"Mister Hex, its time ta get up!"

Whatever else they were going to say was unceremoniously cut off as weight slammed into my stomach, making me sit up and open my eyes...to the cute.  The three fillies I had rescued sat on my legs with silly grins on their faces.  What made it worse was the one wearing a tattered bow.  Any angry thoughts disappeared when she looked at me with puppy eyes.  The three of them seemed no worse for wear, barring bandages here and there.  The orange and purple pegasus had a few wraps of gauze around her wing, but seemed cheery none the less.

"Well, we didn't get our cutie marks in running, 'an we really didn't get 'em fightin timberwolves.  Still, we wanted ta say thank you for saving us."

"Yeah, we were worried when you fell over, but I knew you were going to save us."

"You were awesome.  Not as awesome as Rainbow Dash, but you really messed those timberwolves up something fierce."

It took everything I had not to facepalm at their reactions.  Especially the little pegasus who introduced herself as Scootaloo, the second most awesome pegasus in Ponyville.  The other two were found out to be Applebloom and Sweetie Belle.  I didn't know their sisters well, but I had heard horror stories about how they tried to figure out their talents.  If only I could have been surprised that the three fillies had turned out to be the terrors known as the Cutie Mark Crusaders.  I could already feel the agony of wounds to come at their cute little hooves as they bantered back and forth about what to try next.

After a few minutes of laughing at my expense, the girls shooed the fillies away with offers of breakfast made by Spike.  That seemed like a good enough idea, but no matter how I tried, my legs resisted my demands to move.  Panic spread through my mind as thoughts of paralysis tore through me before I whipped the blanket off my legs.  To say I was surprised was an understatement at worst and complete bullshit at best.  The shackles around my ankles were bound tightly to the bed with coils of thick rope.  A soft voice distracted me from my plight at least.

"Sorry sugarcube.  You were thrashin' around mighty hard when they were tryin' to heal ya.  They ah, asked me to tie your legs down so they could fix ya up right.  Didn't want to set bone wrong an all that."

It was kind of adorable to see Applejack hiding behind her hat while talking, but my mind wasn't panicking anymore.  This was at least a step in the right direction as the coarse rope quickly found itself in my hands.  It took more than a moment to undo the Apple's well practiced knots, but shortly enough I was free to set my bare feet on the cold floor.  Wait a second, bare feet?  That's when I decided to pause for a moment to take mental stock of everything.  Yup, completely naked.  In front of several blushing ponies.  In Twilight's basement.

"Seriously?!"

Several minutes of embarrassment later, I found my way up to the kitchen.  I was barely in time to see the three fillies run out the door with red capes whipping behind them.  Whatever food was left was just a shell of what had once been a beautiful breakfast.  The occasional bite of assorted fruits (largely Apple family products) blended in with a smattering of the more usual fare.  As I was reaching for a strip of bacon, a familiar scent graced my nose.  The smell of nearly ripe blueberries dusted with frost, crisp and cool mornings from back home.  Only one pony smelled like that.  Be it shampoo or something else magical, it marked her apart from the rest.  Bacon in hand, I spun on my good leg to face the offending pony and issue a challenge.

"Morning Luna.  What are you doing here?"

I made sure to cut off any sputtering replies by gently tapping her on the nose with the bacon before shoveling it into my waiting mouth.  Enjoying the flavor of real bacon in a world normally devoid of it was a carnal pleasure in itself.  Moreso when my strange mood compelled me to do something absolutely insane.  Nary more than a quick gesture, I snatched the mug of coffee from Luna's magical grasp before grinning and slurping loudly at the precious liquid.  If I didn't know any better, it looked like she wanted to strangle me.  The princess even had the comical twitching eye that you always see in cartoons.  

From there, breakfast descended into chaos and Luna and I vied for the remaining foodstuffs.  At some point, I'm pretty sure I threw a strawberry at her.  In return an apple ricocheted off the table I was using for cover and shot into the library proper with a squeal from somepony or another.  Forks became catapults with fruit payloads.  Bacon missiles rained salty pain and deliciousness as counterbattery fire.  Somehow I managed to land a donut on Luna's horn before nearly choking with laughter as she looked at it crosseyed.  I never even heard the young alicorn entering the kitchen before she roared from behind both Luna and myself.

"ENOUGH!"

Any thoughts of laughter died in my throat as I spun toward Twilight.  Small flames flickered and died in her mane and a look of absolute irritation was etched into her face.  This was going to be a long day...

As the days passed, I regained my footing as the remainder of the damage done by the timberwolves healed.  Despite it's quirks and insanity, Ponyville was a quaint little town to live in.  I just did my best to say out of the way of whatever villian of the week decided to wreak their havoc on the countryside and live a peaceful existence.  The crusaders had healed up pretty rapidly from their injuries and were back to destroying the fabric of reality after the first week.  The constant pace of chaos was soothing in a way.  You knew there would pretty much always been something happening on the weekends, but the rest of life was quiet.  I started to look forward to Luna's nightly visits to see how things were going.  Personally, I think she was just a little lonely, but I had no problem keeping her company.  It seemed like I was still up at night more than any pony outside of her personal guard.  

