"Come on you two, I really wanna go now!" the happy sounds of a colt, all too happy to be going out to get free candy, reminded me much when I was a kid back home. Vampires, super heroes, Jedi, I think a robot at one point; nothing was better than dressing, going out in the dead of night, and 'demanding' candy from strangers.

"We know, we know," I chuckled softly as Silver, already in his Changeling costume bounced in place, his bag wrapped about his back in a way of a saddle bag...don't know why he just didn't get a saddle bag. Shade was outside, deciding to watch from afar, I still didn't get a full story about her, but when I did ask her yesterday, after showing Chrysalis the costume; all she said was, 'soon.'. Really didn't know what she meant by that, but whatever. I was wearing my new costume, but then I thought about it...how much did this cost? And I even called him out on this as well, wondering where did he get the bits for this? Seems his great-aunt Celestia was giving him, (or Shade) bits that he could use if the need was good, and well getting a costume for Nightmare Night, was a great way to spend it anyway. Chrysalis decided to go as herself, she could easily pass it off as the enchanted ring seeing how the ones we had (belt in my case) was just plain looking. She just needed to change her voice a bit, a easy feat for the Changeling Queen to say the least.

I wasn't sure when Lyra would be coming, but we set up the blankets and pillow on the sofa ready for Lyra for her. My girlfriend seemed to find this amusing...not sure why though. Either way, seeing how she was coming down, not really changing anything, Silver hoping a bit in place. "I'm sorry," he muttered under his breath a bit. "It's just, I love Nightmare Night, I mean free candy and such! Who wouldn't like it!"

"Trust me, it gets old rather quick, after around fifteen, that's when I stopped going out Trick-or-Treating."

"Huh...?"

"It's what we human call it, back home we have a holiday like this, called Halloween."

"Oh cool!"

After we were all ready, we went out, it was still day light out, but the sun was slowly setting, the moon slowly rising, as the night of treat getting was high in the crisp night air. Silver was excited to say the least, his saddle bag at the ready as he went about, door to door. It seemed Equestria had the same unwritten rule of the modern Nightmare Night like back on Earth. If the door light was on, go up and knock. Surprising now that I looked about, there were a lot of children here in Canterlot...never really noticed; course I wasn't going about looking for foals, or whatever. Watching as he would go up to the door, a few ponies jumping back seeing a Changeling standing before their door, before giving him the candy. Some of the others came over wanting a picture of the 'evil changeling queen' and her henchmen. I was shocked when Chrysalis went along with it, and even teased saying she would still all of their love! They ran away laughing fake screaming, as their parents laughed and thanked us. When I asked her when we were as alone as we could, she simply told me. "It's all in the fun of Nightmare Night I supposed," before adding. "It's really the one time when we could come out, without worries of being found out."

I frowned at this, it wasn't right, to hide what you really were, but I could understand. Fear can control anyone's mind, no matter how strong will they may be.

Night was high in the air, the full moon basking it's silver light down onto the city. To see the unicorn capital of Equestria in the night, (I called it as such, simply for all the unicorns here) it was something, it seemed almost like a new city, a city of Dark. Canterlot, always did seem more calm and collective at night, and I would spend a great deals of midnight walks, enjoying the crisp cold air.

When Silver's bag started to fill, Chrysalis simply emptied the content into another bag she had, and then simply teleported that bag back home and gave him the empty one back. We snacked on the sweets, after making sure it wasn't tainted with anything; magic sure made things easier that's for sure.

Near the middle of Canterlot however, a Nightmare Night fair was in place, Ponyville had their own, and Canterlot was no different so it seemed. From what I've been told, where Ponyville was quite simply, Canterlot was rather, well...it looked like a huge fair.

A bit of rides for the kids, a haunted house that looked more like a mansion then anything, many games; a section for the kids who parents didn't want them to go door to door to gather candy. I guess a lot of them were worried, or the kids didn't care where they got the candy from.

We weren't even out for that long anyway, maybe a hour or two; but the amount of candy that the ponies, or other races that lived here, (Manly a few human families that I saw and some Gryphons) gave a lot of candy out.

After seeing Silver looking at the games and rides, the glee in his eyes as he asked us, I looked to my girlfriend who shrugged, as I nodded, but I made him promise to stay close to us. I had saved up a bit of money, seeing how I didn't need to pay rent, and lights and food and other such things were rather cheap. Two hundred bits for two weeks worth of food for three people, back home a hundred would barely get me by...well I think that's because I ordered out a lot, and Chrysalis here was the primal cooker of the household. "So...mind telling me how you and Lyra met?"

