Twilight was calmly reading her tablet in her library off in the reading nook. The mare had taken to reading anything and everything she could off the internet since she’d already read all the books in the library anyway. Right now she was browsing Wikipedia which she did often, reading anything and everything she wasn’t familiar with already. Especially since it was already being constantly added to by herself and other intelligent persons across the world thanks to Celestia and Luna fast-tracking the wifi towers, especially Luna since she was still on her world tour.

She was so caught up in it, in fact, that-.

“TWILIGHT! HOLY BUCK!” Bronze screamed with utter joy as he burst into her home, making her yelp and fumble with her tablet as she lost her magical grip on it at the sudden interruption of her learning. “WHY DIDN’T YOU TELL ME PONIES CELEBRATED HALLOWEEN?!”

“What?” Twilight asked in confusion as she looked up at the statuesque stallion. Ever since he hit his supposed ‘last’ growth spurt earlier in October, Bronze had shot up to be a head taller than his mom and aunt, but he was very gangly and thin for the moment since he had to bulk up some more even though he was just as physically strong as his mom and aunt already. “Oh, right. Your world’s Halloween, All Hallows Eve and Day of the Dead were all celebrated on the same night as Nightmare Night, with similar overall customs.”

“Yes! And not only is it named after my mom’s short scary legacy, it’s also essentially my favorite holiday!” Bronze gushed, the tall stallion’s more developed face not really suited to the expressions he was making without it being creepy since he was mostly skin and bones with very lean muscle at the moment.

“Yes...but it isn’t until tomorrow.” Twilight pointed out, and Bronze twitched. “You just found out right now, and now you’re going crazy with anticipation, aren’t you?” Twilight asked in exasperation. Bronze was only slightly less frustrating than Pinkie Pie when he was extremely excited for something.

“Aren’t you excited?! So much cookiescandycakeicecreamcostumesscares-!” Bronze was silenced by Twilight’s magic grabbing his muzzle, but he still continued on even while muzzled, and she quirked her eyebrows before letting go. “-andit’ssosteepedinhistory-wait.” Bronze paused, a thought coming to his mind. “How does mom feel about this?”

“Considering it’s named after her short reign of terror? Probably very negatively.” Twilight bluntly stated.

“Oh no~! Now I have TWO moms who hate my favorite holiday~!” Bronze wailed in despair, falling back in a dramatic faint as he summoned his own alicorn-sized black velvet fainting couch from wherever it was before. “Oh woe is me! I wished to enjoy this Nightmare Night with mother! Terrorizing-I mean, playing with other ponies and watching the foals have a wonderful time!”

“I thought you hated pranks?” Twilight asked idly as she went back to her tablet.

“Not on Halloween! It’s the only night where everything goes! So long as the cops don’t show up, or nobody gets hurt, it’s all in bad fun.” Bronze beamed, then pouting at seeing Twilight focused on her tablet again. “Twi, you’re gonna have to get glasses if you keep using that thing.”

“No more than if I kept reading books instead Bronze. Also Princess Luna wants to speak with you.” Twilight informed as she turned her simple black tablet around to reveal an IM she was apparently having with Luna. “She’s in Shireland right now, which, ironically, has perhaps the biggest Nightmare Night celebrations to date, considering they actually have the oldest traditions with the holiday.”

“You mean like Ireland from my world with their originally Gaelic culture having something similar called Samhain? A feasting holiday representing the end of autumn and the start of winter, where they slaughtered livestock and stored preservatives for the harsh times ahead.” Bronze asked, getting Twilight to blink before rapidly flickering her horn as she stared at her tablet.

“Oh wow. Shireland originally used to celebrate Nightmare Night as, in fact; Samhain. Huh. And the satyrs are omnivores and they mostly eat pigs and boars there aside from their starch-heavy diets due to potatoes, rutabagas and other such cultivars being incredibly plentiful there.” Twilight eagerly read up as she fell back into a stupor of learning, making Bronze sigh in exasperation.

“Okay, yeah, whatever. I’m going to go see mom then.” Bronze informed the deaf-to-the-world mare before vanishing along with his fainting couch as if they weren’t there to begin with.

“Is he gone?” Came Trixie’s voice from under the table, making Twilight blush at remembering what she was really up to when Bronze burst in.

“Y-yeah. I got rid of him.” Twilight stammered as she looked under the low table at the powder-blue mare who had her head between the purple mare’s thighs.

“Good, Trixie was getting impatient, now relax and let the Great and Skilled Trixie resume astonishing you.” Trixie teased as she began extending her tongue, making Twilight swallow dryly in anticipation.