The air cooled steadily toward winter, but the skies never had any inkling of the weather that should happen.  My mental calendar said we should be near the end of October, and yet there wasn't even a hint of freezing temperatures.  So many things to get used to in this insane world.  One star lit night as I sat on one of the stone retaining walls near the creek, the soft rustle of magic teased my senses once again.  Blueberries and frost, always blueberries and frost.  Like every night of late, this had become my favorite place to view the night sky.  The dim lights of the town behind me, and nothing but clear sky all the way to the darkened forest in the distance.  

"Another beautiful night Luna.  Back home, the stars were always the same.  I found it comfortable in a way, to be able to look up and see Orion, the hunter, always standing above my home.  It always reminded me of my life back then, like an old painting that you knew so well.  Now it is like seeing a masterpiece brushed across the sky every night.  Always different, yet awe inspiring.  I still miss the aurora though.  I don't suppose you know if we are just too far south for that?"

Silently, she joined me against the cool stone.  A softly feathered wing draped over my shoulder, like so many nights before as we would just sit and stare into the abyss. Sometimes we spoke, other times nary a word, just watching the stars until the horizon burned.  Tonight was going to be interesting.  I could feel the tension in her as she leaned against me, like cables taut under her fur.

"Tomorrow...tomorrow is both my most hated and rejoiced day of the year.  Back before the Nightmare, few ponies enjoyed my nights.  It was part of my fall.  While I was away, the ponies took the harvest festival and turned it into a holiday celebrating me, in some morbid way.  They told the foals that I would come and hunt them in the dark if I was not paid tribute."

So many thoughts were echoing through my mind as I reached around the somber Princess and pulled her a little closer.  After all this time, it still amazed me on how soft their fur was, but that is neither here nor there.

"Since my return, I have done my best to turn this from a holiday born fear into one of fun.  Yes, we still scare foals, but the younglings take it in stride.  This year is a special one to me, as it will mark the fifth year after my return, and I would like your help to make it special."

All I could do was grin.  Halloween was always fun back home in Alaska, and my childhood block was known for the best pranks.  I didn't even realize my fingers were drawing circles in her fur while I spoke.

"Back home, we had many names for the holiday of this season.  Most people called it Halloween or All Hallows Eve and never really understood it's creation.  My religion placed special significance on the end of the harvest and start of winter and celebrated the coming dark nights.  We called the day Samhain, after the old people that created it.  And yes, I would love to help you on this night.  My question to you is simple.  How scared do you want the ponies to be?"

And that is where the plotting began...

As I sat in the dark, hidden under a small sheet of dark fabric in the woods, there was little I could do except listen to Zecora give the children their usual speech.  Everypony in town knew that Luna and I had something planned for tonight so they wouldn't react poorly, but other than the two of us they were in the proverbial dark.

"Follow me and very soon you'll hear the tale of Night Mare Moon. Listen close my little dears, and I'll tell you where you got your fears of Nightmare Night, so dark and scary. Of Night Mare Moon, who makes you wary.  Every year, we put on a disguise, to save ourselves, from her searching eyes."

Right on cue, a dull crack tore through the clearing to reveal a costumed Luna standing above cowering children who offered her candy.  Blackened plate mail adorned her body, leaving little more than her mane billowing in a nonexistant wind and an evil grin on her face as she began her supervillan monologue.

"Oh, my dear foals of Ponyville, some of your offerings this year were acceptable.  Some were not.  You all have heard my offer of peace each and every year, yet some have forgotten the agreement.  I have enough sweets to slake my thirst for foals, but what about my servants?"

Small shadowpony duplicates of each and every foal burst to life surrounding the group as I watched on.  It was nearly time, as the wispy figures paced around the crowded foals.  Some trembled and whimpered, while others chatted excitedly.  Exactly how we planned.  Mentally, I did a last check to make sure that the shackles were snug against my skin and fur. Couldn't afford to screw this up.

"ENOUGH!  YOU MOCK NIGHTMARE MOON?!  YOU WILL ALL SERVE ME IN DARKNESS!"

That was my mark to enter as the ring of shadows began to swirl around the young.  My white fur made me stand out against the darkened forest like a specter of Christmas past.  The gravel of the trail crunched softly as I walked steadily toward the group.  Small gasps came from the group as a few foals spotted me moving in the darkness.  Guess I'd have to start in earlier than I thought.

"Nightmare Moon... Nightmare Moon... is this how you keep an agreement with your sister?  Celestia would be disappointed to see you breaking your bargain.  Then again, she did send me to ensure your...compliance in this.  Let the foals go and we can forget this happened."

