Chapter 58: Luna Eclipsed
The remainder of the two week vacation went by quickly after everything that went on, enjoying time in the sun and fun in the water, teaching the fillies how to swim in deeper waters, playing games at the beach, even competing in sand sculpting competitions, obviously Rarity won just about every single one of them because of how good they looked. Demyx stayed with them throughout their vacation, and enjoyed himself as well, but like all other things, he had to return to the stronghold as he was ordered to return for a mission, so he said his good byes and called a corridor, walking through it and leaving them alone, which it was about time for them to leave as well, so they packed everything into the ship, some of the things they got from markets thanks to Jumba and Lilo, saying good bye to the new friends they made while there and went tot he cockpit and strapped themselves in for liftoff. A while later, they returned to Equestria and disembarked, the fillies running out of the ship laughing and giggling, not waiting to tell their friends about their vacation while Spyro and the Mane Six disembarked, carrying their luggage off the ship and back to their homes, discussing the fun they had while Spyro and Applejack went to the farm house, Big Mac and Granny Smith waiting for them at the front door as they came.
"Welcome home little apple fritter." Granny Smith said. "How was yer vacation?"
"It was excellent." Applejack said. "Though it started off a little rough, the rest of it was absolutely amazing." She then leaned into Spyro, wrapping her neck around his and smiled. "It was exactly what Ah needed."
"Well, glad to hear ya enjoyed yerselves." Granny Smith said. "And you came back just in time too. Nightmare Night is in a few days and we need to get you yer costume."
"Hot dang, I forgot about that." Applejack said. "Ah need to get a costume quickly."
She then rushed out of the house and ran to Ponyville to ask Rarity for some help with a costume, but Spyro wasn't worried as he already had a costume ready. The next few days went by quickly, everyone getting everything set up for Nightmare Night as they set up decorations and prepared their costumes, which Spyro took some inspiration from the Caribbean and had his costume specially made as he planned on going as a pirate captain, having a black captains coat, complete with a unkept white dress shirt and pants, strapped around his waist and across his chest was leather belts with holsters and fake pistols. On his hind legs, he wore a pair of black leather boots and a magenta bandana, finishing it off with a large black hat like what Barbossa wore, complete with a large feather on it and a fake sword. He looked himself in the mirror, looking over his costume and smiled, satisfied with it, but then thought about something that could make it better.
"Hey Spyro, come on, hurry up!" Scootaloo shouted. "We're going to miss out on the best candy!"
"Aye, be there in a minute little buccaneer." Spyro responded. He then walked out of his room and saw that Scootaloo was dressed as a werewolf and next to her, Apple Bloom was dressed up as a bride of Frankenstein and Sweetie Belle was dressed up as a vampire, wearing a black cape and fangs. "Ahoy there me crew, ye be ready for a night of horror and sweets?"
"Aye, Aye captain!" The crusaders said in unison.
"Glad to hear it." Spyro responded, using a pirate voice. "But first, I need a certain finishing touch from me vault to make me costume complete."
"Why, it looks good to me." Scootaloo said.
"I'm wanting to go out as a cursed pirate." Spyro responded. "I just need to get something from the vault and it'll be complete."
"You're not talking about that cursed gold, are you?" Scootaloo asked.
"Oh come on Scoots, it's perfectly harmless." Spyro replied. "It's just for one night."
"Yeah, but maybe it'll be a bit too scary for the foals you agreed to take with you for Nightmare Night." Scootaloo pointed out.
"Eh, I guess you got a point Scoots." Spyro replied. "Might be a bit too much for the foals."
A minute later, he heard someone knock at the door, so he walked down and towards the door, opening it to find a group of fillies, each wearing a different costume.
"Nightmare Night, what a fright! Give us something sweet to bite!" The fillies said in unison.
"Well avast landlubbers!" Spyro said, picking up the bowl of candy and gave each a piece candy, but then saw Pinkie in a chicken costume and carrying her own bucket, he hesitated and gave her an 'Are you serious' look. "Pinkie, aren't you a little old to be doing this?"
"Too old for free candy!?" She asked in surprise. "NEVER! Now enough chit-chat! Time for some candy!"
Smiling at the random party pony, he levitated a piece of candy over to her and put it in her bag, the pink pony panting like a dog and watched as the piece of candy was put in her bag, but before she could react, he leaned over and gave her a peck on the cheek, catching her off guard and smiled at him, hugging him as she returned the peck.
"Come on everypony, let's go get some candy!" Scootaloo shouted.
