"That's the fear-fun factor. When you scream the loudest then laugh the hardest. It's my favorite!" Pipp says excitedly.
"Wait so you ponies like being scared?" Misty asks confusedly.
"Uh duh! It's what this holiday's all about. And why I'm planning the super-detailed haunted house of my dreams! I mean nightmares! I'm turning the Crystal Brighthouse into... the Crystal Fright-house!" Pipp says excitedly.
"Nicely done." Zipp says.
"Thank you. I was working on that rhyme all week." Pipp says.
"I love this idea Pipp! What can we do to help? Should I peel a bowl full of grapes and say they're eyeballs?!" Izzy asks.
"Yeah. What else can we do to help. It sounds fun." Alexis says.
"What else goes into a Frighthouse?" Misty asks.
"It's basically anything your spooky heart desires! And then you make it your own." Pipp says.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah! Alexis and I always love to put up the weirdest and wildest lights display on the whole block!" Izzy says.
"Yeah. It was always so much fun decorating in so many colorful colors." Alexis says.
"I have to build my super-complex Nightmare maze!" Zipp says.
"And I must cook up a traditional spread of Nightmare Night food specialties!" Sunny says.
"Yes! Yes! A million times yes!" Pipp says as Misty laughs happily.
*Timeskip*
"And so we'll be having all kinds of festivities at the lighthouse. You should come." Alexis says as she is with Opaline by the bridge.
"Festivities?" Opaline asks curiously.
"Yeah. It'll be so much fun. You should really come. It would be a great way to introduce yourself to ponies." Alexis says kindly.
"I don't know about that dear." Opaline says.
"Please? You'll have fun." Alexis says as she smiles.
"Sorry dear. I don't think your friends would want me there." Opaline says.
"Yeah. I guess you're right." Alexis says as she sighs.
"So you said they dress up in eh costumes? What uh are you going as?" Opaline asks curiously as she smiles.
"A gypsy. Yeah I know. Stupid idea." Alexis says as she looks down.
"I don't think so. I think you'll make a lovely gypsy." Opaline says kindly as Alexis smiles at her.
"Thanks Opaline." Alexis says happily.
"You're welcome dear." Opaline says as Alexis feels her phone buzzing.
"Oh my phone. It's Izzy. She wants to know where I am." Alexis says as she takes out her phone and sees a text from Izzy.
"You should go then. Your friends will be looking for you." Opaline says.
"Yeah. You're right. I wish you'd come though." Alexis says as she smiles at Opaline.
"Not this time dear. Have fun." Opaline says as she smiles.
"Yeah. Bye Opaline." Alexis says as she turns to leave.
"Bye Alexis dear." Opaline says as she watches Alexis run off.
*Timeskip*
"Trotway transformed into a maze of shadows? A-maze!" Pipp says as she sees Alexis and Misty decorating the hallway and flies off.
"I'm really excited Alexis." Misty says as she is putting up some spider webs.
"Me too Misty." Alexis says.
"Um... a little help?" Misty asks as Alexis sees she is stuck in the webbing.
"Sure Misty. Hold still. There you go." Alexis says as she gets Misty unstuck.
"Thanks Alexis." Misty says as she smiles.
"No problem. Come on. Let's go see how the others are doing." Alexis says as she and Misty head into the kitchen.
"Wow! You did an amazing job transforming the kitchen into a mad scientist's lab Sunny!" Misty says in amazement.
"Oh! Uh actually this is just how it normally looks when I cook." Sunny says as she puts some treats on the counter.
"You look like you could use some help." Misty says.
"Oh no. I'm an old pro at this. Oh! But I guess an extra set of hooves couldn't hurt." Sunny says before a pot lid flies off a pot and lands on Misty's horn before Alexis takes the lid off her horn.
"So what are the Nightmare Night treats anyways?" Misty asks.
"Oh just a few things. Apples for bobbing, caramel apples, apple spice smoothies. Oh! Juggling apples, carving apples, apples to draw spooky little faces on! Fried apple spice donuts, baked apple cinnamon cobbler, frosted apple spice cakes, apple-flavored water which is just like regular water but you add apple pulp to it! So I guess it's technically a juice?" Sunny asks.
