“... Pulling out his knife, the office threw it at the coffin… only to have it stick into the aged and splintered wood… out of options... he reached into his other pocket… and pulled out a cough drop… quickly, he unraveled the wrapper and dropped it in his mouth…

“And he stopped the coughin…”

Everyone screamed in fear before realization quickly hit them. Their fears soon turned to smiles as they all started to laugh at the silly ending. Chuckling, Excalibur couldn’t help but join in. With each word, long pause, and description, he had everyone at the edge of their seats. It was a night for celebration because it was…

Nightmare Night.

Twilight and the girls were excited to celebrate the holiday with their intergalactic friends. When she mentioned the name to the Tenno, Excalibur couldn’t help but point out how similar it was to an old tradition called Halloween.

The thirteen bodies sat in Luna bedroom with nothing but candles illuminating the room, giving it an eerie glow. The castle itself was as Celestia called it… dead. The maids had gone home and in the spirit of the night, the guard were set free. Many of them left to go spend time with their children while the singles went to do the only fun thing an adult could do on Nightmare Night…

Party

Along with the spirit, there was dressing up. Twilight was dressed in what Excalibur had called a set of ‘Spartan Armor’, Pinkie was dressed as a roller derby girl, Applejack was a lion, Rainbow Dash was an astronaut, Rarity was dressed as a seapony, Fluttershy and bless her heart, was dressed as a bunny rabbit, Spike a two headed dragon, Celestia dressed as Nightmare Nova while her sister ran as what is now known as the legendary Nightmare Moon, finally, Cadence was dressed as a changeling.

As the laughter died down Excalibur placed his hand on his knees. “Anyone want something to drink?” he offered while rising to his feet. Everyone declined, so he turned and left the room while the nine mares, one drake and two Tenno talked about the story. Many of them shared laughs and ate from the nearby bowl of candy. Several minutes passed before the door to the room opened.

Everyone was so distracted they didn't even notice Excalibur stumble into the room, dragging his feet. Turning her head, Twilight furrowed her brow. “Excalibur, are you alright?” she asked with a hint of concern.

“... We have a situation,” he said before his eyes rolled up and into the back of his head. He dropped to his knees before landing face first, his legs lifting off the ground lightly. Everyone screamed out in fear at the massive handle protruding from his back.

Both Drax and Serenity immediately shot to their feet from their seats, before they could run to check up on their friend, a rush of air filled the room. Covering their faces with their arms from the invisible force, the air blew out the candles, plunging the room into darkness.

“How... un-forrr-tunate…” a dark and brooding voice seemed to breath out like the wind.

Outside, the skies exploded as thunder boomed over the castle. Lightning cracked as it illuminated the room and hallway for nothing but a mere millisecond. As the lighting cracked and the thunder boomed, everyone's eyes searched each object and each shadow of the now cold room.

They didn't even notice the figure standing the doorway.

Slowly he wrapped his hand around the cold handle of the solid steel weapon. “To... bad... for... you...” Everyone's attention shot immediately to the door. In it, stood a dark silhouette. “There... can... be... no... witnesses…” he spoke while pulling the blade free from its fleshy prison, causing the corpse to lift up slightly before settling on the floor.

Holding the blade up to his face, he ran his free hand along its curved surface, coating it in blood. Upon reaching the end of the demonic curve, he lowered the blade before holding his closed hand in front of his chest.

With a loud and sickening *splat* he planted his hand on the nearby wall.

He took a step.

Then another.

And a third.

By the fourth he was actively walking. Taking a deep breath, Serenity leaned back before leaning forward and screaming as her Hysteria ability activated. Next to her, Drax’s outer skin shed before hovering in front of him as he activated his Effigy ability. Without breaking pace, the man waved his hand. With a rush of air, Serenity’s ability faded while Drax’s back arched as his chest puffed out, his Effigy reattaching to his form.