Silver was busy waiting in line to go on the Ferris Wheel, it was a pretty big one and he said he wanted to go up on his own, just to see what it was like. We waited along the side, the small 'Changeling' would look back as I waved, showing that we could still see him.

"Where did that come out of?" I asked looking down at her, as I raised, well Changeling didn't have eyebrows, so I guess eye ridge?

"She is spending the night..." she pointed out. "And beside...I want your point of view."

"She told you?"

"That day we came over, we had a bit of a...talk."

"Was this something to do when I was in that coma and she said that you better watch yourself?" She gave me a wide eye expression as I looked away back to Silver, he was almost up.

"Partly," she admitted, she told me her point of view, but I want to hear yours...she said, ironical you met at a bar so..."

"Are you worried about because I told you I kissed that one mare who wanted to jump my bone?" I looked back and saw her head down a bit, for the stories I heard about her, mostly rumors she told me, and stories she told me herself...was she...jealousy or worried. Why do you wanna know?"

"We...'met' base on a lie," she whispered so no one else could hear, of course it as rather noisy, so it wasn't like someone was gonna eavesdrop on us anyway. She met you being...well her, there was no need to hide what she truly was, who she really was; what she really was. The first time you met, Nova Star, was when the one, you know of, (Bon Bon) took that form, and you knew I took it to see what you were about."

"Yeah...?" I rolled off the word, making it longer. "So...why do you wanna know my point of view?"

"I just wanna hear it from your point of view, is that so hard?"

I thought about it for a moment, sure as Silver would play the games, ride the rides, it would be a nice, time passer to tell her, the story really wasn't that long to start with anyway...so I didn't see a issues with it. "Alright...I'll tell you," I said as she gazed at me and gave me a thanking nod. "I guess I'll have to start when I got a call from one of the few friends I had..."

"Come on dude!" I had my game paused, Skyrim, as I leaned back on my sofa and groaned heavily, rubbing my eyes as I had in one hand, my cell phone, pressed to my ear, as I listened to Tyson, one of my few friends nearly beg me. "I got a chance with this very nice looking mare, you know! She's funny, smart, and got a nice vroom, vroom! If ya know what I mean!?" If she was smart...then what the hell was she doing agreeing to go out with this asshole.
"Just say ass dude...we are freaking adults." I said in a least then happy tone about being bugged about this. "Well...at least I am at least." If he wanted to hook up with one of these ponies from another world, all for him, I really didn't care. I work with a few ponies, they are nice and all, I mean at first it felt strange to work alongside them, I didn't care that they were talking magical ponies from another world...or would it be universe? Eh I didn't know nor did I care. "And why do I need to come again?"

"Well...see, she has this roommate, didn't ask for the name, said she been...well...what's the word...she has this thing for humans, and you know what you always say, crazies attracted!"

"Ya calling me crazy...because I told you..."

"Yeah, yeah, you're not crazy, ya mental unstable, but come on, come with me on the double date! God knows how much you may need to get laid."

"I don't drink,"

"Get a soda,"

"I don't like going out."

"You need to stop playing those damn games."

"I don't have any money,"

"Got that money I owe ya!"

"Even if I don't go, I got this on recording, so ya don't give me that money, I'm taking you to court." Course that was a bull face lie, but then he said...

"Don't make me use the Friend Oath."

"Under what pretense?"

"Rule number thirty five, sub section D; under 'Bro need some Ass!'" Yeah...we watched way too much Big Bang Theory.

"...you're a dirty bastard you know that?" on the other line I heard a 'heeeeee' sound as I grumbled before asking. "Where at...and what time?"

"The new bar that opened up..."

"Wait, we're going on a date...to a bar?"

"It's more of a grill and bar, dance floor, drinks, food; it's called Smokin' Feathers, run by gryphons with a freaking dragon as the cook!"

"Okay, I'll admit...kinda wanna see the dragon..." I admitted, dragons were always my thing growing up, and I've seen a few, man those guys (and gals) are epic looking!

"That's the spirit! Okay anyone, in a hour and half, you know where it at?"

"Yeah, you better have my money man, or I'm taking yours."

