Author's Notes:

(Just so you guys know, this is taken straight from my FanFic account.... Hence the Author Notes on top.... Have fun with thiiiiiiiiiiiiiis)

Well then… Quite the interesting reactions I’ve gotten so far. *leans on to the writing desk* Time to work on something more fun, for the holiday! For my Halloween Special, a rather interesting Nightmare Night Special-… Wait, isn’t that the same thing? *chin tapping ponder…* Eh, specifics-mispecfics, TIME FOR SOME SPOOKY SCARE TIME FUN!!!!!! *evil ghoul laugh* By the way, I apologize for it being so early for Halloween, but you never know with how chaotic my life is… So, it is good to go ahead and post it now.

Nightmare Night had come, and all of Ponyville was jumping with joy at their favorite holiday of the month! Well, except for Fluttershy, but everypony understood as to why she didn’t want to come out. However, that didn’t stop anypony from enjoying the holiday, but our dark hero was quite curious about how the festivities would go about. Within the Friendship Castle, Twilight and Night Claw were practically pushing young Scootaloo out the door, who was dressed up as some vampire. “Go on, Scootaloo… Go out and have some fun with your friends!” Twilight said, smiling at their adopted daughter.

“Alright! Alright, I’m going!” She giggled, with Night Claw standing next to the door. “Bye mom, bye dad!” She shouted, the two waving to her goodbye.

“Have fun, Scootaloo!” Twilight called out, smiling up at the large stallion. “Everything ready for the event?” She asked him.

“Yes… Though, I am still wondering how in Night Haunter’s name you and Princess Luna talked me into doing it…” Night Claw said, looking down at her. “It is rather strange, and awkward, role for me to play. Let alone, makes me wonder why the foals actually enjoy being scared around this time… Willingly.”

Twilight giggled at his confusion. “Because it is Nightmare Night, Night Claw… A time of scare and fun, something you may enjoy by the end of the night.” She answered, a hopeful look on her face before she remembered something. “Oh! Do you remember your lines?” Twilight asked.

Night Claw gave a nod. “To the letter, and plus the mixed form you helped me discover will help with your plans to scare the foals…” He said, nuzzling her. “Which reminds me, I better go and get into position, give me the signal when the foals are coming.”

Twilight gave a nod, smiling as the stallion left the castle, flying off towards the Castle of Two Sisters. “Something tells me… This year will be the best one, yet! A possible new tradition for us, here in Ponyville.”

“We agree with you, Princess Twilight Sparkle.” The sudden appearance of a second voice practically made Twilight jump out of her skin, but she settled for holding on to one of the ceiling crystals. “Oops, we did not… Intend to scare you, Princess Twilight Sparkle.” Luna said, placing a hoof over her mouth.

“I-It is alright, Princess Luna!” Twilight said, floating back down to the Moon Princess. “Just… Warn a pony next time you appear. And please, call me Twilight, we’re friends, after all.” She gave a warm smile towards the princess.

Luna returned the smile, and nodded to her. “Then please, call us Luna, as well… Formalities on this night should be pushed to the side, for it is a time of fun!” She exclaimed, the two Princesses sharing a laugh. “Now, let us be on our way… After all, we have a scare to enact!”

Twilight gave a nod, smiling up at her friend. “Agreed! I do hope Night Claw doesn’t go overboard with his part… After all, he was trained to use it as a form of…” She suddenly went off into thought, trying to piece the right words together.

“War?” Luna asked, the younger princess giving a nod. “We understand, such tactics are sometimes needed to attain victory, and from what our sister has told us… Sir Night Claw’s Legion were considered the best at their job.”

Twilight gave a nod, with a sigh. “Still, I do hope he puts those skills to good use tonight!” She said, the two nodding before heading off to Ponyville.

-Ponyville Town Square-

The town was alive with ponies dressed up, as ghouls and nightmarish creatures… At least, the best they could for costumes! Every pony, from foals to adults, were experiencing the full fun of Nightmare Night. Some playing games, others going house to house for candy, until Mayor Mare tapped on the microphone, on the stage. “Excuse me, everypony! Can I please have your attention!” The crowds all looked towards her, gathering at the stage. “Once again, Ponyville is having quite the Nightmare Night, which warms my spooky heart!” She gave a bit of a “evil cackle” but the clown costume completely threw it off. “Now, if the little ones would please follow-?” A flash of lavender appeared on stage, revealing both Princess Twilight Sparkle and Princess Luna, smiling at the crowd. “Um… The Princesses, then we can get the real fun started!”