Both of them looked at their hands in confusion while the figure spun the weapon in his hands before stopping and holding it under his left arm. Before anyone knew it, he was gliding across the floor with a similar attack To Excalibur’s Slash Dash. Serenity dove to the floor and landed with and ‘oof’ to dodge the attack while Drax lifted his left arm to block the blade with his Aegis. The impact made a heavy *ting* as sparks flew free from the impact.

Looking up from her spot in the floor, Serenity looked over her shoulder at her downed teammate. Both of them locked eyes. The dragon gave her one single command to follow.

“RUN!”

Pushing herself to her feet, the young woman immediately headed for the door and stopped as she helped funnel the rest of the mares and one dragon out of the room. Once they were safe she gave one last look at her downed friend, who was crawling away on his back on the floor. She turned and left the room.

Cornered on the floor, Drax drew his right Jagara and fired at his attacker. With a light swing of his arm, the figure deflected each round into a random direction. It was all in vain and Drax knew it, but he still kept trying. As the last round left the gun and nothing fired after it, the dragon stopped his retreat and looked at the weapon. Leaning forward he grabbed the false blade on the front in an attempt to reload it. Nearby, the black figure slowly spun his weapon again before lifting it over his head.

He dropped it.

Drax screamed out in agony and dropped his weapon as he was impaled through the stomach. Reflexively, he grabbed the curved blade in an attempt to keep it steady. It didn't happen. His attacker used his strength to swing the human side to side on the now blood slick floor. As Drax screamed out in agony, his attacker forcefully pulled the blade free from the drakes abdomen.

Holding his bleeding abdomen, Drax withered on the floor in unbearable agony. The massive gaping wound oozed blood, staining his white armor. As he looked up from the wound and at the man, the last thing he saw was the massive hooked blade light up as a flash of lightning ignited the room.

The doors to the dining hall slammed shut as Serenity planted herself against the door. Nearby, the rest of the mares and one drake were sweating and breathing heavily from their run. Slowly, as their heart rates began to slow, the reality of the situation set it.

Twilight’s eyes started to well with tears as her lower lip quivered. “He’s dead…” she spoke softly before sitting on her flank, dropping her head and breaking into a quiet sobbing fit. Silently, Celestia, Luna, and Cadence each wrapped a wing around the younger alicorn in an attempt to comfort her.

It only made it worse.

Nearby, the rest of the group looked from the small group to the only remaining human, who was now sitting on the floor with her head firm in her grasp.

“What do we do?”

She slowly raised her head and looked around the room at each of the mares, even the princess’ were looking at her. She was in charge now, she really didn't want to be, but she was. The young woman swallowed hard.

“Run… and hide…”

Before they could even respond a small portion of the door exploded as the end of the dark blade poked into the room. Retreating back into the door, Serenity quickly scrambled to her feet just before the blade punched right through to where she had been previously sitting. Stopping a few feet away she apprehensively watched the door with the rest of the group. Once again, the blade retreated. Silence filled the room as the rain outside started to fall. Thunder boomed and lightning flashed as everyone kept their attention on the door. Everyone screamed as something on the other side banged against the door, causing it to buckle. It happened again… and again… and again…

Then… it stopped.

The ten of them watched as an eerie and unwanted silence fell upon the room. Outside, the impending storm seemed to get worse. As the thunder boomed, the lightning would light up the room for mere milliseconds before disappearing and plunging the room back into darkness.

Everyone was so focused on the door, they didn't notice the figure behind them.

“TWILIGHT!”

They all spun on their heels. Everyone gasped as they saw Spike being held upside down by one of his little legs. His eyes were wet as he cried softly while his nose ran with fear. Holding him up to his darkened face, the figure turned his head and examined the little drake. Turning his head, he lowered the baby dragon and looked at the group.

“No... one... is... innocent…”

Slowly, he lifted Spike to his chest and held him there.

...

With a jerk of his wrist he threw him at a nearby window. Spike screamed at the top of his lungs as he flew through the air. The glass of the window exploded into various large shards as the little drake crashed through. Inside, all everyone could do was listen to his fading scream before a sickening *crack* of breaking bones reached their ears.