[@]

It took a few tries, beings Bronze had never been to Shireland and the geography of Equus was vastly different from Terra’s, but after seven warps, he finally got in the right country, twelve warps got him the right region, and another twenty warps until he got his mom’s location from the locals, who were predominantly satyrs and didn’t bother with any of the prostration he was having to get used to in Equestria, which he was thankful for since it shortened things nicely. ‘Should’ve just asked Twilight where in Shireland mom was. Then getting here to Derry would’ve been a breeze.’ Bronze mentally grumbled irritably, as what should’ve been a few minutes travel ended up taking a half hour of trial and error. ‘Some Alicorn of Space I am if I can’t even pinpoint coordinates, I’ve got to practice that.’

“Hoi! Lookit, some tall pony lad with chaos on his rump.” Bronze blinked in bemusement as he turned his head to notice the guard next to the gate of the large estate his mom was staying at. Satyrs were a surreal race to Bronze, beings they were so like humans it was uncanny and familiar save they all had lower bodies of upright goats just as colorful as ponies or minotaurs, goat or ram horns on the sides of their heads along with goat ears, and they all seemed to have a chronic need to be chewing something or otherwise having something in their mouths, be it a sprig of something, a stick, or the pipe smokers he’d seen thus far. Also they wore at least shirts for the most part, but especially the does for obvious reasons.

“What?” Bronze asked bewilderedly at how he was addressed by the fully dressed and armored guard next to the gate, said guard’s attire being like that of a sort of honor guard with a decorated mixture of leather and steel platemail armor made to be both visually pleasing yet serviceable as it didn’t bother hiding the various pockets and holsters for a variety of spare weapons such as throwing knives, daggers, and what seemed to be small bombs aside from the beautiful shiny black-wood shillelagh the full-helmed guard leaned slightly on. Clearly the weaponized walking stick was meant both as a means for the guards to stand longer, as well as be a deadly and visible warding weapon to nonlethally take down any troublemakers. Or put them down for good.

When you get hit with a genuine shillelagh, it isn’t easy to get back up.

“The pretty lass inside told us her son was comin’ and gave yer description she did. Mentioned ya had our traditional symbol fer chaos on yer backside. Head on in. Poor lass seems depressed despite the pleasant cheer of Nightmare Night on the morrow to anticipate.” The guard cheerily drawled before he stood a bit straighter as he took weight off his shillelagh and firmly clacked the tip on the cobblestone, mysteriously causing the gate to open automatically.

“Um, thanks officer.” Bronze politely nodded to the affable guard as he finally took in his surroundings again as he passed through the open wrought-iron gates to trot up the cobblestone pathway leading up to the beautiful stone keep that served as the home for the city-like town’s Duke and Duchess, passing through the lush green field of grass Shireland, like Ireland, were known for. “Why was there only one guard?”

“Cuz I’m all they need lad.” Bronze yelped as he spun around to see the same exact guard, his spacial awareness informing him that, yes, the guard before him must be the same one, since he was nowhere around the gate, now standing just the same to the side next to one of the fountains nearing the keep.

“How did you do that?! I’m the only one I know of that can do that so seamlessly!” Bronze balked at the nonchalant guard who chuckled jovially.

“Be our magic lad! We satyrs ain’t known fer our blatant magics like you ponies. Be simple runework. Beins ya got a said rune on yer rump I figured ya knew.” The guard laughed as he moved his free left hand to his armored midsection to mime doubling over, making Bronze pout.

“Well sorry if I’ve been a bit busy adjusting to my new life too long to know my brand of magic was already common elsewhere.” Bronze grumbled.

“Oi there, don’t fret. Our magic is limited to runes, enchantments and pre-prepared spells. You can just warp round all willy-nilly I hear, so don’t be put off. Just don’t let Keef, the keep’s court wizard git ya alone. He’ll chat yer ear off askin questions.” The guard warned, before tapping his shillelagh again and the front doors of the keep opened up on their own as well. “In ya go. It’s starting to get a bit nippy here, go and warm yer hide.”

“Thank you kindly.” Bronze smiled at the eccentric guard, getting to see him warp quite smoothly back to his post down outside the now-closing gate. ‘Hm, the rune of my boar is on the knob of his shillelagh, a much smaller one is on the tip of it. I guess my Ring and my Mark really do have seriously deep meaning. And he left the gate open to warp up here, so there’s obviously a ward on the barrier wall to keep satyrs from just warping onto the property.’ Bronze entered the warm interior of the keep, and the doors closed behind him as a satyr butler moved to interact with him.

