Life was refreshingly...dull. That was the only comparison to just how utterly event-filled their lives had been up until recently. The only thing of note was Animak's addition to their lives, as well as little Citrine brightening up Pinkie's life even more than usual. Game was often away in Canterlot on business, but he was able to travel great distances near instantly with that odd ability of his, so he was always home whenever he could be.

Oh, yeah, also since Spike was named Duke; he was now essentially the highest form of government official in town besides Kamina and Animak; who were always available for emergencies, but Mayor Mare insisted that she get Spike's input on certain affairs of the town, beings his position was much closer to hers than either of the prince's.

This ended up with Spike getting a proper crash course of politics and decision making from the twin brothers and Twilight much to Spike's horror; he HATED politics! But then again, so did the twins; but they told him to suck it up and be a stallion about it.

Also there was a point where Twilight almost had a freak-out when she realized she hadn't learned anything new about friendship for a while. She feared that she wasn't spending enough time with everyone else when she spent most of it with Trixie and Zecora; but they all let her know it was fine, and that friends don't HAVE to spend time together to stay friends. Ironically; she learned something.

So it was that they had a peaceful summer. Nothing bad happened. It was...nice. Animak spent most of said time acclimating to having his own body, and thinking of himself as not being Kamina, which was incredibly hard, as he responded to the name Kamina as well as Animak, and Kamina was having trouble with the reverse; thinking he was Animak sometimes. They even often thought, or did things in unison, which really creeped everybody who saw it out, but the brothers were confused every time it was brought up.

Finally however; Twilight researched and found out that in several studies, unicorn twins were found to have difficulty thinking separately, or even having separate identities with their mental and magical connection. So it was that Twilight found the best way was to either leave it be; which the brothers were comfortable with, or force them to be separated for a long period of time, which they didn't want. So, nothing for it; everybody decided they'd just have to get used to the brothers often acting in concert with one another like two well-oiled machines.

Speaking of which.

“We've got to get it more angular. Lagann wasn't so smooth.” Kamina stated as he and Animak were making Animak's Nightmare Night costume. They decided to go for a small-scale Gurren Lagann, even going so far as to combine with each other, what with having practiced over the summer. They still needed a catalyst, but Twilight had crafted one from refined steel which worked well enough, but didn't utterly flood them with power like Hope did months ago for the battle with Discordant. Which was perfect, really.

“Got it.” They both molded the red steel of the outside of the Lagann armor with their combined magic like it was clay. Animak and Kamina worked together on almost everything these days, and were almost never apart. Some would say it was unhealthy, but doctors would say that since they were twins; it was completely natural. “Are the eye's right?”

“Yes.” The brothers finished up, and backed away to compare the Gurren armor with the Lagann armor. Lagann was much smoother overall than Gurren, which was true to the originals, but since Lagann now had to compose a whole torso rather than just a head, they had to proportion it and shape it to be just a bit angular so it didn't clash completely with Gurren. While Game had clashed completely with Gurren before; he made it work by being just so badass, but they all agreed they didn't want Game accidentally asexually giving birth to tons of foals every time they ever got into a gigantic battle of titans.

This embarrassed Game greatly; the fact that being flooded with Spiral Power was enough for any single shard of him to become a whole newborn being. Pinkie joked he must have been fertile beyond belief, and even jokingly threatened to have to use the same herbs as Gilda so she didn't end up preggers out of the Cycle. But just as a paranoid precaution; Game asserted that she do so, even if they were bitter.

“Okay! We did it!” They high-foured with their talons at their success at recreating Lagann as a suit of mechanical armor. It's main differing feature was that unlike Gurren which had the face on the peytral and the helm being completely smooth aside from the spike that protected Kamina's horn; Lagann had a smooth chest and a detailed helm with organic-like movements. It wasn't just for aesthetics, it was so that like when Spike and Game fused; they had a properly functioning head.

“Now we've just got to get Twi to enchant it.” Animak chuckled, knowing she would do it happily. They started up the stairs, and were side by side, matching stride, flanks and wings brushing without care, completely fluid in their matching movements. They exited the basement, and found Twilight assembling her Star Swirl the Bearded costume along with Trixie, who was already wearing her old cape and hat, only with an added matching latex bodysuit that had fishnet stockings and black enamel shoes.

“Hey girls; we finished Lagann. Can we get him all magicked up?” They asked in unison, getting the two mares to shiver.

“Please don't do that.” Trixie pleaded, getting them to blink and raise the same right eyebrow.