"Mm-hmm. Wow. That's... a lot of apples." Misty says.
"And a lot of food. Sunny are you sure that we need all that?" Alexis asks.
"These Nightmare Nights treats were my favorite Nightmare Night tradition from when I was a filly! And I want everything to be exactly as I remembered it for tonight's Crystal Frighthouse! Oh! So we gotta get moving! Thanks again for the help Misty, Alexis. I couldn't have done this without you!" Sunny says as she begins running back and forth in the kitchen.
"Uh... Sure!" Misty says nervously.
"Uh what exactly did we do?" Alexis asks as she looks at Misty.
"Not sure. Maybe we should go." Misty says as Alexis nods in agreement.
*Timeskip*
*Can we get started yet? We're so excited!" Sunny asks as the group is gathered.
"This haunted house has to be perfect and right now it's almost perfect. But we still need more cobwebs! Uh more lighting! Just... more!" Pipp shouts.
"We'll all work together so we can get this done in ten minutes tops. All hooves on deck! Let's go, go, go!" Izzy shouts as she blows a whistle.
"Thanks ponies. I appreciate it." Pipp says as everyone walks off to finish the remaining touches.
*Timeskip*
"This maze is complete! With just one last ingredient... Fake spiderwebs feeling strong! With just one last touch... Apple treats tasting delicious! Hmm... But you know what's missing?" Pipp asks as she runs through checking everything while pulling lines causing bats to drop down and scare the group except for Alexis and Misty as she goes.
"No Pipp. There's no way. You..." Sunny says.
"I was gonna say a dash of nutmeg!" Pipp says before she makes more bats drop scaring everyone but Misty.
"That better be the last one!" Zipp says.
"Pipp you got us good! So good!" Izzy says as she laughs.
"Misty what's wrong? Why didn't you scream with the rest of the group? Do you not find bats scary? Would you prefer giant spiders?" Pipp asks as she flies over to Misty.
"Mmm-mmm. It's nothing personal Pipp. Being around Opaline I guess it's made me not so fearful. I guess I just don't scare easy." Misty says.
"Until tonight. I'm going to make you my personal Nightmare Night Challenge! By the end of the evening you are going to be screaming and laughing and sharing in all the spooky fun! Showtime ponies!" Pipp shouts as the group hears the doorbell ring.
*Timeskip*
Later as Alexis is walking around Maretime Bay she soon hears commotion and goes to see before seeing Opaline.
"Opaline?" Alexis asks.
"Oh Alexis. Wonderful to see you." Opaline says as she smiles.
"I thought you weren't coming?" Alexis asks curiously.
"Let's just say I decided to change my mind. Now how about a smoothie? You always make them sound so delicious." Opaline says.
"Oh well Sunny isn't at her stand right now but I've helped her enough so I can make us some. Follow me." Alexis says as she smiles and begins walking with Opaline.
"Of course dear." Opaline says.
"Is it me or are ponies staring at you?" Alexis asks curiously as ponies are staring at Opaline.
"They think I'm in costume." Opaline says.
"Costume?" Alexis asks curiously.
"Well isn't it uh Nightmare Night?" Opaline says.
"Yes but you're not wearing a costume." Alexis says.
"No but it's just as well for me." Opaline says.
"I guess you're right. So what made you decide to come? And how did you find your way here?" Alexis asks curiously.
"Let's just say I have my ways. But I decided to come for you dear. You are correct. I should give the other ponies a chance and make up for what I did. I don't want to be known as an evil pony forever." Opaline says as she looks down.
"That's great Opaline. I knew you'd come around. You're gonna love the festivities and later when you feel up to it I'll bring my friends to see you." Alexis says reassuringly.
"Let's just start slowly dear. I shouldn't bother them with their festivities." Opaline says as she looks at Alexis.
"Oh okay. Well I'll go get the stuff for the smoothies. Wait here." Alexis says.
"Alright darling." Opaline says as she watches Alexis run off.