All the foals cheered as they rushed out to get more candy with Pinkie right behind them, but a small colt tripped and fell down, his toy sword skidding away. Spyro walked over and helped the colt up, noticing he had some brown spots on parts of his body.
"There you go little guy." Spyro said, getting his toy sword for him. "And who might you be? Never seen you before in Ponyville."
"I'm Pipsqueak." He replied with a cockney accent. "Pipsqueak the Pirate at your service, Captain."
"Ah, avast Mr. Pipsqueak." Spyro replied, getting into character. "Ye be new to these shores. From where did ye come from before weighing anchor here?"
"From Trottingham." Pipsqueak replied.
"Well, it's nice to meet you Pipsqueak." Spyro said, dropping the act. "I'm Spyro."
"Wait, as in the Prince of Light and Darkness?" Pipsqueak asked. "The pony my classmates told me saved Equestria from Discord?"
"Looks like I'm making a name for myself." Spyro replied.
"Wow, I can;t believe I'm being chaperoned by a prince!" Pipsqueak said, clearly excited. "Best Nightmare Night ever!"
"This your first Nightmare Night after moving to Ponyville?" Spyro asked.
"No, as in this is my very first Nightmare Night." Pipsqueak replied.
"Is that so?" Spyro asked. "Well then, let's make it a memorable one to be sure, Quartermaster."
The two of them caught up with the group, walking down the road as they hit some more houses along the way for the foals to get some free candy. When they reached town, Spyro looked at some of the decorations and some of the stalls, some selling Halloween themed sweets and goodies and some games were set up, one game were you toss a spider into a web, another where you chuck pumpkins, and even bobbing for apples, which he saw Applejack was in charge of and was wearing a scarecrow costume. The next house they stopped by was the Golden Oak Library, where they knocked on the door and Spike opened the door and the fillies used the same chant, but when Spyro saw what Spike was dressed up as, he hoof smacked himself as Spike was dressed up as a dragon, though it it was black and purple, it would look like a chubbier version of Maleficent while she's in her dragon form. Before Spike could get the candy, Twilight walked over and took his place, dressed up as a wizard with a lot more stars and bells jingling on her hat and wearing a fake white beard.
"Happy Nightmare Night every pony." Twilight said, passing out the candy and seeing Spyro. "Wow Spyro, nice costume."
"Thank's Twilight." Spyro replied. "And I like yours, though I don't know who you're supposed to be."
"I'm Star Swirl the Bearded." Twilight replied, confusing him. "Father of the Amiomorphic Spell?" Still no response, which seemed to annoy her. "How could you not know who he is? I gave you the book about Obscure Unicorn History." Still no response, annoying her. "How do you not know this?"
"Probably because I'm not from here Twilight." Spyro replied. "Hey kids, any of you ever heard of this Star Swirls the Bearded?"
"No!" The foals responded in unison, making her groan.
"Well, looks like we're all unedumacated." Spyro said. "Guess we can call you Grandpa Twilight as you look like a grandpa."
The foals all laughed at the name, making the lavender mare sigh in defeat as she and Spike joined the group and walked through the town square, where the holiday was in full swing. Some of the foals ran ahead to play some of the games or to enjoy some of the candy they got form the houses, allowing him to keep the kids in his sight while Spyro walked with his friends to enjoy the festivities. However, out of all his friends who were participating tonight, only Rarity and Fluttershy didn't participate, the former exhausted from some of the outfits she made for the night, but Fluttershy was terrified of the holiday and locked herself in her cottage, probably hiding underneath something. Spyro knew where Applejack was at and was about to walk over to participate, but a bolt of lightning cracked over them, scaring Spike, Pinkie and some of the foals, the foals running away with Pinkie while Rainbow Dash was laughing, dressed as a Shadowbolt from when they went to get the Elements of Harmony.
"Really Rainbow Dash?" Spyro asked. "I know it's Nightmare Night and all, but that's a little much, don't you think?"
"Oh lighten up Spyro." Rainbow Dash said. "Tonight is the best night for pranks."
"Still, it's a bit of a risk if someone's eating a piece of candy." Spyro pointed out.
"Aw, don't worry about that." Rainbow Dash said. "I make sure no pony's eating any before scaring them. Oh, there's another group over there!"
She then took her storm cloud and flew off to scare another group of ponies, leaving them behind to scare some more ponies. Spyro walked with Twilight as they went out to the town square, where the mayor had called every foal to come and listen to how the holiday came to be. On the stage, Zecora was walking down the steps wearing a dark cloak, but to his surprise, her hair was draped down instead of her usual Mohawk look with spiders in it, making him blush as he looked at her.