“Do what?” They asked, raising the same talon up in gesture of confusion, only for Kamina to blink, beings Animak's talon was in his face, and Animak suddenly did the same, and they looked at each other. “Oh, right; sorry.”

“Let it go Trixie. It's been months and it's only getting worse. It's just natural for twins with such deeply connected magic to act like this.” Twilight reminded her fellow mare, who sighed and rolled her eyes.

“Trixie just wishes they'd at least be more aware of it.” Trixie had given up on getting rid of her verbal tick, so really, who was she to force them to give up theirs of saying things at the same time, or completing each other's sentences?

“You mean like this?” They asked, before turning to each other, and promptly begin making out. Getting Trixie and Twilight to flush instantly, and even cause Trixie's nose to bleed a bit from her spike in blood pressure rupturing a vessel, and they stopped to leer playfully at the mares. “We know you love it.”

“Y-yes, well; got a suit of magical combat armor to enchant!” Twilight teleported down into the basement; knowing to pass by the twins would have gotten her twin spanks on her flanks, and she wasn't trying to get into that right now.

“Aw~, prude!” They stated in reply to her teleporting rather than falling for it again.

“Trixie demands that you two refrain from being so damn sexy for tonight! She doesn't wish to have a bloody muzzle and flushed cheeks be part of her Great and Powerful appearance for tonight.” Trixie was totally in the zone right now; and it would take much more than a single stallion-on-stallion make-out session to completely throw her off. Maybe~, if they added a bit more pinch and squeal. But for less? No.

The brothers both smirked evilly; seeing her statement as a challenge. Trixie paled slightly at realizing her folly, and backed away, but couldn't nearly turn around fast enough to escape before the two predators pounced, and began massaging her through the bodysuit. “We know how much you love our talons. C'mon. Sing for us.” They demanded while they massaged either of her sides from neck to flank in unison.

“Oh~ unfair! Unhand Trixie this in-ah~ there!” Trixie moaned as they were kneading her shoulders and neck. “Oh, ah! Mm....”

“Wow! You're tense tonight. Nervous for your show?” They earnestly asked, since Trixie was running a huge magic show in the town square as part of the festivities. They then began focusing around her horn, feeling that her muscles around her face were really tense with stress. They were even daring enough to begin rubbing up her horn, getting her to pant and flush as sparks of magic were popping from the tip of her horn.

“N-no~...not a hornjob! Trixie is trying...trying...AH~!” Trixie wailed in ecstasy as a gout of raw misty blue magic seemed to spray from her horn for a few seconds, and she collapsed into their ready arms. “Y-y-you...cruel...beasts....” Trixie was spent, but not in the usual way. What she just had was a literal magical orgasm. Usually it only happens if a unicorn doesn't use their magic for a very long period of time, but that is quite painful rather than pleasurable like a hornjob. It's actually used in proper massage therapy to promote magic flow, and ease the stress of casting on the subject.

Needless to say; it was also a very intimate thing that was normally only done between either lovers, or with a professional, as hooves aren't very good at the simulation needed, so it was often done with the mouth, by sucking, and licking...which the brothers were doing right now. “S-stop! O-one was more than enough-AH~!” She squealed as she had another orgasm, the magic dissipating into the air.

“There, isn't that better?” They asked honestly, and Trixie was recovering with her panting breaths, she groaned at the wet feeling in the groin of her tights.

“Yes. Much.” Trixie wasn't going to lie; that was fun. Also, it meant her magic would be more potent for a while with her magic systems purged of excess feedback and buildup. Add in the utter sexual bliss, the afterglow, and that her thoughts were so much clearer; she definitely needed that. “Thank you.”

“It's what we do dear.” They kissed her on the brow on either side of her face, getting her to smile at just how cute they could be sometimes. “So, where's Zecora?”

Trixie picked herself up, and cast a cleaning spell over herself to correct her disheveled state, and that wetness in her groin. “She's already out and about. She loves this holiday you know.”

“Out entertaining the fillies and colts. That mare will make one hell of a mother someday.” The brothers stated sagely.

“And who will be the sire?” Trixie asked seriously. This was another aspect of their relationship they had to get proper clarification on. Since there were two males; that meant that while they all loved each other, they had to decide who would have who's foals in the future. She was also doing this to remind them of the herd's arrangements.

“Me.” Animak stated with a sharp grin.

“Him.” Kamina moped with a pout.