“Good day to you sir. I shall guide you to your mother’s quarters. This way please.” The tuxedo wearing ram politely bowed slightly before promptly walking him through the foyer and into one of the wings. The keep was a nice counter to the pristine halls of Canterlot Castle, it’s dark gray stones having a more natural and hand-made quality than the magically constructed and seamless palace his mom and aunt called home. Also the Duke’s colors of a vibrant green and gold filled the place in the rugs and tapestries, making it feel very earthy and welcoming, something the imposing Canterlot utterly failed to do.

“How has my mother been? If it isn’t rude of me to ask.” Bronze asked as he looked down at his guide’s head, just realizing he towered over the satyr like he did most all ponies with his regal 7 foot height. ‘Ugh, gotta get used to towering over everyone again. I’ve gotten used to being smaller now, so now this feels awkward. Why can’t I just stay one size from now on?’

“She’s been rather reclusive in her visit with us I’m afraid. Once she learned of Nightmare Night, she became distraught and retreated to her guest room. The poor dear. We don’t hold The Nightmare’s actions against her, but she won’t listen to any of us. I hope perhaps family will help her come to grips with things.” The butler said with his even tone, stopping before a very regal pair of double doors at the end of a long hall, and knocked gently. “Princess Luna. Your son, Prince Bronze Brave has arrived.”

“Let him in.” Luna’s quiet voice answered, worrying Bronze as the butler gently opened the door and bowed for him to enter.

“Thank you.” Bronze whispered as he passed, the butler staying respectfully silent as he gently closed the door. “Mom, what’s wrong?” Bronze quickly but quietly crossed the large bedroom lavishly furnished in the same greens and golds of the rest of the castle to his mom who was sleepily laying in the large bed, only her head out of the covers. The way her eyes were so heavy and with circles so dark even her night-blue coat couldn’t hide them. It made him sad just seeing her.

“Son...will you snuggle with me? To help me sleep? Like before?” Luna asked weakly, the tear stains in her fur telling him she needed somepony, and he quickly opened the blanket to climb into bed and let her hug him to her, burying her face in his chest and dry-heaving tearless sobs. He gently hugged her back, snuggling until she fell asleep, and he decided to join her by switching off his mental switch, letting any of his mental exhaustion pile up and let him quickly fall asleep.

[@]

Bronze came to, laying in a field of lush and soft grass next to his mom with the night sky overhead. “Huh? Weren’t we inside Duke Derry’s keep outside of Derry?” Bronze asked curiously, looking at his mom who couldn’t seem to stop looking sadly up at her moon, which quickly grew overshadowed with the silhouette he’d remembered when he was first in Equestria. “Oh...a dream.”

“It would seem our dark legacy still clings to us, even with our little ponies and the world at large embracing us so openly.” Luna quietly lamented as she leaned against her taller son’s neck, him dutifully supporting her. “They celebrate our dark past as a myth, a bogeymare who haunts the night for innocent foals to gobble up. What’s worse? The whole world apparently celebrates tomorrow night. It is a celebration of life and harvest, of fun and fear for the young, while many remember the fallen with smiles and happy tears. We...are so conflicted over this.”

“Mom. Back home, that night is known by many names. Halloween, All Hallows Eve, Day of the Dead. In the end, they all celebrate exactly what you’ve described, save that you in your possessed state served as an inspiration for the holiday. It could be worse, and the world still openly feared you yourself instead of being mature about it and letting sleeping dogs lie.” Bronze said, getting his mother via reincarnation to sigh sadly.

“We know son. It is just so hard to let go of the past. For a thousand years We were trapped on the moon with that monster. In a way, We suppose We can enjoy that over a millennium the fiend was turned into a foal’s bedtime story rather than the demon she truly was.” Luna snorted in amusement, the dark shadow on the moon fading away. “But the pain isn’t so easily thrown away son. Remember. Regret is one of the hardest things to get over, and to forgive oneself is often harder than forgiving others.”

“I already knew that mom, but I’m glad at least somepony said it to me this time instead of me having to learn it myself.” Bronze nuzzled his mom’s cheek, who nuzzled back, the mother and son content to close their eyes and lean against each other. “I love you mom.”

“I love you too son.” Luna smiled as they rested in the dream, both too content to bother doing anything for the moment. “Hmph, such an odd thing. I had in your previous life, began developing an attraction to you. But now you are my son instead.” Luna grinned, finally addressing the pink elephant in the clearing, who rudely trumpted its trunk at them, turning to the side to reveal the words ‘awkward subject’ on it’s side.