"Follow me and very soon, you'll hear the tale of Nightmare Moon." Zecora said, walking down the stage.
She walked past the adults and teens who were gathered there, but when she passed Spyro, she could feel her own heart flutter, smiling as she approached.
"Hey Zecora, been a while." Spyro said, walking up. "You're looking pretty good."
"Thanks for the compliment my friend, walk with me and you shall learn about Nightmare Night in the end."
Spyro walked with her group towards the Everfree forest, walking through and using his Force sense to feel for any Heartless that might be hiding in the forest, sensing a few of them, but they were far away, but still remained on guard just incase. A while later, they came to a statue that looked exactly like Nightmare Moon while Pinkie Pie was trailing behind them, pecking the ground like the animal she was, rolling his eyes at her. Zecora then pulled out a small bag and poured some green powder into her hoof.
"Listen close my little deers, and I will tell you where you got your fears." Zecora said. "Of Nightmare Night, so dark and scary. Of Nightmare Moon who makes you weary." She then blew the dust into the air and it changed into Nightmare Moon, flying down and landing in the middle of the group and making the scenery eerie for everyone. "Every year, we put on a disguise, to hide us from her searching eyes." Through the mist, a pair of eyes looked through the mist, scaring the fillies as they ran away, but it was only Zecora, smiling as she was enjoying herself. "But Nightmare Moon just wants one thing, to gobble up ponies in just one swing!"
Pipsqueak got spooked and ran into the statue, looking up and seeing it smiling at him and backed away, but bumped into Pinkie and she screamed, both of them rushing away. Zecora then pulled out more green dust and tossed it into the air and it turned into Nightmare Moon again, the old illusion disappearing and then a new illusion appeared, looking to the ground at the fillies as if looking for something.
"Hungrily, she soars the sky, if she sees no pony, she passes by." Zecora continued. "So if she comes and all is clear, Equestria is safe for another year."
As she finished her story, the Misty Nightmare Moon shot up into the air, exploding into a rain of green sparkling dust showering them.
"Um, Ms. Zecora." Pipsqueak said, pulling on her cloak. "If we wear our costumes to hide from Nightmare Moon so she doesn't gobble us up, why do we have to give her some of our candy?"
"An excellent question my little friend, for Nightmare Moon you must not offend." Zecora replied. "Fill up her belly with a treat or two, so she does not return... to come and eat you!"
As she said it, a new green misty Nightmare Moon appeared and walked forward, leaping up as she opened her mouth to reveal jagged teeth and landed in the middle of the crowd, Pinkie screaming and leading a group of fillies to the statue so they could dump some of their candy.
"AHHHHH! Everypony, dump some of your candy and run!" Pinkie shouted.
As they dumped some candy near the statue, the wind started to pick up as the clouds overhead sidled around in a circle, leaving nothing but the moon, looking up to see a flash of light and a carriage appearing, being pulled by what appeared to be bat/pony hybrids and flew over head of the group, everyone but Twilight and Spyro running away while the carriage hovered above them. Spyro knew someone in a cloak and shrouded in darkness was not a good thing, but he could sense that there was no malice or darkness in her heart, recognizing the energy and smiling as she went into town, both Twilight and Spyro running close behind her, running into town just as Pinkie and the other foals ran into town, rushing through as other ponies looked to the sky, seeing the hovering carriage just as the stranger levitated down, landing on the ground. She then removed her hood and revealed herself to be Princess Luna, which Spyro was happy to see her again, but could sense something going on around them, nothing dark, but something was happening.
"Citizens of Ponyville!" Luna said, her voice booming loudly and nearly caused him to go deaf. He could then sense what kind of energy it was he was feeling, an all too familiar kind of energy a while ago; fear, everyone huddled and cowering as she approached. "We have graced your tiny village with our presence so that you may behold the real Princess of the Night. We are a creature of nightmares and terror no longer, but instead a pony who desires your admiration and love." As she spoke, the ponies moved away from her, the princess not realizing they were moving away. "Together, we shall turn this holiday of dreariness and terror into a bright and glorious feast!"
"AHHHHH! Did you hear that everypony?" Pinkie asked. "Nightmare Moon said she's going to feast on us all! EVERYPONY PANIC!"
Everyone then started to run away, the princess looking on in shock as she watched everyone run away.