Over the past few months, due to the whole fiasco with Game and his unexpected gratuitous number of foals; the mares in Kamina's life decided that the subject of their own foals had to come into the equation, which all of them totally understood. It took some time between both the brothers and the mares, but they made their decisions.

Applejack and Zecora both decided they wanted Animak's foals. Since while Animak was still Kamina in a way; he was also different. He was much fiercer, more decisive, and a wild animal when it came to sex. He pinched, he bit, he squeezed, he clawed, he was forceful; he was a complete Dom. AJ and Zecora both found this much more to their tastes, and decided they'd have his foals considering they'd be able to put forth their full effort in return for his rough brand of affection.

Twilight and Trixie both chose Kamina. Kamina was much more gentle, lenient, and controlled when it came to sex. He caressed, he kissed, he suckled, he hugged, he was careful; he was oddly a Sub. Twilight and Trixie admitted that these traits he always displayed even in everyday life were originally what drew them to him, and felt that having foals with him would be far more fulfilling than with Animak.

However; both Animak and Kamina loved them all equally, so to know half of their mates didn't want to go all-out for making their children made it a bit of a sore spot for them both. But, they didn't want to jump headlong into it like fools, so they were going to wait a few years. Not to mention that mentioning marriage made them all nervous. Something about it being incredibly complicated with so many partners?

This all also helped draw a line of distinction between Animak and Kamina's personalities. While Animak would often go for the more decisive, and vindictive course; Kamina would often go for the more thought-out, and considerate course. It seemed their division also cleared their minds. Because now instead of being conflicted internally; they were merely at odds externally on occasion, rather than all the time.

Also when either of the brothers got a bit frisky with one another, and one jumped the gender fence; it was anything goes. They were embarrassed when it happened the first time, being caught by Zecora with Animak mounting a fem Kamina; both covered in cuts and bleeding bite marks. They were even more embarrassed when she demanded to watch, and stuffed contraceptive herbs into Kamina's mouth so they didn't have that excuse not to finish.

“Right, just checking.” Trixie kissed Kamina on the cheek to cheer him up, and then trotted to the front door. “Now if you'll excuse her; the Great and Powerful Trixie has a performance to attend.” She made a fog suddenly burst forth from around her like smoke, but it was far more elegant and mysterious as she seemed to fade away rather than just disappear like an old cheesy showtime classic.

“She has really gotten good.” Kamina commented to his sibling.

“Yeah, almost as good as Twilight.” Animak noted.

They were all impressed with the showmare. She'd proven to be a true savant at magic, practically soaking in everything Twilight would involve her in like an eternally dry sponge; she never seemed to stop improving. This time last year; she was only marginally better than she was when she first arrived. But now; she was skilled enough with magic that Twilight stated she was easily worthy of a position among the Academy's senior teaching staff.

This of course reflected back at Twilight the fact that she was indeed that powerful a mage. It made Twilight wonder when magic itself meant so little to her in comparison to her friends and loved ones, when before Kamina came into her life; it was the inverse. She still loved magic; hence her continuing and growing potency and knowledge on it, but she would drop it instantly for anyone who needed her, which was so unlike how she used to be. Everyone saw it as an improvement; especially Celestia.

The twins were nostalgically looking back when they blinked and sighed. “When did we become old stallions Animak?”

“When we got wiser Kamina.” Animak sagely intoned, and they nodded with a calm and wizened demeanor. “...Did you HEAR how she squealed?”

“My gosh, it was like we were playing a fine-tuned violin!” They bro-fisted as their mature visage was utterly and brutally destroyed by their hormone-driven natures.

===///////>

“Okay...this is new.” The Twins commented in slightly unsure tones to the sight of a gender-flipped Twilight; dubbed Dusk Shine, wearing the Star Swirl costume.

“What? Do I look wrong?” Dusk asked as he rubbed his face with a hoof, and the Twins sighed.

“No; you're a stupidly sexy stallion Dusk. But why?” They asked curiously as Dusk visibly relaxed at them complimenting his appearance.

“Star Swirl was a stallion. So I used the gender changing spell to better suit the costume.” Dusk then grinned smartly at them. “At least I'm not going to ascend to a whole different level of evolution, and fuse together with somepony else for my costume.”

“Hey! Don't knock it till ya try it!” The Twins defended in mock offense, when the doorbell rang. It was nice that Twilight had one installed. “Want us to get it?”

“No; I'm the one in costume, so I'll give out the candy.” Dusk trotted to the door, levitating a large bowl of candy with him, and he opened the door ready to greet nightmare nighters. He blinked in surprise. “Oh! Princess Luna!”