“Three, down… nine to go…”

“SCATTER!”

In a panic they scrambled for the door. Pulling it open, Serenity stood to the side to allow everyone out first. As soon as the last mare was out, she grabbed the door and slammed it shut, just before the demon reached her.

“AH!”

Her breathing was very shallow before she swallowed hard, very hard. Both of her eyes were focused on the tip of the blade that sat mere millimeters from the tip of her nose.

“Serenity!” Cadence called to her. “Come on!”

She watched in horror as the blade once again retreated back through the door. Pushing off the wood surface she turned around and headed for the group. She made it several feet before the doors to the dining hall shot open as a rush of cold air poured into the hall. .

She tripped.

Landing face first for the second time that night, she looked over her shoulder into the dark abyss before looking forward at her friends. Her lower lip quivered as he locked eyes with one of the mares.

“TWIIILIIIGHT!” she screamed as she was dragged off into the darkness.

Her screams echoed through the hallways before they quickly fell silent… and were replaced with the sound metal grinding. Several seconds later, a massive bloody smear splatter onto the floor and replaced the area where the woman was once alive with a disgusting *splat*.

“Four down… eight to go…”

The sound of wet foot steps filled the hall. Not wanting to stay any longer, the rest of the mares ran for their lives.

Rarity and Applejack had been wandering the halls of the castle for what had felt like hour. Very, long, hours. But in reality it had been only less than five minutes. Both of them were scared shitless. In their panic, they took a random hall of the castle and were ultimately separated from the rest of the group.

They didn’t talk, they didn’t want to talk. All they did was frantically look around at every little shadow and every picture as they wandered aimlessly through the massive halls of the castle. Rounding a random corner, they froze as their ears rotated on the top of their heads.

“Ya’ll hear that?” Applejack whispered to Rarity.

Rarity gulped. “Y-Yes,” she stuttered back in the same hushed tone.

Down the hall they could hear what sounded like somepony walking. The steps were faint. Slowly but surely the pair listened to the foot steps as they approached. Nervously the pair shared a glance before Rarity was bold enough to speak.

“Twilight?” she almost strained to get out. “Is that you?”

The footsteps stopped.

“... Your reckoning…”

With a boom of thunder and a crack of lightning the pair were covered by dark shadow of a figure that loomed behind them. Their eyes went wide and their ears fell flat. They knew who it was, they knew what was behind them… it was just like the movies.

It was him…

“Duck!”

Both ponies hit the ground as fast as gravity could take them. Just above the blade clipped the top of their manes, murdering some unfortunate hairs on the top of their heads. The sound of metal impacting and shattering stone was their hint at an opportunity to run. Both of them scrambled to their feet and ran as he struggled with his hilted weapon.

As the pair rounded a corner, the sound of stone shattering indicated that he was no longer struggling with his weapon. Coming to the end of their hallway both of them looked down the adjacent ‘T’ junction.

“This way!” Rarity ordered with a point of her hoof.

Running down the hall, the only light provided was the occasional flash of thunder through the windows. Running up to a random door, the unicorn used her magic to open it as Applejack was the first inside. Making sure not to slam the door shut, she closed it quietly with a click.

Applejack was nervously bouncing on the tips of her hooves as she looked around the room. It was just a basic guest room. At least, basic for the castle. A massive bed, a wardrobe, a desk, and a bookshelf.

“Where do we go-hoo!?”

“The bed!” Rarity replied while running past her orange friend.

Lifting up the cloth cover both of them quickly crawled under the massive spread.

And they waited.

And waited…

And waited…

…

They both winced as the door to the room shot open and crashed against the adjacent wall. Both mares squeaked silently in terror. Hoping that he didn’t hear them, both of them remained quiet as the sounds of his footsteps echoed against the walls.

Through her little opening between the floor and the bottom of the cloth, Rarity could see a pair of dark, black boots. She winced and closed her eyes when the butt of the handle *clanged* against the floor. The duo heard him exhale before he lifted the blade from the floor. As of right now, the only thing protecting them was a mattress and a thin piece of cloth. They winced again when they heard furniture being overturned and broken.