After dressing up, meaning, me washing myself, shaven quickly, wearing all black, seeing how It was close to night, and as he said, this was a bar/grill, or whatever, I really didn't care at this point whatever. I thought black could be good for going out to whatever, it was plain, and it wasn't like I was going to impress anyone, let alone whoever this other girl was for this 'double date'.
Getting the cab ride down, luckily I did have some money, stopping in front of Smokin' Feathers, I saw him waiting outside, and as I paid and got out, he came over with a grin on his face.

His skin was a dark brown, dark eyes, as he stood just a bit shorter than me. His hair a fade away as I liked to call it. He could clearly see how much I didn't want to be here, and that just caused him to smiled sheepish at me all the more. He placed the money in my hand at once, three hundred dollars to be to the point...don't ask why he needed the money in the first place. "Dude thank you so much!" he said as I pocketed the money. "I mean, I owe you big time for this, and trust me, these girls, you've never dated anyone quite like the one I got you hooked up with!"

"If she is a 'he' I'm smashing your face in hard...remember that..." I warned as he only gave me another sheepish smile before leading me on inside.

"Angry much?" Chrysalis asked me as Silver was now playing a game, throwing balls into a hole.

"Trust me..." I answered crossing my arms as Silver sank one in on the bulls eyes, causing him to cheer. "This guy done a lot to me over the years I knew him."

From what I've heard about this place, was that it was run by both ponies, and gryphons alike, those who didn't like meat, ordered from the 'pony' menu and vice versa. It was owned by a Gryphon, so it was the first of its kind around here that wasn't owned by humans. Over here in some places, it was hard for any non-humans to find work, that's why a lot of the time, they had to use this program that the Earth Government and...well I'm not even sure what other world was called, but either way. Both made a program that any private businesses, or other such jobs that wanted to, or could equip non-humans to work, they would do said interview and if they got the job, came over on a working visa, for about two years, and after the two year mark if they weren't fired or quit, then could apply for a full transfer to said planet. The same was for humans going over there. I'm sure if you talk to someone who knew more onto this, it would sound more simple, but that's all I could guess about what, and how it worked.

The place looked almost like a nightclub, dance floor in the center, eating areas off to the left and right, and the bar up front. Creatures of all races here having a good time and such. Tyson met up with the pony he was talking about, I really didn't get a good look, but greeted myself either way, I really didn't care what she looked like, and then she called her friend over; another pony, like I really wasn't surprised. But there was something about this pony, this unicorn mare, that I don't know...it got me, well just, awe stuck. Did it have something to do with her green mint coat? Or perhaps the brilliant cyan mane and tail with a white streak, along the colors that just seemed to just stand out, as well as her sunglow eyes; and a cutie mark of a lyre, or a harp I guess you could say.

She seemed...nervous to say the least, as her friend came over, nearly pulling her along to stand her before me, the date that my friend would be having nudged her, as well as Tyson to me. "This is Lyra Heartstrings!" I believe she was brown, the unicorn who dragged Lyra closer toward me. "She's a little shy, had to drag her here!"

"Hey same with, Brandon with me!" I heard Tyson say as I turned and gave him a frown. "Well either way, why don't you two get settled! Wanna hit the dance floor babe?"

Some double date...Tyson and his date ran off to the dance floor, leaving me and Lyra alone, we soon found a booth to sit in, a candle in the middle, and menus as well. It been a while since I was last on a date, and she seemed well...nervous as I was. I mean could this be considered a date. "So..." I trailed off as she looked at me before I tried to lighten the mood, or break the glass. "I...well I...god damn..." I sighed softly as I rubbed my neck.
"Your friend dragged you here as well?"

"Huh...?"

"He wanted you to come, to spend time with me because my roommate said she only go out if he had someone take me out?"

"Yeah..."

"Sorry about that." She laughed sheepish before adding. "She thinks I could use a little fun in my life...or to just get bucked." She rolled her eyes a bit, I guess 'buck' was another way in their term to say, 'get fucked'. "I hope I didn't pull you away from anything?"

"No...no was just playing a game, you know, weekend, not a lot of stuff to do."

"You don't have a Special Some pony, do you?"

"A what?" I asked as she blushed.

"Sorry...girlfriend, or mare friend in my case, or...well you know."

"Ah that...do...want anything to eat?"

"I could eat...you gonna eat meat?"

"I heard their wings here are good...if you're fine with that?" she only nodded at this as we shared a small smile.