This got the siblings to perk up in excitement. “Aunty?!” They asked in surprise, as Dusk stepped aside and let Luna and little Nyx enter. “Cousin!” They called to Nyx as the little kirin filly charged them into a tackling hug.

The little filly took to being a kirin alicorn quite well. She looked as she did before, but her mane was now replaced with elegant crescent-moon shaped fins, her fur was instead obsidian-black scales, and her draconic eyes and teeth were fully reminiscent of her days as Nightmare Moon. She also had a dragon tail and dragon wings like Spike and Scoddri, as well as a functioning magic horn on her forehead which was angled forward like a normal unicorn/alicorn. “Cousin Kamina! Cousin Animak! I'm so glad to see you!”

“We're glad to see you too squirt.” They mussed her fins with their talons, getting a giggle out of her. “But what are you doing here? You didn't respond to any of our letters Aunty. We thought you might end up sulking again this year.” Luna approached the twins, and got a kiss on both cheeks when she got in range, getting a cheery giggle out of her as she kissed both their cheeks in return.

“We wanted it to be a surprise! We just wanted to see the looks on your faces when we showed up unannounced. It was totally worth it.” Luna nuzzled Kamina and then Animak. She loved Animak just as much as she did Kamina for all the same reasons. He was her nephew, he cared about her because she was family, and so she would do the same in return. Also he was specifically the one that allowed her to get Nyx back. So that made the transition easier for her.

“So Luna; still having insecurities about what this night signifies?” Kamina asked.

“Because we totally have the thing to ruin that!” Animak crowed, before he exploded in a mass of exposed muscle, and reformed into a perfect copy of Nightmare, only without armor, and....

“I am the mistress of the night, I work my magic to bring you fright.

On this one night a year, I shall embody all you fear.” She sang in Nightmare's voice to everypony's surprise, before Kamina suddenly transformed into a second Nightmare.

“Listen close, listen here; I shall rob all you hold dear.

For know it is my right! For tonight is Nightmare Night!” They stood together now, looking fierce, yet in harmony as they looked at their stunned sudden audience as they began in unison.

“This is Nightmare Night! The night of reigning fright!

We shall gobble you all up! From tiny tot to little pup!

Sate us now! Sate us how?

Your candy you propose? That will do, we suppose.

For while we are sated, you might still live to be congregated.

But know if we see your face, your very life we will erase!

Unmasked faces we pursue! Your very bones will we chew!

For it is Nightmare Night! The night of reigning fright!

We take wing under the moon, we will see you very soon.

So gather it all up, every tot to little pup.

For a sacrifice will bring our boon! The favor and mercy of Nightmare Moon~!” They finished in surprising harmony, as they had sung together in perfect duo. “How was it?”

Nyx suddenly squealed and began bouncing around her cousins. “OHMYGOSH-OHMYGOSH-OHMYGOSH-OHMYGOSH! THAT WAS AMAZING! As Nightmare Moon; I command that you remain in those forms the rest of the night!” Nyx, being the original Nightmare Moon; absolutely loved that performance, and would adore seeing it done again outside for the public.

“Indeed!” Luna beamed in utter joy, before she trotted around her nieces and inspected every angle, only to quirk an eyebrow. “But...did we really have such big flanks as Nightmare?” Luna asked Nyx, who blushed and kicked a hoof.

“W-well...yeah...we were just as big as Aunty Tia....” Nyx admitted shyly, as the sisters looked to each other, and then grinned devilishly.

“Nyx has flank-envy~, Nyx has flank-envy~!” They chanted in unison as they pranced around the filly, who's face exploded in a blush as she covered her eyes with her hooves in embarrassment, and Luna blushed too; since it meant that she subconsciously desired her sister's figure. “We originally planned to become a small-scale Gurren Lagann for this year...but, this idea appeals to us.”

“So I need to craft some replica armor for you now to complete your “costumes”?” Dusk asked in exasperation. Sure, he could do it in a few minutes since he has spare materials on-hoof for situations like this, but it was annoying to have to do it so regularly.

“No. I shall supply it. Since I have an idea.” Luna then looked to Nyx, winked, and transformed into Nightmare Moon as well with a misty sort of morph; fully armored too. “We shall be triplets! Wouldn't that be grand? Imagine everypony's faces!” This got all the mares to titter in glee at the thought of seeing so many panicked ponies over a harmless ruse, and Dusk blinked.

“Wow...being on the opposite side of the gender fence kinda puts things into perspective...am I like that?” Dusk asked himself, thinking how such silly behavior was sub-optimal.