*Timeskip*
"Opaline I got our smoothies. I hope you like blueberry because I made us some blueberry smoothies. Opaline? Where'd she go?" Alexis asks as she comes walking over with two smoothies.
"Finally. At long last I'm one step closer to taking over Equestria. And those stupid foals have no idea I'm using them. Misty or that little naive Alexis." Opaline says from nearby as Alexis looks around a corner and sees her.
"She's been.. using me? I guess Misty was right. Opaline can never change. She has to be stopped." Alexis says sadly as she drops the smoothies and leaves.
*Timeskip*
Later as Alexis walks back into the lighthouse she sees everything is in chaos.
"That's it! The Frighthouse is closed!" Sunny says angrily.
"What the hay guys?" Zipp asks as everyone gathers as ponies leave.
"It just wasn't Nightmare Night." Sunny says.
"But I worked all day on my ponydrone!" Zipp says disappointedly.
"And I spent all afternoon trying to figure out which of my special acorn lights to string!" Izzy says.
"And we made some great food, Sunny! Well you did. Made most of it. Okay all of it. Alexis and I only helped by getting out of the way. But we did it the traditional way!" Misty says as Alexis nods in agreement.
"You're all right but I guess I was just hoping that tonight's celebrations would be... like they used to be." Sunny says disappointedly.
"Where did we go wrong?" Alexis asks.
"I don't know but somehow we did. It was a total bust!" Sunny says.
"Wait, wait, wait up. Even with the chaos I didn't think it was a total bust! Oh... But maybe I was also too focused on scaring Misty and making the perfect Frighthouse to notice." Pipp says as Izzy chuckles.
"And I couldn't see anything beyond my lights." Izzy says.
"Well nopony could! Okay fine! I was a little too swept up in my gadgets." Zipp says.
"You guys are... already done your Frighthouse? I missed it?" Hitch asks as he comes running in with Sparky.
"No I think maybe it was me who missed it. Uh like the point I mean. I started all this. And putting such high expectations of perfection on something is a recipe for disaster!" Pipp says.
"Oh. Tell me about it! I was just so focused on making this the Best Nightmare Night Scare-a-thon in Maretime Bay ever that I forgot to consider Maretime Bay in the first place. What was I thinking? These ponies don't need 27 events to fill a night and make it perfect." Hitch says as he throws down some flyers.
"Yeah. Not every holiday has to be perfect... or exactly the same as it was last time. Right? No I'm genuinely asking. It doesn't have to be the same right?" Izzy asks as
"No Izzy. It doesn't have to be. I'm sorry for thinking it had to. I was just looking forward to recreating my special memories. It's just like with Wishday. I cherished the times I had with my Dad so much, I guess I just... wanted to share them with my best friends." Sunny says disappointedly.
"But can't you still? I mean share your memories?" Misty asks.
"Of course. But you can also..." Alexis says.
"Make new ones." Hitch says.
"Even though holidays are about traditions they're also about surrendering to the surprise of what this moon will bring!" Zipp says.
"And what's more surprising than Nightmare Night?" Pipp asks before Zipp presses a button causing bats to come flying out everywhere scaring Alexis, Misty and Pipp.
"Got you!" Zipp shouts happily.
"Yeah! You got us!" Misty says.
"You got us that time!" Alexis says.
"The Frighthouse is officially reopened!" Pipp shouts happily.
*Timeskip*
"Sparky! Sure hope you're helping not playing!" Hitch says as the group is cleaning up the next morning as Sparky is running around after one of the birds.
"Yeah. I don't think he's helping Hitch. Don't worry. I'll go get him." Alexis says.
"No worries Alexis. I'll do it." Hitch says as he goes upstairs after Sparky.
"Sparky is so cute. Especially with all his energy back again." Misty says as Alexis goes over to her.
"I know right." Alexis says as she smiles.
"Everypony! Get in here!" Hitch shouts from upstairs before everyone runs upstairs and sees the parchment is glowing along with Sparky and now has a map on it.
"The Isle of Scaly? It's... the Dragonlands! It's a map that'll take us back!" Sunny says happily.
"We can finally warn them about Opaline!" Zipp says.
"And we better do it soon. Before it's too late." Misty says.