The foals all cheered, rushing on to stage to join the two princesses, who were smiling. Twilight smiled even brighter, when she spotted Scootaloo joining the group. “Alright, my spooky subjects! It is time for us to journey to a dark, and scary place… To hear an ancient tale, that was told to me, when I was but a filly.” Luna said, the foals gathering around them. Once they were all close enough to her, she smiled as her horn glowing. Within seconds, they all disappeared from the stage.

Mayor Mare smiled, but suddenly had a concerned look on her face. “I do hope she doesn’t scare them too much…” She said, Applejack walking up.

“Oh, don’t ya worry none, Mayor Mare. After all, it is all in a bit of Nightmare Night fun, and ah’m sure Night Claw ain’t gonna do anythin’ ta harm them.” Applejack said, smiling at Mayor Mare.

“I hope your right, Applejack… I mean, Sir. Claw is scary without dressing up for Nightmare Night….” Mayor Mare pondered about what it would look like if he actually tried to look scary, and shivered. “Oh dear, I really hope he doesn’t go too far with this.”

“If he does, ah’m sure Twilight will have’em hold back some. After all, the two know how ta handle each other.” Applejack giggled, Mayor Mare joining her in the laugh before the two adult ponies went back to the festivities.

The group appeared within the castle’s main hall, the foals all looking around, at the rather spooky, abandoned, castle they were in. “Here we are, my spooky subjects! The castle where my sister and I grew up!” Luna announced, smiling at them before backing up. “Now then… Allow Princess Twilight to tell the tale of a pony, one who brought fear in the night.” She leaned down, giving the foals a rather scary look. “The Tale of Night Haunter.”

Twilight stepped forward, smiling at them before using her magic to create a light at the groups center. “The tale is old, as Equestria itself. When the lands were filled with wrong doers, and order was not held.” The light made its way under her, making her look even spookier. “But then he came… A pony so dark, that his mere presence would scare the bravest of stallions. An alicorn stallion with bat-wings and horn of red.” She suddenly opened her wings, making the foals back up, and let out a high pitched ‘eep’ when she did. “Through the night, he stalked the lands of Equestria, hunting every bad pony, who did wrong whether it was lying, cheating, or stealing from others. He did not care, for he haunted all who he saw as bad ponies… And so, the ponies of old called him ‘Night Haunter’.”

The fillies were listening to her tale, the sounds of claw marks scraping against the walls making them squeal every once and a while, some looking around to try and figure out what it was. Unfortunately for them, the main hall was far too dark for them to see anything.

“Night Haunter hunted the night… His hooves more like claws, scraping at the ground with each step he took.” Twilight smiled, the sounds of claws scraping on stone making the fillies flinch, looking around still. “When he spotted his next prey, Night Haunter would lick his fanged teeth, barely waiting to taste their blood upon his lips.” When the sounds of someone making a loud licking sound filled the main hall, quite a few of the foals jumped, and screamed at the top of their lungs. “Now, now… That isn’t the worst part of it all, my little ponies. What made him so terrifying, was the glowing, red, eyes that would pierce through the night. Those emotionless eyes staring into your soul.” Right then, a pair of red eyes appeared behind Twilight, along with a wide, fang filled, grin.

Every foal screamed at the top of their lungs, all hiding behind the older ones, who were shaking. Though, Diamond Tiara just raised an eyebrow, when the eyes and grin disappeared into the dark. “Princess, no offense, but I know that isn’t true. I mean, we all know it is your magic making all those noises and faces in the shadows…. Plus, how come we never heard this story before? Doesn’t it make it a bit more obvious that you made it up?” The filly asked.

Twilight suddenly smiled at her words, leaning forward. “Are you sure about that, Diamond Tiara?” She asked.

“Yes, Princess.” Diamond Tiara replied.

“How sure, little filly?” A venom-like whisper said, into her ear. The entire group of foals looked, to suddenly see a massive bat-pony alicorn right dead next to Diamond Tiara! His hooves looking more like claws. He suddenly stood on to his back legs, wings spread out, and let out an evil cackle. “I, Night Haunter, have come for you, my tasty little foals!!!” He yelled, making the whole group, including Scootaloo, run away from the three adult ponies! All screaming like never before, terrified at the appearance of “Night Haunter”!