"What? No." Luna exclaimed in shock. " No children no. You don't need to fear us anymore. We only desire your screams of delight and happiness, not fear." No one listened as they all remained cowering in fear. She then approached Mayor Mare, who was wearing a clown costume, which was a little creepy, but not as creepy as one particular clown was even creepier and scarier and he was grateful that she wasn't him, otherwise he'd probably be running away right there and then. "Mayor Mare, be not afraid. Thy Princess of the Night hath arrived." She reached out her hoof to shake hers, but instead of accepting it, Mayor Mare remained curled in a ball, shaking in fear, so she then moved her hoof to other ponies, hoping they'd take it, but they too were afraid to take her hoof. "B-but why? Why do they still fear us? I-I'm not..."
"That's not good." Spyro said, watching as Luna left. "This is so not good."
"Maybe we should go talk to her." Twilight suggested. "Make sure she's ok."
"Twilight, you can't!" Spike said, pulling on her cloak. "Neither of you can! She's Nightmare Moon."
"She's not Nightmare Moon." Spyro replied. "She hasn't been Nightmare Moon for months. With my help and the help of the Elements of Harmony, we cleansed her heart of the darkness that plagued her and now she's good."
"Spyro's right, Princess Luna isn't like that anymore." Twilight said, pulling her cloak out of Spikes claws. "She's probably having trouble readjusting after being gone a thousand years." They then watched her leave the town and head back to the Everfree forest, looking unhappy. "She's heading back into the Everfree."
"Alright, I'll go in and talk to her, see if I can cheer her up." Spyro said. "You see if you can calm the ponies in the town and convince them Luna is no longer the Mare in the Moon."
The two then separated, Twilight going back into town to calm everyone down while Spyro went back into the Everfree to see if he could talk to Luna and cheer her up. After a minute, he found her in front of the statue of Nightmare Moon, sulking as she played with a piece of candy, moving it around on the ground with her hoof, unhappy and sad. She then heard hoof steps coming from behind and turned around, seeing Spyro in his pirate costume, but not recognizing him as he appeared completely different.
"Who art thou?" She asked, immediately going on the defensive. "Why do thee approach us?"
"Easy there Luna, it's me." Spyro replied, taking the hat off. "It's Spyro."
"Spyro!" She said in excitement, getting up and rushing over to hug him, catching him off guard. "Are we ever so grateful that you have come. We... We do not understand why they-"
"It's ok Luna, it's alright little star." Spyro said, returning her hug. "How you holding up? Everything ok?."
"No, it is not ok." Luna asked, backing away. "Our subjects... they still fear us." She then walked back to the statue, sitting down and looked down to the ground, sensing how unhappy she is. "They still fear us, even after thou and thy friends expelled the darkness from our heart. Our sister... she... she thought it was a good idea for us to come to Ponyville and enjoy this... this... blasphemous holiday. A night of... lies and... and slander to our good name."
"Our?" Spyro asked. "Us? Is this some olden tongue you're speaking?"
"Yes, 'tis how we spoke a thousand years ago." Luna replied, her voice booming as he covered his ears. "And we use the traditional Royal Canterlot voice to address our subjects in the traditional 'we.'"
Spyro could hear his ears ringing, shaking his head as his hearing was coming back, looking up to her.
"Ah, my ears." Spyro said, rubbing them. "Ok, there's your first problem. That voice of yours."
"And why does thou believe our voice is a problem!?" She asked, using her loud voice.
"It's because they find it intimidating." Spyro replied, digging in his ears. "You kind of sound like a Drill sergeant yelling a bunch of scared recruits." He then walked over and sat down next to her, wrapping his right hand wings around her and pulling her in. "That's something we can work on together. And maybe help you to drop thy olde equestrian and learn the new equestrian."
"Thou, would do this, for us?" Luna asked. "After everything we-"
"Luna, do you still blame yourself for what you did in the past?" Spyro asked, sensing her fear, which she nodded her head. "Remember what the guardian said when you and your sister came to help me. You need to let that go. Holding onto the past will only bring you down, so let go of it, and look to what's in the here and now. We'll get you up to speed on what is going on in the new era after a thousand years of being coped up on a dust moon. I mean, you must have been miserable with all the moon dust up there."
He then started to mimic himself coughing and making sounds like he hadn't have anything to drink for years, putting a smile on her face as he got up, extending his hoof to hers and he helped to get her on her own hooves.
"Now, we'll start with a simple greeting." Spyro said. "Hello, my name is Spyro."
"Greeting subject!" Luna said, her voice booming with the Royal Canterlot voice and sending him sailing into a tree. "Thou are in the presence of thy Princess of the Night."
"Oh, my head." Spyro said, getting down from the tree. "Alright, decent start, but maybe lower the volume a bit, and repeat how I greeted you, but with your name instead of mine. Make's you sound much nicer than what you're saying now."
"Oh, alright." Luna replied, clearing her throat. "H-hello, we art Princess Luna."