===//////>

The doorbell rang, and Pinkie was the one leading the group of fillies and colts as their chaperone. She wished Citrine could have come with her; but she was just a foal, and so Game was watching her tonight while Pinkie went out to have fun. The Cakes would have gladly watched her, but they needed to stay focused on the business since tonight was one of their busiest nights of the year. She wore a chicken outfit, and playfully pecked the doorbell several times in rapid succession. She was so ready to rob-. “Be given.”-Be given all of Twilight's candy. Only.

“AH~! IT'S THREE NIGHTMARE MOONS! RUN~!” Pinkie squealed upon the door of the library opening on a genuinely shocking sight of three Mares of the Moon; causing almost all the other ponies nearby, especially the fillies and colts to run, save one colt who had large tan-brown spots over a pale coat, and brown hair. He was dressed as a pirate, and rather than be scared, he beamed in delight.

“Nightmare Night! Such a fright! Give me something sweet to bite!” He then grabbed his rubber sword in mouth, and randomly swung it about, getting amused smiles from the three mares with Nightmare's visage.

“You're the Dread Pirate Roberts, admit it!” Animak burst out to Luna's left, getting a snicker out of Kamina to Luna's right, and both Luna and Dusk got the reference with a smile.

“With pride! What can I do for you?” The colt responded cleanly; clearly he'd seen the Princess Bride play at some point.

“Well young one; I am quite impressed with your bravery. This is your first time celebrating this night as well?” Luna asked the colt, who nodded in excitement. “Well then; while I am the Princess of the Night, this is my first Nightmare Night as well. At least; in celebrating it. Would it be any trouble if we could accompany you?”

“I get to spend time with Princess Luna? Cool~!” The colt crowed in joy at the idea of hanging out with who he thought was the cooler of the diarchs. “I'm Pipsqueak milady.” The colt introduce himself with a bow, his parents have raised him fairly well.

“I am Princess Luna, and to my sides are my nieces Princess Animak and Princess Kamina.” Luna emphasized their genders much to the mild annoyance of her nieces, who rolled their eyes. At this point, to them; gender was meaningless to their identities. “And this little piece of the night is my daughter Nyx.”

“Hi!” Nyx suddenly burst through Luna's legs, beaming at the colt. She was wearing a miniature version of the armor that her mom and cousins were wearing, only she didn't change anything about her body. “I'm Princess Nyx!”

Pipsqueak's face lit up in a sudden furious blush, and he blinked before shaking his head and bowing. “N-nice to make your acquaintance milady. I-I shall be charmed to provide escort for you this beautiful night.”

Nyx got a faint blush and a genuine smile, before she held out a hoof to him gently. “I am pleased about this.” Pipsqueak then pulled a daring move, and gently held her hoof and kissed it, getting a giggle out of the filly. “Oh my! Careful good sir, or I might find myself spirited away by your roguish charm.”

“Naturally.” Pipsqueak responded with a wink, getting the two children to giggle and chuckle respectively while the mares and Dusk all contently observed the adorable interaction. “Well then milady, if you so wish; shall we depart?”

Nyx turned a sure-kill watery-eyed pout to her mom, who scoffed and rolled her eyes; as if she was going to deny her daughter a chance at love, however fleeting and innocent it was. “Of course. We're off Dusk Shine.”

“Okay, I'll be going out soon too to hang out with the others. Have fun.” Dusk waved them off and the mares followed the two children who were rapidly chatting about random things, somehow mostly focusing on the Princess Bride, since they've both seen it.

“So Luna, there's a lot to do on this night.” Kamina started up a conversation that she and Animak had been planning to get going, but were preoccupied by all the shenanigans.

“So what exactly do you want to do?” Animak finished, getting a shrug from the Lunar Princess as they casually followed the children who were going door to door for treats, ignoring the impressed and nervous gazes of the ponies who stared at them for now.

“I am unsure. I have heard that there is a show going on in the square, there are many carnival games as well. But as of right now; I wish to ensure my daughter has a good time.” Luna never once took her eyes and one ear off of Nyx and Pipsqueak, who were getting progressively cheery and chummy with each other to her content. “It is odd...I hadn't thought I could even become a mother for the longest time, and yet; having a child...it is so gratifying.”

“Do tell.” The twins urged, as the concept of having foals was an impending desire they had for the future.