The three adult ponies began to laugh, the foals slowly coming out of their hiding places, wondering what was so funny. “Come out, my subjects… Tis but a scare we came up with.” Luna said, smiling at all the foals.

“B-But, Night Haunter is right there! Why aren’t you running?” Diamond Tiara asked, eyes wide and entire body shaking.

“He isn’t Night Haunter…” Twilight said, using her magic to remove the helmet on the stallion’s head, along with the curved red horn. “He’s Night Claw!” She announced, the Terror Guard giving a fanged smile at the fillies.

“D-Dad!?” Scootaloo yelled, surprised how her new dad actually scared the daylights out of her.

“Yep! How’d I do for my first, real, Nightmare Night, everypony?” He asked them, laughing at how well he got the foals.

“Fantastic!” They all yelled, Scootaloo running up and hugging his leg.

The stallion laughed, as he wrapped Scootaloo in a hug. “Well then, something tells me I should try doing this again next year… Unless.” Twilight placed the helmet back on to his head, the eyes suddenly glowing red again, his voice changing with it. “There are bad little foals, that I can devour!!!” They all screamed, while giggling, and ran away. Night Claw let Scootaloo go, as well, before he started to chasing them around the castle. He soared over them, allowing the foals to feel like something was trying to catch them and fly off with them.

Luna couldn’t help but giggle at the display, and looked down at Twilight. “Seems like we’ve created a new tradition… The Tale of Night Haunter, had started.” Twilight gave a nod, smiling up at the Moon Princess.

“Something tells me; Night Claw won’t mind this at all.” She looked back at the group, still holding her smile while she watched Night Claw pick up all three members of the CMC, and pretending like he was going to eat them. “Pretending to be someone he idolizes, seems to bring his spirits up.” Luna watched display, and nodded with a smile. Celestia had told her of Night Claw’s true origins, and story… She understood his life, and the life of this “Night Haunter” quite well.

When the three arrived back at the Friendship Castle, Night Haunter had removed his helmet so not to scare the far too young foals. The three were laughing at how the night went, especially how Night Claw chased the foals around, pretending to be Night Haunter. Though, Scootaloo suddenly got an inquisitive look on her face. “Hey, uh… M-Mom?” She spoke up, making Twilight’s heart jump at the fact she called her mom. The princess might not get used to that.

“Hm? Yes, Scootaloo?” She looked down at the filly, who was walking between her and Night Claw.

“The Night Haunter can’t be real, can he? I mean… He’s never really been mentioned in the history books.” Scootaloo asked, raising an eyebrow.

Before Twilight could answer, Night Claw gave a short cackle. “Oh, he’s real alright, Scootaloo.” He flashed her a fanged grin. “After all, I wouldn’t exist if it weren’t for him... He is my father.”

Scootaloo’s jaw just dropped at that statement, eyes going wide. When she stopped, Twilight did so to, to make sure the filly was alright. “T-Then d-does that m-make me…” She was trying to comprehend what was just said, Twilight placing a wing around the filly, smiling.

Night Claw looked back at her, still holding his grin. “Granddaughter of Night Haunter, that is correct.” He said, opening his wings a bit before refolding them. “You have quite the legacy on your shoulders now, Scootaloo… I’m sure your grandfather has quite the expectations in you, like I do.” He laughed a bit, walking towards Twilight and his chambers.

Scootaloo couldn’t believe it… She was the granddaughter of some great dark hero? But, the thought about Night Claw not actually being a pony crossed her mind. How could she be the granddaughter of an Equestrian hero, if Night Claw isn’t from Equestria…. Unless. “Night Haunter is a Night Lord…” She whispered, something catching her eye in the window not far from them.
Her eyes widen when she spotted a Night Lord right outside of it! He stood nine feet tall, his skin pale as the moon, raven black hair reached to his shoulders. He lifted a single claw up, and placed it over his grinning lips, motioning for the filly to be silent about such information. Then, he suddenly vanished from the window, like a mist of shadow.
Scootaloo smiled at the thought, and appearance, she couldn’t help but jump up and down. “I’m the Granddaughter of Night Haunter, along with being the daughter of Night Claw and Princess Twilight Sparkle! Things couldn’t get any better than this!” Twilight, who didn’t see the figure in the window, giggled at the filly’s excitement.