After what seemed like the longest seconds of their life, they heard him walk toward the back of the bed. Both of them were actively sobbing and holding their hooves to the mouths on an attempt to keep from screaming.

“Mhmm!”

Rarity stared at the tip of the blade that was a mere inch from her face. It wiggled for a second before it retreated back into the mattress, grinding against the springs. Seconds later they winced again as the blade reappeared between them.

Applejack bit her hoof so hard on the third stab of the bed that it drew blood. She struggled very hard to stifle her scream as the very tip of the curved blade just barely touched the skin just between her shoulder blades. Slowly, she moaned and whimpered in fear as the blade was dragged across her back, just enough for her to feel it, but not enough to draw blood.

Upon reaching her tail dock, the blade once again retreated back into the bed. They heard him grunt and shuffle his feet before walking out of the room. Both mares sighed quietly at their fortune and lowered their hooves. The looked at each other and smiled lightly

...

“APPLEJACK!”

Rarity screamed as she was dragged out from underneath the bed. The orange farmer screamed at the top of her lungs as her friend disappeared out of view. She didn't hesitate to scrambled out from underneath the bed as fast as her hooves could carry her. Behind her, the figure flipped the struggling unicorn onto her back before grabbing her collar, lifting her up, and planting her on the bed.

Holding her down with his arm, he lifted his blade high.

Rarity’s eyes shrank to pinpricks.

Her screams went unheard to everyone but her attacker.

Applejack ran as fast as she could down one of the random halls of the castle. She wanted to help her friend, she wanted to save Rarity…

But she couldn’t…

She didn’t even hear Rarity’s bloodcurdling scream over the thunder and lightning.

Rounding a random corner, her tears clouded her vision.

“Oof!”

Running muzzle first into a solid object, she landed flank first on the floor. Rubbing her head she moaned in pain. Looking down, she saw a shadow in the dim light. Her ears fell flat against her head as she slowly and shakily looked up. He lip quivered as the blade slowly rose into striking position.

Closing her eyes, she accepted her fate.

The sound of blood splattering against a wall echoed through the halls.

Fluttershy wandered the halls sobbing heavily. In the sheer chaos she got separated from not only her friends, but Rainbow too. She didn’t know where she was or were any of her friends were. She knew this was a bad idea! She wanted to spend Nightmare Night like she always does, under her bed with a book and her animal friends.

But nooo! Her friends had to convince her to come to Canterlot and celebrate with the princess’. Right now, she desperately wanted to go home and hide under her bed like a coward.

At least she’s honest about it.

The mare froze when she heard a noise. Shaking uncontrollably, her ears pivoted on her head in an attempt to pick up the noise. She couldn’t identify the noise for several seconds before something simple echoed down the hall it sounded a lot like....

“… Music?”

It was. It was the faint tune of a song. Timidly and against her better judgment, she lifted a hoof and started walking. With each step and each light clop of her hooves and the marble floor, the sound grew louder. Over a period of a minute the song played. It was light and a little slow.

She liked it.

She had never heard the tune before but it was a fun little one. Absentmindedly she rocked her head back and forth to the beat, a small smile gracing her lips. Coming to a corner she slowly, very slowly, peeked an eye around it. And in the middle of the hall…

Was a music box.

A little simple, metal music box. Poking the rest of her head out, Fluttershy looked down the hall and around the area before focusing back on the little box and stepping out. Walking toward the little device she stopped and sat in front of it. As the little tune played…

She didn’t see the figure behind her.

The song slowly started to come to an end, the figure slowly adjusted the weapon to hold it with two hands. With it firm in his grasp he lifted it up and to the side. The mare listened as the last line played.

“Pop goes the weasel…”

*Shing!*

Thunder continued to explode outside as Dash wandered the lower halls of the castle. She was scared beyond belief… not that she would ever admit it though. Rainbow 'Daring Danger' Dash doesn't get scared and neither does a Wonderbolt! They stand strong, show bravery, and never give up!