“Yes, it’s quite unusual. I mean, I was also starting to feel attracted to you, then the ascension happened, we instinctively wanted to treat each other like son/mother etcetera. Tried going for siblings, then that went out the window. Best we just face the fact we’re son and mother.” Bronze shrugged his shoulders, before kissing his mom’s cheek, making her giggle. “I just worry I’ll forget my other mother and my dad sometimes.”

“You won’t, even considering you’re essentially your own father is also an odd thing. Explaining to the public about that if they ask is going to be quite a harrowing task.” Luna admitted as she began using her magic to fuss over his shaggy silver mane, making him whine. “Oh hush son, this rat’s nest is unbecoming of a stallion of your station.”

“But trying to tame it is frustrating unless Shampoo does it for me.” Bronze complained. “Besides, this is a dream, doing this here won’t matter.” Bronze reminded his mother, who sighed and left it alone. “Besides that, when will my hair start doing that whole ethereal thing yours and Tia’s does?”

“Either when you begin growing in power to a point your body cannot avoid leaking some out, or when you’re generally ‘old’ enough.” Luna shrugged. “There are not enough of us alicorns around for either I or Tia to really know. We can only use ourselves as examples to base concepts off of.”

“Right.” Bronze nodded, letting them both lull into a moment of silence. “So...does this mean I get to celebrate Mother’s Day twice a year?” Bronze asked impishly, getting Luna to laugh and shove him away playfully.

[@]

*Knock-knock-knock!*

“Coming~!” Twilight called cheerfully, levitating the bowl of candy she’d already had to replenish twice tonight as she straightened out her Clover the Clever costume being that of said historical mage’s signature burlap robes and oversized saddlebags. However, she screamed and jumped away after she opened her door, and NIGHTMARE MOON burst into her library!

“FOAL! YOU THOUGHT US DEFEATED?!” The Mistress of Shadow demanded imperiously as all the lights in Twilight’s home instantly snuffed out, and the purple mare screamed in terror and ran up the stairs as blasts of magic smashed where she’d been before. “Come back Sparkle! I shall have my revenge!”

“No-no-no-no-no! She can’t be back! My tablet! Have to tell Princess Celestia that-AH!” Twilight screamed in horror as a second pony burst out of her bedroom, smashing the door down, and she cowered at realizing who it was in the similar suit of armor to Nightmare, beings he was even taller than the dark mare. “No! She put you under her thrall again Bronze?!”

“My Mistress shall h-h-have-pfft-HA~ ha-ha-ha-ha~!” The ‘enthralled’ Bronze Brave suddenly broke into hysterics, laughing as he pointed at the suddenly confused Twilight. “You should see your face! We got you so good!”

“Son! You hath ruined the act too soon!” Luna declared as she ascended the stairs, her fanged grin and mirthful slit eyes showing no malevolence. “Apologies Lady Sparkle, but our son had such an inspired and devious plan this precious night to prank as many ponies as possible with our terrifying presence.”

Twilight was stunned, gawking at them both, before deflating with a sigh of relief. “Oh thank Celestia. I actually thought that maybe the ambient energies of this hallowed time brought Nightmare back from beyond the veil.”

“Which is just perfect! You’re the 274th pony we’ve pranked who fell for it hook, line, and sinker!” Bronze held out his hoof towards him mom, and half his foreleg disappeared but reappeared hovering in the air near Luna, who hoof-bumped the disembodied limb, and it returned to him as he pulled it out of the distortion of space.

“You’ve pranked that many ponies?” Twilight asked in shock.

“Yes! We seek to break the world record for most pranks in a single Nightmare Night!” Luna declared imperiously as a thestral holding a clipboard hovered up the stairs as he took notes. “We even have an official representative of the Genesis World Record’s book series observing.”

“Princess. I’ve told you that you broke the record over 112 pranks ago.” The thestral stallion stated with some annoyance. “You’ve also broken the record for the number of consecutive successful pranks in a spree, and the record for the number of times a repeated prank has succeeded in a row.”

“Then it is our duty to overachieve and ensure NOPONY can ever attempt to break our record! To the next victims mother!” Bronze crowed as he and Luna cackled and rushed downstairs, the worn-out thestral sighing and lazily giving chase.

Twilight laid in her hallway, noticing all the damage from before was repaired with magic while she was distracted. “...Next year I’m prank-proofing my library.”

Author's Notes:

Here's a little more world building, a little something silly, just something to read really.

I'm bored and depressed and silly stories are what I crave right now.