“When I wake up, my usual first thoughts are of my daughter. I worry over her constantly, even if it is for nothing. I have the urge to coddle and smother her, even shield her from seemingly harmless things that I somehow perceive as a threat.” Luna quirked an eyebrow at Nyx bashfully giggling at something Pipsqueak said, her conversation having made it impossible for her to catch what was spoken. “For instance; I have the sudden desire to drag that colt aside and set some ground rules involving my daughter...but...I won't. I have to let her experience things, even if I don't want her to.”

“You make it sound more like a job than an experience....” Animak commented. 'Is that what having foals is like?'

“You haven't mentioned anything that makes it fulfilling.” Kamina followed. 'Sis, chill. Don't go jumping at conclusions.'

“Oh, it is a job; a full-time one at that. The only periods of rest I get are when I know she is in capable hooves, and even then I still worry. But....” Luna looked to see that Nyx had suddenly started a sort of role-play with Pip, it sounded like it involved him stealing a great and dangerous treasure from Nightmare Moon, and she was attempting to take it back, but his wit and athletic prowess allowed him to evade her, and escape with the treasure. Or, simply; she was chasing him, and he proved more fit than her and outran her as they laughed between houses, their candy bags getting rather full already. Luna smiled gently. “Need I say more?”

“Not really....” 'Dang that's cute...it's so good just seeing that.' Animak realized.

“Not at all.” 'Imagine just how good it would feel, knowing you helped create that.' Kamina mused, feeling surprisingly moist, and she blushed. 'Um....'

'Dude; not happening. At least...not on purpose.' Animak considered the thought of bearing a foal, and was surprised to find she wasn't sickened by the idea. 'Alright...maybe one day, in the far-off future, should we all decide in favor of it.'

'Agreed...will we?' Kamina looked over at her from over Luna's back, and Animak gave her bedroom eyes, making her wings bristle in arousal.

'When we get home.' Animak sent a visual image of them carnally pleasuring each other in their current forms, getting Kamina to blush vividly, and Animak to chuckle throatily, which caught Luna's attention.

“What is it?” Luna knew about their relationship status, and wasn't bothered. After all; she and Tia had done the nasty together more than once way back. But that was their Shifter elements causing a symbiosis more than anything. Her nieces had a much deeper connection than that.

“Nothing~.” They both echoed back, but Animak was calm and confident, while Kamina was embarrassed at being caught out, but maintained a decent facade.

===//////>

“Behold! The Great and Powerful Trixie~!” Trixie called out from onstage as her show began. The crowd cheered as they watched her spectacular displays of wild and entertaining spells, mostly showcasing her skill with illusion magic, and especially the allure of her ice magic. Bits were flying, practically raining on the stage when she performed an especially good trick. The locals loved her shows, and even though she performed upon request or commission; they still tipped her. She got even more cheers when Zecora joined her onstage, adding an air of mystery and story telling with her green smoky illusions, rich rhymes, and her exotic witch-doctor costume which added to her natural foreign allure.

This was the sight that all her friends happily paid attention to as they congregated at a dining table outside the crowd. “I'm so happy for the dear. She's done so well for herself here.” Rarity commented, not even caring that she rhymed. Rarity was wearing, surprisingly; a kirin costume. Clearly she'd made it, as it was so seamless that it almost seemed like a second skin. It hugged her body like a full body skinsuit, and made her actually look like a white kirin with purple fins.

“Not to mention all the tourism her shows actually brings to town.” Spike couldn't think of anything clever to wear, so he was wearing an ironic purple dragon costume. Everyone told him it was silly, but he grinned whenever he heard that.

“Really?” AJ asked as she looked out at the crowd, and indeed saw a lot of ponies she couldn't identify. “Huh, well whatcha know? Didn't think them fliers we sent out would get past Ponyville.” AJ was dressed as a scarecrow, even had straw in her clothes.

“Oh really? Remember who you gave the posters to?” Blitz smirked condescendingly from his little storm cloud over the group with his mate Gilda next to him. They were both wearing spandex Shadowbolt costumes with their eyes covered by goggles. “I flew pretty far. How far away is Manehattan?”

“And Cloudsdale?” Gilda added cheekily.

“Talk about total Loyalty there.” Vinyl commented from her station nearby. She was dressed as some sort of cypony with exposed circuits running up one side and her shades instead seemed to be primitive steampunk goggles meant to be her eyes. Her show wasn't until after Trixie's and Zecora's, and she'd be playing all night long until everypony either went home or dropped.