She was lying to herself.

Not paying attention to her surroundings, she tipped over a vase on a nearby table with her tail. As it crashed onto the floor she spun and screamed at the top of her lungs. She quickly stopped her screaming as the inside of her glass helmet fogged up. Rubbing the outside with the thought that it would fix the problem, she groaned and waited for the annoyance to dissipate. Once it was gone she looked down at the shattered vase. The was one simple fact of this situation though.

She didn’t do it.

It was probably junk anyway. Turning around, she closed her eyes and started walking.

Only to bump into something.

The glass of her helmet *tinked* lightly as she fell back on her flank. Groaning, she rubbed her now sore flank with a hoof.

“What is it with me and bumping into things?” she asked no one in particular.

“... Seven down… six to go…”

Dash was struck stiff.

“... Uh… oh…”

She ducked just fast enough for the blade to glance off the top of her helmet, cracking the glass. She didn’t hesitate to flare her wings and shoot off in a random direction in a blur of blue and rainbow colors. Racing through the halls of the castle she rounded corners and even went down a set of stairs and up another.

After some time she slowed her fast pace and came to a flutter. Looking over her shoulder she smirked before blowing a raspberry. “Ha! To slow!” she mocked. Just as she turned her head to face forward again, she gasped loudly before her helmet shattered to several pieces. Larger shards fell to the floor and shattered further as the smaller pieces either followed suit, or buried themselves into her skin.

Once again, Dash found herself flat on her flank.

As blood poured from the small cuts on her face as she sat there in pain. “GAH!” she screamed as she was lifted into the air by the collar of her costume. She was visibly shaking as she came face to face with the man that had been hunting her. She gulped hard.

“... No… witnesses…”

He smashed her onto an adjacent wall, cracking several ribs. As she coughed in pain, she winced before opening her eyes.

“Eight down… five to go…”

She didn’t have time to even scream.

The doors to the dining hall opened as a dark figure stepped inside. They walked slowly while examining the room. Walking up to the side of the dining table, he placed a hand on the edge. With a flick of his arm, the massive table overturned, sending silverware flying and soon to be broken dishware toward the nearby wall.

Growling, he headed for the doors in front of him. Walking inside, he pushed the doors aside. Standing in the kitchen he surveyed the scene. The room was as clean as clean would be. A lone fridge sat in a corner, the center counter was so clean it could be eaten off of, and the cabinets were spic and span.

Needed more blood…

Turning on his heels, he headed for the first set of cabinets. He grabbed the handle and forced it open. Finding nothing, he moved to the second one, and the third, and the fourth. Going down the line, every open cabinet lead to some sort of kitchenware. At least, until he reached the last one.

*Splat!*

Stepping to the side, he wore a deadpan stare that could kill anything. Slowly reaching up, he ran his hand down the front of his helmet, cleaning most of the splattered pie from it. With a flick of his wrist, he splattered the now brutally murdered desert all over the floor.

A giggle echoed through the room.

“Tag! You’re it!” a voice said behind him as something tapped his shoulder.

With a rapid swing of his blade behind him, all he caught was air. Standing up straight he slowly looked around the room.

Another giggle.

Turning, he headed for the fridge. Placing his hand on the handle, he tore the door open and off its hinges. Pinkie screamed at the top of her lungs and ducked just as his blade came crashing down. Confections and desserts splattered everywhere as Pinkie slipped out from in between his legs.

Innocent lives were lost that day.

In a different part of the castle, Celestia came to a sliding halt as a she felt a disturbance in the force. She whimpered lightly as a lone tear rolled down her cheek. She was about to start crying harder before her name was called and she started running again.

“... You will be missed.”

Back in the kitchen, Pinkie jumped off the central island as the blade missed her hooves. She ducked to dodge the next attack and stood up on her back hooves to dodge the attack aimed for her back. Adjusting the weapon, he sliced horizontally at her hooves. Jumping, the pink mare landed on top of the blade, pinning it to the counter. She smashed a random pie she had on her in his face and jumped up and off of his helmet.