When we ordered our food, we got to talking, she was a few years older than me, which didn't bug me none really, and surprising...for the first time in a long time, I was enjoying myself on a date! I've been dealt with bad hands when it came to dating, they were ether, too bitchy, or well, used me, felt sorry for me, or other things. Lyra...she was interesting, more so then she was just a pony. I didn't see her as just a pony, she was funny, likeable, and a all together wonderful mare. She thought it was cool how I had sharp teethes and flat teeth, for both veggies and meat, she even asked to touch one. I made a joke by lightly biting her hoof making 'nom nom' noises causing her to just laugh and hit me in the arm.
She watched as I tore through the wings, which was strange...someone watching as you ate, but maybe it was just to ease her mind on how my kind ate? She even tired my soda, Pepsi, she liked it, a bit, and I liked the Apple Cider she had, imported from somewhere owned by the Apple Family. She told me where she use to live, she could get that every time they came into season, but someone named Rainbow Dash would nearly drink a barrel or two full of the stuff!

Damn...hate to see how well she fair with our stuff, seemed our alcohol were much stronger then ponies.

We just talked, that's all we did, was just talked. She told me she was working in a music shop, her expertise was...well harps, she explained more detailed to me about what a Cutie mark was, and what it was to the ponies, and what it truly meant. It to them was in a sense, what their calling was, or what their talent, or such was. Her, was a harp, and she told me because she could play, and I quote, 'A mean tune with those strings!'. That got a very good chuckle out of me, but I wasn't laughing at her...just at the remark and how she said it.

It was the first time in a long time, that I didn't even look at my phone, but however, after the many vibrations I was getting from it, I decided to see what and who it was from.

I didn't get a respond back, and as I looked up to Lyra, the bill coming as I worked to get my wallet out. "You best be ready...seemed your roommate brought Tyson home."

"Great..." she muttered and sighed softly at this, as I left the money there as well as a tip. "Guess I'm not getting any sleep tonight..."

"I know the feeling...I use to be his roommate, left as soon as I got the money."

"Lucky you..." I can't believe I was gonna ask this but...
"You know...my sofa back home can turn into a bed...rather comfy, high end...if you need some sleep tonight..."

"You know nothing is gonna happen right?"

"W...what?! I...I wasn't..."

"I'm kidding!" she said laughing softly. "You act as if you're a virgin!"

"..." when I didn't respond back, her laughing died down quite a bit, before then asking.
"Wait...are..."

"I'm just looking for the right one...I'm not about to hump anything that moves...judge all you want..."

"No...no, I'm not judging, I was just...I mean I didn't believe it...someone as handsome as you, still a virgin?"

"Yep..."

"Brandon...hey, it's nothing to be ashamed of, I think it's rather...cute that your saving yourself, just shows how much of a gentlemen you are!" I looked back down at her, as she gave me a soft gentle smile. "So...your place...I can cook in the morning, I hope you like pancakes!" she said as we both walked out of the building.
"Yeah...Yeah, I would like that."

"So...that's it?" Chrysalis asked as Silver trotted back over toward us, a Zebra pony named...Zecora I believe, came from Ponyville to tell the stories of the Alicorn known as Nightmare Moon, I listened half to it, but it was pretty cool the show she put on.

"That's it," I nodded as she looked to me as I added. "We went to my place, she ended up taking my bed, she didn't mind the mess, I took the sofa bed, she made pancakes in the morning, Tyson and the mare...Coffee Cream, I believe, they are still together, married from what I last heard of, they made a deal with a stallion to get her knocked up and he would be considered the father." I then smiled, been a while since I last saw him, or heard from him, the last time was before I moved, I went to the wedding, as did Lyra, this was after a bit we broke off, I'm glad it wasn't awkward to say the least. Tyson changed a lot, I think being married and the fact he gonna be a father chilled him out. I wondered if I ever became a father, or was married if that would happen to me. "We became friends rather quickly, and even started to date, blah, blah...you kinda know the rest." The Changeling Queen only nodded her head as Silver came back over, excited as he started to tell us all that happened as if we didn't watch, well, I half did as I said.

"Hey there!" I heard a voice call out, as we were indeed making our way back home, Silver was getting tired and I'm sure he had more than enough candy to last him for a few weeks. Looking to where the voice came from, I smiled; it was Lyra. Guess it's true, speak of the devil and he (or she) shall appear.