"Better." Spyro replied, a smile on the princesses face. "But the old equestrian way of speech isn't exactly practiced these days. One more go, but drop the olde language."
"H-hello... my name i-is... Luna?" Luna said, fearing she got it wrong, but saw the smile on his face.
"There you go, much better." Spyro said, praising the alicorn princess for her effort, which she snatched him into her forelegs and gave him a back breaking hug, surprised at how strong she was.
"Oh joy of joy young prince, we thank thee!" Luna said, reverting to her old form of speaking. "Thou art the best friend we have been looking for and the most caring herd leader."
"And that's my spine snapping in half." Spyro said, his words wheezing out
A moment later, he hung limply in her forelegs as he felt his spine being crushed. A moment later, he heard hoof steps and looked out, seeing that Pinkie and a group of foals were running in their direction, panic in their eyes.
"Spyro, Spyro, we need your help!" Pinkie shouted. "We need your help with-" She then saw him hanging limply in her forelegs and instant panic rose up in her. "AHHH, Nightmare Moon is attacking Spyro! She stole his voice so he couldn't call out for help while she eats him! RUN AWAY!"
She and the group of foals ran in the opposite direction, running away from Luna and, upsetting her as she dropped Spyro.
"Neigh children, don't not fear us." Luna said, clearing her throat. "I mean, children, wait, don't be afraid of me, I won't harm you."
"This is going to be a long night." Spyro said, his limbs twitching as he tried to feel his back.
After a few moments, his back was fully healed after the sudden back breaker the princess gave him and he got up, though he was a bit wobbly, he was able to get back up and caught up with the princess, walking with her into town to see if he can get everyone see the true her. As they walked through the town, everyone was staring at her, sensing their anxiety as they watched her walk by while others seemed to cower or hide behind something.
"''Tis no use young prince." Luna said. "They will never love us."
"Don't say that princess." Spyro said. "We just need to show them you aren't who you were before, show them you are a changed pony." He then looked around for some games they could try. "How does a few fun games sound to you?"
"What is this 'fun' thou speak of?" Luna asked, surprising him.
"Wow, you don't know how to have fun?" Spyro asked, completely shocked. "You have been out of the loop for a while. Come on, I'll show you." The pair walked over to the games. "How about a round or two of Spider Toss?"
"Spider Toss?" Luna asked, looking down at the bowl of spiders and picking one up with her hoof. "What be the purpose of tossing a spider?"
"It's a game." Spyro replied, walking next to her. "All you need to do is get the spider on the web, simple." Spyro took a spider in his hoof and tossed it, hitting the web on the first go and surprising the princess. "See? Just like that. Give it a go."
The princess was reluctant, watching as the vendor removed the spider from the web, tossing the spider and landing a hit on the first go, surprising her and making her smile.
"I-I did it!" She exclaimed in joy. "That... was actually enjoyable. What other ways may we experience this, 'fun?'"
"Come, I'll show you." Spyro replied. The pair then walked to another game, Pumpkin chucking where a few small catapults have already been set up and were facing towards some targets, a large pile of pumpkins nearby that were shaped to be the right size for the pumpkins. "This is called Pumpkin Chucking. All you need to do is put the pumpkin in the catapult and launch it in the air, hitting the target." He demonstrated by picking up a pumpkin and putting it in the catapult, winding up the catapult and firing the pumpkin, hitting a bullseye. "Just as simple as Spider Toss. See if you can get a bullseye as well."
She followed what he said, picking up a pumpkin from the pile nearby and put it in a catapult of her choice, winding it up just like Spyro did before releasing the catapult, scoring a bullseye just like he did, exciting her.
"Hah, the fun has just been doubled." Luna said, an excited smile appearing on her face.
As she was enjoying herself, the two of them noticed that everyone around them was starting to warm up to her, some even cheering as she landed a bullseye on the target.
"It's working." Spyro said. "They're warming up to you. Their fear is disappearing."
"We, er, I think you're right." Luna said, her heart filled with joy. "They... love me."
"See, all they needed to do was see the real you." Spyro said, walking next to the princess. "Hey, let's try Bobbing for Apples next."
"Bobbing apples?" Luna asked in excitement.
"Spyro." Twilight called out, rushing over. "You did it. Everypony is warming up to her."
"Yes, i can't thank him enough." Luna said. "He really helped me a lot."
"It's no big deal." Spyro replied. "Hey Twilight, like to join us for Bobbing for Apples?"
"Sure, why not?" Twilight replied.