With another groan, he wiped his helmet free a second time and was just barely able to catch the literal tail end of her tail slip into a pull out drawer under the counter. Walking over, he pulled the drawer open, on the opposite side of the room, Pinkie’s head poked out of a different drawer.

She looked around in confusion. “How did I get here?”

Turning around, he gave her a glare. The mare yelped before quickly ducking back into her hiding spot and closing the drawer. Over the course of several minutes the two played this game of cat and mouse. He would open one drawer and she would appear in one opposite of him.

At one point she popped out of a cookie jar.

Slamming the final drawer shut the man growled.

“Enough!” he breathed out loudly while lifting his blade over his head.

Slamming the butt of his weapon on the ground, a dark force overtook the room, causing every cabinet, door, and drawer shoot open. With a yelp, Pinkie appeared from a random cabinet and landed face first onto the hard floor. Groaning she rubbed her head with her skate covered hoof. Looking down at the floor her ears fell flat against her head. Looking up she looked at the figure looming over her. With a sheepish laugh, she held up hoof with an offering.

“Cupcake?”

He gave her a swift kick, splattering the cupcake as his boot demolished the confection and connected with her muzzle. The mare fell flat on her back in a daze. As the room continued to spin, her attacker bent down and grabbed her tail, lifting her into the air.

With a flick of his wrist, she screamed and ‘oofed’ as she landed on the center island. Closing her eyes, she shook her head to regain her bearings. Thunder boomed outside as he quickly lifted his hooked blade over his head. Pinkie screamed at the top of her lungs.

That table will forever be stained with red.

“Nine down… four to go…”

The words seemed to echo through the halls as the four remaining alicorns fled for their lives. Bursting through a random door, they exited out of the castle and onto the castle garden. The now pouring rain soaked their costumes, coats, and made their manes stick to their faces. Looking through the storm to the best of their abilities, Twilight spotted something.

“The maze! We can hide in there!”

Following the younger alicorn, the four of them entered into the hedge maze. Leading the way, Twilight rounded random corners and turned, furthering them into the puzzle. Eventually, the little mare ended up leading them to a dead end. Tired, wet and out of breath the four mares made a small circle.

“We… we need to get the guard!” Cadence eventually worked out through her heavy breathing.

“And… what… will… they do!?” Twilight questioned through her breathing. “He killed…” That last word made Twilight go silent. Four of her friends were dead. One was the man she loved, the other was what was her little brother/son and the last two were good friends. She didn’t even know the whereabouts of the rest of her friends. For all she knows...

They could have reached a similar fate.

Twilight felt a wing cover her back, protecting her from the rain.

“We’re all truly sorry, Twilight,” Celestia spoke through the torrential downpour. “But we have to do something!” she said firmly while looking around the group. “We cannot just sit here and let him pick us off one by one!”

“If we can work our way to the armory, we may be able to fight back!” Luna suggested.

“What if we head for the Liset?” Cadence offered. “At least Ordis has more powerful weapons than sword and spears!”

“It's not a bad idea,” Luna seemed to agree.

But the simple fact is that they were in Canterlot and the Liset was in Ponyville, which is several miles away. Turning around the mares started walking.

“TWILIGHT!”

Celestia, Luna, and Twilight spun on their heels to see Cadence on the ground, the back half of her was hidden by the hedge of the maze. Without missing a beat the three alicorns ran up and grabbed Cadences front hooves. Tears rolled down her face and mixed with the rain already coating her fur. She struggled and held firm as her aunts and sister-in-law grunted and struggled as they pulled iwth all their strength.

It was all in vain...

Cadence coughed once before she coughed again. Twilight looked on in horror as blood poured out from her former sitters mouth. As it mixed with the rain it started to pool into a dark puddle just below her muzzle. The color started to drain from her face as she slolwy started to die.

“Hang on, Cadence!” Celestia screamed.

“It's okay…” she replied weakly. “Run… run as fast and as far as you can…”

“No!”