Thankfully none of the children could see the grin on my face.  Luna however looked like she was forcing herself not to laugh as she winked at me.  Time for part two I guess.

"Foolish mortal!  You think you can threaten darkness incarnate?!  Shades!  Teach this whelp a lesson!"

Hunching forward slightly, I prepared for what was coming and focused on drawing energy into the bands that wrapped my wrists.  The golden figures streamed toward me as the children sat enraptured at our display, the gems inset into the metal on my wrists began glowing softly as the first wraith neared.  Wincing internally, my hand lashed out at the figure.  When my hand touched the shadow, it burst into golden flame as I manifested my energies into my hands.  Long claws shaded like the setting sun adorned both hands as wisps of energy trailed from them.  Another swing at shadows and a flaming figure later, I had to remind myself of our plan.

Feigning being dragged to the ground, I let the energies flicker and die as darkness swirled around me.  The cool dew coated grass felt nice against my knees as they touched down.  Illusionary chains burst from the ground and attached to my shackles, miming drawing me tight.  

"See young foals, this is what happens when you try to fight against the moon.  Celestia's best could only beat two of my shades.  What chance do you have?"

I had to bite my lip as small squeals erupted from the children and they started pelting Luna with whatever candy was at hoof.  She had a freaking lollipop stuck to the side of her head just below her ear.  

"ENOUGH!  THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU DEFY ME!"

The chains began to glow a deep blue before spreading across my body.  I tried my best to look like I was in pain as I had to bite my lip harder and harder to keep from laughing. During my "torture" the candy artillery was showing no signs of stopping.  At some point, Pinkie had arrived with a barrel of ammo for the foals and they were going at it full bore.  Oh yeah, part three.

My twitching slowly tapered off as Luna finished her illusion.  Black tendrils drew across my fur as if they were tracing the veins in my body.  Everything seemed a little blue as energy wafted from my eyes.  I leaned forward, bowing until cold grass met my face, the scent of grass and dirt nearly overpowering.

"I live to serve, my Queen.  What is your command?"

None of them could see me laughing silently as I lay pressed against the ground.  Hopefully any twitching could be written off as part of the illusion.  God this was going to be too good.

"Slave, show the foals what it means to know fear.  Devour the oldest three."

"As you command."

Keeping my movements as jerky as possible, I worked my way to my paws and began to stumble towards the laughing and cowering foals.  All that was forgotten as a roar burst from the forest nearby.  That, I knew wasn't part of the joke, and whatever it was sounded pissed.

"Luna, Pinkie, get the children to town and keep them there.  I'm going to go make sure there are no other foals out this way."

My breaking of character was met with a bunch of sighs and boos from the kids, but they didn't really know that the roar was real.  I didn't even give the two a chance to reply as I burst down the path toward the other set up games.

Running all out to several stations only to find them abandoned was rewarding, except the fact that I could hear something stalking me through the woods.  With no children or ponies in this part of the forest, that meant they were all at the apple farm's haunted house and party.  I did the only thing that came naturally, I tried to move as quick and quietly as possible.  Off the trails and deeper into the dense forest where any movement would mark whatever followed.  At least the transformation gave me better night vision, as I could see decently in the gloom.  A small stream gurgled in the dim distance, and it would give me a way to gain ground against whatever this predator was.

I stepped quickly from stone to stone before settling my paws onto the rocky bottom of the stream.  Cold water met me with every step, but it would be worth masking some of my scent.  Mentally, I worked upstream toward the general area of where the apple farm should be.  If the creature got closer I'd have to come up with something different.  As I slogged upstream, random things felt so familiar as I passed them.  Just an odd shame here or there, but it still tickled at the back of my mind.  The further I waded upstream, the more things  bugged me, until I realized something.  The odd scent was something I hadn't smelled in a long time, and never with my new nose.  Old and dried blood.  Lots of it.

Forcing myself to be quiet when I smacked my foot against something,  I reached down and plucked the offending object from the water with a little strain.  It was something that I recognized in an instant.  What the hell is a floor jack doing in the middle of the forest in a freaking creek?  That's when I looked up and saw something that blew my mind.  Buried in the brush and covered by fallen trees in a horrible state was a cabin that looked ever so familiar.

"What the fu..."

I barely caught myself before  my face wold have struck the stones at the edge of the stream when something jumped onto my back.  Pain screamed through me as jaws clamped down on my shoulder and claws dragged down my back.

A mile and a half away, a group of terrified fillies shuffled into Sweet Apple Acres and into the waiting hooves of their parents.  The howling and roars of pain echoing from the forest were unnatural.  Nopony even noticed that Princess Luna had teleported away the moment the young were safe, let alone heard the words that crossed her lips.

"Please be okay."