The three of them then started to walk through the vendors, on their way to play Bobbing for Apples, the princess complementing Twilight for her costume, instantly recognizing her costume and making Twilight's night. When they approached, Luna noticed Pipsqueak reaching down into the buckets to get an apple, and due to how small he was, he had to lean over the tub, but ended up falling into it while trying to get an apple. Not knowing if the colt was able to swim, the alicorn rushed over to the tub to help him out of it before he could drown.
"Hey guys, have you seen Pip?" Pinkie asked, walking with the fillies. "We lost him the last time we had to-" She froze in fear, seeing that Luna had just. Picked up the little colt from the tub and freaked. "Nightmare Moon! She's gobbling up Pipsqueak! RUN AWAY!"
Ah, help!" Pipsqueak shouted. "My backside is being gobbled!"
Lune set the little colt down and watched in sadness as he ran away from her after she had just saved her.
"Neigh, 'tis a lie!" Luna exclaimed, her anger reaching its limit. "Thine backside is whole and ungobbled you ungrateful whelp!" Lightning then struck in the background behind her, giving her a menacing appearance, which scared everyone and they ran away, which she noticed and calmed down. "W-wait fair villagers, please don't back away. I apologize for loosing my temper. Please, let us be merry and have fun." She then looked around and found a spider someone had tossed too far away from the target, picking up and tossed it to them, hoping to have fun, but they just backed away again. "I-is it not enough fun for you? T-then what about this?"
She then used her magic and hit a whole bowl of them, making them come to life and skittered around, freaking everyone out and making them run around in fear. Soon, the whole town was in panic, running around, knocking vendors over along with barrels filled with apples and other goodies, decorations flying everywhere and town folk running into one another to get away, making the princess feel unloved and feared when she was trying to make them love her, a tear rolling down her eyes as her eyes turned white as her anger boiled over, having enough of being feared and despised.
"BE STILL!" Luna shouted, using her loud voice again as lightning shot out in the sky, getting everyone to stop.
"Luna, wait, calm yourself." Spyro said, walking up. "Remember what we-"
"No Spyro!" Luna replied, her eyes still glowing white. "We must use the traditional Royal Canterlot voice for what we have to say, so all may hear us." She then started to hover in the air, using her wings to lift herself up as dark clouds and lightning swirled above her. "Since you all chose to fear me and run away, insulting us and slandering our good name with this accursed holiday, we hear by decree that from this point forth, Nightmare Night, the night that has gone on for a thousand years after my banishment, be canceled... FOREVER!"
Everyone gasped, hearing that the scariest night of the year was being canceled for all eternity, the princess of the night flying away from town and leaving everyone in town miserable. Spyro could sense how upset everyone was, both adult and foal were miserable as some of the foals had plans for next Nightmare Night, the coals crying that one of their favorite holidays was canceled.
"No, everything we worked hard for... and Pinkie goes and ruins it." Spyro said, looking in the direction she was flying towards. "Twilight, find Pinkie and see why she's been screaming and running away from the princess."
"I'm on it." Twilight replied.
She then turned and ran into the town to find the pink chicken while Spyro took off into the air and flew in the direction she went, getting lucky and finding the princess was just on the outskirts of the town, lying on the ground and crying in the middle of an open field, landing gently next to her and sitting down.
"Leave us be Spyro." She said, not looking up. "We wish to be alone."
"That's the one thing no one needs when they are upset." Spyro replied, lying down next to her and wrapping his neck over hers. "Trust me, when I was upset and wanted to be alone, many dark and terrible thoughts entered my mind, thought of not being loved and always believing to be hated by others, allowing paranoia to take over."
"But... but they don't love us!" She replied, tears rolling down her face. "T-they run away and scream, fleeing from us and not letting us have a chance to show them we are changed." She then started to cry harder, her eyes turning red from the crying as he just laid there, listening to her. "Why? Why do they fear us? And why do they have this accursed holiday to commemorate the Mare in the Moon? WHY!?"
"Well, it is a night of fright and fear." Spyro replied. "But where I'm from, we have a similar holiday called Halloween. It's like Nightmare night, the one day of the year where it's ok to dress up be scared while have fun scaring or being scared." As he said it, his eyes widened, a lightbulb appearing over his head and then disappearing as his head shot up. "That's it!"
"W-what's it?" Luna asked.
"Nightmare Night, the one night of the years where it's ok to be terrified." Spyro replied, confusing the princess. "Luna, they aren't truly afraid of you, it's all pretend. The decorations, the outfits, some of the scary pranks some ponies are pulling on each other, they enjoy being scared."
"B-but what does terrifying our subject accomplish?" Luna asked, raising her head up. "W-won't that make them fear us even more?"