The pink mare smiled lightly at her family before she slowly released her grip. Unable to hold her, she was quickly dragged into leaves of the hedge and free from her family's grasp. All three of them fell back and were forced to watch and listen in horror at the sound of metal rapidly grinding against bone.

The bushes rustled.

“Ten down… three to go…”

They ran.

They ran as fast and as hard as their legs would let them. As they ran past various intersections, they could see the dark silhouette of their hunter approaching. He was to the right, than the left, in front, to the rear.

He was everywhere.

“You… will… perish…”

Fear overtook Twilight, flaring her wings, she made a beeline for the skies.

She didn't make it far.

Just as she reached the top of the hedge she screamed out in agony as she plummeted to the ground uncontrollably. Landing face first, she quickly sat up and looked at her now severed wing.

“TWILIGHT!?” she heard Celestia scream. “Where are you!?”

She could even reply as she just stared at the stub that was now her left wing with a thousand yard stare. Each little drop of rain made the bare bone and skin burn. With each beat of her heart a small stream of blood would squirt out the end. Her lower lip quivered as she sat there silently with her other wing limp at her side.

The sound of a boots splashing against the wet ground got louder and louder as they approached the young mare. She continued to sob as the steps halted just in front of her. Looking up, all she could see was the outline of a human through her tears and the rain.

“Please…” she begged. “I don’t want to be here anymore…” she sniffled.

He spun the blade and held it out to his side with a stiff arm. She closed her eyes and continued to cry. Lowering her head, she gave him her neck.

And the waters ran red with blood...

Luna and Celestia feared the worst as they tried to listen for Twilight’s reply. But neither of them heard a thing through the rain. The storm continued to intensify as the rain started to splash harder against the grass. But Celestia knew…

Twilight was gone.

At least she could be with her lover.

“Sister?” Celestia looked at her sister. “We must go…”

Celestia swallowed the saliva in her mouth. It was bitter and burned as it ran down her throat.

“... Right.”

Both mares headed for the doors of the castle. After stepping inside, both shook their bodies and soaked the innocent walls with water. Both their coats puffed out of the joints of their costumes. Ignoring the bad hair day, they continued onward into the halls.

“Eleven down… two to go…”

Both mares came to a sliding halt as they surveyed the empty hall.

“You will not get away with this!” Luna challenged. “You will be tried for your crimes!”

Nothing.

“... What... of... yours?”

Luna felt a shiver run up her spine.

“... Nightmare Moon…”

She gulped.

“T’was the past!” she shot back. “We have changed!”

Her former speech was starting to show, indicating her fears.

“No… one… is… innocent… justice… will… prevail…”

Thunder boomed outside as lightning illuminated through the windows.

“By… my… blade…”

Both mares spun on their heels once again as they spotted a figure at the end of the hall. Thunder continued to crack and boom as the lightning flashed. With each step, it was as though the storm worked in tandem with his steps.

Here…

Gone…

Here…

Gone…

“Run, sister!” Luna ordered while looking over her shoulder at the white alicorn. “For we are the true ruler of the night!”

The mare disappeared in a cloud of blue smoke and through a nearby wall. Watching, the figure turned his attention from the wall to Celestia. She gulped as she made eye contact with that dark helmet. Slowly, he held his hooked blade and pointed it at her.

“Your… reckoning… has… come....”

In a flash of light, he was gone.

Celestia gulped, said a light prayer to whatever god was listening, and ran.

She ran for what felt like hours. Her legs hurt, her eyes burned from crying, and she worried for her sister. She had wandered the halls for who knows how long. She rounded corners, passed through doors, and cried.

There was a lot of that.

A pang of fear struck her solid. She suddenly felt a connection break. Something near and dear to her heart. It was her worst fear. She felt it only once before, a thousand years ago to be exact. She hoped it was only the fear of the situation. But she knew… no matter how hard she lied to herself… she knew.

“... L… Luna?”