“I AM Loyalty Scratch, and don't any of ya forget it.” Blitz boasted, and then dropped his grand tone for a moment. “Seriously. I'd push you out of the way of an incoming...anything, anytime.”

“Blitz I told you; you don't have to sacrifice yourself if it came down to it. We'd appreciate it more if you didn't.” Dusk reminded their friend, who when asked such a question from a magazine; took it incredibly seriously.

“Yes. While I do not know you all too well, I would feel beyond guilty if you were to save me at the expense of your own welfare.” Octavia intoned from the table, beings she was enjoying the festivities by partaking in the punch and less sugary confections. She was oddly not in a real costume, instead wearing a full tuxedo. She said it was from a time when she and Vinyl had a crazy adventure in Neighpon. Something involving yakuza, a severed head, multiple double-crosses, a few murders, and a blackmailing. But, that was a story for a time when Octavia and Vinyl were fully comfortable disclosing it. It was hard enough getting back into the country when they were wanted mares elsewhere.

“Same here Blitzle.” Pinkie giggled madly at her new nickname for Blitz, who didn't mind it, beyond that every time she said it she had to laugh, and it was annoying. “You're not a zebra, but it's still funny.” And there it is again; what was she talking about? “Anyway, did you girls SEE the Princesses yet?! Their costumes are so awesome and scary! It's Black Snooty in triplicate!”

This got everyone to look at each other confused aside from Dusk who grinned and licked his lips at the thought of his mare's flanks...whoa....'Damn, no wonder. Is this what it's like to be a stallion? No wonder Kamina and Animak can barely keep their talons off us. I need to spend a prolonged time as a male to make notes about my different behaviors, see just how much of an impact such a heavy change of base hormones can do to a pony.' “Yeah...full flanks in a set of three....” Dusk stated idly as he blushed and envisioned the three mares strutting about, and their muscles twitching under their fur.

“Dude, calm down.” Blitz broke into Dusk's fantasy, and was sitting in front of him, putting hooves on his shoulders. “Calm. Down. Don't think about it. Don't even think about thinking about it. Too soon and you'll end up freaking out.”

“Wha...?” Dusk asked stupidly, and looked at his friend's lips, wondering when they looked so tasty.

“MMPH?!” Blitz asked as suddenly he found himself lip-locked with a seemingly intoxicated Dusk, and Blitz calmed down and rolled his eyes behind his goggles before he returned the kiss in double the force, taking Dusk by surprise, dipping him, and then breaking the kiss. “You awake yet?”

Dusk blushed so brightly that his face turned red instead of lavender, and he covered his eyes with his hooves in shame. “Did I...?”

“Make out with your friend? Yep. Nothing wrong about it though. Your brain wasn't in THIS head up here. It was down here.” Blitz gruffly tapped Dusk's head, and then had the gall to actually cup Dusk's groin quickly, making him squeak in surprise. “Like I said; calm. Down. You're going to be thinking of things differently if you stay changed for a while. I had to go through it, so I know how hard it can get to stay focused.”

“More!” They suddenly turned towards the group of their friends, and saw Gilda, AJ, and Vinyl all gesturing for them to keep it going, while everypony else was visibly surprised by the intimate interaction, and Octavia actually looked...ill?

“If you are going to participate in something so...crass, could you please do it in private?” Octavia was a true homosexual. She didn't find stallions or males of any form attractive, much to her parent's disappointment at the thought of not having grandfoals. Octavia however knew such worries were unfounded with modern medical practices; she'd have a foal when she was good and ready, thank you very much.

Magic and Loyalty blushed, Blitz being thankful that his costume hid his face. “W-well...it wasn't bad. But I didn't feel a...spark.”

“Same here. I guess I was just driven by my confused hormones. Thanks for being so understanding Blitz.” Dusk smiled at his friend, who waved him off with a wing.

“Aw forget about it. It's what friends do.” Blitz didn't seem to realize that “normal” friends didn't go that far for someone else, but then again; he IS Loyalty.

“Thank you~! Thank you~! You're too kind!” They heard Trixie calling out over the cheering crowd as she and Zecora both bowed together as money rained on them. Seriously; that stage was getting precariously covered in gold coins. They must have really loved the show. “That is all for tonight. Thank you for coming, and while Trixie would normally be all for an encore; it would be rude to interrupt the schedule for tonight with a showstopper. We hope you enjoy the rest of the night's festivities. Now; I hand the stage over to DJ Pon3~!” Trixie, Zecora, and all the bits on the stage suddenly faded away like ghosts in a fog, before to everyone's surprise; Vinyl and her stand both seemed to fold out of the stage. The DJ didn't miss a beat, and quickly turned on her station which wirelessly connected to the sound system set up throughout the square.