"Trust me, this will work." Spyro said. "We just need to do a little make up and get some false teeth. And dry those tears up princess, you're much too pretty to be crying."
Luna couldn't hep but blush at the compliment, the two getting up and walking to town to get a few things for his plan to work. In town, Twilight had managed to get Pinkie, luring her into an alleyway and trying to convince her Luna wasn't Nightmare Moon anymore, which Pinkie already knew and had explained that it was fun to be scared, bringing Twilight to the same conclusion as Spyro and rushed to find them, seeing them sneaking through town towards the costume shop.
"Spyro, wait up!" Twilight exclaimed, running to them. "Please tell me you got the same idea that I just got."
"Oh yeah, I got a beauty of an idea." Spyro replied, a sinister smile appearing on his face. "We just need to get some costume make up and some fangs."
"We... do not understand why we need these things." Luna said. "Wouldn't this make them fear us even more?"
"Exactly the point." Spyro replied, surprising her. "They want to be scared as is tradition for this holiday, so by scaring them, it might help them to see you only want to have fun and hopefully, you'll understand as well."
A minute later, Twilight came out with a small makeup set and some fake fangs, the princess being hesitant about this.
"We... cannot go through with this." Luna said, backing away. "They will fear us more than they already do."
"Princess, please, trust me." Spyro said, walking up to her. "This will work. I should know, I'm the king of scaring people on Halloween when I'm not fighting. You'll love this."
"Believe me, he's good at scaring ponies." Twilight said. "Gets us every now and then when we don't expect it."
Deciding to trust Spyro and Twilight, she knelt down and allowed them to get to work, applying the false teeth into her mouth and putting them on, but needed Spyro's help to fix them as they were crooked. After they were done, Spyro lead the princess, who now looked like Nightmare Moon, to the statue of Nightmare Moon, hiding the statue somewhere else while Luna took it's place, the princess using her magic to make herself look like Nightmare moon.
"We art unsure about this." Luna said. "Art thou sure this will work?"
"Trust me princess, it'll work." Spyro replied. "I've pulled this gag dozens of times, get's them every time."
A moment later, he saw a group of foals walking down the path and used his magic to make her look like a statue as the fillies and colts arrived, looking miserable as they started to deposit candy in front of the statue. At the statue, the last to deposit their candy was Pipsqueak, who looked very unhappy that he wouldn't be able to celebrate Nightmare Night again.
"Good bye Nightmare Night, forever." Pipsqueak said, lowering his head.
A moment later, the wind started to pick up again, getting the foals attention and scaring them a bit.
"Citizens of Ponyville, you were wise to bring such offerings to me!" Luna said, using her Royal Canterlot voice. "Unfortunately, due to how you have insulted our good name and dishonored us, this shall not be enough and thus, we shall have to settle on devouring you!"
Spyro then used his power to make the gray disappear and allow the princess to move, Pipsqueak looking back and saw the statue was Nightmare Moon, all the foals screaming in pure terror as they ran away to avoid being gobbled up. After they were a ways away, the illusion around the princess disappeared and she spat the teeth out, sighing as she watched them run away.
"I am not certain that worked as you intended for it to do Spyro." Luna said.
"Give it a moment princess." Spyro replied. "Hey, you dropped the 'we' and 'us.'"
"Oh, I stopped doing that a while ago." Princess Luna said. "My sister has been teaching me how to properly speak in this new era. I was nervous and reverted back to the old way I talked. I only wish that-"
"Um... princess Luna." Pipsqueak said, walking up to the princess, who got down from the pedestal. "I know you canceled Nightmare Night, but do you think we can do this again next year? We really enjoyed you scaring us."
"You... enjoyed me scaring you?" Luna asked, surprised by what the colt said.
"Yes, I enjoyed it." Pipsqueak replied. "It's really fun to be scared. Nightmare Night is my favorite night."
"Well, I suppose I could... bring Nightmare Night back!" Luna exclaimed, using her Royal Canterlot voice.
"YAY!" Pipsqueak said, hugging her leg. "You're my favorite princess, ever!"
He then let go of the princesses leg and ran to his friends to give them the good news, the princess of the night smiling as she saw the happy faces from the foals.
"See, I told you that would work." Spyro said, gliding down from the trees. "They really love you princess."
"You are right Spyro, they do love me." She replied, hugging Spyro as she shed tears of joy. "Thank you so much Spyro."
"Hey, can't let a member of my herd be miserable all the time." Spyro replied.