Timidly, she took a step, than two, three. She was walking. Wandering. Aimlessly. If anyone had seen her, she would have looked like a hollow shell of who she truly was, if the thousand yard stare was any indication.

Her wandering eventually lead her to the throne room. She practically stumbled inside and up toward the stairs that lead to the throne. Upon reaching them, her metal shoe *tinked* against the marble, bringing her to a stop. Slowly, she looked up the stairs and toward her empty throne.

Behind her the doors shot open and crashed against the walls as she heard footsteps behind her. Slowly, she turned around. In the darkness, she saw the figure walking toward her.

He appeared to be dragging something.

Stopping a few feet away, he looked down on the mare before looking down at the object in his hand. Leaning back slightly, he tossed the object like it was the most useless object in the universe. Celestia dropped onto her flanks as she stared at the thing in front of her.

“... L-Luna?”

The darker alicorn was bruised, battered, and bleeding. The wound in her side bled profusely as she weakly opened an eye and looked at her older sister. She smiled weakly.

“I…” she coughed twice, both times spraying blood across the floor. “... We tried, sister…”

Celestia leaned forward and grabbed her sister in her hooves. The mare slowly and gingerly pulled her younger sister into her lap. She held her close as she ran her hoof through her sister's mane. She always envied how soft she kept it.

“I love you… sister…” Luna strained out before she broke down into a serious coughing fit, once again, spraying blood everywhere. “I am sorry for not saying it enough…”

Celestia took in a shuddered breath as her lower lip quivered.

“I love you too, Luna…”

The younger alicorn smiled weakly once again as she slowly closed her eyes. Her breathing was shallow and labored. Slowly, it started to fade…

Before she knew it... it was gone…

Celestia’s head dipped as she sobbed loudly. All her sisters killed did, was watch. He killed her, her niece Cadence, her student and friend Twilight, Applejack, Rarity, Pinkie, Rainbow, Fluttershy, Spike, Serenity, Drax, and Excalibur… She loved them, she loved all of them, some more than others. Slowly, the elder mare gently placed her sister's body on the cold and lifeless floor floor and stood up on shaky legs. Anger started to take over.

“Twelve down…. One to go…”

Tears rolled down the mare's face. But they quickly evaporated as fury began to overtake her. Power surged through her body as her golden aura illuminated the room and enveloped the mare. Using an arm, he attempted to cover his vision from the blinding light. Celestia started to lift off the floor as her power level grew.

“YOU WILL PAY FOR WHAT YOU HAVE DONE!!!” she bellowed with the Royal Canterlot Voice. “FOR YOUR CRIMES YOU SHALL-”

*Shing!*

The mare stopped her yelling and hovered in the air for a second before blood started to slowly pour from the wound in her neck. She coughed hard as blood escaped from her mouth. Her aura dissipated immediately as she fell to the floor in a limp heap, coughing and gagging in a pool of her own blood.

“Justice… has… been… served…”

Slowly, he turned around and started to leave. The deed was done, justice was served. As he walked, he couldn't help but feel that something, or someone was watching him. It was as almost there was…

“... Another witness…”

He came to a stop and slowly looked up and to the left.

“... Tenno… your crimes have gone unpunished… for that screen will not protect you… for I hide in the shadows… always hunting… I live in the recesses of your mind… your are not safe, Tenno…” he spoke while lifting a hand and clenching it. “Though you blindly follow the light… for it is I that haunt the darkness…” He slowly lifted the blade and pointed it.

Right…

At…

You…

“Fear the shadows, Tenno… for you are being hunted…” he slowly spoke while lifting his blade over his head. “For there… are… no… witnesses!” as he slammed the blade on the ground, thunder boomed and lightning cracked.

And he was gone…

...

...

...

Remember Tenno, as you go out on this fateful night. Fear the shadows, for you may never know what is hiding. For it is not the night for the monsters and the spirits, but the thieves and killers, and maybe even…

Your reckoning…

Be safe Tenno, fear the shadows… shoot straight… keep your blade sharp… and have a…

“Happy… Halloween?”