She was wearing a vampire cape, basic thing and really that was all, her mane a mess, and fake blood along her muzzle, her eyes, a deep red, blood red. Under the cape she wore a white vest, as the cape was long enough to cover her back and flanks, (not that I was looking). Wait...how did she know what or who we were? "Great costume, Brandon! Nova called me before and told me what you were...and it's easier to find you, seeing how you three are the only changelings around!" Well...she was kinda right on that. "Again, thanks so much for allowing me to spend the night here...always wanted to check out Canterlot at Nightmare Night...and well..."

"It's cool, you know you're always welcome a place to crash right?" she slightly nodded as Chrysalis went up.

"Well...we're on our way now home, come along, and Brandon?" I looked down as she nudged her head to Silver, who looked close to passing out. "I think you outta carry the little guy, he seems about ready to fall over asleep!"

"No...I'm not..." I heard the sleep in his voice as I chuckled and picked him up, leaving him whining as the girls went on ahead.

"Come on buddy, time for bed for you!"

"Aw..."

The door was left open, the two mares were first to walk inside, as I closed the door and locked it, cradling Silver in my arm. Taking him to his bed and tucking him in, taking off the ring that allowed his true form to be seen. I did the same, mine being like a belt, and placed both items along his bedside. "Hey...Brandon?"

"Hrm?" I asked as I was about to leave, seeing him sit up as I made my way back over to his bedside.

"Thanks...you know, for letting me stay and all that...I mean...I know I've already said thanks but..."

"Hey," I smiled and petted his head. "Silver...look, your, I know it may be strange for me to say this but...you like a little brother to me..." and I can't believe I'm about to say this. "And...for whatever reason, you want to go and live back there with your aunts, go ahead, know that you will always have a room here if something happens...okay?" He did answer with words, but did nod his head in agreement before snuggling back down into his bed to fall asleep...it was late at night anyway, and I knew the poor guy must've been tuckered out to say the least.

Moving as softly as I could before closing the door, as I made my way toward my bedroom, I knew that no doubt tomorrow, or later today to say the least, seeing how it was after midnight; I had a idea that maybe I'll do brunch. I could hear the soft sound of voices downstairs, Chrysalis must've been helping Lyra get settled in down there, well...at least they were getting along; right?

Ether way, going to bed and undressing until I was in nothing but my boxers, I soon slipped under the covers, and laid back, ready to get some sleep...or I would've until I felt the bed shift. Myself, thinking that it was just my mare-friend coming in, I didn't say anything, that is, until I felt a much softer, lighter body cover me, I opened my eyes, and they grew widened as I felt lips press along my own, but it wasn't the Changeling's, no...they belonged to Lyra!

My eyes just stayed opened, feeling the soft touch of her lips against mine, it brought back to many memories, of the times we shared such soft tender kisses, her mouth moving a bit, as her hoof went to softly touch my cheek, I wanted to push her away, truly I did, what the hell was she thinking?! "That didn't take long," I flinched as Lyra pulled back, Chrysalis standing, full changeling form and all...at the door way as she walked in, closing the door behind as her horn glowed for a moment.

"W...wait this...this isn't...I mean!"

"Brandon...hush," Chrysalis told me as she looked to Lyra. "Was he always like this?"

"Only when you got him embarrassed," Wait...what?

"What...what the hell is going on?!"

"Shhh..." I heard Lyra say, gazing up at her as she smiled. "It's okay...and before you ask, no I'm not being controlled...I knew about her for a while."

"What..."

"That's the reason I brought her over that one time," Chrysalis spoke moving as she laid along the bed beside me, she laying along my side as she smiled. "We talked...I showed her my true self, she freaked out, blah, blah, and it seemed Luna went to her dreams a few nights back, Lyra here had a nightmare about me abusing you."

"Well you did invade Canterlot!"

"And I told you why." She answered back with only a smile. "But that's not why we are here now are we?" once more I could only answer with.

"W...What?"

Lyra only smiled as she moved off me and went under the blankets, my eyes growing wide, as I felt her remove my boxers and... "Hah!" I gasped, feeling what she was doing, before then feeling Chrysalis turn my head over and whisper into my ear.

"Don't think...just enjoy," she whispered before slowly pressing me into a kiss.

Author's Notes:

Oh dear...what...what is going on, is there some freaky freaky going on?! yup...yup there is!