Without any warning, the princess gave him a peck on his cheek, catching him off guard, but he then returned the peck with a kiss, surprising her as she didn't expect the gesture, but closed her eyes and enjoyed the moment, the two of them extending the kiss for a few more moments before they heard what sounded like clapping, making the couple end the the kiss and look around to see who was clapping, but saw nothing but forest and gloomy trees. A moment later, he looked up to the clouds, tracing the sound to the sky and saw a familiar black and red alicorn stallion clapping his hooves together as he smiled.
"My, what a performance that was." Vanitas said. "Such, compassion, so much care and love, how revolting."
"Vanitas!" Spyro shouted, calling his Keyblade. "I thought I sent you packing back in Appaloosa."
"Spyro, you know this pony?" Luna asked, standing next to him.
"I will admit, that drive you used caught me off guard, but it did fail to destroy me." Vanitas replied, standing up on the tree and jumping to a branch. "And it seems you and the princess are pretty close. Another attachment to exploit."
"Princess, find the foals and get out of here." Spyro said. "Their safety is more important."
Before she could go anywhere, Flood appeared in her path, blocking her from leaving as a barrier appeared around them, cutting them off.
"And I thought I had poor manners." Vanitas said. "Haven't they taught you that leaving while someone was talking was poor manners?"
"What do you want Vanitas?" Spyro asked, raising his blade up.
"I'm glad you asked." Vanitas replied. "You see, when you destroyed Xaldin, it caused quite a stir within the Organization, so i came here to congratulate you on a fight well fought. And a little parting gift."
He waved his hoof and the ground beneath them erupted, thorny vines shooting out as they plunged into the earth and created a large hole, out of it was a massive pumpkin popped out, the vines turned into wheels as it faced them with a creepy smile on it.
"A Cursed Carriage!" Spyro shouted, getting in front of the princess.
"You may have beaten me before, but how will you deal with something made from the fear from all the fillies in this town?" Vanitas asked. The Carriage then started to rush towards them, Spyro getting ready to defend himself and the princess, but the carriage suddenly stopped, rotting away as it collapsed onto the ground, dark energy disappearing and surprising the Organization member. "What is this? Why did it just decay?"
"The fear you used to summon them wasn't real." Spyro answered, looking to the Flood as they too decayed into dust. "You rely on the negative energy that comes from dark emotions, like hate, anger, and fear. However, on this night, the fear everyone feels is fake. Nothing but the joy of being scared senseless." He walked forward as he pointed his Keyblade at Vanitas. "Next time you want to attack, make sure it isn't on the one night that fear and terror holds no power over anyone."
A moment later, the tip of the blade began to glow red as a torrent of fire shot out form the Keyblade, Vanitas opening a corridor to darkness and dove in to avoid the hit, but the fire followed him in, passing through the corridor as it closed. When the corridor closed, Spyro dismissed his Keyblade and turned to Luna, who was ok, but shaken up from seeing those things.
"What... were those?" Luna asked.
"Unversed." Spyro replied. "They are creatures that are created from Vanitas, who is the darker half of someone else's heart. He creates the Unversed as he holds a deep hatred for himself and his other half, using negative emotions to create them. But on this night, those negative emotions were weak, granting no power to them and destroying them."
"Are there more of them?" Luna asked.
"Maybe." Spyro replied, not filling the princess with much confidence. "Maybe not. It all depends on who's attacking." The two of them then walked out of the forest and started their journey back to Ponyville, the two of them silent as they walked, but he then wrapped his wings around her barrel, the princess blushing as he did so. "Hey, I have a holiday back at home that you and your sister could try out."
"Really?" Luna asked. "And what's that?"
"It's called Thanksgiving." Spyro replied. "It's a day where we give thanks for the bounty of food and other goods we are given in our lives. Everyone who attends can bring a dish of their own so everyone can enjoy a banquet of food and goodies everyone brings."
"It sounds interesting." Luna said, looking at him. "I think I'd like to try it."
"Excellent." Spyro replied. "I'll see if my friends would like to try it out as well. The more ponies there are, the better."
The princess of the night smiled at him, leaning in and hugging him as they walked together back to the town and enjoy the rest of the nights festivities, the games and the company of the princess. As it was coming to an end, Spyro noticed that Twilight was having Spike write a letter to the princess and over head was Rainbow Dash, sneaking up on her with the storm cloud she brought and was about to use it to scare her, but Spyro and Luna both snuck up behind her, tapping her on the shoulder to get her attention. When she turned around to see who it was, she saw Nightmare Moon behind her as lightning went off behind her, scaring the cyan Pegasus away as she flew as fast as she could, the two royal couple laughing at her as they watched her fly away.