“IT'S TIME TO SPIN THIS NIGHT OUT!” Vinyl blasted everyone with a bass drop that stunned them, and began a slow wind up. “Ready? For my BASS CANNON?!”

Drop the Bass Cannon, kick it!

Everypony started hollering, cheering, and dancing as the show got started, and the friends all turned to where Vinyl HAD been before, only to see a sweating and panting Trixie and a tired but not nearly as much Zecora both sitting near them with a huge red velvet sack the size of a pony filled to the brim with gold bits. “T-Trixie thinks tonight went well.” She then passed out into the side of the bag of gold bits, snoring lightly.

“Do not deny, this one will; of her fellow mare's skill. Her potency is still a fault, but with practice we shall unlock that vault.” Zecora nuzzled the exhausted unicorn, and then seemed to slump a bit into her.

“She just fell asleep didn't she?” AJ asked Dusk with an amused grin, and Dusk rolled his eyes before going over to his mares.

'Wait...they're not MY mares, they're...ugh...dang possessive stallion nature.' Dusk then teleported them home, directly into bed. They'd have to share it with a giant bag of gold, but at least they were home. “They've had a big night. Shame Fluttershy decided not to come out again.”

“Aw she's a coward over the little things, we all know that by now. She can only suck it up and be brave for the important things, and that's what matters. Besides; Mac's spending the night over at her place for a romantic dinner, and to keep her feeling safe.” Blitz wagged his eyebrows, which was still visible under his spandex, getting everyone to wonder if the resident shut-in was finally getting some, from the original town heartthrob at that.

“These festivities are splendid!” Spike and the other Bearers aside from Dusk all froze at the voice, and spun around to see Nyx and Pipsqueak dragging their full bags of candy to a table to rest, while three Nightmare Moons all approached as casually as they pleased. “I wish I did not miss Lady Trixie and Lady Zecora's performance, but Nyx wanted to go candy hunting with her new friend.”

“Yeah, it was great.” The Twins commented as the three intimidatingly beautiful mares of the night sat at another table just nearby, and began magically serving themselves from the nearby buffet table. “We didn't have this much fun last year, and we teamed up with Spike for a less impressive Gurren Lagann outfit.”

“Hey! I didn't have my Spiral Power back then....” Spike grumbled, already knowing two of them were his brothers...sisters. “Did you both have to jump the fence again?”

“What? Would you have preferred this?” They seamlessly shifted into a much more masculine version of Nightmare, even the armor changed into much more masculine and intimidating shapes, such as the helm covering his face along the sides. This was getting Luna to blush at being sandwiched between two hunks, who leaned into her to make it worse. “We are Darkhorse Knight! We are the Lords of the moon! Bringers of the world's doom!”

“Nephews...as flattering as it is; we are still related....” Luna tried to squeeze out from between them, only for them both to nibble her ears, making her flush even more. “This is most uncouth.”

“We know, we're just rubbing it in that these flanks are off limits to you.” They teased as they pressed their flanks against hers even harder, making her huff in indignation.

“Hey! Stop teasing mommy!” Nyx called out from the next table over, and then she leered at them. “If you don't; no more dragonfire-delivery Pony Joe's.” They instantly scooted away from Luna a bit, giving the mare much needed space. She would have normally been all too glad to be in such a situation, but since the sex idols doing it were her nephews, and occasionally nieces, she really didn't want that to continue.

“Thank you dear. Just for helping mommy; I'm increasing your ice cream ration.” Luna smirked at her daughter, enjoying the squeal of joy as she bounced in her seat, as Pipsqueak laughed at her silliness. “Tonight has been so fun....” Luna looked around at all the gathered friends, and sighed contently. “I'm glad...that something else good came of Nightmare.” Luna looked to her daughter, who was chatting happily with a colt she'd just met, and likely forged a strong bond with so quickly. “I really am blessed.”

Her nephews kissed her cheeks, and nuzzled her, the cool armor actually feeling quite nice. “We're glad you see it Aunty.” They looked on the festivities as the friends went back to chatting. “So glad.”

Author's Notes:

Oh, finally. Sorry bout the wait. Work's draining me dry of life, liberty, and happiness...at least I've got ponies.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gyfl7FJjkKM

Also, I wrote that short song with the Nightmare Duo myself, please, royally destroy me if it's bad, but also critique me if it is okay.